RPP Newsletter – August 18th, 2026

 

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Please note our weekly Rebel Pit Pro webinar will be held on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET. If you miss the live session(s), replays will be posted in the ‘Webinars’ tab.

 

The Trade:

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. - CRWD - $213.90 Last Price

Buy the August 21st (21Aug26) expiration 217.50 call for roughly $4.30

with the stock above the $216.53 Level (08/17/2026 Open) in an up (bullish) market.

OR

Buy the August 21st (21Aug26) expiration 212.50 put for roughly $4.60

with the stock below the $213.01 Level (08/17/2026 Low) in a down (bearish) market.

 

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Fundamentals: CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. provides cybersecurity solutions in the United States and internationally. Its unified platform provides cloud-delivered protection of endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data through a software as a service (SaaS) subscription-based model. The company offers corporate endpoint and cloud workload security, managed security, security and vulnerability management, IT operations management, identity protection, threat intelligence, data protection, SaaS security posture management, and AI powered workflow automation, and securing generative AI workload services, as well as security orchestration, automation, and response; and security information and event management, and log management services. It primarily sells subscriptions to its Falcon platform and cloud modules. The company has a strategic alliance with Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation to help enterprises secure artificial intelligence across its lifecycle, from the AI agents and models to the foundational infrastructure that supports the entire AI ecosystem. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. On the Upside: Target Resistance levels are up at: $219.18, $221.78, $225.35. These are levels at which trimming/rolling/combi, and closing for profits can be considered. On the Downside: Target Support levels are down at: $210.98, $207.39, $201.71 (20 SMA currently). These are levels at which trimming/rolling/combi, and closing for profits can be considered. CRWD's Daily ATR is $9.03 while the Weekly ATR is $17.53.

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Commentary: This week's commentary could start out much like last week's commentary: As covered in this past Weekend's Video 📺, though not perfect, the charts (on balance) look poised for stocks to continue to move higher. There are a few Sector issues however: 1. A lack of strong leadership. 2. Energy picking up which doesn't bode well for a taxed consumer. 3. Defensive areas not backing off fully. BUT, Market Breadth looks very good despite many sectors appearing paralyzed. So...why are we not lifting? We really ended and have started another week that way but in this morning's webinars, we mentioned that, at least, yellow if not orange flags should be going up for traders given the market's inabilitity to advance along with the still vacant leadership positions. We can't ever rule out a Turnaround Tuesday but the "Iran Situation" seems to be delivering a setback or at least a hesitation again. Today started well but the rally quickly faded, buyers stepped aside and sellers took over. Bulls continue to pass on chances to run stocks after the squeeze off the lows that we saw a few weeks back. YIELDS are moving back up towards concerning levels (again) and that development could also factor in a larger way. The VIX "fear gauge" made a new low for 2026 last week but it is showing a faint pulse to start this week. FEAR is hard to find and complacency abounds but the counter to that is that Hedge Funds are the most short on record according to recent reports. As we concluded last week's remarks: That's what troubles us most right now as markets often find it difficult to advance when nearly everyone's a bull. - EXCEPT FOR HEDGE FUNDS! We're in mid-August and thinner markets could be upon us which means greater volatility...potentially. Also, some crises have arisen and shaken the stock market in August as well. So, it seems, entering this week at "DEFCON 4" as per this Weekend's Video 📺, may not have been as crazy as it seemed given that we were barely removed from the ATH in the SPY. Swans: Black, Gray and White or put another way, NEWS Developments. The Trump administration nearly constantly produces new news some of which is very surprising, so be ready for anything! That applies for this week and likely well beyond! And it may not only be the Trump administration with the current state of affairs in the world! CRWD is our focus name of the week. As has been the case with many stocks recently, after a strong EPS Reaction to the upside, CRWD appears vulnerable to more of a pullback. However, should we see yet another timely reversal in the market (likely spurred on by news dropping), CRWD would likely participate after having a few rough sessions. CRWD's options' cost vs. the ATR(s) is attractive right now relative to many other names that we surveyed. GeoPol news could change momentum quickly in all directions at any time! Keep the impact of the news cycle in mind when managing this week!  Reminder: Trade the market that's in front of us! CRWD normally offers very good options market liquidity in which to transact. Risk: The total risk is the amount spent on the call or the put at the time you trigger the trade. What you spend is the most you can lose! Reward: Our reward will be in the increase in the value of our calls or puts from the trigger price to the target prices or your chosen exit price … whatever comes first. Stop Price:  Our call stop will be the stock trading (closing) back down below $216.53. Our put stop will be the stock trading back up (closing) above $213.01. Notes 1 – It is important that we remember that this has the potential of being a two-way trade depending on market direction and commitment. Notes 2 – Don’t forget to use RPP Risk Calculation  Bonus Names: V, NOW, CRCL.   Please note our weekly Rebel Pit Pro webinar will be held on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET. If you miss the live session(s), replays will be posted in the ‘Webinars’ tab. Market Outlook

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Please note our weekly Rebel Pit Pro webinar will be held on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET. If you miss the live session(s), replays will be posted in the ‘Webinars’ tab. Options School

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Please note our weekly Rebel Pit Pro webinar will be held on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET. If you miss the live session(s), replays will be posted in the ‘Webinars’ tab.