For the past six weeks, the market rally has lifted almost all sectors out of some very bearish downtrends, the financials being one of them. While there is a base case for wanting to own the bank stocks against a more constructive outlook for the economy and interest rates, there are some major hurdles facing the regional banks that have to be cleared for this sector to be on longer-term sound footing.
I’ve itemized the areas of where there is current and future stress facing the sector:
For 2023, the FDIC has reported four regional bank failures with total assets of $753 billion that had to be resolved by seizure and sale of assets.
Source: https://www.fdic.gov/bank/historical/bank/bfb2023.html
The KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index (KRW) seeks to reflect the performance of U.S. companies that do business as regional banks or thrifts. From the one-year chart below, it is easy to see how the market euphoria of the past two months has the index right back up to where it broke down in March, triggered by the Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank failures.
Source: www.bigcharts.com
When looking at the SPDR Regional Banking ETF (KRE), it too has a very similar chart showing key technical resistance just overhead where its 200-week moving average (black line) lies. The issues hampering the regional banks earlier this year haven’t improved other than the perception that conditions will improve in 2024.
It’s hard to argue with the Fed’s pivot that fueled massive short-covering and the notion that consumer and business lending will experience more favorable borrowing terms. But I think the 800-pound elephant in the room is the commercial real estate refinancing dilemma facing the regional banks. Scores of commercial properties have seen their valuations fall by as much as 50% in major cities amid sky high vacancy rates.
America’s office market is still in the midst of a major correction, and office buildings still have another 20% price plunge ahead, according to Capital Economics. “Persistent weak growth and elevated (albeit soon-to-be-falling) interest rates continue to spell trouble for real estate values,” the research firm said in a note on Friday. “Offices still face a substantial value adjustment, with another 20% fall to come in our view.”
“Meanwhile, property owners who are able to refinance their mortgages are having to do so at much higher interest rates. That could bring on a wave of distressed debt, some economists warn, as there’s around $1.5 trillion of commercial real estate debt maturing over the next few years.”
Based on how the market has seemingly turned a blind eye to these risks, one could argue the recent spike in the regional bank sector is a prime setup for a shorting opportunity following a torrid rally for the major averages. I’m not saying to fight the tape or the Fed, but there are some deep-set problems within the regional banks that will likely dampen top- and bottom-line growth going forward. And when the profit taking shows up, and it will, there could be some fat profits made from downside bets.
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