Chemicals 2023-07-19: Unchanged at "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Specialty Chemicals is currently the strongest (rated Stronger, 3rd strongest of nin levels) and by far the largest Chemicals sub-industry with 42 stocks led by LIN/Lind AG, followed by SHW/Sherwin-Williams Co., APD/Air Products & Chemicals, and PPG/PPG Industries. Next is Agricultural Chemicals, which has 11 companies

Manufacturing 2023-07-19: Unchanged at "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

There are NO Weakest stocks of the 126 that make up this industry. Manufacturing has been flat for the past four weeks but has strengthened over the past seven. This is the home of DHR/Danaher Corp., CAT/Caterpillar, DE/Deere & Co., ETN/Eaton Corporation, and ITW/Illinois Tool

Wholesale 2023-07-19: Unchanged at "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Strengthening but not many underlying companies and no sub-industries of size. Food Wholesale is the largest with eight companies. This has been strengthening which I surmise is not great for the rest of us - this strengthening will end up in retail prices down the road, perhaps. Due to the

Aerospace/Defense 2023-07-19: Unchanged at "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Not a lot of companies but only two sub-industries means both are sizeable enough for sub-industry and industry factors to have meaning. That said, doesn't appear these are big movers here. This industry will be of secondary priority. Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks are shown

Drugs 2023-07-19: Unchanged at "Average" strength rating (5th strongest of 9 levels), flat for eight weeks

Both Drugs and its by far largest sub-industry Biotechnology have exhibited unchanged strength for the past eight weeks. This belies the feast or famine (seeming) nature of underlying Biotechnology stocks, which during the past week of trading ending 2023-07-19 had one stock rising 91% and another falling 52%. This incredible

Leisure 2023-07-18: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Leisure has had some back-and-forth movement over the past eight weeks but in general has been strengthening over the past seven weeks. This will be in the high secondary tier of focus industries going forward given my interest in the real estate-related Lodging and Resorts & Casinos sub-industries. Lodging and

Diversified Services 2023-07-18: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Many component stocks in this industry with five of eight sub-industries containing 10 or more stocks. Business/Management Services is the largest with 65 stocks including MCO/Moody's, TRU/Transunion, V/Visa, MC/Mastercard, and FICO/Fair Isaac. This sub-industry is also Stronger, matching the industry strength rating.

Health Services 2023-07-18: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was down

Good week for this industry with six of eight sub-industries strengthening. Is this the first step in a multi-week/month rally? I don't know and never make predictions, but the first step to 100% returns is one up week. Given the underlying stocks, I don't see

Media 2023-07-18: Unchanged at "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Though inherently not as dull as Utilities, this industry isn't as interesting as others like Tech and Financial. This will be relegated to secondary status in future reviews. One question for retail investors - if you are interested in DIS/The Walt Disney Company... why? What discernible advantage

Utilities 2023-07-18: Unchanged at "Weak" strength rating (6th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Utilities, at a gut level, does not strike me as interesting. Its action bears this out. As noted below, there is stagnation (not a lot of movement) and churning, along with minimal movement of the underlying stocks. This will be reviewed on a secondary basis going forward.   Electric Utilities -

Computer Hardware 2023-07-17: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Not necessarily fertile ground for a sub-industry strength/weakness overlay given the few member stocks. This industry has generally strengthened over the past eight weeks. It is the home of Apple, which has had the Strongest rating for at least this period. Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks

Telecommunications 2023-07-17: -1 to "Weak" strength rating (6th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Telecommunications breaks the trend of strengthening industries reviewed. It is certainly not a wild mover, although two of its biggest components (VZ/Verizon and T/AT&T) have had big moves down - see "a closer look" below. The yields for both are juicier than they were

Internet 2023-07-17: Unchanged at "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

With only three sub-industries of which two are small, this industry is really the tale of Internet Information Providers which includes Google and Meta. Far behind these market cap giants is BKNG/Booking Holdings, then well below that are DASH/Doordash, SNAP/Snap Inc., ZM/Zoom Video Communications, and EXPE/

