Best Stocks and Sectors for Rising Interest Rates

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Market timing is tricky at any point in time. However, there are some smart moves you can make to invest in the best stock funds and sectors in a rising interest rate environment. When interest rates are at or near historical lows, it may be wise to prepare for when rates rise. A transition from a low interest rate environment to one with rising rates is often accompanied by a final move upward for stocks before a decline ensues. The economy may be fairly healthy when rates begin rising, but rising rates often signal the start of the end of an economic cycle.

One balanced approach when interest rates are rising is to stay invested and take advantage of late-stage positive momentum, but you should also prepare for harder times that are lurking around the corner. Take a look at the best stock funds and stock sectors when interest rates go up.

Key Takeaways

  • When interest rates are on the rise, the economy is typically nearing a peak, since the Fed uses interest rates to control inflation.
  • The best time to invest in growth stocks is when the market has momentum and during the latter (mature) stages of an economic cycle.
  • When investing defensively, you may want to consider stock sectors that do well in all markets, like consumer staples, healthcare, and gold.
  • Market timing is a sophisticated investment strategy, but it can also be useful for diversifying your portfolio.

Best Stock Funds for Rising Interest Rates

If you choose to invest in mutual funds when rates are rising, you have to know which mutual fund categories can work for you.

One such type is growth stock funds. These mutual funds are focused on growth stocks, which have strong projected growth and attractive return on equity. The best time to invest in growth stocks is usually when times are good, during the latter (mature) stages of an economic cycle.

Times of rapid growth often occur at the same time as rising interest rates. Momentum investing takes advantage of this. For instance, between 2009 and 2020, the economy was growing rapidly and the S&P 500, a barometer for the U.S. stock markets, experienced one of its longest bull markets ever. During this period, momentum investors, measured by the MSCI Momentum Index, saw positive returns in all years except 2018. The index generated 10-year annualized returns of 14.19%, with calendar year returns as high as 37% in 2017. However, between Jan.-Oct. 2022, the index delivered a -17% return amid broader stock market turmoil.

Warning

Keep in mind that growth stocks and growth stock mutual funds may see large returns when the market is up, but will often see bigger declines than the broader market once a bear market begins.

Best Stock Sectors for Rising Interest Rates

When interest rates are on the rise, the economy is typically nearing a peak. This is because the Federal Reserve raises rates when the economy appears to be growing too fast. Thus, inflation becomes a concern. When inflation becomes an issue, the Fed will likely raise rates to help cool it down.

Those who aim to time the market with sectors will have the goal of catching positive returns on the upside. At the same time, they'll want to prepare for harder declines when the market turns down.

Note

You may want to consider sectors that tend to perform best (or fall in price the least) when the market takes a downward turn.

Here are a few stock sectors considered to be defensive investments:

  • Consumer staples (non-cyclical investments): Consumer discretionary or cyclical stocks will typically perform best during the peak times of the economic cycle and during the early stages of rising interest rates. But non-cyclical or defensive sector funds and stocks are more suitable before a recession hits, which is difficult to forecast. People still need housing, food, heating, cooling, education, and products for daily living, even during a recession.
  • Health care: Just like consumer staples, people still need to buy their medicine and go to the doctor in both good times and bad. Health sector mutual funds and ETFs may be smart holdings when rates are rising because they may be able to weather the storm when a recession hits.
  • Gold: When traders expect an economic slowdown, they tend to move into funds that invest in real, physical asset types. These funds may include assets such as gold funds and ETFs. Gold is not a sector, but it is an asset that has the chance to do well in uncertain times and falling markets. However, gold can be just as volatile as other investments, so don't necessarily be swayed by past performance.

The chart below shows the gold fixing price per troy ounce from 2000 through today.

The Bottom Line

Even though you are striving to make smart purchases, you must use caution. Be aware that market timing is not a good idea for most investors. However, you can still use some of these ideas when constructing your portfolio to help you diversify.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do rising interest rates generally depress stock prices?

When interest rates rise, there are ripple effects in the broader economy. They affect stock prices because the cost of lending goes up, which drives down business growth and expansion. Rate hikes also drive investors toward investments with lower interest rates and a guarantee of delivering returns, which reduces demand for stocks and pushes prices down.

Should I invest in bond funds when interest rates are rising?

Bond funds behave similarly to stocks in an environment of rising interest rates. As rates rise, bond prices drop, especially on long-term bonds. That is why many investors will rush to buy short- or intermediate-term bonds, expecting that rates may continue to rise on long-term bonds. Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) make another good bond investment when interest rates are on the rise.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Yardeni Research. "Stock Market Historical Tables: Bull & Bear Markets," Page 3.

  2. MSCI. "MSCI USA Momentum Index (USD)."

  3. Merrill Edge. "Growth vs. Value: Two Approaches to Stock Investing."

  4. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "How Does the Federal Reserve Affect Inflation and Employment?"

  5. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "Gold Is No Safe Investment."

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