Dublin, Ireland-based Allegion plc (ALLE) is a global security products and solutions company specializing in mechanical and electronic access control systems. The company commands a market cap of $13.8 billion, and its portfolio includes door hardware, locks, exit devices, and smart access solutions sold under well-known brands such as Schlage, Von Duprin, and LCN. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks." Allegion fits right into that category, reflecting its si ...

FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) operates over 3,000 pawnshops and provides POS payment solutions across the U.S., Latin America, and the U.K. FCFS exhibits strong technical momentum, with a 100% “Buy” Barchart opinion. Shares are up more than 50% in the past year. Analyst sentiment is bullish with multiple “Strong Buy” ratings. Today’s Featured Stock Valued at $7.23 billion, FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) is a leading operator of pawn stores and a provider of retail point-of-sale (POS) payment solutions. ...

Core Insights - Jim Wyckoff has over 25 years of experience in stock, financial, and commodity markets, including roles as a financial journalist and market analyst [1][2] - He has covered all futures markets traded in the U.S. and has worked with various financial news and advisory services [1][2] Company and Industry Summary - Jim Wyckoff operates the "Jim Wyckoff on the Markets" analytical, educational, and trading advisory service [2] - He has held positions as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as a senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com [2] - Wyckoff is also a consultant for the "Pro Farmer" agricultural advisory service and was the head equities analyst at CapitalistEdge.com [2] - He provides daily market roundups and technical analysis on Kitco.com [3]

Micron Technology - Micron is set to report earnings on Wednesday, following Broadcom and Oracle, amidst ongoing discussions about the AI bubble and its impact on tech stocks [1][2] - The stock has shown a significant upward trajectory, with a year-to-date increase of over 188% [11] - Despite recent dips, Micron's chart has held up better than many peers, with key support levels identified around 238 and 210.41 [6][10] - Technical indicators suggest a potential trend change, with moving averages diverging and RSI showing mixed signals of bearish divergence and overbought conditions [7][8][9] Darden Restaurants - Darden will report earnings on Thursday, with its stock showing choppy performance and notable gaps in its chart [12][13] - Key resistance levels are identified around 190 and 195, with a significant support level at 180 [16][19] - Analyst coverage is mixed, with bullish calls from several firms and bearish calls citing higher food costs and smaller portion offerings [22] - The average price target for Darden is approximately $220, indicating potential upside from current trading levels [22] Nike - Nike is expected to report earnings with analysts anticipating a decline in EPS of over 50% and a revenue drop of about 1.5% [23][24] - The stock has faced challenges due to tariff news affecting the apparel sector, with significant support levels identified around 59 to 60 [25][26] - Technical analysis shows a falling wedge pattern, with potential resistance around 69 and 70 [27][30] - Year-to-date, Nike is down nearly 11%, although it has seen a recovery of 7.5% over the last six months [33]

Core Viewpoint - The individual investor adopts a contrarian investment style, focusing on deep value opportunities, particularly in stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, while also considering insider buying as a positive signal [1] Investment Strategy - The investment portfolio is split approximately 50%-50% between shares and call options, indicating a balanced approach between equity and derivatives [1] - The investor's timeframe for holding positions typically ranges from 3 to 24 months, suggesting a medium-term investment horizon [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, including their leverage and financial ratios compared to sector and industry averages [1] - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, with a focus on support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1] Stock Selection Criteria - Preference is given to stocks that have undergone a recent sell-off, particularly when there is insider buying at the new lower price, indicating potential recovery [1] - The investor screens through thousands of stocks, primarily in the US, but is open to owning shares in less stable markets, referred to as "banana republics" [1] - Professional background checks are conducted on insiders who purchase shares post-sell-off to ensure credibility and alignment with shareholder interests [1]

Group 1 - McCormick's flavor franchise is experiencing a healthy phase of volume-driven growth despite facing tariffs and expansion efforts in Mexico [1] - The company is characterized as a high-quality dividend-growing compounder based on current stock prices [1] Group 2 - The investment strategy discussed focuses on uncovering high-growth companies in the micro-cap segment, utilizing technical analysis and the CAN SLIM methodology [1] - Key indicators for identifying potential investment opportunities include strong financial momentum, rapid earnings growth, and signs of institutional interest [1] - The research process integrates both fundamental and technical perspectives, paying attention to relative strength, unusual trading volume, and earnings acceleration [1]

This is a technical analysis post by CoinDesk analyst and Chartered Market Technician Omkar Godbole. The Fed has come and gone without moving the needle on bitcoin's (BTC) price in any meaningful way. The central bank cut rates by 25 basis points as expected, but supposedly delivered hawkish forward guidance. Still, the dollar has been sold off. Amid all this, BTC continues to bore traders with its directionless price action. The picture on the daily price chart remains largely unchanged since before t ...

Larger Downtrend ContextA decisive push through today’s low would deliver another clear bearish signal within an already established larger downtrend. That trend has accelerated recently, especially in relation to the falling 50-day average, which has repeatedly capped advances and produced lower highs—most recently in the same region. Despite an unmistakable bearish technical posture, overall volatility has remained surprisingly muted since the pullback began from the October swing high, where the 50-day l ...

Core Insights - The investor adopts a contrarian investment style, focusing on high-risk, illiquid options and shares, with a balanced portfolio of approximately 50% in each [1] - The investment strategy involves identifying stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, particularly when insiders are buying shares at lower prices [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, their leverage, and to compare financial ratios with sector and industry averages [1] - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, using multicolor lines for support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1] Investment Strategy - The investor's timeframe for holding positions typically ranges from 3 to 24 months [1] - A professional background check is conducted on each insider who purchased shares after a recent sell-off to ensure credibility [1] - The investor screens through thousands of stocks, primarily in the US, but may also invest in companies from less stable economies [1]

Company Overview - Smart Sand (SND) is valued at $168.5 million and is a producer of northern white raw fracking sand for the oil and gas industry, providing proppant and related logistics services for unconventional wells [1][6]. Stock Performance - The stock has shown exceptional technical momentum, gaining 65% over the past year and 83.96% since a "Buy" signal was issued on September 18 [2][6]. - Smart Sand recently traded at $3.72, reaching a 3-year high of $3.94 on December 5 [4][7]. - The stock has made 17 new highs and gained 84.51% in the last month, with a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 85.71 [7]. Technical Indicators - Smart Sand has a 100% "Buy" technical opinion from Barchart, with a Weighted Alpha of +87.87 [7]. - The stock's 50-day moving average is $2.48, and there is a technical support level around $3.62 [7]. Market Sentiment - Wall Street analysts are not currently following Smart Sand, but individual investors are showing interest, with 70 investors on Motley Fool believing the stock will outperform the market [8]. - CFRA's MarketScope Advisor rates the stock as a "Buy," while Morningstar considers it fairly valued despite its recent price increase [8].