Stingy Investor Search - Contact - Subscribe - Login
  Home | Articles | Links | SNW
 
Investing: The case for optimism

It's all in the phone calls. As a financial consultant and writer, that's how I measure the level of fear in the market. As share prices crashed this past year it wasn't the panicky calls from colleagues that surprised me. It was the calls from old high school chums and distant relatives that got me thinking. Hearing from people who normally don't care about the markets struck me as a sure sign that the fear-o-meter was off the charts. So I started buying stocks.

I'm buying because I know that fear and panic are recurring, but temporary, features of Bay Street and Wall Street. I'm confident that the current mess, both in the markets and in the economy, will eventually clear. Recovery may take a while, but just as good times inevitably come to an end, so do bad times. And when the current crisis eases, I expect my current purchases to do very well.

I'm not trying to brush off the pain that many investors are feeling today - U.S. and Canadian stocks are down about 41% from their respective peaks. I can sympathize with anyone who has seen the value of their investments chopped nearly in half. There might even be more suffering ahead before the market turns decisively upward. But let's put the decline into context. The current downturn is big, but not unprecedented - in fact, based on monthly data, it's only the fourth worst market slide since 1876.

History suggests that bear markets tend to recover relatively quickly. U.S. markets typically recover all their losses within 31 months after hitting bottom. (The historical data, which includes reinvested dividends, are based on month-end figures for the S&P 500 and its predecessor indexes produced by Robert Shiller, a professor of economics at Yale.)

An average bear...
Most U.S. bear markets make up their losses within 31 months
StartEndPeak-Trough DeclineMonths to TroughMonths to Recovery
Mar-1876Feb-1879-33.1%1520
Sep-1882Nov-1885-20.8%2117
Jan-1893Aug-1897-25.1%448
Sep-1902Nov-1904-25.8%1313
Sep-1906Dec-1908-34.0%1413
Nov-1916May-1919-28.0%1317
Oct-1919Apr-1922-22.8%2210
Aug-1929Jan-1945-83.4%33151
Nov-1947Oct-1949-21.8%635
Jun-1962Apr-1963-22.3%610
Dec-1968Jan-1972-31.5%1919
Jan-1973Sep-1976-43.3%2124
Sep-1987Jul-1989-30.2%320
Sep-2000Mar-2006-43.3%2542
Oct-2007Nov-2008-40.7%13?
Averages-33.7%1531
Sources: Professor Robert Schiller, CRSP, S&P, Citigroup, Based on Month End Data


...but oh it hurts
Stock market investors have had no place to hide during the recent mauling
Area% Decline
Canadian Stocks (TSX)-40.69%
US Stocks (S&P 500)-40.88%
Global Stocks (All-World)-45.19%
Overseas (Developed World)-47.47%
Emerging Markets-53.14%
Note: Excludes dividends. U.S. and foreign stocks in U.S. dollars. Global returns based on ETFs. Source: Yahoo! Finance, through January 2, 2009, based on daily data.


How bad can things get? The great crash of 1929 saw U.S. stocks slide 83% over 33 months. Even more depressing, it took until 1945 for them to climb back to their former levels. There is a slim (I think very slim) chance that the current downturn may rival that record, so it is wise to make sure that you can survive further declines should they occur. But for the most part the historical record gives us more reason for optimism than pessimism.

The greatest reason for optimism is that stocks are now offering some of the best values in more than a decade. Many quality companies are available at sharp discounts. Second-tier firms are going for a song. Charlie Munger, the U.S. billionaire, says, 'Price is what you pay, value is what you get.' The value indicators I see say that this is the best time to buy since the early 1990s.

One good measuring tool is the trailing 10-year P/E ratio on the S&P 500 index of large U.S. stocks. This ratio works much like a regular price-to-earnings ratio, but instead of comparing a company's stock price to its earnings over the past 12 months, it compares the firm's stock price to its average earnings over the past 10 years. By looking at 10-year average earnings, rather than just the past year, you smooth out the ups and downs of the business cycle.

The 10-year P/E ratio is now below its median level. This indicates that for the first time since the early 1990s, U.S. stocks are no longer wildly overpriced. Instead, they offer fair value and should produce profits in keeping with the stock market's long-term record. That means it's reasonable to expect returns approaching 10% a year, or more, from stocks over the next decade or so.



Canadian companies also appear to be on sale. You can see this if you look at the Canadian stock market's price-to-book value ratio. Book value is the amount of money that you would obtain if you could sell off all of a company's assets (at their balance sheet values) and pay off all of its debts. Most of the time stocks trade at a premium price compared to their book value because they're worth more alive than liquidated. Today, that price-to-book-value premium is much reduced. I only have data for a comparatively short period, but the numbers show the S&P/TSX composite is less expensive than it has been in more than a decade.



