Market Signal Briefing

A sharp rally, a sudden reversal, record cash flow, and one institutional trim -- all raise a bigger question about where Itron fits in a long-term portfolio right now.

Aristotle Capital Boston cut its stake in Itron (ITRI 1.00%) by 123,119 shares in the third quarter, contributing to a reduction in the overall position value of about $18.35 million, according to a November 14 SEC filing.

What HappenedAccording to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated November 14, Aristotle Capital Boston sold 123,119 shares of Itron during the third quarter. The estimated value of this transaction, based on quarterly average pricing, is approximately $15.7 million. Following the trade, the fund reported holding 303,560 ITRI shares worth $37.8 million as of September 30.

What Else to KnowItron accounts for about 1.95% of the fund’s reportable U.S. equity AUM after the sale.

Top holdings after the period: 

NASDAQ:HURN: $54 million (2.8% of AUM)NASDAQ:ACIW: $44.6 million (2.3% of AUM)NYSE:DY: $44 million (2.3% of AUM)NASDAQ:HQY: $41.3 million (2.1% of AUM)NASDAQ:MTSI: $40.6 million (2.1% of AUM)As of Monday, Itron shares were priced at $95.22, down 15% over the past year and well underperforming the S&P 500, which is instead up about 13% in the same period.

Company OverviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$2.41billionNet Income (TTM)$257.5 millionPrice (as of Monday)$95.22One-Year Price Change-15%Company SnapshotItron provides hardware, networked solutions, and software services for energy, water, and smart city management, including smart meters, sensors, and data analytics platforms.The company generates revenue through a mix of product sales, software licensing, and recurring services, including cloud-based solutions and consulting.It serves utilities, municipalities, and smart city operators worldwide as primary customers.Itron, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated technology solutions that enable utilities and municipalities to manage energy and water resources efficiently. The company leverages its hardware, software, and data analytics capabilities to deliver end-to-end solutions across the utility and smart city sectors. With a global footprint and a diversified product portfolio, Itron maintains a competitive edge through innovation and a strong focus on operational efficiency for its clients.

Foolish TakeItron’s shares surged last quarter before pulling back roughly 20%, and the reduction likely reflects a decision to lock in gains rather than a loss of confidence in the business. That context matters given how concentrated the fund’s top holdings remain in names like Dycom, ACI Worldwide, and Huron Consulting, where recent performance has also been strong.

Operationally, Itron’s latest quarter showed improving quality beneath softer headline growth. Revenue declined 5% year over year to $582 million, largely due to project timing and portfolio optimization, the company said, but margins moved sharply higher. Gross margin expanded 360 basis points to 37.7%, while adjusted EBITDA rose 10% to $97 million. Even more notable, free cash flow nearly doubled to $113 million, underscoring the company’s ability to convert earnings into liquidity despite near-term revenue pressure.

With a $4.3 billion backlog and growing recurring revenue in its Outcomes segment, Itron remains positioned for long-duration utility spending tied to grid modernization and smart infrastructure. For patient investors, the recent pullback looks more like consolidation after a strong run than a fundamental breakdown.

GlossaryStake: The ownership interest or investment a fund or individual holds in a company.
Assets Under Management (AUM): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or investment firm.
Exposure: The degree to which a portfolio or fund is invested in a particular asset, sector, or market.
Reportable U.S. Equity: U.S. stocks that a fund must disclose in regulatory filings due to size or regulatory requirements.
Position: The amount of a particular security or asset held by an investor or fund.
Quarterly Average Pricing: The average price of a security over a specific quarter, used for estimating transaction values.
Smart Meters: Electronic devices that record and communicate energy or water usage data to utilities for monitoring and billing.
Cloud-based Solutions: Services or software accessed via the internet, hosted on remote servers rather than local computers.
Consulting: Professional advisory services provided to organizations to solve business or technical challenges.
Smart City Management: The use of technology and data to improve urban infrastructure, services, and resource efficiency.
End-to-end Solutions: Integrated products and services covering all stages from initial setup to ongoing operation and support.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

It's up 237% over the past year.

Opendoor Technologies (OPEN 1.37%) has been going through some major changes recently as a retail investor-led campaign led to the ousting of its CEO. Despite severe external pressure and no reason to believe that's going to change anytime soon, the stock is up 237% over the past year.

The new CEO has a detailed strategy to revamp current operations, transform the company's approach to business, and boost sales and earnings. Could Opendoor end up being a top stock next year?

Image source: Getty Images.

What's been going wrong
Opendoor has been one of several real estate upstarts that have tried to digitally disrupt the traditional way to buy and sell a home. Its main business is iBuying, or flipping homes at scale, using digital processes to make it easier. However, it has several related services, including an online marketplace, digital home tours, and partnerships with real estate agents on the ground.

The main problem for Opendoor is that the housing industry has been under strong pressure as mortgage rates remain high. Homeowners aren't looking to move if it means taking on a new, expensive mortgage, so they're staying put, limiting the number of homes for sale. Even as the Federal Reserve has started to cut interest rates, mortgage rates have stayed stubbornly high, leading to real estate gridlock.

As Opendoor sells fewer homes, it's struggling to grow sales and generate profits. In the third quarter, sales declined 34% year over year, and it produced a $90 million net loss.

The new Opendoor
Opendoor became a meme stock as retail investors rallied to push it higher through a social media campaign. The company onboarded Kaz Nejatian as the new CEO in September, and he's angling to recreate the company as an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, agile software company.

His explanation as to why Opendoor is stalling is internally driven. He says that the company has been focused on spread, which is limiting it from buying enough homes and keeping its wheels turning. Focusing on spread, by which he means finding cheap homes that can be resold at a higher price, is leading to adverse selection, since it's worse homes that are selling cheaply. He wants to find great homes and resell at a lower spread, benefiting from volume instead. On the third-quarter conference call, when he'd been CEO for just a few weeks, he said that in the past seven days, the company had purchased 230 homes, up from 120 the week he took on the job.

He wants to integrate more technology and AI into the company's systems to do the boring work and cut costs, and he believes that using better software will help Opendoor with the selection process and attracting great customers. He also said there were too many consultants telling executives how to do their jobs, and he believes that management taking back responsibility will help the company become aggressive in getting things right.

Finally, Nejatian wants to offer everything a customer needs to buy a home in one place on its app, including all closing and mortgage services.

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Can this translate into investor gains?
Nejatian has committed to reaching adjusted net income breakeven by the end of his first year on the job. The way that can happen is by stepping up purchases of good homes and selling them more quickly, using more technology to cut costs, and scaling transactions so they cover more fixed costs.

It sounds simple, the way he paints the picture, and sometimes that's really all it takes. If he can pull this off, Opendoor will graduate from meme stock gains to offering real, sustainable value for investors.

At the current price, Opendoor stock trades at 1.1 times trailing-12-month sales. That's not objectively expensive, but for a company losing money as fast as Opendoor, you wouldn't expect it to be higher. At this kind of valuation, I would normally say there's room for expansion. But that would only be true if all of Nejatian's plans work out beautifully.

So yes, there is a possibility that Opendoor stock could be a top stock in 2026. However, that comes with a huge amount of risk as the real estate industry remains pressured, and anyone who wants to take it should only invest money they can afford to lose.

Partner Reed Kathrein Investigating Alleged Fraudulent Enrollment Metrics and the Direct Causation Linking Operational Failure to Massive Investor Losses

, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is issuing a reminder to investors in Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) that the deadline to move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff in the pending securities class action lawsuit is January 12, 2026. The firm urges investors who suffered substantial losses in LRN to contact Hagens Berman now to discuss their rights.

The lawsuit seeks to recover investor losses sustained after the purported disclosure of two distinct, alleged fraudulent schemes: inflated enrollment figures (using "Ghost Students") and a catastrophic technology platform failure. The cumulative impact of these disclosures caused the stock to crash 54% in a single day, leading to a sudden loss of billions in market capitalization.

The complaint details how Stride and its executives allegedly misled investors about core business metrics and operational stability. The subsequent revelation of the severity of the platform upgrade failure—which CEO James Rhyu acknowledged resulted in "poor customer experience"—is alleged to have contradicted prior assurances of strong growth.

For a detailed breakdown of the fraud allegations and operational failures, visit the dedicated Hagens Berman Stride (LRN) Case Page.

"Stride's alleged conduct in the pending suit is particularly egregious, as the complaint alleges a systematic practice of inflating enrollment figures with 'Ghost Students' and maintaining improper student-to-teacher ratios just before revealing a foreseeable technological failure," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. "We are specifically focused on gathering evidence linking these alleged compliance and operational failures to the 54% crash."

