Market Signal Briefing

XRP has recovered modestly from the $2.70 level, where selling pressure temporarily subsided, but now finds itself at a crucial crossroads. Debate has centered on whether the bounce is the start of a recovery attempt, or just a dead cat bounce in the middle of a larger downtrend.

Tony Kim
Sep 28, 2025 09:22

ENS trades at $19.62 after a 1.36% decline, approaching key support levels while technical indicators suggest oversold conditions may present buying opportunities.

Quick Take
• ENS currently trading at $19.62 (-1.36% in 24h)
• Ethereum Name Service's RSI at 32.53 signals potential oversold bounce
• No major news catalysts driving current price action

What's Driving Ethereum Name Service Price Today?
The ENS price decline appears to be driven primarily by broader market sentiment rather than specific fundamental catalysts. With no significant news events reported in the past week, Ethereum Name Service is following technical patterns and general cryptocurrency market movements.

The lack of fresh developments has left ENS vulnerable to profit-taking and technical selling pressure. Trading volume of $1,565,618 on Binance spot market suggests moderate participation, indicating that current price movements are more reflective of technical factors than fundamental shifts in the project's outlook.

ENS Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Emerge
Ethereum Name Service technical analysis reveals a complex picture with both bearish momentum and potential reversal signals. The most significant indicator is ENS RSI at 32.53, which has dropped into oversold territory, historically suggesting a potential bounce opportunity for contrarian traders.

Ethereum Name Service's MACD remains bearish at -1.1083, with the histogram at -0.3173 confirming continued downward momentum. However, the Stochastic oscillator shows ENS's %K at just 4.91, an extremely oversold reading that often precedes short-term reversals.

The Bollinger Bands analysis shows ENS price at 0.0810 of the band width, meaning Ethereum Name Service is trading very close to the lower band at $19.06. This positioning near the lower Bollinger Band often indicates oversold conditions and potential support.

Moving averages paint a bearish picture with ENS price below all key averages: the 7-day SMA at $20.33, 20-day SMA at $22.54, and 50-day SMA at $23.97. Only the 200-day SMA at $21.23 remains relatively close, suggesting long-term trend support.

Ethereum Name Service Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Critical Ethereum Name Service support levels are being tested as ENS approaches the $19.36 zone, which serves as both immediate and strong support according to technical analysis. A break below this level could expose ENS to further downside pressure.

On the upside, ENS resistance begins at $25.25, representing the immediate barrier that bulls must overcome. The stronger ENS resistance sits much higher at $32.21, near the 52-week high of $35.70, indicating significant overhead supply.

The current ENS/USDT trading range of $20.13 to $19.61 over the past 24 hours shows compression near support levels. The daily ATR of $1.14 suggests that Ethereum Name Service typically moves within this volatility range, providing context for position sizing.

Should You Buy ENS Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
Based on Binance spot market data, ENS presents different opportunities depending on trading style and risk tolerance. For swing traders, the oversold ENS RSI combined with proximity to Ethereum Name Service support levels at $19.36 creates a potential risk-reward setup.

Conservative traders might wait for ENS price to reclaim the $20.33 level (7-day SMA) before considering long positions. This would provide confirmation that Ethereum Name Service has found support and begun reversing the recent downtrend.

Aggressive traders could consider small positions near current levels with tight stops below the $19.36 Ethereum Name Service support levels. The risk-reward ratio becomes attractive if ENS can bounce toward the $22.54 resistance (20-day SMA).

Day traders should monitor the ENS/USDT pair for any break above $20.13 (24-hour high) as potential confirmation of short-term reversal, while keeping stops below the $19.36 strong support zone.

Conclusion
ENS price action over the next 24-48 hours will likely depend on whether Ethereum Name Service can hold the critical $19.36 support level. While technical indicators show oversold conditions that often precede bounces, the lack of fresh catalysts means any recovery may be limited without broader market support. Traders should watch for volume confirmation on any potential reversal and maintain strict risk management given the current technical uncertainty.

Image source: Shutterstock

ens price analysis
ens price prediction

Sep 28, 2025 at 08:32 // Price

The XRP price has continued to fall after breaching the lower price range at the $2.80 support. Analysis of Ripple price by Coinidol.com.

XRP long-term analysis: bearish

Bulls have bought the dips as the altcoin attempts to recover. If recovery occurs, XRP will resume its bullish trend provided the 21-day SMA support holds and the $3.20 resistance is broken. XRP would then rally to its previous high of $3.66.

However, if bears breach the 21-day SMA support, this will indicate continued selling pressure and XRP may fall to its 2.0 Fibonacci extension, or $1.85 bottom.

Technical indicators:  

Resistance Levels – $2.80 and $3.00

Support Levels – $1.80 and $1.60

XRP price indicators analysis

Following the recent dip, the cryptocurrency price has recovered above the 21-day SMA support. If the 21-day SMA support is breached, selling pressure will increase, potentially pushing the price down to just above the 50-day SMA.

Despite the recent dip, the moving average lines are trending upward. On the 4-hour chart, the downward-sloping moving average lines indicate a downturn.

XRP/USD weekly chart - September 27, 2025

What is the next move for XRP?

XRP is in decline but has paused above the $2.70 support since September 22. The altcoin is trading within a narrow range between the $2.70 support and below the moving average lines or the $2.85 high. XRP will continue its downward move when the bears breach the $2.70 support. In the meantime, the crypto signal is negative as the altcoin loses the $2.80 support.  

XRP/USD 4-hour chart - September 27, 2025

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

TLDR:

The Bitcoin 60-day Buy/Sell Pressure Delta has flipped, suggesting bulls may step in at current levels.
Coin days destroyed show long-term holders reducing selling activity compared to earlier this year.
Buy liquidity clusters around $105K while sell liquidity stacks near $120K, setting up a breakout zone.
Bitcoin trades at $109,555 with a slight 24-hour gain but remains 5% lower over the past week.

Bitcoin is holding its ground near $109K, but traders are preparing for the next move. On-chain signals are starting to turn, hinting at a potential shift in momentum. Short-term price action remains choppy, leaving investors debating whether to buy now or wait. 

Liquidity levels show a clear battle forming between buyers and sellers. Analysts see this as a point where bulls may try to regain control.

Bitcoin Buy/Sell Pressure Delta Points to Entry Zone
Analyst Joao Wedson shared that the 60-day Buy/Sell Pressure Delta has already entered what he calls the “opportunity zone.” 

🎯 Buy/Sell Pressure Delta Signals a Bitcoin Opportunity!

On September 9, I suggested waiting for the Buy/Sell Pressure Delta to move into the negative zone. In that post, I used the 90-day delta, which is slower and more conservative — perfect for filtering out noise.

Now, the… https://t.co/TIJGtYtHQE pic.twitter.com/rTYoyyufW9

— Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) September 27, 2025

He explained that the 90-day delta, which is slower and more conservative, is still approaching confirmation. This gives traders two choices: enter early with moderate risk or wait a few more days for a safer signal.

Wedson noted that the shift in the 60-day delta is a sign that bears may face buying pressure soon. 

He suggested that bulls could use this period to accumulate BTC at current prices. This aligns with traders looking for lower-risk entries after a week of price weakness.

Liquidity and Long-Term Holder Behavior
Data from Alphractal shows that the CDD Multiple, which tracks long-term holder spending, has fallen compared to 2024. This means older coins are moving at a slower rate, a pattern seen during accumulation phases. It suggests experienced holders are sitting tight and waiting for stronger price action.

$BTC HEATMAP IS SCREAMING.

Sell liquidity stacked at $120K.
Last buy liquidity resting at $105K.

Whales decide direction.
Retail just gets harvested.

