“The biggest names in finance are coming around to a view that seemed unlikely a few weeks ago: Stocks are vastly overvalued.” This according to a recent Bloomberg article.
The article notes comments from Stan Druckenmiller who earlier this month characterized the prediction for a V-shaped recovery as a “fantasy.” David Tepper has reportedly said that equity valuations are “nuts,” and Bill Miller, Paul Singer and Paul Tudor Jones have all echoed doubts about the markets and economy.
“It’s a notion catching on among Wall Street money managers,” the article notes, “and it’s coming as investors start to suspect that the Federal Reserve’s support, as well as $3 trillion in Treasury stimulus, may not be enough to compensate for soaring unemployment, a wave of bankruptcies and no end in sight to the pandemic.”
Tepper’s recent comments contrasted with those he made late in March when he said he was “nibbling” at stocks and buying into healthcare and tech companies.
In an April email, billionaire Leon Cooperman reportedly predicted that the government’s actions to fight the pandemic will lead to higher taxes and more regulation and suggested that stocks could fall by as much as 22%. Late last month, Carl Icahn said he wasn’t buying stocks but was instead hoarding cash and shorting commercial real estate. Bill Miller was quoted as saying, “After being up about 30% from the low on March 23, I would think a pause and some consolidation is in order.” The article says he predicted that the S&P 500 could fall by 4% or 5% from its current levels.