These Sectors Benefit From Rising Interest Rates

Interest rates are easing off historic lows as the Federal Reserve responds to an improving economy. Increasing rates require careful attention when crafting an investment portfolio. This includes bolstering positions in short- and medium-term bonds, which are less sensitive to climbing rates, as well implementing a “bond ladder” to maximize cash and debt returns.

But an environment where interest rates are rising also offers opportunities within the equity space. A good starting point is examining the sectors that tend to benefit from rising rates.

Boasting margins that actually expand as rates climb, financial entities like banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms and money managers generally benefit from higher interest rates.

Rising rates tend to point to a strengthening economy. And that health usually means that borrowers have an easier time making loan payments and banks have fewer non-performing assets. It also means that banks can earn more from the spread between what they pay savers for savings accounts and certificates of deposit and what they can earn from highly-rated debt like Treasuries.

Banks that would benefit as rates rise include Bank of America Corp. (BAC), which has a substantial presence throughout the U.S.; JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), with its robust operations in the U.S. and worldwide; Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), with widespread investment banking and wealth management services, and Citigroup Inc. (C), which does business in more than 160 countries. 

On the broker front, companies like E*TRADE Financial Corp. (ETFC), Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW), and TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD), all hold promise during times of escalating rates for similar reasons. A healthy economy sees more investment activity.

Insurance stocks, especially, tend to flourish as rates rise. In fact, the relationship between interest rates and insurance companies is linear, meaning the higher the rate, the greater the growth. These same insurance providers – companies such as The Allstate Corp. (ALL), AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (AFSI), and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV), don’t fare as well in low-interest rate climates because their underlying bond investments yield weak returns. Insurers, which have steady cash flows, are compelled to hold lots of safe debt to back the insurance policies they write.

The economic health dividend also applies to insurers. Improving consumer sentiment means more car purchasing and improving home sales, which means more policy-writing.

Financials aren’t the only star performers in a rising rate environment. Consumer discretionary stocks also can see a bump. Improving employment, coupled with a healthier housing market, makes consumers more likely to splurge on purchases outside of the realm of consumer staples (food, beverages and hygiene goods). Manufacturers and sellers of kitchen appliances, cars, clothes, hotels, restaurants, movies and more benefit from the economic health dividend.

Companies to keep an eye on during interest rate increases include appliance maker Whirlpool Corp., retailers Kohl's Corp., Costco Wholesale Corp. and Home Depot, Inc. 

Finally, the industrials sector also benefits from the economic health dividend indicted by rising rates. Companies like Ingersoll-Rand PLC and manufacturers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, tend to outperform, as well as companies like PACCAR Inc., – a maker of heavy-duty trucks and truck parts. Such companies are among the first to benefit from any increase in housing starts.

You've adjusted your fixed-income portfolio to account for rising rates. Now is the time to adjust your equity investments to favor companies that benefit from the economic health dividend indicated by rising rates. Again, an excellent place to start is the financial sector. From there, as consumer confidence picks up and housing follows suit, consider durable-goods manufacturers, retailers, travel-related stocks and the industrials sector.