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Daily Report : Extreme Crowding in Defensive Sectors

by Sentimentrader
2026-02-17
Extreme crowding is seen in the Utilities sector (XLU), with over 80% of constituents above the upper Bollinger Band and 70%+ with RSI above 70, indicating short-term correction risks but long-term potential supported by the Breadth Thrust signal.
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Headlines

Extreme Crowding in Defensive Sectors: Extreme crowding is seen in the Utilities sector (XLU), with over 80% of constituents above the upper Bollinger Band and 70%+ with RSI above 70, indicating short-term correction risks but long-term potential supported by the Breadth Thrust signal.

Smart / Dumb Money Confidence

Smart Money Confidence: 50% Dumb Money Confidence: 60%

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Research

Extreme Crowding in Defensive Sectors

By by Sentimentrader

BOTTOM LINE
Extreme crowding is seen in the Utilities sector (XLU), with over 80% of constituents above the upper Bollinger Band and 70%+ with RSI above 70, indicating short-term correction risks but long-term potential supported by the Breadth Thrust signal.

FORECAST / TIMEFRAME
None

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Indicators at Extremes

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% Showing Pessimism: 11%
Bullish for Stocks
VIX Term Structure
Inverse ETF Volume
VIX
Rydex Bearish Flow
Mutual Fund Flow (no ETFs)
CSFB Fear Barometer
% Showing Optimism: 30%
Bearish for Stocks
Short-term Optimism Index (Optix)
Dumb Money Confidence
% Showing Excess Optimism
Rydex Ratio
Rydex Money Market %
NYSE High/Low Ratio
NYSE Up Issues Ratio
Options Speculation Index
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NAAIM Exposure Index
AIM (Advisor and Investor Model)
Retail Money Market Ratio
AAII Allocation - Stocks
Mutual Fund Cash Level
Equity / Money Market Asset Ratio
NYSE Available Cash

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Sector ETF's - 10-Day Moving Average
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Bond ETF's - 10-Day Moving Average
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Commodity ETF's - 5-Day Moving Average
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