U.S. corporate pension funding levels fell last month, matching a drop in global equities, according to analysts.
The August report from LGIM America’s Pension Solutions Monitor estimated that the average U.S. corporate funding ratio decreased to 103.6% through August from 104.9% at the end of July.
Global equities declined 2.8%, with the S&P 500 decreasing 1.6%. Portfolios in plans with a 50/50 allocation declined 2.5%, while liabilities declined 1.4%. The decrease in assets outpaced the decline in liabilities, leading to lower funding ratios.
This is the first decline in corporate pension funding since December 2022 according to LGIM America data, which has seen funding ratios increasing from 98.3% at the end of last year and from 96% last August.
Insight Investment also reported that funding status fell in August, to 106.5% from 106.9% a month earlier. Insight Investment also reported asset and liability declines of 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively.
Sweta Vaidya, head of North American solution design at Insight Investment, noted in a statement that, “unlike last month, equity returns were weak and dragged down funding status even as discount rates increased 15 [basis points]. It is a gentle reminder that equity volatility can easily undo any potential funded status gains from discount rates rising—important to keep in mind as the fed provides mixed signals on whether it will hike rates another 25 bps or stay the course.”
Despite the trend of declining funding levels, Mercer found that pension funding increased in August. Mercer analysts reported the S&P 1500 pension funding status increased by one percentage point to a 108% funding ratio. Discount rates increased to 5.37% from 5.19%.
“With higher discount rates and improved funding for many defined benefit sponsors, we continue to see a lot of activity, with plan sponsors taking a fresh look at strategy and in many cases executing pension risk transfer and investment de-risking strategies,” Mercer partner Scott Jarboe said in the company’s report.
Mercer representatives did not respond to requests for further detail about the firm’s analysis.
Aon’s model found pension funding levels decreased to 101.5% by the end of August from 101.7% at the end of July. Assets declined 1.7%, and credit spreads widened by 6 bps. The month-end 10-year Treasury rate increased 12 bps. The interest rates used to value pension liabilities increased to 5.32%. from 5.14%.
The WTW Pension Index also declined in August due to weak equities, along with a decline in liabilities as a result of interest rate hikes. WTW’s model tracks the hypothetical performance of a portfolio with a 60/40 ratio of equity to fixed income. The equity portion returned negative 2.4% for the month, with the fixed-income portion returning negative 05%.
Agilis reported in its U.S. pension briefing that liabilities decreased between 1% and 2% last month, as both equities and fixed income had negative returns. Negative returns in equities outweighed the 0.18% rise in discount rates, which now sit at 5.18%.
According to October Three’s pension finance update, a hypothetical plan with a 60/40 asset allocation lost 2% in August but remained up 9% for the year. A plan with a 20/80 asset allocation also lost 2% in August but is up 3% for the year. October Three noted while it was not a good month for equities, 2023 is shaping up to be a good year for pension sponsors.
Wilshire Associates pension funding tracker found that corporate pension funding fell 0.1% in August, to 105.0%. Wilshire attributed the decline to a 2.3% decline in asset values, offset by a 2.1% decline in liabilities.
“After four consecutive months of funded status increases, August experienced a slight decrease,” Ned McGuire, a managing director at Wilshire, said in a release. “Despite the decrease in most asset classes—with international equity experiencing the worst monthly decrease since September 2022—the liability value also decreased due to rising yields.”
Milliman reported pension funding for the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension funds declined to 103.3% from 103.6% in August. Asset value declined 1.55%, to $1.327 trillion from $1.354 trillion during the month. Milliman projected the funding ratio for corporate plans will rise back to 103.6% by the end of the year and could reach 105.2% if asset return rates and discount rates are stable at 5.8% and 5.41%, respectively.
In a scenario with interest rates rising to 6.24% from 5.61% by the end of 2024, with a 9.8% return on investments, funding ratios would climb to 107% by the end of the year and 120% by the end of 2024, Milliman projected. If discount rates decline to 5.21% by year-end 2023 and 4.61% by year-end 2024 with annual returns of 1.8%, the 2023 funding ratio would decline to 100%, and the 2024 ratio would fall to 91%.
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Tags: Agilis, Aon, Corporate pension funding, Insight inv, Insight Investment, LGIM America Pension Solutions Monitor, Mercer, Milliman, October Three Consulting, Wilshire Associates, WTW Pension Index