US Stock Market Sector Analysis – Thursday, May 21, 2026 BULLISH

Markets rebounded after crude oil slid on hopes for a US-Iran deal, while investor optimism was tempered by mixed reactions to corporate results and guidance. The most impactful headline came from NVIDIA (NVDA) reporting strong results that nevertheless failed to lift overall sentiment, leaving the Mag 7 essentially flat for the day and chips mixed. Chip Supply Chain outperformed, rising +3.5% as ARM Holdings (ARM) jumped 16.2% to $298.23, and Qualcomm (QCOM) added 5.4% to $212.62. At the same time IT Services saw a surge led by IBM (IBM), which climbed 12.4% to $252.97 on fresh attention to quantum initiatives and policy support for quantum spending.

Market Condition Dashboard

US 10-Year Treasury Yield

Sell / Wait

4.57%

rising

Impact

Confidence

Crude Oil (WTI)

Elevated

$96.35

-1.9% 1D

Impact

Confidence

VIX (Fear Index)

Normal Range

16.8

-3.9% 1D

Impact

Confidence

200-Day Moving Average

Bullish Trend Intact

0/3 below

SPY above (+9.9%), QQQ above (+16.6%), DIA above (+6.3%)

Impact

Confidence

Tracked Stocks Breadth (50DMA)

Pause Discretionary Adds

68%

46 of 68 above 50DMA · +2.9pp 5D

Impact

Confidence

Put/Call Ratio (5D)

Contrarian Sell Signal

0.66

Too Optimistic · stable

Impact

Confidence

Signal analysis only — not investment advice

Sector Performance (Base=100)

AI and Technology Sector Analysis

The AI investment theme showed a bifurcated market response today: the Mag 7 cluster was broadly steady with Amazon (AMZN) at $268.46 (+1.3%) and NVIDIA (NVDA) at $219.25 (-1.8%), underscoring profit-taking after NVDA’s print even as longer-term AI demand remains intact. Strength in the chip supply chain and chip equipment — ARM (ARM) $298.23 and Lam Research (LRCX) $302.03 — reinforces the view that semiconductor capital expenditure and supply-chain upgrades are the near-term beneficiaries of AI buildout. Meanwhile, infrastructure winners like Dell (DELL) $252.80 signal that data-center refresh and enterprise software adaptation will be the critical second leg of AI adoption.

US Stock Sector Overview

Sector	1D	5D	20D	vs 50MA
Mag 7 (AI Spenders)	+0.0%	-0.6%	+4.5%	ABOVE
Chip Supply Chain	+3.5%	+9.9%	+22.6%	ABOVE
Infrastructure	+2.1%	+0.4%	+17.1%	ABOVE
Enterprise Software	-2.3%	+1.9%	+1.3%	BELOW
Finance	+0.5%	+3.0%	+2.4%	ABOVE
Healthcare	+1.0%	+0.4%	+12.9%	ABOVE
Retail	-4.7%	-3.8%	-1.2%	BELOW
IT Services	+5.8%	+10.4%	+4.8%	BELOW
Airlines	+1.9%	+7.5%	+9.0%	ABOVE
Hospitality & Travel	+1.0%	+4.3%	-5.2%	BELOW
Food & Restaurant	-0.4%	+0.2%	+0.5%	BELOW
Logistics	-0.0%	+2.2%	-3.2%	BELOW
Industrial	+1.1%	+1.2%	+4.9%	ABOVE
Cybersecurity	+0.1%	+6.5%	+37.5%	ABOVE
Chip Equipment	+2.1%	+3.4%	+8.3%	ABOVE
Data Center REITs	+1.6%	+2.7%	-2.6%	ABOVE
Utilities	+1.0%	+0.6%	-1.8%	BELOW
Energy	-0.4%	-0.4%	+4.5%	BELOW
Defense & Aerospace	+0.1%	+1.8%	+3.6%	BELOW
Telecom	+1.0%	+4.2%	+0.5%	BELOW
Media & Entertainment	+0.4%	+1.7%	-1.2%	BELOW
Biotech	+0.8%	+2.1%	-0.6%	BELOW
Materials	+1.0%	-0.0%	-1.5%	BELOW
Analog & Embedded Chips	-2.6%	-2.2%	+5.0%	ABOVE

Sector Strength

IT Services +5.8% 20d: +4.8%

IBM +12.4% (20d: +9.9%), Accenture (ACN) -0.8% (20d: -0.3%) [<50MA]

