In just a month’s time, the U.S. stock market’s value is back to where it was in late 2018. The speed and intensity of the recent decline is unusual as the United States’ equity markets lost $11 trillion (30%) in just one month. This 30% decline is also reflected in the Dow Jones Industrial Average seen below. The chart shows how this episode compares with past notable declines. In contrast to a month’s time, it took eight months for the Dow to give up 30% during the 2000-2002 market decline and fourteen months for the index to shed that amount in the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Intensity of ’87

The intensity of the current market dislocation compares better to the October 1987 market drop. That episode saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop to 1,738 on October 19, 1987 from a pre-decline peak of 2,722 on August 25, 1987 for a 36% total decline in a little over a month’s time. Of course, the 10-year Treasury rate was near 9% back then, giving policymakers more latitude to implement traditional policy responses.

Unlike the situation in 1987 the cause of today’s situation is different as are available policy tools. Today’s policy response toolkit needs to be more expansive given extremely low interest rates and recent decline in credit market liquidity. We have seen the Federal Reserve turn to asset purchases and an array of direct lending programs designed to support liquidity in credit markets. A range of backstops, guarantees, and fiscal initiatives are also being discussed and are likely on the way. In time, we expect these actions and market dynamics to help restore liquidity to credit markets.

Direction of Causality

Another distinguishing characteristic of this latest crisis is the direction of causality between the economy and markets. Unlike past crises, which often spread from financial markets to the real economy, this one is moving the other way. The Covid-19 virus is a biological and social health-crisis which requires the shutting down of activities that not only drive the spread of the disease but also parts of the economy. When restaurants, health clubs, malls, places of employment, etc. are shut down, incomes are lost. Businesses with significant fixed costs, including interest payments on debt, are potentially most exposed to losses and most at risk of default. Employment is also likely to be significantly impacted in coming weeks especially in front-line occupations like retail and restaurants. This economic process will not take more than a month’s time to show up in the data.

Disruption and Survival

Profits for most firms are going to be disrupted for a while. We maintain, however, that companies going in to this crisis with higher growth, higher profitability, and more efficient investment are better positioned to survive this crisis than those who have lower growth, lower profitability, and less efficient investment. How much debt companies has is also very important. All else equal, the more a company borrowed pre-crisis, the more at risk the company is of not making it through the crisis. While debt can increase a firms return on equity, the addition of debt to a company’s capital structure can also increase fixed interest costs, lower net income by the amount of interest expense, and lower bond ratings. The degree to which the debt is efficiently employed is key in understanding the difference between “good” and “bad” debt. Moreover, the effect of debt should be considered under conditions of worsened business conditions as well as normal conditions. During tough times, it becomes clear that debt shifts risks onto equity investors as it has in just a month’s time.

According to the credit ratings firm Moody’s Investor Services, baseline default rates are moving up. From Moody’s website on March 10: “The global speculative-grade default rate remained unchanged at 3.1% in February. However, we have raised our baseline default rate projection for year-end 2020 to 3.6% from 3.4% based on rising risks to growth, commodity prices and financial markets amid the coronavirus outbreak. Under a more pessimistic scenario, the default rate would go up to 9.7%.” While the 3.7% base case would be below the 20-year average of 3.7%, the 9.7% figure would be consistent with the 2000-2002 and 2007-2009 recessions.

Liquidity and Solvency

It is important to distinguish between liquidity and solvency issues when the economy becomes challenged as it is now. We believe tight liquidity conditions in credit will eventually normalize as markets adjust and policymakers enact supports. Companies with less indebtedness, greater profitability, and stable cash flow should prove more resilient and durable than those with significant debts coming due. As we mentioned last week, more profitable and less leveraged firms have suffered less during this period of stress. Accordingly, we continue to look for opportunities in this difficult period with a continued emphasis on creditworthiness, profitability, and consistency of operating results.

Opportunities can also be created in a month’s time!

Kevin R. Caron, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
973-549-4051

Chad Morganlander
Senior Portfolio Manager
973-549-4052

Matthew Battipaglia
Portfolio Manager
973-549-4047

Steve Lerit, CFA
Senior Risk Manager
973-549-4028

Tom Serzan
Analyst
973-549-4335

Suzanne Ashley
Internal Relationship Manager
973-549-4168

Eric Needham
Director, External Sales and Marketing
312-771-6010

Jeffrey Battipaglia
Client Portfolio Manager
973-549-4031

Disclosures

The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by us and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data, nor is it considered an offer to buy or sell any securities referred to herein. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and do not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual investors. There is no guarantee that the figures or opinions forecast in this report will be realized or achieved. Employees of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates may, at times, release written or oral commentary, technical analysis, or trading strategies that differ from the opinions expressed within. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged, and you cannot invest directly in an index.

Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit and may not protect against loss. There are special considerations associated with international investing, including the risk of currency fluctuations and political and economic events. Changes in market conditions or a company’s financial condition may impact a company’s ability to continue to pay dividends, and companies may also choose to discontinue dividend payments. Investing in emerging markets may involve greater risk and volatility than investing in more developed countries. Due to their narrow focus, sector-based investments typically exhibit greater volatility. Small-company stocks are typically more volatile and carry additional risks since smaller companies generally are not as well established as larger companies. Property values can fall due to environmental, economic, or other reasons, and changes in interest rates can negatively impact the performance of real estate companies. When investing in bonds, it is important to note that as interest rates rise, bond prices will fall. High-yield bonds have greater credit risk than higher-quality bonds. Bond laddering does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. The risk of loss in trading commodities and futures can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. The high degree of leverage that is often obtainable in commodity trading can work against you as well as for you. The use of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. Changes in market conditions or a company’s financial condition may impact a company’s ability to continue to pay dividends, and companies may also choose to discontinue dividend payments.

All investments involve risk, including loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that investment objectives will be met. It is important to review your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs before choosing an investment style or manager. Equity investments are subject generally to market, market sector, market liquidity, issuer, and investment style risks, among other factors to varying degrees. Fixed Income investments are subject to market, market liquidity, issuer, investment style, interest rate, credit quality, and call risks, among other factors to varying degrees.

This commentary often expresses opinions about the direction of market, investment sector, and other trends. The opinions should not be considered predictions of future results. The information contained in this report is based on sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed and not necessarily complete.

The securities discussed in this material were selected due to recent changes in the strategies. This selection criterion is not based on any measurement of performance of the underlying security.

Washington Crossing Advisors, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and affiliated SEC Registered Investment Adviser of Stifel Financial Corp (NYSE: SF). Registration with the SEC implies no level of sophistication in investment management.

S&P 500 — The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index that is generally considered representative of the U.S. large capitalization market.

The S&P 500 High Beta Index measures the performance of 100 constituents in the S&P 500 that are most sensitive to changes in the market. Constituents are weighted relative to their level of market sensitivity, with each stock assigned a weight proportional to its beta.

The S&P 500 Low Volatility Index measures performance of the 100 least volatile stocks in the S&P 500. The index benchmarks low volatility or low variance strategies for the U.S. stock market. Constituents are weighted relative to the inverse of their corresponding volatility, with the least volatile stocks receiving the highest weights.

Disclosures

The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by us and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data, nor is it considered an offer to buy or sell any securities referred to herein. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and do not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual investors. There is no guarantee that the figures or opinions forecast in this report will be realized or achieved. Employees of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or its affiliates may, at times, release written or oral commentary, technical analysis, or trading strategies that differ from the opinions expressed within. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged, and you cannot invest directly in an index.

Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit and may not protect against loss. There are special considerations associated with international investing, including the risk of currency fluctuations and political and economic events. Changes in market conditions or a company’s financial condition may impact a company’s ability to continue to pay dividends, and companies may also choose to discontinue dividend payments. Investing in emerging markets may involve greater risk and volatility than investing in more developed countries. Due to their narrow focus, sector-based investments typically exhibit greater volatility. Small-company stocks are typically more volatile and carry additional risks since smaller companies generally are not as well established as larger companies. Property values can fall due to environmental, economic, or other reasons, and changes in interest rates can negatively impact the performance of real estate companies. When investing in bonds, it is important to note that as interest rates rise, bond prices will fall. High-yield bonds have greater credit risk than higher-quality bonds. Bond laddering does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. The risk of loss in trading commodities and futures can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. The high degree of leverage that is often obtainable in commodity trading can work against you as well as for you. The use of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. Changes in market conditions or a company’s financial condition may impact a company’s ability to continue to pay dividends, and companies may also choose to discontinue dividend payments.

All investments involve risk, including loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that investment objectives will be met. It is important to review your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs before choosing an investment style or manager. Equity investments are subject generally to market, market sector, market liquidity, issuer, and investment style risks, among other factors to varying degrees. Fixed Income investments are subject to market, market liquidity, issuer, investment style, interest rate, credit quality, and call risks, among other factors to varying degrees.

This commentary often expresses opinions about the direction of market, investment sector, and other trends. The opinions should not be considered predictions of future results. The information contained in this report is based on sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed and not necessarily complete.

The securities discussed in this material were selected due to recent changes in the strategies. This selection criterion is not based on any measurement of performance of the underlying security.

Washington Crossing Advisors, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and affiliated SEC Registered Investment Adviser of Stifel Financial Corp (NYSE: SF). Registration with the SEC implies no level of sophistication in investment management.