8 min read

EverHint Signal — Momentum Swing: Aggressive Momentum (15 stocks) — January 05, 2026

Aggressive Momentum scanner catches 16 high-octane breakouts led by ACMR and Alcoa. ARWR surges on obesity drug data doubling Zepbound's weight loss, ZETA rallies 11% on OpenAI deal, and FTAI pivots to AI data center power. VIX at 14.75 signals cautious optimism

What This Signal Is (Quick)

Aggressive Momentum is a swing trading strategy built for traders who want maximum firepower: high momentum + high volume + high volatility. This is the triple threat setup.

Signal Type: Breakout (momentum continuation)

Key Criteria:

  • Volume: 2.0x+ average daily volume (institutional buying pressure)
  • Volatility: 50%+ annualized (room for explosive moves)
  • Strong momentum: Stocks near or at 52-week highs with accelerating price action
  • Holding period: 1-4 weeks (swing trading timeframe)
  • Risk level: High

What Makes This Signal:
These are stocks breaking out or consolidating near resistance with heavy volume confirming institutional interest. They're showing strong relative strength versus the market, elevated volatility creating opportunity, and technical setups primed for continuation.

Ideal For: Aggressive traders seeking maximum momentum with high risk/reward ratios. Not for conservative accounts.

This is an experimental scanner. These signals are for educational purposes and backtesting—not trade recommendations. Always do your own due diligence.


How We Ranked Today (Reader Version)

We ranked signals by composite score (0-100 scale), which combines momentum strength, volume thrust, and relative performance. Higher scores indicate better quality setups with stronger technical confirmation.

We've also overlaid:

  • Vol Thrust: Volume ratio versus 20-day average (2.0x+ = strong buying)
  • % of 52W High: How close the stock is to its 52-week high (100 = at highs)
  • Insider Net (USD): Net insider buying or selling over 90 days (purchases minus sales only—awards/exercises excluded)
  • Days → Earnings: Time until next earnings report (event risk management)

These signals help you spot high-momentum setups and understand the context—not tell you what to buy or sell.


🔥 Breakout Signals

We scanned 16 breakout signals today. Here's the full list ranked by composite score (highest to lowest):

Rank Ticker Company Sector Last ($) Vol Thrust % of 52W High Score Days → Earnings
1 ACMR ACM Research, Inc. Technology 46.90 2.15x 100.0% 96 50
2 AA Alcoa Corporation Basic Materials 63.56 2.10x 100.0% 95 22
3 MRNA Moderna, Inc. Healthcare 35.66 2.02x 100.0% 81 38
4 WDC Western Digital Corporation Technology 219.38 2.29x 100.0% 79 29
5 FTAI FTAI Aviation Ltd. Industrials 239.51 2.24x 100.0% 68 50
6 HSAI Hesai Group Consumer Cyclical 26.79 3.56x 89.9% 57 62
7 ZETA Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Technology 23.80 3.05x 100.0% 54 49
8 DOCN DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. Technology 54.01 2.08x 100.0% 45 49
9 BTU Peabody Energy Corporation Energy 32.27 2.49x 92.5% 44 30
10 CAMT Camtek Ltd. Technology 133.31 2.06x 100.0% 38 36
11 SBSW Sibanye Stillwater Limited Basic Materials 16.19 2.04x 100.0% 26 45
12 GH Guardant Health, Inc. Healthcare 112.33 2.60x 100.0% 22 44
13 ALB Albemarle Corporation Basic Materials 158.15 2.27x 100.0% 16 36
14 ON ON Semiconductor Corporation Technology 61.76 2.20x 98.9% 9 34
15 ARWR Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Healthcare 70.81 3.70x 100.0% 5 34

Field Notes:

Top Quality Setups (Score 70+):

  • ACMR (ACM Research) leads at score 96 with 2.15x volume thrust and at 52-week highs. Semiconductor equipment play gaining momentum. Earnings in 50 days (low event risk). Insider selling noted ($797K by officer).
  • AA (Alcoa) at score 95, trading at $63.56 with 2.10x volume. Aluminum producer surging on improved demand outlook. Earnings Jan 28 (22 days)—manage pre-earnings volatility.
  • MRNA (Moderna) at score 81, $35.66 with 2.02x volume. Biotech name at 52-week highs despite recent struggles. Insider selling by CEO ($7.5M exercise/sale combo).
  • WDC (Western Digital) at score 79, $219.38 with massive 2.29x volume thrust. HDD/SSD leader riding AI infrastructure demand. Earnings Feb 4 (29 days).

