Insider Tips - Weekly Stock Market Report - Week February 16, 2026
Insider Tips — February 16, 2026
Market Strength… But Watch Technology
In this week’s Insider Tips, I walked through the broader market landscape and showed why, despite some sharp red candles and rising volatility, the overall trend remains green. My primary market indicator continues to show four green lights, which means we respect the trend and trade accordingly.
That said, not all sectors are equally strong. Technology, particularly the QQQ, is lagging and forming a potential bearish “H” pattern that could signal downside risk if it breaks. Meanwhile, the Dow and NYSE remain relatively healthier. I also reviewed major individual stocks like Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Netflix, and MicroStrategy, highlighting consolidations, breakdown risks, and structural AI shifts.
The key message: respect the trend, watch the patterns, and manage risk carefully.
The Big Picture: Four Green Lights
My market indicator continues to show four green signals. When the market is green, we don’t fight it — we participate.
Even after sharp pullbacks and volatility spikes, the broader trend has not broken. We’ve had some ugly days, but the recovery has been strong enough to keep the overall structure intact.
The market has been trending upward for several months now. That doesn’t mean straight up every day — it means higher highs and higher lows over time.
QQQ: The Weak Link
Technology is currently the weakest major index.
The QQQ is struggling relative to the broader market and is forming what I call a “dreaded H” pattern. If the lower pivot of that structure breaks, probability shifts toward further downside.
Remember: approximately 70% of a stock’s movement is driven by overall market direction. If tech is weak, your tech positions may struggle — even if the company itself looks strong fundamentally.
This is why we watch patterns, not opinions.
S&P vs Dow vs NYSE
Here’s how the major indexes compare:
• The S&P 500 is trading under its 50-day moving average, but it does not look severely damaged.
• The Dow Jones is relatively stronger and hasn’t tested key moving averages.
• The NYSE recently pushed to new highs but printed a heavy-volume reversal candle before bouncing again.
No single chart tells the story. I always try to paint a picture with multiple dots — because markets are about probabilities, not certainties.
Volatility Is Rising
Volatility has moved back above its 200-day moving average.
That suggests:
• Rising uncertainty
• Some panic money entering
• Increased need for disciplined risk management
We don’t panic — but we do tighten discipline.
Individual Stock Breakdown
Nvidia (NVDA)
Nvidia remains in a long consolidation range. It has been bouncing around its 50-day moving average for an extended period.
The longer a stock consolidates, the more “spring tension” builds. When it eventually breaks out, the move can be powerful — but it must clear resistance first.
This is a stock to watch closely.
Apple (AAPL)
Apple had a significant prior drop, followed by a bounce that nearly retraced the move. Recently, however, it printed a heavy red candle that suggests renewed weakness.
If this structure continues, downside levels could be tested again.
The chart is sending information — and we need to listen.
Tesla (TSLA)
On the weekly chart, Tesla bounced almost perfectly off its 40-week moving average.
On the daily chart, however, it looks noisier and is trading below its 50-day moving average. Stocks living below the 50 often struggle to regain momentum quickly.
The company may be strong — but price action tells us when money is actually flowing in.
Netflix (NFLX)
Netflix has been in a sustained downtrend and is trading below key moving averages.
Beyond fundamentals, we’re also seeing structural shifts in content creation driven by AI. As AI tools improve, the content creation landscape changes dramatically. The chart currently reflects sustained distribution rather than accumulation.
Price doesn’t lie.
MicroStrategy & Bitcoin Exposure
MicroStrategy experienced a prolonged multi-month decline. This is a perfect example of why circuit breakers matter.
Even high-conviction trades can collapse. Discipline protects capital.
Bitcoin-related assets appear to be stabilizing after extended corrections, but volatility remains elevated.
Gold and Silver
Gold pulled back to its 21-day moving average but remains in an intact uptrend.
Silver, however, is below its 50-day moving average and has experienced large corrections before. That warrants caution.
Energy (XLE)
Energy has shown strong upward momentum — almost a hockey-stick type move.
That kind of move often leads to consolidation before continuation.
AI Infrastructure Plays
Micron, Western Digital, and SanDisk have shown relative strength compared to some mega-cap AI names.
The bottleneck in AI isn’t hype — it’s hardware and memory. That’s where some real opportunity may lie.
