While there are a lot of popular explanations for the recent weakness in global equity prices, a far more fundamental driver could be at play: US corporate earnings. In determining whether the US equity market is on the cusp of another extended bear market – as last seen in 2000-02 and 2007-09 – history suggests it’s only likely to happen if there’s also a down trend in corporate earnings. Ominously, the glorious uptrend in US earnings since the financial crisis is starting to look a little toppy.
Earnings: Necessary and Sufficient Driver of Prices
Although there are many theories peddled as to what drives share prices – including sunspots and fancy technical patterns – there’s one thing we know for sure: prices can’t deviate from underlying corporate earnings for too long. As seen in the chart below, each of the past two major bear markets in the United States – in 2000-02 and 2007-09 was associated with a notable down trend in 12-month forward earnings*.
In view of this history, it’s worth noting that US forward earnings over the past year have again started to look toppy. Indeed, using Bloomberg consensus analyst earnings expectations, the BetaShares estimate of forward earnings for the S&P 500 Index peaked in November 2014. Forward earnings then fell before staging a mini-come back through 2015, but now look to be rolling over again.
Indeed, as seen in the chart below, there was a notable downgrade to US earnings expectations during January, principally reflecting a much weaker outlook for the energy sector as a result of the collapse in oil prices. Of course, if earnings expectations are not revised further, then forward earnings could still rise through 2016 as, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates, 2017 earnings are expected to rise by 13% on 2016 levels. In fact, current earnings expectations imply forward earnings will rise by 13% over the coming 12 months.
*12-month forward earnings are a rolling weighted average of consensus earnings per share estimates for both the current and following financial year, with the weight attached to the following year increasing (and the weight for the current financial year decreasing) as the new year approaches. In the case of the United States, for example, forward earnings as at June-2015 would be an equal weighted average of earnings in both the 2015 and 2016 calendar years. By December 2015, forward earnings fully reflected expected earnings for 2016.
The earnings and share price charts could easily show a rapid reversal to the upside if Putin decides to play ball with Saudi Arabia. You have pointed out the significance of the energy sector to the US economy and there is little doubt that any announcement to the effect that Putin and OPEC were in accord to control the oil sector would send stock markets into positive territory once again and then some! This is turning out to be a real crap game and an awful lot depends on who is forced to blink first ; it may very well turn out to be Putin. His options are diminishing rapidly as he is utterly dependent on oil revenues to support the Russian economy and his own political survival. The longer he prevaricates, the less oil will be of significance to the world economy as the LNG supply and lowering price present very attractive alternatives to many of his customers. To be short equities when he does come to the party would be most undesirable and to my mind this is a question of when not if.
Interesting points there Norbert!