Overview
At the end of December 2018, markets had just completed one of the worst quarters in several years. The general view was very weak.
Today, many investors are much more positive after very strong returns in 2019.
Where that leaves us today is much more in the middle in terms of our outlook for 2020.
On the positive side, interest rates remain very low and the general trend is for them to remain at these levels for a while. In addition, global growth is showing some signs of improvement after real slowdowns in 2019.
On the negative side, U.S. markets are now at the high end of their valuations, and there isn’t a lot of room to go higher unless corporate earnings pick up strongly. Of interest, most other equity markets, including Canada, have much more reasonable valuations at the moment.
In Canadian Dollars – Total Stock Market Returns in 2019:
| *TSX (Canada) | 22.9% |
| *S&P500 (U.S.) | 25.7% |
| *European Stocks | 18.6% |
| *Nikkei (Japan) | 16.3% |
| *Emerging Markets | 13.2% |
| *Hang Seng (Hong Kong) | 8.4% |
Other key 2019 Returns included:
| * FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index | 6.9% |
| *BMO CM50 Preferred Shares | 2.1% |
What do we see for 2020 and why
We do not believe that a bear market is imminent.
Last quarter we said that historically, bear markets occur when at least two of the following four circumstances are found:
- Economic Recession – Two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
- Commodity Spike – A movement in oil prices of over 100% over an 18 month period.
- Aggressive Fed Tightening – Unexpected and/or significant increases in the Fed funds rate.
- Extreme Valuations – When S&P500 trailing 12 months price/earnings levels were approximately two standard deviations higher than the long term average.
As of the moment, we are seeing reasonable growth with expected real GDP growth of 1.8% in the U.S. and 1.6% in Canada, so no economic recession, although certainly not stunning growth either.
There was no major commodity spike in oil prices, even with the recent Iran conflict.
No meaningful increases in interest rates are envisioned. We expect rates to remain flat or to be slightly down in 2020.
The only bear market risk at the moment is high stock market valuations, but even the overvaluation is not significantly large. Focusing on the S&P500 in the U.S., the measure is a trailing 12 months Price/Earnings ratio two standard deviations higher than the long term average. While not trailing, on a forward P/E basis, the S&P500 is at 18.5 vs. a 25 year average of 16.3. This is 0.7 standard deviations higher than average.
It is definitely something to be aware of, but not enough, especially in light of the other three criteria to put us in real concern of a bear market.
In addition, other global markets are valued more cheaply than the U.S.
This chart from J.P. Morgan highlights 25 years of the Forward P/E ratio of the S&P 500.
Interest rates fairly flat with slight downward pressure
On the interest rate side of things, the Central Banks in Canada and the U.S. are both signaling little movement for the time being, although the U.S. could lower rates again before Canada does.
Strengthening of Canadian dollar vs. the U.S.
Our current view is that the CDN$ will strengthen further against the US$ this year. The main reasons being that the U.S. Fed has lowered rates and may lower further, while Canada has not lowered rates and is less likely to lower them in 2020 vs. the U.S. As a result, on the short end of the yield curve, Canada is now paying more than the U.S., and that is where much of the international money flow invests in (short term bonds). The other driver is that there is more relative growth momentum in Canada than the U.S. What we mean is that in 2018 U.S. growth was about 0.9% higher than Canada. In 2019, it was only 0.7% higher. This year, the U.S. GDP growth is forecast to be only 0.2% higher than Canada, despite a much higher Federal government deficit and more accommodative central bank. We believe that this shift in growth momentum will be positive for the CDN$ vs U.S.$.
Trade Wars
It looks like we are finally seeing some warming on the trade wars. As expected, the Trump White House is looking for some trade wins heading into the election. With the imminent passing of the USMCA (what we will still call NAFTA), and the first phase of a China and U.S. agreement, there are signs of some confidence that may support global growth.
Corporate Earnings
Corporate earnings are expected to grow year over year by 16% according to Bloomberg, but the sentiment is for earnings growth to be lower than that. This tells us two things. The first is that strong earnings growth is not likely going to help ‘fix’ the high valuations in the U.S. market. The second is that with reasonably modest earnings expectations, it is a little easier for companies to meet and exceed expectations. Overall, we see corporate earnings numbers growing but not driving the markets higher.
Oil Prices
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global demand for oil continues to increase. In fact, the global demand chart below is remarkably steady for a commodity with a price that can be so volatile. This is important to remember, because with all of the focus on alternative energy it can be easy to believe that Oil consumption is in decline.
Price expectations for oil are pretty flat, in the $55 to $60 per barrel range for West Texas Intermediate, although the general trend over the past 5 years has been higher.
For energy stocks, which have struggled for several years, this stability, and even the belief of stability, can lead to some modest gains for a depressed sector.
How does this impact your portfolio?
Based on this, we are starting to trim our U.S. stock weighting, and returning some of that back to Canada. We will maintain our Global Stock weightings. In addition, we see modest returns for bonds in 2020 and would look to be a little higher weighted in fixed rate preferred shares (with 5%+ dividend yields) as well as rate reset preferred shares, which should benefit from flattish interest rates.
