Focusing on Min Vol stocks can be a relatively safer investment strategy during turbulent times -- and the current economic environment certainly is challenging. The so-called "Magnificent 7" were leading the markets higher and now are leading the market lower. There was an initial shift from Big Tech to small-caps and then a bit of a shift back. But now there's an overall downshift in equities of all stripes. Meanwhile, the economy is hard to read. The labor market is cooling, inflation hasn't fallen enough, interest rates are still elevated, and yet GDP is steady. Did the Fed wait too long to start cutting interest rates? Yet as the market fluctuates, we note that investors exit equities at their own peril. That's because long-term returns from stocks 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. 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 periods. Argus has developed a sophisticated approach to Min Vol investing built around our proprietary quality and safety screens. The following is a partial list of stocks (from a range of industries) that we like and that are included in our current thematic Min Vol model portfolio.

Thursday featured a strong 15-minute rally to start, followed by persistent and heavy selling until 2:45, and then a small relief rally to finish the day. Just another day in the summer of 2024. But the week isn't over, as Amazon and Apple reported after the bell and did nothing to help and we still have the July nonfarm payrolls to deal with this morning. Needless to say, payrolls could is a big report after Thursday's weaker-than-expected weekly initial claims and July ISM manufacturing data. Those two reports sent Treasury yields lower, with the 10-year yield closing at 3.98% and the five-year at 3.84% (under 4% for the first time since February). The two-year fell to 4.27%, more than 100 basis points below the current fed funds target of 5.25%-5.5% -- screaming once again that the Federal Reserve is late in cutting the federal funds rate. This, as we have stated many times, is the norm: late to cut and late to tighten (and that is scaring investors). Unless you were in the most-defensive S&P 500 sectors on Thursday, the day was ugly. Even the indices that have shown some relative strength of late were hit. The reincarnated small-caps were shellacked, with the Russell 2000 plunging 3.3% and the S&P 600 diving 2.7%. The NYSE and the DJIA also fell more than 1%. Interest-rate-sensitive Utilities popped 1.8%, Real Estate rose 1.6%, and Healthcare and Staples gained 1%. With all this volatility, the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Nasdaq 100 are off less than 1% this week. But it was another distribution day for the averages, nullifying Wednesday's accumulation day. (Mark Arbeter, CMT)

Lockheed Martin provides advanced technology systems, products, and services to the U.S. government and international defense customers. The company is organized into four businesses: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space Systems. The shares are a component of the S&P 500. The company has 122,000 employees.

Monday Tee Up: Fed, Jobs, Earnings This week features more earnings from corporate giants, key jobs data, and a Fed rate meeting. It doesn't get much busier than that, especially for a week in the heat of summer. But spoiler alert on the Fed: no one thinks a rate move is coming this week and odds are at zero. Last week, the markets were again volatile. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 0.8%, the S&P 500 lost 0.8%, and the Nasdaq fell 2.1%. Year to date, the DJIA is higher by nearly 8%, the S&P is up 14%, and the Nasdaq is higher by 15%. On the economic calendar, the Federal Reserve rate decision comes on Wednesday and economists expect no movement. As usual, analysts will dissect what Chairman Powell says in the press conference. Odds are high for a rate cut in September, so Wall Street will be looking for verification that the Fed is leaning in that direction. On Friday, the important July jobs report is due. In June, Nonfarm Payrolls came in at 206,000. Argus sees that declining to 185,000 for July. The unemployment rate was 4.1% in June. We expect no change for July. Meanwhile, Job Openings, Consumer Confidence, and the Case-Shiller Home Price Index will be reported on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the ADP Private Employment report is due out, and on Thursday, ISM Manufacturing and Construction Spending hit the tape. On the earnings calendar, Monday brings news from McDonald's. On Tuesday, Microsoft, Advanced Micro Devices, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Merck, and Starbucks report; on Wednesday, Meta, Qualcomm, Boeing, Altria, and Kraft Heinz; on Thursday, Apple, Amazon, Moderna, Booking Holdings, and Coinbase; and on Friday, Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Earnings so far have been coming in 12.1% higher this quarter than a year ago, and 41% of S&P 500 companies have reported. Expectations are for earnings growth of 8%-12% for 2Q. This follows 8% growth in 1Q and 10% in 4Q23. At Argus, we expect EPS for all of 2024 to come in roughly 8%-9% better than last year. Last week featured good news on inflation and economic growth. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Index showed that inflation slowed to 2.5% in June versus 2.6% in May. Core PCE didn't budge, sticking at 2.6%. The initial reading for second-quarter GDP came in at 2.8%, a big jump from 1.4% in 1Q. Mortgage rates ticked up a hair to 6.78% for the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Gas prices fell 3 cents to $3.47 per gallon for the average price of regular gas. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow indicator is forecasting for 3Q and calls for expansion of 2.8%. The Cleveland Fed CPINow indicator forecasts 3.01% for CPI in July. After this week's Fed rate decision, the next one is in mid-September -- and odds at 99% for a cut at that meeting. Of that, 88% expect a 25-basis-point (BPS) cut, while 11% expect a 50 bps cut. As the probability is so high for a rate cut at the September meeting, odds are at 68% for a second cut in November, but a higher 98% for that second cut to take place on December 18. All of this data is according to the CME FedWatch Tool.