Spec Swing AM: Rotating Into Fresh Earnings Leaders

News Trading — AM Session Plan

Market Pulse

Futures are mixed and breadth is adequate but not euphoric. I’m leaning into names showing fresh post-earnings momentum while trimming some extended winners. Tone: decisive, speculative, and risk-managed.

Portfolio Moves

• Trimming: SMH (semis ETF), UPS — taking some gains, recycling capital.
• Adding on strength: SPOT, GPN, APO — each showing constructive reaction to recent results.
• Core holds: NVDA, AMD — leadership intact; keeping a meaningful core.
• Hedges (small): UVXY, DRIP — tail-risk and energy-weakness cover.

Trade Rationales

• SPOT: Positive earnings reaction with improving operating trends; price holding above post-print levels. Sources: Spotify newsroom, Investor relations.
• GPN: Payment volume tone constructive; market rewarding guidance stability. Sources: Global Payments IR, News.
• APO: Alternatives manager with resilient fee momentum; price leadership vs. peers post print. Sources: Apollo IR, News releases.
• SMH/UPS: Extended versus recent bases; trimming reduces portfolio concentration and funds rotation.

Risk & Stops

• Stops raised to prior day lows or post-earnings day lows, whichever is tighter.
• Position adds staged in tiers; initial risk per add ≤ 0.5R with quick break-even if momentum confirms.
• Hedges sized to be small and temporary; removed if breadth/vol holds firm.

What’s Next

• Watch for follow-through in $SPOT, $GPN, $APO through early pivots; failure to hold those levels triggers de-risking.
• Monitor semis: keeping $NVDA/$AMD core as long as group trend holds; trims in $SMH are tactical, not bearish.

Attribution: This plan is informed by company earnings materials and reactions in early trading. See company IR pages linked above for source documents.