
Markets Editor
James Park
James is a CFA who spent a decade on a long/short equities desk before joining PokerWizard to run the markets editorial. He writes our morning Pulse, edits the equities and macro coverage, and refuses to let any chart appear without a caveat. His preferred unit of analysis is the trade you would actually put on, not the headline you would actually post.
Joined PokerWizard 2022
More posts by James Park

What Could Derail KLA Stock?
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Is Royal Caribbean Stock Increasing Your Market Risk?
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Is Mastercard Stock Paying You Enough For The Swings?
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What Is Behind The Move In Rocket Companies Stock?
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5 Best Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
This article looks at the 5 Best Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. You can see the expanded list of 9 Best Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds here. Despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts and rising military expenditure across the world, U.S. defense stocks have largely struggled in 2026. The N

Is It Too Early To Buy American Airlines Stock?
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Perma-Fix (PESI): buy, sell, or hold post Q2 earnings?
Since April 2026, Perma-Fix has been in a holding pattern, posting a small return of 1.9% while floating around $12.93. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 7.5% gain during that period.

3 Reasons investors love AZZ (AZZ)
AZZ has been treading water for the past six months, recording a small loss of 3% while holding steady at $137.29. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 7.5% gain during that period.

How Varying VIX Ranges Can Impact S Returns
VIX spikes can be a reliable contrarian indicator

3 Reasons STAA is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Over the past six months, STAAR Surgical’s shares (currently trading at $21.50) have posted a disappointing 19.9% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 12.8% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

Acuity Brands (AYI): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q3 Earnings?
Although Acuity Brands (currently trading at $298.23 per share) has gained 5.7% over the last six months, it has trailed the S&P 500’s 12.8% return during that period. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

S&P 500 Profits Set to Surge More Than 30% in Q3 With AI Giants Dominating Growth
Alphabet, Amazon and Meta are among the companies whose investments in artificial intelligence are driving the increase.

Dell (DELL) Has Outpaced the S&P 500 by a Wide Stretch. Will the AI-Fueled Run Continue?
Much of the recent growth for Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) has come through hardware sales, which is a lower-margin, high-volume avenue for the overall business. Bottom-line expansion in the future now hinges on diversification of its business mix and the underlying execution. The stock has gained 225.83% over th

Is Vistra Stock Increasing Your Market Risk?
Shareholders of Vistra (VST) likely noticed the stock rise 11.7% over the past five sessions on reports of a U.S. loan to boost its nuclear output. Since most investment portfolios already track broader market movements, investors need to know how closely this utility stock mirrors those general indices. So what happen

3 Reasons to Avoid NOV and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Since April 2026, NOV has been in a holding pattern, posting a small return of 0.7% while floating around $18.91. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 16.3% gain during that period.

3 Reasons to Avoid RGR and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Ruger currently trades at $42.80 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a middling return of 4.7%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 16.6% gain during that period.

Stock Market: Will S&P 500 Open Up or Down Today?
U.S. stock futures are trending higher early Thursday as the final quarter of 2026 kicks off, with investors monitoring ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomatic backchannels, falling crude oil prices, and the fallout from the Fed’s recent hawkish posture. The crowd on Polymarket,.

3 Reasons to Sell SLGN and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Over the past six months, Silgan Holdings’s stock price fell to $35.09. Shareholders have lost 7.4% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 21.1%. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

Oshkosh (OSK): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q2 Earnings?
Oshkosh has been treading water for the past six months, recording a small loss of 4.4% while holding steady at $131.59. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 21.1% gain during that period.

What Could Surprise Cisco Stock Investors On The Upside?
Cisco Systems (CSCO) stock returned 62% over the past 12 months (as of Ssptember 28, 2026). After that run, you pay 31.8 times its past year's earnings, against 22.1 for the S&P 500. At that price, the stock appears to assume growth that has not happened yet, so further upside would need something beyond that. So what

Is ExxonMobil Stock Increasing Your Market Risk?
You hold ExxonMobil (XOM) alongside index funds, and in the last five sessions, the stock rose 2.7% as the S&P 500 fell 1.0%. You already own the market's risk through those funds, so a large ExxonMobil position is either more of it or an offset. Is ExxonMobil stock increasing your market risk.

