Day Trade Cheat Sheet - August 12, 2026 (EOD)

 ## TODAY'S GRADE: B A generally positive day for day traders with strong moves in AI-related and consumer discretionary stocks, though some setups faltered amid mixed earnings and sector rotations. ## HOW INDEXES TRADED **SPY:** +0.3% - trending higher with mild volatility **QQQ:** +0.5% - led by tech and AI-related strength **IWM:** +0.1% - choppy, small-cap lagging slightly behind large caps ## BIGGEST MOVERS ### Winners **$SMCI** +13% - Strong Q4 earnings and bullish AI server guidance fueled a sharp rally **$NEBI** +18% - Revenue beat and AI demand surge drove a significant jump despite wider losses **$CAVA** +15% - Sales growth and positive outlook amid strong consumer demand boosted shares ### Losers **$CBRE** -4% - Shares fell despite solid earnings due to cautious outlook and margin concerns **$SANRIO** -18% - Earnings miss and profit disappointment led to a steep selloff **$CSCO** -3% - Stock dropped despite earnings and revenue beat, reflecting cautious investor sentiment ## WHAT WORKED Patterns or setups that worked today: - Earnings gap-and-go plays: **$SMCI** and **$NEBI** showed strong follow-through after earnings beats, rewarding momentum traders. - AI-related thematic trades: Stocks tied to AI infrastructure and cloud computing, like **SMCI** and **CoreWeave**, surged on strong demand signals. - Consumer discretionary bounce: **$CAVA** and other restaurant stocks rallied on improving sales trends and positive guidance. ## WHAT FAILED Setups that didn't work: - Defensive and traditional tech plays: Despite earnings beats, **$CSCO** failed to hold gains, showing investor caution. - Retail and consumer staples: **$SANRIO** missed estimates and plunged, highlighting risks in consumer discretionary amid mixed earnings. - Some value and real estate names like **$CBRE** struggled on cautious outlooks despite earnings beats, disappointing traders expecting stronger follow-through. ## AFTER-HOURS WATCH Earnings or news to monitor tonight: - **$ISRG** (Intuitive Surgical) - Oppenheimer upgrade with a $500 price target; watch for reaction to bullish analyst sentiment amid recent stock weakness. - **$PODC** (PodcastOne) - Q1 EPS miss and revenue shortfall; potential volatility as investors digest weaker media sector results. - **$JMIA** (Jumia) - Mixed Q2 with EPS beat but revenue miss; new $50M offering may pressure shares. ## TOMORROW PREVIEW **Early Watch:** - **$LOW** and **$EXPE** among consumer discretionary names with whale alerts, signaling potential big moves. - Semiconductor and AI-related stocks like **$LITE** (Lumentum) and **$MU** (Micron) could see volatility ahead of earnings. **Catalyst:** - Key inflation data releases and CPI report will influence Fed rate hike expectations and market direction. - Continued earnings flow from tech and consumer sectors will set tone for next leg. **Bias:** - Neutral to cautiously bullish into tomorrow, supported by strong AI earnings but tempered by mixed consumer results and macro uncertainty. --- Overall, today rewarded traders who capitalized on AI and earnings momentum while caution was warranted in defensive sectors and some consumer names. Watching inflation data and upcoming earnings will be critical for navigating the next sessions.