Week in Review: Apr 3 - Apr 11, 2026

Performance Snapshot

AlphaWizzard generated a +1.4% return this week, trailing the S&P 500's +3.70% and the Nasdaq's +4.5% performance during a volatile period for equity markets. Despite this week's relative underperformance, the strategy maintains its year-to-date leadership position with +17.3% returns, significantly outpacing both benchmarks, which remain in negative territory. Additionally, AlphaWizzard continues to demonstrate superior risk management, with a maximum drawdown of -8.8% compared to -9.1% for the S&P 500 (SPY) and -11.8% for the Nasdaq (QQQ).

The F1 Dashboard

Our systematic framework maintained a defensive equity allocation of 18% throughout the reporting period, keeping the portfolio in full BRAKING mode. This conservative positioning reflects the absence of confirming cross-asset signals supporting the recent market rebound, suggesting the week's rally was primarily driven by headline momentum rather than fundamental strength. Consistent with our disciplined approach to risk management, our algorithm prioritized capital preservation while selectively allocating to high-conviction opportunities positioned to perform effectively in the current market environment. 17 out of the 20 stocks we hold, ended the week positive.

Market Radar

Markets navigated a volatile week dominated by geopolitical tensions and key economic data releases. The Strait of Hormuz crisis took center stage as President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, initially sending oil prices spiking before a temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire sparked relief. Oil prices cooled below $100 per barrel following the ceasefire announcement but remained elevated compared to pre-conflict levels around $70. The FOMC minutes from the March meeting, revealed Fed officials expressing varying levels of concern about economic uncertainty and their ability to balance price stability with employment objectives.

Sector performance diverged sharply, with technology stocks leading gains despite the Nasdaq's overall decline. Our technology holdings surged +12.8% versus the sector ETF's +4.3%, driven by semiconductor strength including SNDK's +17.5% rally and AMAT's +13.3% advance. Consumer cyclical and basic materials also showed resilience, while energy stocks faced pressure despite elevated oil prices. Financial services holdings outperformed their sector benchmark, gaining +6.2% versus XLF's +1.8% return.

Looking ahead, markets are processing Friday's inflation data including CPI numbers that showed headline inflation at 0.9% month-over-month, driven largely by gasoline price increases, while core CPI came in at 0.3% monthly. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index also released Friday provided additional insight into consumer psychology amid ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties, marking the lowest level in the University of Michigan's 74-year survey history.

Under the Hood

Top Contributors

Laggards

Sector Performance

Here's how the major sectors performed this week and how our stock picks in each sector compared to the sector ETFs:

*Our Return is the weighted average of portfolio holdings in each sector. Contribution shows impact on total portfolio return.

Technology was our standout sector this week, with our holdings delivering +12.8% versus the XLK ETF's +4.3%, contributing over 100 basis points to portfolio returns. Our semiconductor exposure, led by SNDK and AMAT, significantly outperformed the broader tech sector. Consumer cyclical holdings also excelled with +8.3% returns versus XLY's +3.5%, while financial services picks gained +6.2% compared to XLF's modest +1.8% advance. Even in challenging sectors like energy, our stock selection kept pace with sector performance. This stock-picking alpha across multiple sectors demonstrates the power of our systematic approach to identify quality names even in a defensive portfolio allocation.

Pit Stop

This week we're spotlighting a key technology contributor that exemplified our systematic approach to identifying quality semiconductor plays during market uncertainty.

AMAT - Applied Materials Inc

Week: +13.3% | MTD: +16.9% | 6M: +82%

Applied Materials delivered exceptional performance this week, contributing +0.13% to portfolio returns as semiconductor equipment demand remained robust. The company is a leading provider of manufacturing equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries, positioning it perfectly to benefit from continued AI infrastructure buildout and memory chip demand recovery. AMAT's 82% gain over the past six months reflects the market's recognition of the company's critical role in the semiconductor supply chain, while this week's +13.3% surge suggests continued momentum in capital equipment spending. Our systematic models identified AMAT's strong fundamentals and technical positioning early in this cycle, making it a core technology holding despite our overall defensive stance.

Week Ahead

The upcoming week brings a heavy slate of economic data that could influence Federal Reserve policy expectations and market sentiment. We'll be monitoring these developments through our systematic lens while maintaining our disciplined approach.

Portfolio Earnings

No portfolio holdings are scheduled to report this week.

Key Events

This week presents a concentrated series of high-impact economic releases that will provide critical insights into underlying economic momentum. Key data points include Thursday's industrial production figures and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, which will offer perspective on manufacturing sector health. Initial jobless claims data will provide additional clarity on labor market dynamics. Our quantitative models are positioned to process these releases in real-time, enabling rapid portfolio adjustments should incoming data warrant a shift from our current defensive positioning. The confluence of manufacturing, employment, and production data over this condensed timeframe represents a significant inflection point for near-term market direction.

Weekly positioning, performance vs benchmarks, and what's ahead. Every Sunday.