Market Signal Briefing

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock surged to a new all-time high of $498.83 in December, driven by optimism around its artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and energy initiatives. However, shares have since pulled back 11%% amid broader market concerns. While these ancillary businesses contributed to the stock’s rally, Tesla remains primarily an electric vehicle (EV) company, even as global deliveries declined 8.6% in 2025 to 1.6 million units — the steepest annual drop in its history and the second consecutive year of falling sales. 

Deliveries were down sharply in key markets like Europe (down almost 28%) and China (hitting a three-year low in October). Now, Tesla faces intensified pressure on the automotive front following Nvidia‘s (NASDAQ:NVDA) CES 2026 reveal earlier this month of advanced technology that could challenge its dominance in autonomous driving.

Nvidia’s Deep Roots in Automotive Tech Nvidia has been a key player in the automotive sector since 2015 with its DRIVE platform, a scalable architecture for autonomous vehicles. DRIVE integrates high-performance computing, sensors, and software to enable advanced driver assistance and full autonomy. By 2026, the ecosystem includes partnerships with automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, using DRIVE Hyperion for Level 4-ready systems. The platform processes data from cameras, radars, and LiDAR, supporting simulation for safe testing. This long-term involvement has positioned Nvidia as a supplier-agnostic enabler, contrasting with Tesla’s vertically integrated approach.

The Alpamayo Breakthrough At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nvidia unveiled the Alpamayo family, an open-source portfolio of AI models, simulation tools, and datasets aimed at accelerating safe, reasoning-based autonomous vehicle development. Alpamayo 1, a 10-billion-parameter vision-language-action model, introduces chain-of-thought reasoning to handle complex, rare scenarios like unpredictable pedestrians or adverse weather. 

Paired with AlpaSim for high-fidelity testing and 1,700 hours of curated driving data, it emphasizes explainability and safety. Mercedes-Benz plans to integrate it into vehicles like the CLA, with U.S. deployments starting this year.

Alpamayo could also revolutionize self-driving by enabling any automaker to become an AV producer through open models that integrate with existing fleets. Developers can fine-tune on proprietary data and validate in simulation before deployment. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER), for example, has partnered on Alpamayo and DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 for Level 4 autonomy, aiming to scale to 100,000 vehicles by 2027 with Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) initially supplying the cars. Others, including Bosch and Magna, are expanding adoption, potentially flooding the market with competitive AV options.

Tesla’s Growing Rivalries Tesla, which is counting on its Cybercab to help revive its fortunes when it begins its production in Q2, trails Alphabet‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) Waymo in autonomy, with Waymo logging over 100 million driverless miles and 450,000 weekly paid rides across five U.S. cities. Tesla’s 7 billion miles are supervised, requiring human intervention.

As more manufacturers adopt Alpamayo, Tesla could face more competition, eroding its EV sales further amid already declining deliveries.

Is Tesla panicking yet? Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla will stop selling Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a one-time $8,000 purchase after Feb. 14, offering it only as a $99 monthly subscription. This aims to boost adoption (currently at 12% of owners) and generate recurring revenue amid slumping sales. It may also hedge legal risks tied to unfulfilled autonomy promises. With more AV choices emerging, Tesla’s sales decline could worsen.

Key Takeaway Nvidia’s Alpamayo isn’t an immediate Tesla-killer but could erode its edge by democratizing AV tech for rivals, pressuring Tesla’s core EV business amid an ongoing decline in EV demand. Still, Tesla’s long-term outlook as the U.S. EV leader remains strong, with analysts forecasting 12% delivery growth to 1.83 million in 2026, aided by a refresh of its Model Y. 

Ancillary segments like energy storage (up significantly) and robotics could offset car woes, but success hinges on ramping up its robotaxi ambitions. Investors shouldn’t be too concerned yet about this threat, though it is real. And if it hits its autonomy milestones, Tesla stock could be considered a buy at this price point. 

Although Tesla stock still trades at a premium, caution is warranted so I wouldn’t be picking up large tranches of shares just yet until it shows clear progress is being made.

Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Free Stock Looking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.

From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus. (sponsor)

DISCLOSURE:

Offer valid from 12/15/25 through 1/2/26. Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 45 days of opening the account. Receive a minimum of $15. Probability of member receiving $3,000 is a probability of 0.026% If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Percentages for the $3,000 are subject to decrease. See full terms and conditions.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).

Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 30 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify.

Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.

Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).

There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options 

Investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation.

United Community Banks, Inc. (UCB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

David Bianco, Americas CIO at DWS Group, joins 'Money Movers' to discuss bank earnings, market themes, and more.

Key Takeaways NVTS is exiting lower-margin mobile business to focus on AI data centers and high-power markets.NVTS offers GaN and SiC solutions across the full power path and is part of NVIDIA's 800V AI ecosystem.Material revenue from the AI data center is expected in 2027, with 2026 seen as a transition year for NVTS. Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS - Free Report) is shifting its focus toward AI data centers. The company is moving away from lower-margin mobile and consumer products and putting more effort into high-power markets, such as AI data centers, performance computing, energy and grid infrastructure, and industrial electrification.

AI data centers are pushing power demand higher. This is where Navitas Semiconductor's gallium nitride (GaN) and high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) products can help improve efficiency and power density in these high-power systems. The company also highlighted that it offers both GaN and SiC solutions across the full power path from the grid to the GPU.

Navitas Semiconductor’s inclusion in NVIDIA’s next-generation 800-volt DC “AI factory” ecosystem bodes well for the company's prospects as well. NVIDIA has named Navitas Semiconductor as a power selector partner for this architecture. This matters because it positions NVTS in a large, fast-growing market where power design is becoming a priority.

NVTS is building products for these high-power needs. The company has begun sampling mid-voltage GaN devices at 100 volts, which target the final stages of power conversion inside AI servers. Navitas Semiconductor has already started sampling 2.3 kV and 3.3 kV SiC modules for grid and energy storage systems to support rising power demand from AI infrastructure.

Still, meaningful revenues from AI data centers will not show up before 2027. Navitas Semiconductor expects 2026 to be a transition year, with small but growing shipments tied to traditional server power supplies. The above-mentioned factors demonstrate how NVTS is making a long-term bet on AI data center power upgrades. Navitas Semiconductor 's future growth will depend on whether it can execute fast enough, win multi-generation designs, and scale supply to benefit as the AI power cycle ramps up.

How Competitors Fare Against Navitas SemiconductorThe company faces strong competition from Wolfspeed (WOLF - Free Report) and ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) in the race to supply high-voltage solutions for AI data centers.

Wolfspeed is a key supplier for high-voltage applications in the SiC ecosystem. Wolfspeed is building a $3-billion Mohawk Valley fab to supply SiC for high-voltage systems, including AI data center power infrastructure.

ON Semiconductor is expanding its SiC portfolio and targeting cloud infrastructure customers with integrated power modules. ON Semiconductor has also partnered with NVIDIA to accelerate the move to 800 Volts DC power systems for next-generation AI data centers.

NVTS' Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Navitas Semiconductor have rallied 51.8% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s growth of 27.9%.

NVTS 6-month Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Navitas Semiconductor trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 61.19X, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 8.72X.

