“Slow Motion Deterioration: Some Shares Down 20% or More”

“EDITOR NOTE: A stock market crash that some experts are predicting calls to mind a sudden, catastrophic event. A recent CNBC report suggests it this drop may already be happening, but at a slower, steadier pace than in the past. Right now, around 15% of S&P 500 stocks are down 20% below their 52-week highs. This downturn is particularly pronounced for small-cap companies that are more susceptible to economic slowdowns. These companies represent almost half of that 15%. CFRA chief investment strategist Sam Stovall recently told clients that, “for the last several months, most stocks have declined more frequently than they have advanced — evidence of a weakening market condition.” Some market strategists, like JPMorgan’s Dubravko Lakos-Bujas, are still denying this is a long-term problem. However, more experts, like Guggenheim global chief investment officer Scott Minerd, are coming around to the fact that we are reaching the top of the market and a major decline is inevitable.”

“The land mines for the market are growing. Seasonal weakness is combining with uncertainty over the Covid-19 delta variant’s impact on consumer behavior, rising labor and material costs pushing prices higher as well as poor economic data out of China.

While the S&P 500 is still about 1% from its record high, those land mines are taking their toll on large sectors of the market.

“For the last several months, most stocks have declined more frequently than they have advanced–evidence of a weakening market condition,” CFRA chief investment strategist Sam Stovall said in a recent note to clients.

Other strategists have noticed this divergence as well.

“As the equity market reaches new highs, the divergence in the advance-decline line suggests we may be approaching a top,” Guggenheim global chief investment officer Scott Minerd said in a recent tweet. “In the past, such divergence has indicated the market is vulnerable to a sell-off.”

The 20% decline club is getting larger

About 15% of S&P 500 stocks are more than 20% below 52-week highs, but much larger swaths of the midcap and small-cap universe are down 20% or more. The latter groups are less tech-focused and more susceptible to an economic slowdown:

Slow motion deterioration
(percentage of stocks that are 20% or more below their 52-week highs)

• S&P 500            15%
• S&P Midcap      30%
• S&P Small Cap 48%

The Covid-related weakness is affecting sectors associated with the reopening, such as industrials and retail.

“This phase of the pandemic poses downside risks to the economic recovery, including to inflation components that are more sensitive to the disruption in services demand,” Barclays economist Blerina Uruci wrote in a recent note to clients.

Industrials/Materials
(% off 52-week highs)

• American Airlines    26%
• FedEx                         20%
• Dupont                       20%
• PPG                            18%
• Caterpillar                  17%
• Stanley Black & Decker  17%
• Lockheed Martin       14%
• 3M                          12%

Retailers
(% off 52-week highs)

• Nordstrom             41%
• Gap                         36%
• Abercrombie         24%
• Kohl’s                     19%
• Ross Stores          16%

The China slowdown, particularly the decline in retail sales due to Covid issues, is dramatically affecting luxury retailers, many of which are based in Europe.

Luxury Retailers
(% off 52-week highs)

• Kering                     21%
• Tapestry                 20%
• Richemont             17%
• Movado                  15%
• LVMH                      14%

Supply chain and labor problems are affecting the ability of some homebuilders to fully deliver on orders.

Home builders
(% off 52-week highs)

• Pulte                      26%
• KB Home               21%
• DR Horton              17%
• Lennar                    11%

Concerns about controls on drug prices from the Biden administration has also impacted Big Pharma in the past few weeks. 

Big Pharma
(% off 52-wk. highs)

• Eli Lilly                 14%
• Bristol-Myers Squibb      11%
• Merck                  11%
• Johnson & Johnson  8%

A breakout or breakdown?

Most strategists, including JPMorgan’s Dubravko Lakos-Bujas, remain bullish on the market. However, even Lakos-Bujas admits that it is very difficult to read the economic tea leaves.

“Given the unique nature and impact of the pandemic, the current cycle is more difficult to analyze compared to historical cycles,” he said in a recent note to clients. “This cycle is essentially an overlay of two intertwined cycles — a Covid cycle and a regular business cycle (incl. labor, capex, inventory).”

Why do so many analysts and strategists remain bullish? It’s all based on the theory that the delta variant will prove to be a diminishing force and that earnings will not materially decline.

“As the delta variant eases, we expect these concerns to fade, leading to a much stronger 4Q21 holiday season (unlike last year’s holiday season disappointment) and a pick-up in cross-border activity from still depressed levels,” Lakos-Bujas said.

Original post from CNBC…”

Slow Motion Deterioration: Some Shares Down 20% or More

 The supply chain breakdown combined with the labor shortage and forced lock-downs of businesses are hurting businesses. Expect stocks to get worse before they get better.