Market Signal Briefing

Ethereum account abstraction, or smart accounts, will be shipped with the Hegota upgrade “within a year,” said Vitalik Buterin on Saturday.

“We have been talking about account abstraction ever since early 2016,” said the Ethereum co-founder over the weekend. 

He added that now, “we finally have EIP-8141, an omnibus that wraps up and solves every remaining problem that AA [account abstraction] was intended to address (plus more),” and it is slated for deployment this year.  

“Finally, after over a decade of research and refinement of these techniques, this all looks possible to make happen within a year (Hegota fork).”The core concept is “about as simple as you can get while still being highly general purpose,” using “frame transactions,” explained Buterin. 

Instead of a transaction being a single operation, it becomes a sequence of “frames” that can reference each other’s data, and each frame can signal authorization of a sender or gas payer. 

A core principle of cypherpunk EthereumSmart accounts with multi-signatures, quantum-resistant wallets, and accounts with changeable keys work by having a validation frame, which checks the signature and approves it, followed by an execution frame. 

Paying gas in non-ETH tokens can be done via a “paymaster contract” or a special-purpose decentralized exchange that provides Ether (ETH) in real time, with no intermediaries required, which is a big deal for Ethereum’s ethos, said Vitalik.  

“Intermediary minimization is a core principle of non-ugly cypherpunk Ethereum: maximize what you can do even if all the world’s infrastructure except the Ethereum chain itself goes down.”Buterin explained that this was also a big deal for privacy protocol users, as it means they can completely remove “public broadcasters” that are the “source of massive UX pain” in privacy platforms such as Railgun and Tornado Cash, and replace them with a “general-purpose public mempool.”

Native account abstraction is expected in the second half of 2026, according to the “Strawmap.” Source: Ethereum Foundation
Quantum-resistant Ethereum in the pipelineAll Ethereum accounts, including existing ones, can be put into the same framework and gain the ability to do batch operations and transaction sponsorship, he said. 

The Ethereum co-founder posted his quantum resistance roadmap for Ethereum on Thursday, stating that the four areas of concern were validator signatures, data storage, user account signatures, and zero-knowledge proofs.

He also said that he expects to see “progressive decreases” of both slot time and finality time in the longer-term scaling roadmap. 

Magazine: 6 massive challenges Bitcoin faces on the road to quantum security

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Solana ETFs just got hammered with cash. February 28 data shows the biggest fund rush into Solana exchange-traded products in months, with institutional money pouring in like crazy.

ETF providers are talking about over 200 million bucks flowing into Solana-focused products during February alone. That’s wild compared to the past few months when inflows were pretty much dead. Big money managers are clearly betting something major is about to happen with Solana’s price. The timing feels deliberate – these aren’t random retail buys but calculated institutional moves that suggest serious confidence in where Solana’s headed next.

Solana’s price has been all over the place lately.

The token hit $25.50 three weeks ago, its best level since November, before dropping back to around $23.80 where it’s trading now. But that volatility isn’t scaring anyone away – it’s actually drawing more attention from both individual traders and big institutional players who see opportunity in the swings.

Solana Labs stays bullish on what’s coming. A company spokesperson said the recent ecosystem developments could be driving the renewed investor interest, though they didn’t specify which developments exactly. The team has been grinding on network upgrades focused on better scalability and faster transaction speeds. And those improvements are starting to show real results in daily usage metrics.

The cash flood into Solana ETFs comes as the broader crypto market heats up again. Bitcoin and Ethereum both posted solid gains earlier this month, with Bitcoin briefly touching $52,000 and Ethereum pushing past $3,100. Market conditions feel different now compared to the brutal 2022 bear market.

Not everyone’s convinced though.

Market analysts can’t agree on what the ETF money means for Solana’s future. Some think the fund inflows will create more price stability and sustained growth. Others warn that crypto markets remain unpredictable and volatile, especially for altcoins like Solana that can swing 20% in a single day.

But institutional interest is undeniable. Several major asset managers have quietly increased their Solana ETF holdings over the past month, according to recent SEC filings. These moves look like strategic positioning ahead of potential market shifts that only insiders might see coming. See also: XRP Drops Hard as Traders Bail.

Regulatory winds are shifting too. The SEC has been more cooperative with ETF approvals lately, leading to a bunch of new crypto ETF launches. That regulatory environment could push even more institutional money into crypto markets, with Solana potentially benefiting from the broader trend.

Global economic factors keep influencing investment decisions across all asset classes. Interest rates, inflation concerns, and geopolitical tensions continue shaping where money flows. Crypto remains attractive for investors seeking portfolio diversification away from traditional stocks and bonds.

Solana’s network activity has been pretty robust recently. Daily active addresses jumped 35% in February, while transaction volumes hit their highest levels since October. Developers keep building on the platform, with new projects launching weekly that add utility and attract users.

Grayscale made a big move on February 25. The digital asset manager announced it was boosting its Solana Trust holdings significantly, reflecting what they called “strategic positioning” for current market momentum. Grayscale’s decision carries weight since they manage billions in crypto assets and don’t make moves lightly.

The Solana Foundation confirmed a new grant program on March 1. The initiative aims to foster innovation within the Solana ecosystem by funding promising projects and developer teams. Programs like these typically attract more builders to a blockchain, which can drive network adoption and token demand over time.

Crypto exchanges are seeing the action too. Binance and Coinbase both reported surging Solana trading volumes in February, reaching levels not seen since November’s crypto rally. February’s trading activity suggests heightened interest from individual investors who are jumping back into altcoins. Related coverage: MEV Capital Loses 80% of Assets.

But some market watchers stay cautious about the rapid changes. CryptoCompare released a report on February 27 warning about risks from quick price swings and potential liquidity constraints in smaller crypto markets. The report advised investors to stay vigilant and consider broader market context when making Solana investment decisions.

Ark Invest disclosed an increased Solana ETF stake on February 26. Cathie Wood’s firm bought an additional $50 million worth of shares, which represents a substantial vote of confidence in Solana’s prospects. Ark typically focuses on disruptive technologies and assets, so their Solana move aligns with that investment philosophy.

