Narrative-Price State Map
Canonical states · 10D excess return vs QQQ · qualifying transitions (n≥15 · |excess|≥1.0pp)
TOPICSPACE
← narrative leads price
price leads narrative →
Narrative strengthens ahead of price
+2.48pp · n=45
Narrative still ahead of price
+1.39pp · n=40
Follow-through to confirmation
+2.15pp · n=16
Narrative
losing urgency
−1.06pp · n=18
Bearish giving way to rejection
+1.04pp · n=89
NARRATIVE LEADS · STRONG
Story not being paid
10D +2.0pp · n=543
NARRATIVE LEADS · EARLY
Price lagging narrative
10D +0.6pp · n=447
CONFIRMATION
Price confirming narrative
10D +0.5pp · n=71
PRICE-LED
Price ahead of story
10D −0.7pp · n=775
NO NARRATIVE EDGE
Moving with tape
10D −1.4pp · n=324
BEARISH CONFIRM
Selloff confirming narrative
bearish narrative and price aligned
PRICE HOLDS UP
Rejecting negative narrative
price holds despite bearish story
SETUP TYPES
UNPAID NARRATIVE
Narrative leading price
+1.1pp
EARLY CONFIRMATION
Strongest at entry · freshness-sensitive
+1.65pp
CROWDED REPRICING
Stretched move · weaker follow-through
−2.0pp
REJECTED DOWNSIDE
Constructive · semis & non-fragile sectors
+3.6pp
FRAGILE SQUEEZE
Software · fintech · EV-auto · fragile sectors
−3.3pp
NARRATIVE ROLLOVER
Deterioration · weakening continuation
−3.5pp
10D excess vs QQQ from state entry
Setup types translate state alignment into practical interpretations
States describe narrative-price alignment · setup types translate these into practical interpretations
KEY TAKEAWAYS
01 Narrative-leading states outperformed price-led states in this sample.
02 Early confirmation is freshness-sensitive — lingering labels lose their edge.
03 Transitions often carry more signal than static state presence alone.
04 Rejected downside splits by sector: constructive in semis, fragile in software/fintech.
05 The same state does not mean the same thing everywhere — sector context matters.
Improving transition
Deteriorating transition
All excess returns are vs QQQ over the 10 trading days following state entry.