As of this writing, major indices are getting closer and closer to their all-time highs (ATHs) from July 10 and July 16 (S&P 500 and S&P 400, respectively). The only major index that has bounced enough to reclaim ATH territory is the NYSE Composite, probably due to the minor 5.6% pullback the index saw in the second half of July and early August. The S&P 500 (SPX) is within 1% of its July 16 all-time closing high of 5,667.20 and remains on its 'V' shaped formation and trajectory. The Chande Trend Meter is back up to 83%, indicating a strong and strengthening trend; the Vortex Indicator is close to bullish territory; the 14-day Relative Strength index is back above the midline 50% level; the daily MACD is back in positive territory; and the 21-day rate-of-change has cycled back into bullish territory after dropping into negative territory at the start of August. Some 75% of SPX stocks are above their key 200-day average, while 73% (up from 44% on August 5) are above their 50-day. More impressive, the more-concentrated S&P 100 (OEX) is showing 83% of its stocks above their 200-day average, up from a recent 65%. Both the SPX and OEX advance-decline (AD) lines have surged to ATHs prior to price; historically, that has been very bullish for at least the intermediate-term period. The Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) is 4.5% from its ATH near 503 and its AD line has posted an ATH prior to price. Some 71% of QQQ issues are above their 200-day, up from 44% just 10 days ago, while the percentage above the 50-day has jumped to 61% from 29% on August 7.

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pervasive technology in the Healthcare sector. Companies have been adopting AI in medical imaging, drug discovery, documentation, and administration. In medical imaging and diagnostics, AI is advancing rapidly in the detection of tumors, infections, and fractures. In drug discovery, vast data sets are being used to identify potential drugs to treat disease and predict their efficacy. AI also can improve trial design and create treatments for a wider range of people, including those with rare diseases. The technology also has helped to create more-efficient methods for documenting medical information with Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). ASR enables voice-to-text technology and increases the productivity of medical staff by nearly 10%. For administrative tasks, AI has streamlined billing, scheduling, and fraud detection (a major issue that raises medical expenses for consumers). Here is a list of Argus BUY-rated Healthcare stocks that are leaders in the use of AI.

In this edition, Grab Holdings worth grabbing now; examining medical-device makers' moat; a hard look at software makers' moat; and Vesync, Macy's, and Travelers Companies.

In this edition, Grab Holdings worth grabbing now; examining medical-device makers' moat; a hard look at software makers' moat; and Vesync, Macy's, and Travelers Companies.

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.

At midday Wednesday, the major benchmarks are not making any big moves as investors appear to consider the next move for the artificial intelligence market leaders. Also Wall Street is waiting to see what happens with several big news events coming up in the next few days. The first U.S. Presidential debate is tomorrow and highly-anticipated inflation data, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, is due Friday morning.

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.

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.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, rebounding from Wednesday's sell-off following a slightly better-than-expected PPI reading. This week's initial jobless claims were 211,000, down from last week's revised 222,000 and below the four-week moving average. Ongoing unemployment ticked up 28,000 from the prior week's revised level to 1,817,000, and is above the four-week moving average. The Nasdaq (up 1.7%) closed at a record high. The S&P 500 closed up 0.7% while the Dow closed just below the flatline.

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.

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.

Management's ability to "raise guidance" can often be a catalyst for market-beating returns in the quarters ahead. The fourth-quarter earnings season has crossed the 95% mark and is wrapping up, with blended earnings (actual results and the consensus for those still to report) showing a year-over-year gain of almost 10%, according to Refinitiv. That is considerably better than the 4%-7% advance expected at the start of the earnings period. Leading the outperformance were strong gains in Communication Services earnings, up 53%. On the flipside, Energy (like last quarter) is performing the worst, down 22%. Our analysts are always on the lookout for companies that boost their outlooks during earnings season. Here is an initial list of BUY-rated companies in Argus' Fundamental Universe of Coverage at which management raised guidance or increased its outlook during the 4Q23 EPS reporting season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this edition, analyzing new bank regulatory proposals; PFA may shake up atrial fibrillation ablation market; CEO change at Dollar General may make sense to frustrated investors; and Microsoft, Wells Fargo, and Anta Sports Products.

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.

Monday Tee Up: Inflation and Costco

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.

