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The Tech Stocks that Impressed in November—Not Big Tech

December 09, 2020

Read Time 5 MIN

 

The Morningstar® Wide Moat Focus IndexSM (the “Index”) fired back strongly in November relative to the S&P 500 Index to erase a good portion of its 2020 relative underperformance. The Index posted a 15.01% return for the month vs. 10.95% for the S&P 500, leaving it trailing by 2.35% in 2020 thus far.

A large portion of underperformance in 2020 was driven by poor relative returns in the summer months following the index’s shift toward oversold core and value-oriented stocks. Those moves were finally rewarded in November, after the U.S. presidential election, as values stocks began to starkly outpace growth-oriented stocks. Every one of the top 10 performing stocks in the Index in November were classified as either value or core stocks by Morningstar on November 30.

Tech (Yes, Tech) Standouts

A consistent theme of the last several years for the Index has been an underweight to tech stocks. Well, the tech sector was actually the strongest contributor to the Index’s November return. Four of the top 10 contributors to the Index performance came from the tech sector, from tech stocks that aren’t necessarily discussed at length on cable financial news each day.

Applied Materials (AMAT), a leading vendor of semiconductor fabricator tools, derives its wide economic moat from intangible assets around equipment expertise and research and development cost advantages. Morningstar considers it the top vendor in the semiconductor equipment market. AMAT reported quarterly results in Mid-November above management’s guidance and expressed an increase in guidance for next quarter as demand has remained strong in the face of uncertain economic conditions. Morningstar credits long-term trends in artificial intelligence, 5G and cloud computing for sustained demand. AMAT’s strongly positive November return (39.66%) erased its slightly negative 2020 returns through October, and Morningstar increased its fair value estimate to $74 per share from $65 mid-month based on the updated company outlook.

Microchip Technology (MCHP) also bounced back in a big way in November (28.26%), adding to its modest gains for the year prior to the month. Its quarterly results, released at the beginning of the month, provided confidence to investors, and management’s outlook painted a positive picture with expectations for “significant” revenue growth in 2021. MCHP is viewed by Morningstar as one of the best run firms in the chip space. It is a leading supplier of microcontrollers used in common electronics devices—think garage door openers, hands-free soap dispensers, electric razors, and many others. It benefits from both intangible assets (proprietary chip design) and switching costs (it is difficult to swap out its chips for competitive offerings). Morningstar increased MCHP’s fair value estimate to $118 from $108, and the company continues to trade well above that level after trading mostly below Morningstar’s fair value estimate since the end of 2017.

Guidewire Software (GWRE), a leading software provider to property and casualty insurers, posted the starkest reversal in November (27.44%), erasing a total return that was starkly negative through October. GWRE is deeply entrenched in the insurance market and benefits greatly from the switching costs source of moat. Being an industry that must constantly assess risk, insurance firms tend to be risk averse. This benefits the software provider to most of the industry, as most insurers are hesitant to make major changes to their operations. GWRE stock sold off following quarterly results in October but has since recovered and finished November trading at a nearly 10% premium to Morningstar’s fair value estimate.

Financials and Industrials Step Up

While the tech sector was the top contributing sector to November returns, several financials and industrials firms stood out as well.

Boeing Co. (BA) and Raytheon Technologies (RTX) were the second and fourth largest contributors to Index returns for the month, respectively. The two aerospace and defense companies were logical Index components in 2020 following significant declines in market prices that put both firms well below their Morningstar fair value estimates. Boeing, following its strong November (45.93%), is now trading at the closest it has traded to its fair value estimate since March of this year. It remains approximately 10% undervalued despite the strong tailwinds that accompanied positive COVID-19 vaccination prospects and signs of progress in its effort to get its 737 MAX airworthiness directive from the FAA. Raytheon also impressed during the month (33.01%) and now trades at a slight discount to Morningstar’s fair value.

Though I haven’t focused on financials here, the sector was the second leading contributor to Index returns in November. Standouts included American Express (AXP), Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), and Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW).

Few Detractors in November

While some Index members underperformed the S&P 500 Index in November, only two posted negative returns for the month. Biogen (BIIB) was the worst performing stock in the Index (-4.72%) and added to its lackluster 2020 performance. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel provided the major headwind for the company in early November, when it did not provide support for aducanumab, BIIB’s Alzheimer’s disease treatment. The biotech firm remains a stable wide moat company in Morningstar’s view, but its fair value estimate was reduced from $354 to $346 following the news. Dominion Energy (D), the sole utilities company in the Index, was the other company to post a negative return in November with a return of -2.30%.

With a strong November in the book, we will continue to monitor the Index as it approaches its quarterly index review on December 18 to see where the Index identifies pockets of attractive valuations in the U.S. wide moat universe.

VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide ETF (MOAT) seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses the price and yield performance of the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index.

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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.

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.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright © 2020 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

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.

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.

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.

The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Van Eck Associates Corporation. Copyright © 2020 S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Redistribution or reproduction in whole or in part are prohibited without written permission of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. For more information on any of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC’s indices please visit www.spdji.com. S&P® is a registered trademark of S&P Global and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the ability of any index to accurately represent the asset class or market sector that it purports to represent and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, their affiliates nor their third party licensors shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index or the data included therein.

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.

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.