Driven by the dual forces of the AI wave and surging energy prices, the "divergence" within the U.S. stock market has proven beneficial for momentum strategies. Data shows that the MTUM ETF, which tracks the MSCI USA Momentum Factor, has gained over 20% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index over the same period. The core of a momentum strategy is "buying winners and selling losers," which involves purchasing stocks with strong recent performance while selling or avoiding those with weak performance. This strategy typically excels when the market exhibits clear leading sectors and persistently lagging sectors. This year, AI-related stocks, represented by NVIDIA, and energy stocks, represented by Exxon Mobil, have continued to strengthen, while traditional retail and utility stocks have remained relatively weak. This substantial performance gap has created an ideal environment for momentum funds to operate.
Comments