MAJOR EXPANSION + COMPLETE SECTOR ROTATION

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – APPROACHING THRESHOLD

Timothy McCandless – Protected Wheel Strategy

MAJOR EXPANSION: 15 stocks (up from 9) = 67% jump, 87% GREEN (13/15). LEADERS: AXTI +19.98% (semis), CIEN +7.58% (back from Mon 3/2!), LASR +5.67%, IAG +3.08% (gold). Tech 53% (8/15) with 88% GREEN. QQQ +0.8%, XLK +1.1%, XLI +0.9%. VIX 20.8 (approaching 20). Ceasefire: PROGRESS reported. CLOSE to threshold (need 20-25) but 15 with 87% GREEN + sectors strong = CONSIDER SMALL POSITIONS 25-33%. Priority: CIEN, AXTI, MRVL.

SECTION 1: UNIVERSE EXPLOSION

9 → 15 STOCKS (+67% EXPANSION) – 87% GREEN (13/15)

Full 2-Week Progression:

• Mon Mar 2: 19 stocks, 84% GREEN (peak before war)
• Tue Mar 3: 19 stocks, 100% RED (war panic)
• Wed-Fri Mar 4-6: 6 stocks, 50% GREEN (frozen 3 days)
• Mon Mar 9: 9 stocks, 67% GREEN (first expansion)
• Tue Mar 10: 15 stocks, 87% GREEN = MAJOR EXPANSION

THRESHOLD APPROACHING: Target: 20-25 stocks for full confidence. Current: 15 stocks BUT 87% GREEN (13/15) = Quality expansion. 6 NEW stocks entered (AXTI +19.98%, CIEN +7.58%, LASR +5.67%, IAG +3.08%, MRVL +1.35%, STM +1.52%). Tech DOMINANCE: 8 of 15 (53%) with 88% GREEN (7/8). This is BROAD accumulation starting. Sectors confirm: XLK +1.1%, XLI +0.9%. CLOSE ENOUGH to consider 25-33% positions.

SECTION 2: THE 15 STOCKS – DETAILED

GREEN (13 stocks) – 87%

TECHNOLOGY (8 stocks, 53%) – 88% GREEN (7/8)

NEW TECH ENTRIES:

• AXTI +19.98% $46.26 ($2.6B) – Semiconductor Equipment – LEADER
• CIEN +7.58% $342.68 ($48.5B) – Communication Equipment – BACK FROM MAR 2 SCAN!
• LASR +5.67% $64.46 ($3.6B) – Semiconductors
• MRVL +1.35% $93.90 ($82B) – Semiconductors, LARGE cap
• STM +1.52% $34.04 ($30.3B) – Semiconductors

HELD TECH FROM LAST WEEK:

• CGON +2.34% – Biotech (was -0.94% Mon)
• RNG -2.78% – Software (ONLY tech red)

TECH SIGNAL: 88% tech GREEN (7/8) with CIEN back = Semiconductors + Communication Equipment recovering. AXTI +19.98% = Explosive move. Mon 3/2 peak: TTM +8.40%, CIEN was +1.44%. Now CIEN +7.58% confirming. This is sector-wide accumulation.

MATERIALS (3 stocks, 20%) – 100% GREEN

• IAG +3.08% $22.52 ($13.3B) – Gold (NEW, war hedge)
• CENX +0.34% $54.63 – Aluminum (held)
• CLMT +0.03% $29.35 – Chemicals (held)

ENERGY (3 stocks, 20%) – 100% GREEN

• PARR +3.15% $48.46 – Oil Refining (YOUR old collar from Mar 2)
• YPF +2.40% $37.66 – Argentina Oil
• VAL +1.33% $92.02 ($6.4B) – Oil Equipment (NEW)

HEALTHCARE (2 stocks, 13%) – 50% GREEN

• DNLI +0.68% $21.45 ($3.4B) – Biotech (NEW)
• MRNA -2.15% $54.54 – Biotech (was +3.55% Mon)

KEY OBSERVATIONS

• CIEN RETURN: Was in Mon Mar 2 scan (+1.44%), dropped out during collapse, NOW BACK +7.58% = Original leaders returning
• PARR TRACKER: Your Mon 3/2 collar: $46.08. Now: $48.46 (+5.2% from entry, +3.15% today)
• Sector Diversity: Tech 53%, Materials 20%, Energy 20%, Healthcare 13% = Balanced, not over-concentrated

SECTION 3: COMPLETE SECTOR ROTATION

ALL MAJOR SECTORS POSITIVE – BROAD RALLY

Broad Market

• QQQ: +0.8% $602 (2nd day positive)
• SPY: +0.7% $693
• VIX: 20.8 (approaching 20 threshold!)
• 10-Year: 4.15% (down from 4.20% Mon)

1. XLK (Technology) +1.1%

• YOUR Scan: AXTI +19.98%, CIEN +7.58%, LASR +5.67%
• Signal: STRONGEST sector, semiconductors leading

