This pick list highlights constituents of the Morningstar US Mid Cap Index that we believe offer investors the best risk-adjusted return prospects. The market capitalization range for U.S. mid-caps typically falls between $1 billion and $8 billion and represents 20% of the total capitalization of the U.S. equity market.

The first-quarter earnings season has been sensational. Many companies knocked it out of the park when delivering earnings and revenue numbers that well beyond expectations. With reports now in from about 96% of S&P 500 companies, earnings have climbed a staggering 29% from last quarter. Information Technology, up 56%, and Communication Services, up 51%, have led the pack. At the bottom are Healthcare, down 3%, and Energy, down 1%. With earnings season essentially over, we have had a chance to look at trends. In particular, we watch for companies that raised guidance as we view that action as a likely catalyst for market-beating returns in the quarters ahead. It's even harder for companies to raise guidance during uncertain economic times, as vision is murky. The following is a partial list of companies in Argus' Fundamental Universe of Coverage where management raised its outlook during the 1Q26 reporting season.

Becton Dickinson operates in four business units. Medical essentials (35% of total sales) includes the legacy medical surgical unit, which sells catheters, syringes, and infection prevention products. Connected care (24%) core products include the Alaris infusion pump, Pyxis dispensing system, and pharmacy automation platforms. Biopharma systems (13%) produces prefillable syringes and autoinjectors. Interventional (29%) is composed of the surgery, peripheral vascular, and urology segments. More than 60% of revenue comes from the United States.

Becton Dickinson is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units. The company also manufactures prefilled devices, diagnostic instruments, and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems. On a 2025 sales basis, following the spinoff, BD Medical Essentials represented 34% of revenue, the Interventional segment 28%, Connected Care 25%, and Biopharma 13%. International revenue accounts for 43% of the company's business.