Blog — 18 Nov, 2021
Insight Weekly: Soaring food prices; bankruptcies reach new low; insurtech M&A to accelerate
By Jasim Zahid
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In this edition, we take a close look at the rising food prices in the U.S. with analysts not anticipating a peak until well into 2023 at least. The food at home segment of the consumer price index, which represents what consumers pay for groceries, jumped 4.5% year-over-year in September, the highest increase since August 2020. Several factors are contributing to the run-up in grocery bills, including labor shortages as millions of Americans remain reluctant to return to work with no significant changes foreseen anytime soon.
Corporate bankruptcies have fallen to historic lows this year, thanks to open capital markets and a flood of liquidity keeping businesses afloat through the pandemic. A total of 364 cases were filed in the first 10 months of 2021, lower than any of the prior 11 years and a drastic fall from the Great Recession era, when thousands of companies sought court protection each year.
Lemonade Inc.'s purchase of Metromile Inc. could accelerate merger activity in the U.S. insurtech space, given a string of lackluster stock performances from newly public startups. Another potential M&A catalyst is that still-private insurtech startups might want to sell rather than go public, fearing a tepid reception from public market investors.
US Food Prices in Focus
Despite hot job market, millions reluctant to return to workforce
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.6% in October, its lowest point since March 2020, but the labor participation rate — how many workers in the population are in the job market — remained at 61.6%.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US food prices soar with no end in sight
Grocery prices are on track to rise between 2.5% and 3.5% this year, largely driven so far by surging beef and veal prices, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. The agency forecasts prices will rise in 2022 by up to 2.5%.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Deep Dives
In-depth features looking at the impact of major news developments in key industries.
Financials
18 US bank stocks traded at least 20% below analyst price targets in October
Meanwhile, eight U.S. banks and thrifts are already trading above analysts' consensus one-year price targets, as of Oct. 29, the last trading day of the month.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US banks taper securities buys in Q3 as some wait for higher rates
Cash built up at roughly twice the pace of securities in the third quarter among big U.S. banks as a slump in rates during the period kept many on the sidelines.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Several US banks continued to cut restaurant exposure in Q3
The majority of banks with outstanding exposure to restaurants of more than $100 million as of Sept. 30 recorded quarter-over-quarter decreases in their exposure, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Credit union-bank M&A wave stokes community bankers' animus
The growing friction between banks and credit unions presents a dilemma for selling banks: accept what could be the highest bid or take a principled stand against credit union offers.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US corporate bankruptcies reach new low in 2021
Low borrowing costs are helping companies avoid restructuring, but rising inflation could present challenges moving forward.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Insurance
Proposed roof rules could help Progressive stem rapid Florida homeowners growth
The insurer is seeking to reduce the share of residential property premiums it obtains from catastrophe-prone states like Florida and Texas after the business generated a 125.1% combined ratio through the first three quarters of 2021.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Credit and Markets
Fed's taper plan hammers odds of near-term interest-rate hike
The market has placed higher odds on a rate hike in summer 2022. The central bank, meanwhile, will be patient, Chairman Jerome Powell said.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US may be spared worst of global economic slowdown
Inflation, supply chain bottlenecks and the delta wave of the coronavirus have restrained global economic growth, but strong consumption means the U.S. is better positioned to rebound than others.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US House passes infrastructure package, sending bill to Biden's desk
The legislation, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed late Nov. 5, could ease permitting of major transmission projects and contains billions of dollars for grid infrastructure, electric vehicle deployment and hydrogen hubs.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Analysts and investors welcome GE breakup, see upside for energy spinoff
"This business possesses a unique offering with the world's most powerful wind turbines and most efficient gas turbines, as well as technology to modernize and digitize the grid," CEO Larry Culp said about the energy spinoff scheduled for 2024.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Gas utilities expand renewable natural gas project investments in Q3
U.S. gas distribution executives provided updates on existing renewable natural gas projects, announced new investments, and explained how they planned to enter the growing market for pipeline-quality biogas processed from methane waste.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Fintech
20 US fintech stocks traded at least 50% below analyst price targets in October
EverQuote Inc. had the greatest implied upside in the industry at 201.5% as of Oct. 29, the last trading day of the month.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Solving labor, last-mile delivery key to Amazon's 1-day shipping ambitions
The company must finish building out last-mile capacity closer to customers' homes and attract workers to deliver goods within a one-day window.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Metals and Mining
EU's steel supply chain to face extra scrutiny under new US trade rules
A melt-and-pour policy in a recent U.S.-EU trade agreement over steel imports will be a crucial new requirement for steel products to achieve tariff-free status.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Lithium, nickel, uranium hits propel top Q3'21 small cap share price gains
The share price moves came amid strong base and energy metals markets, with prices for industrial metals on the climb in recent months.
— Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
The Week in M&A
Bank M&A 2021 Deal Tracker: 2 October megadeals send 2021 deal value above $58B
Read full article
Allegiance Bancshares, CBTX highlight benefits of scale in MOE; stocks pop
Read full article
Umpqua, Columbia deal could require divestitures in 9 counties
Read full article
Royal Bafokeng Platinum in deal with Northam as Impala's takeover collapses
Read full article
McAfee's going-private deal 'reasonable valued' in hot security M&A landscape
The Big Number
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