The following companies are slated to release quarterly earnings reports today, March 1:

Astec Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTE -- $67.92) manufactures and sells equipment and components for the road building, aggregate processing, geothermal, water, oil and gas, and wood processing industries. Astec Industries will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:BHVN -- $84.98) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Biohaven Pharmaceutical will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Cardlytics Inc. (NASDAQ:CDLX -- $132.43) operates an advertising platform within financial institutions digital channels. Cardlytics will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE:CWEN -- $27.46) acquires, owns, and operates contracted renewable energy and conventional generation, and thermal infrastructure assets. Clearway Energy will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc. (NASDAQ:CORE -- $32.58) distributes packaged consumer products to the convenience retail industry. Core-Mark will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Covetrus Inc. (NASDAQ:CVET -- $37.16) operates as an animal-health technology and services company. Covetrus will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Dentsply Sirona Inc. (NASDAQ:XRAY -- $53.07) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets various dental products and technologies, and other consumable dental products and equipment. Dentsply Sirona will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

EVERTEC Inc. (NYSE:EVTC -- $38.90) engages in transaction processing business. EVERTEC will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Gentherm Inc. (NASDAQ:THRM -- $70.79) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets thermal management technologies. Gentherm will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV -- $39.51) is a timeshare company. Hilton Grand Vacations will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

HNI Corp. (NYSE:HNI -- $35.59) manufactures and sells office furniture and hearth products. HNI will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

The Middleby Corp. (NASDAQ:MIDD -- $146.41) designs, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services a range of foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchen equipment. Middleby will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Novanta Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVT -- $132.33) designs, manufactures, markets, and sells photonics, vision, and precision motion components and sub-systems to original equipment manufacturers in the medical and industrial markets. Novanta will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG -- $36.51) operates as an energy company. NRG Energy will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Perrigo Co. plc. (NYSE:PRGO -- $40.36) provides over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions. Perrigo will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:RETA -- $122.26) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Reata Pharmaceuticals will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS -- $34.49) provides 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions for individuals, businesses, and enterprises. Stratasys will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA -- $18.23) operates as a media company. TEGNA will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc. (NYSE:XHR -- $19.97) is a self-advised and self-administered REIT. Xenia will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

3D Systems Corp. (NYSE:DDD -- $35.84) provides 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions. 3D Systems will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Ambac Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:AMBC -- $16.95) a financial services holding company. Ambac will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Cryoport Inc. (NASDAQ:CYRX -- $59.44) provides temperature-controlled logistics and biostorage services to the life sciences industry. Cryoport will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

FibroGen Inc. (NASDAQ:FGEN -- $50.03) is a biopharmaceutical company. FibroGen will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Helios Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIO -- $65.40) develops, manufactures, and sells solutions for the hydraulics and electronics markets. Helios Technologies will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:INO -- $11.10) a biotechnology company. Inovio will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Inseego Corp. (NASDAQ:INSG -- $14.59) engages in the design and development of mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud solutions. Inseego will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Inter Parfums Inc. (NASDAQ:IPAR -- $73.17) manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of fragrances and fragrance related products. Inter Parfums will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Lemonade Inc. (NYSE:LMND -- $125.79) provides various insurance products. Lemonade will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

MBIA Inc. (NYSE:MBI -- $7.30) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. MBIA will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

MercadoLibre Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI -- $1,638.11) operates online commerce platforms. MercadoLibre will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

NIO Ltd. (NYSE:NIO -- $45.78) designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles. NIO will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Novavax Ltd. (NYSE:NVAX -- $231.23) is a late-stage biotechnology company. Novavax will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Ooma Inc. (NYSE:OOMA -- $15.80) creates connected experiences for businesses and consumers. Ooma will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

OraSure Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR -- $10.60) develops, manufactures, markets, and sells oral fluid diagnostic products and specimen collection devices. OraSure will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

REGENXBIO Inc. (NASDAQ:RGNX -- $40.91) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. REGENXBIO will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Repay Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:RPAY -- $21.80) provides integrated payment processing solutions to industry-oriented markets. Repay Holdings will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT -- $87.06) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company. Sarepta Therapeutics will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Scientific Games Corp. (NASDAQ:SGMS -- $46.83) develops technology-based products and services, and related content for the gaming, lottery, social and digital gaming industries. Scientific Games will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Silk Road Medical Inc. (NASDAQ:SILK -- $54.77) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Silk Road Medical will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Switch Inc. (NYSE:SWCH -- $17.34) provides colocation space and related services. Switch will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Zoom Video Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM -- $373.61) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Zoom Video will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 after the market closes today.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Tuesday will be fairly slow, with motor vehicle sales slated for release.

All economic dates listed here are tentative and subject to change.

Welcome back to our weekly series, Schaeffer's Cannabis Stock News Update, where we recap what happened in the world of marijuana stocks last week, and look ahead to how the cannabis industry will continue to develop in the 2021.

Investor interest in the cannabis industry is growing at an explosive growth rate, and the leading players continue to break through legal barrier after legal barrier, especially in the United States. More than 40 U.S. states legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana by the end of 2020. Now, more and more companies are starting to see the opportunity in cannabis cultivation, marketing, distribution, and technology.

