S&P 500 & Nasdaq Analysis and Trends

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Which Sectors Does Market Pro Expect To Outperform This Year?
By: Investor's Business Daily | March 12, 2018

The recent market volatility may have some investors running for the hills, but the overall picture is still bullish, according to Churchill Management Group.

The Los Angeles-based financial advisory firm, which oversees more than $5.2 billion in assets (as of Dec. 31), was founded by Fred Fern in 1963. Its tactical equity strategies utilize cash and cash equivalents during riskier periods, while its fully invested equity strategies stay the course through all market cycles. Churchill also offers combination equity, and fixed income strategies.

"We continue to see the stock market as being in a bullish trend driven by powerful corporate earnings and a strengthening economy," Churchill President Randy Conner told IBD. "Growth companies have been leading the charge with solid earnings performance. An estimated three-quarters of S&P 500 companies have reported EPS results better than analyst estimates and around 78% have done the same on the sales side. If the 78% number is the final Q4 tally for positive revenue surprises, it will mark the highest percentage in 10 years. Now that is a report card you are willing to show your parents!"

Here, in his own words, Conner explains why he is bullish on the stock market and offers three of his best ETF picks:

The recent cut in corporate tax rates and an uptick in consumer confidence should continue to boost profitability and drive further GDP growth.

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Because of the strengthening economy, the market tide has been able to lift most boats, allowing many sectors to rally. Technology, though, has stood out as the one clear postelection sector leader, while energy, utilities and consumer staples have lagged. Growth stocks have been far superior to value plays, and large caps have outperformed small caps. At present, we expect those trends to continue.

Playing the broad market through diversified exchange traded funds has delivered solid results in this environment, particularly with ETFs that provide good exposure to large-cap leaders in tech and other top-performing sectors. Here are three we like now:

PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ). Given that the technology sector continues to knock it out of the park, we like the Qs, which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index and provides an abundance of large-cap names.

In this rally, it has paid plenty to play the broader market rather than get overly focused on trying to pick individual winners. During the postelection rise, (sectors) outside of the technology leadership have seemed to zigzag in short-term spurts. Owning the Qs allows us to own exposure to the tech stocks, which have comprised the market leadership, while also providing reliable liquidity and good diversity. The QQQ has provided a smoother ride than owning shares in individual companies, allowing us to profitably participate in the uptrend without the individual stock risk. Even when volatility picked up back at the end of January, QQQ held up well based on the strength of its tech holdings. . .

https://www.investors.com/etfs-and-funds/etfs/which-sectors-does-market-pro-expect-to-outperform-this-year/?src=A00220&yptr=yahoo

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