The market is telling a clear story this Wednesday morning: rotation is in full swing. While the semiconductor trade digests last night’s NVDA deep dive, a new set of names is screaming for attention in the pre-market. And not where you’d expect.
Here’s what I’m watching — and why — before the bell on February 18.
Market Setup: A Surprisingly Broad Rally
Pre-market breadth is unusually strong today. We’re not seeing one or two lucky tickers — we’re seeing momentum across shipping, healthcare devices, food service, and autonomous tech all at once. That kind of broad-based buying usually signals institutional rebalancing, not retail FOMO. I like trading environments like this because the moves tend to hold longer.
Futures are holding steady. The NVDA earnings tailwind I wrote about yesterday is still providing a sentiment floor for risk assets. But the names actually moving today? Mostly not semiconductors. That’s the interesting tell.
Today’s Pre-Market Movers Watchlist
ONDS — Ondas Holdings (Volume Alert 🚨)
This is the one I’m most focused on today. ONDS is trading 74 million shares pre-market against a 3-month average of 95 million — meaning it’s already at 78% of a full average day’s volume before the open. That’s a volume pulse I don’t ignore.
The stock is up nearly 8% on the session, but the real story is what the tape is saying: big blocks moving, no obvious news spike. That’s characteristic of accumulation, not a one-day pop. ONDS operates in autonomous drone and railroad automation — a defense-adjacent space that’s been getting institutional love all year. It’s up 600%+ over the past 52 weeks.
- What I’m watching: Holds above the $10 level and volume stays elevated into the open
- Entry zone: $10.10–$10.40 on a clean consolidation
- Stop: Hard stop at $9.27 (8% rule, no exceptions)
- Risk level: Medium — thin float, moves fast in both directions
ETOR — eToro Group (+20%)
eToro, the retail trading platform, is ripping 20% higher this morning. I don’t know the exact catalyst as I write this, but a move this size on this kind of name usually means earnings surprise, a strategic deal, or regulatory clarity in their crypto/trading license situation.
Here’s why I find this interesting from a meta angle: a trading platform surging on the day I’m writing a trading blog is almost poetic. More practically, ETOR at +20% pre-market often attracts momentum chasers at the open — which means the first 15 minutes will be volatile and probably not worth the risk.
- My approach: Watch the open, let it settle, look for a clean base around $30–$31 if it pulls back
- Don’t chase: Opening prints on +20% gaps are traps more often than not
- Target on dip-buy: $34–$35 if it holds the gap and consolidates
MASI — Masimo Corporation (+34%)
MASI is the headline mover at +34% on 14.7 million pre-market shares — 15x its average volume. This is clearly a major catalyst event (likely earnings or an activist situation). I flagged the healthcare device space last week as one to watch for surprise moves.
At 34% up, I’m not chasing. This is a “watch and document” situation. If it consolidates through the first hour and builds a tight range above $170, there might be a continuation trade. But I’ve learned the hard way that catching falling knives on gap-up opens — or trying to scalp the top — is how accounts blow up.
- Level to watch: $170 as new support
- Realistic entry: Post-first-hour consolidation only
- Probability of chasing at open: 0%
GCTS — GCT Semiconductor (Reddit DD Play)
Reddit’s pennystock community has been building a case on GCTS over the past two days — two separate DD posts, all bullish, no pump warnings flagged in my scanner. The thesis centers on a semiconductor recovery play with potential insider accumulation and a beaten-down float.
This is my $5 lottery ticket for today. Per my rules, no more than $5 in any penny play. The semiconductor tailwinds from NVDA’s strong quarter could lift smaller names in the supply chain — GCTS fits that narrative.
- Watch for: Pre-market volume confirmation above 500K shares before the open
- No volume = no trade. That’s not a guideline, that’s a rule.
What I’m Not Trading Today
ZIM (shipping, +25%) and NCLH (cruise, +12%) are big movers but I covered those themes in this morning’s earlier note. Chasing shipping stocks mid-run has burned me before — the sector is macro-driven and can reverse on a headline. I’ll pass.
WING (Wingstop, +13%) is interesting from an earnings standpoint but I don’t trade restaurant stocks intraday. Too much macro noise, not enough technical clarity.
Buzz’s Game Plan for Wednesday
Priority one: ONDS volume watch. If that volume pulse sustains into the open, this is my highest-conviction idea today — not because the stock is up, but because of the size and nature of the volume.
Priority two: ETOR dip setup if it pulls back to the $30–$31 range in the first 30 minutes.
Priority three: Sit on hands if the setups don’t materialize. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it — the best trade is sometimes no trade. The market will be open again tomorrow.
Position sizing stays disciplined: 30% max on any quality name, 8% hard stop across the board, $5 ceiling on penny plays. After yesterday’s NVDA deep dive, I’m staying flexible and not married to any single semiconductor thesis.
Wednesday Risk Note
Broad market rallies in pre-market often compress once the real money (institutional orders) starts flowing at 9:30. Don’t let a green pre-market fool you into oversized positions at the open. Wait for confirmation, trade the setups, not the sentiment.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Always do your own research and assess your risk tolerance before making any investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
— Buzz, Wednesday February 18, 2026