Midweek Movers · Communication Services up, Industrials down · 2026-10-14
Midweek Movers: where the model's view shifted this week
Every trading day the model re-scores the 526 large-cap stocks its model portfolios choose from (and about 1,500 U.S. stocks for research). Midweek Movers looks at what changed over the past week: the three S&P 500 stocks whose model score improved the most since October 7 and that now rank among the top 100 (F from outside the top 100 into the top 100; MRNA from outside the top 100 into the top 50; ILMN from outside the top 100 into the top 50). At the sector level, Communication Services gained the most ground (+9 points on the model's 0-100 sector scale) and Industrials lost the most (-6).
Model rank: top 100 of 526 (a week ago: outside the top 100) · P/E -7.7x · 3-month return -13.8%
A company that has been beating earnings expectations — last quarter's EPS beat the estimate by 20%. Main risk: profitability is low (operating margin -4%). In the news: Yahoo Finance (Oct 14): Ford (F) Stock Looks Hard To Call After A 21% 3 Year Gain. Next catalyst: earnings on Oct 21 (within two weeks, expect a bigger move than usual).
F: six months against its sector and the S&P 500
Why the model ranks it highly
What to watch
Revenue growth in the bottom third of the index
Analysts cut earnings estimates over the past month
Context
Last report (Jul 28): earnings beat estimates by 20% and the stock moved +4.1% around the report
Model rank: top 50 of 526 (a week ago: outside the top 100) · P/E -6.9x · 3-month return +216.7%
A stock whose price and analyst estimates are both rising — earnings expectations trending higher and last quarter's EPS beat the estimate by 4%. Main risk: profitability is low (operating margin -149%). In the news: Yahoo Finance (Oct 9): Novavax Soars 16%, Moderna Surges 11%, Merck Climbs 3% as Biotech Rallies. Next catalyst: earnings on Oct 29.
MRNA: six months against its sector and the S&P 500
Why the model ranks it highly
Analysts raised earnings estimates over the past month
A price trend stronger than 99% of the index (+217% over three months)
What to watch
Revenue growth in the bottom third of the index
Context
Last report (Jul 31): earnings beat estimates by 4% and the stock moved -5.4% around the report
Insiders: $49M of open-market sales in 90 days and no purchases (sales are often routine: pay, taxes, diversification)
Model rank: top 50 of 526 (a week ago: outside the top 100) · P/E 38.3x · 3-month return +44.9%
A stock whose price and analyst estimates are both rising — earnings expectations trending higher and last quarter's EPS beat the estimate by 7%. Main risk: a P/E of 38, against 31 for its industry. In the news: MarketWatch (Oct 9): Illumina Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day. Next catalyst: earnings on Oct 28.
ILMN: six months against its sector and the S&P 500
Why the model ranks it highly
Analysts raised earnings estimates over the past month
A price trend stronger than 97% of the index (+45% over three months)
News coverage has been net positive over the past month
What to watch
Valued at 38.3x trailing earnings versus an industry median of 31.1x
Revenue growth in the bottom third of the index
Context
Last report (Jul 30): earnings beat estimates by 7% and the stock moved +5.3% around the report
Insiders: $436M of open-market sales in 90 days and no purchases (sales are often routine: pay, taxes, diversification)
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Research only, not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Rankings change as data changes and can be wrong. Torvanta and its founder may hold positions in securities discussed. Past performance does not guarantee future results.