Some hedge funds are taking the opposite approach though. CoinShares reported on February 24 that several hedge funds had reduced their Solana exposure amid recent price volatility. That suggests a risk management strategy as they navigate uncertain crypto market conditions.

Serum, the Solana-based DeFi platform, hit a major milestone on February 27 when it surpassed $1 billion in total value locked. The achievement highlights growing use of Solana’s blockchain for decentralized finance applications, which could drive more institutional interest in platforms with proven utility and adoption.

Solana Ventures announced a gaming partnership on March 1. The collaboration with a prominent gaming company aims to develop blockchain-based gaming solutions using Solana’s fast transaction speeds. Gaming represents a potentially huge revenue stream that could attract significant new investment into the Solana ecosystem.

Investors should watch developments closely over the coming weeks. ETF inflows provide strong confidence signals, but they’re just one factor influencing Solana’s market trajectory alongside network growth, developer activity, and broader crypto market trends.

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Bitcoin tops $68,000 after Iran confirms leader killed in U.S., Israel airstrikesThe death of Iran's supreme leader opens the door to regime change, and markets are pricing in a shorter period of tension.Updated Mar 1, 2026, 3:40 a.m. Published Mar 1, 2026, 3:36 a.m.

Bitcoin jumped to $68,000 early Sunday, recovering nearly all of Saturday's war-driven losses within hours of Iranian state TV confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.

Khamenei held ultimate authority over Iran's military, foreign policy, and nuclear program. Under Iran's constitution, a temporary council of the president, head of the judiciary, and a Guardian Council jurist assumes leadership duties until the Assembly of Experts appoints a successor.

U.S. president Donald Trump, meanwhile, has urged Iranians to overthrow the regime, calling this "probably your only chance for generations." Tehran has continued firing missiles at Israel, and Israeli strikes on Iran are ongoing. Whether a period of mourning affects military operations remains unclear.

Trump added U.S. attacks would continue for as long as necessary.

But bitcoin moved before any of those questions were answered. The $64,000 to $68,000 swing happened on thin Sunday liquidity, driven by a single headline. That's a roughly $80 billion market cap move in hours.

The read across crypto and broader risk markets is that a leadership vacuum makes a ceasefire more likely than continued escalation, creating a swift flight to risk assets.

Oil and equity futures open later on Sunday, and monitoring their moves may tell whether the optimism holds or whether Sunday's bounce gets faded the same way Wednesday's push to $70,000 did.

Iran sits at the center of a region responsible for roughly a third of global crude exports. If markets interpret Khamenei’s death as raising the probability of regime destabilization or disruption to supply routes, energy prices could spike, pressuring global inflation expectations and tightening financial conditions. That would typically weigh on risk assets, including crypto.

However, if traders believe succession mechanisms will stabilize decision-making and avoid broader war, risk assets may continue to find support.

More For You

Crypto community fear of Iran choking oil supply and crashing markets may be overblown

12 hours ago

A full closure of the strait is unlikely or impractical, some experts argue.

What to know:

Many crypto social media users on X worry that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 percent of global oil shipments, potentially sending oil prices toward $120 to $150 and triggering an inflation shock.Several experts argue that a full closure of the Strait is unlikely or impractical and that any oil price spike would likely be limited and temporary. An all-out war could still rattle markets and push bitcoin lower.

3 mins mins

Why Bitcoin rebounded above $68,000 amid Iran reports and weekend liquidityBitcoin rebounded above $68,000 in early Asia trading on Sunday after reports of Iran’s supreme leader’s death, as reported by Bloomberg. Traders reacted quickly in thin weekend conditions.

With global equity, bond, and commodity markets closed, crypto’s 24/7 venues concentrated risk transfer. Liquidity gaps can amplify swings, but they can also speed deleveraging and price discovery.

Why this rebound matters for risk sentiment and crypto market capCryptocurrencies recovered roughly $32 billion in market value by Sunday morning after shedding about $128 billion the previous day, as reported by Business Standard. The partial clawback suggests risk appetite stabilized after the initial shock.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $67,388, with day-to-day volatility around 6.90% and an RSI near 42. Price context is descriptive, not predictive, and may change quickly.

Because crypto remained open while other assets were shut, it bore both hedging and panic flows. “Bitcoin is the only large liquid asset trading 24/7, so it absorbed all the selling pressure that would normally spread across equities, bonds, and commodities,” said Hayden Hughes, Managing Partner at Tokenize Capital.

BingX: a trusted exchange delivering real advantages for traders at every level.

Volatility spiked as leverage was flushed on Saturday, followed by measured dip-buying into Sunday’s Asia session. Analysts flagged signs of seller exhaustion and reduced marginal impact from additional headlines.

Weekend timing often turns BTC into a release valve for global risk. “As always, when critical events take place during the weekend, Bitcoin plays the role of pressure valve… With a lot of the leverage already cleared out and exhausted sellers, there’s only so much impact macro events can have,” said Justin d’Anethan, Head of Research at Arctic Digital.

What to watch next: positioning, options, and liquidationsOptions demand for upside calls noted by 10x ResearchA recent note said traders generally do not expect major negative economic consequences from the Iran shock, and demand for upside Bitcoin calls has picked up in recent days. Options activity can inform near-term skew and positioning.

Weekend 24/7 trading, seller exhaustion, and leverage clearance signalsWatch for evidence of continued leverage clearance and seller exhaustion as liquidity normalizes. Crypto’s continuous trading can concentrate hedging and liquidation pressure until traditional markets reopen.

FAQ about Bitcoin rebounds above $68,000How does 24/7 crypto trading and weekend liquidity make Bitcoin a pressure valve during geopolitical shocks?Traditional markets close on weekends. Continuous crypto venues concentrate hedging, liquidations, and price discovery into Bitcoin when shocks hit, magnifying moves but speeding rebalancing.

