Happy Wednesday afternoon to everyone on The Street. Here's a snapshot of where markets ended the trading session, plus tomorrow's trade idea delivered to you today.

• 🟩 | US stocks closed higher on Wednesday. The S&P 500 rose 0.57%, the Dow gained 0.45%, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.75%, as investors anticipate the CPI inflation data due tomorrow morning.

• 📈 | One Notable Gainer: EchoStar's stock jumped 31% after announcing a reorganization and potential strategic moves for EchoStar Wireless, following its merger with DISH Network.

• 📉 | One Notable Decliner: TG Therapeutics' stock fell over 15% amid its revenue forecasts for its multiple sclerosis treatment, projecting $40 million for Q4 2023 and up to $260 million for the full year of 2024.

•  📋 | Tomorrow's Trade: If your New Year’s resolution is to pick better stocks, this list could be a good starting point. Scroll down for more.

Plus, with a unique business model, this alcohol stock might shine bright in 2024.

YESTERDAY’S POLL RESULTS

Which index is going to outperform this year?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 KBW Index

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Stoxx 600

Click here to tell us which index you think will outperform this year

MARKET MOVERS

WD-40, GoodRx & Aehr Test Systems

WDFC: WD-40's shares climbed 15% after reporting a notable first-quarter revenue increase and reaffirming its full-year financial guidance for 2024.

GDRX: GoodRx's stock rose 13% following its updated fourth-quarter revenue forecast, surpassing both its previous guidance and FactSet consensus estimates.

AEHR: Aehr Test Systems' shares declined over 16% following its revised full-year 2024 revenue guidance of $75 to $85 million, down from the previously expected $100 million.

AMZN: Amazon's stock increased 1.5% after the company announced layoffs in its Prime Video and MGM Studios divisions.

CHWY: Chewy's stock fell over 5% after it announced a block sale of 12.3 million shares.

TOGETHER WITH LASER PHOTONICS

Laser Photonics’ Research And Development Team Leads The Way In Cutting-Edge Laser Systems For Industry And Innovation

While laser-cutting and cleaning systems may not sound integral to the everyday person, the world of manufacturing would not be the same without them. Industries like manufacturing, aerospace, medical devices, and more need reliable laser systems to develop the cutting-edge technologies that our global economy relies on. 

However, not all laser solutions are created equal. Laser Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: LASE) has set itself apart from competitors with its trademarked CleanTech solution and in-house R&D team. With the Global Blasting Market projected to grow to $12 billion by 2025, companies like Laser Photonics will likely become even more integral to the industry.

OVERHEARD ON THE STREET

US Funds: For the first time, the US has become the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, with 2023 shipments overtaking leading suppliers Australia and Qatar.

Bloomberg: Amazon’s push into video advertising will boost annual revenue by as much as $5 billion, according to a Bank of America analysis, mostly generated by new television-style commercials on Prime Video.

BI: Goldman said it expects 30-year mortgage rates will drop to 6.3% by the end of 2024, and fall slightly in 2025 to 6% as the Fed starts to cut interest rates. 

Bloomberg: Hedge Funds cashed in on the 2023 rally that retail investors missed, Bank of America said.

GlobeSt: A slowdown in construction starts and inadequate capital investment are hindering the development of necessary senior housing units, with an estimated shortfall of up to 806,000 by 2030.

TOMORROW’S TRADE IDEA, TODAY

If your New Year’s resolution is to pick better stocks, this list could be a good starting point

Ringing In the New Year

To ring in the New Year, JPMorgan analysts are providing investors with a list of their top stock picks across multiple sectors.

Analysts expect a challenging market in the year ahead, unless the Fed elects to cut interest rates more quickly than expected, according to JPM analyst Nicholas Rosato. That conclusion is largely based on dwindling consumer spending that could make even the most bullish investors skeptical.

Taking It All Into Consideration

According to Rosato, despite political issues both foreign and domestic, volatility is expected to remain relatively stable, which would certainly be a win for most investors.

Nonetheless, the start of 2024 saw the end of a nine-week rally for the S&P 500, dragged down by interest rate worries and a general overvaluation of the market.

Taking in all the data, analysts from JPMorgan came out with a list of 16 of their favorite stocks for 2024. Here are the names they like.

The List

Perhaps the biggest names on the list are both in the technology sector: Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT). Despite big gains in 2023, the bank believes they could continue to climb.

Eli Lilly (LLY) and Vertex (VRTX) headline the pharma section of the list. In the energy sector they have Array (ARRY), which is projected to see a 73% increase, as well as CMS Energy (CMS). Despite a down year in 2023, Domino’s (DPZ) made the cut as well, along with Charles Schwab (SCHW) in the financial sector.

What 2024 has in store remains to be seen, but JPMorgan is betting on these stocks to provide value for investors in what could be a tough year.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNERS

With a Unique Business Model, This Alcohol Stock May Shine Bright In 2024

Looking for exposure to the burgeoning alcoholic beverage market? You might have a new option for your portfolio – an underfollowed NASDAQ company that has a bullish price target.

Given the current trends in the alcohol beverage industry, brands will require distinctive marketing strategies to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive market. One small-cap NASDAQ company is aiming to become the full-service digital marketing and brand development face of the alcoholic beverage space. 

Click here to read more about a company that might be worth keeping on your radar in 2024.

ON OUR RADAR

Bloomberg: ByteDance’s TikTok aims to grow the size of its US e-commerce business tenfold to as much as $17.5 billion this year, posing a bigger threat to Amazon.

Axios: A positive test for cannabis can no longer disqualify you for most jobs in Washington state. 

Global News: 77% of Canadians say owning a home is now "only for the rich." Meanwhile, 71% of renters have given up on ever owning a home.

Bloomberg: Portugal brought in more money than ever before from tourism in 2023, according to the country’s secretary of state, who expects that the sector will only continue to grow.

Multifamily Dive: The South accounted for the majority — 87% — of the country’s population growth in 2023, with a net migration of 1.4 million new residents, of which over 700,000 were domestic. It was the only U.S. region to maintain population growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.