The Alleged Dual Fraud: Claimed "Ghost Student" Scheme and Platform Upgrade Failure

The litigation focuses on how two distinct, undisclosed operational failures corrected the market's misperception of Stride's true financial health.

1. The Alleged Enrollment Fraud & Compliance Risk:

The Claim:  The company allegedly utilized unlawful business practices, including retaining "Ghost Students" (students who never officially started or were absent for extended periods) to artificially inflate enrollment metrics and profit margins.

Financial Impact: The initial disclosure that partially revealed these undisclosed facts led to an 11% stock drop.

2. The Alleged Concealed Technology Catastrophe:

The Claim: Stride allegedly failed to disclose severe, known issues with a critical platform upgrade implemented over the summer, which blocked access for an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 enrolled students, stifling growth and requiring costly remediation.

Financial Impact: The alleged revelation of this operational failure forced the company to forecast a dramatically slowed sales growth of only 5% (down from its historical 19%), and triggered the single-day 54% stock crash.

3. Alleged Recoverable Damages and the Defined Class:

The complaint seeks to recover losses for investors who purchased LRN securities during the Class Period (October 22, 2024 – October 28, 2025), seeking to hold Stride and certain of its key executives accountable for the alleged misrepresentations regarding core business metrics and operational stability.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman is a leading plaintiff litigation firm recognized for securing substantial recoveries for investors in complex securities fraud cases involving operational and compliance failures.

Mr. Kathrein is actively advising investors who purchased LRN securities during the Class Period and suffered significant losses due to the alleged undisclosed facts.

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 12, 2026.

TO SUBMIT YOUR STRIDE (LRN) LOSSES NOW PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your Stride (LRN) Investment Losses Now

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Stride should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Also from this source

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2025) - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTCQX: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is commencing a detailed drone-borne magnetometry survey and a ground-penetrating radar ("GPR") survey at its 100%-owned Phoenix Silver Project in Arizona. The surveys will cover the 417 area, previously drilled in 2024, as well as the historic Mexican Mine located approximately 600 meters to the west (see Figure 1).

Drilling conducted in 2024 intersected targeted vein structures in the 417 area that returned intersections of up to 3,800 g/t and 0.97% copper over 0.35 m (see company news release dated February 24, 2025). The program however, did not encounter the massive native silver mineralization represented by the high-grade silver fragments observed near surface. Extremely high-grade silver pockets are likely to occur as lenses and shoots within mineralized structures and their detection may be better outlined with the upcoming geophysical surveys. With this additional geophysical information, the Company is attempting to refine the location of potential silver bearing drill and/or trenching targets.

The magnetometry survey is designed to delineate linear features such as structures, veins and dikes potentially associated with silver mineralization. These features are interpreted as possible sources of the high-grade silver fragments previously discovered in the 417 area. The main 417 structure heads westwards towards the old Mexican Mine, which will also be tested with these surveys.

Ground-penetrating radar has been successfully applied in mineral exploration to map near-surface lithium pegmatites, banded iron formations, laterites, bauxites, and other deposits (Jan Francke Published Works https://groundradar.com/resources/published-works; groundradar.com/resources/documents; and groundradar.com/services/resource-exploration/lithium-pegmatites). At Phoenix Silver, the GPR may detect metallic masses, map subsurface structures, and identify historic mine workings such as those at the old Mexican Mine. These insights will help guide exploration and define drilling and/or trenching targets.

GPR is an electromagnetic method that employs wavelengths on the scale of decimeters to meters, similar to common radio waves. It measures variations in the electrical properties of the ground. Metals are strong reflectors, but air and water within tunnels, as well as changes in lithology, can also produce reflections. The primary challenge lies in transmitting energy into the ground: if the soil cover is highly conductive, radar waves are attenuated near the surface, limiting penetration. Depth of penetration can range from a few meters up to 100 meters in favorable conditions. However, even within established applications such as laterites and bauxites, penetration depth and radar suitability can vary significantly.

Future Work

Should the results of these surveys prove positive, the Company will evaluate the use of a gravity survey to further refine drilling targets. In addition, Silver One may extend this geophysical work to the Nuggets North area, where abundant silver fragments (up 40 cm long, 25cm wide and 15cm thick and over 20 kg in weight) have been collected across a broad zone (see Figure 2 and Company news release dated February 20, 2025).

Induced polarization and magnetotellurics ("IP/MT") surveys targeting porphyry copper targets in the southern portion of the property are ongoing, with final results anticipated in early 2026.

Figure 1. Phoenix Silver Project. Location map Mexican Mine and 417 area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/278158_c045ceabe42faa65_001full.jpg

Figure 2: 2D ZTEM resistivity inversion 600 m depth showing location of the Nuggets North area and porphyry copper targets being tested (Defiance and QR targets) by induced polarization ("IP"). The blue dashed lines represent the northeast oriented lineaments which are part of the northeast extension of the Globe-Miami-Inspiration porphyry belt. Coloured dots represent copper values of selected rock samples.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/278158_c045ceabe42faa65_002full.jpg

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert M. Cann, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an independent consultant to the Company.

About Silver One

Silver One is focused on the exploration and development of quality silver projects. The Company holds a 100% interest in its flagship project, the past-producing Candelaria Mine located in Nevada. Potential reprocessing of silver from the historic leach pads at Candelaria provides an opportunity for possible near-term production. Additional opportunities lie in previously identified high-grade silver intercepts down-dip and potentially increasing the substantive silver mineralization along-strike from the two past-producing open pits.

The Company owns 636 lode claims and five patented claims on its Cherokee project located in Lincoln County, Nevada, host to multiple silver-copper-gold vein systems, traced to date for over 11 km along-strike.

Silver One also owns a 100% interest in the Silver Phoenix Project. The Silver Phoenix Project is a very high-grade native silver prospect that lies within the "Arizona Silver Belt," immediately adjacent to the prolific copper producing area of Globe, Arizona.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278158

Source: Silver One Resources Inc.

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Partner Reed Kathrein Investigating Management's Claims of "Flawless" Merger Against Alleged Operational Collapse in Direct Delivery Business

, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is alerting investors in Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB) that the deadline to move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff in the pending securities class action lawsuit is January 12, 2026. The firm urges investors who suffered substantial losses to contact our firm now.

The lawsuit seeks to recover investor losses sustained after the disclosure of an allegedly concealed severe, operational crisis following the merger of Primo Water and BlueTriton Brands. The complaint alleges that while management repeatedly assured investors that the integration was "flawless" and would accelerate growth, the alleged reality was a catastrophic failure of technology, logistics, and customer service.

The truth allegedly emerged over multiple disclosures, culminating on November 6, 2025, when Primo Brands announced a dramatic reduction in its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance and the immediate replacement of its CEO. On this news, the stock crashed 21%, erasing substantial shareholder value.

For a detailed breakdown of the fraud allegations and answers to frequently asked questions about the Primo case, visit the dedicated Hagens Berman Primo Brands (PRMB) Case Page.

"The crux of the complaint is the alleged contradiction between the company's repeated assurances of a 'flawless' merger and the new CEO's admission of 'self-inflicted' disruptions that crippled the ReadyRefresh delivery business," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation. "We are scrutinizing when management became aware that the foundational technology and operational integration had failed."

Alleged Undisclosed Merger Failures

The litigation focuses on how the company's alleged misrepresentations regarding the merger integration masked severe, undisclosed operational risks.

Misrepresentation Regarding the Integration of BlueTriton Brands: The complaint alleges Primo executives repeatedly assured investors that the merger integration was proceeding "flawlessly," would accelerate growth, and deliver substantial synergies.
Concealed Operational Reality: The complaint alleges the company failed to disclose that the accelerated integration process was causing severe technology breakdowns, supply disruptions, and massive customer service issues within its direct delivery segment.
The First Disclosure Event (August 7, 2025): The company reported weak Q2 results and reduced guidance, partially blaming "service issues," causing the stock to drop 9%.
The Final Disclosure Event (November 6, 2025): The market's misperception of Primo Brands was allegedly fully corrected when the company slashed its EBITDA guidance again and replaced its CEO. The new CEO described the issues as "self-inflicted," allegedly confirming the severity of the undisclosed operational issues. This final disclosure caused the stock to drop 21%.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman is a leading plaintiff litigation firm recognized for prosecuting complex securities fraud cases.

