Bears, Insiders, and Earnings: Week Begins in Chaos

Earnings Set the Tone

The week opens with a packed calendar. Simon Property Group kicks off Monday, with investors watching retail real estate demand closely. Super Micro Computer reports Q4 2026 on Tuesday. SMCI carries a short score of 64 and bearish options flow is building ahead of results. Wednesday brings the biggest test: Cisco Systems reports after the bell. Networking and AI infrastructure guidance will drive the reaction. Applied Materials — up 110% year-to-date — also faces options traders who are on edge heading into its results.

Short Sellers Build Positions

Bears are active. SPCX, the listed SpaceX entity, saw short interest jump 3.6 points to 36.4% of free float in a week. MGM Resorts drew fresh shorts too, with SI % FF rising 2 points to 13%. Chewy remains the most extreme consumer short at a striking 102% of free float.

Insiders Cash Out

Selling dominated insider filings this week. NEXT plc CEO Simon Wolfson filed sales of $31.7M. Three Life Time Fitness executives — including founder CEO Bahram Akradi — collectively sold $24.5M on the same day. Charles Schwab founder Charles R. Schwab filed $30.3M in sales across four transactions.

Analysts and Macro

Wall Street lifted targets on AbbVie, Williams Companies, and Arthur J. Gallagher. On the macro front, the FT flagged a major currency intervention story: the US quietly sold euros to support the yen, blindsiding the ECB. Oil markets face a refining crunch even as crude retreats. Both themes could ripple into energy and consumer stocks this week.