The stock market is rallying with a vengeance in 2023, buoyed by cooling inflation and high hopes for AI. The S&P 500 index of large US companies stands at the cusp of surpassing its previous all-time high, potentially marking the start of a new bull market after last year’s brutal declines. But could this seemingly picture-perfect rally set investors up for a fall?
In Good Times and Bad, Valuation Matters
During heady market rallies like the current one, it’s tempting for investors to throw valuation principles out the window and chase returns. But astronomical valuations detached from business fundamentals set markets up for eventual corrections.
That dynamic catalyzed last year’s declines, as the S&P 500 fell into bear market territory with a peak-to-trough drop of over 20%. Elevated valuations coupled with deteriorating economic conditions made stocks vulnerable to steep sell-offs.
Now in 2023, encouraging data has powered the fierce rebound. Yet valuations still provide the litmus test for whether stocks can maintain their gains. By evaluating rally drivers and corporate fundamentals, investors can gauge if prices accurately reflect risk and reward.
What’s Behind the 2023 Rally
Two dominant narratives have propelled stocks higher in 2023 so far:
- Cooling Inflation
- Game-Changing AI
After hitting a 40-year high last summer, inflation has markedly cooled. The October Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained flat year-over-year after months of sharp increases. Stabilizing prices reduce recession odds and suggest the Federal Reserve can pause interest rate hikes that roiled markets in 2022.
The rapid evolution of generative AI like ChatGPT has also stoked investor enthusiasm. Its uncanny linguistic dexterity has technophiles buzzing about an AI-powered productivity revolution, sparking rallies in AI stocks.
But when sentiment far outpaces substance, markets get ahead of themselves. While encouraging, these rally catalysts alone shouldn’t lure investors into overpriced stocks. Wise investing still comes down to fundamentals.
Drilling Down Into Fundamentals
When assessing individual stocks, investors should analyze three key fundamentals:
- Financial Performance
- Valuation Multiples
- Growth Outlook
Financial metrics measure a company’s current profitability, while valuation multiples gauge whether stock prices align with performance. The growth outlook evaluates future opportunities.
Analyzing all three areas helps investors determine if stocks are overvalued amid ebullient market rallies.
1. Financial Performance
For current profitability, key metrics include:
- Earnings Per Share (EPS)
- Return on Equity (ROE)
- Profit Margins
EPS shows net income earned per share outstanding. ROE reveals how efficiently companies generate profits from shareholders’ equity. High and rising margins demonstrate companies’ pricing power.
2. Valuation Multiples
Key indicators include:
- Price/Earnings (P/E) Ratio
- Price/Sales (P/S) Ratio
The P/E ratio measures how much investors pay per dollar of earnings. It shows whether sentiment exceeds profit delivery. The P/S ratio assesses stock prices relative to sales. High multiples suggest inflated optimism disconnected from financials.
3. Growth Outlook
To gauge future prospects, investors evaluate:
- Total Addressable Market (TAM)
- Management Execution
TAM reflects revenue opportunities from selling to a target demographic. Proven execution shows management can seize opportunities. Sturdy growth runways justify higher valuations.
Analyzing these fundamentals helps determine whether stocks deserve further upside or face corrections from overheating rallies.
Spotlight on Megacap Stocks
Megacap tech stocks show how market extremes manifest during frenzied rallies. Their enormous size makes them key drivers of broader indexes.
Last year the likes of Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Alphabet incinerated a staggering $4 trillion in combined market value amid the tech-led selloff. Now they’ve strongly rebounded in 2023, regaining over $2 trillion together.
Yet share prices have wildly decoupled from wildly diverging financial performance. Meta faces existential threats as advertisers cut spending and TikTok lures away users. But based on fundamentals, stalwarts like Apple and Amazon appear reasonably valued for quality growth.
This analysis spotlights the importance of scrutinizing fundamentals to avoid getting swept up in market manias.
Meta Meltdown: Challenged Fundamentals
Meta stock has cratered 70% from 2021 highs as the company copes with a rapidly deteriorating growth outlook.
Last quarter, Meta reported its second straight revenue decline along with plummeting EPS. Operating margins also tightened to 20% from 36% last year on ballooning costs.
Despite notable progress in AI research, Meta is getting disrupted on multiple fronts. Younger users migrate to TikTok, while Apple privacy changes pummel ad targeting. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already lost over $100 billion in net worth.
But even after crashing over 75% from peak valuations, Meta still trades at inflated multiples. Its P/E of 14 times forward earnings exceeds stalwarts like Apple. Indicating lasting challenges, analysts forecast EPS declining 61% next year.
With growth evaporating, Meta looks poised to face further valuation corrections until vision re-materializes.
Amazon Ascent: Solid Growth, Reasonable Valuation
Contrastingly, Amazon looks reasonably valued after rallying 50% this year. Its stock now trades near three-year highs.
The e-commerce and cloud titan continues delivering double-digit growth despite its enormity. Last quarter, net sales grew 15% to $127 billion as net income more than tripled.
High-margin revenue from seller services and subscriptions rose 25%. Amazon Web Services, which commands over 30% global cloud share, grew sales by 27%.
Despite robust growth, valuations appear grounded. Amazon’s forward P/E of 80 marks a multi-year low compared to averages over 100. The P/S ratio of 2 is paltry compared to pricey peers like Shopify.
With disciplined investment fueling rapid cloud and e-commerce expansion, Amazon looks capable of sustaining solid gains.
Takeaway: Let Fundamentals Chart the Course
Market rallies tempt investors to chase returns and downplay valuations, heightening downside risks. But by scrutinizing fundamentals, investors can identify solid opportunities while avoiding speculation.
The gaping dichotomy between Amazon and Meta shows how fundamentals separate hype from substance. One looks positioned to sustain gains thanks to consistent execution, while the other faces identity threats manifesting in deteriorating profits.
Regardless of which direction markets trend, analyzing companies’ financial performance, valuation and growth prospects spotlights investment potential. Rather than getting preoccupied with indexes at dizzying heights, let corporate fundamentals chart your stock investing course.