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Weekly model readout

What the model says about the 50 largest US stocks and the prior week's earnings: week of October 18, 2026

Data through the 2026-10-16 close, compared with the 2026-10-12 close (snapshot wk_20261011). The 50 stocks in the Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF (XLG). Pairs with this week's Weekly AI Summary.

Important: research and education only, not personalized investment advice. Disclosure: The author, who built Ultra Stock Analysis Pro, holds positions in many of the stocks discussed below and may buy or sell them at any time without notice.
Full disclaimer

Ultra Stock Analysis Pro publishes impersonal research and analysis for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment advice and is not tailored to any individual's financial situation, objectives, or risk tolerance. We do not know your circumstances and do not provide personalized recommendations. Nothing here is an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Analysis is generated in part by automated and AI systems and may contain errors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.

Across the 50, stronger trend, fewer entry setups. BUY ratings for a new position went from 4 to 2, signals at 5/7 or higher from 8 to 8, and the timing count from 3 gold / 26 red to 5 gold / 24 red. The average stock moved -2.1% on the week. Below the Top 50: the 29 stocks that reported earnings the week of October 11, 2026.

What the model flagged for new positions
BUY rating: MS, QCOM.
ACCUMULATE (entry preferred lower, in the model's accumulation zone), gold and green timing first, then by reward:risk: GOOGL, HD, TSLA, UNH, TXN, PEP, META, AVGO, MU, AMZN, GE, ORCL, AMAT, SNDK, GEV, LRCX, JPM, AMD, JNJ, INTC.
Breakout levels the model is watching, strongest signal first: MRK $146.68, WFC $84.91, BAC $55.27, KLAC $166.47, NFLX $72.10, MCD $252.06.

What the model flagged for existing positions
TRIM (little reward left relative to risk): AAPL, KO, PM, XOM.
EXIT WATCH (the model's trend reading has turned against the position; a prompt to review, not a sell signal): MRK.
Exited this week (the model closed the position; it holds none now): AMAT 2026-10-14 at $446.63 (+26.3%, entered 2026-02-13 at $353.65); INTC 2026-10-14 at $98.12 (-19.4%, entered 2026-09-21 at $121.78); GEV 2026-10-15 at $926.44 (+5.9%, entered 2026-09-14 at $874.76); LRCX 2026-10-15 at $277.46 (-20.1%, entered 2026-10-02 at $347.49).

Business and entry quality readings (business / entry, each 0–100)
Highest combined: MU (99 / 81), NVDA (99 / 77), AMAT (98 / 71).
Lowest combined: UNH (47 / 47), HD (48 / 47), WMT (50 / 46).
Business quality scores the company; entry quality scores today's price. The combination is a reading, not a ranking the model trades on.

Each ticker links to its full report: verdicts, entry math, stop levels, backtest and the reasoning behind every number.

All 50, week over week

MeasureLast weekThis week
Business quality, average76.475.0
Entry Quality, average62.763.1
Signals at 5/7 or higher88
Timing: gold / green / red3 / 21 / 265 / 21 / 24
New-position ratings: BUY / ACCUMULATE / WAIT4 / 25 / 212 / 20 / 28
Median reward:risk3.27:13.33:1
Average upside to analyst target+18.1%+21.0%

New-position rating moved off BUY this week: GE (BUY → ACCUMULATE; for existing positions HOLD), JNJ (BUY → ACCUMULATE; for existing positions HOLD), LLY (BUY → WAIT; for existing positions HOLD). This rating is for buying in now, not a signal to sell a position already held.

How to read the ratings

BUY, ACCUMULATE, quality, timing, signal, reward:risk
New-position rating
BUY: the model's entry criteria are met at today's price. ACCUMULATE: the model prefers a lower entry zone. WAIT: needs a breakout or better pricing.
Existing-position rating
HOLD, TRIM or EXIT WATCH, computed separately from the new-position rating. A stock can rate BUY for a new position and EXIT WATCH for an existing one.
Business quality (0–100)
The company: profitability, growth, margins, analyst support and balance sheet. It moves slowly.
Entry quality (0–100)
Today's price: how stretched it is against its range, trend and momentum. Higher means a better-priced entry. It can move a lot in a week.
Signal (of 7)
Signal Strength from the report: how many confirming technical signals (breakout, trend, momentum, volume and similar) fired together in the last 30 days, out of 7. 5/7 or more triggers a model trade. Shown as last week → this week: 4/7 → 0/7 usually means last week's signal is now more than 30 days old, not that the stock turned bearish. "None in 30d" means no signal event in the window.
Timing
Gold: timing buy. Green: bullish trend. Red: the trend has turned against the trade.
Analyst upside (12-mo)
Distance from today's price to the average analyst price target. Analysts set targets about 12 months out, so this is not the model's forecast or a near-term move.
Reward:risk
Distance to the average analyst target over distance to a 2× ATR stop.
EXIT WATCH
Not a sell signal. The model exits at its stop; EXIT WATCH means the trend reading, the stop or the fundamentals have turned against the position. A deep pullback (price more than 3 ATR below its peak) is not on its own an EXIT WATCH: measured over ~7 years of the Top 50, it was not followed by weaker returns.

