As we navigate the final month of 2024, market analysts, including Dennis DeBusschere of 22V Research, are weighing potential risks, sentiment shifts, and earnings forecasts for the coming months and year.
Dennis outlined a plausible chain of events that could lead to a market downturn, though this is not his base case. A hot inflation print could force the Federal Reserve to pause its rate-cutting cycle or signal uncertainty about future cuts, potentially shaking investor confidence.
Unexpected developments, such as more onerous tariffs, could disrupt financial conditions and create market volatility. While sentiment currently favors bullishness, a significant catalyst—such as inflation or unexpected policy shifts—would be required to reverse the trend meaningfully.
Small caps, which are expected to outperform in 2025 with projected 20% earnings growth, face “show-me” skepticism. Investors need to see earnings materialize, especially given past disappointments in this segment.
Short-Term Sentiment and Contrarian Indicators
Bullish sentiment is rising, but Dennis cautions against relying solely on sentiment as a contrarian indicator. For sentiment to drive a market reversal, a strong catalyst is required, such as inflation shocks or unexpected Fed actions. Without such triggers, markets are likely to remain supported by solid fundamentals in the near term. Dennis expects more muted returns in 2025 compared to the robust performance of the past two years.
The focus will shift to lagging sectors, such as small caps and value stocks. While small caps have seen significant multiple expansions in 2024, their performance in 2025 hinges on delivering actual earnings growth.
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