Consumer sentiment falling will hurt value stocks, says Barclays' Venu Krishna

Core Viewpoint - The company has downgraded its outlook on value to negative due to concerns over cost pressures in certain segments, particularly staples, while maintaining a positive stance on growth driven by technology [2][3]. Sector Analysis - Growth is primarily dominated by technology, which continues to show strong profitability and earnings beats, contrasting with value sectors facing cost pressures [2]. - Consumer sentiment is declining, which is expected to negatively impact value sectors [3]. Momentum and Quality - Momentum has been adjusted to neutral, indicating a cautious approach, while quality remains neutral as well [4][6]. - The company has shifted its focus from large-cap stocks to big tech within the large-cap category, reflecting a change in strategy [5]. Economic Outlook - There is a low probability of a recession, with robust consumption despite a weakening labor market [7]. - The primary concern in the market is the scale of AI spending and the uncertainty regarding returns on that investment [8]. AI Investment Concerns - If AI spending decelerates, it could lead to significant market implications, particularly if it becomes reliant on credit markets for capital expenditures [8][9]. - A potential macroeconomic slowdown could coincide with a pullback in AI capital expenditures, which would have negative consequences, although this scenario is not considered the base case [10]. Earnings Performance - Current earnings reports show strong performance, with over 90% of companies reporting nearly 50% growth in earnings and approximately 6.5% growth in sales, indicating good operating leverage in the system [10].