AGNC Investment Dep Shares 1/1000 Cumulative Series G

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The Undercovered Dozen spotlights 12 lesser-known stocks and funds with compelling investment theses and recent developments. This week's edition covers articles published between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, offering fresh investment ideas. The series aims to inspire discussion and help investors discover overlooked opportunities in the market.

U.S. equity markets climbed to the cusp of fresh record-highs as another soft slate of employment data and modest PCE inflation data helped solidify the case for another rate cut. ADP provided the most evident signs of cooling labor markets, posting job losses in three of the past six months and a cooldown in wage growth to four-year lows. The PCE report showed corresponding disinflation in discretionary services categories, offsetting modest upward pressures on goods prices, resulting in the first monthly deceleration in core inflation since April.

U.S. equity markets staged a broad rally in the holiday-shortened week, while benchmark interest rates dipped to the cusp of multi-year lows, as investors leaned into December rate cut expectations. Reports that Kevin Hassett- a close Trump ally- has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Fed Chair Powell in 2026 further sharpened expectations for a more explicitly dovish policy approach. The "Hasset trade" revived appetite for long-duration and rate-sensitive equity sectors, as investors priced in a lower terminal-rate environment and a steeper path of 2026 policy accommodation.

U.S. equity markets dipped in a volatile week, while benchmark interest rates pulled back from one-month highs, as renewed anxiety over stretched AI-driven valuations collided with mounting monetary policy uncertainty. Public commentary from Fed officials revealed an unusually fractured committee, with a divide that was deepened further by a mixed slate of employment data via the long-delayed September payrolls report. Payrolls data showed that the U.S. economy added 119k jobs in September- better than estimates- but prior months were revised lower and the unemployment rate rose to four-year highs.

U.S. equity markets stumbled this week as unexpectedly hawkish Fed commentary clashed with fragile risk sentiment, muting investor relief over the deal to end the longest-ever government shutdown. December rate cut odds dipped below 50% after Fed officials firmly pushed back on rate-cut expectations, citing uneven inflation progress, pockets of financial-market froth, and the economic-data blackout. The S&P 500 finished flat, but hawkish commentary sparked renewed pressure on smaller-cap and rate-sensitive market segments, with the Mid-Cap 400 and Small-Cap 600 dipping 1%.

Over 200 U.S. REITs and homebuilders have reported third-quarter earnings results over the past five weeks, providing critical information on the state of the commercial and residential real estate industry. Overall, REIT earnings results were marginally better than consensus expectations despite a handful of high-profile flops that overshadowed some impressive individual results across a balanced mix of sectors. Two-thirds of the sector (67 REITs) raised their full-year FFO outlook—above the historical average of 65%. Notable winners included Industrial, Senior Housing, Data Center, Retail, and Billboard REITs.

U.S. equity markets stumbled this week as stretched tech valuations collided with weakening consumer and labor market data, while the economic drag and uncertainty from the ongoing government shutdown build. Now it's real? The shutdown has now halted fiscal flows into several sizable government benefits programs - a sudden onset of fiscal austerity that could have non-trivial disinflationary impacts. Snapping a three-week winning streak, the S&P 500 dipped 1.7%. REITs led as earnings season wrapped up with a handful of surprisingly solid reports from some unlikely leaders.

U.S. equity markets posted mixed performance this week- while long-term yields jumped- after the Federal Reserve cut short-term rates for a second-straight meeting, but reigned in expectations for future cuts. Fed Chair Powell hawkishly pushed back on market expectations, saying that another cut in December was "far" from certain and highlighting "strongly differing views" within the committee. Market breadth was exceptionally narrow this past week as post-earnings gains from a handful of mega-cap technology stocks offset weekly declines from over 70% of the S&P 500 constituents.

Preferreds offer attractive post-tax yields and favorable tax treatment compared to corporate bonds, making them appealing income assets for investors. Active ETFs like FPE and FPEI, and select CEFs such as PFO and FFC, have outperformed passive ETFs, which struggle with high fees and index-related inefficiencies. Individual preferreds allow for targeted interest rate exposure, relative value opportunities, and avoidance of fund management fees.

U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record-highs this past week, while interest rates hovered around multi-year lows, after cool inflation data cleared the path for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Consumer Price Index report for September was released this past week - one week delayed - showing cooler-than-expected consumer price pressures across both the headline and core metrics. Combined with a relatively strong start to corporate earnings season and a planned meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi, market volatility metrics eased to one-month lows.