I acknowledge that you can interpret my charts in a couple of ways. While stocks are now at fair levels, you can see that they've been even better bargains at several points in the past. So, yes, there is a possibility that stocks could fall further and you should be prepared for that eventuality. The dilemma is, should we take a chance and hope for even better bargains ahead, or accept the pretty good deals that are already on offer?

There's a fellow in Omaha who recently spoke to that question. His name is Warren Buffett and he is very optimistic. In October, he wrote an article for The New York Times called 'Buy American. I Am.' Buffett declared that he was moving his personal portfolio from government bonds to stocks and expected to soon be fully invested in U.S. stocks. 'A simple rule dictates my buying,' Buffett wrote. 'Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful...I haven't the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month - or a year - from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.'

Buffett doesn't often make public calls on the stock market, but the billionaire's past pronouncements have been very profitable. He was a vocal advocate of buying stocks at a couple of points in the 1970s; then, at the height of the tech bubble in 1999, he went public to warn people away from stocks. You would have done well to listen to the Oracle of Omaha. Like Buffett, I expect stock market returns over the longer term to be quite satisfactory. I think now is a good time to put some money to work.

Listen to the man
Warren Buffett rarely expresses an opinion about the stock market, but his infrequent calls have been uncannily accurate. His current advice? Buy
1974
"Buy"
1979
"Buy"
1999
"Sell"
6 months later24%12%0%
1 year later31%23%-6%
2 years later50%47%-16%
3 years later58%30%-29%
5 years later110%109%-4%


I can hear your protests from here. If you're having difficulty grappling with the notion of pouring more spare cash into the stock market after the disaster of the past year, I sympathize with how you feel. But you should remind yourself that emotions often lead us astray, particularly when it comes to the stock market. No matter what you decide to do over the next few months, you can take away a profitable lesson from this crisis if you realize that it is important to break away from the herd when it is stampeding over a cliff.

Most investors sabotage their results by buying after long periods of prosperity when the market is at a high, and selling - or at least, refusing to invest - after periods of hardship when the market is significantly down. This habit of buying high and selling low means most investors do much worse than the overall market. Consider the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. This index fund posted average losses of 0.7% a year for the 10 years ending Dec. 31, 2008. However, the typical investor in the fund actually lost 3.7% a year over the same period, according to morningstar.com. The difference - a whopping three percentage points a year - is the result of investors jumping in and out of the fund at bad times. Similar results have been found by numerous studies that try to measure the impact of investors' timing on their portfolio results.

It feels scary to invest in the market during a recession. Friends and family won't pat you on the back and reassure you that you're making the right move. But if you diversify your holdings and do your research, I think the market holds more potential now than it has for a decade. As a result, I've bought more shares in the last few months than I have over the last few years and I'm keeping some cash on hand to buy even more should further opportunities arise.

I think those who buy stocks now will do well - but be honest with yourself. If you are a dyed-in-the-wool GIC investor, you probably shouldn't swap your GICs for a stock-heavy portfolio. In fact, people who don't like risk should steer clear of stocks no matter how tempting the current valuations may be. Just remember to stick to that habit the next time that a bull market is in full swing.


First Published: MoneySense magazine, February 2009

 
Globe & Mail Articles
 Portfolios

 Dividend All-Stars for 2024
 250 Megastars for 2024
 Extreme yields
 The easy way
 Smaller stable dividend
 250 Megastars for 2023
 Champagne portfolio
 Screaming Value
 Blended momentum
 Dividend monster
 Frugal dividend
 Stable dividend
 Speads and recessions
 TSX 60 for value investors
 Looking at 10-year returns
 Watching for a bottom
 Oh, bother!
 Low P/E DJIA
 Indexing advice
 Media-shy stocks
 Curse of size
 Market uncertainty
 Be even lazier
 Scary beats safe
 Small, illiquid, value
 Use the numbers
 What value is good value?
 Sculpt for value
 Value vs CAPE
 Graham Rules
 CAPE vs PeakE
 Top value ratio
 Low Beta
 Value and dividends
 Walter Schloss
 Try unloved AIG
 Why I'm a value investor
 New world of ETFs
 Low P/Es possible
 10 yielders
 Be happier
 Long-Short
 Dividend Downside
 Shiller's P/E
 Copycat investing
 Cashing in on class
 Index roulette
 Theory collides
 Diving too deep
 3 retirement villains
 Scourge of inflation
 Economic omens
 Analyst Expectations
 Value stock scarcity
 It's all in the index
 How to pick good funds
 Low Beta Wins
 Hunt for dividend stocks
 Think garage sale

