Small-caps, though, can still navigate through a slowly rising rate environment. Smaller companies, which focus on U.S. markets, are less exposed to a stronger U.S. dollar as rates rise, which would more negatively affect larger corporations with a global footprint. Additionally, periods of rising rates also coincide with expanding economies, which often benefit smaller companies.
“Being less global also gives small caps more exposure to several positives within the US, including tax reform, increasing deregulation and faster economic growth relative to weaker recoveries in Europe and Japan,” said FTSE Russell Managing Director Alec Young. “All these tailwinds are helping drive faster profit growth for small cap companies relative to their blue chip counterparts, helping fuel YTD leadership while tempering relative volatility for this asset class.”
For more information on small-capitalization stocks, visit our small-cap category.
Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of IWM.