Stock Market Cycle - Exactly Where We Are
Stock-Markets / Cycles Analysis Sep 09, 2014 - 03:11 PM GMTDr. Steve Sjuggerud writes: I was on stage at The California Club in Los Angeles... being put on the spot. And I didn't have a good answer...
It was a private meeting, so it was a small crowd of less than 50 people. At the end of my speech, I answered a few questions.
I like to give good answers when I can. But this time, I didn't have a good answer. I fumbled around, sharing some facts. But I knew I could give a more accurate answer once I had run some numbers. I promised that I would respond more accurately in DailyWealth. So here goes...
"Steve, you did some great work on cycles years ago," an attendee said. "So exactly where are we in this cycle, based on the last 100 years?"
He was asking for the BIG picture. I like that. Most people focus on today, and forget about the big picture. I could answer this question in a variety of ways. But the chart below is the simplest way to answer it...
The big idea is, the stock market goes in big cycles, from being loved to being hated. For example:
•Stocks were loved in the decade of the "Roaring Twenties." Then they crashed in the Great Depression, and then World War II came along.
• Stocks were loved in the 1990s, then spent much of the 2000s going nowhere, delivering no return at all, really (when you adjust for inflation).
The question is ultimately getting at this: After soaring since 2009, are stocks overly loved right now?
For your answer, take a look at this chart. It shows the 10-year annualized return on stocks (after inflation).
You can see the peaks were around the Roaring Twenties, and the dot-com boom. You can see the busts around the Great Depression and the inflationary 1970s.
The important thing to look at is where we are today...
Take a look:
So, where are we in this cycle? Are stocks overly loved, like they were in 1929 or 1999? Or are they overly hated, like they were in the Great Depression or the 1970s?
Based on this simple chart, we are somewhere in the middle... Stocks aren't overly hated, or overly loved. Based on history, we are somewhere in the middle of this cycle.
I will admit, this is not the most statistically robust way to look at things... After all, there are only three of these major cycles to look at over the past 100 years. How can we say for sure that stocks will peak in the same place they peaked the last three times? We can't.
This is simply a rough look at history. I believe it's about right, though...
I think we're not at the bottom, and we're not at the top either.
I think we have a couple more innings left in this great bull market. And based on history, the last inning often delivers some of the biggest gains.
So, in short, yes, stocks have moved up a lot since 2009. But based on the last three cycles over the past 100 years, there's still plenty of room to run...
Good investing,
Steve
P.S. I recently prepared an in-depth report for my True Wealth subscribers that details when and how this bull market will end... and what to own when it does. You can learn more about my brand-new report right here.
The DailyWealth Investment Philosophy: In a nutshell, my investment philosophy is this: Buy things of extraordinary value at a time when nobody else wants them. Then sell when people are willing to pay any price. You see, at DailyWealth, we believe most investors take way too much risk. Our mission is to show you how to avoid risky investments, and how to avoid what the average investor is doing. I believe that you can make a lot of money – and do it safely – by simply doing the opposite of what is most popular.
Customer Service: 1-888-261-2693 – Copyright 2013 Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. This e-letter may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of Stansberry & Associates Investment Research, LLC. 1217 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21202
Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.
Daily Wealth Archive
|
© 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.