The US economy and its big companies are soaring

4th August 2021 10:48

Our columnist examines some of America’s biggest corporate names as they seek to put the pandemic behind them.

From the depths to the heights, the US economy soared in the past 12 months.

The second quarter of last year was the worst for most companies around the globe, but the American economy in particular has bounced back and is now larger than it was before the pandemic.

The US government’s $1.9 trillion (£1.4 trillion) stimulus package has boosted consumer spending and output overall grew by 6.5% between April and June after a 6.4% gain in the first quarter.

That momentum, probably at a somewhat slower pace given that the Federal Reserve is shaping up to reduce its economic support, is predicted to continue for the rest of 2021, making US stocks look especially attractive.

However, investors perusing the latest batch of American company results should remember that they ought to be impressive. Companies that fail to show hefty growth at this stage should be treated with some caution.

Few companies have been as badly affected by the pandemic than aircraft maker Boeing (NYSE:BA). Orders for its 737 Max jets, the aircraft its future depends on, were suspended or cancelled as models already in service were grounded by technical faults after two fatal crashes.

The Chicago-based company plunged into losses, with an operating loss of $3.3 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2020. The shares crashed too, from $340 to $95 in the space of one month.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Now, however, sales of the 737 Max are picking up quickly. The safety ban was withdrawn last November and Boeing is building 16 a month with a target of 31 a month by early next year.

This has still left the commercial aircraft division running at a loss of $472 million in the second quarter of this year, but it means the group as a whole, including the defence and services divisions, is back to making an operating for the first time in two years at $755 million. Revenue rose 44% in the quarter to $17 billion.

The shares have rebounded to around $225, some way short of the $440 peak set in March 2019.

The worst is certainly over but with no prospect of a dividend in the foreseeable future and some hefty losses to make up for, the current share price looks quite high enough for now, especially as the forecast for commercial aircraft sales depends on business and holiday travellers flocking back to the skies.

Restaurant chain McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) rode the consumer wave to report a 40.5% leap in like-for-like sales with total revenue, including new store openings as pandemic restrictions eased worldwide, up 57%.

That beat expectations and it enabled McDonald’s to raise its forecast for the full year.

Sales are now 7% ahead of the second quarter if 2019, which presents a fairer though tougher comparison than with the closure-hit second quarter of 2020.

McDonald’s always seems to produce some new bestseller out of the hat to keep the sales momentum rolling and the current favourite is the crisp chicken sandwich. Despite accusations that it serves up junk food, the chain has secured a number of celebrity endorsements.

Despite the appealing figures, the shares immediately ran into profit-taking at $246 and have slipped to around $237, where they offer a yield of 2.1% and look decent value.

Those who took my original advice to buy when the stock was below $200 are still ahead. I repeat my view, expressed in June, that it is still worth getting in below $237 if you have the chance.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Extra consumer spending is only just starting to filter through to the motor industry but even so Ford Motor (NYSE:F) surprised on the upside in the second quarter.

Instead of producing a small loss as expected it turned in a modest profit equal to 13 cents a share on revenue up 45.1% year on year. Ford raised its earnings guidance for the second half.

How the sector fares for the rest of 2021 depends heavily on two factors: the shortage of computer chips and the roll-out of electric vehicles.

Ford believes the chips shortage will ease from now on. Catching up with the electric vehicle leaders will take longer but the successful launch of the all-electric F-150 truck will go some way to closing the gap.

Orders stand at 120,000, even better than the 80,000 reservations for the Ford Maverick hybrid pick-up.

Ford shares bottomed at $4.29 in March last year but they recovered strongly to just shy of $16 a couple of months ago.

A subsequent retreat to $14 looks a lot more realistic. There is a long road ahead in a highly competitive sector.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Another company to surprise on the upside was chipmaker Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM).

Based in San Diego, its April-June earnings more than doubled to more than $2 billion, equal to $1.92 a share against expectations of no more than $1.70. Sales of just over $8 billion, an improvement of 65%, were also better than analysts had forecast.

Qualcomm has found itself clashing with the mighty Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), a major customer, but demand will ensure that sales of its chips for use in 5G telecoms will grow. Apple uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips in its iPhones and will continue to do so.

Qualcomm holds an extensive portfolio of patents for mobile phone devices that will secure its prominence in the industry.

The shares rose steadily from $60 in March last year to just over $160 in January but have come off the boil of late. Although the yield is only 1.8%, Qualcomm is a company for the future and the shares should edge up to new highs later this year. Worth a look below $150.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Despite all the warnings about fossil fuels and global warning, oil majors Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) both beat expectations in the second quarter as crude prices rose.

Exxon swung to a profit of $1.10 a share as revenue more than doubled to nearly $68 billion despite a slight fall in crude production.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

Chevron, like Exxon, made a loss in the previous April-June quarter but its profit this time was $1.71 a share on revenue 179% ahead at $37.6 billion.

Source: interactive investor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance

If you take out the distortions to the share price charts caused by the pandemic, the trend for both companies is one of slow but sure decline.

A programme of share buybacks announced by Chevron, amounting to $2-3 billion a year, may not be enough to reverse this downward momentum.

While the immediate future should see further short-term recovery, this is an industry whose basic product is on the way out and transforming the major players accordingly will be expensive and painful.

Rodney Hobson is a freelance contributor and not a direct employee of interactive investor.

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