Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Systems Capital as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access. Click here to find out more » Frazao Studio Latino/E+ via Getty Images Thesis Tilray’s been going on a massive acquisition spre...
Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome Systems Capital as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access. Click here to find out more » Frazao Studio Latino/E+ via Getty Images Thesis Tilray’s been going on a massive acquisition spree in recent years. Not only have they merged with Aphria in 2020 to make the largest cannabis company in the world by revenue, but in a short 6 years, they’ve become an international craft beer behemoth. However, communications from management focus on how great they will be, but how are they now? Tilray has the potential to be an excellent buy for the long-term, and they are currently poised to be the future leader of the adult consumer products industry. Their shares are currently on a fire-hot sale, selling around $7. Is now the time to buy though? I’d say hold unless you want to weather the storm. Tilray has a lot on their plate. After going through an acquisition spree, introducing new brands, bringing new products and new markets to Tilray’s portfolio, and expanding their global footprint they’ve seen a lot of massive changes under current CEO Irwin D Simon. When will the acquisitions end though? They’ll likely continue introducing new brands to their brand portfolio while they stabilize internal manufacturing and distribution pipelines for the next few years. I discuss this in greater detail later in the article. Until their brands can generate revenue greatly beyond their appetite for acquisition, their net profit will remain below or near $0 . They’ve grown their cannabis and alcohol brand portfolio to the size of a small behemoth, but that is only a fourth of their total operations. They still have a small wellness products line, a distribution business, and an ingredient wholesale business that I believe will grow in the coming years, so they’re worth keeping an ...
Gerry Adams is as culpable for IRA bombings on the UK mainland as the individuals who planted and detonated the devices, the high court has heard at the beginning of a civil trial. The former Sinn Féin leader is being sued for symbolic “vindicatory” damages of £1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who were injured respectively in the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, and the London Dock...
Gerry Adams is as culpable for IRA bombings on the UK mainland as the individuals who planted and detonated the devices, the high court has heard at the beginning of a civil trial. The former Sinn Féin leader is being sued for symbolic “vindicatory” damages of £1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who were injured respectively in the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, and the London Docklands and Manchester bombings in 1996. They allege that Adams, who is credited with helping to bring about the Northern Ireland peace process, “was an instrumental force in the organisation of the PIRA [provisional IRA] and building of the two-strand attack – ArmaLite and the ballot box. A foot in each camp.” Opening the claimants’ case in London on Monday, Anne Studd KC, said in written submissions: “Their focus is to shine a light upon the involvement of the defendant in the PIRA in the course of that conflict and to prove on balance of probabilities that he [Adams] was so intrinsically involved in the PIRA organisation that he is as culpable for the assaults giving rise to these claims as the individuals who planted and detonated the bombs.” She added: “There is no doubt that the defendant contributed to the peace in Northern Ireland, but the claimants say that on the evidence he also contributed to the war.” Studd told the court that Adams admitted to his involvement with the IRA to a special branch officer after being arrested in 1972 and, in the same year, attended two meetings with government officials “as a member of PIRA and had authority to act on the organisation’s behalf”. The claimants’ case is also relying on evidence from IRA volunteers including Dolours Price, one of nine individuals imprisoned in 1973 for the Old Bailey bombing, as well as Troubles-era intelligence officials. Additionally, Studd claimed that, while detained under internment in the 1970s, Adams began writing a weekly column for the Republican News under the pen name Brownie, including a 1976...
When it comes to the health and wellness industry, Peloton Interactive seems to have gotten most of the attention over the past several years. There's a better business that investors should look at if they want exposure to this market, though. Consider Planet Fitness (PLNT 2.72%), mainly because it has solid fundamentals. The fitness club operator's shares have been very volatile, and they trade ...
