Don’t Panic – A Bull Case For Equities

Overview: Both stocks and bonds are off to one of their worst starts to the year in history. The S&P 500 Index declined -12.92% through the end of April, and other broad market indices were similarly down double digits.1 What’s worse, investors are losing nearly as much on the fixed income side of their portfolios as they are on the equity side. The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate bond index, a broad measure of domestic fixed income, suffered its largest quarterly loss (-5.93%) since 1980 to start the year2 and is down -9.50% through the end of April. The current environment has left investors feeling like there is nowhere to hide, and even prompted some to exit markets or go to cash. We want to explain why such a rash response could likely lead investors to miss out on an eventual rebound in stocks. Historical equity performance post-corrections, as well as strong underlying economic fundamentals, suggest a bounce back in stocks will occur sooner rather than later. The Bull Case for Equities: Using History as Our Guide The S&P 500 fell back into correction territory just 22 trading days after leaving; its fastest re-entry into negative 10% performance since November 2008, during the turmoil of the Great Financial Crisis. 3 The table below, which excludes periods when a correction turned into a bear market, maps out how the S&P 500 has performed after exiting a correction. Based on data going back to 1928, the S&P 500 saw a median gain of +11.5% after exiting a correction, and an average gain of nearly +14% — rising nearly 77% of the time.4

The Bull Case for Markets: Strong Economic Fundamentals Beyond historical performance supporting a second half rally in stocks, the critical fundamentals underlying the U.S. economy remain quite strong. Resilient demand, healthy corporate and consumer financial positioning, and rising earnings can act as shock absorbers through the volatility market observers expect to persist in the near- to medium-term. The initial estimate for first-quarter economic growth showed an unexpected contraction. U.S. real GDP (inflation-adjusted) declined 1.4%, versus +6.9% growth in the previous quarter.1 This sharp deceleration was due to a drag from exports, a decline in inventory spending following a sizable increase the prior quarter, and to a lesser extent a contraction in government spending. More importantly, consumer spending, which accounts for nearly 70% of the U.S. economy, continued to grow at a solid pace. Personal consumption accelerated slightly to 2.7% from 2.5% the previous month, driven by spending on services. For perspective, consumer spending grew at an average pace of 2.3% over the past decade.1 In another positive sign for the economy, business investment increased 9.2%, the most in a year.1 Broad momentum in capitalspending should persist as companies accelerate their pace of automation and investment amid ongoing labor shortages. Ultimately, consumers are benefiting from an exceptionally tight labor market and rising wages. With pandemic effects fading, we believe consumption will continue to support above-average economic growth this year. Adding one final caveat, economic growth and stock market growth can diverge significantly, as evidenced by the current state of markets. Importantly, attempting to time the market by exiting existing positions and re-entering a perceived “safer” environment, generally leaves shareholders much worse off. Investors are best served by sticking to a plan, weathering market downturns with smart, riskadjusted asset allocations, and holding on through the turnaround as the most significant gains are captured in initial market rebounds. Economic Definitions GDP: Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the final market value of all goods and services produced within a country. It is the most frequently used indicator of economic activity. The GDP by expenditure approach measures total final expenditures (at purchasers’ prices), including exports less imports. This concept is adjusted for inflation. Index Definitions S&P 500: The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities and serves as the foundation for a wide range of investment products. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization. Bloomberg Barclays US Agg Bond: The Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, US dollardenominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The index includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, MBS (agency fixed-rate pass-throughs), ABS and CMBS (agency and non-agency). Disclosures: Index performance does not reflect the deduction of any fees and expenses, and if deducted, performance would be reduced. Indexes are unmanaged and investors are not able to invest directly into any index. Past performance cannot guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect again loss. In general, the bond market is volatile; bond prices rise when interest rates fall and vice versa. This effect is usually pronounced for longer-term securities. Any fixed-income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to a substantial gain or loss. Vehicles that invest in lower-rated debt securities (commonly referred to as junk bonds or high-yield bonds) involve additional risks because of the lower credit quality of the securities in the portfolio. International investing involves special risks not present with U.S. investments due to factors such as increased volatility, currency fluctuation, and differences in auditing and other financial standards. These risks can be accentuated in emerging markets. The statements provided herein are based solely on the opinions of the Advisor Group Research Team and are being provided for general information purposes only. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. Any opinions provided herein should not be relied upon for investment decisions and may differ from those of other departments or divisions of Advisor Group or its affiliates. Certain information may be based on information received from sources the Advisor Group Research Team considers reliable; however, the accuracy and completeness of such information cannot be guaranteed. Certain statements contained herein may constitute “projections,” “forecasts” and other “forward-looking statements” which do not reflect actual results and are based primarily upon applying retroactively a hypothetical set of assumptions to certain historical financial information. Any opinions, projections, forecasts, and forward-looking statements presented herein reflect the judgment of the Advisor Group Research Team only as of the date of this document and are subject to change without notice. Advisor Group has no obligation to provide updates or changes to these opinions, projections, forecasts, and forward-looking statements. Advisor Group is not soliciting or recommending any action based on any information in this document. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: Osaic Wealth, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by Osaic Wealth, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., and affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 4733424

