Pure Trade Ideas
2026-02-16 07:03
Regime
Sector rotation environment - from mega-cap tech to defensive/value sectors
Bias
Defensive rotation with selective energy/utilities strength
Best Setups
Breakouts in defensive sectors (XLU, XLV, XLE) and shorts in weakening crypto
Avoid
Stay away from mega-cap tech catching falling knives - let the downtrend exhaust itself first
📈

Stock Ideas

4 ideas
XLE
LONG
high 4-8 weeks 3-5%
Breaking out to new 52-week highs at $54.35, near resistance at $55.24. Energy sector showing relative strength with oil stabilizing. Volume confirming the move.
Catalyst: Oil price stability above $60, potential geopolitical tensions, energy rotation play
Entry
$54.40-54.60 on pullback or $55.30 on breakout above resistance
Target
$58.50
Stop
$52.80
R:R
2.5:1
Invalidation: Break below $52.50 or oil collapse below $58
XLU
LONG
medium 6-10 weeks 2-3%
Massive 2.76% move breaking to new highs at $46.50. Utilities showing defensive rotation strength. Near 52-week high of $46.885.
Catalyst: Rate cut expectations, defensive rotation, dividend yield attraction
Entry
$46.60-46.80
Target
$49.50
Stop
$44.80
R:R
1.6:1
Invalidation: Break below $45.00 or hawkish Fed pivot
XLV
LONG
medium 3-6 weeks 2-4%
Healthcare showing relative strength, up 1.07% near 52-week highs. Defensive sector with momentum.
Catalyst: Defensive rotation, aging demographics, biotech innovation cycle
Entry
$157.80-158.20
Target
$162.50
Stop
$155.00
R:R
1.7:1
Invalidation: Break below $156.00 or sector rotation away from defensives
CRM
SHORT
speculative 2-4 weeks 1-2%
Despite 2.31% bounce, still down 42% from highs at $329.74. Weak relative strength in tech, near 52-week lows at $180.24.
Catalyst: Enterprise spending cuts, SaaS multiple compression, recession fears
Entry
$188.00-190.00 on any bounce
Target
$175.00
Stop
$195.00
R:R
2.6:1
Invalidation: Break above $200 or strong earnings beat
🛢️

Commodity Ideas

2 ideas
Gold
SHORT
medium GLD ETF or GC Futures 4-8 weeks
Gold down -0.59% at $5016, showing weakness from highs of $5586. Dollar strength and potential rate hikes pressuring metals.
Entry
$5020-5040 area
Target
$4750
Stop
$5150
R:R
2.1:1
Key Levels: Support at $4850, resistance at $5100
Crude Oil
LONG
speculative USO ETF or CL Futures 3-6 weeks
Oil holding steady at $62.90, showing relative strength. Geopolitical tensions and supply concerns could drive breakout.
Entry
$63.20-63.50
Target
$68.00
Stop
$60.50
R:R
1.7:1
Key Levels: Resistance at $65, support at $61

Crypto Ideas

3 ideas
BTC
SHORT
high 2-6 weeks 3-5%
Bitcoin down -2.77% showing weakness, 45% below ATH. Momentum clearly broken, lower highs pattern forming.
On-Chain Signal: Long-term holders distribution, exchange inflows increasing
Entry
$68500-69000 on any bounce
Target
$62000
Stop
$72000
R:R
2.2:1
ETH
SHORT
medium 3-6 weeks 2-3%
Ethereum down -5.75%, showing even more weakness than BTC. 60% below ATH, losing relative strength.
On-Chain Signal: DeFi TVL declining, gas fees low indicating reduced activity
Entry
$1970-2000
Target
$1650
Stop
$2150
R:R
2.1:1
ZEC
LONG
speculative 2-4 weeks 1-2%
Zcash showing momentum with +19.74% weekly gain despite today's -9.56% pullback. Privacy coin rotation play.
On-Chain Signal: Privacy coin narrative gaining traction, regulatory clarity improving
Entry
$280-290 on this dip
Target
$350
Stop
$250
R:R
1.8:1
📊

Options Plays

2 plays
XLE
high
Long Call Spread | 55/58 Call Spread | March 2026
Energy breakout play with limited risk, leveraging momentum with defined risk
Max Risk
$1.20 per spread
Max Reward
$3.00 per spread
Breakeven
$56.20
Ideal Scenario: XLE moves above $57 by mid-March on energy sector rotation
NVDA
medium
Put Spread | 180/170 Put Spread | March 2026
NVDA showing weakness, down -2.24%. Put spread to benefit from continued decline with limited risk
Max Risk
$4.50 per spread
Max Reward
$10.00 per spread
Breakeven
$175.50
Ideal Scenario: NVDA continues decline below $175 on AI bubble concerns
⚖️

Pairs Trades

2 pairs
high 1:1 dollar weighted 6-12 weeks
LONG
XLE
vs
SHORT
XLK
Energy showing relative strength vs Tech weakness. Classic rotation play from growth to value/energy.
Entry Spread
XLE at $54.35, XLK at $139.56 (spread: -$85.21)
Target Spread
-$78.00
Stop Spread
-$90.00
medium 1:1 dollar weighted 4-8 weeks
LONG
XLU
vs
SHORT
XLY
Utilities breaking out vs Consumer Discretionary stalling. Defensive rotation play.
Entry Spread
XLU at $46.50, XLY at $116.18 (spread: -$69.68)
Target Spread
-$65.00
Stop Spread
-$74.00
🚫

Avoid These

🚫 META
Down -1.55% and 20% off highs. Looks cheap but still in downtrend
The Trap: Tempting to buy 'cheap' big tech, but momentum is broken
🚫 AAPL
Down -2.27% and 11% off highs. Massive volume suggests distribution
The Trap: Dividend aristocrat looks safe, but technical damage is severe
🚫 GOOGL
Down -1.06% and 12% off highs. Ad spending concerns mounting
The Trap: AI narrative seems bullish, but ad recession could hit hard