We are seeing a market that, on the surface, appears to be moving into a Confirmed Uptrend, with several major indexes breaking out or moving to new highs. However, the underlying evidence is far less convincing. What is missing is a bona fide follow-through day—a strong advance of 1% or more on increased volume—accompanied by broad participation and a plentiful number of individual stocks breaking out and following through successfully. Without that confirmation, we view the action with a degree of suspicion. The market remains severely bifurcated. Small caps, represented by the Russell 2000 (IWM), remain near their lows, while the Dow and many economically sensitive cyclical stocks continue to lag. The real strength is concentrated in the mega-cap stocks that dominate the capitalization-weighted S&P 500 and Nasdaq, along with heavily weighted indexes such as the QQQ and FNGS. This kind of narrow leadership is more characteristic of a difficult, volatile, potentially late-stage environment than a healthy, broadly advancing market. Rising interest rates and elevated oil prices provide additional headwinds, and we are still in September, historically a challenging period for equities. Sentiment isn't providing much clarity either. Some measures are registering meaningful fear and bearishness, while others are closer to elevated levels of bullishness. In other words, the mixed picture in the indexes is also being reflected in sentiment. When the evidence is this conflicted, we drill down to what ultimately matters most: the individual stocks. If quality stocks are breaking out, following through, and rewarding us for taking risk, we participate. If they aren't, we stay defensive. Right now, the evidence at the individual-stock level is also mixed and lacking and does not provide the type of confirmation that would justify aggressive exposure. For now, we remain in a cautious, prove-it-to-me posture—taking selected opportunities where they present themselves, keeping risk tightly controlled, maintaining hedges, and allowing the market and our individual positions to earn our way into greater exposure. Become a Minervini Private Access member today and get the Minervini Markets 360 platform included. minervini.com minerviniprivateaccess.com 4stocktraders.com