Stocks recouped some of their recent losses on Friday morning following the government's July employment report. The Labor Department said that the U.S. economy added 187,000 payroll jobs in July, up from a revised 185,000 in June but below the Reuters consensus of 200,000. The unemployment rate ticked lower to 3.5% from 3.6% in June, and wage growth was stronger than expected. Average hourly earnings rose 4.4% from the prior year, above the consensus forecast of 4.2%. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 0.6%, and the Nasdaq 0.8%. Crude oil rose 1% to $82.50 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1977 per ounce.

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.

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 S&P 500 (SPX) slightly exceeded the top of its bullish channel on June 15, but sold off on Friday and is back inside the channel. A sustained break above the channel brings the next key area of resistance into play, as a 78.6% retracement of the bear-market low is at 4,535. Chart resistance from the March 2022 high is at 4,628.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is red-hot on Wall Street. Microsoft's ChatGBT and Nvidia's super-fast chips are driving the massive computational power behind AI and getting most of the attention. But companies in the Healthcare sector have been using AI for years and offer another path for investing in AI. Our below list, provided by Senior Healthcare Analyst David Toung, looks at some of the BUY-rated Healthcare companies in our coverage universe that stand out for their use of AI. By no means is this survey as complete listing of how AI is used in healthcare - but here are the BUY-rated Healthcare companies under coverage at Argus Research that we highlight today.

The S&P 500 (SPX) is struggling to break resistance in the 4,200 region (in hopes of getting back to the August 2022 highs and the key 61.8% retracement of the bear market just above 4,300). We keep coming back to the potential pattern off the October lows. Remember that developing patterns and formations mean absolutely nothing until they are completed and confirmed. So the grizzled chartist must never jump the gun, as failed patterns are just as important -- if not more important -- than completed chart formations.

In our commentary on Wednesday, we noted that if the S&P 500 (SPX) lost initial support in the 4,070 area (which it subsequently did by a minor amount), the next cluster of support was down at 4,030. That is where the flat 50-day moving average sits, and is a minor 38.2% retracement of the rally off the March low.

The major indices were little changed on Friday morning, as gains in the Consumer Discretionary and Staples sectors were offset by declines in Financials, Energy, and Materials. On the earnings front, Procter & Gamble shares rose more than 3% after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal 3Q earnings, helped by price increases and strong sales of new products, and raised its full-year sales forecast. Hospital operator HCA Healthcare also rose 5% after reporting strong 1Q results and raising its sales and earnings guidance. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P fell 0.1% and the Nasdaq was flat. Crude oil rose to $78 per barrel, while gold dropped $31 to $1988 per ounce.

Stocks fell sharply on Thursday as stronger-than-expected labor market data pointed to continued tight monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. Payroll provider ADP said that U.S. companies added 235,000 jobs in December, up from 182,000 a month earlier and well above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 150,000. Meanwhile, the Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 19,000 to 204,000 for the week ended December 31, below the consensus of 225,000. The data came ahead of the government's December employment report on Friday morning. The consensus calls for the addition of 200,000 new payroll jobs, down from 263,000 in November. The Dow fell 1.02%, the S&P 1.16%, and the Nasdaq 1.47%. Crude oil traded near $74 per barrel, while gold fell to $1838 per ounce.

Stocks fell sharply on Wednesday morning, putting a quick end to the two-day rally. OPEC+ countries agreed to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day, despite U.S. pressure to maintain production, sending prices higher. Twitter shares fell 2% after jumping 22% on Tuesday on news that Elon Musk would revive his deal to purchase the company for $44 billion. On the employment front, payroll provider ADP said that U.S. private employers added 208,000 jobs in September, up from a revised 185,000 in August and above the consensus forecast of 200,000. The Dow fell 0.9%, the S&P 1.2%, and the Nasdaq 1.8%. Crude oil rose nearly 2% to $88 per barrel, while gold fell $12 to $1718 per ounce.

Stocks pared sharp early losses on Wednesday morning after more hot inflation data. The Labor Department reported that its consumer price index rose 9.1% from the prior year in June, up from 8.6% in May and above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 8.8%. The CPI excluding food and energy rose 5.9% last month. This was down slightly from 6.0% growth in May but above the consensus of 5.7%. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $97 per barrel, while gold rose $16 to $1741 per ounce.