Magnificent 7 (7)

stocks and changes

Mixed trend, entry setups unchanged. Week -3.5% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 4 → 4 · timing gold/green/red 1/4/2 → 0/5/2 · median reward:risk 3.67 → 3.67

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
AAPLWAITTRIMGREEN0/7 → 3/78238 → 530.24:1-1.7%+0.7%
MSFTWAIT—GREEN3/796 → 9862 → 712.36:1+10.7%-2.2%
GOOGLACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN0/7 none in 30d9958 → 624.84:1+25.3%-3.4%
AMZNACCUMULATE—RED3/78463 → 736.81:1+32.4%-3.7%
METAWAIT → ACCUMULATETRIM → HOLDGREEN3/791 → 9456 → 751.81:1+12.9%-4.5%
NVDAACCUMULATE → WAITHOLDRED3/79971 → 779.91:1+55.2%-5.4%
TSLAACCUMULATEHOLDGOLD → GREEN4/758703.67:1+24.5%-6.2%

Semiconductors (10)

stocks and changes

Weaker trend, fewer entry setups. Week -9.5% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 9 → 8 · timing gold/green/red 1/4/5 → 0/1/9 · median reward:risk 2.53 → 3.55

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
AMATACCUMULATEHOLD → —GREEN → RED4/79875 → 715.51:1+56.3%-17.7%
AMDACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN → RED3/78375 → 812.59:1+26.7%-11.0%
AVGOACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN → RED4/796737.44:1+52.3%-7.3%
INTCWAIT → ACCUMULATEHOLD → —RED3/754 → 5575 → 811.72:1+22.4%-11.3%
KLACACCUMULATE → WAIT—RED4/78971 → 733.50:1+34.4%-12.8%
LRCXACCUMULATEHOLD → —RED0/7 none in 30d9562 → 603.61:1+39.3%-14.7%
MUACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN → RED3/79971 → 817.01:1+78.5%-11.1%
NVDAACCUMULATE → WAITHOLDRED3/79971 → 779.91:1+55.2%-5.4%
QCOMBUYHOLDRED5/76082 → 782.12:1+17.8%-1.3%
TXNACCUMULATEHOLDGOLD → GREEN0/7 none in 30d8862 → 662.53:1+15.6%-1.9%

Banks, payments and financials (8)

stocks and changes

Stronger trend, fewer entry setups. Week -0.0% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 3 → 2 · timing gold/green/red 0/3/5 → 1/3/4 · median reward:risk 4.46 → 3.42

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
BACWAIT— → HOLDRED4/7 → 5/787 → 7673 → 685.42:1+27.9%-6.1%
BRK-BWAIT—RED → GREEN3/784 → 8357 → 505.17:1+11.7%+2.8%
GSACCUMULATE → WAIT—RED3/7 → 0/7 none in 30d7369 → 603.69:1+20.8%-1.4%
JPMACCUMULATE—RED3/784 → 7869 → 593.15:1+12.1%+1.6%
MAWAITHOLDGREEN6/7 → 3/779 → 7861 → 602.50:1+8.3%+3.8%
MSACCUMULATE → BUY— → HOLDRED4/7 → 6/775 → 5973 → 714.34:1+23.8%-5.0%
VWAITHOLDGREEN → GOLD6/7 → 3/789 → 8856 → 571.62:1+5.5%+3.4%
WFCWAITHOLDGREEN3/7 → 6/779 → 6759 → 693.11:1+15.3%+0.7%

Technology (ex-semiconductors) (7)

stocks and changes

Weaker trend, fewer entry setups. Week -5.2% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 4 → 2 · timing gold/green/red 0/4/3 → 0/2/5 · median reward:risk 2.38 → 2.36

