Stocks Have Inflation Fighting Genes in their DNA

January 22, 2022 | by V. Henry Astarjian | Posted in Blog

Over the past year, inflation has taken center stage as the biggest economic issue facing us, and with good reason. For the three decades from 1990 to 2020 we generally had low inflation in the U.S., averaging just 2.4% per year. We grew accustomed to that.

By comparison, the past year’s 7% annualized inflation rate feels like a seismic dislocation. Sustained inflation over time erodes our purchasing power and throws our best laid plans for future spending into doubt, including spending during our retirement years. For serious investors, it begs the question, how should we invest for the long-term? 

One tried and true answer is to invest in common stocks!

As odd as it may sound, inflation is actually a normal component of stock market returns. When CEOs talk about their companies’ ability to raise prices on their products and services, they are really saying they have the power to create some degree of inflation that benefits their companies and their shareholders. That ability is seen as a positive by Wall Street.

Every stock represents a company, and most companies have the ability to raise their prices to their customers over time, thus keeping up with, or exceeding the inflation rate.

For a deeper dive, please see my Januray 2022 investment letter, “Inflation, Purchasing Power, and Stock Market Returns”.