Why All-Time Highs Both Worry and Excite Investors

Last week, the S&P 500 reached another new all-time high while the NASDAQ and Dow Jones Industrial Average each finished within one percent of record levels. As the economy accelerates and corporate profits beat estimates, the stock market is adjusting quickly. In this environment, some investors may be enthusiastic about this momentum while others may be worried that stock prices have run too far too fast. How can all investors stay disciplined in this environment?

One source of investor concern arises from focusing too much on market prices and daily returns. While this information is easily accessible and widely reported, it does not tell the whole story. First, the fact that the stock market has risen does not guarantee it will crash in the near future. For instance, some may find it surprising that this is the 30th time the market has achieved a record level this year, while the biggest intra-year decline has been far below average at under 4%.

This is because, almost by definition, the stock market often spends most of its time at or near all-time highs as it rises during bull markets. There have been many periods when the market defied expectations for months or years, including during the decade after the 2008 financial crisis. Rather than try to avoid short-term market pullbacks, it is much more important to hold balanced portfolios that can withstand these stumbles.

Of course, it is true that stock market volatility is a normal and unavoidable part of investing. The reason investors are rewarded over time is because they are willing to stomach risk, especially when it is least expected. However, it is also the case that missing potential upside is just as harmful to achieving long-term financial goals. Case in point: those who stayed on the sidelines after the initial pandemic market crash last year have missed out on the strongest recovery in history.

Second, what truly matters to investors is not what it costs to buy a share of stock, but what they get for that price. Stocks are one of the foundations of any portfolio because they provide investors with a "share" of corporate profits which tend to grow over time. This is why financial ratios such as price-to-earnings matter much more to investors since they show what it costs to buy a dollar of earnings.

At this stage in the recovery, corporate earnings have returned to pre-pandemic levels at least two quarters faster than originally expected. Consensus estimates suggest that earnings could continue to accelerate into 2022 as demand heats up, fiscal policy stimulates the economy and monetary policy keeps financial conditions loose.

Finally, the stock market is forward-looking and incorporates new information quickly. Even if the market is not perfectly "efficient," it is difficult to consistently guess what it will do next. Holding a portfolio that can balance risk and return - even when the market appears to be at a summit - is the best way to achieve financial goals.