Issues
Most of our recommended stocks are acting great, and our new recommendation checks many of the boxes we look for when hunting for a long-term winner. It is a dominant restaurant company in China, and the stock just got going after a few months of base-building.
After surging to new highs in mid-March, today’s recommendation entered into a tight consolidation pattern—and today it’s still in that pattern! While the broad market has pulled back, this stock has held up strongly, which is a very good sign.
Current Market OutlookLast week saw all the major indexes close clearly below their 50-day moving averages, a development which, combined with another batch of breakdowns among leading stocks and cracks in key sectors (like chip stocks), has us taking another couple of steps back—we’re moving our Market Monitor down to a level 5 (out of 10) in today’s issue. To be clear, the market isn’t a disaster here, as most major indexes are just 3% or 4% from all-time highs, many stocks (especially growth stocks) are still relatively resilient and the longer-term uptrend isn’t in doubt. But the onus is on the bulls to take a stand. After six weeks of correcting and consolidating, we need to see buyers step up before putting a bunch of new money to work. In the meantime, we’re holding some cash and keeping new buys small.
Encouragingly, our screens are still picking up on plenty of attractive charts and stories. Our Top Pick is Innoviva (INVA), which has a couple of asthma treatments that are raking in the dough (much of it from royalties). It’s thinly traded, so consider buying a small position on dips.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Align Technology (ALGN) | 316.20 | ||
| Arista Networks (ANET) | 0.00 | ||
| Bioverativ (BIVV) | 0.00 | ||
| HP (HPQ) | 0.00 | ||
| Innoviva (INVA) | 0.00 | ||
| JD.com (JD) | 39.58 | ||
| MACOM Technology Solutions (MTSI) | 0.00 | ||
| PulteGroup (PHM) | 45.93 | ||
| Seagate Technology (STX) | 0.00 | ||
| Yum China (YUMC) | 0.00 |
This month’s Cabot Enterprising Model contains 16 companies that offer you a mix of low- and moderate-risk stocks to add to your portfolio. In the issue, I feature five stocks, including one new stock that holds great promise.
The market has been inundated with bad news lately, but so far, the indexes are holding up relatively well, and we’re pleased to see the selling pressures on the broad market ease. (Our Two-Second Indicator is positive again.) We continue to believe the next major move will be up.
Our contributors found ideas with great potential in just about every sector this month, and our Spotlight Stock is a company that has taken the lead in women’s healthcare, particularly in the diagnostic, surgical and medical-imaging products sectors.
After surging to new highs in late March, today’s recommendation has pulled back quietly but steadily throughout April and my goal is for readers to get on board somewhere near the bottom of the current correction.
Current Market OutlookThere has been a lot of dramatic headlines recently, and we’ve even seen some sharp market moves. But net-net, the market remains where it’s been for the past few weeks—generally stuck in a tight trading range, with some stocks doing well, some faltering and most just biding their time. Long-term, we’re still optimistic that the next major move will be up, based on the still-bullish major trend of the indexes, the lack of selling pressure on the broad market and numerous studies that point toward higher prices in the months ahead. Because of that, we’re all for holding your strong performers, and it’s fine to pick up shares of new leaders at good buy points. But it’s best to quickly get rid of losers and hold a little cash until the buyers flex their muscles.
This week’s list has a nice mix of growth stories and turnaround situations. Our Top Pick is FMC Corp. (FMC), an agricultural chemicals firm that soared last week after a game-changing acquisition that should significantly boost earnings.
| Stock Name | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Darden Restaurants (DRI) | 106.63 | ||
| FMC Corp. (FMC) | 0.00 | ||
| iRobot (IRBT) | 103.17 | ||
| Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) | 0.00 | ||
| Madison Square Garden (MSG) | 298.38 | ||
| Medidata Solutions (MDSO) | 0.00 | ||
| Melco Resorts (MLCO) | 0.00 | ||
| Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) | 43.31 | ||
| Qorvo (QRVO) | 129.47 | ||
| Wright Medical (WMGI) | 0.00 |
Today’s stock is in the ultra-glamourous lead-acid battery recycling market. If you want to be a part of what could be the next great industrial revolution, this month’s Cabot Small-Cap Confidential candidate should be right up your alley.
Updates
Has there ever been anything as overvalued as SpaceX (SPCX)?
Elon Musk’s rocket and space-based internet company reported $18.7 billion in revenue in 2025. That’s less than half the revenue declining electronics store chain Best Buy (BBY, $41.7 billion) generated last year, less than International Paper Company (IP, $23.6 billion), and barely more than Casey’s General Stores (CASY, $17.6 billion). Those three companies have a combined market cap of roughly $67 billion. As of this writing, SpaceX has a market cap of $2.7 trillion. That’s more than the combined market cap of Walmart (WMT), JPMorgan (JPM) and Visa (V). Together, those three companies generated $847 billion in revenue last year.
Elon Musk’s rocket and space-based internet company reported $18.7 billion in revenue in 2025. That’s less than half the revenue declining electronics store chain Best Buy (BBY, $41.7 billion) generated last year, less than International Paper Company (IP, $23.6 billion), and barely more than Casey’s General Stores (CASY, $17.6 billion). Those three companies have a combined market cap of roughly $67 billion. As of this writing, SpaceX has a market cap of $2.7 trillion. That’s more than the combined market cap of Walmart (WMT), JPMorgan (JPM) and Visa (V). Together, those three companies generated $847 billion in revenue last year.
Small caps continue to hold up well. The S&P 600 Small Cap Index is up modestly since last Thursday and is trading just below the fresh all-time highs it hit earlier this week. The group’s resilience stands out, especially against a backdrop of narrowing leadership and ongoing rotation beneath the market’s surface.
