Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) stock forecast and price target

Sustainable Impact Investing, or ESG investing, is gaining traction not only with Argus Research clients but also with the global investment community. BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced in January 2020 that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. Performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

Sustainable Impact Investing, or ESG investing, is gaining traction not only with Argus Research clients but also with the global investment community. BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced in January 2020 that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. Performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Over the past few weeks, trading generally has been bad for stocks and good for gold and Bitcoin. For the S&P 500, the 38.2% retracement of the rally since October 2022 was busted and support near 4,200 was lost. Breadth was weak in a manner typically seen in bear markets -- but at times also seen during corrective phases of a bull market.

The first-quarter earnings season has passed the halfway mark with 292 (or 58%) of S&P 500 companies having reported results through August 1. An impressive 81% of those companies exceeded earnings expectations, while the blended (actual and still to report) earnings decline is now projected at 5.9%, according to Refinitv. The Consumer Discretionary sector still leads with 36% earnings growth, while Energy is now by far the weakest sector, with a 48% profit decline. Our analysts are always on the lookout for companies that boost their outlooks during earnings season. Management's ability to "raise guidance" can often be a catalyst to market-beating returns in the quarters ahead. Here is an initial list of BUY-rated companies in Argus Coverage for which management has raised guidance or increased its outlook during the 2Q23 EPS reporting season.

Our analysis of data that has been reported in recent weeks leads us to conclude that key parts of U.S. GDP are still expanding, despite the impact of inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical developments. That said, growth is not consistent across all segments of the economy, and, in many cases, growth rates are slowing. While the Fed seems to be engineering a so-called soft landing, a recession in 2023-2034 remains a possibility, though we think that the odds are diminishing. After reviewing the latest economic fundamentals, as well as the positive surprise in the final revision to 1Q GDP, we are raising our 3Q23 GDP estimate to 2.9%. We still anticipate that the second quarter could be the strongest quarter of the year, before the higher rates dampen consumer spending into 2024. Our estimate for the full year 2023 is now 2.2%. Our preliminary forecast for GDP growth in 2024 is also 2.2%, as the Federal Reserve, with its tool chest once again full after hiking rates during 1H23, can contemplate lowering interest rates to recharge economic growth. The Wall Street Journal Economic Survey calls for GDP growth of 1.0% in 2023 and 1.3% in 2024. The Federal Reserve is now anticipating GDP growth of 1.0% for 2023 and 1.1% in 2024. Meanwhile, the IMF is calling for 2023 growth of 1.8%, and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's Survey of Professional Forecasters is calling for growth of 1.3% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024. The GDPNow Forecast from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is 3.5% for 3Q23.

Stocks fell in late trading on Thursday, giving up early gains, as investors weighed more 2Q earnings reports and new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department, in its advance estimate, said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.4% annualized rate in 2Q23, up from a revised 2.0% in 1Q and above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 1.8% growth. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 221,000 for the week ended July 22, below the Bloomberg consensus of 235,000. Continuing claims fell by 59,000 to 1.69 million. The Dow fell 0.67%, the S&P 0.64%, and the Nasdaq 0.55%. Crude oil rose more than 1% to $80 per barrel, while gold fell $26 to $1944 per ounce.

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 last year. Stocks have recovered so far in 2023, but gains have been driven largely by only a handful of high-tech companies. Inflation remains high and the Fed continues to raise interest rates. Is a recession in the offing? With all the uncertainty, is it time for investors to cash in their chips? Perhaps not yet. We note that investors exit the stock market at their own peril, as long-term returns from equities consistently have outpaced long-term returns from other asset classes, such as fixed income and cash. As well, those returns are from eras when the 10-year Treasury bond yield was much higher than the current 3.8% level. So 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. We have designed a portfolio of companies followed by Argus Research analysts that are BUY-rated and have impressive Min Vol characteristics of low beta, high yield, high market cap, strong balance sheets, and low risk profiles. Some of the stocks featured in the portfolio are listed below.

