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.

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.

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 Thursday, rebounding from Wednesday's selloff but also giving up some of their gains late in the session. The Commerce Department reported strong growth in 3Q GDP, which rose at a better-than-expected 33.1% annualized rate. Unemployment claims, still high by historical standards, also trended lower. First-time unemployment benefit claims fell from the prior week to 751,000, below the consensus forecast. Continuing claims totaled 7.756 million, also down from the prior week and below consensus. The Dow rose 0.52%, the S&P 1.19%, and the Nasdaq 1.64%. Crude oil fell more than 3% to $36 per barrel, while gold fell $13 to $1866 per ounce.

Stocks fell sharply on Monday morning amid continued election uncertainty and rising coronavirus cases in the U.S. and Europe. New home sales data was also weak. The Commerce Department said that U.S. new home sales fell 3.5% to a seasonally adjusted 959,000 units in September, below the Reuters consensus of 1.025 million. The Dow fell 2.0%, the S&P 1.6%, and the Nasdaq 1.1%. Crude oil traded near $38.50 per barrel, while gold rose $3 to $1908 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.

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.

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.

Much of the weekly data from Vickers Stock Research suggests that things are pretty much as expected in the world of insider transactions. Earnings season is still underway and the volume of insider transactions is therefore low. As well, most of Vickers' insider indexes and insider sell/buy ratios are either neutral or slightly bearish. That makes sense as insiders jumped in when stock prices cratered on COVID-19 fears, and those same insiders have pulled back as stocks have rebounded. So is there anything of note in current insider activity? Why yes there is.

Stocks rose on Monday morning amid positive vaccine news, as Moderna said that it had begun a late-stage trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and reports that Senate Republicans and the White House would announce a $1 trillion coronavirus aid package - a starting point in negotiations with House Democrats. Capital goods orders were also strong. The Commerce Department said that core capital goods orders excluding aircraft rose 3.3% in June, up from 1.6% in May and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 2.3% growth. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 1.2%. Crude oil traded near $40.50 per barrel, while gold soared nearly $40 to $1937 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.

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.

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 Tuesday morning as more state and local governments announced details of their reopening plans. Most notably, California said that it would begin relaxing its lockdown on Friday. Industries trading higher today include automobiles, energy equipment & services, and real estate management & development. Industries trading lower include construction materials and containers & packaging. The VIX fell 3.43 to 32.54. The Dow rose 1.7%, the S&P 1.8%, and the Nasdaq 1.9%. Crude oil traded near $24 per barrel, while gold fell $7 to $1706 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Friday against the backdrop of improving oil prices and the signing of an expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.1%, the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.7% and the S&P 500 climbed 1.4%. Tumbling oil prices earlier in the week, however, weighed on the benchmarks, leading to declines after two strong weeks of gains. The Dow fell 1.9%, the Nasdaq retreated by 0.2%, and the S&P 500 was down 1.3%. Year-to-date losses are now 16.7% for the Dow, 3.8% for the Nasdaq and 12.2% for the S&P 500.

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.

Navigating a New Reality

Las Vegas Sands is the world's largest operator of fully integrated resorts, featuring casino, hotel, entertainment, food and beverage, retail, and convention center operations. The company owns the Venetian Macao, Sands Macao, Sands Cotai Central Londoner, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, and Parisian in Macau, the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, and the Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas in the U.S. We expect Sands to open a fourth tower in Singapore in mid-2023 and estimate it will open a Japanese resort in 2026. The company generates about 90% of its EBITDA from Asia, and its casino operations generate around 70% of sales.

Last week was the worst for stocks since the financial crisis. For the week, the S&P 500 plunged 384 points, or 11.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3,583 points, or 12.4%. The S&P 500 started this week 12% from its all-time high. Is a bear market beginning? We don't think so, or at least don't think that stocks will be down too long, as positive fundamentals remain intact. The economy is growing at about a 2% pace; interest rates are at historical lows and the Federal Reserve is ready to act; and corporate earnings are on the upswing, after a down year. Of course, if health officials are unable to contain the coronavirus, then a recession may be coming and a bear market as well. We are somewhat reassured that global health officials have managed previous viral scares such as AIDS, SARS, MERS and Ebola, and stocks have recovered lost ground in a year. So a little bargain hunting may be in order. Here are the 10 BUY-rated stocks under Argus Coverage that dropped the most last week.

U.S. stocks plunged on Monday morning amid rising coronavirus fears after significant new outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, and Iran. Health insurance stocks also fell sharply after Senator Bernie Sanders, whose Medicare for All plan calls for the elimination of private insurance, won the Nevada primary on Saturday and strengthened his lead in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Dow fell 3.0%, the S&P 2.8%, and the Nasdaq 3.3%. Crude oil fell 4.5% to $51 per barrel, while gold jumped $28 to trade near $1677 per ounce.

Stocks finished in positive territory on Thursday afternoon after trading lower for most of the day on continued coronavirus fears. Investors weighed earnings reports from a range of major companies, including Facebook, Microsoft, and Tesla, and new GDP and employment data. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.3% rate in 2019, down from 2.9% in 2018. GDP rose at a 2.1% rate in 4Q, in line with the third quarter and the Reuters consensus forecast. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time unemployment benefit claims fell by 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 216,000 for the week ended January 25. The Dow rose 0.43%, the S&P 0.31%, and the Nasdaq 0.26%. Crude oil fell 1% to about $53 per barrel, while gold rose $6.50 to $1583 per ounce.