Is this rebound sustainable or a dead‑cat bounce according to analysts and positioning data?Analysts are cautious: upside call interest increased, but seller dominance and risk aversion persist. Sustainability likely hinges on positioning reset and subsequent macro headlines.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Bitcoin just got crazy. Some anonymous person on 4chan dropped a prediction that’s got everyone talking – Bitcoin hitting $1 million by end of 2026.

The post showed up February 25th on the notorious 4chan platform, where pretty much anything goes and nobody knows who’s really posting. But here’s the thing that’s got people paying attention – this same anonymous poster nailed the 2019 Bitcoin bottom perfectly. That call made them famous in crypto circles, even though nobody knows their real identity. The prediction spread like wildfire across Twitter, Reddit, and Telegram channels within hours. Crypto traders who remember the 2019 call started sharing screenshots everywhere.

Market didn’t budge much though.

Bitcoin’s sitting around $50,000 right now, which means it’d need to jump 20 times higher to hit that million-dollar target. That’s pretty wild even for Bitcoin standards. The crypto has seen massive runs before – it went from under $1,000 to nearly $70,000 in just a few years – but a 2,000% gain in less than three years? Most analysts think that’s pushing it.

Tom Lee from Fundstrat Global Advisors weighed in February 25th: “The million-dollar target seems far-fetched, but Bitcoin’s defied expectations before.” Lee’s been bullish on Bitcoin for years, but even he sounded cautious about this prediction. He added that historical trends matter, but so do current market conditions that look pretty different from 2019.

ARK Invest dropped a report the same day talking about Bitcoin’s long-term potential. They didn’t back the $1 million call directly, but they did mention institutional adoption could drive “substantial gains” over the next decade. That’s corporate speak for “maybe, but we’re not betting the farm on it.”

The mystery around who this prophet actually is keeps getting deeper. Some crypto detectives think it’s a group of traders working together. Others believe it’s just one person with inside knowledge or really good analysis skills. There’s also the possibility it’s complete BS – someone who got lucky once and now wants attention. Related coverage: Bitcoin ETFs Pull 4 Million as.

Coinbase wouldn’t touch the prediction with a ten-foot pole. A spokesperson said February 26th they don’t comment on “speculative forecasts from anonymous sources.” Smart move, considering they’re a public company now. But they did acknowledge Bitcoin’s volatility attracts lots of wild predictions.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao got more direct during a live Q&A February 27th. “Don’t base investment decisions on anonymous predictions,” he said. “Do your own research.” CZ’s seen enough crypto bubbles to know when something smells fishy. He reminded viewers that even accurate past predictions don’t guarantee future success.

Reddit exploded with debate threads. User “CryptoSkeptic” called the prediction “a distant dream without major economic shifts.” But “BullishBTC” fired back, pointing to Bitcoin’s history of surprising everyone. The arguments got pretty heated, with both sides digging up charts and data to support their views.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw zero unusual activity in Bitcoin futures after the prediction went viral. Trading volumes stayed normal, which tells you institutional money isn’t buying into the hype. CME’s Sarah Johnson confirmed February 28th that “institutional traders appeared unfazed” by the whole thing.

Anthony Pompliano, who’s got serious influence in crypto Twitter, tried to cool things down. He tweeted February 27th that “bold predictions capture interest but often lack nuanced market understanding.” Pomp’s usually bullish on Bitcoin long-term, but he warned followers against chasing viral speculation. For more details, see Bitcoin Shorts Risk Major Squeeze as.

The timing’s interesting too. Bitcoin’s been stuck in a range for months after hitting its all-time high. Traders are getting bored, which makes wild predictions more appealing. When markets go sideways, people start looking for the next big catalyst or story to justify their positions.

Nobody’s talking about what would actually need to happen for Bitcoin to hit $1 million. You’d need massive institutional adoption, probably some countries making it legal tender, and maybe a major currency crisis somewhere. That’s a lot of moving parts that all need to align perfectly.

The 4chan prophet’s 2019 call came during a brutal bear market when Bitcoin had dropped over 80% from its peak. Calling a bottom then took real conviction or inside information. But calling a 20x price increase during relatively stable times? That’s a different game entirely.

Market makers at major exchanges aren’t changing their strategies based on anonymous forum posts. They’re watching regulatory developments, institutional flows, and macro trends instead. The prediction might generate some retail FOMO, but serious money moves on fundamentals.

Bitcoin’s next major test comes with potential ETF approvals and regulatory clarity in major markets. Those developments matter way more than what some anonymous person posts on 4chan, no matter how accurate their past calls were.

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The conversation around real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is heating up, and the numbers are staggering. After digital asset securities firm Securitize highlighted the potential for a $400 trillion global asset market to move on-chain, attention quickly shifted to the blockchains positioned to support that scale. The XRP ecosystem, specifically the XRP Ledger, is increasingly being discussed as a possible infrastructure layer for this next phase of financial digitization.

How The XRP Ledger Supports Asset Tokenization Crypto commentator Archie is sounding the alarm for the XRP community, pointing to Securitize teasing a massive $400 trillion real-world asset (RWA) opportunity that could reshape global finance and potentially position the XRP Ledger at the center of the shift. According to Archie’s post on X, a recent update from the tokenization giant stated that only about $25 billion in assets have been tokenized, with an estimated $400 trillion in traditional assets. 

This includes global stocks, bonds, real estate, private funds, and other traditional instruments that are still sitting on outdated ledgers and are all ready to move on-chain. Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo has repeatedly emphasized the figure, framing it as the total addressable market for tokenization. The thesis is that tokenization can deliver instant settlement, 24/7 trading, fractional ownership, and enhanced liquidity.

A key part of this narrative involves Securitize integration efforts with the Ripple ecosystem, including its RLUSD partnership, which connects institutional tokenized assets with the Ledger. Meanwhile, major institutional products such as BlackRock’s BUIDL and VanEck’s VBILL, with other large institutional funds, are already tokenized on the Ledger. Users can now swap holdings into RLUSD on Securitize’s platform, a development that could channel utility and flow directly into the XRPL network.