This setup is about to erupt.
Survive this trap, and you win the game. pic.twitter.com/20CMtBorCp

— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) September 28, 2025

Trader Merlijn added that Bitcoin’s heatmap is showing heavy sell liquidity stacked near $120K and last strong buy liquidity near $105K. 

He warned that whales control the next move, and retail traders risk being caught in the middle. With volatility compressed, traders expect a breakout once one side absorbs the other’s liquidity.

Per CoinGecko, Bitcoin is trading at $109,555 with a 0.19% daily gain but remains down 5.37% in the past seven days. Trading volume over the last 24 hours stands at $21.4 billion, showing steady market activity while participants wait for direction.

BTC price on CoinGecko

Peter Zhang
Sep 28, 2025 09:45

FTT price trades at $0.92 with bullish momentum after Sam Bankman-Fried's cryptic social media post triggered a massive rally, though overbought conditions signal caution ahead.

Quick Take
• FTT currently trading at $0.92 (+1.15% in 24h)
• FTX Token's RSI at 51.83 shows neutral momentum after recent overbought conditions
• Sam Bankman-Fried's unexpected social media activity sparked 24% weekly surge despite his incarceration

What's Driving FTX Token Price Today?
The FTT price experienced extraordinary volatility this week, primarily driven by an unexpected social media post from Sam Bankman-Fried's account on September 24th. The simple "gm" (good morning) message triggered a stunning 24% surge in FTX Token's value, demonstrating the token's continued sensitivity to news surrounding its controversial founder.

This social media-driven rally pushed FTT price above the critical $0.99 resistance level on September 19th, marking a 21.21% single-day gain. The crypto community's reaction was mixed, with many expressing skepticism about the authenticity and timing of the post, given Bankman-Fried's current legal situation.

The market response highlights how FTX Token remains heavily influenced by sentiment and news flow rather than fundamental developments. Trading volume on the FTT/USDT pair reached significant levels during these events, indicating strong speculative interest despite the token's controversial background.

FTT Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Emerge
FTX Token technical analysis reveals a complex picture following the recent volatility. The FTT RSI currently sits at 51.83, having cooled down from overbought levels above 70 during the initial surge. This neutral reading suggests the immediate selling pressure has subsided, but momentum remains uncertain.

FTX Token's MACD indicator shows bullish momentum with a positive histogram of 0.0027, indicating that buyers are still in control despite the recent pullback. The MACD line at 0.0232 sits above the signal line at 0.0206, supporting the bullish narrative in the short term.

The moving average structure presents mixed signals for FTT price action. While FTX Token trades above its 12-period EMA at $0.91 and 26-period EMA at $0.89, it remains below the 7-period SMA at $0.94, suggesting some near-term consolidation pressure. More concerning is the position below the 200-period SMA at $0.97, indicating longer-term bearish sentiment persists.

FTX Token's Bollinger Bands show the token trading in the upper half of the range with a %B position of 0.5988, suggesting moderate bullish positioning without extreme overbought conditions.

FTX Token Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on Binance spot market data, FTX Token support levels are clearly defined at $0.78 for immediate support and $0.76 for strong support. These levels represent critical zones where buyers have previously stepped in, and any break below could signal further downside toward the 52-week low of $0.72.

FTT resistance remains concentrated at the $1.30 level, which has proven challenging to break in recent attempts. This resistance zone represents both immediate and strong resistance, making it a key level for bulls to overcome for any sustained upward movement.

The current FTT price at $0.92 sits near the pivot point of $0.93, indicating a balanced market where direction could break either way. The Average True Range (ATR) of $0.12 suggests continued high volatility, providing both opportunities and risks for active traders.

Should You Buy FTT Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
For short-term traders, the current FTT price setup offers a mixed risk-reward scenario. The neutral FTT RSI provides room for upward movement, but the recent social media-driven rally raises questions about sustainability. Aggressive traders might consider positions above $0.94 with stops below $0.78, targeting the $1.30 resistance zone.

Conservative investors should exercise extreme caution with FTX Token given its fundamental challenges and the unpredictable nature of news-driven price movements. The token's sensitivity to Sam Bankman-Fried-related developments creates significant event risk that's difficult to predict or hedge against.

Swing traders might wait for a clearer technical setup, particularly a break above the 7-period SMA at $0.94 with sustained volume. This would improve the FTX Token technical analysis outlook and provide better risk-adjusted entry opportunities.

The high volatility environment, as evidenced by the daily ATR, means position sizing should be reduced compared to more stable assets. Risk management becomes paramount when trading FTT/USDT given the potential for sudden, dramatic price swings.

Conclusion
FTT price action over the next 24-48 hours will likely depend on whether the token can reclaim the $0.94 level and establish it as support. The recent social media drama has injected fresh volatility into FTX Token, but sustainable price appreciation requires more than sentiment-driven rallies. Traders should monitor the $0.78 support level closely, as any break could signal a return to the 52-week lows near $0.72.

Image source: Shutterstock

ftt price analysis
ftt price prediction

Caroline Bishop
Sep 28, 2025 09:51

JASMY price drops 1.23% to $0.01 as technical indicators signal oversold conditions with RSI at 32.89 and price near lower Bollinger Band support.

Quick Take
• JASMY currently trading at $0.01 (-1.23% in 24h)
• JasmyCoin's RSI at 32.89 indicates oversold conditions approaching
• Technical indicators show mixed signals with JASMY near critical support levels

What's Driving JasmyCoin Price Today?
With no significant news events impacting JASMY price in the past week, the current decline appears driven by broader market sentiment and technical factors. The 1.23% drop in JASMY price over the last 24 hours reflects ongoing consolidation at low levels, with trading volume of $1,129,426 on Binance spot suggesting moderate investor interest.

The absence of fresh catalysts has left JasmyCoin vulnerable to technical selling pressure, particularly as the token continues to trade near its established support zones. This price action demonstrates how JASMY remains sensitive to overall cryptocurrency market dynamics when lacking specific fundamental drivers.

JasmyCoin Technical Analysis: Oversold Signals Emerge
The most compelling signal in the current JasmyCoin technical analysis comes from JASMY's RSI reading of 32.89, which places the token in oversold territory. This JASMY RSI level often precedes short-term bounces, though confirmation from other indicators remains mixed.

JasmyCoin's MACD presents a bearish picture with the histogram at -0.0002, indicating continued downward momentum. The MACD line sits at -0.0007 below the signal line at -0.0005, suggesting that selling pressure persists despite the oversold RSI conditions.

The Stochastic oscillator reinforces the oversold narrative, with JasmyCoin's %K at 8.68 and %D at 12.37. These extremely low readings typically signal that JASMY price has declined too far too fast, potentially setting up a relief rally.

JasmyCoin's position within the Bollinger Bands tells a critical story. With JASMY trading near the lower band at $0.01 and showing a %B position of 0.0919, the token is testing significant technical support. This JasmyCoin support level has held multiple times and represents a crucial floor for the JASMY/USDT pair.

JasmyCoin Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on Binance spot market data, JASMY faces immediate resistance at $0.02, which coincides with both the upper Bollinger Band and the 52-week trading range midpoint. This JASMY resistance level has proven formidable, capping several recent rally attempts.

The current JASMY price of $0.01 sits directly on major support, with strong support also identified at the same level. This confluence of technical factors makes $0.01 the most critical level for JasmyCoin in the near term. A decisive break below this JasmyCoin support level could trigger additional selling toward new lows.

For traders watching the JASMY/USDT pair, the pivot point at $0.01 serves as the key battleground between bulls and bears. The extremely tight trading range, with all major moving averages converging at $0.01, suggests that any breakout in either direction could produce significant price movement.

Should You Buy JASMY Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
Conservative traders should wait for JASMY price to establish a clear floor above current support before considering entry. The oversold JASMY RSI provides some encouragement, but the bearish MACD momentum suggests patience may be rewarded with better entry opportunities.

