Randy Lert Quotations

U.S. investment managers are bullish on large-cap growth based on what they know, what they believe and what they expect. Managers know that the economy has been resilient through some challenging times, they believe that the long-awaited swing from value to growth stocks has begun and still has some ways to go, and they expect the Fed to stop raising rates before short-term rates inflict any significant damage to economic growth.

(Money managers) expect the Fed to stop raising rates before short-term rates inflict any significant damage to economic growth.

Managers may also be expecting strong performances by investment banks and financial institutions that specialize in regional mortgages.

Managers believe the economy is growing and expect the Fed tightening cycle to end soon - setting the stage for the financial services sector to prosper. Managers may also be expecting strong performances by investment banks and financial institutions that specialize in regional mortgages.

Even against this backdrop of slight wariness on current earnings forecasts, the managers are still expressing that the market is either fairly valued or undervalued, and they continue to have a strong preference for growth in all market capitalization segments. Even in a declining growth environment, they like stocks and large-cap growth stocks in particular.

The risk-reward ratio for longer maturity fixed income is just not attractive with the current yield curve. Cash yields are now up to more than 4% and longer-term treasury bonds yields remain below 5%.

Internet stocks have enjoyed a strong run-up recently while traditional technology stocks have fared less well. Managers are voicing their bullishness across all styles of growth - large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap - and this sentiment has clearly found its way into the technology sector.