Our rating on the Healthcare sector is Over-Weight. Consumers are now more willing to spend on lifestyle enhancements along with necessary spending on life-saving treatments. In addition, the survival of the Affordable Care Act has kept the ranks of insured U.S. citizens above the historical average, further increasing consumer spending on healthcare services and products. Meanwhile, companies with experience in diagnostic testing, vaccines, and antiviral medicines, as well as suppliers of protective equipment and other hospital products, should benefit from efforts to contain the pandemic. The sector accounts for 13.7% of the S&P 500, and includes companies in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services, and insurance industries. The sector is outperforming the market thus far in 2022, with a gain of 1.3% through early April, while the S&P 500 has declined 6%. The following are examples of how we use our analysts' Healthcare sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios. All stocks are rated BUY at Argus.

This edition features ESG pitfalls amid mineral resources, the outflow of nurses from the healthcare industry, growth in agriculture, and Liberty Global, Sanofi, and BT Group.

Stocks fell on Wednesday morning, giving back some of Tuesday's gains as investors continued to weigh the potential for more aggressive Fed rate hikes. Housing data was weaker than expected. The Commerce Department said that sales of new single-family homes fell 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 772,000 units in February, down from a revised 788,000 in January and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 801,000. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil jumped 5% to $115 per barrel, while gold rose $11 to $1932 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Wednesday morning, giving back some of Tuesday's gains as investors continued to weigh the potential for more aggressive Fed rate hikes. Housing data was weaker than expected. The Commerce Department said that sales of new single-family homes fell 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 772,000 units in February, down from a revised 788,000 in January and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 801,000. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil jumped 5% to $115 per barrel, while gold rose $11 to $1932 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.

Stocks gave up most of their early gains on Friday morning amid more signs of accelerating inflation. The Labor Department reported that U.S. consumer prices rose 6.8% year-over-year in November, up from 6.2% in October but in line with the consensus estimate. The core CPI, excluding food and energy costs, also rose 4.9% last month, up from 4.6% in October. On the earnings front, Oracle shares jumped 13% after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal 2Q earnings and issued strong guidance for the current quarter. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 0.1%. Crude oil rose 1% to $71.50 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1784 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Thursday after terrorist attacks at the Kabul airport killed at least 12 U.S. soldiers along with scores of Afghan civilians. Investors were also cautious ahead of a speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, which may provide further clues about the Fed's timeline for tapering bond purchases. Earlier in the day, the Commerce Department reported that GDP rose at a 6.6% annualized rate in 2Q, up slightly from its previous estimate but below the consensus forecast. U.S. GDP rose at a 6.3% rate in 1Q. On the employment front, both first-time and continuing unemployment claims rose slightly from the prior week and were above consensus forecasts. The Dow fell 0.54%, the S&P 0.58%, and the Nasdaq 0.64%. Crude oil fell about 1% to $68 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1794 per ounce.

Inflation Fears Shadow Reopening: Our Monthly Survey of the Economy, Interest Rates, and Markets

Stocks fell on Wednesday morning as investors weighed new retail sales and producer price data, and awaited the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting. The Commerce Department reported that U.S. retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 5.3% in January, up from a decline of 1.0% in December and well above the Reuters consensus forecast of 1.1% growth. The Labor Department said that its producer price index rose 1.3% in January, up from 0.3% in December and the strongest gain since December 2009. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P 0.6%, and the Nasdaq 1.2%. Crude oil traded near $60 per barrel, while gold fell $18 to $1781 per ounce.

This edition features the year ahead for the coronavirus vaccine; spinal cord stimulation innovation; the Democratic wins in Georgia and the impact on our coverage; and notes from Molson Coors, Intel, and new coverage Exact Sciences.

Here comes earnings season...and there goes volume from the insider transaction data reported each week by Vickers Stock Research. Corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners are broadly prohibited from trading over the next several weeks, this while the companies at which they work reveal to the rest of the world how well (or not) things are going heading in the final stretch of 2020. Trading volume notwithstanding, things don't look so bad considering the laundry list of reasons why any investor (executive or otherwise) might be on edge at the moment.

Here comes earnings season...and there goes volume from the insider transaction data reported each week by Vickers Stock Research. Corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners are broadly prohibited from trading over the next several weeks, this while the companies at which they work reveal to the rest of the world how well (or not) things are going heading in the final stretch of 2020. Trading volume notwithstanding, things don't look so bad considering the laundry list of reasons why any investor (executive or otherwise) might be on edge at the moment.

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.

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.