Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Riot Platforms is rated a Buy, driven by its strategic pivot toward AI data center hosting and new catalysts from AMD-Anthropic deals. RIOT's future capacity remains a bottleneck for AI infrastructure, with AMD's 2 GW supply deal highlighting sustained demand exceeding RIOT's 1.2 GW expansion. Short-term headwinds persist from BTC mining revenue declines and expected Q2 losses, but long-term upside is anchored in energy infrastructure for AI.

The market expects Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.39 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -168.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $150.47 million, down 1.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 13.68% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Riot Platforms, Inc.?For Riot Platforms, Inc., the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -102.56%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Riot Platforms, Inc. will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Riot Platforms, Inc. would post a loss of$0.33 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$1.44, delivering a surprise of -336.36%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Riot Platforms, Inc. doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerRithm (RITM - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.5 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -7.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $1.46 billion, up 19.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Rithm has been revised 2.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.00%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Rithm will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

In the latest close session, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) was down 3.7% at $20.19. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.79%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.26%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.55%.

The company's stock has dropped by 21.21% in the past month, falling short of the Finance sector's gain of 5.64% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.28%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Riot Platforms, Inc. in its forthcoming earnings report. On that day, Riot Platforms, Inc. is projected to report earnings of -$0.21 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 136.84%. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $148.71 million, indicating a 2.8% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of -$2.08 per share and a revenue of $647.34 million, signifying shifts of -6.67% and -0.02%, respectively, from the last year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Riot Platforms, Inc. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. At present, Riot Platforms, Inc. boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 161, this industry ranks in the bottom 35% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

Shares of Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:MARA | MARA Price Prediction) are up 18% in midday trading Thursday, changing hands at $14.27. The move puts Marathon Digital stock at the top of the crypto miner leaderboard on July 9, 2026, ahead of peers Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT), CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK), and TeraWulf (NASDAQ:WULF), all of which are also higher.

The rally caps a volatile stretch for MARA stock in which double-digit moves aren’t unheard-of. Today’s snapback matters for traders watching MARA stock approach the $15 resistance level.

Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) provides a sector tailwind. BTC is trading near $62,915 in midday action after tagging an intraday high of $63,199, up 1.76% over the past 24 hours. That mild Bitcoin bid lifts the whole complex, but MARA stock is outpacing its peers on the day.

The Catalyst: A 1,200-Acre Bet on AI Power The trigger is a fresh land deal. Marathon Digital announced its acquisition of a 1,200-acre powered land site in Matagorda County, Texas from HIF USA, developed with Starwood Digital Ventures. The property is expected to provide up to 1 GW of grid capacity by October 2027, scaling to 2 GW by April 2028.

Upon full energization, the site more than doubles Marathon Digital’s total power capacity to about 4.8 GW, factoring in the pending $1.5 billion Long Ridge acquisition, a 505 MW gas plant in Ohio. CEO Fred Thiel stated, “This transaction advances our strategy of securing strategically located infrastructure assets capable of supporting high-performance compute and bitcoin workloads.”

The deal cements Marathon Digital’s pivot from pure-play mining toward AI and high-performance computing infrastructure, joining a sector-wide race to convert power-rich sites into data center campuses. It also aligns MARA with peers racing to monetize gigawatt-scale power assets.

Peers Follow, but MARA Leads Today The rally has spread to multiple cryptocurrency-focused stocks. Riot Platforms stock is up 5% to $22.22, and CleanSpark shares are higher by 6% to $13.11. Meanwhile, TeraWulf stock is up 4% to $23.73.

Riot Platforms brings AI credentials from $33.15 million in Q1 2026 data center revenue anchored by an Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) lease at its Rockdale, Texas campus. TeraWulf sits further along the transition, with HPC lease revenue at more than 60% of Q1 2026 total and total contracted revenue above $13 billion, largely backstopped by Alphabet‘s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google credit.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Marathon Digital didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

The YTD Picture Tells a Different Story Today’s leader isn’t the frontrunner for 2026 so far. Marathon Digital stock is up 50.5% year to date (YTD), but that trails Riot Platforms at 72% YTD and TeraWulf at 106%. CleanSpark shares are up 29% YTD, keeping MARA in the middle of the pack.

Analyst positioning echoes the ranking. Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised its Riot Platforms stock price target to $28 with a Buy rating, and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) lifted TeraWulf to $72 with an Overweight rating on its $19 billion, 20-year Anthropic lease. Marathon Digital faced the opposite treatment, with Morgan Stanley cutting its MARA target to $5.50 from $7 at Underweight, though the Street average target sits at $18.54.

