3 US Stocks: Momentum Shifts in Healthcare, Finance, Energy
Centene, W.R. Berkley, and Halliburton saw significant Altra Score jumps on July 17, signaling bullish momentum shifts across key US sectors.
- Visit the stock pages: CNC, WRB, HAL
- Sector XLV , which ranks #2 for Relative Strength (Altra Sector score of 66.0 with neutral regime.)
While the broader US market is in an 'Improving' phase with an Altra Market score of 57.5, suggesting some underlying breadth improvement, the market remains selective. The Altra Market score assesses overall market breadth by looking at the percentage of stocks above key moving averages. In this environment, where the past 15-day average score has seen a slight decline and daily advances are outnumbered by declines (145/358), identifying individual stocks with strong momentum shifts becomes crucial. The Altra Score itself is a 0-100 measure of a stock's momentum, derived from the alignment of its exponential moving averages (EMAs) and the trend of its Relative Strength Index (RSI) across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes. A higher score indicates stronger bullish momentum. Recently, three stocks across different sectors have signaled significant bullish momentum changes, standing out against this nuanced backdrop.
Centene Corporation (CNC)
Centene Corporation, a key player in US Healthcare, saw a notable shift in its momentum profile, with its Altra Score jumping from 55.6 (Neutral) to 82.4 (Strong Bullish) on July 17. This substantial increase signifies a robust strengthening of bullish momentum for CNC. The stock is currently trading above its key EMAs, a foundational technical signal often associated with upward price trends. Further reinforcing this positive shift, CNC experienced a bullish Weekly EMA Crossover on May 1, 2026, indicating a longer-term positive trajectory in its moving averages.
Examining the Relative Strength Index (RSI) across multiple timeframes provides additional context. CNC's daily RSI stands at 54.98, while its weekly RSI is a strong 69.78, and its monthly RSI is 63.04. The elevated weekly and monthly RSI values suggest sustained buying interest on longer horizons, even as daily action remains somewhat balanced.
In the broader context, the US Healthcare sector holds an Altra Sector score of 66.0, ranking second among other sectors. An Altra Sector score measures momentum at the sector level, also incorporating a relative-strength rank. While the sector itself is in a 'Neutral' regime and its bullish confirmation is 'Not yet confirmed,' it is 'gaining relative strength,' as evidenced by a positive 4-week RS trend of +0.17 and a balanced RS RSI of 52.0. CNC's individual surge in momentum comes as its sector demonstrates underlying strength, making its move particularly noteworthy.
W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB)
In the US Financials sector, W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) also experienced a significant momentum acceleration, seeing its Altra Score climb from 58.8 (Neutral) to 86.5 (Strong Bullish) on July 17. This rapid ascent into the 'Strong Bullish' category indicates a pronounced shift in its underlying technical strength. Like Centene, WRB's price is positioned above its key EMAs, which often signals a constructive trend. The stock recently confirmed a bullish Weekly EMA Crossover on June 29, 2026, suggesting that its intermediate-term trend is turning upward.
WRB's RSI figures across timeframes show a consistent, healthy momentum. The daily RSI is 56.05, weekly RSI is 57.24, and monthly RSI is 55.95. These balanced RSI readings, all above the 50-mark, indicate that buying and selling pressure are in equilibrium with a slight bullish tilt, supporting the stock's recent score increase.
The US Financials sector, with an Altra Sector score of 64.0, ranks third overall. While this sector is also in a 'Neutral' regime and awaiting bullish confirmation, it is similarly showing signs of 'gaining relative strength,' albeit with a smaller 4-week RS trend of +0.04 and an RS RSI of 54.2. WRB's strong individual momentum stands out within a sector that is gradually improving its relative standing.
Halliburton (HAL)
Rounding out these cross-sector momentum shifts is Halliburton (HAL), which moved from an Altra Score of 50.1 (Neutral) to 64.6 (Bullish) on July 17. This transition into the 'Bullish' category, while not as dramatic as the 'Strong Bullish' shifts seen in Centene and W. R. Berkley, nevertheless marks a positive turn in its momentum. Halliburton is trading above its key EMAs, indicating that its price action is holding above significant support levels. Its bullish Weekly EMA Crossover is a more established event, having occurred back on October 24, 2025, suggesting a longer-term underlying bullish bias.
HAL's RSI readings present an interesting picture: its daily RSI is 46.58 and weekly RSI is 49.49, both slightly below the 50-mark, indicating some short-term consolidation or minor weakness. However, its monthly RSI remains robust at 61.58, pointing to sustained strength on a longer-term horizon. This combination suggests that while immediate momentum might be leveling off, the overall longer-term trend remains intact.
Notably, the US Energy sector where Halliburton operates holds the highest Altra Sector score among the three at 68.0, ranking first. Despite being in a 'Neutral' regime and awaiting confirmation, the sector is also 'gaining relative strength,' with a 4-week RS trend of +0.06 and an RS RSI of 51.7. Halliburton's move to 'Bullish' aligns with its sector's leading position in terms of momentum, indicating potential for continued strength as the broader energy complex seeks clearer direction.
What is the Altra Score? The Altra Score is AltraOne's proprietary momentum score for individual stocks, ranging from 0 to 100. It measures EMA structure and RSI momentum across multiple timeframes. A score above 60 is Bullish, below 40 is Bearish, and 40–60 is Neutral. The score is updated every trading day after market close based on end-of-day data.
Explore the full Signal History on AltraOne to see every EMA crossover signal across your watchlist — going back 52 weeks. The weekly EMA crossover is AltraOne's highest-conviction intermediate momentum signal; the Signal History page lets you track how these have played out over time.
Altra Score is a momentum indicator reflecting EMA alignment and RSI trend across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes. It is not investment advice. Past momentum does not guarantee future performance. Please consult a SEBI-registered advisor before making investment decisions.