Issues
When the market picture gets confusing, as it often does, it pays to have some reliable indicators to depend on—rather than the guy on the evening news. So today, after a couple of weeks of market correction that have done serious damage to some leading stocks and led many pundits to ask whether we’ve seen the market top, we turn to our indicators and ask whether the bull market is truly over, and here’s what they say...
This stock and its peers are experiencing a game-changing situation within its industry. The stock therefore deserves a second look by growth investors.
Traders will be happy to see this stock joining the Buy Low Opportunities Portfolio for the third time in less than a year. Let’s see if we can accomplish a trifecta!
Traders will be happy to see this stock joining the Buy Low Opportunities Portfolio for the third time in less than a year. Let’s see if we can accomplish a trifecta!
Current Market OutlookThe selling pressure that appeared two weeks ago carried through to last week, with many leading stocks breaking down and others falling back into consolidations. That said, it’s not the end of the world—many major indexes are now testing their 50-day lines, and a bunch of stocks are in the same boat. There’s no question that the evidence has worsened lately, which is why our Market Monitor is back down to a reading of 6 (out of 10), but we’re most interested in what happens from here, which will probably go a long way toward determining the market’s next intermediate-term move. All told, you should still hold your strong, profitable stocks, but we also think it’s best to cool your heels a bit, keeping new buys small and holding some cash as we wait to see the market show its hand.
In the meantime, we’re using this brief period of market weakness to identify the stocks unaffected by the selling, as those will likely do the best when the market resumes its major advance. This week’s list has plenty to choose from, and our Top Pick is Wayfair (W), which is unusually strong—keep positions small and try to buy on dips.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below (FIVE) | 134.58 | ||
| Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) | 267.14 | ||
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 423.92 | ||
| Oasis Petroleum (OAS) | 12.57 | ||
| Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN) | 52.50 | ||
| Teladoc, Inc. (TDOC) | 127.95 | ||
| Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) | 87.63 | ||
| Wayfair (W) | 167.03 | ||
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (WCG) | 271.83 | ||
| WPX Energy (WPX) | 0.00 |
With the MSCI Emerging Markets Index headed steeply down since June 13, we have been moving quickly to cut our exposure and kick losers out of our portfolio. It’s not pleasant, but it’s the only way to stay profitable in a volatile sector like emerging market stocks. Today’s bounce in the markets was a welcome relief from the selling pressure, but we will discount the good news until the Cabot Emerging Markets Timer gives us the all-clear.
The market rolled over this week, but it’s too early to say if it’s the start of another correction or just some turbulence. Either way, we’re well prepared, with exposure to a broad range of sectors, including some benefiting from the uncertainty.
As to this week’s stock, once again I’m trying to buy low, with a recommendation of Crista Huff that should soon see improved earnings thanks to last year’s huge merger.
Current Market OutlookMay and June were generally great for leading stocks, but some yellow flags began to appear during the past couple of weeks—the major indexes were showing widening divergences, sentiment reached giddy levels and some stocks (like many recent IPOs) went vertical. Some sort of retreat was likely, but the severity of the selling in recent days looks abnormal; many stocks are pulling back after big runs, but a bunch of others are cracking, and the lagging indexes look sick—the NYSE Composite is below its 200-day line! We don’t advise hitting the panic button, as most indexes and stocks are still above intermediate-term support, so you can hold your strong, profitable stocks. But given the evidence, it’s smart to pare back—honor your stops and loss limits, and on the buy side, keep new positions small until support appears.
This week’s list has stocks that have been yanked down recently, but the action looks normal after strong prior advances. Our Top Pick is Carvana (CVNA), which is early stage and holding up well after a big run. Again, keep new positions small and try to buy on dips.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Carvana (CVNA) | 82.90 | ||
| Cheniere Energy (LNG) | 63.82 | ||
| Darden Restaurants (DRI) | 106.63 | ||
| Heron Therapeutics (HRTX) | 35.25 | ||
| Illumina Inc. (ILMN) | 289.74 | ||
| Spotify (SPOT) | 272.82 | ||
| Stitch Fix (SFIX) | 36.79 | ||
| Trade Desk (TTD) | 468.02 | ||
| Turtle Beach (HEAR) | 26.70 | ||
| Wix.com (WIX) | 302.53 |
The market’s evidence remains mostly bullish, so we do, too, but it’s a selective advance—most indexes are doing just OK, but growth-oriented stocks and sectors have put on a great show. In the near-term, there are signs of exuberance, and while that doesn’t mean you should sell your strong stocks, it is a sign to keep your feet on the ground.
