In this issue:
Indexes: My 2026 market outlook, featured in Seeking Alpha 2 months ago, was open to the possibility of the S&P 500 peaking around 7,000, then moving seriously south. In my follow up to that article on that site today, I explain why the drumbeat in that direction is getting stronger. And what I’m doing about it. I also present highlights of my views below.
ETFs: I still cannot believe that most option-oriented ETFs are considered anything other than a sales tool. I’m talking about the covered call stuff. Yet investors keep falling for them. I don’t get it. I explain why they might turn out to be 2026’s “Lehman Moment.”
Stocks: The average ROAR Score of the 100 largest S&P 500 stocks is now around 43. That figure is steadily dropping. And I’m not seeing much in terms of smaller stocks picking up the slack. That’s a problem for bulls.
Build Smarter Portfolios (for free): Our new platform features a 2-ETF portfolio builder (offense vs. defense) that uses historical ROAR scores to show how dynamic allocation can outperform static “buy and hold” strategies. Or, just plug in any ETF or stock and get a ROAR Score and its history, to help understand the risk you are taking.