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The market is beginning to more fully anticipate a post-Covid environment and economy. As such, investors are looking to slower/normalized/sustainable growth following the bulge from the pandemic stimulus programs and pent-up demand, higher interest rates, and a relenting of supply chain issues.

With today’s 9% intra-day price drop following a disappointing near-term outlook, Cisco (CSCO) shares look more attractive and we would buy/add to positions here, as the long-term fundamental picture remains healthy.

Like nature, stock markets have seasons. We experienced a brief but frigid winter about 18 months ago when nearly every stock wilted as capital markets froze (no pun intended, mostly). Then, just as surely as spring follows winter, an exceptionally generous dose of warm sunshine, water and fertilizer in the forms of extremely aggressive monetary and fiscal liquidity and stimulus returned the stock market to brilliant health where nearly every stock blossomed with vibrant growth.

Our comments this week are mostly questions. Day-to-day gyrations make sense on the surface. Yesterday, the market surged on news of China easing its monetary policy combined with a growing sense of relief that the Omicron variant is milder than previously understood. But in the wider context, the market’s position and trend makes less sense.

Private equity, the polished-up name for venture capital and leveraged buyout funds, is white-hot. If every market cycle has its own Masters of the Universe (the 1990s had tech mutual funds, the 2000s had hedge funds), the past decade’s MOTU was clearly private equity. Today, everyone wants to get in on the bonanza: MBA graduates, bankers, mutual funds, hedge funds, endowment and pension funds, insurance companies, wealthy individuals … and soon the average retail investor will get government-approved access to private equity investments. Exuberance1 abounds.

We continue to watch in amazement the values that the market puts on electric vehicle makers, with the most recent example of Rivian Automotive (RIVN). Since its IPO at $78/share, RIVN shares have doubled, making the EV company’s roughly 900 million shares worth a total of about $144 billion. This makes it the #3 most valuable car company in the world.

General Motors has made a remarkable transition from bankruptcy in 2009 to a highly-profitable and innovative contender in the rapidly changing global auto industry, driven by CEO Mary Barra.

We had four companies report earnings this week and I’ve already updated you on three of them through Special Bulletins. A review of the fourth, as well as incremental updates on our other positions, is provided in today’s Update. Overall, my stance is still cautiously optimistic.

Almost everything is up over the past week. The S&P 600 small cap index jumped 4.8% higher to hit 738. It is now up 10% in 2016, sits just four points below its 2015 high, and is officially above my year-end target of 730. None of our stocks were down over the past week.

The S&P 500 index is having an orderly pullback, after rising for three weeks. In that light, we’re not likely to see a lot of portfolio action this week. Looking out over the next four weeks or so, these buy-rated portfolio stocks appear best-positioned to rise 5% or more.

While today brings an unexpected new political reality, markets around the world are already adjusting to the new order.

The Emerging Markets Timer is technically positive, but the intermediate-term trend remains mostly neutral.

First of all, as we mentioned in this morning’s bulletin, today’s drop is ugly, but the bigger picture isn’t a complete horror show—the S&P is hovering within its April-June trading range (about 2,030 to 2,120).

For now, based on S&P trends, economic growth and the proliferation of easily identifiable undervalued growth stocks, I remain bullish on U.S. stock markets. I’m raising the rating on Big Lots (BIG) to Strong Buy, raising the rating on FedEx (FDX) to Buy, and lowering the ratings on Cardinal Health (CAH) and Intuit (INTU) to Hold.

Remain bullish, but stay tuned. The market’s recent Brexit-induced dip has put our Cabot Tides back on the fence, though our Two-Second Indicator and Cabot Trend Lines are still bullish. A Tides sell signal would cause us to raise more cash, but tonight we’re mostly standing pat; our only change is moving Facebook (FB) to Hold. The Model Portfolio is holding about 20% in cash.

Remain bullish. The overall market remains in great shape, and while a pullback of some sort is possible after a nice run during the past few weeks, the evidence points to higher prices in the weeks and months ahead. In the Model Portfolio, we sold Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) on a special bulletin Monday, replacing it with Amazon (AMZN). We’ll stand pat tonight, though with two open slots (cash position near 16%), we’re aiming to do some new buying in the days ahead.

Sell Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) for a 21% gain and Buy Federated Investors (FII).