The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Earnings news is the big driver today. All the action is mostly in individual stocks reacting to whether last quarter was positive or negative, plus any intel on outlook. The major indices are muted though small caps are showing momentum higher.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The midday Monday market mood is upbeat. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are higher more than 1%. It's a huge news week. Yes, we say that a lot. The market is taking in a surprise new Democratic presidential ticket, a mountain of earnings, and fresh inflation data. Given the switch to Kamala Harris from Joe Biden, the markets are recalibrating odds of who might win the top seat in the country. On earnings, about 25% of S&P 500 companies report this week. Inflation data this time is PCE, the Fed's favorite. It's due on Friday.

Dividend income is often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market. But dividends are an important element of return. Dividend income accounted for 42% of the total return of the S&P 500 between 1930 and 2012, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some of those decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100% of returns. More recently, dividends have accounted for a smaller portion of returns, at around 15%-20%. Not for nothing, in 2022, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices turned bearish as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates. Not all dividends are created equal, though, and it is important to understand the difference between the two main categories: high-yield stocks and dividend-growth stocks. High-yield stocks typically have dividends that pay out in the 5%-8% range. Though the income appears attractive, the share prices of high-yield stocks could signal some risks. Dividend-growth stocks typically have lower yields, often in the 1.0%-2.5% range. But the lower-yielding dividends are not likely to be a huge component of cash flow, leaving management teams with other value-additive options for deploying cash -- such as share buybacks, M&A, the repayment of debt, or reinvestment in the core business. Below is a partial list of Argus BUY-rated stocks that are included in our June Dividend Growth Theme Model Portfolio.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Rapidly rising inflation in 2022 knocked stocks into a bear market. While growth strategies suffered the most, value strategies also declined. Even bond prices were lower that year. Stocks have recovered and a new bull market has started, but gains have been largely driven by only a handful of high-tech companies. Inflation remains an issue and the Federal Reserve has yet to lower rates. Is a recession in the offing? With all the uncertainty, what's a potential equity strategy for investors amid all the uncertainty? Argus believes that Min Vol is an all-weather strategy that is timely in any investing climate. Academic literature and, more to the point, returns history, indicate that Min Vol can deliver market-matching returns on an absolute basis and superior returns on a risk-adjusted basis over various time periods.

Rapidly rising inflation in 2022 knocked stocks into a bear market. While growth strategies suffered the most, value strategies also declined. Even bond prices were lower that year. Stocks have recovered and a new bull market has started, but gains have been largely driven by only a handful of high-tech companies. Inflation remains an issue and the Federal Reserve has yet to lower rates. Is a recession in the offing? With all the uncertainty, what's a potential equity strategy for investors amid all the uncertainty? Argus believes that Min Vol is an all-weather strategy that is timely in any investing climate. Academic literature and, more to the point, returns history, indicate that Min Vol can deliver market-matching returns on an absolute basis and superior returns on a risk-adjusted basis over various time periods.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

There has been a little of everything in the past two weeks, from a five-day wipeout in the previously loved semiconductor industry, taking out almost 10%, to a massive rally in the heretofore hated small-caps, adding 11.5%. We've also seen a number of breadth thrusts, which usually occur at the beginning of a new uptrend, as well as a breakout to minor all-time highs for gold. There was also the attempted assassination of former president Trump. Finally, this morning brings news of a global technology outage and, of course, more earnings news. Thursday could have been worse if not for some late buying that pushed the indices off recent pullback lows. The S&P 500 lost 0.8% and is down 2.2% over the past two days, but found intraday support yesterday from its 21-day exponential average -- just as it did during the minor pullback in late May. The greater damage has been elsewhere, with the Nasdaq giving up 4.2% over the past six days and the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) down 4.7% over the same period. Both have given up their 21-day exponential averages for the first time since April, but neither has broken their prior closing low from June 24. Their uptrends off the lows since April have given way on a minor basis and the 21-day rate-of-change for the QQQ has dropped into negative territory. In addition, we have seen minor and bearish 5/13 exponential moving average crossovers for the Nasdaq and the Nasdaq 100. Because of the size of the mega-cap rallies since early 2023, we think there is a greater probability that the current pullback could last into August and September, which is generally a weak seasonal time of year for stocks. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)

Stocks fell on Thursday as investors continued rotating out of tech stocks and also to take profits on recent run-ups. The S&P 500 lost 0.8%, the Dow was down 1.3% and the Nasdaq fell 0.7%. Oil also turned down and is trading just above $82 per barrel.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Wednesday was a tough day for mega-cap indices, especially those with a heavy Information Technology component. Semiconductors were slammed again and it looks like the latest rally off the lows since April 19 is complete. The Nasdaq dropped 2.5%, the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) lost 2.7%, and the S&P 500, S&P 100, and S&P 400 all fell between 1% and 1.3%. Small-caps outperformed once again, with the Russell 2000 off only 0.7% and the S&P SmallCap 600 down only a fraction. Semiconductor indices all plunged 6% or more. The iShares Semi ETF (SOXX) fell very close to its low from the latter part of June and lost its 21-day exponential average for the first time in three months. The ETF did not quite reach its 50-day average, but the major losses were accompanied by very heavy volume. The 5- and 13-day moving average crossover almost reversed its bullish cross from early May. The VanEck Semi ETF (SMH) did see a minor 5/13 bearish cross, as did the DJ U.S. Semi Index. Since June 20, the semis have generated five distribution days (big losses on an increase in volume or above-average volume). A cluster like that is certainly a warning of an intermediate-term top. We have also seen five or six distribution days on the QQQ since June 20. Renewable Energy, Electronic Equipment, and Electrical Components & Equipment also hurt Information Technology. Consumer Discretionary (-1.7%), Communication Services (-1.5%), and Industrials (-1.1%) also had tough days. Consumer Staples led with a 1.3% gain, Energy was up 1%, and Financial and Real Estate rose 0.7%. Buckle your seat belts, it's getting stormy out there. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

Overall, the stock market had another very good day yesterday. But, once again, it was because of the suddenly loved (for now) little guys. To put this into perspective, the total market cap of the Russell 2000 (IWM) is said to be only as large as one of the multiple $3 trillion market-cap stocks in the "Magnificent 7." But let's not spoil the party. Stocks are posting some historical returns on massive trading volume. Over the past five days, IWM has soared 11.5%. Excluding the comeback from the pandemic, the index has now logged the greatest five-day period since October 2011. Before that, you have to go back to the initial rally after the March 2009 bear-market low to find such a move. The IWM is only nine points (about 4%) from its November 8, 2021, all-time high. It has completed a massive 31-month consolidation and, as they say, the larger the base, the higher in space. Over the past four days, IWM volume exploded as investors piled into the small-cap trade while, we imagine, many long mega-cap and short small-cap trades were unwound. The four-day volume totaled 227.4 million shares or 56.9 mln./day. The 50-day average is 26.5 mln. shares and the 200-day average is 36 mln. shares. This is the largest cluster of volume during an IWM rally since December. Typically, large clusters of huge volume happen during corrections and bear markets and many times represent downside capitulation. Market breadth obviously has been strong, with the four-day NYSE advances-declines hitting +1,004. This is a short-term breadth thrust and is usually associated with the beginning of an advance. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)