MARKETS BRACE AS BITCOIN CRASHES BELOW $63K, S&P FUTURES HOLD 6,862 — Home Depot BEATS, AI Arms Race Ignites & Fed Speaks: Your Complete February 24 Trading Game Plan

In partnership with

The Lithium Boom is Heating Up

Thanks to growing demand, lithium stock prices grew 2X+ from June 2025 to January 2026. $ALB climbed as high as 227%. $LAC hit 151%. $SQM, 159%.

But the real winner may be a stock not listed on public exchanges, EnergyX.

This $1B unicorn’s patented technology can recover 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That’s earned investment from leaders like General Motors.

Now they’re preparing for commercial production just as experts project 5X demand growth by 2040. They’ve announced what could be one of the US’ largest lithium production facilities and have rights to approximately 150,000 lithium-rich acres across North and South America.

Unlike public stocks, you can buy private EnergyX shares alongside 40,000+ other investors. Invest for $11/share by the 2/26 deadline.

Invest in EnergyX Today

_{This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com. Under Regulation A, a company may change its share price by up to 20% without requalifying the offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.}

✅ PHASE 0: VERIFIED PRICES — February 24, 2026 Pre-Market (6:45 AM ET)

�� MONDAY FEB 23 CLOSE & OVERNIGHT RECAP

Markets closed Monday in the red: SPY -1.02%, QQQ -1.22%, IWM -1.56%, DIA -1.63%. Tech and Financials led the decline. Overnight futures stabilized with ES1! recovering to 6,862.25 (+0.16%) as Home Depot's earnings beat provided a pre-market anchor. The Dow Jones and Russell 2000 both underperformed, reflecting risk-off positioning heading into a data-heavy Tuesday.

�� TUESDAY FEB 24 ECONOMIC CALENDAR

Multiple high-impact economic events scheduled for Tuesday. Fed speakers dominate the day's catalyst schedule. Traders should watch ADP Employment as the primary market mover.

⚠️ DCG ANALYSIS: Fed Bostic's overnight comments (AI structurally challenging for Fed, potential higher unemployment) introduce policy uncertainty. Watch 8:15 AM ADP as primary catalyst. Multiple Fed speakers = volatility in bonds and rate-sensitive sectors. Consumer Confidence at 10 AM could make or break the day's trend after a weak open.

�� SECTOR PERFORMANCE & MONEY ROTATION

�� MONEY ROTATION SIGNAL:

Institutional money is clearly rotating FROM growth/tech/financials INTO defensive sectors (staples, healthcare, utilities). This is a classic risk-off pattern triggered by: (1) crypto meltdown removing speculative risk appetite, (2) Fed uncertainty from Bostic's hawkish-leaning comments about AI and unemployment, (3) geopolitical escalation with Iran/Russia. Home Depot's beat gives Consumer Discretionary a potential catalyst BUT the CFO's tariff uncertainty comments could limit upside. The home improvement/construction trade is nuanced.

KEY INSIGHT: HD beat does NOT mean Consumer Discretionary turns bullish. Home Depot gaining market share 'even as the sector lags' — this is a stock-picker's market within discretionary.

�� STOCK MARKET NEWS & CATALYSTS

EARNINGS BEATS & REACTIONS

HOME DEPOT (HD) | Q4 2025 EARNINGS BEAT — MAJOR POSITIVE CATALYST

  • Adj EPS $2.72 vs $2.54 est (+$0.18 beat) | Revenue $38.2B vs $38.09B est

  • Comp Sales +0.4% vs -0.36% est — significant positive surprise

  • Quarterly dividend raised to $2.33/share (+1.3%)

  • FY EPS guidance: 0% to +4% | FY Comp sales: 0% to +2%

  • CFO flagged tariff uncertainty and consumer housing affordability concerns

  • Stock indicated +15 pre-market (~$376.99 area) | Verified close was ~$362

  • SYMPATHY PLAYS: LOW (Lowe's), SHW (Sherwin Williams), TREX, MAS, WHR

VIR BIOTECHNOLOGY (VIR) | Q4 BEAT + PARTNERSHIP — MODERATE CATALYST

  • Q4 Loss -$0.31 vs -$0.49 est (beat by $0.18) | Revenue $64.07M vs $19.91M est (+417.8%!)

