Markets are choppy, which is normal considering uncertainty is high and we’re less than a week from the presidential election. Today I look at what history can teach us about politics and markets and why it might be a bit different this time. The Ant Technology giant IPO moves forward as China flexes its muscle, and it’s a signal for coming events. Today’s new idea is an electric vehicle play from Canada that is under the radar of even the trends of most avid supporters.

These are crazy times. This pandemic-riddled year isn’t done with us yet. In fact, Covid cases are rising and many states are reinstating new batches of lockdown restrictions. At the same time, we’re less than a week away from an election with a high risk of a contested result and the ensuing uncertainty.

At some point, we will get past the election and the pandemic. The economy should boom and the market will be free to rise. But things could still get awfully dicey in the weeks and months before we get to the Promised Land.



In this issue, I highlight a high-income stock that is ideal for the current situation. The business is benefitting mightily from the pandemic. It’s a defensive stock that should continue to perform well amidst the volatility. Yet, it should also be a star in the post-pandemic market.



Not only does this stock pay a high dividend, but it attracts high call premiums as well. It is one of the very few stocks that is well worth buying in the current situation.

The past month has brought great performances from many of our marijuana stocks, but right now, there’s a risk that the market is turning down, preparing to take some of our profits.

Long-term, however, trends toward increased legalization mean prospects for the marijuana sector are brighter than ever; next week’s election will tell us a lot about what the next few years might bring.



How do we balance this short-term risk with this long-term opportunity? By remaining invested in the best-performing stocks, of course.

Thank you for subscribing to the Cabot Turnaround Letter. We hope you enjoy reading the November issue.

This month we look at the oil refining industry. Unlike many technology stocks, this group is the opposite of “priced for perfection.” The industry’s products will remain relevant for a long time, despite investors’ enthusiasm for a shift to electric-powered vehicles. Also, the pandemic will eventually pass and demand for refined products (gasoline, diesel, heating oil and jet fuel) will return, lifting these company’s earnings and stock prices. We acknowledge the tax and regulatory risks but see real value in the higher quality and better-financed refinery companies.



We also look at technology turnarounds. Successful tech turnarounds are rare, so our discussion briefly explores why this is the case and identifies six that have interesting turnaround potential.



Our feature recommendation is the oil refining company Valero Energy (VLO), offering what we see as the best risk/reward traits among a group with strong cyclical turnaround potential.



The letter also includes a summary of our recent sale of Amplify Energy (AMPY) and our change to a Sell rating on Consolidated Communications (CNSL), as well as the full roster of our current recommendations.



Please feel free to send me your questions and comments. This newsletter is written for you. A great way to get more out of your letter is to let me know what you are looking for.



I’m best reachable at Bruce@CabotWealth.com. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible.

This week’s covered call idea is a play on an old-fashioned car company that has been taking bold steps to change the company, and investors’ perceptions of the stock.

With the election just around the corner, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the air. Nevertheless, the bull market is alive and well, as both of Cabot’s trend-following market-timing indicators remain positive, so I continue to recommend that you be heavily invested.

Today’s recommendation is an old friend that is back in the limelight as the online world is increasingly hungry for software that enables machines to understand human voices. It’s a good story, and the stock is on a good pullback now.



As for the current portfolio, there’s just one sell (for a small profit), to make room for the new recommendation.

Current Market Outlook


Earnings season. The upcoming U.S. elections. Spiking COVID positives and accompanying Europe lockdowns. All told, what was a cleaner situation a couple of weeks ago has turned into one with a lot of crosscurrents, and that has caused a buyers’ strike of sorts, with the major indexes and many leaders pulling back of late. It’s not a disaster, but today’s action has put the intermediate term back on the fence; basically, it looks like the market is still in a consolidation phase after the big March-through-August rally. It’s a similar deal with leading stocks, as many have taken on water, though few have cracked. (In fact, we see a lot of good setups out there should buyers step up soon.) All in all, we’re not making any huge moves, but we’ll knock our Market Monitor down a notch and keep a close eye on things.

This week’s list is an interesting mix of growth and turnaround situations, including a couple that have their hands in both cookie jars. Our Top Pick is Align Technology (ALGN), which just galloped out of a two-year base after earnings. Aim to buy on weakness.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Align Technology (ALGN)	448.51	420-440	375-390
AAXN (AAXN)	101.69	99.5-102.5	90-92
Exact Sciences (EXAS)	107.06	103-107	91-93
The Gap, Inc. (GPS)	17.75	19.5-20.5	17-17.5
General Motors Company (GM)	36.83	34-36	31-32
GrowGeneration (GRWG)	17.75	16.5-18	14-15
MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI)	1270.86	1180-1240	1070-1110
NIO Limited (NIO)	25.86	23.5-25	20.5-21.5
Shift4 Payments (FOUR)	55.98	51.5-54	46-47.5
Square, Inc. (SQ)	176.77	164-171	148-152

The overall evidence continues to lean bullish, but growth stocks are on a wild ride, first selling off in August/early September, then rallying for a few weeks before backing off again in recent days. We remain optimistic, but are still taking things on a stock-by-stock basis, pulling the plug on laggards while aiming to put money to work in potential new leaders. This week, we let go of Wingstop on Monday, leaving us with around one-quarter of the portfolio in cash.

