Will the Magnificent 7 continue to set the pace in the market?

In 2023, the Magnificent 7 shaped stock market performance

The Magnificent 7 are companies with a world-leading position in technologythat has enabled them to outstrip market growth, and they are leading the artificial intelligenceboom. They are Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and Tesla.

Equities performed exceptionally well in 2023, but much of this appreciation was due to the performance of the Magnificent 7 — three tech companies (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia), two communications companies (Meta and Alphabet) and two in the consumer discretionary sector (Amazon and Tesla). This appreciation was supported by their dominant position in high-margin segments of the economy, and by their outstanding lead in artificial intelligence.

The Magnificent 7 appreciated by 91% in aggregate (weighted by market capitalisation) compared with 24% by the S&P 500 index and 12% by the other 493 components of the index. Nevertheless, as shown in the above chart, there was significant dispersion within that appreciation (Nvidia appreciated by 5 times more than Apple).

The market capitalisation of Microsoft (USD 3 trillion) or Apple (USD 2.8 trillion) is similar in size to the economy of France (USD3.1 trillion) or the United Kingdom (USD 3.3 trillion)*. The Magnificent 7 currently represent 18% of the MSCI World index, 30% of the S&P 500 and 40% of the Nasdaq 100. This concentration has doubled in the last five years, particularly since the pandemic. According to Goldman Sachs**, such a high level of concentration in the seven largest companies in the index is unprecedented (you can find the detail in the factsheet attached at the bottom of the page).

*IMF World Economic Outlook Database. October 2023.
** 2024 US Equity Outlook: “All You Had To Do Was Stay”. Goldman Sachs. 15 Nov 2023.

They share certain strengths that constitute a barrier to entry into their respective markets — what is called an “economic moat”. This term was coined by Warren Buffet to refer to the competitive advantages that a company has been able to establish in its industry. This is what has enabled these companies to generate above-average growth, margins and earnings and is the key to their extraordinary share performance.

To attempt an answer to this question, we will analyse two variables: valuation and expected long-term growth, as well as their positioning in the artificial intelligence race.

1. Valuation. For a company's valuation to be sustainable over time, price growth must be supported by above-average earnings growth. The PEG (Price/Earnings-to-Growth) ratio compares the share price, relative to the company's earnings (price/earnings or P/E), with its expected future growth. A low PEG ratio suggests that the company is undervalued relative to its earnings potential. Conversely, a high level suggests it is overvalued.

2. Positioning in the artificial intelligence race. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a disruptive technology that is expected to be the main driver this decade. It is vital to form part of the AI value chain.The key to positioning in AI lies in a combination of strengths in data, infrastructure (GPUs and cloud) and models.

These seven companies in aggregate (viewed together and not individually)will not outperform in 2024 in the same way as they did in 2023. Their high valuations set a high bar in terms of maintaining the earnings growth differential, preserving the moat in key segments and convincing the market of their superior position in AI.

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