Aggressive traders might consider the current JASMY price attractive given the oversold conditions and proximity to established support. However, strict stop-losses below $0.01 are essential, as a breakdown could accelerate toward the 52-week low.

For swing traders, the risk-reward setup favors waiting for a confirmed bounce off current JasmyCoin support levels. A move back above $0.015 would improve the technical picture and provide better risk-adjusted entry points for medium-term positions.

The daily ATR of effectively zero highlights the extremely low volatility environment, suggesting that any significant news or market shift could produce outsized moves in JASMY price.

Conclusion
JASMY price action over the next 24-48 hours will likely determine the short-term trajectory for JasmyCoin. The combination of oversold technical indicators and critical support testing creates a pivotal moment for the JASMY/USDT pair. Traders should monitor for either a decisive support break or signs of oversold relief, with $0.01 serving as the key level to watch for direction confirmation.

Image source: Shutterstock

jasmy price analysis
jasmy price prediction

Rongchai Wang
Sep 28, 2025 09:57

VET price trades at $0.02 with bearish momentum but RSI suggests oversold relief rally potential as token tests critical support levels.

Quick Take
• VET currently trading at $0.02 (-2.23% in 24h)
• VeChain's RSI at 36.50 indicates neutral territory with potential oversold bounce
• No major news catalysts driving current price action

What's Driving VeChain Price Today?
VeChain has experienced a relatively quiet trading session with no significant news events emerging in the past week to drive price momentum. The VET price decline of 2.23% over the last 24 hours appears to be part of broader market consolidation rather than reaction to specific fundamental developments.

The absence of major announcements or partnerships has left VeChain trading primarily on technical factors, with the token maintaining its position at the $0.02 level that has served as both support and resistance throughout recent trading sessions. This sideways price action reflects the current market environment where many altcoins are awaiting clearer directional catalysts.

VET Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Point to Consolidation
VeChain technical analysis reveals a complex picture with conflicting indicators across different timeframes. The most notable signal comes from VeChain's daily RSI at 36.50, which sits in neutral territory but shows signs of potential oversold conditions developing if selling pressure continues.

The MACD indicator presents a bearish picture for VET, with the main line at -0.0007 sitting below the signal line at -0.0004. The MACD histogram reading of -0.0003 confirms bearish momentum remains in control, though the relatively shallow negative values suggest this bearish pressure is not overwhelming.

VeChain's Stochastic indicators paint an even more bearish short-term picture, with the %K line at 5.96 and %D at 13.14, both firmly in oversold territory. This extreme reading often precedes short-term bounces as selling pressure becomes exhausted.

The Bollinger Bands analysis shows VET trading near the lower band support with a %B position of 0.0672, indicating the token is approaching oversold levels on this volatility-based indicator as well.

VeChain Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on current technical analysis, VeChain support levels are clearly defined at the $0.02 mark, which has proven resilient during recent trading sessions. This level represents both immediate support and strong support, suggesting significant buying interest exists at these prices.

For traders watching VET resistance levels, the immediate barrier sits at $0.03, which also represents the strong resistance zone. This level coincides with the upper Bollinger Band, creating a natural ceiling for any near-term rallies.

The VET/USDT trading pair shows a tight consolidation range between these key levels, with the pivot point also sitting at $0.02. This compression suggests that a significant move may be building, though the direction remains unclear based on current technical signals.

Should You Buy VET Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
Conservative traders should wait for clearer directional signals before committing capital to VeChain. The mixed technical picture suggests patience may be rewarded with better entry opportunities. Based on Binance spot market data, the current risk-reward profile favors waiting for either a clear break above $0.03 resistance or a definitive bounce from $0.02 support.

Aggressive traders might consider the current VET price as an opportunity if they believe the oversold Stochastic readings will trigger a relief rally. However, risk management is crucial given the bearish MACD momentum. A stop-loss below $0.019 would limit downside exposure while allowing for potential upside if VeChain can reclaim higher levels.

Swing traders should focus on the $0.02-$0.03 range, looking to buy near support and sell near resistance until a clear breakout occurs. The relatively low volatility, as indicated by the daily ATR reading, suggests position sizing can be slightly larger than during high-volatility periods.

Conclusion
VeChain faces a critical juncture at the $0.02 support level with technical indicators providing mixed guidance for the next 24-48 hours. While VET RSI levels suggest potential for a bounce, the bearish MACD momentum indicates caution is warranted. Traders should monitor the $0.02 support closely, as a break below could target new lows, while a decisive hold could set up a test of $0.03 resistance. The VET price action over the coming sessions will likely determine whether VeChain can build momentum for a sustained recovery or faces further consolidation pressure.

Image source: Shutterstock

vet price analysis
vet price prediction

Felix Pinkston
Sep 28, 2025 10:03

ZRO currently trades at $2.30 with bullish momentum following LayerZero's massive token buyback, though daily correction shows -2.08% as traders take profits.

Quick Take
• ZRO currently trading at $2.30 (-2.08% in 24h)
• LayerZero's RSI at 62.95 shows neutral momentum with bullish MACD divergence
• LayerZero Foundation's 50 million token buyback drives positive sentiment despite recent unlock

What's Driving LayerZero Price Today?
The ZRO price action over the past week reflects two competing forces that have shaped market sentiment. The LayerZero Foundation's announcement on September 24th to buy back 50 million ZRO tokens - representing 5% of total supply - created immediate bullish momentum as investors interpreted this as a strong signal of confidence from the project's leadership.

This buyback announcement came just four days after LayerZero unlocked 25.71 million ZRO tokens on September 20th, adding 8.5% to circulating supply as part of its scheduled monthly releases through 2027. While token unlocks typically create selling pressure, the market's muted reaction to this unlock demonstrates underlying strength in LayerZero's ecosystem.

The net effect has been positive for ZRO price, with the token maintaining levels well above its recent lows despite the natural profit-taking we're seeing today. Trading volume of $12.2 million on Binance spot markets indicates healthy institutional interest following the buyback news.

ZRO Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Point to Consolidation
LayerZero technical analysis reveals a token in transition between bullish momentum and short-term consolidation. ZRO's RSI reading of 62.95 sits comfortably in neutral territory, avoiding both oversold and overbought extremes that often precede sharp reversals.

The MACD indicators paint a more optimistic picture for LayerZero traders. With MACD at 0.0782 and the signal line at 0.0417, the positive histogram of 0.0365 suggests bullish momentum remains intact despite today's pullback. This divergence between price action and momentum indicators often signals temporary profit-taking rather than trend reversal.

LayerZero's moving average structure supports the bullish case, with ZRO price trading above the critical SMA 20 at $2.06 and SMA 50 at $2.03. However, the proximity to the SMA 200 at $2.27 creates a key inflection point - a break above this level could signal renewed upward momentum.

The Bollinger Bands analysis shows ZRO resistance at the upper band of $2.32, with the %B position at 0.9739 indicating the token is trading near this resistance level. This positioning suggests limited upside in the immediate term without a significant catalyst.

LayerZero Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on Binance spot market data, LayerZero support levels present clear risk management opportunities for traders. The immediate ZRO resistance sits at $2.44, matching yesterday's 24-hour high, while stronger resistance emerges at $2.60 - a level that would represent a significant breakout above current consolidation.

On the downside, ZRO immediate support at $1.78 aligns closely with the strong support at $1.77, creating a critical zone that bulls must defend. This tight support cluster suggests any breakdown could be swift, making risk management essential for long positions.

The pivot point at $2.34 serves as a key decision level for short-term traders. ZRO price action above this level favors continued bullish bias, while a break below could signal deeper correction toward the support zones.