In tonight’s issue, we write more about our thoughts on the market and our stocks, talk about one recent sell we wish we had back and dive into two secondary indicators we’re watching closely to tell us when the market (and growth stocks) will decisively break out.

In October’s Issue of Cabot Early Opportunities we zero in on four software and internet companies that are benefiting from a variety of tailwinds, including two that are finding success after years of less-than-stellar performance. We also revisit an old MedTech friend that helps deliver drugs and vaccines around the world.

Enjoy!

The iShares EM Fund has been trading mostly sideways since the middle of May, and that has kept the Emerging Markets Timer above its moving averages, but just barely. We have two portfolio moves tonight.

Stocks were pummeled Thursday, with tech showing the worst losses. The Nasdaq closed down 1.4%, and the S&P 500 and Dow both lost about 0.8%. Financials and energy stocks were among the only names spared, as oil prices continued their recovery and the Fed approved the banks’ new capital plans.

There’s been some turbulence in our portfolio this week, but nothing we haven’t experienced at some point in 2017. Small caps are up 1% from last week, and would have been up more if not for another bout of selling in technology stocks yesterday.

Stock indexes stumbled again yesterday, June 29, led by large-cap tech stocks. Thus far, the profit-taking looks normal. Technology stocks have been on a tear in 2017, so investors are taking advantage of sky-high prices to harvest extraordinary gains.

Our trend following indicators remain bullish and most growth stocks are still in good shape, so we’re sticking with our current stance. Our only change tonight is that we’re placing one of our stocks on Hold.

I’ve been watching for opportunities to add companies to the Cabot Undervalued Stocks Advisor portfolios that are outside the financial, energy and construction sectors and industries. Today, I’m adding an aerospace manufacturer to the Growth Portfolio as a Strong Buy.

All things considered, the past week has been tame. The S&P 600 Small Cap Index retreated 1.4% to get back to its 50-day moving average, while the S&P 500 Index traded sideways.

Stock indexes are situated just a tad below all-time highs, yet tech stocks are sitting on quicksand, energy prices are dropping, and President Trump’s policy agenda is falling apart. The bears have plenty of reasons to push prices lower, but stocks keep rising.

The iShares EM Fund has been trading effectively sideways since the middle of May, and that has kept the Emerging Markets Timer above its moving averages. We have one portfolio move tonight.

The market looks healthier today than it has in nearly two weeks. After its big drop on June 9, the Nasdaq found support repeatedly last week, and this Monday brought an impressive surge in all the indexes.

We could see a stock market correction in the near future, due to an abnormal concentration of capital in technology stocks and S&P 500 index ETFs (exchange traded funds).

Small caps broke above their six-month trading range last Friday (albeit very modestly and very briefly) even as tech was selling off hard. The reason appears to be that money was flowing out of small cap tech and, potentially, into small cap financials, industrials and consumer staples.

Eight analysts have increased their EPS estimates for this Chinese internet company in the past 30 days.

Crista is adding a stock to the the Buy Low Opportunities Portfolio.

The top five sector in this ETF are: Financial, 16.66%, Technology, 16.2%, and Industrials, 15.72%.

This telecom is forecasted to grow at almost 20% next year, and by triple digits in the next five years.

As part of its new North American leadership changes, this turnaround flooring company just named a new CFO from International Paper, who will replace the current retiring Chief Financial Officer.

This automotive supplier beat analysts’ EPS estimates by seven cents last quarter.

Awareness of cannabis is definitely up, but there are still major friction points, which will continue at least until the U.S. government legalizes marijuana as it has just legalized hemp.

This chemical company’s stock was also recently recommended by Zacks, who cited the company’s rising earnings.

This infrastructure company’s stock was also recently recommended by simplywallstreet.com, due to its strong fundamentals, growth potential, and undervaluation.

Next, we are taking significant profits on a previous sale.

Our first idea is a mining company that is showing strong results; buy on weakness.

Seven analysts have raised their EPS estimates for this tech company in the past 30 days.

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 Momentum 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 Momentum Trader features.