T.A.C.O.: Tehran Always Chickens Out?

Daily šŸ”„H.E.A.T.šŸ”„ Your Financial GPS

In Today’s Issue:

  • Rareview 2X Bull Cryptocurrency & Precious Metals ETF

  • Our Next Webinar—-Cash from Corruption: Profiting Off Washington’s Grift Machine

  • T.A.C.O.: Tehran Always Chickens Out?

  • Undercut & Rally Patterns — Weaponizing the Shakeout

  • GameStop Tumbles: Implications for Crypto Treasury Companies

  • Hedges: Short Vietnam

  • The Grid Shock Is Coming: 7 Ways to Profit From the Coming Power Crisis

  • and more……..

Cash from Corruption: Profiting Off Washington’s Grift Machine

Thu, Jun 26, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

- Two strategies to tap into Washington's grift with limited risk and unlimited upside

- How to use AI to recognize the next top themes before the "smart money" does.

- My simple hedging strategy that takes advantage of the real "dumb money" on Wall Street

To register:

T.A.C.O.: Tehran Always Chickens Out?

My normal thought would be to fade this move but the market has felt extended the past couple of days and this could be a good excuse to take out some of the froth.

Typically, selloffs on wars (remember the Ukraine invasion) are short lived. Not sure how bullish I would be going into a weekend but will be looking for undercut and rally patterns on my watchlist (primer on undercut and rallies below). One also has to wonder if Iran has the stomach for a full blown war against Israel that could morph into a full blown war against the West.

Meanwhile…

šŸ”„ The HEAT Formula Playbook:

Undercut & Rally Patterns — Weaponizing the Shakeout

šŸ“‰ What Is an Undercut & Rally?

At its core, an undercut and rally (U&R) is a shakeout reversal. Price undercuts a key prior low or major moving average, triggering stops and panic selling, only to reverse higher, trapping shorts and reenergizing bulls.

It’s a setup rooted in deception and asymmetric psychology:

  • Longs are flushed.

  • Shorts get baited.

  • Then the trap snaps shut.

The U&R is your chance to buy fear — with a defined stop and explosive upside.

🧠 Why U&Rs Work

  1. Forced Liquidations — Algorithms and retail panic sell on the break of a prior low or MA.

  2. Liquidity Vacuum — Price spikes down into low liquidity before snapping back.

  3. Reclaim = Signal — The reclaim of a low or moving average is the entry — not the breakdown.

šŸ”‘ 3 Types of Undercut & Rallies

1. Key Low U&R

  • Price undercuts a prior swing low, then reverses higher.

  • Stop-loss = just under that low.

  • Trigger = reclaim of the low, ideally on volume.

2. Moving Average U&R

  • Price dips under a moving average, then closes back above.

  • Works best with the 10-day, 20-day, or 50-day for short-term trades.

  • The 200-day works for long-term positional pivots and institutional shakeouts.

3. Double U&R

  • Price undercuts multiple levels — e.g., prior low and 50-day MA — before reclaiming both.

  • Higher conviction, often leads to trend reversals.

šŸŽÆ Entry + Risk/Reward Setup

  • Buy Trigger: Close back above the undercut level (low or MA)

  • Stop: Just below the undercut low (1-2% buffer)

  • Target: Nearest resistance level or prior high

  • Risk/Reward: Often 4–8x if timed correctly

šŸ“Š Moving Averages: When to Use Each

MA

Use Case

Typical Context

10-day

Very short-term U&R snapbacks

Momentum resets, day trades

20-day

Intermediate trades

Shakeouts in fast-growth setups

50-day

Strong medium-term pivots

Core uptrends, high-volume bounces

200-day

Long-term base turns

Major trend reversals, institutional support levels

GameStop Tumbles: Implications for Crypto Treasury Companies

I have no illusions that what MicroStrategy, GameStop, and others are doing is a real business strategy. However, in the post Covid markets we live in, it is something that investors love. GameStop yesterday showed it’s not without risks. I did sell some puts on GME yesterday, would have much preffered an undercut and rally around $21 but took a flyer anyway.

šŸ”š What Happened with GME Yesterday

GameStop announced a $1.75 billion convertible bond (0% interest, due 2032), with an option to upsell another $250 million. The funds are earmarked for general corporate purposes—including potentially more Bitcoin purchases. GME stock tumbled ~20% on heavy volume and chart destruction below its 50- and 200-day moving averages .

