The Morning Filter 5 Stocks to Buy in January 2026
32 snips
Jan 12, 2026 This week features Dave Sekera, Morningstar's chief U.S. market strategist, who dives into the latest economic trends. He discusses the outlook for inflation and major bank earnings, emphasizing the importance of retail sales. With potential impacts from political shifts, he highlights investment strategies for 2026, recommending a balanced approach between AI stocks and high-quality value assets. Plus, Sekera shares five stock picks, including strong cases for companies like SLB and Mondelez, perfect for savvy investors.
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Investigation Likely Market Noise
- The DOJ probe into Jerome Powell currently looks like noise rather than a market-moving event.
- Dave Sekera says fundamentals haven't changed and the investigation likely won't alter Fed policy soon.
Use Inflation Prints To Guide Positioning
- Watch CPI and PPI for signs that inflation is changing; current consensus expects little movement.
- Use those prints to judge whether inflation momentum is improving or staying steady before adjusting positions.
Treat Retail Sales As A Key Short-Term Signal
- Monitor retail sales closely as a clearer signal of consumer spending and holiday strength.
- Treat the Atlanta Fed 'GDPNow' estimate cautiously because exports/imports and AI buildout can skew the number.