This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Global stocks are gaining, if not at the pace of domestic equities. While the S&P 500 has risen 17% year to date, the EAFA index of large- and mid-cap stocks based in countries other than the U.S. and Canada has gained 9.5%. Over the past five years, the performance gap has been wider, with the S&P 500 advancing 94% compared to a 32% gain in EAFE. But the underperformance has given global stocks a valuation advantage, particularly in the area of dividends. Consider that the EAFE dividend yield of 2.9% is 170 basis points higher than the comparable S&P 500 dividend yield. We think global dividend stocks now offer opportunity, particularly given the endless speculation over the direction of interest rates in the U.S., which has created market-timing headaches for equity income investors, who have endured recent wide swings in prices for rate-sensitive equity in areas such as utilities, REITs and MLPs. In our view, investing in international income stocks is one way to increase portfolio diversification while reducing sensitivity to volatile U.S. interest rates. Investing in overseas stocks carries its own set of risks, including the impact of currency exchange and geopolitical turmoil. But there are also a number of positives in this asset class for U.S. investors, including a wide selection of companies that pay dividends, robust industry diversification, and, as we have mentioned, higher yields and lower valuations. Argus has recently boosted its global coverage, and recommends the following international dividend stocks, each of which has at least a long-term BUY rating from an Argus analyst. Note this list of approximately 25-30 companies offers exposure to eight of the 11 major industrial sectors. The list includes companies from 10 countries.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Earnings news is the big driver today. All the action is mostly in individual stocks reacting to whether last quarter was positive or negative, plus any intel on outlook. The major indices are muted though small caps are showing momentum higher.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) rebounded to its 21-day exponential average and a 50% retracement of the recent pullback on Friday, April 26, and then stalled. As long as the index does not make a lower low, the next and more-important resistance is the breakdown level up at 435 -- which is also a 61.8% retracement and the location of the 50-day moving average. The two most-common pullbacks are a three-wave and a five-wave decline. It is still unclear what is currently in play, but we would lean toward a new pullback low.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Early last year, the consensus belief had the economy headed toward a recession and the Federal Reserve needing to be aggressive with interest-rate cuts to prevent significant weakness in GDP. As 2023 progressed, the recession callers backed off as the economy kept its footing after the huge hike in the fed funds rate as well as the entire Treasury curve. And while inflation came down a lot faster than may thought, it did so without a concurrent weakening in the economy.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Global stocks are picking up the pace. While the S&P 500 has jumped almost 11% in the past month, the EAFA index of large- and mid-cap stocks based in countries other than the U.S. and Canada has risen 10%. Over the past six years, the performance gap has been wider, with the S&P 500 advancing 12% compared to a 7% gain for the EAFE. But the underperformance has given global stocks a valuation advantage, particularly in the area of dividends. The EAFE dividend yield of 2.4% is 80 basis points higher than the comparable S&P 500 dividend yield. We think global dividend stocks now offer opportunity, particularly given the endless speculation over the direction of interest rates in the U.S., which has created market-timing headaches for equity income investors. Those investors have endured recent wide swings in prices for rate-sensitive equity sectors such as Utilities, REITs and MLPs. In our view, investing in international income stocks is one way to increase portfolio diversification while reducing sensitivity to volatile U.S interest rates. Investing in overseas stocks carries its own set of risks, including the impact of currency exchange and geopolitical turmoil. But there are also a number of positives in this asset class for U.S. investors, including a wide selection of companies that pay dividends, robust industry diversification, and, as we have mentioned, higher yields and lower valuations. Argus has recently boosted its global coverage, and recommends the following international dividend stocks, each of which has at least a long-term HOLD rating from an Argus analyst.

Monday Tee Up: Walmart and CPI

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

We had some reversion to the mean last week, although it was just a blip on the broader radar. The Nasdaq 100 gave back 0.9% and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%, while the Russell 2000 gained 1.5%, the S&P 500 Equal Weight tacked on 1.4%, and the S&P MidCap 400 added 1.2%. The NYSE Fang Plus Index (10 stocks with equal weighting, including AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, TSLA) fell 3.3%. But don't fret, the index is still up 74% in 2023.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Stocks fell sharply on Tuesday morning, led by declines in regional bank stocks. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the U.S. government could run out of funding by June 1, earlier than previously expected, if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling. Employment data pointed to a cooling labor market. In its monthly JOLTS survey, the Labor Department said that U.S. job openings dropped to 9.59 million on the last day of March, below the Reuters consensus forecast of 9.78 million and the third straight monthly decline. The Dow fell 1.6%, the S&P 1.6%, and the Nasdaq 1.4%. Crude oil traded near $72 per barrel, while gold jumped $26 to $2018 per ounce.

