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Source: Seeking Alpha, CME Group FedWatch Tool, 02/20/2026

U.S. markets navigated a shortened four-day trading week as investors observed Presidents’ Day on Monday, resulting in lighter volumes and choppy price action. Much of the week felt like a holding pattern ahead of Friday morning’s headline-heavy session. Economic data offered a mixed picture: GDP growth came in steady but not spectacular, while PCE inflation data showed lingering price pressures beneath the surface. Meanwhile, the long-anticipated Supreme Court ruling determined that President Trump did not have the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), removing a layer of legal uncertainty around trade policy. Markets digested the news calmly. The S&P 500 Index ticked up 0.6% by midday trading, while the 10-Year Treasury yield edged up to 4.10%, which is slightly higher on the week but still well below where it began the year. Technology stocks led the advance for stocks, climbing nearly 0.9% by midday Friday trading before giving back half of its gains by early afternoon.

Alpha Picks leaders in the Tech sector included TTM Technologies (TTMI) and AppLovin Corporation (APP), up approximately 8.0% and 5.0%, respectively. Despite headline risk, equity markets held firm. The S&P 500’s weekly gain of approximately 0.6% reflects resilience rather than exuberance. Volatility was contained, and sector performance skewed toward growth. Investors appear increasingly selective, rewarding companies with visible earnings growth and durable margins while showing less enthusiasm for rate-sensitive cyclicals.

There’s more to unpack from this week’s market activity. You can find the expanded analysis in the full recap.

We'll continue to track the trends that matter most and bring you clear, informative insights every week. Until then, wishing you a productive and profitable week ahead.

- Steven Cress and the Seeking Alpha Quant Team

*Performance between July 1, 2022 and February 22, 2026. Alpha Picks adds two stocks per month—on the closest business day to the 1st & 15th. Alpha Picks removes stocks based on rating thresholds (i.e., when a rating changes to a sell). Performance is calculated and reported daily using time-weighted returns. For more details on the performance calculation and methodology of Alpha Picks, click here.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Seeking Alpha does not take account of your objectives or your financial situation and does not offer any personalized investment advice. Any content and tools on the platform are offered for information purposes only. Analysts are third-party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker, U.S. investment adviser, or investment bank.

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