2020 Outlook

GLOBAL INCOME

Giorgio Caputo
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Global Income Builder
and Head of Multi-Asset Value team

With interest rates across the developed world generally low, credit spreads modest and global equities having gained over 20% in US dollar terms in 2019 to date, the prospects for near term investment returns might seem muted.

Economic viewpoints are quite varied. Some market participants point to upticks in higher frequency data as early signs of a cyclical upswing, which – along with central bank reflation – may even herald a long-awaited resurgence among traditional ‘value’ equities. Others see debt, deflation and demographics continuing to keep interest rates low and dismiss potential green shoots as mere inventory restocking.

Our prediction is for volatility, but not your grandparents’ kind

At present, markets are priced for neither of these outcomes. In a cyclical recovery, bonds likely need to sell off, while a more deflationary outcome could mean that recent equity strength has been overoptimistic. It may only be the goldilocks scenario of low inflation, low but positive growth and low rates that can support loft equity valuations and low bond yields. There are risks on either side. Below the surface, changes in market structure are increasingly giving well-positioned active managers a fighting chance to add increasing alpha even in what may be a muted return environment.

After over 10 years of generally rising markets, supported by the central bank put, money is, predictably, crowding into what has worked and shunning what has not. Increasingly this has led to some of the favoured factors to become crowded and see sharp reversals when quantitative flows unwind. These dynamics were on full display in 2019, with low-volatility shares being pushed up to excessive valuations, peaking in the third quarter, only to come back down sharply to earth during the opening phases of Q4. Thus our prediction is for volatility, but not your grandparents’ kind. Protracted economic cycles and lengthy inventory destocking process may indeed have been rendered obsolete by just-in-time inventory and instant transmission of data. Instead, what we see increasingly are short, sharp bursts of panic that sometimes rise to affect broad market averages (as in December 2018) or more narrow opportunities (European cyclicals in August 2019).

We are excited to be positioned at the crossroads of different capital markets. From our vantage point, we seek to have a well-informed perspective on when risk is mispriced, as well as the agility to take advantage of such air pockets in markets when they arise. And they will.

FIXED INCOME

Lale Topcuoglu
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Global Income Builder
and Head of Credit, Multi-Asset Value team

2019 is shaping up to be a banner year for the US credit markets, with high yield and investment grade up 12% and 14%, respectively, for the year to date to November’s close.¹ With credit spreads nearing their tightest ever levels, it is tough to anticipate another strong year for the credit markets in 2020. Accommodative central banks, trend-like GDP growth year for the credit markets in 2020 and a lack of near-term maturity walls for issuers should collectively underpin a “coupon clipping” type of 12 months. That said, macro factors, which have been proven to be nearly impossible to predict, will continue to dominate the headlines.

It is tough to anticipate another strong

We took a more conservative approach in our credit exposure in the second half of 2019, increasing our allocation to BBBs and short duration BBB/BB. On a security level, we find that credit fundamentals have deteriorated at the margins, while, at the macro level, the central bank put is a powerful narrative. Current risk/reward pay-offs will look poor value should macro conditions deteriorate faster than expectations. As always, our approach is to be opportunistic in capital deployment, and our positioning includes ample liquidity to take advantage of any air pockets that emerge in periods of volatility.

¹Based on Ice BofAML US Corporate Index and Ice BofAML US HY Index respectively.

GLOBAL EQUITIES

Christopher Lees
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM International Select
JOHCM Global Select

Looking ahead into 2020, we see three potential market scenarios:

Scenario 1: markets go up with the old leadership (e.g. technology, USA, growth). This is clearly under threat, and the catalyst for the abrupt change in sentiment was probably the cancelled WeWork IPO fiasco that highlighted the poor corporate governance, questionable business models and excessive overvaluation of many ‘unicorns’.

Scenario 2: markets go up with new leadership. For example, if the US/China trade war and Brexit turn out to be less bad than currently feared, then the market rotation into value and cyclicals witnessed in September and October will probably be sustainable.

Scenario 3: markets stop going up (e.g. sideways volatility or bull market correction or bear market). This is still the least likely scenario, with central banks cutting interest rates and credit markets stable. However, Lale Topcuoglu, Head of Credit on the JOHCM Multi-Asset Value team in our New York office, is warning us about the first signs of stress in CCC-rated corporate bonds. A canary in the coalmine?

