Compound and Friends Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu1gyVqeUws

Topics covered:
1) 0:00 Announcements
2) 0:35 Market Commentary and Index Review (Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Russell 2000)
3) 10:15 FOCUS LIST: NVDA, MSFT, NOW, UBER, LLY, NVO, VRTX
4) 13:25 Stock Review – Software: IGV (ETF), ADBE, CDNS, SNPS, PANW, CRWD, ZS, QLYS, WDAY
5) 16:20 Stock Review – Biotech: XBI (ETF), MDGL, ITCI, IDYA, IMVT, INBX, APLS, IMCR, ABOS, APYX, BCTX
6) 19:40 Stock Review – Semiconductors: SMH (ETF), AVGO, KLAC, LRCX, AMD
7) 20:30 Stock Review – Watch List/General Ideas/Commentary: META, NFLX, BKNG, VRT, CLS, SPOT, WING, LULU, ANET, CAMT, CELH, XHB (ETF), PHM, TOL, DFH, RKLB
8) 24:35 Conclusion/Summary

Market Summary:
After the follow through days we saw in early November, I mentioned that I expected the strength to continue into mid-January with normal pullbacks to the 21-day EMA. We had the first pullback in late November (through time), and then we saw another pullback this past week (through price). During the webinar today, I received different feedback from members. For the members who got hit hard this past week, I offer a few guidelines: 1) You’re probably too over-levered, using shorter-term options, 3xETFs, futures, excessive margin, etc. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I know we all want to make a quick fortune, but you’re better off focusing on slow and steady progress. 2) Maybe reduce the number of stocks you own, especially if you’re a newer trader. You can always use ETFs (Index and/or Sector ETFs) and focus on fewer stocks so you don’t overwhelm yourself. 3) Maybe use lighter positions, give them more room, and expand your timeframe.

From here, I’m am expecting a bounce this week and into the week of January OpEx. If we get that bounce, I will look to reduce exposure because I am still expecting a normal pullback to the 50-day during the second half of January. How much will I reduce? I don’t know yet. I am currently 80-90% invested and I will keep you posted in these videos. As always, I don’t want anyone copying me blindly. I encourage you to make your own decisions based on your timeframe and risk tolerance. The way I manage my portfolio IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. I can be tactical at times and this doesn’t work for all members. Again, I will take this day-by-day and do my best to manage risk. Thank you and good luck this week!