2. XLI (Industrials) +0.9%

• Signal: Strong, 2nd day positive

3. XLB (Materials) +0.7%

• YOUR Scan: IAG +3.08% (gold), CENX +0.34%

4. XLE (Energy) +0.6%

• YOUR Scan: PARR +3.15%, YPF +2.40%, VAL +1.33% – ALL GREEN

5. XLV (Healthcare) +0.5%

• YOUR Scan: DNLI +0.68%, MRNA -2.15% (mixed)

6-11. Other Sectors: All +0.2% to +0.5%

• XLF, XLY, XLP, XLU, XLRE, XLC all positive

MICRO + MACRO PERFECT ALIGNMENT: Your scan: 15 stocks, 87% GREEN, tech-led. Sectors: XLK +1.1% (strongest), XLI +0.9%, ALL positive. QQQ +0.8%, VIX 20.8 (almost <20). This is EXACTLY what Mon Mar 2 looked like (19 stocks, 84% GREEN, XLK +1.1%). Current: 15 vs 19 BUT quality is there (87% vs 84% GREEN, sectors matching). CLOSE ENOUGH for small positions.

SECTION 4: WAR UPDATE – PROGRESS

• Ceasefire Talks: PROGRESS reported from Switzerland
• Casualties: 21 (stable, no new deaths)
• Oil: $100/barrel (down from $105)
• Market Reaction: Optimism = Rally

SECTION 5: DECISION – SMALL POSITIONS

EXECUTE COLLARS 25-33% SIZE

Why Trading Now (vs Waiting):

• Universe: 15 stocks (target 20-25, but 87% GREEN compensates)
• Quality: 87% GREEN (13/15) = Highest since Mar 2
• Sectors: XLK +1.1%, XLI +0.9% = Strong
• Leaders: AXTI +19.98%, CIEN +7.58% = Real moves
• CIEN Back: Original Mar 2 leader returning
• VIX: 20.8 (almost below 20)
• War: Ceasefire progress, oil $100 (down from $105)

Conservative Approach (25-33% vs 50-75%):

• 15 stocks not quite 20-25, so use SMALLER size. If Wednesday expands to 18-20+ stocks, ADD to positions (scale to 50-75%).

1.  CIEN +7.58%

• $342.68, $48.5B, Communication Equipment
• Why: Was in Mon Mar 2 scan, returning leader
• Collar: Sell $350 call, Buy $325 put (25-33% size)

2.  AXTI +19.98%

• $46.26, Semiconductor Equipment
• Why: LEADER today, XLK +1.1% confirms

3.  MRVL +1.35%

• $93.90, $82B, Blue chip semiconductor

SECTION 6: BOTTOM LINE

EXECUTE: 15 stocks (target 20-25 but 87% GREEN compensates), QQQ +0.8%, XLK +1.1%. CIEN back +7.58% (Mon 3/2 leader returning). Execute collars 25-33%: CIEN, AXTI, MRVL. If Wed expands to 18-20+, scale to 50-75%. Discipline + patience = 6 for 6 decisions.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – Universe Expanding

Close enough. Execute small. Scale if continues.

For the first time, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”) has proposed regulations concerning the administrative processes and review requirements of Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”).

Key Provisions

The proposed regulations, if finalized as written, include the following noteworthy provisions:

• High-Frequency and Vexatious Filers: § 17415(a)(2) addresses “documented instances of some attorneys filing  PAGA notices that are based on templates alleging frivolous, conclusory, or boilerplate violations of the Labor Code[,]” which “interferes with the [LWDA]’s role and ability to perform its responsibilities under the law,” “deprives employers of fair and proper notice of the violations alleged against them, including for purposes of identifying the bases for the violations alleged so they may take appropriate corrective or prospective compliance measures,” and therefore is “detrimental and harmful to the interests of workers whom the law is intended to protect.” The LWDA also expressly calls out these filings as often part of “an apparent strategy of using PAGA notices as a bargaining chip in seeking quick individual settlements and attorneys’ fees recoveries.” Accordingly, the proposed regulations include “certain safeguards … to prevent such abusive practices” in the form of additional cover letter and certification requirements.
• Cure for Smaller Employers: The proposed regulations flesh out how the cure mechanisms work before any suit is filed against employers with fewer than 100 employees, detailing the requirements for an employer’s cure proposal and protecting such submissions as confidential settlement communications subject to Evidence Code section 1152.
• Settlement Oversight: § 17420.5(d) provides that “a claimant may not amend a PAGA notice to add violations not alleged in a prior PAGA notice as part of, or at any time after the claimant has reached, a proposed settlement agreement with the employer in a pending civil action.” This proposal would make resolving overlapping PAGA claims via a single lawsuit more difficult. The proposed regulations also require (1) at least 45 days for the LWDA to review any proposed settlement agreement; and (2) notice to other employees who have filed LWDA notices against the same employer.

Current Status

The written comment period for these proposed regulations closes on March 23, 2026. The LWDA has indicated that while no public hearing is currently scheduled, it will hold one if it receives a written request from any interested person. We’ll continue to monitor how these regulations progress.