Closing Recap
Monday, January 22, 2024
Index |
Up/Down |
% |
Last |
DJ Industrials |
138.01 |
0.36% |
38,001 |
S&P 500 |
10.62 |
0.22% |
4,850 |
Nasdaq |
49.32 |
0.32% |
15,360 |
Russell 2000 |
38.99 |
2.01% |
1,983 |
U.S. stocks opened and stayed higher, finishing in a narrow trading range as major averages hold all-time highs for the S&P and Dow, while Smallcap Russell 2000 outperformed on Monday. Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary were the downside market outliers but overall breadth was generally favorable with solid gains in Industrials, Technology, REITs, and Healthcare sectors. Economic data appear light tomorrow ahead of GDP and PCE data later in the week, while the earnings barrage trickles in slowly starting tomorrow morning with Dow components Verizon and J&J reporting as well oil service giant HAL, industrial conglomerates MMM and GE, and defense companies LMT and RTX. This morning the Leading Economic Indicators index was reported at (-0.1%), marking the 21st month in a row of a negative reading (as per CNBC) – March 2022 was last time not negative (was unchanged). Treasury yields were little changed along with the dollar while gold slipped, oil rose, and Bitcoin slid. A quiet day, but another “up” day as momentum clearly to upside.
Overseas, ahead of central bank policy meetings this week for both the Bank of Japan and European Central Bank (ECB): Europe’s Stoxx 600 was up 0.8%, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.4%, Germany’s DAX gained 0.7%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.6%, and Spain’s IBEX advanced 1.2%. Argentine benchmark stock index Merval hits all-time high, now up more than 4% in sixth consecutive session of gains. U.S.-listed Chinese stocks (BABA, BIDU, JD) mirror declines in China while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng approached its lowest close since 2009, but the Nikkei 225 closed at a fresh multidecade highs.
Interesting stat between Smallcaps and the S&P 500: as per @charliebilello: The S&P 500 closed at an all-time high last Friday while the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index was still in a 20.4% drawdown. That’s the largest Russell 2000 drawdown we’ve ever seen with the S&P 500 at an all-time high. What happened following the 3 previous largest Russell 2000 drawdowns when the S&P 500 was at a record high? Both indices would rally higher over the next year with the R2k outperforming and joining the S&P 500 at an all-time high…1) April 7, 1999 (-19.2% R2k Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 14.3% over the next year and R2k gained 36.5%. 2) February 13, 1991 (-13.5% R2k Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 12.1% over the next year and R2k gained 35.5%. 3) January 21, 1985 (-13.3% R2k Drawdown): S&P 500 gained 17.4% over the next year and R2k gained 18.2%.
Commodities
- Oil prices finished higher as WTI crude February futures settled at $75.19 a barrel, up $1.78, or 2.42% while Brent crude settled at $80.06 per barrel, up $1.50, 1.91%. Prices reversed off overnight modest weakness despite tensions in the Middle East. Iran-backed militants launched ballistic missiles at a US troop base in Iraq over the weekend, in response to US air strikes that targeted a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden. Front month Nymex Natural Gas fell -3.97% to settle at $2.4190 (and down about 28% over the last 5 days).
- Gold prices slipped, falling -$7.10 to settle at $2,022.20 an ounce (highs $2,034.10 an ounce and lows $2,017.40 an ounce) as investors eased back expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut at the end of March, with a surge in equity markets further dampening interest in safe-haven bullion.
Currencies & Treasuries
- The U.S. dollar was little changed ahead of key central bank policy decisions by the ECB and BOJ this week (FOMC next week). Japan’s yen moved away from one-month lows of Friday’s 148.80 per U.S. dollar, down to 147.60 as the BOJ started its two-day policy meeting. The European Central Bank is also holding a policy meeting this week and is expected to leave rates unchanged at 4%, with ECB officials saying it is too early for rate cuts. The euro was last down 0.1% on the day at $1.0887. The dollar index was modestly lower at 103.23 but up about 1.8% in 2024. Bitcoin prices dropped over 4%, falling below $40,000 for the first time since early December and now roughly $10,000 below its $49,000 highs in early January.
Macro |
Up/Down |
Last |
WTI Crude |
1.78 |
75.19 |
Brent |
1.50 |
80.06 |
Gold |
-7.10 |
2,022.20 |
EUR/USD |
-0.0014 |
1.0883 |
JPY/USD |
-0.12 |
148.02 |
10-Year Note |
-0.052 |
4.093% |
Sector News Breakdown
Retail, Consumer Staples & Restaurants:
- Sporting Goods: Amer Sports, the maker of Wilson tennis rackets and Salomon ski boots, said on Monday it was targeting a valuation of up to $8.7 billion in its U.S. initial public offering. The company said it plans to raise up to $1.8B by selling 100M shares priced between $16-$18 each. DKS shares traded to all-time highs amid strength in the sector.
