Emerging market stocks aren’t doing all that well, but Chinese ADRs are showing considerable strength. That’s the bad-news/good-news summary of today’s commentary. And the theme continues in today’s issue, where we’re adding a stock that has been on a breakout run since the middle of May. Our timing wasn’t right when we took our first position in the stock in late 2017, but the recent rally is offering us a second chance, if we can get the timing right. For the tantalizing details, read on!

The market has gotten “exciting” again, for better or worse. In today’s issue we’re making lemonade from lemons, adding a medical REIT to the high yield tier.

Over the past few weeks, the market has given us a bunch of presents—and now the market is trying to take some of our presents away. But this should come as no surprise. The only “surprise” is what excuse the media finds to pin the blame on, whether it’s China or Russia or Italy or interest rates or Trump or simply an economy that’s too good to last.
I’ll leave the finger-pointing to someone else. Instead, I’ll keep picking high-potential stocks and managing the portfolio to maximize gain and minimize risk.

Current Market Outlook


There’s been a bunch of news during the past few trading days, including this morning’s revelation that a likely autumn Italian election could threaten the euro, as well as continued China trade shenanigans, both of which attracted sellers. Today’s move did put a dent in a couple of indexes—the NYSE Composite’s intermediate-term green light went up in smoke, for instance—but the other indexes continue to hold most of their early May gains. Much more selling from here could put a fork in this rally, so our antennae are up. But right here, we are still leaning bullish though we are knocking our Market Monitor down a notch. Thus, continue to hold your resilient performers, but don’t forget to take some partial profits when you have them and hold some cash until the buyers truly take control.

This week’s list has an array of ideas from various corners of the market. Our Top Pick is Carpenter Technologies (CRS), a specialty metals firm with huge earnings estimates and whose stock is hitting new highs.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Carpenter Technology (CRS)	53.25	56.5-58.5	51-53
Foundation Medicine (FMI)	136.68	88-92	80-82
iQIYI (IQ)	0.00	21.5-22.5	19-19.5
Lululemon Athletica (LULU)	304.69	100-104	93-96
Macy’s, Inc. (M)	36.36	33-35	30-31
Micron Technology, Inc. (MU)	43.31	59-62	52-54
PBF Energy (PBF)	38.93	42-45	38-39.5
Turtle Beach (HEAR)	26.70	14.5-17	11-12.5
WTW (WTW)	100.47	76.5-79.5	70-72
ZTO Express (ZTO)	28.84	19.5-21	17.5-18.2

Here is your summer issue of Cabot’s 10 Best Marijuana Stocks, with updates on the industry as a whole as well as all the important fundamental developments regarding the stocks in the portfolio.

In general, I remain very bullish on the marijuana sector long-term. I’m impressed by both the creativity demonstrated by the management of these companies, and the appetite for investment in the sector, by both individual investors and private equity. The future is bright.

The market has done a good job of holding its strong early-May upmove, and that’s kept both of our trend-following market timing indicators in positive territory. That said, what we really want to see going forward is upside follow through from the major indexes and leading growth stocks, which would go a long way toward telling us the three-month correction is over.

Surprisingly good earnings reports boosted many stocks in our portfolios in recent weeks, and the same factor has turned the trends of the major indexes favorable; it’s good to be invested.
But we must never grow complacent, and one way I reduce risk in the Cabot Stock of the Week portfolio is by diversifying by both industry group and investment style.
This week’s recommendation, for example, is a growth stock; it was originally recommended by Mike Cintolo in Cabot Top Ten Trader. But it’s in an industry that’s generally regarded as conservative, and where stocks are usually appraised on a value basis. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Current Market Outlook


The market had a relatively quiet week, with the major indexes slipping a fraction of a percent on light volume and most leading stocks marking time after solid advances the prior two weeks. So far, this action is totally acceptable, but the key will be what happens from here—a couple of large, high-volume selloffs would put a serious dent in the rally, but upside follow through in the indexes and many leading growth stocks would go a long way toward confirming that the January-May market correction is over. For now, we advise sticking with a “lean bullish” mentality; we’re OK doing some buying, but also picking your spots and holding some cash as we look for follow through. Our Market Monitor remains unchanged.

This week’s list has a ton of strong stocks in a variety of growth-oriented sectors. Our Top Pick is LPL Financial (LPLA), a mid-sized Bull Market stock that is acting very well and recently crushed earnings expectations.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
51job, Inc. (JOBS)	0.00	99-103	92-94
Baozun (BZUN)	44.24	51-53	46.5-47.5
Carvana (CVNA)	82.90	25.5-27.5	23-24.5
Illumina Inc. (ILMN)	289.74	260-270	244-249
Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND)	267.14	181-188	169-172
LPL Financial Holdings (LPLA)	85.22	69-72	63-65
Penn National Gaming (PENN)	45.38	33.5-35	30.5-31.5
SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (SEDG)	124.37	64-67	58-60
Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN)	52.50	53-56	48-49.5
WildHorse Resource (WRD)	0.00	25-27	21.5-22.5

For value-focused investors, this year’s prologue has been a welcome change from the turmoil experienced in early 2025.

In just the past few weeks, some of last year’s most ignored or underappreciated laggards have posted outsized gains, with rallies that have made even momentum-driven tech stock traders envious. Even more remarkable is the fact that much of that strength has been concentrated in ultra-defensive areas of the market like consumer staples, utilities and healthcare.

