Core Insights - 2025 presents various challenges for investors, including tariff uncertainty and potential stagflation, leading to a mixed performance across market segments [1] - A shift in investment strategy towards mid-cap stocks may be beneficial, as they combine strengths of both small-cap and large-cap firms while mitigating weaknesses [2][3] Mid-Cap Market Analysis - Mid-cap companies span various industries and can capitalize on market opportunities, potentially offering better revenue prospects than small-caps at more attractive valuations than large-caps [3] - The Fidelity Enhanced Mid Cap ETF (FMDE) is highlighted as a viable investment option, charging a fee of 23 basis points and utilizing quantitative analysis for active investment in U.S. mid-cap stocks [4] Performance Metrics - FMDE has achieved an 8.5% year-to-date return, outperforming both its ETF Database Category and FactSet Segment averages, and has attracted over a billion in net inflows in the past year [5] - The fund's strategy includes evaluating historical valuation, growth, and profitability, along with income generation through securities lending, positioning it well for uncertain market conditions in 2026 [5][6]

Group 1 - The article discusses the preference for reliable, sustainable income over high-risk trades, highlighting that not all investors share the same risk appetite [1] - It emphasizes the availability of tools like Barchart's Stock Screener to identify high-yield dividend stocks without relying on unverified sources [2] - The author outlines a systematic approach to screening for high-yield dividend stocks, focusing on specific filters to ensure safety and security [3] Group 2 - The screening criteria include a current analyst rating ranging from 3.5 (Moderate Buy) to 5 (Strong Buy), indicating positive expectations for stock performance over the next 12 months [4] - The market capitalization filter is set to a minimum of $3 billion, targeting mid-cap stocks and larger for greater stability and liquidity [4] - The dividend payout ratio is capped at 100%, allowing for the inclusion of REITs and BDCs, which typically distribute a significant portion of their earnings as dividends [4] - The annual forward dividend yield is set to a minimum of 10%, ensuring that only top dividend payers are considered [4]

Core Insights - MGM Resorts International is a significant player in the hospitality and gaming industry, with a market capitalization of approximately $9.5 billion [1][2] - The company is currently trading 18.3% below its 52-week high of $42.53, reached on October 29, 2024, and has underperformed compared to the Dow Jones Industrials Average [3][4] Performance Analysis - Over the past three months, MGM stock has gained 4.6%, while the Dow Jones Industrials Average has increased by 8.7% [3] - Year-to-date, MGM has shown marginal growth, contrasting with the Dow Jones' 8.8% increase, and has declined 5.6% over the past 52 weeks compared to the Dow Jones' 9.9% returns [4] - The stock has faced challenges due to weaker results in Las Vegas operations, room remodels, lower table-games performance, and increased competition from regional casinos [6] Technical Indicators - MGM's stock has shown resilience by remaining above the 200-day moving average since July, despite earlier underperformance [5] - The stock crossed above the 50-day moving average in late April, indicating a potential shift in momentum [5] Competitive Landscape - MGM has underperformed relative to its competitor, Las Vegas Sands Corp., which has seen a 3.3% increase year-to-date and a 26% rise over the past 52 weeks [7] - Despite the challenges, analysts maintain a moderately bullish outlook on MGM, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a mean price target of $47.56, suggesting a potential upside of 36.8% from its last closing price [7]

Company Overview - Bio-Techne Corporation (TECH) is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling life science reagents, instruments, and services for research, diagnostics, and bioprocessing markets, with a market cap of $8.3 billion [1] - The company focuses on proteins, cytokines, growth factors, immunoassays, and small molecules, positioning itself as a significant player in the biotechnology industry [1] Market Position - TECH is classified as a mid-cap stock, with a market cap exceeding $2 billion, highlighting its size, influence, and dominance within the biotechnology sector [2] - The company is committed to innovation, strategic acquisitions, and has a global presence, which positions it for continued success and growth opportunities both domestically and internationally [2] Stock Performance - Despite its strengths, TECH's stock has decreased by 34.5% from its 52-week high of $80.80, reached on November 6, 2024 [3] - Over the past three months, TECH stock gained 7.3%, underperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average, which gained 8.7% during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, shares of TECH have dipped 26.5%, and over the past 52 weeks, they have fallen 31.5%, significantly underperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average's YTD gains of 8.8% and 9.9% returns over the last year [4] Recent Financial Results - On August 6, TECH reported its Q4 results, with an adjusted EPS of $0.53, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $0.50, and revenue of $317 million, exceeding forecasts of $315.4 million [5] - In comparison, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (ADPT) has shown significant resilience, with YTD gains of 132.4% and 227% returns over the past 52 weeks, indicating a competitive challenge for TECH [5]

Core Insights - The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) is a leading global advertising and marketing services firm with a market cap of $9.4 billion and approximately 51,000 employees across over 100 countries [1][2] Company Overview - Established in 1930 as McCann-Erickson and rebranded as IPG in 1961, the company has a strong global presence and a diverse service portfolio [1][2] - IPG maintains its market leadership through long-standing client relationships, a focus on innovation and technology, and efficient operations [2] Stock Performance - IPG shares are currently trading 22.8% below their 52-week high of $33.05, with an 8.9% increase over the past three months, lagging behind the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 9.9% rise [3] - Year-to-date, IPG has declined 9%, underperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average's 9% increase, and has seen an 18% decline over the past 52 weeks compared to the Dow's 10.3% increase [4] Financial Results - In Q2 2025, IPG reported adjusted revenue of $2.2 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.75, exceeding forecasts, driven by strong performance in media, healthcare, sports marketing, and public relations [5] Competitive Landscape - IPG's rival, Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC), has underperformed with a 13.4% decline year-to-date and a 27.2% drop over the past 52 weeks [6] - Among analysts covering IPG, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $30.51, indicating a 19.6% upside potential from current price levels [6]