- In Retail: Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management, the investment firms that disclosed a $21/share bid for Macy’s (M) last month, are now threatening to go directly to shareholders with their $5.8B offer rejected by the company. http://tinyurl.com/yx8282jx .
- In Research: LULU was downgraded from Buy to Hold at HSBC with $500 tgt saying Lululemon has been a massive growth outperformer in the sporting goods industry. However, this outperformance seems to be well reflected in the share price, which hit a lifetime high.
- In Home Improvement Retail: HD, LOW downgraded from Outperform to Perform at Oppenheimer as the firm assumes a more cautious, near-term stance towards home improvement retail though note structural underpinnings remain intact.
- In Food Processing: ADM shares tumbled after saying its CFO was placed under administrative leave as it investigates its accounting practices; expects to delay its earnings release and conference call as well as the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year; now expects to deliver above $6.90 in adjusted EPS for the FY below consensus of $7.28.
Leisure, Gaming & Lodging:
- In Lodging: CHH nominated a slate of eight directors to replace WYN’s current board, moving forward with its $8B hostile bid, Reuters reported. PK shares were active after quarterly results.
- In Media: RUM said it has struck up a partnership with digital-media company Barstool Sports as Rumble users will get access to all Barstool Sports content on the platform, including live streams. Barstool will also market and promote Rumble as their preferred video home.
- In Leisure sector: LCII downgraded to Underperform at BMO Capital and $100 tgt saying conversations with industry participants at the early season RV shows are making them incrementally more negative about LCII’s prospects in 2024.
- In Consumer Staples: Morgan Stanley said preferred OW-Rated Stocks (CL/STZ/KO/CHD in order, STZ/KO Up in Order, ELF Downgrade to EW and CHD move down in rankings.
- In Food Delivery: CART initiated new Buy and $32 tgt at Benchmark saying its valuation underappreciates its discounted FCF outlook and addressable TAM despite expectation for future digital grocery market share loss to competing intermediaries and traditional grocers. UBER price tgt rose to $80 from $67 at TD Cowen ahead of earnings as estimate Q423 Gross Bookings near the high end of Uber’s $36.5B-$37.5B range.
Energy and Materials
- In Energy: SUN agreed to acquire NS in $7.3B all-equity transaction where NuStar common unitholders will receive 0.400 Sunoco common units for each NuStar common unit http://tinyurl.com/nha2dk8j . CVX reassured North Dakota’s government that it will stay committed to ownership of Bakken assets after acquisition of HES.
- In Solar: ARRY was downgraded to Equal Weight at Barclays given weak bookings YTD and an expectation for a soft booking again in Q4, and upgraded SHLS to Equal Weight, more comfortable with risk/reward given that valuation and 2024 estimates that have both come in. SEDG said it will lay off about 16% of its workforce, about 900 employees, as part of a restructuring to slash operating costs.
Financials
- In Brokerage: RILY shares fell after Bloomberg reported U.S. authorities are investigating B. Riley Financial’s deals with a client who was linked to a securities fraud. B. Riley said in a statement that it was unaware of any SEC investigation regarding any of the matters and that it would cooperate if such a situation occurred. http://tinyurl.com/mppey2me . In banks, ZION reported earnings early as Q4 net interest margin 2.91% vs. est. 2.91%; Q4 net interest income $593M, vs. est. $586.9M; Q4 total deposits $75B, vs. est. $75.93B; forecasts FY 2024 adj noninterest expense slightly increasing and FY24 NII slightly decreasing vs FY 2023.
- In FinTech: Goldman Sachs upgraded STNE to Buy from Neutral and raise PAGS to Neutral from Sell in Brazil payment tech sector noting Brazil payment stocks have rallied 45% since Oct. 2, 2023, with Stone +59%, PagBank +46% and Cielo +30% vs Ibovespa +14%. In GSCO’s view, the positive performance is mainly a combination of declining rates, TPV growth stabilization and lower regulatory risks for interest-free installments. PYPL notable underperformer on the day.
REITs:
- JMP Securities upgraded ADC, PLYM to Outperform and downgraded EPR to MP from OP; calls WSR their favorite small-cap idea and positive on gaming REITs GLPI, VICI. With the Fed signaling some rate reduction could be on the agenda, JMP sees the potential for the investment activity to reemerge, which when coupled with continued sturdy operating fundamentals should create a sense of normalcy for REITs.
- Evercore is upgrading REG upgraded to Outperform from In Line and boosting its PT from $69 to $71 which implies a total return of 18% vs a 9-10% return for its coverage universe.
Biotech & Pharma:
- AUTL said the FDA accepted its marketing application for obe-cel, a personalized CAR-T therapy to treat adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- CHRS rises after striking a deal to sell its Cimerli ophthalmology franchise to Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz for $170 million in cash.
