2020 Market Outlook – Equities

Kevin Gibson, Chief Investment Officer of Equities at Eastspring Investments, Singapore, believes the high valuation upside currently observed in many stocks across Asia, Emerging Markets and Japan more than compensates the patient timeframe that may be required to capture outsized returns.

27 Nov 2019 | 5 min read

1. What surprised you in 2019 and how are you positioned going into 2020?

The underperformance of value in 2019 has been somewhat surprising given its starting valuation discount to other styles at the beginning of the year. In fact, the valuation dispersion between value and growth styles has become more extreme during the year, exceeding levels observed in 2016 and nearing 2000 tech bubble levels.

This represents interesting investment opportunities. There are many stocks of good value in Japan, South Korea, Russia, Mexico and much of China (the exception being some well-known Chinese technology giants). See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Large dispersion of value signals across Global Emerging Markets 1

Kelvin-Gibson-Interview-Chart-1

At a sector level we still find attractive value in more cyclical sectors such as financials, industrials and the more traditional technology software and hardware names. We find fewer attractively valued stocks that have higher perceived quality and near-term growth prospects in the consumer staples and communications services sectors.

Thanks for subscribing!

Follow us :

2. There were some brief signs of rotation out of high-growth momentum stocks into previously out-of-favour value stocks in 2019. What are the necessary conditions for a sustained value rally in Asia and Global Emerging Market equities?

Markets have been significantly overpaying for perceived certainty of growth which has been driving price momentum and extreme valuation divergence across major markets. Such extremes leave the market vulnerable to sudden swings in risk preference which played out in early September; we witnessed one of the largest momentum-to-value rotation plays in decades, and a number of expensively valued momentum-driven stocks significantly underperformed.

For now, the ongoing market narrative around geopolitical uncertainty and global cyclical risks has not changed. The anticipated policy response from central banks continues to drive ever shorter investment horizons. Moreover, the equity market’s total volatility is still very low compared to historical averages, and value typically outperforms on higher volatility.

For value to outperform, investors should pay attention to price and valuation anchors, not momentum and emotions. Increasing investment horizons too helps value stocks, as investors relate longer-term returns to a valuation anchor and place less emphasis on shorter-term earnings delivery.

3. The corporate earnings forecasts in Asia ex Japan have been declining in 2019. How do you take advantage of this environment for clients?

Earnings in Asia have been weak in 2019 and the market’s expectations have therefore been moderated significantly for 2020. These very low expectations for the future combined with attractive valuations can offer large upside when companies deliver better-than-expected results.

We do not try and forecast near-term earnings but instead monitor price reactions and sentiment towards earnings delivery and focus on companies’ long-term sustainable earnings. Market participants have been very focused on near-term earnings and earnings growth and have been paying a very high price for companies with high earnings delivery and growth expectations. These expensive companies can be the most susceptible to earnings weakness. When these companies miss those elevated expectations, we often see a very strong negative emotional reaction.

On the flip-side, this emotional reaction to earnings weakness can offer opportunities for future capital gains.

We spend much of our time looking at companies with near-term earnings headwinds and hence lower valuations. We look for signs that these headwinds are not long-term structural declines in earnings but near-term issues that companies can navigate over time.

4. You have had some success in investing in banks across Asia, Emerging Markets and Japan strategies. Is this sector still offering good value?

As a sector, financials have been unloved for some time as market participants have in general been fearful on issues such as credit quality in China, and regulatory pressure in India, Thailand and Australia.

But as several of these larger financial groups emerge from a painful period of regulatory reform and restructuring at very attractive valuations, there may be potential for further excess returns.

Our idea generation screens, however, continue to show valuation opportunities across the regions and our strategies are broadly overweight financials still.

Approaching this large sector from a bottom-up perspective with a focus on long-term earnings equilibrium still throws up many financial stocks with strong balance sheets, attractive prospects that have been over-penalised by the market, and compelling risk-reward characteristics.

5. Japan continues to be a laggard despite its deep value. What can trigger renewed interest in this market?

Corporate Japan is not immune to the global macroeconomic cycle. However, we observe the market has already priced in the shorter-term cyclical symptoms of recession for a wide range of Japanese companies.

Amid this environment, the market has yet to fully appreciate Corporate Japan’s restructuring efforts which have progressively translated into higher operational efficiency and improved trend profitability. The market is completely ignoring a wide range of investment opportunities where trend fundamentals remain sound and valuations are very attractive.

Instead of looking for triggers, investors should focus on the ongoing improving structural trends that have helped to narrow the return-on-equity gap between Japanese corporates and the rest of world. Longer-term structural improvements have led to a doubling of aggregate earnings-per-share of Topix-listed companies since 2012.

Ultimately, we believe the high valuation upside and our high conviction levels currently observed more than compensates the patient timeframe that may be required to capture outsized returns.

How to invest in Eastspring's fund(s)

This document is produced by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited and issued in:

Singapore by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H)

Australia (for wholesale clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore, is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Australian laws

Hong Kong by Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.

Indonesia by PT Eastspring Investments Indonesia, an investment manager that is licensed, registered and supervised by the Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Malaysia by Eastspring Investments Berhad (200001028634/ 531241-U) and Eastspring Al-Wara’ Investments Berhad (200901017585 / 860682-K).

Thailand by Eastspring Asset Management (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

United States of America (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is registered with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission as a registered investment adviser.

European Economic Area (for professional clients only) and Switzerland (for qualified investors only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A., 26, Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (Luxembourg), Register No B 173737.

United Kingdom (for professional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. - UK Branch, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AF.

Chile (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Chilean laws.

The afore-mentioned entities are hereinafter collectively referred to as Eastspring Investments.

The views and opinions contained herein are those of the author, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Eastspring Investments’ communications. This document is solely for information purposes and does not have any regard to the specific investment objective, financial situation and/or particular needs of any specific persons who may receive this document. This document is not intended as an offer, a solicitation of offer or a recommendation, to deal in shares of securities or any financial instruments. It may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed without the prior written consent of Eastspring Investments. Reliance upon information in this document is at the sole discretion of the reader. Please carefully study the related information and/or consult your own professional adviser before investing.

Investment involves risks. Past performance of and the predictions, projections, or forecasts on the economy, securities markets or the economic trends of the markets are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of Eastspring Investments or any of the funds managed by Eastspring Investments.

Information herein is believed to be reliable at time of publication. Data from third party sources may have been used in the preparation of this material and Eastspring Investments has not independently verified, validated or audited such data. Where lawfully permitted, Eastspring Investments does not warrant its completeness or accuracy and is not responsible for error of facts or opinion nor shall be liable for damages arising out of any person’s reliance upon this information. Any opinion or estimate contained in this document may subject to change without notice.

Eastspring Investments companies (excluding joint venture companies) are ultimately wholly owned/indirect subsidiaries of Prudential plc of the United Kingdom. Eastspring Investments companies (including joint venture companies) and Prudential plc are not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or with the Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc (a company incorporated in the United Kingdom).