In the Model Portfolio, most of our stocks are performing well, but we’re standing pat for the moment, holding about 20% in cash as we look for solid entry points in fresh leading stocks.
In tonight’s issue, we review the market, all of our stocks and even write about one growth sector that’s showing extreme power of late—we already own two of the leaders in the group, but many look great. We also touch on the sentiment backdrop, while highlighting a few potential new buys if things settle down a bit.
In the Model Portfolio, most of our stocks are performing well, but we’re standing pat for the moment, holding about 20% in cash as we look for solid entry points in fresh leading stocks.
In tonight’s issue, we review the market, all of our stocks and even write about one growth sector that’s showing extreme power of late—we already own two of the leaders in the group, but many look great. We also touch on the sentiment backdrop, while highlighting a few potential new buys if things settle down a bit.
Updates
The market rolls sideways amidst a slew of conflicting forces.
The S&P 500 has bounced around and is at the same level it was in the middle of May. The primary culprit is technology. That sector has been in a funk. The S&P 500 is hard-pressed to generate any lasting traction while this massive sector, accounting for over 40% of the index, flounders.
The S&P 500 has bounced around and is at the same level it was in the middle of May. The primary culprit is technology. That sector has been in a funk. The S&P 500 is hard-pressed to generate any lasting traction while this massive sector, accounting for over 40% of the index, flounders.
The market has gone sideways since May. It seems to be deciding what to do.
It’s encouraging that the resumption of hostilities with Iran has not sent the market lower. It’s also positive that oil prices aren’t rising back to the $100 level earlier in the war, although prices have risen. It’s also another earnings season and analysts expect a big one.
It’s encouraging that the resumption of hostilities with Iran has not sent the market lower. It’s also positive that oil prices aren’t rising back to the $100 level earlier in the war, although prices have risen. It’s also another earnings season and analysts expect a big one.
With war being one of the most dominant themes of the last four years, it stands to reason that investors should position their portfolios to account for this conspicuous (and unwelcome) trend.
And lest one be tempted to think that the warfare theme will diminish anytime soon, last week’s article by NPR deflates that illusion: It revealed that global military conflicts are at their highest level since WWII.
And lest one be tempted to think that the warfare theme will diminish anytime soon, last week’s article by NPR deflates that illusion: It revealed that global military conflicts are at their highest level since WWII.
Price targets are standard practice on Wall Street. But sometimes, they can act as an artificial ceiling.
For example, say Truist sets a price target on an up-and-coming growth stock that’s 25% higher than its current share price. For a growth stock, a 25% return isn’t much. But then again, the stock could be a total flop, which is the natural boom-or-bust tradeoff growth investors must endure in trading off increased risk for massive upside. So, a price target on a growth stock seems almost like an unnecessary cap on a stock that has the potential to go through the roof.
For example, say Truist sets a price target on an up-and-coming growth stock that’s 25% higher than its current share price. For a growth stock, a 25% return isn’t much. But then again, the stock could be a total flop, which is the natural boom-or-bust tradeoff growth investors must endure in trading off increased risk for massive upside. So, a price target on a growth stock seems almost like an unnecessary cap on a stock that has the potential to go through the roof.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Continue to trim your sails. In the Model Portfolio, we’ve been getting closer and closer to shore as growth funds and indexes are under pressure and AI stocks cascade lower. Tonight we’re going to further trim Marvell (MRVL) given its ugly action, selling a third of what we have left. That will leave the portfolio with a big 58% cash position. We could put some of that to work if growth names find support, but we want to see key growth measures firm up before buying.
After a brief pause last week, small caps are once again leading the pack.
Through Wednesday’s close, the S&P 600 Small Cap Index is up roughly 21% year to date, compared to gains of about 15% for the S&P 400 MidCap Index, 17% for the Nasdaq and 11% for the S&P 500.
Through Wednesday’s close, the S&P 600 Small Cap Index is up roughly 21% year to date, compared to gains of about 15% for the S&P 400 MidCap Index, 17% for the Nasdaq and 11% for the S&P 500.
Its earnings season again! That’s a good thing. Earnings just might save the day in an otherwise confusing and uncertain market.
The market is causing whiplash. The Iran peace deal changed things. Stocks held back by high oil prices, and the resulting higher inflation and interest rates, reignited as oil prices came back down after the peace deal. But hostilities with Iran have resumed.
The market is causing whiplash. The Iran peace deal changed things. Stocks held back by high oil prices, and the resulting higher inflation and interest rates, reignited as oil prices came back down after the peace deal. But hostilities with Iran have resumed.
The peace deal may be on hold again. But stocks are hanging in there so far.
