Strategist gives tips on what to watch for in August
Stocks and Markets Podcast: Strategist gives tips on what to watch for in August originally appeared on TheStreet.
This article is based on TheStreet’s Stock & Markets Podcast. Hosted by the veteran Wall Street investor Chris Versace, the weekly podcasts are available early to members of TheStreetPro investing club.
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Well, in that case, you’d better hurry up
Summer is starting to wind down, and some investors might be feeling a little uncertain right about now.
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter 💰💵
But this has historically been a less-than-stellar time for the stock market, and Jay Woods, chief global strategist with Freedom Capital Markets, said that August and September are two of the market’s worst performing months.
“You go back the last 15 years to 2011, August and September have been down more than they’ve been up,” he said. “September, in fact, is a losing month over that time. So, we’re seeing this seasonal pattern of weakness.”
“Weird things happen in August,” Woods added. “I don’t know why.”
Jay Woods, chief global strategist with Freedom Capital Markets, says seasonal factors are lining up,
Woods shared his insights with Chris Versace, columnist and lead manager of TheStreet Pro portfolio during the Aug. 6 edition of TheStreet’s Stock & Markets Podcast, as he discussed what stocks and sectors investors should buy and avoid in the month that has been called summer’s last stand.
Stock have had big run since bottoming in April, Versace noted.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has risen 32.2% from the low. The Nasdaq Composite Index is up 45% in the same time period.
“We’re about two thirds of the way through the earnings season,” Versace added. “Earnings have been, by and large, better than expected. But we’re entering that time of the year known to many as August. Seasonally slow. Not the strongest time of the year.”
More Economic Analysis:
Woods believes the market is in a “garden variety pullback” that happens in August and September.
“So, as a technician that follows price action, the seasonal factors are lining up, too,” Woods said. “I think you want to get ready to buy some of these dips, especially in the strongest names. So you stay, you go to the beach for a little while. You come back, and see where the opportunities are.”
Technology and financials are doing okay now, Woods said, “and that’s going to take this market higher.”
💥💥Follow TheStreet’s Stocks & Markets Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Don’t miss the move!💥💥
Woods said that he is watching software giant Microsoft (MSFT) , which he noted had stellar earnings, but then peaked at $555 on July 31 and has since reversed.
“Microsoft did exactly what Nvidia (NVDA) did,” he said, referring to the AI chipmaker. “It hasn’t had a sideways action in quite some time. So, we’re in a digestive phase right now in this market. And it’s not just Microsoft. Look at Meta (META) , look at a lot of these names that had tremendous runs.”
Woods also discussed areas to avoid, including pharmaceuticals and materials.
President Donald Trump has escalated his demands that pharma companies lower U.S. drug prices in line with what other countries pay.
Related: Stocks and Markets Podcast: Prairie Operating CEO on energy business
“Pharma is getting hit,” he said. “The drug makers don’t know what to do here because what he wants to do is get comparable pricing in the U.S. To our European counterparts, you and I, this is fantastic. But to the drug makers, to the shareholders of these stocks, this is going to hurt their margins dramatically.”
Woods also warned about staples, including companies like Procter & Gamble (PG) , Clorox (CLX) , and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) .
“Overall, we’re talking about those household, everyday items that we need,” he said. “It’s going to be tough because their margins are going to get hit, and it’s going to come back to us. And then the consumer is going to get a little more selective.”
Woods said the only winners in this case are “cheap retail stocks” like Dollar General (DG) and Dollar Tree (DLTR) .
Stocks in the materials sector “are a little wonky,” he said, as some mining-related companies have done well, such as gold producer Newmont Corp. (NEM) , but companies like Sherwin-Williams (SHW) and Dow (DOW) have struggled.
“They warned, and they warned again after lowering the bar a quarter ago,” Woods said. “So these stocks are in the penalty box for now. And you’re not going to get a nice bang for your buck at these levels. It’s going to take a little while for them to turn around.”
He said that the market is in a period of uncertainty after a tremendous run.
“What do we do after we have a tremendous run?” he asked. “We digest those gains. We consolidate. I do not think we’re on the verge of a bear market or recession, but there are some data points that have my antenna up. And if the data changes, if price changes, then I’ll change my tune.”
Woods said that he is okay with a little pullback right now, and “I think we’re going to be set up to have a strong fourth quarter and finish 2025 at or near all time highs.”
Related: The stock market is being led by a new group of winners
Stocks and Markets Podcast: Strategist gives tips on what to watch for in August first appeared on TheStreet on Aug 9, 2025
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
