In the video below Fool.com editor Austin Smith reacts to a recent Factset earnings report which outlines one huge trend that's creating headaches for blue chips: a slowing global economy.
Blue-chip stocks became a sought-after, safe haven for investor's money after the recession, which pushed share prices to above-average valuations. By nature of being enormous companies, most of these investments have had to set their sights on international markets for any meaningful growth, but that's a strategy suited better for another time.
Today, we're seeing weakness from Europe, a slowdown in China and other BRIC nations, and a strengthening dollar. While this creates an undeniable headwind for some of these mega-cap companies, if you take a big step back you'll see opportunity for the patient investor.