When it comes to the health and wellness industry, Peloton Interactive seems to have gotten most of the attention over the past several years. There's a better business that investors should look at if they want exposure to this market, though. Consider Planet Fitness (PLNT 2.72%), mainly because it has solid fundamentals. The fitness club operator's shares have been very volatile, and they trade 29% below their peak (as of March 4). If you think this is a possible buy-the-dip investment candidate, take the time to learn these three things first. 1. Expanding the physical footprint Growth has been the key factor driving this business. A decade ago, at the end of 2015, there were 1,124 Planet Fitness locations. As of Dec. 31, 2025, there were 2,896 clubs in total, with a small presence in Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia, and Spain. The leadership team believes that there's potential for 5,000 in the U.S. over the long term. Planet Fitness now has 20.8 million members, a massive figure that makes it one of the largest such chains in the world. Despite a choppy macroeconomic environment, the customer base is significantly larger than it was five years ago. Even though it increased the base membership's monthly fee from $10 to $15 in 2024, Planet Fitness still maintains its "high-value, low-price" positioning. But getting more people to upgrade to the $25.99-per-month Black Card, which comes with added perks, is lucrative. The current penetration rate is near 67%. 2. Copying the fast-food playbook Large fast-food enterprises are known for adopting franchise business models. Planet Fitness operates the same way. It's worth noting that just 10% of its locations are actually owned by the company. This setup allows the business to scale up in a more efficient and capital-light manner, reducing the need for large investments. There is robust demand to open Planet Fitness gyms, as signed agreements are in place to open 750 new clubs. Newer locations are growing their sales ...
Key Points Planet Fitness has significantly expanded its store footprint, with no plans to let up. Operating a franchise business model should theoretically lift profits at a faster rate than revenue. This stock doesn’t trade at a cheap valuation, so investors will have to decide if it’s worth the price. 10 stocks we like better than Planet Fitness › When it comes to the health and wellness indust...
Key Points Planet Fitness has significantly expanded its store footprint, with no plans to let up. Operating a franchise business model should theoretically lift profits at a faster rate than revenue. This stock doesn’t trade at a cheap valuation, so investors will have to decide if it’s worth the price. 10 stocks we like better than Planet Fitness › When it comes to the health and wellness industry, Peloton Interactive seems to have gotten most of the attention over the past several years. There's a better business that investors should look at if they want exposure to this market, though. Consider Planet Fitness (NYSE: PLNT), mainly because it has solid fundamentals. The fitness club operator's shares have been very volatile, and they trade 29% below their peak (as of March 4). If you think this is a possible buy-the-dip investment candidate, take the time to learn these three things first. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » 1. Expanding the physical footprint Growth has been the key factor driving this business. A decade ago, at the end of 2015, there were 1,124 Planet Fitness locations. As of Dec. 31, 2025, there were 2,896 clubs in total, with a small presence in Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia, and Spain. The leadership team believes that there's potential for 5,000 in the U.S. over the long term. Planet Fitness now has 20.8 million members, a massive figure that makes it one of the largest such chains in the world. Despite a choppy macroeconomic environment, the customer base is significantly larger than it was five years ago. Even though it increased the base membership's monthly fee from $10 to $15 in 2024, Planet Fitness still maintains its "high-value, low-price" positioning. But getting more people to upgrade to the $25.99-per-month Black Card, which comes with added per...
(RTTNews) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said olatorepatide, an investigational obesity treatment it licensed from Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, delivered positive Phase 3 trial results in Chinese patients with obesity or overweight. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 604 adults across 33 clinical sites in mainland China and evaluated once-weekly doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and 1...
(RTTNews) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said olatorepatide, an investigational obesity treatment it licensed from Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, delivered positive Phase 3 trial results in Chinese patients with obesity or overweight. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 604 adults across 33 clinical sites in mainland China and evaluated once-weekly doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg of olatorepatide over 48 weeks. Results showed participants receiving the therapy achieved up to 19% average weight loss from baseline at week 48, while up to 97% of treated patients lost at least 5% of body weight, meeting the trial's co-primary endpoints. "We are encouraged by the olatorepatide Phase 3 results in this Chinese population, which demonstrate not only meaningful weight loss but also a tolerability profile that could make a real difference in patients' day-to-day experience on treatment," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Board co-Chair, President, and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron. "We are on track to advance into our registrational program later this year and are eager to see the results from our pivotal trials." Olatorepatide, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, also demonstrated a favorable gastrointestinal tolerability profile. Reported rates of nausea were below 10%, while vomiting incidence was below 5%, with relatively low treatment discontinuation. Under the companies' agreement, Hansoh retains development and commercialization rights in Greater China, while Regeneron holds exclusive development and commercial rights outside mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
伊朗局勢｜特朗普與普京通電話 俄方稱對話坦誠具建設性 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國總統特朗普跟俄羅斯總統普京通電話，稱對方想在中東問題上提供協助。 特朗普形容二人對話氣氛良好，磋商中東及俄烏...
