Is Volatility Truly Gone from the Market?

Is Volatility Truly Gone from the Market? The wild stock market gyrations of early February have given way and seemingly left market participants with an overall feeling of renewed price stability. We believe that at least for now, investors can think clearly again. With the markets experiencing a relative calm (again, for now), I'd like to offer up this suggestion to readers and investors alike: please take this moment to re-examine how you dealt with the recent market correction. What was your psychology during the downturn? What can you learn from the experience? More... --------------------------------------------------------------- [What Other Risks Could Be on the Horizon?]( While volatility may have subsided for now, there are other risks to keep in mind. In our just-released Market Strategy Report for February 2018, we take a closer look at some of the key risks that could interfere with the current bull market in U.S. and global equities such as: • Overvalued Equities • High Yield Bond Markets • Tax Reform • Bitcoin Collapse • And more If you struggled to deal with the volatility of last week, then knowing and acknowledging these risks can help you understand - and stomach - future volatility that may follow as a result. We think this information is so important that we're making it available for all Mitch on the Markets readers today...absolutely free. Get you copy today! [IT'S FREE. Read Our New Zacks' February 2018 Market Strategy Report]( ------------------------------------------------------------------ For many, the gut feeling to sell stocks was pronounced, perhaps even irresistible. But 'reacting' would have meant ignoring the economic fundamentals that, in our view, did not change and continue to point to more growth ahead. Reacting during the correction could have also meant prioritizing short-term sentiment over long-term goals, which flies directly in the face of what many investors are truly trying to achieve. But, there is another facet of investor psychology that is ultimately more personal than it is financial. That is, did you put yourself through undue stress by latching onto the hysteria swirling around the selloff? Was that really necessary? Taking stock of how we responded to market volatility and the sell-off can provide us insights into our strengths and weaknesses as investors. It might even make sense to make a few notes, document how you felt, how you reacted, and what you would have done differently with the benefit of hindsight. When future corrections come - and there will be many - you should be better equipped to handle them. Now that investors can "think clearly" again, let's forget about technical price gyrations for a moment and re-focus on fundamentals. One of Zacks Investment Management's favorite places to look: corporate earnings. [1] A Case for Further (or Renewed) Optimism: Look at Corporate Earnings For the 341 S&P 500 companies that have reported results so far, total earnings are up +14.7% from the same period last year on +9.3% higher revenues. 78.6% of those companies have exceeded earnings per share (EPS) estimates, and 76.8% have exceeded revenue estimates. If these feel like solid figures, it's because we believe they are - these figures mark an above-average proportion of companies beating top and bottom-line expectations. What's more, the proportion of companies beating both EPS and revenue estimates is 63.6%. Looking at Q4 as a whole, combining the actual results from the 341 index members with estimates from the still-to-come 159 companies, total earnings are expected to be up +14.1% from the same period last year on +8.2% higher revenues. This would follow +6.7% earnings growth in Q3 2017 on +5.8% revenue growth. If the Q4 figures shake-out like we think they could, we could see the highest quarterly growth rate in years! And as if that weren't enough, earnings estimates for the current period are also going up materially. Bottom Line for Investors The deeper we examine the recent market activity, the more we are convinced that the selloff was almost entirely technical in nature. Economic fundamentals did not change over the last few weeks as far as we can see, and earnings have been coming in strong relative to past periods and expectations. Instead, what we think we saw was a mini-onslaught of triggered selling from various systematic, automated strategies. In particular, the selling strategies that used realized volatility, correlations, VIX and price momentum as signals to adjust exposure. These strategies have attracted a considerable amount of new assets over the last decade or so, and when sell signals are triggered so abruptly it can lead to a liquidity squeeze on the other side of the trade. In other words, selling that is largely unrelated to concerns about earnings, growth, and profits - the factors that we believe matter most. In addition to volatility, there are other potential risks to keep in mind. In our new Market Strategy Report for February 2018, we outline what we believe are 10 of the top risks in 2018. To help you do this, [I invite you to get this report free of charge.]( This report will take a closer look at some of the key risks that could potentially interfere with the current bull market in U.S. and global equities. We believe it is important to keep an eye on the risks that - if realized to their full extent - could derail the positive trajectory that stocks have been enjoying over the last few years. Get all the details, by reading our Market Strategy Report. To help you do this, I invite you to [Today It's FREE: Get Zacks' Brand-New Strategy Report for February 2018>>]( ------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT ZACKS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT If you want some ideas on just how position your portfolios accordingly, reach out to us here at Zacks Investment Management and we'll show you how. Zacks Investment Management was born out of one of the country's largest providers of independent research, Zacks Investment Research. Our independent research capabilities from our parent company truly distinguish us from other wealth management firms - our strategies are derived from research and innovation, including the proprietary Zacks Rank stock selection model, earnings surprise and estimate revision factors. We use this independent research and tools we've developed to design customized investment portfolios based on each client's individual needs. 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Do not act or rely upon the information and advice given in this publication without seeking the services of competent and professional legal, tax, or accounting counsel. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but we do not guarantee accuracy or completeness. Publication and distribution of this article is not intended to create, and the information contained herein does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment or strategy is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Any projections, targets, or estimates in this report are forward looking statements and are based on the firm's research, analysis, and assumptions. Due to rapidly changing market conditions and the complexity of investment decisions, supplemental information and other sources may be required to make informed investment decisions based on your individual investment objectives and suitability specifications. All expressions of opinions are subject to change without notice. Clients should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed in this presentation. Certain economic and market information contained herein has been obtained from published sources prepared by other parties. Zacks Investment Management does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. 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Zacks Investment Management is an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm and acts as an investment manager for individuals and institutions. Zacks Investment Research is a provider of earnings data and other financial data to institutions and to individuals. This communication is for informational purposes only and nothing herein should be construed as a solicitation, recommendation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or product, and does not constitute legal or tax advice. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but we do not guarantee accuracy or completeness. Zacks Investment Management, Inc. is not engaged in rendering legal, tax, accounting or other professional services. Publication and distribution of this article is not intended to create, and the information contained herein does not constitute, an attorney- client relationship. 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