Stock Market This Week – 11/18/23

Stock Market This Week

Stock Market This Week – 11/18/23

This past week’s economic reports delivered two pieces of good news for the U.S. economy and the stock market. First, inflation is down a lot. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in flat; the year-over-year reading is 3.2%. Both readings were unexpected, and the market surged. Similarly, the Producer Price Index (PPI) was unexpectedly negative, with prices falling 0.5% in October. This decline likely means a lower CPI in the future. Costs are dropping or remaining constant, suggesting inflation is approaching sub-3%. Moreover, U.S. Treasury bond yields fell, as did mortgage rates.

For dividend growth investors, it all adds up to positive news. As Treasury yields decline, income stocks become more competitive. Consequently, I remain a buyer in dips and have added to CLX, TROW, JNJ, and CSCO because they are seemingly undervalued. I also started a position in AWR, which I wanted to do for many years.

Stock Market Overview

Data from Stock Rover* shows that the stock market had an impressive week. After struggling all year, the Russell 2000 surged over 5%. Its performance was followed by the Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500 Index, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). All the major indexes had at least a 2% return.

All 11 sectors had gained this week. Because of lower interest rates, Real Estate, Consumer Cyclical, and Basic Materials were the top three sectors. But the Health Care, Energy, and Consumer Defensive sectors finished at the bottom but with positive returns.

Oil prices trended lower before bouncing back but finished with a loss settling at ~$76 per barrel. Demand remains weak, supply is strong, and the amount in storage is increasing. These trends suggest oil prices will remain under pressure. The VIX fell another 2.5% to below its long-term average. Gold advanced to $1,984 per ounce on a weaker dollar.

Year-To-Date Returns

The Nasdaq is performing the best for the year, followed by the S&P 500 Index, the Dow 30, and the Russell 2000. Bullish sentiment is still strong for technology and growth stocks. The Nasdaq Composite has recovered much of its losses in the recent correction. The S&P 500, DJIA, and Russell 2000 are all positive year-to-date. In addition, seven of the 11 sectors are up year-to-date. The three best-performing sectors are Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer Cyclical. But the worst-performing sectors are Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, and Utilities.

The dividend growth investing strategy has returned to positive results across all categories. The recent market volatility has lowered returns, but the trend has reversed. The table below shows their performance by category.

Category	YTD Return (%)
Dividend Kings	-1.50%
Dividend Aristocrats	+1.95%
Dividend Champions	-0.01%
Dividend Contenders	+3.34%
Dividend Challengers	+2.15%

Stock Market Valuation This Week

The S&P 500 Index trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.94X, and the Schiller P/E Ratio is about 30.56X. These multiples are based on trailing twelve months (TTM) earnings.

The long-term means of these two ratios are approximately 16X and 17X, respectively. 

The market is still overvalued despite the recent correction and a bear market and rebound. Earnings multiples of more than 30X are overvalued based on historical data.

Economic News This Week

Provided by Stock Rover*.

Consumer Price Index

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the consumer price index was unchanged in October; this follows seasonally adjusted readings of (+0.4%), (+0.6%), and (+0.2%) over the previous months. The all-items index has increased (+3.2%) over the last 12 months. This compares to (+3.7%), (+3.7%) and (+3.2%) over the previous months. The shelter index, which makes up about one-third of the CPI weighting, continued to rise (+0.3%) but was offset by a (5.0%) drop in the gasoline index. The shelter index has now increased for 42 consecutive months. The energy index declined (-2.5%) and follows a (+1.5%) reading the previous month, with decreases coming from all energy sub-indexes, except for the indexes for natural gas (+1.2%) and electricity (+0.3%). The food index increased (+0.3%) from a (+0.2%) reading over the previous three months. 

