4 charts show Fed chief Powell is spot on about stocks being 'fairly highly valued'

Core Viewpoint - The US equity market is considered "fairly highly valued" according to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which aligns with various valuation metrics indicating historical expense levels [1][7]. Valuation Metrics - Bank of America reports that 19 out of 20 valuation metrics indicate the market is historically expensive, with four metrics reaching all-time highs [2]. - The Shiller CAPE ratio, a key metric, has reached its highest level since the dot-com bubble, reflecting the current price of the S&P 500 compared to a rolling 10-year average of earnings [3][7]. Implications of High Valuations - High stock valuations, particularly indicated by the Shiller CAPE ratio, correlate with lower long-term returns, suggesting that elevated valuations may already price in future earnings upside, leading to potential poor performance in share prices [4]. - Despite high valuations, strong earnings could mitigate negative impacts on investors, as future performance is more critical than past performance [7][8]. Limitations of Valuation Metrics - The Shiller CAPE ratio has limitations, as it may not quickly reflect current market conditions due to its reliance on a 10-year rolling average of earnings, which can affect its predictive power for future returns [5][6].