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In the October Issue of Cabot Early Opportunities, we try to interpret some of the latest commentary from Fed officials and look at the future cadence of expected interest rate hikes.

Then we dive into five stocks that seem poised for gains into the end of the year. On balance, we’re still optimistic the worst is behind us. But it’s not (yet) time to be overly aggressive. We try to balance the risks and possible rewards by managing position sizes and continuing to build up our Watch List.

The bulls came out swinging after Labor Day, putting at least a brief half to all the late-summer selling. Whether the mini-rally lasts another week (or longer) may depend on the new inflation data, due out tomorrow morning before the opening bell. For now, the bear market remains, but it was a good week for stocks – and an even better week for the Stock of the Week portfolio, with several of our stocks up double-digit percentages since we last spoke. And today we add a new stock that’s poised to lead the next true market rally – whenever it arrives – but in the meantime is faring quite well in its own specific niche.

Details inside.

In today’s note, we discuss pertinent developments for some of the stocks in the portfolio, including Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM), Alcoa (AA), Centuri Holdings (CTRI), Dollar Tree (DLTR), GE Aerospace (GE), Intel (INTC), Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Toast Inc. (TOST).

Intel’s prospects hinge on the success of its 18A process node, which has the potential to be a major catalyst for its turnaround.

The last two months have felt historically volatile.

Since Donald Trump took office for a second time and immediately started handing out tariffs like they were surprise take-home prizes at an Oprah taping (“YOU get a tariff, and YOU get a tariff!”), the market has been unsettled. And indeed, from mid-February through mid-March, things weren’t simply unsettled – they were bad. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq entered correction territory – the fifth-fastest correction in the last 75 years, in the case of the S&P. Fears of higher inflation and possibly recession have come rushing back to the surface, consumer confidence is at a 12-year low, and interest rate angst is back in full force.

And yet, actual volatility – as measured by the VIX, a.k.a. the “investor fear gauge” – has been … fairly muted?

Momentum has broadened out to start 2026, with several previously under‑the‑radar groups (like industrials) showing powerful relative strength, even as last year’s market leaders take a breather.

This month’s issue leans into these emerging trends. I feature companies tied to infrastructure, building systems, aerospace engines, and industrial filtration. I’ve also included a fast‑moving biotech company with multiple near‑term catalysts.

Enjoy!

Regardless of your politics, “calm” is not a word you would likely use to describe the stock market under President Trump, at least through the first three months of his second term. But given the extreme tariff-fueled volatility that pervaded this time a week ago, that’s exactly how the last week has felt for investors: calm.

U.S. markets are in a tailspin, and previously hard-charging growth stocks are leading the slide. But two asset classes that have often been overlooked in recent years are off to very good starts in 2025: value stocks and European stocks. Having just “retired” a European value stock that reached our price target in last week’s update, today we add a Dutch-based mid-cap with an almost identical profile – but at a time when undervalued European stocks are getting treated like U.S. growth stocks.

Details inside.

The market took a turn for the better this week as President Trump backed off his criticisms of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and indicated there may be some wiggle room on his sky-high tariffs on China. Those served as a sigh of relief for investors, and stocks surged on Tuesday and Wednesday, though the S&P 500 is only up about 1% since we last wrote.

Stocks are still below their April highs, and down more than 8.5% year to date, but volatility is declining and it seems increasingly possible that a bottom was formed in early April.

It was a rough week for investors of all stripes, as the S&P 500 is down 3.5% since we last wrote, while the Nasdaq tumbled more than 4%. Even the usually steadier Dow Jones Industrial pulled back nearly 5%, while value stocks pulled back nearly 2%. All month, growth stocks have been getting battered, with many high flyers getting sold off even after convincing earnings beats. Now, the selling has spread to other corners of the market.

But not all sectors are suffering.

It’s a busy and short Christmas week and like many of you, I was doing last-minute shopping and preparing to visit family.

Therefore, this is a brief update and instead of the usual stock-by-stock update, I can summarize as follows.

No question this is a challenging market but Explorer stocks held their ground. Cloudflare (NET) had a good week up five points, and Ford (F) remains my favorite pick on risk/reward basis. This week we move to a surprising trend that will benefit America, the climate, and your portfolio.

This was a tough week for all of us as growth stocks, particularly tech stocks, were impacted by concerns over higher interest rates and slower economic growth. Events in China with its economic slowdown and European conflict are not helping matters either. This week we head to Chile for a double commodity play on food and electric vehicles.

This was a good week for the Explorer portfolio as all our positions advanced, led by NovoCure (NVCR), Sea Limited (SE) and Virgin Galactic (SPCE), which jumped 25% this past week. We now head into the fourth quarter, which may bring some turbulence as the election approaches. We will take what the market gives us but will be on guard. Our emerging markets timer (EEM) is still positive.

Today, we have a new recommendation in emerging markets that we hope will benefit from the biggest shopping day in the world.

With the exception of another nice gain by NovoCure (NVCR), this was a quiet week for the Cabot Explorer portfolio as the Nasdaq continues its march, up almost 35% so far in 2020. Our Emerging Markets timer (EEM) stays positive as some of these markets bounce back against the backdrop of very weak economies. Perhaps the worst is India with its latest quarterly GDP falling 24%. This issue’s new recommendation is a high quality stock in a growth sector with a wonderful high margin, low risk business model.

The impressive rally that has confounded so many may be running out of gas.

As of Friday’s close, the S&P 500 is up about 15% YTD and over 20% from the October low, making it officially a new bull market. Investors are optimistic that inflation is falling, the Fed is almost done hiking, and there is no recession in sight. The market is sensing that we can get through this rate-hiking cycle without much pain.

But this rally is not as impressive as it seems. Only about 10 large technology stocks account for just about all the YTD gains. The other 490 stocks on the index have collectively gone nowhere.

As we finish a tough year for stocks we should guard against pessimism since interest rate hikes should slow and level out and lower valuations for growth stocks could ignite a rally. Explorer stocks had little news as we sell one holding and are close to selling MP Materials (MP) as well. This week we go back to a small-cap medical technology stock trading at an attractive price.

The market was impressive last week. The S&P 500 moved 3.5% higher for the week, accounting for nearly half of the better than 7% YTD return. Hopefully the rally has further to go.

Investors love it that the banking issues have had the benefit of tempering the Fed with no apparent offsetting crisis so far. The expected timeline for the Fed to stop raising rates has moved way up, to one more rate hike from what could have been a hiking cycle that lasted the rest of the year.

Explorer stocks had a great week as Centrus (LEU) is up another 10%, Cloudflare (NET) adds 20%, Infineon (IFNNY) reports revenue jumping 33% and Ford (F) reports eye-popping sales results for July. Data and analysts are divided so stay cautiously optimistic and consider today’s new recommendation at the heart of U.S.-China rivalry.