📌 1. What happened
This chart, published by BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Strategist, shows the current valuation percentile of various asset classes compared to their historical norm. The bars show where each asset class stands today (May 2025), while the dots show where they stood one year ago (May 2024).
The chart splits assets into Fixed Income (left) and Equities (right). The percentile indicates how expensive or cheap each asset is relative to its own history.
⸻
📌 2. What do these indexes reflect
• The higher the percentile, the more expensive the asset looks by standard measures (e.g., yield spread for bonds, P/E for equities).
• Many US assets (like US Treasuries, US High Yield, SPX) and Developed Markets Equities are trading at the higher end of their historical range — meaning investors are paying a premium.
• Some EM (Emerging Market) debt and Euro Credit appear closer to average or slightly cheap by historical standards.
• For equities, the US, France, and Australia are near the “expensive” side, while EM and some European equities are cheaper relatively.
• The move from last year’s dots shows how valuations have shifted higher over the past year as markets rallied.
⸻
📌 3. How might the market react
• High valuations mean assets are more vulnerable to corrections if investor confidence is shaken (as noted for the US and India earlier in the year).
• If rates stay higher for longer, or earnings disappoint, highly valued assets may underperform.
• Conversely, the resilience in US and India markets suggests strong risk appetite — SPX and Nasdaq are pushing to new all-time highs, showing momentum remains for now.
• A valuation mismatch could lead to rotation: investors might switch from expensive US assets into relatively cheaper EM or European assets if macro conditions shift.
⸻
📌 4. How investors should act
• Be cautious about chasing expensive assets purely for momentum — high valuations can amplify downside risks.
• Diversify across regions and asset classes to avoid being overexposed to overpriced markets.
• Watch macro signals that could trigger repricing — e.g., shifts in Fed/ECB policy, earnings revisions, or geopolitical events.
• Use tactical hedges or alternatives (like quality credit, TIPS) to manage downside risk if valuations stay stretched.
• Stay flexible: elevated valuations don’t necessarily mean immediate reversal, but they reduce the margin of safety for new investments.
⸻
✅ Summary:
Valuations alone do not predict near-term returns, but they set the risk context. Multi-asset investors should balance upside participation with careful risk management when assets look expensive across the board.