The busy retail season is in full swing, but what can investors make of the longer-term outlook for consumer stocks? Sophie Steel of BlackRock Fundamental Equities looks beyond the seasonalities to three factors that are reshaping the opportunities across consumer sectors.
‘Tis the season … for holiday cheer, gifting and, of course, spending. Estimates for 2021 suggest a spending surge: Households have generally built up savings during the pandemic and pent-up demand for products and services is set to be unleashed with greater-than-usual seasonal gusto.
U.S. consumers have underspent their “normal income” over the past 18 months, amassing savings that amount to $670 billion ― consumption power that is further supplemented by
$2 trillion in savings from federal stimulus.1
Yet even bigger changes are afoot in the character of the consumer and the trends likely to prevail in the years to come. Sophie Steel, Co-Head of the Consumer Industry Group within BlackRock Fundamental Equities, says in a recent BlackRock Bottom Line video : “We are at a turning point in the way consumers around the world are spending their time and money.”
She identifies three transformative trends reshaping consumerism across the globe:
1. Consumption change
Ms. Steel sees a revolution unfolding in how and what we buy, with digital and social channels becoming a primary mode of discovering, interacting with and purchasing products.
“Only a few years ago,” she says, “the thought of trying on several different looks from the comfort of your own home through an augmented reality app and then paying for one of these looks through a digital wallet would have been totally alien.”
This is now becoming normalized. eCommerce is at an inflection point: Over the next four years, it will grow more than three times faster than physical retail, data from Activate Consulting suggests. This is creating new opportunities and transforming the way brands are marketing and selling their products.
2. Entertainment evolution
Younger generations are prioritizing experiences (both live and virtual) over possessions. The urge to splurge on live events has been particularly pronounced recently after months of lockdown. “We are seeing live music events selling out faster than ever before,” Ms. Steel says, noting that average ticket prices at a leading live event and ticketing company are up double digits versus 2019. Fans have been spending at record levels, with onsite spending per fan up over 20% compared to 2019.
Online entertainment is soaring as well. Advancements in high-speed networks and the rise of the internet allow unfettered access to digital content whenever and wherever. And consumers are eating it up: People in the developed world spend more time interacting with their friends on social media and gaming platforms than in real life (IRL).2
Ms. Steel suggests these trends are here to stay and creating investment opportunity as companies, both in the virtual and physical worlds, seek to “out-entertain us.”
3. Personal well-being
An emphasis on self was accelerated by the pandemic, as individuals were able to focus greater attention on their own health and wellness. The Global Wellness Economy is expected to increase nearly 50% from 2018-2024, as shown in the chart below.
All is well
Size of the Global Wellness Economy, 2015-2024E
The manifestations of this are many, but one particularly interesting area: pet personalization. Pet ownership increased during the pandemic, and individuals treat (and spend on) their pets much like they do humans. Over 70% of pet owners purchase gifts or treats for their pets during the winter holiday season.3 Growth in pet ownership and spending sets the stage for a new swathe of companies to profit.
Room to run
Ms. Steel sees all three of these dynamics driving major structural shifts in the investment opportunity set among consumer-oriented stocks. And importantly, these trends are independent of the economic cycle. For that reason, she sees them only gaining in importance over the next several years. Who will be left behind? Companies and industries that have been slow to invest in digitalization.
1 Sources: BlackRock, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Aug. 1, 2021) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Sept. 30, 2021).
2 Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (July 2021) and Global Web Index (January 2019).
3 Source: Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 3rd Edition, 2019.
Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.
This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of December 2021 and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this post are derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by BlackRock, its officers, employees or agents. This post may contain “forward-looking” information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this post is at the sole discretion of the reader. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Prepared by BlackRock Investments, LLC, member FINRA.
© BlackRock
Read more commentaries by BlackRock
