I like to trade stocks that are relative leaders and belong to industry groups that are leaders as well. For the past 2-3 months, much has been written about and discussed with respect to semiconductors ($DJUSSC), software ($DJUSSW), electrical components & equipment ($DJUSEC), electronic equipment ($DJUSAI), recreational services ($DJUSRQ), travel & tourism ($DJUSTT), etc. These groups were laggards prior to showing absolute and relative strength and, many times, it’s the absolute strength (think breakout) that triggers money flows into that particular area of the market.
With that in mind, where’s one area that we could see upcoming strength during the summer months?
Computer Hardware
I know this group has been out of favor, but that seemed to change last week:
Its absolute downtrend seems to have been broken and we saw a glimpse of solid relative strength. Seasonality also leads me to believe that this run could very well just be getting started. Check this out:
Over the past 20 years, the DJUSCR has crushed the S&P 500 during the months of July and August. It’s easily been the group’s best two calendar months historically. These two months have consistently been great months for computer hardware stocks as they’ve each gained ground in roughly 3 out of every 4 years. Apple, Inc. (AAPL), the leading computer hardware stock, absolutely loves the months of July and August.
I expect last week’s rally to continue right up to AAPL’s earnings report on July 31st, and possibly beyond.
I’ll be featuring one other computer hardware stock in our FREE EB Digest newsletter on Monday morning that has CRUSHED the S&P 500 during July and August historically and it boasts one of the strongest charts in technology since the April low. If you’re not already an EB Digest subscriber, simply CLICK HERE to provide your name and email address. I’ll get that chart out to you first thing tomorrow morning!
Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) is pleased to update shareholders on the on-going surface exploration in preparation for drilling at the La Union Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. Questcorp has an Option earn a 100% interest from Riverside Resources Inc. in the 2,520 ha (25 km sq) property by making a series of cash payments and share issuance and completing a series of exploration expenditures.
Questcorp President & CEO, Saf Dhillon, stated: ‘We are pleased with the progress Riverside has made as we complete the preliminary exploration steps, in finalizing our drill targets for the upcoming maiden drill program at La Union. The decades of in country exploration experience that John-Mark and his Riverside team diligently bring to focus at the La Union project is very evident as they continue to further de-risk the up-coming 1,500 metre drill program.’
Figure 1: Cross section IP with interpreted structures and targets from Union new Induced Polarity geophysics survey.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/257897_4d60e7d2c4556af9_001full.jpg
La Union operator Riverside Resources has successfully completed two IP lines over the La Union and La Union Norte mines respectively, highlighting chargeability and resistivity features at depth which will guide the placement of the first ever drill holes on the property, as well as correlating with mapped mineralized zones and former workings.
A drone magnetic survey was flown over the property to provide structural context, follow up potential intrusive feeders and provide information about potential faults beneath the pediments and post-mineral young cover units.
Ongoing surface geochemistry and mapping continues to strengthen the targeting pipeline, particularly across exposed gold-rich manto zones and along the margins of shallow post-mineral gravel pediment cover. These efforts are focused on delineating the transition zones from covered to exposed mineralization and establishing structural controls that may influence ore continuity at depth.
The La Union Project
The La Union Project is a carbonate replacement deposit (‘CRD’) project hosted by Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks (limestones, dolomites, and siliciclastic sediments) overlying crystalline Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Caborca Terrane. The structural setting features high-angle normal faults and low-to-medium-angle thrust faults that sometimes served as mineralization conduits. Mineralization occurs as polymetallic veins, replacement zones (mantos, chimneys), and shear zones with high-grade metal content, as shown in highlight grades of 59.4 grams per metric tonne (g/t) gold, 833 g/t silver, 11% zinc, 5.5% lead, 2.2% copper, along with significant hematite and manganese oxides, consistent with a CRD model (see the technical report entitled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Union Project, State of Sonora, Mexico’ dated effective May 6, 2025 available under Questcorp’s SEDAR+ profile). These targets also demonstrate intriguing potential for large gold discoveries potentially above an even larger porphyry Cu district potential as the Company’s target concept at this time.
Questcorp cautions investors grab samples are selective by nature and not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the property.
Riverside, the operator of the La Union Project, is currently lining up the various geophysical contractors to immediately undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets.
The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a director of the Company and a ‘qualified person’ under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Questcorp Mining Inc.
Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union Project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.
