Every investor would love to find bargain stocks, but with prices at record highs, the question is: Where are they? You can start your own research here: There are 27 large-cap companies in the S&P 500 Index SPX, -0.41% that have reported improved sales per share and profitability whose shares have languished this year. The benchmark index has returned 20.7% this year through Dec. 8, with dividends reinvested. Here’s how the S&P 500’s sectors have performed: S&P 500 sectorTotal return - 2017, through Dec. 8Information Technology38.1%Health Care22.2%Financials21.9%Materials21.2%Consumer Discretionary20.8%Industrials19.0%Utilities17.9%Consumer Staples12.1%Real Estate10.6%Energy-5.4%Telecommunications Services-6.0%Source: FactSetvia