Broader Horizons? More Stocks Help Fuel US Market Gains

10 August 2023

2 min read

US Equity Market Returns Show Signs of Broadening

Left chart shows the contribution to S&P returns of the 10 largest stocks and rest of the market, this year through May and through July. Right bar chart shows the contribution of the 10 largest S&P stocks to market returns in each year of positive returns since 1993.

Past performance and historical analysis do not guarantee future results.
S&P 500 top 10 are the 10 largest weights in the benchmark: Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, NVIDIA, Tesla, Meta Platforms, Berkshire Hathaway, UnitedHealth Group and ExxonMobil
As of July 31, 2023
Source: Strategas, S&P and AllianceBernstein (AB)

Ten stocks have dominated US equity market gains for most of this year. But the rest of the market may be waking up. That’s good news for active managers who seek to tap diversified sources of long-term returns that can withstand challenging macroeconomic conditions.

It’s been a dizzying ride for the 10 biggest stocks in the S&P 500 Index. Excitement over artificial intelligence (AI) has attracted investors to mega-cap stocks, particularly those in technology and internet-related industries. In the first five months of 2023, the 10 largest benchmark weights accounted for 104.1% of the S&P 500’s 9.5% gains (Display). At midyear, the market capitalization of Apple and Alphabet had swelled by nearly $1 trillion and $380 billion respectively since end of 2022.

Market Concentration Has Been Extreme

By the end of July, those same 10 stocks contributed 69.2% of market gains of 19.5% on the year. In other words, about 490 issuers that comprise the rest of the market accounted for nearly 31% of the market return.

Even after the recent market broadening, the concentration of returns in such a small number of stocks is extreme in historical perspective. Only in 2007 did the 10 largest stocks contribute more to market returns in a single calendar year over the last three decades.

Finding Growth Beneath the Surface

To be sure, some of the tech titans are good investments, when held at appropriate weights and in line with a portfolio’s strategy. Yet investors who hold all the mega-caps at large benchmark weights will be vulnerable to a potentially painful reversal of sentiment. The technology-heavy Nasdaq acknowledged the market concentration risks when it conducted a special rebalancing of benchmark weights in July to curb the influence of the largest stocks.

In the past, episodes of acute market concentration have typically given way to periods of broader market contributions. And beneath the surface of today’s market, we believe investors can find a broad array of companies with relatively attractive valuations and solid growth potential. By tapping into diverse sources of growth, we believe portfolios can be positioned to avoid concentration risk and deliver consistent long-term returns.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

This is a marketing communication. This information is provided by AllianceBernstein Limited, 60 London Wall, London, EC2M 5SJ. Registered in England, No. 2551144. AllianceBernstein Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA - Reference Number 147956). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to purchase any security or other investment. The views and opinions expressed are based on our internal forecasts and should not be relied upon as an indication of future market performance. The value of investments in any of the Funds can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This information is directed at Professional Clients only and is not intended for public use.

Broader Horizons? More Stocks Help Fuel US Market Gains

Market Concentration Has Been Extreme

Finding Growth Beneath the Surface

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