diff --git a/services/aggregation/signal_propagation.py b/services/aggregation/signal_propagation.py
index 8cd5445..9d7ebe7 100644
--- a/services/aggregation/signal_propagation.py
+++ b/services/aggregation/signal_propagation.py
@@ -58,10 +58,13 @@ class CompetitiveSignalRecord:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 _COMPETITOR_LOOKUP_QUERY = """
-SELECT company_a_id, company_b_id, strength
-FROM competitor_relationships
-WHERE (company_a_id = $1 OR company_b_id = $1)
-  AND active = TRUE
+SELECT cr.company_a_id, cr.company_b_id, cr.strength,
+       ca.ticker AS ticker_a, cb.ticker AS ticker_b
+FROM competitor_relationships cr
+JOIN companies ca ON ca.id = cr.company_a_id
+JOIN companies cb ON cb.id = cr.company_b_id
+WHERE (ca.ticker = $1 OR cb.ticker = $1)
+  AND cr.active = TRUE
 """
 
 _INSERT_SIGNAL_QUERY = """
@@ -117,12 +120,12 @@ async def propagate_signals(
 
     # Step 2: For each competitor, query cross-company patterns
     for row in rows:
-        company_a = str(row["company_a_id"])
-        company_b = str(row["company_b_id"])
+        ticker_a = row["ticker_a"]
+        ticker_b = row["ticker_b"]
         rel_strength = float(row["strength"])
 
         # Determine the competitor ticker (the other side of the relationship)
-        competitor_ticker = company_b if company_a == ticker else company_a
+        competitor_ticker = ticker_b if ticker_a == ticker else ticker_a
 
         # Threshold gating (Req 4.5)
         if rel_strength < cfg.propagation_strength_threshold: