The deadly coronavirus, whose spread accelerated around the globe has now generated 2,862 confirmed cases so far in China, where the death count has climbed to 81, is trashing the stock market as investors run for safety. One question on investors’ minds now is which U.S. companies are especially vulnerable to the outbreak, given that their growth has been driven by Chinese consumers.
While travel and leisure related stocks are likely to be affected by the virus, Wall Street analysts are now issuing warnings about retailers, restaurants, and hotels that have high revenue exposure to China as some of their businesses are required to shut down, at least temporarily, after the death toll in China continues to climb, and infection spreads to other nations.
The coronavirus’ impact retailers like Estee Lauder and Nike, which plunged 4% and 6%, respectively on Monday over coronavirus fear, along with the broader indices, could be worse than the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, as many of them depend more on the Chinese consumers, according to Credit Suisse analyst Michael Binetti.
“China now a much bigger input to revs/EPS for global brands,” Binetti said. “The rate of retail sales growth in China slowed by about half during the peak of SARS.”
The Hotel Effect
Citi said American hotel companies that have “significant” exposure to China such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt Hotels, whose stocks have tumbled more than 6% each in the past five sessions, could also be dramatically affected by the viral contagion.
Other analysts see the decline in hotel stocks as a potential buying opportunity, or at least not a reason to panic and sell.