Citi’s Scott Chronert expects a delicate economic downturn in the 1st 50 % of this yr and uncovered a few approach phone calls that could aid buyers trade the downturn. The expenditure bank’s U.S. fairness strategist predicts that the S & P 500 could achieve 3,700 by the center of the yr, and 4,000 by year-conclusion. The index is now at all around 3,850. “I have been contacting for a first-50 percent recession given that the middle of 2022,” he instructed CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” Thursday, noting that some of Citi’s economists are anticipating it to strike in the second six months of the 12 months. “In any event, I think we are likely to truly feel the economic downturn consequences throughout the initial fifty percent,” Chronert additional. Having said that, he warned in his 2023 outlook that “historic recession playbooks may perhaps disappoint.” As these kinds of, he shared 3 “leading conviction phone calls” with CNBC that could aid traders navigate the macro setting. In an e mail to CNBC, Chronert explained he expects: Earnings to be “more resilient” than envisioned for the duration of a recession period of time Relative power in the industrials and strength sectors A gradual return to a “additional standard valuation tactic,” with a sector rotation away from tech. Earnings Earnings will most likely occur in greater than anticipated, according to Chronert in his outlook for this calendar year, printed in December. “The impression of recessionary ailments may possibly range throughout sectors about the year. The internet impact is that index-stage earnings need to verify far more resilient than normally envisioned,” he said. He predicts a $216 earnings for every share estimate for the S & P 500 by 12 months-finish. It truly is at present about $218. Power in some sectors Chronert likes the two industrials and energy hunting forward. “You might be going to see quite solid relative functionality out of customarily economically sensitive sectors this kind of as industrials and energy. And the power sector carries a minimal valuation right now,” he advised CNBC Thursday. In the December notice, Citi mentioned a number of “most well-liked” U.S. strength stocks like APA and EOG Resources . In industrials, the bank’s analysts like Rockwell Automation and Trane Technologies . Chronert also wrote that he is bullish on the class of companies he dubs “tech buyers” – organizations aligned with the more time-expression “structural shift of incremental reshoring and margin growth utilizing tech in the price chain.” His desired stock in this area is agricultural gear maker Deere and enterprise , also less than the industrials sector. Rotate absent from mega-cap advancement shares In the very long term, tech or mega-cap growth shares will give way to an “industrial resurgence,” Chronert wrote in his calendar year outlook. “Above time, industrials, vitality, supplies, and staples might see their weights inside of the S & P 500 enhance at the expense of tech and [communication] services,” he additional. As such, he informed CNBC Thursday that he’s “steering rather apparent of” mega-cap businesses. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed to this report.