In this latest installment of our newsletter, we share our observations of the markets and the economy in the first quarter of 2025. Click here to go to the full report on our website. Following are the highlights:
- Uncertainties about economic policies around trade and tariffs sent markets reeling in the first quarter of 2025, resulting in declines in both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices. It also reversed a string of five consecutive quarters of gains and two consecutive years of 25%+ returns for the broad stock market.
- During the first quarter, the S&P 500 Index posted a negative total return of 4.3% while the Nasdaq fell 10.5%, putting the latter in correction territory.
- The bond market provided some relief to investors, as the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index returned a positive 2.8% for the quarter, as investors flocked to the safe haven of bonds, pushing up prices and tamping down yields.
- The sharp selloff in equities continued in the early trading days of April, roiling investors further and sending most major indices into or near bear market territory (defined as a fall of 20% or more from a recent high), before recovering somewhat in mid-April.
- Investors also rotated out of growth-oriented, technology stocks in the first quarter, favoring instead more defensive, dividend-paying stalwarts like utilities and consumer staples. It was the worst quarterly performance for tech stocks since 2020.
- The sectors that had been left behind in the tech runup of 2023-2024, such as energy, healthcare, consumer staples, and utilities, were the top performers in Q1 of 2025.
- One key take-away from this year’s market so far is that diversification works. Well-diversified portfolios, like the ones we construct for our Edgemoor clients – with exposure spread across industry sectors, market capitalizations, geographies, and asset classes – provide important ballast and protection for long-term investors.
- The U.S. economy is still showing resilience, though cracks are emerging. On the positive side, corporate earnings are still growing, consumer spending is still positive, and unemployment remains historically low. Household balance sheets are healthy, and consumer debt remains under control, for now.
- However, a sustained trade war could lead to higher prices and lower economic growth and is already causing some businesses and consumers to pull back on spending and investing. Growth forecasts for 2025 have been revised downward and are predicting a considerable slowdown from 2024.
- The slowdown of the U.S. economy is raising fears of an economic recession or potentially stagflation, which is the combination of stagnant growth and higher inflation. Since the tariff announcement on April 2nd, many Wall Street strategists have increased the probability of the United States entering a recession this year. However, the current tariff situation is fluid, and recessions are impossible to predict with any certainty. Ultimately, it will be the breadth, depth, and length of the tariffs that will determine the long-term impact on the U.S. economy.
- Our Outlook: In the near term, we expect elevated volatility in global stock markets to continue given ongoing uncertainties. However, we also remain committed to our strategy of constructing long-term, broadly diversified portfolios of stocks and income securities we consider high-quality and that can weather periods of market volatility and continue to grow their revenues, earnings, and dividend payouts. We stand firm in our belief that good investments should not be sold at depressed prices.
- Looking forward, we anticipate new opportunities will emerge in certain securities as they become more reasonably valued. We have already been favoring dividend-paying securities, international stocks, and short-term Treasury bills yielding 4%+.
- Even though markets can be volatile quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, we emphasize to our clients the importance of sticking to a long-term investment plan focused on their specific goals and objectives. We believe our patient, disciplined approach to individual security selection offers our clients strong long-term return potential in a cost effective and tax efficient manner. We appreciate your confidence in our time-tested investment philosophy.