Issues
The world isn’t providing much good news for emerging market stocks to build on, but the stocks themselves are doing a good job of ignoring that. This doesn’t mean that we have a new buy signal, but there are a growing number of stocks that are putting in bottoming structures and even a few making some progress. With the market looking ahead, we could start to see new leaders emerge in the next few weeks or after EM companies report their quarterly results in a couple of months. There will be plenty of bargains when the turn comes, and we’re featuring an old friend that been in the doldrums for quite a while but boasts a huge story. Read on for all the details.
The markets—despite continued shenanigans in D.C.—were virtually unchanged since our last issue. Unemployment remains steady, the CPI is stable and consumer sentiment is very positive.
As you’ll see in our Advisor Sentiment Barometer and Market Views, market experts remain bullish, although we’ve seen a bit more selling this past week.
As you’ll see in our Advisor Sentiment Barometer and Market Views, market experts remain bullish, although we’ve seen a bit more selling this past week.
September is living up to its reputation as a tricky month, with lots of volatility among leading stocks and rotation and news-driven moves on a day-to-day basis. Still, just going with the evidence, the trends of the major indexes and most stocks are up, so I remain bullish. That said, finding stocks early in their overall uptrends that aren’t obvious to the crowd is vital—tonight’s Stock of the Week fills the bill, blasting off three weeks ago after a 14-month correction and consolidation.
Current Market OutlookWe’ve entered the third week of September, and today was another day of sharp rotation, with the market’s leading growth stocks and indexes taking hits while other areas declined modestly (if at all). Big picture, the intermediate-term trend of the major indexes is still up, and most leading stocks, while choppy, are in the same boat; hence, we remain optimistic. That said, we are nudging our Market Monitor down a notch today to respect the repeated waves of selling and, just as important, a bit more iffy action from leading stocks (including a few that are seeing wild swings up and down after a big run, which is often a sign of distribution). Thus, we’re being patient with our top performers, but it’s also a good idea to tread carefully, holding at least a little cash and booking some partial profits on any stocks that are showing wear and tear.
This week’s list is another growth-heavy list, which is encouraging to see given the bouts of rotation. Our Top Pick is CarGurus (CARG), which is aiming to be the TripAdvisor of car information and whose stock is under accumulation after a four-week dip.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Acxiom (ACXM) | 0.00 | ||
| Align Technology (ALGN) | 316.20 | ||
| CarGurus (CARG) | 41.58 | ||
| Centennial Resource Development (CDEV) | 20.33 | ||
| Guidewire (GWRE) | 90.60 | ||
| HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) | 70.70 | ||
| Jacobs Engineering Group (JEC) | 89.83 | ||
| Sendgrid (SEND) | 33.32 | ||
| Spirit Airlines (SAVE) | 57.03 | ||
| Viper Energy (VNOM) | 36.55 |
Of course, it’s always more fun when the market is doing well, and we are continuing our upward trend, supported by robust earnings growth. For quarter 2, 80% of the companies in the S&P 500 index reported earnings higher than estimated, and 73% posted higher revenues than analysts had forecast. That’s a record—the highest number of surprises since FactSet begin gathering the data in the third quarter of 2008.
The market and growth stocks have had a couple of wobbles so far in September, and given the heady run from leading stocks in August, some further shakeouts are possible. If the selling pressure intensifies enough to turn our Cabot Tides negative, we’ll trim our sails, but right now, the trends of the major indexes and the vast majority of leading stocks are pointed up, so we remain positive.
The market’s main trends remain up, and thus I remain bullish, while continuing to remind you that a balanced portfolio with attention to risk management is always smart.
Current Market OutlookNot surprisingly, we saw some selling come into the market last week, as many stocks and indexes were stretched to the upside and some near-term sentiment measures (put-call ratios, etc.) showed complacency. In the short-term, such wobbles could easily continue, as we’re seeing some bigger names get hit on decent volume. Intermediate-term, though, we’ve seen very little abnormal action among individual stocks and the trends of the major indexes are pointed up. It’s still a good idea to go slow and look for solid entry points, and don’t forget to book some partial profits on the way up. But with the evidence still bullish, we’re remaining heavily invested.
