The New York Stock Exchange FANG+ Index tracks the performance of ten of the biggest of the big U.S. technology stocks. This index has outperformed the S&P 500 by a remarkable 36 percentage points so far in 2023 and this trend has a number of implications for markets and investors.
The FANG+ index is made up of Meta Platforms Inc., Apple Inc., Amazon.com, Netflix Inc., Microsoft Corp., Alphabet, Tesla Inc., NVIDIA Corp, Snowflake Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices. Year to date, FANG+ has returned 44.6 per cent, easily outdistancing the S&P 500′s 8.2 per cent.
The dramatic divergence in performance is indicative of a narrow market – one driven by few companies. Rallies with narrow markets are considered more fragile than those supported by more stocks within an index.
All members of the FANG+ index are secular growth stocks and this is also telling. When money gravitates towards companies with reliable profit growth, this implies concern regarding profits for more economically sensitive stocks. It sounds counterintuitive, but growth stocks are a way of offsetting the risks of slowing economy and recession.
The strong growth of the FANG+ stocks has made them popular and driven valuation levels higher. The average trailing price to earnings ratio in the index is now 41.5 times, well ahead of the S&P 500′s 18.6.
U.S. markets are thus dependent on a few, expensive stocks. Investors should hope for a broadening of earnings growth to more companies to avoid a significant correction as the mega-caps pull back.
-- Scott Barlow, Globe and Mail market strategist
Read More: U.S. mega tech is expensive, but may be unavoidable
This is the Globe Investor newsletter, published three times each week. If someone has forwarded this e-mail newsletter to you or you’re reading this on the web, you can sign up for the newsletter and others on our newsletter signup page.
The Rundown
The stock markets versus housing: A 10-year look
The average resale home in Canada appreciated by an average annual 6.8 per cent over the past 10 years, better than triple the average inflation rate over that stretch. That’s a strong return for sure, but not as good as either the Canadian or U.S. stock markets. Rob Carrick has crunched the numbers.
Inflation may not be cooling fast enough to justify stock valuations
Some investors are growing concerned that the U.S. economy may not be cooling fast enough to justify bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year, threatening a view that has helped boost stocks. Lewis Krauskopf of Reuters reports.
Despite showing first-quarter weakness, these trucking stocks are worthy of investor attention
Recent financial reports from two major trucking companies, one Canadian and the other American, suggest something is happening in the transportation sector that warrants attention. Gordon Pape tells us more.
Investors’ route to post-COVID China is via Europe
Investors are getting more bang for their buck this year by buying European companies with a focus on China than buying Chinese companies themselves, a sign of the unevenness of China’s pandemic recovery and geopolitical concerns. Alun John and Ankur Banerjee of Reuters report.
OSC suspends registration of Emerge ETFs, saying it is in breach of its capital requirements
Ontario’s securities watchdog has suspended the registration of asset manager Emerge Canada Inc. after finding it failed to comply with working capital requirements, and the regulator expects the manager to wind down its funds, report Clare O’Hara and David Milstead. Emerge manages funds that are linked to prominent U.S. investor and ARK Investment Management LLC chief executive officer Cathie Wood.
Others (for subscribers)
The highest-yielding stocks on the TSX, plus risk data
Canadian ETFs: Ten new launches include dividend and money market funds
Number Cruncher: Seven power companies with sustainable growth and dividends
Number Cruncher: 20 U.S. IT stocks that offer safety and value
Friday’s analyst upgrades and downgrades
Thursday’s analyst upgrades and downgrades
Scott Barlow’s Noteworthy: A downgrade for Canadian bank stocks is notable
Ted Dixon: Insiders buy as Martinrea International stock tumbles
Monika Rizk: Bullish on Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Globe Advisor
Why this money manager thinks Canada is the best place to invest over the U.S. right now
Are you a financial advisor? Register for Globe Advisor (www.globeadvisor.com) for free daily and weekly newsletters, in-depth industry coverage and analysis.
Ask Globe Investor
Question: For years, I have calculated the adjusted cost base (ACB) and capital gains of my stocks myself and reported the data to the Canada Revenue Agency. Recently, however, I started using the CRA’s “auto-fill my return” service to download tax slips to my tax software. While filing my 2022 return, I noticed that the ACB I calculated manually for one of my exchange-traded funds – the iShares S&P/TSX SmallCap Index ETF (XCS) – differed substantially from the ACB on the T5008 slip issued by my broker. Specifically, in 2021 I purchased 200 units of XCS for $4,013.95, which I sold in 2022 for net proceeds of $3,997.05. However, the T5008 for 2022 shows the “cost or Book Value” as $4890.83. Surely, my broker can’t be wrong. What am I missing?
Answer: Yes, your broker can be wrong. It happens more often than you might think.
The other day, for example, I was helping my mother review her portfolio and noticed that the ACB of her Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce shares was twice as high as it should have been. After staring at the screen in confusion for 10 minutes, I realized the problem: When CIBC split its shares two-for-one in May, 2022, my mother’s discount broker not only doubled the number of shares she owns (which was correct) but also doubled the total cost of her shares (which was not correct, as the total price she paid for her shares had not changed). The online portfolio statement made it look like my mom had an unrealized loss on her CIBC shares, when in fact she had a gain.
Something similar seems to have happened in your case. However, it’s a little more complicated as it involved a year-end reinvested – or “phantom” – distribution. Click here for my full explanation.
--John Heinzl
What’s up in the days ahead
Algonquin Power & Utilities is considering shedding its renewable assets. Is this good news for its shareholders? David Berman will share his thoughts. Meanwhile, Rob Carrick will tell us which cash equivalent investing products offer CDIC protection, and which do not.
A summit with a ceiling and other world market themes for the week ahead
Click here to see the Globe Investor earnings and economic news calendar.
More Globe Investor coverage
For more Globe Investor stories, follow us on Twitter @globeinvestor
Compiled by Globe Investor Staff