Q: What is Research Affiliates’ near-term and long-term outlook on inflation, and what informs this view?

Brightman: While fear of inflation may be premature^Footnote1 from an economic policy standpoint, in the coming decade, high and volatile inflation may be a toxic side effect of today’s experimental economic medicine.

Five years ago, we explained^Footnote2 why quantitative easing was not inflationary. Quantitative easing is simply shuffling bank reserves for U.S. Treasury bills both paying about the same rate of interest. However, the risk of inflation escalates when the government chooses the path of monetization to fund real purchases of government goods and services.

So are we at Research Affiliates worried about the potential near-term inflationary impact of stimulus payments that the Treasury and the Federal Reserve are sending directly to people’s bank accounts? No. Emergency stimulus is likely not inflationary while the economy is operating far below potential, and when precautionary savings are soaring. Accordingly, we do not expect to see this lead to materially higher inflation numbers reported over the coming months and even quarters.

What concerns us is that our politicians may be learning the wrong lesson. If monetization is a tool for addressing today’s problems, why not apply it to other problems? Why not use it to solve the problem of inequality? Why not fund huge investments in infrastructure or climate transition using monetization? Such is a path that could certainly lead to inflation. It points to a policy that resembles what we saw from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. In turn, we believe the risk of above-target inflation in the coming decade is highly elevated.

Q: Is inflation hedging relevant for investor portfolios today?

Brightman: Yes. When inflation and inflation expectations become untethered, mainstream stocks and bonds tend to crash. Accordingly, we believe it is prudent to consider moving a portion of one’s portfolio into inflation-hedging asset classes, so that they are in place when needed and not when it is too late. Historically, inflation expectations often have rebounded significantly after large declines. During those rebounds in inflation expectations, diversifiers have tended to deliver strong returns (see Figure 1). Moreover, as detailed in Research Affiliates’ proprietary Asset Allocation Interactive tool that we use to calculate long-run estimated returns, many inflation-fighting asset classes appear considerably cheaper and offer higher long-term estimated returns relative to mainstream stocks and bonds.

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Q: Along with their real-return orientation, the All Asset strategies embed a value-based, contrarian philosophy. What are your views on the deep rout of value stocks versus growth stocks?

Arnott: Let’s begin with a truism. Value investing is inherently uncomfortable: It requires us to buy whatever is most out of favor, contrary to our instincts, and to act objectively on future expectations and not simply chase what’s worked in the past. It takes discipline and a tolerance for “maverick risk” – winning (or losing) unconventionally – to shrug off the temptation to chase peer groups and recent performance.

Value stocks have been savaged this year. Year-to-date through their trough on 31 August 2020, value stocks (proxied by the Russell 1000 Value Index) lagged their growth counterparts (proxied by the Russell 1000 Growth Index) by 41.4%, representing the largest meltdown since 1931. Since that date, as of 11 November 2020, value stocks have beat growth stocks by 8.4%, with the majority of gains occurring in the early days after news emerged about the effectiveness of Pfizer’s vaccine in development.

Value stocks are struggling for a whole host of reasons. The COVID-19 lockdown has created an outsized demand for technology stocks that leverage our time, consume our human bandwidth, and reshape our behavior in ways that will long outlast the pandemic. Investors also naturally fear that value companies, with thinner profit margins than their growth counterparts, may go bust in a disrupted economy. Indeed, only massive stimulus has prevented this from already happening to many companies.

A relevant question is whether value companies are struggling worse than historical norms or whether they’ve become cheaper relative to their fundamentals. Are value stocks compromised in a lasting way? A recent Research Affiliates study^Footnote3 suggests just the opposite: that value stocks are not structurally impaired, but have underperformed simply by getting cheaper and cheaper. Suppose the relative valuation multiples (price/book, price/sales, price/cash flow) of value versus growth were the same as the relative valuations that prevailed in 2016, before the recent meltdown, or in 2007, before the long value winter began. Our research suggests that absent the erosion in relative valuation multiples, value would have beaten growth! This means that any mean reversion in relative valuation – which by some metrics is even more stretched than at the peak of the tech bubble in 2000 – would potentially deliver massive gains for today’s value investor. From 2007 through mid-2020, when we use the classic price/book definition of value, value stocks have underperformed their growth counterparts by 55% but have done so by getting 65% cheaper relative to growth (as represented by the Fama-French high minus low (HML) factor).

According to our study, the valuation spread of value relative to growth on a price/book ratio was 4.3 to 1 in 2007 (with growth stocks sporting an average price/book multiple just over 4 times that of value stocks) and 9.7 to 1 at the peak of the tech bubble. Where are we today? Nearly 12 to 1 – a ratio without any historical precedent. This breathtakingly wide valuation spread of value versus growth stocks today is unlikely to be sustained in the long run. If and when they revert, even if partially, patient investors stand poised to benefit.

