Small- and mid-cap stocks (SMID), despite bursts of outperformance, have underperformed large-caps year to date - as they have over the past five years. But they may be in a better position to generate market-beating returns going forward. SMID companies tend to focus on domestic markets, so their businesses could be less disrupted by the fallout from unrest in the Middle East, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, issues in China, or other geopolitical developments. As well, the prices of SMID stocks generally are lower than the prices of large-caps. SMID stocks can be risky, but despite those risks, diversified investors look to have exposure to small- and mid-caps based on the long-term performance record. We estimate that 20% of the U.S. stock market's capitalization is comprised of SMID stocks.

Viavi Solutions is a provider of both hardware-based and software-based network services. Viavi's core business is network and service enablement, which includes test & measurement, network visibility, service assurance, and related capabilities. Viavi also contains Optical Specialty Products, which after several asset dispositions focuses mainly on currency-authentication solutions. In August 2015, Viavi began trading under the VIAV ticker after spinning off JDSU's former CCOP business into Lumentum Inc.

On Tuesday, stocks passed their first test of the week with flying colors after a better-than-expected PPI print. The S&P 500 (SPX) popped 1.7%, the Nasdaq ripped higher by 2.4%, and the Nasdaq 100 jumped 2.5%. The indices are close to turning a number of short- to -intermediate-term technical indicators back to bullish, and quickly. It is now clear that the big downside reversal and weak close on August 7 was one of those nasty fake-out days that are so often seen at intermediate-term bottoms and tops. Technicians love these fake-out days and love even more that the reversal from recent panic lows is taking the shape of a 'V,' a favorite technical bottom (NOT!). From August 7 through August 13, the SPX jumped 4.5%, the biggest four-day gain since early November 2023, when the market was emerging from the July-to-October pullback. Since August 6, the index has seen daily gains of 1%, 2.3%, and 1.7%, which is pretty impressive. The bear flags that we thought might be developing on the major indices were blown up on Tuesday although we still might be working on a bearish wedge. But for that to happen, stocks would need to turn down very quickly. The SPX has climbed back above its 21-day exponential moving average (EMA) after losing it on August 1, and the five-day/13-day EMA crossover is very close to turning back to bullish as the index approached both a 61.8% retrace and the 50-day (which are in the 5,452 to 5,460 region). The four-day pop for the Nasdaq 100 is 6.4%, the best such run since November 2022 when the ETF (QQQ) was bottoming. The five-/13-day EMA cross is close to turning bullish, the momentum downtrend has been busted, and a 50% take-back at 463.50 is very near.

Viavi Solutions is a provider of both hardware-based and software-based network services. Viavi's core business is network and service enablement, which includes test & measurement, network visibility, service assurance, and related capabilities. Viavi also contains Optical Specialty Products, which after several asset dispositions focuses mainly on currency-authentication solutions. In August 2015, Viavi began trading under the VIAV ticker after spinning off JDSU's former CCOP business into Lumentum Inc.