Bull vs. Bear on Marathon Digital The bull case rests on scale. If Matagorda, Long Ridge, and the Starwood joint venture deliver as advertised, Marathon Digital could rival TeraWulf and Riot Platforms in gigawatt-class AI capacity within roughly two years. Marathon Digital’s 72.2 EH/s energized hashrate, up 33% year over year (YoY) keeps mining cash flow live during the transition, and the pending Long Ridge close targets positive EBITDA on day one.

The bear case centers on dilution and execution. MARA stock carries a beta of 5.37 and a 52-week range of $6.66 to $23.45. Critics point to executive compensation, equity raises, and the absence of a finalized hyperscaler tenant, something TeraWulf (Google, Core42, Fluidstack) and Riot Platforms (AMD) already have locked in. Furthermore, Marathon Digital’s Q1 2026 revenue of $174.6 million missed the $184.21 million consensus estimate.

For sector-level context, the CoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (NASDAQ:WGMI) holds MARA, RIOT, and CLSK, offering diversified exposure to cryptocurrency-mining businesses. The ETF isn’t leveraged, though crypto-miner funds remain highly volatile.

What to Watch Investors can watch for whether today’s move holds into the close and whether Marathon Digital secures a hyperscaler anchor tenant for Matagorda or Long Ridge. Given the group’s high beta and direct crypto linkage, investors should consider keeping position sizes modest and treating any single-day rally as tactical rather than thesis-confirming.

Bitcoin’s next price move remains the swing factor for the whole cohort. A break back above $63,200 could extend the miner bounce into Friday, while a slip under $62,400 would likely take MARA, RIOT, CLSK, and WULF with it. The next scheduled catalyst is the group’s Q2 2026 earnings cycle, where Marathon Digital’s ability to translate power capacity into signed AI leases will be the key line for investors to track.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Marathon Digital didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

In the latest close session, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) was down 2.87% at $27.75. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.18%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.59%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 2.07%.

The company's stock has climbed by 5.39% in the past month, exceeding the Finance sector's gain of 1.96% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.9%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Riot Platforms, Inc. in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be -$0.21, reflecting a 136.84% decrease from the same quarter last year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $148.71 million, showing a 2.8% drop compared to the year-ago quarter.

RIOT's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of -$2.08 per share and revenue of $647.34 million. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -6.67% and -0.02%, respectively.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Riot Platforms, Inc. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Right now, Riot Platforms, Inc. possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 92, finds itself in the top 38% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $28.63, moving +1.89% from the previous trading session. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.37%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the company had gained 14.74% outpaced the Finance sector's gain of 4.79% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Riot Platforms, Inc. in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is predicted to post an EPS of -$0.21, indicating a 136.84% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $148.71 million, down 2.8% from the prior-year quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of -$2.08 per share and a revenue of $647.34 million, demonstrating changes of -6.67% and -0.02%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Riot Platforms, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. Riot Platforms, Inc. presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 103, finds itself in the top 43% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $26.61, demonstrating a +1.78% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.5% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.31%.

Coming into today, shares of the company had gained 6.17% in the past month. In that same time, the Finance sector gained 1.89%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.23%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Riot Platforms, Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of -$0.21, showcasing a 136.84% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $148.71 million, down 2.8% from the year-ago period.

RIOT's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of -$2.08 per share and revenue of $647.34 million. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -6.67% and -0.02%, respectively.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Riot Platforms, Inc. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Riot Platforms, Inc. presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 143, this industry ranks in the bottom 42% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Shares of Hut 8 (NASDAQ:HUT) are surging 35% in midday trading Wednesday. Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT | RIOT Price Prediction) stock is climbing 13% in tandem, as investors reprice former Bitcoin mining pure-plays as AI data center landlords.

HUT stock changed hands near $109 after opening at $80.51, extending a one-month rally of 67% and a one-year gain of 531%. RIOT shares, last quoted at around $23, are now up 82% year to date.

The shared catalyst is structural. Both companies are pivoting massive power-equipped campuses originally built for Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) mining toward hyperscale AI workloads, and AI tenants pay multiples of mining economics per megawatt. Bitcoin trades near $81,660, well below the January highs, sharpening the appeal of long-duration AI lease revenue.