NVTS Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Navitas Semiconductor’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 19 cents per share. The estimates for 2026 loss per share have narrowed by 2 cents over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Navitas Semiconductor currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Owlet is the only FDA-cleared OTC infant monitor, reinforced by an FDA warning on unauthorized devices.Owlet topped 85,000 paying Owlet360 subscribers with attach rates above 25% in fiscal Q3 2025.FDA clarity lifts credibility with parents and partners, raising barriers and strengthening Owlet's position. Owlet, Inc. (OWLT - Free Report) is benefiting from increased regulatory clarity in the infant monitoring market, a factor that may strengthen its competitive positioning over time. As safety and accuracy gain importance for parents and caregivers, regulation is becoming a key differentiator rather than a constraint.

One of the most important developments supporting Owlet’s longer-term outlook is regulatory differentiation. The company remains the first and only FDA-cleared over-the-counter infant monitoring device provider which is currently available. This distinction gained added relevance after the FDA issued a safety communication cautioning consumers against unauthorized infant monitors that have not been reviewed for safety or effectiveness. The company described this development as a clear separation between regulated and unregulated products, reinforcing its credibility and raising barriers to entry.

For parents, FDA clearance helps validate product reliability and safety. For retailers and healthcare partners, it reduces compliance risk when recommending or distributing monitoring devices. From an investor perspective, this regulatory edge suggests that Owlet’s market position may be more defensible than that of competitors operating without clearance, particularly as awareness around infant safety standards increases.

In the third quarter of 2025, the company also highlighted progress beyond hardware, supported by its Owlet360 subscription platform. Paying subscribers surpassed 85,000, while attach rates exceeded 25% by the end of the third quarter. This recurring revenue layer complements the regulated hardware offering and may further strengthen customer stickiness.

Overall, clearer FDA guidance appears to favor compliant players, potentially giving Owlet a durable advantage in a more tightly regulated market.

Owlet’s Competitive LandscapeCompetition in connected infant monitoring and digital health remains intense, with companies such as Masimo (MASI - Free Report) and iRhythm Technologies (IRTC - Free Report) shaping adjacent segments of the regulated monitoring market. Masimo is a leader in medical-grade pulse oximetry and patient monitoring, with strong hospital relationships and a long history of operating under strict regulatory standards. The company’s scale and clinical focus highlight the complexity involved in developing and commercializing compliant monitoring solutions, reinforcing the high regulatory bar Owlet must continue to meet as it expands healthcare partnerships.

iRhythm Technologies operates in remote cardiac monitoring and provides a useful comparison from a business model perspective. The company relies on regulated devices, reimbursement pathways and recurring revenues tied to long-term monitoring services. While iRhythm Technologies targets a different patient group, its experience shows how regulatory clearance can support durable revenue streams.

Against these peers, Owlet remains more narrowly focused on infant health, but its FDA-cleared consumer approach may support deeper engagement if execution stays on track.

OWLT’s Price Performance & EstimatesShares of Owlet have gained 69.1% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry’s 26.3% growth and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 19.2% rise.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OWLT’s 2026 loss has narrowed to 25 cents from 48 cents in the past 30 days. The company is expected to report 12 cents loss per share in 2025.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

OWLT currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

© jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) didn’t gain much in 2025, but a 7% year-to-date gain suggests that the tech giant is turning a new leaf. Amazon Web Services are a key part of the growth story, with artificial intelligence reaccelerating growth. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told investors in the company’s Q3 earnings release that AWS growth rates have returned to 2022 levels, and that has major ramifications for the stock. 

AI Demand Remains Strong  Jassy didn’t just tell investors that AWS’s growth rate has returned to 2022 levels. He also said that the company is still seeing strong demand for AI and core infrastructure. Artificial intelligence plays a direct role in AWS’s success because AI companies need cloud platforms to manage and store data. 

AWS also makes it possible to develop AI agents, which will become more valuable in the years ahead. These agents continue to become more advanced and can help with various tasks, such as automated customer service and optimized workflows. 

Tech giants have committed to spending more on AI this year than they did last year, and all of that money and data has to go somewhere. Amazon’s cloud platform acts as the foundation for many AI builds, and while Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) also have cloud platforms, Amazon is the largest provider in the industry. 

Amazon’s Other Business Segments Can Also Benefit From AI The resurgence of high AWS growth rates isn’t the only catalyst that can turn Amazon into a superb pick for 2026. The company is also using AI to enhance its other product lines. For instance, AI helps Amazon provide personalized product recommendations in its marketplace, and it also results in online ads that generate more clicks. 

Amazon has multiple business segments in key industries that posted impressive growth rates in Q3. Online advertising revenue increased by 24% year-over-year, while online store sales were up by 10% year-over-year. Amazon’s Trainium2 AI chips also did well, registering more than 150% in sequential gains.  It’s already a multi-billion dollar segment under the broader Amazon umbrella.

Physical AI Will Boost The Demand For Cloud Platforms Most of the AI boom has taken place digitally. People use ChatGPT and other AI models to search various prompts, but it can also autogenerate quizzes and perform various tasks that you won’t get from a Google search. 

However, AI demand can go parabolic as physical AI becomes more common. Humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles both require more cloud storage, which can give AWS an additional boost. This technology is starting to become more available, with Waymo expanding its self-driving services to several U.S. cities.

Amazon has plenty of tailwinds that should give the stock a boost in 2026. However, long-term catalysts make the stock look promising beyond this year as well. 

Released: The Ultimate Guide To Retirement Income (sponsor) Most investors spend years learning how to pick good stocks and funds. Far fewer have a clear plan for turning those investments into a reliable retirement paycheck. The truth is, the transition from “building wealth” to “living on wealth” is one of the most overlooked risks facing successful investors in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

That is exactly what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income was created to solve. It’s a free guide that outlines the straightforward math and strategies you need to convert your investments to income. Learn more here.

Disclosure: The opinions, analyses, and evaluations here are ours and not provided by any bank, financial institution, or any other company. They have not reviewed, approved or endorsed our content.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CRM 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.

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.

Key Takeaways QCOM is expanding in AI PCs, gaming, and automotive with new Snapdragon chipsets and platform launches.AMD benefits from rising EPYC processor demand, AI-driven cloud adoption, and a growing data center presence.QCOM shows better valuation metrics, while AMD leads in stock gains and projected 2025 revenue growth. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. (QCOM - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) are premier chip manufacturing firms competing in the mobile, PC and data center markets, with a focus on AI (artificial intelligence) and advanced chip technologies. Qualcomm’s offerings include high-performance, low-power chip designs for mobile devices, PCs, XR (Extended Reality), automotive, wearable, robotics, connectivity and AI use cases. The company boasts a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio comprising 3G, 4G, 5G and other technologies.

Advanced Micro has strengthened its position in the semiconductor market, thanks to its evolution from a purebred consumer-PC chip provider to an enterprise-focused company. Its processors are primarily powered by the company's proprietary "Zen" CPU and "Vega" GPU architectures. The company’s acquisition of Xilinx has helped in expanding into multiple embedded markets. AMD now offers Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Adaptive SoCs and Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) products.

With growing AI proliferation in PCs, smartphones, automotive and IoT applications, both Qualcomm and Advanced Micro are steadily advancing their semiconductor portfolio to bolster their competitive edge. Let us analyze in depth the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the companies to understand who is in a better position to maximize gains from the emerging market trends.