Q: Finally, let’s discuss Research Affiliates’ return forecasts for asset classes, which inform the allocation decisions of the All Asset strategies. Historically, how accurate have your return forecasts been over time?

Kunz: We believe our forecasting methodology is differentiated relative to other approaches that all too often are detrimental to longer-term results. These other approaches include extrapolating past performance and assuming that future risk-adjusted returns will be the same for every asset class, insinuating that higher returns are only available through higher-volatility exposures.

Instead of adhering to these other approaches, we endorse a “building blocks” methodology to generate longer-term return forecasts. Such an approach decomposes the return of each asset class into three (or four) fundamental parts: 1) starting yields, 2) yield growth (or deterioration), 3) valuation changes, and 4) for non-U.S.-dollar exposures, exchange rate changes.^Footnote4

To assess the historical accuracy of Research Affiliates’ “building blocks” approach, we created a nearly 50-year retrospective of the accuracy of our return forecasts for 13 broad asset classes. In this analysis, we compared each initial 10-year return forecast range with the subsequent actual 10-year annualized returns. As shown in Figure 2, the median 10-year realized return is largely in line with our initial 10-year return forecast, and the interquartile range of realized returns almost universally encapsulates our initial expectations. Perhaps more importantly, we find it impressive that the realized returns for higher-return forecast ranges have always been higher than their lower-expectation counterparts, and vice versa. Said differently, while realized absolute returns were mostly in line with our initial absolute return forecasts, realized relative returns historically have materialized as our initial return forecasts would have indicated.

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The All Asset strategies represent a joint effort between PIMCO and Research Affiliates. PIMCO provides the broad range of underlying strategies – spanning global stocks, global bonds, commodities, real estate, and liquid alternative strategies – each actively managed to maximize potential alpha. Research Affiliates, an investment advisory firm founded in 2002 by Rob Arnott and a global leader in asset allocation, serves as the sub-advisor responsible for the asset allocation decisions. Research Affiliates uses their deep research focus to develop a series of value-oriented, contrarian models that determine the appropriate mix of underlying PIMCO strategies in seeking All Asset’s return and risk goals.

¹Brightman, Chris, “Too Soon? Pandemic Policy Response Raises Risk of Inflation.” April 2020↩

²Brightman, Chris, “What’s Up? Quantitative Easing and Inflation.” Research Affiliates, January 2015↩

³ Arnott, Rob, Campbell Harvey, Vitali Kalesnik, Juhani Linnainmaa, “Reports of Value’s Death May Be Greatly Exaggerated.” Research Affiliates, August 2020↩

⁴ Capital Markets Expectations Methodology Overview, Research Affiliates, https://www.researchaffiliates.com/documents/AA-Expected-Returns-Methodology.pdf↩

SUMMARY

• The robust fiscal spending plans gathering momentum in Washington, beyond continued expected COVID stimulus, may heighten the risk of above-target inflation in the coming decade.
• In our view, inflation-fighting asset classes look considerably cheaper and offer higher long-term estimated returns than mainstream stocks and bonds.
• Value stocks currently trade at a discount to growth stocks that by some metrics is even steeper than at the tech bubble’s peak in 2000, and any mean reversion would potentially deliver large gains.
• Research Affiliates’ 10-year asset class return forecasts, which inform the allocation decisions of the All Asset strategies, historically have been largely in line with subsequent realized 10-year returns, both at the median and interquartile range.

THE AUTHOR

Robert Arnott

Founder and Chairman, Research Affiliates

Chris Brightman

Chief Investment Officer, Research Affiliates

Brandon Kunz

Multi-Asset Strategies, Research Affiliates

DISCLOSURES

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the funds carefully before investing. This and other information are contained in the fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus, if available, which may be obtained by contacting your investment professional or PIMCO representative or by visiting www.pimco.com. Please read them carefully before you invest or send money.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Please note that the following contains the opinions of the manager as of the date noted and may not have been updated to reflect real time market developments Ail opinions are subject to change without notice.

Past performance is not a guarantee or a reliable indicator of future results.

A word about risk:

The All Asset and All Asset All Authority strategies invest in other PIMCO products, and performance is subject to underlying investment weightings, which will vary. Investing in the bond market is subject to risks, including market, interest rate, issuer, credit, inflation risk, and liquidity risk. The value of most bonds and bond strategies are impacted by changes in interest rates. Bonds and bond strategies with longer durations tend to be more sensitive and volatile than those with shorter durations; bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise, and low interest rate environments increase this risk. Reductions in bond counterparty capacity may contribute to decreased market liquidity and increased price volatility. Bond investments may be worth more or less than the original cost when redeemed. Investing in foreign denominated and/or domiciled securities may involve heightened risk due to currency fluctuations, and economic and political risks, which may be enhanced in emerging markets. Commodities contain heightened risk including market, political, regulatory, and natural conditions, and may not be suitable for all investors. Mortgage and asset-backed securities may be sensitive to changes in interest rates, subject to early repayment risk, and their value may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of issuer creditworthiness; while generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee there is no assurance that private guarantors will meet their obligations. High-yield, lower-rated, securities involve greater risk than higher-rated securities; portfolios that invest in them may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk than portfolios that do not. Investing in securities of smaller companies tends to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies. Inflation-linked bonds (ILBs) issued by a government are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation; ILBs decline in value when real interest rates rise. Equities may decline in value due to both real and perceived general market, economic, and industry conditions. Derivatives and commodity-linked derivatives may involve certain costs and risks such as liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, management and the risk that a position could not be closed when most advantageous. Commodity-linked derivative instruments may involve additional costs and risks such as changes in commodity index volatility or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. Investing in derivatives could lose more than the amount invested.

