The put/call ratio on this power trio of equity funds just cratered to a 2019 low
One of the option-based indicators our research team has been tracking for quite some time now is the 20-day put/call ratio for combined buy-to-open volume across the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ). These three exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with combined assets under management (AUM) of $395.62 billion, offer wide and deep exposure to the U.S. large-cap, small-cap, and tech stock spaces.
Historically, we've noted a tendency for the S&P 500 Index (SPX) to rise when this SPY/IWM/QQQ put/call ratio is moving higher -- which has led us to theorize that the increased put activity on these broad-based ETFs is generally indicative of hedged players buying put options on SPY, IWM, and/or QQQ as they simultaneously accumulate shares. That's why we're watching with great interest right now as this ratio moves now off its lows of the year, set as recently as a couple of weeks ago.
Specifically, Schaeffer's Quantitative Analyst Chris Prybal notes that the 20-day SPY/IWM/QQQ buy-to-open put/call ratio fell as low as 1.35 on July 11, and now stands at 1.42. It's primarily put buying on QQQ that has driven the cumulative ratio higher, which suggests investors are dipping their toes into tech; in fact, the small-cap focused IWM's put/call ratio had fallen below the 1.0 threshold as of Friday, according to Prybal.
It's rare for this options indicator to drop to such extreme lows -- and while SPY has lost ground lately, in terms of inflows, to lower-cost competitors like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), it's still dominant in terms of options activity. As of Friday, total open interest on IVV was fewer than 7,600 contracts, and VOO hasn't quite mustered 5,200 contracts in total open interest. Meanwhile, there are no fewer than 18 million-plus puts and calls open on SPY. So, presuming that traders who proactively choose to save their pennies on ETF fees would most likely opt to do the same when it comes to option bid/ask spreads, it looks like the extremely liquid SPY options market is still the place to be for those looking to hedge long equity exposure.
Given the anomalous reading earlier this month, Prybal ran the numbers to see how the SPX fares going forward after the SPY/IWM/QQQ put/call ratio breaks below 1.50 (eliminating for some redundant signals). There have been only 10 occurrences since 2008, and it's interesting to note the timing of prior signals: in late November 2008, as lame-duck lawmakers on Capitol Hill haggled over an automaker bailout in the first waves of the financial crisis; in March 2009, just days after what would prove to be the S&P bear-market bottom; in October and November 2018, right as global stocks were crushed by a quarter-long sell-off; and in May 2019, amid a month-long bout of weakness for equities we likely remember all too well at this point.
Lows like this in the SPY/IWM/QQQ put/call ratio don't always coincide with bruising price action for the S&P, though. Signals also flashed as the S&P was reaching new highs in December 2013, May 2015, and December 2017.
There are few clear takeaways from the S&P's average returns after these signals, as the performance has been considerably mixed (with long-term results skewed heavily to the bullish end of the spectrum by the November 2008 and March 2009 occurrences). But given the laundry list of price extremes with which these prior SPY/IWM/QQQ put/call ratio extreme lows have coincided, these volatility stats are worth mentioning: Following previous dips in this ratio below 1.50, the S&P's standard deviation of returns has been 10.1% at three months out, 13.9% after six months, and 22.7% at 12 months. All three figures outstrip the comparable "anytime" readings of 7.9%, 11.9%, and 15.2%, respectively -- pointing to the possibility for another bout of heightened equity volatility just in time for the fourth quarter.
Subscribers to Bernie Schaeffer's Chart of the Week received this commentary on Sunday, July 28.