Chip stocks seen slowing with more earnings on tap

NEW YORK: High-flying semiconductor stocks may be poised for more losses in the coming weeks as a large swath of chip names reports quarterly results in a sector that may have run up too far for some investors. Investors will parse earnings from 40 per cent of the components in the PHLX semiconductor index over the next month, including Applied Materials, Nvidia and Marvell Technology. The index is up more than 20 per cent on the year, powered by gains of nearly 60 per cent in names such as Nvidia and Lam Research, which has helped propel the S&P technology sector higher as the best performing of the 11 major S&P sectors. Only five of the 30 names in the semiconductor index are in negative territory for the year. Those gains were fuelled by expectations of strong earnings and revenue for the quarter. Semiconductor and semiconductor equipment stocks are expected to see the highest growth within the tech sector, with year-over-year earnings growth of more than 40 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters data. “The semis are the heart and soul of the technology sector, particularly the large-cap technology sector, and they are really driving the theme that we saw really take shape in the second quarter,” said Peter Kenny, Senior Market Strategist at Global Markets Advisory Group in New York. “The question is are they going to be able to continue to do it and even if they are, which the street is expecting, there is a case to be made for stretched valuations triggering a little bit of rotation out of the space.” Initial stock movements in the wake of those that have already reported suggest some investors are ready to lighten up. The average 1-day stock performance has been a decline of 1.2 per cent for semiconductor companies that reported earnings through Wednesday. The semiconductor index was poised for its first weekly drop in four and was on track for its fifth drop in six sessions, with declines on Friday coming on the heels of results from Cypress Semiconductor, InterDigital, MicroSemi Corp and Intel. “A year ago I would say you have to be careful but now I’d say you have to be extremely careful,” said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. “The ones that have these exotic stories and high growth are probably frothy.” The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of the S&P 500 semiconductor and semiconductor equipment index stands at 15.2, above its five-year average of 14.4 but below the forward P/E of the broader S&P 500 of nearly 18. In addition, the 14-day relative strength index reading for the PHLX Semiconductor index stands at 51.6, below the 70 level that indicate an overbought condition, which suggests the sector may still have room to run higher. “The expectations are high in terms of growth rates: you keep raising the bar, raising the bar; even if you hit the number or get a penny over, it’s not good enough anymore,” said Daniel Morgan, Portfolio Manager at Synovus Trust in Atlanta, Georgia. “You are getting some mismatched trading related to earnings reports coming out; it creates some opportunities to be in some great names where the fundamental themes are still in place.” US STOCKS: Wall Street slipped on Friday as losses in Amazon and tobacco shares weighed on major indexes. Amazon’s shares were down 3.39 per cent after it reported a 77 per cent drop in profit as its rapid and costly expansion into new shopping categories and countries showed no sign of slowing. The stock was the biggest drag on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. However, the tech index pared some early losses to trade down 0.22 per cent. The sector has been the best performer this year, driving the S&P 500’s 10.6 per cent run in 2017. “Investors are still feeling some weakness in the tech sector and that’s weighing on the broader market,” said Robert Pavlik, Chief Market Strategist at Boston Private Wealth. “I’m a bit concerned about some of the valuations, but I expect to see these stocks eventually climb higher as people look for growth. There are bound to be some bumps along the way.” The consumer staples sector’s 1.86 per cent fall led a broad decline as an FDA announcement seeking to cut nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels dragged down tobacco stocks. Altria slumped 13.2 per cent and Philip Morris 3.5 per cent. The stocks were among the top drags on the S&P. The consumer discretionary sector, of which Amazon is a component, was down 0.97 per cent also due to losses in Starbucks and Mattel. Starbucks fell 7.50 per cent and Mattel 8.78 per cent after their disappointing quarterly reports. At 10:59 am ET (1659 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 9.97 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 21,786.58 and the S&P 500 was down 8.79 points, or 0.35 per cent, at 2,466.63. The Nasdaq Composite was down 27.60 points, or 0.43 per cent, at 6,354.59. Risk sentiment also took a hit following the failure of Republicans to repeal Obamacare in a tight Senate vote overnight. Investors are worried about the ability of President Donald Trump to legislate his pro-growth agenda of tax reform and higher spending on infrastructure. Data showed that the US economy accelerated in the second quarter as consumers ramped up spending and businesses invested more on equipment. — Reuters