EverHint Signal — Momentum Swing: Volatile High Beta — January 02, 2026

What This Signal Is (Quick)

The Volatile High Beta strategy targets stocks with 60-150% annualized volatility—names that can swing 3-5% in a single session and 20-30% in a week. These are not for the faint of heart. This is a momentum breakout scanner designed for risk-tolerant traders who can stomach large drawdowns in exchange for outsized upside potential.

Why volatility matters: High-beta stocks amplify market moves. When the broader market rallies 1%, these names might surge 2-3%. When the market drops 1%, they can crater 3-4%. The strategy filters for stocks breaking out or consolidating near 52-week highs while exhibiting elevated volatility—a combination that signals institutional interest despite the risk.

Key criteria: Stocks must have 60-150% annualized volatility (vol63), be in breakout mode (near resistance or at highs), and show volume confirmation (1.5x+ average). This creates a high-octane setup where momentum and risk intersect.

Signal type: Breakout (momentum continuation). These stocks are breaking higher or consolidating near resistance, not pulling back. We're betting on strength continuing, not reversals.

Risk level: High. Volatility cuts both ways. A 5% gap up can become a 10% gap down on bad news or profit-taking. Position sizing and disciplined stop-losses are non-negotiable.

Ideal for: Aggressive swing traders (1-4 week holding periods) who can monitor positions actively, tolerate drawdowns, and cut losses fast.

Important: This is an experimental scanner for educational and back-testing purposes. Signals are not financial advice.

How We Ranked Today (Reader Version)

Today's 10 signals are ranked by composite quality score, which weighs:

• Rate of change momentum (r10_2, r21_3, r63)
• Relative strength vs SPY (rs_21)
• Proximity to 52-week highs
• Volume thrust (buying pressure confirmation)

Higher scores indicate stronger multi-factor setups. Lower scores mean the stock qualified primarily on volatility and volume alone.

We've overlaid context layers:

1. Insider Net Flows (90 days): Net buying (P-Purchase) minus selling (S-Sale). Heavy selling is a red flag on high-beta names.
2. Days to Earnings: Proximity to next earnings report. <7 days = extreme volatility risk; 7-30 days = moderate risk; >30 days = lower event risk.
3. Recent news: Used to explain WHY stocks are breaking out or why they're volatile.

These signals are provided for educational use and back-testing. Always conduct your own due diligence.

⚡ Breakout Signals (10 Total)

Field Notes:

• Last ($): Closing price on signal date (Jan 2, 2026)
• Vol Thrust: Volume ratio vs 20-day average. Anything above 1.5x indicates institutional participation.
• % of 52W High: Percentage of 52-week high. 100% = at fresh highs. Anything above 90% is breakout territory.
• Vol (63d): 63-day annualized volatility. 60%+ is the threshold for this scanner. Higher = more volatile (more risk, more potential reward).
• Score: Composite quality ranking (0-100 scale). Higher scores = stronger momentum, better relative strength, tighter setups.
• Insider Net: Net insider buying (+) or selling (-) over last 90 days. Only P-Purchase and S-Sale counted. Heavy selling is a concern.
• Days → Earnings: Days until next earnings report. N/A = no earnings date available in next 90 days.

Recent Headlines — Breakout Signals

MU (Micron Technology, Inc.)

• Stock Market Today, Jan. 2: Micron Surges as Bernstein Hikes Price Target 20% (Motley Fool, Jan 2) — MU closed up +10.52% on the session
• Micron stock skyrockets nearly 10%: what's driving AI memory re-rating (Invezz, Jan 2) — Supply scarcity, record earnings momentum, Wall Street re-ratings
• Why Micron Stock Popped Today (Motley Fool, Jan 2) — Bernstein analyst Mark Li raised price target; DRAM prices rising, may continue throughout 2026
• Micron's Nvidia Moment Is Here (Seeking Alpha, Jan 1) — Explosive demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), Q1 2026 revenues +21% QoQ, gross margins 57%
• This Artificial Intelligence Stock Could Be the Biggest Bargain Buy of 2026 (Motley Fool, Jan 1) — Benefiting from AI infrastructure buildout
• Micron Gains Momentum, Again—30% to 80% Upside in 2026 (MarketBeat, Dec 30) — Breakout to new highs signals continuation

ACMR (ACM Research, Inc.)

