Microsoft Is the Most Valuable Company?
Last week, Microsoft briefly became the world’s most valuable company, surpassing Apple for the first time since 2021. Microsoft’s stock rise is attributed to its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and a notable partnership with OpenAI, creator of the popular ChatGPT AI application.
During the same period, Apple faced challenges in 2024, with concerns about weakening iPhone demand contributing to a rocky start. Additional setbacks included a reported drop in year-over-year revenue at Foxconn, the iPhone assembler, and the looming threat of a potential antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice.
In contrast to Apple’s 3% stock drop at the beginning of the year and a 0.3% decline on Thursday, Microsoft’s stock rose by 2%, achieving a market cap of $2.903 trillion. Microsoft outperformed the S&P 500 in 2023 with a 57% gain.
January brought positive news for Microsoft, as many Windows PCs announced a Copilot key connecting users to the company’s AI assistant. This marks Microsoft’s second time claiming the top spot, the first being in 2021 when Apple faced challenges related to COVID-era supply-chain issues
CFU TRADING STRATEGY FOR THE WEEK:
This week we look at the mysterious trading strategy called the Iron Condor.
The Iron Condor stands out for its versatility risk management, and ability to make money during a neutral market. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just stepping into the world of options, understanding how to execute an Iron Condor can be a valuable addition to your trading arsenal.
What is an Iron Condor?
An Iron Condor is an options trading strategy that profits from a stock or index trading within a defined or neutral range. This strategy involves simultaneously selling an out-of-the-money (OTM) call and put option while buying a further OTM call and put option. The result is a net credit to your account, making it a popular choice for traders seeking to capitalize on low volatility and sideways market movements.
How to Execute an Iron Condor:
Identify the Range: Before executing an Iron Condor, analyze the underlying asset’s price movements. Look for a range-bound market where you expect the stock or index to stay within a specific price range for the duration of the trade.
Select Strike Prices: Choose strike prices for the short call and put options that are comfortably above and below the current market price, respectively. Simultaneously, pick strike prices for the long call and put options that are further out of the money, creating a wider range for potential profit.
Determine Expiry Date: Set the expiration date for all options in the Iron Condor. Traders often select options with a relatively short time to expiration to take advantage of time decay, a key factor in this strategy.
Execute the Trade: Place the order to sell the OTM call and put options and simultaneously buy the further OTM call and put options. This combination results in a net credit to your account, representing the maximum potential profit for the trade.
Manage Risk: Monitor the trade regularly and be prepared to make adjustments if the market starts to move outside the anticipated range. Consider closing or rolling the position to mitigate potential losses.
Profit Profile
Here is a profit profile you could expect to see on an Iron Condor for QQQ:
CFU traders play all sides of the market: bullish, bearish, and neutral. We make money in all situations and our trading systems assist us in knowing which direction holds the most likely outcome for profit and then we trade it using the most efficient strategy. 1-2 punch and it delivers results.
CFU Trading Results from Last Week
- These are profits we locked up from the week ending January 12:
- $AAPL 78%
- $AAPL 135%
- $AAPL 448%
- $AMD (COMMON STOCK) 53%
- $AMD 88%
- $AMD 94%
- $AMZN 55%
- $BITO 87%
- $BRK.B 100%
- $CAT 15%
- $CELH 50% (1 day)
- $COIN 89%
- $COIN 95%
- $DIS 60%
- $DXCM 30%
- $MMM 97%
- $ROKU 46% (1 day)
- $SMCI 99%
- $SPY -55% (yes we have losers)
- $SQ 81%
- $TNA 50% (2 days)
- $TSLA 30%
- $TSLA 52% (1 day)
- $TSLA 63%
- $TSLA 99%
- $TQQQ 65%
Member Results:
Members book profit each week and month:
CLOSED AND REALIZED PROFITS 💰
Our community is fiercely focused on booking you monthly profits.
Here, I’ll throw you a deal, 25% off your first month, so you can ease in, see the quality of our trading services and the results we will produce for you within 4-6 weeks. You can cancel at any time. But you won’t because the edge you gain by trading with us is second to none.
PROMO: CFUINSIDER25
Look forward to seeing you inside,
Stephen
President, CFU
