NVDA 4Q23 EPS increase was $10.7b of S&P 500 EPS gain $34.9B (31%). AMZN another 30%. Ex-bottom 15 cos, S&P 500 EPS growth >14%

VIDEO: NVDA accounted for 31% of all profit growth in 4Q23, so a strong argument against a bubble.  Inflation remains the unknown near-term.

Please click below to view our Macro Minute (Duration: 5:02).

With just a few trading days left in February, the S&P 500 is set to gain ~5%, bringing YTD gains to ~7%. As we noted early in February, given the strength of the Jan gains (>2%), the probability of a positive year jumps to 92%. Moreover, our YE target of 5,200 is likely low.

• The median gain, using the precedent 15 years of similar Jan, implies 5,400 to 5,500 by YE. But we do not feel any urgency at this moment to adjust a YE target that is more than 10 months away.
• 4Q23 EPS season largely ended last week. NVDA 2.92%  is one of the last major companies to report, and there are not even 20 EPS reports left. Overall, it has been a good earnings season with 78% beating by a median of 7%. And the bottoms up EPS figure has risen 3% to $55.20. 
• Are earnings tracking towards our 2025 EPS of $260? Here is some simple math:
  – 4Q23 EPS annualized is $221 ($55.20 x 4)
  – The “surprise” level is 7% and EPS is 3% higher than vs start of EPS
  – 4Q23 EPS growth is 7%, and >14% ex-bottom 15 stocks
  – Our 2025 EPS is $260, or 17% higher
  – 2025 EPS is 2 years away
  – This implies 8% EPS CAGR
• So yes, EPS is definitely tracking towards our $260 2025 EPS figure. That is a good thing. 
• The S&P 500 added $35 billion in net income in 4Q23 vs 4Q22, which is the 7% EPS growth. The contributions from NVDA 2.92%  and AMZN 1.33%  is staggering:
  – NVDA 2.92%  added $10.7B net income 4Q23 vs 4Q22
  – AMZN 1.33%  added $10.3B
  – NVDA is 31% of EPS growth, AMZN is 30%
  – these 2 accounted for 61% of all added net income
• AI and the associated ecosystem is adding up to real spending and growth. This is a strong argument against those deeming AI is a bubble. In fact, NVDA 2.92%  forward FCF yield of 3% is about the same as SPY 0.76%  3.5% yield. Since when is a bubble seeing a FCF yield just a touch lower than the overall market?
• There is some meaningful macro data this week. The two key ones, in my view, are:
  – 2/29 Thu: Jan core PCE deflator +0.40%
  – 3/1 Fri: Feb ISM Manufacturing 49.5 vs 49.1 last month
• The core PCE deflator is largely interpolated because with Jan CPI and Jan PPI, tireless Ken is able to calculate >90% of the components. We will have a preview closer to Thursday, but the only “surprise” would be if the reading is on the soft side.
• As for ISM, a reading above 50, in my view, would be positive. This has been stuck below 50 since early 2022 and a move above 50 signals expansion. While those inflationistas might argue this is inflationary, that is really not the importance.
  – a move >50 would indicate the US manufacturing recession is over
  – this has a large influence on EPS growth and thus, strengthens our $260 conviction
• Would the Fed worry about a 50 ISM? To us, this is not inflationary. The drivers of inflation at the moment are housing and auto insurance. And ex those items, inflation is largely falling like a rock.

Bottom line: We still see dry powder on sidelines

Stocks are going up on good news, which is a good thing. A worrying sign is stocks falling on good news. That has not happened yet.

• for macro risks, the next key hurdle will be February CPI which is released 3/12
• that is several weeks away

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Key incoming data March:

• 3/01 9:45 am ET: Feb F S&P Global Manufacturing PMI
• 3/01 10:00 am ET: Feb ISM Manufacturing
• 3/01 10:00 am ET: Feb F U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation
• 3/05 9:45 am ET: Feb F S&P Global Services & Composite PMI
• 3/05 10:00 am ET: Feb ISM Services
• 3/06 10:00 am ET: Jan JOLTS Job Openings
• 3/06 2:00 pm ET: Fed Releases Beige Book
• 3/07 8:30 am ET: 4QF 2023 Nonfarm Productivity
• 3/07 9:00 am ET: Feb F Manheim Used Vehicle Index
• 3/08 8:30 am ET: Feb Jobs Report
• 3/12 8:30 am ET: Feb CPI
• 3/14 8:30 am ET: Feb PPI
• 3/14 8:30 am ET: Feb Retail Sales Data
• 3/15 8:30 am ET: Mar Empire Manufacturing Survey
• 3/15 10:00 am ET: Mar P U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation
• 3/18 8:30 am ET: Mar New York Fed Business Activity Survey
• 3/18 10:00 am ET: Mar NAHB Housing Market Index
• 3/19 9:00 am ET: Mar Mid-Month Manheim Used Vehicle Index
• 3/20 2:00 pm ET: Mar FOMC Rate Decision
• 3/21 8:30 am ET: Mar Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey
• 3/21 9:45 am ET: Mar P S&P Global PMI
• 3/25 10:30 am ET: Mar Dallas Fed Manufacturing Activity Survey
• 3/26 9:00 am ET: Mar S&P CoreLogic CS home price
• 3/26 10:00 am ET: Mar Conference Board Consumer Confidence
• 3/28 8:30 am ET: 4QT 2023 GDP
• 3/28 10:00 am ET: Mar F U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation
• 3/29 8:30 am ET: Feb PCE

