Issues
There’s little doubt the news has gotten worse, with the U.S. debt downgrade, renewed U.S-China trade tensions, another hike in steel tariffs announced last week and a big pickup in war uncertainty over the weekend … but so far, the market has handled itself decently, with some wobbles (mostly among the broad market) but overall a quiet-ish consolidation compared to the recent run-up. To be fair, that can always change, but given everything, we’re pleased with the action thus far. We’ll again leave our Market Monitor at a level 7 as we wait to see which way the market breaks from this tight range.
This week’s list has a ton of overall strong charts with recent tightness, just like the market. Our Top Pick is a steadily growing emerging blue chip in the software space that just left behind an endless consolidation with a powerful earnings gap.
This week’s list has a ton of overall strong charts with recent tightness, just like the market. Our Top Pick is a steadily growing emerging blue chip in the software space that just left behind an endless consolidation with a powerful earnings gap.
The market has become a bit stagnant and boring. After the last few months we’ve had, boring is good. So today, we lean into the boring theme by adding a “boring” stock to the portfolio. It’s a mid-cap insurance company that Tyler Laundon recommended to his Cabot Early Opportunities audience last month. It may be boring, but like the market, it has plenty of upside in the near term.
Details inside.
Details inside.
Coming off a losing week two weeks ago, the indexes mostly regained that lost ground last week as the S&P 500 gained 1.9%, the Dow advanced 1.6% and the Nasdaq rallied 2%.
Coming off a losing week two weeks ago, the indexes mostly regained that lost ground last week as the S&P 500 gained 1.9%, the Dow advanced 1.6% and the Nasdaq rallied 2%.
The market has handled itself well during the past couple of weeks, consolidating normally, with our intermediate-term indicators still positive, which is all to the good. Still, leadership remains somewhat lacking and, while coming close, our Cabot Trend Lines are still negative, so we’re content to take things step by step while waiting for more institutional-quality names to get going. Tonight, we are extending our line a bit more, but will hold onto a 36% cash position and want to see added upside confirmation before we put too much more money to work.
The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved the nomination of Terrance Cole to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The full Senate may vote on Cole’s confirmation as soon as early June.
This could be the start of a significant turning point for cannabis stocks. That’s because Cole will address a Biden-era proposal to move cannabis to Schedule III from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The change would significantly enhance cannabis company cash flow by neutralizing an IRS rule that bars operating expense deductions against revenue from the sale of Schedule I substances.
The full Senate may vote on Cole’s confirmation as soon as early June.
This could be the start of a significant turning point for cannabis stocks. That’s because Cole will address a Biden-era proposal to move cannabis to Schedule III from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The change would significantly enhance cannabis company cash flow by neutralizing an IRS rule that bars operating expense deductions against revenue from the sale of Schedule I substances.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber (GT) is no stranger to veteran subscribers of the Cabot Turnaround Letter. The stock was initially recommended in 2022 and was a long-time holding in the portfolio. I made the decision to sell the stock when I took over as chief analyst last summer, which at the time seemed like a good idea.
Indeed, the stock had been underperforming for quite some time, and management had just warned of “weaker underlying trends in the industry” for the second half of 2024, augmented by lower tire volume and higher costs. The stock dropped 16% to a new 52-week low at that time (early August) and was threatening to break a benchmark “support” level in its long-term chart, while the firm’s debt remained disturbingly high.
Indeed, the stock had been underperforming for quite some time, and management had just warned of “weaker underlying trends in the industry” for the second half of 2024, augmented by lower tire volume and higher costs. The stock dropped 16% to a new 52-week low at that time (early August) and was threatening to break a benchmark “support” level in its long-term chart, while the firm’s debt remained disturbingly high.
After a big rally, the market had earned the right to retrench a bit, and that came about last week after stocks were hit with a few “bad” news items, starting with the downgrade of U.S. debt, followed by a new high in longer-term (30-year) Treasury rates and capped by a threat of higher tariffs on Europe.
Those tariff worries eased over the weekend and in reaction the S&P 500 gained 2% on Tuesday.
Those tariff worries eased over the weekend and in reaction the S&P 500 gained 2% on Tuesday.