The Case for QCOMQualcomm is well-positioned to meet its long-term revenue targets driven by solid 5G traction, greater visibility and a diversified revenue stream. The company is increasingly focusing on the seamless transition from a wireless communications firm for the mobile industry to a connected processor company for the intelligent edge. Qualcomm had extended its collaboration with Garmin with the addition of the Nexus automotive-grade High Performance Compute (HPC) platform. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Platform for automotive, Nexus will integrate multiple vehicle domains, such as in-vehicle infotainment, instrument clusters and ADAS, into a single system for optimal efficiency.

The company is strengthening its foothold in the mobile chipsets market with innovative product launches. It had extended its Snapdragon G Series portfolio with the addition of next-generation gaming chipsets, Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 chips. Qualcomm is also placing strong emphasis on developing advanced chipsets for the emerging market of AI PCs. The strategy is aimed at moving beyond the slowing smartphone industry, which is its primary breadwinner. The Snapdragon X chip for mid-range AI desktops and laptops is the fourth such product in the Snapdragon X processor line, following the successful launch of the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite series.

Despite efforts to ramp up its AI initiatives, Qualcomm has been facing tough competition from Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) in the AI PC market. Shift in the share among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) at the premium tier has reduced Qualcomm's near-term opportunity to sell integrated chipsets from the Snapdragon platform. The company is also facing stiff competition from Samsung’s Exynos processors in the premium smartphone market, while MediaTek is gaining market share in the mid-range and budget smartphone market. Competition is also likely to come from formidable rivals like Broadcom and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) . Qualcomm’s extensive operations in China are further likely to be significantly affected by the U.S.-China trade hostilities.

The Case for AMDAMD is strengthening its footprint in the AI market through an expanding portfolio. The latest MI350 series instinct accelerator families strengthen its competitive position in the AI space. AMD introduced its Helios design supporting Meta Platforms’ new Open Rack Wide specification. It is also benefiting from strong enterprise adoption and expanded cloud deployments.

AMD’s footprint is strong in the data center market thanks to strong adoption of EPYC processors. It is benefiting from strong enterprise adoption, expanded cloud deployments and emerging AI use cases. Rapid adoption of agentic AI is creating additional demand for general-purpose compute infrastructure as customers are realizing that each token generated by a GPU triggers multiple CPU-intensive tasks. This is driving demand for AMD’s fifth-gen EPYC Turin processors. AMD is expanding its footprint in markets like aerospace, streaming, financial services, retail, energy and telecom thanks to strong EPYC demand.

However, in the traditional computing market, which still generates a chunk of its revenues, AMD is up against Intel's strong market position. With Intel systems so well entrenched, there is an obvious preference for system integrators to choose Intel processors over AMD. Moreover, AMD faces significant competition from NVIDIA in the GPU market. AMD has had relatively greater success in the mobile segment, and its current product lineup indicates that this focus will continue. However, competition in the mobile segment is likely to accelerate, with more ARM-based devices coming on the market.

How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for QCOM & AMD?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Qualcomm’s fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 2.7% and 1%, respectively. The EPS estimates have been trending northward on average over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Advanced Micro’s 2025 sales suggests year-over-year growth of 31.6%, while that for EPS implies a rise of 19.6%. The EPS estimates have been trending southward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance & Valuation of QCOM & AMDOver the past year, Qualcomm has gained a mere 0.6% compared with the industry’s growth of 42.8%. Advanced Micro has surged 84.2% over the same period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Qualcomm looks more attractive than Advanced Micro from a valuation standpoint. Going by the price/earnings ratio, Qualcomm’s shares currently trade at 13.46 forward earnings, significantly lower than 34.67 for Advanced Micro.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QCOM or AMD: Which is a Better Pick?Qualcomm and Advanced Micro carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Both companies expect their sales and profits to improve in 2025. Advanced Micro has shown steady revenue and EPS growth for years, while Qualcomm has been facing a bumpy road. AMD has also recorded a better price performance than Qualcomm. However, QCOM is trading cheaply compared with AMD. Qualcomm has a VGM Score of A. Consequently, Qualcomm appears to have a slight edge over AMD and seems to be a better investment option at the moment.

Key Takeaways New home sales rose year over year, but supply indicators weakened in October 2025.Building permits and housing starts declined, signaling cautious builder activity.Lower mortgage rates lifted buyer interest, but macro pressures constrained supply. The U.S. housing market is still navigating choppy waters, especially on the supply side, as evidenced by the new residential sales and building permits data. After a pause of approximately four months, primarily due to the federal government shutdown in October and November 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly released the statistics for October 2025. The month’s new residential sales inched down month over month but grew year over year. On the other hand, October’s new residential construction fell both month over month and year over year.

As of October 2025, the market was adjusting according to the Fed rate cut in September 2025, with expectations about two more cuts by 2025 end boosting optimism. Although the trend of lowering interest rates stimulated the homebuyers’ intention of owning a new house, the homebuilders fell short of this trend. The mortgage rates are circling 6%, but the ongoing macro headwinds are restricting growth opportunities.

Diving Into the NumbersPer the Jan. 13, 2026 report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, new single-family home sales for October 2025 were 737,000 units, down 0.1% from September 2025 but up 18.7% from October 2024. The median sales price of new houses sold in October 2025 was $392,300, down 3.3% month over month and 8% year over year. The average sales price (ASP) of new homes sold during the month was $498,000, up 3% from September 2025 but down 4.6% year over year.

Per the Jan. 9, 2026, report released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October 2025 were 1,412,000, indicating a decline of 0.2% month over month and 1.1% year over year. Single-family home building permits during the month were 876,000, down 0.5% from September 2025.

In October 2025, privately-owned housing starts were 1,246,000, indicating 4.6% decline from September 2025 and 7.8% fall from October 2024. Moreover, during the month, single-family housing starts were up month over month by 5.4%.

Privately-owned homes completed in October 2025 was 1.1% more than in September 2025 but 15.3% down year over year at 1,386,000 units. Single-family housing completions in October 2025 were 1,009,000, up 6% month over month.

Knowing the Mortgage RateAccording to the mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.17% for the week that concluded on Oct. 30, 2025. This fixed rate moved down 2 basis points (bps) from 6.34% at the week concluded on Oct. 23, 2025, and 17 bps from 6.72% at the week concluded on Oct. 2. Notably, the recent 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down 55 bps from 6.72% at the week concluded on Oct. 31, 2024.

Here’s Our Take on the ScenarioIn early 2026, the U.S. housing industry is expected to witness improvements on the back of declining mortgage rate trends and the optimism surrounding the new policies under the current government. Recently, the Trump administration ordered $200 billion in mortgage bond purchases in an attempt to bring down housing costs. This strategic move is anticipated to cool down the ongoing affordability challenges and indicate a housing market rebound in 2026.

However, despite this spark of market improvement, the ongoing macro headwinds related to tariffs and inflationary conditions are taking a toll on the supply side. These trends can be witnessed from the homebuilding industry’s share price underperforming the broader Construction sector and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite in the past six months, as shown in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Homebuilders like Century Communities, Inc. (CCS - Free Report) , Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (DFH - Free Report) and Green Brick Partners, Inc. (GRBK - Free Report) are banking on the favorable fundamentals surrounding the housing market. Despite the ongoing macro headwinds, these homebuilding stocks are expected to experience growth in the near term.

3 Bundled Homebuilders to Look IntoCentury Communities: This Colorado-based homebuilder currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The company’s shares have gained 13.1% in the past six months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Century Communities’ earnings per share (EPS) estimates for 2026 are expected to grow 34.2% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, with the average being 20.4%.

