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The major indexes remain in uptrends, there’s no doubt about that. And, despite some still-soggy action among many growth stocks, most of the broad market is trending higher, too. But not all uptrends are equal, and right now, we don’t see much power out there. That’s not a bad thing, per se, but it’s more of a two-steps-forward, one-step-back kind of advance, with lots of rotation still going on week to week. By all means, continue to do some buying in names you like, but we also advise holding some cash and picking your spots.

This week’s list has a slightly steadier feel to it than prior weeks, as money flows toward companies with dependable growth. There are also a few stocks that have popped on earnings and tightened up of late, including SanDisk (SNDK), which is our top pick. Shares are at a good risk-reward point here.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Waddell & Reed (WDR)	0.00	63-65	56-57
SanDisk Corp. (SNDK)	0.00	67-70	64-65
Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP)	0.00	86-88	74-75
US Silica Holdings, Inc. (SLCA)	0.00	31-33	29.5-30
Mohawk Industries (MHK)	0.00	138-143	129-130
Southwest Airlines (LUV)	0.00	17.5-18.5	15-16
Baker Hughes (BHI)	0.00	56.5-58.5	53-53.5
HomeAway, Inc. (AWAY)	0.00	35-37	31-32
Actavis (ACT)	0.00	160-163	156-157
ACI Worldwide (ACIW)	0.00	60-61	58-59

From the start of October through the tail end of November, growth stocks (and, more generally, high relative strength stocks) were the dog’s dinner, flailing around even as the major indexes advanced. Now, though, with many stocks having etched two-month launching pads, the tone has improved—money is slowly (emphasis on slowly) coming out of defensive names and into faster movers. A bit more improvement and we’ll shift our Market Monitor into bullish territory, but for now, we’ll stick with our general “lean bullish” stance.

Another good sign is that, in this week’s list, we see many stocks that have shown recent power and are trading relatively tightly, a good sign of accumulation. Our favorite of the week is Harman International (HAR), a well-situated audio firm with very solid sales and earnings growth. The stock looks like it’s at a good entry around here.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Perrigo (PRGO)	0.00	151-154	140-142
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS)	0.00	74-77	68-69
Illumina Inc. (ILMN)	289.74	97-101	90-91
Harman International Industries, Inc. (HAR)	0.00	78-80	70-71
Financial Engines (FNGN)	0.00	65-68.5	59-60
Deckers Outdoor Corp. (DECK)	141.68	83-85	70-71
Conn’s Inc. (CONN)	0.00	69-73	63-64
Baidu (BIDU)	0.00	165-170	140-145
AOL, Inc. (AOL)	0.00	42.5-45	39-40
Ambarella (AMBA)	52.79	23-24.5	20.5-21.5

The evidence has generally improved during the past two weeks, with the major indexes remaining in solid uptrends and, most encouragingly, more growth-oriented stocks showing power and emerging from basing structures. All of that is to the good, but earnings season is ramping up, and we know that can change any stock’s or sector’s outlook in a hurry. Put it together, and we’re still sticking with our lean bullish stance—now’s probably not the time to buy five or six stocks at once, but there are many attractive names out there, and getting in at opportune times should pay off.

This week’s list is heavy on growth stocks, though there are a couple of cyclical and special situation ideas, too. Our favorite of the week is HomeAway (AWAY), a firm we remain keen on, and a stock that’s testing support for the first time since a powerful November breakout.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
T-Mobile US (TMUS)	0.00	30-32	27-28
SolarCity (SCTY)	0.00	70-74	63-64
Altisource Residential (RESI)	0.00	31.5-33	29-29.5
Pacira Biosiences (PCRX)	54.85	63-65	53-55
Palo Alto Networks (PANW)	236.92	60-62.5	55-56
The Manitowoc Company (MTW)	0.00	23.5-25	21.5-22
Harman International Industries, Inc. (HAR)	0.00	87-90	80-81
Forest Labs (FRX)	0.00	65-70	59-60
HomeAway, Inc. (AWAY)	0.00	40-42	37-37.5
AOL, Inc. (AOL)	0.00	48-50	44-45

It’s been a fun and fruitful 2013, and we hope you were able to snag a few winners this year. That said, while we enjoy reviewing this past year as much as anyone, our focus is on the present and the future—so far, the overall market is in fine shape, though intriguingly, despite what is supposed to be a quiet time of year, we’ve seen a few sharp selloffs among growth stocks during the past couple of days. Of course, there are always lots of crosscurrents at year-end, but it’s imperative to keep your eyes open, pick your spots on the buy side and have some stops in place should the selling spread. Right now, though, we’re sticking with our lean bullish stance and will see how things shake out when the calendar turns.
This week’s list is very diversified, with many different industries represented. Our favorite of the week is Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP), a solid growth firm whose recent buyout of Santarus could be a gamechanger.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
United States Steel Corporation (X)	0.00	28-30	26-26.5
Valero Energy (VLO)	97.40	46-47	42-43
United Therapeutics (UTHR)	0.00	105-112	97-100
Seagate Technology (STX)	0.00	53-55	49-50
Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP)	0.00	86-90	81-82
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)	0.00	45-47	39-40
NXP Semiconductors (NXPI)	0.00	43-45	40-41
Legg Mason Inc. (LM)	37.44	40-42	38-39
Facebook, Inc. (FB)	0.00	52.5-55.5	48-49
Conn’s Inc. (CONN)	0.00	74-78	68.5-69.5

The market continues to chop around, with forays into new-high ground inviting plenty of sellers and sharp dips quickly attracting bargain-hunting buyers. We are seeing more set-ups out there, which is a good sign—if the market does kick into gear, there should be some solid leadership. However, until then, this is about as neutral and choppy an environment as we can remember. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take any action (this isn’t 2008!), but it’s best to wait for the market to show some bullish action before getting heavily invested. Patience and cash are your allies today.

