6 Stocks Will See Massive Buying and Selling on S&P Quarterly Rebalance

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By Lee Jackson Published
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All indexes rebalance on a quarterly basis, as price movement constantly upsets the actual percentage that is supposed to be allocated. With the S&P 500 being the most influential index in terms of what is used by many portfolio managers as a benchmark, the quarterly rebalancing that will happen this Friday often means portfolio rebalancing. This is especially so if managers shadow the index to construct their portfolio. Shares will also be rebalanced in the S&P 400 and 600.

A new report from the Quantitative Strategies team at Jefferies says that the biggest selling action will be in the industrial sector, and the biggest buying in health care. We screened the Jefferies report for the stocks that will see the most trading on Friday.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) will see some significant selling on Friday. The maker of farming and tractor gear will see an estimated 1.83 million shares hit the sell tape. That will represent a total of a $164 million. The stock closed Monday at $89.14. Investors might still pay attention that the consensus analyst price target is lower at $86.37.

ALSO READ: 8 Analyst Stocks Under $10 With Massive Upside Calls

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) remains a favorite stock to buy on Wall Street and will see a big buy order on Friday. The Jefferies analysts estimate that 13.06 million shares of the iconic automaker will be bought, at a total value of $211 million. The stock closed Monday at $16.49. Ford’s consensus analyst price target is currently $16.82.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) recently lowered estimates for the first quarter and has already seen substantial selling. The stock will see more on Friday as an estimated 8.2 million shares of the chip giant will be sold for a total dollar amount of $254 million. The stock closed Monday at $30.83, and the consensus analyst price target is $34.70 — under the 52-week high of $37.90.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is listed as one of the most popular health care stocks among hedge funds. That notwithstanding, the stock will see a huge sell Friday of 15.25 million shares, for a total dollar amount of an estimated $518 million. Pfizer shares closed trading on Monday at $34.44. Pfizer’s consensus analyst target is $36.28.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) is a top industrial stock that will also see significant selling Friday. An anticipated 1.88 million shares of the stock will be on the sell desk, worth an estimated $223 million. Shares closed Monday at $120.07, and the consensus price target is up at $132.25.

Actavis PLC (NYSE: ACT) is a top generic drug maker and will see monster buying on the close Friday. The Jefferies team estimates 1.78 million shares will be bought on the close, totaling $531 million. The stock closed Monday at $305.

ALSO READ: Should Investors Buy These 4 ‘Bad News’ Stocks for Big Gains?

Investors looking to buy or sell any of these stocks may want to keep in mind the coming rebalance. While the numbers are big, most of these are large cap stocks with excellent liquidity and should hold up fine.

Photo of Lee Jackson
About the Author Lee Jackson →

Lee Jackson has covered Wall Street analysts' equity and debt research and equity strategy daily for 24/7 Wall St. since 2012. His broad and diverse career, which included a stint as the creative services director at the NBC affiliate in Austin, Texas, gives him unique insight into the financial industry and world.

Lee Jackson's journey in the financial industry spans over 30 years, with nearly two decades as an institutional equity salesperson at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley. His career was marked by his presence on the sell side during pivotal Wall Street events, from the dot.com rise and bubble to the Long Term Capital Management debacle, 9/11, and the Great Recession of 2008. This is a testament to his resilience and adaptability in the face of market volatility.

Lee Jackson’s practical financial industry experience, acquired from a career at some of the biggest banks and brokerage firms, is complemented by a lifetime of writing on various platforms. This unique combination allows him to shed light on the intricacies and workings of Wall Street in a way that only someone with deep insider experience and knowledge can. Moreover, his extensive network across Wall Street continues to provide direct access for him and 24/7 Wall St., a privilege few firms enjoy.

Since 2012, Jackson’s work for 24/7 Wall St. has been featured in Barron’s, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, Business Insider, TradingView, Real Money, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Benzinga, and other media outlets. He attended the prestigious Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and has a degree in broadcasting from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.

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