Is the European Recovery for Real?

Analysts anticipating a rebound in European stock markets for the last few years have been disappointed as early-year optimism faded by year-end. The European Central Bank’s aggressive monetary stimulus efforts failed to bring about the same lift in asset prices that US investors enjoyed. But now, in 2017, European stocks are handily outperforming the S&P 500 for the first time since 2012. Bullish investors point to the valuation discount of European stocks relative to the U.S. and improving economic fundamentals as reasons for the rally to continue. But is it really sustainable?