Extreme Volume Names (Vol Thrust > 3.0x):

  • ARWR (Arrowhead Pharma) leads with 3.70x volume at $70.81. Obesity drug data showed ARO-INHBE doubled weight loss when combined with Lilly's Zepbound. Also announced $500M convertible notes offering. Heavy insider selling noted ($1.4M+ in recent sales).
  • HSAI (Hesai Group) at 3.56x volume, $26.79. Chinese LiDAR maker with 89.9% of 52-week high—just shy of breakout confirmation.
  • ZETA (Zeta Global) at 3.05x volume, $23.80. OpenAI partnership announced—stock up 11% on AI-powered marketing momentum. Short squeeze potential flagged by analysts.

At 52-Week Highs (13 of 16 stocks):
Most signals are at or extremely close to 52-week highs, indicating strong breakout confirmation. Only HSAI (89.9%) and ON (98.9%) are slightly below.

Recent Headlines (Breakout Signals):

ARWR (Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals):

  • Announced interim obesity drug data: ARO-INHBE + tirzepatide (Zepbound) nearly doubled 4-month weight loss versus tirzepatide alone
  • Also announced $500M convertible notes offering and $200M common stock offering
  • Health Canada approved REDEMPLO (plozasiran) for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS)
  • Heavy insider selling: CEO sold $1.1M+, director Ferrari sold $493K, multiple officers selling

ZETA (Zeta Global):

  • OpenAI partnership announced—powering Athena AI agent with OpenAI models
  • Stock surged 11% on news, short squeeze momentum building (high short interest)
  • Analyst coverage bullish: "My 2026 Top Small-Cap Software Pick" with $44.5 price target (115%+ upside from entry)
  • Named one of "7 Magnificent Stocks That Can Double Your Money in 2026"

ALB (Albemarle):

  • Jefferies boosted target price citing robotics and AI-driven lithium demand for energy storage
  • Lithium prices firming after 2025 weakness
  • Stock soared on improved sector outlook despite EV headwinds

AA (Alcoa):

  • Aluminum rally driven by strong industrial demand and supply constraints
  • Trading at 3-year highs with low implied volatility (historically bullish combination per Schaeffers Research)
  • Earnings approaching Jan 28—expect volatility pickup

FTAI (FTAI Aviation):

  • Launched FTAI Power—new business unit converting CFM56 jet engines into power turbines for AI data centers
  • Targeting 100 units annually to meet surging data center energy demand
  • Stock surged on AI pivot announcement, hit new 52-week high

WDC (Western Digital):

  • HDD/SSD demand accelerating with AI infrastructure buildout
  • Memory storage critical for AI training and inference workloads

ACMR (ACM Research):

  • Bullish analyst coverage: "Wall Street Bulls Look Optimistic About ACM Research"
  • Named in "3 Top Tech Stocks to Buy if You Want to Outperform Next Year"
  • Semiconductor equipment demand strong despite cyclical headwinds

MRNA (Moderna):

  • Biotech trading at 52-week highs despite revenue challenges
  • CEO exercised options and sold $7.5M in stock (routine executive activity)

GH (Guardant Health):

  • Cancer diagnostics company with high volatility (2.60x volume thrust)
  • Multiple insider sales noted (officers and directors selling)

ON (ON Semiconductor):

  • Semis sector mixed: "Semiconductors Winners And Losers At The Start Of 2026" article highlights sector rotation
  • Near 52-week highs (98.9%) with 2.20x volume

Field Notes

Key Metrics Explained:

  • Vol Thrust: Volume ratio versus 20-day average. 2.0x = 100% above normal. Higher = stronger institutional buying.
  • % of 52W High: How close stock is to 52-week high. 100% = at highs (breakout confirmation). 90%+ = near resistance.
  • Score: Composite quality score (0-100) combining momentum, volume, and relative strength. Higher = better setup.
  • Insider Net (USD): Net insider purchases minus sales over 90 days. Negative = selling, positive = buying. Excludes awards/exercises.
  • Days → Earnings: Time until next earnings. <7 days = high risk, 7-30 days = moderate risk, >30 days = lower event risk.

