Most small-cap stocks are still in a bear market.
When a rising tide does not lift all boats, everybody drowns. We have never seen anything like this “new bull market” before in history, where the top names in the S&P 500 are so disproportionately driving total returns, while most stocks are nowhere near their 2021 highs.
We know the reason why – it’s obvious and it’s something I’ve been saying for months. We are in a bear market, with a few stocks participating in a bubble. Higher interest rates are putting a tremendous squeeze on companies, and the risk of a credit event remains in place. There’s no other explanation.
So, what do we do with this information? Is it possible that the broader market will start to catch up to mega-cap tech names like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)?
It’s certainly possible. But it doesn’t change the near-term reality and risks. As noted by my friend Bob Elliott, we’ve never seen small-cap sensitivity to interest rates ever look like this before.
Why Small-Cap Stocks Matter So Much
It might be easy to dismiss the importance of small-cap stocks, especially with mega-cap names leading the way in all stock market indices.
However, investors must remember that small businesses drive a huge part of the American economy, and of the American labor market. Unemployment would surge if some of these small firms ceased existing. These firms also are a key part of continued economic growth.
So, while everyone is focused on the millions of dollars being made by investing in Nvidia, Rome is burning. Most companies are struggling. This can not last. It is unsustainable, and either resolves itself with a small-cap melt-up, or large-cap breakdown. The divergence is real, and yes, it very much matters not just for stock market health, but for your job too.
On the date of publication, Michael Gayed did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.