Mr. Kathrein is actively advising investors who purchased PRMB shares during the Class Period (June 17, 2024 – Nov. 6, 2025) and suffered substantial losses due to the undisclosed merger integration failures and the subsequent management shakeup.

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 12, 2026.

TO SUBMIT YOUR PRIMO BRANDS (PRMB) LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your Primo Brands (PRMB) Losses Now 
Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Primo should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Journalist

Posted: December 16, 2025

BEAT became the newest trendy project on BNB Chain.

Audiera [BEAT] rose by more than 84% at press time, with its debut only a month ago. This increase brought the total gains over the past 30 days to more than 480%.

BEAT entered the top 100 cryptos by capitalization as per CoinMarketCap after this spike in valuation. What is driving the token’s rise in weak market conditions?

Why is BEAT price surging?
The price of BEAT was driven by speculative futures trading, where about $20 million was executed on DEX platforms alone. The daily trading volume was also up by 33%.

To be specific, there were more buyers than sellers, with figures at 45,456 against 38,355. This translated to a bullish market sentiment as per Dune Analytics data.

Source: Dune Analytics

The supply dynamics also played a big role in this surge.

As per on-chain data, only 16% of the total supply was in circulation, which was equivalent to 160.51 million BEAT tokens.

This meant there was scarcity, which is usually bullish if demand is high. The price trajectory confirmed there was demand.

The AI-driven token burns further reduced the circulating supply, thus fueling deflationary pressure. The ecosystem’s AI payment integration generated revenue, facilitating these burns.

Where is the price headed? 
The price action charts were a reflection of what was going on around the token. BEAT price rose to an all-time high of around $3.

Since its launch, the altcoin has been in a healthy uptrend, as seen in its price structure. The trend followed a two-week consolidation that broke out in early December.

However, BEAT is struggling to breach its ATH. This was evident from the capital outflow as Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) declined by 50%, that is, from 0.40 to 0.20.

Source: TradingView

Additionally, sellers were in control of movement over the past two days. The MACD showed that buying had cooled down during this period, but bulls were starting to make their way back.

For BEAT to rise higher, it has to successfully breach its peak. Otherwise, bears may push the price back to the $1.25 support level that has defended the decline three times.

Is liquidity below an issue?
Looking at the liquidity concentration to gauge potential direction, BEAT would most likely drop if bulls did not maintain the momentum.

More liquidity clusters were forming below the current price than above it, as per CoinGlass data.

If price follows the liquidity in close proximity, then BEAT could drop toward or below the $2.40 level. Cumulative liquidation leverage below the current price was more than $1 million, making it a key price magnet.

Source: CoinGlass

Conversely, the cluster around $2.87 would be the next target. This concentration was about half a million US dollars.

Thus, BEAT’s next direction was dependent on more than liquidity, technical breakout, and fundamentals. Participants’ sentiment was also key.

Final Thoughts

The 84% surge by BEAT token was driven by token AI-driven burns, buying activity, and volume. 
BEAT’s market structure and sentiment were bullish, but liquidity clusters below price threatened appreciation. 

Not every artificial intelligence (AI) stock has soared to unreasonable new highs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been the driving force behind the current bull market since it started in October 2022. Many artificial intelligence stocks have soared to new all-time highs amid the fervor, even if the underlying fundamentals don't always justify those high prices. Investor optimism and exuberance surrounding the potential for AI to improve productivity and profits across industries has left many stocks looking quite expensive.

That can leave many new (and veteran) investors looking at the market and wondering if they've missed out on all the good opportunities. The challenge becomes even more difficult if you have only $200 to invest and have seen many stock prices soar well above that mark.

Fortunately, there are still a lot of great opportunities for investors, even if you only have $200 to buy stocks. Here are three no-brainer AI stocks to buy right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Datadog
Datadog (DDOG 2.71%) helps companies analyze their IT systems to ensure they're operating as smoothly as possible. A few slow-loading pieces of an e-commerce website could be the difference between a successful checkout and someone abandoning their cart. A long wait time for a chatbot response could push customers to another provider. Datadog helps identify the hiccups in a business's IT systems, so its operations run quickly and securely.

Management has made a big push to support the AI industry with its observability tools. It counts 500 AI-native companies using its service, and over 5,000 customers (out of 32,000 total) using its AI integrations to track generative AI applications. AI-native customers accounted for 12% of revenue last quarter, up from 6% a year ago. As more customers add artificial intelligence applications to their workflows, Datadog stands to gain more business from existing and new customers.

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That was the case last quarter, when Datadog produced revenue growth of 28%. Remaining performance obligations climbed 53%, indicating more strong results to come.

And that's not just a result of adding more AI customers. Non-AI customer revenue accelerated to 20% growth last quarter, and management saw further acceleration in October. That's driven by strong retention metrics, indicating Datadog's service is very sticky and has high switching costs, keeping customers locked in.

Shares of the stock aren't cheap by traditional valuation measures. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 75, and the enterprise value-to-sales estimate ratio is just under 15. But the business is growing sales quickly and has two big secular trends (cloud migration and generative AI applications) working in its favor to support that growth long term. As a software business, it can generate strong operating leverage, driving earnings growth significantly higher over time.

At a share price around $150 at the time of this writing, it looks like a great opportunity for investors.

2. Fortinet
Fortinet (FTNT 0.85%) builds next-gen firewalls, which combine specialized hardware with software for filtering traffic. While that business remains a key part of its operations, its biggest growth drivers are software-based solutions, which include Unified SASE and SecOps. The former provides network security in a remote-work environment. The latter includes tools to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.

While firewall sales continued to climb last quarter (up 10%) following a product refresh, SASE and SecOps led revenue growth, up 19% and 33%, respectively. Over the long run, management expects to gain share of each market. It cited projections from Gartner that the SASE market will climb 18% per year through 2029 and the larger SecOps market will climb 10% per year. That provides a lot of greenfield for Fortinet to keep growing.

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81.52

Its diversified security offerings make it a one-stop shop for many of its customers. That increases retention as customers use more of its products and add modules. Fortinet also benefits from its breadth, as it can gather more data on network attacks to feed into its machine learning algorithms. In turn, that improves its ability to identify threats quickly and mitigate them.

Fortinet stock's forward P/E of 31 and EV-to-sales ratio of 8.7 are attractive prices to pay for a company growing sales at a double-digit pace. With more sales coming from software solutions, it should produce strong margin expansion, enabling it to grow the bottom line even faster.

At around $83 per share, investors with $200 can buy a couple of shares and still have some cash left to deploy.

3. Tencent
Tencent (TCEHY 0.85%) owns a portfolio of popular mobile games, as well as the widely used WeChat (Weixin in China) platform. It also offers cloud services, and it's one of the largest cloud providers in China.

Tencent's AI developments are driving results across its business segments. The company introduced a new AI algorithm last quarter, along with new AI tools to help marketers target ads and optimize their campaign creatives. That helped push ad revenue 21% higher last quarter, accelerating from the previous period. Management also says it's seeing increased engagement across its media services and games, as it improves AI recommendations, presenting more monetization opportunities.

Despite supply constraints, management reassured investors that it had enough GPUs to meet its internal needs. Tencent develops the open-source Hunyuan foundation model, which has demonstrated strong performance in 3D modeling and video applications. That's key as it sees AI improving productivity for its game developers. That said, it noted that supply constraints have slowed growth for its cloud computing segment, as it lacks sufficient infrastructure to meet demand.

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77.15

There are numerous ways for Tencent to continue integrating AI into its products and services, including the development of AI agents within WeChat and a framework for other companies to create their own agents. That's supported by the growth of its core gaming and advertising businesses, which generate tons of high-margin revenue for management to reinvest.

With shares trading for about $78, investors are paying just over 17 times forward earnings estimates. With the business growing earnings at a mid-teens rate and lots of potential upside from artificial intelligence-related products and enhancements, that makes it a no-brainer for an investor looking to deploy a couple of hundred dollars.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Urban One, Inc. (NASDAQ: UONEK and UONE) (the "Company") today announced the expiration and final results of the previously announced offers: (a) to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Company's outstanding 7.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the "Existing Notes") held by Eligible Holders (as defined below) for newly issued 7.625% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031 (the "Exchange Notes"), to be issued by the Company, and cash, (b) to purchase (the "Tender Offer") up to $185.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes for up to $111.0 million in cash and (c) the right to subscribe to purchase (the "Subscription Offer" and, together with the Exchange Offer and the Tender Offer, collectively, the "Offers") up to $60.6 million in aggregate principal amount of newly issued 10.500% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the "New First Lien Notes" and, together with the Exchange Notes, the "New Notes").

