Investment Outlook

Since the banking sector developments in March, financial sector stress and the potential for additional bank failures have drawn investor focus. But in our view, investors should not forget about inflation risk.

• The rate of corporate profit growth has been under pressure globally since the initial rebound that kicked off this credit cycle. Some slowing was anticipated, but widespread contraction now seems more likely.
• US large-capitalization corporate profits contracted year over year in the fourth quarter of 2022.^[1] We expect another contraction in the first quarter of 2023, which would be considered a “technical” profits recession.
• When corporate profitability begins to falter, the fundamental backdrop for credit can deteriorate quickly, especially when leverage is rising.
• We expect a US corporate profits recession to spark layoff announcements as companies look to lower costs.
• The unemployment rate is typically the last indicator to signal weakness before recession hits.
• Spiking unemployment and contracting profits could catalyze a US recession this year, particularly with the financial system already under strain.
• We believe the Fed may pause rate hikes, but will be slow to pivot toward rate cuts while core PCE inflation is well above target.

Credit spreads across several corporate benchmarks have widened to reflect increased risk of a downturn, but have yet to reach their 2023 high point.

• Our Credit Analyst Diffusion Indices (CANDIs), an internal survey framework used to poll Loomis Sayles’ credit research analysts, indicates some leveling off in the fundamental outlook after signaling deterioration for the past few quarters.
• However, when our analysts look toward the next six months, key corporate health fundamentals including pricing power and profitability remain at weak levels for most industries.
• The weakening operating backdrop assessed by our bottom-up credit research team is consistent with our macro strategies team’s top-down view that the US economy is entrenched in late cycle currently and could enter a downturn within six months.
• We see margin pressure in non-commodity and consumer-related sectors including autos, retail, consumer products, railroads, metals and mining and restaurants. We expect supply chain issues and wage pressures to ease moderately but to persist through the first half of 2023.
• At the end of March, our risk premium framework still suggested high yield and investment grade credit could potentially generate positive excess returns in 2023.

Swift action by US and European governments may have prevented a more protracted financial panic.

• The Fed may pause or even conclude its tightening phase of this cycle in May, but in our view that does not signal rate cuts are right around the corner.
• Market pricing seems optimistic that Fed rate cuts are on the 2023 horizon, but we believe the economy would have to be in a downturn for those cuts to be realized.
• We agree that much of the stress within the US financial system would only be exacerbated by additional rate hikes. However, the Fed is still fighting a battle against inflation, which is running at twice its target rate.
• The Fed is far from alone. Core inflation in the euro zone and UK is likely to remain an even more significant issue for the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England (BoE) compared to the Fed’s challenges.
• The long end of developed market yield curves could remain range-bound as market participants assess financial sector and recession risks. Expectations for higher policy rates, which drove longer-term rates higher in 2022, have slowly reversed course.

The US dollar typically performs well when there are macroeconomic risks bubbling over abroad.

• There is potential for the ECB and BoE to continue hiking policy rates if the Fed takes a pause because inflation has been an even bigger concern for those economies. Secondly, the ECB and BoE are not as far along in their tightening cycles as the Fed.
• The US dollar has weakened modestly in recent weeks on that theme, which is likely to continue into the second quarter. However, if a downturn begins to take hold in the US late next quarter, we believe investors will flock to the dollar seeking a “safe haven” as other markets likely turn away from risk.
• We believe emerging market local-currency bonds are a place to potentially earn carry over high-grade US fixed income issues and present potential for strong currency performance. We think select markets could do well, even if the US dollar rallies.
• Preferred local-currency markets include Mexico, where the central bank was quick to hike policy rates this cycle. South Africa is another favored market where there could be structural improvements over the long term.
• In Asia, we currently prefer Indonesia local-currency bonds and believe its central bank has finished hiking rates. The Japanese yen also has room to strengthen should investors seek relative safety in volatile global markets.  

We believe tighter financial conditions, less pricing power and declining margins should lead S&P 500 consensus earnings estimates around 10% lower from the current $220 level.^[2]

• Our corporate health frameworks suggest companies are currently in decent shape, but directionally, fundamentals are trending lower, which could limit potential total return upside given rich valuations.
• We believe security selection will be critical in this late-cycle environment. Growth equity overall looks set to continue outperforming the market backed by companies with strong fundamentals relative to broader large-cap indices.
• Profitability is considered one of the most important fundamental drivers of total return over time. The technology sector remains a relative leader with respect to return on equity and profit margins.
• Certain segments of value equity, including industrials, have seen earnings estimates for calendar year 2023 climb in recent weeks. We anticipate potential outperformance in sectors and styles where fundamentals are improving, or at least showing relative strength.
• Stark underperformance of financials has become a global phenomenon. However, we anticipate long-term challenges within the sector based on stiff competition and less pricing power.
• It is difficult to see how equity valuations could expand in late cycle. We expect range-bound equity benchmarks and focus to be on leading styles, factors and securities.

A cautious asset allocation stance with a tilt toward fixed income is warranted in our view given macroeconomic headwinds and a corporate profits recession appearing to take hold.

• Our core view is that the global economy is in a vulnerable position and therefore at risk of entering the downturn phase of the credit cycle. Most asset valuations are not presently reflecting levels traditionally seen in a downturn.
• A profits recession is anticipated by some market participants, but not to the degree that we would expect. If US large-cap earnings contract by 10% in 2023, it could cause a downward repricing of asset valuations.
• Governments swooped in to fence off financial sector woes, but there could be more to the issue than meets the eye. We are watching for further systemic risk within the banking sector, particularly in commercial real estate.
• Ultimately the depth of a downturn will be determined in our view by Fed policy, specifically its reaction to incoming inflation data. If core inflation remains well ahead of target, as it is now, we would not expect the Fed to immediately cut policy rates.
• The US economy has absorbed a number of hits, including the housing sector’s decline, spiking auto prices, surging interest rates and levels of inflation not seen since the 1980s. With a corporate profits recession likely, we will be watching for signs that the rock-solid labor market is finally beginning to crack.