Alternative investments remain an important part for our client portfolios and may be even more important given the more modest expectations from stocks.
On a sector basis, we will likely be lightening up on U.S. Health Care and looking for strong Canadian dividend growers.
Our fearless predictions for 2020:
Before we do our 2020 predictions, it is worth reviewing our 2019 predictions, which came in quite accurate overall:
- Better than average stock market returns in most major markets including Canada and the U.S.
- Interest rates being mostly flat with maybe one ¼% increase in both Canada and the U.S with a real possibility of an interest rate decline in Canada before the year is out.
- The Canadian dollar being fairly flat, but being tied more to oil than we have seen in the recent past.
- Oil rising but only slowly, and not a significant recovery.
- Preferred Shares having a strong year, bouncing back from their late year steep declines.
- Marijuana stocks will see a general decline overall as high valuations and uncertain revenues work their way through, but with increasing gaps between the winners and losers. In fact, we expect to see several bankruptcies in 2019 among the weak players in the market, and at least one major blow up of a more established firm (we just don’t know which one).
- Cryptocurrencies – need we even comment?
For 2020, our predictions are:
- Average stock market returns in most major markets including Canada and the U.S. – likely in the 5% to 10% return range but with more typical volatility.
- Canada will outperform the U.S. market for the first time since 2016.
- Interest rates will remain mostly flat to small decreases in both Canada and the U.S.
- The Canadian dollar will see reasonable gains vs. the U.S. dollar.
- Oil prices will mostly trade within a range of $60 +/- $5..
- Preferred Shares will have a stronger year as more investors look for bond alternatives.
Based on these short term beliefs, we have a little higher than average cash weightings in our stock funds, and will lower our weight on U.S. stocks, increasing the weighting in Canada. We will also more actively use options to protect against downside risk.
In the Growth fund, which is more active in terms of adjusting industries, we will be adding to Canadian Financials and Utilities and reducing U.S. Health Care.
How Did TriDelta do in 2019?
Our 2019 returns were as follows:
| TriDelta Pension Pool (Stocks) | 17.3% |
| TriDelta Growth Pool (Stocks) | 20.3% |
| TriDelta’s Selection of Alternative Income Funds | +5.5% to +10.5% |
TriDelta Private Funds
In mid-January the Private Fund 1 will do another cash distribution. Over 9% of the remaining value of the TriDelta Private Fund 1 (Fixed Income Fund) will be distributed out as cash. We expect to pay further distributions on the fund next quarter as more of the underlying investments mature or are sold. On the TriDelta Private Fund 2 (High Income Balanced Fund), we didn’t pay a distribution this quarter, after distributing over 30% in the previous two quarters.
Nine Quick Hits of news and items of interest
- The TriDelta Alternative Performance Fund is launching later this month. It will provide a diversified mix of our top growth Alternative Investments in one fund that can be held in any account. To learn more, please contact your Wealth Advisor.
- A reminder that now is a great time to top up TFSA’s. There is another $6,000 per person in contribution room for 2020. If you have never contributed to a TFSA, the lifetime limit is now likely $69,500 for you. If you have the funds, January is also a good time to do 2020 contributions to RRSPs, RESPs and RDSPs, as appropriate, as it will help you to tax shelter for a full year.
- If you like to save money on gas, a great website to look at is gasbuddy.com. The website shows gas prices at individual stations in your area, and includes prices for standard and high octane as well.
- Since the S&P 500 market peak in October 2007, the Technology index is up 348.1%. During the same period the Energy index is up just 6.5%.
- S. Household Debt Service Ratio is lower today at 9.7% that at any time in the past 30 years. In Canada it is at 13.3% and higher than it has been for many years.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, average income for those whose highest education was a High School graduate or less was $38,900, Bachelor’s Degree was $71,200 and Advanced Degree was $99,900.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US Trade Deficit stands at 2.3% of GDP. Despite all of the Buy American initiatives and Trade discussions, this level has been quite constant since 2013. The Trade Deficit peaked around 2006 at 6%.
- While it has come down meaningfully from the peak in mid-2019, there is still over US$11 trillion of debt globally that ‘pays out’ a negative yield, meaning the investor is paying the bond holder for the right to own the bond.
- The current interest yield on the full Canadian Bond Index today is just 2.15%.
Summary
We expect a slightly lower than average year in stock markets overall, but do not believe that we are heading into a bear market, at least through the U.S. election.
This type of market can bring a relative premium to investments that pay decent dividends and other income returns, especially given the overall low return on cash and GICs.
Volatility is expected to be higher in 2020, and the reasons for volatility can crop up from anywhere, as we have seen with the Iranian conflict already this month.
Our goal for our clients is to build peace of mind through financial planning and developing portfolios that have much less volatility than stock indexes with a focus on income. While stock markets are historically down three out of every ten years, we aim to have client portfolios that are rarely negative. This is part of the reason for our Alternative Income weighting in portfolios.
At TriDelta we will continue to be nimble while focused on a long-term plan, a steady and diversified asset mix that is built appropriately for the goals of each client, and an eye on tax minimization.
Here is to a good investment year in 2020 for everyone.