Dream Finders Homes: Based in Jacksonville, FL, this homebuilding company also currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. Shares of the company have declined 29.2% in the past six months.

The company’s earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up in the past 60 days. Dream Finders Homes’ EPS estimates for 2026 are expected to grow 4.6% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters, missed on two occasions and met on the remaining occasion, with the negative average being 2.8%.

Green Brick Partners: Headquartered in Plano, TX, this homebuilder also carries a Zacks Rank of 3. The stock has soared 11.2% in the past six months.

The company’s earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up in the past 90 days. Green Brick Partners’ EPS estimates for 2026 are expected to inch down 0.3% year over year. The company’s earnings surpassed the consensus mark in three of the trailing four quarters, the average being 13.2%.

Crane NXT, Co. (CXT) CJS Securities 26th Annual "New Ideas for the New Year" Investor Conference January 14, 2026 8:45 AM EST

Company Participants

Aaron Saak - President, CEO & Director
Christina Cristiano - Senior VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Bob Labick - CJS Securities, Inc.

Presentation

Bob Labick
CJS Securities, Inc.

Good morning, and welcome to the 26th Annual CJS Securities New Ideas for the New Year conference. I'm Bob Labick, President of CJS. I'm pleased to have with us Crane NXT here today. Crane NXT is an industrial technology company focused on securing, detecting and authenticating critical items for its customers.

With us presenting from management are President and CEO, Aaron Saak; Senior Vice President and CFO, Christina Cristiano and VP of Investor Relations, Matt Roache. We'll start with the 10- to 15-minute overview management, and then we'll move on to a fireside chat. For clients interested in asking management questions, you can send them through the portal, and we'll try to weave those into the fireside chat. And with that, it's my pleasure to hand it off to Aaron to talk about Crane NXT. Aaron?

Aaron Saak
President, CEO & Director

Good morning, Bob, and thank you for the invitation here to join our conference. We certainly appreciate that and happy New Year to everyone as well joining us today. And appreciate the opportunity to talk about Crane NXT and really our plan ahead not only for '26, but I'm sure we'll talk to our Q&A, Bob, of the growth vector that we're on and started on a few years ago with the company.

Now before I get into some formal presentation and comments, I just want to remind everyone of the forward-looking statement disclosure that you see here on the screen, and I'll leave that for you

14 January 2026 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or the “Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm Market: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a leading global asset manager specialising in digital assets, today announced that, following resolutions passed at the annual general meeting on 30 May 2025 and at the request of the Directors of the Company, Baker Tilly Channel Islands Limited (“Baker Tilly”) will resign as statutory auditor of the Company. The Board of the Company has approved the appointment of BDO LLP (the “Successor Auditor”), a UK member firm of BDO International, as statutory auditor and independent registered public accounting firm to the Company.

The appointment of the Successor Auditor reflects a key step in CoinShares’ strategic expansion into the U.S. market. BDO LLP is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a requirement of registered auditors of companies who are publicly
listed in the United States.

There are no reportable events, including disagreements, consultations, or unresolved issues between the Company and Baker Tilly.

The change has been approved by the Company’s Audit Committee, the Board of Directors and its Shareholders. 

The Board of Directors and Executive Management of the Company would like to record their sincere thanks to Baker Tilly for the professionalism, diligence and constructive support provided throughout their tenure.

About CoinShares

CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading, and securities to a wide array of clients that include corporations, financial institutions, and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, and in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Futures Association and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
Company | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | [email protected]
Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | [email protected]

Press Contact
CoinShares
Benoît Pellevoizin
[email protected]

M Group Strategic Communications
Peter Padovano
[email protected]

Bill Nygren, Partner & CIO-U.S. of Harris Oakmark Funds, joins ‘Squawk on the Street' to discuss the bidding war over Warner Bros. Discovery, bank earnings, and more.

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) shares fell 4.5% as disappointing guidance overshadowed better-than-expected fourth quarter financial results.

The bank reported Q4 net income of $7.6 billion, up from $6.8 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share rose 18% year-over-year to $0.98, beating analyst expectations of $0.96.

Revenue, net of interest expense, increased 7% to $28.4 billion, also ahead of estimates of $27.6 billion.

Net interest income (NII) grew 10% year-over-year to $15.8 billion, driven by higher balances, fixed-rate asset repricing and stronger Global Markets activity, partly offset by lower interest rates.

Provision for credit losses declined to $1.3 billion from $1.5 billion a year earlier, while net charge-offs also fell.

Despite the quarterly beats, investor focus turned to management’s outlook. Bank of America projected 2026 NII growth of 5% to 7%, citing expected Federal Reserve rate cuts and ongoing deposit migration pressures.

The forecast fell short of some Wall Street expectations for more robust growth following the elevated margins seen earlier in 2025, raising concerns that peak NII may be approaching.

For Q4, noninterest expense rose 4% to $17.4 billion, reflecting higher incentive compensation, transaction costs and continued investments in technology, people and brand. The efficiency ratio improved to 61%, down nearly 200 basis points from a year earlier.

For the full year 2025, Bank of America posted net income of $30.5 billion and earnings per share of $3.81, up 19% year-over-year.

Average deposits grew 3% to $2.01 trillion, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of sequential growth, while average loans and leases increased 8%.

The bank returned $8.4 billion to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases and ended the period with a CET1 capital ratio of 11.4%, well above regulatory minimums.

“With solid revenue growth, positive operating leverage, and a lower efficiency ratio, we improved returns year-over-year for both the full year and the quarter,” Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said in a statement.

“With consumers and businesses proving resilient, as well as the regulatory environment and tax and trade policies coming into sharper focus, we expect further economic growth in the year ahead.”

Key Takeaways ASML's Installed Base Management business stayed strong through Q3 2025.ASML completed system upgrades, benefiting from lower costs, tariffs, and improved gross margins.ASML expects EUR 2.1B in IBM revenues in Q4 2025. ASML Holding’s (ASML - Free Report) upgrade and service business has been a strong contributor to its Installed Base Management (IBM) segment in the first half of 2025 and remained strong throughout the third quarter of 2025. The upgrade business also benefits from lower cost, lower tariff impact and widened gross margin.

In 2025, ASML made strong progress in completing a growing number of field upgrades of NXE:3800E systems with 220 wafers per hour configuration. ASML’s second half of 2025 IBM business kept pace with the first half of the year.

Earlier in 2025, IBM’s strength was more upgrade-driven and in the second half of 2025, it was toward recurring service revenues. ASML’s expanding Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography installed base is increasingly driving service demand. As the company ventures into sub-2nm production with High Numerical Aperture (High-NA) EUV systems, the IBM business is expected to gain in 2026 as well.

ASML projects its IBM business revenues to be €2.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. ASML Holding expects fourth-quarter 2025 revenues to be between €9.2 billion and €9.8 billion, suggesting a 26.3% sequential increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASML’s 2025 revenues indicates 23.7% year-over-year growth.

How Competitors Fare Against ASMLASML is effectively the sole player in lithography system upgrades for its own installed base, especially in EUV space. However, in the broader semiconductor equipment market, ASML competes with companies like Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) and Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) .

Lam Research is an established wafer fabrication equipment manufacturer that is established in the memory space. Lam Research’s memory segment, accounting for both Dynamic Random Access Memory and Non-Volatile Memory divisions, is gaining traction on the back of AI.

