Sell in May? We’d Rather Buy in July With 2 Tickers on Our List

The article argues July is the strongest month for stocks historically, with the S&P 500 rising 2.3% on average over 20 years. The author recommends buying two dividend-growth stocks: Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and Deere (DE). ITW is highlighted for its high operating margins, consistent dividend growth, and share buybacks despite analyst neglect. Deere is positioned to benefit from a construction boom while the agricultural segment is at a cycle bottom, with corn and wheat prices showing signs of recovery.