Happy Thursday! October kicks off a historically bullish stretch for stocks, but a select group has consistently outperformed the market. Here’s a look at five standout stocks to watch this month.

Also, the latest payroll numbers have thrown a curveball at Wall Street, casting doubt on the labor market’s strength and shifting expectations for interest rates. Read on to see what this could mean for your investments.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• MARKET HEATMAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

• ONE FOR THE ROAD

S&P 500 Enters Its Best Quarter Of The Year: Here’s 5 Stocks To Watch This Month

As October begins, Wall Street is entering what history suggests is the most powerful stretch of the year for stocks — and the numbers back it up. The S&P 500 has not only posted consistent gains in the fourth quarter over the past 30 years, but it's also delivered some of its biggest moves, too.

While the broader market rises, certain sectors and a handful of specific stocks have an even stronger track record of Q4 outperformance. Some have crushed the index year after year in October alone.

Read on to see the five standout stocks to watch this month.

Get Free Trades As Washington Shuts Down

Markets are bracing for the impact of the government shutdown, and that means volatility is about to surge. Matt Maley’s strategy is built to trade those swings, already turning fast moves into triple-digit gains. Now you can see his next trades free for 7 days, just as Washington gridlock shakes the market.

Yesterday: U.S. indexes kicked the month off on a high note as the S&P 500 climbed to a new high, as investors brushed off the start of a government shutdown, anticipating it would be short-lived with minimal economic disruption. However, prediction markets are pricing in a potential two-week standoff, though investors appear confident that a resolution will happen soon. Despite political uncertainty, market sentiment remained resilient, supported by expectations that the economic fallout would be contained. Oil prices fell for a third straight session on concerns over global demand and an anticipated supply boost from OPEC+ next month. The U.S. dollar slid after data showed private-sector jobs contracted last month, boosting expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates two more times this year.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be paying attention to initial jobless claims and factory orders as they gauge the momentum of the U.S. economy heading into the final quarter of the year. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on Constellation Brands (STZ), which will report after the market close on Monday.

Health care was the place to be on Wednesday as the top performers by market cap were all in health care. Thermo Fisher (TMO), Eli Lilly (LLY), Merck (MRK) and Amgen (AMGN) led the way. But those weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Wednesday.

Discover how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors or assets in more detail.

Join The Movers. Meet The Makers. Shape The Market.

Fintech is evolving fast. Be at the center of that evolution at Benzinga Fintech Day & Awards 2025 on November 10. This one-day powerhouse event brings together fintech’s sharpest minds — from bold startup founders to household-name institutions — all under one roof in NYC. Tap into exclusive insights on user acquisition, product innovation and the rise of digital assets. Celebrate standout achievements at our awards ceremony and leave with meaningful connections.

Be where visionaries gather — claim your ticket today.

On This Day In 2024…

StandardAero, a leading provider of aircraft engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, made its public debut with a successful IPO that raised $1.44 billion. Shares were priced at $24.00, above its initial range, to give the company a market cap of $8 billion. With roots dating back over a century and a global footprint serving both commercial and military aviation markets, StandardAero’s listing marked one of the larger industrial IPOs of the year. Today, shares currently trade around $27, and the company has a market cap of nearly $9 billion.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.“

— Warren Buffett

Jobs Shock: Biggest Loss In Over 2 Years Fuels Rate Cut Narrative

In a surprising turn that caught Wall Street off guard, the latest private payrolls data painted a sharply different picture of the U.S. labor market — one that could ripple through both markets and monetary policy.

September marked the steepest private-sector job loss in over two years, calling into question the narrative of continued labor strength. With hiring momentum taking a sudden pause, investors are now eyeing the Federal Reserve more closely than ever as rate cut expectations heat up.

Read on for the full breakdown on what’s behind this unexpected drop, and what this means for the markets, rates and your portfolio.

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