Contact Information
Questcorp Mining Corp. Saf Dhillon, President & CEO Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca Telephone: (604) 484-3031
This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Riverside’s arrangements with geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of Riverside to secure geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets as contemplated or at all, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/257897
Chinese chain Luckin Coffee opened its first two U.S. locations this week, betting that mobile-only ordering and creative flavors can lure customers away from Starbucks.
Both new Luckin stores are based in Manhattan, and at the midtown location on Wednesday, Sam Liu took a sip of her jasmine cold brew.
“I’ve never tried anything like it,” she said.
I thought I just order at the counter, but I realized everyone was standing around looking at their phone.
Luckin Customer Sam Liu, New York City
Liu said she’d hoped for more seating — the small shop has only three tables — and was initially confused by Luckin’s in-app ordering system, which means customers can’t order directly from a barista.
“I thought I just order at the counter, but I realized everyone was standing around looking at their phone,” Liu said.
Luckin is China’s largest coffee chain, with more than twice as many locations as Starbucks there. Its two New York City stores are its first foray outside Asia, where it has over 24,000 locations across the region. By comparison, there are over 17,000 Starbucks in the United States.
Its CEO, Guo Jinyi, called the U.S. “a strategically important market” for the company’s expansion in a press release heralding the two new locations Wednesday. “We are excited to introduce a diverse and unique coffee experience to American consumers.”
The company, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, has touted its ambitions to expand globally but hasn’t publicly detailed its next moves in the U.S. or other markets.
The chain has gained success overseas through creative drinks like alcohol-infused coffees and fruit lattes, along with its smartphone-centric ordering model. The app-based approach makes it easier to track inventory, send personalized appeals to consumers and serve drinks quickly, said John Zolidis, an analyst who tracks Luckin and Starbucks at the brokerage firm he founded, Quo Vadis Capital.
“Luckin was able to develop an incredible muscle with regard to product innovation, and they have been very creative in China,” he said.
Drink orders ready for pickup or delivery inside one of the Manhattan Luckin shops on Monday.Anthony Behar / Sipa USA via AP
Zolidis said how Luckin fares on Starbucks’ home turf will depend on its ability to differentiate its menu from other major U.S. coffee chains and smaller, independent cafes. Its American lineup already includes distinctive drinks like blood orange cold brew and coconut lattes.
“These orange drinks, or one of their most successful, a coconut cloud latte — that’s how you get trial [customers] from the U.S.,” Zolidis said.
Luckin faced financial troubles during the pandemic. It was delisted from Nasdaq in 2020 after its stock plunged following an internal investigation that found an executive had falsified revenue reports. The company filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. the following year but emerged from proceedings in 2022 and its sales have soared since, reaching $4.7 billion worldwide in fiscal year 2024, a 38.4% increase from 2023.
Luckin was able to develop an incredible muscle with regard to product innovation, and they have been very creative in China.
John Zolidis, Founder, Quo Vadis Capital
Starbucks, by contrast, is struggling in both the U.S. and China. Its same-store sales in the U.S. declined 2% and its sales in China 8% in fiscal year 2024, and it reported in April that its quarterly profit was half of what it pulled in for the same period last year. The Seattle-based chain is reportedly looking to partially sell its business in China while revamping its U.S. strategy to focus on customer experience and human connection, in contrast with Luckin’s model.
“We veered away from, I think, owning the idea of the ‘third place,’ the coffeehouse experience, making sure that the customer was front and center,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol told NBC News in June.
A Starbucks spokesperson declined to comment.
Zolidis said that whereas Starbucks aims in both the U.S. and China to appeal to customers looking for higher-end coffee served in an inviting setting, Luckin has successfully positioned itself as the “everyman’s coffee” in China, with low prices and small, grab-and-go storefronts.
After taking the train in from Hoboken, New Jersey, to check out the new one in midtown, Samantha Coy said the trip was worth it. She had enjoyed Luckin in China previously and was eager to order one of its fruit drinks.
“I’m surprised Starbucks hasn’t tried to bring that over to the U.S.,” Coy said. “I hope they stay open.”
Zolidis said he thinks Luckin is well-positioned to gain a foothold in America.
“They’ve been able to operate and grow incredibly quickly in the Chinese market, much faster than I would have thought possible, and they’ve been able to sustain it and develop a strong financial model so they can fund their expansion in the U.S.,” Zolidis said. “They wouldn’t be coming here to try it if they didn’t think they had a shot of owning part of the market.”
