Apple Supplier Stocks Are Underperforming Due To Chip Shortage. Should You Buy?

Nov 9, 2021

Our theme on Apple Component Supplier Stocks – which includes a diverse set of companies that supply components for iPhones and other iDevices, has underperformed this year, rising by just about 12% year-to-date, compared to the broader S&P 500 which remains up by a solid 25%. However, the theme has outperformed a bit through the Covid-19 pandemic, rising by about 68% since the end of February 2020, versus the S&P 500 which was up by about 58% over the same period.

The recent underperformance comes as Apple begins to feel the pinch from the semiconductor shortage, with the company posting a rare revenue miss for Q4 FY’21 while indicating that supply could remain constrained through the all-important holiday quarter, as well. Now, although many of the companies in our theme have their own fabrication or production capacity, they will nevertheless be impacted if Apple sells fewer devices.

That said, we think this issue is only transient. Apple’s overall orders for the iPhone 13 were apparently larger than for the iPhone 12 and carrier promos on the current generation of devices are also among the best we’ve seen in a while. This should translate into reasonable demand growth through the iPhone 13 cycle, helping suppliers. The average P/E multiple for the theme is also below the broader market average and this could also drive returns, as rising interest rates likely help value stocks.

Source:Apple Supplier Stocks Are Underperforming Due To Chip Shortage. Should You Buy? (forbes.com)