伊朗局勢｜特朗普與普京通電話 俄方稱對話坦誠具建設性 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】美國總統特朗普跟俄羅斯總統普京通電話，稱對方想在中東問題上提供協助。 特朗普形容二人對話氣氛良好，磋商中東及俄烏局勢，普京有意幫忙化解中東衝突，不過他認為結束俄烏戰事會更有幫助。俄羅斯總統助理烏沙科夫說二人對話坦誠及具建設性，普京就緩解伊朗衝突提出數項建議，重申要盡快透過政治和外交手段解決問題。烏沙科夫引述特朗普在通話中交代美國和以色列聯合行動的現況評估，但沒有交代詳情。
agaliza/iStock via Getty Images Have you ever eaten a Pizookie before? I have to confess I've never had one at a BJ's Restaurants, Inc. ( BJRI ), but I tried something similar at Outback ( BLMN ) once. I found it quite sweet, and I think I prefer the steaks (for dessert too, why not?). Speaking of the results , they were sweet, but the market probably expected more. It was a double beat, of course...
agaliza/iStock via Getty Images Have you ever eaten a Pizookie before? I have to confess I've never had one at a BJ's Restaurants, Inc. ( BJRI ), but I tried something similar at Outback ( BLMN ) once. I found it quite sweet, and I think I prefer the steaks (for dessert too, why not?). Speaking of the results , they were sweet, but the market probably expected more. It was a double beat, of course. But not like those post-Pizookie Meal Deal ones we covered at the beginning of last year. Seeking Alpha And you know what the best thing about all this is? We may be facing anothe r " Pizookie Dip " ri ght now. Seeking Alpha Seeking Alpha The stock traded for some time very close to—and even above at times—my price target of $41. That's precisely when I slapped a "Hold" due to the limited upside in the short/medium term. Looking back, it seems I acted correctly in downgrading. Since my last article, this stock has delivered a total return of almost -12% in just over three months. Compared to other casual dining peers, BJ's delivered the lowest return on this stretch. But no, that doesn't invalidate my thesis. BJ's Restaurants seems to have been punished by a softer Q4 for restaurants and a macro risk-off. You can probably guess that the best time to take advantage is when Mr. Market is angry. I'll show you why I think we're in another "Pizookie Dip" situation. BJ's Outperforming Same-Store Sales If you've read my previous articles on restaurant chains, you know that lately traffic has been weak. And I've been suspecting this is a combination of things. The first thing is inflation. High-value items in the shopping cart (mainly beef and coffee) are eating away at the average American's salary. The job market is also soft . And, to top it all off, it seems that real wages are declining. Fed Atlanta All of this points to low consumer confidence. The Conference Board To tell the truth, in January it hit its second-lowest point in two years (losing only to February 2025, a ter...
Broader markets continue to tumble as the Iran war has sent crude oil prices soaring over $100 a barrel. If energy prices sustain at these levels, it might spoil the fiscal and monetary policy math for many countries, and it won’t exactly be a “small price to pay” for the Iran war, as President Donald Trump has said. Meanwhile, barring some sectors, particularly oil producers, stocks have pretty m...
