Lessons From Growth Stock Manias

Welcome to Episode #156 of the Zacks Market Edge Podcast.

Every week, host and Zacks stock strategist, Tracey Ryniec, will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

In this episode, Tracey is joined by Zacks Senior Strategist Kevin Cook to discuss the future of the FAANG and other growth stocks.

Are growth stocks still the place to be investing heading into 2019?

Lessons from Stock Market History

Twice in the past 50 years, investors have fallen in love with growth stocks.

1. The Nifty Fifty were the growth stocks that investors bought and held in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were considered such “sure things” that investors didn’t care what they paid to own them. By 1972, as a group, they were trading with a P/E as high as 50. But the stocks plunged in the 1970s and never recovered until the 1980s. By then, they were value stocks.

2. The Tech Titans of the late 1990s were on the cutting edge of technology. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO), Microsoft and Dell were considered to be the companies of the future. Once again, investors threw valuations to the wind and bought in at any price only to see the stocks sink back to earth in the dot-com bust.

Are Growth Stocks Broken?

1. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) had been one of the best performing growth stocks over the last 2 years. Shares were up over 200% during that period. But they’ve stumbled in 2018, falling 22% year-to-date. Kevin has strong views on what is happening at Nvidia right now. Tune into the podcast to find out if you should be buying the dip.

2. Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) has faced its challenges in 2018 as well. Shares are now the cheapest, by P/E, that they’ve been since its 2012 IPO. Time to buy or should you wait?

3. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been the calm amongst the storm this fall. Shares are up 3.2% over the last month. Is it a growth stock you can hide out in?

4. Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT) is up 64% year-to-date as Wall Street continues to believe in its low-cost gym model. Should investors be looking for less popular growth stock names?

5. Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) is another growth stock that has defied the recent sell off. Shares are up 24% over the last month and 133% year-to-date. Is it a hidden growth gem?

Not all growth stocks are created equal but you might be surprised to find out what Kevin and Tracey think about the FAANG stocks right now.

What else should you know about the history of growth stock manias?

Listen to this week’s podcast to find out.

[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of MSFT, AMZN and FB in her personal portfolio.]

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