Core Viewpoint - SoundHound AI (SOUN) has experienced a significant decline in stock value, dropping 51% over the past year and 13% last week, raising concerns about its path to profitability ahead of its upcoming earnings report on February 26, 2026 [1]. Performance Summary - SoundHound's stock fell 12.85% this week, closing at $7.46, while the S&P 500 gained 11.81% over the same period [1]. - The company's year-to-date decline stands at 25.18%, contrasting with the S&P 500's flat performance [1]. - SoundHound has a market cap of $3.13 billion with trailing twelve-month revenue of $148.4 million, resulting in a price-to-sales ratio of 21x, indicating high growth expectations [1]. Storyline One: Earnings Uncertainty - The upcoming Q4 2025 earnings report is expected to show sales of $53.88 million, up from $42.05 million in the previous quarter, with an adjusted EPS forecast of -$0.10 [1]. - If the company meets or misses these expectations, further selling pressure may occur [1]. Storyline Two: Insider Selling - On December 22, 2025, six executives sold shares at $11.2769, including CEO Keyvan Mohajer, who sold 144,326 shares for approximately $1.6 million [1]. - There have been no open market buys recorded in the past three months, with 10 sales, indicating a cautious sentiment among insiders [1]. Storyline Three: Competitive Valuation - SoundHound competes with larger tech companies like Alphabet, which trades at 9.3x sales with a profit margin of 32.8%, while SoundHound's valuation assumes it can maintain its niche against competitors [1]. - Wall Street estimates a -$55 million EBITDA for 2026, necessitating significant margin improvements or scale to achieve profitability [1]. - Analysts have set an average price target of $16.31, suggesting over 100% upside potential if the company can execute effectively [1].

Core Insights - Momentum stocks experienced significant volatility during the first full week of February, with the iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) recording its worst day since the Liberation Day crash on Wednesday [1] Group 1 - The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) faced a notable decline, marking a critical point in its performance history [1]

Market Trends - Retail investors continue to show strong interest in momentum stocks, with a pattern of net buying observed in the most active stocks on the platform, indicating ongoing capital inflow [2][7] - Key stocks attracting retail interest include Tesla, Nvidia, Micron, Oracle, and Broadcom, reflecting their strong performance and market relevance [3][4] Investor Behavior - The customer base of the platform is characterized by a mix of casual and semi-professional investors, with many employing sophisticated trading strategies [5] - Dip buying remains a popular strategy among investors, contributing to market stability, as evidenced by aggressive buying during market dips [6][8] Market Dynamics - Retail participation is now considered a significant factor in market dynamics, comparable to stock buybacks that supported equities in previous years [7][8] - The trend of momentum trading has led to a situation where institutions have adapted to retail trading behaviors, further influencing market trends [9] Trading Instruments - The triple-leveraged ETF TQQQ has become more active than its underlying index QQQ, indicating a growing preference for leveraged trading among investors [11] - Tesla remains a top trading stock, with its double-leveraged counterpart TSLL frequently appearing in the top 25, showcasing investor interest in leveraged positions [12]

Core Insights - The Nasdaq has rebounded above its 50-day moving average, indicating bullish sentiment as investors look towards 2026 with a focus on strong earnings growth for the S&P 500 and potential Fed rate cuts [1] - Investors are encouraged to consider stocks that have demonstrated strong performance in 2025, as market conditions are expected to remain favorable [2] Group 1: Stock Screening and Selection - A screening method using the Research Wizard identifies Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) stocks, focusing on those with upward price momentum and trading within 20% of their 52-week highs [3][4] - The screening criteria include a PEG ratio and Price to Sales ratio to ensure value, narrowing down to seven stock picks [4] Group 2: Commercial Metals Company (CMC) - CMC has seen a 40% increase in stock price in 2025, reaching all-time highs and significantly outperforming the S&P 500 over the past 30 years [5][6] - The company operates in the steel industry, primarily recycling scrap metal into new steel products, and is positioned to benefit from ongoing infrastructure spending in the U.S. [6][9] - CMC's earnings estimates for FY26 and FY27 have increased by 21% and 31% respectively, contributing to its Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) status [11] - The company trades at a forward P/E of 10.3X, which is a 34% discount to its sector, indicating potential value for investors [14]

LIVE Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Gains With Push From Risk Stocks Last Updated: 36 min ago The Nasdaq Is Back in Rally Mode. Risk and Momentum Are Leading the Market. By Connor Smith Riskier technology stocks were propelling the market higher on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite rallied 0.9% Tuesday morning trading. The S&P 500 was up 0.5%, even though a majority of the stocks that make up the index were down on the day. The Dow was up 211 points, or 0.5%. "Typically when you have a market that's up a lot into D ...