Should You Buy ZRO Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
For aggressive traders, the current ZRO price of $2.30 offers an interesting risk-reward setup. The token buyback provides fundamental support, while technical indicators suggest any weakness could be temporary. A long position with a stop loss below $1.77 and profit targets at $2.44 and $2.60 offers approximately 1:2 risk-reward ratio.

Conservative investors might wait for a clearer technical picture. Despite the positive buyback news, ZRO's position near Bollinger Band resistance and the ongoing token unlock schedule through 2027 suggest patience could be rewarded with better entry points.

Swing traders should monitor the $2.34 pivot level closely. A decisive break above this level with volume confirmation could signal the start of a larger move toward the 52-week high of $4.26. Conversely, failure to hold this level might trigger a test of LayerZero support levels.

Risk management remains crucial given ZRO's average true range of $0.15, indicating significant daily volatility that can quickly turn profitable positions into losses.

Conclusion
ZRO price faces a critical juncture as bullish fundamentals from the token buyback compete with natural profit-taking and scheduled token unlocks. The technical picture suggests consolidation in the $2.28-$2.44 range over the next 24-48 hours, with the $2.34 pivot level serving as the key battleground between bulls and bears.

Traders should watch for volume confirmation on any breakout attempts, as LayerZero's recent price action has been driven more by fundamental news than technical momentum. The next major move likely depends on broader market sentiment and whether the buyback program details provide additional catalysts for ZRO price appreciation.

Image source: Shutterstock

zro price analysis
zro price prediction

The global financial system is showing signs of strain as debt levels surge to unprecedented heights. Total worldwide debt has crossed $250 trillion, representing nearly 235% of global GDP.

Last week turned into the bloodiest yet for U.S.-based spot Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs. According to SoSoValue data, investors pulled nearly $800 million out of ETH products and more than $900 million out of BTC funds, marking the sharpest week of outflows since these products first launched. For a market that was once riding high on the institutional adoption narrative, this latest data suggests confidence is being tested.

Ethereum ETFs Bleed Nearly $800 Million

Spot Ethereum ETFs saw $795.6 million in outflows during the week ending September 26. Trading volumes topped $10 billion, but redemptions outpaced new inflows at nearly every turn.

Two funds carried the brunt of the damage:

BlackRock’s ETHA fund lost over $200 million, though it still commands more than $15.2 billion in assets under management.Fidelity’s FETH fund was hit even harder, with $362 million flowing out.On Thursday and Friday alone, Ethereum ETFs saw $250 million in redemptions each day, triggered by a combination of technical breakdowns on the charts, macroeconomic jitters, and cascading liquidations in the derivatives market. ETH dipped below the critical $4,000 level before clawing back to $4,020 by Saturday.

Bitcoin ETFs Follow With $900 Million Outflows

Bitcoin funds weren’t spared either. Spot BTC ETFs registered $902.5 million in outflows, led by Fidelity’s FBTC, which shed $300.4 million on Friday. BlackRock’s IBIT fund proved more resilient, losing just $37.3 million the same day, further cementing its dominance in the market.

IBIT has consistently expanded its market share, often controlling more than 80 percent of all spot BTC ETF assets. Still, the industry leader hasn’t filed for a spot Solana ETF, a move some competitors have already taken to diversify offerings.

What’s Driving the Exodus?Three main forces explain the mass ETF withdrawals:

Technical weakness: Both ETH and BTC broke below critical support levels, forcing traders to unwind leveraged positions.Macroeconomic pressure: Rising inflation and persistent rate concerns keep risk appetite muted, hurting demand for speculative crypto assets.Cascading liquidations: As spot prices fell, leveraged long positions were flushed out, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of selling.Bottom LineEthereum and Bitcoin ETFs just posted their worst week of outflows on record. While ETH has managed a shaky rebound, both leading cryptocurrencies remain under pressure. If macro headwinds persist, ETF redemptions could accelerate, pushing prices lower before any meaningful recovery. For traders, the message is clear: watch fund flows closely—they’re becoming one of the best early warning signs for where crypto prices head next.

Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, said he believes bitcoin will surpass $1 million and is extremely bullish on the cryptocurrency's future. Prediction markets put the probability of that happening in 2025 at under 1%.

Weekly Bullish Engulfing Could Spark a $7.30 RallyAccording to renowned market analyst EGRAG CRYPTO, XRP may be approaching a critical turning point. 

Source: EGRAG CRYPTOThe analyst suggests that the next time XRP forms a bullish engulfing candle on the weekly chart, the token could surge to new all-time highs, potentially reaching around $7.30. 

Such a move would represent one of XRP’s most significant price rallies in years, fueled by technical strength and renewed investor optimism.

A bullish engulfing candle is a well-known pattern in technical analysis, signaling strong momentum when buyers fully eclipse prior selling pressure. 

For XRP, which has long traded in a range amid regulatory battles and market uncertainty, the confirmation of this signal on a weekly timeframe could mark the start of a major breakout. If realized, the $7.30 level would surpass XRP’s historical peak of around $3.65, cementing a new milestone for the digital asset.

However, EGRAG CRYPTO also cautions that risks remain if Bitcoin, the broader market’s anchor, experiences further downside pressure. Should BTC decline significantly, XRP may fail to sustain bullish momentum, with critical support levels at $2.60 and, in a deeper correction, $2.37. 

These zones, according to the analyst, represent essential lines of defense for XRP holders and could determine whether the asset consolidates before another attempt at upward movement or slips into a prolonged retracement.

At the time of this writing, XRP was trading at $2.79, according to CoinGecko data.

October Showdown: Seven XRP Spot ETF Filings Poised to Reshape Crypto InvestingAccording to crypto pundit John Squire, October could mark a watershed moment for XRP and the broader digital asset market as multiple financial heavyweights line up their XRP Spot ETF filings. 

If approved, these products would open the door for mainstream investors to gain direct exposure to XRP through traditional stock exchanges, potentially ushering in new levels of liquidity and legitimacy.

October’s XRP ETF calendar is stacked as Grayscale kicks off on the 18th, followed by 21Shares (19th), Bitwise (20th), Canary Capital (23rd), WisdomTree (24th), and dual filings from Franklin Templeton and CoinShares on the 25th, according to Squire.

This tight clustering underscores surging institutional confidence in XRP and intensifying competition to seize first-mover advantage.

Unlike futures-based products, spot ETFs hold XRP directly rather than derivatives, offering investors lower costs, tighter price tracking, and stronger integration with traditional finance. 

For XRP, multiple ETF approvals could unlock significant new demand, drawing in institutions and retail investors who prefer regulated, accessible investment vehicles.

As a result, Squire stresses that October won’t hinge on just one approval, it could be the month that cements XRP as a mainstream asset.

ConclusionWith October approaching,even one ETF approval could ignite momentum, but multiple greenlights may solidify XRP as a core asset in traditional portfolios.

XRP’s next move depends on technical signals and Bitcoin’s market sway. A confirmed bullish engulfing candle could propel prices to $7.30, a historic breakout. But losing support at $2.60 and $2.37 would hand control back to sellers, postponing the rally.

Bitcoin may soon join gold as a reserve asset on central bank balance sheets, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank.

TL;DR

It has been a tough period for the entire cryptocurrency market, and Ripple’s native token was not spared, as its price tumbled from roughly $3 to a multi-week low of $2.70, where the bulls stepped up.
Will there be another volatile week on the horizon? Can XRP recover some of the losses, or will it continue its downfall? Here’s what three of the most popular AI chatbots had to say.

The Week Ahead for XRP
September is almost over, and although it started on a positive note, it has been mostly downhill for most of the cryptocurrency market in the past ten days or so. XRP, for example, stood close to $3.20 during its monthly peak after the US Fed reduced the key interest rates for the first time in 2025.

