Focus: US
Market Close: Fri, 19 December 2025
Weekly Insights
Quantmatix US Sector Research Note
Momentum Acceleration in Financials Amid Positive Reversal Clusters
Prepared by: Liam Boggan, Quantmatix CEO and Head of Research
Market Verdict: Financial sectors lead a broader acceleration trend, with ratios signaling inflections as positive reversals cluster in early December.
Positive Reversals Spotlight:
- Banks (Dec 5, Positive Reversal): 96% acceleration vs. 66% positive regime, ratio of 1.45, with 4 positive reversals and 1 negative. Trigger: Broader market gains support financials, as all S&P sectors post positive returns year-to-date.
- Materials (Dec 5, Positive Reversal): 89% acceleration vs. 65% positive regime, ratio of 1.37, dominating with 19 positive reversals to 2 negatives. Catalyst: Sector up 16% over the past year despite recent flat performance.
- Insurance (Dec 5, Positive Reversal): 85% acceleration vs. 55% positive regime, ratio of 1.55, backed by 10 positive reversals against 1 negative. Driver: Insurance composite rises 2% in the last week, outperforming major indexes.
Negative Reversals Spotlight:
- Energy (Nov 28, Mixed Reversals): 38% acceleration below 67% regime, with 16 negative reversals overwhelming 3 positives. Context: Oil prices sink to lowest since 2021 amid supply surplus.
- Pharma Biotech & Life (Dec 19, Mixed Reversals): 41% acceleration well below 74% regime, near-parity at 11 positive and 12 negative reversals. Context: Major firms agree to slash drug prices in deals with the administration.
- Utilities (Nov 21, Negative Reversal): 15% acceleration far below 54% regime, with 4 negative reversals against 2 positives. Context: Regulators lower returns on equity, adding pressure to the sector.
- Tech Hardware & Equip: 29% acceleration below 40% regime, limited to 2 positive reversals with no negatives but fading momentum.
- Telecomm Services: 40% acceleration edging below 45% regime, 1 negative reversal with zero positives.
Caution Flags: Cluster of negative reversals in energy and pharma highlights early deterioration; lock in gains swiftly.
Portfolio Positioning:
Strongly Prefer / Increase:
- Banks
- Materials
- Insurance
Avoid / Rotate:
- Energy
- Pharma Biotech & Life
- Utilities, Tech Hardware & Equip
- Telecomm Services
Hold Steady:
- Transportation
- Consumer Services
- Food & Staples Retailing
- Diversified Financials
Reduce / Hedge:
- Capital Goods
- Semis & Semi Equip
- REITs
Mid-Tier Sector Insights
- Consumer Durables & App: 57% positive regime supported by 76% acceleration, 5 positive reversals edging out 2 negatives – Overweight
- Automobiles & Components: 46% positive regime with 59% acceleration, 3 positive reversals unchallenged – Neutral
- Food, Bev & Tobacco: 41% positive regime lifted by 73% acceleration, 4 positive reversals to 1 negative – Overweight
- Media & Entertainment: 38% positive regime with 57% acceleration, 10 positive reversals against 3 negatives – Neutral
- Software & Services: 35% positive regime, 55% acceleration, balanced 6 positive and 4 negative reversals – Neutral
- Health Care Equip & Serv: 33% positive regime boosted by 54% acceleration but mixed 4 positive vs. 5 negative reversals – Avoid
- Retailing: 33% positive regime, 56% acceleration, near-even 5 positive and 4 negative reversals – Neutral
- Real Estate Mgt. & Serv: 33% positive regime with strong 75% acceleration, 1 positive reversal – Overweight
- Household & Personal Prod: 31% positive regime, 62% acceleration, single positive reversal – Neutral
- Commercial & Prof Services: 29% positive regime but high 85% acceleration, 3 positive reversals to 1 negative – Overweight
Broader aggregates:
Equities show solid 60% acceleration over 51% regime, with 128 positive reversals indicating market-wide fuel; commodities mix 48% acceleration and 62% regime but flag caution via 128 negative reversals; fixed income trails at 37% acceleration under 47% regime.