Dividend income is often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market. Thus far in 2023, market bulls are boasting about first-half S&P 500 returns that may top 15%. No one is very focused on the broad market index's 1.6% current yield. 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%. In 2018, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices declined as the Fed hiked rates. The pattern was repeated in 2022. 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.

Sustainable Impact Investing, or ESG investing, is gaining traction not only with Argus Research clients but also with the global investment community. BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced in January 2020 that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. Performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

The first-quarter earnings season is wrapping up, with blended earnings (actual results and the consensus for those still to report) showing a 0.6% year-over-year decline, according to Refinitiv. That is considerably better than the 5.0% decline expected at the start of the earnings period, though still not enough to avoid a technical earnings recession following 4Q's 3.4% decline. Propelling the 1Q outperformance was a 74% beat rate (versus the long-term average of 62%), with strong gains in Consumer Discretionary (+55%) and Industrials (+26%), but drags from Basic Materials and Utilities (both -22%). Our analysts are always on the lookout for companies that boost their outlooks during earnings season. Management's ability to "raise guidance" can often be a catalyst for market-beating returns in the quarters ahead. Here is an initial list of BUY-rated companies in Argus Coverage for which management has raised guidance or increased its outlook during the 1Q23 EPS reporting season.

Stocks rose modestly on Friday morning, extending Thursday's rally. Exxon shares rose after the company reported strong 1Q earnings that topped the consensus forecast, though sales were down from the prior year. Chevron also posted strong earnings, helped by growth in its refining business. Amazon shares fell, despite strong first-quarter results, on concerns about slowing growth in the company's cloud business. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil rose more than 2% to $76.50 per barrel, while gold traded near $1999 per ounce.

Stocks were mostly higher in volatile trading on Thursday morning, led by the Energy and Consumer Discretionary sectors. GDP data was stronger than expected. In its advance estimate, the Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.9% annualized rate in 4Q, above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 2.6% though down from 3.2% growth in 3Q. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.7%. Crude oil rose nearly 2% to $81.50 per barrel, while gold fell $17 to $1926 per ounce.

Rapidly rising inflation 2022 knocked stocks into a bear market. While growth strategies suffered the most, value strategies also declined. Even bond prices were lower last year. Volatility, which has dropped from the highs of 2020, still has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Is it time for investors to cash in their chips? We note that investors exit the stock market at their own peril, as long-term returns from equities consistently have outpaced long-term returns from other asset classes, such as fixed income and cash. As well, those fixed-income returns are from eras when the 10-year Treasury bond yield was much higher than the current 3.5% level. So 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.

Dividend income, an important element of total return, is often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market. Between 1930 and 2012, dividend income accounted for 42% of the total return of the S&P 500, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100% of returns. More recently, dividends have accounted for 15%-20% of returns. Still, in 2018, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices declined as the Federal Reserve hiked rates. The pattern was repeated in 2022 as well. 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.

Sustainable Impact Investing, or ESG investing, is gaining traction not only with Argus Research clients but also with the global investment community. BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced in January 2020 that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. Performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

Last week was the busiest of the quarter for corporate earnings, with a fair number of sharp moves in stock prices following above- or below-consensus results or changes in company guidance. Through October 25, Refinitiv reports that 129 S&P 500 companies have announced earnings, with 74% of those coming in ahead of the EPS consensus. The blended (reported and estimated) growth rate for the full quarter, however, is now at 3.3%. That's down from the 4.5% that was expected at the start of the quarter, which is likely a combination of the magnitude of the earnings misses as well as earnings estimates still coming down for those still scheduled to report. Sectors with the strongest beat rates so far have been Healthcare and Communication Services, where 100% of companies reporting have come in ahead of consensus. The biggest laggard has been Consumer Discretionary, where only 47% have exceeded consensus. Energy dominates, with a 119% blended earnings growth rate versus 3Q21, while Financials are at the other end with a 16% earnings decline. Our analysts are always on the lookout for companies that boost their outlooks during earnings season. Management's ability to "raise guidance" can often be a catalyst to strong returns in the quarters ahead. Here is an initial list of BUY-rated companies in Argus coverage for which management has raised guidance or increased its outlook during the 3Q22 EPS reporting season.

Stocks finished mixed on Thursday as investors weighed earnings reports from a range of major companies, including Caterpillar, Merck, and McDonald's, along with new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.6% rate in the third quarter, a reversal after two quarters of declines, helped by stronger-than-expected net exports. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 3,000 to 217,000 for the week ended October 22, but were below the Reuters consensus estimate of 223,000. Continuing claims rose to 1.438 million, up from 1.383 million a week earlier and above the consensus forecast. The Dow rose 0.61%, the S&P fell 0.61%, and the Nasdaq fell 1.63%. Crude oil rose 1% to $89 per barrel, while gold fell $3 to $1666 per ounce.

Recent one-week insider-sentiment readings from Vickers Stock Research have been toggling between very positive and neutral. As a result, Vickers' eight-week sell/buy ratios have started to retreat a bit from the exceedingly bullish levels of a few weeks ago. Still, current readings remain well below the 2.00 line that starts the bullish territory for these sentiment gauges. Vickers' current NYSE Eight-Week Sell/Buy Ratio is 1.60, the Nasdaq is 1.87, and the Total, which accounts for activity across all of the exchanges, is 1.74. Those are good sentiment readings under any conditions.

Rapidly rising inflation in 2022 has knocked the stock market into a bear market. While growth strategies have suffered the most, value strategies also have declined. Even year-to-date bond prices are lower. Volatility, which has dropped from the highs of 2020, still has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Is it time for investors to cash in their chips? We note that investors exit the stock market at their own peril, as long-term returns from equities consistently have outpaced long-term returns from other asset classes, such as fixed income and cash. As well, those returns are from eras when the 10-year Treasury bond yield was much higher than the current 3.0% level. So 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 has knocked the stock market into a bear market. While growth strategies have suffered the most, value strategies also have declined. Even bond prices are lower year-to-date. Volatility, which has dropped from the highs of 2020, still has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Is it time for investors to cash in their chips? Perhaps not yet. We note that investors exit the stock market at their own peril, as long-term returns from equities consistently have outpaced long-term returns from other asset classes, such as fixed income and cash. As well, those returns are from eras when the 10-year Treasury bond yield was much higher than the current 3.0% level. So 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. We have designed a portfolio of companies followed by Argus Research analysts that are BUY-rated and have impressive Min-Vol characteristics of low beta, high yield, high market cap, strong balance sheets, and low risk profiles. Some of the stocks featured in the portfolio are listed below.

Dividend income, an important element of total return, is often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market. Between 1930 and 2012, dividend income accounted for 42% of the total return of the S&P 500, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100% of returns. More recently, dividends have accounted for 15%-20% of returns. Still, in 2018, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices declined as the Federal Reserve hiked rates. The pattern is being repeated in 2022 as well. 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.

This is among our most important themes for 2022, and stretches across industries. We think companies that consistently raise their dividends at a double-digit rate are sending off three important signals amid the recent market volatility: 1) the company's balance sheet is strong enough to pay a dividend; 2) management is focused on providing shareholder returns; and 3) management is confident enough in the near-term outlook to raise the payout aggressively. The third factor is especially important as the pandemic upended the nation's recent record of long-term economic growth. Here are 19 stocks that meet our double-digit dividend test and are on the Argus BUY List. They are also holdings in our Dividend Growth Separately Managed Account and in the Dividend Growers Total Return Trust, sponsored by SmartTrust.

