Photo: Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images
By Jennifer Sor | Dec 20, 2023, 11:23 AM EST
Artificial intelligence could be fueling a bull market in stocks that will last for the next decade, according to Main Street Research chief investment officer James Demmert.
Demmert, an investing veteran of over 30 years, pointed to the monster rally in stocks, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring to new all-time-highs this year amid Wall Street' excitement for generative AI. That uptrend in stocks will likely be long-lasting, Demmert said, partly due to increased productivity stemming from AI.
"The market's recent strength is indicative of a new and very real AI-led bull market and business cycle that could last a decade thanks to the productivity growth and tailwinds from AI," Demmert said in a note on Wednesday. "Experienced investors know that this kind of broad based strength across all sectors and capitalizations is reminiscent of the first year of previous bull markets that has much further to run, with inevitable corrections along the way.
Some market commentators have warned the AI-investing craze could be a sign of a speculative bubble forming in stocks. Most of the S&P 500's gains this year, for instance, have been fueled by mega-cap tech stocks. But the market's breadth has improved in recent weeks, which could suggest continued strength.
Stocks are also looking at a number of catalysts that could vault them higher into 2024. Cooling inflation has led investors to anticipate hefty rate cuts from the Fed next year, which is likely to be bullish for stocks.
More importantly, the US economy is looking resilient overall, with GDP set to grow 2.7% this quarter, according to Atlanta Fed economists. Meanwhile, corporate profits growth remains strong, while stock valuations look "appealing," Demmert said.
"We urge investors not to allow the market's recent strength tos care you out of stocks or prevent you from participating. Adding stocks during any kind of market pullback is the correct strategy at this early stage of the bull market. The fundamentals here are very appealing and likely long lasting – years not months," he added.
Wall Street has grown increasingly bullish on the outlook for stocks, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average recently claiming new all-time-highs. Stocks are likely on track to notch new records in 2024, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, and Fundstrat predicted.
Read the full article here.
Disclosures: Main Street Research LLC (“MSR”) is an SEC registered investment adviser; however, this does not imply any level of skill or training, and no inference of such should be made. The opinions expressed herein are as of the date of publication and are provided for informational purposes only. Content will not be updated after publication and should not be considered current after the publication date. We provide historical content for transparency purposes only. All opinions are subject to change without notice and, due to changes in the market or economic conditions, may not necessarily come to pass. Mention of a security should not be considered a recommendation or solicitation to purchase or sell the security, and any securities mentioned may be held by MSR for client portfolios. The information posted represents an opinion as of the date published and should not be considered an investment recommendation. MSR does not become a fiduciary to any reader or other person or entity by the person’s use of or access to the material. The reader assumes the responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content and for any decisions based on such content. Investment disclosure —neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation by Main Street of the purchase or sale of any securities or other financial instruments nor a recommendation to hold, sell, buy, or own a particular security or sector in your portfolio and do not represent all securities purchased, sold or recommended for client accounts. The reader should not assume that an investment in these securities has been or will be profitable. Individual recommendations are tailored to individual portfolios. Main Street client portfolios are managed separately and vary in regard to risk and return dependent upon individual client circumstances. A full list of all securities in the MSR client portfolio is available upon request.