Swing Trading Ideas (1–4 Weeks) - TEVO Methodology
- EBAY INC (EBAY:XNGS) | MT-Qscore -7.1 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 90.68 | 7.1% | Hit Rate: 79%
- KINSALE CAPITAL (KNSL:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -5.0 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 423.27 | 6.0% | Hit Rate: 83%
- CHEMED CORP (CHE:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -6.7 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 459.95 | 5.7% | Hit Rate: 72%
- ARTHUR J GALLAGH (AJG:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -8.6 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 265.41 | 4.7% | Hit Rate: 80%
- LIBERTY MEDIA CO (FWONK:XNGS) | MT-Qscore -4.1 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 101.4 | 4.3% | Hit Rate: 71%
- PRIMERICA INC (PRI:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -4.7 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 269.81 | 4.2% | Hit Rate: 71%
- APPLIED MATERIAL (AMAT:XNGS) | MT-Qscore 7.7 | Medium-Term Reversal negative signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 229.29 | -10.6% | Hit Rate: 55%
- ROYAL CARIBBEAN (RCL:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -6.9 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 309.58 | 5.5% | Hit Rate: 77%
- IBM (IBM:XNYS) | MT-Qscore 7.7 | Medium-Term Reversal negative signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 285.77 | -5.1% | Hit Rate: 61%
- BAXTER INTL INC (BAX:XNYS) | MT-Qscore -8.1 | Medium-Term Reversal positive signals At today’s Market Close. | Target1: 20.48 | 8.0% | Hit Rate: 61%
Market Movements
Major indices showed mixed performance across the week, with the S&P 500 up 0.9% on Friday but only 0.1% week-to-date. The Dow Jones gained 0.4% daily yet declined 0.7% week-to-date, while the Russell 2000 rose 0.9% Friday amid a 0.9% weekly loss. Volatility eased as the VIX fell 11.6% on the day and 5.3% week-to-date.
Top Gainers (1-Day)
| BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN:XNAS) | +17.7% |
| RIVIAN AUTOMOT-A (RIVN:XNGS) | +10.7% |
| LUMENTUM HOL (LITE:XNGS) | +10.2% |
Top Losers (1-Day)
| LAMB WESTON (LW:XNYS) | -25.9% |
| NIKE INC -CL B (NKE:XNYS) | -10.5% |
| HOWARD HUGHES HO (HHH:XNYS) | -6.4% |
Top Gainers (WTD)
| RIVIAN AUTOMOT-A (RIVN:XNGS) | +21.9% |
| MODERNA INC (MRNA:XNGS) | +14.7% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN:XNAS) | +14.7% |
Top Losers (WTD)
| LAMB WESTON (LW:XNYS) | -26.4% |
| INSPIRE MEDICAL (INSP:XNYS) | -26.1% |
| AMC ENTERTAINMEN (AMC:XNYS) | -17.5% |
Top Sector Gainers (1-Day)*
| Information Technology | +1.4% |
| Health Care | +1.0% |
| Industrials | +0.5% |
* equal-weighted
Top Sector Losers (1-Day)
| Utilities | -1.2% |
| Consumer Staples | -0.9% |
| Real Estate | -0.5% |
Information Technology and Health Care led advances, while Utilities and Consumer Staples underperformed amid broader rotation.
Mag 7
- APPLE INC (AAPL:XNGS) rose 0.5% over the last trading day and -1.7% week-to-date.
- AMAZON.COM INC (AMZN:XNGS) rose 0.3% over the last trading day and 0.5% week-to-date.
- ALPHABET INC-C (GOOG:XNGS) rose 1.6% over the last trading day and -0.6% week-to-date.
- META PLATFORMS-A (META:XNGS) fell 0.9% over the last trading day and rose 2.3% week-to-date.
- MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT:XNGS) rose 0.4% over the last trading day and 1.5% week-to-date.
- NVIDIA CORP (NVDA:XNGS) rose 3.9% over the last trading day and 3.4% week-to-date.
- TESLA INC (TSLA:XNGS) fell 0.5% over the last trading day and rose 4.9% week-to-date.
The Magnificent 7 displayed generally strengthening momentum week-to-date, with Tesla and NVIDIA leading advances.
Quantmatix Success Stories
- GENERAC HOLDINGS (GNRC:XNYS) | 12.3% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Mon, 15 December 2025.
- ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB:XNYS) | 9.9% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- CRANE NXT CO (CXT:XNYS) | 8.9% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- TRIPADVISOR INC (TRIP:XNGS) | 8.6% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- WILLSCOT MOBILE (WSC:XNCM) | 7.6% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- ULTRAGENYX PHARM (RARE:XNGS) | 7.5% profit following a Medium-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- CHARGEPOINT HOLD (CHPT:XNYS) | 7.5% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Mon, 15 December 2025.
- KBR INC (KBR:XNYS) | 7.3% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- SAIA INC (SAIA:XNGS) | 7.2% profit following a Short-Term Top Quantmatix on Fri, 12 December 2025.
- UBER TECHNOLOGIE (UBER:XNYS) | 6.8% profit following a Short-Term Reversal on Fri, 12 December 2025.
Disclaimer: These insights are generated using AI and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The content may be incomplete or contain errors and should not be relied upon for investment decisions. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making financial choices.