Boyar’s Updated Thoughts on the Recent Stock Market Volatility
Below is a letter we sent to Boyar Asset Management clients on 06/17/2022.
On May 6, we wrote you to share our thoughts on the recent stock market volatility, noting that the selloff was likely driven by many different investor concerns: inflation, interest rates, the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and an economic slowdown in China. Unfortunately, with these factors still in play, the stock market (using the S&P 500 as a reference) has since declined by a further ~11%. We’ve officially entered a bear market, defined as a drop of 20% or more from the previous peak.
Amid the daily parade of frightening headlines, it’s anyone’s guess what will make stocks recover from here. But through all the uncertainty, we’re keeping in mind Warren Buffett’s observation that “[t]he future is never clear; you pay a very high price in the stock market for a cheery consensus. Uncertainty actually is the friend of the buyer of long-term values.” As we wrote on May 6, we agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly:
The near term will likely be bumpy, but we’re optimistic about the future. In fact, now is when investors should be thinking about increasing their equity exposure: historically, the best time to invest is when you feel the worst. Even highly experienced and successful investors find taking this plunge difficult, particularly when prices keep falling, but buying great businesses at marked-down prices and holding them for the long term is historically how the best returns are made.
Although bear markets can be painful, they shouldn’t prompt investors to sell. Decade after decade, investors have been best served by holding their positions in high-quality companies, and they’ve been even better served if they have the funds (and stomach) to buy more—after all, the timing of market rebounds is nothing if not unpredictable. As the following graphic shows, since 1957, the median market return (again, measured against the S&P 500) has been positive 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after officially entering bear market territory. Certainly in some years stocks have been down during those time frames, but that’s been the exception, not the rule.
We still believe that investors should stay the course. We haven’t decreased our equity exposure, and we don’t plan to; instead, we like to take advantage of these moments of market dislocations to increase our equity holdings. We’re pained at the thought of losing money for our clients, but we see this year’s losses thus far as “paper losses,” not as a permanent loss of capital. After all, the price of a stock on any given day is simply what people are willing to pay for a business at that moment. But we believe that over the long term, either the stock market will come to reflect the business’s true value or an acquirer will purchase it for its true worth. We have no reason to believe that this time will be any different.
Unfortunately, today’s stock prices are being driven by panic over macroeconomic headlines, not by underlying business fundamentals. Wall Street has historically overreacted to economic data, whether positive or negative, prompting economist Paul Samuelson to famously observe that “the stock market has predicted nine out of the last five economic recessions.” The stock market hates uncertainty more than anything else, and right now we’re knee-deep in it. How long before we’ll find solid ground is anyone’s guess.
Reasons for Optimism
But the situation isn’t all doom and gloom. The U.S. banking system hasn’t been this strong in decades, unemployment is at historic lows, and consumer balance sheets have been bolstered by recent government stimulus programs (though the savings rate has recently declined, and credit card balances have increased significantly—developments we’ll be keeping a close eye on). A recession is certainly possible, but these factors should help mitigate its effects.
Equally important, investor sentiment is at multiyear lows, with consumer confidence even lower than after the September 11 attacks, during the 2008–2009 financial crisis, and during the coronavirus lockdowns. Both these markers have historically been great contraindicators for future stock market returns. Consumer confidence might well go lower from here, but its worth noting that —according to JP Morgan, the average 12-month return of the S&P 500 after the eight consumer sentiment troughs since 1971 was 24.9%:
Finally, and most important, the stocks we own are quite inexpensive—and the best predictor of future stock market returns is valuation. In times like these, putting things into their proper perspective is essential. Today’s headlines are alarming, but they pale in comparison with those we saw during 2008–2009, when people thought the global financial system was on the brink of actual collapse. Likewise, in 2020, when the coronavirus drove the economy off a cliff in mere months, investors feared for their physical health, not just their financial health. Even so, staying the course was the right move in both cases, and we see no reason this time should be any different.
As always, we’re more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to call our office at (212) 995-8300 or email us at info@boyarvaluegroup.com. Looking forward to better days ahead.
Best regards,
Mark A. Boyar
Jonathan I. Boyar
Important Disclaimers
This information is not a recommendation, or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, an interest in any security, including an interest in any investment vehicle managed or advised by Boyar Asset Management (“Boyar”) or its affiliates. This material is as of the date indicated, is not complete, and is subject to change without notice. Additional information is available upon request. No representation is made with respect to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of information and Boyar assumes no obligation to update or revise such information. Consult your financial adviser before making any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed herein represent current opinions only and no representation is made with respect to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of information, and Boyar Asset Management and its affiliates assumes no obligation to update or revise such information. You should not assume that any investment discussed herein will be profitable or that any investment decisions in the future will be profitable. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Certain information has been provided by and/or is based on third party sources and, although believed to be reliable, has not been independently verified and Boyar Asset Management or any of its affiliates is not responsible for third-party errors. Any information that may be considered advice concerning a federal tax issue is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purposes of (i) avoiding penalties imposed under the United States Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter discussed herein.
Any results mentioned, do not necessarily represent the results of any of the accounts managed by Boyar Asset Management Inc., and the results of Boyar Asset Management Inc. accounts could and do differ materially from any of the results presented. While the results presented show profits, there was the real possibility of a permanent loss of capital. This information is for illustration and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Boyar Asset Management Inc. is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration of an Investment Advisor does not imply any level of skill or training. A copy of current Form ADV Part 2A is available upon request or at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov Please contact Boyar Asset Management Inc. at (212) 995-8300 with any questions.