The Small Cap Swing Trader Alert Archive
Below you'll find The Small Cap Swing Trader setups stacked up and ordered chronologically.Jet Orders Are Soaring – How Korean Air Is Lifting Boeing (BA)
Boeing Stock Pops as Korean Air Doubles Fleet: Why Jet Orders Are Soaring
Boeing stock pops again as demand for new aircraft continues to accelerate. On Tuesday, shares of Boeing (BA) rose 3.5% to $234.83 after Korean Air announced a massive 103-plane order that effectively doubles its Boeing fleet. The deal is worth an estimated $20 billion at list prices and underscores why jet orders are soaring across the commercial airline industry in 2025.
The Korean Air Deal
The order comprises 20 Boeing 777 passenger jets, 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 50 Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft, and eight 777 freighters. Korean Air CEO Walter Cho called the agreement a “pivotal moment” in the airline’s modernization strategy. Korean Air currently operates 108 Boeing aircraft and approximately 50 Airbus jets, meaning this deal will almost double its Boeing fleet size.
For Boeing, this contract adds to its already massive unfilled order book—more than 6,500 planes globally, with just under 6,000 considered backlog under official accounting standards.
Why Jet Orders Are Soaring in 2025
- Post-pandemic recovery: Passenger traffic has returned to above 2019 levels, prompting carriers to refresh their fleets.
- Fleet modernization: Airlines like Korean Air are retiring older, less efficient planes in favor of next-generation models.
- Cargo demand: Freighter sales remain strong thanks to global e-commerce growth.
- Competition with Airbus: Airlines are balancing Boeing and Airbus orders to ensure their delivery pipelines remain flexible.
GE Aerospace’s Role
All the jets in the Korean Air deal will be powered by GE Aerospace (GE) engines. While Boeing stock gained, GE shares were relatively flat. For GE, the order represents years of service and maintenance revenue in addition to initial engine sales.
The Challenge Ahead: Production Capacity
Boeing’s problem is less about demand and more about supply chain issues. The company is currently capped at producing 38,737 MAX jets per month, the FAA’s allowed limit. Management hopes to increase to 42 per month by year-end. Even at that pace, Boeing faces over a decade of backlog at current build rates.
Investors remain cautiously optimistic, as Boeing stock is up approximately 28% year-to-date, reflecting confidence in improving quality and gradual production growth.
Takeaway for Traders
The Korean Air deal confirms that jet orders are soaring, but the stock reaction was modest compared to the size of the order. That’s because investors know Boeing already has years of production locked in. For active traders, the key is watching production updates, FAA clearances, and delivery rates, rather than focusing on order headlines.
Market Movers: Stocks That Moved Today AT&T (T), EchoStar (SATS), Interactive Brokers (IBKR), Nvidia (NVDA)
Stocks That Moved Today
Nvidia and a slate of software names are on deck with earnings.
Stocks That Moved Today: Quick Ticker Table
| Ticker | Move | Why It Moved | Trader Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T (T) | -0.6% | $23B cash purchase of EchoStar spectrum licenses to bolster 5G/fiber leadership. | Watch post-deal credit chatter and any guidance on capex; fade pops into resistance if spreads widen. |
| EchoStar (SATS) | +~70% | Monetizing spectrum unlocks value. | Gap-and-go risk; track opening range + VWAP for reversal entries after initial euphoria. |
| Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | +0.9% | To replace Walgreens in the S&P 500. | Index-add flows often support into the effective date; look for pullback-buys near VWAP. |
| Talen Energy (TLNE) | +6.5% | Joining S&P MidCap 400. | Mid-cap indexers can create follow-through; use liquidity windows around the close. |
| AMD | +2.0% (to $166.62) | Truist upgrade to Buy (PT to $213); “quantum-centric supercomputing” collaboration with IBM. | Relative strength vs. NVDA: buy-the-dip setups against prior day high if breadth supports. |
| Nvidia (NVDA) | +1.1% | YTD +35%; earnings due Wednesday. | Pre-earnings pin risk; scalp volatility bands, avoid chasing late-day extensions. |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | +~5.9% | Orforglipron pill showed up to 10.5% weight loss in T2D patients (late-stage trial). | News-driven breakout—map supply above recent highs; consider partials into round numbers. |