However, it failed there and quickly retested the $3 support, which actually didn’t put up much of a fight. The bears kept the pressure on, and once it cracked, XRP experienced another leg down that drove it to $2.70. This level holds significant importance in determining the asset’s future price trajectory, as many analysts believe XRP can quickly rebound as long as it remains above it.

When we asked the 3 AIs (ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini) about their take on what the next week holds for XRP, OpenAI’s solution answered in a somewhat worrisome manner. It noted that the asset is a “strong sell” on multiple websites, such as investing.com, due to the current technical setup.

Grok agreed with the analysts cited above that as long as XRP holds above $2.70, the bulls might remain calm. However, it also noted that the asset needs to quickly reclaim the $2.83 resistance if it wants to challenge $3 next.

Gemini said the current trading volume doesn’t support a big move upward, and it warned that a break above the coveted $3 line seems unlikely at the moment.

Something for the Bulls?
All three AIs agreed that after such a volatile and violent trading week, a period of consolidation is to be expected. As such, they noted that Ripple’s token is likely to remain sideways at around $2.7-$2.9 for the next week (maybe even a bit longer).

However, they also admitted that one major announcement, such as a positive macro event or an approval of spot XRP ETFs in the US, could send the underlying asset flying. Recall that there are over a dozen Ripple ETF filings sitting on the SEC’s desk and most of their deadlines are set for October.

Palantir's valuation is the biggest reason to consider buying other tech stocks instead.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR -0.83%) has been one of the market's best-performing stocks over the past two years, largely thanks to growing demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). Instead of trying to develop another large language model (LLM), Palantir's platform was developed to make AI models more useful. It pulls together data from multiple sources, organizes it, and ties it to real-world assets. This clean data helps reduce AI hallucinations and makes it more actionable. In essence, AIP has become akin to an AI operating system.

The company is growing fast, with revenue jumping 48% year over year last quarter to hit $1 billion. U.S. commercial sales nearly doubled, while U.S. government revenue climbed more than 50%. Customers are spending more, too, with net dollar retention at 128%, which indicates the platform is sticky and becoming more valuable over time.

Image source: Getty Images.

Palantir's execution and future opportunities are not the issue for investors; valuation is. The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of over 100 times 2025 analyst estimates. Note that this is sales, not earnings, we are talking about. When a stock is priced like this, even the smallest miss on growth can hit shares hard.

I like the company, but that kind of multiple doesn't leave much room for error, and there are other tech names that give you strong potential upside without paying such a premium. Let's look at two to consider.

Alphabet
Alphabet (GOOGL 0.28%) (GOOG 0.21%) is one of the best-positioned companies for AI because it already controls the front door to the internet for billions of people. Most of us already use Google search every day, and sometimes we may not even realize it, because it is the default search engine on most Android and Apple devices.

So while AI is changing the landscape, Alphabet's advantage is that it doesn't need to change consumer behavior, it just needs to make those products better with AI. That's exactly what it is doing with its new AI-powered search features, including AI Overviews, Lens, and Circle to Search. It is also just starting to roll out its new AI mode globally, which is more akin to a traditional AI chatbot. However, users can easily toggle between AI and search modes without having to switch apps. At the same time, its Gemini app recently became the most downloaded app on the Apple App Store, surpassing ChatGPT, showing the strides the company has made in this area.

Alphabet is also building one of the best cloud computing businesses on the planet. It is one of the few companies that owns the complete stack, with its own AI model, custom AI chips, leading data analytics and software, and even its own private fiber network. Its Waymo robotaxi also has huge growth potential as it rapidly expands across the U.S., and it even has made strides in quantum computing with its Willow chip.

The stock hasn't run nearly as far as some of the other AI plays, so you aren't paying up in the same premium as you are with Palantir.

GitLab
GitLab (GTLB 1.67%) is an underrated way to play the growth in AI-driven software development, but don't be mistaken: This is a high-growth company. In fact, it's grown its revenue by between 25% and 35% for eight straight quarters.

What started as a DevSecOps platform is now a full software development lifecycle solution that is helping developers save time. The company has leaned into AI with its Duo AI agent, which helps automate repetitive tasks, freeing up more time for developers to code. This matters because developers only spend around 20% of their time coding, so any tool that frees them up to write more code is going to drive productivity, and thus demand for its solution.

AI hasn't hurt GitLab; if anything, it has sped up the pace of software development, which benefits the company. If you look at the growth of cloud computing, much of that is around AI software development, which lands right in GitLab's wheelhouse. The company is partnered with both Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS), so it is benefiting from this growth. Enterprise clients are spending more, and its customers are also moving up to higher-tier plans.

What is most exciting about the GitLab story, though, is its shift to a hybrid seat-plus-usage pricing model. The usage component helps protect the company if AI eventually does lead to fewer coders, while at the same time giving it more growth potential. For investors looking for an AI play that is still reasonably priced with a long runway of growth, GitLab is worth a close look.

Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet and GitLab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, GitLab, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Costco delivered another rock-solid earnings report.

Costco Wholesale (COST -2.92%) is one of the most dominant retailers in the world, and it continues to outpace its brick-and-mortar peers, quarter in and quarter out.

Costco keeps opening stores around the world, differentiating itself from other retail giants like Walmart and Home Depot, and it's seeing strong growth in e-commerce, showing that there's plenty of untapped demand for the buy-in-bulk, big-box chain.

Those trends were on display in Costco's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report, which came out on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Image source: Getty Images.

Revenue rose 8% in the quarter to $86.2 billion, which was slightly ahead of estimates at $86.1 billion. Comparable sales adjusted for foreign currency and fuel prices rose 6.4%, which was ahead of the consensus at 5.9%, though that's still a very strong clip compared to its peers, especially at a time when consumer sentiment is down and the job market is weakening.

On the bottom line, earnings per share jumped 11% to $5.87, which was ahead of the consensus at $5.81.

Among other key numbers, Costco reported a gross margin of 11.13%, up 13 basis points from the quarter a year ago. Membership trends remained strong with membership income up 14%, reflecting a fee increase a year ago, and a 6.3% increase in paid memberships to 81 million.

On the earnings call, Costco touted recent warehouse expansion that has allowed the company to sell more high-priced, discretionary items like furniture and saunas.

It's also increased store hours for executive members, a perk for those who pay double the membership fee, opening the store an hour early for those members. Management said it saw a trend of cardholders upgrading their membership toward the end of quarter, a sign the new perk is paying off.

Like other retailers, Costco is adjusting to new tariffs, and also said it was reducing some discretionary inventory in response to consumers cutting back on spending.

Why Costco stock edged lower
Despite the generally strong earnings report, Costco stock fell modestly on the report, down 0.8% in the after-hours session. Costco is one of the more stable stocks on the market, and it doesn't tend to move much on earnings.

Its results are generally easy to model, and the consistency of its membership income, means its earnings have less variation than they would for the typical retailer.

Costco also doesn't offer guidance, so the company gives investors little clue as to what to expect in the next quarter. That seems to be by design as the business is designed to be stable, and therefore, there's no reason to expect its results to change significantly from quarter to quarter.

The biggest problem for Costco stock at this point is the valuation. Though Costco has pulled back a little bit, it's still about as expensive as it has been at any time in its history.

It now trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.8 after the latest earnings report. That's more expensive than just about any other brick-and-mortar retail stock, and Costco's growth alone doesn't seem to justify such a valuation, which is on par with Nvidia.

However, Costco has earned that premium valuation because of its stability and the resilience of its business model. Its members are very loyal. It finished the year with a 92% renewal rate in North America and a 90% renewal rate worldwide.

While the valuation may be fair, Costco also seems to have reached a valuation ceiling. Further growth in the stock will need to come from earnings growth rather than multiple expansion. That means the breakneck growth seen in recent years is likely over for now.

Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Lululemon's sell-off looks like a gift.