  • Teamed with Astellas Pharma for VIR-5500 prostate cancer treatment

  • Stock +67.52% pre-market to $12.43 | MAJOR squeeze potential

PLANET FITNESS (PLNT) | GUIDANCE MISS — MINOR NEGATIVE

  • FY2026 Adj EPS $3.35-$3.38 vs $3.54 est | Sales $1.443B vs $1.459B est

  • Watch for weakness at open | Competitors SFLY, NLS could see sympathy weakness

TECH & AI SECTOR NEWS

CROWDSTRIKE (CRWD) | 2026 Global Threat Report — MODERATE CATALYST

  • AI-accelerated eCrime: avg breakout time 29 minutes (-65% from 2024)

  • Fastest observed breakout: 27 seconds | Data exfiltration in 4 minutes

  • Bullish for cybersecurity sector: CRWD, PANW, ZS, FTNT, S (SentinelOne)

APPLE (AAPL) | US MANUFACTURING ACCELERATION — MODERATE POSITIVE

  • Confirms Mac mini production coming to US later in 2026

  • AI server production in Houston running ahead of schedule (started 2025)

  • Trump-friendly manufacturing story | Pre-market +0.22%

INTEL (INTC) + SAMBANOVA | SN50 AI CHIP LAUNCH — MODERATE POSITIVE

  • SN50 chip boasts 5X faster max speed than competitive chips

  • INTC +$1 pre-market to $43.63 | Potential catalyst for beaten-down Intel

NVIDIA (NVDA) | DEEPSEEK BLACKWELL CHIP CONTROVERSY — MINOR NEGATIVE

  • Senior Trump official: China's DeepSeek used NVDA Blackwell chips

  • Chips allegedly clustered in Inner Mongolia data center

  • Washington suspects technical indicators may have been hidden

  • NVDA flat pre-market at $191.55 — overhang risk but market already knows story

ASML | EUV BREAKTHROUGH — MAJOR POSITIVE FOR SEMIS

  • Researchers developed way to significantly increase EUV light source power

  • Could lift chip output by up to 50% by end of decade

  • ASML +9 | TSM +9 | SNDK +19 | MU +6 all reacting positively

��️ WHITE HOUSE IMPACT & TRUMP MOMENTUM TRADES

The White House and geopolitical news flow is creating significant market cross-currents heading into Tuesday's session:

IRAN SITUATION — MAJOR RISK EVENT: Trump administration signals 'tough action' if Iran nuclear deal not reached. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians received anonymous SMS: 'The American President is a man of action. Wait and see.' Iran reportedly near deal to buy Chinese CM-302 anti-ship cruise missiles. US has deployed large naval force near Iran coast. This is a SIGNIFICANT geopolitical risk that could spike oil and defense stocks if escalation occurs.

APPLE US MANUFACTURING: Trump's push for US manufacturing producing results. AAPL confirming accelerated US production is politically aligned with White House goals. Could receive favorable regulatory treatment.

DEEPSEEK/NVIDIA EXPORT CONTROLS: Trump administration reportedly aware of Blackwell chips in China. This could lead to tighter export restrictions — watch for executive action announcements.

TRUMP APPROVAL: Approval rating nudged up to 40% from 38%. Political stability slightly improved.

�� TRUMP MOMENTUM TRADES FOR TUESDAY

�� KEY OPTIONS NEWS & FLOW INTEL

OPTIONS WATCH HEADING INTO TUESDAY OPEN:

HD OPTIONS: With the stock indicated +15 to ~$376.99, expect heavy volume in the March $370 and $380 calls. The beat on comps is the big surprise. Consider watching for any IV crush post-open if stock prices in the move by 9:35 AM. Probale put spreads for bears who think the tariff uncertainty caps upside.

CRWD OPTIONS: Cybersecurity alert — CRWD typically sees elevated call buying after its annual threat report. The 'AI arms race' narrative is live. Watch Feb/March call spreads on any dip.

GLD / GOLD OPTIONS: UBS target of $6,200/oz is a massive bullish catalyst. Watch GLD call options with 30-60 DTE for a momentum trade. Iran geopolitics adds fuel.

DEFENSE (LMT, RTX, NOC) OPTIONS: Iran situation warrants watching call flow in defense names. Any escalation headline = instant spike. Consider call debit spreads as defined risk plays.