• ACM Research to Release Full-Year 2025 Preliminary Revenue Range and Initial 2026 Revenue Outlook on January 22, 2026 (GlobeNewsWire, Dec 29)
• ACM Research Stock Soars 162% as One Fund's $78 Million Bet Signals Confidence in Chip Equipment Demand (Motley Fool, Dec 29) — Hong Kong-based Triata Capital added 413,000 shares (Q3)
• 3 Top Tech Stocks to Buy if You Want to Outperform Next Year (247 Wall St, Dec 30) — ACMR highlighted

LUNR (Intuitive Machines, Inc.)

• No recent news available in the last 7 days. Insider buying: Director Michael Blitzer purchased $2.19M in Nov (strong confidence signal).

CFLT (Confluent, Inc.)

• No significant recent news. Heavy insider selling noted (-$6.68M net over 90 days).

ONDS (Ondas Holdings Inc.)

• No recent news. Red flag: CEO Eric A Brock sold $4.61M on Dec 31 (475,000 shares at $9.71). Massive insider selling one day before signal date.

SKYT (SkyWater Technology, Inc.)

• No recent news. Red flag: Director/10% owner Loren A Unterseher sold $7.18M in Nov (multiple transactions, 512,000+ shares).

NXE, VICR, DBRG, CCJ:

• No significant recent news in the last 7 days.

Field Notes: Strategy Context & Volatility Analysis

Volatility Distribution:

• Extreme volatility (100%+): SKYT (119.9%), LUNR (110.1%), ONDS (149.3%), DBRG (105.3%)
• High volatility (60-100%): MU (67.8%), VICR (78.6%), NXE (60.6%), CFLT (64.1%), CCJ (60.5%), ACMR (74.8%)

ONDS at 149.3% volatility is the wildcard here. That's nearly 150% annualized vol—meaning a stock that could theoretically move 150% in either direction over a year. This is speculative territory. Combined with CEO selling $4.6M one day before the signal, this is a massive red flag. Avoid.

Sector Observations:

• Technology dominance: 6 of 10 signals are tech (MU, VICR, SKYT, CFLT, ONDS, ACMR). This reflects tech's inherent volatility and the AI/semiconductor momentum.
• Energy plays: NXE (uranium) and CCJ (uranium) are both nuclear energy—a high-beta subsector benefiting from AI data center power demand.
• Industrials: LUNR (space tech) is a pure speculative play with 110% volatility.
• Real Estate: DBRG (data centers) is benefiting from AI infrastructure buildout.

Score Disparity Analysis:

• MU (97) is the standout. Top score reflects strong momentum (r10_2 +29.8%, r63 +73.2%), excellent relative strength vs SPY (+30.6%), and 100% of 52W high. The volume thrust is modest (1.60x), but the news catalyst (Bernstein upgrade, HBM shortage) explains the 10.5% surge.
• VICR (74) and NXE (66) are solid. Good scores with 100% of 52W high. VICR has insider selling (-$248K), but it's minor. NXE has no insider activity.
• LUNR (53) has insider buying (+$2.19M) but extreme volatility (110%). This is a high-risk, high-reward play.
• ACMR (7) and CCJ (16) are weak scores. They qualified primarily on volatility and proximity to highs, not momentum quality. ACMR has the Jan 22 revenue outlook catalyst, which could be the play.

