📈 U.S. Stock Market Dashboard

Moving Averages for Stocks

Moving averages smooth price data to identify trend direction.

• 50-day SMA: Intermediate trend. Stocks above it are generally bullish
• 200-day SMA: Long-term trend. Institutional benchmark level
• Golden Cross: 50-day crosses above 200-day — bullish signal
• Death Cross: 50-day crosses below 200-day — bearish signal
• EMA vs SMA: EMA reacts faster to recent prices, better for swing trading

Key levels: If S&P 500 holds above its 200-day SMA, the broad market trend is bullish. Individual stocks above their 50-day are in short-term uptrends.

P/E Ratios & Valuation

Price-to-Earnings ratio measures how much investors pay per dollar of earnings.

• Trailing P/E: Based on last 12 months of actual earnings
• Forward P/E: Based on estimated future earnings (more forward-looking)
• PEG Ratio: P/E divided by growth rate. PEG < 1 suggests undervaluation
• S&P 500 avg P/E: Historically ~15-17x. Above 25x suggests overvaluation
• By sector: Tech typically trades 25-35x; Utilities 15-20x; Financials 10-15x

Earnings Impact & Catalysts

Quarterly earnings reports are the single biggest catalyst for individual stock moves.

• EPS Beat/Miss: Stocks move based on actual vs. consensus estimates
• Revenue Growth: Top-line growth matters more for growth stocks
• Guidance: Forward guidance often moves stocks more than the actual numbers
• Whisper Numbers: Unofficial estimates that can exceed analyst consensus
• Post-earnings drift: Stocks tend to continue moving in the direction of the initial earnings reaction for 1-3 months

Dividend Analysis

Dividends provide income and signal company financial health.

• Dividend Yield: Annual dividend / share price. S&P 500 avg ~1.5%
• Payout Ratio: % of earnings paid as dividends. <60% is sustainable
• Dividend Aristocrats: S&P 500 stocks with 25+ years of consecutive dividend increases
• Ex-Dividend Date: Must own shares before this date to receive the dividend
• DRIP: Dividend Reinvestment Plans compound returns over time

Options Basics

Options provide leverage and hedging capabilities beyond stock ownership.

• Calls: Right to BUY at strike price. Bullish bet. Max loss = premium paid
• Puts: Right to SELL at strike price. Bearish bet or portfolio hedge
• The Greeks:
  • Delta — Price sensitivity to underlying (0 to 1 for calls)
  • Gamma — Rate of change of delta. Highest ATM near expiry
  • Theta — Time decay. Options lose value daily (hurts buyers)
  • Vega — Sensitivity to implied volatility changes
• IV Crush: Implied volatility drops after earnings, crushing option premiums even if direction is correct

Market Hours & Sessions

Understanding market sessions is critical for timing entries and exits.

• Pre-Market: 4:00 AM - 9:30 AM ET. Lower liquidity, wider spreads
• Regular Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET. Best liquidity and tightest spreads
• After-Hours: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET. Earnings reactions happen here
• Opening 30 min: Highest volatility. Avoid market orders. Wait for direction
• Power Hour: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET. Institutional rebalancing, high volume
• Triple Witching: Options/futures expiration days (3rd Friday of March, June, Sep, Dec) — extreme volume and volatility