Currently our process suggests having some defence and some cyclicality within the portfolio, but that it is too early to get fully defensive or fully cyclical. The Global Earnings Revision Ratio showed some signs of stabilisation in November after falling for 10 months. Interestingly, the ratio jumped the most for semiconductors, which often leads the Global Earnings Revisions Ratio by one month. Most investors know that the USA is the best performing major equity market over the last decade, but not many people know that the Japanese equity market outperformed both Europe and Emerging Markets over the last decade – something we expect to continue over the next few years.

Currently our process suggests having some defence and some cyclicality within the portfolio, but that it is too early to get fully defensive or fully cyclical

As ever, we remain eyes wide open for any changes or surprises (positive or negative) and will follow our ruthless sell discipline by “weeding out the losers” if they are broken fundamentally or technically. We will try to replace them with interesting idiosyncratic stocks (relatively low correlation to sector or country) that are less affected by the short-term machine-driven flows and the long-term passive flows that dominate today’s highly correlated investment environment.

GLOBAL EQUITIES

Ben Leyland
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM International Opportunities
JOHCM Global Opportunities

We continue to expect volatility in financial markets to rise substantially at some point. But whether that happens in 2020 is impossible to say, and as ever the ‘catalyst’ will only be apparent with hindsight. We would simply suggest that it is more important to observe the scale of the bonfire being built, and act appropriately, than try to predict exactly when the match will be struck. Investors should continue to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Investors should continue to prepare for the worst and hope for the best

As volatility rises, both ends of the style see-saw will start to swing violently. Time will tell whether the new ‘Nifty Fifty’ growth darlings or the value favourites – which tend to be either overindebted cyclicals or structurally challenged franchises – end up being the biggest problem in people’s portfolios. The reality is that both ends carry substantial risk of capital loss, and investors should resist the ‘hero trade’ of trying to time a wholesale switch from one extreme to the other.

In general, we look forward to periods of elevated market volatility because they tend to create opportunities for long-term investors to put capital to work. But what is striking today is how the normal pattern of uncertainty-volatility-opportunity is completely absent. We would argue that the current uncertainties are more profound than the common-or-garden variety along the lines of “who is going to win the next election?”, or “will there be a recession next year?” Such questions are short-term noise of little relevance to long-term value. By contrast, a quick glance at the UK and US election campaigns underlines the potential for epoch-defining changes in the global socio- political landscape, with major implications for many listed companies. As the year develops, it will be critical to monitor and respond to these developments, retaining an open mind about what constitutes a ‘durable franchise’ and what should be assigned to the ‘too hard’ box.

If a spike in volatility is further postponed, it will pay to be aware of where bubbles are starting to develop – where short-term performance is very strong but valuations are losing touch with reality. As ever, passive flows will play a major part in this process. We suggest that ESG is an obvious theme where we could see a crowded trade develop, as ETFs are launched to funnel capital into companies which ‘tick the box’. Whilst we think there is a lot of sense behind the increasing emphasis on sustainability and governance, we remain convinced that valuation is a critical determinant of future returns. Ignoring it is an easy way to guarantee losing money in the medium term.

EMERGING MARKETS EQUITIES

James Syme
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Global Emerging Markets Opportunities

The story of 2019 in EM equity has been the stresses placed on economies and markets by the twin forces of a stronger US dollar and a slowing Chinese economy. As in previous risk-off cycles in the asset class, this has led to slower growth in the healthier economies and crises in the weaker ones. What has been new in this cycle has been a new political and social volatility. 2020 is going to see a continuation of this trend, no doubt, with Latin America and the Middle East remaining the flashpoints. What we believe we will also see, though, is US political and policy pressures leading to a weaker US dollar, which should significantly improve the outlook for emerging market assets of all kinds.

Overall, though, we see the potential for significant positive surprises in 2020

Significant risks remain in parts of EM. Mexico, for all its institutional strengths, faces a volatile and uncertain relationship with its key trade partner to the north, while to the south the various populist movements go from strength to strength. South Africa’s long decay of governance and policy choices may well cause a serious drag on the country’s credit rating and growth rate in 2020. And, of course, the web of trans-Pacific trading relationships continues to face a difficult future.