Lululemon Athletica (LULU 2.48%) has historically been a big winner on the stock market.

The company pioneered a new category of apparel -- athleisure -- and it made yoga pants a mainstream, everyday item. It's also succeeded in maintaining its pricing power and its high-end or even luxury branding, even as it's faced a wide range of lower-priced competition.

However, this year, Lululemon has run into trouble, and the stock has swooned. It's facing challenges on multiple fronts.

Comparable sales in the U.S., its biggest market, are now declining due to weak consumer discretionary spending in categories like apparel, a trend away from yoga pants to baggier fits as workout clothes, and the company's own errors, as management admitted it had not done enough to keep its styles in lounge and social fresh. It also sold out of popular styles in other categories.

In its second-quarter earnings report earlier this month, Lululemon also cut its earnings guidance due in large part to the ending of the de minimis exemption, which had allowed importers like Lululemon to avoid paying tariffs on shipments that were $800 or less. The company had relied on that carve-out to ship e-commerce orders from Canada to the U.S. It now will rearrange its supply chain to avoid having to pay the tax.

As you can see from the chart below, the stock is down 53% year to date, making it one of the worst-performing stocks on the S&P 500.

LULU data by YCharts

Going back to its peak in late 2023, the stock is down 65%. However, the sell-off looks like a good buying opportunity for long-term investors. Keep reading to see why.

1. Most of its challenges seem temporary
The problems facing Lululemon don't seem insurmountable. For example, the macroeconomic challenges seem related to the sluggish job market, fears about tariffs, and generally stubborn inflation. Discretionary spending has been weak for categories like restaurants and apparel this year, but that will eventually change whenever consumer confidence improves.

The impact of the removal of the de minimis exemption is also a one-time hit. While it was a setback for the company, it is now clearly priced in. On the earnings call, management said that the increased tariffs and the end of the de minimis exemption "played a large part in our guidance reduction for the year." That problem won't repeat.

The adjustments Lululemon has to make with its inventory are trickier, but the company has a plan. It's introducing more new styles, raising the percentage of newness in its overall assortment from 23% to 35% by next spring, and it's making its go-to-market process faster so that it can more quickly respond to customer demand trends and be sure that a popular item is in stock.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. International markets are still strong
While the company may be losing business in the U.S., sales in China, its second-biggest market, are soaring. Comparable sales jumped 17% in China, driving overall revenue up 25%.

Lululemon is clearly following in the footsteps of other American brands like Nike and Starbucks that have had success in a market known for conspicuous consumption, and it still sees a long runway for new stores there. It opened five stores in China in the quarter, and plans to open at least 15 in that market next year.

While success in China won't make up for the weakness in the U.S. on its own, it does show that the Lululemon growth story is not dead.

3. The stock is cheap
The company lowered its EPS guidance to between $12.77 and $12.97. Based on that forecast, the stock currently trades at a forward P/E of 14, which is roughly half the P/E of the S&P 500.

That valuation seems to assume that Lululemon is basically a no-growth stock from this point on. If the company can get back to its earlier winning ways, there's a lot of upside potential for the stock, as it has historically traded at a much higher price.

As you can see from the chart below, the valuation has been twice what it is now in recent years.

LULU PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

Overall, a recovery in the stock could take time, but Lululemon looks oversold at current levels. Over the next few years, the stock is a good bet to be a winner.

Jeremy Bowman has positions in Nike and Starbucks. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lululemon Athletica Inc., Nike, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Circular financing adds a big new risk.

Nvidia's (NVDA 0.27%) announcement that it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI is being hailed by the company as a massive bet on the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Still, investors should take a closer look at what is really going on here. The money OpenAI receives will ultimately be plowed right back into Nvidia hardware, mostly through Oracle's cloud buildout, where the two companies recently signed a massive $300 billion deal.

OpenAI plans to deploy Nvidia systems that need 10 gigawatts of power, which is equal to roughly 4 million to 5 million graphics processing units (GPUs). If that sounds like a lot, it is, as it's about the same total number of GPUs that Nvidia will ship this year. The first $10 billion of Nvidia's investment will be deployed as soon as the first gigawatt of capacity is up, and the rest will be rolled out in stages as new data centers come online.

Image source: Getty Images.

Circular financing
On paper, the OpenAI investment helps secure billions of dollars in future demand. But it's worth remembering that Nvidia is now helping finance one of its biggest customers to keep buying its chips. This is called circular financing.

Nvidia is essentially funding its own demand. This is exactly what Cisco Systems (CSCO -0.93%) did during the internet bubble, when it provided credit to telecoms so they could buy more Cisco routers. Those sales looked great -- until the capital dried up and the entire market collapsed.

This is also a defensive move by Nvidia. More and more of Nvidia's largest customers are designing their own custom AI chips. Alphabet has its TPUs, Amazon has Trainium and Inferentia, and Microsoft is working on its own chip. OpenAI itself has been developing custom chips to bring its costs down, and before this announcement, it placed a $10 billion order with Broadcom for custom chips to be delivered next year.

This is the same threat that Nvidia saw play out in crypto, where ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) displaced GPUs for Bitcoin mining. Nvidia doesn't want to see that happen again. By investing in OpenAI, it's trying to keep one of its biggest customers locked into the Nvidia ecosystem.

This also comes at a time when the market is shifting more toward inference, where Nvidia's moat is much smaller. Training large language models (LLMs) is where Nvidia's CUDA software platform shines. However, inference isn't as complex and doesn't require the same deep software integration. That's why hyperscalers (owners of massive data centers) are so motivated to build custom chips.

Inference is also a continuous cost, so the economics of cost per inference start to dominate the discussion. That's why Nvidia also took a $5 billion stake in Intel and announced a collaboration on AI processors, as it's also trying to stave off Advanced Micro Devices in the inference market and keep its grip on this next phase of AI computing.

Is this a house of cards?
There's no question that Nvidia is in a dominant position right now, and the OpenAI deal only strengthens its near-term outlook. But its OpenAI investment clearly looks like a defensive move that adds risk. When Cisco used circular financing during the internet boom, it looked brilliant, until the customers it was funding went bust.

Both Nvidia and OpenAI are better positioned, but the principle is the same: Nvidia is using its balance sheet to keep demand high. That works as long as the AI boom keeps running, but it makes the company more exposed if spending slows or if hyperscalers switch to cheaper solutions.

Nvidia remains the key player in AI infrastructure, but this deal is a reminder that its growth isn't risk-free. A lot of Nvidia's success is now riding on an unprofitable company that is bleeding massive amounts of cash that it is financing. OpenAI hasn't actually proven yet that it has a great business model, and if it fails, this becomes a house of cards that collapses onto Nvidia.

Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Bitcoin, Cisco Systems, Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

High yields are often a red flag, but investors have the green light to grab shares of these juicy dividend stocks.

Everyone loves passive income. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy earning money while you sleep?

Not literally, of course, but with dividend stocks. These are stocks of companies that distribute some of their profits to shareholders. While higher dividend yields mean more income for your money, it can be a yield trap when stock yields get too high.

But not all high-yield stocks pose a danger to your portfolio. In fact, here are three stocks that currently yield between 4.2% and 5.5%. You can buy shares of all three for under $500, and they will likely continue delivering passive income for the foreseeable future.

They could be the smartest way to invest $500 right now. Plus, reinvesting the dividends will compound your income stream over time.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Chevron
Dividend Yield: 4.3%
Oil and gas giant Chevron (CVX -0.37%) is an integrated energy company involved in multiple aspects of the oil and gas industry, including upstream (exploration) and downstream (refining and retail) business operations. The industry is generally sensitive to commodity prices, so many oil and gas stocks are prone to boom-and-bust cycles. Chevron's diversified business model helps it endure that volatility.

