Market Signal Briefing

Grayscale has published its 2026 predictions for the digital asset industry, tipping Bitcoin (BTC) to set a new all-time high in the first six months of the new year. Citing new market drivers, the report warned that the activities of treasury companies will not have a major influence on asset prices.

Grayscale Forecasts Bitcoin Rally In 2026
Digital asset investment company Grayscale has predicted a stellar year for Bitcoin in 2026, projecting the premier cryptocurrency to reach new highs. The company made the forecast in its 2026 crypto market outlook, identifying emerging trends for the industry.

Dubbed 2026 Digital Asset Outlook: Dawn of the Institutional Era, Grayscale analysts opined that BTC will shake off its bearish sentiments in the coming months. Per the report, BTC will reach an all-time high in the first half of 2026, triggering a broader market upswing for altcoins.

Right off the bat, the analysts opine that improved regulatory clarity in the US and the rising demand for “alternative stores of value” will introduce a wave of institutional interest for cryptocurrencies. Notably, the report mentions bridging public blockchains into mainstream financial infrastructure in addition to capital injection from advised wealth as a defining feature of 2026.

While an avalanche of institutional capital is poised to flood the crypto markets, Grayscale analysts are projecting the end of the four-year cycle for digital assets.

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“As a result, we expect rising valuations in 2026 and the end of the so-called four-year cycle,” wrote Grayscale analysts. “Bitcoin price will likely reach a new all-time high in the first half of the year, in our view.”

Furthermore, Grayscale analysts predicted a surge in crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) approvals and launches, potentially attracting an avalanche of institutional capital. Meanwhile, the report warned that dollar debasement risks will drive inflows into cryptocurrencies.

“Digital money systems like Bitcoin and Ethereum that offer transparent, programmatic, and ultimately scarce supply will be in rising demand, in our view, due to rising fiat currency risks,” read the paper.

Quantum Computing And DATs Will Not Influence Markets
While chatter around the threat of quantum computing has reached frenetic levels, Grayscale downplayed its effect on asset prices in the coming year. However, the team predicted a spike in research efforts by leading blockchains to stay ahead of quantum computing threats.

Furthermore, the Grayscale 2026 market outlook noted that digital asset treasuries (DATs) will not be a leading factor in determining the price of crypto in the coming year. In 2025, the activities of DATs garnered major media attention with sizable acquisitions triggering price rallies.

According to a well-known crypto analyst, Bitcoin’s (BTC) long-standing four-year cycle can no longer dictate the direction of the crypto market. For months, both Bitcoin and major altcoins have struggled to regain their previous highs, while traditional markets have flourished. This difference in performance has sparked discussions about whether the old cycle rule still applies and what could come next for the broader market.

Analyst Declares Bitcoin 4-Year Cycle Dead 
A popular crypto analyst with over 227,000 followers on X, @theunipcs, has announced that the Bitcoin four-year cycle is dead. He stated that this market cycle is now unable to determine the behavior of BTC and many major altcoins. 

Traditionally, crypto’s four-year cycles have relied on the Bitcoin halving to reduce supply and trigger price surges. However, based on Unipcs’ analysis, these mechanisms no longer govern the market, especially as factors such as monetary policy, Spot ETFs, liquidity flows, macroeconomic factors, and dramatic liquidation events have significantly altered it. 

Unipcs emphasized that the market has been in a long phase of consolidation and accumulation, showing little of the explosive activity historically expected after halving events. He pointed out that the price of Bitcoin and leading altcoins have remained depressed for months, trading roughly 30% or more below their all-time highs. 

This decline stands in stark contrast to other major asset classes, which continue to climb. The analyst noted that Silver has been hitting record levels almost daily, while Gold continues to climb to new peaks. Additionally, major US stock indexes, such as the S&P 500, are hitting fresh highs, while crypto remains stagnant and underperforming. 

BTCUSD currently trading at $87,408. Chart: TradingView
Notably, this extended period of weakness is highlighted by Bitcoin’s crash below $85,000 earlier this month after peaking above $126,000 during the first week of October. Many altcoins, including Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and others, have followed a similar trajectory, surging explosively before plunging to new lows. 

Technical indicators, such as the Fear & Greed Index, indicate that investor sentiment remains deeply negative, while analyst insights point to a bearish market structure. Overall, Unipcs’ analysis signals the possible end of the historically repetitive 4-year cycle, though he suggests it could mark the beginning of a new bullish phase for crypto. 

