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  Insights

U.S. Equities
U.S. market outlook for 2023
Jared Franz
Economist
Martin Romo
Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Diana Wagner
Equity Portfolio Manager

Investors want to know how much longer the pain will last.


The S&P 500 Index recorded its worst year in more than a decade in 2022, falling 13.1% through November 30. And investors face more market volatility in the year ahead as the macroeconomic environment poses headwinds for many companies.


The American economy, while stronger than most other developed countries, appears headed toward recession, weighed down by high inflation and rising interest rates.


Capital Group economist Jared Franz expects the U.S. economy to contract by about 2% in 2023. That would be worse than the tech and telecom bubble of the early 2000s, but not nearly as bad as the 2008–09 financial crisis. “The important thing to remember,” Franz stresses, “is that recessions are inevitable and necessary to clear out market excesses, and they set the stage for future growth.”


There have been a few bright spots. Consumer spending, a bulwark of the U.S. economy, has been surprisingly strong despite high inflation. In September consumer spending rose 1.7%, exceeding the forecast of 1.4%. Can the American consumer prevent a recession? “Probably not,” says Franz. Nevertheless, it is good to see they are trying.


Whichever way the economic data trends, well-managed companies can compete and flourish in this environment. And patient, selective investors can be rewarded. “We're in a period where the macro environment is particularly important,” says Capital Group equity portfolio manager Martin Romo. “But the risk is you focus so much on where we are in the cycle that you fail to recognize companies that are thriving and may be catalysts for the next bull market. That’s where I’m spending my time.”


Here are five investment themes to consider in the year ahead.


1. Stocks will likely turn positive before the economy


Every recession is painful in its own way, but one potential bright spot is that they don’t historically last very long. Our analysis of 11 U.S. cycles since 1950 shows that recessions have ranged from two to 18 months, with the average lasting about 10 months.


What’s more, stock markets usually start to recover before a recession ends. Stocks have already led the economy on the way down in this cycle, with nearly all major equity markets entering bear market territory by mid-2022. And if history is a guide, they could rebound about six months before the economy does.


Stocks have historically been a leading indicator of the economy

The illustration includes a line graph comparing the average cycle for the S&P 500 and industrial production from 1950 to 2021 indexed to 100 at each cycle peak. Industrial production measures the change in output produced by manufacturers, mines and utilities and is used here as a proxy for the economic cycle. The illustration shows that the stock market has tended to peak seven months prior to the start of a recession and recover six months before a recession ends. The S&P starts at 87.8 and ends at 114.2. Industrial production starts at 92.9 and ends at 98.7.
Sources: Capital Group, Federal Reserve Board, Haver Analytics, National Bureau of Economic Research, Standard and Poor’s. Data reflects the average of completed cycles in the U.S. from 1950 to 2021, indexed to 100 at each cycle peak. Other data includes all completed cycles from 1/1/50–10/31/22. Industrial production measures the change in output produced by manufacturers, mines and utilities and is used here as a proxy for the economic cycle. Past results are not predictive of results in future periods.

“Stocks have tended to anticipate a brighter future before it’s apparent in the data,” Franz says. In other words, investors may be better served by staying invested than trying to time the rebound. The benefits of capturing a full market recovery can be powerful. In all cycles since 1950, bull markets had an average return of 265%, compared to a loss of 33% for bear markets.


The strongest gains have often occurred immediately after a bottom. Therefore, waiting on the sidelines for an economic turnaround is not a recommended strategy. “When the market turns it will likely happen quickly, and no one will be giving the all-clear signal,” Franz adds.


2. Dividends matter again


For the past decade investors had little reason to pay much attention to dividends. With U.S. tech and consumer companies generating double-digit returns and dominating total market returns, dividends appeared downright boring.


Today boring is beautiful. “With rates rising and the economy slowing, I am finding many opportunities to invest in solid dividend payers,” says Diana Wagner, a Capital Group equity portfolio manager. “And dividends are starting to account for a greater percentage of total returns, as they have historically.”