Chevron has proven itself to be a top-notch player in the space, as evidenced by its stellar dividend track record. The company has paid and raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years. Chevron wouldn't have been able to pay its shareholders increasingly larger dividends through multiple recessions and a global pandemic without a sound balance sheet and astute management to steer it through such turbulent times.

Despite the rising prominence of wind and solar energy, oil and gas are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. In fact, Chevron recently closed a game-changing merger with Hess, which provided it with lucrative exposure to the resource-rich Stabroek Block off the coast of Guyana. It's a blockbuster oil discovery, which should position Chevron for years of strong production (and dividends) ahead.

2. Enbridge
Dividend Yield: 5.5%
North America is a significant market for oil and gas, for both production and consumption. Enbridge (ENB 0.04%) is a Canadian energy juggernaut and a prominent player in the continent's energy landscape. It owns and operates a vast network of pipelines and storage facilities that help transport oil and gas resources from production sites to their destination throughout North America.

Additionally, Enbridge operates a gas utility business, as well as wind and solar energy projects. The critical takeaway here is that Enbridge is a very diverse and steady business. Pipelines and utilities are highly regulated businesses that operate almost constantly -- the world uses energy around the clock. And due to the nature of Ebridge's contract structures, approximately 80% of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are protected from inflation.

As a result, Enbridge has been a dependable dividend stock. The company has hit its annual fiscal guidance for 19 consecutive years, and management has raised the stock's dividend for 28 straight years. Anyone looking for a high starting yield with minimal risk will struggle to find a better choice than Enbridge.

3. Kinder Morgan
Dividend Yield: 4.2%
Another prominent pipeline powerhouse is Kinder Morgan (KMI 1.00%). The company's pipelines stretch roughly 79,000 miles, transporting natural gas, refined products, and other energy commodities throughout the United States. Kinder Morgan is based in Texas and has a significant presence there, positioning it to capitalize on the growing domestic natural gas production expected to drive higher exports over the coming years.

Furthermore, energy demand in the United States is surging as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers continue to consume significant amounts of energy. The combination of growing export demand and higher domestic energy consumption likely means that Kinder Morgan will enjoy the business success it needs to extend its streak of seven consecutive annual dividend increases for the foreseeable future.

Kinder Morgan was once a master limited partnership (MLP), but restructured itself as a corporation years ago. Master limited partnerships have pros and cons, but one significant difference for investors is that they can complicate your taxes because they require a special tax form, called a K-1. Many other pipeline stocks still operate as MLPs, so if you'd rather not deal with filing K-1 forms, Kinder Morgan may appeal to you more than other pipeline stocks.

Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron, Enbridge, and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

SummaryBrandywine Realty Trust recently cut its dividend by 46.7%, addressing prior payout sustainability concerns.Following the cut, BDN's cash available for distribution payout ratio drops from 176% to a more manageable 93%.The dividend reduction is seen as a strategic move, positioning BDN for future growth, as new trophy assets come online.Despite market negativity, BDN's A-tier portfolio and stabilizing office market support a bullish long-term outlook.The dividend cut removes the risk of further market overreaction, leading me to re-rate BDN as a Strong Buy. CraigRJD/iStock via Getty Images

The Safest Dividend Is The One That Has Just Been Cut Before continuing to read, please note that I have been covering Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) quite heavily this year. In this specific article, I will

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BDN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

I expect to expand my position by 33% over the course of this year

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.

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Dutch Bros still has many years of strong growth ahead of it.

If you are looking for a great growth stock outside of the area of artificial intelligence (AI), Dutch Bros (BROS -0.68%) should be at the top of your list. The biggest driver for most successful restaurant chains is aggressive but smart store expansion. That is how McDonald's, Chipotle, and Starbucks became national powerhouses, and Dutch Bros looks like it is setting itself up to follow that same playbook.

The company just recently passed the 1,000-store mark, yet it operates in only 20 states, mostly clustered in the western U.S. Its largest markets are Texas, California, and Oregon, but even in these markets, there is still a huge amount of white space left to go after. The company is targeting 2,029 shops by 2029, with a long-term goal of 7,000 locations nationwide, which gives it one of the longest runways for growth in the restaurant sector.

Image source: Getty Images

The economics of its shops are what make this expansion strategy so compelling. Dutch Bros has focused on small, efficient stores, most between 800 and 1,000 square feet, with a walk-up window and double drive-thru lanes. The stores are relatively inexpensive to build and have strong cash-on-cash returns that allow the company to reinvest back into growth without stressing its balance sheet.

Last year, Dutch Bros opened 151 shops, and it plans to open at least 160 more this year. At the same time, the company is generating strong operating cash flow, which it is using to fund its expansion while still being free cash flow-positive. This is the kind of discipline you want to see in a retail expansion story.

More than an expansion story
But expansion alone does not make a great growth stock. Dutch Bros has been delivering strong same-store sales growth as well, with systemwide comps up 6.1% last quarter and transactions climbing 3.7%. Company-owned stores are doing even better, with comps up 7.8% and transaction growth of 5.9%, which shows that the brand continues to resonate and gain traction even as it adds new units. A big driver here has been its push into mobile ordering, which is now available at most of its shops and already accounts for more than 11.5% of transactions. This is still very early, and mobile ordering tied into its rewards program should help build customer loyalty and frequency over time.

The company's biggest untapped opportunity, though, is food. Dutch Bros currently gets less than 2% of its sales from food, compared to nearly 20% for Starbucks, which means it is essentially leaving money on the table. The company has been testing hot food items in select locations, and the early results have been encouraging, with higher ticket and transaction growth, particularly during breakfast hours. Management has said that rolling out a food menu at scale will take time because it requires adding new equipment, but even modest success here could add meaningfully to revenue over the next several years.

Dutch Bros is also getting more sophisticated with its marketing, leaning into paid advertising to boost brand awareness. It continues to innovate with new drinks that drive traffic and repeat visits, and it is building a loyal following with its rewards program. The combination of rapid but measured store growth and new initiatives like food and digital ordering is a powerful one.

A solid stock to buy
For growth-focused investors, Dutch Bros looks like one of the most compelling opportunities in not just the restaurant space but the entire market. The company has a long runway to expand nationally and is already showing strong store-level economics with average unit volumes (AUVs), or sales per store, of over $2 million. At the same time, it has several levers to drive same-store sales higher over time.

If you have $1,000 to put to work right now that isn't needed to pay month bills or reduce short-term debt, and you want a stock with years of strong potential growth ahead, Dutch Bros deserves serious consideration.

Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Dutch Bros and recommends the following options: short September 2025 $60 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shopify is up by nearly 90% over the last year, but a rising valuation could put its growth in jeopardy.

At current levels, investors may wonder what to make of Shopify (SHOP -2.25%) stock. It has increased by around 85% over the last year, but more than half of those gains occurred in 2024. More recently, the stock's rise seems to have slowed.

Additionally, Shopify is within 15% of its all-time high from 2021, and that has led to an elevated valuation. Knowing that, is the party finally over for Shopify, or should investors stay the course?

Image source: Getty Images.

The state of Shopify today
At first glance, Shopify's stock price could appear difficult to justify. For one, its P/E ratio of 83 seems elevated, even for a growth stock.

Moreover, it operates in a highly competitive industry. That is particularly concerning since one of its peers is Amazon, which also sells a wide array of products and options for free shipping. Additionally, Amazon offers a sales platform for third-party sellers. Unlike Shopify, Amazon compels these merchants to share a portion of their revenue with them, but the power of its sales platform can put Shopify at a competitive disadvantage.

Despite that competitive situation, Oberlo estimates Shopify has a market share of 28% of online stores in the U.S., making it the country's largest e-commerce platform. It also claims an estimated 10% of all global online stores.

