Wells Fargo's Reasons for Rebalancing Portfolios Right Now

According to Wells Fargo, investors may want to start rebalancing their portfolios as equity valuations climb to new highs.

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The S&P 500 briefly crossed the 6,500 mark for the first time on Thursday before slipping slightly on Friday. That milestone has prompted the firm to recommend trimming equity exposure and reallocating some of those gains into bonds.

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“Even as the S&P 500 Index hits record levels, it could make sense for investors to reduce equity holdings and prepare for the volatility we expect in the weeks and months ahead,” said Paul Christopher, head of global investment strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, in a note Tuesday.

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Christopher warned that upcoming market turbulence could stem from unexpected policy shifts or economic surprises.

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The strategy isn’t just about moving into fixed income; adjustments within the equity portion are also key, he told CNBC. The firm continues to lean toward a 60/40 allocation 60% stocks, 40% bonds but stresses the importance of being selective as the Federal Reserve moves closer to rate cuts and long-term inflation expectations edge higher.

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For example, Wells Fargo remains overweight in large-cap equities but has scaled back positions in communication services to lock in profits and reduce risk in case the market has stretched too far. The firm is maintaining its overweight stance on information technology but has also pared back exposure to small-cap names, which Christopher believes have rallied too aggressively.

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One area seeing increased exposure is financials, which Christopher expects to benefit as short-term interest rates drop once the Fed begins easing.

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Currently, markets are pricing in an 87% probability of a September rate cut, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

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“If short-term rates decline while the economy slows, the yield curve will steepen,” Christopher explained. “Short-term yields are likely to collapse, while long-term yields won’t fall as much. For banks, that’s positive because deposit costs on the short end go down, while loan income tied to long-term yields stays relatively stable.”

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As part of the shift from stocks to bonds, Wells Fargo recommends focusing on intermediate-term, high-quality assets such as investment-grade corporate and municipal bonds.

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“Look for companies with strong balance sheets, healthy cash flow, and solid earnings prospects,” Christopher said. “That quality bias should help cushion portfolios against any volatility that might emerge between now and the first quarter of 2026.”

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Christopher favors a bullet strategy for bonds concentrating maturities between three and seven years. Unlike a ladder strategy that spreads out maturities, a bullet strategy focuses on a single time frame.

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“We’re cautious on the short end,” he noted. “As the Fed cuts, rates will fall into the mid-threes, which may not even keep pace with inflation.”

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On the long end, he sees potential instability as inflation expectations tick higher and the Treasury issues more long-dated debt.

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Part of the inflation concern, he said, comes from the possibility that the Trump administration could secure a majority of Federal Reserve board appointments. Legal proceedings are currently underway over President Trump’s attempt to remove board member Lisa Cook.

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“If the Fed becomes overly influenced by any administration, there could be long-term pressure to ease policy in order to fund government borrowing and that would be inflationary,” Christopher explained. Still, even with a board majority, the president won’t necessarily have free rein, he added.

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For high-net-worth individuals with around $2 million to invest, Christopher suggests adding a modest allocation to alternative investments. That could translate to a portfolio of 50% equities, 35% fixed income, and 15% alternatives.

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His preferred alternatives include hedge funds, private equity, and private credit, which he views as an insurance policy for smoothing returns over time.

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“They help you navigate the choppy waters of policy uncertainty and a slowing economy in the quarters ahead,” he said.

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