As of 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 15, 2025 (the "Expiration Date"), the Company received from Eligible Holders valid and unwithdrawn tenders and related Consents (as defined below), as reported by D.F. King & Co., Inc. (the "Exchange Agent"), representing approximately $476.02 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes, or approximately 97.580% of the aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes outstanding.

Eligible Holders electing to participate in: (a) only the Exchange Offer are referred to herein as "Exchange Offer Only Participants," (b) the Exchange Offer and the Tender Offer are referred to herein as "Exchange Offer and Tender Offer Participants," (c) the Exchange Offer, the Tender Offer and the Subscription Offer are referred to herein as "Exchange Offer, Tender Offer and Subscription Offer Participants," and (d) the Exchange Offer and the Subscription Offer are referred to herein as "Exchange Offer and Subscription Offer Participants." The Exchange Offer and Tender Offer Participants and the Exchange Offer, Tender Offer and Subscription Offer Participants are collectively referred to herein as the "Tender Offer Participants."

As of the Expiration Date, $498,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes were tendered by Exchange Offer Only Participants and Exchange Offer and Subscription Offer Participants to receive the Exchange Consideration and approximately $475.52 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes were tendered by Exchange Offer and Tender Offer Participants and Exchange Offer, Tender Offer and Subscription Offer Participants to receive the Tender Consideration. Because Existing Notes in a principal amount greater than $185.0 million were tendered into the Tender Offer, the Tender Offer was oversubscribed, and Existing Notes accepted in the Tender Offer will be subject to proration, as described below. As a result, the TSA Minimum Participation Condition (as defined in the Exchange Offering Memorandum) was waived. 

Prior to the Expiration Date, Eligible Holders (other than the Supporting Noteholders (as defined below)) subscribed to purchase approximately $4.4 million in aggregate principal amount of New First Lien Notes. As previously announced, pursuant to a Transaction Support Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2025, by and among the Company and certain holders (the "Supporting Noteholders") of Existing Notes, the Supporting Noteholders have agreed to backstop the full Subscription Offer and are expected to purchase the remaining approximately $56.2 million in aggregate principal amount of New First Lien Notes.

In addition, as of the Early Tender Date, the Company had received the requisite number of consents (the "Consents") in the concurrent consent solicitation (the "Consents" and such solicitation, the "Consent Solicitation") from Eligible Holders of the Existing Notes to adopt certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the Existing Notes (the "Existing Notes Indenture") to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain of the default provisions, modify covenants regarding mergers and consolidations and modify or eliminate certain other provisions, including removing the requirement that the Company make an offer to repurchase the Existing Notes if the Company experiences certain change of control transactions, releasing the guarantees provided by the guarantors of the Existing Notes, and eliminating any requirement to provide guarantees in the future with respect to the Existing Notes, releasing the liens on all of the collateral securing the Existing Notes and eliminating any requirement to provide collateral in the future with respect to the Existing Notes (collectively, the "Proposed Amendments"). On December 3, 2025, the Company entered into a supplemental indenture with the trustee and the collateral agent for the Existing Notes and the guarantors party thereto to reflect the Proposed Amendments, but the Proposed Amendments will become operative only upon, and subject to, the consummation of the Exchange Offer and Tender Offer on the Settlement Date (as defined below).

The consummation of the Offers and the Consent Solicitation on the Settlement Date is subject to, and conditioned upon, the satisfaction or, if permitted, waiver by the Company of certain conditions, including the Supporting Noteholders' performance of their obligations under the Transaction Support Agreement, the Company's substantially concurrent refinancing of its existing asset-based lending facility (or, in lieu thereof, the receipt of consent from the required lenders thereunder to the consummation of the Offers) and the General Conditions (as defined in the Offering Memorandum). The Settlement Date is expected to be on or around December 18, 2025. Subject to applicable law, the Company may amend, extend, terminate or withdraw any of the Offers and/or Consent Solicitation without amending, extending, terminating or withdrawing any of the others, at any time and for any reason, including if any of the conditions set forth under "Conditions to the Offers and Consent Solicitation" in the Offering Memorandum with respect to the Offers are not satisfied as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

The offering of the New Notes has not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state or foreign securities laws. The Offers and Consent Solicitation will only be made, and the New Notes are only being offered and issued, to holders of Existing Notes that are (a) reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act or (b) non-U.S. persons, in transactions outside the United States, in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (such holders, the "Eligible Holders"). Copies of all the documents relating to the Offers and Consent Solicitation may be obtained from the Exchange and Information Agent (as defined below), subject to confirmation of eligibility through online procedures established by the Exchange and Information Agent, available at: www. dfking.com/UONE.

Moelis & Company LLC has been appointed as financial advisor, investment banker, and the dealer manager and solicitation agent (the "Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent") and D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been appointed as the exchange and information agent (the "Exchange and Information Agent"), respectively, for the Offers and Consent Solicitation. Questions concerning the Offers and the Consent Solicitation may be directed to the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent, in accordance with the contact details shown on the back cover of the Offering Memorandum.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the Offers and Consent Solicitation, or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this press release is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The New Notes to be offered in the Offers have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About Urban One

Urban One Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 35 million households, offering a broad range of original programming, classic series and movies designed to entertain, inform, and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers. As of September 30, 2025, the Company owned and/or operated 74 independently formatted, revenue producing broadcast stations (including 57 FM or AM stations, 15 HD stations, and the 2 low power television stations the Company operates), located in 13 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African American and urban audiences.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including any statements regarding the consummation of the Offers and Consent Solicitation. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "predict," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "would," "will," "could," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "project" or "continue" or the negative thereof or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our views as of the date of this press release and are based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events, as well as currently available data as of the date of this press release. While we believe there is a reasonable basis for our forward-looking statements, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to, the adverse impact of failing to consummate the Offers and the Consent Solicitation and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. Therefore, these statements are not guarantees of future events, results, performance or achievements, and you should not rely on them. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date on which such statements were made, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after such statements are made, except as required by law.

SOURCE Urban One, Inc.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

DOGE's short-term direction depends on holding above the $0.1290–$0.1280 zone, with $0.1300 as immediate resistance.Updated Dec 16, 2025, 3:52 a.m. Published Dec 16, 2025, 3:52 a.m.

(CoinDesk Data)

What to know: Dogecoin experienced a sharp selloff, losing 5.5% and breaking critical technical levels, which signals a shift in short-term market structure.The decline was driven by increased selling pressure amid weaker risk sentiment and thinner liquidity, with volume surging 267% above average.DOGE's short-term direction depends on holding above the $0.1290–$0.1280 zone, with $0.1300 as immediate resistance.Dogecoin lost a critical technical level after a sharp, high-volume selloff, signaling a change in short-term market structure and forcing traders to reassess near-term risk.

News backgroundDogecoin declined 5.5% over the past 24 hours, falling from $0.1367 to $0.1291 as selling pressure intensified across the broader crypto market. The move came amid weaker risk sentiment and declining participation in higher-beta assets, with meme tokens absorbing outsized downside relative to majors.While no single catalyst drove the selloff, the move coincided with continued rotation out of speculative exposures and thinner liquidity conditions. DOGE remains range-bound on a higher timeframe, but the latest drop represents a clear failure to defend levels that had held through recent consolidation.Technical analysisThe breakdown below $0.1370 marked a decisive loss of short-term trend support. Volume surged to 1.63 billion tokens during the selloff, roughly 267% above average, confirming that the move was driven by large flows rather than passive drift.Price pushed cleanly through intermediate supports without meaningful pauses, indicating limited bid depth once $0.1320 gave way. The failure to reclaim $0.1300 on the first rebound attempt keeps near-term structure tilted to the downside, even as momentum indicators begin to stabilize.From a structure standpoint, DOGE has shifted from range compression to downside expansion. Until price reclaims former support, rallies remain corrective rather than trend-changing.Price action summaryAfter reaching session lows near $0.1290, DOGE began to stabilize as selling pressure tapered. Subsequent candles showed reduced volume and shorter downside extensions, suggesting liquidation pressure may be fading.Intraday price action has started to form higher lows from the $0.1290 base, but upside follow-through remains limited. Sellers continue to appear near $0.1300, keeping price capped and confirming this level as immediate resistance.What traders should knowShort-term direction now hinges on whether DOGE can hold above the $0.1290–$0.1280 zone. Sustained acceptance below this area would expose the next support band near $0.1250, while a successful reclaim of $0.1300 would be the first signal that downside momentum is easing.Volume behavior is key. Continued normalization would support a consolidation phase, while renewed spikes on downside moves would suggest further distribution. For now, DOGE sits in a fragile stabilization phase, where patience and confirmation matter more than anticipation.More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Nov 14, 2025

What to know:

As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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XRP price weakens at critical level, raising risk of deeper pullback

58 minutes ago

What to know:

XRP broke below the $1.93 support zone, signaling increased selling pressure and market repositioning.Trading volume surged to 246% above the 24-hour average, indicating significant participation from larger market players.The price remains under pressure below $1.88, with $1.93 now acting as resistance.Read full story

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Aster has introduced a new trading feature aimed at traders who want speed and leverage without exposing their positions to the market.

