MarketMind
Friday, July 31, 2026
S&P 500 +18% past year — the bar to beat.
Market
☀️ Fair
a reasonable time for quality buys.
New Buys Today
3
since yesterday
Paper Fund
$102,768
▲ +2.8% all-time
Mode
⚖️ Balanced
balanced mix

⭐ What's New Today

🆕 New buy PSN grade 71, HON grade 71, AXTA grade 70
➖ No longer a buy BIIB (Buy→Hold), DLTR (Buy→Hold), JLL (Buy→Hold), CHWY (Buy→Hold)

🟢 Top Buys Today

Great businesses at fair prices — here's why each makes the list.

1 PRI Primerica, Inc. 92
Excellent · Steady pick
✅ Strong, healthy financesinterest coverage 41.7x · current ratio 3.60 · positive free cash flow
✅ Highly profitableROE 32% · net margin 23% · gross margin 72%
2 HIG The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. 90
Excellent · Steady pick
✅ Attractively pricedP/E 10 · PEG 0.1 · FCF yield 13.8%
✅ Strong, healthy financesinterest coverage 24.9x · current ratio 1.77 · positive free cash flow
3 META Meta Platforms, Inc. 89
Excellent · Faster-growth pick
✅ Highly profitableROE 33% · net margin 33% · gross margin 82%
✅ Strong, healthy financesdebt/equity 36% · interest coverage 74.8x · current ratio 2.35 · positive free cash flow
4 DUOL Duolingo, Inc. 89
Excellent · Faster-growth pick
✅ Strong, healthy financesdebt/equity 7% · current ratio 2.62 · positive free cash flow
✅ Highly profitableROE 37% · net margin 38% · gross margin 73%
🔎 Weaker on stability
5 LOPE Grand Canyon Education, Inc. 89
Excellent · Steady pick
✅ Strong, healthy financesdebt/equity 15% · interest coverage 75830.2x · current ratio 2.75 · positive free cash flow
✅ Steady and stablebeta 0.57 · steady margins

…and 265 more buy candidates in the full briefing.

⚠️ Getting Worse — Watch

32 name(s) sliding toward Avoid: WY, TXNM, SBUX, NNN, ORA, APD, FDXF, DTE, BKH, CNP, AES, XEL, ETR, LUV, FE, RCL, EVRG, SR, LNT, D, NI, WEC, DUK, AEP, WMB, AEE, NEE, PCG, CHWY, JLL, BIIB, DLTR

📈 Paper Fund (MarketMind trading a fake $100k)

$96,052$99,163$102,273$105,383Jul 16: Paper Fund $100,000 · S&P 500 $100,000Jul 16: Paper Fund $100,000 · S&P 500 $100,000Jul 17: Paper Fund $100,000 · S&P 500 $99,660Jul 17: Paper Fund $100,000 · S&P 500 $99,660Jul 19: Paper Fund $99,404 · S&P 500 $98,670Jul 19: Paper Fund $99,404 · S&P 500 $98,670Jul 20: Paper Fund $99,404 · S&P 500 $98,670Jul 20: Paper Fund $99,404 · S&P 500 $98,670Jul 21: Paper Fund $99,495 · S&P 500 $98,510Jul 21: Paper Fund $99,495 · S&P 500 $98,510Jul 22: Paper Fund $98,924 · S&P 500 $99,330Jul 22: Paper Fund $98,924 · S&P 500 $99,330Jul 23: Paper Fund $97,250 · S&P 500 $99,220Jul 23: Paper Fund $97,250 · S&P 500 $99,220Jul 24: Paper Fund $96,968 · S&P 500 $97,990Jul 24: Paper Fund $96,968 · S&P 500 $97,990Jul 25: Paper Fund $98,061 · S&P 500 $98,090Jul 25: Paper Fund $98,061 · S&P 500 $98,090Jul 26: Paper Fund $98,061 · S&P 500 $98,090Jul 26: Paper Fund $98,061 · S&P 500 $98,090Jul 28: Paper Fund $100,393 · S&P 500 $98,110Jul 28: Paper Fund $100,393 · S&P 500 $98,110Jul 29: Paper Fund $102,520 · S&P 500 $98,350Jul 29: Paper Fund $102,520 · S&P 500 $98,350Jul 30: Paper Fund $104,605 · S&P 500 $96,830Jul 30: Paper Fund $104,605 · S&P 500 $96,830Jul 31: Paper Fund $102,768 · S&P 500 $98,460Jul 31: Paper Fund $102,768 · S&P 500 $98,460Jul 16Jul 31
Paper Fund $102,768S&P 500 $98,460
Paper Fund value vs. the same $100k in the S&P 500 · 14 days so far

