There is no sugar-coating it, the market, led by the Nasdaq which has fallen for six straight trading sessions, had a bad week. By week’s end, the S&P 500 fell 4%, the Dow lost 1%, and the Nasdaq dropped 6.2%.

The market has definitively changed character, with our Cabot Tides and Two-Second Indicator now negative—when combined with breakdowns among leading growth stocks, the odds favor more short-term weakness ahead. We’ve been holding some cash for a while and have boosted that this week, with 37% on the sideline, and we could raise more if the selling continues.

That said, we’re not aiming to hide out in our bunkers--following some short-term pain, the odds favor further long-term gains given the underlying trend and the lack of big-picture abnormal action out there. Thus, having taken partial profits in many names, we’re OK giving them a chance to find support, as some are likely to have another leg up after this downturn. In tonight’s issue, we’re moving a couple more stocks to Hold, hanging onto our cash and writing about many names that are taking the selling in stride and could have upside if the market finds its footing.

In the April Issue of Cabot Early Opportunities we take heed of the market’s recent volatility by digging into a wider-than-normal range of emerging opportunities.

We have gold mining, AI website development tools, healthy fast-casual dining and a few things in between!

As always, there should be something for everybody.

Risk off was the theme last week as traders are once again worried about sticky inflation, and now there is growing fear of further war in the Middle East. And while those are two big worries, big picture it wasn’t a terrible week for the indexes as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both fell 1.6%, while the Dow lost 2.36%

After weeks of churning and choppy action, last week finally brought some “real” negative headlines that kicked the fear level up a few notches. As always, what’s more important to us is the market’s reaction to the news, and at this point, the intermediate-term advance is on the fence, with most indexes testing their 50-day lines and with more and more leaders doing the same. Big picture, it’s hardly a disaster, but we continue to be a little cautious, being selective on the buy side and holding some cash. We’ll pull down our Market Monitor to a level 6.

This week’s list has something for everyone, with growth, crypto, commodities and all types of potential setups. Our Top Pick is a smaller outfit with a great story—and it’s one of the few stocks that’s shown big-volume buying in recent days.

The first real market turbulence of 2024 has arrived. But you don’t have to fear it. Pullbacks are normal – no bull market simply goes up in perpetuity – and, in the long run, healthy. It’s best to use it as an opportunity to cleanse your portfolio of some laggards and buy good companies at better prices. We check both of those boxes in today’s issue, adding an up-and-coming retail cookie-cutter story that’s a new favorite of Cabot Growth Investor Chief Analyst Mike Cintolo. Mike loves the upside, and buying on the recent dip makes it even more attractive.

Risk off was the theme last week as traders are once again worried about sticky inflation, and now there is growing fear of further war in the Middle East. And while those are two big worries, big picture it wasn’t a terrible week for the indexes as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both fell 1.6%, while the Dow lost 2.36%

Risk off was the theme last week as traders are once again worried about sticky inflation, and now there is growing fear of further war in the Middle East. And while those are two big worries, big picture it wasn’t a terrible week for the indexes as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both fell 1.6%, while the Dow lost 2.36%

It was more of the same for the markets this past month—some momentum, but ultimately, we ended up in just about the same place.

Investors are a little gun-shy as most were expecting Fed rate cuts to begin in the latter half of the year. But as the inflation beast is proving harder to tame than expected, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has indicated it may take longer before we see a rate cut. Naturally, the markets had an issue with that.

However, they seem to have absorbed that information and gone back to business.

All in all, we are still bullish here at Cabot, but also maintaining our judicious stock-picking stance.


This month, I have an undervalued company that’s also in growth mode for you, recommended by an analyst new to these pages. I’m really excited for you to hear about both!

Inflation appears stuck at a much higher level than acceptable for the Federal Reserve so lower interest rates are on pause. Gold is one beneficiary.

This means that some high-flyer tech stocks may be vulnerable. Meanwhile, Japanese stocks remain near all-time highs.

Fortunately, we have exposure to both gold and Japan in the Explorer portfolio, and today we add to that exposure.

While the financial news obsesses over what the Fed might have vaguely implied in the latest statement, the world is morphing into a different place. The demographic of humanity is rapidly transforming in a way that will massively affect the flow of money for the rest of our lives. The world is currently undergoing a technological revolution that is transforming society and everyday life.

The aging population and the technological revolution are megatrends that will dominate the investment landscape for years to come regardless of what the Fed does, or GDP in the next few quarters, or whoever gets elected president. It’s not an accident that the best performing stocks in the Cabot Dividend Investor portfolio are in healthcare and technology. Nor will it be an accident that these same stocks continue to dominate from this point forward.

In this issue, I highlight the massive opportunity to position yourself in front of a tsunami that could provide the best investments of your lifetime.

For the past six to nine months the consensus among traders had been that the Federal Reserve would be cutting interest rates this year, and some thought it would be aggressive cutting. However, that narrative may have changed on Thursday as two Fed members noted that the central bank might not cut at all in 2024. This sent shockwaves through the stock market Thursday and Friday.


By week’s end the S&P 500 had fallen1%, the Dow had lost 2.25% and the Nasdaq had declined by 1%.

This week, we comment on results from General Electric (GE), Mattel (MAT), Polaris (PII), Vodafone (VOD), Volkswagen AG (VWAGY), Western Union (WU) and Xerox Holdings (XRX).

