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© 2026 Benzinga | All Rights Reserved
February 20, 2026 8:59 AM 5 min read

How To Trade SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, TSLA Using Technical Analysis

by RIPS Benzinga Contributor
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Good Morning Traders!

Today's session closes out the week with a significant macro slate, beginning with Q4 Advance Annualized GDP, the GDP Price Index, Advance Personal Consumption, Core PCE Price Index, and December Personal Income and Spending. We also receive the December PCE and Core PCE readings, which remain critical gauges for the Federal Reserve's inflation outlook. Markets will likely react first through the bond complex, with equities adjusting rapidly based on yield direction. 

At 9:45AM ET, preliminary S&P Global PMIs for Manufacturing, Services, and Composite provide a fresh read on business activity. At 10:00AM ET, traders will focus on New Home Sales and the final University of Michigan Sentiment report, including inflation expectations. Additionally, there is potential headline risk around 10:00AM ET if the Supreme Court delivers a decision on President Trump's tariffs, which could introduce cross asset volatility depending on the outcome. With GDP, inflation, sentiment, and possible legal headlines converging before a weekend, expect elevated volatility and position adjustments into the close.

Now, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY)

If SPY loses 684.25 with conviction, sellers may press into 682.50. A breakdown there could expose 680.75, and continued downside pressure may test 678.50. Given the combination of macro releases and potential legal headlines, expect sharp intraday swings and fast repricing around key levels.

Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:QQQ)

QQQ is currently trading around 603.25 and remains highly sensitive to both rate expectations and tariff related headline risk. Holding above this pivot may allow a rotation into 605.75, with follow through targeting 608.50 if growth regains leadership. A break above 610.00 would reflect stronger institutional participation and could fuel continuation into the upper range. 

If 603.25 fails to hold, sellers may guide price into 601.00. A sustained breakdown could bring 598.50 into focus, and deeper weakness may target 595.75. Tech tends to exaggerate macro driven moves, so volatility may expand quickly following the 8:30AM and 10:00AM windows.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)

AAPL is currently trading around 260.00 and attempting to stabilize ahead of GDP and PCE releases. If buyers defend this level, price may rotate toward 262.25, followed by 264.00 if broader tech firms. Sustained strength above 265.75 would suggest improving structure and renewed upside participation. 

If 260.00 breaks lower, sellers may press into 258.25. A breakdown there could expose 256.50, and continued weakness may test 254.75. Watch Apple's relative performance as a gauge of broader risk sentiment.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT)

MSFT is currently trading around 398.25 and sitting just beneath the key 400 psychological handle. If buyers reclaim 400.00 with strength, a move toward 402.50 may develop, followed by 405.00 if momentum builds. Holding above 398.25 keeps the structure neutral as markets digest the macro data. 

If 398.25 fails, sellers may test 396.00. A continued unwind could extend into 393.75, and deeper weakness may bring 391.00 into focus. Microsoft's response to yields and sentiment shifts will likely influence broader index direction.

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)

NVDA is currently trading around 187.25 and remains a volatility leader in the semiconductor space. Holding this pivot could spark a move toward 189.75, followed by 192.50 if buyers press advantage. Sustained trade above 194.00 would reflect renewed upside momentum. 

If 187.25 breaks lower, sellers may drive price into 184.75. A breakdown there could expose 182.25, and further weakness may test 179.50. Semiconductor reaction to rates will be critical in determining follow through.

Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

GOOGL is currently trading around 307.00 and attempting to build support above this zone. If buyers step in, a move toward 309.75 may develop, followed by 312.00 if communication services strengthen. A break above 314.00 would signal improving momentum. 

If 307.00 fails to hold, sellers may test 304.50. A sustained breakdown could expose 302.25, and deeper weakness may target 299.75. Losing the 300 region would likely dampen sentiment in large cap growth.

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META)

META is currently trading around 643.75 and maintaining relative strength versus peers. If buyers defend this area, a rotation toward 647.00 may develop, followed by 650.75 if momentum improves. Sustained strength above 653.00 would indicate continued leadership in high beta names. 

If 643.75 breaks down, sellers may press into 640.00. A deeper pullback could test 636.50, and further weakness may target 632.75. Relative performance here will provide clues about broader growth appetite.

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)

TSLA is currently trading around 411.25 and remains highly reactive to macro and policy headlines. If buyers defend this pivot, a push toward 414.75 may develop, followed by 418.00 if momentum expands. A breakout above 420.50 would signal stronger speculative participation. 

If 411.25 fails to hold, sellers may test 408.50. Continued downside pressure could extend into 405.25, and deeper weakness may bring 401.75 into focus. Tesla often exaggerates market swings, so expect wider intraday ranges.

Final Word: Trade with discipline and manage risk carefully. Happy Friday and have a great weekend.

Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Posted In:
EquitiesBroad U.S. Equity ETFsTechnicalsOpinionSignalsTrading IdeascontributorsExpert Ideas
AAPL Logo
AAPLApple Inc
$255.12-2.18%
Overview
GOOGL Logo
GOOGLAlphabet Inc
$302.30-2.07%
META Logo
METAMeta Platforms Inc
$644.77-1.54%
MSFT Logo
MSFTMicrosoft Corp
$405.620.18%
NVDA Logo
NVDANVIDIA Corp
$182.15-2.09%
QQQ Logo
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
$598.90-1.45%
SPY Logo
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
$668.25-1.19%
TSLA Logo
TSLATesla Inc
$395.24-3.08%


SPY is currently trading around 684.25 as markets brace for a heavy 8:30AM ET macro cluster including GDP and PCE data, with additional headline risk around a potential Supreme Court decision on tariffs near 10:00AM ET. If buyers defend this zone after the data, a move toward 686.00 may develop quickly, followed by 688.25 if yields remain contained. Sustained strength above 689.75 would signal expanding upside momentum and could open the path toward 692.00 into the close. 

AAPL Logo
AAPLApple Inc
$255.12-2.18%
Overview
GOOGL Logo
GOOGLAlphabet Inc
$302.30-2.07%
META Logo
METAMeta Platforms Inc
$644.77-1.54%
MSFT Logo
MSFTMicrosoft Corp
$405.620.18%
NVDA Logo
NVDANVIDIA Corp
$182.15-2.09%
QQQ Logo
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
$598.90-1.45%
SPY Logo
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
$668.25-1.19%
TSLA Logo
TSLATesla Inc
$395.24-3.08%
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