Archie highlighted that the Ledger’s fast settlement speeds, low transaction fees, and native compliance features make it suitable for institutional adoption. Thus, if a fraction of these project trillions in real-world assets were to settle natively on XRPL, it could significantly boost demand for the token through liquidity provisioning and transaction fees.

Framing the development as more than speculation, Archie describes the ongoing tokenization push as a structural shift in global finance that could lead to one of the largest wealth transfers in modern history.

Why The Token Could Rise Parabolically Instead Of Gradually The future trajectory of XRP may not rise gradually like other cryptocurrencies. Instead, it could explode parabolically as seen during the 2017 bull cycle. An analyst known as Ripple Mother has noted that with the right market conditions and adoption, the altcoin could potentially surge above $100 within a single day, delivering gains of over 30,000% and dramatically reshape the broader crypto market.

XRP trading at $1.2 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from RenderHub, chart from Tradingview.com

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Posted: March 1, 2026

SPX6900 [SPX] has maintained a sustained bearish structure since late January, reflecting persistent distribution pressure across the market. The asset declined towards $0.2767 as sellers steadily dominated price action.

Initially, the trend weakened as lower highs began forming beneath key moving averages. At the same time, the 20 EMA near $0.3015 and the 50 EMA around $0.3059 started acting as dynamic resistance, limiting upside attempts.

The wider cryptocurrency decline spearheaded by Bitcoin [BTC] intensified risk aversion as this structure evolved, pushing traders to limit their exposure to high-volatility meme assets.

Source: TradingView

Shortly after, the price breached the horizontal support zone of $0.32, established between the 25th and 27th of February. This breakdown triggered faster selling, reinforcing the ongoing sequence of lower highs and lower lows.

Meanwhile, momentum indicators confirmed the pressure.

RSI fell below 30, approaching oversold territory while still lacking bullish divergence. MACD also remained negative, showing persistent bearish momentum.

As a result, rebound attempts stalled below the EMA cluster, leaving $0.2515 as the next structural support if selling pressure continues.

Is a relief bounce near, or will $0.27 finally break?

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors in Seven Hills Realty Trust (“Seven Hills” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: SEVN) for potential breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of its directors and management.

The investigation focuses on determining if the SEVN board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders.

If you are a shareholder, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

My watchlist aims to surface high-quality, attractively valued dividend stocks with the potential for double-digit total returns over 3–5 years. The original process blends quality and value, while pure quality and value variants offer unique selections and distinct performance profiles. Despite recent underperformance versus VYM, the watchlist maintains a 14.43% CAGR since inception, comfortably above the 12% target and with a higher starting yield.

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.

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.

There are two main things you need to consider when you look at a dividend stock: the stock's yield and the ability of the business to sustain the dividend. Investors often focus too much on the yield and not enough on the integrity of the dividend. Right now, however, you can get attractive and historically well-supported yields from Realty Income (O +1.19%), Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.45%), and Texas Instruments (TXN 0.24%). Here's a quick look at each of these reliable dividend stocks.

1. Realty Income is a mix of finance and consumer exposure Realty Income's dividend yield is 4.9%. That yield is backed by a dividend that has been increased every year for three decades. A $1,000 investment will buy you around 15 shares of this net lease real estate investment trust (REIT).

Image source: Getty Images.

Realty Income is an industry giant with over 15,500 single-tenant net-lease properties. Roughly 80% of its rents come from retail assets. This is important because Realty Income provides exposure to both the financial sector and retail. And the dividend is well covered, with an adjusted funds from operations (FFO) payout ratio of 75% in 2025.

Realty Income is so large that growth is likely to be slow over time. However, if you are looking to maximize your income stream while sleeping well at night, this REIT is likely a good fit for your portfolio.

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2. Enterprise sidesteps commodity risk Enterprise Products Partners has a distribution yield of 6%. The distribution has been increased annually for 27 years, which is basically as long as the business has been publicly traded. A $1,000 investment will allow you to buy 27 units.

Enterprise is a midstream master limited partnership (MLP). It operates one of the largest midstream businesses in North America, helping to move oil and natural gas around the world. Energy is vital to the modern world, and every investor should have some exposure to the sector. The problem is that oil and natural gas are highly volatile commodities, so energy stocks can be volatile, too. Enterprise is just a toll taker, charging customers fees for the use of its energy infrastructure assets. The reliable fees it generates provide a smooth ride for the distribution, with distributable cash flow covering the distribution 1.7 times in 2025. That leaves plenty of room for adversity before a distribution cut would be in the cards.

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Like Realty Income, Enterprise is basically a slow-growth business. That said, slow and steady is hard to complain about when it comes with a 6% yield.

3. Texas Instruments is investing in growth Texas Instruments has a yield of 2.6%, which is well below the yields of the other two income options above. However, the chip giant's yield is toward the high side of its historical yield range. The dividend has been increased annually for 22 years.

Texas Instruments is one of the world's largest producers of analog computer chips. Analog chips are simple and cheap, turning physical events into digital signals (think pushing a button). The chips are found in everything digital. Although AI is the big story right now, the need for Texas Instruments chips is likely to keep growing as the world becomes increasingly digital. AI is only going to speed up that process; note that Texas Instruments recently began breaking out data centers as a stand-alone customer group. Sales in the data centers group increased 70% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025.

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Technology is a sector many dividend investors avoid because growth tends to be the big tech story. However, Texas Instruments is currently offering dividend lovers a chance to up their tech exposure. And, notably, you aren't giving up on growth, as the company is in the middle of a capital investment period that it believes will prepare it for higher future demand. That spending has investors worried, but a successful history suggests this tech giant is likely expanding its capacity in a timely and reasonable manner.

