February 17, 2026 4:46pm

As I had written, “The risk … As to the volatility, lean pickings yet with a stabilizing effect in a shortened week.”

Have “investors” trigger a contrarian sell signal as more econs due this week?

RMi collects, curates, interprets and disseminates cell and gene therapy sector (C&GT) fact-based news, trustable and verified intel of share pricing data bridging the gap to an investment decision

Pre-open Indications: 2 Hits and 4 Miss

Never leave a retail investor uninformed!  It’s not always time to buy or sell; but it is time to KNOW why!

I write this blog/newsletter to inform investors with facts and supporting numbers focused on what they need to hear that others will not say or write about – facts in evidence!  I’m NOT at all writing a doom-and-gloom predictions as I am more frequently right than consequentially wrong; I am mostly EARLY in my prognostications!

 

RMi Pre-opening: The risk … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/14315

 

I chose to speak-up when many analysts, brokers and commentators have shut-up!

 

Tuesday: The Dow closed UP +32.26 points or +0.07%, the S&P closed UP +7.05 points or +0.10% while the Nasdaq closed UP +31.713 points or +0.14%

  • Theme of the session: regaining its footing

Tuesday’s (my) 40-company covered sector’s advance/decline line opened positive with 22 incliners, 16 decliners and 2 flats, ending with a positive close of 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats

  • Are “investors” loading up on stocks at a level to trigger a contrarian sell signal?

Henry’omics: We need to more than consider the macro-economic environment to comprehend the cause and effect of the macro versus micro data affecting “our” universe of cell and gene therapy (C&GT) sector

  • Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee that further interest rate cuts are possible if inflation shows more progress lower.
  • Versus, another talking head …
  • Fed Governor Michael Barr sees risks to both employment and inflation and sees keeping interest as they are the best policy for now. <CNBC>

The CBOE Fear (VIX) index, Tuesday closed at 20.35, Monday was a market holiday, Friday’s 20.69, after Thursday’s 20.90, after Wednesday’s 17.71, and last Tuesday’s 17.23

Metrics: Tuesday …

  • The RUT was down -0.11 points or -0.00%,
  • The XLV was down -0.26 points or -0.16%,
  • The NBI was up +53.24 points or +0.90%;
  • The XBI was up +1.85 points or +1.50%
  • The IWM was up +0.11 or +0.04%;
  • The IBB was up +1.47 points or +0.86%,
  • The VIX was down -0.85 points or -4.01% at to 20.35

 

Q1/26 February – 1 Holiday, 6 negative and 5 positive sessions

  • January – 2 holidays, 2 neutral, 9 negative and 9 positive closes

Q4/25 …

  • December – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 14 negative closes
  • November – 1 holiday, 8 positive and 11 negative closes
  • October -1 neutral, 11 positive and 12 negative closes

 

Friday Closing UP (10 of 27) Monday was a market holiday

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$18.21 after Friday’s +$5.92),
  • Moderna (MRNA +$1.70 after Friday’s +$2.12),
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$1.41 after Friday’s +$0.62),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$1.25 after Friday’s -$1.87),
  • BioNTech (BNTX +$1.12),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$0.86 after Friday’s +$1.99),
  • Supernus Therapeutics (SUPN +$0.78 after Friday’s +$1.44),
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS +$0.76 after Friday’s -$1.18),
  • Capricor Therapeutics (CAPR +$0.58 after Friday’s -$1.22),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA (NTLA +$0.35),

Flat (2)

  • Generation Bio (GBIO) – acquired
  • Harvard Apparatus RT (OTCQB: HRGN $0.00 after Friday and Thursday's $0.00, Wednesday’s $0.00, and last Tuesday’s +$0.10 <with 660 shares> 

Tuesday’s Closing DOWN (11 of 11): Monday was a market holiday 

  • Vertex (VRTX -$14.15 after Friday’s +$26.45),
  • IQIA Holdings (IQV -$2.45 after Friday’s -$1.94),
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.69),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM -$0.43 after Friday’s +$0.99),
  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.34 after Friday’s -$2.98),
  • Dyne Therapeutics (DYN -$0.26 after Friday’s -$0.46),
  • Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (ARWR -$0.13 after Friday’s +$1.44),
  • Wave Life Sciences (WVE -$0.09 after Friday’s -$0.12),
  • Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI -$0.0593),
  • Caribou Biosciences (CRBU -$0.03),
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO -$0.0169),

 

The Bottom Line: More of the … WHY

US stocks inched higher Tuesday in volatile trading after Ai fears continued to tease.

  • The Dow, S&P and Nasdaq flipped into the green recovering from steep losses.

 

More earnings next week …

Earnings release dates:

  • Tuesday - 2/24 – AxoGen (AXGN)
  • Wednesday – 2/25 – MiMedx (MDXG), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and Sarepta Theoretics (SRPT)
  • Thursday – 2/26 – BioLife Solutions (BLFS)

 

RISK is always a factor remaining below the surface …  boiled-up as slight shocks of profiteering on upsides shook but not rocked the C&GT sector and markets!

  • As I had always written, cash is king for investors who want to keep some liquidity in earnings season and avoid having to sell in a down market,

 

February – 3rd week

  • 2/17 – Tuesday closed positive with 27 incliners, 11 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/16 – Monday was market holiday

February – 2nd week

  • 2/13 - Friday closed positive with 24 incliners, 14 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/12 – Thursday closed negative with 7 incliners, 33 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/11 - Wednesday closed negative with 12 incliners, 25 decliners and 3 flats
  • 2/10 - Tuesday closed negative with 19 incliners, 20 decliners and 1 flat
  • 2/9 - Monday closed positive with 23 incliners, 14 decliners and 3 flats

February – 1st week

  • 2/6 – Friday closed positive with 35 incliners, 5 decliners and 0 flat
  • 2/5 -Thursday closed negative with 2 incliners, 36 decliners and 2 flats
  • 2/4 -Wednesday closed negative with 10 incliners, 29 decliners and 1 flat               
  • 2/3 -Tuesday closed negative with 18 incliners, 21 decliners and 1 flat      
  • 2/2 -Monday closed positive with 29 incliners, 10 decliners and 1 flat

 

As the leading voice of cell and gene therapy investors; I am NOT always a doom and gloom analyst/journalist but a man who has been “there” (BUY, SELL, VC and multiple operating roles) with the gray hair and a readership following with real numbers to prove it!

 

Why do I keep repeating, framed in a different para, so investors can make the connection

The top three (3) performing in the session:    Winners

  • Tuesday: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Moderna (MRNA) and AxoGen (AXGN)
  • Monday: holiday
  • Friday: Vertex (VRTX), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) 

The worst three (3) in the session: Losers

  • Tuesday: Vertex (VRTX), IQIA Holdings (IQV) and Solid Biosciences (SLDB)
  • Monday: holiday,
  • Friday: Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE), and uniQure NV (QURE)

 

Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change, and not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice. Whether information or intelligence is good, bad, or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors.  All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.

Henry McCusker, the editor, and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication. Regulation Analyst Certification (Reg AC):

The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and it’s or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.