Beacon Point Lease Triggers Hut 8’s Re-Rating The primary trigger is Hut 8’s 15-year, 352 MW lease at the Beacon Point AI campus, valued at $9.8 billion in base-term contract value. The agreement with a high-investment-grade tenant triples Hut 8’s contracted AI capacity to 597 MW across two hyperscale campuses on triple-net, take-or-pay terms.

Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot declared on the call, “Within five months, we have more than doubled our contracted capacity and secured $9.8 billion in incremental base-term contract value.” Hut 8’s total contracted revenue now sits at $16.8 billion, with a development pipeline spanning 8,375 MW.

The company also priced a $3.25 billion senior secured note offering at 6% to fund River Bend construction at 95% loan-to-cost, returning $184 million in equity to the parent. Hut 8’s quarterly results were mixed, with revenue of $71.02 million missing the $79.39 million consensus by 11%, but the long-dated lease backlog dwarfs the quarterly miss in investors’ eyes.

AMD Doubling Down Validates Riot’s Pivot Riot Platforms stock’s move builds on the company’s April 30 Q1 2026 print, which delivered revenue of $167.22 million, beating the $130.58 million estimate by 28%. The data center segment debuted at $33.15 million, the clearest signal yet that the pivot is generating real recurring revenue.

Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) exercised an option to double its Rockdale footprint by 25 MW, lifting contracted capacity to 50 MW with options for an additional 150 MW. Riot Platforms CEO Jason Les asserted that Q1 2026 marks “a definitive inflection point for Riot, as we officially transitioned into an active, revenue-generating data center operator.”

Riot Platforms is targeting portfolio net operating income of $1.6 billion to $2.1 billion on full development of its 1.2 GW data center opportunity. Chardan recently initiated coverage with a Buy rating and $27.50 price target, while Piper Sandler raised its target to $23 citing AI/HPC conversion potential.

Why Bitcoin Miners Are Suddenly AI Infrastructure The thesis driving both names is straightforward: miners already control scarce, energization-ready power, and AI hyperscalers may pay a premium to skip multi-year grid queues. Long-duration leases like Hut 8’s Beacon Point deal swap volatile block reward income for predictable, investment-grade cash flow.

The infrastructure scarcity is real, with Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) energization timelines exceeding four years creating barriers to entry that favor incumbents holding approved power. Vertical integration (energy plus compute) is the new differentiator, and AMD’s deepening commitment to Riot Platforms validates that miner-converted facilities can serve enterprise-grade tenants. For broader context on the buildout cycle, see this look at AI infrastructure stocks poised for a 2026 breakout.

What to Watch Into the Close Hut 8’s earnings call concluded at 8:30 a.m. ET, so the next leg depends on analyst note follow-through and whether gains hold through the closing bell. Insider activity bears watching as well, with Hut 8 Chief Legal Officer selling 10,518 shares at $76.83 on May 4 under a 10b5-1 plan.

For Riot Platforms, attention shifts to May delivery of remaining AMD capacity at Rockdale and progress on the first 168 MW core and shell building at Corsicana. The recent departure of Riot Platforms Chief Data Center Officer Jonathan Gibbs adds execution risk during a critical buildout phase, even as Cantor Fitzgerald maintains an Overweight rating.

Prudent investors should weigh today’s enthusiasm against real execution risk, potential equity dilution from aggressive debt financing, and ongoing Bitcoin price exposure on legacy mining segments. The pivot to AI infrastructure is genuine, yet rallies of this magnitude raise the bar for delivery on every subsequent lease, financing, and milestone. Watch for whether momentum traders defend these levels into Thursday’s session or whether profit-taking caps the move.

Riot Platforms has pivoted from Bitcoin mining to building digital infrastructure, driving significant stock appreciation in 2026. RIOT's focus on data centers supports high-demand sectors like AI, 5G, and cloud technology, attracting investor enthusiasm. The stock has surged 90% year-to-date in 2026, reflecting strong market approval of RIOT's strategic shift.

These were last week’s top performing leveraged and inverse ETFs. Note that because of leverage, these kinds of funds can move quickly. Always do your homework.

1. RIOX – Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RIOT ETF

RIOX aims to provide 2x long daily price performance of Riot Platforms, Inc., focusing on cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency mining computers, topped the levered ETFs list with 63.5% weekly gains. Riot Platforms (RIOT) shares experienced a significant increase last week, primarily driven by strong Q1 2026 earnings, a pivot towards AI-focused data center revenue, and an expanded partnership with AMD.

