Displaying items by tag: stocks

Over the past year, the U.S. stock market has risen by an impressive 30%, despite a recent 2.1% drop. This robust growth highlights opportunities in high-growth tech stocks that excel in innovation and scalability. 

Companies like PowerFleet stand out, forecasting a 29.7% annual revenue growth and significant earnings improvement due to strategic expansions such as its Fleet Complete acquisition. Live Nation Entertainment also shines, with substantial revenue driven by concerts, ticketing, and sponsorships, leveraging its global presence to dominate the live entertainment industry. 

Meanwhile, Triumph Group has gained investor attention with a 66.9% one-year stock increase, supported by upward earnings revisions and strong fundamentals. 

Finsum: These examples underscore the dynamic potential of select tech and entertainment stocks in the current market.

Preferred stocks with a $25 par value, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange, have gained popularity but yield just 5% to 5.5% for major banks, a modest premium over the 30-year Treasury. 

According to Nuveen portfolio manager Douglas Baker, economic resilience and an anticipated soft landing make bank-issued preferreds more appealing, despite limited issuance due to banks’ reduced need for capital. Issuers have redeemed more than they’ve issued this year, tightening supply in the $25-par market, which has seen a 13.1% gain year-to-date. 

Baker points out that tax advantages, high yields, and stock-like trading add to preferreds' appeal. However, their perpetual nature and redemption rights limit price gains and increase sensitivity to rising rates. 

Finsum: There is strong demand for these types of unusual but tax efficient investments in the wider market.

Value investing has fallen out of favor in a market dominated by FAANG stocks, but there are strong indicators suggesting a revival is possible. Currently, value stocks are priced significantly lower than their growth counterparts, trading at only a fraction of the cost. 

Even though they’ve lagged behind, the core business metrics, such as earnings, have remained competitive with growth stocks, implying the downturn isn't tied to company performance. 

Moreover, in times of rising inflation, value stocks historically outperform, and with inflation likely to stay above central bank targets, this could boost their appeal. Growth stocks shine in long bull markets but tend to struggle in bear markets or early recoveries, making value stocks a safer option during uncertain times.

Finsum:  For those looking to diversify, gradually increasing exposure to value-focused investments could offer solid returns as value stocks regain prominence.

Leading up to the much-anticipated rate cut, global investors increased their equity fund purchases, anticipating a rate cut by the Federal Reserve that would kick off a broader cycle of reductions. A total of $5.21 billion was poured into equity funds, slightly below the $6.54 billion invested the previous week. 

The Fed’s 50-basis point rate cut spurred risk appetite, particularly in Asia and Europe, where equity funds attracted strong inflows. Meanwhile, U.S. equity fund sales declined to a four-week low. Sector funds, particularly in financials and tech, saw outflows for the third consecutive week, while bond funds maintained their appeal, continuing a 39-week streak of net inflows. 

Additionally, precious metal funds attracted investors for a sixth week, while energy funds faced a reversal with net sales of $129 million. The data reflects increased confidence in riskier assets and a shift away from money market funds, which saw outflows after six weeks of positive investments.

Finsum: There are still two more rate hikes on the forecast if investors want to take note of these trends in equity markets.

The recent market gyrations and decline prompted some retirement investors to react by shifting their 401(k) investments from large-cap stocks and target-date funds to safer options like stable-value, bond, and money-market funds. 

The trading volume was nearly 700% the usual level, marking the highest activity since March 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the market's volatility, most 401(k) participants did not alter their accounts, but those who did generally moved towards more conservative investments to mitigate risk. 

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both showed slight gains by the market's close but remained below their mid-July highs. However stable value funds received a bulk of the inflows at just over 60%.

Finsum: While the recent sell off was prompted by international currency fluctuations, expect more volatility this fall and potentially more inflows into stable value.