- GILD shares tumbled after a Phase III trial testing Trodelvy in certain lung cancer patients failed to improve overall survival (Gilead bought Trodelvy-maker Immunomedics in 2022 for $21B).
- GMAB downgraded to Sell at Citigroup as now assumes Genmab is unsuccessful with regards to the ongoing arbitration regarding key drug Darzalex, used to fight cancer in bone marrow.
- IONS said its injectable treatment called Donidalorsen reduced the frequency of severe tissue swelling attacks compared to a placebo in patients with hereditary angioedema.
- PHVS announced the FDA lifting of the clinical hold of Deucrictibant for the Prophylactic treatment of HAE attacks.
- SGMT said its experimental fatty liver disease drug, denifanstat, met the main goal of a mid-stage trial, significantly reducing symptoms of the disease including fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis compared to placebo.
Transports
- In Airlines: Late Friday JBLU and SAVE reported that they have jointly filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, consistent with the requirements of the merger agreement. In research, AAL upgraded from Peer Perform to Outperform at Wolfe with $17 tgt as sees mixed trends entering ’24 but potential for RASM to inflect back positive y/y later this year as capacity growth slows. Wolfe views 2024 as a bridge year for airlines.
- Freight and Logistics: TFII upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at Scotia and downgrade CAE to SP from OP as reviews its top ideas for 2024 based on the risk/reward and assuming a soft landing. Scotia has tempered its 2024 expectations to below consensus due to uncertainties, while trimming its multiples in a few cases. JBHT was upgraded to Buy at UBS saying its Q423 EPS report provided evidence their intermodal margin has likely reached bottom and the 80 bp sequential improvement (vs Q3) points to potential for gradual improvement in 2024.
- In Railroads: Bernstein upgraded UNP to Outperform from Market Perform with a $280 price target calling it a top-quality franchise and NSC upgraded to Outperform ($272 tgt) for its turnaround story. Overall, thinks high quality, low volume North American transportation dividend paying stocks will get a look as the interest rate regime turns, and railroads fit that bill.
Materials, Metals & Mining
- In Chemicals: Stifel downgraded shares of LIN, Air Liquide (AIQUY), and Givaudan (GVDNY) all to Hold from Buy saying chemical sentiment indicators have started to improve from a low level, which Stifel expects to continue. Volume should start to get better, but low margins might stay for longer. 2024 company guidance will be cautious, in Stifel’s view. Said defensive stocks have limited upside and it reduces its rating for Air Liquide, Givaudan, and Linde to Hold. Morgan Stanley upgraded IFF to Overweight and raise tgt to $90 saying its downgrade cycle (excl. M&A) has come to an end alongside bottoming of the consumer cycle.
Technology
- AAPL sold between 160,000 and 180,000 Vision Pro headsets during its first pre-order weekend, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, according to a report in MacRumors this weekend.
- COMM downgraded from Neutral to Underperform at Bank America with $2 tgt citing limited short-term catalysts and risk with paying down debt levels.
- JP Morgan put WOLF, XRX on positive catalyst watches and GLW negative catalyst watch – along with pair trade of FLEX over JBL ahead of upcoming earnings as it sees the valuation multiples between the two companies compressing over the upcoming earnings cycle.
- In HDD sector: STX tgt rose to $100 from $60 and WDC to $70 from $65 in storage component previews ahead of earnings at Wedbush. Morgan Stanley names WDC as its top picks, replacing NVDA, raising its tgt to $73 from $52 saying separation of HDD and NAND business will unlock material value and sees pricing of memory storage medium NAND up more than 20% in Q1 .
- In infrastructure/systems software preview, Citigroup puts AKAM on positive catalyst watch and upgrade FSLY to Neutral saying channel feedback for observability/DevOps names was indeed encouraging, but sharp run-up in Buy-rated DDOG, TEAM, and lesser extent DT, leaves an unnerving stock set-up into CQ4 prints, initial CY24E/Forward-Year outlooks.
Semiconductors:
- AMD was downgraded to Market Perform on valuation at Northland saying Al chip growth in CY23 benefited from the ChatGPT moment, ASP increases, double ordering, and Chinese companies stockpiling…but believes AMD’s shares reflect much higher Al revenue in CY27.
- ASML was upgraded to Outperform in Euro semi equipment at Bernstein saying despite the expected transitional year for WFE in 2024, Bernstein believes ASML is looking increasingly attractively priced vs semicap peers.
- NVDA tops $600 as the Philly semi-index (SOX) hits new record highs on upward momentum.
- SMCI extended Friday’s gains (rose 35% Friday after higher rev guidance) to record highs above $480 before giving sliding early morning in a bout of profit taking (shares rebounded off lows).
Market commentary provided by Hammerstone Markets, Inc, a firm separate from and not affiliated with Regal Securities. Regal Securities has not participated in the creation of the content, and does not explicitly or implicitly endorse the content.