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Will These Tech Stock Valuations Last?

February 10, 2020

Read Time 3 MIN

 

Despite the coronavirus concerns that have hit commodity markets and, in turn, energy and basic materials stocks, U.S. tech stocks have posted strong returns to start the year. This continues their impressive streak from 2019. But are the current tech valuations sustainable?

In a recent market note, Brian Colello, Director of Technology, Media and Telecom Equity Research at Morningstar, noted that the median tech stock was 11% overvalued as of January 30. This was one of the highest price/fair value ratios since 2007, according to Colello. Certain sub-industries within tech are more overvalued than others, but a strong fourth quarter and January have erased some discounts to fair value, particularly in semiconductor stocks, which Morningstar viewed as undervalued through much of 2019.

Software companies Microsoft (MSFT) and ServiceNow (NOW), both VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT) holdings, have had their fair value estimate raised in recent weeks following strong quarterly results. Other companies that appeared attractive in 2019 have rallied, leaving the tech sector one to keep an eye on as the impact of the coronavirus on markets becomes known. Colello noted that some tech companies have provided wider bands of revenue guidance, but there is no clear-cut impact to upcoming earnings at this point.

MOAT’s underlying index, Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index (“Moat Index”), remains underweight tech stocks due to its focus on valuations. Its underexposure benefited the strategy during the trade war-induced selloff in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Moat Index currently maintains overweights to the application software and semiconductor sub-industries within tech. Morningstar will reassess company valuations in March.

Tech Stocks Have Taken Off Since June

Tech Stocks Have Taken Off Since June - Source: Morningstar. Data 1/31/2018 – 1/31/2020.

Source: Morningstar. Data 1/31/2018 – 1/31/2020. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. For illustrative purposes only.

Healthcare Stocks in Focus: No Major Overhaul Expected

The top sector overweight in the Moat Index remains healthcare, despite a slight decrease in weighting over the last few quarters. Despite solid sector fundamentals, U.S. healthcare stocks underperformed the U.S. market through 2019, driven largely by political rhetoric feeding fears around potential healthcare policy changes.

Damien Conover, Director of Healthcare Equity Research at Morningstar, noted in January that their healthcare coverage universe was slightly overvalued, with the median price/fair value estimate at a 5% premium to fair value. He added that these elevated valuations are being driven by certain sub-industries, such as devices and diagnostics, where some investors are turning in order to maintain some healthcare exposure while avoiding areas more impacted by policy uncertainty, such as pharmaceuticals. One fallout from the potential structural and policy changes in healthcare was the 2019 downgrade of many companies involved in pharmaceutical distribution.

Conover noted that pockets of undervalued stocks within the sector exist. Drug and biotech industries present the most potential in this regard, due to market fears over potential policy limits on drug pricing power. Morningstar views these fears as overblown. According to Morningstar, growth in net drug prices (the price paid after discounts) has decelerated to below inflation, leaving Morningstar to view drug pricing as less of a problem. Therefore, even though some form of U.S. policy reform is probable, Morningstar does not believe a major overhaul is likely.

MOAT offers exposure to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries by holding wide moat stocks Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Pfizer (PFE), Merk & Co (MRK), Biogen (BIIB), Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Amgen (AMGN).

Important Disclosures

The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.

This commentary is not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the sectors or securities mentioned herein. Holdings will vary for the MOAT ETF and its corresponding Index. For a complete list of holdings in the ETF, please click here: https://www.vaneck.com/etf/equity/moat/holdings/

An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.

Fair value estimate: the Morningstar analyst's estimate of what a stock is worth.

Price/Fair Value: ratio of a stock's trading price to its fair value estimate.

The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM was created and is maintained by Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar, Inc. does not sponsor, endorse, issue, sell, or promote the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF and bears no liability with respect to that ETF or any security. Morningstar® is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM is a service mark of Morningstar, Inc

The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM consists of U.S. companies identified as having sustainable, competitive advantages and whose stocks are attractively priced, according to Morningstar.

Morningstar US Market Index represents the top 97% of market capitalization of the U.S. equity markets.

Morningstar US Technology Index represents U.S. equities classified in the technology sector.

Effective June 20, 2016, Morningstar implemented several changes to the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index construction rules. Among other changes, the index increased its constituent count from 20 stocks to at least 40 stocks and modified its rebalance and reconstitution methodology. These changes may result in more diversified exposure, lower turnover and longer holding periods for index constituents than under the rules in effect prior to this date.

An investment in the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT®) may be subject to risks which include, among others, investing in equity securities, consumer discretionary, financials, health care, industrials and information technology sectors, medium-capitalization companies, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified, and concentration risks, which may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

Fund shares are not individually redeemable and will be issued and redeemed at their net asset value (NAV) only through certain authorized broker-dealers in large, specified blocks of shares called "creation units" and otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. You will incur brokerage expenses when trading Fund shares in the secondary market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus for VanEck Funds and VanEck Vectors ETFs, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus for VanEck Funds and VanEck Vectors ETFs carefully before investing.

Important Disclosures

The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.

This commentary is not intended as a recommendation to buy or to sell any of the sectors or securities mentioned herein. Holdings will vary for the MOAT ETF and its corresponding Index. For a complete list of holdings in the ETF, please click here: https://www.vaneck.com/etf/equity/moat/holdings/

An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Returns reflect past performance and do not guarantee future results. Results reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes. Index returns do not represent Fund returns. The Index does not charge management fees or brokerage expenses, nor does the Index lend securities, and no revenues from securities lending were added to the performance shown.

Fair value estimate: the Morningstar analyst's estimate of what a stock is worth.

Price/Fair Value: ratio of a stock's trading price to its fair value estimate.

The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM was created and is maintained by Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar, Inc. does not sponsor, endorse, issue, sell, or promote the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF and bears no liability with respect to that ETF or any security. Morningstar® is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM is a service mark of Morningstar, Inc

The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM consists of U.S. companies identified as having sustainable, competitive advantages and whose stocks are attractively priced, according to Morningstar.

Morningstar US Market Index represents the top 97% of market capitalization of the U.S. equity markets.

Morningstar US Technology Index represents U.S. equities classified in the technology sector.

Effective June 20, 2016, Morningstar implemented several changes to the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index construction rules. Among other changes, the index increased its constituent count from 20 stocks to at least 40 stocks and modified its rebalance and reconstitution methodology. These changes may result in more diversified exposure, lower turnover and longer holding periods for index constituents than under the rules in effect prior to this date.

An investment in the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT®) may be subject to risks which include, among others, investing in equity securities, consumer discretionary, financials, health care, industrials and information technology sectors, medium-capitalization companies, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified, and concentration risks, which may make these investments volatile in price or difficult to trade. Medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

Fund shares are not individually redeemable and will be issued and redeemed at their net asset value (NAV) only through certain authorized broker-dealers in large, specified blocks of shares called "creation units" and otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. You will incur brokerage expenses when trading Fund shares in the secondary market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus for VanEck Funds and VanEck Vectors ETFs, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus for VanEck Funds and VanEck Vectors ETFs carefully before investing.