VIX: Currently 21.10 (+0.43%), VXN 26.36 (+8.79%). Elevated volatility = option premium is rich. Favor defined-risk spreads over naked calls/puts.

SKEW at 141.43 (-2.81%) — tail risk buying has eased slightly but remains elevated.

₿ BITCOIN & CRYPTO SENTIMENT BREAKDOWN

EXTREME FEAR RULES CRYPTO — Fear & Greed Index: 11/100 (Extreme Fear)

�� CRYPTO ANALYSIS:

BTC has slipped below $63K wiping out 50% from its October 2024 record high — this is a technically significant breakdown. The Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index has been at a NEGATIVE premium for 40 consecutive days, indicating US buyers are net sellers. BTC is testing weekly support from October 2024, which is the prior breakout level. February has seen massive value destruction across altcoins, with some tokens losing 90%+ of valuation.

MSTR & BTC PROXY STOCKS: With BTC down hard, MSTR (MicroStrategy) will face significant pre-market pressure. Watch MSTR, COIN, RIOT, MARA, CLSK for sympathy moves.

CRYPTO TRADING STRATEGY FOR TUESDAY: The RSI is approaching oversold territory (37.58). However, ‘oversold can get more oversold’ in a downtrend. Wait for BTC to stabilize above $63K and form a base BEFORE entering longs. A break below $62K opens $58K-$60K as next support. Stablecoins domination (-0.01% change vs altcoins down 3-9%) confirms capital preservation mode.

WATCH: Standard Chartered predicts stablecoins will drive $1 Trillion in volume. This is the one bullish narrative in crypto right now — stablecoin infrastructure plays like COIN may see relative outperformance.

�� HOT TRADES & HIGH-CONVICTION IDEAS FOR FEB 24

 �� S&P FUTURES ($ES) KEY LEVELS FOR FEB 24

GAMEPLAN: Bulls need to hold 6,862 and push through 6,900 to confirm momentum. A clean hold and bounce off 6,832 support is a long entry with target 6,920-6,940. A break below 6,832 opens 6,800 and then 6,780. February seasonality is slightly negative in the final week, so be cautious of chasing longs unless you have clear catalyst confirmation.

�� UPCOMING EARNINGS TO WATCH (Late Feb - Early March)

Key earnings reports that could move markets in the coming sessions. Position sizing and pre-earnings IV considerations are critical.

  • LOW (Lowe's) — Coming soon: HD beat creates bullish setup for LOW earnings

  • NVDA — Next quarter results will be heavily scrutinized for China chip revenue impact

  • CRWD — Watch post-threat report earnings call for FY guidance update

  • MSTR — BTC price trajectory will dominate; results secondary to crypto sentiment

  • Healthcare sector (post-VIR beat): Watch biotech names for momentum

SYMPATHY TRADE ALERT: VIR's 417.8% revenue beat and Astellas partnership creates bullish sentiment for small-cap biotech. Names to watch: VRTX, BMRN, EXAS, NVAX for sector sympathy.

�� MASTERMIND GUIDANCE & SOCIAL INSIGHTS

KEY INSIGHTS FROM SOCIAL/DISCORD INTEL (Feb 24, 2026):

WALL ST JESUS (@WallStJesus): Posting about GLD/SLV strength, ETH/ETHA weakness, and MSTR/BTC breakdown. Sentiment is clearly GOLD BULLISH and CRYPTO BEARISH from this influential account. Multiple gold and crypto charts shared overnight signal institutional awareness of the trade.

ISABELNET (via Ryan Detrick): S&P 500 seasonality data shows end-of-February tends to see softness. 'Nobody likes it but few are surprised.' This aligns with the current fade in the indices.

PALMER (@BankTheTrade): Active pre-market with HD, chip stock updates (SNDK, MU, TSM, ASML). Running through the AI chip landscape. His ASML EUV breakthrough call on the 50% chip output increase is a significant long-term bull catalyst for ASML and the entire semiconductor supply chain.

CRYPTO DIFFER: Highlighting top 10 worst crypto performers in February. Tokens losing 90%+ of value. The altcoin destruction is severe and suggests the crypto market is in a deeper correction than a simple pullback.

