Ahead of a busy but calm options expiry was putting in place a few new big theme ideas - oil services this week - and some scaling in and some maverick ideas
Portfolio News
In a week where S&P 500 rose 1.13% and Europe rose 1.48%, my pension portfolio rose 1.15% - just in line with US.
Big movers of the week were Pursuit Minerals (PUR.AX) (26.3%), Tess Holdings Co (5074.T) (23.1%), DevEx Resources (DEV.AX) (21.4%), BMG Resources (BMG.AX) (20.6%), First Majestic Silver Corp (AG) (20%), Paladin Energy (PDN.AX) (19.4%), Standard Uranium (STND.V) (18.2%), Bannerman Energy (BMN.AX) (16.7%), BPM Minerals (BPM.AX) (16.7%), Global Atomic Corporation (GLO.TO) (16.4%), St George Mining (SGQ.AX) (16.2%), Peninsula Energy (PEN.AX) (16.1%), Cue Energy Resources (CUE.AX) (16%), Myriad Uranium Corp (M.CN) (15.9%), Bayhorse Silver (BHS.V) (14.3%), Genmin (GEN.AX) (14.3%), Karoon Energy (KAR.AX) (13.8%), Alligator Energy (AGE.AX) (13.3%), Articore Group (ATG.AX) (13.2%), Atha Energy (SASK.V) (13.2%), Rush Rare Metals (RSH.CN) (13%), Silvercorp Metals (SVM.TO) (13%), Skyharbour Resources (SYH.V) (11.8%), Aurizon Holdings (AZJ.AX) (11.7%), Pan American Silver (PAAS) (11.7%), GoGold Resources (GGD.TO) (11.6%), Black Bear Minerals (BKB.AX) (11.3%), Forsys Metals (FSY.TO) (11.1%), Canopy Growth Corporation (WEED.TO) (10.8%), IsoEnergy (ISO.TO) (10.7%), QBE Insurance Group (QBE.AX) (10.3%), Sonic Healthcare (SHL.AX) (10.2%), Cameco Corporation (CCJ) (10.1%)
33 stocks in the big movers list - a big week for commodities again. From the top: alternate energy (1 stock), uranium (14 stocks), gold/silver mining (8 stocks), rare earths (1 stock), marijuana (1 stock). Interesting to see two oil and gas stocks in the list - maybe the oil theme is becoming a big one. See below.
News week was a bit of a up and down - fears over Iran pushes markets especially oil and the dollar down, Supreme Court ruling over tariffs pushes them back up. Going to change things up a bit and report next week news - the 15% tariff idea is not making for a happy start to the coming week
Crypto Bumbles
Bitcoin price drifted lower all week finishing the week 5.3% lower than the open with a peak to trough range a bit winder than that. Key chart message is price respected the support from the weekly chart (the green line it bounced off twice).
Ethereum chart looks much the same with price drifting lower finishing the week 5% lower than the open with a peak to trough rangea little bigger than that. Not bad in what turned into a risk off week. And price is well away from the green support level below
Not a lot of light - Cosmos (ATOM) continued its march up from the week before with a 22% pop giving up half. Injective Protocol (INJ) pops 34% on an upgrade announcement - also giving back a half
Quite frankly these all look like death throes for altcoins. The institutions want them dead
Nuclear Energy Holdings
One sale from options assignments and a bunch of additions - some from assignment and a 5.7% increase in valuations. Note the key words around the big add in the details below - Cameco Corporation (CCJ) to understand what is coming.
Mix of holdings sees Paladin Energy (PDN.AX) move up a place into slot 5. Cameco Corporation (CCJ) comes into Top 10 in slot 7 on the additions there. enCore Energy Corp (EU) also comes into Top 10 in slot 10 on the addition there. Dropping out the top 10 are Atomic Eagle (AEU.AX) and Ur-Energy Inc. (URG). Share of holdings goes up 2.3 points to 29% - getting close to too high.
Holdings by Stage moves with the adds in producing - up 2.3 points. Feels right. Other changes are small.
Alternate Energy Holdings
Two additions in Other category (batteries and graphite) and 0.8% increase in valuations
Largo Inc (LGO) and Sigma Lithium Corporation (SGML) swap places in slots 3 and 4. The addition brings QuantumScape Corporation (QS) into Top 10 in slot 10. Dropping out the top 10 is iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN). Small change in share of portfolios but not enough to change the decimals.