Applied Materials supplies equipment used in chip fabrication, including deposition and etching tools that are essential for both advanced and mature nodes. As chips become more complex with AI and high-performance workloads, Applied Materials’ tools aid in designing and making efficient and smaller node chips.

ASML’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of ASML have gained 54.3% in the past six months compared with the Computer and Technology sector’s growth of 19.2%.

ASML 6-Month Price Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, ASML trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 12.58X, higher than the sector’s average of 7.46X.

ASML Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASML’s fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 39.7% and 4.3%, respectively. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2025 and 2026 has been revised upward in the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ASML currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Wall Street is finding an unexpected beneficiary of America's weight-loss boom: airlines.

With the first GLP-1 weight-loss drug now available in pill form, analysts at Jefferies say broad adoption across society could quietly lower fuel bills — airlines' single largest cost — and lift earnings for the carriers.

"A slimmer society = lower fuel consumption. Airlines have a history of being vigilant around aircraft weight savings, from olives (pitless, of course) to paper stock," the Wall Street firm said in a note to clients.

Jefferies argued that a 10% reduction in average passenger weight could translate into roughly 2% total aircraft weight savings, up to 1.5% lower fuel costs and as much as a 4% boost to earnings per share.

Patients are already getting their hands on the first GLP-1 pill for obesity from Novo Nordisk, and a similar product from Eli Lilly isn't far behind, with U.S. approval expected within months. By eliminating the need for self-injection, pills are widely expected to attract first-time patients to obesity treatments.

Earnings GainsJefferies estimates the implications could be material for the largest U.S. airlines, led by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Collectively, the four carriers are expected to burn about 16 billion gallons of fuel in 2026 at an average fuel price of $2.41 a gallon, according to Jefferies. That puts their combined fuel bill at nearly $39 billion, accounting for nearly 19% of total operating expenses.

Assuming a 1% reduction in aircraft weight improves fuel efficiency by 0.75%, the investment bank estimates a 2% decline in average passenger weight could translate into roughly 4% upside to earnings per share across the group. That equals potential EPS gains of about 2.8% for Delta, 3.5% for United, 4.2% for Southwest and as much as 11.7% for American, which has more operating leverage to fuel costs.

Weight is one of the most important drivers of fuel efficiency, a point aircraft manufacturers including Boeing routinely emphasize. When Boeing delivers an aircraft, there is a fixed "operating empty weight," with the remaining allowance up to the maximum takeoff weight split among fuel, passengers, baggage, and cargo, Jefferies noted.

Jefferies used a 737 MAX 8 as an example. The aircraft has an operating empty weight of about 99,000 pounds, with capacity for roughly 46,000 pounds of fuel and 36,000 pounds of payload. Assuming a two-class configuration with 178 passengers at an average weight of 180 pounds, passengers account for around 32,000 pounds.

If average passenger weight declined by 10%, total passenger weight would fall by about 3,200 pounds or roughly 2% of maximum takeoff weight, delivering meaningful fuel savings over thousands of flights per year, Jefferies said.

The industry's fixation on weight is well-documented. In 2018, United Airlines switched its Hemisphere magazine to lighter paper, trimming about an ounce per copy, a move expected to save 170,000 gallons of fuel annually, worth roughly $290,000 at the time, Jefferies noted.

— CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.

Joerg Hiller Jan 14, 2026 15:02

dogwifhat (WIF) eyes $0.47 breakout after 6% daily gain. Technical indicators show neutral RSI at 60.28 with strong resistance at $0.47 and critical support holding at $0.38.

WIF Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $0.44-$0.47 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.35-$0.52 range
• Bullish breakout level: $0.47 • Critical support: $0.38

What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About dogwifhat While specific analyst predictions from major crypto influencers are currently limited, recent institutional analysis provides valuable insights into WIF's trajectory. According to CMC AI's January 8 analysis, whale accumulation patterns showed significant strength with over $2.5 million in WIF purchases during a 48-hour period between January 5-7, 2026. This accumulation phase historically precedes rallies, with analysts targeting a 30-40% price increase from those levels.

Benzinga's recent dogwifhat forecast extends the timeline considerably, projecting WIF could reach $2.11 by 2030, representing substantial long-term upside from current levels. On-chain data platforms continue to monitor whale activity as a key indicator for WIF's near-term price movements.

WIF Technical Analysis Breakdown dogwifhat's current technical setup presents a mixed but cautiously optimistic picture. Trading at $0.41, WIF has gained 6.15% in the past 24 hours, demonstrating renewed buying interest after testing the $0.38 support zone.

The RSI reading of 60.28 places WIF in neutral territory, suggesting room for additional upside before reaching overbought conditions. However, the MACD histogram at 0.0000 indicates bearish momentum, creating a divergence that traders should monitor closely.

WIF's position within the Bollinger Bands is particularly noteworthy, with a %B reading of 0.80 placing the token near the upper band resistance at $0.45. This positioning suggests WIF is approaching a critical decision point where it must either break through resistance or face potential pullback pressure.

Moving averages paint a compelling story for the dogwifhat forecast. While WIF trades above shorter-term averages (SMA 7 at $0.39, SMA 20 at $0.36), it remains significantly below the SMA 200 at $0.67, indicating the broader trend remains bearish despite recent gains.

dogwifhat Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case Bullish Scenario If WIF successfully breaks above the immediate resistance at $0.44, the next major target sits at $0.47, representing the strong resistance level identified in technical analysis. A confirmed break above $0.47 with volume could open the door to a test of $0.52, which would align with the 30-40% rally target suggested by recent whale accumulation patterns.

For this bullish WIF price prediction to materialize, traders should watch for RSI breaking above 65 while maintaining momentum, and MACD histogram turning positive to confirm the trend reversal.

Bearish Scenario The primary risk for dogwifhat lies in a failure to hold the $0.38 support level. A break below this critical zone could trigger a rapid decline toward the strong support at $0.35, representing potential downside of approximately 15% from current levels.

The bearish MACD histogram and WIF's position well below the 200-day moving average suggest that any rally could face significant selling pressure. Traders should be particularly cautious if RSI fails to break above 65 or if the token shows rejection at the $0.44-$0.47 resistance zone.

Should You Buy WIF? Entry Strategy Based on current technical levels, the optimal entry strategy for WIF involves waiting for either a confirmed breakout or a pullback to support. Aggressive traders might consider entries on any dip toward $0.39-$0.40, while conservative investors should wait for a clear break above $0.44 with confirming volume.

Stop-loss placement should be positioned below $0.37 to account for normal volatility while protecting against significant downside. The daily ATR of $0.04 suggests setting stops with adequate breathing room given WIF's inherent volatility.

Risk management is crucial given the conflicting technical signals. Position sizing should reflect the uncertainty, and traders should avoid overleveraging in the current environment.

Conclusion This WIF price prediction suggests a cautiously optimistic outlook for the short term, with dogwifhat positioned for a potential test of $0.47 resistance by month-end. The combination of recent whale accumulation, neutral RSI readings, and proximity to key resistance levels creates an interesting setup for traders.

However, the bearish MACD momentum and position below long-term moving averages warrant careful risk management. While the dogwifhat forecast shows promise for a 10-15% upside move, traders should remain prepared for potential volatility around key technical levels.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency price predictions are inherently speculative and should not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making investment decisions.