Summary

Aster launched Shield Mode on Dec. 15, offering private BTC and ETH perp trading with leverage up to 1001x.
Trades execute instantly with zero slippage, no public order book, and isolated margin for risk control.
All Shield Mode fees are waived until Dec. 31, with new pricing models planned later.

Aster has launched Shield Mode, a feature focused on private, high-leverage perpetual trading.

The update was announced on Dec. 15 in a post on X by Aster (ASTER), which described Shield Mode as a protected execution layer built into its perpetual futures platform.

Shield Mode introduces private execution for leveraged perps
Shield Mode is a protected trading option built directly into Aster Perpetual, designed for high-leverage perpetual contracts without relying on a public order book.

BTC and ETH pairs with leverage of up to 1001x are supported at launch. Orders made in Shield Mode do not show up on public books, in contrast to regular perp trading. 

🛡️ Introducing Shield Mode

A new protected trading mode for high-leverage perps: up to 1001x leverage, instant execution, zero slippage, no gas costs—all under one seamless interface.

What's in the shield:
✨ One-tap LONG/SHORT
✨ No public order book—your orders stay off the… pic.twitter.com/XAPCLY79Zo

— Aster (@Aster_DEX) December 15, 2025

Because positions are kept off-market, there is less chance of other participants engaging in front-running and reactive trading.Trades execute instantly through a one-tap long or short interface, with Aster ensuring zero slippage on supported pairs.

The new mode is also gasless. There are no gas costs and no opening or closing fees during the launch period, which runs until Dec. 31. Aster noted that volume generated in Shield Mode will not count toward its ongoing airdrop program while fees remain waived.

By using isolated margin, Shield Mode enables traders to limit risk on specific positions instead of disclosing their entire account balance. Because position management and execution are handled by a single interface, switching chains or trading environments is not necessary. 

Fees, roadmap, and broader platform context
Aster plans to introduce a flexible fee schedule for Shield Mode once the promotional period ends.There are currently two models described: a PnL-based model where traders only pay fees when a position is profitable, and a commission-based option with a fixed percentage per trade.

Shield Mode builds on earlier features such as hidden orders and serves as a step toward deeper privacy tooling tied to the upcoming Aster Chain. 

The launch comes during an active period for the platform. While Genesis airdrop claims are still ongoing, Aster just finished a major token unlock that affected price action. Despite this, the protocol runs a daily buyback program and has managed to stay close to the top of perpetual DEX volume charts.

Cardano (ADA) is getting the “2020 blastoff” treatment again — at least if you ask Quantum Ascend, a technical analyst on X who says the chart is starting to rhyme with the setup that preceded ADA’s last major run.

In a Dec. 13 video shared on X, Quantum Ascend (@quantum_ascend) told followers he’s been working through a longer-term weekly count and thinks the market may be grinding toward the end of a drawn-out corrective structure. The punchline: a “conservative” target zone around $4.88–$5.50, and a “primary” bull-run target of $10.40.

“Cardano Mirroring 2020 Blastoff Moment,” his post read, before laying out the two tiers: “Conservative: $4.88-$5.50” and “Primary: $10.40.”

The Framework Behind The Cardano Price Prediction
The framework he’s leaning on isn’t a clean five-wave impulse, he said. Instead, he framed it as something slower and messier — “more of like a large time-based macro correction here on the D-wave,” he said, describing what he believes is a triangle structure developing on the weekly chart.

Cardano price analysis | Source: X @quantum_ascend
“We’re creating a triangle structure,” he said. “So I am going to be looking for the E-wave. That’s what ends up coming next.”

A big part of the argument is confluence. Quantum Ascend walked through multiple measurements and trendlines, pointing to price zones where different tools cluster. One reference point was a prior A-to-B drawdown range that, in his view, still hasn’t been fully “closed out,” with a key level “up there at the $5.50 mark.”

Then he zoomed out to the bigger structure, highlighting how an upper trendline from a C-to-D drawdown “converges with the 3.618 [Fibonacci extension] up here,” which he suggested adds weight to the $10 area. “So some confluence for that $10 area,” he said, pointing at the chart level he called out around $10.62.

He also reached for a relative-performance comparison — not to Ethereum itself, but to Ethereum Classic.

“I have another video from the past that compares Ethereum Classic to ADA,” he said. “And if it ends up doing a similar move to Ethereum Classic, that also puts us up into the $10 range.”

Still, the near-term “safe” target he kept circling back to was the $5 region. After walking through a more recent drawdown “going back to the top of the Trump pump to where we’re at now,” he said a “full extension gets us pretty close… around $4.88,” adding that the $5 zone shows “a lot of different signs of confluence.”

“For me, I’m going to say my conservative estimate for ADA is going to be that $5 range,” he said. Then he went straight to the headline number: “I think ADA gets up there around 10 bucks during this bull run.”

To make the comparison feel less abstract, Quantum Ascend argued the current chop looks structurally similar to a prior period before ADA’s last breakout — a fractal-style read. “You guys notice the similarities here?” he asked, describing how both moves get “stopped out a little bit above the 0.5,” roll over, then revisit the lower trendline before pushing back to the top of the range.

And then he widened the lens beyond Cardano, tossing in a fairly aggressive macro view that sits underneath the bullish alt targets. “I honestly, guys, across the board right now, I believe that these corrections are coming to an end,” he said. “I think we have a blow off top in stock markets, in crypto and all of that coming.”

But he also stressed he’s not married to a long-duration “supercycle” narrative. “I am not a long-term bull,” he said. “I am not [predicting a] Bitcoin super cycle to $400K.” His current bitcoin top, he added, is $155,000 — and he expects alts to “severely outperform” in the final leg before “it’s all over.”

On the math side, Quantum Ascend framed $10.40 as big, but not absurd in a market that has already produced outsized multiples. “If we were to get that 1040, 25X, right?” he said, comparing it to prior cycles where ADA saw moves he pegged at “168X” and “75X.”

“So we’re just talking about a 25er,” he added. “Not that crazy when you put it into perspective.”

At press time, ADA traded at $0.4022.

ADA trades below key resistance, 1-week chart | Source: ADAUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Ford Motor announced a $19.5 billion charge on electric-vehicle investments on Monday, the most visible sign to date of the auto industry's pullback from a technology carmakers wholeheartedly embraced early this decade.

President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that he is weighing whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a statement that mirrors similar comments he made earlier this year and during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said he was considering an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug.

"We are considering that. A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify," Trump said on Monday.

"So we are looking at that very strongly," he continued.

TRUMP CONSIDERS RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA AS LESS DANGEROUS DRUG: REPORT

President Donald Trump said he is weighing whether to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

A White House official said on Friday that "no final decisions have been made on the rescheduling of marijuana."

Marijuana's current listing as a Schedule I substance puts it in the same category as heroin, ecstasy and peyote, implying it has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Schedule III drugs include Tylenol mixed with codeine, ketamine and testosterone.

The potential move to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I controlled substances and make it a Schedule III drug would make it significantly easier to buy and sell cannabis and make the cannabis industry more profitable.

Rescheduling is different from descheduling marijuana, as federal penalties for marijuana use and possession would remain. However, reclassification would loosen barriers to research and would be a boost for the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry.

The move could reshape the industry by potentially lowering taxes and making it easier to secure funding.

Marijuana's current listing as a Schedule I substance puts it in the same category as heroin, ecstasy and peyote. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Earlier reports that Trump may ease federal restrictions on the psychoactive drug boosted stocks of cannabis companies.

Trump supported rescheduling the drug during the presidential campaign. He also said in August that he was weighing whether to reclassify.

But Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who supports reclassification, accused Trump of attempting to "gaslight" Americans into "believing he just made pot legal" by making a move to reschedule the substance.

