Weekly Recap:

US equities were mixed last week, with energy and most defensives higher while other sectors were lower. Small caps extended their recent run of under-performance relative to the S&P 500. Energy stocks were buoyed by a surprise production cut from OPEC+ that sent oil prices higher by roughly $5 per barrel.

In contrast to the recent softness in equities, bonds continued to rally last week on safe haven buying, at least until Friday’s nonfarm payroll report halted the move lower in yields. Meanwhile credit spreads have been largely stable over the past two weeks after initially widening in the aftermath of the March bank failures.

Economic data released last week was mixed. ISM’s Manufacturing Index (46.3) sank further into contraction territory in the March print, while its Services Index (51.2) weakened sequentially but remains in expansion territory for now. The monthly JOLTS report showed early signs of a move towards better balance in the labor market, with job openings falling to 9.9 million, the lowest such print in nearly 2 years (albeit still elevated by historical standards).

That said, the March jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to show robust job creation in the US economy:

• 236k nonfarm payrolls added
• U-3 Unemployment fell 10bp to 3.5%
• U-6 Underemployment fell 10bp to 6.7%
• Average hourly wages rose +0.3% m/m and +4.2% y/y (below consensus)
• Labor force participation rose to 62.6%, the highest since March of 2020

Albion’s “Four Pillars”

Economy & Earnings

The US economy enjoyed a strong second half of 2022, but corporate operating margins have been gradually falling as labor and input cost pressures bite. Albion’s base case expectation is that the US economy will enter recession in 2023, putting downside pressure on earnings.

Valuation

The S&P 500’s forward P/E of 17x is above the long run average. More predictive metrics like CAPE, Tobin’s Q, and the Buffett Indicator (Mkt Cap / GDP) suggest that compound annual returns over the next decade are likely to be in the single digits. The equity risk premium has expanded slightly over the past few weeks on concerns regarding the financial system.

Interest Rates

Rates rose in 2022 in response to a sharp pivot in monetary policy, but have fallen signficantly (except for the very front end) so far in 2023. Futures markets are currently pricing in two 25bp cuts to overnight rates by year-end.

Inflation

After reaching 40yr highs in spring of 2022, inflation moderated in the second half of the year. Goods inflation has fallen due to softening demand and excess inventory, while services inflation remains elevated, in part due to shelter costs which are somewhat lagged. Real-time inflation data ticked higher sequentially in early 2023.