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The Vickers Top Insider Picks is a daily report that utilizes a proprietary algorithm to identify 25 companies with compelling insider purchase histories based on transactions over the past three months.

At Argus, we believe ESG investing is smart investing. Companies committed to ESG values reflect positive traits from management, and those often translate into better business. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing has come a long way. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Association, global assets under management in ESG strategies were $30 trillion in 2021, up from $23 trillion in 2016. The discipline, originally Socially Responsible Investing, focused on excluding companies that conducted business in South Africa, or participated in industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and firearms. In time, the list of industries to avoid increased. But the performance of these initial strategies lagged. Now, instead of merely identifying industries to avoid, the discipline promotes "sustainable" business practices across industries that have an "impact" on global issues such as the climate, hunger, poverty, disease, shelter, and workers' rights. At Argus, we track ESG progress at specific companies as part of our management analysis - one of the six points in our proprietary Six-Point Fundamental System. In addition to reviewing and measuring the ESG proclamations from companies under coverage, we partner with an ESG research firm, JUST Capital, and leverage its analysis and insights. JUST Capital's mission is to drive measurable corporate change to create a stakeholder-centric form of capitalism that reflects the priorities of the American public. JUST utilizes a combination of data-driven research and strategic engagement in an attempt to shift norms and practices in corporate America and the financial markets. JUST ESG Custom Ratings rank stocks in the Russell 1000 on criteria using a scale of 1-100. Drawing on the JUST Capital rankings, we have compiled lists of companies followed by Argus Research that are in position to have this type of "sustainable impact" on the environment, workplace, community, and marketplace. These firms have exemplary records for not only delivering on the bottom line, but also for improving the environment, contributing to community relations, and showing respect for employees. We also have a Theme Model Portfolio based in part on ESG criteria. To build the Argus U.S. ESG Model Portfolio, we applied financial concepts such as industry diversification, income generation, risk reduction, and growth at a reasonable price to our various lists. In addition, all stocks must be on the Argus BUY list. The following are some of the stocks that currently are in the Argus U.S. ESG Model Portfolio.

Equifax is a global provider of information and credit reporting solutions for businesses, governments and consumers. Founded in 1899 as Retail Credit Company and based in Atlanta, the company has more than 15,000 employees in 24 countries.

Monday Tee Up: Inflation Tracking Wall Street will focus on inflation this week and the data coming in will be the last few key indicators before the Federal Reserve meets to discuss interest rates next week. Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%, the S&P 500 was higher by 1.0%, and Nasdaq gained 3.3%. For the year, the Dow is higher by 18%, the S&P is up 28%, and the Nasdaq has popped 32%. On the earnings front, there a few stragglers. On Monday, from Oracle and Toll Brothers report. On Tuesday, AutoZone. On Wednesday, Adobe. On Thursday, Costco, Broadcom, and Ciena. Some 494 of the S&P 500 companies have reported for last quarter and earnings came in 9% higher than in the prior-year quarter. Communication Services, up 26%, and Technology, up 19%, led the gains, while Energy, down 25%, underperformed. At Argus, we recently raised our 2025 and 2026 forecasts for S&P 500 EPS growth. Based on our expectations for continued economic growth, we now forecast 12%, EPS growth in 2025, up from our prior forecast of 7%-9%. For 2026, we now forecast 11%, up our prior call of 7%-9%. On the economic calendar, this week features back-to-back inflation reports on Wednesday and Thursday. CPI posted at 2.6% on an annual basis for October and Core CPI was 3.3%. For November, Argus Chief Economist Chris Graja, CFA, expects a tick up to 2.7% for CPI and no change in Core CPI. His commentary includes the following. 'I feel like the Grinch every time I publish my CPI forecast and it is higher than everyone wants to see. The culprits I see are services and shelter. Economists, in general and including myself, have been calling for slower growth in the 'shelter' category. But it is happening more slowly than we expected. The CPI, less shelter, was up just 1.3% year over year in October. That's some comfort, but we all have to live somewhere.' After CPI hits the tape, the wholesale inflation indicator PPI will be updated on Thursday. Last week, the jobs report offered a mixed picture on the state of the labor market. Nonfarm Payrolls rose to 227,000 for November. That headline number seems high, but most of the gains were due to temporary job circumstances. Many economists feel the two-month average of 132,000 is more indicative of the true labor market. That is healthy but slowing. The Unemployment Rate inched higher to 4.2%, supporting the idea of a slightly softening labor market. Mortgage rates have dropped 12 basis points (bps), with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now at 6.69%, according to FreddieMac. Gas prices fell a penny, with the average price for a gallon on regular gas now at $3.03 per gallon. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow indicator is forecasting for 4Q and calls for expansion of 3.3%. The Cleveland Fed CPINow indicator is forecasting for December and is at 2.82%. Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve will make its last interest-rate decision of the year on Wednesday, December 18. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the odds have jumped to 86% for a 25-bps rate cut at that meeting, this following the jobs report last week. We also forecasts a 25-bps rate cut at that meeting, and then expect three more 25-bps cuts in 2025.