Return assumptions are for illustrative purposes only and are not a prediction or a projection of return. Return assumption is an estimate of what investments may earn on average over the long term. Actual returns may be higher or lower than those shown and may vary substantially over shorter time periods.

Forecasts, estimates and certain information contained herein are based upon proprietary research and should not be interpreted as investment advice, as an offer or solicitation, nor as the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Forecasts and estimates have certain inherent limitations, and unlike an actual performance record, do not reflect actual trading, liquidity constraints, fees, and/or other costs. In addition, references to future results should not be construed as an estimate or promise of results that a client portfolio may achieve.

Statements concerning financial market trends or portfolio strategies are based on current market conditions, which will fluctuate. There is no guarantee that these investment strategies will work under all market conditions or are appropriate for all investors and each investor should evaluate their ability to invest for the long term, especially during periods of downturn in the market. Outlook and strategies are subject to change without notice.

The terms “cheap” and “rich” as used herein generally refer to a security or asset class that is deemed to be substantially under- or overpriced compared to both its historical average as well as to the investment manager’s future expectations. There is no guarantee of future results or that a security’s valuation will ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged market index generally considered representative of the stock market as a whole. The Index focuses on the large-cap segment of the U.S. equities market. Russell 2000® Index is composed of 2,000 of the smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index and is considered to be representative of the small cap market in general. The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield Index is an unmanaged index consisting of bonds that are issued in U.S. Domestic markets with at least one year remaining until maturity. All bonds must have a credit rating below investment grade but not in default. Russell 1000 Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Dow Jones Global Select Real Estate Securities Index (RESI) tracks the performance of equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate operating companies (REOCs) traded globally. The index is designed to serve as a proxy for direct real estate investment, in part by excluding companies whose performance may be driven by factors other than the value of real estate. The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of large and midcapitalization value sectors of the U.S. equity market, as defined by FTSE Russell. The Russell 1000® Value Index is a subset of the Russell 1000® Index, which measures the performance of the large and mid-capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market. MSCI EAFE Index is an unmanaged index designed to represent the performance of large and mid-cap securities across 21 developed markets, including countries in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. The Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index is a market capitalization-weighted index including all U.S. Treasury notes and bonds with maturities greater than or equal to one year and less than three years. Bloomberg Barclays Long-Term Treasury Index consists of U.S. Treasury issues with maturities of 10 or more years. The Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Index is an unmanaged market-weighted index including only SEC registered and 144(a) securities with fixed (non-variable) coupons. All bonds must have an outstanding principal of $100 million or greater, a remaining maturity of at least one year, a rating of below investment grade and a U.S. Dollar denomination. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index represents securities that are SEC-registered, taxable, and dollar denominated. The index covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. These major sectors are subdivided into more specific indices that are calculated and reported on a regular basis. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. TIPS Index is an unmanaged market index comprised of all U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities rated investment grade (Baa3 or better), have at least one year to final maturity, and at least $500 million par amount outstanding. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. TIPS: 1-3 Year Index is an unmanaged market index comprised of U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities having a maturity of at least 1 year and less than 3 years. The Bloomberg Commodity Index is made up of 23 exchange-traded futures on physical commodities, representing 21 commodities which are weighted to account for economic significance and market liquidity. The JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus is a total return index that tracks the traded market for U.S. dollar-denominated Brady and other similar sovereign restructured bonds traded in the emerging markets. The JPMorgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) indices are comprehensive emerging markets debt benchmarks that track local currency bonds issued by Emerging Market governments. The index was launched in June 2005 and is the first comprehensive global local Emerging Markets index. JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index Plus tracks total returns for local currency-denominated money market instruments in 24 emerging markets countries with at least U.S. $10 billion of external trade. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) Equity Index is an unmanaged market weighted index of tax qualified REITs listed on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ National Market System, including dividends. Bloomberg Commodity Index is an unmanaged index composed of futures contracts on a number of physical commodities. The index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for commodities as an asset class. The futures exposures of the benchmark are collateralized by US T-bills. It is not possible to invest directly in an unmanaged index.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. ©2020, PIMCO.

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