Extreme Crowding
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JPMorgan Quants Warn of ‘Extreme Crowding’ in Speculative Stocks
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-18 10:30
Core Viewpoint - The recent volatility in US equity markets is attributed to "extreme crowding" in speculative growth stocks, which are at risk of a reversal due to macroeconomic events [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - The S&P 500 index fell by 1.2%, marking the fourth consecutive day of losses after reaching a record high the previous week [2]. - The selloff has been primarily driven by technology shares as investors shift away from high-performing stocks [2]. Group 2: Speculative Stocks - JPMorgan Chase has identified six stocks as speculative growth plays that are vulnerable to market reversals: Broadcom Inc., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Expedia Group Inc., Estee Lauder Cos Inc., Invesco Ltd., and Nucor Corp. [1][3]. - These stocks are considered sensitive to market shocks, which increases their risk of sudden repricing [3]. Group 3: Stock Performance - Since December 10, Broadcom shares have decreased by over 21%, Advanced Micro Devices has dropped by 11%, and other identified stocks like Estee Lauder, Invesco, and Nucor have also seen declines, with only Expedia showing a modest increase of about 3% [3]. Group 4: Investment Strategy - JPMorgan suggests that investors should buy bearish put options on speculative stocks while taking bullish positions on less volatile stocks [5]. - Recommended "low volatility" stocks include Cigna Group, Pfizer Inc., and Verizon Communications Inc. as safer investment alternatives [5].