Overall, though, we see the potential for significant positive surprises in 2020. A weaker US dollar and improved global liquidity and investor sentiment towards EM would be the big one, but there are others. One quietly positive development in the last few years has been the jump in corporate governance and treatment of minority shareholders in Russian and Brazilian state-owned enterprises, as well as in the Korean chaebol sector. We think this improvement could continue into 2020, with China and India interesting spaces to watch.

EMERGING MARKETS EQUITIES

Emery Brewer
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Emerging Markets

The 2020 outlook for emerging markets depends heavily upon the direction of the US dollar, US-China trade relations and global growth, with a particular focus on China’s economic outlook.

The Federal Reserve’s pivot early this year and the subsequent multiple interest rate cuts, in addition to the resumption of quantitative easing, suggest the dollar's strength and the relative outperformance of US growth might be nearing an end.

We believe globalisation has peaked and the resulting long-term trend will be the “localisation” of value-added products in technology, consumer discretionary and industrial goods

The likely easing of trade tensions will be positive for the Chinese yuan and Chinese business sentiment. Chinese monetary authorities have moved away from the highly restrictive liquidity regime of the past two years by reducing reserve requirement ratios and implementing targeted stimulus (eliminating taxes for low-income earners, increased focus on private industry lending), which is also encouraging. Targeted stimulus and easing trade tensions, coupled with the lower base-line comparator, should translate into stable Chinese growth for 2020.

It should be noted that China has refrained from strong stimulus measures such as infrastructure spending and rate cuts – the key word has been targeted stimulus, so there is still plenty of powder in the keg should it be needed in 2020.

Although we expect trade tensions to ease going into the US presidential election, we believe globalisation has peaked and the resulting long-term trend will be the “localisation” of value-added products in technology, consumer discretionary and industrial goods. Winners in the medium term will be Korea and Taiwan, where companies possess market-leading technology such as semi-conductor foundries and integrated circuit design companies. Local firms will be stepping in to replace US-based market leaders that have traditionally supplied China’s technology needs. We are overweight Korea and Taiwan (particularly the technology sector) on the back of increased market share gained from US suppliers. However, in the longer term, China’s national security interests will dictate local manufacturing.

Finally, there has been speculation of a possible market rotation out of large index, momentum/growth stocks into cyclical names, based on a recovery in global growth (stemming from easing trade tensions, lower rates, a resumption of quantitative easing and increased hope over a positive Brexit conclusion). As a result, we have been increasing the recovery growth side of the portfolio by reducing our underweight in financials and materials.

ASIAN EQUITIES

Samir Mehta
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Asia ex Japan

There are a number of macroeconomic factors to consider as we head into 2020. Geopolitical rivalry could intensify as the US heads into an election year. Hard line political machismo from President Trump could see the trade war morph into a war for capital in an extreme case. Equally, though, we could see a more conciliatory tone from the maverick in the White House.

On the opposing side, China has other concerns. Not only is it facing an economic slowdown but also political challenge from Hong Kong. We must also be cognisant of social unrest stemming from wealth inequality spreading to Asia (as recently seen in Chile, Bolivia and Lebanon) and other countries where income growth has stagnated and job opportunities are scant. If US inflation picks up and the Federal Reserve changes tack again, it could lead to pressure on Asian economies.

Faster-than-expected 5G adoption in Asia will open the door for new business opportunities

Nevertheless, there are positives. Faster-than-expected 5G adoption in Asia will open the door for new business opportunities. A benign US dollar environment will provide tremendous liquidity support, enabling an easing of fiscal (and to some degree) monetary policy in the region, allowing China, India and regional economies to stabilise. This could be a big positive for asset prices in Asia.

JAPANESE EQUITIES

Ruth Nash
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Japan
JOHCM Japan Dividend Growth

After a negative start to the fiscal year, earnings momentum in Japan is likely to turn more positive in the second half. Whilst a “V” shaped recovery is unlikely, the gradual bottoming out of the OECD leading indicator series suggests that the worst is behind us. After a year of aggressive selling, the improving earnings, as well as the continued rise of activist activity in the market, should entice foreign investors to look again at the Japanese market.