The main macro development this week was the Fed’s June meeting and Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference, which confirmed a shift in policy direction.
The main macro development this week was the Fed’s June meeting and Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference, which confirmed a shift in policy direction.
WHAT TO DO NOW: The market’s bounce has been a good one, and the intermediate-term outlook remains bright. That said, near term, there are still some crosscurrents (rotation into the broad market, Dow outperforming the Nasdaq) that tell us growth stocks could throw us another curveball in the coming week or two. Overall, then, we’re mostly standing pat, but we’re going to add a half-sized stake in Guardant Health (GH) here, leaving us with a still-good-sized cash position of 37% or so. Details below.
Stocks started this week with a huge rally as the Iran ceasefire deal appears to be the real thing.
Of course, it’s been months of supposed peace deals falling apart. It’s hard to believe. I’m sure that fact is holding the market back somewhat. But this one is different for a couple of reasons.
Of course, it’s been months of supposed peace deals falling apart. It’s hard to believe. I’m sure that fact is holding the market back somewhat. But this one is different for a couple of reasons.
Stocks are starting off this week with a huge rally as the U.S. and Iran have reached a ceasefire deal.
We’ve been here before. These peace deals have fallen apart several times. I’m sure that fact is holding the market back somewhat. But this one is different for a couple of reasons. First, it’s the furthest a peace deal has gotten with both sides agreeing and independent verification from Pakistan. Second, this is what a peace deal would look like at this point if it’s real and lasting.
We’ve been here before. These peace deals have fallen apart several times. I’m sure that fact is holding the market back somewhat. But this one is different for a couple of reasons. First, it’s the furthest a peace deal has gotten with both sides agreeing and independent verification from Pakistan. Second, this is what a peace deal would look like at this point if it’s real and lasting.
[Note: The Cabot Turnaround Letter weekly update won’t be published next Friday, June 19, due to the market being closed for the Juneteenth holiday.]
Before we get into the main topic for today’s newsletter update, a quick note on the portfolio is in order. I’m continuing our “spring cleaning” effort that we began last week by trimming a couple more of our holdings, but I’m also adding a new position to take the place of the recent deletions.
Before we get into the main topic for today’s newsletter update, a quick note on the portfolio is in order. I’m continuing our “spring cleaning” effort that we began last week by trimming a couple more of our holdings, but I’m also adding a new position to take the place of the recent deletions.
After two near-record-setting months, stocks are encountering their first real turbulence since March. It’s no surprise.
While stocks go up an average of 10% a year, they rarely do so in a straight line. And after the S&P 500 rallied nearly 20% in April and May and the Nasdaq shot up nearly 30%, a pullback of some kind – or possibly even a true correction – was to be expected. It seems it’s happening all at once.
While stocks go up an average of 10% a year, they rarely do so in a straight line. And after the S&P 500 rallied nearly 20% in April and May and the Nasdaq shot up nearly 30%, a pullback of some kind – or possibly even a true correction – was to be expected. It seems it’s happening all at once.
Stocks look set to enter the summer near all-time highs, but leadership has narrowed, volatility has ticked up, and there’s been renewed scrutiny on the AI trade and valuation concerns in some of the market’s biggest winners.
At the same time, the macro backdrop remains a mix of resilience and intermittent turbulence. While economic data continues to hold up, energy prices remain elevated due to the ongoing Iran conflict – which has no end in sight – keeping upward pressure on inflation and yields.
At the same time, the macro backdrop remains a mix of resilience and intermittent turbulence. While economic data continues to hold up, energy prices remain elevated due to the ongoing Iran conflict – which has no end in sight – keeping upward pressure on inflation and yields.
Tech, commodity, AI, and Explorer stocks struggled this week as concern over capital expenditures increased. Mideast tensions intensified and inflation numbers came in yesterday at their highest rate in over three years, fueled by rising energy costs. The combination of anticipated higher interest rates and rising bond yields impacted the price of precious metals, with gold sliding below $4,200 an ounce and silver falling below $64 an ounce.
Stocks look to enter summer near all-time highs, but leadership has narrowed and volatility has ticked up thanks to renewed scrutiny on the AI trade and open-ended questions about valuations in some of the hottest areas of the market.
There’s also been more focus on the evolving macro landscape, which features a resilient U.S. economy but stubbornly high energy prices due to the ongoing Iran conflict, and somewhat elevated yields. We’re now looking at a higher likelihood of a Fed rate hike, with the odds of a hike by December now well over 50%.
There’s also been more focus on the evolving macro landscape, which features a resilient U.S. economy but stubbornly high energy prices due to the ongoing Iran conflict, and somewhat elevated yields. We’re now looking at a higher likelihood of a Fed rate hike, with the odds of a hike by December now well over 50%.
The high-flying AI stocks got crushed on Friday. But those stocks started this week higher. Where do we go from here?
The technology-heavy Nasdaq index fell 4% on Friday, and the S&P 500 fell for the week for the first time in 10 weeks. A couple of things spooked investors. The AI trade turned sour after Broadcom (AVGO) reported earnings that included slightly lower revenue projections for its AI chips than were expected. Also, a blowout jobs report strengthened the case for a Fed rate hike by the end of the year.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq index fell 4% on Friday, and the S&P 500 fell for the week for the first time in 10 weeks. A couple of things spooked investors. The AI trade turned sour after Broadcom (AVGO) reported earnings that included slightly lower revenue projections for its AI chips than were expected. Also, a blowout jobs report strengthened the case for a Fed rate hike by the end of the year.
A major economic narrative that took shape in recent years was the decline and (presumptive) inevitable death of the so-called “petrodollar,” as a growing number of countries diversified their foreign exchange reserves away from the U.S. dollar and toward gold and alternative currencies like the Chinese yuan.
Alerts
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 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.