Five interesting things that Hodges Capital research analysts discovered this week...
#1 MARKET PARTICIPATION: Although year-to-date gains in the S&P 500 have been supported by a narrow group of stocks, the number of U.S. investors in the market is broader than a few years ago. An April Gallup poll revealed that 61% of U.S. adults are invested in the stock market, up from 58% a year ago and the highest share since 2008.
#2 HOME PRICES: Redfin analysis of real estate trends show that home prices in Miami are up 10.9% from a year ago, close to a record high, while prices in San Francisco are down 10.1% from a year ago. The divergence in price growth between these two markets is close to the largest in over three decades.
#3 RISING DEPRESSION: According to a new survey by Gallup, 29% of U.S. adults said they had been diagnosed with depression at least once in their lifetime, up from 19% in 2015 when Gallup first asked the question.
#4 STAY A LITTLE LONGER: Major hotel chains such as Marriott and Hilton are investing heavily in extended-stay hotels, as these hotels experienced occupancy rates of nearly 75% last year, well above the 63% rate for average hotel rooms, according to hotel data tracker STR.
#5 PINBALL RESURGENCE: Stern Pinball, the largest pinball machine manufacturer, reported that sales of new machines had increased 15-20% since 2008. Furthermore, the International Flipper Pinball Association sanctioned roughly 8,300 tournaments last year, up fourfold from 2014.
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