After the Senate runoff elections tilted the majority toward Democrats last month, there has been continuing anticipation that the prospects of cannabis legislation will now find footing in Congress. While full-scale legalization may be out of reach, smaller reforms tied to police and banking could positively impact the cannabis industry.

If federal legalization happens, Wall Street analysts have recently said that, by 2030, the cannabis market could be worth somewhere around $115 billion. As the cannabis sector continues to grow, investors can anticipate many more marijuana stock initial public offerings (IPOs) on the horizon for the cannabis industry.

Here is a quick roundup of major cannabis stock news this week:

Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ:APHA), and Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), global pioneers in cannabis research, cultivation, production, and distribution, announced the launch of a new website: www.aphriatilraytogether.com on Feb. 23. This new, dedicated resource seeks to provide shareholders of both companies with pertinent information, news, and updates leading up to shareholders' special meetings. APHA's and TLRY's respective shareholders will vote on the resolutions necessary to implement the two companies' proposed business merger soon.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) provided a corporate update on Feb. 23 and released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year of 2020. Revenues for the fourth quarter were zero compared to $3.0 million year-over-year. Net loss for the fourth quarter was $122.2 million compared to a net loss of $88.3 million for the same period in 2019 for ARNA.

Cbdmd Inc (NASDAQ:YCBD) chairman & co-CEO, Martin Sumichrast, sold 395,600 shares of YCBD on Feb. 20, at an average price of $4.43 a share. The total sale was worth $1.8 million.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) announced its financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2020, and also provided financial guidance for 2021 on Feb. 23. Total revenues increased 9% in 2020 and 14% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same periods in 2019.

Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (NYSE:IIPR), the first and only real estate company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) focused on the regulated U.S. cannabis industry, announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 on Feb. 24. IIPR generated total revenues of approximately $37.1 million for the quarter, representing a 110% increase year-over-year.

Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL), a licensed Canadian producer of recreational Cannabis, and Indiva Limited and a leading Canadian producer of cannabis edibles, announced on Feb. 24 the closing of the previously announced $22,000,000 strategic investment into Indiva by SNDL.

Village Farms International, Inc. (NASDAQ:VFF), reassured shareholders on Feb. 23 that operations at its Texas greenhouse facilities have continued uninterrupted amidst the recent power outages and water supply shortages that have been experienced throughout many parts of the state as a result of unseasonably cold temperatures and severe weather conditions.

Exactly two months ago I was discussing the chaos around Bitcoin (BTC) reaching the vaunted $20,000 level, and how it could have even more room to run. Later that week, BTC finally lost steam just south of $23,000, igniting the "Twitterverse" on fire as crypto bulls crawled out of the woodwork. I claimed the intrigue of the cryptocurrency was only the beginning, as cryptocurrency brokerage Coinbase filed a draft registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), indicating an eventual initial public offering (IPO) is coming.

While this IPO idea has yet to come into fruition, flash forward to this past week and BTC on Tuesday catapulted above the psychologically significant $50,000 mark. By Wednesday, BTC hit a record of $51,735.38 and sported year-over-year growth of 430%, and per CoinDesk, could see a surge of twice that by the end of the calendar year. While this remains just a theory –one conveniently touted by a site called CoinDesk -- other investors also support the prospect of Bitcoin reaching six figures by year’s end. But, equal amounts of pundits warn against the unsustainability of such growth. Per MarketWatch, Skybridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci called it a "supply and demand situation." One must treat Bitcoin information as an echo chamber; wherever you dig on the internet, you can find evidence supporting your own assertations.

Instead of opinions, context can help articulate just what we’re dealing with here. Taking a closer look at Bitcoin’s growth over the past several years, Senior Market Strategist Chris Prybal gathered data comparing the Bitcoin/Gold growth ratio since 2016. Per the graph below, the ratio peaked in December 2017, just past 15:1. Following a multi-year lull, the ratio saw an unprecedented charge higher, and now stands just shy of 30:1. This represents three times the December 2020 low for the ratio, and a whopping six times the September lows.

Another contextual layer to add when referencing Bitcoin’s recent volatility is volume. In the chart below, Schaeffer’s Senior Market Strategist Matthew Timpane highlighted 2-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month BTC volume close-to-close. Range expansions to and above this (blue dotted) line have typically indicated that large moves lie ahead, with potential for a trend change -- but not necessarily. In fact, when utilizing the chart below, it’s easy to notice that it runs eerily similar to Schaeffer’s Volatility Scorecard (SVS), which measures the size of the equity’s movement on the chart in comparison to what options traders were pricing in during the past 12 months.

As a trader, something you can do to utilize BTC is hedge through futures. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) does not have options, so you’d need to use a proxy like MicroStrategy (MSTR), Riot Blockchain (RIOT), or Canaan (CAN). Though it’s good to remember the latter two are a bit more tied to mining and servers for BTC. Overstock.com (OSTK) has been a mild proxy too, which was part of Timpane’s thesis behind a Schaeffer’s trade he initiated that closed Friday.