Broader markets continue to tumble as the Iran war has sent crude oil prices soaring over $100 a barrel. If energy prices sustain at these levels, it might spoil the fiscal and monetary policy math for many countries, and it won’t exactly be a “small price to pay” for the Iran war, as President Donald Trump has said. Meanwhile, barring some sectors, particularly oil producers, stocks have pretty much fallen left and right amid the meltdown. Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), which was the best-performing “Magnificent 7” stock last year, has fallen 14% from its 2026 highs and is down 4.4% for the year. In my previous article, I had noted that I did not find Alphabet stock a buy amid the software sell-off. With GOOG only extending its year-to-date drawdown, let’s explore whether the stock has now entered a “buy zone” after falling to near $300 price levels. But first, we'll analyze the ways that higher energy prices impact Alphabet. What Do Higher Oil Prices Mean for GOOG Stock? The direct impact of higher energy prices would be felt in the operating costs of Alphabet’s energy-guzzling data centers. However, the real blow could come from the domino effect of increased energy prices and, by extension, higher inflation on Alphabet’s earnings. The company derives the bulk of its revenues from its advertising business, whose fortunes are closely intertwined with economic activity. If the war escalates and oil prices rise further, it would start impacting consumer and corporate spending and hurt the company’s ad business. Also, the cloud business might feel the heat if companies slash their spending. A slowdown in earnings would be the last outcome Alphabet and U.S. tech giants would have wanted as they are aggressively spending on building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. There are already fears of the spending spree being funded by debt, which might weaken Big Tech’s hitherto solid balance sheets. For instance, Alphabet raised over $30 billion through bond sales last m...
Broader markets continue to tumble as the Iran war has sent crude oil prices soaring over $100 a barrel. If energy prices sustain at these levels, it might spoil the fiscal and monetary policy math for many countries, and it won’t exactly be a “small price to pay” for the Iran war, as President Donald Trump has said. Meanwhile, barring some sectors, particularly oil producers, stocks have pretty m...
Broader markets continue to tumble as the Iran war has sent crude oil prices soaring over $100 a barrel. If energy prices sustain at these levels, it might spoil the fiscal and monetary policy math for many countries, and it won’t exactly be a “small price to pay” for the Iran war, as President Donald Trump has said. Meanwhile, barring some sectors, particularly oil producers, stocks have pretty much fallen left and right amid the meltdown. Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), which was the best-performing “Magnificent 7” stock last year, has fallen 14% from its 2026 highs and is down 4.4% for the year. In my previous article, I had noted that I did not find Alphabet stock a buy amid the software sell-off. With GOOG only extending its year-to-date drawdown, let’s explore whether the stock has now entered a “buy zone” after falling to near $300 price levels. But first, we'll analyze the ways that higher energy prices impact Alphabet. More News from Barchart www.barchart.com What Do Higher Oil Prices Mean for GOOG Stock? The direct impact of higher energy prices would be felt in the operating costs of Alphabet’s energy-guzzling data centers. However, the real blow could come from the domino effect of increased energy prices and, by extension, higher inflation on Alphabet’s earnings. The company derives the bulk of its revenues from its advertising business, whose fortunes are closely intertwined with economic activity. If the war escalates and oil prices rise further, it would start impacting consumer and corporate spending and hurt the company’s ad business. Also, the cloud business might feel the heat if companies slash their spending. A slowdown in earnings would be the last outcome Alphabet and U.S. tech giants would have wanted as they are aggressively spending on building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. There are already fears of the spending spree being funded by debt, which might weaken Big Tech’s hitherto solid balance sheets. For instance, Alphabet raised o...
Check out some of the companies making the biggest midday moves: Oil stocks – Oil stocks briefly traded higher as the commodity surged as the Iran War showed no sign of abating. U.S. crude briefly topped $110 per barrel overnight, hitting levels not seen since mid-2022. Chevron earlier hit an all-time high, Talos Energy at one point rose 5%, while Northern Oil and Gas and ConocoPhillips posted ear...
Check out some of the companies making the biggest midday moves: Oil stocks – Oil stocks briefly traded higher as the commodity surged as the Iran War showed no sign of abating. U.S. crude briefly topped $110 per barrel overnight, hitting levels not seen since mid-2022. Chevron earlier hit an all-time high, Talos Energy at one point rose 5%, while Northern Oil and Gas and ConocoPhillips posted early gains of 3% and 2%, respectively, before pulling back as crude oil prices came in. Hims & Hers Health – The stock surged 39% after Bloomberg News reported , citing a person familiar with the matter, that Hims & Hers struck a deal with Novo Nordisk , up 3%, to sell the Danish pharmaceutical company's popular weight-loss medicine on its platform. The deal ends a lawsuit that aimed to stop Hims from selling a copycat version of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Live Nation Entertainment – Live Nation rose 6% after Bloomberg reported the live entertainment company is nearing a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice over its alleged monopoly over the live concert industry. Mining stocks — The group dropped as the dollar surged, sending commodity prices higher, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Freeport-McMoRan and Newmont each fell 2%. Airline stocks — Carriers declined from 1% to 3% as fallout from the Iran War spiked jet fuel prices and roiled global travel plans. Delta Air Lines , American Airlines and United Airlines were also under pressure amid a TSA staffing shortage . Olema Pharmaceuticals -- Shares of the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company tumbled 20% following disappointing trial results from Roche. The latter's Phase 3 study for an oral breast cancer drug did not meet its primary objective, leading to uncertainty for the entire oral breast cancer drug class. Universal Health Services , Talkspace – The provider of hospital services announced it would acquire Talkspace, an online therapy company, for $5.25 a share. The enterprise value of the deal comes to...