🧠 Structural Forces Behind the Drop

  1. Convertible Arbitrage Pressure
    Hedge funds buy the bond and short GME stock to hedge—putting immediate downside on equity linkedin.com.

  2. Equity Dilution Risk
    Future bond conversion dilutes common shares—investors hit the exits early .

  3. Cannibalized Core Business
    Weak Q1 revenue (-17% YoY) raises concern that the Bitcoin pivot distracts from retail fundamentals .

  4. Balance-Sheet Leverage Risk
    Debt-financed crypto adds leverage; if BTC drops, GME could be in a debt spiral dailyhodl.com.

šŸ“” Implications for Other Crypto-Treasury Companies

Company

Similarities

Differentiators

Risk/Reward

MicroStrategy (MSTR)

Same convertible playbook; massive BTC exposure

Deep history of Bitcoin reserves—market understands its strategy

Similar pressure on equity, but better track record

Marathon Digital, Riot Platforms

Crypto on balance sheet; financing needs

Debt is operational (mining capex) not treasury-targeted

Subject to similar arbitrage/liquidity sell-offs

Coinbase (COIN)

Crypto treasury, stock/funding tied to BTC

Primary business tied to trading volumes—more diversified

May see equity pressure post-bond

Tesla (TSLA)

Previous Bitcoin treasury investor

Stronger earnings cushion; less likely to lever up again

Likely safe unless bond issuance is excessive

Key takeaway: Convertible-driven crypto treasury strategies invite arbitrage selling, dilution risk, and leverage concerns—weakening short-term equity value even if crypto holdings rise.

šŸ’„ What Crypto-Treasury Companies Should Watch

  1. Announcement Reaction – Immediate equity sell-off due to shorting and dilution fears.

  2. Conversion Overhang – A looming supply cloud weighs on the stock over time.

  3. Leverage Sensitivity – Crypto drawdowns can cripple companies with large debt positions.

  4. Message to Market – Investors demand clarity on why and how much debt versus equity will be issued.

šŸ” Winners & Losers: Ranked 1–10 by Strategic Odds

Potential Winners (lower risk with strong fundamentals):

  1. MicroStrategy (9/10) – Proven, transparent crypto strategy.

  2. Coinbase (8/10) – Business is core to crypto; can absorb crypto volatility.

  3. Tesla (7/10) – Strong earnings; weak reliance on BTC reserves.

  4. Marathon Digital (6/10) – Mixed risk, but crypto-weighted business.

At-Risk Short-Term (prone to bond risk and dilution):
5. GameStop (3/10) – Core business in decline; crypto pivot unproven.
6. Riot Platforms (5/10) – Mining company, but under crypto debt stress.
7. Other levered crypto miners (4/10) – Operational risk + balance-sheet risk.
8. New crypto-treasury copycats (2/10) – High dilution/leverage, no proven playbook.

šŸŽÆ For Daily H.E.A.T. Subscribers

  • Convertible offering = two-day shock, not a trend trigger… until stock recovers fundamentals.

  • Bitcoin alone doesn’t justify GME debt—buyers demand clarity on ROI and conversion terms.

  • Best trade? Watch MSTR’s response—bond-market trust buffer sets stage.

  • Leaders avoid this pitfall by financing growth with equity or using balanced risk management.

šŸ”” The Big Idea:

Convertible bonds are a nuclear fusion of debt, dilution, and strategy. When used to finance crypto treasuries, they can destroy equity value even if Bitcoin surges. Only firms with bank-level discipline, transparent strategy, and long-term crypto conviction can avoid the trap.

šŸ”„ The HEAT Formula Playbook:

Hedges: Short Vietnam

We are always looking for potential hedges. One area I always try to be on the look out for are companies and countries that will be hurt by whatever is going on in the world, especially if they are extended. I missed the upswing in Vietnamese stocks…..

But they new look extended and if VNM breaks the 20 day EMA it could be shortable. This article caught my eye this morning so I had GPT take a deep dive….

šŸŒ Macro Insight: Vietnam Now on the Hook

Vietnam was the great beneficiary of the U.S.–China trade war, drawing massive inflows as firms reshored manufacturing under a ā€œChina +1ā€ strategy. Investment surged from $15.8 bn in 2016 to $38.2 bn in 2024, with GDP growth averaging ~7% .