Chip Supply Chain +3.5% 20d: +22.6%

ARM Holdings (ARM) +16.2% (20d: +27.0%), Qualcomm (QCOM) +5.4% (20d: +43.4%), Marvell (MRVL) +2.1% (20d: +16.1%)

Chip Equipment +2.1% 20d: +8.3%

Lam Research (LRCX) +3.5% (20d: +12.9%), ASML +2.7% (20d: +9.5%), Applied Materials (AMAT) +0.2% (20d: +2.6%)

Infrastructure +2.1% 20d: +17.1%

Dell (DELL) +4.1% (20d: +17.0%), Cisco (CSCO) +3.4% (20d: +32.8%), Vertiv (VRT) +2.4% (20d: -0.0%)

Airlines +1.9% 20d: +9.0%

Delta (DAL) +2.1% (20d: +10.8%), United (UAL) +1.7% (20d: +7.1%)

Sector Warnings

Retail -4.7% 20d: -1.2%

Walmart (WMT) -7.3% (20d: -6.4%) [<50MA], Costco (COST) -2.2% (20d: +4.0%)

Analog & Embedded Chips -2.6% 20d: +5.0%

Microchip Technology (MCHP) -3.1% (20d: +1.9%), Texas Instruments (TXN) -2.1% (20d: +8.2%)

Enterprise Software -2.3% 20d: +1.3%

Adobe (ADBE) -3.7% (20d: -0.5%) [<50MA], ServiceNow (NOW) -3.5% (20d: +10.6%), Salesforce (CRM) -2.1% (20d: -1.0%) [<50MA]

Food & Restaurant -0.4% 20d: +0.5%

Starbucks (SBUX) -2.2% (20d: +6.2%), McDonald's (MCD) +1.4% (20d: -5.1%) [<50MA]

Energy -0.4% 20d: +4.5%

Exxon Mobil (XOM) -0.6% (20d: +5.0%), Chevron (CVX) -0.2% (20d: +4.1%) [<50MA]

Sector Deep Dive

Chip Supply Chain rallied decisively, led by ARM Holdings (ARM) which surged +16.2% to $298.23 as buyers rotated into AI-related IP plays; the sector is +3.5% on the day and sits well above its 50-day trend with a 50-day performance of +96.2%, highlighting strong momentum over the last 50 sessions. Qualcomm (QCOM) also contributed, rising +5.4% to $212.62 and reinforcing the supply-chain upgrade narrative; the 50-day look shows the group comfortably above its 50-day average and continuing to attract conviction flows.

IT Services saw an outsized move after IBM (IBM) jumped +12.4% to $252.97 amid headlines around quantum initiatives and potential government support, putting the sub-sector back above its 50-day trend where IT Services remains below the 50-day average overall but is showing a quick short-term reversal (50-day: -2.8%). The move in IBM underscores rotation into legacy tech names that are tied to next-generation infrastructure, even as the broader IT Services group navigates mixed 50-day dynamics.

Infrastructure strength was evident as Dell (DELL) rose +4.1% to $252.80, helping the sector gain +2.1% on the day and sit comfortably above its 50-day trend with a 50-day performance of +42.1%. Data-center and server demand remain the primary structural bull case for the sector over the 50-day window, and Dell’s rally reflects investors paying up for companies positioned to capture enterprise AI rollout and capacity expansion.

Retail underperformed sharply after Walmart (WMT) slumped -7.3% to $121.34 in a heavy session that dragged the Retail sector down -4.7% on the day; Retail is only +1.0% over the 50-day window but sits just above its 50-day at +1.0%, leaving the sector vulnerable to headline-driven downside. The divergence between retail’s 50-day flatness and more cyclical consumer pockets suggests selective exposure is critical, with large-cap discretionary names under pressure versus essential retail that is holding nearer-term support.

Market Breadth Analysis

US stock market breadth analysis shows 11 of 24 sectors trading above their 50-day moving average, while 13 are below. With the majority of sectors below the 50-day MA, medium-term momentum is deteriorating. The 20-day breadth shows 8 sectors in negative territory, pointing to widespread selling pressure.