Precious Metals Holdings
One sale and one add each in gold and silver and a modest 0.9% increase in valuations.
Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) moves up a place into slot 9 and Bayhorse Silver (BHS.V) comes into Top 10 in slot 10. Dropping out the Top 10 is Northern Dynasty Minerals (NAK)
Bought
Glencore plc (GLEN.L): Base Metals. With the talk of merger with Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and the importance of copper in electrification rounded up holding from an odd lot in personal portfolio to write covered calls. Rick Rule gave some clues on winning in copper - established miners with strong balance sheets. Best follow that idea. Wrote covered call for 0.78% premium with 5.8% price coverage - 3 days
Cameco Corporation (CCJ): Uranium. Bought a replacement parcel in personal portfolio - Rick Rule view is this is the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) of uranium.
Watched the Rick Rule interview on Triangle Investor where he highlighted energy and especially offshore oil. With the sale of Dawson Geophysical Company (DWSN) last week this had me looking into oil services
The charts shows the VanEck Oil Services ETF (OIH) ETF (the bars) and the Top 15 holdings - bought a $2000 slice each across the laggards - i.e., everything below the OIH marker in the middle of the right hand margin.
Baker Hughes Company (BKR): Oil Services. Dividend yield 1.49% - Ex date was date of purchase
Halliburton Company (HAL): Oil Services. Dividend yield 1.96% In pension portfolio too. Wrote covered call for 0.95% premium with 28% price coverage.
NOV Inc (NOV): Oil Services. Dividend yield 1.5%. Note: Nuclear Pro keeps mentioning this as a supplier to nuclear industry in addition to oil services role.
Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN): Oil Services. Dividend yield 4.71% ex date Mar 2
SLB NV (SLB): Oil Services. Dividend yield 2.29% - just missed the ex date. Added also in pension portfolio. Wrote covered call for 1.6% premium with 10.5% price coverage.
**Tenaris S.A. (TS): Oil Services. Dividend yield 3.42%
Cactus, Inc (WHD): Oil Services. Dividend yield 0.95% ex date Mar 2
Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR): Nuclear Technology. Averaged down entry price in managed portfolio and personal portfolio and pension portfolio on down days - this has got to track back to where it came from. In managed portfolio the price was 27% discount to last assignment in Sep 2025 and 25.6% in pension portfolio from assignment in January 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Cruising. (NCLH) Saw the flash of the stock in the big mover headlines with Elliott taking a stake. Added a parcel in personal portfolio - have had good success with the stock in the past especially coming into the northern summer cruising season. Wrote covered call for 1% premium with 6% price coverage - 3 days
Miramar Resources (M2R.AX): Gold Mining. Saw a tweet from Jonathan Fisher, CEO of Cauldron Energy (CXU.AX) about this gold mining exploration business - cheapest house on the best street - well located for infrastructure and processing facilities.
Find out he is the Chairman - two reasons to invest. Added a small parcel in personal portfolio
Anfield Energy (AEC): Uranium. Averaged down entry price in managed portfolio on down day.
Silvercorp Metals (SVM.TO): Silver Mining. Scaled into holding in pension portfolio. Wrote covered call for 2.3% premium with 26.9% price coverage.
Dream Finders Homes (DFH): US Homebuilding. Did something not done a while for US portfolios - ran the stock screens.
Simple chart story - consolidation in a range in the middle, break higher, fail, chop around support forming a bit of a W (inverse head and shoulders). Looking for the 42% profit move to the Q3 highs but do have to get past earnings and a softening US housing market..
Jaguar Uranium Corp (JAGU): Uranium. Added a holding in pension portfolio with quite different prices for first and last tranches of the day. See TIB798 for the rationale.
Solstice Advanced Materials (SOLS): Specialty Chemicals. Saw the announcement about increased uranium production capacity.
Added a holding in pension portfolio. Uranium production is around 11.5% of revenues and likely to go higher with this upgrade. This stock has been a good example of the problems of writing covered calls. Sold at $50 - buy back at $50.70 - sold at $55 - bought back at $78. Sold puts have recovered some of that - might not write covered calls - just sell puts. Adding this into the nuclear reports with 11.5% weighting.
Venture Global (VG): US Oil. Scaled into holding in pension portfolio to average down entry price - two tranches at front and end of one day did more of that. Seems the market reaction to earnings was down at first and then got over that in the following days.
