We’re trimming our portfolio a little further, and adding a healthy new financial stock to the Dividend Growth Tier.

We’re adding what we believe can be a leading glamour stock of the bull market. Elsewhere in tonight’s issue, we write about the recent long-term breakout by Chinese stocks.

Tonight’s Stock of the Week is little known among investors, but it has a national brand name and an excellent cookie cutter growth story. The stock recently reacted well to earnings and has tightened up a bit; we think the next big move is up.

Current Market Outlook


It’s the last week of August, and that means that many big investors (and more than a few small investors!) are at the beach and volume remains relatively light. Last week, though, was generally constructive for the market, but at this point, not much has really changed—the intermediate-term trend of the major indexes is sideways-to-down, the broad market is iffy and few stocks are pushing higher with any consistency. That’s not to say the bears are completely in control, either, but we continue to think a cautious stance makes sense—limiting new buying and holding some cash, but also giving your strong, profitable holdings a chance to catch their breath and resume their longer-term upmoves. We’re keeping the Market Monitor at a level 5 tonight.

Tonight’s list definitely has a more diverse feel to it, with a couple of materials stocks and some special situations. Our Top Pick is Alcoa (AA), which could morph into a leader if the recent strength in materials stocks is sustained. Shares just broke out from a nice base; try to buy on dips.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
58.com (WUBA)	0.00	61-65	54-56
Alcoa (AA)	0.00	40-42.5	36.5-37.5
Alexion (ALXN)	0.00	134-139	125-128
Autodesk (ADSK)	229.00	109-113	103-105
CyrusOne Inc (CONE)	0.00	60-62.5	56-57.5
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV)	0.00	38-40	35-36
Southern Copper (SCCO)	0.00	39.5-41.5	37-38
Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN)	52.50	42-44.5	38.5-39.5
Westlake Chemical Corp. (WLK)	0.00	71.5-74	67-68.5
Yelp (YELP)	41.30	40-43	36.5-38

While U.S. indexes have been choppy-to-down during the past few weeks, emerging market stocks remain in good shape and our Emerging Markets Timer is positive. Our new recommendation tonight looks like one of the best ways to play the general boom in electric vehicle production in the years ahead.

Our pick this week is a resilient stock with great growth, a reasonable valuation and is part of a sector that\'s holding up well. We think it offers both low risk and solid returns, especially once the market resumes its longer-term advance.

Current Market Outlook


The repeated bouts of heavy-volume selling have driven the major indexes below their key 50-day moving averages, and that’s a clear sign that the bulls are not in control. We’re moving our Market Monitor down to a level 5 and advise you to hold a good chunk of cash on the sideline, cut back on new buying (keep any new positions much smaller than normal) and honor your stops. None of this is to say that we’re bearish—it’s certainly possible the market snaps back, as there’s plenty of pessimism and many liquid leaders are holding up well. But after weeks of sloppy action and distribution, the odds favor further downside in the near-term, and we’ll need to see a few strong days before concluding the overall uptrend is resuming.

This week’s list, though, has a bunch of resilient growth-oriented names, which is encouraging. Our Top Pick is DXC Technology (DXC), which is the product of a recent merger and sports giant cash flow.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Abiomed (ABMD)	0.00	148-152	139-141
Alibaba (BABA)	254.81	156-166	145-150
DXC Technology (DXC)	0.00	82-84	76.5-78
Insulet (PODD)	175.69	52.5-54.5	48.5-50
Kite Pharma (KITE)	0.00	120-127	105-109
Realpage (RP)	0.00	40-42	37-38
Red Hat (RHT)	0.00	99-102	94.5-95.5
Salesforce.com (CRM)	0.00	89.5-92	84-85
Stamps.com (STMP)	0.00	198-210	177-184
Weibo (WB)	98.16	85-89	77-79

In tonight’s issue we write about one stock that’s at the top of our Watch List, as well as the value of letting a stock make decisions for you. We also give you our latest thoughts on the market, our stocks and some new ideas.

It’s the same basic market story as it has been for the last four months. Technology is floundering while other sectors are killing it. But a couple of events occurring this week could potentially change the dynamic.

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.

While the overall market is still in decent shape, there’s no question that growth stocks are being crushed across the board. We’re selling two stocks that have broken down on big volume. That will leave us with nearly 50% in cash.

Sell GM. General Motor’s EPS is now expected to grow less than 1% in 2017, so an expectation of additional capital gains is unrealistic in the foreseeable future. Plus updates on BorgWarner (BWA) and Quanta Services (PWR).

WellCare Health Plans (WCG) is up $50 (60%) since joining the Growth Portfolio in October 2015, and I’m thinking the stock is way overdue for a pullback. Today, I’m pulling the plug on WCG. Sell.

Updates on Dollar Tree (DLTR), Big Lots (BIG ), GameStop (GME) and Carnival (CCL).

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.