ASX 200 stocks hitting fresh 52-week highs and lows – Week 4

Welcome back to the 52-week Series – A recap of S&P/ASX 200 stocks that have tagged a fresh yearly highs and lows in the past week. By tracking these 52-week highs and lows, we can spot emerging trends across different stocks and sectors.

When we see clusters of stocks hitting new milestones within a sector, it often signals significant underlying factors – whether it's shifting commodity prices, evolving demand trends (like the current AI boom), or companies exceeding or falling short of earnings expectations.

52-Week Highs and Lows by Sector

• Materials: 7 highs, 1 low

• Health Care: 3 highs, 2 lows

• Industrials: 2 highs, 1 low

• Discretionary: 2 highs, 3 lows

• Financials: 1 high, 0 lows

• Technology: 0 highs, 2 lows

• Staples: 0 highs, 2 lows

• Real Estate: 0 highs, 4 lows

• Telecommunication: 0 highs, 0 lows

• Utilities: 0 highs, 0 lows

• Energy: 0 highs, 0 lows

What Does the Data Tell Us?

• Gold stocks are soaring. Gold prices are demonstrating remarkable strength, climbing approximately 3% year-to-date to US$2,700 an ounce. The soaring US dollar has pushed the price of gold even higher in Aussie dollar terms, to a record A$4,365. This positive momentum has propelled the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index up for nine straight sessions, marking a 10% increase since January 6 and reaching its highest point since November 2023. Companies exhibiting strong operational performances and effective cost cost have emerged as standout performers.

• Real estate stocks are struggling. This was one of the best performing sectors last year as bond yields such as the US 10-year Treasury yield dipped as low as 3.60% (from peaks of 4.7%). However, the recent surge has finally started to weigh on the sector, with a handful of names tumbling to fresh 52-week lows. Morgan Stanley's analysis provides valuable insight into this relationship:

  • "Charter Hall is by far the most linked to bond yields. Its P/E multiple has a -0.77 correlation vs. Australian 10 year bond yields, and -0.68 vs. US 10 year Treasury yields. Dexus is the second most linked at -0.66/-0.44. This means that as bond yields decline, the multiples of these two stocks generally re-rate upwards."

• Retail showing cracks. Premier Investments hit a fresh 52-week low last week after the company reported a weaker-than-expected trading update for the first-half of FY25. The company said it expects total global sales between $855-865m and retail underlying EBIT between $160-165m, or 3% and 20% below consensus expectations of $886m and $203m respectively.

ASX 200 Materials Making 52-Week Highs

Data shows Materials stock to have hit a 52-week high in the past week. Share price and performance as at Friday 17 January 2025

ASX 200 Stocks at 52-Week Highs

Data shows all other ASX 200 stocks to have hit a 52-week high in the past week. Share price and performance as at Friday 17 January 2025

ASX 200 Discretionary Making 52-Week Lows

Data shows ASX 200 Discretionary stock to have hit a 52-week high in the past week. Share price and performance as at Friday 17 January 2025

ASX 200 Real Estate Making 52-Week Lows

Data shows ASX 200 Real Estate stock to have hit a 52-week high in the past week. Share price and performance as at Friday 17 January 2025

ASX 200 Stocks at 52-Week Lows

Data shows all other ASX 200 stocks to have hit a 52-week high in the past week. Share price and performance as at Friday 17 January 2025