" Think how weird profit margins are: We’ve got high unemployment and financial crises – and world record profit margins. People think the American market is very cheap. We don’t. The market quite incorrectly gives full credit to today’s earnings. "
- Jeremy Grantham

In today's economic landscape, Jeremy Grantham points out a peculiar phenomenon where corporations are achieving record-high profit margins despite significant challenges such as high unemployment rates and financial crises. This situation seems paradoxical because one would expect companies to struggle during tough economic times rather than thrive.

Grantham’s observation delves deeper into the current market dynamics and investor perceptions. He argues that the current perception of the American stock market being undervalued or cheap is misguided, as it fails to account for the underlying economic realities. According to him, investors are overly focused on today's earnings without considering future uncertainties and risks. This shortsightedness can lead to mispriced assets in the market, where companies are valued more based on their current profitability than on a long-term perspective that takes into account broader economic conditions.

Jeremy Grantham is a renowned investor and founder of GMO, an investment management firm. Known for his insightful analysis of macroeconomic trends, he has gained recognition over decades for accurately predicting major financial events, such as the dot-com bubble and housing market crisis. His expertise in understanding complex economic cycles and their impact on markets makes his observations particularly valuable to both investors and economists alike.