Image source: Shutterstock

wif price analysis wif price prediction

Luisa Crawford Jan 14, 2026 15:08

HBAR trades at $0.12 with analysts targeting $0.141-$0.16 by January end. Neutral RSI at 54.59 suggests consolidation before potential breakout above $0.13 resistance.

HBAR Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $0.13-$0.135 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.141-$0.16 range
• Bullish breakout level: $0.14 • Critical support: $0.12

What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About Hedera While specific analyst predictions from crypto influencers are currently limited, recent market analysis provides clear direction for HBAR's near-term trajectory. According to Blockchain.News reports from early January, "HBAR price prediction shows bullish momentum with analysts targeting $0.16 in January 2026."

More recent analysis from Blockchain.News on January 11th noted that "HBAR shows neutral momentum at $0.12 with analysts targeting $0.16 by January end." This aligns with technical data suggesting the token is consolidating at current levels.

Changelly's comprehensive Hedera forecast from January 8th provides the most detailed outlook: "For January 2026, the maximum trading value of HBAR will be around $0.141, with a possibility of dropping to a minimum of $0.118. The average cost will be $0.130."

On-chain metrics suggest institutional interest remains steady, with 24-hour trading volume reaching $36.1 million on Binance alone, indicating healthy market participation.

HBAR Technical Analysis Breakdown The current technical picture for HBAR presents a neutral-to-slightly-bullish setup. Trading at $0.12, the token sits precisely at its 20-day moving average, indicating equilibrium between buyers and sellers.

RSI Analysis: The 14-period RSI reading of 54.59 places HBAR firmly in neutral territory, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions. This provides room for movement in either direction, though the slight uptick from oversold levels hints at potential upward momentum.

MACD Signals: The MACD histogram reading of 0.0000 indicates extremely muted momentum, while the MACD line (-0.0002) trades slightly below its signal line. This bearish divergence suggests caution in the immediate term.

Bollinger Bands Position: With a %B position of 0.75, HBAR trades in the upper portion of its Bollinger Bands, indicating the recent 5.81% daily gain has pushed it toward the upper band at $0.13. The middle band at $0.12 now serves as immediate support.

Volume and Volatility: The Average True Range of $0.01 suggests moderate volatility, while the strong trading volume of $36.1 million indicates genuine interest rather than low-liquidity price manipulation.

Hedera Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case Bullish Scenario The bull case for HBAR centers on breaking above the immediate resistance at $0.13. Successfully clearing this level would target the strong resistance zone at $0.14, aligning with Changelly's $0.141 maximum prediction.

Technical confirmation for the bullish scenario requires: - RSI breaking above 60 - MACD histogram turning positive - Volume expansion above $40 million daily

A sustained move above $0.14 could trigger momentum toward the $0.16 target cited by multiple analysts, representing a 28% gain from current levels.

Bearish Scenario The bear case materializes if HBAR fails to hold the $0.12 pivot point. The immediate support at $0.12 coincides with the 20-day moving average, making this level critical for maintaining the current structure.

A breakdown below $0.12 would target the strong support at $0.11, which aligns with Changelly's minimum prediction of $0.118. Further weakness could see the token test the lower Bollinger Band around $0.11.

Risk factors include broader crypto market weakness and potential profit-taking after recent gains.

Should You Buy HBAR? Entry Strategy For traders considering HBAR positions, the current setup offers defined risk-reward parameters. Conservative buyers might wait for a pullback to the $0.12 support level, using this as an entry point with a stop-loss at $0.115.

More aggressive traders could enter on a confirmed break above $0.13 with volume expansion, targeting the $0.141-$0.16 range while maintaining a stop-loss below $0.12.

Position size should reflect the token's moderate volatility The neutral RSI provides flexibility for both dip-buying and breakout strategies Current consolidation pattern suggests patience will be rewarded Conclusion The HBAR price prediction for the remainder of January 2026 points toward a potential move to $0.141-$0.16, representing 13-28% upside from current levels. The convergence of analyst targets around these levels, combined with neutral technical indicators, suggests a measured but positive outlook.

However, the mixed MACD signals and need for volume confirmation indicate this Hedera forecast comes with moderate confidence. Traders should monitor the $0.12-$0.13 range closely, as a decisive break in either direction will likely determine HBAR's path through month-end.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency price predictions are speculative and subject to high volatility. This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before trading.

Image source: Shutterstock

hbar price analysis hbar price prediction

The exemption would apply to both individuals and businesses. Key Takeaways Rhode Island introduced legislation proposing tax exemptions for small Bitcoin transactions. The state's Senate Bill 2021 aims to allow transactions up to $5,000 monthly or $20,000 annually without state tax liability. A new bill introduced by Rhode Island Senator Peter Appollonio proposes exempting small Bitcoin transactions from state income tax.

Senate Bill 2021 (S 2021) would allow individuals and businesses to sell or exchange up to $5,000 in Bitcoin per month, or $20,000 per year, without state tax liability, according to the bill’s text.

The bill, effective from January 1, 2027, through January 1, 2028, aims to simplify tax obligations for small-scale crypto trades and encourages compliance through self-certification, with guidelines for record-keeping and valuation.

The bill kicked off on January 9 and is now sitting in the Senate Finance Committee for review.

Rhode Island has been increasingly active in shaping digital asset policy, with multiple bills and a newly enacted law addressing blockchain use, consumer protection, and individual rights.

Recent legislative efforts include proposals to establish a comprehensive Rhode Island Economic Growth Blockchain Act, define and regulate digital assets and open blockchain tokens, and prohibit the compelled disclosure of private cryptographic keys.

In 2025, the state enacted a crypto ATM consumer-protection law requiring kiosk operators to be licensed and comply with safeguards aimed at reducing fraud.

Disclaimer

Hedera (HBAR) was also among the top performers, up 3% from Tuesday.

Ethereum staking keeps setting a series of records, as the Beacon chain contract now holds over 30% of the total supply. Staking has attracted major players, including Bitmain, due to its easy access to passive rewards. 

Ethereum staking is becoming the go-to solution for whales, DAT companies, and other big holders. The rush to stake ETH follows the general growth of the Ethereum ecosystem. Additionally, liquid staking tokens allow holders to both own their ETH and have a liquid version for additional operations. 

Staking picked up in January, after the latest deposits brought the total to a new all-time high. Approximately 36 million ETH are staked, accounting for over 30% of the total supply. 

Staking now grows more slowly, but reflects the latest additions from large wallets, ETFs, DAT companies, and DeFi whales. Binance liquid staking is also emerging as a significant source of ETH.

The value of staked ETH is at over $118B at current prices, and the supply will most probably remain outside the market. Any attempts at withdrawals have increased waiting time up to 48 days, so an exodus of stakers is improbable. In most cases, outflows are a way to consolidate wallets. 

Ethereum validators deposit another 2.3M ETH In the past month, a big shift happened for the Ethereum staking queue. The wave of withdrawals ended as big wallets consolidated their stakes. 

At the end of 2025, the entry queue once again passed the exit queue. Now, the entry queue is at the highest level since 2023. Over 2.34M ETH are waiting to enter the queue. 

ETH deposits to the validator queue accelerated since the end of 2025, reflecting the effect of Bitmine’s treasury, which will be staked for passive rewards. | Source: Validator queue Staking is one of the most efficient ways to take ETH off the market, incomparable even to a treasury company buying. Currently, the validator exit queue is practically empty, showing almost no interest in unstaking ETH. 

Staking rewards still earn 2.82%, usually distributed through some of the top validators. The return rate fluctuates slightly, but generally stays close to that range. For some staked treasuries, the returns may be significant. 

Bitmine becomes a major source of staking deposits Bitmine holds around 3.6% of the ETH supply, hoping to expand the holdings to 5%. In late 2025, Bitmine started its staking program. 

In the past day, Bitmine staked another 186,650 ETH, valued at over $624.8M. Bitmine will stake its ETH through the MAVAN validator for additional security. As a result, the treasury firm expects up to $500M per year in passive rewards. 

ETH is no longer deflationary and has increased its supply to 121,371,617 in total, adding 1.3M new tokens in the past year. Most of the added supply is offset by staking and accumulation in holding addresses. Over 25.8M ETH is held in accumulation addresses, leaving a significant part of ETH off the market.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

Tether-backed mobile wallet Oobit is adding native support for Phantom, giving access to Visa payment rails to one of the leading wallet platforms for Solana.

"The launch represents a major step toward everyday crypto payments," the companies wrote. "Over the past few years, blockchain infrastructure has removed speed and cost barriers, while Phantom built one of the largest self-custody user bases in crypto with more than fifteen million users globally. Yet despite this scale, most wallet users still had no simple way to spend their assets in daily life."

Oobit offers one-tap payment optionality for cryptocurrencies directly from noncustodial wallets, like MetaMask and Phantom, at any merchant that accepts Visa. The platform features a decentralized "DePay" payment layer that acts like a bridge between onchain crypto settlements and traditional Visa networks, automatically converting crypto to fiat at the point of sale.

Phantom users will retain full control of their funds until the moment they approve a transaction. Payments are "executed directly from the wallet with no pre-transfers, no bridging, and no intermediaries involved," the firms noted.

"When a user sends stablecoins as payment, the amount is deducted from their wallet in real time, converted into fiat, and deposited directly into the merchant’s bank account. The transaction settles instantly," they added.

The press release notes that Oobit’s DePay is active in Brazil, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States, representing some of Phantom’s largest markets. In December, the tap-to-pay payments startup partnered with Bakkt to expand coverage across all 50 states.

Of note, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko was a co-lead in Oobit's $25 million Series A funding round alongside Tether, CMCC Global, and 468 Capital. The rebranded OOB token was migrated to Solana from Ethereum in late 2025.

In November, Malaysia-based tech consulting services firm VCI Global announced a $100 million investment in OOB tokens and plans to manage Oobit's digital treasury, an arrangement that would make Tether a major stakeholder in VCI, it said at the time.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Axie Infinity (AXS) is trading at $1.29 at the time of writing, up more than 33% in the last 24 hours, as trading volume surged to roughly $380 million. 

The sudden burst of activity marks AXS’s strongest single-day performance in months and coincides with its first sustained move above the $1 level since November. Why has interest returned so quickly?

Volume Surge Signals a Shift in Market BehaviorTrading volume increased by more than 1,600% within a single day, pushing AXS into the spotlight across the crypto market. Such expansion often signals a change in market participation rather than routine volatility. Price breakouts require volume support to persist, and the current data show buyers stepping in with size rather than hesitation.

This rise in volume arrived alongside expanding volatility, suggesting that AXS has moved out of a prolonged accumulation phase. Market participants appear more willing to commit capital as price structure improves and liquidity deepens.

Tokenomic Changes Tighten Supply DynamicsOne catalyst behind the rally stems from a major tokenomic adjustment within the Axie Infinity ecosystem. On January 7, the development team disabled Smooth Love Potion rewards in the Origins game mode. This decision targeted automated bot farming and reduced persistent token emissions.

By cutting off a steady source of sell pressure, the ecosystem’s supply dynamics tightened sharply. Reduced inflation often reshapes market expectations, especially after extended periods of downside pressure. This shift appears to have played a role in restoring confidence around AXS’s near-term structure.

Roadmap Signals Higher Stakes AheadMomentum also followed renewed focus on Axie Infinity’s long-term roadmap. Co-founder Jeffrey “JiHo” Zirlin recently outlined plans for 2026 that involve larger strategic risks after a cautious 2025. Among them sits Atia’s Legacy Open Beta, a project that aims to introduce deeper economic systems and more complex player-versus-player mechanics.

Such developments highlight a transition toward more ambitious gameplay and economic design. For a project built on blockchain gaming, these shifts matter. They reshape expectations around engagement, retention, and ecosystem depth.

Treasury Vote Draws Attention to Capital StrategyGovernance activity added another layer of interest. A recent proposal approved the staking of 2,829 ETH, valued near $9 million, from the community treasury. This move aims to generate yield from idle assets and optimize the project’s roughly $40 million treasury.

Treasury actions often influence perception around sustainability and operational discipline. In this case, the vote signaled a more active approach to capital management rather than passive reserves.

Derivatives Data Confirms Rising ParticipationDerivatives markets echoed the spot rally. Open interest surged by more than 180%, indicating that traders are opening new positions instead of closing existing ones. Rising open interest during a price advance often reflects expectations of continuation rather than exhaustion.

This positioning aligns with the broader increase in volume. Traders appear to anticipate follow-through rather than a brief spike. Will that conviction hold through key resistance levels?

From a technical perspective, AXS rebounded strongly from multi-month support near the $0.72 to $0.80 range. Price rejected those lows decisively and pushed above prior consolidation zones. Immediate support now clusters between $1.10 and $1.20, an area that traders continue to monitor closely.

A sustained move above the $1.50 region could open the path toward higher resistance zones near $1.65 to $1.75. For now, market structure reflects a transition from prolonged bearish pressure toward emerging bullish momentum. The next sessions will reveal whether this surge evolves into a sustained trend or pauses for consolidation.

Chicago-based crypto exchange Bitnomial has launched monthly futures contracts tied to the Layer-1 blockchain Aptos’ native token, expanding the availability of APT derivatives on regulated US markets.

The contracts will be available to institutional clients through Bitnomial’s clearing members, with retail access expected in the coming weeks via the company’s Botanical platform.

According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the contracts feature monthly expirations and settle in either US dollars or Aptos’ native APT (APT) token, depending on the position. Monthly futures are standardized derivatives that allow traders to gain price exposure over a defined period without holding the underlying asset.

Michael Dunn, president of Bitnomial, said that “a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto ETF approval under the SEC’s generic listing standards,” adding that the contracts let institutions gain APT exposure using the same derivatives infrastructure they already use for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), including portfolio margining across positions.

The contracts are regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), according to the company.

The slow expansion of US-regulated crypto futuresUS-regulated crypto futures markets beyond the largest digital assets remain limited, with Bitnomial emerging as one of the few venues offering exchange-native futures tied to altcoins. Bringing those products to market, however, has involved navigating a complex and evolving regulatory landscape.

In August 2024, Bitnomial filed to list XRP (XRP) futures through a self-certification with the CFTC, but was challenged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which argued the contracts required Bitnomial to register as a securities exchange.

After filing a lawsuit against the SEC in October 2025, Bitnomial dropped the case in March and went on to launch regulated XRP futures for US users later that month, citing “the SEC’s evolving policies on crypto.”

Other US exchanges have taken a more incremental approach to regulated crypto futures.