2. SMCX – Defiance Daily Target 2X Long SMCI ETF

SMCX seeks to deliver 2x leveraged exposure to the daily share price movement of Super Micro Computer, featured on the top-performing levered ETFs’ list. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares surged last week following its quarterly earnings report in May, driven by a strong recovery in gross margins, a robust AI server outlook, and an optimistic revenue forecast for the current quarter.

3. KORU – Direxion Daily MSCI South Korea Bull 3X ETF

KORU provides 300% daily leveraged exposure to an index of large- and mid-cap South Korean companies, also made it to the list of top performing leveraged ETFs last week with over ~56% returns. South Korean stocks surged, driven by an AI-led explosion in demand for semiconductor memory chips, record export data, and a surge in foreign/retail investments.

4. AMDL – GraniteShares 2x Long AMD Daily ETF

AMDL, which provides 2x leveraged exposure to the daily price movement for shares of Advanced Micro Devices stock, was one of the Levered ETFs’ list, with over 52% weekly gains. AMD shares surged last week, driven by blockbuster first-quarter 2026 earnings, strong AI-focused guidance, and investor enthusiasm for a potential server CPU supercycle beyond just GPUs.

5. SOXL – Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares

SOXL, which offers 3x daily long leverage to the PHLX Semiconductor Index, was another contender on the list with over 35% returns last week. Semiconductor stocks surged last week due to an intensifying AI-driven supercycle that has triggered massive demand for chips, resulting in record-setting rallies.

6. BULZ – MicroSectors Solactive FANG & Innovation 3X Leveraged ETN

The BULZ ETF was one of the best-performing levered ETFs with over 29% returns. The ETF focuses on top technology companies domiciled in the U.S. Tech stocks surged last week, primarily driven by intense investor enthusiasm for AI, strong Q1 earnings reports, and specific momentum in the chip sector. Major, sustained gains in AI infrastructure leaders, particularly a strong rally in Intel (INTC) following reports of a potential deal with Apple, boosted the NASDAQ.

7. TECL – Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X ETF

The TECL ETF was another tech-focused fund on the list of top-performing levered ETFs, returning over 26% last week.

8. GDXU – MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN

GDXU is a leveraged equity fund that provides 3x exposure to an index comprised of two of the largest gold miners’ ETFs that invest in the global gold mining industry. GDXU featured on the list with over 25% returns last week. Gold prices climbed last week, driven primarily by intensified safe-haven demand due to U.S.-Iran tensions in the Middle East, a weaker U.S. dollar, and sustained central bank buying. Investors also monitored high-stakes U.S.-China diplomatic talks and anticipated U.S. inflation data to gauge future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.

9. KBDU – KraneShares 2x Long BIDU Daily ETF

KBDU, which provides 2x leveraged exposure to the daily price movement of Baidu, Inc. Sponsored ADR Class A (NASDAQ: BIDU), was another contender on the levered ETFs list. BAIDU shares gained last week, driven by intense investor optimism regarding its AI business advancements, specifically the potential IPO of its AI chip unit, Kunlunxin, and the rising valuation of its AI ecosystem, which has attracted increased foreign investment.

10. USD – ProShares Ultra Semiconductors

ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (USD), which provides leveraged exposure to U.S. Semiconductor stocks, gained ~22% last week. Semiconductor stocks hit record highs last week as an intensifying AI supercycle ignited a massive surge in chip demand.

For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Leveraged & Inverse Content Hub.

RIOT holds firm as key support levels contain volatility

May 22, 2026 at 1:23 PM

RIOT shrugs off heavy short interest and an "overbought" reading

Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekend Trader options recommendation service received this RIOT commentary on Sunday night, along with a detailed options trade recommendation -- including complete entry and exit parameters. Learn more about why Weekend Trader is one of our most popular options trading services.

Blockchain name Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT) just saw a breakout above 2022 and 2023 highs, followed by a breakout and retest of its 2025 high. The shares are near $24, which is double this year’s twin lows in the $12 area. 

Short interest is up nearly 30% since January -- suggesting shorts are at a loss -- and represents 17% of RIOT’s total available float. The crypto miner had an ‘overbought’ Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading last month, which has tended to spell trouble for RIOT over the past five years. However, the stock avoided such a fate this time around, suggesting now's the time for bulls to move in. This could be a trending situation, too, with added support from an implied volatility (IV) that is in line with historical volatility (HV).

