Goldman Sachs just cut its outlook for the stock market
Goldman Sachs
After stock prices slumped in late August, the analysts at Goldman Sachs were quick to argue that we could see a rapid snap back in prices like we did in 1998.But in a new note to clients, they've changed their tone.
"We have lowered both our S&P 500 earnings estimates and price targets," Goldman's David Kostin writes. "The impetus for these reductions is that our models now incorporate a slower pace of economic activity in the US and China and a lower oil price than we had been previously assuming."
Kostin now sees that S&P 500 ending the year at 2,000, down from his previous target of 2,100. He revised his earnings per share estimate to $109 from $114.
The S&P closed Monday at 1,881, down 8% for the year.
Kostin joins his peers at RBC Capital, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank, who have all cut their targets for the S&P in recent weeks.
In addition to the economic concerns, Kostin points to elevated valuations (i.e. the price-earnings multiple) during a time when the Federal Reserve is about to tighten monetary policy. Goldman Sachs' house view is that the Fed will raise policy rates on December 16.
HSBCPast rate hikes have been associated with shrinking P/E multiples.
"Historically, rising short-term interest rates have been associated with declining P/E multiples," he wrote.This is not new. Strategists including RBA's Rich Bernstein and HSBC's Ben Laidler have argued that the Fed could be a problem. This is a serious problems as earnings growth expectations have flattened out.
Kostin, however sees earnings growing. In 2016, he sees S&P EPS climbing to $120, bringing the index to 2,100 by year end.
"Finally, the political landscape in Washington, DC remains unstable following the resignation of Speaker Boehner," Kostin continued. "The federal debt ceiling will be reached in November. Precedent suggests raising the debt limit will be contentious and may rattle investors."
So there's no shortage of reasons to be worried.
In this environment, Kostin recommends stocks with high US sales, generous dividends, robust share buyback plans, and strong balance sheets.