What is a Cyclical Stock?

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Definition:

A cyclical stock is a stock that follows the trend of the economy, increasing in value when the economy does well and decreasing in value when the economy does poorly.

🤔 Understanding a cyclical stock

A cyclical stock is a stock whose value rises and falls in tune with the economy. When the economy does well and people are spending money, cyclical stocks should rise in value. When there is an economic downturn or recession and people cut back on their spending, cyclical stocks generally decline in value. Companies with cyclical stocks sell goods that people buy more of during good times, but are less likely to buy during a recession, such as cars, appliances, and travel. Conversely, non-cyclical stocks, also known as defensive stocks, are those that aren’t as dependent on the state of the economy - they sell goods that people tend to buy no matter how the economy performs, like food and healthcare.

Example

Companies in the travel industry like airlines and hotels are examples of cyclical stocks. When the economy does well, people are more likely to take vacations, and companies are more likely to send their employees on business trips. So the stocks of travel and airline companies generally increase in value during times of economic growth. But when the economy turns downward, many people stop traveling for pleasure, and businesses cut back on employee travel. As a result, the stocks of travel companies go down.

Takeaway

Cyclical stocks are like outdoor sporting events…

Some sports such as baseball rely on good weather to occur. When the weather is good, the game can go on. But if it rains, they may have to call off the game. Similarly, the fate of cyclical stocks relies heavily on the overall economy. They do well when the economy does well. Non-cyclical stocks, those not dependent on the state of the economy, are like playing baseball in a domed stadium - the game goes shielded from the weather.

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Tell me more…

What is a cyclical stock?

A cyclical stock is one whose returns are in tune with the state of the economy. When the economy does well, these stocks tend to perform especially well. But in times of economic downturn, these stock prices are likely to suffer.

Because these stocks are heavily affected by the state of the economy, the portfolios of investors who have their money in these stocks are heavily affected as well. If an investor were to invest primarily in cyclical stocks, their returns might look good when the economy is thriving, but they might suffer declines when the economy turns downward.

How do cyclical stocks work?

When the economy does poorly, people often spend less money. In some cases, people lose their jobs and are forced to cut back on spending. Others might still have their jobs but reduce their spending out of caution, wanting to hold onto their money in case they need it later.

When people have less money to spend, they stop spending money on discretionary items - goods like cars and travel that they don’t have to buy (as opposed to items like food or housing or utilities that they need to survive). As a result, the companies that sell those discretionary items see their businesses and their stock prices suffer.

It works the other way, too. When the economy is doing well and more people have jobs, people are more likely to spend more money. They’re more likely to take a vacation, buy a new house, or go out to eat. As a result, companies in those sectors see an increase in revenue, and usually an increase in their stock prices as well.

What are the cyclical stock sectors?

There are different ways of dividing stocks into sectors, but financial information company Morningstar does so by how sensitive they are to the ups and downs of the economy, and it identifies four primary sectors that are considered to be cyclical stocks: Basic materials, consumer cyclical, financial services, and real estate.

  • Basic materials companies manufacture paper products, building materials, and chemicals. This sector produces materials used in construction, which increases and decreases along with how the economy is doing.
  • Consumer cyclical companies are auto makers, appliance makers, airlines, travel companies, restaurants - any company whose goods consumers might buy more of when the economy is good but cut back on buying when the economy is bad. (Other consumer goods like food and household products are considered non-cyclical, or defensive, because consumers will buy them no matter what the economy is like.)
  • Financial services companies are banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, and credit services. Their products and services are more in demand when the economy is strong: People invest more and borrow more to buy homes and cars.
  • Real estate includes companies such as mortgage firms and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which are companies that own investment properties. Real estate is more in demand when the economy is strong, and less in demand when it isn’t.

What are some examples of cyclical stocks?

Cyclical stocks are those whose returns tend to rise and fall with the economy, because the companies make discretionary goods that people tend to stop buying during an economic downturn. Examples include:

  • Travel: People tend to travel less for vacations and business during recessions. As a result, airlines and other travel companies typically lose profit and see their stocks go down.
  • Luxury goods: Companies selling luxury goods like jewelry and high-end fashion tend to lose sales during economic downturns. The 2008-09 recession lopped 9% off the value of the luxury-goods market, according to consulting firm Bain & Co., though it bounced back relatively quickly.
  • Housing: People are less likely to buy homes or pay for home renovations during an economic downturn or recession. So when the economy goes down, so do the stock returns for real estate corporations.
  • Automobiles: People are also less likely to buy a new car during a recession. Some can’t afford it; others might choose to be cautious and put the money they’d intended to use for a car away in their emergency fund. As a result, car companies tend to see their stocks suffer when the economy turns downward.