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
AAPLWAITTRIMGREEN0/7 → 3/78238 → 530.24:1-1.7%+0.7%
CSCOACCUMULATE → WAITHOLDGREEN → RED3/78871 → 754.19:1+23.7%-6.9%
IBMACCUMULATE → WAIT—RED4/751 → 4965 → 520.99:1+5.4%+2.3%
MSFTWAIT—GREEN3/796 → 9862 → 712.36:1+10.7%-2.2%
ORCLACCUMULATE—RED0/7 none in 30d83465.93:1+66.1%-6.7%
PLTRWAITTRIM → HOLDGREEN → RED3/789 → 9342 → 751.18:1+9.8%-11.0%
SNDKACCUMULATE—RED3/79871 → 674.24:1+63.5%-12.6%

Consumer staples (6)

stocks and changes

Stronger trend, fewer entry setups. Week +3.7% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 3 → 1 · timing gold/green/red 0/3/3 → 2/4/0 · median reward:risk 2.63 → 1.11

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
COSTACCUMULATE → WAITHOLDGREEN5/76242 → 623.50:1+11.7%+3.1%
KOWAITHOLD → TRIMGREEN4/773 → 7148 → 490.78:1+2.4%+4.6%
PEPACCUMULATEHOLDRED → GREEN3/749 → 4769 → 592.08:1+8.6%+3.8%
PGWAIT— → HOLDRED → GOLD3/758 → 5737 → 420.26:1-3.4%+4.0%
PMWAITHOLD → TRIMGREEN4/76848 → 660.75:1+3.7%+1.6%
WMTACCUMULATE → WAIT— → HOLDRED → GOLD4/752 → 5039 → 461.44:1+6.0%+5.1%

Healthcare (5)

stocks and changes

Stronger trend, fewer entry setups. Week +2.2% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 4 → 2 · timing gold/green/red 0/1/4 → 1/3/1 · median reward:risk 2.16 → 1.23

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
ABBVWAIT—GREEN3/764471.09:1+4.9%+1.5%
JNJBUY → ACCUMULATEHOLDRED5/7 → 4/778 → 6478 → 632.50:1+12.1%-3.1%
LLYBUY → WAITHOLDRED → GOLD6/787 → 8481 → 621.20:1+6.8%+6.3%
MRKACCUMULATE → WAITEXIT WATCHRED → GREEN6/73682 → 681.23:1+6.5%+0.3%
UNHACCUMULATE—RED → GREEN0/7 → 4/748 → 4750 → 473.15:1+18.9%+6.1%

Communications (4)

stocks and changes

Trend unchanged, more entry setups. Week -0.8% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 1 → 2 · timing gold/green/red 0/3/1 → 0/3/1 · median reward:risk 3.71 → 3.33

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
GOOGLACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN0/7 none in 30d9958 → 624.84:1+25.3%-3.4%
METAWAIT → ACCUMULATETRIM → HOLDGREEN3/791 → 9456 → 751.81:1+12.9%-4.5%
NFLXWAITHOLDGREEN4/79073 → 635.08:1+27.3%-0.1%
VZWAIT—RED3/753 → 5063 → 661.56:1+7.9%+4.7%

Consumer discretionary (4)

stocks and changes

Stronger trend, more entry setups. Week -0.0% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 2 → 3 · timing gold/green/red 1/0/3 → 0/2/2 · median reward:risk 6.20 → 5.03

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
AMZNACCUMULATE—RED3/78463 → 736.81:1+32.4%-3.7%
HDWAIT → ACCUMULATEHOLDRED → GREEN4/74873 → 474.43:1+19.5%+6.5%
MCDWAIT—RED4/76173 → 635.62:1+20.4%+3.1%
TSLAACCUMULATEHOLDGOLD → GREEN4/758703.67:1+24.5%-6.2%

Industrials and materials (4)

stocks and changes

Trend unchanged, fewer entry setups. Week -3.1% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 3 → 2 · timing gold/green/red 1/1/2 → 1/1/2 · median reward:risk 4.32 → 4.26

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
CATACCUMULATE → WAITHOLDRED → GREEN4/772 → 7159 → 734.38:1+32.9%-8.6%
GEVACCUMULATEHOLD → —GOLD → RED3/78271 → 633.97:1+36.6%-7.6%
GEBUY → ACCUMULATEHOLDRED5/78076 → 666.35:1+30.4%+1.7%
LINWAITHOLDGREEN → GOLD3/782 → 8149 → 654.14:1+13.0%+2.3%

Energy (2)

stocks and changes

About the same as last week. Week +4.3% · new-position BUY/ACCUMULATE 0 → 0 · timing gold/green/red 0/2/0 → 0/2/0 · median reward:risk 0.30 → —

No rating or timing changes in this group.

StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Week
CVXWAIT—GREEN3/77956 → 42—-3.2%+4.6%
XOMWAITTRIMGREEN3/76943 → 42—-8.6%+4.0%

Prior week's earnings: week of October 11, 2026 (29)

The 29 stocks that reported the week of October 11, 2026, read from their post-earnings reports (data through the 2026-10-16 close). Each report is a one-time snapshot after the print, so there is no prior week to compare. All 29 reports · Post-Earnings Action Report (EPS results and gaps).

