Tech Stocks in Turmoil Amid Earnings Season's Start
The technology sector has seen a significant downturn, shedding billions in market value despite anticipations for strong earnings reports.
Published July 21, 2024 - 00:07am
The S&P 500's technology sector experienced a significant drop of nearly 6% within just over a week, losing approximately $900 billion in market value. This downturn comes despite hopeful expectations for a promising earnings season. In contrast, the broader S&P 500 only saw a decline of 1.6% during the same period, bolstered by gains in the financial, industrial, and small-cap sectors, which led to a year-to-date increase of over 16%.
Investors are eagerly awaiting the second-quarter earnings reports from major tech companies like Tesla and Alphabet, which are due to be released on Tuesday, followed by Microsoft and Apple next week. These reports are anticipated to potentially calm market anxieties regarding overvaluations and volatility within the tech industry. For instance, Nvidia, which has surged 145% this year, has recently experienced a dip, reflecting investor concerns about its substantial gains and future stability.
A senior strategist at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute described tech stocks as leading the market due to their profitability and earnings growth. The upcoming earnings reports are seen as crucial for maintaining this reputation. Solid earnings from leading tech firms could alleviate investor concerns over the sector's overvaluations and volatility, thereby supporting its dominance.
Tech giants like Alphabet, Tesla, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Nvidia have been pivotal, driving about 60% of the S&P 500's gains this year. Positive earnings results are vital for sustaining the tech sector's influence and may contribute to a boost in broader market sentiment.
Another key aspect includes the broader implications of tech trends on the market. The expected earnings growth for the tech sector is at 17%, and for the communication services sector, it's 22%. These figures surpass the overall 11% rise predicted for the S&P 500. Macro factors also play a significant role, such as potential Federal Reserve rate cuts following an inflation report, and geopolitical concerns, including U.S. semiconductor export restrictions to China.
Historically, a broader market breadth, where more stocks gain than lose, indicates a bullish performance, commonly leading to an average 4.5% rally in the S&P 500 over the next three months. This data suggests that despite current turbulence, the long-term outlook for tech stocks might remain positive, influenced by strong earnings reports and favorable macroeconomic conditions.