- The average of S&P 500 for Mar-2025 was 5,680, (26% up from Jul-2023 average of 4,497 when forward returns for stocks “looked reasonably good” according to this analysis).
- The S&P 500 is now 1,760 points higher than the corresponding long-term trend value of 3,920.
- For the S&P 500 to reach the corresponding long-trend value would entail a 31% decline from the March average value, indicating that the S&P 500 is considerably overvalued.
- The Shiller CAPE-ratio is at 34.9, 30% higher than its 35-year moving average (MA35), currently at 26.9, forecasting a 10-year annualized real return of about 5.5% derived from the CAPE-MA35 methodology.
- The long-term trend indicates a forward 10-year annualized real return of only 2.7%
Blog Archives
Stocks Are Overvalued Expect Only Modest 10-Year Forward Returns: Update March 2025
The iM Seasonal Multi-Sector Investment Strategy
- The iM Seasonal Multi-Sector Investment Strategy capitalizes on a seasonality-based approach to investing, leveraging the well-known “Sell in May and Go Away” phenomenon.
- During the winter period (end of October to the end of April) the model invests in the five highest-ranked U.S. Sector ETFs equally weighted.
- Selection is based on the performance of 30 sector ETFs during the previous one- and two-year winter periods, and not by selecting arbitrarily cyclical- and defensive categories for the winter- and summer periods.
- In the summer period the model allocates funds equally between the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) and Invesco QQQ.
- By combining sector rotation and hedging mechanisms for inflationary periods, this strategy offers a systematic framework for maximizing returns and managing risks.
Stocks Are Overvalued And 10-Year Forward Returns Look Poor: Update December 2024
- The average of S&P 500 for Dec-2024 was 6,011, (34% up from Jul-2023 average of 4,497 when forward returns for stocks “looked reasonably good” according to this analysis).
- The S&P 500 is now 2,135 points higher than the corresponding long-term trend value of 3,876.
- For the S&P 500 to reach the corresponding long-trend value would entail a 35% decline from the December average value, indicating that the S&P 500 is considerably overvalued.
- The Shiller CAPE-ratio is at 37.9, 42% higher than its 35-year moving average (MA35), currently at 26.7, forecasting a 10-year annualized real return of about 4.6% derived from the CAPE-MA35 methodology.
- The long-term trend indicates a forward 10-year annualized real return of only 2.0%
A September Unemployment Rate of 4.0% Will Signal a Recession
- A reliable source for recession forecasting is the unemployment rate (UER), which can provide signals for the beginnings and ends of recessions.
- The model was published in 2012 and has correctly signaled the 2020 recession.
- The latest UER (August 2023) is 3.8%, signifying no recession. However, if the September UER is 4% or higher a recession will be signaled according to the model.
Stocks Are Moderately Overvalued And 10-Year Forward Returns Look Reasonably Good: Update July 2023
- The average of S&P 500 for July-2023 was 4,497 (4% down from Dec-2021 high average of 4,675) and is 859 points higher than the corresponding long-term trend value of 3,638.
- For the S&P 500 to reach the corresponding long-trend value would entail a 20% decline from the July average value, indicating that the S&P 500 is moderately overvalued.
- The Shiller CAPE-ratio is at 30.9, 19% higher than its 35-year moving average (MA35), currently at 26.1, forecasting a 10-year annualized real return of about 6.5%.
- The long-term trend indicates a forward 10-year annualized real return of 4.4%
iM’s Business Cycle Index Recovers but still Signals a Recession – Update 6/9/2023
- Knowing when the U.S. economy is heading for recession is paramount to successful investment decisions.
- Our weekly Business Cycle Index would have provided early reliable warnings for the past seven recessions and signaled the Covid 2020 recession one week late.
- The BCIg has signaled a recession warning mid March 2023, but BCIg recovered and is no longer signalling a recession.
- However the BCIw, also on recovery path, continues to signal a recession which now is estimated to begin in 9 to 22 weeks.
- It is too early to say if a recession has been averted, more likely is it is delayed towards the end the end of 2023 or begin 2024.
Timing The Stock Market With The Conference Board Leading Economic Index
- This ETF trading model uses the Conference Board Leading Economic Index to determine “Risk-On” periods for equities.
- A universe is defined from the SPDR, Vanguard, and PowerShares ETF providers for the sectors healthcare, energy, communication, technology, and general multi-sector funds, holding large-mega cap stocks from the United States.
- The model selects 3 ETFs from the previously defined universe at the beginning of a “Risk-On” period and holds these ETFs continuously until the end of the “Risk-On” period.
- During “Risk-Off” periods for equities it goes to the gold ETF (GLD) to maximize returns. ETF (BND) is also a suitable alternative to GLD.
- The simulation shows that this strategy would have produced over 7-times the total return of SPY with similar risk.
Stocks Are Moderately Overvalued but 10-Year Forward Returns Look Good: Update April 2023
- The average of S&P 500 for March-2023 was 3,969 (15% down from Dec-2021 average of 4,675) and is 384 points higher than the corresponding re-calibrated long-term trend value of 3,585.
- For the S&P 500 to reach the corresponding long-trend value would entail a 10% decline from the March average value, indicating that the S&P 500 is not significantly overvalued anymore.
- The Shiller CAPE-ratio is at 27.9, 8% higher than its 35-year moving average (MA35), currently at 25.9, forecasting a relatively high 10-year annualized real return of about 7.3%.
- The long-term trend indicates a forward 10-year annualized real return of 5.5%
- However, rising inflation with a falling CAPE-MA35 ratio, similar to what occurred in the period 1964-1973, implies very low or negative 10-year forward annualized real returns.
iM’s Business Cycle Index Signals an Imminent Recession – Update 4/7/2023
- Knowing when the U.S. economy is heading for recession is paramount to successful investment decisions.
- Our weekly Business Cycle Index would have provided early reliable warnings for the past seven recessions and signaled the Covid 2020 recession one week late.
- The Department of Labor backward revised nearly two years of seasonal adjusted data.
- The BCIg is now signalling a recession since mid March 2023 with a 12 weeks average lead time.
- The BCIw is now signalling a recession, earliest in 5 weeks but not later than 17 weeks.
Expect Further Losses For Stocks but 10-Year Forward Returns Look Better: Update December2022
- The average of S&P 500 for Nov-2022 was 3,917 (16% down from Dec-2021 average of 4,675) and is 385 points higher than the corresponding re-calibrated long-term trend value of 3,532.
- For the S&P 500 to reach the corresponding long-trend value would entail a 10% decline from the November average value, indicating that the S&P 500 is not significantly overvalued anymore.
- The Shiller CAPE-ratio is at 28.3, 10% higher than its 35-year moving average (MA35), currently at 25.8, forecasting a relatively high 10-year annualized real return of about 7.2%.
- The long-term trend indicates a forward 10-year annualized real return of 5.5%
- However, rising inflation with a falling CAPE-MA35 ratio, similar to what occurred in the period 1964-1973, implies very low or negative 10-year forward annualized real returns.
With reference to Section 202(a)(11)(D) of the Investment Advisers Act:
We are Engineers and not Investment Advisers,
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