Time often seems to slow down during market sell-offs or corrections, as the volatility creates a more news-filled world. On the flip side, when markets keep going up, time flies. So if you are wondering why this summer seems to have flown by quickly, blame the stock market. The S&P 500 is now up about 20% on the year and within 5% of its all-time high set back in January of 2022. The TSX, which has enjoyed more modest mid-single-digit returns this year, is about 7% away from its 2022 high. Really, there isn’t much to complain about so far this year. Even if a bit more defence positioned, such as ourselves, returns are pretty good.
Markets this year have wrestled through a number of headwinds. Some U.S. bank turmoil, debt ceiling, continued geopolitical tensions, slowing earnings and a ton of recession warning signals. But some big positives too. Inflation hasn’t gone away, but the trend appears in the right direction. Yes, parts of the economy are slowing, but other parts are proving rather resilient. Add to this, positioning in options/futures markets, investor sentiment and fund flows were very negative a couple of months back. Part of this recent uptick in markets appears to have been a partial unwinding of some of these bearish bets.
Over the past couple of months, one big positive has been the broadening of the market advance. A couple of months ago, when the S&P 500 was up a more modest +15%, all of this advance was attributed to the big mega-cap technology names. While the market leadership is still tilted and concentration risk remains, we have seen the laggards finally start to participate over the last bit.
The above chart covering the past five years plots the percentage of S&P 500 constituents trading above their respective 50-day moving average. At the end of May, this was below 30% as the market moved higher on the backs of just a few companies. Now we are knocking on the door of 90% market breadth. This has been helping the equal-weighted index catch up a bit to the more popular market cap-weighted index.
Interestingly, when this measure of market breadth reaches the 90% area, it often stalls. In other words, this rally is getting deeper into overbought territory. But that shouldn’t be a surprise given the Dow rose 13 consecutive days in July, which Brett says ties the previous record set in 1987 over the Dow’s 125+ year history.
If this is just a bear market bounce off of last year’s sell-off, it is one helluva bounce. Certainly noteworthy, the biggest gainers this year from a market perspective are the biggest droppers last year. In order, last year's biggest decliners were crypto, NASDAQ, International Equities, S&P 500, and then the TSX down the least. This year the biggest gainers are crypto, NASDAQ, International Equities, S&P 500, and then the TSX up the least.
Can’t go down forever
Investors have grown to have a love/hate relationship with preferred shares, tilted more towards hate of late. High after-tax adjusted yields are enticing, yet the volatility in the space can prove detrimental. Downside volatility of the preferred share asset class over the past year has been particularly acute. From January 2022 to the beginning of June 2023, the TSX/Preferred Share Index fell over 20% from a total return basis before recovering a few points.
Despite this, a convergence of factors suggests that preferred shares now present an attractive opportunity for investors seeking income and potentially capital appreciation. We look at technical, fundamental, and value drivers, highlighting the potential for increased yields and capital appreciation. Though there remain risks associated with this asset class, current conditions offer a compelling case to add into multi-asset portfolios.
Fundamental drivers
Despite the recent weakness, several fundamental drivers suggest a positive outlook for preferred shares. Two primary drivers, credit spreads and interest rates, play a crucial role in determining the performance of this asset class. Credit spreads and preferred shares have a strong correlation, yet there is a growing divergence. The current rally in credit spreads contradicts current sentiment, implying a more favourable environment for preferred shares.
Normally higher yields result in higher trading levels in Canadian preferred shares since the index is now predominantly made up of rate-reset preferreds whose coupons float periodically on a fixed reset schedule. Rate reset coupons will be resetting preferred coupons significantly higher at current levels given the large move higher in 5yr bond yields. Currently, the Canadian 5yr bond yield is 3.9%, the highest it’s been since 2007, when the average preferred share coupon will be adjusted significantly higher in the future, considering reset spreads average 2.84%. This equates to an average yield for rate resets of 6.7% over the next few years. This is an attractive yield on its own, but considering these are dividend payments, the interest-rated adjusted yield of 8.8% is quite attractive on an after-tax basis.
Technical factors
In June, despite risk assets continuing to shine, preferred share returns were weaker (1.3%) compared with equities and higher beta credit segments. The underperformance can be attributed to various technical factors, including outflows from the asset class and an apparent "buyers strike.”