MoneySaver Articles
 2 Graham Stocks for 2018
 2 Stingy Stocks for 2017
 2 Graham Stocks for 2017
 3 Stingy Stocks for 2016
 5 Graham Stocks for 2016
 3 Stingy Stocks for 2015
 3 Graham Stocks for 2015
 3 Stingy Stocks for 2014
 4 Graham Stocks for 2014
 8 Stingy Stocks for 2013
 6 Graham Stocks for 2013
 9 Stingy Stocks for 2012
 8 Graham Stocks for 2012
 Simple Way 2011
 5 Stingy Stocks for 2011
 7 Graham Stocks for 2011
 Simple Way 2010
 5 Stingy Stocks for 2010
 8 Graham Stocks for 2010
 Simple Way 2009
 Timing Temptation
 19 Stingy Stocks for 2009
 4 Graham Stocks for 2009
 Simple Way 2008
 Active at Passive Prices
 Unbundling ETFs 2008
 5 Stingy Stocks for 2008
 5 Graham Stocks for 2008
 Is your index too active?
 Graham's Simple Way
 Canadian Graham Stocks
 5 Stingy Stocks for 2007
 8 Graham Stocks for 2007
 Top SPPs
 The Simple Way
 A hole in your IPO?
 Monkey Business
 8 Stingy Stocks for 2006
 Graham Stock Gainers
 Blue-Chip Blues
 Are Dividends Safe?
 SPPs for 2005
 Graham's Simplest Way
 Selling Graham Stocks
 RRSP Money Market Funds
 Stingy Stocks for 2005
 High Performance Graham
 Intelligent Indexing
 Unbundling Canadian ETFs
 A history of yield
 A Dynamic Duo
 Canadian Graham Stock
 Dividends at Risk
 Thrifty Value Stocks
 Stocks in Short Supply
 The New Dividend
 Hunting Goodwill
 SPPs for 2003
 RRSP: don't panic
 Desirable Dividends
 Stingy Selections 2003
 10 Graham Picks
 Growth Eh?
 Timing Disaster
 Dangerous Diversification
 The Coffee Can Portfolio
 Down with the dogs
 Stingy Selections
 Frugal Funds
 Graham Revisited
 Just Spend It
 Ticker Temptation
 Stock Mortality
 Focus on Fees
 SPPs for the Long Term
 Seeking Solid Stocks
 Relative Strength
 The VR Approach
 The Irrational Investor
 Value Investing

Old MS Articles
 Cdn Top 200 2018
 Cdn Top 200 2017
 Cdn Top 200 2016
 Cdn Top 200 2015
 Cdn Top 200 2014
 Cdn Top 200 2013
 Cdn Top 200 2012
 Cdn Top 200 2011
 Cdn Top 200 2010
 Cdn Top 200 2009
 Cdn Top 200 2008
 Cdn Top 200 2007
 Cdn Top 200 2006
 Cdn Top 200 2005
 US Top 500 2018
 US Top 500 2017
 US Top 500 2016
 US Top 500 2015
 US Top 500 2014
 US Top 500 2013
 US Top 500 2012
 US Top 500 2011
 US Top 500 2010
 US Top 500 2009
 US Top 500 2008
 US Top 500 2007
 US Top 1000 2006
 Dividends 100 2017
 Dividends 100 2016
 Retirement 100 2015
 Retirement 100 2014
 Retirement 100 2013
 Retirement 100 2012
 Retirement 100 2011
 Retirement 100 2010
 Income 100 2009
 Income 100 2008
 Income 100 2007
 Top Trusts 2006
 Top Trusts 2005
 Hot Potato
 Buffett Buys
 FB IPO
 Stocks that pay
 Value in the S&P500
 Where to invest $100k
 Where to invest $10k
 Summer Simple Way
 A crystal ball for stocks?
 Cheap & safe
 Risky business
 Dividend investing
 Value investing
 Momentum investing
 Low P/E P/B
 Dividends
 Dividend growers
 Graham's prescription
 The case for optimism
 Wicked investments
 Simply spectacular
 Small stocks, big profits
 Value that sizzles
 So simple it works
 No assembly required
 Investing by the book
 Invest like the masters
 A simple way to get rich
 Stocks for cannibals
 Car bites dogs
 So easy, so profitable
 Dogs of the Dow
 Money for nothing
 Yield of dreams
 Return of the master

Advisor's Edge Articles
 Passive Rebundling
 Doing the math

Flip Books



 
About Us | Legal | Contact Us
Disclaimers: Consult with a qualified investment adviser before trading. Past performance is a poor indicator of future performance. The information on this site, and in its related newsletters, is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, financial advice or recommendations. The information on this site is in no way guaranteed for completeness, accuracy or in any other way. More...