Interactive Charts

S&P 500 & NASDAQ 100

50-Day Sector Performance

1-Day vs 5-Day Sector Change

Stock-Level Detail

Mag 7 (AI Spenders) Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
AMZN	$268.46	+1.3%	+1.6%	+1.7%	+28.1%	ABOVE	0
AAPL	$304.99	+0.9%	+1.6%	+12.6%	+19.4%	ABOVE	0
META	$606.82	+0.4%	-1.1%	-10.0%	-4.7%	BELOW	0
TSLA	$417.85	+0.1%	-1.0%	+11.0%	+5.8%	ABOVE	0
MSFT	$419.09	-0.3%	-0.5%	-1.1%	+4.5%	ABOVE	1
GOOG	$383.24	-0.4%	-2.5%	+12.0%	+26.5%	ABOVE	1
NVDA	$219.25	-1.8%	-2.6%	+5.4%	+19.9%	ABOVE	1

Chip Supply Chain Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
ARM	$298.23	+16.2%	+42.6%	+27.0%	+159.1%	ABOVE	0
QCOM	$212.62	+5.4%	+5.9%	+43.4%	+62.7%	ABOVE	0
MRVL	$190.64	+2.1%	+7.8%	+16.1%	+117.6%	ABOVE	0
TSM	$406.20	+1.4%	+0.7%	+1.2%	+21.3%	ABOVE	0
AMD	$449.59	+0.4%	+6.0%	+29.3%	+127.4%	ABOVE	0
INTC	$118.50	-0.4%	+8.9%	+43.6%	+161.9%	ABOVE	1
AVGO	$413.91	-0.8%	-2.5%	-1.9%	+23.7%	ABOVE	1

Infrastructure Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA
DELL	$252.80	+4.1%	+4.5%	+17.0%	+69.2%	ABOVE
CSCO	$117.76	+3.4%	-0.0%	+32.8%	+52.9%	ABOVE
VRT	$323.33	+2.4%	-12.8%	-0.0%	+21.9%	ABOVE
HPE	$33.87	+0.5%	+2.6%	+20.6%	+58.4%	ABOVE
SMCI	$33.46	+0.0%	+7.8%	+15.1%	+8.3%	ABOVE

Enterprise Software Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
PLTR	$137.41	+0.2%	+2.6%	-4.0%	-10.5%	BELOW	0
CRM	$175.86	-2.1%	+1.6%	-1.0%	-11.3%	BELOW	1
NOW	$99.69	-3.5%	+4.9%	+10.6%	-11.8%	ABOVE	1
ADBE	$244.10	-3.7%	-1.4%	-0.5%	-9.5%	BELOW	3

Finance Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
GS	$983.83	+0.6%	+4.2%	+6.6%	+25.5%	ABOVE	0
JPM	$301.64	+0.3%	+1.7%	-1.7%	+7.7%	ABOVE	0

Healthcare Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
LLY	$1041.65	+2.2%	+3.7%	+18.0%	+6.8%	ABOVE	0
UNH	$380.31	-0.2%	-2.9%	+7.8%	+38.1%	ABOVE	6

Retail Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
COST	$1050.45	-2.2%	+0.1%	+4.0%	+4.8%	ABOVE	2
WMT	$121.34	-7.3%	-7.7%	-6.4%	-2.8%	BELOW	2

IT Services Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
IBM	$252.97	+12.4%	+15.4%	+9.9%	+2.9%	ABOVE	0
ACN	$175.76	-0.8%	+5.4%	-0.3%	-8.5%	BELOW	1

Airlines Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
DAL	$75.46	+2.1%	+7.7%	+10.8%	+30.9%	ABOVE	0
UAL	$99.64	+1.7%	+7.3%	+7.1%	+15.2%	ABOVE	0

Hospitality & Travel Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
BKNG	$159.28	+1.7%	+3.6%	-11.4%	-5.4%	BELOW	0
MAR	$369.83	+0.2%	+4.9%	+0.9%	+17.2%	ABOVE	0

Food & Restaurant Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
MCD	$282.27	+1.4%	+2.8%	-5.1%	-12.3%	BELOW	0
SBUX	$104.13	-2.2%	-2.5%	+6.2%	+4.6%	ABOVE	1

Logistics Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
FDX	$312.21	+0.5%	+3.5%	+0.2%	+10.1%	ABOVE	0
UPS	$98.25	-0.6%	+1.0%	-6.6%	+2.1%	BELOW	1

Industrial Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
HON	$234.71	+2.9%	+5.0%	+5.6%	-3.6%	ABOVE	0
CAT	$865.95	-0.8%	-2.5%	+4.2%	+23.8%	ABOVE	1