Key incoming data February:

• 2/01 8:30am ET 4QP 2023 Nonfarm Productivity Mixed
• 2/01 9:45am ET S&P Global Manufacturing PMI January Final Tame 
• 2/01 10am ET January ISM Manufacturing Mixed
• 2/02 8:30am ET January Jobs Report Hot
• 2/02 10am ET: U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation January Final Tame 
• 2/05 9:45am ET S&P Global Services & Composite PMI January Final Tame 
• 2/05 10am ET January ISM Services Tame 
• 2/07 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index January Final Mixed
• 2/09 CPI Revisions Tame 
• 2/13 8:30am ET January CPI  Mixed
• 2/14 PPI Revisions Tame 
• 2/15 8:30am ET February Empire Manufacturing Survey  Tame 
• 2/15 8:30am ET February Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Tame 
• 2/15 8:30am ET January Retail Sales Data Tame 
• 2/15 10am EST February NAHB Housing Market Index  Tame 
• 2/16 8:30am ET January PPI Mixed
• 2/16 8:30am ET February New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame 
• 2/16 10am ET U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation February Prelim Tame 
• 2/19 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index February Mid-Month Tame 
• 2/21 2pm ET January FOMC Meeting Minutes Tame 
• 2/22 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI February Prelim Tame 
• 2/26 10:30am ET February Dallas Fed Manufacturing Activity Survey
• 2/27 9am ET February S&P CoreLogic CS home price 
• 2/27 10am ET February Conference Board Consumer Confidence
• 2/28 8:30am ET 4QS 2023 GDP
• 2/29 8:30am ET January PCE

Key incoming data January:

• 1/02 9:45am ET S&P Global Manufacturing PMI December Final Mixed
• 1/03 10am ET December ISM Manufacturing Tame 
• 1/03 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings November Tame 
• 1/03 2pm ET December FOMC Meeting Minutes Tame 
• 1/04 9:45am ET S&P Global Services & Composite PMI December Final Tame 
• 1/05 8:30am ET December Jobs Report Mixed
• 1/05 10am ET December ISM Services Tame 
• 1/08 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index December Final Tame 
• 1/11 8:30am ET December CPI Details Suggest Tame
• 1/12 8:30am ET December PPI Tame 
• 1/16 8:30am ET January Empire Manufacturing Survey Tame 
• 1/17 8:30am ET January New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame 
• 1/17 8:30am ET December Retail Sales Data Strong
• 1/17 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index January Mid-Month Tame 
• 1/17 10am EST January NAHB Housing Market Index Mixed
• 1/18 8:30am ET January Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Tame 
• 1/19 10am ET U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation January Prelim Tame 
• 1/24 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI January Prelim Mixed
• 1/25 8:30am ET 4QA 2023 GDP Mixed
• 1/26 8:30am ET December PCE Tame 
• 1/29 9:30am ET Dallas Fed January Manufacturing Activity Survey Tame 
• 1/30 9am ET January S&P CoreLogic CS home price Tame 
• 1/30 10am ET January Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame 
• 1/30 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings December Mixed
• 1/31 2pm ET FOMC Rate Decision Tame 

Key incoming data December

• 12/01 9:45am ET S&P Global Manufacturing PMI November Final Tame 
• 12/01 10am ET November ISM Manufacturing Strong 
• 12/05 9:45am ET S&P Global Services & Composite PMI November Final Strong 
• 12/05 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings October Tame 
• 12/05 10am ET November ISM Services Strong 
• 12/06 8:30am ET 3QF 2023 Nonfarm Productivity Strong 
• 12/07 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index November Final Tame 
• 12/08 8:30am ET November Jobs Report Tame
• 12/08 10am ET U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation December Prelim Tame 
• 12/12 8:30am ET November CPI Tame
• 12/13 8:30am ET November PPI Tame
• 12/13 2pm ET FOMC Rate Decision Dovish
• 12/14 8:30am ET November Retail Sales Data Tame
• 12/15 8:30am ET December Empire Manufacturing Survey Tame
• 12/15 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI December Prelim Tame
• 12/18 8:30am ET December New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame
• 12/18 10am ET December NAHB Housing Market Index Tame
• 12/19 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index December Mid-Month Tame
• 12/20 10am ET December Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame
• 12/21 8:30am ET 3QT 2023 GDP Mixed
• 12/21 8:30am ET December Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Mixed
• 12/22 8:30am ET November PCE Tame
• 12/22 10am ET: U. Mich. Sentiment and Inflation Expectation December Final Tame
• 12/26 9am ET December S&P CoreLogic CS home price Tame
• 12/26 10:30am ET Dallas Fed December Manufacturing Activity Survey Tame
• 12/29 9:45am ET December Chicago PMI