IREN (via Shay Boloor): IREN converting Bitcoin mining sites to GPU compute — this is the AI infrastructure trade. Moving 1.4GW substation toward grid interconnection. This is how BTC miners pivot to AI revenue. Watch IREN, HIVE, HUT8 for this transition trade.

�� OVERALL MARKET STRATEGY: FEB 24, 2026

�� POSITIONS TO AVOID / HOLD CAUTIOUSLY OVERNIGHT:

  • Crypto longs (extreme fear, no base formed)

  • High-beta tech (tariff uncertainty + China chip concerns)

  • Financials (leading sector to the downside)

  • Small-cap growth (IWM -1.56%, worst performer)

✅ POSITIONS WITH HIGH PROBABILITY OVERNIGHT:

  • HD calls/shares (earnings catalyst, 80% probability bullish)

  • GLD/gold positions (UBS $6,200 target + Iran risk = 75% probability)

  • Defense (LMT/RTX/NOC): Iran situation = elevated risk premium, 70% probability

  • CRWD/cybersecurity: Threat report = institutional buying, 72% probability

�� SEASONALITY & MARKET PATTERNS

FEBRUARY END SEASONALITY: Data shows S&P 500 tends to lose momentum in the final days of February. This is a known pattern and aligns with current technical picture. Not a reason to panic-sell, but a reason to avoid aggressive long positioning.

MARCH HISTORICAL PATTERN: March has historically been a mixed month with first half often bullish and second half choppy. Positioning for March often begins in late February, which is NOW. Watch for rotation into early-March themes.

EARNINGS CYCLE: We are in the tail-end of Q4 2025 earnings. Most major reports are behind us. Focus shifts to guidance quality, tariff impact disclosures, and FY2026 outlooks.

�� WANT TO LEVEL UP YOUR TRADING?

Join the DCG Community at aitradingskool.com — Real traders, real analysis, real results.

Get daily game plans, live trade alerts, sector rotation updates, and our elite mastermind community. Stop guessing. Start winning.

Stop guessing. Start knowing.

We've mapped out the ENTIRE year — every month, every sentiment shift, every high-probability window

— so you can trade with confidence while others trade with hope.

Inside the 2026 Oracle Trading Forecast, you'll see:

✅ Month-by-month market sentiment

✅ When to be aggressive vs. when to protect capital

This is how professionals plan their year. Now it's yours.

�� ACCESS YOUR 2026 FORECAST HERE

The traders who win in 2026 will be the ones who saw the map before the journey started.

You can login and get access here.

https://dcgoracleoutlook.com/get-started

�� FINAL SUMMARY & KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. HOME DEPOT is the STORY of Tuesday morning — beat on every metric, raised dividend, and comp sales surprised to the upside. The sympathy trade into LOW, SHW, and housing-adjacent names is the highest-probability sector play.

2. CRYPTO is in EXTREME FEAR. BTC below $63K with Fear & Greed at 11 is a contrarian signal that a bounce is building, but wait for confirmation above $63K before any crypto longs. Protect capital.

3. GOLD is the BEST RISK-ADJUSTED TRADE heading into Tuesday with UBS's $6,200 target, Iran tensions, and Fed uncertainty all pointing the same direction.

4. DEFENSE STOCKS deserve attention. LMT, RTX, NOC are political and geopolitical momentum plays with a real catalyst (Iran naval deployment, missile deal rumors).

5. AI & CYBERSECURITY remain structural themes. CRWD's threat report, INTC's chip launch, and ASML's EUV breakthrough all reinforce the multi-year AI infrastructure buildout.

6. MULTIPLE FED SPEAKERS today — Goolsbee, Bostic, Waller, Cook, Barkin, Collins. Any hawkish commentary on AI's labor market impact could pressure rate-sensitive sectors further.

7. STAY DISCIPLINED: VIX at 21 with VXN at 26 means market participants are pricing in continued volatility. Use defined-risk options strategies where possible.

Trade with clarity. Trade with discipline. Trade with the DCG Community.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. All trading involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. DCG Command Center does not provide personalized financial advice. Always do your own research and consult a qualified financial professional before trading. Prices verified as of February 24, 2026 pre-market data from TradingTerminal.com, CoinMarketCap.com, SoSoValue.com, and TradingView/CME.

Subscribe to our live trading room and take the trades with us.