Sustainable Impact Investing, or ESG investing, is gaining traction not only with Argus Research clients but also with the global investment community. BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced in January 2020 that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. Performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

Stocks rallied on Thursday, recovering from recent sharp losses as investors weighed more 1Q earnings from major companies and new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted at a 1.4% annualized rate in 1Q, below the consensus growth forecast of 1.1% and the first decline since 2Q20. Weekly employment data was better than expected. First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 180,000 for the week ended April 23, down from 185,000 a week earlier and below the Bloomberg consensus of 184,000. On the earnings front, Meta shares rose more than 17%, despite mixed 1Q results, after the company reported better-than-expected growth in daily active users. The Dow rose 1.85%, the S&P 2.47%, and the Nasdaq 3.06%. Crude oil traded near $105 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $1897 per ounce.

Stocks rose strongly on Wednesday morning, recovering from Tuesday's selloff, as investors awaited the Fed's policy statement and comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell this afternoon. Housing market data was positive. The Commerce Department said that U.S. new home sales rose 11.9% in December to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 811,000, above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 760,000. The Dow rose 1.0%, the S&P 1.4%, and the Nasdaq 2.1%. Crude oil traded near $88 per barrel, while gold fell $20 to $1832 per ounce.

This is among our most-important themes for 2022, and stretches across industries. We think companies that raise their dividends consistently at a double-digit rate are sending off three important signals amid all the recent market volatility: 1) the company's balance sheet is strong enough to pay a dividend; 2) management is focused on providing shareholder returns; and 3) management is confident enough in the near-term outlook to raise the payout aggressively. This third factor is especially important as the pandemic upends the nation's recent record of long-term economic growth. Here are 12 stocks that meet our double-digit dividend test and are on the Argus BUY list. They are also holdings in our Dividend Growth Separately Managed Account and in the Dividend Growers Total Return Trust, sponsored by SmartTrust.

Often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market is dividend income, which is an important element of total return. Between 1930 and 2012, dividend income accounted for 42% of total return of the S&P 500, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100% of returns. More recently, dividends have accounted for 15%-20% of returns. Still, in 2018, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices declined as the Federal Reserve hiked rates. But 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.

Sustainable Impact Investing is gaining traction with the global investment community. In January 2020, BlackRock CEO Lawrence Fink, who oversees approximately $9 trillion in assets, announced that his firm would be investing in companies that are making progress on sustainability. He doubled down in his January 2021 letter, calling on company managements to disclose their plans for making their businesses "compatible with a net-zero economy" by 2050. As assets have flowed in over the past 40 years, Sustainable Impact Investing has evolved. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. But the performance of these initial strategies lagged, and the approach has been modified. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across all industries that can have an "impact" on global issues such as the climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights.

Over the weekend, the House of Representatives approved the largest public works bill since the 1950s. The bipartisan trillion-dollar bill, which was passed by the Senate in August, now goes to President Biden's desk for signing. The plan focuses on improving the country's infrastructure, from roads and bridges to water systems and electricity grids. It also targets the auto industry, with a focus on electric vehicles and charging stations. In the power sector, Biden's goal is to achieve a carbon-free power industry by 2035. To improve energy efficiency in buildings, he is looking to retrofit four million buildings in the four years. Elsewhere, business Services companies also stand to benefit; bond issuance should pick up given that the infrastructure spending plan will be financed at least in part by bonds; and payroll companies could get a boost processing more paychecks as the infrastructure plan creates "millions of good paying jobs." All-in-all, some of the companies that we think may benefit include the following.

October Surprise: Recouping September's Losses

The Technology sector started slowly in 2021 as investors focused on value stocks. But the sector has come on strong in recent months (up 22% year-to-date) and now is outperforming the market (up 20.7%) as well as value sectors such as Consumer Staples (+8%), Utilities (+10%), Materials (+17%), and Industrials (+18%). The sector is the largest in the U.S. market and now accounts for more than 28% of the S&P 500. Over the long term, we expect the sector to benefit from pervasive digitization across the economy, greater acceptance of transformative technologies, and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Healthy company and sector fundamentals are also positive. For individual companies, these include high cash levels, low debt, and broad international business exposure. We have an Over-Weight ranking on the Tech sector and think investors should look to allocate up to 30% of their diversified portfolios to the group. Here is how we use our analysts' Tech sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios.