Core Insights - Molina Healthcare, Inc. is a significant player in the managed healthcare services sector, focusing on low-income families and individuals through Medicaid and Medicare programs, with a market cap of $9.6 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - Molina's stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping 50.1% from its 52-week high of $359.97 on April 4, and 39.2% over the past three months, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 15% increase during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, Molina's stock is down 38.3%, and it has decreased 49.4% over the past 52 weeks, contrasting with the Nasdaq's 16.4% rise in 2025 and 27.9% increase over the past year [4] - Following the release of mixed Q2 results on July 23, Molina's stock plummeted 16.8%, despite premium collections rising 15.1% year-over-year, leading to a topline of $11.4 billion, which was up 15.7% year-over-year and 5.4% above expectations [5] - The company's adjusted EPS fell by 6.5% to $5.48, missing consensus estimates due to rising medical costs, prompting a reduction in the full-year outlook [6] Competitive Position - Compared to its peer Centene Corporation, Molina has fared better, with Centene experiencing a 46.9% decline in 2025 and a 57.9% drop over the past 52 weeks [6]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the author's long-standing preference for mid-cap stocks, highlighting their potential for growth even during market downturns [1] - The author, identified as a quantitative analyst, relies heavily on mathematical analysis for investment decisions, expressing skepticism towards sell-side analysis [1] Group 1 - The author has been involved in investing since 2003 and has a background in mathematics, which he believes is fundamental to investment success [1] - The focus is on value stocks with growth potential, encompassing a range of asset classes including mid-caps, small caps, international stocks, gold miners, and REITs [1] - The author utilizes hedging strategies but prefers ETFs that align with those needs [1]

Midcap Investment Opportunity - Midcaps offer a blend of discovery value similar to small caps and financial quality/liquidity akin to large caps, making them fertile ground for active management [2] - Investors are typically underallocated in the midcap space [3] - Alger favors companies with strong balance sheets and cash flow generating capabilities to fund their own growth [4] RBC Bearings (RBC) Analysis - Alger invested in RBC Bearings (RBC) since 2020, viewing it as an exceptional company with the potential to become a large company [5] - RBC is a market leader in highly engineered precision bearings for commercial aerospace, defense, and industrial markets [5] - RBC's bearings are mission-critical, highly regulated, and essential for manufacturing operations, reducing wear and tear, energy loss, and facilitating power transmission [6] - The majority of RBC's products are sole-sourced, providing a strong competitive moat [6] - RBC has idiosyncratic drivers and pricing power, making it resilient to inflation and recession concerns [6] - Commercial aerospace is RBC's fastest-growing segment, expected to benefit from a multi-year cyclical recovery [6] - The commercial aerospace industry experienced a steep downturn in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID travel restrictions and the grounding of Boeing 737 Max, but these issues are now resolved [7] Tariff Policy and Competitive Advantage - Focus on companies like RBC Bearings that can control their own destiny due to differentiated products and pricing power [8] - Companies with differentiated products can pass tariff costs to customers because their products are mission-critical [8] - Alger focuses on companies with strong competitive advantages and pricing power [8]

Market Overview - Wall Street has experienced significant volatility in 2025, with all three major stock indexes (Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite) in negative territory year to date [1] - Small-cap benchmarks (Russell 2000, S&P 600) and mid-cap-specific S&P 400 Index are also in the red year to date [1] High-Performing Mid-Cap Stocks - Despite market headwinds, five mid-cap stocks have provided over 25% returns year to date: ADMA Biologics Inc. (ADMA), FirstCash Holdings Inc. (FCFS), Stride Inc. (LRN), Life Time Group Holdings Inc. (LTH), and National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) [2] - These stocks exhibit strong revenue and earnings growth potential for 2025, with positive earnings estimate revisions over the last 60 days [3] ADMA Biologics Inc. - ADMA Biologics specializes in plasma-based biologics for treating and preventing infectious diseases, targeting immune-compromised individuals [7][8] - Expected revenue growth rate is 16.3% and earnings growth rate is 44.9% for the current year, with a 2.9% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [9] FirstCash Holdings Inc. - FirstCash operates retail pawn stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America, providing loans against personal property and retailing forfeited merchandise [10][11] - Expected revenue growth rate is 0.2% and earnings growth rate is 17.2% for the current year, with a 2.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last seven days [13] Stride Inc. - Stride is a technology-based education service company offering online curriculum and educational services [14] - Expected revenue growth rate is 14.9% and earnings growth rate is 48.4% for the current year, with a 4.3% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [16] Life Time Group Holdings Inc. - Life Time provides health, fitness, and wellness experiences, operating various fitness and recreation centers [17][18] - Expected revenue growth rate is 12.9% and earnings growth rate is 37.9% for the current year, with a 6.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [19] National Fuel Gas Co. - National Fuel Gas focuses on systematic investments to strengthen operations and reduce emissions, with significant capital investments planned [20][21] - Expected revenue growth rate is 31.5% and earnings growth rate is 39.1% for the current year, with a 1.9% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [22][23]