Week in Review: Mar 6 - Mar 14, 2026

Performance Snapshot

This week AlphaWizzard delivered a flat 0.0% return, successfully outperforming both the S&P 500 (-1.5%) and Nasdaq (-1.0%) during a challenging week for markets. Year-to-date, we maintain a commanding +15.7 percentage point lead over SPY at +12.8% vs -2.9%, demonstrating the strength of our systematic approach. Our maximum drawdown of -7.7% since inception remains disciplined compared to QQQ's -7.3%, while delivering significantly superior returns.

The F1 Dashboard

AlphaWizzard maintained a steady 54% equity exposure throughout the week, keeping us in CRUISING mode. This balanced positioning allowed us to participate in strong technology sector momentum while providing downside protection as broader markets faced headwinds from inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions. Our systematic approach continues to navigate between full acceleration and defensive braking as market conditions evolve.

Market Radar

Markets faced a complex backdrop this week as inflation data and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. The March 11 CPI reading came in at 2.4% year-over-year, matching expectations but reinforcing concerns about stalling progress on lowering inflation. Weekly jobless claims remained low at 213,000, but February's disappointing nonfarm payrolls report showing 92,000 jobs lost continued to cloud the employment picture. These mixed economic signals kept investors cautious ahead of next week's critical Fed meeting.

Sector performance showed stark divergence, with technology leading the charge while commodity-sensitive sectors struggled. The ongoing Iran conflict continued to drive oil prices higher, with Brent crude surging to $120/barrel as Strait of Hormuz disruptions affected about 20% of global crude supply. This energy shock weighed heavily on basic materials and industrial stocks, while defensive sectors showed resilience. Memory and storage technology stocks emerged as clear winners, with strong earnings results and AI-driven demand themes driving outsized gains.

Looking toward next week, all eyes turn to the Fed's March 17-18 FOMC meeting, where policymakers face the challenging task of incorporating Iran conflict implications, surging oil prices, and persistent inflation into their guidance. With a 92% probability of rates holding at 3.50%-3.75%, the focus will be on Powell's commentary about the evolving economic landscape and potential policy adjustments ahead.

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, delivering a remarkable +12.9% outperformance versus the XLK ETF and contributing +3.9% to total returns. Our memory and storage holdings capitalized on strong earnings momentum and AI infrastructure demand. Basic materials faced headwinds from the ongoing Iran conflict, with our mining positions underperforming the XLB by -7.0% as investors rotated away from commodity exposure. Financial services closely tracked sector performance with only -0.4% underperformance, while industrials matched sector weakness. Consumer defensive provided a bright spot, outperforming XLP by +3.2% as our holdings showed resilience in the uncertain environment.

Pit Stop

This week we spotlight our top contributor that exemplified the power of systematic stock selection in the technology sector:

SNDK - SanDisk Corporation

Week: +25.5% | MTD: +4.1% | 6M: +634.4%

SanDisk delivered exceptional performance this week, surging +25.5% and contributing +1.3% to portfolio returns. The memory and storage leader continues to benefit from accelerating AI infrastructure demand and data center expansion. With its 6-month return of +634.4%, SNDK exemplifies how our systematic approach identifies companies positioned at the intersection of multiple growth themes. The company's flash memory solutions remain critical for AI training and inference workloads, positioning it well for sustained demand growth.

Week Ahead

Next week brings the most significant Fed meeting in months, with geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation creating a complex backdrop for monetary policy decisions.

Portfolio Earnings

Micron reports Q2 fiscal 2026 results Wednesday after market close, with analysts expecting $8.97 per share. Given MU's +15.1% performance this week and the strong momentum in memory demand, this earnings report could provide further validation of the AI infrastructure investment theme driving our technology holdings.

Key Events

Wednesday's FOMC meeting dominates the calendar, with markets expecting rates to hold at 3.50%-3.75% but focused intensely on updated economic projections and Powell's press conference commentary. The Fed faces the unprecedented challenge of incorporating Iran conflict implications and $120 oil into their forward guidance. Our systematic approach remains well-positioned to navigate whatever policy adjustments emerge, with our balanced 54% exposure providing flexibility to capitalize on market reactions while maintaining downside protection.