This article was originally published at The HumbleDollar
ARE LONG-SUFFERING value investors and those with a large allocation to foreign stocks finally about to get some relief? The new year has seen significant relative strength by both areas of the market. Meanwhile, after peaking in the first half of 2021, highflying small- and mid-cap growth companies continue to get hammered. Mega-cap tech shares have also lately succumbed to selling pressure.
What’s worked thus far in 2022 are the boring old large-cap blue chip names. The winners during this year’s first five trading days include Ford (NYSE:F), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM).
The trend began in early December, when large-cap growth stocks started to underperform large-cap value. Overall, Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VTV) (symbol: VTV) is up an impressive 8.6% since the calendar flipped to December.
Developed market large-cap stocks have also enjoyed a tailwind of late. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VEA) (VEA) is up a respectable 4.3% since Dec. 1. Meanwhile, Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ:QQQM) (QQQ), which tracks 100 large NASDAQ stocks, is down 3.4%.
While large-cap value shares and foreign stocks have recovered, another relative loser from last year has yet to see a bounce: the U.S. extended market. Jack Bogle, the founder of Vanguard Group, created the Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Admiral Shares in 1987 (VEXAX) to allow investors to inexpensively access U.S. stocks beyond the S&P 500. The extended market is down 3.8% since early December, on par with the tech-heavy NASDAQ 100’s lousy performance.
It’s important to remember that market cycles can run for years. If value and international stocks are indeed making a comeback, the gains could last well beyond January—and, indeed, long beyond 2022.