As the Olympic Games in Sochi draw to a close, a new era for international sports may be beginning. Uzbekistan last month revealed a program to test children’s genes to predict their athletic potential. With genomics becoming more mainstream, we believe investors should take a long-term view and look beyond the traditional companies involved in genetic testing. [Read More...]
Wallflower Value Stocks Are Ready to Dance
Global equities are notching new highs, valuations are elevated and talk of market bubbles is increasingly common. Yet, by our measure, the potential for outperformance in value stocks has rarely been better. How can that be? [Read More...]
Counting to a Trillion: How Sensors Are Changing the Face of Investment Opportunity
How well did you sleep last night? Well, for about $130, you can buy a sensor-bearing wristband that will tell you how long you slept and how you slept, and even figure out the optimal time to wake you—with a gentle vibration. This is just one way sensor technology is improving our lives and creating investment opportunities. But how—and where—will this transformation take shape? [Read More...]
Buybacks Are Not Just an Accounting Trick
As if on cue, news of record buyback authorizations earlier this year unleashed a torrent of media coverage denouncing them as nothing more than an accounting sleight of hand. We think the reaction has been pretty extreme. [Read More...]
Thirsty for Income? Try Dividend Growth
Chasing yield has become a challenging mission for investors in recent years. As yields collapsed in fixed income, investors flocked to bond-like substitutes such as high dividend-yielding stocks. Now that these stocks have become a bit pricey, we think companies with strong dividend-growth potential offer a better way to source equity income. [Read More...]
Why Eurozone stocks have lagged
Since the low point for the equity markets during the global financial crisis in 2009, Eurozone equities have lagged their US counterparts by an impressive 300%. Why is this? By the look of things, it’s a combination of different factors. The first – and most important – reason is that US companies have performed much better than their European counterparts when it comes to corporate earnings. The graph below shows that since March 2009, the earnings per share of companies in the S&P 500 have increased 170%, compared with an increase in earnings of precisely 0% for companies in the Eurostoxx 50. Some of this difference can be explained by share buybacks, but for the most part it can simply be put down to profitability. Heavyweights The second reason is … [Read More...]
It’s too early to get too gloomy about stocks
An unexpected and unfortunate outbreak of the coronavirus puts pressure on the sustainability of the increase in global growth momentum. The fact that the uptick in momentum had only just started makes it relatively vulnerable to any negative shocks. In addition, the significant amount of uncertainty related to containing the virus as well as its economic impact requires an appropriate cautious stance on risky assets. ‘Appropriate’, however, does not imply getting too gloomy too early, as other factors remain positive for risky assets, and for equities in particular. Global health emergency On 30 January, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency related to the coronavirus outbreak in China. Since then, an increasing list of countries and companies have taken numerous measures to prevent the virus from … [Read More...]
Global Investing and the European Enigma
Equity investors are struggling to figure out how to approach the European enigma. It’s clear that a recovery is brewing, but there’s still too much uncertainty for comfort. In our view, distinguishing the European context from that of the US or Japan can help point the way toward unravelling the puzzle. [Read More...]
Five Key Themes for Equity Investors
Equity markets have started to perk up in early 2013, yet lackluster economic growth is posing a challenge to corporate profitability. In this promising but complex environment, we’ve identified five key themes for equity investors that are worth watching as the year unfolds. [Read More...]
Alarm Clock Goes Off on Dream Stocks
Investors have recently woken up to the reality of overpriced US momentum stocks in technology and biotech. But a knee-jerk shift toward defensive sectors isn’t the answer. [Read More...]
Seeing Through Emerging-Market Volatility
Stock markets in emerging markets (EMs) have gotten off to a rough start this year after a challenging 2013. Valuations have fallen and volatility remains high. So should investors add exposure to emerging markets—or is it better to steer clear? [Read More...]