But in April, Trump imposed 46% ā€œreciprocalā€ tariffs, targeting Vietnam for having a large U.S. trade surplus. That’s a bombshell—it instantly chips away at the low-cost competitiveness that made Vietnam the go-to alternative .

šŸ“‰ Economic Gut-Punch

  • Export dependency: Nearly 90% of GDP comes from exports; U.S. absorbs one-third.

  • Tariff impact: HSC estimates growth slashed ~1.8 percentage points if rates remain high; even 20–25% tariffs dent margins significantly ft.com.

  • Immediate fallout: Exporters like A&M Flooring saw orders ā€œslow to a trickleā€ā€”US clients are spooked .

  • FDI at risk: Multinationals (Apple, Nike, Intel) may flatten new investment; existing projects may stall ft.com.

  • Geopolitical tilt: Facing tariffs, Vietnam strengthens ties with China—Xi met with leaders, offering investments and rail projects .

  1. High Export Leverage = High Debt
    Vulnerable to external shocks; tariffs are a clear economic shock hitting margins and orderbooks immediately.

  2. Political Risk
    Trump targets trade surpluses regardless of source; other export-heavy nations (Mexico, SE Asia) are ripe for similar treatment.

  3. Supply-Chain Backfire
    Hard to re-route shipments overnight; logistics shifts (e.g., to Colombia) add time and cost .

  4. Growth Re-rated
    The World Bank has already cut Vietnam’s growth forecast from 6.8% to 5.8% .

šŸ•µļø Competitor Risks: Other Trade-Heavy Economies

  • Cambodia & Thailand: Hit by similar tariffs (Cambodia ~49%), facing investor flight .

  • Indonesia, Malaysia: Less export-dependent—but supply-chain ripple effects and regional slowdown will drag GDP .

  • Mexico: Another surplus country; tariffs can return if Trump escalates .

šŸ’” Winners Among the Losers

Are there silver linings? A few:

  • Local banks (VCB, TCB): If the government pivots to domestic investment, these may cushion the shock.

  • Domestic consumer stocks: As exporters suffer, internal-facing firms may outperform.

  • China-aligned infrastructure and finance: Closer ties with China may boost Chinese state-backed projects.

🧭 Risk-Adjusted Take: Should You Short Vietnam?

  • āœ… Yes – tactical short: If tariffs stay at 20–46%, Vietnam's exports, currency, and equities could trade down 10–20%.

  • āš ļø No – risk: If negotiations yield exemptions before July, growth may rebound and shorts get squeezed.

  • 🟔 Neutral long: If Vietnam shifts successfully toward domestic growth and away from global export dependence, there may be stabilization via reform—but not fast enough to offset near-term pain.

šŸ“‹ TL;DR Recommendations

Position

Rationale

Vietnam ETF short

Exports impact hurts earnings; weak tech/manufacturing means slower growth.

Avoid SE Asia long

Cambodia, Thailand equally exposed, fragile macro signals.

Selective long

Domestic services or banks only if obvious fiscal pivot begins.

šŸŽÆ For Daily H.E.A.T. Readers

  • Main trade: Short Vietnam equity or FX now; it's a direct play on tariff fallout.

  • Hedge: Small long in Vietnamese financials or domestic consumer shorted on broader weakness.

  • Watch: U.S.–Vietnam talks due mid-June—any hints of reprieve can spark a bouncy recovery.

šŸ”„ The Grid Shock Is Coming: 7 Ways to Profit From the Coming Power Crisis

AI power is one of my favorite themes. TD Cowen came out with a new report on the area yesterday so I had GPT take a deep dive and pick out some potential winners and losers…..

10th Annual Sustainability and Energy Transition Primer.pdf582.39 KB • PDF File

There’s a war brewing beneath the surface of the American economy. It’s not about interest rates or inflation — it’s about electricity.

For decades, the U.S. grid quietly handled business as usual. But those days are over. A wave of AI data centers, EVs, crypto miners, and manufacturing reshoring is colliding with an infrastructure built for a different century.

As TD Cowen bluntly states, ā€œwe are now entering a period of new demand for electricityā€, with annual load growth spiking as high as 7% in certain regions — levels unseen in modern times

Utilities are scrambling to catch up. Policymakers are divided. And investors? They’re either asleep — or about to make a fortune.