Next week, twelve companies are scheduled to report.

We also include the Catalyst Report and a summary of the August edition of the Cabot Turnaround Letter, which was published on Wednesday. We encourage you to look through the Catalyst Report. This report is a listing of all of the companies that have reported a catalyst in the past month. These catalysts include new CEOs, activist activity, spin-offs and other possible game-changers. We source many of our feature recommendations from this list. You will find it nowhere else on Wall Street.

Earnings season is now in full swing, but central bankers stole the show this week.

On Wednesday the FOMC hiked by another 25bps (as expected) and Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave the market just enough for the bulls to remain in control, for now.

The highlights: First, he said he thinks the Fed can get inflation down to 2% by 2025 while avoiding a recession. The Fed’s staff no longer predicts a recession.

Let the good times roll. Inflation is collapsing. The Fed is almost done hiking rates and likely to turn distinctively more dovish in the 2024 election year. There is no recession and no signs of recession. Stocks are thriving. And it’s summer.

This was another quiet week in the small-cap world, but large-cap companies are in the full swing of earnings.

Earnings season represents a great time to “check up” on our micro-cap recommendations to make sure each investment case is on track.

Here’s what’s on tap for earnings this week in the large-cap world.

As interest rates were roiling the stock market last year, it seemed like the long bull market was over. By mid-October, the S&P 500 had slid 27% from year-end 2021. Since then, however, stocks have surged. Today, the S&P 500 is 30% higher than that Halloween-month nadir. And, the index is only 5% away from reaching its prior all-time high. Clearly, the bear market has ended.

For nearly 40% of stocks in the index, their stock prices are now above their year-end 2021 level. It’s not just mega-cap tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA), which is now 51% higher, or Apple (AAPL), up 8%, or Microsoft (MSFT), up 2%. More prosaic stocks like Occidental Petroleum (OXY), up 110%, Cardinal Health (CAH), up 81% and Lamb Weston (LW) up 78%, have rebounded sharply, as well

We comment on earnings from Capital One (COF), First Horizon (FHN) and Nokia (NOK). Next week, the deluge starts, with ten companies reporting.

WHAT TO DO NOW: Remain bullish, but be prepared for some near-term (and possibly earnings-induced) gyrations. Today’s sharp drop in the Nasdaq and many leaders is a short-term shot across the bow—combined with some other factors, the odds are growing that we may finally see some selling that lasts for more than a couple of days. That said, the overall environment remains bullish, with higher prices likely down the road. All in all, we’re bullish but are taking things on a stock-by-stock basis and expect some further wobbles in the days ahead. Our only change tonight is that we’re placing Celsius (CELH) on Hold. Our cash position remains around 16%.

Cabot Options Institute Quant Trader is focused exclusively on creating consistent returns using high-probability options strategies including bear call spreads, bull put spreads, iron condors and more. Whether you have questions about the strategies, or even about setting up your account, or how to make your own trades, Andy will answer all of your questions

Aside from AI, a few other big-picture themes came into sharper focus for me this week.

All are positive for small caps.

First, economists and analysts are reducing their recession risk outlooks as the economy continues to hold up reasonably well. That’s good for small caps as they are more economically sensitive than mid and large caps.

This is a short week as we begin the second half of 2023 with inflation down, recession fears fading, and the animal spirits of investors alive and well.

In the first half of 2023, market performance was positive and narrow, largely driven by the big tech names, and especially artificial intelligence (AI) related stocks. The Dow was up 3.8%, the S&P 500 gained 15.9%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq was up 31.7%. We will continue to explore the world for the best value and growth stocks providing both conservative and aggressive ideas. EVs across the supply chain, resources, and emerging markets remain the focus but we have the flexibility to change course as opportunities arise.

I want to add some additional downside exposure; so, with SPY trading for 411, I want to place a short-term bear call spread going out 42 days and outside of the expected range to the upside, or 429.

HUBS, SITM and MSFT

With 14 days left until the May 19, 2023, expiration cycle ends, we need to begin the process of rolling the remainder of our short calls and immediately selling more call premium in June.

Alphatec reported preliminary Q1 results on April 19 when the company announced the acquisition of the REMI Robotic Navigation System.

HUBS, SITM and MSFT

Updates on NRDS, LUNG, TKR & ISEE

I will be exiting the Starbucks (SBUX) trade today. I will discuss the trade in greater detail in our subscriber-exclusive webinar at noon ET this Friday, May 5.

Sprout Social beat on the top and bottom lines after the close yesterday. Revenue rose 31% to $75.2 million (beat by $130K) while EPS of $0.06 improved from a loss of -$0.03 in the year-ago quarter and beat by $0.07.

As discussed in our weekly issue, and on our weekly call, I will be taking a position in Starbucks (SBUX) today. SBUX is due to announce earnings after the closing bell today (May 2). The stock is currently trading for 113.60.

Okay, it’s time to take some profits. Albeit on the small side, I’ve decided to lock in profits in our SPY iron condor and look to sell another iron condor after the Fed announcement tomorrow.

Terex reported Q1 2023 results that beat expectations after the close yesterday. The company also raised full-year guidance by more than the Q1 beat. The result should quiet some of the concerns of a slowdown and help the stock do well today.

I am buying back our short calls today and immediately selling more premium. Our May 5, 2023, 57 calls are essentially worthless, so let’s buy back our calls, lock in some profits and immediately sell more call premium.

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.