Overall Sector and Industry Analysis
Datetime range analyzed (EST): 2025-12-18 15:00 to 2025-12-19 11:00. Note: The dataset provided contains intraday snapshots for ~1–2 sessions, not a full 30 days. I infer recent trend strength from the last two sessions and use intraday ranges as a proxy for short-term daily levels and ATR.
- Precious metals/miners led decisively higher on strong breadth and volume: WPM, PAAS, HL, CDE, AG, BVN, FNV, RGLD, EGO and the ETFs GDXJ, SIL, NUGT all made higher highs through the morning with persistent dip buying. This points to a bid in gold/silver complex and risk appetite for miners.
- Defense/aerospace firm and trending: LMT, NOC, LHX, HII all advanced with steady 30-minute uptrends, confirming institutional support into year-end.
- Large-cap healthcare/biotech bid: VRTX, REGN, UNH, ISRG, AMGN advanced on healthy relative volume, with VRTX/REGN showing clean trend structure and controlled pullbacks.
- Travel/leisure strong: RCL and NCLH rallied hard out of the gate, holding most gains even after first-hour digestion; MAR also green.
- Semis: MU gapped sharply and then retraced to digest gains; still constructive if it can base above the morning mid-range.
- Copper/industrial metals constructive: SCCO pushed higher; ITRG also trended up, aligning with the broader resources bid.
- High-beta momentum pockets (LUNR, VERA, ARWR) showed strong opening drives; better suited for tactical trades unless they base.
Noticeable patterns
– Broad-based risk-on with commodities leadership; miners printing trend days (GDXJ, WPM, PAAS, HL, CDE).
– Defensive strength in parallel (LMT, NOC) suggests a “barbell” bid.
– First-hour expansions followed by orderly 30-minute consolidations – classic bull-flag behavior across leaders (VRTX, REGN, WPM, PAAS, RCL).
Ticker Performance Prediction (next 2–3 days)
Most likely to continue higher
– Precious metals/miners: WPM, PAAS, GDXJ
– Large-cap healthcare: VRTX, REGN
– Travel/leisure: RCL, NCLH
– Defense: LMT
Strongest bullish signals today
– WPM, PAAS, GDXJ: trend day behavior, strong relative volume, higher highs/higher lows.
– VRTX, REGN: controlled pullbacks, buyers defending VWAP/round-number pivots.
– RCL, NCLH: high-volume expansions holding the top half of the morning range.
– LMT: steady grind with shallow pullbacks, indicating accumulation.
Individual Stock Analysis
Notes on levels: Because only 1–2 sessions were provided, “daily supply/demand” zones are approximated from intraday extremes, round-number pivots, and gap/reference levels. Intraday realized range is used as a proxy for short-term ATR to size targets.
1) PAAS
– Supports: 52.00–52.05 (10:00 close/round), 51.61 (10:00 low), 50.25–50.15 (open/LOD)
– Resistances: 52.34 (HOD), 53.00 (round), 53.70 (measured move using morning range ≈2.2)
– Next 2–3 day outlook (30-min read): Expect bull flag consolidation above ~52.00; breakout over 52.35 can extend.
– Price targets (1–3 day): 52.90–53.00, 53.50, stretch 54.20–54.40 if metals bid persists.
– Entry ideas: Pullback into 52.00–52.10; or momentum add on 52.36–52.40 break with volume.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 51.55; Conservative: below 50.90; Hard stop if 50.15 snaps.
2) WPM
– Supports: 119.25 (10:30 close), 118.56 (10:00 close), 118.13 (9:30 close)
– Resistances: 119.80 (HOD), 120.50, 121.50 (measured continuation)
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Hold above 118.5–119.0 to maintain bull flag; clearing 119.80 opens 120s.
– Price targets: 120.40–120.60, 121.20–121.50, stretch 122.20–122.50 (using ~4.4 morning range).
– Entry ideas: Buy 118.6–119.0 pullbacks; or 119.85 break with RVOL >1.5x.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 118.45; Swing: 117.95 (below prior 30-min pivot).
3) GDXJ (ETF)
– Supports: 118.00 (10:30 pivot), 117.52 (10:00 close), 116.92 (9:30 close)
– Resistances: 118.42 (session high), 119.00, 120.00
– Next 2–3 day outlook: While above 117.5–118.0, look for continuation toward 119–120.
– Price targets: 118.90–119.00, 119.60, stretch 120.40.
– Entry ideas: Bids near 118.0–118.1; or 118.45 break.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 117.45; Swing: 116.85.
4) VRTX
– Supports: 452.00 (11:00 print/round), 451.51 (10:30 low), 450.45 (9:30 close)
– Resistances: 453.52 (HOD), 455.00, 458.00 (measured)
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Constructive above 451.5–452.0; clearing 453.5 can start a stair-step into mid-450s.
– Price targets: 454.80–455.00, 456.80, stretch 458.50–459.50.
– Entry ideas: Buy 451.8–452.2 pullback; add on 453.6 break if volume confirms.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 450.90; Swing: 449.90.
5) REGN
– Supports: 766.15 (10:30 close), 762.62 (10:00 close), 756.61 (9:30 close)
– Resistances: 768.55 (HOD), 770.00, 775.00
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Holding 762–766 favors a push to 770+; shallow pullbacks suggest accumulation.
– Price targets: 770.5, 772.8, stretch 775.5–777.0.
– Entry ideas: Bids 765.5–766.5; breakout add on 768.6–769.0.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 762.40; Swing: 759.80.
6) RCL
– Supports: 298.06 (10:30 low), 294.01 (10:00 open), 293.84 (9:30 close)
– Resistances: 300.64 (HOD), 302.00, 305.00
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Expect chop-to-up; reclaiming/holding 299.5–300.0 opens a run toward low 300s.
– Price targets: 301.9–302.0, 303.8, stretch 305.5–306.5.
– Entry ideas: Buy 298.2–298.8 pullbacks; or 300.7 HOD break with strong tape.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 297.40; Swing: 293.70 (below first hour base).
7) NCLH
– Supports: 22.97 (10:30/11:00 prints), 22.51 (9:30 close), 22.39 (10:00 low)
– Resistances: 23.07 (HOD), 23.50, 24.00
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Momentum intact while above ~22.5; a clean push through 23.1 can target mid-23s.
– Price targets: 23.30–23.35, 23.70, stretch 24.00–24.20.
– Entry ideas: Bids 22.95–23.00; add on 23.08–23.10 break.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 22.35; Swing: 22.05 (below morning demand).
8) LMT
– Supports: 471.35 (10:30 low), 470.85 (9:30 close), 470.37 (10:00 low)
– Resistances: 473.07 (HOD), 475.00, 478.00
– Next 2–3 day outlook: Slow-grind higher profile; expect continuation if 470.5–471.0 holds.
– Price targets: 474.6–475.0, 476.8, stretch 478.5–479.5.
– Entry ideas: Buy 471.2–471.6 pullbacks; or 473.1 break.
– Stop-loss: Tight: 470.20; Swing: 468.90.
Context and risk management
– Metals/miners: If GDXJ loses 117.5 on a closing basis, fade the metals-long bias and tighten stops across WPM/PAAS.
– Healthcare: For VRTX/REGN, sustained closes below their first-hour higher lows would negate the immediate bull-flag setup.
– Travel: For RCL/NCLH, momentum depends on holding top-half of today’s range. Failure there likely leads to 1–2 day digestion.
– Sizing and ATR: The morning realized range (approx intraday ATR) is used to size targets; reduce size into resistance and trail stops under higher lows on the 30-min chart.