Why Aren't Stocks Forecasting Recession?

The Council on Foreign Relations notes that news stories increasingly are using the "R" word, contemplating a recession ahead. Indeed, a Google news search for "recession" turns up quite a few stories, mostly examining the Fed move in the light of averting a possible recession.

When we look at ETFs, however, the market itself seems to be telling a different story. Here are year-to-date returns, as of Friday, for various ETF pairs:

iShares Morningstar Large Cap Growth (JKE): +12.2%
iShares Morningstar Large Cap Value (JKF): +6.1%
iShares Morningstar Mid Cap Growth (JKH): +18.1%
iShares Morningstar Mid Cap Value (JKI): +0.3%
iShares Morningstar Small Cap Growth (JKK): +12.7%
iShares Morningstar Small Cap Value (JKL): -2.9%

iShares Russell 1000 Growth (IWF): +11.0% (-.79%)
iShares Russell 1000 Value (IWD): +4.8% (-2.83%)
iShares Russell 2000 Growth (IWO): +9.1% (-3.65%)
iShares Russell 2000 Value (IWN): -2.4% (-6.72%)
iShares Russell 3000 Growth (IWZ): 10.8% (-1.31%)
iShares Russell 3000 Value (IWW): 4.4% (-3.36%)
iShares Microcap Growth (IWP): 12.0% (-3.54%)
iShares Microcap Value (IWS): 3.5% (-6.55%)

Across every capitalization class, growth has beaten the pants off value year-to-date.

How about since the July market top? Have we shifted regimes away from growth?

The second set of percentage changes for the Russell indices shows the results from July 19th through today. Once again, growth has shown relative strength compared with value. If there is a regime shift, it is toward large caps overall and away from small caps. Perhaps that is because large caps, which on average are more likely to have international sales, can benefit from a weak dollar more than small caps.

In any event, the news and the pundits are saying one thing; the market something else.

If we are headed for recession, why are growth stocks consistently outperforming value?

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