Also worth noting is how Tesla’s (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk switched the company’s balance sheet from cash to Bitcoin, leaving a gaping opportunity for a win/win from a treasury and financial perspective. This is because BTC’s rally is great for the balance sheet, but if the surge doesn’t continue, Musk can write it off against business income. In simpler terms; we are expecting volatility, but we don’t necessarily know which direction it is going to be in, so moving forward with hedging may be your safest bet.

Subscribers to Bernie Schaeffer's Chart of the Week received this commentary on Sunday, February 21.

The shares Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ:ABNB) are up 3.8% at $182.06 this morning, following the firm's debut earnings report as a publically traded company. Airbnb posted losses of $11.24 for its fourth quarter, which were wider than analysts' estimates, though its revenue topped expectations. The company also announced better-than-expected gross bookings, suggesting demand in vacation rentals is enjoying a strong comeback. 

Analysts are optimistic on ABNB, too. No less than eight analysts lifted their price targets, the highest  of which came from Canaccord Genuity, which lifted its price target to  $220 from $175. Susquehanna also chimed in, calling Airbnb a "top recovery pick," and adding that while the road to recovery for travel is still slow going, "ABNB is a must-own name" for said recovery. 

Coming into today, however, the brokerage bunch was mostly bearish on the stock, with 19 calling it a "hold," compared to 11 "buy" or better ratings. Plus, the 12-month consensus price target of $168.74 stood at an 11.2% discount to last night's close. 

Echoing this pessimism, short sellers have been building their positions, with short interest up 26.6% in the last two reporting periods. Now, the 11.62 million shares sold short make up a sturdy 16.7% of ABNB's available float, which could put some wind at the equity's back, should today's positive earnings reaction spook some of these shorts. 

It's been a choppy ride for ABNB since going public back in December, though the equity has managed to tack on over 25% this year. While the equity's record highs just below the $220 mark are still proving to be elusive, its newly formed 40-day moving average looks like it could move in as support going forward. 

The following companies are slated to release quarterly earnings reports today, February 26:

AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:AMCX -- $53.07) owns and operates various cable television's brands delivering content to audiences, and a platform to distributors and advertisers. AMC Networks will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AMRX -- $4.89) develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic and specialty pharmaceutical products. Amneal Pharmaceuticals will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Builders Firstsource Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDR -- $40.61) manufactures and supplies building materials, manufactured components, and construction services to professional homebuilders, sub-contractors, remodelers, and consumers. Builders Firstsource will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Carter's Inc. (NYSE:CRI -- $94.68) designs, sources, and markets branded childrenswear. Carter's will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Cinemark Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CNK -- $22.79) engages in the motion picture exhibition business. Cinemark will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CRON -- $10.79) operates as a cannabinoid company. Cronos Group will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG -- $57.81) operates as a digital sports entertainment and gaming company. DraftKings will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Evergy Inc. (NYSE:EVRG -- $53.69) engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. Evergy will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Fluor Corp. (NYSE:FLR -- $19.78) provides engineering, procurement, construction, fabrication and modularization, operation, maintenance and asset integrity, and project management services. Fluor will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE:FL -- $52.73) operates as an athletic footwear and apparel retailer. Foot Locker will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

HMS Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:HMSY -- $36.80) provides cost containment solutions. HMS Holdings will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Lamar Advertising Co. (NASDAQ:LAMR -- $86.85) is an outdoor advertising company. Lamar Advertising will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

ModivCare Inc. (NASDAQ:MODV -- $149.62) is a technology-enabled healthcare services company. ModivCare will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NYSE:MODV -- $48.79) provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers. Northwest Natural will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

PNM Resources Inc. (NYSE:PNM -- $48.15) engages in the energy and energy-related businesses. PNM Resources will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (NYSE:PEG -- $55.90) operates as an energy company. Public Service will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Qurate Retail Inc. (NASDAQ:QRTEA -- $12.10) engages in the video and online commerce industries. Qurate Retail will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. (NYSE:RHP -- $75.67) is a lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust. Ryman Hospitality will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

The E.W. Scripps Co. (NASDAQ:RHP -- $18.35) operates as a media enterprise. Scripps will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA -- $90.47) provides a range of post-secondary education and non-degree programs. Strategic Education will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SLCA -- $11.37) produces and sells commercial silica. U.S. Silica will report its fourth-quarter earnings of 2020 before the bell today.

Looking ahead to next week, earnings season begins to wind down and there will be plenty of economic data for investors to sift through. Employment data will likely be the highlight the week, with plenty of manufacturing data on tap as well. Retail will be the main focus of earnings, and the list of upcoming earnings reports includes American Eagle (AEO), AMC Entertainment (AMC), Autozone (AZO), BJ's Wholesale (BJ), Costco (COST), JD.com (JD), NIO (NIO) Novavax (NVAX), Target (TGT), Urban Outfitters (URBN), and Zoom Video (ZM).

All economic dates listed here are tentative and subject to change.