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Investing.com -- Utilities have emerged as the highest-ranking sector globally, according to a UBS note assessing equity themes.
The firm noted that "Utilities is now the highest ranking sector broadly across regions according to our scorecard."
UBS uses its REVS framework—which evaluates stock themes based on the macroeconomic regime (R), the operating environment for earnings (E), the market assessment of valuations (V), and sentiment (S)—to identify top investment opportunities.
According to the note, European equities remain strong, particularly in sectors like defense and electrification.
UBS stated, "EU Defense Spending and EU Electrification appear at the top of our thematic rankings," with defense stocks benefiting from "recent big fiscal announcements."
The firm highlighted BAE Systems (LON:BAES) and Thales (EPA:TCFP) SA as standout names that still offer attractive valuation scores.
UBS also noted that EU Luxury Goods is currently the highest-ranking theme overall but expressed skepticism about its sustainability.
The report explained, "This seems to be an overreaction to less than great earnings revisions along with shifts in positioning."
In the U.S., Consumer Cyclicals remain a top-scoring theme, driven by "positive earnings revisions and below average crowding," according to the bank.
Key names cited include Live Nation, VF Corp (NYSE:VFC), Deckers Outdoor (NYSE:DECK), and General Motors (NYSE:GM). Conversely, U.S. Low Income Consumer stocks ranked among the worst due to weak earnings and macroeconomic conditions.
Beyond sector rankings, UBS identified Spain, Germany, and Italy as attractive country exposures, while Mexico and Brazil scored lowest among emerging markets.
With Utilities leading the global sector rankings, UBS suggests investors focus on the evolving macro environment and thematic trends to navigate market opportunities.