Stocks kept momentum going in July and August. Our analysts have been progressing through earnings season and have come across many stocks that have approached target prices. We set targets through our valuation framework, which includes analysis of historical multiples, peer multiples, and future dividends and cash flows. After adjusting for the latest information, here are some of the stocks on which we raised target prices over the past month. All of the following stocks are rated BUY at Argus.

Stocks rose on Thursday morning, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled that it would wait for further economic recovery before paring back its $120 billion per month bond-buying program. The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy expanded at a 6.5% annualized rate in 2Q, up from 6.3% in 1Q, but well below the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 8.4%. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.4%. Crude oil rose 1% to $73 per barrel, while gold traded near $1829 per ounce.

Often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market is dividend income, which is an important element of total return. Between 1930 and 2012, dividend income accounted for 42% of total return of the S&P 500, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100% of returns. More recently, dividends have accounted for 15%-20% of returns. Still, in 2018, dividend payments softened the blow when most market indices declined as the Federal Reserve hiked 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.

Stocks rose modestly on Thursday morning, but gave up strong early gains amid a range of first-quarter earnings reports and new GDP and employment data. Investors also weighed President Biden's ambitious plans for new spending on families and education. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 6.4% annualized rate in the first quarter, above the Reuters consensus forecast of 6.1% and up from 4.3% growth in the fourth quarter. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 0.1%. Crude oil rose 1.5% to $65 per barrel, while gold traded near $1768 per ounce.

President Joe Biden is preparing to announce an infrastructure-rebuilding plan that he estimates will create up to 10 million clean energy jobs. The following areas of the economy stand to benefit from the government spending, which could total as much as $4 trillion. The first element of the plan is improving the country's infrastructure, from roads and bridges to water systems and electricity grids.

Stocks rallied on Thursday morning, recovering from Wednesday's selloff, amid lower-than-expected jobless claims. The Labor Department reported that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 847,000 for the week ended January 23, down from a revised 914,000 a week earlier and below the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 875,000. The Dow rose 1.8%, the S&P 1.6%, and the Nasdaq 0.9%. Crude oil rose to $53 per barrel, while gold traded near $1866 per ounce.

The Technology sector has led the market recovery from the COVID-19 depths of March 2020. Through November 20, the sector was up 31% for the year, compared to a 10% gain for the S&P 500. The Tech sector is the largest in the U.S. market and now accounts for more than 27% of the S&P 500. Over the long term, we expect the Tech sector to benefit from pervasive digitization across the economy, greater acceptance of transformative technologies, and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT): Healthy company and sector fundamentals are also positive. For individual companies, these include high cash levels, low debt, and broad international business exposure. We have an Over-Weight ranking on the Tech sector and think investors should look to allocate up to 30% of their diversified portfolios to the group. Here is how we use our Tech sector ideas from our analysts in our Focus List and Model Portfolios.

Stocks rose strongly on Wednesday morning despite the still uncertain outcome of a much closer-than-expected presidential election. Still, by mid-morning, Joe Biden had opened narrow leads in the swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin and stood to benefit from as yet uncounted mail-in ballots in these and other key states. Wall Street also focused on the Senate, where Republicans were likely to remain in control with a narrow majority. The Dow rose 2.1%, the S&P 2.6%, and the Nasdaq 3.7%. Crude oil traded near $39 per barrel, while gold fell $8 to $1903 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning, with gains in the Healthcare, Consumer Discretionary and Technology sectors and losses in Energy and Financials. Major retail companies will begin to report later in the week. On the housing front, builder confidence, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index, rose 6 points to 78 in August, above the Reuters consensus of 73 and the third straight monthly increase. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.7%. Crude oil rose 1% to $42.50 per barrel, while gold jumped $46 to $1996 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning, with gains in the Healthcare, Consumer Discretionary and Technology sectors and losses in Energy and Financials. Major retail companies will begin to report later in the week. On the housing front, builder confidence, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index, rose 6 points to 78 in August, above the Reuters consensus of 73 and the third straight monthly increase. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.7%. Crude oil rose 1% to $42.50 per barrel, while gold jumped $46 to $1996 per ounce.