The ceasefire with Iran is over and hostilities have resumed. That sounds like a bigger bummer than it’s been in the market so far. Falling oil prices enabled previously beleaguered stocks to soar higher again as the prognosis for inflation and interest rates simultaneously improved. But that rally is over if oil prices spike higher again.
The ceasefire with Iran is over and hostilities have resumed. That sounds like a bigger bummer than it’s been in the market so far. Falling oil prices enabled previously beleaguered stocks to soar higher again as the prognosis for inflation and interest rates simultaneously improved. But that rally is over if oil prices spike higher again.
It’s no surprise that summer often brings lower market volatility levels as Wall Street heads to the Hamptons and participation rates diminish.
Indeed, what we’re seeing right now has all the classic symptoms of a low-participation environment, with investor sentiment being remarkably muted. This can be seen across a number of sentiment indicators for several different markets, most of which are flashing decisively “neutral” signals.
Indeed, what we’re seeing right now has all the classic symptoms of a low-participation environment, with investor sentiment being remarkably muted. This can be seen across a number of sentiment indicators for several different markets, most of which are flashing decisively “neutral” signals.
The divide between value and growth stocks is widening, as the Nasdaq is now more than 5% off its highs after peaking in early June while the Vanguard Value Index ETF (VTV) is hovering near its late-June apex and is up 3% in the last month.
That can flip in an instant, of course, as we saw in April and May. But the bottom line is that value stocks have risen 15% year to date, compared to an 11% gain in the Nasdaq and a 9.5% boost in the S&P 500.
That can flip in an instant, of course, as we saw in April and May. But the bottom line is that value stocks have risen 15% year to date, compared to an 11% gain in the Nasdaq and a 9.5% boost in the S&P 500.
After a very strong run from the March lows, the market appears to be going through an uncomfortable but healthy rotation. Many of the biggest winners from the AI and semiconductor trade have come under pressure, while value stocks, equal-weight indexes and other areas that had lagged earlier in the year have held up much better.
Markets are facing more inflation as the Iran mess gets messier. Concerns over high AI capital spending are a cloud over a resilient market. On the bright side for our portfolio, however, International Business Machines (IBM) shares were up 7.4% this week following last week’s 8.9% gain. Sea Limited (SE) shares leapt 9.6% this week and are up about 20% over the past month. MercadoLibre (MELI) shares are up 11.6% over the last two weeks.
Alerts
The stock market weakened in recent days, with many industries spiking downward. The only industry that anybody’s been asking me about is steel, so let’s get right to that.
The Chinese internet company beat earnings estimates by $0.19 last quarter and Barclay’s recently upgraded its shares to ‘Overweight’.
This technology company’s shares were just initiated at Macquarie with an ‘Outperform’ rating.
In addition to Barron’s, JP Morgan analysts have ranked this solar company’s stock ‘Outperform’.
We still believe the odds favor the next big move being up, but near-term, the outlook is up in the air. Thus, we’re holding our resilient performers, but we’re also holding some cash and getting rid of stocks that break support.
This shipbuilding company is also ranked a ‘Strong Buy’ by Zacks, based on impressive earnings revisions (up $0.88), sales, dividend and EPS growth.
This digital printing company beat analysts’ estimates by three cents last quarter, and is forecast to grow at more than a 50% rate for the next five years.
Energy stocks are in the news right now, partly because some of them have begun their price rebounds from recent pullbacks, and partly due to a focus on oil prices during the current Middle East conflict. Here’s a quick assessment and comparison of our four energy stocks.
With oil and natural gas producers adding active rigs, the demand for sand is growing. And that’s where this producer of monocrystalline sand comes in.
Eight analysts have raised their 2017 earnings forecast for our first idea—an international hotel company.
Our position in this stock, a play on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to drive inflation in Japan’s economy, never really lived up to expectations.
Our first idea is a fund that seeks investment results that correspond to two times (2x) the daily performance of the S&P 500. Our second recommendation is a sale of a previous idea.
Portfolios
Strategy
A few Cabot Options Trader subscribers have asked me about ways to protect gains in their portfolios, so I thought I would write to everyone with a couple of strategies using options to hedge your portfolio.
A subscriber recently asked me if I keep a journal of my trades. Many traders keep journals so they can look back at their trades and evaluate what they did right and what they did wrong.
Want to know how the big institutional investors use options? Here is an example of how one trader spent $132 million on three technology stocks.
Options trading has its own vernacular. To know how to do it, you need to know what every options term means. Here are some of the basics.
Our Cabot Momentum Trader’s market timing system consists of two parts—one based on the action of three select, growth-oriented market indexes, and the other based on the action of the fast-moving stocks Cabot Momentum Trader features.