"Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) is fired up from its first quarter earnings; the results were well above analysts expectations," notes Joseph Hargett.

And with 13.5 million shares of the stock sold short, the analyst with Schaeffer's Research explains, "Shorts account for about 9.5% of the stock's float, which could result in a short squeeze." Here is his review.

"Net income nearly tripled to $81.1 million, or 56 cents per share. Revenue for the auarter rose to $699.4 million from $571.3 million. For the year, Arch Coal lifted its earnings estimate to a range of $2.40 to $2.80 per share, versus Wall Street's consensus view for $2.43 per share.

"Digging into the report, the company noted that profit margins were particularly wide in the Central Appalachia region, while higher prices for coal and cost controls also contributed to the results. Arch noted that the average sales price per ton rose 9.7% to $18.49 from $16.85, while the cash cost per ton rose less than 1% to $13.05 from $12.93.

In the declining market, the tech sector has stood out for its relative performance, according to Jospeh Hargett, an analyst with Schaeffer's Investment Research.

He explains, "Within the tech sector, there are several pockets of opportunity that could provide some nice cover for your portfolio while the storm blows over." Here, he reviews Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), which he believes "appear poised to hold their own going forward."

The advisor says, "At the end of the day, Apple has proven why its shares have vaulted more than 73% since the beginning of the year. As one of the very few stocks that closed in positive territory yesterday, it is easy to see why AAPL makes our 'fallout shelter' list."

The stock, Hargett notes, had some help, though, riding the wave of a solid earnings report (besting the Street's expectations by 20 cents per share). But, he adds, it wasn't the iPhone that propelled earnings to these stellar results; it was the Mac. The company's bread-and-butter line -- he states -- posted its highest quarterly sales ever.