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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Facebook, Netflix, Disney, Verizon and TMUS

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –December 11, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Facebook Inc. , Netflix Inc. (NFLX - Free Report) , The Walt Disney Co. (DIS - Free Report) , Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) .

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

S&P 500 Communication Services Sector Outperforms: Here’s Why

Wall Street has performed exceptionally well so far in 2019 and the momentum is likely to prevail in the last month. Year to date, the three major stock indexes — the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite — have rallied 19.6%, 25.1% and 29.9%, respectively. It is worth mentioning that all the three indexes had a pathetic 2018, plummeting 5.6%, 6.2% and 3.9%, respectively.  

Notably, a cross-sectional view of the S&P 500 Index — popularly known as market’s benchmark index — will give us an interesting insight.

Communication Services Sector Outperforms

Out of the11 broad sectors of the S&P 500 Index, the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC) has gained a little more than 27.3% so far in 2019. Year to date, this sector is the second-best performer of the broad-market index after Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK), which has gained 40.9% so far.

In financial literature, communication service operators are generally characterized as defensive stocks and highly suitable for value investors due to its high dividend yield. These stocks provide above-market returns during a market downturn. However, it is surprising to see this sector outperforming the broader market this year amid a prolonged rally. What made this happen?

Answer Lies in Sectoral Overhaul of S&P 500  

The answer to this interesting reversal lies in the sectoral overhaul of the S&P 500 Index conducted by the Global Industry Classification Standard of S&P Dow Jones Indices. Sectoral reorganization became effective from Sep 24, 2018.

The newly formed communication services sector, which replaced the old-economy telecommunications sector, had been reorganized to consist of traditional telecom operators, Internet-based companies and media companies.

Notable Internet-based behemoths and media giants that entered into the communication services field include Facebook Inc. Netflix Inc. and The Walt Disney Co.

These stocks have joined existing players like Verizon Communications Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. Verizon carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The newly formed communication services sector is cyclical in nature with high growth orientation and low dividend yield. Moreover, within this sector, stocks like Alphabet, Netflix and Facebook carry more weight sidetracking incumbent Verizon and AT&T.

Impact on Stock Markets

Per the index committee of S&P Dow Jones Indices, rapid technological advancement necessitated a sectoral overhaul to reflect consumer preference to utilize Internet services, online digital platform and content as a single entity. The reshuffling of the S&P 500 sectors has made this sector more pure-play in nature.

The chart below shows year-to-date price performance of major newly entered stocks in the communication services sector:

Comparison of the two charts given above shows that except Netflix, most of the newly entered Internet-based and media stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 Index so far this year. However, among the traditional telecom operators, only AT&T has surpassed the market’s benchmark. Therefore, the characteristic transformation of the newly formed communication services sector has helped it to outperform the broader market.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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