Blackout of Buybacks Threatens Bullish Run
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With the last half of March upon us, the blackout of stock buybacks threatens to reduce one of the liquidity sources supporting the bullish run this year. If you don’t understand the importance of corporate share buybacks and the blackout periods, here is a snippet of an article I previously wrote.
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Yes, buybacks are that important.
As John Authers pointed out:
In other words, between the Federal Reserve injecting massive liquidity into the financial markets and corporations buying back their shares, there have been no other real buyers in the market.
Given the increasing amount of corporate share buybacks, with 2024 expected to set a record, the importance of that activity has been a critical support for asset prices. As we noted in October 2023, near the bottom of the summer correction:
Notably, since 2009, and accelerating starting in 2012, the percentage change in buybacks has far outstripped the increase in asset prices.
Cumulative Chg In Share Buybacks vs S&P 500
As we will discuss, it is more than just a casual correlation, and the upcoming blackout window may be more critical to the rally than many think.
A High Correlation
Unsurprisingly, the market rally that began in November correlated with a strong surge in corporate share repurchases. Interestingly, while the media touts the strong earnings growth shown in the recent reporting period, such would not have been the case without the surge in buybacks.
Buybacks vs Earnings
The result is not surprising given that the majority of earnings growth for the quarter came from the companies that are the most aggressive with share repurchases. However, given current valuation levels, it should make one question precisely what you are paying for.
Nonetheless, the buyback surge has supported the market surge since the October 2023 lows. We saw the same at the bottom of the market in October 2022. The chart shows the 4-week percentage change in share buybacks versus the S&P 500.
4 Week Change in Share Buybacks vs S&P 500
The end of October tends to be the inflection point for the market, particularly over the last few years, because that is when the blackout period for share buybacks fully ends.
While many argue that buybacks have little to do with market movements, a high correlation exists between the 4-week percentage change in buybacks versus the stock market.
More importantly, since the act of share repurchases provides a buyer for those shares, the .85 correlation between the two suggests this is more than just a casual relationship.
Share Buybacks Vs S&P 500 Correlation
Investors Are Really Bullish
Currently, investors are very exuberant about the current investing environment. As discussed earlier, little seems to deter investor enthusiasm.
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Investor sentiment is once again very bullish. Historically, when retail investor sentiment is exceedingly bullish combined with low volatility, such has generally corresponded to short-term market peaks.
Sentiment VIX Ratio vs S&P 500
At the same time, professional managers are also very bullish and are leveraging portfolios to chase returns. When professional investor allocations exceed 97%, such has historically been close to short-term market peaks.
Professional Managers Buy Tops
The risk to these more optimistic investors is that with the blackout period beginning, corporate demand, the largest buyers of equities, will drop by 35%.
Therefore, given the correlation between buybacks and the market, a reversal of that corporate demand could lead to a market decline. Any decline will likely lead to a reversal of positioning by investors, further exacerbating that correction process.
While there is no guarantee of anything in the markets, it is likely a short-term risk worth paying attention to.
The Fed Will Support Buybacks
While the blackout of share buybacks may lead to a short-term market correction, the Federal Reserve may provide additional support over the long term.
The Federal Reserve has been transparent and likely done with hiking interest rates for this cycle. Given the massive surge in the Fed funds rate, the economy has withstood that impact quite well.
Of course, the reason was the enormous surge in fiscal support through deficit spending and a massive increase in the M2 money supply as a percentage of GDP.
M2 vs Budget Deficit as Pct of GDP
However, if the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, it will reduce corporate borrowing costs, which has historically been a boon for share buybacks.
Such is particularly the case for large corporations like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which can borrow several billion dollars at low rates and buy back outstanding shares.
As shown, share buybacks rose sharply following the but slowed during periods of higher rates. Corporations are now the Federal Reserve in anticipation of increased monetary accommodation.
Buybacks at Risk From Fed
With corporate buybacks on track to set a new record this year, exceeding $1 Trillion, corporations will need lower rates to finance the purchases.
S&P 500 Annual Buyback Executions
Conclusion
As we have discussed for the last month, the market is exceptionally bullish, extended, and deviated from long-term means. With the beginning of the removing an essential buyer of equities is a risk worth watching.
Even if you are incredibly bullish on the markets, healthy bull markets must occasionally be corrected. Without such corrections, excesses are built, leading to more destructive outcomes.
What causes such a correction is always unknown. While the removal of buybacks temporarily may lead to a price reversal, those buybacks will return soon enough.
And with $1 trillion in anticipated purchases, that is a lot of support for asset prices this year.
Does this mean the market will never face another
Of course not. There is a consequence for buying back shares at a premium. As Warren Buffet recently wrote:
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Eventually, the detachment of the financial markets from underlying economic realities will be reverted.
However, that is not likely a problem we will face between now and year-end.