Food & Beverage 2023-07-14: Unchanged at "Average" strength rating (5th strongest of 9 levels), flat for eight weeks

Without much ado, this is not an industry of focus going forward except for periodic check-ins. Not a lot of excitement around here. Below there is a closer look at the largest sub-industry Processed & Packaged Goods (home of BYND/Beyond Meat). Processed & Packaged Goods - a closer look

Retail 2023-07-14: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

The largest sub-industry is Grocery Stores which has strengthened over the past five weeks but which still does not have a consensus of strength or weakness (see "A Closer Look" below). Grocery Stores - a closer look Highlighting this as there is no consensus among grocery stores and

Specialty Retail 2023-07-14: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

The three largest and most meaningful sub-industries within Specialty Retail all have strengthened over the past eight weeks, leading to the improvement in the industry. Apparel Stores includes JWN/Nordstrom, GPS/Gap, ROST/Ross, URBN/Urban Outfitters, and ANF/Abercrombie & Fitch. Auto Dealerships are highlighted below in "A

Consumer Non-Durables 2023-07-14: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Similar to Consumer Durables this is not an industry of significant interest. It will be a secondary analysis behind the typical headliners. Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks are shown below. These are of most interest as the downtrodden are prone to large (if perhaps temporary) pops while

Consumer Durables 2023-07-14: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Exploring this industry to determine if it is of interest and the short answer is no. Will review on a periodic basis to see if anything of interest is brewing, but will not be monitoring as closely as primary sub-industries (Banking, Real Estate, Electronics/Semis, Energy, Metals). Leaders and Laggards

Software 2023-07-13: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

A strong week for Computer Software & Services as Application Stocks took off. The sub-industry was led by Riot Platforms which popped 50% in one week AFTER a nearly 300% YTD gain, and in total 35 Application Software stocks rose more than 10% for the trading week ending 7/13/

Electronics 2023-07-13: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was down

Broad Line Semiconductors made the big move to achieve the "Strongest" Rating. This is the home of Intel, AMD, Broadcom, and Texas Instruments. Circuit Boards and Memory Chips are right behind with "Very Strong" ratings. Note that Memory Chips had the Strongest rating three weeks ago

Real Estate 2023-07-12: +1 to "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Everyone writing the Real Estate obituaries can pause for the moment. Yes, values have precipitously dropped for some properties (San Francisco office buildings are taking it on the chin) and both the cost of capital and cap rates have risen/are rising (neither of which is supportive for values). Despite

Banking 2023-07-12: unchanged "Weak" strength rating (6th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Banking has improved over the past eight weeks. Money Center and Foreign Regional Banks are leading the pack with the seven other sub-industries all with 6Weak status. Pacific Banks - a closer look Clear improvement over the past week. Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks are shown below.

Transportation 2023-07-12: unchanged "Strong" strength rating (4th strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

Two Strongest sub-industries but these have only 6 companies. General eight week movement has been strengthening. Airlines - Major and Regional, a closer look Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks are shown below. These are of most interest as the downtrodden are prone to large (if perhaps temporary)

Automotive 2023-07-12: +1 to "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was also up

Two of the four sub-industries are Strong, the other two are Stronger. General movement over the past eight weeks has been strengthening. Leaders and Laggards Current strongest and weakest stocks are shown below. These are of most interest as the downtrodden are prone to large (if perhaps temporary) pops while

Materials/Construction incl. Homebuilders 2023-07-11: Unchanged "Stronger" strength rating (3rd strongest of 9 levels), previous move was up

All Materials/Construction sub-industries are at least average strength. Over the past eight weeks the strongest ones have strengthened or held firm while the weaker sub-industries have strengthened. Homebuilders have had the strongest rating for the past four weeks. Leaders (no laggards) Current strongest stocks are shown below. Unlike the