22 August 2025 | 1:40PM EDT US Weekly Kickstart Hedge funds and mutual funds both navigating beta and alpha headwinds David J. Kostin +1(212)902-6781 | david.kostin@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Ben Snider +1(212)357-1744 | ben.snider@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Ryan Hammond +1(212)902-5625 | ryan.hammond@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Jenny Ma +1(212)357-5775 | jenny.ma@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Daniel Chavez +1(212)357-7657 | daniel.chavez@gs.com Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Kartik Jayachandran +1(212 ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The S&P 500 index has increased by 8% year-to-date (YTD), with significant dispersion in equity market returns. The median stock is 12% below its 52-week high, indicating a divergence in performance among stocks [2][5][4]. - High dispersion of stock-level returns is noted, with a 3-month return dispersion of 36 percentage points (pp), ranking in the 82nd percentile historically [9][12]. Core Insights - Investors are favoring specific themes and sectors, particularly AI, large-cap stocks, and Industrials, while avoiding small-caps and most defensive sectors [2][5]. - The top 20% of S&P 500 stocks based on quality metrics trade at a 57% price-to-earnings (P/E) premium compared to the lowest quality stocks, a valuation gap in the 94th percentile since 1995 [2][21]. - Earnings reports show that 60% of companies have exceeded consensus EPS estimates by more than a standard deviation, and 56% have raised their full-year EPS guidance, both above long-term averages [4][48]. Valuation and Market Dynamics - The current market environment reflects extreme factor valuations, with a sector-neutral group of high-valuation stocks trading at a 197% P/E premium over low-valuation stocks, ranking in the 91st percentile since 1980 [18][21]. - The Quality factor's valuation premium is significantly elevated, suggesting potential downside risk for future returns if economic growth proves more resilient than expected [31][34]. Economic Outlook - Economists forecast below-trend growth and above-target inflation, which may favor the continued outperformance of Quality stocks in the near term [40][41]. - A potential sharp rotation towards low-quality stocks could occur if economic and earnings growth outlooks improve, highlighting the need for investors to remain cautious [41][34]. Stock Recommendations - For investors uncertain about the near-term market direction, a focus on stocks driven by idiosyncratic factors is recommended. A "dispersion score" is calculated for S&P 500 stocks to identify potential alpha opportunities [42][47]. - High-quality stocks with strong balance sheets and low volatility are highlighted, while low-quality stocks with weak fundamentals are also identified for potential underperformance [44][45]. Additional Insights - The divergence in returns is particularly pronounced in the Information Technology sector, which has the highest return dispersion relative to its historical performance [13][21]. - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring macroeconomic indicators, such as inflation and Fed policy, as they will significantly influence the performance of Quality versus low-quality stocks in the coming months [34][40].