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Hive Digital Technologies (HIVE 1.58%), a green energy crypto‑mining data‑center operator, closed Monday at $4.76, up 5.31%. Shares moved higher as investors reacted to fresh analyst price target hikes and positioning ahead of fiscal results, and they are watching upcoming earnings details on digital-assets and AI data-center growth.

The company’s trading volume reached 50.1 million shares, which is about 154% above compared with its three-month average of 19.7 million shares. Hive Digital Technologies went public in 2011 and has grown 157% since its IPO.

How the markets moved todayThe S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.50%) added 0.27% to finish Monday at 7,599.96, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.31%) rose 0.42% to close at 27,086.81. Within cryptocurrency mining, industry peers Mara Holdings (MARA +3.45%) closed at $14.85 (+3.27%) and Riot Platforms (RIOT +1.78%) finished at $28.25 (+4.21%) as investors tracked sector demand and recent capacity expansions.

What this means for investorsHIVE Digital Technologies shares increased after Cantor Fitzgerald raised its price target to $4.60 from $3.00, providing support ahead of the company’s upcoming fiscal results. This development highlights HIVE’s access to power, renewable-powered Bitcoin mining, and its plans to expand into AI and high-performance computing data centers.

The next earnings call will give investors a look at HIVE’s mining profits, digital-asset holdings, power capacity, and what it needs to expand into AI and high-performance computing. Updates on future projects will matter most if they show HIVE can turn its land and power access into funded data centers, customer deals, and new revenue streams beyond Bitcoin mining.

Eric Trie has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shares of Riot Platforms (RIOT +1.78%) rose 57.3% in May 2026, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. In a broader sense, the Bitcoin (BTC +0.20%) mining and AI data center company has gained a staggering 114% year to date as of June 4.

So last month's move was part of a bigger story. Marketwide enthusiasm about AI computing is pushing Riot higher in 2026. The specific market-moving news in May is a piece of the AI puzzle, too; Riot's stock surged 27% in two days after the announcement of a new power source for future data centers.

Riot is going nuclear (probably, in a few years).

Image source: Getty Images.

The tech behind Riot's future power plants The company partnered up with nuclear power plant builder Terrestrial Energy (IMSR 0.28%), syncing up the expansion plans of both companies.

Here's the technical setup. Terrestrial Energy's molten salt reactors dissolve nuclear fuel directly into liquid salts such as lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride. The mix acts as both fuel and coolant for the reactor core. This setup allows high-temperature operation, efficient power generation, and a compact modular design. The nuclear action can take place physically separated from the power conversion bits, and then you have power lines to the electricity-hogging data centers. In the end, the radioactive mixture could be miles away from the data center.

In plain English, Riot gets a dedicated nuclear power plant as a neighbor, Terrestrial Energy gets a customer who will happily consume every electron they produce, and everyone gets to say they're running AI on clean energy.

The companies hope to add molten salt reactors near Riot's existing data centers in Texas and Kentucky, and will work together to identify further growth opportunities. Terrestrial Energy's stock also rose on the news, ending the month 26% higher.

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Riot's nuclear ambition is still just a plan Don't hold your breath for this long-term plan. Riot and Terrestrial Energy didn't clarify the time frame for construction, actual power generation, let alone any revenues from their pairing. For what it's worth, the reactor builder hopes to secure funding and regulatory approval for its first molten salt reactors "in the early 2030s."

The AI boom might still have legs in five years, but nothing is guaranteed. On the upside, Riot would have the option of leaning back into the Bitcoin mining business if that makes more economic sense at any time. And, Riot hasn't promised to buy anything from Terrestrial Energy yet. The partners are simply evaluating their shared opportunities. It's a long shot, but if both AI computing and Bitcoin mining run into lasting slowdowns by 2030, Riot hasn't committed to anything expensive.

After its AI-powered surge, Riot trades at a frothy 16 times trailing sales. That's well above peers such as MARA Holdings or CleanSpark, both of which are trying similar Bitcoin-plus-AI business plans. The nuclear deal is exciting, but it's a 2030s story bolted onto a 2026 stock price. Investors buying Riot here are betting that the AI tailwind keeps blowing for years to come.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Riot Platforms, Inc. currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.33, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.33 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 15 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 15% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for RIOT

Check price target & stock forecast for Riot Platforms, Inc. here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Riot Platforms, Inc., but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Is RIOT a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Riot Platforms, Inc., the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$2.08.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Riot Platforms, Inc. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Riot Platforms, Inc.