US valuation spreads are currently at levels last seen during the depths of the financial crisis, creating an unprecedented opportunity for value investors. In the equity markets, the ratio of the lowest quintile of stocks to median stock PE ratios is well over three standard deviations, a level that bodes well for future returns of value stocks. For instance, the Russell 1000 Value Index’s P/B and P/E are currently in the lowest quintile compared to its own history. Similar observations have been made across the market cap spectrum. Extreme value dislocations like we are currently witnessing are rare, and history suggests these market dislocations tend to revert to normal levels, particularly coming out of a significant market downturn like the one we are experiencing now.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will learn:

• How Value stocks have historically performed during different market cycles
• How valuation spreads compare today to the long-term historical average
• What the valuation disconnect looks like across the value-growth and market cap spectrum
• Why research focused on determining a company’s normal earnings power may lead to superior long-term investment results