Insider Selling Red Flags:

• MU: -$12.2M net selling over 90 days. This is concerning, but it's across multiple executives and includes routine tax/exercise transactions. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra sold ~$1.5M. Not alarming given the stock's strong fundamentals.
• SKYT: -$7.2M net selling. Director/10% owner dumping shares in Nov. Major red flag.
• CFLT: -$6.7M net selling. Multiple executives selling. Red flag.
• ONDS: -$4.6M net selling. CEO sold $4.6M on Dec 31. Massive red flag.
• ACMR: -$798K. Executive Mark McKechnie sold. Minor concern.
• VICR: -$248K. Small sales. Not concerning.

Only LUNR has insider buying (+$2.19M). Director Michael Blitzer bought aggressively in Nov. This is the only insider confidence signal in the entire list.

Earnings Proximity:

• CFLT (39 days) is approaching earnings. This adds volatility risk on top of already high vol (64%).
• VICR (47 days), DBRG (48 days), CCJ (48 days) are in the moderate risk zone.
• MU (75 days), ONDS (68 days), NXE (59 days), SKYT (54 days), ACMR (54 days) have lower event risk.
• LUNR has no earnings date in the next 90 days.

Vlad's Take (EverHint)

Market Backdrop (Jan 2, 2026):

Today's market showed mixed internals: S&P 500 -0.29%, Dow +0.57%, Nasdaq -1.05%. Tech sold off hard while blue-chips held steady—classic sector rotation. The VIX closed at 14.51 (-2.29%), indicating low volatility and complacent sentiment. Small-caps (Russell 2000) gained +0.66%, slightly outperforming. Treasury yields climbed (10Y at 4.193%, +0.77%), pressuring growth names. Crypto rallied: Bitcoin +4.06%, Ethereum +4.06%. Overall: Cautiously mixed environment with sector rotation in play.

On Today's Signals:

Ten volatile high-beta names broke out today. This is a mixed bag of opportunity and landmines. Let's cut through the noise.

MU is the clear winner here. Score of 97, 100% of 52W high, and a +10.5% surge on Jan 2 driven by a Bernstein price target hike and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) shortage narrative. The fundamentals are rock-solid: Q1 2026 revenues up 21% QoQ, gross margins at 57% (up 17 points YoY), and all HBM capacity for 2025 and 2026 sold out. The insider selling (-$12.2M) is a minor concern, but it's spread across executives and likely routine. This is the highest-conviction play in the list. But—and this is critical—MU just surged 10.5% in one day. Chasing momentum at this level is dangerous. Wait for a pullback or trade it with tight stops.

ACMR is the dark horse. Score of 7 (weak momentum), but it has a catalyst: the company announces 2025 preliminary revenue and 2026 outlook on Jan 22. That's 20 days out. If you're speculative, this could be a pre-earnings run-up play. Triata Capital added $78M in Q3, signaling institutional confidence. The stock surged 162% over the past year, so expectations are high. Risk: if the Jan 22 outlook disappoints, this could crater. Only for aggressive traders.

LUNR is the only name with insider buying (+$2.19M). Director Michael Blitzer bought aggressively in Nov at $8.83-$9.27. The stock is now at $17.88—he's already up 90%+. This is a space tech play with 110% volatility. It's at fresh 52W highs with no earnings date in the next 90 days, which is good. But the lack of recent news is concerning. Why is it rallying? If you don't know, you're speculating. Only trade this if you have conviction on the space sector or specific catalysts.

ONDS, SKYT, and CFLT are traps. All three have heavy insider selling:

• ONDS: CEO sold $4.6M on Dec 31, one day before the signal. That's a screaming sell signal. Avoid.
• SKYT: Director/10% owner sold $7.2M in Nov. He's dumping shares. Avoid.
• CFLT: -$6.7M net selling. Multiple executives selling. Avoid.

When insiders are selling heavily on high-volatility stocks, you're catching a falling knife. Don't.

NXE and CCJ are uranium plays. Both are at or near 52W highs, but scores are weak (66 and 16). Uranium has been hot due to AI data center power demand, but these are low-conviction setups based on the scores. If you're bullish on nuclear energy, fine—but these are not momentum plays. They're sector bets.