The Labor Department's Nonfarm Payrolls report for May 2020 will be released on June 5. We expect to see unemployment rise toward 20%, breaking last month's record high of 14.7% for this series, which dates to 1948. In recent weeks, millions more have filed unemployment claims, so the 25% threshold may be broken soon as well. The U.S. government is working to brake this horrible trend, with trillions of dollars of spending approved by Congress and aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve to support markets. But the real answer to how high unemployment goes depends on how quickly the country's health is restored. Yes, certain states are starting to rev back up. But even these measures are only partial, and most consumers are likely to be cautiously. Before we see the unemployment rate start trending down, the country needs to recover its health through better testing, treatments and ultimately a vaccine. Keep in mind, though, that unemployment is a lagging indicator, and the stock market is already looking to better days.

The Labor Department's Nonfarm Payrolls report for May 2020 will be released on June 5. We expect to see unemployment rise toward 20%, breaking last month's record high of 14.7% for this series, which dates to 1948. In recent weeks, millions more have filed unemployment claims, so the 25% threshold may be broken soon as well. The U.S. government is working to brake this horrible trend, with trillions of dollars of spending approved by Congress and aggressive actions taken by the Federal Reserve to support markets. But the real answer to how high unemployment goes depends on how quickly the country's health is restored. Yes, certain states are starting to rev back up. But even these measures are only partial, and most consumers are likely to be cautiously. Before we see the unemployment rate start trending down, the country needs to recover its health through better testing, treatments and ultimately a vaccine. Keep in mind, though, that unemployment is a lagging indicator, and the stock market is already looking to better days.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning amid concerns about a surge in new coronavirus cases in Germany and South Korea. A report in the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper aligned with the government, also suggested that Chinese leaders were reevaluating the phase 1 trade deal signed by the U.S. and China in January. The Dow fell 0.6%, the S&P fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.4%. Crude oil fell slightly to $24.50 per barrel, while gold fell $16 to $1698 per ounce.

The Technology sector has led the market recovery from the COVID-19 depths of late March. Through April 30, the sector was flat for the year, compared to a 10% decline for the S&P 500. The sector is the largest in the U.S. market and now accounts for almost 26% of the S&P 500. Over the long term, we expect the Tech sector to benefit from pervasive digitization across the economy, greater acceptance of transformative technologies, and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Healthy company and sector fundamentals are also positive. For individual companies, these include high cash levels, low debt, and broad international business exposure. We have an Over-Weight rating on the Tech sector and think investors should look to allocate up to 30% of their diversified portfolios to the group. Here is how we use our analysts' Tech sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning amid concerns about a surge in new coronavirus cases in Germany and South Korea. A report in the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper aligned with the government, also suggested that Chinese leaders were reevaluating the phase 1 trade deal signed by the U.S. and China in January. The Dow fell 0.6%, the S&P fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.4%. Crude oil fell slightly to $24.50 per barrel, while gold fell $16 to $1698 per ounce.

The Technology sector has led the market recovery from the COVID-19 depths of late March. Through April 30, the sector was flat for the year, compared to a 10% decline for the S&P 500. The sector is the largest in the U.S. market and now accounts for almost 26% of the S&P 500. Over the long term, we expect the Tech sector to benefit from pervasive digitization across the economy, greater acceptance of transformative technologies, and the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Healthy company and sector fundamentals are also positive. For individual companies, these include high cash levels, low debt, and broad international business exposure. We have an Over-Weight rating on the Tech sector and think investors should look to allocate up to 30% of their diversified portfolios to the group. Here is how we use our analysts' Tech sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios.