10/27/26…….Update-5..Momentum continues as AI rolls on from Anthropic buzz with chip stock strength. SMH up over 3% and QQQs up over 1%. But biotechs get pulled along with tape and seasonality favors SMID biotechs thru early January.
- IBB up 1.63% in bullish technical zone at $212.10; XBI stronger with a green screen in SMIDs.
- ARKG not to disappoint up 6% to $51.65 !
- IWM up 1.15% at cusp of bottom channel helps SMID biotechs.
10/26/26…..10:46 EDT…Update-4 …Momentum is here with XENCOR one of our top SMID Picks: Xencor (XNCR) soars 25 % on Phase I dose selection for Bispecific T-cell engager for Renal cell Carcinoma (RCC).
10/23/26…Update-3 Sector tracker-more rotation in a volatile week: TODAY Oct 23 -Energy up 2.3%, IT up 0.48%, S&P 50 down 0.5%.Some come back for chips, but tech is still cautious looking for monetization. Biotech looks good but needs a technical boost.
Weekly performance: XLV up 1.45%, XLE up 1.58%, MAGS down 1.7%.
IBB up 2.85%, up 23.09% YTD, XBI up 3.62% , up 22.64% YTD.
Week ending 10/24: DOW up 0.4% YTD up 8.49%, SPY down 0.43%, up 11.45% YTD, QQQ down 0.76%, up 4.67%YTD.
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10/22/26…UPDATE -2 …Market action is dominated by concerns about AI capital investment, cleaves 2.6% from NASDAQ; S&P 500 down 1.2%. Oil and Iran war brings Brent crude up to $113. Healthcare sector steady as she goes with XLV up 1.32% at $181.30.
cont…10/22…..Healthcare stocks have been strong since June 2026 during ASCO and the XLV is up 7.41% MTD and 23.97 % per half year. ASCO this year had breakthroughs in oncology with improved diagnostics and drugs (Precision Oncology). This timing in June was also an interim peak in momentum for semiconductor stocks spurred by AI. As we have mentioned in previous articles biotechnology innovation was being eclipsed by AI so as technology stocks faltered, interest in biotech and healthcare investing picked up. If past trends are a guide we would expect biotech would be strong in Q4 as licking and M&A pick up.
- MRNA down 17% as initial data on cancer vaccine triggers sell-off. (no position)
- IBB down 0.95%, XBI down 0.75% on general market and geopolitical concerns.
- Large cap biopharma stable and green today. Strong Leaders: BIIB, JNJ, LLY.
- Weakness in genomics: GH, NTRA and ILMN; strength in GEHC, MDT, ISRG XNCR.
10/20/26… 11:20 A EDT..SMID Biotech rally begins today with a GREEN SCREEN! ARKG and IBB; RCUS, RVMD, XNCR etc.
SMID Biotechs Stalled but a Strong Week for Most Large Caps
- Large CAPs biopharmas did better during a volaiile week for AI and NASDAQ.
- SMIDs in a Red screen mode with XBI down 6%, IWM down 3%.
- BIG Winners for the week:AMGN, BIIB, LLY, PFE. ;XLV up 13.74% YTD.
Another Rotation week? AI trade is back?
SMID biotech stocks are coming back today as large caps take a rest. The XBI is coming back up 2.86% along with some of our favorite SMID trades: DNTH, NTRA,PTGX,ROIV, SLDB, TWST, VYGR, XENE. A little more action in ARKG and I’ll go RISK ON!
Stil lworried about small cap action.
Large Cap Biopharmaceuticals before Q3 earnings
| COMPANY | TIcker | P | Mkt Cap | % YTD | RSI | P 10/18 | % WTD | |
| $B | ||||||||
| Abbvie | ABBV | 276.47 | 488 | 21 | 71 | 285.42 | 3.24 | |
| Amgen | AMGN | 414.87 | 2224 | 26.7 | 62.5 | 432.43 | 4.25 | |
| Gilead Sciences | GILD | 151.17 | 187 | 23 | 63.41 | 156.19 | 3.32 | |
| Johnson and J | JNJ | 261.44 | 630 | 26.3 | 43.7 | 255.56 | -2.25 | |
| Eli Lilly | LLY | 1179 | 1110 | 9.73 | 63.33 | 1257 | 6.59 | |
| Merck | MRK | 145.6 | 359 | 38.3 | 52 | 145.95 | 0.24 | |
| Pfizer | PFE | 28.28 | 161 | 13.57 | 69.7 | 29.58 | 4.6 | |
| Vertex | VRTX | 510 | 129 | 12.5 | 43.8 | 499.74 | -1.77 | |
| ARK GEnomic Rev | ARKG | 40.7 | 46.7 | -8.97 | ||||
| iShares Biotech | IBB | 45.84 | 202 | -2.18 | ||||
| State ST SPDR | XBI | 35.9 | 144.32 | -6.15 | ||||
Disclosure: LONG: ABBV, GILD, LLY, MRK, PFE, VRTX; New BIIB, IBB.