Value $102,768 ▲ +2.8% since 2026-07-16 · ▼ -$1,837 (-1.8%) since yesterday · S&P -1.5% · Cash $1,016

StockHeldPriceTodaySince buyGrade
DUOL77 sh$133.60▼ -4.7%+3.6%89
HIG73 sh$143.05▼ -1.8%+4.7%90
INTU33 sh$315.50▼ -5.3%+7.0%88
LOPE69 sh$150.13▼ -5.8%+4.9%89
META15 sh$539.03▼ -8.0%-18.9%89
NBIX58 sh$185.50▲ +2.6%+8.1%88
NEM110 sh$95.76▲ +4.8%+5.4%86
PRI31 sh$323.32▼ -0.0%+3.4%92
PTC78 sh$136.30▲ +2.9%+7.0%89
RMD49 sh$208.56▼ -2.7%+2.9%88

Fictional money · prices update daily · a live test of whether the picks actually work.

🏆 Track Record

Does the grading actually work? Two honest halves — a backtest on past data, and the real live record as it ripens. It reports the truth even when that's “not enough data yet.”

Backtest — replaying history

Reconstructed 319 graded moments across 150 companies (a sample of 150 names), then measured what each actually returned over the next 12 months.

Buy calls vs the market Buy-rated stocks averaged +15.4% over 12 months vs the S&P’s +15.6% — roughly matched the market ➖

Do higher grades earn better returns?

GradeNames12-mo returnvs S&P
A (80-100)43+13.5%-0.5%
B (65-79)162+12.0%-3.8%
C (50-64)90+15.2%-0.2%
D-F (<50)24+41.0%+27.2%

→ higher grades did WORSE here (gap 27.5 pts) ⚠️

Your live record — real calls, zero hindsight

9 snapshot(s) since 2026-07-06, none ripe yet — first 6-month check ~2027-01-06.

Backtest limits: ~5 years back, surviving companies only, restated statements — a strong first read, not gospel. The live record is the hindsight-free gold standard and strengthens every month. Refreshed 2026-07-26. Educational only — not financial advice.

📰 News — What Happened & Why It Matters

MarketMind — News Digest (2026-07-31)

Buy Candidates

PRI — Primerica (Grade 92, Buy)

Primerica released its Household Budget Index showing middle-income Americans saw modest purchasing-power gains in June as gas prices fell — positive context for PRI's core customer base (middle-income families buying term life). Earnings are due August 5; analysts expect $5.96 EPS (+9% YoY) on $872M revenue. PRI has beaten estimates in all four recent quarters. The stock recently hit an all-time high near $318. No red flags here — business momentum looks intact.

HIG — Hartford Insurance Group (Grade 90, Buy)

Hartford just reported a strong Q2 beat: EPS $3.42 vs $3.12 expected (+10% surprise), revenue $5.23B vs $5.19B expected. Key drivers were 22% growth in net investment income ($800M) and improving Personal Insurance profitability (combined ratio improved from 94.1 to 90.1). On the strategic side, Hartford is selling Hartford Funds to Wellington Management and authorized a $4.2B buyback program. RBC raised its price target. The headwind: employee benefits core earnings fell 15% on higher group disability losses, and catastrophe losses were elevated. Overall a strong quarter — the insurer is leaning into AI-driven underwriting and returning capital.