| Boeing (BA) | +3.5% | Korean Air order: 103 planes (~$20B list). | Orders can re-rate sentiment; look for higher-low intraday patterns vs. 5–15m VWAP. |
| Vertiv (VRT) | +2.3% | Buying Waylay (AI software) to optimize data-center power/cooling. | AI adjacency bid remains strong; trend trades work on clean pullbacks. |
| Palantir (PLTR) | +2.4% | Bounce after prior session’s dip; CEO Alex Karp sold >400k shares last week (SEC filing). | Headline whipsaws common—trade around prior day’s range extremes. |
| Canada Goose (GOOS) | +3.2% | Baird upgrade to Outperform. | Retail upgrades often fade—watch for lower-high failure near premarket highs. |
| VF Corp. (VFC) | +6.2% | Baird upgrade to Outperform. | Mind liquidity around midday; scale out into prior supply zones. |
| Trump Media (DJT) | +5.2% | Truth Social/Truth+ to integrate Crypto.com for CRO rewards conversion. | High beta; use tight risk on momentum breaks and avoid overnight gap risk. |
| Heico (HEI) | +8.8% | EPS $1.26 vs. $1.13 est.; rev $1.15B vs. $1.12B. | Earnings trend day possible—buy pullbacks into intraday moving VWAP with stops tight. |
| Semtech (SMTC) | +15% | Q2 adj. EPS $0.41 beat; rev +20% y/y; Q3 EPS guide in line. | Post-earnings momentum—watch first pullback to ORB/5m VWAP for continuation. |
Key Narratives Driving the Tape
Spectrum & Connectivity: AT&T / EchoStar
AT&T’s $23B spectrum buy signals a long-horizon push to secure premium bandwidth across core markets.
EchoStar’s spike reflects pure asset monetization—classic re-rating when dormant spectrum is converted into cash.
Data Center & AI: AMD, Nvidia, Vertiv, Semtech
AMD rode a Buy upgrade and an IBM collaboration that spotlights its longer-run compute roadmap.
Nvidia continued grinding higher into earnings, as the market handicaps another AI-fueled beat.
Vertiv added an AI software layer (Waylay) to its power/cooling stack, and Semtech delivered an upbeat print with y/y growth.
Healthcare Momentum: Eli Lilly
Late-stage data for orforglipron (oral GLP-1) showed up to 10.5% weight loss in Type 2 diabetes—another proof point in obesity care’s secular growth story.
For traders, strength begets strength, but manage gaps and chase risk around catalysts.
Aerospace Rebuild: Boeing & Heico
A mega-order from Korean Air buoyed Boeing, while Heico outperformed on beats across the board.
Both benefit from durable aftermarket and fleet refresh cycles.
Consumer/Brand Re-Ratings: Canada Goose & VF
Dual upgrades from Baird supported risk-on in apparel—use measured risk as these can retrace after the initial pop.
Social + Crypto Crossover: Trump Media
DJT tied platform activity to Cronos (CRO) via Crypto.com’s wallet infrastructure—a user-engagement and tokenization play that tends to produce elevated intraday volatility.
What’s Next
Earnings due after the bell include MongoDB, Okta, Box, nCino, and PVH.
Nvidia’s report Wednesday can reset sentiment across the AI complex. For day traders, that means staying nimble and respecting volatility bands into and out of prints.
Trader’s Playbook
- Gap discipline: On outsized gaps (SATS, SMTC), map the opening range and 5–15m VWAP; fade failures, ride confirmations.
- Index-add flows: IBKR/TLNE can show mechanical demand near rebalance—watch the close.
- Catalyst ladders: LLY/BA news legs often come in waves; scale partials into round numbers and prior supply.
- AI breadth checks: Use NVDA as a risk barometer for AMD/VRT/SMTC follow-through.
Editorial note: This article summarizes widely reported market developments from Aug 26, 2025 for educational purposes.
It is not investment advice. Trading involves risk, including the risk of loss.
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August 25, 2025 Stocks On The Move
Stocks moving today: Intel, Keurig Dr Pepper, Wayfair, Strategy, Nvidia, Vital Energy
Intel (INTC) – Government Stake Adds Volatility
Intel dropped 1% to $24.55 after confirming a $8.9B investment from the U.S. government for a 9.9% stake. While passive, the deal makes the government Intel’s largest shareholder. Friday’s rally has cooled.
Day-trading implication: Watch $24.50 as support and $25–26 as resistance. For stocks moving today, Intel offers mean reversion trades around those levels.