Furthermore, according to Grand View Research, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 19% through 2030 for the e-commerce industry. That rate of increase should mitigate some of the competitive concerns.

Shopify has also shown it can course correct when necessary, as shown by its abandonment of an expensive plan to extend its ecosystem into logistics. The cost of building a logistics network resulted in losses that caused its stock to fall by as much as 87% earlier in the decade. Now, with its focus exclusively back on software, Shopify stock has moved higher.

Shopify's financials and valuation metrics
Indeed, its software has given it a competitive advantage. Despite intense competition, Shopify's site has stood out by allowing merchants to tailor their platforms without coding knowledge. Moreover, it emphasizes speedy transactions, reducing the likelihood that a seller will lose business from a poorly functioning site.

Also, notwithstanding its failures in logistics, Shopify has developed an ecosystem that can benefit its merchants. Aside from site operations and maintenance, Shopify can perform tasks such as email marketing, payments, inventory management, and raising capital. This makes site management easier for sellers while giving Shopify additional revenue sources.

Regarding revenue, one could argue that the company's financial performance justifies its valuation. In the first half of 2025, the $5 billion in revenue it generated grew 29% compared to the same period in 2024. During that time, it limited its expense growth to 18%. That helped it turn profitable in the first half of the year, and Shopify earned $224 million in net income during that period, up from a loss of $102 million in the previous year.

This turn to profitability for the first half of the year could help make the aforementioned 83 P/E ratio more palatable to investors. Nonetheless, the company's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 19 confirms this is an expensive stock. That high valuation may make the near-term future of the stock's direction less clear, especially if investors begin questioning whether Shopify can justify its current share price.

Is the party over for Shopify stock?
Given current conditions, the party is unlikely to be over for Shopify, but investors could become less celebratory in the near term.

Despite heavy competition, Shopify has built a competitive advantage by offering a versatile platform and extensive ecosystem. That allowed it to become the United States' No. 1 platform, and with the industry growing rapidly, Shopify is well positioned to capture a significant portion of that growth.

Indeed, the 19 P/S ratio could indicate the stock price is slightly ahead of fundamentals. While that could mean that the party becomes less lively for a time, long-term investors should expect to celebrate future stock gains as more merchants choose to operate within Shopify's ecosystem.

Will Healy has positions in Shopify. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Shopify. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A historically inexpensive trillion-dollar business has the necessary catalysts to leapfrog the likes of Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft by the turn of the decade.

For much of the last 16 years, the stock market has been unstoppable. With the exception of the five-week COVID-19 crash in February-March 2020, and the roughly nine-month bear market in 2022, the bulls have been in firm control on Wall Street.

The catalyst for this ongoing outperformance primarily rests with Wall Street's trillion-dollar businesses. Think Nvidia (NVDA 0.27%) and Apple, as well as newer trillion-dollar club members Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which is also known as TSMC.

All told, just 11 publicly traded companies have ever reached a $1 trillion market cap, not accounting for the effects of inflation, and 10 trade on U.S. exchanges. This includes all members of the "Magnificent Seven," along with Broadcom, TSMC, and billionaire Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Image source: Getty Images.

While Nvidia appears to have the inside path to retaining its current title as Wall Street's most valuable public company by the turn of the decade, another Mag Seven member is ideally positioned to dethrone Nvidia and leapfrog the likes of Apple and Microsoft along the way.

Despite its AI dominance, Nvidia's spot atop the trillion-dollar pedestal is far from secure
As of the closing bell on Sept. 24, artificial intelligence (AI) titan Nvidia clocked in with a market cap north of $4.3 trillion. It's the first public company to have reached the $4 trillion mark, and is believed to have a chance to surpass a $6 trillion valuation, based on the price targets of Wall Street's most optimistic analysts.

This optimism stems from Nvidia's dominant position as the leader in AI graphics processing units (GPUs) deployed in enterprise data centers. Three generations of advanced AI chips -- Hopper (H100), Blackwell, and now Blackwell Ultra -- have enjoyed insatiable demand and extensive order backlogs.

Aside from clear-cut compute advantages, Nvidia's AI hardware benefits from a persistent lack of AI GPU supply. As long as enterprise demand overwhelms available hardware, Nvidia is going to have no trouble charging a premium for its GPUs and netting a gross margin in excess of 70%.

While these competitive edges would imply that Nvidia's spot atop the trillion-dollar pedestal is secure, historical precedent would beg to differ.

One of the prime threats to Wall Street's largest public company is that every next-big-thing trend dating back more than three decades has eventually navigated its way through a bubble-bursting event early in its expansion. This is to say that investors consistently overestimate the early adoption and real-world utility of next-big-thing innovations. Though AI has undeniable long-term applications, most businesses are nowhere close to optimizing these solutions at present, or have yet to net a positive return on their AI investments.

Competition is something that can't be ignored, either. Even with external competitors lagging Nvidia in compute ability, there's a very real possibility of Wall Street's AI darling losing out on valuable data center real estate and/or being undermined by delayed AI GPU upgrade cycles.

Many of Nvidia's largest customers by net sales are developing AI GPUs to deploy in their data centers. Though these chips won't be competing with Nvidia's hardware externally, they're considerably cheaper to build and more readily accessible. It's a recipe for Nvidia's competitive edge to dwindle in the coming years, and for Wall Street's AI kingpin to cede its title as the most valuable public company.

Image source: Amazon.

This will be Wall Street's most valuable public company come 2030
Although Apple or Microsoft would seem to be logical choices to reclaim the top spot that both companies have previously held, dual-industry leader Amazon (AMZN 0.78%) is the trillion-dollar stock that looks to have the best chance to become Wall Street's most valuable company by 2030.

The operating segment that typically introduces consumers to Amazon is its online marketplace. According to estimates from Analyzify, Amazon's e-commerce segment accounts for a 37.6% share of U.S. online retail sales. Amazon's spot as the leading e-commerce giant isn't threatened -- although its operating margin associated with online retail sales tends to be razor thin.

While Amazon's retail operations provide a face for the company, it's a trio of considerably higher-margin ancillary segments that'll be responsible for bulking up the company's operating cash flow in the years to come.

Nothing has more bearing on Amazon's long-term success than cloud infrastructure platform Amazon Web Services (AWS). Tech analysis firm Canalys pegged its share of worldwide cloud infrastructure spend at 32% during the second quarter, which is nearly as much as Microsoft's Azure and Alphabet's Google Cloud on a combined basis.

AWS has been growing by a high-teens percentage on a year-over-year basis, excluding currency movements. The thinking here is that the inclusion of generative AI solutions and large language model capabilities for AWS clients will only enhance the growth rate for AWS.

As of the June-ended quarter, AWS was pacing more than $123 billion in annual run-rate revenue. Most importantly, AWS is responsible for almost 58% of Amazon's operating income through the first half of 2025 despite accounting for less than 19% of net sales. Even if an AI bubble forms and bursts, application providers like AWS can weather the storm.

The other pieces of the puzzle for Amazon are advertising services and subscription services. When you're drawing billions of people to your site monthly, it's not difficult to command exceptional ad-pricing power.

It also doesn't hurt that Amazon has landed exclusive streaming partnerships with the National Football League and National Basketball Association. When coupled with e-commerce shipping perks and exclusive shopping events, Amazon has plenty of pricing power with its Prime subscription.

Finally, Amazon is historically inexpensive. From 2010 to 2019, Amazon closed out each year between 23 and 37 times trailing-12-month cash flow. Based on Wall Street's consensus, Amazon's cash flow per share is forecast to grow from a reported $11.04 in 2024 to $27.52 in 2029.

In other words, Amazon is valued at only 8 times projected cash flow in 2029, which means it can reasonably add $2.5 trillion to $4 trillion in market value from here and still be trading at a significant discount to its average cash flow multiple during the 2010s.

Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet and Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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