Categories: Market News

Connecting the Dots: Unpacking the Implications of Sluggish Dow Transports for Investors


Despite the surge in other major U.S. stock-market averages to record highs, the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJT) has struggled, remaining more than 6% below its peak from November 2021. Over the past year, it has lagged behind the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) by over 12 percentage points.

This performance has raised concerns among investors who view the transportation sector as a leading indicator of U.S. economic activity.

However, historical data suggests a different story. Analyzing the U.S. stock market’s performance since 1928 reveals that the S&P 500 tends to perform better following periods of significant underperformance by the Dow Transports compared to the Dow Industrials, as is currently the case.

Moreover, even when the Dow Transports experience absolute declines rather than just relative weakness compared to the DJIA, there’s no significant cause for alarm. On average, the S&P 500 has exhibited stronger performance following 12-month periods of decline in the Dow Transports compared to periods of gains.

In summary, while concerns such as overvaluation and excessive optimism persist, worrying about the weakness in the Dow Transports may not be justified.

ABC Trader

Recent Posts

Chinese Stock ETFs Struggle Amid Stimulus Doubts

Yardeni Research remains unconvinced that recent stimulus measures will make China a more attractive investment…

17 hours ago

How Limit Orders Can Boost Your Trading using Sonic System

Hello, traders! Today, I’m excited to guide you through the Sonic Trading System, an advanced…

1 day ago

The Bond Market vs. Untamed Inflation

Matt Rowe, head of portfolio management and cross-asset strategies at Nomura Capital Management, warns that…

2 days ago

Inflation-Proof Stocks: One Common Factor

This rise is largely due to stronger-than-expected economic data, including falling unemployment and persistent inflation.…

3 days ago

Navigating the Bull Market Turn: Key Strategies

The U.S. stock market recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of its bull run, with the…

4 days ago

Tesla $30K Cybercab: A New Era in Autonomous Vehicles

Elon Musk unveiled the Robovan and a new version of the Optimus humanoid robot at…

7 days ago