Day Trade Cheat Sheet - July 30, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: B A generally positive day for traders with solid earnings beats lifting key tech names, though some high-profile misses and cautious guidance capped upside. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** +0.7% - trending higher on strong earnings and easing inflation concerns **QQQ:** +1.2% - led by tech rebound, showing strength after recent sell-off **IWM:** +0.3% - modest gains, more choppy as small caps remain cautious ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$MSFT** +8% - strong Q2 earnings driven by 37% Azure cloud growth and upbeat guidance **$AMZN** +8% - cloud business surge and earnings beat sparked buying interest **$TRN** +39% - Q1 earnings beat and positive outlook fueled a sharp rally ### Losers **$META** -10% - disappointing Q2 results and cautious AI spending outlook weighed heavily **$SCKT** - data not available but Q2 EPS down YoY and sales decline likely pressured shares **$COIN** -5% - crypto exchange posted third straight quarterly loss and revenue drop ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - Earnings gap-and-go plays in mega-cap tech like **$MSFT** and **$AMZN** rewarded quick entries - Momentum trades on strong Q2 beats, exemplified by **$TRN**’s breakout after earnings - Defensive names with steady earnings showed resilience amid geopolitical tensions ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - AI hype faded in some names like **$META**, where earnings miss and cautious guidance triggered sharp sell-offs - Small-cap tech and crypto-related names struggled as traders rotated out of speculative areas - Some earnings beat stocks failed to hold gains due to cautious forward commentary ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$AAPL** - Q3 earnings report expected; watch for iPhone sales updates and tariff refund impact - **$RIVN** - Q2 earnings and margin outlook will be key after recent volatility - **$SBUX** - analyst upgrades and raised price targets set the stage for reaction to recent turnaround progress ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** **$AAPL**, **$RIVN**, **$SBUX** setting up for potential volatility post-earnings **Catalyst:** Key earnings from Apple and Rivian, plus economic data on employment costs and consumer sentiment **Bias:** Neutral to cautiously bullish, with tech earnings likely driving early sentiment but geopolitical risks lingering