VICR and DBRG are mid-tier. VICR (score 74) is solid but has minor insider selling. DBRG (score 47) is a data center REIT benefiting from AI infrastructure. Both are at 100% of 52W highs, but lack catalysts. Only trade if you have sector conviction.

Trading Strategy:

1. MU: High conviction but wait for a pullback. The 10.5% surge on Jan 2 is extended. Look for a retracement to $300-$305 (near MA10 at $282.66 is too far). If it consolidates above $310 for 2-3 days, consider re-entry.

   • Entry: $300-$305 (pullback) or breakout above $320 (continuation)
   • Stop: $290 (below breakout base)
   • Target 1: $340 (+10-13%)
   • Target 2: $370 (+20% if HBM narrative sustains)
   • Timeframe: 2-4 weeks
   • Position size: 25-50% (high beta, manage risk)

2. ACMR: Speculative pre-earnings play.

   • Entry: $44-$45 (current levels)
   • Stop: $41 (tight, below recent support)
   • Target: $52-$55 (+15-20% if Jan 22 outlook is bullish)
   • Timeframe: Hold into Jan 22 announcement, cut immediately if outlook disappoints
   • Position size: 10-25% max (high risk)

3. LUNR: Only if you're bullish on space sector.

   • Entry: $17.50-$18.00
   • Stop: $16.00 (tight, 110% vol means quick stops)
   • Target: $22-$24 (+25%)
   • Timeframe: 1-3 weeks
   • Position size: 10-25% max

4. Avoid: ONDS, SKYT, CFLT (heavy insider selling = traps)

5. Pass: NXE, CCJ, VICR, DBRG (weak setups unless you have sector conviction)

Key Considerations:

• VIX at 14.51 = complacency. High-beta stocks thrive in low-vol environments because traders chase risk. But when VIX spikes, these names get obliterated. Monitor VIX closely—if it breaks above 18, tighten stops or cut positions.

• Tech sold off today (-1.05% Nasdaq). This is a headwind for tech-heavy high-beta names. If tech continues to weaken, MU and ACMR will struggle despite catalysts.

• Rising yields (10Y at 4.193%) pressure growth stocks. High-beta names often have growth characteristics. If yields continue rising, expect pressure on valuations.

• Extended non-trading period alert: Markets are closed Sat-Sun (Jan 3-4). News flow over the weekend could gap stocks on Monday, Jan 5. Weekend gap risk is real—MU just surged 10.5%, so profit-taking or negative news could gap it down. ACMR's Jan 22 catalyst is weeks away, so less gap risk. LUNR is a wildcard. Consider reducing overnight exposure or using protective stops.

Bottom line: MU is the standout but extended—wait for a pullback. ACMR is a speculative pre-earnings play with high risk. LUNR has insider buying but lacks catalysts. Avoid ONDS, SKYT, CFLT (insider selling red flags). High-beta names require active management, tight stops, and smaller position sizes. The VIX at 14.51 suggests a supportive environment, but sector rotation (tech weak) and rising yields add headwinds. Trade selectively, cut losses fast, and respect the volatility.

Stay sharp. 🎯

⚠️ Extended Non-Trading Period Alert

Important: The next 2 days (Saturday, January 03 through Sunday, January 04) are non-trading days (weekend).

What this means:

• Markets will not reopen until Monday, January 05
• News and events occurring over this extended non-trading period may significantly influence market sentiment
• Monitor news flow closely during this period, especially for MU (AI/HBM narrative), ACMR (chip equipment sector), and LUNR (space sector news)
• Be prepared for potential gaps or increased volatility when markets reopen
• High-beta stocks are particularly susceptible to gap risk—MU's 10.5% surge on Jan 2 could reverse on profit-taking
• Earnings announcements, geopolitical events, or major news during this period can lead to significant price movements at the open
• Consider adjusting position sizes or using protective stops given the extended gap risk and high volatility of these names

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