Our Focus List Stocks: Short Model Portfolio, the best of our Danger Zone picks, underperformed shorting the S&P 500[1] by 18% in 1H23. The Model Portfolio returned -33% as a short compared to -15% for the S&P 500 as a short.
Despite this performance, the Model Portfolio has beaten the S&P 500 by 33% since the start of 2021.
For real-time tracking of this Model Portfolio, see the index Thematic created for it.
Figure 1: Focus List Stocks: Short vs. S&P 500 in 1H23
Sources: New Constructs, LLC
Rising returns indicates poor performance for a Short portfolio, which outperforms as stocks fall.
Figure 2 shows a detailed breakdown of the Model Portfolio’s performance, which includes all stocks present in the Model Portfolio at any point in 1H23.
Figure 2: Performance of the Focus List Stocks: Short Model Portfolio in 2023
Sources: New Constructs, LLC
Performance includes stocks in the Model Portfolio as well as those removed during 1H23 (one stock).
Underscoring just how important reliable fundamental research is in turbulent markets, this Model Portfolio has beaten shorting the S&P 500 by 33% since the start of 2021.
Figure 3: Focus List Stocks: Short Performance Since Beginning of 2021
Sources: New Constructs, LLC
Professional and Institutional members get real-time updates and can track all Model Portfolios on our site. The Focus List Stocks: Short Model Portfolio leverages superior fundamental data, which provides a new source of alpha.
We’re here to help you navigate these turbulent times. Our uniquely rigorous fundamental research consistently earns SumZero’s #1 All-Time ranking, along with #1 rankings in several other categories.
This article was originally published on July 11, 2023.
Disclosure: David Trainer, Kyle Guske II, Hakan Salt, and Italo Mendonça receive no compensation to write about any specific stock, sector, style, or theme.
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[1] Stocks are in the Focus List Model Portfolios for different periods of time as we open and close positions during the year. When measuring outperformance of the Focus List Model Portfolios, we compare each stock’s return to the S&P 500’s return for the time each is in the Focus List Model Portfolios. This approach provides more of an apples-to-apples comparison of how each stock performed vs. the S&P 500.