Wayfair (W) and Furniture Retailers – Tariff Fears
Wayfair sank 5.9% alongside RH (-5.3%) and Williams-Sonoma (-2.7%) after tariff probes on imported furniture. Ethan Allen (+0.3%) and La-Z-Boy (+0.1%) edged higher thanks to domestic production.
Day-trading implication: Import-heavy retailers are short setups; U.S.-based producers are potential long scalps. Tariff news keeps furniture in the basket of stocks moving today.
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) & Coinbase – Bitcoin Correlation
Strategy fell 4.2% and Coinbase 4.3% as Bitcoin slid, despite Strategy announcing the purchase of 3,081 Bitcoins at ~$116K each.
Day-trading implication: For crypto-linked stocks moving today, Bitcoin levels remain the key guide. Fade bounces if BTC weakens further.
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) – Acquisition Pressure
KDP dropped 11.5% after unveiling an $18B purchase of JDE Peet’s. Investors balked at the deal size and potential integration risk.
Day-trading implication: KDP sits high on the list of stocks moving today. Short failed rallies with elevated volume; deal risk acts as a ceiling near term.
Verint Systems (VRNT) – Buyout Premium
Verint slipped 1.3% despite Thoma Bravo agreeing to acquire the company for $20.50 a share. With the stock near deal price, upside is capped.
Day-trading implication: Not a top choice among stocks moving today, unless new regulatory or competitive dynamics surface.
Vital Energy (VTLE) & Crescent Energy (CRGY) – M&A Divergence
Vital Energy surged 14.5% on a merger deal with Crescent Energy, which fell 4%. Vital benefits from the premium; Crescent absorbs dilution risk.
Day-trading implication: Momentum trades favor Vital on the long side; Crescent is a short candidate among stocks moving today.
Nvidia (NVDA) – Earnings in Focus
Nvidia rose 1% ahead of quarterly earnings. Shares remain up 35% this year but have seen two weeks of losses. Nvidia continues as the AI bellwether.
Day-trading implication: With Nvidia topping the list of stocks moving today, expect wide ranges and elevated IV. Use defined levels; beware holding risk through earnings.
Other Notables
- American Eagle (AEO): Fell 2.7% on a downgrade to Underperform at BofA.
- PDD Holdings (PDD): Slipped 0.9% despite strong earnings.
- Heico & Semtech: Earnings reports after the bell.
Bottom line
Today’s market highlights how policy, M&A, sector flows, and upcoming catalysts create the list of stocks moving today. For traders, opportunities lie in sympathy plays, volume-driven setups, and disciplined risk management heading into Nvidia’s earnings.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp Stock Sale
Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale: price impact and a day-trading playbook
What happened
The filing shows Alex Karp sold 409,072 PLTR shares across Wednesday–Thursday in a range of $142.46 to $157.56. The sales were executed automatically to cover tax-withholding obligations following restricted-stock vesting, and Karp still holds roughly 6.43 million shares (valued above $1 billion at Monday’s prices). After a year of outsized gains—PLTR has more than doubled YTD—the stock fell about 1% to $157.17 on Monday and recently logged its longest losing streak since April 2024.
Sector context matters: AI leaders have cooled as investors debate the durability of AI revenues, and the market is laser-focused on Nvidia’s upcoming report as a bellwether for AI demand.
How a Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale can affect price
Potential near-term pressure
- Headline psychology: CEO selling (even when pre-programmed and tax-driven) can be read as a signal to take profits.
- Momentum sensitivity: After big YTD gains and a six-day slide, weak hands may trim risk into resistance.
- Beta & flows: If software/AI ETFs bleed, PLTR can see amplified moves via basket selling.
Why the hit may fade
- Non-discretionary: The filing cites automatic sales for tax withholding—less indicative of management outlook.
- Still large ownership: Karp’s stake remains significant, aligning long-term incentives.
- Upcoming catalyst: Strong AI commentary elsewhere (e.g., Nvidia) can overpower insider headlines.