We recently raised our rating on the Technology sector to Over-Weight from Market-Weight. As interest rates start to fall, IT demand in enterprise and data center markets is holding up. And mounting interest in ChatGPT could herald the age of AI, which could be a huge industry driver. Over the long term, we expect the Technology sector to benefit from pervasive digitization across the economy, greater acceptance of transformative technologies, and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Healthy company and sector fundamentals are also positive. For individual companies, these include high cash levels, low debt, and broad international business exposure. The sector is outperforming the market thus far in 2023, with a gain of 12.4%. Tech underperformed the market in 2022, with a loss of 28.9%, and outperformed in 2021, with a gain of 33.4%. The P/E ratio on projected 2023 earnings is 23, above the market multiple. Earnings are expected to grow 14.5% in 2023 after having fallen 3.3% in 2022. Earnings rose 37.9% in 2021 and 7.7% in 2020. The sector's debt ratios are below the market average, as is the average dividend yield of 0.5%. Here is how we use our analysts' Technology sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios.

In this edition, semiconductor chips are simultaneously in shortage and in surplus; the European banking system will be fine; technology fights back against financial criminals; and Barry Callebaut, Fineos, and Domino's Pizza.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are Raytheon Teches Corporatio (RTX); Biogen Inc (BIIB); Coca-Cola Co (KO); Shopify Inc (SHOP) and the Focus List deletions are Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL); General Dynamics Corp. (GD); AbbVie Inc (ABBV); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI).

Global stocks are on a run. While the S&P 500 has jumped almost 8% year-to-date, The EAFA Index of large- and mid-cap stocks based in countries other than the U.S. and Canada has risen 9%. Over the past six months, foreign stocks also have outperformed, climbing 11% versus a 1% decline by the U.S. market. The story is different over the past five years, as the S&P 500 has risen 50% and global stocks have fallen 1%. Even so, the long outperformance has given global stocks a valuation advantage, particularly in the area of dividends. The EAFE dividend yield of 2.7% is 100 basis points higher than the comparable S&P 500 dividend yield. We think global dividend stocks now offer opportunity, particularly given the endless speculation over the direction of interest rates in the U.S., which has created market-timing headaches for equity income investors - who have endured recent wide swings in prices for rate-sensitive equity sectors such as utilities, REITs and MLPs. In our view, investing in international income stocks is one way to increase portfolio diversification while reducing sensitivity to volatile U.S. interest rates. Investing in overseas stocks carries its own set of risks, including the impact of currency exchange and geopolitical turmoil. But there are also a number of positives in this asset class for U.S. investors, including a wide selection, robust industry diversification, and, as we have mentioned, higher yields and lower valuations. Argus recently boosted its global coverage, and recommends the following international dividend stocks, each of which has at least a long-term BUY rating from an Argus analyst. This list of approximately 25 companies offers exposure to eight of the 11 major industrial sectors. The list includes companies from 10 countries.

Stocks rose on Tuesday morning as investors weighed earnings reports from General Motors, Pfizer, and McDonald's, and awaited the Fed's interest rate announcement on Wednesday. GM shares jumped 7% after the automaker posted much better than expected 4Q sales and earnings. On the inflation front, new data pointed to slower growth in labor costs. The Labor Department said that its employment cost index rose 1.0% in 4Q, down from 1.2% growth in 3Q and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 1.1% growth. The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.9%. Crude oil rose 1% to $79 per barrel, while gold rose $5 to $1944 per ounce.

Argus has published its latest Portfolio Selector, which features its popular Focus List. Each month, Director of Research Jim Kelleher, CFA, surveys the team of Argus Research industry analysts for their timeliest recommendations out of the company's fundamental universe of approximately 500 stocks. The Focus List typically includes 30 stocks: turnover is high, as Jim typically adds three or four new stocks per month. Below are the latest additions, all of which are rated BUY at Argus.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Equinix Inc (EQIX); HubSpot Inc (HUBS); Honeywell International Inc (HON) and the Focus List deletions are Flex Ltd (FLEX); Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST); AECOM (ACM); Splunk Inc (SPLK).

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Equinix Inc (EQIX); HubSpot Inc (HUBS); Honeywell International Inc (HON) and the Focus List deletions are Flex Ltd (FLEX); Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST); AECOM (ACM); Splunk Inc (SPLK).

October, as it has been many times in the past, was a wild month -- and at least a short-term bear killer. The month started out great and then the major indices fell off a small cliff and declined to new bear-market lows. But stocks had an amazing bullish reversal on October 13 and have been grinding nicely higher ever since. While it's a start, we are a long way from putting the bear fully into hibernation, despite the calendar's turn toward colder weather.

Last week was the busiest of the quarter for earnings, with many sharp stock-price moves following above- or below-consensus results or changes in guidance. Through July 26, Refinitiv noted that 133 S&P 500 companies had reported earnings, with 76% beating expectations, above the long-term average of 66%. The blended (actual for those reporting and consensus for those still to report) growth rate is 6.2%, near the 5.6% expectation and indicating the "beats" have not been robust. But the sour mood coming into the quarter is being greeted with relief that profit shortfalls and lowered guidance are not rampant. Our analysts always look for companies that boost outlooks during earnings season. Raising guidance can be a catalyst for strong returns in the quarters ahead. Here is an initial list of BUY-rated companies in Argus coverage with raised guidance or increased outlooks during the 2Q22 EPS reporting season.