Robinhood Markets (HOOD): Financial Markets. Assigned early (by a month) on sold put in pension portfolio. Breakeven $98.11 vs $75.21 close (Feb 18) - 9 cycles - need a bounce in markets to win this back. Wrote covered call for 1.4% premium with 19.7% price coverage is the start of the claw back
Fiverr International (FVRR): Internet Services. Assigned early in pension portfolio. Breakeven $17.04 vs $11.32 close (Feb 19) - last 12 months. Income trades have covered capital losses to date - feels like a sick puppy story.
QuantumScape Corporation: (QS): Battery Technology. Assigned in pension portfolio. Breakeven $6.67 vs $6.88 close (Feb 20) - 8 cycles - been building this to be happy with assignment
Aurora Cannabis (ACB.TO): Marijuana. Assigned on sold put that was supposed to be a sold call. Breakeven $4.50 vs $5.13 close (Feb 20) - 5 cycles. Part of a plan to get a profitable exit - even after the trade error - seems to be working
ERAMET S.A. (ERA.PA): Base Metals. Assigned in pension portfolio after shock earnings smacked price. Breakeven $56.32 vs $48.98 close (Feb 20) - 2 cycles of sold puts. Overall profit performance has been solid on stock and options - time to hold through the troubles. The asset portfolio is challenging - manganese, nickel, mineral sands, lithium - all but mineral sands bottoming
CleanSpark (CLSK): Bitcoin Mining. Assigned in pension portfolio Breakeven $9.20 vs $9.65 close (Feb 20) - 3 cycles of sold puts and including call spread that lost in January 2026
Coty Inc (COTY): Consumer Products. Assigned in pension portfolio Breakeven $2.71 vs $2.69 close (Feb 20) - 2 cycles of sold puts
enCore Energy Corp (EU): Uranium. Assigned in pension portfolio Breakeven $2.65 vs $2.62 close (Feb 20) - two cycles
Mirion Technologies (MIR): Nuclear Technology. Assigned in pension portfolio Breakeven $21.44 vs $21.28 close (Feb 20) - 2 cycles. In managed portfolio Breakeven $24.01 vs $21.28 close (Feb 20) - one cycle
Netflix (NFLX): TV Streaming. Assigned on credit spread in pension portfolio Breakeven $78.87 vs $78.67 close (Feb 20)
Westwater Resources (WWR): Graphite. Assigned in pension portfolio Breakeven $0.41 vs $0.88 close (Feb 20) - 4 cycles - been a strategy to cut average entry price with sold puts. Time to harvest now.
Sold
Sunpower Corporation (SPWR): Solar Power. Delisted after bankruptcy - ugly total loss in pension portfolio since November 2022 - several tranches - no amount of averaging down was going to work
L'Air Liquide S.A. (AI.PA): Specialty Chemicals. Assigned in pension portfolio for trading costs and French taxes loss since November 2025.
Henkel AG & Co (HEN3.DE): Specialty Chemicals. Assigned in pension portfolio for 1.5% profit since January 2026 - did say the covered call was written a bit tight - so it was. Stock screen idea.
Fluor Corp (FLR): Engineering Services. Assigned in pension portfolio for 11.1% profit since December 2025 Nuclear Pro idea
Nokia US ADR (NOK): Network Equipment. Assigned in pension portfolio for 44.8% blended profit since December 2024/July 2025. Been in and out of this stock for years now. Has been an amazing options play since July 2020 - will keep running it.
SSR Mining (SSRM): Gold Mining. Assigned in pension portfolio for 11.2% profit since January 2026 - first of the gold/silver stocks bought after the correction to hit a profit exit on covered calls.
Welltower Inc (WELL): US Healthcare. Assigned in pension portfolio for 5.8% profit since January 2026. TSP idea
Expiring Options
Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR): Nuclear Technology. With price closing at $12.88 (Feb 20), 12.5 strike put option expired. Was part of a 15/20/12.5 diagonal call spread risk reversal which has some way for the call spread to ITM. The sold put fully funded the call spread - now that has expired, breakeven should the call spread go exercise will be $14.70.
Quick update of the chart showing this trade with the purple highlight arrows. The blue arrow price scenario did not play out (shaded it light blue) Did move the right hand arrow to the left as there is a chance of a reversal off support at this point - if that happens, this trade will win.
Scorpio Tankers Inc. (STNG): Oil Shipping. With price closing at $71.66 (Feb 20), 57.5 strike put option expired. Was part of January 2027/February expiry 60/67.5/57.5 call spread risk reversal
Quick update of the chart shows the trade has gone over the top pretty much in line with the price scenario modelled at trade time. The sold put only partly funded the call spread - time to adjust and bank the profits.