Sector Rotation Observations:

  • Technology dominates with 6 signals (ACMR, WDC, ZETA, DOCN, CAMT, ON)—semiconductor equipment, cloud infrastructure, AI marketing, and memory storage all rallying
  • Basic Materials showing strength with 3 signals (AA, SBSW, ALB)—aluminum and lithium plays gaining traction
  • Healthcare biotech mixed (3 signals: MRNA, GH, ARWR)—obesity/cancer therapeutics with high volatility
  • Industrials (FTAI) pivoting to AI data center power
  • Energy (BTU) showing weakness (92.5% of highs, lowest score in top 10)

Volume Thrust Analysis:
Average volume thrust across all signals: 2.47x—extremely elevated institutional buying pressure. The 2.0x+ threshold is met by all 16 signals, confirming aggressive momentum criteria. Standouts:

  • ARWR: 3.70x (obesity drug catalyst)
  • HSAI: 3.56x (LiDAR momentum)
  • ZETA: 3.05x (OpenAI partnership)

Insider Activity Warning:
Heavy insider selling across multiple names (ARWR, ACMR, GH, ON, WDC, ALB, MRNA). This doesn't invalidate the technical setup, but suggests insiders are taking profits at elevated prices. Consider tighter stops and smaller position sizes.


Vlad's Take (EverHint)

Market Backdrop (Jan 6, 2026):
Markets extended gains Tuesday with the S&P 500 up 0.53% to 6,944.83 (new all-time high), Nasdaq up 0.43% to 23,547.17, and Dow up 0.97% to 49,462.09. The VIX closed at 14.75 (down 1.67%), indicating low-to-normal volatility but still above complacency levels. Small-caps outperformed with Russell 2000 up 1.49% to 2,582.90—a bullish breadth signal suggesting broad market participation. Treasury yields ticked higher (10Y at 4.179%, up 0.14%), applying slight pressure to growth stocks. Crude oil fell 2.3% to $57.00, pressuring energy names like BTU. Bitcoin dipped 0.39% to $93,497, while Ethereum gained 1.84% to $3,284. Overall: risk-on environment with broad market strength, but rising yields and energy weakness bear watching.

Strategy Commentary:
With 16 aggressive momentum signals—all meeting 2.0x+ volume thrust and 50%+ annualized volatility—the market is serving up high-octane setups for swing traders. But quality varies dramatically. The top 5 scores (ACMR, AA, MRNA, WDC, FTAI) all sit at 52-week highs with clean breakouts and 68-96 composite scores. The bottom half (GH, ALB, ON, ARWR) flash weaker scores (5-22) despite extreme volume spikes—these are news-driven pops that may not hold.

Three Themes Stand Out:

  1. AI Infrastructure (FTAI, WDC, ZETA, ACMR): Data center power, memory storage, AI marketing, and semiconductor equipment all rallying on AI tailwinds. FTAI's pivot to power generation is brilliant—converting jet engines to data center turbines taps massive demand.
  2. Materials Revival (AA, ALB): Aluminum and lithium bouncing after brutal 2025. Robotics/AI demand for energy storage (ALB) and industrial applications (AA) driving renewed interest.
  3. Biotech Volatility (ARWR, MRNA, GH): High-risk, high-reward setups. ARWR's obesity data is promising (doubling Zepbound's weight loss), but the concurrent $500M convertible offering + heavy insider selling raises red flags.

Trading Tips for Aggressive Momentum:

  1. Tiered entries: Don't chase the open. Wait for 2-5% pullbacks from intraday highs, especially on extreme volume spikes like ARWR (3.70x) and HSAI (3.56x).
  2. Tight stops: With 50%+ annualized volatility, use 5-8% stops below entry. VIX at 14.75 isn't panic, but it's not complacent either—protect downside.
  3. Earnings risk: AA (22 days), WDC (29 days), BTU (30 days) all have earnings within a month. Consider half-size positions or exit before earnings if you don't want event risk.
  4. Watch insider selling: Heavy selling across ARWR, ACMR, GH, WDC, ON. Insiders are cashing out at highs—don't overstay your welcome. Trail stops aggressively and take profits on 10-15% gains.
  5. Volume confirmation: The 2.47x average volume thrust is bullish, but watch for volume to dry up. If volume drops below 1.0x average on down days, that's a red flag for exhaustion.

How Market Conditions Affect Signal Quality:
In today's risk-on environment (S&P at highs, Russell +1.49%, VIX sub-15), aggressive momentum setups tend to follow through. But with yields rising (10Y at 4.179%) and small-cap outperformance, we could be seeing late-cycle rotation. Translation: Don't get married to positions. Take profits quickly, trail stops tight, and rotate into new setups as they emerge.

My Picks:

  • ACMR (score 96): Clean breakout, earnings distant (50 days), semis still strong.
  • FTAI (score 68): AI data center power is a secular theme with legs. 50 days to earnings.
  • ZETA (score 54): OpenAI partnership is real catalyst, but watch for short squeeze volatility.

Avoid:

  • ARWR (score 5): Despite exciting obesity data, the convertible offering + $1.4M insider selling + lowest score = too much risk.
  • BTU (score 44): Energy weak with crude -2.3%. Only at 92.5% of highs—not a clean breakout.

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