When it comes to the future of the global economy, there’s only one word for how America’s corporate directors are feeling: bullish.
Corporate Board Member’s latest poll of U.S. public company directors shows rising optimism in business conditions 12 months from now. Directors say the increase in vaccinations and consumer spending, alongside new fiscal policy, are the main drivers of confidence that the economy is recovering at a healthy pace.
Data from our February polling of 119 U.S. public company board members, conducted February 21-24 in partnership with the Diligent Institute, shows director confidence in the coming months hit another new high since we began tracking optimism in September 2020. At 7.2 out of 10 on our 10-point scale, the forward-looking indicator is up 4 percent from January—in line with CEOs’ forecast of 7.1/10, as reported by our sister publication, Chief Executive, earlier this month.
When asked about their view of the current economy, directors gave it a 6.2 out of 10, up 7 percent since January—once again in line with CEOs.
W. Howard Morris, director at Industrials company Owens Corning and president & chief investment officer at The Prairie & Tireman Group, rated his outlook for future conditions an 8 out of 10 on the basis that “low interest rates and a rebounding economy” are likely to drive up business conditions in the next year.
Directors have been showing increasing optimism in recent months, based largely on the idea that a Covid-19 recovery and the continuation of the vaccine rollout will allow consumers to be out and about by this time next year.
Nevertheless, many of those we polled remain concerned about the potential for another unforeseen event changing the trajectory of the recovery. The director of a mid-size consumer staples company says there is a certain degree of “fear of the next shoe dropping. This environment has brought extreme paranoia.”
Some directors are also voicing concerns that the new administration’s stimulus plan could cause inflationary headwinds. “Expect inflation and social pressures combining to significantly increase the cost of products we buy and sell,” said a financial services director who rated both current and future conditions a 6 out of 10, or “good”, according to our scale.
Similarly, a director from the REIT sector said he is concerned about “potential inflation due to massive Covid Relief Bill, which isn’t a Covid relief bill but a bill to support progressive spending,” he says, rating his forecast of the economy 12 months from now lower than how he views it today, at 5 out of 10 vs. 7 out of 10.
Overall, though, most directors expect business conditions to improve on the back of a reopening of businesses, renewed political stability, governmental aid for small businesses, decreasing unemployment and increasing investments in various sectors.
Growth Forecast
Nearly 90 percent of directors surveyed now project an increase in revenues over the coming months—17 percent more directors than last month—mostly due to a substantial increase in consumption. “Right now, there is a lot of pent-up demand,” said the director of an emerging industrials company. “Not a shortage of money, but just the ability to spend it.”
Similarly, 82 percent of directors are forecasting an increase in profits within the next 12 months—12 percent higher than last month. February data shows a greater proportion of directors than CEOs bullish on those metrics, with 78 percent of CEOs predicting revenue growth and 72 percent predicting increasing profitability over that same period.
A Sector View
The data shows a similarly optimistic view across most sectors. The largest decline recorded is in the energy sector, where directors say the new administration’s regulations are affecting oil and gas. The sector recorded a decline of 6 percent MoM.
One director at a large energy company says his rating of future conditions of 3 out of 10 is due to “risks involved with inflation and Powell having pegged the lower interest rate for longer, leaving little room to maneuver strategically.”
Elsewhere, directors at companies in consumer staples and materials also reported a decline, down 6 and 9 percent, respectively, on fears of increased taxes and regulations.
“Increases in taxes, regulations and anti-business initiatives coupled with continuing flu lockdowns yields recession, declining stock prices and weak consumer sentiment,” said a director in the consumer staples sector who rates future business conditions as “poor” or 2 out of 10, down from an 8 today.
On the upside, directors in the healthcare and industrials sectors showed a 9 and 11 percent increase, respectively, in their confidence this month.
About the Director Confidence Index
The Director Confidence Index is a quarterly survey of public company board members on the state of the overall economy, the outlook for corporate finances and other topical issues impacting public companies. Conducted in collaboration between Corporate Board Member and Diligent Institute, the Index benchmarks confidence among the governance community and is a forward-looking indicator of market movements and corporate strategies. The January survey was fielded from January 13 through 21, 2021.
About Corporate Board Member
Corporate Board Member, a division of Chief Executive Group, has been the market leader in board education for 20 years. The quarterly publication provides public company board members, CEOs, general counsel and corporate secretaries decision-making tools to address the wide range of corporate governance, risk oversight and shareholder engagement issues facing their boards. Corporate Board Member further extends its thought leadership through online resources, webinars, timely research, conferences and peer-driven roundtables. The company maintains the most comprehensive database of directors and officers of publicly traded companies listed with NYSE, NYSE Amex and Nasdaq. Learn more at BoardMember.com.
About the Diligent Institute
Diligent Institute is the corporate governance research arm and think tank of Diligent Corporation. The Institute produces publicly available cutting-edge research on corporate governance practices by directors, for directors, with a global perspective. Learn more at diligeninstitute.com.
