MARKET OUTLOOK / STRATEGY

Third Quarter 2020

During the journey through 2020, the shock and awe factor of events continues to surprise. Our outlook since March has focused on the crosscurrents of massive stimulus battling the unprecedented pandemic-driven shutdown of the economy. The flood of money into the economy and markets masks the devastation a level below the macro indicators. The fourth quarter should begin to provide more transparency on the myriad of challenges and pain points.
The Fed through its transparency, provides a level of confidence of a likely path forward. Their communications and actions reinforce our belief that short maturity rates will be anchored at the zero bound into 2023, as it will take time for inflation and employment levels to recover to pre-pandemic conditions. We align with the more pessimistic economic messaging of the Fed. The newly introduced average inflation targeting provides flexibility for the Fed to focus on supporting their other mandate of full employment. The Fed will be super accommodative, but their transmission mechanisms increase disparities. Small businesses and non-owners of financial assets get left behind.
Fiscal stimulus is a more effective method to smooth the uneven devastation of COVID and social distancing policies. The pandemic has exacerbated many of the pre-existing inequalities, and social distancing and health considerations introduced new penalties and burdens. Individuals and families that were most vulnerable have also been hardest hit. The debate over additional stimulus, its size, and who benefits will shape the path and trajectory of the recovery. The outlays associated with COVID, particularly with respect to the record levels of debt issued by both the public and private sectors, may dampen potential growth for many years.
Like any journey, there are many roads. It is likely that we are approaching some more treacherous terrain with upcoming elections and the possibility of a chaotic presidential transition. The pandemic, business dislocations, high unemployment, geopolitical jockeying, and social unrest add to the uncertainty and create an overhang for business investment and consumer spending. The resulting downside risks will lead to more volatile markets.
We maintain a modest overweight to the Corporate sector. This positioning is supported by a Fed policy that uplifts spread sectors, while also pushing investors to reach for yield. For most investors, the down-in-quality trade favors investment grade as it is a large liquid market and has attractive risk and return characteristics. We expect continued strong demand from a variety of investors, even as elevated volatility is likely given the higher near term risks. Valuations have tightened and represent only fair value. We expect a two directional trading environment for Corporate spreads. Security selection will remain paramount in creating value in the portfolios.
The MBS sector is negatively impacted by record low interest rates and by prepayment models used to value MBS that don’t reflect the elevated mortgage refinancing that is occurring. In addition, the Fed’s zero interest rate policy penalizes amortizing assets. We continue to evaluate MBS holdings using this lens. Our current cashflow preference favors bullet maturities, such as AAA-rated non-agency CMBS which offer attractive relative value. There are pockets of opportunity within ABS although strong demand has narrowed spreads considerably. Security selection and relative value will influence repositioning between MBS and other sectors, as they each have different risks.
As we consider monetary and fiscal policies and the economic environment at this early stage of the recovery, inflation should remain contained below the Fed’s two percent target. If inflation remains well behaved and the Fed anchors short term rates for multiple years, longer term rates will also remain near current levels. Our estimate of the trading range for the 10-year U.S. Treasury is 0.25%-1.00%.

Disclosure – As of September 30, 2021. Source: Pugh Capital, Bloomberg, and Bloomberg Barclays Indices. This market outlook and succeeding pages contains Pugh Capital’s opinions based on the information available at the time of the analysis. Opinions are subject to change without notice. Investors should evaluate their own risk tolerance, time horizon and other restrictions for their investment decisions. Statements concerning financial market trends are based on information available and current market conditions which will fluctuate. There is no guarantee that these investment strategies will work under all market conditions, and investors should evaluate their ability to invest for the long-term, especially during periods of volatility in the market. Please do not redistribute. Refer to the Legal & Disclosures section for additional disclaimers, disclosures, forecast, outlook and other information.

DISCLOSURE

Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results. Investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Fixed income market data provided is drawn from the Bloomberg Indices for informational use only and is not representative of account performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Investors should carefully consider risk when investing in bonds or other securities, which include, but are not limited to, default, credit rating, interest rate, duration, prepayment, liquidity, and structural risks. Securities are also subject to general market risks due to factors that affect the overall market, which may include, but are not limited to, government actions, investor behavior, and economic conditions. Economic conditions may be influenced by liquidity risk, geopolitical risks, monetary and fiscal policy, interest rate risk, and inflation, among others. There is no guarantee that investment strategies presented will work under all market conditions. Risk management processes including diversification cannot eliminate the risk of losses nor assure the likelihood of a gain. Each investor should evaluate their ability to invest for the long-term, especially during periods of downturn or volatility in the market. Refer to the Legal & Disclosures section for additional disclaimers and disclosures regarding performance, risk, and investment process.

Information presented is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investment advice nor an opinion or a recommendation as to the appropriateness of investing in any particular security, asset class, strategy, or product. Nothing in this publication is intended to be relied upon as a forecast or research; legal, tax, securities, or investment advice. Nothing in this publication is a solicitation of any type.

This commentary contains Pugh Capital’s opinions based on the information available at the time of the analysis. Opinions, outlook, and strategies are subject to change without notice. Statements concerning financial market trends are based on information available and current market conditions which will fluctuate. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.

This report is intended for U.S. institutional investors only. No part of this material may be modified, distributed or duplicated without the explicit permission of Pugh Capital Management.

Source: Pugh Capital, Bloomberg, and Bloomberg Indices.

As of .