Futu Holdings Surges 5.8% Amid Global Equity Rally and AI-Driven Optimism

Summary
• FUTU surges 5.82% to $173.77, hitting intraday high of $177.455
• Global equity funds see $26.5B inflow as 2026 earnings forecasts hit 12.11%
• Q2 2025 earnings call highlights 105% YoY net income growth
• Options chain shows 2026-01-09 calls at 172.5/175 strikes dominate trading

Futu Holdings (FUTU) is riding a wave of global market optimism and sector-specific tailwinds as the stock surges 5.8% in early 2026 trading. The rally coincides with a record $26.5B inflow into global equity funds, driven by 12.11% earnings growth forecasts and AI-driven market enthusiasm. With the stock trading near its 52-week high of $202.53, technical indicators and options activity suggest a pivotal moment for this fintech leader.

Global Capital Inflows and AI-Driven Earnings Optimism Fuel FUTU's Surge
Futu Holdings' 5.8% intraday rally is directly tied to two macro forces: global equity fund inflows and AI-driven earnings optimism. The LSEG Lipper data reveals $26.5B poured into global equity funds in the last week of 2025, with U.S. funds alone attracting $16.89B. This capital influx is amplified by analysts' 12.11% 2026 earnings growth forecast, which aligns with Futu's Q2 2025 results showing 105% YoY net income growth. The stock's 52-week high proximity (currently at 86.3% of 202.53) and 17.76 dynamic P/E ratio suggest investors are pricing in continued AI-driven fintech expansion.

Fintech Sector Rally Accelerates as FUTU Outperforms Peers
The fintech sector is experiencing a broad-based rally, with FUTU outperforming key peers. While Intuit (INTU) trades down 3.49% and Robinhood (HOOD) up 1.24%, Futu's 5.8% gain reflects its unique positioning in AI-driven trading platforms. The sector's 56.28B average market cap is being challenged by FUTU's 22.48B valuation, which now trades at a 45.41% 1-year change versus the sector's 64.90% average. This divergence highlights investor preference for AI-native fintech models over traditional players.

Capitalizing on FUTU's Momentum: ETFs and Options Playbook
• 200-day MA: 145.19 (well below current price)
• RSI: 31.84 (oversold territory)
• MACD: -1.99 (bearish divergence)
• Bollinger Bands: Price at 173.77 (near upper band at 175.36)
• 30D support: 169.45-169.85
• 200D support: 164.26-166.74

The technical setup suggests FUTU is in a short-term bearish trend but remains in long-term range-bound consolidation. The 2X leveraged ETF FUTG (15.95, +11.45%) offers amplified exposure for directional bets. For options, two contracts stand out:

• FUTU20260109C172.5
- Strike: 172.5 | Expiry: 2026-01-09 | IV: 48.53% | LVR: 34.36% | Delta: 0.5194 | Theta: -0.7505 | Gamma: 0.03215 | Turnover: 14,234
- IV indicates moderate volatility | LVR shows strong leverage | Delta suggests balanced directional exposure | Theta reflects significant time decay | Gamma indicates sensitivity to price movement
- This call option offers optimal leverage (34x) with moderate delta (0.52) for a 5% upside scenario (target price $182.46). Projected payoff: $9.96 per contract.

• FUTU20260109C175
- Strike: 175 | Expiry: 2026-01-09 | IV: 44.61% | LVR: 49.29% | Delta: 0.4321 | Theta: -0.6511 | Gamma: 0.03451 | Turnover: 39,233
- IV shows reasonable volatility | LVR provides maximum leverage | Delta indicates balanced exposure | Theta reflects substantial time decay | Gamma suggests strong price sensitivity
- With 49x leverage and 0.43 delta, this contract could yield $12.46 per contract if FUTU reaches $181.19 (5% upside).

Aggressive bulls should consider FUTU20260109C175 into a break above $175.00. Conservative traders may use FUTU20260109C172.5 as a core position with tight stops below $169.45.

Backtest Futu Holdings Stock Performance
The backtest of FUTU's performance following a 6% intraday surge from 2022 to the present shows impressive results. The strategy achieved a 325.38% return, significantly outperforming the benchmark, which returned 46.41%. The excess return generated was 278.98%, indicating that the strategy's focus on intraday percentage changes exceeding 6% was highly beneficial. The CAGR was 44.78%, and the Sharpe ratio was 0.62, suggesting that the risk-adjusted returns were substantial. However, the maximum drawdown was 0.00%, which may raise concerns about the strategy's ability to withstand market downturns. Overall, the backtest highlights the strategy's potential for high returns but also underscores the need for further analysis to address potential risk considerations.

FUTU at Inflection Point: Ride the AI-Driven Fintech Wave
Futu Holdings stands at a critical juncture as global capital flows and AI-driven earnings optimism converge. The stock's 5.8% surge reflects its positioning as a leader in AI-native fintech platforms, with technical indicators suggesting a potential breakout above key resistance. Investors should monitor the 175.00 level as a catalyst for further gains, while the 169.45 support zone offers a critical floor. With Intuit (INTU) down 3.49% as a sector benchmark, FUTU's outperformance highlights its unique value proposition in the AI-driven trading ecosystem. Aggressive traders should consider the 2026-01-09 175 call option as a high-leverage play if the stock breaks above $175.00.