Dividends have historically been a larger percentage of total return

The bar chart shows S&P 500 average annualized total return (%) by decade from the 1940s to the 2020s, versus the historic average annual total return from January 1926 through November 2022. The chart also shows average dividend contributions to returns by decade. Figures are as follows: in the 1940s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 9.1% and dividends contributed 66% of that total; in the 1950s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 19.3% and dividends contributed 27% of that total; in the 1960s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 7.8% and dividends contributed 42% of that total; in the 1970s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 5.9% and dividends contributed 72% of that total; in the 1980s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 17.5% and dividends contributed 25% of that total; in the 1990s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 18.2% and dividends contributed 14% of that total; in the 2000s, total return for the S&P 500 Index was negative and dividends provided a 1.8% annualized return over the decade; in the 2010s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 13.5% and dividends contributed 16% of that total; in the 2020s, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 10.1% and dividends contributed 16% of that total; for the full period from January 1926 to November 30, 2022, the average annualized return for the S&P 500 was 10.2% and dividends contributed 38% of that total.
Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. 2020s data is from 1/1/26 through 11/30/22. *Total return for the S&P 500 Index was negative for the 2000s. Dividends provided a 1.8% annualized return over the decade. Past results are not predictive of results in future periods.

While dividends accounted for a slim 16% of total return for the S&P 500 in the 2010s, historically they have contributed an average 38%. In the inflationary 1970s they climbed to more than 70%. “When you expect growth in the single digits, dividends can give you a head start,” Wagner adds. “They may also offer a measure of downside protection when volatility rises, but it is essential to understand the sustainability of those dividends.”


Companies that have paid steady and above-market dividends can be found across the financials, energy, materials and health care sectors, among others. UnitedHealth Group, the largest private provider of health benefits to Americans, has grown its dividend and will likely continue to do so even in a tougher economy. “Retail banks, which are in the in the eye of the storm in terms of exposure to the business cycle, have been cautious heading into the downturn, and I believe fundamentals for select banks are likely to improve in the next year,” Wagner says. “In other words, I believe the dividends are sustainable and have the potential to increase.”


With respect to energy, Wagner believes we are in an energy crisis and expects demand to rise longer term. “Many energy companies today are showing a commitment to dividends,” she adds. For example, major exploration and production company ConocoPhillips recently disclosed it intends to increase buybacks and dividends.


3. Look for new market leadership to emerge


New market leadership often emerges at the end of a bear market. With the cost of capital soaring, companies with strong, reliable cash flows are favorably positioned to lead the next recovery.


Consider the health care sector, which features innovative pharmaceutical companies that are well capitalized and hold pricing power. Select drug makers can use near-term profitability to fund acquisitions and other growth strategies. That’s especially important when rising rates may limit a company’s ability to fuel their growth with debt.


Large drug makers are positioned to fund their own growth

The bar chart shows the total cash on balance sheets for global pharmaceutical companies in USD billions. For 2019 the total was $159.2 billion, for 2020 the total was $193.9 billion and for 2021 the total was $196.1 billion. The 2022 year-to-date total (as of September 30) is $195.4 billion.
Sources: Capital Group, FactSet, MSCI, Refinitiv Datastream, Refinitiv Eikon. Figures above represent the aggregated value in U.S. dollars of cash and short-term investments across MSCI World Pharmaceuticals constituents. As of September 30, 2022.

“I don’t know for certain that the health care sector will lead the next bull market,” Wagner explains. “But the best managed of these companies could emerge as market leaders.”


Recent investments in drug discovery are resulting in new ways to tackle major problems like obesity. By 2030 it is estimated that over one billion people worldwide will suffer from obesity, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure. Companies like Eli Lilly have invested heavily in therapies with the potential to reduce a patient’s body weight by as much as 20% to 25%.


“We have entered a golden age of drug development that may vastly improve quality of life for people. This is an exciting time to invest in health care. Few drugs will achieve blockbuster success, however, so selective investing is crucial.”


