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Midday Wave #117 Neutral

Midday Wave #117: Real Rotation, Narrow Volume: Tech Leads But Confirmation Lags – Friday 9/25/2026

September 25, 2026 4:55
Episode Summary
Breadth signals diverge as long-term measures firm while short-term momentum fades, even as new lows collapse from 210 to 67. Technology dominates sector leadership with RSPT at the 100th percentile, but breakout names like CRDO and VRT are moving on thin RVOL, leaving the rotation real but unconfirmed heading into the close.
Key Takeaways
  • 40SMA breadth ticks up to 20.89% but stays oversold
  • Bear 4% collapses to 67 from 210 yesterday
  • Semiconductors dominate continuation breakouts led by CRDO +6.7%
  • Technology sector hits 100th percentile, clear leadership
  • Light RVOLs and ETF-heavy 20% Study urge selective risk
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Midday Situation Check

Mixed regime — 40SMA breadth at 20.89% (up from 20.44% yesterday) but still deeply oversold, while 20SMA breadth slipped to 35% (down from 42%). Sentiment 4% flipped to Bullish from Bearish, even as the 40SMA reading stays Oversold.

Market Recap — Session So Far

Index tape is dark on our feed today, so we’re navigating by breadth and the scan tables — and the story is a sharp rotation into semiconductors.

  • SPY, QQQ, and IWM index data are unavailable in today’s feed, so no confirmed price levels or SMA references — trade the leaders, not the tape.
  • Breadth divergence: Bull 4% dropped to 106 from 130, but Bear 4% collapsed to 67 from 210 — far fewer new lows is the constructive tell despite the softer 20SMA reading.
  • Longer-term breadth firm: Bull 20% at 35 vs Bear 20% at 21, and Bull 9M 14 vs Bear 9M 6 — the multi-week trend is quietly leaning bullish.

Momentum Watch — Breakout Continuation & SIP

  • Strongest continuation is CRDO at $209.14, +6.7% on RVOL 0.6 — a CHIPS name with institutional backing leading the pack.
  • ACLS ($121.82, +4.9%, RVOL 0.7) and COHU ($66.61, +4.6%, RVOL 0.5) round out the semi-equipment surge; COHU carries the hottest ATR expansion at 4.6.
  • New SIP entry: VRT (Vertiv) at $245.38, sentiment +2 on a Wells Fargo Overweight initiation (MACHINE / Electrical-Power Equipment) — change-from-open +2.07, RVOL 0.77.

Strategy Check — Continuation, SIP & 20% Study

  • Continuation breakouts skewed almost entirely to CHIPS: AEHR ($101.62, +4.3%), LSCC ($127.05, +4.0%), ADI ($395.18, +3.3%, INST), ENTG ($152.58, +2.7%, INST) and MPWR ($1371.60, +2.7%, INST) — but note RVOLs are light (0.2–0.7), so this is price leadership without heavy volume confirmation yet.
  • SIP movers are mostly cautionary: BB at $8.72 (soft guidance, PT cut, RVOL 3.87), BTDR at $12.15 (Bitcoin drag, sentiment -2), and CRK at $13.82 (Hold initiation). The lone bright spot beyond VRT is STAA at $19.08 announcing a $50M buyback, though it’s -3.78 from open.
  • 20% Study is dominated by ETF/ETN/CEF products (KLAG, MSTW, MULL, MRNX, FBL, CONI, SNDQ) rather than single-stock institutional momentum — that’s a divergence signal: leveraged/thematic vehicles, not broad accumulation. FBL ($36.76, RVOL 1.7) and MRNX ($144.91, RVOL 1.45) show the only real volume push.

Sector Read — Where the Money Is

  • Technology (RSPT) is the clear leader, printing 1.6 at the 100th percentile with a +1.41% daily change and a steady climb since Sept 18 — this is the PLASTICS play, ride the sector winner.
  • Health Care (RSPH) at 2.17, rising (49th percentile) is the only other positive-trend group, quietly firming off its Sept 10 low of 0.68.
  • Laggards remain broad: Financials (RSPF) at -1.76 (5th percentile), Industrials (RSPN) -1.83, Consumer Discretionary (RSPD) -1.8, and Energy (RSPG) -0.96 and falling — money is concentrating, not broadening.

Quick Takes & Wrap-Up

  • CRDO — leading semi at $209.14; watch whether it holds above the day’s momentum into the afternoon, as light RVOL (0.6) means the breakout still needs volume to confirm.
  • VRT — $245.38 with a fresh Overweight; the +2.07 from open is the level to defend for the analyst-driven move to stick.
  • Overall bias: cautiously constructive but selective — collapsing Bear 4% (67 vs 210) and Tech at the 100th percentile favor CHIPS leaders, but sub-1.0 RVOLs and ETF-heavy 20% Study argue for controlled risk, not chasing. Codes in focus: 2LYNCH (Continuation Breakout) and PLASTICS (Sector Winners).
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