As the rally moves from erasing 2020 losses, and distancing from the fast bear market in history, buying continues to broaden. This is exactly what must happen. In many ways, I think yesterday was the ideal session at this point in time.
There are still sufficient reasons for concern and anxiety, including near-term valuations, coronavirus trends, growing debt levels and the US presidential election.
S&P 500 Index | +0.57% | |
Communication Services XLC | +0.10% | |
Consumer Discretionary XLY | +0.86% | |
Consumer Staples XLP | +0.80% | |
Energy XLE | -1.23% | |
Financials XLF | 0.00% | |
Health Care XLV | +0.90% | |
Industrials XLI | +0.80% | |
Materials XLB | +1.16% | |
Real Estate XLRE | +1.21% | |
Technology XLK | +0.80% | |
Utilities XLU | +1.54% |
Yesterday saw tepid moves in Technology and Communications Services while the relatively solid performance in Consumer Discretionary was not because of Amazon (AMZN). Instead, it was all about auto dealers, brick and mortar retail standouts and homebuilders.
Top Gainers
- NVR
- BBY
- MHK
- PHM
- LEN
- DRH
- MCD
- LB
Investors picking up on investment themes revolving around Covid-19 look likely to be rewarded today, as a couple of those big winners in Consumer Discretionary have posted strong earnings.
Pulte (PHM)
- Beat on revenue
- Beat on earnings (crushed on earnings $1.15 was $0.29 above consensus)
- New Orders: 6,522 consensus 4,829
- Backlog: 13,214 consensus 11,765
- Management noted a late quarter surge in sales
AutoNation (AN)
- Beat on revenue and earnings (in part to lower costs and investment in Vroom)
- Earnings – best quarter ever
- Gross profits per vehicle +$585 or +167%
Category
- Domestic vehicles +25%
- Imported vehicles +8%
- Premium luxury -6%
Portfolio Approach
Today’s Session
It is a mixed bag on Microsoft (MSFT) and Tesla (TSLA)
MSFT
Azure, the cloud business, grew 47% from +59% in the preceding quarter and +79% average in 2019. It’s the first time the cloud business grew less than 50% for a single quarter. X-box +65% for its best quarter ever.
TSLA
Beat on top and bottom lines, although bears are up in arms over earnings (as usual). Company reported $418 million in free cash flow and $104 million net profit. Note: company benefited from selling $428 million in credits to other automakers.
Airlines
Southwest Airline (LUV) beat on revenue and earnings while cutting daily cash burn to $18 million from $23 million in 2Q. Current liquidity stands at $15.0 billion.
Initial Jobless Claims
After sixteen straight weeks of declines, initial jobless claims edged higher last week. An increase was expected, although, the number came in slightly higher than consensus.
Continuing claims did decline for the eight consecutive week.
To see the chart, click here.
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