CMO_BofA_01-27-2025_ada
CMO_BofA_01-27-2025_ada
CMO_BofA_01-27-2025_ada
All data, projections and opinions are as of the date of this report and subject to change.
The midcycle phase tends to be the longest part of the cycle, spanning about eight years THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
before the pandemic abruptly brought the previous expansion to an end, for example. Still,
Kirsten Cabacungan
there are some risks and imbalances that bear watching. Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% Vice President and Investment Strategist
target, with upside risks if the Fed overstimulates the economy given ebullient recent business
sentiment surveys, surging household net wealth, and unrestrained discretionary government MARKETS IN REVIEW
spending. Also, the dollar has become extremely overvalued, typically a headwind for
domestic/global manufacturing as well as international trade. More balanced growth both here Data as of 1/27/2025,
and abroad will likely become necessary to extend the expansion. and subject to change
Market View—Time to Focus on Fundamentals: While Equities have since clawed back
losses, the early-year market churn generated a sense of unease among investors after a Portfolio Considerations
prolonged period of tranquility. We’re bracing for more uncertainty surrounding headline
Investors should consider a more
risk, potential new policy initiatives, and geopolitical tensions—all of which could lead to
diversified approach to Equities in the
choppiness within a broader uptrend. Investors should be prepared to tune out the noise
coming year as the more highly
and stay grounded in fundamentals. In that spirit, a survey of the current environment
valued areas share some of the
suggests that key macro and market indicators are still sound: The economic growth
spotlight with the rest of the market
backdrop is solid, inflation is still in the low single digits, earnings are increasingly
in 2025.
supportive, and technicals look healthy. Our view is that Equities can continue to add to
gains this year and that the long-term secular bull market is set to continue. If there’s This month, we adjusted our U.S.
volatility on the way, the best course of action might be to take a step back and remember Equity sector views, with a
to stay committed to a long-term, disciplined investment process. downgrade of Healthcare to neutral
Thought of the Week—U.S. Consumer Checkup: The consumer closed out 2024 on solid from slight overweight, and in turn we
footing. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow Q4 consumer spending estimate has steadily increased reduce the magnitude of our
underweight to Consumer Staples
in the last few weeks from 3.2% on January 2 to a strong 3.8% as of the latest January 17
with an upgrade to slight
estimate update. Can the enduring strength of consumers, the U.S. economy’s primary
underweight.
growth engine, hold in 2025? The durability of spending momentum will likely depend on
healthy wage growth, low unemployment and layoffs, rising household net worth and Within Fixed Income, our highest
manageable household debt servicing levels. conviction call remains that the yield
curve will normalize by short rates
moving lower, and investors should
therefore consider moving out
investable cash into their strategic
duration target as cash yields are
likely to decrease from here, and the
Chartered Financial Analyst® and CFA® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. backup in yields may be an
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Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”).
Investment products:
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Please see last page for important disclosure information. 7560753 1/2025
MACRO STRATEGY
Fed Policy Not Restrictive, But More Balanced Growth Needed Longer
Term Investment Implications
Irene L. Peters, CFA®, Director and Senior Macro Strategy Analyst
An extended midcycle tends to be
Recent data confirm our expectations for a return to “Goldilocks” economic conditions of risk-asset friendly. Equity market
moderate growth and inflation, a positive environment for risk assets. On the growth front, diversification to position for more
for instance, real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased 3.0% in Q4 at balanced profits growth and price
an annualized pace, according to the Atlanta Fed, the third straight quarter of 3% growth. performance makes sense at this
Based on available data, the expansion remains driven by a solid 3.8% increase in consumer
point in the cycle but some
spending, with outlays on goods much above trend, rising by an estimated 6% in Q4.
imbalances bear watching.
The latest Fed Beige Book prepared for the January 28-29 rate-setting meeting indicates that
economic activity was the strongest in more than two years during the December to early
January period. Confirming the positive growth momentum, employment significantly exceeded
consensus expectations in December, keeping the unemployment rate low at 4.1%. Though still
concentrated in healthcare, education, leisure and hospitality, as well as state and local
government, sustained labor demand combined with still substantial aggregate household
excess savings and strong wealth effects are setting up growth for a healthy pace in 2025.
The new administration’s policies are expected to shift more job growth into the private
sector. Manufacturing employment and production may also finally come out of their long
rut since a number of manufacturing surveys have rebounded significantly in response to
the pro-growth agenda of the new administration and prospects for a broader-based
economic growth environment. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
survey of small-business sentiment surged in January on similar expectations.
