Thai students studying for international degrees at Thai universities

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Fund manager Q&A: Can go-go growth stocks abroad keep going?
STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer


NEW YORK (AP) — Rajesh Gandhi thinks investors focusing on growth overseas in this tepid global economy are onto something.

Gandhi, as portfolio manager at the American Century International Growth mutual fund, is watching investors put more of their money into foreign stocks and especially into the few sectors able to produce strong revenue and earnings growth, like health care.

Nearly $210 billion flowed into international stock mutual funds over the last year, according to Morningstar. At the same time, investors pulled a net $56 billion from U.S. stock funds.

The popularity of this relatively small number of foreign stocks is pushing their prices sharply higher. But Gandhi thinks these stocks, especially in Europe, are poised for more gains even though they're looking expensive on several measures. He explains why below. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Economic growth around the world is weak, and China's getting a lot of the blame. How bad are things in China and around the world?

A: We are operating in a subpar growth world. Even in the U.S., even with all the stimulus we put through, we are producing 2-and-change percent growth. And the same thing is happening in Japan. The same thing is happening in Europe.

(China's) government's statistics indicate that it's growing at about 7 percent. The reality is it's growing at, we think, 3.5 or 4 percent. But 3.5 or 4 percent for an economy that was truly growing 7, 8, or even 10 percent before is still going to feel like a recession in many ways.

When we talk with companies today, their biggest fear is a continued slowdown in growth in China. It's still being evidenced in their businesses.

Q: Given how weak growth is, it seems like the few companies that have delivered it have seen their share prices soar.

A: Earnings growth is increasingly scarce. So those businesses that are demonstrating growth and consistently delivering growth are getting bid up. Their (price-earnings) multiples continue to expand, and that's where the dollars keep moving.

Q: In the U.S., investors seem to be crowding into the same, small group of stocks.

A: It's the same in international markets. Growth is narrowing, and growth investors keep moving into fewer and fewer names.

Q: Is there a corollary in the international markets for Facebook and Amazon, stocks that everyone seems to be piling into?

A: There isn't so much a focus on specific, innovative companies. But, generally, the health care sector has directly benefited from a continued migration, and the price-earnings multiples have expanded. Now, we feel that's justified, because growth is accelerating for a lot of the large pharmaceutical companies in Europe for the first time in a long time.

Parts of the tech sector are benefiting from that. We don't have an Amazon in Europe or Japan, but we have Amazon-like businesses.

Q: Is this subset of stocks now too risky? Is it time to sell high and walk away?

A: Given how we see the world playing out over the next 12 to 18 months, if I had to give advice to an investor, I think you still want to be in growth and growth-oriented strategies because growth is still going to be scarce next year.

Global growth is not accelerating and has more risk to it over the next 12 months than we had over the previous 12 months. Therefore, growth stocks are going to do reasonably well despite the valuations that are being accorded to them.

Q: Where are you finding the best opportunities?

A: More of them tend to be in Europe, because on a relative basis, the European region is demonstrating improving growth. We expect earnings growth to be greater in Europe than in the U.S., greater in Europe in Japan and greater in Europe than the emerging markets.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-20

[bazza40]

All these fund managers trying to encourage people to buy stocks - growth, cyclical, defensive. Purely out of altruism, naturally.

[elgordo38]

Go Go stocks have earnings projections into the stratosphere. Yes they produce high demand items for now and the future. These new driverless cars will surely be a wonder. I wonder though in the end will people have the money dough greenbacks to purchase them and keep this complicated machinery on the road. These companies are getting a lot of spin hype but in the end will the end justify the means/needs of the common man. All this hoopla on these wonderful items and what they hold for the future reminds me of all the spin from the GOP wannabe's. These stocks are the only engine keeping the market going and they are starting to sputter. If the world economy hits a hard spot they will surely flame out and descend as fast as they ascended but not to worry pretty soon the words "buying opportunity" will be shouted from the rooftops and all will be well with the world again. The bond market is the canary in the coal mine.

Edited December 20, 2015 by elgordo38

[F4UCorsair]

Don't forget thst fund managers in tbe US are encouraging investors to look to Europe, European managers are recommending the US and Australia, Australian managers are recommending tbe US and European markets, so round and round it goes. I don't trust any of them, and the worst part is they accept NO responsibility for clients losing their $$.

[Colabamumbai]

Less people are being employed globally as computer technology makes us redundant and not necessary, unless you are a writer.

Only fund managers stand to make money when we invest or buy funds, or stocks.

The best advice is to buy stock in the companies that you have to pay a bill to every month. Whether it is your electric company, water company, cable company etc., etc.,

[DogNo1]

Go-go stocks can keep going until they can't. Read John Bogle.