The results: 26 of 29 beat EPS (90%), and 18 gaps held the 3-day rule. 12 accelerating, 0 reversing, 17 in volatility crush.

What the model flagged for new positions
BUY rating: MS.
ACCUMULATE (entry preferred lower, in the model's accumulation zone), gold and green timing first, then by reward:risk: STT, BLK, UNH, C, SCHW, CFG, ASML, IBKR, JBHT, JPM, JNJ.
Breakout levels the model is watching, strongest signal first: WFC $84.91, BAC $55.27, RF $27.56, TFC $47.13, USB $59.02, BNY $144.42.

What the model flagged for existing positions
TRIM (little reward left relative to risk): GME, PGR, TRV.
EXIT WATCH (the model's trend reading has turned against the position; a prompt to review, not a sell signal): none.

Business and entry quality readings (business / entry, each 0–100)
Highest combined: TSM (99 / 81), ASML (98 / 66), CFG (85 / 69).
Lowest combined: ERIC (39 / 39), MRSH (57 / 35), UNH (47 / 47).
Business quality scores the company; entry quality scores today's price. The combination is a reading, not a ranking the model trades on.

MeasureThis week
Business quality, average71.6
Entry Quality, average61.4
Signals at 5/7 or higher6
Timing: gold / green / red4 / 9 / 16
New-position ratings: BUY / ACCUMULATE / WAIT1 / 11 / 17
Existing-position ratings: TRIM / EXIT WATCH3 / 0
Median reward:risk3.67:1
Average upside to analyst target+13.2%

Earnings stocks (29)

ratings, quality, timing and price for each
StockNew positionExistingTimingSignal (of 7)Business qualityEntry qualityReward:riskAnalyst upside (12-mo)Price
ASMLACCUMULATEHOLDRED0/7 none in 30d98664.20:1+27.9%$1,641.52
BACWAITHOLDRED5/776685.42:1+27.9%$51.23
BLKACCUMULATEnone heldGREEN4/789433.61:1+17.0%$1,134.38
BNYWAITnone heldRED3/780693.21:1+15.1%$143.30
CACCUMULATEHOLDGREEN0/7 none in 30d76543.07:1+17.1%$124.26
CFGACCUMULATEnone heldRED3/785696.03:1+27.8%$63.36
ERICWAITnone heldGREEN4/739393.66:1-14.7%$10.55
FASTWAITHOLDGOLD7/778730.72:1+3.9%$51.02
GMEWAITTRIMGOLD3/75457—-100.0%$26.81
GSWAITnone heldRED0/7 none in 30d73603.69:1+20.8%$881.26
IBKRACCUMULATEHOLDRED3/782634.11:1+29.4%$82.69
JBHTACCUMULATEnone heldRED3/769694.00:1+23.7%$228.78
JNJACCUMULATEHOLDRED4/764632.50:1+12.1%$255.56
JPMACCUMULATEnone heldRED3/778593.15:1+12.1%$339.72
MRSHWAITnone heldGREEN3/757351.43:1+6.0%$188.35
MSBUYHOLDRED6/759714.34:1+23.8%$180.57
MTBWAITHOLDGREEN3/760695.36:1+22.6%$215.28
PGRWAITTRIMGREEN6/755720.47:1+2.4%$218.49
PLDWAITnone heldRED3/777634.76:1+21.4%$125.75
PNCWAITHOLDRED0/7 none in 30d81604.84:1+21.1%$217.39
RFWAITnone heldRED4/764635.20:1+22.3%$27.45
SCHWACCUMULATEnone heldRED3/790616.17:1+30.7%$91.96
STTACCUMULATEHOLDGOLD4/781712.20:1+13.0%$165.72
TFCWAITnone heldRED3/769593.39:1+14.2%$47.07
TRVWAITTRIMGOLD6/752480.50:1-2.9%$389.54
TSMWAITnone heldRED3/799816.24:1+37.1%$412.61
UNHACCUMULATEnone heldGREEN4/747473.15:1+18.9%$401.43
USBWAITHOLDGREEN3/777594.28:1+17.1%$58.73
WFCWAITHOLDGREEN6/767693.11:1+15.3%$83.87

Every report is on the S&P 500 Top 50 index. Run the same analysis on any ticker at ultrastockanalysispro.com. Earlier readouts: Weekly Readout archive.

Research and analysis for informational and educational purposes. Not investment advice. Not personalized to your circumstances.