Stock Market Internals Earnings Momentum, Small/Mid/Large Caps, Growth/Value/Cyclicals, and Additional Factors
Additional Factors
The index, still a bit shy of its all-time closing high, did set a new total return high on July 25th—six months after the trouble began in January. The FAANG stocks had some divergent components in July but still provided a big boost for the S&P 500.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Our Royal Blue Low P/E Tier finally outperformed the High P/E Tier for the first time since November. YTD, Value stocks still lag Growth in all market cap tiers.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
The recent run up in Small Cap stocks, coupled with a less rosy (though still fantastic) trailing earnings profile, has given us the largest Small Cap premium we’ve seen in three years.
Earnings Momentum
As we digest the first round of Q2 earnings reports, our Up/Down Ratio sports another outrageous reading of 3.67. If you need a chart to make a case for peak earnings growth, here you go.
Additional Factors
Small Caps zoomed ahead of Large Caps the last four months. Couple this with the top-25 largest S&P 500 firms still charging higher and we have a very interesting “barbelled” performance profile.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Growth stocks maintained their dominance over Value in Q2. This outperformance has finally leveled relative historical valuations between Value and Growth.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
Our Ratio of Ratios has been stuck in the Small Cap premium range of 2% to 7% for the last ten months—limiting the ability to make a call on market cap preference with this vignette.
Earnings Momentum
Wrapping up Q1 reporting, our Up/Down Ratio is flying high at 2.00. This is the highest “three-month” figure since 1996, even besting those readings immediately following the Great Recession.
Additional Factors
Like a thirty-year-old still living with his parents, the market doesn’t seem to have much direction. Since 1950, the median recovery time (if the market does indeed recover) from an intermediate correction is just 33 trading days. We’re now going on 80 trading days since the low set on February 8th… tick tock.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Growth’s year-and-a-half dominance over Value continues to roll on. Growth’s substantial gains have almost erased Value’s long-standing relative valuation premium.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
Other than an initial bump in the Small Cap premium in March, Small Caps’ last three months’ outperformance hasn’t manifested itself in this vignette.
Earnings Momentum
After Q1’s record breaking “one-month” figure, our “two-month” reading could only disappoint. Still, May’s Up/Down Ratio of 2.01 is one of the highest “two-month” figures in 35 years of observations.
Up/Down Earnings: A Little Shrinkage
Additional Factors
Compared to the first three months of 2018, April turned out to be a bit of a snoozer for the S&P 500. One corner of the index did have a little excitement—Energy stocks. Yes, Energy stocks. The beaten- down, shriveled up sector had its best monthly performance in three years (+9.4%).
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Beaten-up Small and Mid Cap Value stocks performed the best during April. In the Mega Cap space, however, Growth continued to outperform.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
This observation falls neatly in the middle of our 2% to 7% Small Cap premium range we’ve observed over the last eight months—providing no real “call” for this vignette.
Earnings Momentum
Our first Up/Down Ratio based on 2018 earnings sports a mind-blowing reading of 3.22—the highest “one-month” figure in 35 years of data.
Additional Factors
The index had a quarterly loss for the first time since Q3 2015. Volatility—which had been pretty much non-existent for all of 2017—returned and even had the nerve to persist. With mega caps teetering in March, the Equal Weighted Average scored its fourth monthly win in the last year.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Growth has outpaced Value in each market cap tier for five quarters in a row. Our Royal Blue High P/E Tier was the strongest performing segment of Q1 and outperformed the Low P/E Tier by a spread of 6.7%.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
Small Cap outperformance helped boost the Ratio of Ratios up from a 2% premium at the end of February. This is the first month our Large Cap P/E ratio has been below 20x since the end of April 2016.
Earnings Momentum
Our Up/Down Ratio sports a towering reading of 1.79, which is the highest our “three-month” ratio has been since the exit of the Great Recession.
Additional Factors
Before rallying back to a more modest loss, the index was down 11.8% from its all-time high on January 26th. Also of note was the volatility—the index moved at least 1% in 12 of the 19 trading days. The S&P 500 had only experienced three 1% daily moves in the five months prior to February.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Outperforming in up, and now, down months, Growth stocks seem to have the best of both worlds. After an ugly February, Small and Mid Cap Value stocks are now in negative territory YTD.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
Despite dramatic Large Cap outperformance over the last five quarters, our Ratio of Ratios hasn’t strayed more than 4% from its long-term median Small Cap premium of 3%.
Earnings Momentum
Our Up/Down Ratio held on to its first month gains and now sports a “two-month” reading of 1.97. We’re experiencing a quantity of firms growing YOY EPS that is unmatched by recent history.
Additional Factors
January 2018 lived up to the hype in a big way as the S&P 500 turned in its best January performance since 1997.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Our Royal Blue Large Cap Growth names logged a decent “yearly” return in just one month (+9.4% in January). Value continued to lag across all market cap tiers.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
Thanks to some outsized outperformance in January, the median trailing P/E for our Large Cap decile rose from 21.5x to 22.5x while the measure for Small Caps remained virtually unchanged.
Earnings Momentum
Our Up/Down Ratio soared to an impressive reading of 2.65—nine years into the current recovery. This is the highest “one-month” reading we’ve seen since 1993.
S&P 500: Can You Hear The Steel Drums?
No volatility and only one (barely) down month—it was easy living for the S&P 500 in 2017. It was also a top-heavy year for the index. The largest five firms: AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, FB, and GOOG accounted for nearly a quarter of the index’s gain.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
The pendulum swung Growth’s direction in 2017, erasing Value’s 2016 relative gains in the Large and Mid Cap tiers. Cyclical stocks also performed very well.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
After spending most of the year below our median long-term premium of 3%, our Ratio of Ratios has sprung back to where it started twelve months ago.
Earnings Momentum
Our Up/Down Ratio sports a “three-month” reading of 1.43—the worst full quarter figure of 2017. Above-trend earnings growth has not translated into above long-term average readings in our ratio.
Additional Factors
The eighth consecutive month of gains for the S&P 500 was made possible by some unlikely heroes.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
With a late-month surge in Financials and slump in Tech, our Royal Blue Low P/E Tier turned in its best monthly performance of 2017, and beat the High P/E Tier for only the third time this year.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
After some turbulence early this year, our Ratio of Ratios seems to have found a comfortable spot. This is the third consecutive month with a 4% premium for Small Caps.
Earnings Momentum
Our Up/Down Ratio sports a “two-month” reading of 1.43—the lowest level of 2017. All is not lost—we’ve seen decent aggregate earnings growth in 2017 despite below average Up/Down figures.
Additional Factors
The S&P 500, showing little concern for valuations or the political climate, had its best month of performance since February.
Growth vs Value vs Cyclicals
Growth stocks more than made up ground lost to Value in September. Dividing stocks by market cap, Growth segments are leading Value by spreads of 10-15% YTD.
Small Cap vs Mid Cap vs Large Cap
This is the first time this year we’ve spent two consecutive months above the long-term median Small Cap premium of 3%.
Earnings Momentum
The Up/Down Ratio sports a lofty reading of 2.08—the best “one-month” measurement since January of 2015. We’ve seen this movie before—strong initial readings have fallen apart in each of the last four quarters.