To have a closer look at where new money is coming from, Carax-Alphavalue focuses on Q3. They think the 2017 picture “is gaining certainty.” The following table provides a neat summary of these analysts’ house coverage which comprises about 85% of the Stoxx600’s market cap/earnings.
Carax- Alphavalue points that the column before last highlighting in €m the sector contributions to the 2017 earnings improvement is “the most effective way to get a clear picture.”
“2017 earnings should be up €101bn. This variation is the largest of the last 11 years if one excludes the €170bn rebound in 2010 after earnings crashed in 2009 to a €340bn low. The 2017 total at €569bn will finally overtake the previous peak of €557bn last seen in … 2007.”
Banks
They will account for nearly 30% of the 2017 increase in earnings. They seem to punch way above their weight in market cap terms (say 10%). This is entirely due to their 2016 collapse. Cleaning up the 2016 figures from the 2016 fresh round of provisioning would put the 2017 Banks’ earnings up €10bn, not €29bn.
Then cyclicals
Oils have Banks’ features to the extent that they rebound from their 2016 lows after better cost controls.
Autos are a different matter as earnings are benefiting from the surge in European sales that more than offset Chinese difficulties and a declining US market. The oft forgotten fact is that this sector, which seemingly stumbles from one difficulty to the next, is effectively showing 2017 earnings nearly 2.5x higher than in 2007.
Metals & Mining speak for themselves even though AlphaValue is harbouring strong doubts about the sustainability of hard commo high prices. Capital Goods figures are disturbed by the Abengoa (Option, Spain) 2016 ludicrous losses. The 2017 increase is rather €4bn ex Abengoa, i.e. still very respectable. It is one sector where upgrades are likely.
Transport is showing limited absolute gains in 2017 but they accelerate in 2018 which probably suggests that earnings upgrades are likely.
Chemicals and Building
Products share similar earnings’ patterns. Without going through all sector idiosyncrasies, it is clear that 2017 is shaping up as a unique year in a decade. Banks have recovered, will pay rising dividends but have much challenged business models. The money is likely to be on cyclicals/value for a few more quarters.
Where new money is coming from in €m