META — Meta Platforms (Grade 89, Buy)

Big earnings week for Meta, and it was a mixed bag. Revenue beat at $60.8B vs $60.2B expected, but EPS missed: $6.18 vs $7.14 consensus — largely due to a $2.4B legal reserve (youth-related litigation) and $1.2B in severance costs. The stock fell ~10%. The line that spooked Wall Street: CFO Susan Li refused to give 2027 capex guidance, fueling fears of uncapped AI spending without clear returns. Q3 revenue guidance ($61-64B) also came in slightly soft. The bull case: Meta trades around 20x earnings, and DCF models suggest ~40% upside if AI monetization works — it's cheap for a company with 3.6B daily users and $61B in free cash flow. The bear case: if AI spending keeps growing without visible returns, the stock may stay "dead money" for a while. Grade and stock price disagree right now — the grade (89) reflects strong underlying business fundamentals, while the market is punishing the spending uncertainty. The grade doesn't override the market's concern; this is one to watch.

DUOL — Duolingo (Grade 89, Buy)

Earnings due August 5. Analysts expect $0.61 EPS on $298M revenue (+18% YoY). Duolingo has beaten estimates in all four recent quarters (last surprise: +13%). D.A. Davidson maintains a Neutral rating but notes steady user growth. The stock dipped ~10% last week but reclaimed its 20-day moving average. One bear concern: a partnership with Luckin Coffee in China is interesting but not material. The growth story (Gen Z engagement, AI-powered features) remains intact.

LOPE — Grand Canyon Education (Grade 89, Buy)

Just reported a strong Q2 beat: EPS $1.81 vs $1.69 expected (+7% surprise), revenue $264M (+6.7% YoY). Operating margins improved to 22% from 20.9%. The real headline: enrollment growth is accelerating — university partner enrollments up 7.6%, and hybrid campus enrollments surged 18.5%. Management is expanding aggressively: growing from 47 to 80 hybrid campus locations, launching an Honors College (targeting 7,000 students by 2030), a new College of Construction, and a law school opening fall 2027. Balance sheet is solid ($275M cash), and they're buying back shares ($75M in Q2). One headwind: a restructured Master Services Agreement with GCU will reduce annual revenue by ~$20M, but operating income impact is minimal.

PTC — PTC Inc. (Grade 89, Buy)

Mixed Q3 fiscal results: EPS $1.58 missed slightly ($1.60 expected) and revenue of $600M missed by 3% (-7% YoY). However, the bright spot is ARR (annualized recurring revenue) hit $2.4B with 7% growth, and management raised full-year guidance — ARR growth midpoint to 9.25%, revenue midpoint up, and EPS midpoint raised to $7.87-$8.42. The revenue miss was attributed to one large contract with shorter duration, not broad weakness. BMO raised its price target to $164. AI traction in PTC's industrial software is building. The raised guidance and $1.6B buyback plan signal management confidence despite the quarter's headline miss.

NBIX — Neurocrine Biosciences (Grade 88, Buy)

Blowout Q2: EPS $2.85 vs $2.26 expected (+26% surprise), revenue over $950M (nearly 40% YoY growth). INGREZZA — their flagship drug for tardive dyskinesia — generated $716M in sales (+15%), driven by record new patient starts. Management raised full-year INGREZZA guidance to $2.83-2.88B (~13% growth). The Soleno acquisition (VYKAT XR for Prader-Willi syndrome) contributed $54M. CRENESSITY for congenital adrenal hyperplasia posted $184M with prescriber base tripling YoY. Pipeline: Phase III readouts for depression and schizophrenia drugs expected in 2027. JPMorgan disclosed a 6.3% stake. Stock hit an all-time high near $181. Balance sheet: ~$500M cash, no debt.

LULU — lululemon athletica (Grade 88, Buy)

No new earnings this week (next report is later). The news is mixed. On the bear side: Zacks named LULU "Bear of the Day," citing flat revenue growth, North America comp sales down 6%, margin compression from tariffs (operating margins expected to fall from 20.7% to ~11.6%), and negative social media sentiment around recent product launches. Analysts have been cutting estimates — full-year EPS guidance was reduced by over a dollar. On the other hand, the stock has been outperforming recently. The grade (88) and the analyst sentiment disagree — MarketMind's grade reflects historically strong profitability and brand strength, but near-term execution concerns are real. Worth monitoring closely when the next earnings report drops.

FHI — Federated Hermes (Grade 88, Buy)

Strong Q2 beat: EPS $1.38 vs $1.19 expected (+16% surprise), revenue $503M vs $494M expected. Revenue grew 18% YoY from $425M, driven by record assets under management. The company also took a majority stake in a U.S. real estate manager, diversifying its investment platform. FHI has beaten estimates in all four recent quarters. Shares are up ~15% YTD, outpacing the S&P.

