Displaying items by tag: large cap

Boeing’s latest outlook has injected fresh optimism into its long-running turnaround efforts, as executives signal that the company may finally return to generating positive free cash flow after several challenging years. 

The planemaker now expects free cash flow to swing back into the black in 2026, emphasizing that rising aircraft production, a shrinking inventory backlog, and improving profitability across key divisions are setting the stage for a meaningful financial rebound. Leadership reiterated its long-term ambition to deliver $10 billion in annual free cash flow, a target long viewed as a marker of Boeing’s full recovery and strategic reset. 

At the same time, the company acknowledged that the certification delay of the 737 Max 10, now projected into late 2026, will push some high-value deliveries into 2027. Still, the strong demand for Boeing’s 737 and 787 families, combined with improving performance in defense and services, has reinforced expectations that sustained free cash flow growth remains within reach. 

Finsum: Free cash-generation trajectory—not just deliveries—could be the key catalyst that could redefine valuation in the years ahead.

Large-cap growth stocks include many of the market’s most innovative and resilient companies, and tilt toward mega-cap tech and consumer names has helped fuel their long-term performance. U.S. large-cap growth ETFs provide concentrated exposure to the companies that have played a major role in shaping the modern economy.

This focus has benefited QQQ over the past decade, supported by the outperformance of mega-cap stocks and strong results from the technology sector. While no strategy works in every market environment, growth companies, often characterized by rapid earnings expansion and reinvestment in new technologies, have historically contributed to long-term capital appreciation, even with the higher volatility that can accompany them.

For many investors, large-cap growth strategies like QQQ serve as a core allocation, offering access to companies driving economic transformation from cloud computing to artificial intelligence. 

Finsum: Although growth stocks can be more sensitive to interest rates and market cycles, they remain key components of portfolios aiming to capture the momentum and innovation.

Large-cap blend funds, core holdings that mirror the U.S. stock market, have posted strong results, returning 15.84% over the past year, 22.50% annually over three years, and 14.81% over five. Morningstar data identified 15 standout funds with top-quartile returns across one-, three-, and five-year periods, including American Funds Fundamental Investors, AQR Large Cap Multi-Style Fund, and Vanguard 500 Index Fund. 

The American Funds Fundamental Investors fund rose 23% in the past year, boosted by global exposure and a refreshed management team, while The Investment Company of America fund gained 22.25% with a balanced focus on dividend growth and capital appreciation. 

AQR’s Large Cap Multi-Style Fund outperformed its peers with a 23.52% annual gain, leveraging value, momentum, and quality factors to manage market sensitivity efficiently. 

Finsum: These funds demonstrate that disciplined diversification, data-driven strategy, and cost efficiency continue to drive superior long-term performance.

The U.S. stock market set new highs in Q3 2025, and while index funds largely outperformed, active funds were more mixed. Among the 10 largest active funds, only the JPMorgan Large Cap Growth Fund stood out, returning 9.3% and ranking in the top third of its category, while the Dodge & Cox Stock Fund lagged with just 3.2%. 

Index funds fared better, with the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund delivering 8.2% and ranking highest among its peers, though the Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund landed near the middle of its category.

Over the past three years, seven of the 10 largest active funds have outperformed their categories, led by two Capital Group funds that landed in the top decile of large-cap blend. Index funds also showed consistent strength, with S&P 500 trackers like Vanguard, Fidelity, and iShares ranking in the top quartile over that period. 

Finsum: Investors looking to capitalize on falling interest rates should look to large cap growth as they tend to be more interest rate sensitive.

Large-cap blend mutual funds offer investors a balance of growth and value stocks, providing diversification and stability compared to small- or mid-cap funds. 

Among the top picks are Ultrabull Profund Investor Shares (ULPIX), Vanguard Growth and Income Fund (VQNPX), and JPMorgan U.S. Research Enhanced Equity Fund (JDEAX), all carrying a strong buy.  ULPIX aims to double the daily performance of the S&P 500, posting impressive three-year annualized returns of 29.5%. 

VQNPX focuses on capital appreciation plus dividend income, with three-year annualized returns of 19.7% and a low expense ratio of 0.38%. JDEAX delivers consistent returns by investing in a diversified mix of S&P 500 companies, achieving three-year annualized returns of 19.6% under the steady management of Raffaele Zingone.

Finsum: These funds typically invest in companies with market capitalizations above $10 billion, making them attractive for risk-averse investors seeking long-term performance.