Buy and hold for the long term Realty Income, Enterprise Products Partners, and Texas Instruments are all reliable dividend stocks. They all have attractive yields. And they are the kinds of businesses you buy and then hold for years, either letting the dividends compound via dividend reinvestment or using the growing income stream you create to augment your income or your Social Security in retirement. If you have $1,000 to put to work right now, your hardest decision is likely to be which one of these high-yielders to buy. Of course, you could punt and put a little into each one, too.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB +0.45%)(BRKA +0.50%) just released its annual letter. And investors were watching closely, as this was the conglomerate's first annual letter from Berkshire CEO Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor, who took the helm at the start of 2026. Investors are keen to gauge what Berkshire will look like without Buffett running the show, and the letter gave them a glimpse.

Fortunately for Berkshire shareholders -- and investors in the publicly traded companies he called out by name -- Abel had a lot to say in his first shareholder update. While investors often scour the document for clues about what the conglomerate might buy next, the most telling takeaway this year was about what Berkshire won't be selling. Abel indicated investors should expect only "limited activity" in the company's biggest equity holdings, including American Express, Coca-Cola, Moody's, and iPhone maker Apple (AAPL 3.40%).

The underlying message was straightforward: Abel expects these businesses to "compound over decades," he said in the letter.

It is a testament to how exceptional Abel thinks these businesses are that he is talking about a decades-long time horizon. And combining Abel's confidence in and high praise of Apple with the fact that the tech company is Berkshire's largest equity holding is particularly comforting news for Apple investors specifically.

Image source: Apple.

High praise Abel had quite a bit to say about Apple and Berkshire's other three core holdings of its equity portfolio.

In addition to saying he believes they will "compound over decades," he insinuated that Berkshire's philosophy for selling its core holdings will rely less on valuation and more on the underlying business, as he said the conglomerate's criteria for any significant adjustments to its positions in its four largest equity holdings is to do so only if there is a fundamental change in the company's long-term economic prospects.

In addition, Abel gave Apple and these other three companies extremely high praise, not only saying they should compound over time, but also that they are businesses that Berkshire understands well and ones in which it has "a high regard for their leaders..."

Steady growth This focus on business fundamentals helps explain why Berkshire is content to sit on its massive Apple position. After all, the tech giant's underlying business has been putting up impressive numbers recently.

Apple's earnings per share rose 19% year over year in fiscal Q1.

A key driver of this profitability is the company's services segment. This segment commanded a gross profit margin of 75.4% for fiscal 2025. Accounting for about 26% of Apple's fiscal 2025 revenue, this high-margin revenue stream provides the exact kind of durable, long-term cash generation that supports a multi-decade holding period.

Further, Apple's fiscal first-quarter sales grew 16% year over year, while its earnings-per-share growth was even faster, highlighting impressive operating leverage.

And with services growing as a percentage of the total business in recent years, momentum from this high-margin segment could help lift Apple's overall gross margin over the long haul.

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Valuation still matters Of course, holding a stock for decades does not mean ignoring valuation entirely. At about 33 times earnings, the tech stock's valuation arguably already prices in continued robust services growth and strong pricing power for years to come. Still, given the company's exceptional customer loyalty and management's track record of good capital allocation, I think the stock is worth paying a fair price for.

Some key risks include an unexpected meaningful deceleration in its services revenue or the erosion of its pricing power over time. But there's also potential upside scenarios in which Apple's hardware sales benefit from an AI tailwind or Apple's services business actually accelerates.

Overall, I think Apple stock is a solid hold for long-term investors. Like Berkshire, I'd rather be patient and let the business compound.

What happenedA SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, shows Waterfall Asset Management, LLC initiated a new stake in National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA +1.74%), purchasing 297,700 shares. The quarter-end position value also rose by $8.42 million, a figure that includes both the new shares and any price movement over the period.

What else to knowThis is a new position for the fund, representing 4.53% of its 13F reportable AUM as of December 31, 2025

Top holdings after the filing:

NYSE: CPT: $11.80 million (12.1% of AUM)NYSE: AVB: $11.65 million (12.0% of AUM)NYSE: APLE: $10.49 million (10.8% of AUM)NYSE: RC: $8.48 million (8.7% of AUM)NYSE: AAT: $7.70 million (7.9% of AUM)As of February 12, 2026, shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust were priced at $33.05.

Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$741.51 millionNet income (TTM)$47.12 millionDividend yield6.51%Price (as of market close February 12, 2026)$33.05Company snapshotNational Storage Affiliates Trust is a leading self-storage REIT with a substantial presence in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan markets. The company leverages a scalable operating platform and a broad geographic footprint to drive revenue growth and operational efficiency. Its focus on high-occupancy assets and consistent dividend payments positions it as a competitive player in the self-storage sector.

National Storage Affiliates Trust operates, owns, and acquires self-storage properties across major U.S. metropolitan areas, generating revenue primarily from rental income. It targets individuals and businesses seeking secure, flexible storage solutions in urban and suburban markets nationwide.

The company employs a real estate investment trust (REIT) model, aggregating a diversified portfolio of storage assets to deliver stable cash flows and regular dividends.

What this transaction means for investorsSelf-storage is no longer seeing the high demand that came after the pandemic, when many households moved or changed their living situations. Operators enjoyed strong pricing following the pandemic, and rents hit record highs.  As demand slowed and new supply entered some markets, those gains diminished. Current performance now depends on local competition and supply, with occupancy and rent growth varying by market.

National Storage Affiliates owns and buys self-storage properties in major U.S. markets, earning most of its revenue from month-to-month rental contracts. This setup lets them adjust prices often, but success depends on keeping properties full in competitive areas. Unlike some bigger companies, NSA uses a Participating Regional Operator model, where local operators keep equity and manage properties in their regions. This can help find deals and improve local management, but it also makes it harder to control spending when growth slows.

For investors, NSA’s value will depend on whether it can keep growing revenue at existing properties and acquire new ones at returns above its cost of capital. With higher interest rates, growth only adds value if acquisition prices and financing make sense. The strength of the PRO model will depend on how well it balances local control with capital discipline.