What’s Next For BTC And The Crypto Market? 
Despite the prolonged slump, Unipcs believes that the ongoing accumulation trend could end soon, triggering an aggressive rally in the crypto market. He believes that once this happens, Bitcoin and major altcoins could surge explosively to new all-time highs once the dormant market transitions into a new bullish phase. 

While the timing of his optimistic outlook remains uncertain, the analyst is confident in the market’s potential for a decisive breakout and recovery. Unipcs has stated that the crypto market will eventually catch up and potentially outperform all asset classes soon. 

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Veteran economist Peter Schiff has issued a renewed warning about Bitcoin following a dramatic surge in silver prices, suggesting the cryptocurrency could face a sharply different outcome compared to the precious metal’s rally. Schiff argued that while silver is accelerating upward, Bitcoin may experience a faster downside move, as market declines often unfold more rapidly under pressure.

His comments came after silver prices jumped more than 10% in a single trading session, briefly pushing above $79 per ounce for the first time. Market data showed silver rising from $78 to $79 in roughly 90 minutes, drawing global attention. A TradingView chart highlighted a near-vertical breakout, confirming silver’s strong momentum after months of steady gains.

The silver rally has reinforced broader investor interest in commodities and alternative assets. This trend is also visible in the growth of tokenized commodities, whose combined market valuation has climbed toward $4 billion. Investors appear increasingly eager to gain exposure to hard assets as inflation concerns and macro uncertainty persist.

According to CompaniesMarketCap data, silver has significantly narrowed the gap with NVIDIA in total market capitalization, underlining renewed institutional demand and growing confidence in commodities. At the same time, Bitcoin has struggled to show similar momentum, trading near $87,000 with only modest intraday gains. CoinMarketCap data showed limited upward movement across major cryptocurrencies.

Adding to the debate, analyst Ted Pillows shared a chart indicating that silver’s monthly RSI has reached its highest level in 45 years, signaling extreme momentum and raising sustainability concerns. Another chart comparing Bitcoin and silver shows Bitcoin giving back relative gains accumulated since 2017, highlighting silver’s recent outperformance.

Despite short-term weakness, long-term Bitcoin narratives remain intact. With silver near $80, a silver-to-Bitcoin valuation model suggests Bitcoin’s trend value could approach $394,000. Institutional interest also remains strong, as the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF ranks among the leading ETFs in 2025. However, analysts caution that if Bitcoin closes 2025 in the red, it could challenge the traditional post-halving cycle narrative and signal a potential structural shift in the market.

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is promoting his latest venture, Midnight Protocol, as a major step beyond being just another Cardano sidechain. Instead, he is positioning Midnight as a cross-chain privacy infrastructure designed to bring programmable, compliant privacy to multiple blockchain ecosystems, including Bitcoin and the XRP Ledger.

In a December 27 post on X, Hoskinson explained that Midnight’s zero-knowledge proof architecture is built to enhance existing blockchains rather than compete with or replace them. According to him, Midnight can serve as a shared privacy layer that strengthens rival networks by adding features they currently lack, particularly around confidential transactions and regulated decentralized finance.

Hoskinson argued that integrating Midnight with the XRP Ledger could significantly improve XRP DeFi by enabling private yet compliant financial applications, potentially allowing blockchain-based systems to compete more directly with traditional banking infrastructure. He made a similar case for Bitcoin, stating that Midnight could introduce programmable privacy capabilities that Bitcoin does not natively support, helping move the network closer to the original vision of private, permissionless finance.

Beyond cross-chain interoperability, Hoskinson emphasized Midnight’s potential impact on Cardano itself. He suggested that the protocol could dramatically increase Cardano’s monthly active users, transaction volumes, and total value locked by expanding the ecosystem’s functionality beyond its native chain. In his view, private DeFi at scale could give Cardano a first-mover advantage in an area with growing institutional and developer interest.

Hoskinson also highlighted the opportunity in real-world asset tokenization, a market he estimates at around $10 trillion. He argued that privacy-preserving infrastructure like Midnight is essential for institutions entering blockchain, criticizing traditional finance firms for relying on permissioned solutions such as the Canton Network, which he described as incomplete.

This strategy represents a notable shift for Hoskinson, who has historically focused on building within the Cardano ecosystem. By positioning Midnight as a universal privacy layer, he aims to tap into broader liquidity and user bases across multiple Layer-1 networks.

The pivot has fueled speculation around Midnight’s native token, NIGHT, which recently surged in search interest on CoinGecko. However, despite the attention, NIGHT has shown significant volatility, with prices reportedly down more than 80% to around $0.08 at the time of writing.