Key levels & scenarios to watch
Use the Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale price band as a technical frame of reference. Traders often anchor to disclosed sale ranges when gauging supply and demand.
| Scenario | What to watch | Trading thoughts (educational) |
|---|---|---|
| Sell-the-news drift | Rejections near 157–158 (Monday high & top of sale band); weak tape in AI peers | Consider fade setups against defined resistance; look for lower highs below VWAP with rising sell volume |
| Range break lower | Loss of 150/147.5 round-number supports on volume | Momentum continuation entries only on clean breakdowns; avoid chasing if liquidity thins |
| Capitulation & reclaim | Flush toward 145–142.5 (lower sale band) followed by VWAP reclaim | Watch for reversal patterns (failed breakdowns, higher low + VWAP hold) for bounce trades |
| Catalyst reversal | Positive AI macro (e.g., upbeat NVDA guide) + PLTR push through 158+ | Shift bias to buy-the-dip; use opening-range breakout rules with tight risk parameters |
A day-trading playbook for PLTR
- Opening plan: Map the prior day high/low, Monday close at 157.17, and the Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale band (142.46–157.56). Build ORB (1- to 5-minute) rules around those anchors.
- VWAP discipline: In headline tapes, treat VWAP as your bias toggle. Below and refusing—favor fades; reclaim and hold—favor dips to VWAP with higher lows.
- Volume tells: Require confirmation—expanding volume on breaks, drying up on pullbacks. Insider headlines without volume expansion often mean mean-reversion.
- Relative strength/weakness: Pair PLTR against an AI basket. If PLTR underperforms on green NVDA, the insider overhang may still be in control; if it outperforms on red NVDA, buyers are absorbing supply.
- Risk first: Pre-define max loss per idea; avoid holding through binary events you don’t intend to trade; scale only on confirmation.
What could change the narrative
Beyond the Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale, watch for follow-on SEC filings, buyback updates, large customer wins, or guidance commentary from AI leaders. Any of these can crowd out insider-sale sentiment and re-ignite momentum—or compound weakness if they disappoint.
Bottom line
The Palantir CEO Alex Karp stock sale introduces a short-term sentiment headwind after a powerful YTD run. In the very near term, price is likely to key off the disclosed sale band and broader AI headlines. For day traders, that’s fertile ground: clear levels, a live narrative, and imminent catalysts—just make sure your risk management is as disciplined as your entries.
NIO stock soars on ES8 launch
NIO Stock Soars on ES8 Launch (Aug 2025)
A cheaper ES8 with Battery‑as‑a‑Service, the new L90, and improving deliveries have investors re‑rating NIO. Here’s what changed—and how to trade it.
What’s New
ES8 goes live with aggressive BaaS pricing
NIO’s refreshed ES8 opened for pre‑orders with a headline price that falls substantially when buyers opt into Battery‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS). Six‑ and seven‑seat Executive editions are available now, with an official launch in late September and deliveries beginning immediately thereafter.
L90 targets mass‑market scale
The L90 SUV expands NIO’s addressable market and is positioned to ramp into year‑end. Street expectations call for five‑figure monthly volumes if supply chains hold and pricing remains competitive.
Why It Matters
- Price optics: BaaS lowers upfront cost and highlights NIO’s ecosystem edge with battery swapping.
- Mix shift: ES8 + L90 broaden the portfolio beyond earlier niches, supporting scale efficiencies.
- Sentiment reset: Recent analyst upgrades and a broad market rebound amplify stock‑specific catalysts.
Delivery Momentum
NIO delivered 72,056 vehicles in Q2 2025, up mid‑20s percent year over year, with June pacing near 25k units. That trajectory, combined with the ES8/L90 cadence, supports the case for stronger H2 volumes.
Rivals & the China Price War
Chinese EV makers remain locked in an aggressive pricing cycle as domestic demand wobbles and export policies evolve. Against that backdrop, NIO’s swap infrastructure and BaaS model aim to protect margins and stickiness. Tesla’s China unit remains a benchmark on volumes and brand, but softer second‑quarter retail sales underscore how sentiment can swing with policy headlines and local preferences.
Trading Playbook
1) Event‑Driven Setups
- Pre‑order/launch windows: Watch for Opening Gap and Volatility Band setups around ES8 and L90 milestones; let the initial impulse print, then stalk the first pullback to anchored VWAP.
- Delivery updates (monthly/quarterly): Favor confirmation entries when order flow aligns with volume beats or margin commentary.
2) Relative Value
- Map NIO vs. TSLA, BYD, LI, XPEV on intraday strength/weakness; use pairs overlays to frame risk.
- Respect currency and tariff headlines; adjust size around macro windows.
3) Risk Management
- Fade euphoric spikes into multi‑day resistance; avoid chasing first prints.
- Use prior‑day value areas and liquidity pockets for stop placement.
Disclaimer: Educational content only; not investment advice. Trading involves risk.