Lauer February 2024 Insights

February 29, 2024 | R. Matthew Lauer


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Unveiling Economic Trends: Global Small-Cap surges, AI Evolution, and Private Equity Assessments.

small-vs-mid-vs-large-valuations

A rare market environment has cultivated. From market valuation gaps between small caps and large caps, as well as US and global stocks, to AI versus traditional industries... The result is uncertainty in the short-term combined with a familiar feeling about where it ends. There are certain pockets of the market which are optimally priced, those allocations should be sized proportionally.

Global small-cap stocks lure bargain hunters

As 2024 unfolds, small-cap stocks are capturing investor attention, with both U.S. and European small caps experiencing notable increases in recent months. This surge comes amidst historically low valuations for small caps compared to larger counterparts. Analysts anticipate a rebound in small-cap earnings, enhancing their appeal despite concerns about a possible economic downturn.
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Is AI hype starting to fade?

AI is being mentioned less in earnings calls. Analysts at Deutsche Bank observed a decline in the fervor surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) as companies transition from speculative talk to practical applications in 2024. Despite concerns about AI's impact on democracy and the need for regulation, projections indicate a substantial economic impact from AI over the next decade.

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Assessing Alpha in Private Equity Returns

Private Equity, which generally demonstrates a conservative approach in its valuations relative to public markets, is becoming easier to measure with the advent of PME analysis. The ability to compare a fund managers performance against public market indices, offers investors a measurable benchmark for evaluating returns, enabling informed investment decisions in private equity.

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