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The Flow blockchain, linked to NFT projects like NBA Top Shot announced it is looking into a potential security incident affecting the network.

The potential breach raised concerns about the network’s security. Its native token FLOW, has been immediately rocked as fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) have overtaken the project’s traders.

Why is Flow token down?
The announcement of the ongoing investigation was made because the Flow Foundation became aware of a potential security incident.

The engineering team is hard at work with network partners to establish effective response strategies.

The exact nature and extent of changes within the Flow network also remain unconfirmed. As a precaution, stakeholders have been advised to monitor updates closely. Once verified, the team is expected to provide further announcements that detail the cause and potential duration of disruptions to the Flow network.

While the investigation is ongoing, speculation has continued.

As of December 27, 2025, Flow (FLOW) is trading at $0.11, down from $0.17, some of the lowest levels the token has ever been. For context, the token was once valued at $42.

Flow token price chart. Source: CoinMarketCap
Recent trading volume had also surged to $164.12 million, but over the past 90 days, the token has experienced a 69.84% decline, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Why did exchanges pause Flow token deposits and withdrawals?
On Saturday, after the project flagged a potential security incident affecting its mainnet, crypto exchange Upbit issued a cautionary advisory for Flow (FLOW).

According to Upbit, the situation is under review, and there is a possibility for the exchange to take protective measures, including warnings, trading restrictions, or ending support if necessary. Users holding FLOW are urged to be cautious.

Other South Korean exchanges that have taken similar action to Upbit since the Flow episode began include Bithumb, one of South Korea’s largest platforms, which quickly halted FLOW deposits/withdrawals, and Coinone.

Their actions align under Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA), which also issued a trading risk warning for FLOW. While spot trading remained available on the aforementioned platforms, on-chain transfers were paused to mitigate risks during the investigation.

No major global exchanges reported similar suspensions. The response from South Korean exchanges provides better context on the effect of the price drop. It is important to remember that user balances on the exchanges are reported as safe and unaffected.

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The narrative surrounding XRP has undergone a fundamental transformation, and the token has begun to trade like an asset that has already endured its most punishing tests. Years of regulatory uncertainty, legal scrutiny, and prolonged underperformance have tempered speculation and reshaped its investor base, leaving behind a market that appears more resilient than reactive.

Why XRP No Longer Reacts To Every Negative Headline
XRP is starting to trade like an asset that has already endured its hardest trials after years of regulatory overhang, which forced it to mature earlier than most digital assets. An ambassador at AstraAIofficial, Winny, revealed on X that the ETFs linked to the token are now live, providing traditional investors with regulated exposure without the operational friction of wallets or exchanges.

At the same time, institutional inflows are rising, with managed assets tied to XRP surpassing $1 billion, a milestone that signals growing confidence. The supply on exchanges balances continues to thin, reinforcing the narrative. Long-term fund purchases don’t trade; they sit, which has changed the pressure dynamics, whether participants would admit to it or not. Most importantly, the regulatory clarity is finally improving, something that the altcoin has lacked for years.

Winny concluded that this is about the altcoin graduating into a different market structure. Meanwhile, all this dynamic doesn’t mean the market will explode tomorrow, but it does mean the fundamentals are quietly shifting, and patience pays.

Institutions Are Choosing The Altcoin For A Reason
Crypto analyst Xfinancebull has explained why it will be too late if no one believes in XRP. The narrative was that ETFs were priced in, but the funds became the fastest altcoin ETF in history to hit $1 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM), with no outflows, no red days, and just steady institutional-sized capital moving in with conviction.

The flow data shows that the funds have absorbed over $666 million in November, followed by another +$470 million in December, with no single outflow day. During the same period, Bitcoin and Ethereum saw hundreds of millions in net outflows, while XRP quietly stacked over 30 consecutive green flow days. Currently, 686 million and 740 million XRP are locked, quietly reducing supply in real-time.

Institutions are flocking into the altcoin | Source: Chart from Xfinancebull on X
However, the reason the altcoin is being chosen is that it solves what institutions actually need, which are complexity-ready settlement, on-chain liquidity, and global transaction speed. XRP’s price is currently down because the entire market is under pressure; that move is macro, not a failure.

In Xfinancebull’s view, institutions are still accumulating the token with patience and intent. The markets often whisper before they move, but this time the data is screaming, and institutions are already stacked.