šŸ’” The Opportunity:

Cowen lays out a brutal reality: while clean energy is cheap and ready to deploy, policy uncertainty, tariffs, and high interest rates are clouding the short term. But that’s the setup for asymmetric opportunities.

The winners will be those who can:

  • Build scalable energy platforms

  • Help modernize the grid

  • Deliver behind-the-meter flexibility

  • Survive — and thrive — under a Trump 2.0 energy doctrine

šŸ† Ranked Winners (1–10 scale, based on positioning, tailwinds, and valuation)

Company

Ticker

Sector

Thesis

Rating (1–10)

First Solar

FSLR

Utility-Scale Solar

Top beneficiary of U.S. tariffs, no China exposure. Cheapest unsubsidized LCOE solar tech.

10

Itron

ITRI

Smart Grid / AMI

A direct play on grid digitalization and flexibility. Mission-critical tech.

9

HASI

HASI

Sustainable Infra REIT

Owns cash-flowing clean energy assets. Great long-term but sensitive to rates.

8

California Resources Corp.

CRC

Carbon Capture / Oil

Trump-aligned energy dominance winner with CCUS optionality.

8

Northland Power

NPI.T

Offshore Wind / Canada

Low-cost capital and renewable buildout give it upside in a dovish rate pivot.

7

Landis+Gyr

LAND.SW

Smart Meters

Grid-enabling hardware leader; defensible moat in AMI.

6.5

🧨 Potential Losers (risk from policy, tariffs, or oversupply)

Company

Ticker

Why At Risk

Rating (1–10)

Enphase Energy

ENPH

Tariff-sensitive, China-exposed battery chain

3

Sunrun

RUN

Highly levered, dependent on residential incentives

4

Shoals Tech

SHLS

Solar BOS with global exposure; margin risk if tariffs tighten

5

Array Tech

ARRY

Utility solar tracker OEM, exposed to cost inflation

5

šŸ“ˆ Key Macro Catalysts TD Cowen Highlights:

  • Massive load growth from data centers, AI, crypto, industrials

  • Renewables cheaper than gas, but face policy friction and integration delays

  • Trump 2.0 policy could:

    • Gut EV credits

    • Favor fossil fuels + domestic manufacturing

    • Weaponize tariffs against China solar & batteries

  • Grid needs full modernization to handle bi-directional loads, DERs, EVs, and cyber risks

šŸ’„ Bottom Line:

The U.S. isn’t ready for what’s coming. But the capital markets are. The grid is cracking under pressure, but the companies that support or profit from resilient, domestic, scalable energy infrastructure could be the next great compounders.

For Steve: this is a full-blown multi-decade asymmetric trade. Focus on utility-scale, tariff-proof, grid-digital enablers and Trump-aligned energy infrastructure.

How Did You Like Today's Newsletter

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Before You Go Some Ways I Can Help

  1. ETFs: We offer innovative ETFs that cover all aspects of The H.E.A.T. Formula, Hedges, Edges, and Themes.

  2. Consulting: I'm happy to jump on the phone with financial advisors at no charge. I've built a wealth management firm and helped other advisors grow their practices through the use of substantially differentiated investment strategies. If you want to talk just send me an email at [email protected]

  3. Monthly investing webinars

  4. Rebel Finance Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@TuttleCap

  5. Wealth Management-Coming Soon

  6. Paid Newsletter Service-Coming Soon

    The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager for Tuttle Capital Management (TCM) and are subject to change without notice. The data and information provided is derived from sources deemed to be reliable but we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Investing in securities is subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Trade notifications are for informational purposes only. TCM offers fully transparent ETFs and provides trade information for all actively managed ETFs. TCM's statements are not an endorsement of any company or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Trade notification files are not provided until full trade execution at the end of a trading day. The time stamp of the email is the time of file upload and not necessarily the exact time of the trades. TCM is not a commodity trading advisor and content provided regarding commodity interests is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation. Investment recommendations for any securities or product may be made only after a comprehensive suitability review of the investor’s financial situation.Ā© 2025 Tuttle Capital Management, LLC (TCM). TCM is a SEC-Registered Investment Adviser. All rights reserved.