The Trading Post | 08.19.25

Good morning,

SoftBank bets $2B on Intel’s AI comeback, Home Depot stumbles on weak consumer demand, Palo Alto rides AI-powered security to strong earnings, options traders brace for a tech correction with “disaster” puts, and private equity can’t catch a bid despite 401(k) hopes.

Conservative traders and retirement account holders can now access Tripp Sawyer's weekly covered call alerts for just $7 their first month. 

Let’s jump in.

Pre-Market Performance

As of 08.18.25 market close.

Market News

• SoftBank drops $2B into Intel: Intel spikes 6% premarket as SoftBank grabs a 2% stake, but SoftBank stock slips on investor skepticism. Washington Post

• Home Depot disappoints: Misses on EPS and revenue, traffic down 2.2%, consumer trade-down hits big-ticket sales. Investing.com

• Palo Alto Networks wins on AI: Beats Q4 expectations, issues strong FY26 guidance, stock pops 5% after hours. MarketWatch

• Options market screams “hedge”: Traders pile into QQQ disaster puts, bracing for a 20% tech drawdown. Bloomberg

• Private equity lagging: Despite Trump’s 401(k) order, BX, APO, KKR shares lag—execution doubts weigh on the dream of $12T in retirement inflows. Morningstar

A Message From Wealth Builders HQ

Generate Consistent Income with Conservative Options Strategies 

If you're looking for a way to generate steady cash flow from your portfolio—especially in retirement accounts—without taking excessive risks, Covered Call Explorer might be exactly what you need. 

Led by coach Tripp Sawyer, this weekly alert service is specifically designed for more conservative traders who want to harness the power of covered calls, naked puts, and diagonal spreads. Each week, you'll receive a ranked list of trade opportunities with clear action plans, taking the guesswork out of income generation. 

What makes Covered Call Explorer particularly appealing is its focus on reduced-risk strategies that work well in retirement accounts. Instead of chasing high-risk, high-reward plays, you're getting methodical approaches to building consistent cash flow through time-tested options strategies. 

The service includes weekly trade alerts, detailed action plans with ranked trade ideas, training materials to boost your execution confidence, and live quarterly Q&A sessions where you can get direct guidance from Tripp. 

New members can get their first month for only $7, making it an incredibly low-risk way to test drive professional-grade income strategies. 

Whether you're new to options or looking to add more conservative plays to your arsenal, Covered Call Explorer offers the structure and guidance to help you generate income with greater confidence and reduced stress. 

Ready to start building consistent cash flow? Check out Covered Call Explorer and take advantage of the $7 first-month offer. 

Earnings We’re Watching

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

• Medtronic, Inc. (MDT) - Tuesday (BMO) 

Trade Ideas

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

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Daily Moment of Zen

Why It Matters:

The market doesn’t “reward luck,” it punishes the unready. Every chart pattern, earnings beat, or macro headline only matters if you’ve already done the homework. Otherwise, opportunity just looks like noise, and you’ll miss it—or worse, chase it after the move. Preparation isn’t glamorous, but it’s the difference between catching the breakout and buying the top. In trading, luck isn’t random—it’s just preparation finally cashing in.