Core CPI inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased (+0.2%) in October and follows readings of (+0.3%), (+0.3%), and (+0.2%) over the previous months. The annual rate of core CPI inflation is now at (+4.0%) as compared to (+4.1%), (+4.3%), and (+4.7%) over the previous months, it is the smallest 12-month change since September 2021. The shelter index increased (+6.7%) year-over-year, accounting for over 70% of the total increase in Core CPI. Other indexes with significant gains over the last year include motor vehicle insurance (+19.2%), recreation (+3.2%), personal care (+6.0%), and household furnishings and operations (+1.7%).

Retail and Food Sales

The Commerce Department reported advance U.S. retail and food services sales decreased (-0.1%) to $705.0B in October; this follows an upwardly revised (+0.9%) from (+0.7%) increase for September. This marks the first decrease after six consecutive monthly increases. Retail sales are up (+2.5%) year over year. Total sales for August 2023 through October 2023 were up (+3.1%) year over year. Retail sales are primarily goods and are not adjusted for inflation; a (-1.0%) drop in sales of autos and parts contributed to the decline. Excluding auto sales, retail sales were up (+0.1%). 

Spending was mixed with increases in personal care (+1.1%), electronics & appliances (+0.6%), food & beverage (+0.6%), restaurants (+0.3%), and internet retail (+0.2%), offsetting decreases in home furnishings (-2.0%), miscellaneous retail (-1.7%), sporting & hobby (-0.8%), building materials (-0.3%), gas stations (-0.3%), and general merchandise (-0.2%). Core retail sales, a measurement that excludes spending on autos, gasoline, building materials, and food services, increased (+0.2%) in October. September’s core retail sales were revised to show sales increasing (+0.7%) instead of (+0.6%).

Residential Building Permits

The U.S. Census Bureau reported new residential building permits were up (+1.1%) in October to a seasonally adjusted 1.471M, (-4.4%) below the October 2022 rate of 1.555M. Single-family permits were up (+0.5%) to 968K from a downwardly revised September figure of 963K. Regionally, single-family permits were mixed with readings of Northeast (+7.4%), West (+2.0%), Midwest (-1.7%), and South (-0.2%). Permits for 2 to 4 units were reported up (+2.0%), and five units or more were up (+2.2%). Privately-owned housing starts increased (+1.9%) to 1.372M, from a downwardly revised September estimate of 1.346M, and (-4.2%) below the October 2022 rate of 1.432M. 

Single-family starts were up (+0.2%) to 970K as single-family homebuilding increased in the Northeast (+12.0%) and West (+12.3%), while the South (-4.9%) and Midwest (-0.9%) both saw decreases. Housing starts for five units or more increased (+4.9%) to 382K from a downwardly revised September figure of 364K and are down (-31.8%) year over year. Privately-owned housing completions reported at 1.410M, down (-4.6%) from September’s upwardly revised 1.478M reading and up (+4.6%) over October 2022. Single-family housing completions were reported at 993K, a (-0.9%) decrease from September’s upwardly revised rate of 1.002M, up (+2.0%) from October 2022.

Resources

• Stock Market Holidays
• Dividend Stock Lists
• Investor Relations Guides
• Checking and Savings Account Resources
• Dividend Investing Resources
• Reviews

Curated Weekend Reading From Around The Web

Portfolio Management and Investing

• Should You Be Worried About the U.S. Debt? (The Belle Curve)
• Why Have the Dividend Aristocrats Performed So Well? (VettaFI)
• Is It Finally Time to Buy Small-Cap Stocks? (Morningstar)

Retirement

• Would a Cash Buffer Improve Your Retirement Success (Investment Moat)
• This is a Wonderful Market for Dollar Cost Averaging (A Wealth of Common Sense)
• How much do you need to retire early at age 40, 45, 50, 55? (TawCan)

Financial Independence

• Tipping Culture in America: Public Sees a Changed Landscape (Pew Research Center)
• Do FIRE Principles Still Work Today? (Can I Retire Yet?)
• The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Salary (Bitches Get Riches)