Such rebalancing couldn’t come a day too soon. On average, real equipment investment
growth has been meager since 2019 and is estimated to have declined about 4% at an
annualized rate in Q4 (Exhibit 1). Industrial production has flatlined for 17 years.
Manufacturing employment also declined in December, capping a year of contraction. The
employment component of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index
dipped further into contraction territory in December, signaling no hiring spree is in the
offing yet despite improving sentiment and a surge in its new orders subindex.
Exhibit 1: Real Business Investment Above 25-Year Trend But Focused On “Intangibles.”
Business Investment Adjusted for Inflation (deviation from 1995-2019 trend)
50% Total
Equipment
Intellectual property products (aka "intangibles")
30%
10%
-10%
-30%
1995 - Q1 1998 - Q1 2001 - Q1 2004 - Q1 2007 - Q1 2010 - Q1 2013 - Q1 2016 - Q1 2019 - Q1 2022 - Q1
On the inflation side, progress toward the Fed’s 2% target has slowed in recent months. The
consumer price index (CPI) accelerated over the past six months, reaching a 4.8% annualized
monthly pace in December. This has turned the year-to-year rate higher to 2.9% from a cycle
low of 2.4% in September. That said, the reacceleration is largely due to idiosyncratic avian-flu-
related shortages as well as a recent spike in energy prices, which is unlikely to be sustained
given energy supply and demand trends discussed in our January 13, 2025, Capital Market
Outlook.
Inflation excluding the volatile food and energy components was much more encouraging,
and well received by financial markets. Indeed, “core” CPI slowed markedly from 3.8% at an
annualized pace in November to just 2.7% in December, its smallest monthly gain since
The economic growth backdrop is solid: The consumer spending engine continues to
power the U.S. economy. The December Retail Sales report showed that control group
sales, which exclude volatile components and feed into GDP calculations, saw a stronger-
than-expected 0.7% month-over-month (MoM) increase, compared to a 0.4% MoM
increase in November. Bank of America credit and debit card spending was up 2.2% year-
over-year (YoY) per household in December, marking the second-fastest pace of YoY
spending growth in 2024. While nuances remain, consumers generally remain well
supported by elevated net worth, solid wage growth, and a still-healthy labor market. On
that front, the U.S. economy added a greater-than-anticipated 256,000 jobs last month
and the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked down to 4.1%. U.S. GDP is set to expand
at a healthy clip against this backdrop. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow estimate is tracking
growth of 3.0% for Q4 and we expect growth of 2.8% for 2024 and 2.4% for 2025
(Exhibit 2A).
Inflation is still in the low single digits: While the resilient economic backdrop has
stoked concerns about the path of inflation, the latest data should provide some degree of
reassurance. The December CPI report showed that headline inflation was in line with
expectations with accelerations of 2.9% YoY and 0.4% MoM. Core consumer prices, which
strip out components like food and energy, eased on a MoM basis for the first time in six
months (Exhibit 2B). Past episodes of inflation have seen more than one peak over a
multiyear time horizon—a risk we’re watching closely—but signs of a resurgence are
currently absent. Lower inflation allowed the Fed to cut interest rates by 100 basis points
in 2024. BofA Global Research believes the cutting cycle may be over, but investors are
still pricing in the possibility of additional easing in 2025. Our near-term base case is that
monetary policy will remain accommodative while inflation hovers in the low single digits,
creating a solid backdrop for Equities.
Earnings are increasingly supportive: Q4 2024 earnings season is off to a strong start,
with growth continuing to broaden beyond just the Information Technology and
Communication Services sectors. The Financials sector, for instance, is tracking a YoY
blended earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate of 49% for Q4. 3 All 11 S&P 500 sectors are
expected to post positive YoY EPS growth by Q3 2025 for the first time since Q3 2021,
and nine sectors are expected to report double digit earnings growth by Q4 2025
1
Bloomberg. January 2, 2025.
2
BofA Global Research. January 2, 2025.
3
FactSet. January 22, 2025.
Adding it all up, we believe that 2025 will be a solid year for markets and that the long-
term secular bull market is set to continue. That said, we see potential for more short-
term market swings. While risks related to geopolitics, monetary and fiscal policy, and
inflation are certainly worth monitoring, we encourage investors to cut through the noise
and focus on fundamentals. The best course of action during periods of market turbulence
is often to take a step back and remember to stay committed to a long-term, disciplined
investment process.
2A) Estimates call for strong GDP growth. 2B) Recent inflation data has been encouraging.