Despite the current dip in profits, dividends should collectively continue to increase and buy-backs carry on at a record pace. Once profits turn up again, as they should in the New Year, returns to shareholders should accelerate. As more than half of listed companies have net cash on their balance sheets, and as the overwhelming majority of companies use cash in the bank rather than borrow to fund dividends and buy-backs, the impact is wholly benign. Shareholders should see improved cash flows, corporate returns on equity improve and balance sheets stay strong.

Having successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup, the eyes of the world will turn again to Japan in the summer as it hosts the Olympic and Paralympic games. Investors may start to worry about a possible post-Olympics economic slowdown, but the Abe government is likely to announce further fiscal stimulus measures to ensure that economic momentum is maintained. Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination will continue to grow.

Having successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup, the eyes of the world will turn again to Japan in the summer as it hosts the Olympic and Paralympic games

Foreign investors tend to approach Japan from a top-down perspective. They regard the market as little more than a geared play on global growth. It would be nice to think that in 2020 they might look beyond a macro-driven view of the Nikkei index and examine the fundamentals of some of Japan’s extraordinarily cheap companies, many of which are global leaders in their field and have made great strides in corporate governance. Moreover, in an age of political uncertainty, the stability of Japan’s government should count for something.

CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN EQUITIES

Paul Wild
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM Continental European

2019 was the year of the great re-rating after the sell-off of Q4 2018, a rally which has sustained despite the decline in earnings and economic growth expectations. This leaves 2020 looking somewhat complicated as far as Continental European equities go, not least as we think a continuation of the rally could be difficult given risk-free rates may have now hit their lows. As ever, headline earnings expectations are optimistic for the coming year but this, to some extent, has been accepted as being forever thus.

For the first half of 2020 we think a change of mix will be the dominant theme, helped by mildly improving economic indicators and the possibility of a modest inventory restocking. We think the mix change will be driven by valuation spreads having become too wide and improving prospects within areas such as financials, materials, energy and restocking beneficiaries in technology. Ownership of so-called quality stocks is at extreme levels, which, when combined with extreme valuations, is a dangerous combination.

For the first half of 2020 we think a change of mix will be the dominant theme, helped by mildly improving economic indicators and the possibility of a modest inventory restocking

We have to be cognisant that the cycle is long and later-cycle beneficiaries with strong revenue visibility are attractive, but not at any price. 2020 could well be the year where many investors and the quants are rudely reminded that valuations do actually matter; “infinity and beyond” is in itself not an investment strategy.

With leadership changes already cemented at the European Central Bank and the European Commission, the question arises as to what effects these changes will have. With monetary policy reaching its limits in most people’s views, the baton will hopefully be passed to sovereign fiscal expansion. We are likely to see higher government spending continue (from the expansion which began this year), but we are circumspect as to whether Germany will really do too much given the constitutional debt breaks.

Environmental policy looks like it will be front and centre under EC President Ursula von der Leyen, and carbon reduction targets are likely to be squeezed further. This will provide investment opportunities in green producers and areas that are trending in that direction. It is difficult to see how CO2 emission permits do not become much more expensive.

We would love to see further steps towards banking union. This would be a great catalyst for a reversion of investor flow back into Europe, depressing the cost of capital attributed to the area. Here, recent comments by the German finance minister offer a modicum of hope in regards to the realistic possibility of a deposit guarantee scheme.

The big surprise next year could possibly be inflation. The death of inflation has been much talked about. With tight labour markets and the possibility of a relaxation in trade tensions, it is possible that output gaps close and we see cost-push inflation.

At for the currency, it is possible that we see the euro strengthen on the back of fewer worries about the domestic economy and an ECB that could gradually become less dovish. Perhaps the final surprise, one that is currently showing a few more positive signs, could be that European equity markets finally show some tangible outperformance. For this to happen, we would need to witness the recession-like levels of government bond yields climbing the current wall of worry.

UK EQUITIES

Michael Ulrich
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM UK Opportunities

We think the political shift away from free trade and globalisation will continue in 2020. Investors should expect more economic nationalism at borders and more regulatory intervention within markets.

Whilst 2019 may have signalled the end for “growth at any price” strategies, investors should also avoid following in the footsteps of value managers buying the most cyclical stocks at the wrong moment in the cycle. Watch out for cash-strapped cyclical companies and emergency rights issues to pay down debt.

