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Altria Group, founded in 1822, manufactures and sells cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages in the United States and abroad. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include Philip Morris USA Inc. and John Middleton Co., a leading U.S. cigar manufacturer. Its smoke-free portfolio includes ownership of NJOY Holdings, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC and Helix Innovations LLC. The company has a majority-owned joint venture, Horizon Innovations LLC (Horizon), for the U.S. marketing and commercialization of heated tobacco stick products. Altria also has equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and Cronos Group Inc., a Canadian cannabinoid company. The company's brands include Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, on! and Skoal. The shares are a component of the S&P 500.

The ugly December days are adding up, but indices continue to hold recent lows. Although the S&P SmallCap 600 (SML) made a very minor closing low on Monday, we would not classify that as a breakdown. The S&P 500 (SPX), the S&P 100, the Nasdaq, and the Nasdaq 100 all fell between 1.1% to 1.3%, while the S&P MidCap 400 and SML both gave back 0.7%. Sector weakness was seen in Consumer Discretionary (XLY -1.6%); Materials (XLB) and Information Technology (XLK), down 1.3%; Healthcare (XLV) and Consumer Staples, off 1.2%; and Communication Services (XLC), Industrials (XLI), and Financials (XLF), off 1%. Energy (XLE) led with a flat day as natural-gas futures exploded over $4 and finished at $3.91, up 16%. Coal, Exploration & Production, Pipelines, and Oil Equipment & Services led the Energy sector. Short-term technicals are a bit challenged and we would not be surprised to see further weakness. The five-day/13-day exponential moving average (EMA) crossover is bearish for the SPX and the index already has lost its 50-day average. A break below its recent low near 5,830 would complete a small head-and-shoulders top with declining neckline, adding to the bearishness of the pattern. The SPX also is back below the lower trendline of the bull channel that started in August. The 21-day rate-of-change (ROC) is negative, while the daily Vortex indicator is in bearish territory. The only weekly bearish indicator is the NYSE-Hayes High-Low Signal, which is warning of more downside. Most other weekly indicators are still bullish. A break to new S&P 500 lows would open the door for a possible drop to multiple supports in the 5,600 to 5,700 region.

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.

Unilever is a diversified personal-care (52% of 2022 sales by value), homecare (14%), and packaged food (34%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemmé haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years; notable purchases include Paula’s Choice, Liquid I.V., Horlicks, Garancia, and The Vegetarian Butcher.