MitonOptimal's Sullivan: Chances of a market setback appear greater than rally continuing
Must not fall into 'FOMO' trap
James Sullivan, fund manager and managing director at MitonOptimal (formerly Coram AM), discusses why the stockmarket outlook is difficult to predict, but we should not expect the rally to continue uninterrupted.
"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future"
Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962)
In keeping with the famous quote above, our outlook for stockmarkets in 2018 is unashamedly honest; it is very difficult to predict.
However, we have an opinion of course, and one based largely on facts and valuations, that the chances of a market setback appear greater than the chances of the markets continuing to rally uninterrupted.
Coram AM rebrands as MitonOptimal; Unveils model portfolio service
We have written many times in the past 12 months why the markets have been heavily distorted, and we expect it to end badly at some point. But of course ‘at some point' could be tomorrow, or it could be in many years' time. It would be foolish to sit with copious amounts of cash and wait; never more so than in today's environment of low rates and upwardly mobile inflation. We cannot afford to surrender real returns to fees and inflation.
However, nor must not fall into to trap of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) or indeed believing that because ‘equities are the least worst asset class' somehow makes them an ‘all-in' investments. Of course we must be observant of broad market risks, but we must not get too fixated by often erroneous expectations of the market direction.
Market movements will be influential in determining aspects of our performance, as not carrying any beta in a portfolio would be almost impossible, but what we must try and focus on is bringing investments into the portfolio(s) that represent good value, for today and tomorrow. This we feel gives us the greatest chance of delivering returns irrespective of the wider market behaviour.
Our latest addition that we feel falls into such a category is that of Hammerson (HMSO); a REIT with a portfolio value of over £10bn and passing rent of nearly £400m. It pairs with our existing cyclical REITS of Land Securities and British Land.
Coram acquires Minerva Fund Managers in MPS push
Hammerson, like LAND and BLND, trades of a very attractive discount to its net asset value due to the sector being out of favour. The NAV for 2017 is forecast to be 774p (JPMorgan estimate) and yet trades around 535p and yields circa 4.6%.
In a week when Debenhams and House of Fraser made the news for all the wrong reasons, it may seem brave to promote such an investment.
However, the current price has been driven down by an already weak US mall market, and further still, is pricing in around a 12.5% fall in total portfolio rents over five years. Not quite an Armageddon assumption, but a very bleak one. It gives us comfort that we do not need the economic data to be perfect; we would be very satisfied if it was just less bad than expected.
HMSO also has exposures in France, which chimes with investments we have elsewhere in the portfolio focused on developed Europe, attempting to capitalise on the undervaluation of the euro for the stronger economies. It has been a very supportive tailwind for economic growth.
If we believe that making predictions, especially about the future, is troublesome, then at the very least we can give ourselves far more than a puncher's chance of making money in 2018 by securing healthy yields on attractive valuations.
We feel prepared for, and look forward to, what 2018 may bring.
James Sullivan is fund manager and managing director at MitonOptimal
More on Markets
Most read