Coinbase Derivatives Exchange launched institutional futures contracts tied to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) under CFTC regulation in June 2023, but did not expand access to retail-sized contracts until May 2025.

In July 2025, Kraken launched a US derivatives platform that gives domestic traders access to cryptocurrency futures listed on CME Group. The exchange also offers an APT perpetual futures contract on its global platform.

In March 2025, Kraken announced plans to acquire NinjaTrader for about $1.5 billion, a deal aimed at expanding its derivatives capabilities through NinjaTrader’s CFTC-registered infrastructure. 

Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETF led $754M U.S. spot ETF inflows, while Solana and XRP ETFs saw smaller but positive allocations.

Izabela Anna2 min read

14 January 2026, 03:14 PM

U.S. spot crypto ETFs drew strong interest, as capital rotated back into digital asset exposure across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana-linked products. Data from SoSoValue showed total net inflows of $754 million into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. 

The figures marked one of the strongest single-day performances this year and reflected renewed institutional appetite. Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETF led all issuers, attracting $351 million in fresh capital during the session. Consequently, risk sentiment improved across major crypto markets.

Spot Ethereum ETFs also posted steady demand, recording $130 million in net inflows. Besides Ethereum, Solana and XRP products registered smaller but positive allocations. 

Solana spot ETFs added $5.91 million, while XRP spot ETFs saw $12.98 million in inflows. Hence, the data suggested investors continued to diversify beyond Bitcoin while maintaining exposure to high-liquidity assets.

Solana ETF Landscape Shows Clear LeadersAmong Solana-focused ETFs, Bitwise maintained a commanding position. Its BSOL product held $777.96 million in net assets and $656.66 million in cumulative inflows. 

Although daily inflows stayed flat, the fund posted a 2.64% gain and strong trading activity. Moreover, its 0.96% SOL share reflected sustained investor confidence.

Grayscale followed with $195.32 million in assets and $115.20 million in cumulative inflows. The fund advanced 2.82% on the day, supported by active trading volumes. However, its higher fee structure continued to shape investor comparisons. 

Source: sosovalue

Fidelity ranked third, recording $5.91 million in daily inflows and steady price appreciation. VanEck and 21Shares trailed, with 21Shares remaining the only product showing net outflows.

SOL Price Action Reinforces Bullish NarrativeSource: CoinCodex

Alongside ETF flows, Solana price action strengthened the broader outlook. Solana traded at $146.66, up 1.08% on the day and 6.31% over seven days. Market capitalization climbed above $81.5 billion, supported by heavy trading volume. 

According to curb.sol, SOL just printed its highest daily candle close since early November. Consequently, momentum traders turned more optimistic, with $180 entering near-term projections.

Crypto Tony also flagged constructive technical structure. SOL reclaimed the $140–$142 zone and held above $133–$135 support. Additionally, resistance near $145 remained the key trigger. A decisive move above that level could drive price toward $150 quickly. 

ENRICH your inbox with our best storiesDon’t miss out and join our newsletter to get the latest,
well-curated news from the crypto world!

Izabela Anna is a knowledgeable freelance journalist, who boasts over five years of experience covering the cryptocurrency market. Her tenure has seen her navigate through the ebbs and flows of multiple market cycles, giving her a deep understanding within. Her journalistic focus lies in dissecting price action dynamics, scrutinizing the on-chain landscape, and providing insights from a technical perspective, making her a trusted voice in the realm of cryptocurrency reporting.

Read more about

Latest Solana (SOL) News Today

Key NotesBNB Chain has hit its final roadmap milestone by reducing block intervals to 0.45 seconds to rival high-speed chains like Solana.The upgrade delivers "hard" Layer 1 finality to support exchange-grade decentralized finance and high-frequency swaps.Market reaction enters a "wait-and-see" period as the price of BNB consolidates near $933 following the successful mainnet activation. BNB Chain completed its “Short Block Interval Roadmap” on Jan. 14 with the successful activation of the Fermi hard fork. The milestone marks the transition from the Maxwell block time reduction of 0.75 seconds to a new 0.45-second production speed. This technical achievement brings the Ethereum-compatible environment closer to the physical limits of global block propagation.

The upgrade focused on making the network faster in a predictable way as usage grows. By shortening the block interval, BNB Chain targets “exchange-grade” DeFi operations. This includes reducing slippage for swaps and improving the efficiency of automated liquidations.

The Fermi hard fork is now live on BNB Smart Chain ✅

Block times are now ~0.45s, fast finality has been strengthened, and additional parameter updates, improvements and bug fixes have been added. The network is running more responsively as onchain activity scales.

Thanks to… pic.twitter.com/7BGEe0qT7b

— BNB Chain Developers (@BNBChainDevs) January 14, 2026

According to the official announcement, the Fermi hard fork was activated at approximately 02:30 UTC. The network reached the upgrade at block height 75140593.

The Sub-Second War: Competitive L1 Positioning The Fermi upgrade represents a strategic move to position BNB Chain against ultra-low-latency rivals. While many Layer 2 solutions offer “soft” speed through sequencers, BNB Chain provides “hard” settlement on the base layer.

Network Block/Slot Time Finality Type 2026 Competitive Status Aptos <0.05s (sub-50ms) L1 Hard Current Speed Benchmark Solana ~0.4s L1 Hard Established Performance Leader BNB Chain 0.45s L1 Hard (~1.1s) Deepening Sub-Second Lead Sui ~0.4s–0.5s L1 Hard Direct High-Performance Rival Base (L2) Sub-second (Soft) L2 Soft / L1 Hard Fast UX, but settlement lag remains Internal on-chain analysis confirms that the 0.45-second target is being met on the mainnet. Block production is maintaining a cadence of 2 to 3 blocks per second. This represents a 40% efficiency gain over the previous Maxwell-era production speeds.

Institutional Demand and Market Reaction Evidence of demand for this institutional-grade speed is already building. Recent YZi Labs Genius Terminal investment signals a shift toward professional on-chain trading infrastructure. These platforms require private and high-velocity execution.

Binance Coin/TetherUS Graph | Source: TradingView

The network achieves these gains even as it filters its broader ecosystem. Earlier this month, Binance delisting monitoring tags were applied to several assets to signal higher volatility risks.

The market has adopted a “wait-and-see” posture following the activation. Approximately 11 hours ago, the network saw a brief sell-off to $948. This was followed by an accumulation phase that pushed the price to a peak of $952. BNB BNB $944.5 24h volatility: 3.7% Market cap: $129.55 B Vol. 24h: $2.39 B has since entered consolidation waters. It currently trades near $933.64 with a neutral Relative Strength Index (RSI).

Beyond Human Latency While Fermi targets immediate DeFi gains, the 0.45-second threshold is also a requirement for the autonomous AI agents planned for 2026. Machine-to-machine economies require coordination across thousands of micro-decisions per hour.

The “Agent Latency Gap” means that delays invisible to humans become compounding bottlenecks for machine-to-machine commerce. By providing predictable sub-second settlement, BNB Chain is positioning itself as an operating layer for autonomous systems.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, News

As a Web3 marketing strategist and former CMO of DuckDAO, Zoran Spirkovski translates complex crypto concepts into compelling narratives that drive growth. With a background in crypto journalism, he excels in developing go-to-market strategies for DeFi, L2, and GameFi projects.

Zoran Spirkovski on X