Real U.S. GDP Estimates (% Quarter-over-Quarter annualized) Change in core CPI (Seasonally Adjusted) (MoM) (%)
3 2.8 0.5
2.5 2.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
2.3 2.2 2.2 0.4
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
2 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.2
0.2
0.1
1 0.1
0.0
0
Q1 2025E Q2 2025E Q3 2025E Q4 2025E 2024E 2025E
2C) Broadening earnings expansion is supportive. 2D) The VIX remains relatively subdued.
Q4 '24 Q1 '25 Q2 '25 40
Estimated YoY EPS Growth for S&P 500
50
40 Q3 '25 Q4 '25 VIX Index 5-Year Average
30 35
20
10 30
Sectors (%)
0
VIX Level
-10 25
-20
-30 20
-40
Health Care
Industrials
Consumer Staples
Utilities
Energy
Financials
Information Tech.
Comm. Services
Consumer Disc.
Materials
Real Estate
15
10
Exhibit 2A) E=Estimate. Source: BofA Global Research. January 17, 2025. Exhibit 2B) Source: FactSet. January 17, 2025. Exhibit 2C) Source: FactSet. January 17, 2025. Exhibit 2D) Source:
Bloomberg. January 17, 2025. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Please refer to index definitions at the end of this report. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
3C) Household net worth close to eight times disposable income due 3D) Household balance sheets also look to be in good shape with overall
to strong financial and real estate asset gains is a tailwind for debt servicing ratios low even amid a moderate shift up since the
confidence and consumption. trough during the pandemic.
850% 14%
800% U.S. Household Net Worth as a % of Disposable Personal Income U.S. Household Debt Service Ratio
13%
750%
700% 12%
650% 11%
600%
10%
550%
500% 9%
450% 8%
1946
1949
1952
1955
1958
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
2021
2024
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Exhibit 3A) Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Bloomberg. Data as of January 22, 2025. Exhibit 3B) Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Bloomberg. Data as of January 22, 2025. Exhibit 3C)
Sources: Federal Reserve; Bloomberg. Data as of January 22, 2025. Exhibit 3D) Shading represents a recession. Sources: Federal Reserve; Bloomberg. Data as of January 22, 2025.
4
BofA Global Research, “Consumer Checkpoint: Resolute in the new year?”, January 10, 2025.
5
U.S. Census Bureau. Data as of January 22, 2025.
6
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Data of January 22, 2025.
Equities
Financials
slight over weight green
90 Day Yield 4.30 4.30 4.31 4.31 Slight over weight green
U.S. Large-cap
Consumer
2 Year Yield 4.27 4.28 4.24 4.24 Slight over weight green
slight over weight green
U.S. Mid-cap Discretionary
10 Year Yield 4.62 4.63 4.57 4.57 slight over weight green
U.S. Small-cap
slight over weight green
Neutral yellow
Commodities Current WTD MTD YTD U.S. Investment- neutral yellow
Services
grade Taxable Move d from slight over weight to Neutral yellow
Healthcare
WTI Crude $/Barrel†† 74.66 -4.1 4.1 4.1 Slight underweig ht orange
Industrials
Neutral Yellow
Global High Yield Taxable
Gold Spot $/Ounce†† 2770.58 2.5 5.6 5.6 Neutral yellow
Real Estate
Total Return in USD (%) Tax Exempt slight underweig ht orange
Energy
Prior Prior 2022 U.S. High Yield Tax Exempt slight underweig ht orange
Materials
Currencies Current Week End Month End Year End Alternative Investments*
Hedge Strategies Consumer
Neutral
Staples
USD/JPY 156.00 156.30 157.20 157.20
Private Real Estate
Neutral
Cash
S&P Sector Returns *Many products that pursue Alternative Investment strategies, specifically Private Equity and Hedge Funds, are available
only to qualified investors. CIO asset class views are relative to the CIO Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) of a multi-asset
Communication Services 4.0%
portfolio. Source: Chief Investment Office as of January 7, 2025. All sector and asset allocation recommendations must be
Healthcare 3.0% considered in the context of an individual investor’s goals, time horizon, liquidity needs and risk tolerance. Not all
Industrials 2.4% recommendations will be in the best interest of all investors.
Information Technology 1.9%
Financials 1.2%
Real Estate 1.2%
Consumer Staples 1.1%
Utilities 0.9%
Consumer Discretionary 0.8%
Materials 0.7%
Energy -2.9%
-4% -2% 0% 2% 4% 6%
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