Scott Olson Cboe Global Markets ( CBOE ) plans to introduce later this year a prediction markets framework that allows for a partial payout if the trader is directionally correct in their position. That contrasts with current event contracts that offer binary "yes or no" outcomes, the exchange said. Under Cboe's ( CBOE ) new framework, customers can enter contracts with three potential payout outc...
Scott Olson Cboe Global Markets ( CBOE ) plans to introduce later this year a prediction markets framework that allows for a partial payout if the trader is directionally correct in their position. That contrasts with current event contracts that offer binary "yes or no" outcomes, the exchange said. Under Cboe's ( CBOE ) new framework, customers can enter contracts with three potential payout outcomes: a $0 payout, a partial payout within a defined "payout zone," or a full $100 payout. The company initially plans to offer the framework through a Mini S&P 500 Index prediction market contract. Traders would be able to express their outlook on the U.S. equity market, such as where the S&P 500 Index may close at the end of a trading day — by taking a traditional “yes” or “no” position or by using the added “payout zone” position to reduce potential losses and potentially benefit from being directionally correct without an exact call. "These contracts will offer greater flexibility and clearly defined risk compared to traditional event contracts, along with the opportunity to earn a partial return when traders are directionally correct," said JJ Kinahan, head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products at Cboe ( CBOE ). Cboe ( CBOE ) plans to launch its first Mini-SPX prediction market contract in Q2 2026. The product will use a traditional options wrapper to deliver fixed-return outcome and settle in cash, similar to standard index options. This securities-based product will be listed on Cboe Options Exchange and centrally cleared by OCC, the company said. It may extend its prediction market framework to offer more contracts on additional indices or stocks in the future. The move comes as prediction markets like Kalshi, Polymarket, and PredictIt surge in popularity, offering users the ability to take positions in everything from Federal Reserve rate decisions to Oscar winners to sporting events to the length of the war in Iran. Cboe ( CBOE ) stock rose 0.3% ...
AGNC Investment ( AGNC ) is on pace to close in the red for the seventh consecutive trading session, with the stock trading 1.69% lower at $10.47 on Monday afternoon. AGNC has fallen 6.26% over the last six trading sessions, compared to a 2.44% decline in the benchmark S&P 500 Index during the same period. On a year-to-date basis, the stock is down 3.87%, slightly underperforming the S&P 500, whic...
AGNC Investment ( AGNC ) is on pace to close in the red for the seventh consecutive trading session, with the stock trading 1.69% lower at $10.47 on Monday afternoon. AGNC has fallen 6.26% over the last six trading sessions, compared to a 2.44% decline in the benchmark S&P 500 Index during the same period. On a year-to-date basis, the stock is down 3.87%, slightly underperforming the S&P 500, which has slipped 2.03% so far in 2026. A recent report by Sensor Unlimited highlights that the MOVE index has fallen to a multi-year low, raising concerns about AGNC’s profitability and book value if volatility rises. Trading at 1.254x P/TBV—near decade-high levels—the stock carries elevated valuation risk, reinforcing a hold rating. However, Dmytro Lebid reported that AGNC, backed by 97% dividend coverage and zero credit risk, the stock offers a robust 12.6% yield in today’s market. With interest rate volatility expected to ease in 2026, AGNC is well-positioned to play a central role in an income-focused portfolio. He ranks it as a top mREIT pick with a Buy rating. On the same line, SA authors and the Wall Street analysts grade the stock as Buy. More on AGNC Investment AGNC Investment: Unusually Low MOVE Index Is A Ticking Time Bomb AGNC Vs. Starwood Property: Why The 12.7% Yield Giant Is My Top Buy For The 2026 Easing Cycle Inside HDO's Strategy For A Changing Market AGNC signals continued constructive agency MBS backdrop as portfolio leverage and hedge strategy evolve AGNC Investment Q4 earnings trail consensus as backdrop improves
Higher prices will push inflation upward in 2025, limiting the Federal Reserve’s ability to cushion the soft U.S. labor market, said former Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian.