3 Reasons MRCY is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Although Mercury Systems (currently trading at $80.14 per share) has gained 14.7% over the last six months, it has trailed the S&P 500’s 22.1% return during that period. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq Drop Under Pressure From Elevated Yields As Investors Shrug Off Trump’s Iran Sanction Relief — NVDA, BA, AMD, NVTS, CBRS In Focus
President Donald Trump was open to providing sanctions relief to Iran on nuclear matters, CNN and Axios reported.

3 Reasons to Sell RSG and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Since March 2026, Republic Services has been in a holding pattern, posting a small loss of 4.1% while floating around $212.60. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 21.4% gain during that period.

2 Reasons to Like EVTC and 1 to Stay Skeptical
EVERTEC has been treading water for the past six months, recording a small return of 1% while holding steady at $28.20. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 21.4% gain during that period.

S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq Futures Ease As Treasury Yields Continue To Spike — ORCL, META, AKAM, GOOGL, MGM In Focus
Treasury yields resumed their march higher amid inflation concerns.

Ball (BALL): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q2 Earnings?
Since March 2026, Ball has been in a holding pattern, posting a small return of 2.9% while floating around $59.97. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 18% gain during that period.

3 Reasons OTIS is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Over the past six months, Otis’s shares (currently trading at $66.84) have posted a disappointing 15.4% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 16.2% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.

Why Are Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures Rising Premarket? TSLA, AVGO, SNOW, HPE, PLTR, LULU Stocks In Focus
Retail sentiment on Stocktwits remained ‘bearish’ on SPY and moderated to ‘neutral’ on QQQ.

Is Merck Stock Reaching A Valuation Ceiling At 6x Sales?
The oncology franchise that still carries about half of Merck is decelerating while the stock trades near its high.

Sectors Representing a Third of the S&P 500's Value Produced Just 7 Percent of LinkedIn's 2026 Top Voices, C-Suite Stack Analysis Finds
Analysis of all 150 honorees in LinkedIn's two 2026 US Top Voices cohorts finds executive visibility lags market value in industrials, energy, and consumer sectors, while LinkedIn's showcased posts favor short-form posts over long-form articles 97 percent of the timeNashville, TN, Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C-Su

Gamma, dealer hedging, and the 0DTE effect on market dynamics

3 Reasons to Avoid OII and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Oceaneering currently trades at $51.56 and has been a dream stock for shareholders. It’s returned 333% since August 2021, blowing past the S&P 500’s 71.9% gain. The company has also beaten the index over the past six months as its stock price is up 38.5% thanks to its solid quarterly results.

VYM Is Beating the S&P 500 With a 17% Year-to-Date Return by Owning What Wall Street Won’t
A mechanical yield screen is quietly outpacing the S&P 500 this year by excluding most of the AI complex before a single share is purchased, and the valuation gap it creates raises a question worth answering before the rotation reverses.

WisdomTree (WT): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q2 Earnings?
WisdomTree currently trades at $22.75 and has been a dream stock for shareholders. It’s returned 272% since August 2021, blowing past the S&P 500’s 73.1% gain. The company has also beaten the index over the past six months as its stock price is up 38.9% thanks to its solid quarterly results.

Search and Cloud Strength Drive Alphabet’s (GOOG) Rally
Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the “Madison Large Cap Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, U.S. stock market indices achieved their best performance since 2020, driven largely by a narrow group of Artificial Intellig

3 Reasons to Sell NMRK and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Newmark currently trades at $15.31 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a middling return of 4.7%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 13.1% gain during that period.

MACOM (MTSI): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q2 Earnings?
MACOM currently trades at $308.10 and has been a dream stock for shareholders. It’s returned 404% since August 2021, blowing past the S&P 500’s 72.8% gain. The company has also beaten the index over the past six months as its stock price is up 26.2% thanks to its solid quarterly results.

US Stock Futures Rangebound After S&P 500 Ends At Record Highs As Data Shows Cooling Inflation — WDAY, SNDK, AMD, DELL, HTZ In Focus
The producer price index rose 4.7% in July 2025 after a 5.5% annual increase in June.