"Trump will try to gaslight everyone into believing he just made pot legal. Wrong. He has not decriminalized cannabis or expunged the records of black and Latino Americans stuck in prison for minor drug offenses. This is just an attempt to boost his pathetic approval ratings," Wyden said on X.

CANNABIS STOCKS SURGE ON REPORT TRUMP SEEKS TO EASE RESTRICTIONS

President Donald Trump said he was considering an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. (Reuters/Kent Nishimura / Reuters Photos)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

The Biden administration had begun pursuing the reclassification of marijuana but did not enact the change before the former president left office.

There have also been several bills introduced in Congress by Democrats and Republicans over the years to either lower the classification of marijuana to a Schedule III drug or remove it from the list of controlled substances altogether. Federal lawmakers have also sought to decriminalize the plant.

But these measures have not been signed into law.

More than 40 states have legalized medical marijuana, while 24 states and Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational marijuana.

Reuters contributed to this report.

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has developed a technology that accurately detects intoxication levels indicated by driver distraction and drowsiness, and provides driver alerts and vehicle-control interventions as needed to help prevent alcohol-related accidents. The system detects intoxication using a combination of non-contact pulse-rate measurements, which are based on images captured with a driver monitoring system (DMS), and ve.

Some investors might want exposure to businesses that are increasing their dividends.

Despite short bursts of heightened volatility this year, the market is in record territory. It makes sense why that kind of performance will drive investors to take on more risk in their portfolios.

But there are certainly investors that favor dividend income. And the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG 0.13%) can provide just what these market participants are looking for. If it's $500 in yearly cash payouts that you want, here's how many shares of this investment vehicle you'd need.

Image source: Getty Images.

Growing dividends and capital appreciation
In October, this ETF paid a dividend of $0.8647 per share. If you extrapolate that payout over an entire year, investors would need to own 155 shares of the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF to generate $500 in annual income. This requires buying $32,000 worth of the stock based on Dec. 11's price.

In the past decade, this ETF's dividend has grown 82%, which means shareholders benefit from a higher income stream. There's also capital appreciation that contributes to returns. The ETF's price has climbed 188% over the trailing-10-year period.

Today's Change

(

-0.13

%) $

-0.29

Current Price

$

221.79

Understand the ETF's composition
There are 338 total stocks in the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. Investors might think they benefit from broad diversification. However, the top 10 positions account for 34% of the entire portfolio's assets, so there is a bit of concentration at the top.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 15, 2025 / Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSXV:AEMC)(OTCQB:AKEMF) ("Alaska Energy Metals" "AEMC," or the "Company") announces that, further to its news releases of October 7, 2025 and October 9, 2025, it has issued a total of 6,921,087 common shares (the "Settlement Shares") at a price of $0.10 per Settlement Share to persons that have supplied services to the Company (the "Creditors") in settlement of debts owed by the Company to the Creditors in the total amount of $599,408.70 (the "Debt Settlements").

A total of 1,118,670 Settlement Shares were issued to Non-Arm's Length Parties (as that term is defined in TSXV policy 1.1 Interpretation) to settle debts in the total amount of $111,867.00.

The Settlement Shares were issued subject to prospectus exemptions available pursuant to Canadian securities law and are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on April 10, 2026.

The Debt Settlements were approved by the Company's Board of Directors, with the director who agreed to accept Settlement Shares in settlement of a portion of the amount owed by the Company to the director having abstained to the extent such approval related to the director's indebtedness, and did not require a formal valuation nor minority shareholder approval pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders In Special Transactions. The Company did not file a material change report concerning the Debt Settlements at least 21 days before the date of closing of the Debt Settlements as the Company wished to close the Debt Settlements and improve its statement of financial position as soon as practicable, which the Company deemed reasonable as closing could occur only after TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of the Debt Settlements had been received.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALS

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for national security and a bright energy future, while generating superior returns for shareholders.

AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic Nikolai Project Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic metals for North America. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec; the Angliers - Belleterre project. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, technological innovation, carbon mitigation and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that ESG performance is measured by action and led from the top.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Gregory Beischer"
Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO
907-677-7479

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Alaska Energy Metals Corp.

Company's total cash position expected to be approximately $70 million following closing

ENGLEWOOD, CO / ACCESS Newswire / December 15, 2025 / Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWLG) (the "Company"), a technology platform company leveraging its proprietary electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power in a small form factor, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 11,666,667 shares of common stock. The gross proceeds of the offering are $35 million, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses. All shares in this offering were sold by the Company. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,750,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any, at the per share public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is expected to close on or about December 17, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Company plans to allocate the net proceeds to accelerate its commercialization timeline, accelerate and expand U.S. production capacity to support its customers, onboard additional large scale design-ins, pursue strategic M&A opportunities or invest in complementary technologies or businesses, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company does not, however, have agreements or commitments to enter into any acquisitions, mergers or investments at this time. The Company expects its total cash position to be approximately $70 million following closing and has concurrently terminated its existing equity line of credit.

"This offering underscores our recent commercial momentum and reflects the growing recognition of the role that electro-optic polymers will play in the scale-up and scale-out of AI data centers," said Yves LeMaitre, CEO of Lightwave Logic. "The additional capital will strengthen our balance sheet, allow us to accelerate commercialization timelines, and expand manufacturing capacity to drive long-term value for our customers and shareholders."

Titan Partners is acting as sole bookrunner for the offering.

The offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-281059) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on July 26, 2024, and declared effective by the SEC on August 5, 2024. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. A final prospectus supplement will be filed with the SEC. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may also be obtained by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at [email protected].

About Lightwave Logic, Inc.

Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWLG) www.lightwavelogic.com is a technology platform company leveraging its proprietary engineered electro-optic (EO) polymers to transmit data at higher speeds with less power in a small form factor. The Company's high activity and high stability organic polymers allow it to create next-generation photonic EO devices that convert data from electrical signals into light/optical signals for applications in telecommunications, and for data transmission potentially used to support generative AI.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical fact and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's anticipated public offering, including the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms, if at all. Any forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to market conditions and satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed public offering. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 and in other filings that the Company makes with the SEC from time to time. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking information provided herein will be proven accurate. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Ryan Coleman or Nick Teves
Alpha IR Group for Lightwave Logic
[email protected]
312-445-2870

SOURCE: Lightwave Logic

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acentra Health, a technology and health solutions company dedicated to accelerating better outcomes for its government and commercial healthcare clients and the populations they serve, today announced that it has been named to the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)’s Tech100 list. Every year, the NVTC recognizes the region's most innovative tech companies, visionary executives, and trailblazing rising stars who are shaping the future of technology, driving breakthrough solutions, and leading exceptional growth.

“At a time of rapid technological transformation, NVTC’s recognition is especially rewarding,” said Acentra Health CEO Todd Stottlemyer. “Acentra Health has a history of embracing new technologies and intelligently applying them to enhance our solutions and deliver more value to our clients. We are proud to be associated with the many forward-thinking organizations on the Tech100 list.”

Acentra Health envisions a healthcare ecosystem powered by modern technology that helps its clients improve care for beneficiaries nationwide. The company advances this vision through several strategic initiatives:

A unified data platform designed to deliver governed, API-driven data for advanced healthcare analytics, quality measurement, and program integrity. This platform ensures that critical information is accessible and actionable for clients, enabling faster, more informed decisions that improve health outcomes for millions of beneficiaries.The evoBrix® X modular Medicaid Enterprise System (MES) platform that enables states to deploy new systems with greater speed and efficiency while maintaining the governance and compliance standards required for certification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).Atrezzo, Acentra Health’s AI-enabled clinical platform that unifies utilization management, care/case management, appeals, assessments, and eligibility.The Safe AI in Medicaid Alliance (SAMA), a public-private partnership working to promote responsible and safe deployment and use of AI solutions in Medicaid agencies. “We are in a moment of incredible transformation,” said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. “Our region isn’t just keeping pace with change — we’re leading it. The NVTC Tech100 celebrates the people and companies making it happen. From GenAI to quantum, Northern Virginia’s innovators are building what’s needed for the nation and the world. This community doesn’t just imagine the future — it engineers it. Our honorees are transforming industries, inspiring collaboration, and proving that in Northern Virginia, innovation knows no bounds. We’re only at the beginning of witnessing AI’s extraordinary impact on our world.”

The NVTC Tech100 honorees will be celebrated at a dinner this evening.