XRP trading at $1.84 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

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Godspower Owie is my name, and I work for the news platforms NewsBTC and Bitcoinist. I sometimes like to think of myself as an explorer since I enjoy exploring new places, learning new things, especially valuable ones, and meeting new people who have an impact on my life, no matter how small. I value my family, friends, career, and time. Really, those are most likely the most significant aspects of every person's existence. Not illusions, but dreams are what I pursue.

Bitcoin is holding steady within a descending range, showing little directional conviction, while several altcoins are quietly building strength. As the market consolidates, these smaller assets could hint at early upside moves before BTC breaks out.

Key Resistance In Focus: $90,588 And The Descending Trendline
According to a recent update by Kamile Uray, there are no changes in the key levels being tracked on the daily chart, as the focus remains on the $90,588 level and the descending blue trendline. Unless BTC can close above these levels, the current decline may continue. Any upward moves below the blue descending trend are considered corrective rather than a trend reversal.

The first support zone to monitor during the decline is between $83,822 and $82,477. A daily close below $82,477 would signal a continuation of the downtrend and could open the door toward the $74,496–$71,237 zone, marked by the blue box. This lower zone is viewed as a strong support area where buyers may step in.

BTC still below a descending trendline | Source: Chart from Kamile Uray on X
Thus, a clear reversal confirmation is key before considering any significant upward move. Once confirmed, a rally toward the blue descending trendline could follow, testing resistance levels along the way.

For the uptrend to resume decisively, BTC would need to close above $90,588 and break the descending resistance. Meanwhile, a daily close above $94,130 would confirm that the blue descending trend has been broken, potentially signaling a shift to sustained bullish momentum.

LTF Moves Show Less Impulse, But Structure Holds
Crypto analyst The Penguin noted that the lower time frame (LTF) is showing slightly less impulsive action, though the overall count remains unchanged. The recent moves on the LTF appear more like noise and do not affect the broader wave count, and confidence in a leading diagonal for wave 1 remains intact.

Putting Elliott Wave analysis aside for a moment and leaning on standard technical analysis, BTC is clearly respecting a defined range. As a result, a minor deviation toward the 0.886 level marked on the chart is being closely watched as a potential entry point.

Bullish confirmation will come if BTC manages to close and hold above $90,500, which would invalidate the current bearish scenario and signal the potential for a more sustained upward trend. Until then, the short-term fluctuations are considered normal noise, especially with the yearly open approaching.

On the altcoin side, momentum appears to be holding, suggesting potential upside. Outperformance is already visible in altcoins like XPL, indicating that while BTC consolidates, some alts are starting to push higher.

BTC trading at $87,481 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Journalist

Posted: December 28, 2025

The market is already hyping 2026, and there’s a good reason for it.

On the regulatory side, the Clarity Act, set for markup in early January, is starting to set the tone for the broader crypto market. According to AMBCrypto, this is where L1s are stepping into the spotlight.

The logic is simple – If the Act draws a clearer line between speculation and regulation, competition among L1s is bound to heat up. And, when you look at Ripple [XRP], it feels like bulls are already front-running that narrative.

Source: Glassnode

According to data from Glassnode, XRP balances on exchanges have dropped from roughly 4 billion towards the start of the year to around 1.5 billion at press time. In other words, sell-side liquidity has been thinning out.

At the same time, XRP ETFs have pulled in $1.14 billion in cumulative net inflows across five products, giving institutional demand a noticeable boost. Put together, this lines up well with AMBCrypto’s broader L1 thesis.

With on-chain demand for XRP holding up, bulls seem to be treating the Clarity Act as a key catalyst for XRP. Especially given how its strategic roadmap has played out so far in 2025. 

Against that backdrop, does XRP’s move below $2 look more like a textbook reset than a true structural breakdown?

XRP’s supply squeeze faces market hesitation
Despite the earlier hype, 2025 hasn’t been kind to the altcoin market.

From a technical angle, most alts are still trading well below their late-Q3 highs. That lines up with the Altcoin Season Index topping at 80 and now sitting at 37, showing how little rotation there’s been into high-beta names.

Even top caps haven’t been spared. 

That being said, the relative drawdowns stand out. Solana [SOL] is down 40% on the year, while XRP has slipped by 12%. Additionally, XRP’s Open Interest on Binance has dropped to $453 million – Its lowest level since early 2024.

Source: CryptoQuant

According to AMBCrypto, this setup gives XRP a noticeable edge.

As discussed previously, the Clarity Act is shaping up to be a key tailwind for L1s. And looking back at 2025, XRP has clearly held up better than most top caps, with its leverage flush helping the structure look cleaner.