The $4 trillion club is a lonely place. Currently, only Nvidia (NVDA 4.17%) is a member. Former members Apple (AAPL 3.40%) and Alphabet (GOOG +1.39%) (GOOGL +1.50%) are knocking at the door again, though, and I see them as highly likely to rejoin it over the next few months. However, I've got my eye on a company that's worth less than $3 trillion as a potential entrant: Microsoft (MSFT 2.17%).

At its peak valuation, Microsoft was briefly a member of the $4 trillion club. Now, it's worth about $2.9 trillion. That's a 27% pullback for a strong and dominant company, and I think it could be a prime buying opportunity for investors (like me) who missed out on Microsoft's monster run-up in recent years.

Microsoft is selling off for no good reason Normally, when a megacap company sells off by such a large percentage, it's because something major has changed about its investment thesis, or its results weren't as good as expected. Neither of those things has occurred with Microsoft.

Image source: Getty Images.

The results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter (which ended Dec. 31, 2025) were strong, with revenue rising 17% year over year to $81.3 billion. During its fiscal Q1 conference call, Microsoft told investors to expect between $79.5 billion and $80.6 billion in Q2 revenue, so the actual top line was a positive surprise.

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Microsoft also didn't drop any bombshells suggesting that it was changing its AI strategy or that demand for its cloud infrastructure offerings was weakening. In fact, it let investors know that it has a $625 billion backlog related to its Azure cloud computing platform. AI is still a huge part of the Microsoft investing thesis, and it's doing everything that it has said it would do.

This is what makes the stock's recent steep sell-off such a surprise.

My preferred metric to assess Microsoft's valuation is its operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This strips out the effects of investment gains, which make up a decent chunk of Microsoft's earnings due to OpenAI's soaring valuation. Microsoft has rarely been so cheap by this metric in the past decade.

MSFT Operating PE Ratio data by YCharts.

This makes it the perfect time to scoop up shares, as it's cheap for hardly any good reason. Buying opportunities like this don't come around often, and now is the time to act on it.

Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) between February 25, 2025 and February 2, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 20, 2026.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PayPal common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided investors with material information concerning PayPal’s expected financial targets for 2027 alongside the growth trajectory for its core branded checkout segment (“Branded Checkout”). Defendants’ statements included, among other things, confidence in PayPal’s ability to capitalize on its growth potential through new initiatives to facilitate Branded Checkout growth both in the U.S. and internationally. According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of PayPal’s salesforce; notably, that it was not truly equipped to execute on PayPal’s perceived growth potential and were “too optimistic” as to how easily and expeditiously its staff could change customer adoption. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Growth-stock investors can often have extremely high expectations. Instead of looking for a 2x or 5x return, some want a 100-fold or more return that can turn an amount like $10,000 into $1 million.

For that to have a chance of happening, one has to find small-cap stocks in emerging industries that live up to the potential of becoming mega-cap stocks. Thus, it makes sense to evaluate whether quantum computing stock IonQ (IONQ 6.31%) can accomplish such a feat.

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ's path upward IonQ has a market cap of around $12 billion. This means a 100-fold gain would take its market cap to $1.2 trillion. So far, nine companies have higher market caps than that, making such a feat theoretically possible.

Quantum computing is a natural place for investors to seek such returns, as it stands out by running programs at an exponentially faster speed than traditional computers.

However, quantum computers also tend to have high error rates. Also, most of them do not operate at room temperature, making them impractical for average consumers and businesses.

IonQ also stands out for many reasons, one of which is producing quantum computers offering 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, which indicates a low error rate. That allows it to run more complex models. Additionally, IonQ's systems can operate close to room temperature, making its technology practical for data centers. Such innovations have made it a top quantum computing stock to buy right now.

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Can it stand up to the competition? Despite competition from heavyweights like Google parent Alphabet, many analysts perceive IonQ as the leading pure-play stock in the industry.

Still, it is unclear whether it can build a sustainable competitive advantage over a well-funded company like Alphabet. The Google parent pledged to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion on capital expenditures this year, though that won't all go to quantum computing. It also holds about $127 billion in liquidity, giving it tremendous optionality.

In comparison, IonQ lost more than $510 million in 2025. With around $2.4 billion in cash, the need to invest in its technology while covering losses puts pressure on its balance sheet.

Investors get excited because companies often become large because the incumbents miss the opportunity. For example, Amazon succeeded in e-commerce in part because traditional retailers did not see the potential for online sales.

Alphabet is likely not making this mistake. It has advanced its Willow chip, which can reduce errors as it becomes faster. Such advancements indicate that Alphabet's resources could enable it to out-innovate smaller competitors like IonQ, reducing the chances of 100-fold gains in the smaller stock.

Could buying IonQ stock today set you up for life? IonQ could theoretically set investors up for life, but shareholders should not expect such returns from the quantum computing stock.

Indeed, its error reduction and ability to operate a quantum computer at near-room temperature can be valuable to the marketplace. Unfortunately, the much wealthier Alphabet is making compelling advancements of its own. As a smaller, money-losing company, this will make it harder for IonQ to compete.

Hence, while a 100-fold gain is possible, IonQ's financial condition suggests that other outcomes are more likely for the company.

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Picard Medical, Inc. (NYSE American: PMI) between September 2, 2025 and October 31, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important April 13, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Picard Medical securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 13, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about Picard’s business, operations, and the true nature of its securities trading throughout the Class Period. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Picard was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) Picard’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Picard’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of PomDoctor Ltd. (NASDAQ: POM) between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important April 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PomDoctor securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 7, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) PomDoctor was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) PomDoctor’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about PomDoctor’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

For more than half a century, billionaire Warren Buffett manned the wheel at Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.50%)(BRKB +0.45%), ultimately turning his conglomerate into a trillion-dollar business. During his tenure as CEO, the Oracle of Omaha oversaw a greater than 6,000,000% cumulative return in his company's Class A shares (BRK.A), which absolutely crushes the returns of the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.43%), ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 1.05%), and growth-fueled Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.92%).

