The Portfolio Selector features the Argus Focus List, a group of 30 "best idea" stocks generated and regularly updated by Argus' analysts and investment policy committee. It also includes the director of research’s monthly investment strategy column, stock recommendations and sector picks, economic forecasts, and an asset allocation model. This month, the Focus List additions are Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN); Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR); Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM); Cloudflare Inc (NET) and the Focus List deletions are Sanmina Corp (SANM); EBay Inc. (EBAY); Coca-Cola Co (KO); Pinterest Inc (PINS).

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 rose on Friday morning, led by the Technology sector, though investors remained concerned about prospects for slower economic growth and the impact of the Delta variant. On the earnings front, Deere posted solid fiscal 3Q results and raised its full-year guidance, though the shares fell on concerns about rising costs and supply-chain issues. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 0.6%, and the Nasdaq 0.7%. Crude oil traded near $63 per barrel, while gold rose $2 to $1785 per ounce.

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 SPDR Gold Shares (GLD, $166.61) remains in a downward channel that started in early June. GLD remains under its 50- and 200-day moving averages as well as its 43-week exponential average. Trendline resistance sits up near $169, with the 200-day average at $170. Key chart support remains down at $157 or the lows from March. Longer term, GLD has been in a downtrend since peaking in August 2020 and is 13% below that high.

To quote Humphrey B. Neill, the public is often right during the trends, but wrong at both ends. Or, as John Maynard Keynes offered up, markets stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent. Keep that in mind as we review current sentiment barometers.

Stocks fell on Monday morning amid geopolitical concerns and weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data. The Chinese National Bureau of Statistics said that industrial production expanded at a 6.4% rate in July, down from 8.3% in June and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 7.8% growth. Retail sales growth of 8.5% was also down from 12.1% in June and below the consensus estimate. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.9%. Crude oil fell nearly 3% to $66.50 per barrel, while gold traded near $1788 per ounce.

Second-quarter earnings announcements are nearly complete, with some 90% of S&P 500 companies having reported. The profit recovery from the depths of the pandemic low in 2Q20 was been swift, with earnings growth of 93% in 2Q21, according to Refinitiv. But earnings do not look good just on a relative basis -- the $53.93 projected to be earned by S&P 500 companies for the second quarter is the highest ever for the index. Investors can now turn their attention to the third quarter, when earnings are expected to rise a still-strong 30% year-over-year. Our analysts are always on the lookout for companies that raise their outlooks during earnings season. Management's ability to "raise guidance" can often be a catalyst to strong returns in the quarters ahead. Here are 20 BUY-rated companies in Argus coverage for which management has raised guidance or increased its outlook during the 2Q21 EPS reporting season.

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 were largely flat on Monday morning as investors weighed positive employment data along with the impact of rising Delta variant cases. The Labor Department's JOLTS report said that U.S. job openings rose by 590,000 to 10.1 million on the last day of June, above the consensus forecast of 9.28 million. Hiring also rose to 6.7 million in June from 6.0 million in May. The data came after a strong July employment report on Friday morning. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil fell more than 3% to $66 per barrel, while gold dropped $28 to $1735 per ounce.

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 Friday morning following a better-than-expected July employment report. The Labor Department said that the U.S. added 943,000 payroll jobs in July, up from a revised 938,000 in June and above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 865,000. The reading was the strongest since August 2020. The official unemployment rate fell to 5.4%, down from 5.9% in June and below the consensus of 5.7%. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P rose 0.2%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $69 per barrel, while gold fell $44 to $1765 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Thursday morning following new weekly employment data. The Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 385,000 for the week ended July 31, down from 399,000 a week earlier but slightly above the Bloomberg consensus of 383,000. The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. trade deficit rose 6.7% to a record $75.7 billion in June, driven by a sharp increase in imports. The consensus forecast was $74.1 billion. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.6%. Crude oil rose to $69 per barrel, while gold traded near $1805 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning amid uncertainty about the economic impact of the Delta variant. Factory order data showed slower growth but still topped the consensus forecast. The Commerce Department said that U.S. factory orders rose 1.5% in June, above the Reuters consensus of 1.0% but down from 2.3% growth in May. The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.6%. Crude oil traded near $70 per barrel, while gold fell $8 to $1814 per ounce.

Consumers are now more willing to spend on lifestyle enhancements along with necessary spending on life-saving treatments. In addition, the survival of the Affordable Care Act has kept the ranks of insured U.S. citizens above the historical average, further increasing consumer spending on healthcare services and products. Meanwhile, companies with experience in diagnostic testing, vaccines, and antiviral medicines, as well as suppliers of protective equipment and other hospital products, should benefit from efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The sector accounts for 13.0% of the S&P 500, and includes companies in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services, and insurance industries. The sector is underperforming the market thus far in 2021, with a gain of 12.9%. We think the sector should account for 15-17% of diversified portfolios. Here is how we use our analysts' Financial Services sector ideas in our Focus List and Model Portfolios. All stocks are rated BUY at Argus.

Stocks fell on Tuesday morning amid continued Delta variant concerns as investors awaited earnings from a range of major tech companies. The Commerce Department said that U.S. core capital goods orders excluding aircraft rose 0.5% in June, in line with the prior month but below the Reuters consensus forecast of 0.7%. Meanwhile, the Conference Board reported that its July consumer confidence index rose slightly to 129.1 and topped the consensus of 123.9. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P 0.7%, and the Nasdaq 1.7%. Crude oil traded near $71.50 per barrel, while gold rose to $1802 per ounce.

The onset of the coronavirus in 2020 knocked the stock market into a bear market. Though stocks have recovered, the U.S. economy is about to slow down and COVID-19 cases are rising again as virus variants spread. Volatility, which has dropped from the highs of 2020, still has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Daily prices can swing wildly, as they did during two consecutive days in mid-July when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 1,000 points. Yet 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. Argus believes that Min Vol is an all-weather strategy that is timely in any investing climate and can deliver market-matching returns on an absolute basis and superior returns on a risk-adjusted basis over various time periods.