Micron Technology (MU): A Clear Beneficiary of the AI Infrastructure Buildout?
TCW Funds, an investment management firm, published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the ‘TCW Concentrated Large Cap Growth Fund.’ A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During the second quarter, AI monetization, a fragile Middle East ceasefire, and a Federal Reserve leadership transition were the sig

S&P500, Nasdaq, Dow Futures Rangebound As Investors Await Key Inflation Data To Judge Rate Hike Possibilities — ORCL, AAPL, NVDA, CURLF In Focus
Investors await the July consumer price index that’s due at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Flowers Foods (FLO) Cuts Dividend to Strengthen Financial Health
JB Global Capital, an investment firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund declined 12.1% in Q2, largely driven by Alibaba, its largest holding. However, since inception on January 3, 2023, the fund has returned 109.7%, compared with 94.4% for the S&P

GE Stock Keeps Climbing. Should You Climb On?
This jet engine powerhouse is flying high on real business strength, forcing investors to ask a disciplined question: is the engine's power already reflected in the ticket price.

S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow Futures Mixed As Hormuz Uncertainty Weighs: Why AAPL, TSM, MU, SPCX, ASTS, SLS Stocks Are In Focus
Retail sentiment on Stocktwits was split, with traders ‘bullish’ on SPY and ‘bearish’ on QQQ.
3 Reasons to Sell PAYX and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Paychex’s 21% return over the past six months has outpaced the S&P 500 by 9.3%, and its stock price has climbed to $119.23 per share. This was partly due to its solid quarterly results, and the performance may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
Micron Stock Rebounded With The Memory Trade, Not Ahead Of It
The contracts that put a floor under its record margins also cap what rising memory prices can add.

Record Gas Prices Could Save Tesla
Tesla's stock has cratered 30% this year while rivals like BYD eat into its European market share, but an unexpected geopolitical crisis may be handing the company a lifeline that no amount of AI hype ever could.
CRH Plc (CRH): Positioned as a Vertically Integrated Compounder
Third Point Management, a New York-based investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy is available to download here. Third Point’s flagship Offshore Fund returned 7.7% in Q2 2026, outperforming the hedge fund index but trailing broader equity benchmarks. Second Quarter returns benefited
Flex’s (FLEX) CPI Business Positioned for an Exponential Leap
Third Point Management, a New York-based investment advisor, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy is available to download here. Third Point’s flagship Offshore Fund returned 7.7% in Q2 2026, outperforming the hedge fund index but trailing broader equity benchmarks. Second Quarter returns benefited
‘My head hit the driver’s window’: A teenager T-boned our car. Will Medicare pay my hospital bills?
“My car was nearly 20 years old, and I only carried liability and uninsured motorist coverage, not collision coverage.”
3 Reasons WMG is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Warner Music Group currently trades at $29.22 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a small loss of 2.6%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 7.1% gain during that period.
2 S&P 500 Stocks for Long-Term Investors and 1 We Turn Down
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.

PayPal's $17 Billion Bet Against Wall Street
A large bet on its own shares has so far been a losing one, creating a quiet standoff between management's conviction and the market's deep-seated skepticism.

Forget MDY. State Street Sells the Same S&P Mid-Caps for 87% Less
State Street quietly sells two ETFs tracking the exact same mid-cap index at wildly different prices, and most investors holding the older one have no idea how much that gap costs them over time.

Jim Cramer Sounds Cautious On This Market. Here’s What I’d Buy in Response
Jim Cramer is struggling to find reasons to buy, and the Nasdaq 100 sliding into correction territory is not helping. Before you dismiss his caution, consider which corners of the market could actually benefit from the pain hitting semi stocks hardest.
Helmerich & Payne (HP): Buy, Sell, or Hold Post Q1 Earnings?
Helmerich & Payne currently trades at $32.70 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a small loss of 3%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 6.5% gain during that period.
2 Reasons to Sell EFX and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Over the past six months, Equifax’s stock price fell to $177.62. Shareholders have lost 13.5% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 6.3%. This was partly due to its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.
3 Reasons SBH is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead
Sally Beauty currently trades at $14.64 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a small loss of 3.7%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 6.2% gain during that period.

Only 14% of Gen X Has a Pension. For a 53-Year-Old Riding an AI-Heavy S&P 500, Social Security Is the Only Floor Left.
A 53-year-old with two decades of maxed-out 401(k) contributions thinks she built a diversified retirement. She may have accidentally built a concentrated AI bet instead, and the one safety net she overlooked could be worth far more than she realizes.
3 Reasons We’re Fans of Napco (NSSC)
Over the past six months, Napco’s shares (currently trading at $35.37) have posted a disappointing 8.1% loss, well below the S&P 500’s 6.2% gain. This might have investors contemplating their next move.