But on Dec. 31, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway's pillar hung up his proverbial work coat for the final time and retired as CEO (though he remains chairman of Berkshire's board).

Warren Buffett retired as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO on Dec. 31, 2025. Image source: The Motley Fool.

Although Warren Buffett is no longer responsible for Berkshire's day-to-day operations or its $319 billion investment portfolio, we're still witnessing the lasting impact of his actions, as evidenced in his company's fourth-quarter operating results, released on Feb. 28.

While most investors tend to focus on headline figures, such as sales, profits, and margins, it's Warren Buffett's final $373 billion warning that's sending shockwaves through Wall Street.

The Oracle of Omaha enters retirement with a $373 billion warning for investors Although Berkshire Hathaway acquired roughly five dozen companies across a variety of sectors during Warren Buffett's tenure as CEO, it's the Oracle of Omaha's investing prowess that was most lauded.

Apple and Bank of America have been among Berkshire's biggest winners on a nominal-dollar basis, while Moody's, Coca-Cola, and American Express are some of Buffett's greatest long-term success stories. The Buffett name is practically synonymous with value-focused, long-term investing.

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But in all 13 quarters (Oct. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2025) leading up to Warren Buffett's retirement as CEO, he was a net seller of stocks. Accounting for the $3.16 billion in net stock sales overseen during Buffett's final quarter, he sold an aggregate of $186.7 billion more in stocks than he purchased over a 39-month stretch.

Persistently selling stock, coupled with the operating profits that Berkshire's owned businesses have generated (e.g., BNSF and GEICO), has dramatically boosted his company's cash on hand (including cash equivalents and U.S. Treasuries). Since Buffett's selling streak began, Berkshire Hathaway's cash has more than tripled to a near-record $373.3 billion, as of Dec. 31, 2025.

If perennial value investor Warren Buffett is sitting on his hands and not putting his cash to work, this $373 billion serves as a warning to Wall Street.

The stock market is historically expensive -- and Berkshire's boss knew it! For years, the stock market has been relatively unstoppable. With the exception of the 2022 bear market, the S&P 500 has gained at least 16% in six of the last seven years. We've also witnessed the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 50,000 and the Nasdaq Composite briefly top 24,000.

Catalysts have been abundant for Wall Street, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the advent of quantum computing, a Federal Reserve rate-easing cycle, and better-than-expected corporate earnings fueling gains.

But the stock market is also historically expensive -- and the Oracle of Omaha knew it.

Warren Buffett Indicator hits an all-time high of 224%, the most expensive stock market valuation in history 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/BgIiOkFlfl

-- Barchart (@Barchart) January 11, 2026 Although value is subjective (i.e., there isn't a perfect blueprint to value all stocks), Warren Buffett's favorite valuation metric, the market cap-to-GDP ratio, now commonly known as the Buffett indicator, cuts through the heart of this subjectivity.

In a 2001 interview with Fortune magazine, Berkshire's boss referred to the market cap-to-GDP ratio as "probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment." This ratio, which has been back-tested to December 1970, has averaged approximately 87% over the last 56 years. In other words, the cumulative value of all publicly traded companies has averaged 87% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) over the long term.

In January 2026, the Buffett indicator hit an all-time high of more than 221%! Historically, when the Buffett indicator has pushed well beyond its average, a significant decline in equities has eventually followed.

It's a similar story for the S&P 500's Shiller Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio, which is also known as the Cyclically Adjusted P/E Ratio (CAPE Ratio). Whereas the Shiller P/E has averaged roughly 17.3 when back-tested to January 1871, it's been vacillating between 39 and 41 over the last four months.

While Buffett was known to bend or break some of his unwritten investing rules on rare occasions, he was unwavering when it came to value and getting a good deal.

Image source: Getty Images.

Patience paid off handsomely for Warren Buffett and Berkshire's shareholders Although Buffett's $373 billion warning to Wall Street foreshadows significant corrections to come in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite, Buffett's long-term approach to investing has conclusively shown that patience can be highly rewarding.

As an investor of more than eight decades, Berkshire's boss fully understood that stock market corrections, bear markets, and elevator-down crashes are inevitable events and akin to the price of admission to the world's greatest wealth creator. But rather than try to time when these events would occur, Buffett always positioned Berkshire Hathaway for future success.

The reason? Warren Buffett was keenly aware of the disproportionate nature of stock market cycles. Whereas corrections, bear markets, and crashes tend to resolve quickly, bull markets commonly extend for years. Buffett knew that stock market downturns can lead to short-term price dislocations in great businesses, allowing him to take stakes in great companies at an attractive price point.

Long-winded bull markets have occasionally led Buffett to sit on his proverbial hands and wait for stock valuations to come back into his wheelhouse. This is what we witnessed in the 13 quarters leading up to the retirement of Berkshire's billionaire boss.

History teaches us that valuations are, eventually, going to become attractive again. When they do, Buffett's successor, Greg Abel, is going to have a treasure chest of capital to pounce on potential price dislocations.

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.

G2 sold 215,929 shares of Tower Semiconductor; estimated transaction value of $20.80 million based on quarterly average price. Quarter-end position value decreased by $12.27 million, reflecting valuation shift including price movement.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors in KORE Group Holdings, Inc. (“KORE” or “the Company”) (NYSE: KORE) for potential breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of its directors and management.

The investigation focuses on determining if the KORE board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders. KORE announced on February 27, 2026, that it has “entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the "Agreement") under which Searchlight and Abry will acquire all of the shares of KORE's issued and outstanding common stock that are not currently owned by them in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $726 million.” This agreement will pay shareholders $9.25 per share.

If you are a shareholder, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

4 mins mins

Conflicting claims about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s status followed U.S.-Israel strikes on iran, with verification pending as of March 1, 2026. Institutions and media outlets have issued assertions, denials, and calls for caution.

The absence of independently verified evidence has elevated the importance of primary sources and on-record communiqués. The risk of misinformation in a fast-evolving conflict environment remains significant.