The market rotation continues to be the main story out there this week, though rumblings of a potential strike on Iran, an update from the January FOMC meeting, and a slew of earnings reports and economic data releases have been giving investors plenty to think about.

In terms of the rotation, the equal‑weight S&P 500 ETF (RSP) is up 5.5% so far this year, illustrating that leadership is broadening beyond the narrow group of mega‑cap stocks that drove much of last year’s performance.

Year to date, the S&P 600 SmallCap Index is up 8.3% and the S&P 400 Mid‑Cap Index is up 7.9%. Both are comfortably outperforming the S&P 500, which is up just 0.1%, and the Nasdaq, which is down 2.1%.

Happy Chinese New Year! The year of the horse is upon us.

China is expecting an incredible 9.5 billion trips to be made during the 40-day Lunar New Year travel period. Chinese automakers are also on the move as the country’s numerous brands sold nearly 200,000 vehicles in Britain last year, doubling their market share to almost 10%.

As U.S. investors have shifted from risk-on to risk-off mode in recent months, a clear disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” has materialized.

Let’s start with the “have-nots.” Financials have fared the worst so far this year (-4.7%), followed by technology (-3.1%), communication services and consumer discretionary (-2.8% each). The downturn in the two tech-related sectors in particular is a stark departure from recent years, when technology led the charge of the current bull market.

Cyclical stocks are soaring and technology is floundering in the transformed market.

The bull market is turned upside down. For most of the first three years, technology, and particularly AI stocks, soared while most other stocks did very little. Now, previously meandering stocks are killing it while technology sinks.

Strong fourth-quarter earnings are confirming what the market was already doing.

Current estimates based on earnings reported so far are for 13.2% overall S&P earnings growth for the quarter. It’s a solid quarter and the fifth straight quarter of double-digit earnings growth. In terms of sector performance, cyclical companies are killing it, and technology is floundering, just like before earnings.

Like many coffee aficionados, I have something of a love/hate relationship with Starbucks (SBUX). My main gripe is that the company’s food and beverage offerings have always been pricey compared to the fare served in most fast-food restaurants and run-of-the-mill coffee houses.

The outperformance of small caps continues.

Through Tuesday’s close, the S&P 600 is up 10% year to date versus just 1.6% for the S&P 500.

All but three small-cap sectors are outperforming their large-cap counterpart. The strongest small-cap sectors are materials (+20%), energy (+23%), industrials (+17%), and tech (+11.4%).

Let’s talk about the power of staying invested.

Sure, when the market turns south – and I’m not even sure last week’s mini-dip qualifies – it makes sense to pare back on your weakest stocks and put a larger portion of your portfolio in cash. But taking your ball and going home – selling out of all of your stocks when times are tough – is not a winning strategy. Here’s why.

NOTE: We’re sending this a day early as I’m soon to embark on a trip with the kiddos over the next week. I will be working a good amount from the road, though, and will have updates if need be. Also, next week’s issue will be published as scheduled.

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WHAT TO DO NOW: The market remains very mixed, with growth measures still generally pointed sideways to down, while the broad market remains in solid shape. What’s interesting, though, is that we’re seeing more growth stocks kick into gear, along with some huge buying action in a few “cyclical growth” names. Tonight we’re making one move—adding a half-sized stake in Macom Tech (MTSI)—but are keeping our eyes open for a broader character change among growth stocks. Our cash position will be around 53%.

Today could be a big day for cannabis stocks.

The reason: We may get an important update on the rescheduling timeline.

Cannabis investors will be watching closely today to see whether Attorney General Pam Bondi offers a rescheduling update when she appears before the House Judiciary Committee. Upbeat comments could spark a sharp cannabis sector rally. The hearing starts at 10 a.m. EST.

I’m excited to share a couple of enhancements to Cabot Early Opportunities —improvements designed to sharpen our focus and better help you stay on top of the stocks we own.

Celanese Corp. (CE 96.80) reached its Minimum Sell Price of 96.66 today, June 19.

As shares of one of our financial services companies approach long-term price resistance, I’m moving the stock from Strong Buy to Hold, simply because there’s less capital gain potential in the near-term.

Our first idea is an industrial company that clobbered estimates for eight consecutive quarters.

Our second recommendation is some great profit-taking on a previous selection.

Three analysts have raised their earnings estimates for this tech company in the past month, and Wall Street is predicting double-digit growth for the next five years.

One of our stocks moves from Buy to Hold. The company cut the dividend and is implementing a new business plan. The outlook is positive.

We’re starting to see a little uptick in trading ranges, especially among our technology stocks. Given that market risks seem to be on the rise and there is some rotation out of tech stocks (at least for the moment), I’m advising that you take partial profits in two of our outperforming software positions today. Plus, I suggest stepping away from one underperforming position.

Our first idea is a medical device company that is growing at a double-digit rate. The shares are rated ‘Strong Buy’ by Zack’s, citing the company’s growth and rising estimates.

Our second recommendation is a sale of a previous idea.

This medical device company beat analysts’ estimates by $0.07 last quarter.

This pool-based business beat analysts’ estimates by $0.12 last quarter.

For the first time in months, we’re seeing a few signs of abnormal action from a variety of growth stocks, though on a positive note, few have actually broken down through key support.

Our Cabot Top Ten Trader’s market timing system consists of two parts—one based on the action of three select, growth-oriented market indexes, and the other based on the action of the fast-moving stocks Cabot Top Ten features.