From the Desk of Willie Delwiche.
Apple Floats, Small-Caps Skid
The Chart:
Many areas of the stock market have undercut their June lows. The largest company (Apple) and an ETF of small-cap stocks (IWM) stand out as exceptions. When we look over 3+ years (rather than just 3+ months) we see that small stocks are back to pre-COVID levels, while Apple has been consolidating its gains.
Why It Matters:
The post-COVID speculative bubble in small-caps has been unwound. For Apple, the work seems hardly to have begun. Apple’s resiliency could become a liability if stocks take another leg lower and investors look again for safe havens to sell. As it stands now, Apple is larger than 5 entire sectors in the S&P 500. Bear markets don’t usually leave anything unscathed.
