Finding Value in Equity Markets Amid Elevated Valuations

Most equity markets have rebounded strongly since the severe coronavirus‑induced sell‑off in February and March of last year (Figure 1). Many markets have powered past pre‑crisis levels and some, such as the S&P 500, continue to set record highs. As a result, the valuations of many stock markets have become elevated. The question now is whether the rally has much upside left in it, or whether these rich valuations will begin to drag down markets.

Valuations are a key force driving equity market returns, but they are not the only one—over the short term, other forces, such as policy and sentiment, are more likely to dominate performance. The current market rally has been fuelled by several factors: massive fiscal support from governments, particularly in the US; central banks’ ultra‑accommodative monetary policy, which has flooded markets with liquidity; and growing optimism over adapting to life with the virus and the continued economic recovery, helped by vaccine rollouts.

However, the tidal wave of fiscal stimulus will come to its end, rising inflation may force central banks to taper support and sentiment will eventually peak. Investors will, at some point, begin to worry about whether such elevated valuations can be justified by company fundamentals. In other words, the supportive context for high valuations could be fading.

Furthermore, valuations matter mostly during extreme periods: When valuations are very low, long‑term future returns tend to be high; when valuations are very high, long‑term future returns tend to be low. Over the short term, however, high prices can go higher, and low prices can go lower. It is notoriously difficult to predict the inflection points in markets—in other words, when rich is too rich and cheap is too cheap. This is especially true under today’s unprecedented circumstances.

Not all asset class valuations are equally elevated. Figure 2 compares the current valuations of various asset classes with their values over the past 15 years and gives them a percentile ranking. For example, 10‑year US government bonds are currently more expensive than they have been 87% of the time over the last 15 years. As Figure 2 shows, some equity markets are very expensive relative to history, while others are relatively attractively priced.

Figure 2 also shows that equity markets are not alone in seeing elevated valuations: The valuations of assets such as government and corporate bonds are also stretched. Investors seeking to generate returns may find no better alternatives than equity markets—and with rising inflation expectations, there is greater incentive to invest and make money work hard.

With extended valuations, hope for further upside mainly rests in earnings growth. Massive pent‑up demand, robust fiscal stimulus and the prospect of fully reopened economies are good reasons to expect strong earnings growth in 2021 and 2022. Earnings over the first quarter of this year have generally surpassed analysts’ estimates by a wide margin: So far, profits for the S&P 500 have grown by about 50% relative to 2020, albeit from a very low, pandemic disrupted, base.

However, US equity markets in particular seem to have already priced in much of this expected earnings growth. Meanwhile, equity markets outside the US—especially in emerging markets—appear to have more upside potential when the global economy picks up speed. While some emerging markets—such as India and Brazil—face challenges with slow vaccine rollouts, others—such as China, South Korea and Taiwan—appear to be in control of the pandemic. Also, an economic recovery in developed markets should positively impact the economies of emerging markets, supporting their corporate earnings.

Earnings estimates are continually revised, and a review of estimate trends during the first two years of recovery following the last two recessions shows that estimates generally increased as it took time for forecasts to adapt to the strengthening economic environment. In our view, the scale of the economic recovery in 2021 and 2022 may see a similar trend of upward revisions. Notably, the pattern for three‑ to seven‑year periods after recessions, however, shows a decline in earnings estimates over time as the pace of growth begins to moderate.

Given recent strong upward moves, most of the good news appears to be already priced into equity markets, and the upside potential going forward may be somewhat limited. Therefore, T. Rowe Price UK and European Investment Committees, along with our other multi‑asset teams, recently modestly decreased overall equity exposure within multi‑asset portfolios. However, we maintain a tilt towards segments most sensitive to economic conditions—such as value, small‑cap and emerging markets equities—that we see as most likely to benefit from further upward revisions in earnings estimates.

Exposure to the expected global economic recovery, coupled with factors such as valuations, could help to separate regional equity markets. Export‑oriented economies such as the UK and Japan, for example, may do better than the US and Europe when global markets reopen. The UK may also be supported by the successful rollout of vaccines, its tilt to more cyclical areas and attractive valuations, while Japan may receive additional support from reforms focused on shareholder value and corporate governance, alongside the expected reopening of Asian markets.

Although valuations do matter and are an important driver of equity market performance, investors should consider myriad factors impacting equity markets. We are in uncharted territory, and the difficulty of forecasting the behaviour of equity markets over the rest of the year means it is prudent to be cautious and remain diversified. However, there are still cyclical areas across global equity markets that are likely to fare better than others—and it is towards these areas that investors should consider tilting their portfolios. When valuations are elevated, it is important to be actively selective to make the most out of diminishing expected returns. It is equally important to manage overall equity exposure and retain the flexibility of going back to the market should valuations become more inviting.