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Three reasons stocks will fall

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By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com

I can’t recall a time in my career when the outlook was so ‘uncertain'.

I write to clarify my thoughts on the market, but right now, the market noise is deafening.

For me, the economic data points to an obvious slowdown, so my head screams ‘LIMITED UPSIDE’, but my pocket tells me I have been wrong plenty of times before.

Here are three areas I am watching that will dictate where the market goes over the coming months and how you can set up your portfolio accordingly.

1. There is an alternative

Bonds have become a genuine alternative to stocks as the equity risk premium falls.

This is already playing out. More than $100bn has flowed out of stock mutual funds and ETFs on a combined basis over the past 13 weeks, one of the worst flow collapses on record while money market fund flows surge.

The narrative is simple. Why have all your exposure in ‘risky’ stocks if you can get 5% risk-free?

2. Earnings

Company earnings drive the stock market in the long run, and higher interest rates will squeeze margins and lower corporate profits over time.

- In Q4, S&P 500 companies posted an average earnings decline of 4.9% over the same quarter a year earlier. This marks the first quarterly decline since the third quarter of 2020.
- S&P 500 profit margin fell from 13.4% in Q4 2021 to 10.8% in Q4 2022.
- Forward earnings projections have fallen from +10% to +2% over recent weeks - a trend that will likely continue, (some of this is already priced in).

As company profits fall, the price investors are willing to pay to own a part of these companies falls as well.

3. Real Estate slowdown

In the US, 'existing-home sales' have been falling for 12 months straight. January year-over-year sales were down 36.9% and are now at levels last seen during the COVID low and Great Financial Crisis.

Even with supply constraints, housing affordability is far from where it needs to be for demand to return. We need to see either a big adjustment lower in interest rates, a realistic decline in prices or some combination of the two.

In Ireland, the trend is still developing. Europe is behind the US in the rate hiking cycle, so mortgage rates are still relatively low (but rising). The housing market has remained stable as a result.

There have been some signs of a slowdown in activity but no significant price movement. The number of house sales in January 2023 was 11% lower than the same month a year earlier.

However, supply issues and a lower mortgage rate relative to the US mean we are unlikely to see any significant price declines in Ireland just yet.

As rates increase, however, I expect the Irish market to come under the same pressure we are currently seeing play out in the US.

Outlook

As we move forward, the question that determines where the stock market will go changes from:

How high will interest rates go?

to

How long can rates stay this high before something breaks?

In my opinion, any market rallies we see off the back of single data releases will be short-lived - but they will happen.

Long-lasting bull markets require rapidly expanding valuations and/or strong earnings growth. I don’t see a reason for either in the data.

Of course, this is a condensed view. If you want me to help you build out and protect your portfolio, email me mike@theislandinvestor.com or scan the QR code.

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Killarney to feature on TG4’s Country Music show

By Sean Moriarty A song about Killarney – once made famous by local Country Music hero Dermot Moriarty – will feature on TG4 tomorrow night (Tuesday). The second series of […]

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By Sean Moriarty

A song about Killarney – once made famous by local Country Music hero Dermot Moriarty – will feature on TG4 tomorrow night (Tuesday).

The second series of the Irish channel’s County Music show ‘Viva Ceol Tire’, which highlights emerging Country Music talent in Ireland, airs every Tuesday night at 9.30pm.

The next programme will feature Donegal singer David James’ version of ‘Oh Killarney’.

The programme was filmed entirely on location in Killarney including Torc Waterfall, Ladies View Moll’s Gap and Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

“The song was written by Dennis Allen. However, it was a hit for Dermot Moriarty in the 1980s. The first time I heard it I loved it and I was thrilled with the reaction my version has got,” James, who is from the small village of Killean in Donegal, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“It’s pretty rural but I love it. I’ll be in Country Music 10 years this May. My first gig was in the local GAA hall for my aunt’s 50th birthday. I was 14 and I’ve been at it ever since.”

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Five questions to ask yourself before buying a stock

By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com When it comes to investing, nothing is certain. There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy. […]

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By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com

When it comes to investing, nothing is certain.

There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy.

The truth is, investing is hard, and building a portfolio of top stocks that beat the market is something that even financial professionals have trouble doing consistently.

For most people, investing in index funds is the perfect hands-off approach, providing broad exposure to the stock market at a very low fee. Even my own personal portfolio is made up of roughly 70% ETFs despite the fact I invest in the market for a living.

But I believe some stock picking is a good strategy for many hands-on people.

Taking a small portion of your overall portfolio and diligently selecting a small number of companies to invest in gives you an opportunity to learn about the investing process and fully understand the businesses you are investing in, which helps to build conviction in your positions.

From a psychological standpoint “collector’s instinct” kicks in, enabling people to participate and invest more money over time.

Lastly, for Irish investors, there are tax benefits to consider. If you invest in individual stocks, you are taxed at the CGT rate of 33%, and the first €1,270 of your gains are exempt from CGT each year. When investing in index funds or ETFs, you are taxed at the exit tax rate of 41% with no annual exemption.

For those interested in picking individual stocks, here are five questions you should ask yourself before investing in any company.

Do I understand the business?

Too many people invest in businesses they don’t understand because it ‘sounds good’. If you have no idea how the company works, you won’t have the conviction needed to hold onto the stock when an inevitable downturn comes.

Can the balance sheet withstand severe, temporary adversity?

This seems obvious, but so many people invest in companies without understanding how much money a company holds and who they owe money to. Economic cycles are guaranteed. You must ensure that the company has enough cash-on-hand to avoid becoming obsolete when activity slows.

Will the company benefit from long-term trends?

Make sure the company will remain relevant into the future. If the stock is cheap now, it may be cheap for a reason.

Is the company enjoying profitable growth?

Not growth at all costs, but a combination of sustainable growth and value. All this information can be found online at sites like stratosphere.io.

What are the risk factors?

Is the company trying something new and untested? If yes, who are its competitors and how successful are they? If other players are more established, this company may have a tough time breaking into the market.

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