This week’s list is centered on growth ideas, including a few that have emerged after nice rest periods. Our Top Pick is Okta (OKTA), an early-stage leader that just busted loose from a three-month zone on huge volume.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BJs Wholesale (BJ) | 36.69 | ||
| Glaukos Corp. (GKOS) | 67.84 | ||
| HubSpot (HUBS) | 582.89 | ||
| Match (MTCH) | 0.00 | ||
| NuVasive (NUVA) | 66.00 | ||
| Okta, Inc. (OKTA) | 148.41 | ||
| Palo Alto Networks (PANW) | 236.92 | ||
| Ulta Beauty (ULTA) | 331.95 | ||
| United Continental Holdings (UAL) | 96.76 | ||
| Yext Inc. (YEXT) | 21.32 |
Updates
The market rolls sideways amidst a slew of conflicting forces.
The S&P 500 has bounced around and is at the same level it was in the middle of May. The primary culprit is technology. That sector has been in a funk. The S&P 500 is hard-pressed to generate any lasting traction while this massive sector, accounting for over 40% of the index, flounders.
The S&P 500 has bounced around and is at the same level it was in the middle of May. The primary culprit is technology. That sector has been in a funk. The S&P 500 is hard-pressed to generate any lasting traction while this massive sector, accounting for over 40% of the index, flounders.
The market has gone sideways since May. It seems to be deciding what to do.
It’s encouraging that the resumption of hostilities with Iran has not sent the market lower. It’s also positive that oil prices aren’t rising back to the $100 level earlier in the war, although prices have risen. It’s also another earnings season and analysts expect a big one.
It’s encouraging that the resumption of hostilities with Iran has not sent the market lower. It’s also positive that oil prices aren’t rising back to the $100 level earlier in the war, although prices have risen. It’s also another earnings season and analysts expect a big one.
With war being one of the most dominant themes of the last four years, it stands to reason that investors should position their portfolios to account for this conspicuous (and unwelcome) trend.
And lest one be tempted to think that the warfare theme will diminish anytime soon, last week’s article by NPR deflates that illusion: It revealed that global military conflicts are at their highest level since WWII.
And lest one be tempted to think that the warfare theme will diminish anytime soon, last week’s article by NPR deflates that illusion: It revealed that global military conflicts are at their highest level since WWII.
Price targets are standard practice on Wall Street. But sometimes, they can act as an artificial ceiling.
For example, say Truist sets a price target on an up-and-coming growth stock that’s 25% higher than its current share price. For a growth stock, a 25% return isn’t much. But then again, the stock could be a total flop, which is the natural boom-or-bust tradeoff growth investors must endure in trading off increased risk for massive upside. So, a price target on a growth stock seems almost like an unnecessary cap on a stock that has the potential to go through the roof.
For example, say Truist sets a price target on an up-and-coming growth stock that’s 25% higher than its current share price. For a growth stock, a 25% return isn’t much. But then again, the stock could be a total flop, which is the natural boom-or-bust tradeoff growth investors must endure in trading off increased risk for massive upside. So, a price target on a growth stock seems almost like an unnecessary cap on a stock that has the potential to go through the roof.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Continue to trim your sails. In the Model Portfolio, we’ve been getting closer and closer to shore as growth funds and indexes are under pressure and AI stocks cascade lower. Tonight we’re going to further trim Marvell (MRVL) given its ugly action, selling a third of what we have left. That will leave the portfolio with a big 58% cash position. We could put some of that to work if growth names find support, but we want to see key growth measures firm up before buying.
After a brief pause last week, small caps are once again leading the pack.
Through Wednesday’s close, the S&P 600 Small Cap Index is up roughly 21% year to date, compared to gains of about 15% for the S&P 400 MidCap Index, 17% for the Nasdaq and 11% for the S&P 500.
Through Wednesday’s close, the S&P 600 Small Cap Index is up roughly 21% year to date, compared to gains of about 15% for the S&P 400 MidCap Index, 17% for the Nasdaq and 11% for the S&P 500.
Its earnings season again! That’s a good thing. Earnings just might save the day in an otherwise confusing and uncertain market.
