Macro: Sandcastle economics
Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.
Chief Investment Strategist
Summary: Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings to increase 49% q/q as companies are bouncing back from the abyss in Q2. Recent macro figures and many positive earnings surprises make us confident that Q3 earnings will deliver what is needed to sustain the rally in equities. Investors seem to have begun adding reflation and growth bets again with small caps outperforming the past week and other cross assets reflecting this theme. We also take a look at Rolls-Royce that is fighting to survive through a $6.5bn financial deal that starts today with the launch of its senior unsecured USD bonds.
Global equities have settled in a trading range and could stay there for until the US election. Market participants need a new narrative. Yesterday, a new narrative was forming as reflation trades were put on again (growth stocks, small caps, long-term yields higher, gold etc.) partly driven by a positive spin on a Biden victory and higher probability of Democrats delivering a clean sweep. In that case, the recent House bills of $2.2trn could move through the Senate and deliver a sizeable boost to the US economy.
Q3 earnings must deliver
That is a strong narrative, but in the meantime equity markets need to see Q3 earnings rebound. Elevated equity valuations are discounting a significant rebound in earnings and analyst estimates are also reflecting this with expectations looking for a 49% q/q increase in Q3 earnings per share in the S&P 500 Index. In other words, there are steep expectations going into the Q3 earnings season which really kicks into gear next week with US financials. Despite a strong rebound in earnings analysts do not expect earnings to soar past pre Covid-19 earnings until Q2 2021.
We remain quite bullish on the Q3 earnings season. Many recent earnings releases (those ending 31 August) from companies not following the calendar year have been much better than estimated with positive reactions in the stock price. Yesterday’s record August retail sales in Europe and better than expected ISM Service Index for September in the US are bolstering our view that most companies are well ahead of expectations and that earnings estimates are mostly too conservative.
Small caps are feeling the love
The reflation we have covered today on the back of yesterday’s cross market price action has also been reflected in small caps. Expectations of more stimulus in both the US and Europe will naturally lift the part of the equity market that suffered the most during the severe lockdowns earlier this year and that was certainly smaller companies. The stronger than expected macro figures lately are also underpinning a growth surprise and investors seem to be betting on this theme through small cap stocks. As the chart below shows small caps in Europe started outperforming last week and has accelerated this week. The same pattern shows up in US equities.
Rolls-Royce starts tapping bond market
Rolls Royce shares are up 10% again today extending the gains to 35% from the lows on Friday. The jet-engine maker is starting its senior unsecured noted in USD which is part of its $6.5bn rescue plan to get the company through its demand shock due to Covid-19. Analysts expect revenue to decline 34% in 2020 and delivering negative free cash flow of £4bn which is quite significant since the company’s enterprise value is only £7.2bn. The current net debt is around £4.5bn and expected to rise another £1bn under the new financing plan. To not lose grip of the situation Rolls-Royce has to keep its net-debt-to-EBITDA at no more than 3x which implies that EBITDA should quickly get back to £1.8bn which is where the company was in 2016 before things came apart. Rolls-Royce is a very high risk opportunity for investors, also reflected in its 9.2% 1-year default probability (Bloomberg’s default risk model), but carries an attractive risk-reward ratio if the economy heals faster than expected and commercial aviation can come back. But that is a very big unknown.
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)