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BofA Reverses Stance on Defensive Stocks in Shift to Cyclicals

BofA Reverses Stance on Defensive Stocks in Shift to Cyclicals

(Bloomberg) -- An improving policy backdrop in the U.S. and signs of stabilization in Europe and Asia have prompted Bank of America to relax its defensive stance on the American equity market.

Strategists led by Savita Subramanian raised consumer discretionary stocks to overweight from underweight, while cutting utilities to underweight from overweight. The 180-degree turn comes amid a dovish tilt by the Federal Reserve, progress toward a trade agreement and a reduced risk that President Donald Trump will be impeached after Robert Mueller’s investigation found no evidence of collusion with Russia.

“Moreover, our teammates in Europe and Asia see hints of green shoots in their respective models,” the strategists wrote in a research note Tuesday. “We re-calibrate to a less defensive, consumer oriented stance.”

It’s a reversal of calls they made last year in a much different environment. The Fed had said its balance-sheet reduction was on autopilot. The S&P 500 Index was tumbling to the cusp of a bear market. Anxiety over a global growth slowdown was intensifying. And a deal with China seemed unlikely.

BofA Reverses Stance on Defensive Stocks in Shift to Cyclicals

“Less upward pressure on borrowing costs, healthy consumer balance sheets, contained inflation and full employment make for a healthy spending environment,” the strategists wrote. “Consumer discretionary chronically underperforms during the late cycle when the Fed is tightening. But a more dovish Fed in the near-term should be supportive.”

Utilities did better than any other industry group between the S&P 500’s record last September through its Dec. 24 low, making them relatively expensive compared with the broader market, the strategists wrote. They also cut health-care stocks to neutral from buy, citing concern about leverage being at a record high and uncertainty over drug pricing and next year’s presidential election.

Bank of America’s more positive tilt is the latest sign of renewed optimism in the U.S. equity market. RBC Capital Markets’ Lori Calvasina and Credit Suisse’s Jonathan Golub raised their 2019 S&P 500 targets last week, citing an improving macro backdrop. Wells Fargo’s Chris Harvey, one of Wall Street’s biggest bears, is considering doing the same.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elena Popina in New York at epopina@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Courtney Dentch at cdentch1@bloomberg.net, Richard Richtmyer, Brad Olesen

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