4. Growth investing may depend on earnings


Growth stocks had a rough year in 2022, which caused many investors to rotate from growth to value. But that may be the wrong way to think about it, according to Romo, a Capital Group equity portfolio manager. “Growth investing is not dead,” Romo says, “but in today’s reality, investors need to think differently about growth.”


For the past decade the market was dominated by fast-growing tech and consumer stocks whose businesses often depended on the low cost of capital. But high inflation and rising rates are forcing investors to take a second look at valuations.


Today, growth has been repriced due to the higher cost of capital. “Successful growth investing may depend less on multiple expansion and more on earnings growth. In this new environment investors will want to focus more on companies with reasonable, understandable valuations on near-term earnings and cash flow,” Romo adds.


“Well established tech giants with visible cash flows from legacy software offerings, for example, coupled with a faster growing offering like a cloud platform, could be among the leaders of the next bull market. “But going forward, investors will focus more on profitability, and they will be less tolerant of fast-growing companies with little to no earnings growth.”


5. Prepare for a potential industrial renaissance


In addition to health care and technology, new growth leadership could emerge from unexpected areas, like capital equipment companies. Look for a capital investment super-cycle to spark an industrial rebirth as reshoring supply chains, grid modernization and investments in renewable energy drive demand for capital equipment spending.


Years of globalization have led to underinvestment in machinery, plants and other capital projects. “You have an aging factory footprint behind the manufacturing sectors of most developed markets,” says Gigi Pardasani, an equity investment analyst who covers U.S. large-cap industrials.


Rising capital spending could spark a renaissance for capital equipment companies

The image shows growing capital expenditures across MSCI ACWI sectors in USD billions from 2007 through 2023. Figures for 2023 are estimates. Sectors are listed from bottom to top as follows: Utilities, communication services, information technology, consumer discretionary, energy, industrials, materials and other sectors.
Sources: Capital Group, FactSet, MSCI. In current U.S. dollars. All figures represent estimates from FactSet, including projected figures for 2022 and 2023. Data as of October 31, 2022.

In addition, the transition to renewable energy and greater energy security is generating opportunities for companies that invest aggressively.


“We recently had an interesting discussion about the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides billions of dollars for investment in renewable energy infrastructure,” says Capital Group equity portfolio manager Jody Jonsson. “I think this will lead to a renaissance for traditional industrial companies who are supplying the renewable industry or are helping other companies become more energy independent, whether that’s through the development of smart buildings, power management, smart grids or battery technology.”


This billions of dollars in spending also reflects revenue growth potential for capital equipment leaders such as Rockwell Automation; battery and energy storage developers like Lockheed Martin and Tesla; and equipment providers to the energy and mining industries like Caterpillar and Baker Hughes.


“This investment cycle can have broader benefits for U.S. manufacturing as significantly lower energy costs over the long term can give American manufacturers a competitive edge,” notes Pardasani. “I can see ‘Made in the USA’ becoming a byword for growth again.”



Jared Franz is an economist with 18 years of industry experience (as of 12/31/2023). He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northwestern University.

Martin Romo is chairman and chief investment officer of Capital Group. He is also the president of Capital Research Company, Inc, serves on the Capital Group Management Committee and is an equity portfolio manager with 32 years of investment experience (as of 12/31/2023). He holds an MBA from Stanford and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Diana Wagner is an equity portfolio manager with 27 years of investment experience (as of 12/31/2023). She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a bachelor’s degree in art history from Yale University.


The market indexes are unmanaged and, therefore, have no expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.
 

MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market results in the global developed and emerging markets, consisting of more than 40 developed and emerging market country indexes.
 

MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market results of developed markets. The index consists of more than 20 developed market country indexes, including the United States.
 

MSCI World Pharmaceuticals is a subcomponent of the MSCI World Index and only contains companies within the pharmaceuticals industry.
 

The S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization-weighted index based on the results of approximately 500 widely held common stocks.
 

MSCI has not approved, reviewed or produced this report, makes no express or implied warranties or representations and is not liable whatsoever for any data in the report. You may not redistribute the MSCI data or use it as a basis for other indices or investment products.
 

S&P 500 is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Capital Group. Copyright © 2022 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.

 

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