Weekly Investment Strategy

• Will Retail Sales Strike Out? | Retail sales for March are up at bat next Thursday. And with 32% of the respondents in our Quarterly Investment Strategy Survey (1Q22) stating that they are cutting back on overall spending due to inflation, we will be able to gauge how much inflation is truly impacting discretionary consumer spending. As much as headlines tout the fears of higher expense costs resulting in a recession, we believe savings, wage growth, and job creation could be the antidote. Consumers still have ~$2.5 trillion in excess savings, and the labor market continues to show signs of strength.* If the economy can continue to add jobs in the ballpark of ~300k per month (jobless claims reaching the second lowest level on record is a good sign), the economy should be able to weather higher prices as overall spending capacity increases. President Biden extending the freeze on student loan payments reduces a near-term burden that could have hampered some discretionary spending going forward.
• Another Heavy Hitting Earnings Season? | Corporate earnings hit for the ‘triple crown’ in 2021, as the S&P 500 achieved 30% earnings growth in four consecutive quarters for the first time since 3Q10 (post Great Financial Crisis), companies beat earnings per share estimates by 10% for six quarters (the longest streak on record) and margins rose to a record high.* These factors powered the S&P 500 to all-time highs and helped compress elevated valuations. With the Big Banks set to kick off the unofficial start of the 1Q22 earnings season next week, investors are questioning whetherthe S&P 500 can continue its streak. As we distance ourselves from the pandemic, the time of easy comparisons is over as the earnings environment is transitioning to a more normal environment this year. But even as metrics moderate, even a beat rate of ~5%, which would be in line with the historical average, could help the earnings growth forecast of 5.2% stretch into double digits.* A better-than-expected earnings season could allow corporate fundamentals to overshadow the macro headlines (e.g., inflation, Fed tightening) and help the equity market regain its positive momentum. Forward guidance will be critical. Given that the worst of the Omicron surge and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (and the related commodity prices surges) happened in the first quarter, companies may blame disappointing results on these ‘curveballs.’ But longer term, insights into expected sales growth, margins, supply chains, capital expenditures, hiring, and more could confirm that our expectation of robust corporate earnings growth will ‘step up to the plate’ and help lift the S&P 500 to our target of 4,725 by year end.

Click here to enlarge

View as PDF

All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., and are subject to change. Information has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee that the material presented is accurate or that it provides a complete description of the securities, markets or developments mentioned. There is no assurance any of the trends mentioned will continue or that any of the forecasts mentioned will occur. Economic and market conditions are subject to change. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of capital. International investing involves additional risks such as currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic instability. These risks are greater in emerging markets. Companies engaged in business related to a specific sector are subject to fierce competition and their products and services may be subject to rapid obsolescence. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

Read more commentaries by Raymond James