It’s been a wild market so far this year. The S&P 500 has gone from the cusp of a bear market to within 5% of the all-time high in just seven weeks.
Uncertainty remains. A negative development could still roil the market on any day. Negotiations will likely take more twists and turns in the weeks and months ahead. But investors appear, at this point, to believe that the tariff situation won’t blow up. The fear of Armageddon is being removed.
But there’s still the economy. It could gain steam or slow toward recession. We are in a place, at least for a while, where anything can happen. It’s tough to pick a horse amid such varying possibilities. Fortunately, there is a trend to bank on that will thrive regardless of the near-term gyrations of the market or economy.
Artificial intelligence is a massive growth catalyst that will endure and thrive in any environment. Investors temporarily forgot all about it. It’s a generational phenomenon that hasn’t gone away. It just took a break. Now, those stocks are soaring back.
In this issue, I highlight a stock that is likely to benefit in the months and years ahead. It is still well off the high with good momentum and has a huge catalyst for growth in the months and years ahead.
Uncertainty remains. A negative development could still roil the market on any day. Negotiations will likely take more twists and turns in the weeks and months ahead. But investors appear, at this point, to believe that the tariff situation won’t blow up. The fear of Armageddon is being removed.
But there’s still the economy. It could gain steam or slow toward recession. We are in a place, at least for a while, where anything can happen. It’s tough to pick a horse amid such varying possibilities. Fortunately, there is a trend to bank on that will thrive regardless of the near-term gyrations of the market or economy.
Artificial intelligence is a massive growth catalyst that will endure and thrive in any environment. Investors temporarily forgot all about it. It’s a generational phenomenon that hasn’t gone away. It just took a break. Now, those stocks are soaring back.
In this issue, I highlight a stock that is likely to benefit in the months and years ahead. It is still well off the high with good momentum and has a huge catalyst for growth in the months and years ahead.
After a big rally, the market had earned the right to retrench a bit, and that came about last week. Still, the action has been normal thus far, with most indexes and stocks losing ground but doing so relatively grudgingly while remaining north of key support. Of course, we’re still dealing with a thinner batch of leadership, as relatively few stocks are hitting virgin turf and there’s already a good number of smaller, more speculative names moving. Even so, we’re taking things on a step-by-step basis, and it’s been so far, so good for the rally—we’ll leave our Market Monitor at a level 7 and see how things go.
This week’s list has something for everyone, though again, most are either showing great strength (often after earnings) or pulling back normally after big recoveries. Our Top Pick has stormed back on record volume as earnings blew away estimates.
This week’s list has something for everyone, though again, most are either showing great strength (often after earnings) or pulling back normally after big recoveries. Our Top Pick has stormed back on record volume as earnings blew away estimates.
Stocks took a bit of a breather this week after weeks of positive gains fueled by tariff deals and pauses, sinking inflation and a very strong Q1 earnings season. Which way the market goes from here may depend on the headlines, but also on whether the bulls have the appetite for another big push to new highs. One area of the market we know is working? Precious metals. Gold has attracted most of the attention. But silver is starting to play catch-up. So today, we add a high-upside silver play via Cabot Explorer Chief Analyst Carl Delfeld.
Details inside.
Details inside.
As I do periodically over long holiday weekends, I stepped away from the “typical” Monday morning update and spent time with the family. Here is a shorter version of usual weekly update, focused entirely on our current open positions.
Updates
The year 2024 was another great year for stocks. The S&P was up over 23% for the year. It’s a nice addition to the 26% return last year. It is the first back-to-back 20%-plus return years for the index since 1998.
But the year ended on a sour note. Usually, good years in the market finish strong. But not this time. True, the S&P 500 was down less than 2% in December. But that’s only because the big tech companies are still doing okay. The rest of the market had a terrible month.
But the year ended on a sour note. Usually, good years in the market finish strong. But not this time. True, the S&P 500 was down less than 2% in December. But that’s only because the big tech companies are still doing okay. The rest of the market had a terrible month.
It was a rare rough December for stocks.
Sure, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were down just over 2%, propped up as usual by enduring strength in the Magnificent Seven. But the losses were far greater in almost every other corner of the market, with 10 of the 11 major sectors declining, small caps tumbling nearly 8%, value stocks off by more than 6%, and energy and materials stocks retreating by double digits.