What is the difference between cyclical and non-cyclical stocks?

Cyclical stocks are those whose returns tend to rise and fall along with the health of the economy. That’s because these companies provide products and services that people buy more of when the economy is doing well, and buy less of or stop buying altogether when the economy is doing poorly.

Non-cyclical stocks, also known as defensive stocks, are far less dependent on how the economy is doing. Companies with defensive stocks provide products that people need even when the economy is doing poorly. For example, most families will still buy food and pay the electric bill, even when times are tough. They’ll still spend money on healthcare and prescriptions. As a result, these stocks tend to be more resilient than cyclical stocks.

Are banks cyclical stocks?

One might assume that financial services companies would be considered non-cyclical or defensive. People still need checking and savings accounts during recessions, right?

But banks’ health varies with how much borrowing people do. Real estate and automobiles are cyclical industries - and when people buy homes or cars, they head to their bank to take out a loan. The bank makes money from the interest the borrower pays. When a recession hits, people stop buying houses and cars, they borrow less money, and so banks earn less interest.

Other financial companies like brokerage firms and wealth management firms are cyclical because investing can fluctuate depending on the health of the economy. When the economy is doing poorly, investors may be hesitant to put money into the stock market, so financial services firms might make less money.

What should investors consider when investing in cyclical stocks?

Because cyclical stock prices rise and fall with the economy, and their returns may suffer during economic downturns, investors might be hesitant to invest in these companies. But there are also times when cyclical investing is especially profitable. After a recession when the economy is recovering, prices of cyclical stocks tend to bounce back quickly, often outperforming defensive stocks.

However, there’s no way to know for sure when the economy is about to take a turn. Buy and hold investors may want to keep cyclical stocks as a regular part of their portfolios in the hopes that the higher returns during good economic times offset the lower returns during downturns.

Where can I find lists of cyclical stocks?

Companies like Morningstar publish lists of cyclical stocks with information about their industry, current price, and market return.

Where can I find cyclical stock ETFs?

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a financial instrument that tracks the performance of collections of securities usually associated with an index. ETFs allow investors to invest in a sector or industry without buying individual securities. Some mutual-fund families and ETF providers offer ETFs that specifically track cyclical stocks. Investors can invest in cyclical stock ETFs through their brokerage account or a financial advisor.

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This information is educational, and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. This information is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell an investment or financial product, or take any action. This information is neither individualized nor a research report, and must not serve as the basis for any investment decision. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results or returns. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals. Information is from sources deemed reliable on the date of publication, but Robinhood does not guarantee its accuracy.

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all customers. Customers must read and understand the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any options trading strategies. Options transactions are often complex and may involve the potential of losing the entire investment in a relatively short period of time. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk, including the potential for losses that may exceed the original investment amount.

Commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs and options refers to $0 commissions for Robinhood Financial self-directed individual cash or margin brokerage accounts that trade U.S. listed securities and certain OTC securities electronically. Keep in mind, other fees such as trading (non-commission) fees, Gold subscription fees, wire transfer fees, and paper statement fees may apply to your brokerage account. Check out Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule for details.

Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, (RHF) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC) and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, (RHS) a registered broker dealer (member SIPC). Cryptocurrency services are offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (RHC) (NMLS ID: 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Robinhood spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (RHY) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. A list of our licenses has more information. The Robinhood Cash Card is a prepaid card issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. RHF, RHY, RHC and RHS are affiliated entities and wholly owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. RHF, RHY, RHC and RHS are not banks. Products offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal. RHC is not a member of FINRA and accounts are not FDIC insured or protected by SIPC. RHY is not a member of FINRA, and products are not subject to SIPC protection, but funds held in the Robinhood spending account and Robinhood Cash Card account may be eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance (review the Robinhood Cash Card Agreement and the Robinhood Spending Account Agreement).

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