The Case for International Investing
As challenging as international investing has been over the past several years, it has also never been more important. While developed and emerging markets may be more susceptible to economic shocks, geopolitical instability, and factors such as the pandemic, this is also why they may have higher expected returns in the long run. Investing across geographies, especially when valuations are attractive, is an important way to improve diversification as the global economy recovers from recent energy and inflationary shocks.
How can investors maintain perspective around international investments today?
Global stocks are still in the red this year due to geopolitical risks around Russia's invasion of Ukraine, high energy prices, increased tensions with China, and many other challenges. With dividends, U.S. markets are still in correction territory down over 10%*. Overseas, returns in U.S. dollars are down slightly more*. These numbers make it clear that all regions have been affected by the global shocks that have driven performance this year.
It is also the case that U.S. markets have performed extremely well over the past decade. For some investors, this may be a sign that focusing only on U.S. investments is enough. However, this has not always been historically true. There have been many periods during which both developed and emerging markets have played important roles in balanced portfolios. As the global economy recovers, some of these opportunities could reemerge.
In this challenging environment, there are a few facts that investors should keep in mind.
- International investments, especially in emerging markets, naturally involve greater levels of risk than investing in the U.S. alone. Specifically, there may be political, financial, and regulatory risks related to holding these investments as well as to the underlying companies and industries. Being aware of these risks and managing them well is an important part of holding a global portfolio.
However, these additional risks also create opportunities for patient investors and are important reasons that diversifying across many stocks is important. In the long run, investors can be rewarded for stomaching greater levels of risk not just in U.S. stocks, but internationally as well. Today, valuation ratios for developed and emerging markets are not only far below those of the U.S. but are still well below their historical averages as well. This suggests that there may be many attractive opportunities for investors who are willing to look beyond U.S. borders. - Many emerging markets are still maturing as they catch up to their growing economies. The fact that many countries have a long way to go in expanding and improving their capital markets creates opportunities for investors. This is because more efficient capital markets can help small and large companies alike gain access to funding and boost growth rates. While there may be barriers to this development due to government policies, the expansion of markets is often a positive sign over years and decades.
- Currencies can add an additional layer of complexity to international investing that doesn't exist when buying and selling domestic stocks. This is especially challenging when the U.S. dollar is appreciating, as it has been this year. When the dollar strengthens, international investments lose value in dollar terms since they are made in foreign currencies which become weaker. This is why there has been such a large gap between the U.S. dollar and local currency returns of foreign investments this year.
However, it's the direction of the dollar that matters to future returns. While currencies are difficult to predict, the dollar is at its highest level since 2002 due to the U.S. economic recovery, Fed rate tightening, and more. Many of these factors could ease and begin to reverse as other economies catch up, especially because other central banks are tightening rates as well. Moreover, currencies tend to fluctuate and self-correct over time. A strong dollar may help to ease inflation and slow growth somewhat, which could bring the currency down over time.
Thus, it's important for long-term investors to maintain a globally diversified focus across regions, countries and asset classes. Over the long run, both developed and emerging markets may be volatile, but this goes hand-in-hand with higher expected returns. In fact, many international markets are significantly cheaper on a valuation basis than the U.S., and the dollar is already at its highest level in 20 years.
The bottom line?
Despite a challenging period for international investing, investors ought to stay diversified and patient in order to take advantage of global opportunities.
*Source: ETFLogic
Jeff Spitzmiller is the CEO of Ohana Wealth & Life Planning based in Cincinnati, OH. Ohana specializes in life and financial planning along with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing principles for professionals in the healthcare and university fields. The firm is an independent financial advisor and a fee-only fiduciary. Jeff and the firm also enjoy volunteering and giving back to the local community. You can reach Jeff at jeff@ohanaplanning.com.