Bill Miller, portfolio manager from Legg Mason Capital Management, recently called U.S. large-cap stocks a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Fool analyst Buck Hartzell agrees. If you've recently fled stocks in favor of the safety of bonds, you're likely making a very costly mistake. Here's why.
Currently AAA-rated corporate bond yields approximately 2.08%. Unfortunately, that yield is fixed and won't appreciate with a recovery in the economy.
Given the anemic yields of bonds, investors will be well-served to invest in the equities of some of the world's best businesses, such as PepsiCo
- Pepsi's current 3% yield is greater than the average AAA-rated corporate bond of around 2.08%, and you get the future growth in earnings, along with likely increases in the dividend.
- Pepsi increased its dividend from $0.85 to $1.78 per share from 2004 to 2009. This is compound annual growth of 15% per year. That's something your bonds just can't do. How's that for built-in inflation protection?
- Large-cap stocks actually lost money from 2000 to 2010. It was their worst decade since 1926. People have lost confidence in stocks, but the numbers tell a different story. Would you trade 10% annual returns for 2%? That sure is a high price for security.
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