>>> Outlook for 2015: Goldilocks or the Three Bears?
* What's our view? 13% potential upside to end-2015
A modest pick-up in European GDP growth, the Euro at 1.20 and operational leverage should be enough
to drive 10% earnings growth in 2015 and 9% in 2016. Our fair value P/E multiple is 14.5x – just 7%
above the long-run average, but clearly on depressed earnings. This points to a fair value of 380 on the
Stoxx 600 by end-2015: some 13% upside. We launch an Interactive model with inputs for the macro
drivers and FX impact on earnings. If investors disagree with our inputs, they can change them.
* Scenario analysis: "Goldilocks" or "Triple-Dip Recession"?
"Goldilocks" is a surprise pick-up in European growth and acceleration in the US. But investors are
focusing on downside risks: a significant shock could push Europe into a "Triple-Dip Recession". We
view this as unlikely but in this scenario we see European equities down 30%. Our Quant team looks at
historical volatility to show implied price range. The "Triple-Dip" scenario is close to a 2-standarddeviation
event.
* Upgrade Commercial Services and General Retail
We upgrade Commercial Services to Overweight from Underweight as the sector's P/E relatives are close
to 10-year lows, the dividend yield relative is just coming off 10-year highs and earnings momentum has
turned. We take General Retail up to Neutral as a beneficiary of low rates and low oil. Our other
Overweight sectors: Banks, Luxury Goods, Tech Hardware, Media and Cap Goods. Favoured stocks
include ING, Soc Gen, Alstom, Richemont, Adecco, Marks & Spencer, Fresenius Medical, BSkyB, ITV and
Alcatel-Lucent (full table on page 5).
* Downgrade Pharma to Underweight
We take Pharma down to Underweight after significant outperformance (55% relative since 2012 and
the best performer YTD). The vast bulk of this has come from re-rating rather than earnings, which has
left relative valuations looking stretched: the P/E relative is at a 6-year high, the dividend yield at a c20%
discount to the market, and Pharma is now the most expensive major sector on PEG. The high inverse
correlation to the PMIs suggests underperformance if there is any macro recovery.
>>> Outlook 2015 – Five peak crisis gaps left to invest in
* Five peak crisis gaps remain & shout 'no growth for Europe'. We invest in them
1. The real yield gap today (bonds vs equities) is 90% of its crisis peak; 2. Cyclical performance is c. 5%
away from the 09 lows; 3. US has outperformed Europe by 45% since 07 and is valued at a 30 year
record premium to Europe; 4. US & European profit gap still at record high (fig 1); and 5. Troubled
sectors in Europe are still near trough (to history & many US peers). We think Europe gets back to its
2007 profits by end 2016 (c. 10% a year) and if so it trades on 10.5x PE. See roadmap for this: page 27.
* Europe improving: five changes: Banks, Credit, Euro, Oil/Consumer & Margins
1. Banks: AQR done, balance sheets better by > €200bn and TLTRO offers a MIN €400bn at 15bps for 4
years contingent on lending; 2. ECB credit survey best in 7 years; 3. Lower oil: Eurozone wins & real
wage growth at 5 year high; 4. A weaker Euro supports revenues; and 5. Margins are starting to turn
up. Five Changes: page 19.
* BUY Gap: Europe vs US. Gap starting to look beyond bizarre (pages 9-15)
We are 50% behind the US in the race back to (or beyond!) last cycle's peak profits. Sadly only 30% of
the gap to the US is due to sector composition (more Tech in US); 70% is due to lower ROE for European
Sectors vs US peers, Euro, etc. Some SECTORS responsible: Technology, Transport, Food Retail, Telecoms,
Autos, Media, Utilities, Energy, Diversified Financial, Real-estate & more. If we put Europe & US earnings
both back to 07 profits (closely aligned in past): European PE sits on 10.5x and US on 20.5x.
* Buy Gap: 43 ROE recovery plays & 30 Cyclicals that combined yield 4.9%
Profits down and no one believes in growth. So buy 1) where ROE still depressed & cheaper than
local/US peers (fig 2) includes: TOTAL, BBVA, Randstad, M&S, SocGen; and 2) Cyclicals with dividends:
Swedbank, CRH, HSBC, M&S, Amec, Michelin & more.
>>> European Pharmaceuticals - UBS Strategy downgrades Pharma to Underweight
* Downgrade to underweight based on macro
The UBS strategy team downgrades Pharma to underweight based on (1) the large outperformance of
Pharma in the last 3 years, (2) significant multiple expansion, (3) high valuation – especially the 20-30%
premium to the market and a dividend yield now at a discount to the market, (4) high inverse correlation
to the macro cycle (detailed rationale included in this note). We agree with all those points, especially the
last point. It seems very clear that in case of a significant recovery, the Pharma sector should most likely
underperform.
* However, valuations do not look stretched to us
Our bottom up fundamental view on the sector remains constructive: specifically, we expect several
companies to return to (near) double digit earnings growth, driven by a new innovation cycle, but also
smart restructuring & acquisitions. Valuations seem high looking at recent years, though a 5-6 year
horizon may be insufficient to gauge Pharma relative valuation to the overall market. The current market
premium of the sector is finally back to the period prior to 2009, before the sector moved towards the
patent cliff. Despite significant earnings downgrades for some companies (especially GSK, Sanofi) our
average projected earnings growth for the sector overall has increased from 7% to 8% since January
2014, with potential further upside from pipelines.
* Divergence of fortunes
During 2014, we have a big divergence in earnings growth expectations within the large cap sector. In
January, we projected (near) double digit earnings growth for Novo and Bayer, and mid-single digit for
the remaining universe. Since then, Novartis and Roche have joined the (near-) double digit club,
whereas GSK and Sanofi's earnings growth prospect have dropped to a low single digit level with
uncertainty to the downside. This divergence is still not reflected in the multiples.
* We remain Buyers of Novartis, Roche, Bayer, and AZN
In case of a recovery, we would keep the stars and preferentially reduce the companies with low and
uncertain earnings outlook.