Good morning, traders…

Last week was one of my better trading performances in recent memory.

I nailed two 100%+ winners, a 200%+ slam-dunk, and many of our community members came along for the ride.*

Now, our job is to prevent those wins from influencing this week’s decisions.

The most avoidable losses usually follow the biggest wins. It’s not the market that changes, it’s you. 

After a strong run (like last Friday’s triple-hitter), overconfidence creeps in, then risk starts to expand before you even realize it. 

You’ll start taking trades that are “pretty good” instead of making sure every box is checked.

And that’s when the market humbles you. 

This week, I’m fighting that cycle. 

I’m trimming position size, reducing my number of trades, and only taking the highest conviction setups. 

If the risk/reward isn’t remarkable, I’m passing. 

I’d rather have two A+ trades than ten B– trades that drain my focus and capital.

That said, we can’t be asleep at the wheel. This is a crucial week of major economic reports (leading to a few company-specific setups that look too good to ignore).

Let Me Show You Where I See The Best Trading Opportunities Shaping Up…

July CPI on Deck: Key Data & Market Posture

The July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report drops today. Don’t ignore it. 

This print comes at a pivotal time, with the Fed closely watching inflation readings ahead of next month’s rate decision:

Economists expect headline CPI for July to come in around 2.8% year-over-year, up from June’s 2.7%, and for core CPI (excluding food and energy) to tick up to just above 3%. 

Both moves would take inflation further from the Fed’s 2% target. Whether that tightens their stance or accelerates talk of cuts will depend on how the rest of the data lines up.

I don’t expect the CPI to shock the markets. But I do expect a September rate cut as high as 0.5%. 

Meanwhile, the VIX has pulled back to $15.50 (my “safe zone” for longs). 

That’s enough for me to keep trading calls in the near term. 

But only within my trading rules. 

5 Smart Money Names to Watch

Speaking of potential A+ setups, here are my top watchlist names for the day:

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ: KDP) 

This soda stock is fizzling near $34.60 resistance. I like the Aug 15 $34 calls if we get the breakout.

Dole plc (NYSE: DOLE)

The options volume popped from almost no open interest to over 3,000 contracts. Above $15.10 and it could rip. Watch the Sept 19 $15 calls.

TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP)

The chart has tried to break $18.50 four separate times. Looking for the rare “5x a Lady” breakout. Sept 19 $19 calls stand out. 

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL)

The weekly chart is begging for a breakout above $202.65. I like the Dec 12 $210 calls on strength (or a pullback to $198–$199).

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT)

I’m looking for a push to clear $550 resistance for a post-earnings continuation. Watching $545 Aug 22 calls. 

I have the same process for every setup:

• See the setup. 
• Confirm the trigger. 
• Take action. 
• Manage risk. 

REMEMBER: Opportunity is useless without execution, but execution without rules is just gambling.

Happy trading,
Ben Sturgill

P.S. Want to learn how to execute trades like this?*

The best place to start is in our Smart Money Workshops.

Stop missing the best setups in the options market. 

Join our workshop TODAY at 2:00 p.m. EST.

The opportunity is yours. You just have to take it. 

*Past performance does not indicate future results