The market is causing whiplash. The Iran peace deal changed things. Stocks held back by high oil prices, and the resulting higher inflation and interest rates, reignited as oil prices came back down after the peace deal. But hostilities with Iran have resumed.
The market is causing whiplash. The Iran peace deal changed things. Stocks held back by high oil prices, and the resulting higher inflation and interest rates, reignited as oil prices came back down after the peace deal. But hostilities with Iran have resumed.
The peace deal may be on hold again. But stocks are hanging in there so far.
The ceasefire with Iran is over and hostilities have resumed. That sounds like a bigger bummer than it’s been in the market so far. Falling oil prices enabled previously beleaguered stocks to soar higher again as the prognosis for inflation and interest rates simultaneously improved. But that rally is over if oil prices spike higher again.
The ceasefire with Iran is over and hostilities have resumed. That sounds like a bigger bummer than it’s been in the market so far. Falling oil prices enabled previously beleaguered stocks to soar higher again as the prognosis for inflation and interest rates simultaneously improved. But that rally is over if oil prices spike higher again.
It’s no surprise that summer often brings lower market volatility levels as Wall Street heads to the Hamptons and participation rates diminish.
Indeed, what we’re seeing right now has all the classic symptoms of a low-participation environment, with investor sentiment being remarkably muted. This can be seen across a number of sentiment indicators for several different markets, most of which are flashing decisively “neutral” signals.
Indeed, what we’re seeing right now has all the classic symptoms of a low-participation environment, with investor sentiment being remarkably muted. This can be seen across a number of sentiment indicators for several different markets, most of which are flashing decisively “neutral” signals.
The divide between value and growth stocks is widening, as the Nasdaq is now more than 5% off its highs after peaking in early June while the Vanguard Value Index ETF (VTV) is hovering near its late-June apex and is up 3% in the last month.
That can flip in an instant, of course, as we saw in April and May. But the bottom line is that value stocks have risen 15% year to date, compared to an 11% gain in the Nasdaq and a 9.5% boost in the S&P 500.
That can flip in an instant, of course, as we saw in April and May. But the bottom line is that value stocks have risen 15% year to date, compared to an 11% gain in the Nasdaq and a 9.5% boost in the S&P 500.
After a very strong run from the March lows, the market appears to be going through an uncomfortable but healthy rotation. Many of the biggest winners from the AI and semiconductor trade have come under pressure, while value stocks, equal-weight indexes and other areas that had lagged earlier in the year have held up much better.
Markets are facing more inflation as the Iran mess gets messier. Concerns over high AI capital spending are a cloud over a resilient market. On the bright side for our portfolio, however, International Business Machines (IBM) shares were up 7.4% this week following last week’s 8.9% gain. Sea Limited (SE) shares leapt 9.6% this week and are up about 20% over the past month. MercadoLibre (MELI) shares are up 11.6% over the last two weeks.
Alerts
This fund’s top five holdings are: Apple Inc (AAPL, 7.57% of assets); Alphabet Inc A (GOOGL, 6.45%); Amazon.com Inc (AMZN, 6.07%); Facebook Inc A (FB, 4.25%) and Tesla Inc (TSLA, 3.56%).
Seasonal cycles make this healthcare company a buy.
Our second recommendation is profit-taking on a previous idea.
This miner is expanding and recently acquired a silver stream from Taseko Mines Ltd.
Now that CMG has been resting for quite a few weeks in a trading range between 470 and 500, I’m moving CMG back to Strong Buy.
This home builder is benefiting from increased demand from first-time home buyers.
Ratings changes on three stocks, one update and 10 stocks that are at good buy points.
While profits are still in the red, this infrastructure company’s fortunes are looking up, with a revenue and earnings beat in its most recent quarter.
Our first idea is a company that is growing at a triple-digit pace, with two analysts increasing forecasts for this year.
Our second recommendation is partial profit-taking.
This global media company beat analysts’ estimates by $0.10 last quarter and 25 analysts have raised their EPS forecasts for the company in the last 30 days.
Good news for TiVo (TIVO); H&R Block (HRB) and Mattel (MAT) shares are rising.
Portfolios
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 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.