
Please try another search
At the start of 2022, the stock market had been sitting atop its highest valuation extremes ever. In fact, our modern-day circumstance rivaled 1929’s super-bubble as well the dot-com hysteria in 2000.
By June of this year, the S&P 500 had descended as much as 26% from its all-time high. And, at present, the market is down approximately 15.5% from a record peak.
So is the worst behind us? Unlikely.
The median bear market across close to 200 years of data is -32%. Yet declines from stock bubble peaks tend to be far more ferocious.
In a similar vein, the economics of dramatically higher borrowing costs do not favor corporate profit margins accelerating. Indeed, margins will decelerate over the coming quarters, as companies deal with higher interest payments and higher input expenses (e.g., labor, materials, etc.).
Said differently, the earnings (E) in price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios will move lower. If the E moves lower and stock prices (P) stay the same or rise, stocks will remain egregiously overpriced.
There are other problems with the idea that the worst is in the rear-view mirror. For example, the monthly Relative Strength Index (RSI) has not yet seen the low 40s — an area that is consistent with investor capitulation.
Additionally, the monthly close for the S&P 500 has yet to finish above its long-term trendline. Until it does, the stock bear will persist.
What we have seen since the 2022 lows is most consistent with a bear rally. Investors buy the sharp sell-off in anticipation of the worst being over.
Unfortunately, corporate fundamentals are deteriorating and market technicals are still ‘breaking bad.’ What that implies is that stocks are almost certain to head for new lows.
The good news? Genuine opportunity always emerges from the ashes. You just do not want to leap into a forest fire that is only 50% contained.
Shares of Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) are on a tear to start off 2025. The consumer discretionary and tech stock is up by 52% this year as of the Feb. 25 close. The company’s cloud...
Every investor should know the term CEP, or customer engagement platform, because it is central to businesses' use of AI. CEPs provide software services to connect and communicate...
As markets try to look through the blizzard of policy changes flowing out of Washington, the crowd has shifted its preferences considerably in recent weeks based on a sector lens....
Are you sure you want to block %USER_NAME%?
By doing so, you and %USER_NAME% will not be able to see any of each other's Investing.com's posts.
%USER_NAME% was successfully added to your Block List
Since you’ve just unblocked this person, you must wait 48 hours before renewing the block.
I feel that this comment is:
Thank You!
Your report has been sent to our moderators for review
Add a Comment
We encourage you to use comments to engage with other users, share your perspective and ask questions of authors and each other. However, in order to maintain the high level of discourse we’ve all come to value and expect, please keep the following criteria in mind:
Enrich the conversation, don’t trash it.
Stay focused and on track. Only post material that’s relevant to the topic being discussed.
Be respectful. Even negative opinions can be framed positively and diplomatically. Avoid profanity, slander or personal attacks directed at an author or another user. Racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated.
Perpetrators of spam or abuse will be deleted from the site and prohibited from future registration at Investing.com’s discretion.