Adrianna Rocha

Client Relations Specialist

240-379-6929 V
240-439-6889 VP
512-379-6909 FAX
info@kramerwealth.com

Since joining Kramer Wealth Managers in 2021, Adrianna Rocha has been a client service dynamo, ensuring every client interaction is seamless and delightful. She’s the go-to guru for all things client experience, handling everything from videophone chats to scheduling meetings and processing forms with a smile. Her goal? To make sure every client feels valued and well-cared-for.

Adrianna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Gallaudet University in 2017 and brings nearly a decade of customer service experience to our team. She thrives on personal connections, celebrating both her achievements and those of our clients. When she’s not busy at work, you might find her indulging in her passions—dogs, houseplants, essential oils, and the tantalizing flavors of Mexican cuisine. Proud fur-mama to her adorable Aussie mix, Ziva. Adrianna brings a touch of warmth and enthusiasm to everything she does.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working with clients?

A:  I enjoy client service because it allows me to help people and make a positive impact. Using my listening skills to understand client needs and solve problems is satisfying. I love turning negative experiences positive and the daily variety of challenges.

Adrianna is not registered with Osaic Wealth.

Adrianna Rocha

Client Relations Specialist

240-379-6929 V
240-439-6889 VP
512-379-6909 FAX
info@kramerwealth.com

Adrianna Rocha joined Kramer Wealth Managers in 2021.

Adrianna is responsible for client experiences and service. As part of the customer service team, she strives to help and provide top-notch service to our clients. As part of her role, she communicates with clients through videophone, schedules client meetings, prepares and processes forms, and gathers information for our advisors.

Adrianna Rocha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Gallaudet University in 2017. Before she joined our team, she worked in the customer service industry for nearly a decade. She excels in human-to-human relations and takes pride in not only her own accomplishments, but her clients’ as well. Adrianna enjoys chatting about her slight obsession with dogs, houseplants, essential oils, and food: especially Mexican food! She is also a proud fur-mama to her beautiful Aussie-mixed pup, Ziva.

Adrianna is not registered with Osaic Wealth.

Jack Morley

Client Relations Specialist

240-379-6929 V
240-439-6889 VP
240-379-6909 FAX
info@kramerwealth.com

Jack Morley has been a vital part of the Kramer Wealth Managers team since 2010, starting with various projects and officially joining full-time in 2013. As our go-to Account Service Specialist, Jack is the friendly face and reliable voice who ensures a smooth client experience. He’s the linchpin in client communications, handling account maintenance and bridging connections between clients and our advisory team.

A 1998 graduate of Gallaudet University with a BA in Psychology, Jack brings a wealth of customer service experience from retail and human services. His handyman skills are a bonus, making him the resident problem-solver and DIY enthusiast. Outside the office, Jack enjoys long walks with his dog Bailey.

Married for 25 years to his wonderful wife, Monica, Jack is also the devoted dad to two dynamic daughters who keep him on his toes. When he’s not walking Bailey—he’s likely tinkering on a new project or spending quality time with his family.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working with clients?

A:  I enjoy assisting clients in maintaining their accounts and ensuring there is a smooth transition in between changes being made within their accounts.

Jack is not registered with Osaic Wealth.