Real estate stocks suffer badly as interest rates rise, and the sector needs help or its 50-day moving average will be taken out. Welltower, the sector's largest name, is starting to struggle to sustain its parabolic move. x.com
GregTheAnalyst
Independent Investor, Macro/Micro & Technical Analysis
The US large-cap correction isn't over until interest rates top and bonds bottom, which hasn't happened yet. The summer 2023 S&P 500 correction ended right when bonds bottomed in October, with TLT trading massive upside volume, and there is no sign of that now. Higher rates keep pressuring real estate, where lots of money has been trapped since 2022, a possible source of downside dislocation, and an aggressive further rise in rates could bring a panic bottom. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com
High Treasury yields keep US real-estate stocks from being a buy yet, despite a record low against the S&P 500. Each hike pushes the sector lower; the 10-year yield above 5% argues for waiting rather than assuming rotation is inevitable. A turn likely needs falling rates, perhaps a first cut or the 10-year back below 4%. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com
Rate-sensitive stocks look set to outperform as the market looks ahead to rates nearing a peak. After four years to price in inflation, these sectors have been severely punished, are excessively cheap and nobody owns them, and their divergence from bonds reflects that anticipation. Biotech showed a confluence of bullish factors earlier this year, airlines and real estate followed, and fintech now looks primed, despite lingering skepticism over rate and oil pressures. x.com x.com
Wheeler REIT's 37% jump looks like a dead-cat bounce to fade. There is no fresh catalyst behind the technical bounce in this highly distressed REIT, which is down 99.99% this year and has a market cap of just $2.9M. x.com
As the AI infrastructure crash takes form, its recessionary effect suppresses bond issuance and powerfully caps yields, giving battered housing, mortgage and related stocks a lift. Starwood Property Trust, Rocket Companies and Builders FirstSource should get a powerful boost as yields fall, with huge short covering and fundamental improvement; many in the group trade well below book value. x.com x.com x.com
REITs stay in the penalty box because a reaccelerating labor market rules out Fed cuts this year. Job openings jumped to 7.618M against a 7.295M forecast and a prior 6.887M, and with core inflation still hot, Warsh can't cut into that. Rate-sensitive sectors such as REITs, small caps and anything long-duration stay under pressure, while shorter-duration, cash-flow-positive value keeps working. x.com x.com
Lennar trades poorly as yields climb, hitting new 52-week lows, and it builds poor-quality homes. It is also engaging in activities aimed at propping up its earnings. x.com
US stocks look increasingly vulnerable: high interest rates are making long positions harder, while more bearish setups are appearing as the market worsens. x.com
Low-volatility and yield-replacement stocks are falling because rising bond yields make Treasuries a better source of income. Utilities, staples, health care and real estate drop when rates rise, so low-volatility names that usually outperform in turbulent markets are underperforming. Unusually, long Treasuries are falling as the VIX rises, unlike 2008 or 2020, because financing the war is increasing deficits. x.com x.com
A strong S&P 500 is not a strong market: the index sits near highs while 55% of its members are below their 200-day average, the worst breadth in six months. The 10-year Treasury yield is at 5.16% and Japan's 30-year yield is at a record, the bill for the rally that remains open. Trading the leaders makes more sense than owning the average. x.com