The Trading Post | 02.24.26

February 24, 2026

Good morning,

Wall Street is trying to recover from an 800-point Dow flush, Trump is floating fresh 15% tariff threats, AI “doomsday” chatter is shaking out crowded tech trades, the Fed is pumping the brakes on cut optimism, and Constellation just reminded everyone that AI runs on…actual electricity.

Let’s jump in.

Yesterday’s Post-Market Performance

As of 02.23.26 market close.

Market News

  • Dow Tries to Bounce After 800-Point Flush: Futures edge higher as traders digest AI doom headlines, tariff threats, and fresh data risk. Zacks

  • Fed’s Goolsbee Pumps the Brakes: Inflation is “not good enough,” signaling patience on cuts and keeping rate-sensitive tech on a short leash. CNBC

  • AI Rotation Heats Up: Viral disruption fears spark selling in perceived AI laggards while Meta’s massive AMD chip deal splits semi sentiment. WSJ

  • Tariff Overhang Expands: New national-security duties target batteries and telecom gear; global risk appetite stays twitchy. CNBC

  • Constellation Energy Beats on Data-Center Demand: Strong power usage from AI infrastructure spotlights the “picks and shovels” energy trade. Reuters

Earnings We’re Watching

  • Ferguson plc (FERG) - Tuesday (BMO) 

  • Home Depot, Inc. (HD) - Tuesday (BMO) 

  • Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) - Tuesday (BMO) 

  • NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) - Tuesday (BMO) 

  • AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) - Tuesday (AMC) 

  • Camping World Holings, Inc. (CHW) - Tuesday (AMC) 

  • First Solar Inc (FSLR) - Tuesday (AMC) 

  • GoDaddy Inc. (GDDY) - Tuesday (AMC) 

  • HP Inc. (HPQ) - Tuesday (AMC) 

  • Workday, Inc. (WDAY) - Tuesday (AMC) 

Trade Ideas

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), American Express Company (AXP), C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW), Celestica, Inc. (CLS)

Datadog, Inc. (DDOG), Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. (EL), e.l.f. Beauty, Inc (ELF),
Elevance Health Inc (ELV)

Entegris, Inc. (ENTG), Eaton Corporation (ETN), F5 Networks, Inc. (FFIV), Home Depot, Inc. (HD)

Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD), lululemon athletica inc. (LULU), MongoDB, Inc. (MDB),
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)

Natera, Inc. (NTRA), Roblox Corporation Class A (RBLX), Rocket Lab USA Inc (RKLB),
SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC)

Snowflake, Inc. Class A Common (SNOW), Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL), WW International Inc (WTW), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc (AMD)

Want to learn how we trade these? Learn the setup we call the “High Volatility Switchback” trade.

Get these ideas delivered to your inbox daily with Trade With Rob. It’s 100% free. Sign up here.

Daily Moment of Zen

❝

The secret to success is to own nothing, but control everything.

Nelson Rockefeller

Why It Matters:

At first glance, it sounds like a Silicon Valley founder explaining why your house is an app and your car is a subscription.

But in markets? This is pure derivatives energy.

You don’t need to own the stock to control the stock.
You don’t need to own the index to control exposure.
You don’t need to own the asset to control the risk.

Options. Futures. Spreads. Leverage. Defined risk.

That’s the game.

The most sophisticated players on earth don’t hoard assets — they structure control.

  • They control direction with calls and puts.

  • They control income with premium selling.

  • They control volatility with spreads.

  • They control downside with hedges.

Retail investors often think ownership equals power.

Pros know control equals power.

Owning 100 shares of something ties up capital.
Controlling 100 shares with a well-structured options position? That’s capital efficiency.

But here’s the twist…

Control without discipline turns into illusion.

Leverage feels like control — right until it controls you.

So the real “secret”?

Control exposure.
Control risk.
Control position size.
Control emotion.

You don’t need to own everything in the market.

You just need to control what you risk.

And that’s where success quietly compounds.