Higher prices will push inflation upward in 2025, limiting the Federal Reserve’s ability to cushion the soft U.S. labor market, said former Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Alphabet (GOOG, Financials) has approved a new compensation package for Chief Executive Sundar Pichai that could reach up to $692 million over the next three years, placing him among the highest-paid corporate leaders globally. The bundle comes with two sets of performance stock units, each worth $63 million. These awards are based on how well Alphabet's t...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Alphabet (GOOG, Financials) has approved a new compensation package for Chief Executive Sundar Pichai that could reach up to $692 million over the next three years, placing him among the highest-paid corporate leaders globally. The bundle comes with two sets of performance stock units, each worth $63 million. These awards are based on how well Alphabet's total shareholder return compares to those of firms in the S&P 100. The first part is for the years 2026 to 2027, while the second part is for the years 2026 to 2028. The amount of shares that vest might be anything from 0% to 200% of the objective, depending on how well the firm does relative to its competitors. The prizes could not vest at all if Alphabet doesn't do well. Pichai will also get $84 million in restricted stock units that will vest over three years, as long as he stays with the firm. Alphabet's new technology divisions are also getting further incentives. Waymo, the self-driving car company, is responsible for nearly $130 million in stock awards, while Wing Aviation, the drone delivery company, is responsible for around $45 million. Pichai's base compensation is still $2 million, which hasn't increased since 2020. The CEO is not eligible for an annual cash bonus.
Oil ( CL1:COM ) prices have surged sharply since the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran conflict, but a growing divergence between crude prices and energy equities may signal the rally is nearing exhaustion, according to BTIG. West Texas Intermediate crude has climbed from a Feb. 27 closing price of $67.02 per barrel to roughly $94.52, marking a gain of about 41%. During the surge, prices briefly spiked as...
Oil ( CL1:COM ) prices have surged sharply since the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran conflict, but a growing divergence between crude prices and energy equities may signal the rally is nearing exhaustion, according to BTIG. West Texas Intermediate crude has climbed from a Feb. 27 closing price of $67.02 per barrel to roughly $94.52, marking a gain of about 41%. During the surge, prices briefly spiked as high as $119.48 per barrel as geopolitical tensions intensified and traders priced in potential supply disruptions across the Middle East. Despite the dramatic move in crude, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) has lagged behind the commodity’s advance. Over the same period, the ETF has risen from $55.05 to $56.62, a modest 2.8% increase, with its high point of $57.88 reached last week. The divergence has caught the attention of BTIG’s chief market technician, Jonathan Krinsky, because energy equities often lead commodity prices during sustained rallies. When stocks fail to confirm higher oil prices, it can indicate the move is losing momentum. The current stretch in crude is also historically extreme. At one point Friday, WTI traded roughly 45% above its 200-day moving average Krinsky noted— a level rarely seen over the past four decades. Similar overextensions occurred during the 1990 Gulf War and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, both of which ultimately proved to be short-lived oil spikes. Other energy and oil focused ETFs that may be worth monitoring include the following: Energy ETFs: ( VDE ) ( AMLP ), ( XOP ), ( OIH ), and ( IXC ). Oil ETFs: ( USO ), ( UCO ), ( DBO ), ( OILK ), and ( USL ). More on markets Dividend stocks build momentum as Middle East tensions push oil above $100/bbl Turkey says NATO shot down second Iranian ballistic missile after airspace breach RBC Capital Markets holds S&P 500 target, says Iran conflict too early to shift view BTIG warns: A break below 6,700 could send S&P 500 toward 200-day moving average How high can oil rise this year?...