This week’s list is the first in a while that has a growth tilt to it; there are still some cheap, stable-type stocks, but also some real potential leaders of the next advance. Our favorite is Arris Group (ARRS), which has excellent growth prospects, a huge backlog and a nice-looking launching pad.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
WhiteWave Foods (WWAV)	0.00	29.5-31	26.5-27
Vipshop Holdings (VIPS)	14.25	150-160	138-140
Trinity Industries (TRN)	0.00	78-82	73-74
Rice Energy (RICE)	0.00	29.5-31	27.5-28
Pacira Biosiences (PCRX)	54.85	72.5-75.5	67-68
InterMune (ITMN)	0.00	36-38	33-34
Gilead Sciences (GILD)	75.10	79-83	75.5-76.5
CBRE Group (CBG)	0.00	28-29	26-26.5
Arris Group (ARRS)	0.00	29-31	26.5-27.5
Apple (AAPL)	248.94	580-600	530-540

This remains a split tape, with many defensive and some commodity stocks testing new-high ground, while most of the market is chopping around, and growth stocks are still lagging. That said, we have seen a few rays of light lately—the mid-cap indexes are back above their 50-day lines, many growth stocks have held support for many weeks, and we’re seeing a few more potential leaders emerge on earnings or other good news. We’re sticking with our neutral Market Monitor until we see more bullish action among a variety of stocks and sectors, but the next week or two will be interesting.

This week’s list is still relatively heavy on commodity names, but our Top Pick is a growth stock that just completed a game-changing acquisition. Avago Technologies (AVGO) has great projected earnings growth, but the company reports earnings on May 29 so keep new positions small.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
Zillow (Z)	76.64	95-100	88-90
Nabors Industries (NBR)	0.00	25-26.5	23-24
Lazard (LAZ)	0.00	47-49	45-46
Diamondback Energy (FANG)	0.00	72-74	66-67
Extra Space Storage (EXR)	0.00	49-51	46-47
Constellium (CSTM)	0.00	29-31	27-27.5
Carrizo Oil & Gas (CRZO)	24.03	53.5-55.5	50-50.5
Broadcom Limited (AVGO)	266.26	66-69	61-62
Athlon Energy (ATHL)	0.00	39-41	36-37
AerCap (AER)	0.00	45.5-47.5	41.5-42

After two and a half months of a choppy-to-down environment, the bulls have done enough good things to turn the intermediate-term trend back up. And that means our Market Monitor is back in bullish territory and you should adopt a more positive market outlook. You shouldn’t buy hand over fist, though—it’s best to pick up shares of some strong, resilient stocks (preferably newer names most investors haven’t heard of) … and then watch closely to see if the market can hold (and build on) its gains in the days and weeks ahead. If it does, you can look to extend your line.

This week’s list again contains an array of stocks from a variety of industries. Our Top Pick is Cavium (CAVM), which looks like a new leader in the still-strong chip sector. It’s very volatile, so handle it with care, but we think you can start a position around here.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
TripAdvisor (TRIP)	55.14	94-97	88-89
T-Mobile US (TMUS)	0.00	33.5-35	31-31.5
Synaptics (SYNA)	0.00	65-68	60-61
Sanchez Energy (SN)	0.00	32-34	30-31
Palo Alto Networks (PANW)	236.92	71.5-75.5	65-67
Nabors Industries (NBR)	0.00	25.5-26.5	24.5-25
Molina Healthcare (MOH)	0.00	41.5-43	39.5-40
Cavium (CAVM)	0.00	46.5-49	43.5-44.5
Baker Hughes (BHI)	0.00	69-71.5	66-67
Air Lease (AL)	0.00	39.5-41	36-36.5

After a few weeks of solid action that eased most worries, the latest shenanigans in Iraq have reminded investors that the market is a two-way street. Not that the damage has been severe—stocks have generally eased normally since Iraq grabbed the headlines last Thursday—but we’re viewing this as the rally’s first test. If dips in the indexes and individual stocks come on generally tame volume and find support, it will be highly bullish. If not … well, we’ll deal with that if we see it. Right now, the evidence remains clearly bullish, and while the bulls aren’t running wild, many stocks are making solid progress.

This week’s list has a bunch of great stories, as well as a nice mix of newer and older names. Our Top Pick is Restoration Hardware (RH), which is going about business in a unique way, leading to outstanding results. The stock is getting going after a multi-month rest.

Stock Name	Price	Buy Range	Loss Limit
RH Inc. (RH)	252.93	79-84	72-73
VeriFone Systems, Inc. (PAY)	0.00	35-36	32-33
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)	423.92	410-430	370-380
Health Net (HNT)	0.00	38.5-40	35-36
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT)	0.00	18-19	15-16
Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR)	0.00	115-121	105-107
Eagle Materials Inc. (EXP)	0.00	90-94	84-85
Con-way (CNW)	0.00	46.5-48.5	43.5-44
Charter Communications (CHTR)	0.00	144-147	134-135
Baidu (BIDU)	0.00	170-175	158-160