Michael Wilson of Morgan Stanley revealed to Bloomberg that he and his team are shifting their focus away from making predictions for the S&P 500 index, at least for the time being. Instead, they are now concentrating on identifying undervalued stocks.
During an interview with Bloomberg Television, Wilson mentioned that discussions about the S&P 500’s trajectory have been minimal over the past few months, with the team redirecting their attention towards relative-value trades.
Acknowledging past missteps, particularly during the AI-driven surge last summer and the ongoing economic turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson expressed humility in navigating the uncertain market landscape. He emphasized the challenge of forecasting amidst the lingering aftermath of the pandemic and the need to decipher what lies ahead.
Wilson maintained his bearish stance on stocks for much of the previous year, with his conservative year-end target for the S&P 500 standing at 4,500, one of the most conservative estimates on Wall Street. Notably, he garnered attention for correctly predicting the inflation-fueled market downturn in 2022.
In his latest research report, Wilson highlighted 14 stocks expected to experience significant movements following quarterly earnings releases, with 12 anticipated to rise and two expected to decline.
In February, Morgan Stanley announced Wilson’s departure from the global investment committee, allowing him to focus on serving institutional clients. This shift aligns with Wilson’s commitment to providing tailored service to key clients.
U.S. stock markets exhibited mixed performance, with the S&P 500 relinquishing early gains to trade lower, reflecting a recurring trend in recent sessions. The Nasdaq Composite saw marginal gains, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a modest decline.
