Clouds With Silver Linings

Tom Carney, CFA

Vice President, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Portfolio Manager

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Tom Carney, CFA

Vice President, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Portfolio Manager

Core Plus Income Fund/Core Plus Income (Since July 2014)
Nebraska Tax-Free Income Fund (Since January 1996)
Short Duration Income Fund/Short Duration Income (Since January 1996)
Ultra Short Government Fund (Since January 1996)

Investment industry experience since 1982

Tom joined Weitz Investment Management in 1995 as an equity trader. He was promoted to co-portfolio manager in 1996 and to portfolio manager in 1999. Prior to joining the firm, Tom held several positions at Chiles, Heider & Co., Inc. Previously, he was a municipal securities professional with Smith Barney. Tom has a bachelor's in finance from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

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Nolan P. Anderson

Vice President, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Portfolio Manager

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Nolan P. Anderson

Vice President, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Portfolio Manager

Core Plus Income Fund/Core Plus Income (Since July 2014)
Short Duration Income Fund/Short Duration Income (Since July 2017)
Ultra Short Government Fund (Since December 2016)
Balanced Fund (Since July 2021)

Investment industry experience since 2004

Nolan joined Weitz Investment Management in 2011 as a fixed income research analyst. In 2014, he was promoted to portfolio manager. Prior to joining the firm, Nolan performed financial modeling and due diligence on leveraged buyout transactions for Wells Fargo Bank. Previously, he worked for Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society. Nolan has a bachelor's in real estate and land use economics, and an MBA from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

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Investors looking for respite from the first quarter's price declines across nearly all asset classes were subjected instead to more turbulence and what may have felt like a bad sequel to a horror movie in the second quarter of 2022. Equity and bond prices declined as inflation remained a persistent problem, serving as a sort of 'boogeyman' that the Fed is now trying to reign in with a more aggressive approach to monetary policy. Short-term interest rates (via the federal funds rate) have been increased at each of the Fed's three meetings in 2022 and in larger increments (50 and 75 basis points) than have been used in over 20 years. With inflation at 40-year highs and more rate hikes forecast for the remainder of 2022 to contain inflation, investors became more concerned about the possibility of an economic contraction (recession). The result was further price declines across the fixed income (and equity markets), particularly in credit-sensitive sectors such as high yield.

The table below provides return data for select Bloomberg U.S. bond indexes for the second quarter and year-to-date. Negative returns were the norm except for ultra-short securities, such as 1-to-3-month Treasury bills, and cash. Given this backdrop, while negative returns are never welcome, we are pleased with the relative results that our investment process and flexible approach have yielded. For details regarding individual fund performance and analysis, see our funds' quarterly commentaries.

The equity market decline was widespread as well. S&P 500 returns (pre-dividends) for the first half of each year reflect the historical significance of the price declines. 

Not since 1970 has the equity market (using the S&P 500 as a proxy) suffered such a steep decline in the first half of the year. Please see our latest “Value Matters” for Wally Weitz's and Brad Hinton's perspectives on the marketplace, particularly the equity market.

Collapse in Consumer Confidence

Generational inflationary pressures, a Fed intent on tightening financial conditions by raising short-term interest rates, and fears of a recession have all contributed to a collapse in consumer confidence. The monthly consumer sentiment survey by the University of Michigan reflects the extent of that decline.

The survey registered an all-time low in June 2022. Consumers appear gloomier than they have been in the last 45 years, including the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, after 9/11, and through the deep recession of the 1980s. Inflation appears to be the driving force behind the decline. Whether the drop in consumer confidence will lead to reduced consumer spending (which has been robust) will be an important factor to monitor in the months ahead.

Federal Reserve – from Mr. Rogers to Mr. T

The Federal Reserve, in dealing with various challenges in the past decade, created a favorable ‘neighborhood’ for investors, in both equity and bonds. Zero interest-rate policy (ZIRP) and an otherwise very low interest rate environment led to high prices for both bonds and stocks. In his June testimony before Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell resembled professional wrestler/actor Mr. T of Rocky fame when he commented that “the process is likely – highly likely – to involve some pain” as inflation has forced the Fed to pivot from dove to hawk in their role to maintain price stability in the economy. Evidence of that shift can be seen in the increase in U.S. Treasury yields, particularly shorter-term, where sub-one-percent returns on offer a year ago (June 30, 2021) for 2-, 3-, and 5-year Treasuries have increased from three to twelve times as of June 30, 2022.

Credit Spreads

Credit spreads widened meaningfully during the second quarter, pushing above longer-term averages. A broad measure of investment-grade corporate bond spreads, compiled by ICE BofA, increased to 164 basis points on June 30, 2022, from 122 basis points on March 31, 2022. The chart below depicts the path of investment-grade credit spreads for the past five years (blue line) against the one-year (orange) and five-year (gray) averages.

High yield credit spreads experienced similar movement during the first quarter. A broad measure of U.S. high yield corporate bond spreads, compiled by ICE BofA, increased to 587 basis points on June 30, 2022, up from 343 basis points on March 31, 2022. 

Silver Linings

Despite the seemingly dour commentary, there is a ‘silver lining’ – prospects for forward returns have improved meaningfully. In previous commentary we had lamented an environment of return-free risk, where investors had been faced with a double whammy of historically low returns on U.S. Treasury and corporate bonds (as credit spreads had declined meaningfully below long-term averages). That has changed in the first six months of 2022. The charts below reflect that improvement – as they show the increase in effective yield for both investment grade and high yield indexes. Both have approximately doubled year-to-date.

The Fed's move away from a seemingly forever zero interest-rate policy has been welcome news for investors in CDs and other shorter-term securities. And the investment opportunity set has improved broadly as rates and spreads have risen across the yield curve.

Like our equity teammates, we would never 'call' a bottom in price or a peak in yields. In fact, we embrace the “Certain Uncertainty” that Wally and Brad reference in the latest “Value Matters,” but we welcome the changed investment landscape that we believe can pave the way for better returns in the future. Our overarching investment approach is to remain patient while utilizing our flexible mandate to achieve our long-term investment goals. Namely (a) preserve capital, (b) maintain a strong liquidity position, (c) understand evolving risks and opportunities, (d) conduct consistent/thorough credit surveillance, and (e) selectively take advantage of favorable risk/reward opportunities.