Nasdaq 100

We Identified Stocks We Thought Would Do Well and Bad with Rising Inflation, Here Is How They Are Doing So Far.

Posted onAuthorGeorge Arzumanyan, CFA, CIMA(R), MAFF(R), CVA(R)

As many of us might know, inflation has been on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual inflation as of September 2021 is 5.4 percent. In our previous blog post published on April 19, 2021, we identified 10 Nasdaq-100 stocks that we expected to do well with rising inflation and 10 Nasdaq-100 stocks that would not do well in such an environment. Using the MacroRisk Analytics® platform, we look at the performance of these stocks and compare them to how the Nasdaq-100 index as a whole has fared so far. In addition, we identify another two sets of 10 Nasdaq-100 stocks that we expect to do well and not do well if inflation rises. Financial advisors and investors need to be aware of how inflation might impact their portfolios and assets.

To perform the comparison, using the MacroRisk Analytics portfolios tool, I created an equally weighted portfolio of 10 stocks that were expected to respond positively to rising inflation (blue line in the chart below) and an equally weighted portfolio of 10 stocks that were expected to respond negatively (pink line). Then I compared these two portfolios to the performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index (green line) using the MacroRisk Analytics performance report. The chart below shows this performance from April 13 through October 13, 2021, a six-month period. (The starting date is April 13, 2021, because data as of this date were initially used in the previous blog post to identify the two sets of 10 stocks.)

As can be seen, the portfolio of 10 stocks that we expected to do well in a rising inflation environment (blue line) did indeed do better than the Nasdaq-100 Index (green line) and the portfolio of 10 stocks that we expected to do worse in such an environment (pink line). The performance of the latter portfolio (pink line) and the Nasdaq-100 Index was somewhat similar over the six-month time period.

The table below shows the return and risk characteristics of the two portfolios and the index. The “top 10 inflation” portfolio also had lower risk than the index as represented by the standard deviation and the lower semideviation statistics, a good feat considering this portfolio consists of only 10 stocks while the index has 102 stocks.

So far, we have identified how the stocks we selected six months ago have performed through the present day. Next, I use the MacroRisk Analytics screening tool to identify new sets of stocks that we expect to do well and not well if inflation rises.

The table below shows 10 stocks out of the Nasdaq-100 Index that we expect to have the largest positive response to inflation as a proportion of total economic risk as of October 13, 2021.

The third column represents the proportion of total economic risk that inflation represents for an asset. The higher the number, the more significant the expected effect of inflation changes are on an asset’s stock price versus the other 17 economic factors in the MacroRisk Analytics model.

The fourth column represents the expected percentage change in a stock’s price given a one standard deviation increase in inflation.

The table below shows 10 stocks out of the Nasdaq-100 Index that we expect to have the largest negative response to inflation as a proportion of total economic risk as of October 13, 2021.

In summary, this post analyzed the performances of two sets of stocks, identified in our previous blog post, that we expected to do well and not so well in a rising inflation environment. We then identified new sets of stocks using the most recent available data. Inflation is only part of the total economic risk, and other economic risks can have a big impact on the performances of individual stocks and portfolios. MacroRisk Analytics provides the proprietary and patented tools to help you measure these economic risks.

This post is possible thanks to MacroRisk Analytics®. This platform provides investment research for 30,000+ individual names as well as investor portfolios. The MacroRisk Analytics® model uses 18 macroeconomic factors to break down the economy’s impact on investment value. Using this patented research, our team has twice won the William F. Sharpe Indexing Achievement Award for ETF/Indexing Paper of the Year. Click here to access this award-winning investment research today! You can find our other blog posts by going to www.macrorisk.com.

Economic Climate for the Nasdaq-100 Stocks – February 10, 2021 Update

Posted onAuthorGeorge Arzumanyan, CFA, CIMA(R), MAFF(R), CVA(R)

The stock market seems to be on a tear lately, a great contrast to about a year ago when the markets started to get roiled by Covid-19 developments. This post   uses the patented research on the MacroRisk Analytics® platform to demonstrate the economic climate for the Nasdaq-100 (NDX) stocks as of February 10, 2021  . This information may assist financial advisors and investors in navigating the current economic environment.

To demonstrate this, we use MacroRisk’s economic climate rating (ECR). This robust rating measures the expected impact of the current economic climate for individual assets (including stocks, funds, and many others) over the next six to 12 months. The ECR is a five-star scale where one indicates substantial economic storms in the forecast, and five indicates positive tailwinds with a favorable climate. A three ECR indicates a neutral economy.

As of February 10, 2021, the average ECR is 3.5. This rating means that investors can expect the economic climate to be neutral to favorable for the Nasdaq-100 stocks, on average.

Also, the distribution of ECR looks positive. The graph below shows that there are more Nasdaq-100 stocks for which the economic climate will most likely be favorable (e.g., ratings of four and five) than those stocks for which the climate is expected to be not favorable (e.g., rating of one and two). As of February 10, 2021, there are no stocks in the Nasdaq-100 Index for which the economy is expected to be very unsuitable (e.g., rating of one).

The MacroRisk Analytics model uses 18 macroeconomic factors to determine a stock’s sensitivities to changes in the economy. The ECR combines the economic sensitivities of a stock to the economy with what is actually happening in the economy to determine if the economy is expected to be suitable, not suitable, or neutral for the particular stock.

To illustrate what is currently happening in the economy, we will use the MacroRisk Analytics platform to give us an overview of the state of the economy as of February 10, 2021.

The bars in the graph above indicate where the particular economic factor is relative to its recent moving average. If the bar is above zero, this means that the factor is trending up relative to its recent average and vice versa. The bars highlighted in red bring our attention to the factors most worth paying attention to as they are potentially exhibiting strong, non-random movements. As of February 10, 2021, international factors such as the dollar/euro exchange rate, Tokyo stock exchange, and U.S. agricultural exports are three critical factors. A fourth important factor is the domestic U.S. inflation (i.e., CPI).

Finally, below are ten stocks out of the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) that are proposed to be at least somewhat suitable in the current economy (i.e., ECR of four or higher) and that have the highest up-market beta relative to NDX meaning that these stocks tend to go up more than NDX when NDX goes up. The chart shows the data as of February 10, 2021.

The ECR has changed drastically from about a year ago when the ECR was stormy for most Nasdaq stocks. The above data show the economic outlook is expected to be much improved for most Nasdaq-100 stocks. Also, it seems that international factors and U.S. inflation are of more importance now as they exhibit the biggest changes relative to their recent averages. Finally, this post provides a list of ten Nasdaq-100 stocks with an ECR of four or five stars, with the highest up-market beta relative to NDX.

This post is possible thanks to MacroRisk Analytics®. This platform provides investment research for 30,000+ individual names as well as investor portfolios. The MacroRisk Analytics® model uses 18 macroeconomic factors to break down the economy’s impact on investment value. Using this patented research, our team has twice won the William F. Sharpe Indexing Achievement Award for ETF/Indexing Paper of the Year. Click here to access this award-winning investment research today! You can find our other blog posts by clicking here.

Edited by Rania Sullivan.