Also watch out for a gruesome hangover from this year’s value-destroying M&A. 2019 saw the global M&A party surpass the previous record reached on the eve of the global financial crisis (the prior record was at the peak of the dotcom bubble). Equity investors should have the aspirin ready for 2020.

We think the political shift away from free trade and globalisation will continue in 2020

As for what we would like to see next year, shareholders need to face the inevitable cut in dividends having squeezed ever more cash from companies. The cash saved from dividend abuse should be used to fund debt reduction and organic investment.

Company boards should also redesign remuneration to focus on long-term sustainable growth. This means fewer short-term EPS targets and more focus on returns, customers and employees. They should demand executives are paid based on audited results rather than the increasingly fictitious adjusted numbers.

Lastly, thinking about possible surprises, we live in a world where markets believe that central banks can control prices. In this world, record levels of global debt can be sustained by ever-lower rates. Asset prices will never fall because central banks will step in to buy the assets as soon as they see weakness. The biggest surprise will be when the drugs wear off and prices no longer respond to stimulus and flow but to fundamentals. No one is expecting that.

UK EQUITIES

Clive Beagles
Senior Fund Manager
JOHCM UK Equity Income

Last Thursday’s surprise general election result gave financial markets the decisive outcome they (and we) wanted. In terms of the UK’s negotiations with the EU, and to paraphrase Winston Churchill, this may not be the end, or even the beginning of the end, but is the end of the beginning. Extensive and difficult negotiations lie ahead, but after three and a half years of parliamentary deadlock and chronic uncertainty, there is a clearer path ahead for the UK’s future relationship with our largest trading partner.

With the Brexit fog beginning to clear, we see this moment as an almost unparalleled opportunity in UK stock market history. After years of uncertainty, UK equities are materially under-owned by domestic and international investors alike; we expect the asset class to see major inflows in the coming months. Certainly in the few days since the election it feels like UK stocks have come in from the December cold. But even after the market rally since Thursday, UK equities, especially domestic-facing names, look modestly valued versus international peers, while sterling looks meaningfully undervalued on a purchasing power parity basis. At the same time, whilst the valuation gap between value and growth stocks has modestly closed in recent months, it remains very wide relative to history. And it has the capacity to contract further if more of the global economic and political clouds part, including if we get a favourable outcome to President Trump’s trade talks with China, as seems possible.

With the Brexit fog beginning to clear, we see this moment as an almost unparalleled opportunity in UK stock market history

The recent headline economic indicators in the UK have been relatively soft, driven by the prior lack of political clarity. The most recent set of PMIs were lacklustre in both the manufacturing and service sectors, and the UK employment market has weakened progressively over the last few months, although real wages are still growing at a healthy rate. However, our engagements with a number of our more domestically orientated companies suggest that parts of the UK economy are more robust than the data suggests, despite the paralysed political backdrop that persisted for so long and that is now be behind us. Indeed, after the decisive poll result, we think the UK may well be the surprise package of next year and could be the best-performing economy in the G7. A powerful tailwind of higher consumer confidence, increased business investment and fiscal stimulus, particularly in those Northern England and Midland areas which propelled Prime Minister Johnson to his thumping majority, should drag the British economy out of the Brexit doldrums in 2020.

Important Information

Investors should note that investments in foreign securities involve additional risks due to currency fluctuations, economic and political conditions, and differences in financial reporting standards.

Smaller company stocks are more volatile and less liquid than larger, more established company securities. The small and mid-cap companies that the Funds may invest in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger companies and may be more volatile; the price movements of the Fund’s shares may reflect that volatility.

Fixed income securities will increase or decrease in value based on changes in interest rates. If rates increase, the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities generally declines. Other risks may include and are not limited to hedging strategies, derivatives and commodities.

International investments involve special risks, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in Emerging Markets. Such risks include new and rapidly changing political and economic structures, which may cause instability; underdeveloped securities markets; and higher likelihood of high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluations.

Emerging Markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with their relatively small size and lesser liquidity.

Investing in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers.

Investing a substantial amount of assets in issuers located in a single country or in a limited number of countries may be more volatile than a portfolio that is more geographically diversified.

The views expressed are those of the portfolio managers as of December 2019, are subject to change, and may differ from the views of other portfolio managers or the firm as a whole. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or investment advice.

© J O Hambro Capital Management

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