Key incoming data November

• 11/01 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI October Final Tame
• 11/01 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings September Mixed
• 11/01 10am ET October ISM Manufacturing Tame
• 11/01 10am ET Treasury 4Q23 Quarterly Refunding Press Conference Tame
• 11/01 2pm ET FOMC Rate Decision Dovish
• 11/02 8:30am ET: 3Q23 Nonfarm Productivity Tame
• 11/03 8:30am ET October Jobs Report Tame
• 11/03 10am ET October ISM Services Mixed
• 11/07 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index October Final Tame
• 11/10 10am ET U. Mich. November prelim Sentiment and Inflation Expectation Hot
• 11/14 8:30am ET October CPI Tame
• 11/15 8:30am ET October PPI Tame
• 11/15 8:30am ET November Empire Manufacturing Survey  Resilient
• 11/15 8:30am ET October Retail Sales Data Resilient
• 11/16 8:30am ET November New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame
• 11/16 8:30am ET November Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey  Tame
• 11/16 10am ET November NAHB Housing Market Index  Tame
• 11/17 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index November Mid-Month Tame
• 11/21 2pm ET Nov FOMC Meeting Minutes Tame
• 11/22 10am ET: U. Mich. November final Sentiment and Inflation Expectation Tame
• 11/24 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI November Prelim Mixed
• 11/27 10:30am ET Dallas Fed November Manufacturing Activity Survey Tame
• 11/28 9am ET November S&P CoreLogic CS home price  Tame
• 11/28 10am ET November Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame
• 11/29 8:30am ET 3QS 2023 GDP Strong
• 11/29 2pm ET Fed Releases Beige Book Tame
• 11/30 8:30am ET October PCE Tame

Key incoming data October

• 10/2 10am ET September ISM Manufacturing Tame
•  10/3 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings August Hot
•  10/4 10am ET September ISM Services Tame
•  10/6 8:30am ET September Jobs Report Mixed
•  10/6 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index September Final Tame
• 10/10 11am NY Fed Inflation Expectations Mixed
•  10/11 8:30am ET September PPI Mixed
•  10/11 2pm ET Sep FOMC Meeting Minutes Tame
•  10/12 8:30am ET September CPI Mixed
•  10/13 10am ET U. Mich. September prelim 1-yr inflation Mixed
•  10/16 8:30am ET October Empire Manufacturing Survey Tame
•  10/17 8:30am ET October New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame
• 10/17 8:30am ET September Retail Sales Data Hot
•  10/17 9am ET Manheim October Mid-Month Used Vehicle Value Index Tame
•  10/17 10am ET October NAHB Housing Market Index Tame
• 10/18 8:30am ET September Housing Starts Tame
• 10/18 2pm ET Fed releases Beige Book Tame
•  10/19 8:30am ET October Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Tame
• 10/19 10am ET Existing Home Sales Tame
• 10/19 12pm ET Fed (including Powell) at Economic Club of New York
•  10/24 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI October Prelim Tame
•  10/26 8:30am ET 3Q 2023 GDP Advance Strong
•  10/27 8:30am ET September PCE Tame
•  10/27 10am ET Oct F UMich Sentiment and Inflation expectation Tame
•  10/30 10:30am ET Dallas Fed September Manufacturing Activity Survey Tame
• 10/31 8:30am ET 3Q23 Employment Cost Index Mixed
•  10/31 9am ET August S&P CoreLogic CS home price Mixed
•  10/31 10am ET October Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame

Key incoming data September

•  9/1 8:30am ET August Jobs Report Tame
•  9/1 10am ET August ISM Manufacturing Tame
•  9/6 10am ET August ISM Services Mixed
•  9/6 2pm ET Fed releases Beige Book Tame
•  9/8 9am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index August Final Tame
•  9/8 2Q23 Fed Flow of Funds Report Tame
•   9/13 8:30am ET August CPI Mixed
•  9/14 8:30am ET August PPI Tame
•  9/15 8:30am ET September Empire Manufacturing Survey Tame
•  9/15 10am ET U. Mich. September prelim 1-yr inflation Tame
•  9/18 8:30am ET September New York Fed Business Activity Survey Tame
•  9/18 10am ET September NAHB Housing Market Index Tame
•  9/19 9am ET Manheim September Mid-Month Used Vehicle Value Index Mixed
•  9/20 2pm ET September FOMC rates decision Market saw Hawkish
•  9/21 8:30am ET September Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Mixed
•  9/22 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI September Prelim
•  9/25 10:30am ET Dallas Fed September Manufacturing Activity Survey
•  9/26 9am ET July S&P CoreLogic CS home price
•  9/26 10am ET September Conference Board Consumer Confidence