RMD — ResMed (Grade 88, Buy)

Earnings due August 6. Analysts expect $2.90 EPS (+14% YoY) on $1.46B revenue (+8%). ResMed has beaten in four straight quarters, but recent analyst revisions have turned slightly cautious (ESP of -1.4%). The sleep-apnea device market remains a secular growth story. No material news this week — just the lead-up to earnings.


Crash Watch

WY — Weyerhaeuser (Grade 41, Crash Watch)

Weyerhaeuser actually beat Q2 estimates by a wide margin: EPS $0.13 vs $0.06 expected (+117%), revenue $1.87B vs $1.80B. Lumber and Western log prices improved. However, the grade stays low (41) because the fundamentals remain weak — this is a cyclical timber company with thin margins, high capital intensity, and next-quarter EPS consensus is only $0.07. The stock has underperformed YTD (+3% vs S&P's +7%). The earnings beat is real but doesn't change the structural picture.

TXNM — TXNM Energy (Grade 41, Crash Watch)

The big story: New Mexico regulators voided Blackstone's $400M stock purchase as illegal (no regulatory approval), fined the companies $300K, and ordered the shares canceled. Blackstone kept ~$13.3M in dividends despite never legally owning the stock — opponents call this a backdoor around the court order. The broader $11.5B Blackstone acquisition of TXNM remains pending and faces "unprecedented public opposition." This is a real governance and regulatory risk — the outcome of the merger review could go either way. The grade reflects weak fundamentals on top of this uncertainty.

SBUX — Starbucks (Grade 45, Crash Watch)

Ironically, Starbucks just delivered its best quarter in years: EPS $0.85 vs $0.66 expected (+29% surprise), comp sales +7.9% vs +5.7% expected. Operating margins jumped from 10.1% to 14.4%. CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" turnaround is showing real results — four straight quarters of comp growth, simplified menu, faster service. Management raised full-year guidance: comps ~6% (from 5%+), EPS $2.55-$2.65 (from $2.25-$2.45). The grade (45) and the earnings results disagree — MarketMind's grade reflects the still-weak absolute profitability and high debt (this is a company that's been over-levered for years), while the turnaround momentum is clearly accelerating. This is one where the numbers may be catching up to the story; worth watching whether the grade improves as fresh financials flow in.

NNN — NNN REIT (Grade 48, Crash Watch)

Quiet week. The main news is NNN passing above its 200-day moving average and a note about its 37-year dividend increase streak. No earnings or material events. The low grade reflects typical REIT characteristics that score poorly on MarketMind's growth and valuation pillars — not necessarily a broken business.

ORA — Ormat Technologies (Grade 48, Crash Watch)

Pre-earnings positioning week. Analysts expect an earnings beat (positive ESP), and Ormat has been called "a bargain on cash flow." BlackRock disclosed a 12.5% stake. The geothermal energy company benefits from policy support and contracted revenue, but the grade is low because growth and valuation metrics are mediocre. Earnings coming soon — that report will be more informative.


Honest note on sources: Google News redirect links (news.google.com/rss/articles/...) could not be read directly — they redirect through Google's SPA shell. For those items, I relied on matching coverage from Yahoo Finance and other direct sources where available. All material articles (earnings reports, analyst calls, SEC filings) were successfully read from their original sources.

About MarketMind

MarketMind is a personal, educational stock-research tool. Every morning it screens roughly 900 large- and mid-cap U.S. companies, grades each one from 0–100 on five research-backed pillars — financial health, profitability, growth, valuation, and moat — and surfaces the businesses that look strong and reasonably priced.

The idea it rests on: over the long run, a stock's price follows the company's profits. So rather than chasing hype, MarketMind looks for great businesses at fair prices and lets time do the work.

It also runs a Paper Fund — a fictional $100,000 that automatically follows the tool's own Buy ratings — so you can watch, over time, whether the picks actually work. It's pretend money: nothing here is ever bought or sold for real.

Built with free public data · refreshed every morning at 7:00 AM U.S. Central time.

Educational only — not financial advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own research.