Ingredients are there for international markets to keep outperforming U.S., says Oakmark's Coniaris

Core Insights - The current international market presents significant investment opportunities due to a notable discount compared to US markets and improving earnings growth expectations [5][6][7] Investment Diversification - The average US investor holds approximately 8-9% of their portfolio in non-US stocks, while academic research suggests a target allocation of around 30% [3][4] - The increasing concentration in US equities has led to a growing interest in diversifying into international markets [2] Market Performance - International markets are currently trading at a 32% discount to US markets, which is significantly higher than the long-term average discount of 14% [6] - Earnings growth expectations for international markets, such as MSCI Europe, have risen from 7.5% to 11.5% over the year, while US earnings growth expectations have decreased from 14% to 13% [7] Growth Drivers - The growth in international markets is attributed to improving fundamentals and corporate governance reforms, particularly in regions like Europe and Japan [10][13] - Germany is implementing major fiscal reforms to stimulate economic growth, indicating proactive government measures [11] Opportunities in Specific Markets - There are emerging high-quality investment opportunities in international markets that were previously overlooked, suggesting a shift in market sentiment [9] - Japan is experiencing improvements in corporate governance, which may enhance investment attractiveness, while Korea is also making strides in focusing on shareholder value [13][14]