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In 2017, investors who focused on the “signal” of improving fundamentals (i.e. synchronized growth of U.S. and global economies, strong earnings growth and still-low inflation) and ignored the “noise” of the fire and fury emanating from Washington, North Korea and seemingly everywhere else were amply rewarded with a steadily rising and uncommonly tranquil stock market.
We believe fundamentals continue to support higher stock prices and offer the following investment “themes” for 2018.
■ The corporate tax cut (reduction of statutory rate of 35 percent to 21 percent and 100 percent first-year expensing of capital expenditures) and pro-business agenda from Washington will lead to stronger economic growth, corporate earnings and business investment.
There is room for debate on the long-term impact of tax cuts on interest rates, the deficit and the dollar, but the short-term effect of the reduction of the statutory rate on the economy and corporate profits should be positive and direct.
The United States had one of the highest corporate tax rates, so the reduction to 21 percent will allow our corporations to compete on a more level playing field. The ability to expense 100 percent of the cost of capital expenditures should also spur investment, which will benefit both the purchasers and sellers of capital goods.
Finally, there is anecdotal evidence that, because of increased confidence in the economy and a likely rollback of regulations, businesses have started loosening their purse strings and spending/investing cash they had been hoarding or using for stock buybacks.
■ Smaller companies should benefit most from the corporate tax cut.
Smaller/domestically oriented companies bear higher effective tax rates than large, global companies because they have fewer tax reduction/avoidance tools available to them. It follows they will benefit most from the reduction in statutory rate.
■ The U.S. stock market’s steady, uninterrupted run of record highs in 2017 is unlikely to be repeated in 2018.
According to Bespoke, 2017 was the first year in history where the S&P 500 saw positive total returns for each month. Not only was the trend straight up in 2017, there were no setbacks along the way. It wasn’t too long ago that days of 2 percent up or down weren’t uncommon, but there wasn’t a single one in 2017.
Further, not only did the stock market not suffer a 10 percent pullback at any point; it didn’t experience a 5 percent or even 3 percent pullback, either. In fact, the S&P 500 hasn’t had a 3 percent pullback from a high in more than 409 calendar days, going back to Nov. 4, 2016, the longest streak on record (going back to 1928). The S&P 500 hasn’t had a 5 percent pullback in more than 539 days (the second-longest stretch after the 593-day stretch that ended in August 1959).
According to Crandall Pierce, since 1900, 5 percent corrections have occurred about three times a year and 10 percent corrections about once a year, so we’re long overdue. Just remember that corrections are a normal part of the stock landscape and nothing to fear. Headlines and talking heads are noise to be ignored. As Bespoke says, “Investing based on the headlines is only profitable for the people buying from you or selling to you.”•
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The column is an excerpt of Kirr Marbach & Co.’s client letter, available at www.kirrmar.com. Kim is the firm’s chief operating officer and chief compliance officer. He can be reached at 812-376-9444 or mickey@kirrmar.com.
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