This week's edition of The ChartWatchers Newsletter has arrived, featuring exclusive market analysis and technical commentary.
ChartWatchers Logo VIEW ONLINE FORWARD TO FRIEND
February 14, 2026

Hello, Fellow ChartWatchers!

This week may have felt a little déjà vu as, once again, the stock market gave investors a short-lived scare.

Thursday’s selloff had many investors wondering if something bigger was brewing, but afterwards, things seemed to stabilize. By Friday’s close, most major indexes managed to hold key support levels.

Breaking Down the Market Action

At one point, the S&P 500 slipped below its 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), but it closed back above it, telling us that buyers are still in control. The S&P 600 Small Cap Index ($SML), S&P 400 Mid Cap Index ($MID), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) are all holding above their 21-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA).

So, where are we seeing weakness? Mostly in the Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ) and Nasdaq 100 ($NDX). Tech stocks, especially the Magnificent Seven, have been under pressure as investors question AI-related spending. While this fear may have spread into other areas of the market, it’s not a broad market collapse. Some sectors are getting clobbered — Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, and Financials — but others, such as Utilities, Real Estate, Materials, Energy, Industrials, and Health Care, are holding up. Overseas stocks are also rallying higher.

The chart below shows the performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weighted Index ($SPXEW) relative to the S&P 500 ($SPX). Note that, for much of the past year, the Equal Weighted S&P 500 lagged because mega-cap tech stocks dominated the market. Since November 2025, though, that relationship has started to reverse.

The chart also suggests that the average stock is beginning to participate more, meaning it’s not just a handful of mega-cap stocks moving the market higher.

How to Spot Strength Quickly

The Sector BPIs tab in the % Bullish Percent Indexes panel on the Market Summary page gives you a powerful bird’s eye view of which sectors are gaining strength. You can see from the screenshot below that Communication Services has been hit the hardest.

Does this mean that, if you are heavily invested in Technology and Communication Services, it’s time to reallocate some of your funds to other sectors? Not necessarily. Think of it more as a reminder that it always helps to be diversified. Even if diversification may not be exciting, this week showed us that it can be powerful. If you've allocated even modest portions of your portfolio to sectors outside of tech, chances are those groups are helping cushion the recent volatility.

This may be a good weekend to reassess your portfolio, analyze all your holdings, and ask yourself a few questions. Some important ones are:

  • Why did you invest in the stock or ETF?
  • Is it still meeting your income and growth objectives?
  • Is the longer-term trend still up?

Your Weekend Checklist

▢ Pull up a chart of all your portfolio holdings.
▢ Overlay the 21-day EMA and 100-day SMA.
▢ Check the relative strength of your holding vs. the S&P 500.

You don’t need to panic sell or buy on a whim. But regularly viewing charts of your portfolio holdings helps you stay informed and disciplined, two traits of an empowered investor.

The market is known to have mood swings, and having the right charts & tools makes it easier to make decisions.

Happy Valentine’s Day, and enjoy the long weekend.

Jayanthi Gopalakrishnan

Director of Content, StockCharts.com
THIS WEEK'S ARTICLES
Market Analysis, Sectors, Indicators
Image

Defensive Sectors Surge as Hindenburg Omen Flashes Warning

by David Keller

A confirmed Hindenburg Omen signal and renewed rotation into defensive sectors are raising caution flags for US equities. While the S&P 500 remains in a neutral range, Dave Keller, CMT, highlights key support levels and breadth signals investors should monitor closely. ...

Read More
Market Analysis, ETFs, Sectors, Indicators, Chart Patterns
Image

Large-Cap Dominoes are Falling; XLF Joins the Fray; Money Moves into Utes and Bonds

by Arthur Hill

The large-cap tech universe is struggling; Arthur Hill analyzes how the weakness is spreading into the broader market and other sectors. Meanwhile, investors are moving money into bonds and utilities. ...

Read More
Members Only, Sectors, ETFs, Indicators, Market Analysis
Image

MEMBERS ONLY

This Sector Looks Ready to Break Out Big Time

by Martin Pring

Martin takes a look at some important signs that suggest the Real Estate sector has reached the end of a corrective period and could be poised for a major breakout. ...

Read More
Market Analysis, Equities, ETFs
Image

AI Fears Introduce a New Wave of Market Volatility - Here’s How To Combat It

by Mary Ellen McGonagle

As the market experiences significant turbulence, Mary Ellen McGonagle talks ways to strategize beyond buy-and-hold. She also takes a look at EWJ in the wake of Japan's general election. ...

Read More
Sectors, Indicators, ETFs
Image

This Sector Is Making Its First Relative Breakout in 8 Years

by Tom Bowley

Industrials are starting to outperform the S&P 500; Tom Bowley analyzes the relative strength of the sector and the industry groups within. ...

Read More
Market Analysis, Indicators, Chart Patterns
Image

Stock Market Bounce or Breakdown? These Charts Hold the Clues

by Jayanthi Gopalakrishnan

The stock market is stalling at critical levels. Discover what the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and mrket breadth signals mean for investors. ...

Read More
Market Analysis, ETFs, Indicators, Tools
Image

Emerging Markets Are Crushing the S&P 500: Is the Rally Just Beginning?

by Mike Zaccardi

Emerging market ETFs like IEMG are outperforming the S&P 500. See what technical analysis and seasonality reveal about what's next. ...

Read More
Tips & Tricks, Trading Strategies, How To
Image

StockCharts Insider: Turning Sector Drill-Down into an Actionable Workflow

by Karl Montevirgen

Before We Dive In… The Sector Drill-Down is a popular and incredibly useful tool for observing relative sector rankings at a glance. But the data itself doesn’t give you a workflow, let alone a strategy. While many traders glance at the rankings and click a few charts, hoping something ...

Read More
MORE ARTICLES →
 
StockCharts TV Logo
Thumbnail

AI Fears Are Driving Rotation as Short Covering Is Fueling the Bounce!

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

Uncover the Strongest Stocks in an Index with These 4 StockCharts Tools

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

This is the REAL Battle Driving This Market!

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

These Breakout Setups Are Forming — Here’s What to Watch

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

S&P 500 Can’t Clear 7000. Who Blinks First?

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

How to Trade Trend Pullbacks with OptionsPlay

WATCH NOW
Thumbnail

PLTR, BTC, and COIN: How to Spot Bottoming Clues (and Avoid Falling Knives)

WATCH NOW
ChartSchool "Tip of the Week"
You can email a SharpChart to a friend using the Share link below the chart.
VISIT CHARTSCHOOL →