"昂贵"就是新标准？华尔街开始接受股市估值"新常态"

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the shifting perception of stock market valuations, suggesting that high valuations should be viewed as a "new normal" rather than a temporary anomaly, driven by structural changes in the economy and market dynamics [1][2]. Group 1: Structural Changes in Valuation - The S&P 500 index's rolling average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has increased from approximately 14 times in the early 1990s to about 19.5 times today, indicating a significant upward shift in valuation norms [2]. - The frequency of economic recessions in the U.S. has decreased from about 42% historically to around 10% in the past 30 years, contributing to a more stable economic environment that supports higher valuations [2]. - The U.S. economy has transitioned from an industrial base to one dominated by technology and services, which tends to favor growth stocks that can sustain higher valuations [2]. Group 2: Support for High Valuations - Analysts from Bank of America argue that the intrinsic characteristics of current S&P 500 constituents, such as lower financial leverage and more stable profit margins, justify the elevated valuation multiples [3]. - The current index composition shows significant changes compared to the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, suggesting that today's valuation multiples should be considered as a new benchmark rather than reverting to historical averages [3]. Group 3: Diverging Opinions on Valuation Trends - Some analysts, like Jonathan Golub from Seaport Research Partners, propose a more cautious view, suggesting that the market is not in a state of continuous upward valuation drift but rather "re-anchoring" at a higher level [4]. - Golub notes that high interest rates in the 1970s and 1980s contributed to lower valuations, and if borrowing costs were to rise significantly again, valuations could revert to historical averages, although he currently sees no such risk [4].