Latest from BCA Research
This morning’s employment report showed solid job growth, but recent consumer spending indicators are more concerning. The risk of recession starting within the next few months has increased. We suggest some important indicators for investors to track in the current environment.
This week, our three screeners cover equity plays in US defensives, US Tech, and European Small Cap Value.
Colombian financial markets have rallied on the expectation that a right-wing government will be elected in 2026. We take a contrarian bearish stance on the nation's financial markets. Colombia is suffering from two structural macro issues – unsustainable public debt and plunging energy exports – that will not be easily solved by a conservative administration in 2026. Continue underweighting Colombia within EM equity and fixed-income portfolios, continue shorting the COP versus the USD and the CLP, and bet on yield curve steepening.
The US economy is set to enter a recession within the next few months. Stay underweight equities and overweight cash. Look to increase fixed-income duration exposure over the coming months. The euro is likely to strengthen and European stocks should outperform US stocks over the next month or so, but these trends will reverse by the middle of this year.
The ECB cut rates as expected, but rising yields and a stronger euro are tightening financial conditions just as fiscal policy shifts the macro landscape. With more rate cuts ahead and market positioning stretched, we outline the key risks, investment opportunities, and our updated call on the ECB’s terminal rate. Read our full report for actionable insights.
US stock market outperformance has been driven entirely by the 0.0002 percent of US superstar companies. But this superstar outperformance is based on two highly questionable assumptions: that all productivity gains from the generative-AI revolution will go into corporate profits; and specifically, into the profits of the Web 2.0 superstars which will morph into the generative-AI superstars. As these assumptions become undermined in the coming quarters, relative performance will reverse, starkly. On a structural horizon, stay maximum overweight Europe versus the US. Plus: time to go underweight global financials (IXG).
The US High Quality (USHQ) portfolio slightly underperformed in February, returning -0.7%, whilst its SPY benchmark returned -0.6%. While we continue to monitor the portfolio monthly, over a quarter-on-quarter basis, USHQ posted meaningful outperformance vs. benchmark, generating +130bps of excess return, while also exhibiting lower volatility and drawdown.
This week we are sending you a sector chart pack. In the front section of the chart pack, we review February’s performance, take stock of the recent macroeconomic developments, and examine whether market rotation will continue. We also review whether the US valuation premium relative to Europe is justified.