Emerging Trends
Here’s what I’m seeing beneath the surface:
• Tech leadership is weakening
• Energy is strengthening
• AI infrastructure is outperforming mega-cap AI hype
• Volatility is rising
• Bitcoin-related assets are stabilizing
• Streaming/media faces structural AI disruption
This is rotation — not collapse.
Key Takeaways
• The broader market remains green.
• Respect the trend — don’t fight it.
• Technology weakness requires caution.
• Watch for breakdowns in bearish H-patterns.
• Consolidations build energy — but need confirmation.
• Rising volatility demands risk management.
• Circuit breakers protect capital.
• Not all AI plays are created equal.
Your brain is a pattern-recognition machine. The more charts you study, the sharper your edge becomes.
Conclusion
The overall market structure remains constructive, but divergences are developing beneath the surface.
Technology is lagging. Volatility is rising. Former leaders are struggling, while energy and infrastructure names are strengthening.
This is not a time for blind optimism — but it is also not a time to fight a green market.
Trade what is strong. Respect patterns. Protect capital. Let probabilities work in your favor.
Current Market Condition:
The market remains green and trending upward, but internal signals are mixed: tech is weak (QQQ), volatility has risen, and key pattern risk is developing. Stay bullish with discipline—selectivity and risk management matter most here.
Stock Tips This Week:
Bloom Energy Stock Analysis: A High-Growth Energy Play Positioned for the AI Power Boom (Plus Covered Call Income Opportunities)
In this video, Mark breaks down Bloom Energy (BE) as a potential AI-power beneficiary—why demand for reliable energy infrastructure is rising, what the chart is signaling, and how income traders can layer covered calls on a growth name while managing volatility.
Covered Call Risk Management Guide: The Professional Rules That Protect Your Portfolio and Prevent Trading Disasters
In this video, Mark lays out the non-negotiable risk rules that keep income traders alive—position sizing, circuit breakers/stops, managing gaps, avoiding “hope trades,” and how to adjust covered calls when the chart breaks or volatility spikes.
The Possible Return of an Asset-Backed Dollar: Gold Revaluation, Bitcoin Reserves, and the Future of Global Money
In this video, Mark explores the big-picture monetary thesis—what an asset-backed dollar could look like, why gold revaluation and sovereign Bitcoin reserves are being discussed, and how investors can think about hard assets and macro shifts without turning it into a prediction game.
Stop Losing Income to Taxes: 3 Powerful Strategies Wealthy Investors Use to Build Generational Wealth
In this video, Mark breaks down three practical ways investors can reduce how much of their income gets eaten by taxes—so more cash stays working inside the portfolio and compounds toward long-term wealth.
The Real Anatomy of a Covered Call: How Professionals Analyze Income Trades Beyond Premium
In this video, Mark explains how pros evaluate covered calls beyond “how much premium you collect”—including chart structure, volatility, strike selection, downside risk, and what would make the trade invalid.
3 Massive Market Shifts in 48 Hours: Drug Pricing Shock, Dow 50,000 Breakout, Bitcoin’s Violent Rebound
In this video, Mark unpacks three fast-moving market events and what they signal—how headlines hit sectors, why the Dow breakout matters, and how to interpret Bitcoin’s sharp reversal without getting emotional.
Podcast Episode This Week:
In this episode of the Wealth Architect Podcast, Mark sits down with Mike Milligan (founder of One Oak Financial) to unpack what’s broken in traditional financial planning—and how to build a truly one-of-a-kind financial strategy. Mike shares insights from decades in banking and planning, covering Wall Street fee structures, S&P 500 concentration risk, tax planning, behavioral finance, and why education is the foundation of real wealth.
Upcoming Event:
Wealth Accelerator Live: The Strategy Room is a private, invitation-only 3-day Strategy Intensive happening April 17–19, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort (Chandler, Arizona).
Built for serious investors, this experience is designed to help you tighten execution, remove friction, and scale with confidence—using the same proven system you already know, just implemented at a higher level with focused coaching and real-time strategy.
Only 60 seats are available to keep the room small, sharp, and high-trust, with direct access and truly high-level discussion. Once the room is full, registration closes—no replays, no overflow, no second round. Seats are filling up fast, we are almost at 50%, hope to see you there!
If you want, tell me your audience (new vs. experienced investors) and your tone (more premium vs. more direct), and I’ll rewrite 2–3 more styles too.
Learn more and request your invitation