Sure, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were down just over 2%, propped up as usual by enduring strength in the Magnificent Seven. But the losses were far greater in almost every other corner of the market, with 10 of the 11 major sectors declining, small caps tumbling nearly 8%, value stocks off by more than 6%, and energy and materials stocks retreating by double digits.
And we were having such a good time. Stocks were killing it in November after the election. But December turned out to be a real stinker.
Sure, the S&P 500 is only down about 1% over the past month. But that’s only because the big tech companies are still doing okay. The rest of the market is getting slapped around. Eight of the eleven S&P sectors are down in December. And many individual stocks are having a terrible month.
Sure, the S&P 500 is only down about 1% over the past month. But that’s only because the big tech companies are still doing okay. The rest of the market is getting slapped around. Eight of the eleven S&P sectors are down in December. And many individual stocks are having a terrible month.
In today’s note, we discuss developments and institutional ratings upgrades for some of the stocks in the portfolio, including Fidelity National Information (FIS), Paramount Global (PARA) and Starbucks (SBUX).
The famed “Santa Claus Rally” is underway and, assuming a successful conclusion, portends a bullish early part of the coming New Year.
The famed “Santa Claus Rally” is underway and, assuming a successful conclusion, portends a bullish early part of the coming New Year.
It was a better year for value stocks, as the Vanguard Value Index Fund (VTV) is up 14.6% year to date with just a few days still to go in 2024. Barring a complete implosion this week, it will be the best year for the VTV since 2021 and the third best in the last decade. That’s good … but the last decade is quite the grim comparison.
It’s a busy and short Christmas week and like many of you, I was doing last-minute shopping and preparing to visit family.
Therefore, this is a brief update and instead of the usual stock-by-stock update, I can summarize as follows.
Therefore, this is a brief update and instead of the usual stock-by-stock update, I can summarize as follows.
In today’s note, we discuss developments and institutional ratings upgrades for some of the stocks in the portfolio, including Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM), Atlassian (TEAM), GE Aerospace (GE), SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) and Starbucks (SBUX).
First and foremost, all of us here at Cabot wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Just a heads up that we’ll be publishing our last issue of Growth Investor this year next Thursday (December 26).
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WHAT TO DO NOW: Remain close to shore. Given the huge run, elevated sentiment and some cracks in growth stocks, we pared back fairly aggressively a couple of weeks ago, coming into this week with 37% in cash. And today we’re paring back further as the under-the-hood selling has come to the surface this week—we’ll take the rest of our profit in Cava (CAVA) and cut our loss in ProShares Russell 2000 Fund (UWM), which will leave us with around half in cash. Details below.
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WHAT TO DO NOW: Remain close to shore. Given the huge run, elevated sentiment and some cracks in growth stocks, we pared back fairly aggressively a couple of weeks ago, coming into this week with 37% in cash. And today we’re paring back further as the under-the-hood selling has come to the surface this week—we’ll take the rest of our profit in Cava (CAVA) and cut our loss in ProShares Russell 2000 Fund (UWM), which will leave us with around half in cash. Details below.
Note: Due to the Christmas holiday, there will be no Cabot Small-Cap Confidential update next week. Happy holidays!
In last week’s update I spoke about the potential for a market retreat early in 2025 given that investors are sitting on sizeable paper profits, and selling after December 31 would allow them to postpone capital gains taxes.
My projection may have been off by a week and a half.
In last week’s update I spoke about the potential for a market retreat early in 2025 given that investors are sitting on sizeable paper profits, and selling after December 31 would allow them to postpone capital gains taxes.
My projection may have been off by a week and a half.
The Dow is in a tailspin.
After Wednesday’s Fed-ignited selloff, the 118-year-old index has now fallen for 10 consecutive days – its longest string of down days since 1974. Prior to yesterday, the index hadn’t fallen much during the first nine days of this losing streak, down just 3.47%; but yesterday’s 2.58% decline stretched those losses to an even 6%. So what once was a modest pullback is now hurtling toward a correction.