Khamenei assassination status: claims, denials, and verification pendingIranian state-linked outlets have rejected reports of Khamenei’s death, stating he remains in command, as reported by Al Jazeera. These institutional denials are positioned against wartime narratives circulating internationally.

Iran has not independently confirmed the leader’s death, according to Axios. In this context, careful separation of on-record statements from unverified claims is necessary until authoritative confirmation emerges.

Why this matters for Iran, Israel, and global stabilityThe supreme leader has shaped Iran’s political and security trajectory through hardline policies under pressure for reform, as reported by the BBC. A sudden leadership shock would touch all tiers of the state, including the IRGC and clerical institutions.

The stakes extend beyond Iran’s borders; a confirmed assassination would be a turning point for Iran with uncertainty for Israel and Washington, as per Time. Signals from both sides may influence deterrence calculations and escalation thresholds.

Financial channels are also relevant to resilience and sanctions exposure: based on data from TRM Labs, roughly $10 billion of Iran‑linked crypto activity occurred in 2025; in separate estimates, Chainalysis placed Bitcoin mining at about $186 million for 2015–21. These figures contextualize potential liquidity and evasion risks if governance is stressed.

Amid heightened tensions, verification has become a de-escalation tool. “We are not in a position to confirm,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging restraint under international law.

BingX: a trusted exchange delivering real advantages for traders at every level.

The first strikes in Israel’s attack on Iran began on Saturday alongside the United States, with a central goal to assassinate the regime’s top leaders, according to the New York Times. That reported objective raises the stakes of any casualty assessment while core details remain unverified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled there are indicators Khamenei is no longer alive, as reported by AP news; former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted the leader was killed in a joint operation, as reported by the Guardian. These statements have not been matched by confirmation from Iranian institutions.

At the time of this writing, the figures indicate Bitcoin (BTC) near $66,775, with volatility labeled high and sentiment flagged bearish. market data here is contextual and not indicative of investment guidance.

What to watch next: verification and succession contextVerification checkpoints: Iran’s state media, UN, and leaders’ communiquésKey checkpoints include formal bulletins from Iran’s state media, publicly released communiqués by national leaders, and statements from multilateral bodies. Cross-referencing these sources helps distinguish official positions from wartime claims.

Succession considerations highlighted in coverage and expert commentaryCoverage has emphasized succession uncertainty and institutional continuity. If the reports prove accurate, it would be a major development, and some analysts note expectations that a successor would already be identified, as reported by Newsweek.

FAQ about Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWhat evidence exists for or against the reported assassination of Khamenei?Evidence is mixed: leadership-targeted strikes were reported, while Iranian state-linked outlets denied his death. A top multilateral official said confirmation was not yet possible.

How has Iran’s government and state media responded to claims of Khamenei’s death?State-linked agencies have rejected the death reports and asserted continuity of leadership. Independent confirmation has not been provided by Iranian authorities.

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Martin Habovštiak, a Slovak Bitcoin developer who maintains the Rust Bitcoin library, has embedded a 66-kilobyte image file directly in the Bitcoin blockchain as a single contiguous transaction, challenging several foundational claims made by proponents of the "anti-spam" BIP-110 proposal and the Bitcoin Knots node implementation.

The transaction, which is publicly verifiable on the blockchain, can be decoded from its raw hex into a valid TIFF image file viewable by standard image software. The image depicts Knots developer Luke Dashjr, a central proponent of BIP-110 (formerly BIP-444), crying. Habovštiak announced the project on X on Thursday, linking to a detailed write-up that includes step-by-step instructions for independent verification using any Bitcoin full node.

The demonstration is notable for what it did not use: the transaction contains no OP_RETURN opcodes, does not rely on Taproot (using SegWit v0 instead), and contains no OP_IF instructions. These are among the primary vectors that BIP-110 targets for restriction, and Habovštiak argues their absence proves that the proposal's restrictions can be circumvented without relying on any of them.

The embedded image The proof-of-concept arrives amid an ongoing and at times bitter dispute between Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Knots camps over what types of data should be permitted on the Bitcoin network. BIP-110, originally introduced as BIP-444 in October 2025, proposes a temporary one-year soft fork that would cap OP_RETURN outputs at 83 bytes, limit individual data pushes to 256 bytes, and restrict other scripting features that enable large data storage. It was introduced after Bitcoin Core's v30 release effectively uncapped OP_RETURN data limits earlier that year.

Luke Dashjr, the Bitcoin Core developer who maintains Bitcoin Knots and serves as CTO of Ocean mining pool, has been a vocal proponent of limiting arbitrary data on Bitcoin, calling inscriptions "spam" since 2023. BIP-110 proponents have argued that contiguous data storage creates legal risks for node operators and diverts Bitcoin from its core purpose as money.

In his own posts on X, Dashjr contested the characterization of Habovštiak's transaction as "contiguous," writing in one such post, "His spam isn't and doesn't contain contiguous images." 

About 8.8% of the network is made up of nodes with BIP-110 support, according to data published by The Bitcoin Portal. The proposal is implemented exclusively through Bitcoin Knots, which has seen its node count grow roughly tenfold since the start of 2025.

Habovštiak, a prolific open-source contributor, also produced a BIP-110-compliant version of the image transaction, tested against Bitcoin Knots' own regtest environment. The compliant version was reportedly larger than the original, which he argued demonstrates that BIP-110's restrictions would actually increase the total amount of data stored on the blockchain rather than reduce it.

Habovštiak said the project was a one-time effort and that he would not be publishing his code, explicitly to avoid enabling a new wave of NFT-like activity on Bitcoin. He described himself as an opponent of blockchain spam who was motivated by what he considered "untruths" from the Knots camp.

"There's something I hate much more than spam: Untruths," Habovštiak wrote. "I tried arguing about this in the past, showed a contiguous image encoded to fit into witness, and yet, the Knots supporters are still saying the same stuff over and over." The Block could not reach Habovštiak or Dashjr for comment. 

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