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.

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.

Based in Pittsburgh, PNC provides a range of retail and commercial banking, residential mortgage lending, and asset management services. It has operations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Alabama, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Wisconsin and South Carolina. In May 2020, PNC disposed of its 22% stake in BlackRock Inc. (BLK) in a registered offering. Proceeds were subsequently used to acquire BBVA USA Bancshares, the Houston-based U.S. banking subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, in June 2021.

The overall stock market had another very good day on July 16 -- but, once again, it was because of the now-loved (at least for now) little guys. To put this into perspective, the total market cap of the Russell 2000 (IWM) is said to be only as large as one of the multiple $3 trillion market-cap stocks in the 'Magnificent 7.' But let's not spoil the party as stocks are posting some historical returns on massive trading volume. Over the past five days, IWM has soared 11.5%. Excluding the comeback from the pandemic, the index has logged the greatest five-day period since October 2011. Before that, you have to go back to the initial rally after the March 2009 bear-market low to find such a move. The IWM is now only nine points (or about 4%) from its November 8, 2021, all-time high. It has completed a massive 31-month consolidation and, as they say, the larger the base, the higher in space. Over the past four days, IWM volume has exploded as investors have piled into the small-cap trade. The four-day volume totaled 227.4 million shares or 56.9 mln./day. The 50-day average for volume is 26.5 mln. shares and the 200-day average is 36 mln. shares. This is the largest cluster of volume during an IWM rally since December. Almost always, large clusters of huge volume happen during corrections and bear markets and many times represent downside capitulation. Market breadth has obviously been strong, with the four-day NYSE advances-declines hitting +1,004. This is a short-term breadth thrust and is usually associated with the beginning of an advance.