About Acentra Health
Acentra Health combines public sector knowledge, clinical expertise, and technological ingenuity to modernize the healthcare experience for state, federal, and commercial partners and their priority populations. From designing and developing advanced claims, encounter, and provider solutions that drive efficiency and cost savings to delivering clinically focused solution models for care management, clinical assessments, and quality oversight, Acentra Health is accelerating better health outcomes. Acentra Health is backed by Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), a global investment firm. Learn more at acentra.com.  

About the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)
NVTC is where the region’s tech community comes together. From bold startups to Fortune 100 giants, NVTC represents 500 members across sectors shaping the future of technology. NVTC drives innovation, fosters connections, and advocates for policies that fuel growth and position Northern Virginia as a global leader in technology. Through its initiatives in cybersecurity, generative AI, cloud computing, and beyond, NVTC empowers the tech community to shape the future. Whether it’s through policy advocacy, peer networks, or industry promotion, NVTC drives innovation that’s transforming the world. Learn more at www.nvtc.org. 

Media Contacts:
Marnie Keogh, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Acentra Health
703-214-3666
[email protected]

Janice Moore, Vice President, Corporate Communications
Acentra Health
703-214-3552
[email protected]

Tarin Horan
Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)
703-946-0319
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2935f27-17dc-4ad2-95a8-27a0236ce6a1

Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech100 Winner 2025
Acentra Health Named to Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Tech100. Award honors Northern Virgin...

Partner Reed Kathrein Investigating Whether Management Misrepresented Provision Trends and Lending Risk

, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman has launched an investigation into potential securities law violations by Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) following the company's recent Q3 2025 financial results. The disappointing results revealed a staggering increase in the provision for credit losses.  The company has seen a decline of approximately 23.6% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of $40.00 per share on September 9, 2025.

The investigation focuses on whether Klarna misled investors about the risks attendant to its aggressive push into the Fair Financing offering, which drove the massive provision increase and is potentially at odds with the company's prior assurances regarding its lending risk metrics in the Offering Documents.

"A core issue in the IPO setting is transparency with investors. When a company's provision for credit losses spikes 102% year-over-year, it calls into question whether that risk had already materialized by the time of the IPO," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. "We are specifically focused on the disclosures surrounding the 139% growth in the Fair Financing portfolio and whether management adequately warned investors that this push would negate prior low provision metrics.  The firm urges investors in Klarna who suffered significant losses to contact the firm now to discuss their rights."

Legal Analysis: Provision for Credit Losses Disclosure Gap

Hagens Berman's investigation focuses on whether Klarna failed to properly disclose the significant, adverse impact that its Fair Financing growth would have on its provision for credit losses, rendering prior statements about its low risk profile misleading.

Financial Metric / Event

Disclosure & Specific Figure

Legal Focus

Q3 2025 Provision

Provision for Credit Losses increased by 102% year-over-year.

Whether the Offering Documents misled investors about expected provision trends and lending risk.

Lending Risk Profile

Provision as a percentage of GMV rose to 0.72% (38% higher than the prior 12-month period).

Whether the Offering Documents obscured credit loss risk attached to Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) growth.

Causation

The increases were "driven by the upfront provisions" required to book the 139% growth in the Fair Financing portfolio.

Whether the Offering Documents failed to properly disclose the direct, adverse impact of aggressive Fair Financing expansion on company financial health.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

If you invested in Klarna (KLAR) and suffered significant losses, you may have legal options.

Mr. Kathrein and the firm's investor fraud team are actively advising investors who suffered losses following the November 18, 2025, disclosure of the provision increases.

TO SUBMIT YOUR KLAR LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your KLAR Losses Now
Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]
Visit: https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/klarna-group-plc-klar-investigation 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Klarna should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

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Published: Dec 16, 2025, 04:14 GMT+00:00

Oil and natural gas prices weakened as progress on the Russia–Ukraine peace and soft Chinese data weighed on sentiment.

Oil prices dropped as peace talks between Russia and Ukraine progressed, reducing geopolitical risk premiums. U.S. officials proposed NATO-style guarantees for Ukraine, raising hopes of a deal that could ease sanctions and restore some Russian crude flows. This prospect pulled prices lower as traders priced in improved future supply.

At the same time, disappointing economic data from China added to downside pressure. Industrial output slowed to a 15-month low, and retail sales growth hit its weakest in nearly three years. The chart below shows that China’s industrial production grew by 4.8% year-on-year in November 2025, slightly easing from a 4.9% increase in the previous month. These signals raised doubts about global oil demand in 2026, especially from the world’s largest importer.

The easing of geopolitical tensions and weak economic data from China created a bearish setup for crude oil. WTI crude (CL) and Brent crude (BCO) dropped about 0.6% in early trading, reflecting increased caution among traders. Unless new supply disruptions or stronger demand signals emerge, oil is likely to struggle to regain upward momentum in the near term.

WTI Crude Oil (CL) Technical Analysis
WTI Oil Daily Chart – Bearish Pressure
The daily chart for WTI crude oil indicates that the price has entered the long-term support region, located between the $55 and $60 area. Strong bearish pressure within this zone increases the possibility of a breakdown below the $55 level. A confirmed move below $55 would open the door for a sharp decline in WTI prices.

WTI Oil 4-Hour Chart – Negative Trend
This bearish pressure is also visible on the 4-hour chart below. The price is consolidating below the red trendline and moving closer to the long-term support level near $55. The RSI has reached the 30 level, which signals increasing downside risk in the short term.

However, this weakness could also trigger a technical rebound from the $54–$55 zone back toward the $58 area. The broader outlook for oil remains bearish as long as prices stay below the $62 level.

Natural Gas (NG) Technical Analysis
Natural Gas Daily Chart – Bullish Momentum
The daily chart for natural gas (NG) shows that the price is breaking below the key $4.00 support level, increasing short-term uncertainty. A confirmed drop below this area raises the likelihood of a further decline toward the $3.00–$3.50 region. However, as long as natural gas holds above the $2.50–$2.60 zone, the broader outlook remains bullish.

The chart also reveals strong volatility, which continues to shape price behaviour. Despite the recent weakness, natural gas still trades above its 200-day SMA, currently around $3.50. This level acts as a key technical support that may help stabilise prices.

Overall, the current setup suggests short-term downside risk within a longer-term bullish structure. Traders should closely watch the $3.50 level, as a break below it may weaken the bullish case.

Natural Gas 4-Hour Chart – Positive Trend
The 4-hour chart for natural gas shows that the price has broken below the ascending broadening wedge pattern and is approaching the $4.00 support level. A break below this zone could trigger a drop toward the $3.50–$3.60 region. The formation of bottoming patterns in the long-term support area between $2.60 and $2.90 indicates a potential basing structure.

US Dollar Index (DXY) Technical Analysis
US Dollar Daily Chart – Bearish Trend
The daily chart for the U.S. Dollar Index shows continued bearish pressure, with the index trading below the 100.50 level. A sustained drop below the 99.00 level would confirm a bearish trend. A break below 98.00 could trigger a sharper decline toward the 96.50 area. If the index falls below 96.50, it may accelerate downside momentum toward the 90.00 level.

US Dollar 4-Hour Chart – Negative Price Action
The 4-hour chart for the U.S. Dollar Index shows that the index formed a double top pattern at the 100.50 resistance level, triggering a strong decline. This pattern suggests that the index is likely to continue moving toward the 96.50 level in the short term.

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Silver (XAGUSD) Price Forecast: Consolidates Near $64 – New Record Close PossibleNatural Gas Price Forecast: 50-Day Average Breaks – 200-Day $3.58 MagnetNatural Gas, WTI Oil, Brent Oil Forecasts – Oil Tests New Lows On Oversupply Concerns

Muhammad Umair is a finance MBA and engineering PhD. As a seasoned financial analyst specializing in currencies and precious metals, he combines his multidisciplinary academic background to deliver a data-driven, contrarian perspective. As founder of Gold Predictors, he leads a team providing advanced market analytics, quantitative research, and refined precious metals trading strategies.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2025) - LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (FSE: 3WK0) ("LaFleur Minerals" or the "Company" or "Issuer") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.50 per Unit gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "LIFE Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional Common Share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.75 at any time on or before 24 months from the Closing Date (defined below). The Warrants will be subject to an accelerated expiry upon thirty (30) business days' notice from the Company in the event the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") is equal to or above a price of $0.90 for fourteen (14) consecutive trading days any time after closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds from the LIFE Offering will be used for the commissioning and restart of gold production operations at the Company's wholly-owned Beacon Gold Mine and Mill, as well as work at the Company's Swanson Gold Project in Quebec and for and general working capital purposes.

