Stephen Parker

The S&P 500 is supported by strong earnings growth of 20% this year and 10-20% next year, with multiples actually contracting as earnings outpace price gains. Our mid-2027 target is 8200 with a bull case of 9000, and we see no reason to be bearish given the earnings momentum.

Investors are looking at this environment and saying the long-term structural fundamentals, the earnings growth, the upgrades that we're seeing in the tech sector and that's bringing money back into the US. Technology stocks are no longer just high-beta risk assets; their massive cash piles and structural earnings growth make them defensive flight-to-quality assets. They are largely immune to regional energy shocks, making them a safe harbor for global capital. Long US large-cap tech as a safe haven with structural earnings growth during periods of international instability. A severe, energy-driven inflation spike forces the Fed to hike interest rates, which would compress the valuation multiples of high-growth tech stocks.

Investors are looking at this environment and saying the long-term structural fundamentals, the earnings growth, the upgrades that we're seeing in the tech sector and that's bringing money back into the US. Technology stocks are no longer just high-beta risk assets; their massive cash piles and structural earnings growth make them defensive flight-to-quality assets. They are largely immune to regional energy shocks, making them a safe harbor for global capital. Long US large-cap tech as a safe haven with structural earnings growth during periods of international instability. A severe, energy-driven inflation spike forces the Fed to hike interest rates, which would compress the valuation multiples of high-growth tech stocks.

Emerging markets, particularly Asia, Korea and Taiwan, are a top call this year. The semiconductor chip story is a huge part of it. EM markets are up 30% but EM earnings growth is expected to be up 50%, driven by healthy demand despite some bottlenecks.

Emerging markets, particularly Asia, Korea and Taiwan, are a top call this year. The semiconductor chip story is a huge part of it. EM markets are up 30% but EM earnings growth is expected to be up 50%, driven by healthy demand despite some bottlenecks.

Emerging markets, particularly Asia, Korea and Taiwan, are a top call this year. The semiconductor chip story is a huge part of it. EM markets are up 30% but EM earnings growth is expected to be up 50%, driven by healthy demand despite some bottlenecks.

Financials have been a laggard this year despite improving earnings growth and robust loan demand. Concerns around private credit, energy prices, and AI disruption have weighed, but the underlying loan demand driver remains strong, creating an opportunity, especially in banks.

Financials have been a laggard this year despite improving earnings growth and robust loan demand. Concerns around private credit, energy prices, and AI disruption have weighed, but the underlying loan demand driver remains strong, creating an opportunity, especially in banks.

"The long-term structural fundamentals, the earnings growth in the tech sector is bringing money back to the U.S. and supporting U.S. equity markets." While Europe and Asia are highly exposed to the energy price shock, the US is buffered by relative energy independence. This dynamic drives global capital flows back into US mega-cap tech and semiconductor hardware, which continue to deliver massive earnings growth despite geopolitical noise. LONG US technology and semiconductor hardware as a relative safe haven supported by strong fundamental earnings growth and US energy independence. A prolonged energy shock that causes a severe US consumer recession could eventually drag down enterprise tech spending and earnings.

The challenge is if we end up in a situation where we're looking at triple-digit oil, not just for the next month or two, but for the next 3 to 6 months. The market is currently pricing in a quick normalization of energy prices. If the Iran conflict escalates and disrupts supply, oil prices will spike. US energy producers and the underlying commodity will surge, acting as a direct hedge against geopolitical complacency. Long oil and US energy equities to protect against a prolonged Middle East conflict and subsequent inflation shock. Geopolitical tensions de-escalate quickly, allowing global oil supply to stabilize and prices to revert to the $80 baseline.

I think you're also seeing a bit of a flight to safety, a flight to quality. You're seeing it in the rally in the dollar. In times of severe geopolitical stress and energy uncertainty, global capital flees vulnerable regions (like Europe and Asia) and flows into the safest, most structurally sound assets. The US's energy independence makes the US Dollar the premier safe haven. Long the US Dollar as a geopolitical and economic flight-to-quality play. The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates more aggressively than other central banks, weakening the dollar's yield advantage.

The challenge is if we end up in a situation where we're looking at triple-digit oil, not just for the next month or two, but for the next 3 to 6 months. The market is currently pricing in a quick normalization of energy prices. If the Iran conflict escalates and disrupts supply, oil prices will spike. US energy producers and the underlying commodity will surge, acting as a direct hedge against geopolitical complacency. Long oil and US energy equities to protect against a prolonged Middle East conflict and subsequent inflation shock. Geopolitical tensions de-escalate quickly, allowing global oil supply to stabilize and prices to revert to the $80 baseline.