STOCKS — 5 October 2026
Companion to STOCKS Episode Six, "Digital Takes Back the Lead"
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THE BOARD
Nine of the 205 companies we track are at or near their own recorded high this week, the same total as last week. Digital leads with four, up from two — the most in a single leg since Earth held seven in Episode Three. Earth and Build have two each, Money one; Need, Want, Health and Yield have none. Four legs are represented, as last week, but only three of last week's nine names remain. Average distance from high across the whole board is 71.6%, against 72.7% a week ago.
EARTH — PHYSICALLY SCARCE RESOURCES
Two at or near high, as last week, but a different pair: Marathon Petroleum (100.7%) and Valero (99.8%). Par Pacific (98.8%) and Suncor Energy (98.7%) are just short, followed by HF Sinclair (97.6%).
BUILD — THINGS WE MAKE AND CONSTRUCT
Two at or near high, down from three. Smiths Group (100.8%) and IMI (100.3%) hold above their recorded highs. Atlas Copco and Deere are both at 98.7%, with Rolls-Royce at 96.2%.
NEED — THINGS WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT
Still no names at the top. Lotus Bakeries leads at 94.9%, then Premier Foods (89.8%), Costco (86.0%), L'Oréal (82.2%) and Couche-Tard (81.5%).
WANT — THINGS WE CHOOSE TO BUY
Still none. InterContinental Hotels leads at 93.1%, ahead of Hilton (91.4%), Inditex (90.2%), General Motors (89.8%) and Richemont (89.5%).
HEALTH — KEEPING US ALIVE AND WELL
Back to none, from two. AbbVie (98.9%) and Thermo Fisher (97.9%) both sit just under the line, followed by Gilead (92.6%), Johnson & Johnson (92.2%) and Merck (91.6%).
MONEY — THE PLUMBING OF CAPITAL
One at or near high, up from none: Itau Unibanco at 104.4%, a name outside last week's top five. Berkshire Hathaway (93.4%), Axa (93.4%), Allianz (92.5%) and Grupo Cibest (92.4%) follow.
DIGITAL — INFORMATION, SOFTWARE AND NETWORKS
The leg of the week, with four at or above their recorded highs: Cloudflare (103.8%), NVIDIA (101.3%), Microsoft (100.4%) and Advanced Micro Devices (99.5%). Microsoft is back above a high first set 61 weeks ago. Apple eases to 98.0%, so the whole top five sits within two points of its highs.
YIELD — REAL ESTATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Still none. United Utilities leads at 98.5%, ahead of Severn Trent (94.8%), SSE (90.3%), Simon Property (87.5%) and Drax (86.2%).
WHAT TO WATCH
Whether Apple, at 98.0%, rejoins Digital's group next week, or whether the leading leg changes again, as it now has four times since Episode Zero.
Figures are each company’s latest price as a percentage of its recorded high, as of 5 October 2026. Descriptive only — no forecasts. Full register: moneyspider.net/micro.