As Equity Valuations Soar These 2 ETFs Could See Short-Term Profit-Taking

 | Jun 15, 2021 05:03

The S&P 500, which is up 13% in 2021, is hovering near an all-time high. Similarly, a number of sectors have also seen above-average increases this year. Amid such juicy gains, many investors wonder whether they should take profits in winning names in their portfolios.

Therefore, today we introduce two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have had sizeable returns year-to-date and could see some profit-taking soon.

Each portfolio is unique, and investors could have different reasons to get out of stocks or funds. For instance, valuation levels might have become frothy from a historical perspective.

Investors who also follow technical indicators, might also feel the momentum in a given stock is starting to fade. The charts might be signaling caution ahead. Or, they might simply want to use their profits to buy other high-quality stocks or funds that have been under pressure to add to their portfolios.

With that as background, here are two funds that we feel could come under short-term pressure in the coming weeks.

h2 1. iShares U.S. Financials ETF/h2

Current Price: $82.06
52-Week Range: $53.51 - $83.82
Dividend Yield: 1.53%
Expense Ratio: 0.42% per year

Analysts have been debating whether rapid interest rate rises may lie ahead in the US (covered here). Such an increase would mean improved profit margins for financials, especially banks. In anticipation of a move by the Fed, many investors have been betting on the sector.

Furthermore, financial institutions typically benefit as the economy and consumer spending rev up. Therefore, as the U.S. economy opens up further, expectations for the sector have been high. As cyclical stocks, financials typically do well when the economy is strong. For instance, the Dow Jones Financials is up almost 40% year-to-date (YTD). Many sectors pale in comparison to the profits showering down on financials.

The iShares US Financials ETF (NYSE:IYF) returned about 46% in the past 12 months and 23% YTD. The fund, which hit an all-time high (ATH) in June, provides exposure to the U.S. financial industry, including insurance, credit card companies, and banks.