The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, to purchasers resident in Canada, excluding Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions.

The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Issuer's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's website at www.lafleurminerals.com. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision.

Flow-Through (FT) Offering

The Company also intends to offer up to 2,500,000 flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.60 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the "FT Offering"). Each FT Unit will consist of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec) (each, a "FT Share") and one (1) Warrant which shall have the same terms as the Warrants included in the Units to be issued in the LIFE Offering.

The gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the FT Units will be used on the Company's Swanson Gold Project to incur "Canadian Exploration Expenses" as such term is defined under subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to "before 2026" in paragraph (a) of the definition of "flow-through mining expenditure" in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as "before 2027" and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to "before April 2025" were read as "before April 2026"). The qualifying expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2026, and will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Shares.

All securities issued in connection with the FT Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company has also agreed to pay qualified finders and brokers a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering and such number of broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants") as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the LIFE Offering and FT Offering. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

The closing of the LIFE Offering and FT Offering is expected to occur on or about December 31, 2025 (the "Closing Date"), or such other earlier or later date as the Company may determine.

The Company continues to progress in the closing of its previously announced brokered private placement of gold-linked convertible notes, as announced on November 5, 2025, a financing that aims to raise up to C$7 million to fund the restart of the company's Beacon Gold Mill in Val d'Or, Quebec.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d'Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral's fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LAFLEUR MINERALS INC.

LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the closing of the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering, and the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the FT Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278189

Source: LaFleur Minerals Inc.

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Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday, trading at $4,305 per ounce—within striking distance of October’s all-time high of $4,381.

The rally reflects a broader flight to safety as investors navigate uncertain monetary policy and seek inflation hedges. With markets pricing in a 76% chance of another rate cut in January, gold’s appeal as a non-yielding asset has only strengthened.

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Historic Divergence Signals Potential Turning PointThe US dollar, near a two-month low during the Asian session, provided additional tailwinds for bullion. Gold has surged more than 64% year-to-date, marking its best annual performance since 1979. Federal Reserve rate cuts, persistent central bank buying, and steady inflows into gold-backed ETFs fueled the hike.

Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded funds have risen every month this year except May, according to the World Gold Council, underscoring sustained investor appetite for the safe-haven asset. As rates decline, the opportunity cost of holding gold falls, making it more attractive compared to interest-bearing investments.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin keeps hovering around $86,000 after a sharp selloff triggered an hour-long $200 million in long liquidations on Monday. The leading cryptocurrency remains approximately 30% below its October peak of $126,210. While gold acts as a safe-haven asset in turbulent times, Bitcoin often trades like a risk asset, suffering outflows when investors seek stability.

The widening gap between gold and Bitcoin has caught the attention of market analysts. Crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe noted that Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index against gold has dropped below 30 for only the fourth time in history.

For the fourth time in the history of #Bitcoin, the RSI against Gold is hitting <30.

The previous three times this occurred:
– Bottom in 2015 bear market.
– Bottom in 2018 bear market.
– Bottom in 2022 bear market.

It's not a guarantee, but it can clearly say that one of the… pic.twitter.com/uZHSxMzyaR

— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) December 15, 2025
Technical analysis from fellow analyst misterrcrypto supports this view. He shows that the BTC/Gold pair has been testing a long-term ascending support line for the fourth time since 2019. The Z-Score is -1.76, in oversold territory, and prior touches of this support level have led to substantial rallies.

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Still, technical patterns do not guarantee future moves. The current macroeconomic environment differs from previous cycles, as inflation remains elevated and geopolitical risks continue to support demand for gold. The extent to which investors rotate from gold to Bitcoin remains uncertain.

Macro Factors in FocusMarkets are closely watching this week’s US economic data to fill a void created by a six-week government shutdown. The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday releases its long-awaited combined employment reports for October and November. However, key details will be missing—including October’s unemployment rate, resulting in the first-ever gap in that critical data series.

Economists project a 50,000 increase in payrolls and a 4.5% unemployment rate, consistent with a sluggish but stable labor market. Even moderate weakness in the figures would bolster the case for more rate cuts, according to Morgan Stanley strategist Michael Wilson.

The Fed delivered a 25-basis-point rate cut last week but signaled a likely pause amid persistent inflation. However, Fed Governor Stephen Miran said Monday that current above-target inflation does not reflect underlying dynamics, asserting that “prices are now once again stable.” Investors currently price in a 76% probability of another January cut.

Technical OutlookBitcoin options data reveals significant open interest concentrated around the December 26 expiry, with heavy positioning at the $100,000 strike. Analysts identify a gamma band spanning $86,000 to $110,000, suggesting heightened volatility as traders reposition heading into year-end.

Silver, which has more than doubled this year with a 121% gain, pulled back from Friday’s record high of $64.65 but remains near historic levels. The metal’s rally has been driven by tightening inventories, strong industrial demand, and its inclusion on the US critical minerals list.

As gold approaches new highs and Bitcoin consolidates near key support levels, the coming weeks may determine whether the historic divergence between the two assets resolves through rotation—or further dislocation.

Bitcoin price corrected gains and traded below the $88,000 support zone. BTC is now consolidating and might struggle to clear the $88,500 zone.

Bitcoin started a fresh decline from the $90,500 zone.
The price is trading below $88,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $89,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
The pair might continue to move up if it settles above the $85,000 zone.

Bitcoin Price Dips Further
Bitcoin price failed to gain strength for a move above the $90,000 and $90,500 levels. BTC started a fresh decline and traded below the $88,500 support.

The price even spiked below the $87,000 support. However, the bulls were active near the $85,000 zone. A low was formed at $85,151 and the price is consolidating gains below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $93,560 swing high to the $85,151 low.

Bitcoin is now trading below $88,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. If the bulls remain in action, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is near the $87,150 level. The first key resistance is near the $87,500 level.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com
The next resistance could be $88,000. A close above the $88,000 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $89,000 resistance. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $89,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. Any more gains might send the price toward the $90,000 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $91,000 and $91,500.

Another Decline In BTC?
If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $87,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $85,500 level. The first major support is near the $85,000 level.

The next support is now near the $83,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $82,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $80,000, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $85,500, followed by $85,000.

Major Resistance Levels – $88,000 and $89,000.

Shiba Inu has kept a spot in crypto talk even as its price has slid sharply. According to reports, the network had a market cap of $5 billion as of Dec. 6, and it still draws attention because people know the name. That visibility, however, does not settle the debate over whether the token belongs in a long-term portfolio.

Shiba Inu’s Price And Market Size
Based on reports, Shiba Inu has seen massive moves over several years. Roughly five years ago it traded near $0.0000000001684; at the time of writing, it is quoted at about $0.000008439.

SHIB’s all-time high stands at $0.00008845, which means the token trades roughly 85% below that peak. Reports have disclosed that SHIB has tanked about 55% so far this year, and some data points show almost a 60% decline over a recent 12-month span. Those drops have pushed many investors to ask whether the story that once lifted SHIB has faded.

SHIB market cap currently at $4.6 billion. Chart: TradingView
On-Chain Signals And Holder Counts
There are mixed signals on the chain. Data from CryptoQuant is reported to show memecoin dominance falling to its lowest level since early 2024, a sign that speculative interest across similar tokens has ebbed.

At the same time, the number of wallets holding SHIB moved from about 1.45 million at the start of the year to around 1.52 million more recently. That jump in holders was noted alongside the price slide. It suggests distribution rather than complete abandonment; small increases in holders do not always mean increased trading activity, but they can show steady retail interest.

Memecoin markets are dead. pic.twitter.com/6kymLWH4JX

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) December 11, 2025

Pundit Views And The Utility Question
Meanwhile, crypto pundit Neil Patel has listed reasons he would not treat Shiba Inu as a proper investment. He argues the memecoin doesn’t solve a clear, large-scale problem and points out that developer activity for SHIB is limited compared with many other networks.

The claim is that much of SHIB’s value has been driven by hype cycles and not by broad real-world use. Those views were presented in firm terms, and they have been repeated across a range of commentaries that warn about hype-driven tokens.

Investor Takeaways And Risks
Investors who want exposure to crypto are often told to look at major networks such as Bitcoin for scarcity-driven arguments; that point was brought up in several reports. At the same time, SHIB’s supporting projects — a layer-two chain, a decentralized exchange, a metaverse concept — are real but appear to have small adoption so far.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView