JPMorgan Likes Real Estate More Than Private Credit
Dec 5, 2024
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Gabriela Santos, Chief Market Strategist for the Americas at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, shares her insights on today's investment landscape. She argues that real estate and private equity are more promising than private credit. Santos highlights signs of recovery in commercial real estate and discusses the implications of bond spreads, CCC bond risks, and the effects of trade wars. The conversation also covers strategies for navigating credit risks and the impact of the strong U.S. dollar on international opportunities.
JPMorgan Asset Management prefers real estate and private equity investments over direct lending due to recent repricings amid rising rates.
The podcast discusses the potential impact of trade wars on credit markets and the importance of credit selection in current economic conditions.
Deep dives
U.S. Economic Outlook and Growth Predictions
The economic forecast suggests that the U.S. will maintain a solid growth trajectory into 2024, with an expected 2% growth and 2% inflation, alongside a stable unemployment rate of 4%. While this outlook appears positive, it is contingent on various factors such as tax and regulatory policies from the new administration, which could introduce both inflationary and pro-growth effects. The discussion includes the recent movement in bond yields, indicating a resilient economy, but also acknowledges the potential for inflation to resurface as a concern for markets. Therefore, while the base case is optimistic, the future may hold challenges that could impact economic performance.
Impact of Geopolitical Risks on Credit Markets
Geopolitical risks, particularly stemming from trade tensions and potential tariffs related to China, pose significant challenges to the credit markets. The introduction of tariffs could affect market confidence, with potential negative repercussions on corporate borrowing and capital expenditures. The dialogue emphasizes that while tariffs are seen as negotiation tactics by some, there is a genuine risk that their implementation could disrupt sectors heavily reliant on global supply chains, such as automobiles and consumer electronics. This backdrop raises concerns about how these geopolitical developments may intertwine with the U.S. economy moving forward.
Credit Market Dynamics and Investment Opportunities
Investor strategies in credit markets are shifting, with a focus on discerning opportunities within corporate credit amidst tight spreads and rising yields. Current economic conditions allow corporate credit to potentially yield attractive returns, with expected yields of approximately 5.5% in investment-grade credit and around 7.5% in high yield. As investors weigh the balance between equity and credit risk, emphasis on credit selection becomes crucial, especially with projected rising funding costs. The environment invites a diverse range of investment strategies, targeting lower-rated credits while ensuring sound credit fundamentals are upheld.
Trends in Private Debt and Economic Landscape
The private debt market is emerging as a key player in the overall financial landscape, with significant growth providing new opportunities for investors seeking high yields. The discussion highlights the increasing appeal of private credit, especially for those willing to trade liquidity for potentially higher returns, with yields averaging around 10%. However, there are concerns regarding the influx of new private credit funds, and the potential dilution of quality as competition intensifies. This dual focus on public and private markets reflects the evolving strategies investors are adopting to navigate a complex economic environment.
Real estate and private equity are a better investment than direct lending, according to JPMorgan Asset Management. Those two have repriced on higher rates, while private credit hasn’t, Gabriela Santos, the firm’s chief market strategist for the Americas tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie and Bloomberg Intelligence senior credit analyst Robert Schiffman, in the latest Credit Edge podcast. “It’s been interesting to see signs that actually commercial real estate seems to be bottoming and turning around,” said Santos. Santos and Schiffman also discuss the likelihood of bond spreads staying tight, CCC bond risk, the market impact of trade wars and the technology sector debt outlook.