After Wednesday’s Fed-ignited selloff, the 118-year-old index has now fallen for 10 consecutive days – its longest string of down days since 1974. Prior to yesterday, the index hadn’t fallen much during the first nine days of this losing streak, down just 3.47%; but yesterday’s 2.58% decline stretched those losses to an even 6%. So what once was a modest pullback is now hurtling toward a correction.
It looks like the election euphoria has run out of gas. The market has digested the election and is now back to business as usual.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost ground for nine consecutive sessions. Most of the S&P 500 sectors have been down over the past month. Of course, the S&P is still within a whisker of the high. It hasn’t pulled back. But it hasn’t gone up in a while either.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost ground for nine consecutive sessions. Most of the S&P 500 sectors have been down over the past month. Of course, the S&P is still within a whisker of the high. It hasn’t pulled back. But it hasn’t gone up in a while either.
Quick Note: Due to the Christmas holiday, you will receive the next Cabot Turnaround Letter issue a week early, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
In today’s note, we discuss a number of positive developments and bullish outlooks for several of our portfolio positions, including American Airlines (AAL), SLB Ltd. (SLB), the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) and Super Hi International Holding (HDL).
In today’s note, we discuss a number of positive developments and bullish outlooks for several of our portfolio positions, including American Airlines (AAL), SLB Ltd. (SLB), the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) and Super Hi International Holding (HDL).
Alerts
WHAT TO DO NOW: Do a little more selling. We’re seeing another round of selling in growth stocks, with some more abnormal action among a few names. To be fair, most of the action is mixed at this point, whether looking at the overall market (Tides on the fence, etc.) or individual stocks, but the increasing number of air pockets out there has us paring back a bit more today—we’re going to sell one-third of AppLovin (APP), which is our largest position, as well as cut bait on Toast (TOST), which is our biggest loser. Our cash position will now be around 36%.
WHAT TO DO NOW: The market’s rally has run into trouble, and while there are more than a few growth stocks that look fine (if not great), air pockets are reappearing in many issues. Today, Nutanix (NTNX), which looked picture-perfect heading into its earnings report, is getting mauled along with most other software stocks. We’re going to sell the rest of our stake today, thinking today’s meltdown after a prolonged run isn’t likely to lead to good things in the intermediate term. We’ll have more details (and likely other changes) in tonight’s issue of Cabot Growth Investor.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Remain bullish, but continue to prune weak names and hold/buy stronger ones. In the Model Portfolio, we’re letting go of the rest of our small position in DraftKings (DKNG), which is breaking down further today after bad news on the tax front. We’ll hold the cash for the moment, leaving us with around 28% on the sideline.
Cannabis sector negativity and weakness persists, so the group continues to be a buy.
Now it is time to continue to average in at current prices, ahead of the next catalyst-induced move up.
Now it is time to continue to average in at current prices, ahead of the next catalyst-induced move up.
Back on May 8, I suggested getting long cannabis as a contrarian trade because sentiment had turned dark, and there was a potential catalyst on the horizon.
Today, a whopping eight Profit Booster positions will expire. Most are “slam-dunk,” full-profit trades, while others will go down to the wire.
The big takeaway, before we dive in, is we are going to let the situation play itself out, and come Monday/Tuesday of next week we will revisit our profits, as well as how we will manage the remaining positions.
The big takeaway, before we dive in, is we are going to let the situation play itself out, and come Monday/Tuesday of next week we will revisit our profits, as well as how we will manage the remaining positions.
Portfolios
An updated portfolio for Cabot Options Institute – Income Trader
An updated portfolio for Cabot Options Institute – Fundamentals: All-Weather Portfolio
An updated portfolio for Cabot Options Institute – Income Trader
An updated portfolio for Cabot Options Institute – Quant Trader
Strategy
A few Cabot Options Trader subscribers have asked me about ways to protect gains in their portfolios, so I thought I would write to everyone with a couple of strategies using options to hedge your portfolio.
A subscriber recently asked me if I keep a journal of my trades. Many traders keep journals so they can look back at their trades and evaluate what they did right and what they did wrong.
Want to know how the big institutional investors use options? Here is an example of how one trader spent $132 million on three technology stocks.
Options trading has its own vernacular. To know how to do it, you need to know what every options term means. Here are some of the basics.
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.