Cybersecurity Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
PANW	$252.92	+2.5%	+4.2%	+41.7%	+50.4%	ABOVE	0
CRWD	$162.06	-0.3%	+9.1%	+44.7%	+46.8%	ABOVE	1
ZS	$171.01	-2.0%	+6.2%	+26.2%	+12.8%	ABOVE	2

Chip Equipment Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA
LRCX	$302.03	+3.5%	+6.2%	+12.9%	+44.3%	ABOVE
ASML	$1592.00	+2.7%	+6.0%	+9.5%	+18.0%	ABOVE
AMAT	$427.36	+0.2%	-2.0%	+2.6%	+26.9%	ABOVE

Data Center REITs Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
DLR	$192.98	+1.9%	+3.1%	-2.9%	+8.4%	ABOVE	0
EQIX	$1078.42	+1.3%	+2.3%	-2.3%	+11.6%	ABOVE	0

Utilities Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA
NEE	$89.04	+1.6%	-3.9%	-5.9%	-2.2%	BELOW
DUK	$124.66	+0.7%	+3.1%	-1.2%	-4.6%	BELOW
SO	$94.24	+0.7%	+2.7%	+1.6%	-2.9%	BELOW

Energy Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
CVX	$191.01	-0.2%	+0.9%	+4.1%	-2.1%	BELOW	2
XOM	$155.29	-0.6%	-1.7%	+5.0%	+1.8%	ABOVE	2

Defense & Aerospace Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
RTX	$175.25	+0.6%	+2.8%	+1.0%	-13.3%	BELOW	0
LMT	$519.39	+0.0%	+1.3%	+1.8%	-19.9%	BELOW	0
GD	$337.23	-0.3%	+1.3%	+8.1%	-4.2%	BELOW	3

Telecom Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA
T	$25.01	+1.6%	+5.5%	-3.3%	-6.5%	BELOW
VZ	$47.46	+0.9%	+4.1%	+4.1%	-3.2%	ABOVE
TMUS	$189.87	+0.4%	+3.1%	+0.6%	-10.9%	BELOW

Media & Entertainment Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
NFLX	$89.30	+1.4%	+2.6%	-3.4%	-5.3%	BELOW	0
DIS	$102.79	-0.5%	+0.8%	+1.0%	+4.2%	ABOVE	1

Biotech Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
AMGN	$337.42	+1.8%	+3.4%	-1.3%	-7.6%	BELOW	0
GILD	$129.65	-0.1%	+0.7%	+0.1%	-9.6%	BELOW	1

Materials Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
LIN	$512.89	+1.6%	+1.7%	+0.8%	+4.9%	ABOVE	0
APD	$288.40	+0.3%	-1.8%	-3.8%	+0.5%	BELOW	0

Analog & Embedded Chips Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
TXN	$298.39	-2.1%	-1.4%	+8.2%	+57.8%	ABOVE	1
MCHP	$90.65	-3.1%	-2.9%	+1.9%	+45.2%	ABOVE	1

Key Stock Movers

Today's biggest movers by absolute percentage change: ARM Holdings (ARM) (Chip Supply Chain) rose 16.2% to $298.23. IBM (IT Services) rose 12.4% to $252.97. Walmart (WMT) (Retail) fell 7.3% to $121.34. Qualcomm (QCOM) (Chip Supply Chain) rose 5.4% to $212.62. Dell (DELL) (Infrastructure) rose 4.1% to $252.80. These individual stock movements were key drivers of their respective sector performance.

Risk and Opportunity Assessment

No high-severity risk alerts are active. Market conditions are favorable, but always maintain awareness of potential profit-taking after extended rallies. Sector diversification remains important to manage concentration risk.

US Stock Market Outlook

Looking ahead, the US stock market faces a mixed technical backdrop: 11 sectors trade above their 50MA while 13 remain below, and breadth is split even as 15 sectors advanced today. Alert counts were concentrated among five notable movers flagged on watchlists (top gainers/losers), keeping volatility elevated as investors parse earnings, oil headlines and policy-driven quantum/AI news. With the 50-day trends showing clear leadership in chips and pockets of strength in infrastructure and IT services, tactical positioning should favor high-conviction exposure to chip supply-chain names while trimming more cyclically exposed retail and enterprise software positions that are below their 50-day trend.

Hypothetical Portfolio

SIMULATION

Value $124,429

P&L +24.43%

Today +0.99%

View full portfolio → Simulation only. Not investment advice.

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