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 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.

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.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning following news that the Biden administration would support intellectual property waivers on coronavirus vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna shares were down sharply, though JNJ was flat. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 498,000 for the week ended May 1, down from 590,000 a week earlier and below the Bloomberg consensus of 538,000. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.3%. Crude oil fell 1% to $65 per barrel, while gold traded near $1815 per ounce.

This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Mid Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. The market capitalization range for U.S. mid-caps typically falls between $1 billion and $8 billion and represents 20% of the total capitalization of the U.S. equity market.

Stocks kept the momentum going in April, and are now up almost 12%, including dividends, in the year-to-date. Our analysts have been progressing through earnings season, and have come across many stocks in coverage that have approached target prices. We set target prices through our valuation framework, which includes analysis of historical multiples, peer multiples, future dividends, and cash flows. After adjusting the models for the latest earnings and dividend information -- most of which has been good -- here are some of the stocks on which we have raised target prices over the past month. All stocks are rated BUY at Argus.

The stock market was flat to down last week. Tech stocks and blue chips performed similarly, with tech narrowly outperforming. During Friday's session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 186 points, or 0.54%. The S&P 500 was down 0.72%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.85%. For the week, the DJIA was down 169 points, or 0.50%, the S&P 500 was up 0.02%, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.39%. Year-to-date, the DJIA is up 10.68%, the S&P 500 is up 11.32%, and the Nasdaq Composite is up 8.34%.

This edition features where to look for infrastructure opportunities; the upcoming Berkshire meeting; an earnings roundup; and notes from Sage Group, Caterpillar, and General Dynamics.

Stocks edged lower on Tuesday morning following mixed earnings reports and new consumer confidence data. Tesla shares fell sharply as better-than-expected 1Q earnings were driven more by gains from bitcoin investments and environmental credit sales than by the core auto business. The Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index rose to 121.7 in April, up from 109.0 in March and the highest level since February 2020, before the start of the pandemic. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P 0.1%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $62.50 per barrel, while gold fell slightly to $1780 per ounce.

Stocks rose modestly on Monday morning at the start of a busy week for 1Q earnings reports, which have thus far been strong. According to FactSet, 84% of S&P 500 companies that have reported 1Q results have topped consensus expectations. On the economic front, the Commerce Department said that core capital goods orders excluding aircraft rose 0.9% in March, up from a 0.8% decline in February but below the Reuters consensus forecast of 1.5% growth. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 0.2%, and the Nasdaq 0.6%. Crude oil traded near $62 per barrel, while gold rose slightly to $1778 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Wednesday morning following the first 1Q earnings reports from major banks. JPMorgan Chase posted solid earnings as strong capital markets activity, along with reserve releases, more than offset weakness in its lending business. Wells Fargo also reported much stronger-than-expected results with help from reserve releases. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $63 per barrel, while gold fell $11 to $1736 per ounce.

For the past two weeks, we've discussed sentiment improvement among corporate executives, directors and beneficial owners (albeit on low transaction volume that is typical during earnings season). Prior to that, the weekly data from Vickers Stock Research showed insiders were generally cautious for the past few months, and insiders at Technology sector firms were particularly cautious. But that all started to fade lately, as sentiment among sectors moved back towards alignment and overall sentiment improved. But this week, everything old is new again.

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.