Inflating Earnings

Check out the accompanying pdf and chart collection. Executive Summary: Crosscurrents should continue to buffet the S&P 500’s forward P/E multiple in both directions, but the earnings portion of the equation should rise in the higher-for-longer inflationary environment we project. The S&P 500 is a good inflation hedge provided that the downward-blowing crosswinds continue to be offset by inflating earnings. … Today, we detail all the variables that go into our stock market assessment—including our stagflationary economic outlook; our estimates for corporate revenues, earnings, and profit margins; our target ranges for the S&P 500’s forward P/E and price levels this year and next; and the assumptions we’ve made to derive those targets. ... Movie review: “The Dropout” (+ + +).