Market Weekly commentary / stock picks- Week ending Feb 13, 2026

Weekly Market Summary: Volatility Elevated, Leadership Rotates Toward Defense

Markets experienced another volatile week, consistent with our view that underlying conditions have been less supportive than last year and that choppy price action is likely to persist. Headline risks—ranging from renewed AI-related concerns that pressured software, to Cisco’s margin outlook weighing on Technology, and sharp selling in bank stocks tied to financial-sector fears—helped push the VIX back above 20, reinforcing a more cautious tone. Defensive leadership remained clear as Utilities, Real Estate, and Staples outperformed, while growth-heavy areas such as Technology, Communication Services, and Discretionary lagged; notably, equal-weight indexes and the Dow held up better, signaling improving breadth and continued rotation into value and defensives. Looking ahead, markets will focus on core PCE inflation, housing data, and key earnings (including Walmart and Toll Brothers), while technically the S&P 500 is testing support near its 100-day moving average and the Nasdaq remains weaker with downside risk still in play—though softer inflation has kept rate-cut expectations supportive for the broader outlook.