Are All-Time Market Highs Bad?

Yesterday the S&P 500 achieved an all-time high, exceeding the 2,000 level for the first time ever during intra-day trading. The index ended the day at 1,997.92, almost exactly triple the market low of 666 achieved in March of 2009 during the global financial crises. Believe it or not, this was the 29^th all-time high for the S&P 500 in 2014 alone.

Many investors fear the phrase “all-time high,” believing it implies stocks have already captured the gains available in the market and that there is nowhere for the value of these equities to go but down. However, all-time highs are perfectly normal in the stock market. In fact, since 1950 there have been over 1,100 new all-time closing highs achieved by the S&P 500. That is 6.8% of all trading days or roughly 1 out of every 15 days the market is open that it’s closed at a new high level!

In addition, while it is true the S&P 500 hit a new nominal high yesterday, it is still significantly under its high when adjusted for inflation. In fact, Will Hausman, an economics professor at the College of William and  Mary, calculates that the S&P 500 hit its true high – its inflation-adjusted high – of 2,120 on January 14, 1999. By that metric, 15 years ago the S&P 500 was 10% higher than it is now. Put that way, it is possible the market could continue to appreciate at its current pace without valuations exceeding their historical peak. 

My goal is to point out that the phrase “all-time high” isn’t necessarily bad when relating to the stock market. However, just because stocks are at all-time high levels certainly doesn’t make them immune to a decline or even a crash. Stocks were at all-time high levels before the tech bubble of 2000 popped, and if by measured by the NASDAQ index, the market still hasn’t fully recovered. However, stocks aren’t required to decline just because they are at levels unattained before.

Investors don’t need to feel the need to sell their equity investments or not invest new dollars in the market just because the S&P 500 is at a number we haven’t yet seen. My favorite quote regarding the subject comes from Nick Murray: “If you think the market is “too high,” wait until you see it 20 years from now.”