ASX Portfolio
The segment reports trading in ASX fractional share portfolio. Trade entries are made based on stock screens looking for undervalued stocks (price to book, price earnings, price to sales) that are showing technical signs of breaking a downtrend. Exits are made at 35% profit or 25% if 52 week high is lower than 35% advance. New buys are in $500 lots. Scale ins and top ups in $250 lots
Top Ups
Amcor PLC (AMC.AX): Packaging. Dividend yield 5.50% - ex date Feb 24
Chart shows price bottoming out off support and making a higher low and higher high. Should be an easy profit target hit at the 52 week high target somewhere near the previous highs.
Sold
No sales
Shorts
Pfizer (PFE): US Pharmaceuticals. With price closing at $26.65 (Feb 20), 24/22 bear put spread expired worthless. Giving up on the short Pfizer trade - each successive trade is eating away at profits already banked.
Quick update of the chart shows price did start to move lower after trade entry but made a higher low and reversed higher. Nothing in the chart suggests a stock going lower.
Hedging Trades
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK): Europe Index. With price closing at $90.01 (Feb 20), 83/81 ratio put spread expired. The sold put ratio fully funded the bought put - a small profit made.
Quick update of the chart shows price never once dropped below the bought put level. This is the rationale for using ratio put spreads - they are free if the trade goes the wrong way. Got to say the chart feels a little toppy - the left hand blue arrow saw a hefty correction. The move after did not correct. Maybe this time - hedging time again.
Income Trades
Covered Calls
36 covered calls went to expiry with 6 assigned (UK 2 Europe 5(2) US 29(4)) Most of the action was in pension portfolio
UBS Etracs Crude Oil Shares Covered Call ETN (USOI): Oil. With rising oil prices added to holding in pension portfolio to average down. Yield 24.09% - taxed as income.
Naked Puts
46 naked puts went to expiry with 11 assigned all in pension portfolio (UK 9 Europe 12(1) US 33(9) Canada 2(1)).
Sold puts happy to own at lower prices
- Cameco Corporation (CCJ): Uranium. Return 0.9% Coverage 5.5% - 3 days
- Uranium Royalty Corp. (UROY): Uranium. Return 3.75% Coverage 1.3% - 3 days
- Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB.TO): Marijuana. Return 7.1% Coverage 8.2%
- Cameco Corporation (CCJ): Uranium. Return 1.8% Coverage 5.5% - 3 days - scaled in.
- Solstice Advanced Materials (SOLS): Specialty Chemicals. Return 0.5% Coverage 30%
Sold puts on stocks that might get assigned on covered calls - two were assigned
- Nokia Oyj (NOK): Network Equipment. Return 2% Coverage 8.6%
- Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): Solar Power. Return 4.8% Coverage -0.4% - ITM
- Welltower Inc. (WELL): US Healthcare. Return 0.9% Coverage 7.4%
Kicked the can down the road on sold puts that could be assigned
- Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR): Building Products. 61% loss on buy back. 45% cash positive
- Oklo Inc. (OKLO): Nuclear Technology. 13% profit on buy back. 19% cash positive - down a strike
- NuScale Power Corporation (SMR): Nuclear Technology. 116% loss on buy back. 55% cash positive - down a strike
Credit Spreads
A few new spreads
- Elevance Health (ELV): US Healthcare. ROI 56.3% Coverage 2.1%
- Alphabet (GOOGL): Internet Services. ROI 51.1% Coverage 0.0% - now 5% - 3 days
Spreads in managed portfolio and personal portfolio expired with ROI of 51.5% intact iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR). In pension portfolio one spread (NFLX) went to assignment and the others expired leaving ROI of 31.1% running - iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY), Alphabet (GOOGL), L'Air Liquide S.A. (AI.PA) (not bad process for one month exposure)
Resources
Cautions: This is not financial advice. You need to consider your own financial position and take your own advice before you follow any of my ideas
Images: I own the rights to use and edit the Buy Sell image. News headlines come from Google Search. All other images are created using my various trading and charting platforms. They are all my own work
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Investing: Interactive Brokers provides comprehensive global markets coverage with very competitive commissions. Open an account to earn up to USD 1,000 in IBKR stock. https://mclnks.com/ibkr
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February 16-20, 2026