A Look Beneath The Surface
The stock market's start to 2022 has been fragile, as evidenced by the sell-off in several stocks. Last week, U.S. equities fell for the second week in a row, pushing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 2.2% and 4.8%, respectively. Some equities and sectors have fallen even faster.
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A Broad Rally
In recent weeks, several under-the-radar sectors have been propelling the stock market higher, setting the stage for a test of their resilience. The S&P 500 has gained 21% this year, with tech giants and their AI ambitions fueling the first-half surge.
June 2023 - Commentary
The surge in stocks in 2023 has been noticeably concentrated and spearheaded by prominent technology stocks, raising questions regarding the underlying reasons for this trend.
Cheaper Valuations May Boost Stocks
In 2021, the S&P 500 gained 27%, capping a third year of double-digit gains. Stocks are still cheaper than a year ago: the S&P 500 is currently selling at 21 times analysts' estimated earnings for the next 12 months, down from 22.8 times at the end of 2020.
Buy The Dip Or Wait?
It may be tempting to buy stocks when these start falling. Investors may feel that a stock pulling back represents a “once in a year” opportunity. However, we believe that investors should be very cautious about this strategy.