Unusual Option Activity:
1/5/24 Healthcare ETF (XLV) with 1000 March $142 puts sold to open $3.75
1/5/24 Healthcare ETF (XLV) also seeing buyers of upside Feb $142 calls 3000X
1/5/24 Healthcare ETF (XLV) with 2500 June $145 puts sell to open $6.95 as some $132 short puts adjust
1/5/24 Semiconductors ETF (SMH) seeing buyers 15000 March $175 calls $4.25 to $4.30
1/5/24 Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) large opening sale of 3750 December $375 puts for 17.75
1/5/24 Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) buyers also active for 3000 Jan 26th (W) $400 calls for $1.8M
1/5/24 Energy ETF (XLE) with a block of 7500 May $77/$65 put spreads buying midday at $1.43
1/5/24 Tesla (TSLA) opening seller 600 July $235 puts for 29.10
1/5/24 Tesla (TSLA) also seeing a buyer of 1000 Feb 2nd $240 calls at $11.65, earnings due 1/24
1/5/24 Wynn Resorts (WYNN) buyer 500 June $90 calls ITM at 13.40 offer
1/5/24 Shopify (SHOP) seeing over 5000 Sept $80 calls buying $11.40 to $11.55 in large lots, nearly $6M in call premium
1/5/24 Uber (UBER) large lots selling to open 7300 Feb $50 puts at $0.61 bids
1/5/24 Citigroup (C) buyers 1875 September $57.50 calls $3.65 offers’
1/5/24 Citigroup (C) also with 7500 June $55 puts selling to open $3.92
1/5/24 JP Morgan (JPM) seeing opening sales of 1300 March $175 puts at $6.35, reports 1/12
1/5/24 Biogen (BIIB) with opening sellers of 330 Jan 2025 $340 calls at $11.20 to $10.20
1/5/24 Merck (MRK) buyers of 1700 Jan $114 calls at $3.65 offers
1/5/24 Amgen (AMGN) buyer 650 January 2025 $320 calls near $25
1/5/24 AbbVie (ABBV) with 1200 Feb 2nd $152.50 calls buying at $10.70, earnings that day 2/2
1/5/24 Glaxo (GSK) with 5000 February $41 calls bought $0.50
1/5/24 TG Therapeutic (TGTX) with 5000 Jan $19.5/$27 call spreads bought $1.50 to open
1/5/24 Rocket Labs (RKLB) unusual buy 3000 April $7 calls for 0.49
1/5/24 Advanced Micro (AMD) 3800 Jan 12th $138 calls buying at $2.80
1/5/24 Advanced Micro (AMD) also opening sale 1000 July 105 puts for 3.90
1/5/24 Amazon (AMZN) buyer 1000 Feb. 2nd (W) $145 calls for $6.50 will capture earnings
1/5/24 Salesforce (CRM) opening sale 1000 March $220 puts 2.36
1/5/24 Arm Holdings (ARM) opening sale 1500 March $60 puts 2.96
1/5/24 Google (GOOGL) seeing 2900 Feb 2nd $125 puts sell to open at $1.07, captures earnings 2/1
1/5/24 Apple (AAPL) massive late day opening sellers for 10,000 July $180 puts at $9.60 to $9.15, over $10M
1/4/24 Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) seeing opening sales of 10,000 Jan 26th $185 puts at $1.20
1/4/24 Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) large buyers for 3400 March $51 calls at $2.76 to $2.78
1/4/24 Regional Banks ETF (KRE) buyer 1500 June $51 calls $4.75 offer
1/4/24 Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) opening sale 2000 Dec 2024 $360 puts for $14.67
1/4/24 Semiconductors ETF (SMH) buyer of 4000 June $170 calls at $11.75
1/4/24 Financials ETF (XLF) bull flow with 5500 November $38 calls bought $3.10 offer
1/4/24 McDonald’s (MCD) buyer 1500 Feb $290/$270 put spreads 2.62
1/4/24 On Holding (ONON) buyer 2000 July $30 calls $2.70 to $2.75
1/4/24 On Holding (ONON) also buyers of 5300 Jan $26.50 calls at $1.02
1/4/24 Ulta (ULTA) 1900 Feb $515 calls selling to open 2.45 to 2.20
1/4/24 Spotify (SPOT) seeing 4100 January $200/$207.50 call spreads bought for $1.80
1/4/24 MasterCard (MA) buyer 400 March $435 calls for $9.80
1/4/24 Amgen (AMGN) large buy of 500 Jan 2025 $240 calls at $72.50 to $74
1/4/24 Amgen (AMGN) also seeing 1000 January 2025 $300 puts sell to open for $26.30
1/4/24 Eli Lilly (LLY) with 300 Jan 2026 $610 puts sold to open for $2.6M premium
1/4/24 Novo Nordisk (NVO) with 2000 Feb $110 calls bought $3.25 offers
1/4/24 Novo Nordisk (NVO) buyers of 1000 Feb $108 calls at $4.47 and sells to open the Jan 26th $99 puts for $0.51
1/4/24 Cytokinetics (CYTK) Jan 100 short calls bought back to close 10,000X
1/4/24 Cytokinetics (CYTK) also seeing spreads sell February $75 puts to buy $100/$125 call spreads 2000X
1/4/24 CymaBay Therapeutics (CBAY) buyer of 2700 Feb $25 calls at $1.19 as the Jan calls adjust
1/4/24 1BriaCell Therapeutics (BCTX) unusual 2000 April $7.50 calls opening $0.65
BCTX an $88M immuno-oncology company posting some positive Bria-IMT data in brain cancer, HCW has an $18 target
1/4/24 Merck (MRK) large bull trade opens 8000 April $125/$105 bull risk reversals at $1.27 debit
1/4/24 Boeing (BA) buyers of more March $250 calls 1325X up to $12.45 offer
1/4/24 Micron (MU) early bull flow with buyers 2300 June $100 OTM calls up to $3.10
1/4/24 Apple (AAPL) buyer 1000 Feb. 2nd (W) $180 calls $6.35 to $6.45
1/4/24 Apple (AAPL) also large lots buying 6000 Jan 26th $185 calls at $2 to $2.35
1/4/24 Amazon (AMZN) 2500 Feb. 2nd (W) $150 calls bought $4.05 to $4.10
1/4/24 Advanced Micro (AMD) buyers of 2500 Jan $137 calls at $4.05 to $4.35 in large lots
1/4/24 DocuSign (DOCU) unusual 3000 OTM Feb $65 calls bought $0.55 to $0.70, more M&A bets
1/3/24 Tesla (TSLA) buyer 1750 Feb 9th (W) $260 calls for $7.45 offer up to $7.95, captures 1-24 earnings
1/3/24 McDonald’s (MCD) with 1800 Feb $290 puts bought $3.60 to $3.75
1/3/24 On Holding (ONON) opening seller 2000 February $27.50 ITM puts $2.49 to $2.46
1/3/24 Costco (COST) large buy 1200 June $540 puts for $6.30
1/3/24 Marathon Petro (MPC) seeing 600 March $160 calls bought $6.70 to $7.25
1/3/24 MasterCard (MA) opening sale 400 January 2026 $360 puts for $22.40
1/3/24 Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP) opening sale 1000 March $75 calls 3.30
1/3/24 Merck (MRK) with 1000 Jan 2026 $120 puts sell to open at $13.40 to $13.50
1/3/24 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) with 2000 Jan $315 puts opening for over $1.3M as some $330 puts adjust
1/3/24 Boeing (BA) with 1600 Feb $230 puts selling to open at $3.35 bids
1/3/24 Advanced Micro (AMD) large buyer of 1000 Jan 2026 $220 calls at $15.13 to $15.30 as the Dec 2025 $200 calls adjust
1/3/24 Advanced Micro (AMD) also buyer of 600 June 2025 $135 calls at $32.20 to $32.70
1/3/24 MongoDB (MDB) seeing 475 December 2025 $600 calls sell to open at $55.50
1/3/24 Snowflake (SNOW) with 1000 Sept $200/$220 call spreads bought
1/3/24 ServiceNow (NOW) buyer 200 Feb 9th (W) $675 calls $32.40 to $32.80
1/3/24 Micron (MU) buyers of 1300 April $82.50 calls at $6.50 as Jan calls adjust
1/3/24 Apyx Medical (APYX) unusual late day buy of 2000 December $2.5/$7.5 call spreads, a $90M med-tech