Key incoming data August

• 8/1 10am ET July ISM Manufacturing Tame
• 8/1 10am ET JOLTS Job Openings Jun Tame
• 8/2 8:15am ADP National Employment Report Hot
• 8/3 10am ET July ISM Services Tame
• 8/4 8:30am ET July Jobs report Tame
• 8/7 11am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index July Final Tame
• 8/10 8:30am ET July CPI Tame
• 8/11 8:30am ET July PPI Tame
• 8/11 10am ET U. Mich. July prelim 1-yr inflation Tame
• 8/11 Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker July Tame
• 8/15 8:30am ET Aug Empire Manufacturing Survey Mixed 
• 8/15 10am ET Aug NAHB Housing Market Index Tame
• 8/16 8:30am ET Aug New York Fed Business Activity Survey Neutral
• 8/16 2pm ET FOMC Minutes Mixed
• 8/17 8:30am ET Aug Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey Positive
• 8/17 Manheim Aug Mid-Month Used Vehicle Value Index Tame
• 8/23 9:45am ET S&P Global PMI Aug Prelim Weak
• 8/25 10am ET Aug Final U Mich 1-yr inflation Mixed
• 8/28 10:30am ET Dallas Fed Aug Manufacturing Activity Survey Tame
• 8/29 9am ET June S&P CoreLogic CS home price Tame
• 8/29 10am ET Aug Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame
• 8/29 10 am ET Jul JOLTS Tame
• 8/31 8:30am ET July PCE Tame

Key incoming data July

• 7/3 10am ET June ISM Manufacturing Tame
• 7/6 8:15am ADP National Employment Report Hot
• 7/6 10am ET June ISM Services Tame
• 7/6 10 am ET May JOLTS Tame
• 7/7 8:30am ET June Jobs report Mixed
• 7/10 11am ET Manheim Used Vehicle Index June Final Tame
• 7/12 8:30am ET June CPI Tame
• 7/13 8:30am ET June PPI Tame
• 7/13 Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker June Tame
• 7/14 10am ET U. Mich. June prelim 1-yr inflation Mixed
• 7/17 8:30am July Empire Manufacturing Survey
• 7/18 8:30am July New York Fed Business Activity Survey
• 7/18 10am July NAHB Housing Market Index in-line
• 7/18 Manheim July Mid-Month Used Vehicle Value Index Tame
• 7/25 9am ET May S&P CoreLogic CS home price Tame
• 7/25 10am ET July Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame
• 7/26 2pm ET July FOMC rates decision Tame
• 7/28 8:30am ET June PCE Tame
• 7/28 8:30am ET 2Q ECI Employment Cost Index Tame
• 7/28 10am ET July Final U Mich 1-yr inflation Tame

Key data from June

• 6/1 10am ET May ISM Manufacturing Tame
• 6/2 8:30am ET May Jobs report Tame
• 6/5 10am ET May ISM Services Tame
• 6/7 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index May Tame
• 6/9 Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker April Tame
• 6/13 8:30am ET May CPI Tame
• 6/14 8:30am ET May PPI Tame
• 6/14 2pm ET April FOMC rates decision Tame
• 6/16 10am ET U. Mich. May prelim 1-yr inflation Tame
• 6/27 9am ET April S&P CoreLogic CS home price Tame
• 6/27 10am ET June Conference Board Consumer Confidence Tame
• 6/30 8:30am ET May PCE Tame
• 6/30 10am ET June Final U Mich 1-yr inflation Tame

Key data from May

• 5/1 10am ET April ISM Manufacturing (PMIs turn up) Positive inflection
• 5/2 10am ET Mar JOLTS Softer than consensus
• 5/3 10am ET April ISM Services Tame
• 5/3 2pm Fed May FOMC rates decision Dovish
• 5/5 8:30am ET April Jobs report Tame
• 5/5 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index April Tame
• 5/8 2pm ET April 2023 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey Better than feared
• 5/10 8:30am ET April CPI Tame
• 5/11 8:30am ET April PPI Tame
• 5/12 10am ET U. Mich. April prelim 1-yr inflation Tame
• 5/12 Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker April Tame
• 5/24 2pm ET May FOMC minutes Dovish
• 5/26 8:30am ET PCE April Tame
• 5/26 10am ET U. Mich. April final 1-yr inflation Tame
• 5/31 10am ET JOLTS April job openings