SteadyTapeQuantitative Market Research

Defensive Breadth

Defensive breadth at 0% — defensives broadly lagging SPY (risk-on / bullish regime). Median 1 year forward: +14.9%. Risk-on: defensives lagging is a bull-market hallmark.

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% of defensive sector groups (staples, utilities, healthcare, REITs) beating SPY over a rolling 63-day window — a risk-on / risk-off regime gauge.

Defensive Breadth
0%
<10%
RS Spread
-10.3%
defensive − SPY 63d
Risk-On 1Y Med
+14.9%
88% win
As of
2026-06-05

When to run this study

Run daily. Gauges risk-on vs risk-off by how many defensive sector groups are beating SPY over the last 63 days. Below 10% = defensives broadly lagging (bullish/risk-on); above 80% = defensives leading (risk-off warning, the 2022 bear setup).

Historical results

Forward SPY returns by defensive-breadth band

Defensive Breadth BandN (days)1M Win%1M Med3M Win%3M Med6M Win%6M Med1Y Win%1Y Med
<10%141668.901.68734.0584.207.648814.94
10-80%2693691.5175.503.8976.707.1583.2014.46
>80%119763.201.7369.204.5370.606.3578.5015.03