As of the close on July 25, the major indices were sitting at key short-term spots -- either at recent breakout areas or just above. The S&P 500 fell back to its breakout area near 3,950 and was just above its 50-day average. The Nasdaq was slightly above its breakout at 11,700 and a few hundred points above its 50-day. The QQQs were above the breakout point at 297; the S&P MidCap 400 was very close to breakout; and the Russell 2000 had pulled right back to key short-term chart support.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are SVB Financial Group (SIVB); Splunk Inc (SPLK); Flex Ltd (FLEX); TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) and the Focus List deletions are Discover Financial Services (DFS); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Target Corp (TGT); Sempra Energy (SRE); Cloudflare Inc (NET).

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are SVB Financial Group (SIVB); Splunk Inc (SPLK); Flex Ltd (FLEX); TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) and the Focus List deletions are Discover Financial Services (DFS); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Target Corp (TGT); Sempra Energy (SRE); Cloudflare Inc (NET).

Stocks plunged on Thursday morning, reversing Wednesday's strong Fed-driven rally. In his post-announcement press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that additional 50-basis-point rate hikes 'would be on the table,' but reassured investors that Fed officials were not discussing greater one-time hikes of 75 basis points. Mr. Powell acknowledged that inflation was 'much too high' and said that the Fed was 'moving expeditiously to bring it back down.' The Dow fell 2.6%, the S&P 3.0%, and the Nasdaq 4.1%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $109 per barrel, while gold rose $20 to $1889 per ounce.

Stocks fluctuated on Wednesday morning following new employment data and earnings reports from a range of major companies. Payroll provider ADP said that U.S. private sector jobs fell by 301,000 in January, down from an increase of 776,000 in December. The reading was below the consensus forecast, which called for the addition of 180,000 jobs, and was the first decline since December 2020. Alphabet shares rose more than 6% after the company posted better-than-expected 4Q sales and earnings and announced a 20-for-1 stock split. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq was flat. Crude oil traded near $88 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1809 per ounce.

Argus has published its latest Portfolio Selector, which features its popular Focus List. Each month, Director of Research Jim Kelleher, CFA, surveys the team of Argus Research industry analysts for their timeliest recommendations out of the company's fundamental universe of approximately 500 stocks. The Focus List typically includes 30 stocks: turnover is high, as Director of Research Kelleher typically adds three or four new stocks per month. Below are the latest additions, all of which are rated BUY at Argus.

The U.S. housing market has boosted the economic recovery from the pandemic. Still, some statistics have fallen from recent highs and we no longer anticipate the housing sector will be a strong driver of above-trend GDP growth in upcoming quarters. The National Association of Realtors recently reported that existing home sales in September totaled 6.3 million at a seasonally adjusted annual rate -- well above 3.9 million in May 2020 but down from 6.7 million in October 2020. The Commerce Department reported that new one-family homes were selling at an 800,000/year rate in September -- again, up from the pandemic depths, but down from January 2021. A similar story exists in a leading indicator for the industry, housing permits. According to the Census Bureau, permits were being authorized in September at a 1.6 million rate -- better than 1.1 million in April 2020 but down from 1.9 million in January 2021. While most indicators have cooled, prices have not. The S&P/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index for August showed that prices gained 19.8% year-over-year (the highest gain in 15 years). High prices have loosened housing inventories: currently there is a 5.7-month supply of existing homes for sale, while the average range is 4.5-7.5 months. On the other side of the pandemic, demand for homes -- with yards between neighbors and plenty of space -- should be solid, but the strong growth of the past few quarters likely will cool.

The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are Host Hotels & Resorts Inc (HST); NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI); Western Digital Corp. (WDC); IQVIA Holdings Inc (IQV); American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP) and the Focus List deletions are Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY); Dell Technologies Inc (DELL); Qorvo Inc (QRVO); Anthem Inc (ANTM).

The S&P 500 and the broad market closed a terrific week with a Friday surge following positive employment data. The "500" finished at yet another all-time high.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

The market ain't afraida' no ghosts, and stocks sailed into Halloween weekend flying high on a witch's broom. The S&P 500, assigned to Dracula's coffin in September, rose up to reach an all-time intra-day high at 4,608 on October 29 before finishing the session an all-time closing high of 4,605.

Stocks gave up most of their early gains on Thursday but still finished in positive territory, with the S&P and the Nasdaq at record levels. Employment data was positive, as first-time jobless claims fell to 340,000, below the consensus forecast and the lowest level since March 2020. Continuing claims fell to 2.748 million, also down from the prior week and below consensus. The data came ahead of the government's August employment report on Friday morning. The Bloomberg consensus calls for the addition of 725,000 new payroll jobs after an increase of 943,000 in July, and a decrease in the unemployment rate to 5.2%. The Dow rose 0.37%, the S&P 0.28%, and the Nasdaq 0.14%. Crude oil rose to nearly $70 per barrel, while gold fell $4 to $1812 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.