Group 1: Government Shutdown and Market Impact - The Senate approved a bipartisan bill to end the 41-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, which has positively impacted Wall Street and created a favorable environment for investing in momentum stocks [1] Group 2: Driehaus Strategy for Momentum Stocks - The Driehaus strategy, known as the "buy high and sell higher" approach, is highlighted as a proven investment method that has successfully identified momentum stocks [2][3] - Stocks selected using the Driehaus strategy include Insulet Corporation (PODD), Celestica Inc. (CLS), and Innodata Inc. (INOD), all of which meet key earnings and momentum criteria [8][10][11][12] Group 3: Key Criteria for Stock Selection - The strategy emphasizes strong earnings growth rates and impressive earnings projections, focusing on companies with a history of beating estimates [5] - Screening parameters include a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), a Momentum Score of A or B, and specific EPS growth metrics, narrowing the stock universe to 13 candidates [6][9] Group 4: Company Profiles - **Insulet Corporation (PODD)**: Develops insulin delivery systems with a Momentum Score of A and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.8% on average [10] - **Celestica Inc. (CLS)**: Provides global supply chain solutions, also with a Momentum Score of A and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.9% on average [11] - **Innodata Inc. (INOD)**: A data engineering company with a Momentum Score of A and a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 55.9% on average [12]

AI & Tech Sector - The AI sector is considered the biggest macro theme globally and is currently in a CapEx bubble, but the bubble has not yet burst [1] - Strong earnings from companies like Amazon and Alphabet are partially due to increased valuations of their AI investments, creating problematic circularity [3] - Concerns exist regarding investments and behavior related to data centers from AI and momentum stocks, indicating a frothy stage [3][4] - The recent tech selloff is not considered dramatic, and a buy-the-dip mentality is expected to prevail [2][4] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin is trading below its one-year (365-day) moving average, making it one of the worst trades since Trump's election victory [5][6] - Digital asset treasury companies are facing problems, suggesting further outflows are likely [7] - The cryptocurrency market is expected to experience a sustained down wave, with Bitcoin undergoing a 70%+ correction [7][8] - A 70%+ correction in Bitcoin is anticipated, which will negatively impact the broader crypto sector and retail sentiment [8] - The crypto collapse is not expected to coincide with a broader market bubble burst, but will likely precede it by a couple of months [10] - Problems in the crypto market are growing and will hurt meme stocks and marginal momentum names, slightly impacting the tech sector and retail index, eventually feeding into a wealth effect on the economy [9][10]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report discusses the current state of the **Momentum stocks** market, drawing parallels to the **dotcom era** of the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly focusing on **US Tech stocks** and the **AI sector** [2][3][4]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Momentum Performance**: The strong performance of Momentum stocks is raising concerns about a potential bubble, with significant outperformance observed over the past two years, reminiscent of the dotcom era [2][3]. - **Valuation Metrics**: The US HOLT Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio excluding Tech is at peak levels, and the HOLT Economic Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio is near its all-time high, indicating potential overvaluation [3][28]. - **Economic Uncertainty**: Despite high economic uncertainty (inflation, geopolitical tensions, sovereign debt concerns), markets appear resilient, as evidenced by the disconnect between low VIX levels and a high Economic Uncertainty Index [4][30]. - **Historical Context**: The report notes that during the dotcom bubble, Momentum outperformance lasted about 20 months, while the current Momentum phase has lasted only 4 months, suggesting a potential for either a prolonged bull run or a sharp correction [5][34]. - **Quality and Value Stocks**: There is a noted underperformance of Quality and US Value stocks, which mirrors patterns seen during the dotcom era. Financials are highlighted as having strong Momentum, particularly in Europe [6][7][39]. Additional Important Insights - **Sector Performance**: The Momentum trade is skewed towards larger cap stocks, with a significant portion of top Momentum stocks being Growth stocks, particularly in the Tech sector [11][13][19]. - **Geographical Comparison**: The Momentum phenomenon is not limited to the US; Europe is also experiencing strong Momentum, particularly in Growth and Financials, despite lower exposure to Tech/AI [17][19]. - **Valuation Disparities**: The valuation premium of the US market compared to Europe is at levels last seen in 2001, indicating a potential risk of correction if economic conditions change [30][31]. - **Investment Strategy**: The report suggests screening for high-quality stocks that have underperformed but are now attractively valued, as well as Value stocks with strong Momentum and improving CFROI [45][51]. Conclusion - The current market dynamics suggest a complex interplay between high valuations, economic uncertainty, and sector-specific performance trends. Investors are advised to remain cautious and consider both Momentum and Quality/Value strategies in their investment decisions.

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the focus on growth and momentum stocks that are reasonably priced and expected to outperform the market in the long term [1] - It highlights a significant investment opportunity identified by David, who advised buying at the market bottom in March 2009, leading to substantial gains in major indices [1] Investment Strategy - David is characterized as a long-term investor who prioritizes quality stocks and employs options as part of his investment strategy [1] - The S&P 500 saw an increase of 367% and the Nasdaq increased by 685% from 2009 to 2019, showcasing the potential for high returns in growth stocks [1] Investor Guidance - The article aims to assist investors in making money through investments in high-quality growth stocks [1]

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 is currently at the 6,700 mark, facing challenges in breaking higher due to ongoing macroeconomic concerns, raising questions about the timing for investing in momentum stocks [1]. Group 1: Market Conditions - The S&P 500 is struggling to gain upward momentum amid persistent macroeconomic issues [1]. Group 2: Analyst Background - Gary Alexander has extensive experience in technology sectors, having worked on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, and has been an adviser to several seed-round startups [1]. - He has been a contributor to Seeking Alpha since 2017 and has been featured in various web publications, with his articles also appearing on popular trading apps like Robinhood [1].