This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Large Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. Stocks of large-cap companies where neither growth nor value characteristics predominate. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large cap.

Airbnb is an online platform for short-term home rentals. The company's website allows travelers to search for and reserve a wide range of rental homes and apartments that are listed on the site by individual hosts. The site also allows travelers to book 'experiences' such as specialized tours and cooking classes at destinations around the world. Airbnb hosts may be individuals with a single rental property or lodging companies with multiple apartments or hotel rooms. The company offered its first 'home-sharing' listings in 2008 and went public in December 2020 at $68 per share. Airbnb is based in San Francisco and has approximately 5,600 employees.

The calendar turned to September, historically the worst month of the year, and all of a sudden things go to heck and in a handbasket. Yet again, the largest drag on the stock market was the heavily weighted Information Technology (XLK -4.6%) sector. The group was once again dragged down by once-beloved semiconductor stocks, as the major semi indices getting pulverized by 7% to 8%. Since July 17, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and the VanEck Vectors Semi ETF (SMH) have dropped at least 6% on three different days. All three of those days featured very heavy volume, a clear sign of institutional distribution. We started to see distribution on the semis and the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) back in the middle/latter part of July. Most of the major semi stocks have lost their 50-day average for the second time since late July, while a handful are breaking below their more-important 200-day averages and are closing in on their initial lows from early August. The QQQ cratered 3.2%, broke down out of a developing bull flag, and closed near a 38.2% retracement of the rally since the August 5 intraday low. We did see a minor 5/13 exponential moving average crossover sell signal, reversing the buy signal from August 15. A 50% retracement of the rally comes in at 454 and a 61.8% give-back lies at 447. The S&P 500 lost 2.1% as the index bounced off its 50-day average late in the day. A 38.2% retrace of its rally is at 5,448 while a 50% give-back targets 5,386. There was a 38% spike in the volatility index (VIX) and it is now just above 20. We have a feeling the month will bring more of the same.

Started in 2008, Airbnb is the world’s largest online alternative accommodation travel agency, also offering booking services for boutique hotels and experiences. Airbnb’s platform offered over 8 million active accommodation listings as of June 30, 2024. Listings from the company’s over 5 million hosts are spread over almost every country in the world. In 2023, 50% of revenue was from the North American region. Transaction fees for online bookings account for all its revenue.