Fund flows have taken over as the main technical driver of the market, which is magnified given less liquidity. The chart below details the cumulative outstanding shares of the three largest preferred share ETFs in Canada as well as the 30-day change. Thanks to a solid rebound following the pandemic, fund flow peaked in late 2021. Since then, there have been 16 months of outflows out of the past 17 months. This consistent selling pressure in a rather illiquid market was sufficient to overwhelm bids and drag the asset class lower, even suppressing what should be positive fundamental drivers. The good news is that there are some green shoots. Fund flow turned positive last week, and as you can see from the chart, the intensity of the selling pressure has gradually been calming down over the past few months.
Risks to keep an eye on
Investors must be mindful of the risks associated with preferred shares. The asset class is exposed to credit risk and is sensitive to movements in interest rates. A significant decrease in interest rates could negatively impact preferred shares. Additionally, the illiquidity of preferred shares results in increased volatility at times. One other notable concern is that the proposed tax treatment of dividends received by banks and insurance companies may have deterred these potential buyers from entering the preferred share market. Opportunity rarely comes without risk, but at present, we believe we believe there presents a favourable risk/reward ratio.
The current market environment presents an intriguing opportunity to increase exposure to preferred shares in a portfolio. Despite recent weakness, technical and fundamental drivers indicate a potential upswing for the asset class. The rate reset feature, solid credit quality coupled with attractive current and even better future yields offer a compelling proposition. For those seeking income and capital appreciation, the time seems ripe to reevaluate preferred share allocations within their portfolios. Another intriguing aspect is with the market rally broadening; it’s beginning to expand to areas of the market that have long been neglected.
Market cycle
Market cycle indicators continued to improve a bit over the past month and are getting close to a more neutral stance (still mildly bearish). The yield curve became a bit less inverted, and housing data improved a bit. Meanwhile, international and fundamental metrics remained stable.
Let’s talk yield curve as measured by the 3m vs 10yr yields. This has one of the best recession indication track records and remains pretty deeply inverted but has become a bit less inverted. The short end, of course, went up once again with the Fed raising overnight bank rates but the longer end picked up a bit more. Could the bond market be coming around to the equity market’s view of ‘no recession’? The old adage is the bond market is much better at sniffing out a recession or no recession, while the stock market keeps the party going longer than it usually should. Right now, there is no denying this stock market is in party mode.
What to do when the most reliable recession indicators continue to flash red danger signals and the more coincidental economic metrics show resilience? That is the question of 2023. The yield curve, Federal Reserve recession probability models, and leading indicators are but a few that are in the red zone. Yet companies are making money, jobs are still decent (albeit less abundant), flights/restaurants are full, and the U.S. market is inching towards its all-time high. What to do, what to do….
The answer is the same as before. Tilt to be mildly more defensive, simply because ignoring all those red flags is not responsible. Mildly defensive enables you to participate in the stock markets party; just think of it as leaning against the wall near the door sipping your Michelob Ultra. You are not the life of the party, but should it end suddenly, you are ready to make a quick exit.
Portfolio positioning
As you have seen above, we have become more positive towards preferred shares. This is included in our bond allocation bucket, which has increased our bond allocation from neutral to mild overweight. Otherwise, no other changes. Bit defensive on equities, bit heavier bonds & cash. Equity allocations have a more international tilt than neutral, focused on developed markets. Yes, emerging markets are cheap and certainly have some appealing characteristics, but we believe there will be a more timely entry point. Bond allocations are more focused on quality, albeit a little less now with the preferred share increase. Within alternatives, we focused more on real assets and defence.
The Final Word
Often when a new bull cycle begins, just about everyone doesn’t believe it and remains cautious for quarters and sometimes years. New cycles begin on hope, with the initial rally lacking fundamental improvement, which catches up later. This could be that. But usually, there is a stabilization in the fundamentals, such as earnings or economic indicators. Today these are still gradually deteriorating.
If the new bull cycle has started, time will keep flying by, and it will be Christmas before we know it. That is not our expectation, though, as we believe the divergence between the market and fundamentals will resolve to some sort of corrective action. When? Who knows, but we're certainly more comfortable remaining a bit more defensive, standing near the door.
— Craig Basinger is the Chief Market Strategist at Purpose Investments
— Derek Benedet is a Portfolio Manager at Purpose Investments
— Brett Gustafson is an Analyst at Purpose Investments
Sources: Charts are sourced to Bloomberg L. P.
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