We're seeing this Melt Up mania play out with loads of new investors...
As I explained on Tuesday, these folks are jumping in headfirst. Their goal is to rake in the "easy money" they see so many others collecting right now.
When a market Melt Up truly gets underway, life-changing gains become much more common. And it helps drive the mania.
So now, we have more people chasing that dream than we've seen in our lifetimes. This is setting up the final inning of today's Melt Up. And it's sending cash pouring into U.S. stocks.
Let me explain...
Right now, U.S. stocks are seeing their largest inflows in history...
According to recent data from Bank of America, this new money is pouring into the market. As an article from news service Reuters noted last month...
Equity funds have attracted more than half a trillion dollars in the past five months, exceeding inflows recorded over the previous 12 years, according to data from BofA, which has likened the stampede to a "melt-up" in markets.
Yes – the article even gives a nod to the idea that this is signaling a Melt Up. And it's absolutely right...
The data shows that more than $570 billion has poured into these funds since November. That's more than the $452 billion seen in the last 12 years combined.
This is exactly what we want to see play out in a Melt Up.
More folks are trading stocks than ever before. The S&P 500 Index has nearly doubled from its March 2020 bottom. And new investors don't want to miss what could be next... They're piling in at an incredible pace to avoid missing out on any potential future gains.
The markets are getting kooky. But the craziness doesn't stop there...
You see, investors are partially funding this buying frenzy by using record amounts of leverage...
Investors had borrowed $814 billion against their portfolios as of late February, according to data from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA").
You can see what I mean by looking at "total margin debt." Folks take on margin debt from their brokerages to buy stocks and other securities.
A brokerage can lend up to 50% of the initial investment. And the account holder uses the securities he owns as collateral for the loan.
During a bull market, margin debt tends to rise. That makes sense... As the value of securities goes up, investors can borrow more money to buy even more securities.
But today's levels are well above just a steady increase. Look at the chart below...
Notice the most recent spike in the upper-right corner of the chart. Total margin debt is up an incredible 49% over the prior year.
Importantly, this kind of jump in borrowing happened near the end of two other major bull runs... The most recent jump happened back in 2007 before the financial crisis. And the other jump occurred during the Melt Up of 1999.
Folks use leverage like this to boost their upside potential.
But adding the extra leverage doesn't come without added risk...
When a bear market arrives – and it always does – the ensuing value loss in securities will trigger "margin calls."
That means folks who borrowed from their brokerages will need to add more cash to their accounts as the value of the securities they hold decreases. If they can't meet the margin calls, brokerages can liquidate other positions in their accounts to recoup the loans.
Today, stocks are heading higher. That means the extra leverage is helping these new investors to boost their gains and drive the Melt Up. But eventually, the tide will turn against them... And when that happens, it could lead to painful losses on the flip side.
I'm not here to scare you off, though...
Remember, this is exactly what we want to see during a Melt Up. The big gains at the end of a Melt Up are possible thanks to the kind of euphoria we're seeing in the markets today.
New traders are here. They're buying big. And they're even using leverage. That'll fuel the Melt Up in the coming months. And as long as the trend remains in place, it means we want to stay long.
Good investing,
Chris Igou
Editor's note: The bull market is entering a new phase today. It's a twist you must take advantage of – before the Melt Down arrives. And you can still get the full story by watching Steve's latest discussion. You'll even learn the names of two investments with 800% to 1,000% upside potential as it all plays out. But this is only online for a few more days... So make sure you watch it right here.
Further Reading
"When investors get overly optimistic – like they are today – it's a major warning sign," Steve writes. What does this change mean for the Melt Up? Find out right here: What This Massive Sentiment Shift Means for Investors.
When investors are piling up on one side of a trade, it's usually a good idea to take the opposite side of the bet. But a recent survey of hedge-fund managers shows that owning stocks right now could pay off in a big way... Read more here: Fund Managers Hit Near-Record Levels of Bullishness.
Investing in world-class brands is a great way to grow your wealth. And we can buy into five of them through just one company while earning a solid 3.4% dividend...
THE E-COMMERCE BOOM IS GREAT FOR THIS BIG-BOX RETAILER
Today, we're looking at a company that's benefiting as folks shop online...
As regular readers know, e-commerce has only increased its dominance during the pandemic. As many brick-and-mortar stores were forced to shut down, more people turned to the convenience of online shopping to get what they needed. And one retailer has taken advantage of this trend...
Target (TGT) is a $105 billion retail behemoth. It's a one-stop-shop for clothes, food, home décor, and more. The company has enhanced its online shopping experience in recent years... It offers both same-day delivery and in-store pickup, and during the pandemic, it added curbside pickup to the mix. As a result, Target's sales grew more than $15 billion in 2020... driven by a nearly $10 billion jump in digital sales. That surpassed the company's total sales growth over the past 11 years.
As you can see in today's chart, TGT shares are performing well. They're up more than 130% from last year's lows... And they just hit a new 52-week high. As folks continue to opt for online shopping, Target should see more success to come...
