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Market Review - First Quarter 2020
We are in the midst of a health and human life crisis. And yes, an economic crisis as well. For perhaps the first time ever on a global scale, the world made a conscious decision to value human life over economics. Adopting behavioral changes, namely shelter in place and social distancing, as the best measure to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus will save thousands, probably millions of lives. The economic cost, in the short run, will be significant.
In these anxiety-fueled times, it’s easy to come up with a list of why we should abandon our financial plan. In an environment where bad news overwhelms good, it can be hard to lose sight of the strength and resiliency of the human spirit. Without fail we move forward, progress and advance for our benefit, our families and communities. That’s what we do. That’s why we will get through this. Businesses will restart, jobs will reappear and markets will recover.
Economy
Going into 2020, the U.S. and global economy was well-positioned for another year of steady yet moderate growth. That all changed with COVID-19. Out of necessity to prevent a global health and human life crisis, governments made the difficult decision to essentially shutter their economies.
In an effort to curtail some of the damage, massive global synchronized relief programs were quickly rolled out, led by the U.S. The Federal Reserve twice cutting rates, dropping the overnight lending rate back to 0 -.25%, all-time lows not seen since the great recession. The Fed also launched more than a half dozen programs to create liquidity in the financial system, including a $700 billion commitment to purchase Treasury, agency and mortgage backed securities restarting quantitative easing (QE).
The Federal government followed with the passage of the CARES Act, a $2 trillion dollar relief program designed to help Americans bridge the period between now and when we get “back to business.” Will it be enough? We don’t know yet. We do know policy officials have acted quickly and aggressively and have publicly stated they will continue to do so.
We also know the economic data is going to be bad. Really bad. Estimates for second quarter GDP are significantly negative. The range is wide. Really wide. It almost doesn’t matter. What matters more is “how long” things will remain this way. Earnings season, which starts unofficially in mid-April, will shed more light on this question. Over the course of about six weeks we will hear publicly from CEOs of major U.S. companies about their outlook. A consensus around “how long” will begin to take shape.
Weekly initial unemployment claims surged from about 200,000 (March 14) to 3.3 million (March 21) to 6.65 million (March 28) - the highest ever recorded. Last month’s Labor Department nonfarm payroll reported 5.8 million unemployed (3.5%); that will jump to at least 5.5%. Some estimates call for the unemployment rate to top 20% in the weeks and months ahead.
Equities
After a year of relative calm, the first quarter of 2020 upended the status quo with a period that will go down as one of the most volatile three months in the history of the stock market. The speed and magnitude of the stock market reaction to the coronavirus is unprecedented.
The first 33 days of the quarter were a continuation of 2019, as the S&P 500 moved higher in a steady and calm fashion rising 4.8% to the all-time high of 3,386.15 on February 19. Then, with the reality of the impact of COVID-19 setting in, the last 29 days of the quarter were dramatically different. In just 23 days, the S&P 500 dropped 33.9% to 2,237.40 by March 23. The next three trading days saw the S&P soar 17.6% only to give up and claw back gains throughout the final days of the quarter. In the end, the S&P 500 lost 19.6% for the quarter - the worst first quarter since 1938. Small-Cap stocks fared worst losing 32.64%. Mid-Cap stocks dropped 29.70%. All sectors suffered double digit declines. Energy, hit by COVID-19 and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia – two of the largest producers - lost more than 50%.
March was the most volatile month on record with an average daily swing of 4.8%. Only four days saw swings of less than 1%. Truly unprecedented.
Fixed Income
While the DOW and S&P 500 grabbed most of the headlines with their jaw-dropping daily swings, bonds saw their fair share of crazy. The 10-year Treasury yielded 2.2% at the start of 2020. On March 8 yields hit all-time lows of .318%. On March 25 short-term Treasury bills (90 days or less) turned negative. High-quality municipal bonds lost more than 10% at one point as volatility spiked and bid/ ask spreads widened dramatically. The Fed’s quick action, injecting an enormous amount of liquidity through purchase programs, had a much-needed stabilizing effect. By quarter end the yield curve normalized, albeit at much lower rates. For the quarter, intermediate-term bonds returned 6.88%, providing a much needed ballast for stocks.
With rates so low and limited appreciation potential, the case for high-quality short maturity bonds becomes difficult when viewed through an income lens. Today, value is derived through the diversification benefits bonds provide against equity markets.
Final Thoughts
“Stay the course” is an often-used phrase by financial advisors during difficult market periods; unfortunately it does little to reassure investors that the financial future they envision is still intact. As investment professionals we know markets don’t always deliver – it’s part of the risk/return tradeoff. A good plan accounts for these periods of market declines.
Although the timing and magnitude is never certain – it’s one reason why staying invested is important – action that we can take is. Below are just a few things we have been doing:
1. Risk-Adjusted – selling high (bonds) buying low (stocks). This exercise alone can improve risk-adjusted returns considerably.
2. Tax loss harvesting – for many, the last 10-year bull market has created embedded unrealized gains. Selling appreciated securities in early 2020 to “rebalance” reduced equity exposure (selling high) but created a tax liability (capital gain). Using the market pullback to pair losses with gains reduces any capital gains tax liability. For those in higher tax brackets, this exercise can create a tax asset of up to 23.4% on unrealized losses.
3. Portfolio optimization – market selloffs provide opportunities to realign sector weights and security weights for better downside protection.
4. Anchoring to the plan – revisiting planning assumptions and accumulation goals ensures any values outside of acceptable ranges are identified, discussed and addressed.
5. Asset class and security selection – market selloffs can offer opportunities to add holdings at attractive prices.
The longest U.S. expansion on record is over. A recession (technically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP) is expected, from which a new cycle will begin. A better time is ahead.
Since 1928, through 14 recessions and 21 bear markets, equity markets have never failed to regain a prior peak, and this time will be no different. The drivers in the next cycle most likely will differ from previous cycles.
Consider how we have adapted to change over these last few weeks. The foundation for the next cycle is already forming and the investment team has been working hard to make sure our clients are well positioned.
Jason R. Lilly, CFA, CFP®, Chief Wealth Management Services Officer
Michael S. Kiceluk, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
Brad C. Francis, CFA, Director of Research
Lee C. Gatewood, Senior Investment Officer
Jonathan J. Kelly, CPA, Senior Investment Officer
Sean F. McLoughlin, CFP®, Senior Investment Officer
Robert D. Umbro, Senior Investment Officer
Kimberly K. Williams, Senior Wealth Management Officer
Craig J. Oliveira, Investment Officer
Christopher E. Chen, Investment Analyst
These facts and opinions are provided by the Cape Cod Five Trust and Asset Management Department. The information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable and accurate, but we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness and will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance thereon. Investments are NOT A DEPOSIT, NOT FDIC INSURED, NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY, NOT GUARANTEED BY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE.
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