The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF has broken another key support, with no end in sight. Perhaps when the constant drone from metals "bottom-callers" stops, we finally will reach a bottom. Price has broken trendline support off the lows since early 2024. In addition, GLD has lost its 38.2% retracement of the rally from late 2022 until early 2026. The 14-week relative strength index (RSI) has fallen out of the bullish zone, while the weekly moving-average convergence/divergence (MACD) has cycled into bearish territory. Volume has dried up and there is little evidence of accumulation in recent months.

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple’s iPhone accounts for the majority of the firm's sales, and Apple’s other products, such as the Mac, iPad, and Watch, are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, such as streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors and works with subcontractors such as Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple’s sales come directly through its flagship stores, with the majority coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple’s iPhone accounts for the majority of the firm's sales, and Apple’s other products, such as the Mac, iPad, and Watch, are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, such as streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors and works with subcontractors such as Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple’s sales come directly through its flagship stores, with the majority coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

Argus Research believes that Sustainable Impact investing is smart investing. We recently updated our Sustainable Growth Theme Model Portfolio and added just one company (Nasdaq Inc.). That might seem like a small number, but the list does turn over and the current list does look very different than it did a year ago. We dig deep when researching this theme, deploying multiple screens and analyzing many different metrics to give us confidence that the companies we select rightly deserve a spot on our roster. Companies committed to Sustainable Impact values reflect positive traits from management, and those often translate into better business. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing has come a long way and continues to grow. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Association, global assets under management in ESG strategies were $30 trillion in 2022, up from $23 trillion in 2016. The discipline, originally known as Socially Responsible Investing, focused at first on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. In time, the list of industries to avoid increased to include soft drinks, fast food, and oil and gas, among numerous others. But the performance of these initial strategies lagged. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across industries that have an "impact" on global issues such as climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights. At Argus, we track ESG progress at specific companies as part of our Management analysis (one of the points in our proprietary Six-Point Valuation System). In addition to reviewing and measuring the ESG proclamations from companies under coverage, we partner with an ESG research firm, JUST Capital, and leverage its analysis and insights. JUST Capital's mission is to drive measurable corporate change to create a stakeholder-centric form of capitalism that reflects the priorities of the American public. JUST utilizes a combination of data-driven research and strategic engagement in an attempt to shift norms and practices in corporate America and the financial markets. JUST ESG Custom Ratings rank stocks in the Russell 1000 on criteria using a scale of 1-100. Drawing on the JUST Capital rankings, we have compiled focused lists of companies followed by Argus Research that are in position to have this type of "sustainable impact" on the environment, workplace, community, and marketplace. These firms have exemplary records not only in delivering on the bottom line, but also in improving the environment, contributing to community relations, and showing respect for their employees. Here are some of the stocks that are currently held in the Argus Sustainable Growth Model Portfolio.