Against that backdrop, XRP’s move below $2 feels more like a healthy reset. In fact, with strong on-chain demand, controlled leverage, and relative outperformance, the altcoin looks well-positioned to lead into 2026.

Final Thoughts

XRP balances on exchanges are falling, ETFs are attracting inflows, and bulls are betting on the Clarity Act.
The dip below $2 looks like a reset, not a crash, keeping the altcoin well-positioned for 2026.

Ritika Gupta is a Financial Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst at AMBCrypto, specializing in the critical intersection of world politics, economic policy, and the cryptocurrency markets. Her analysis is informed by her distinguished background, which includes professional experience at major news network.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology from Gargi College, University of Delhi. This academic training provides her with a sophisticated framework for dissecting complex issues such as international regulations, government fiscal policies, and the geopolitical forces that directly influence asset valuations.
At AMBCrypto, Ritika applies this expert lens to synthesize macroeconomic data and political developments, offering readers a deeper context for market movements. She excels at explaining not just what is happening in the market, but why it is happening. Her work is dedicated to providing strategic insights that empower readers to understand the complex relationship between global events and their digital assets.

Bitmine possesses almost 3.4% of the total ETH supply, progressing towards its target of 5%.

Key Takeaways

In the past two days, BitMine Immersion has moved 342,560 ETH into staking.
To support long-term ETH staking returns, BitMine is building MAVAN, the Made in America Validator Network.

BitMine Immersion, one of the largest digital asset treasury entities, has staked 342,560 Ethereum worth about $1 billion over the past two days, according to data tracked by Lookonchain.

The company, led by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, reported holding more than four million ETH, equal to approximately 3.4% of the total supply, in its most recent filing. On-chain data show that the figure has since risen as the firm continued to accumulate throughout the week.

Staking ETH supports Ethereum’s network security through its proof-of-stake validation mechanism, where validators lock up tokens to help verify transactions.

BitMine is preparing to roll out its Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) after assessing multiple institutional staking providers across safety, reliability, and reward generation.

The company has initiated a live pilot with three selected partners to track real-time performance before committing more assets.

With a targeted go-live in early 2026, BitMine aims to create a purpose-built platform for native ETH staking, prioritizing long-term value for its shareholders.

Disclaimer

It's always a great time to invest in quality stocks.

Investing for the long term requires a disciplined and resilient mindset to navigate the inherent volatility of the stock market. Managing the psychology behind your investment decisions is as crucial as selecting the right investments.

The market price of a stock is often driven by short-term emotions and news, while its true value is tied to the underlying company's long-term earning power and assets. A strong mindset allows you to view temporary price drops as potential buying opportunities for quality assets, not reasons to panic.

Likewise, if you're focused on the long-term picture, you can select quality businesses with robust fundamentals that make sense as part of your portfolio without being swayed by short-term market volatility. If you have cash to invest in the stock market right now, here are four stocks to consider buying and holding for at least five years.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. MercadoLibre
MercadoLibre (MELI +0.50%) is the clear e-commerce leader across over a dozen countries in Latin America, including major markets like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. It has a significant competitive advantage over global players like Amazon due to its established presence, brand recognition, and deep understanding of local market needs.

The company operates a vast tech ecosystem, including its e-commerce marketplace connecting buyers and sellers, which is powered by its integrated fintech arm Mercado Pago, its robust logistics business Mercado Envíos, and advertising services. It's worth noting that Mercado Pago has grown into a full digital financial services platform (e.g., payments, credit, savings, investments) that serves the region's large unbanked population and has created a sticky user base with high monetization potential.

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The company is consistently profitable and boasts impressive growth metrics. In Q3 2025, it reported a 39% year-over-year revenue increase. Total net revenue reached $7.4 billion. Total payment volume reached $71 billion, up 41% year over year, and gross merchandise volume rose to $16.5 billion, a 28% year-over-year spike.

Robust e-commerce performance in core markets like Brazil and Mexico bolstered MercadoLibre's quarterly performance. And, the number of successful items sold grew by 39% year over year to 635 million. If you want to invest in an e-commerce and fintech giant operating outside the U.S., MercadoLibre is a profitable and compelling leader to consider.

2. Microsoft
Microsoft (MSFT 0.06%) managed to effectively monetize generative AI faster than most peers by integrating it across its entire tech stack. AI services accounted for roughly 15 percentage points of the total Azure revenue growth in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2026. Over 70% of Fortune 500 companies have adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot, which has created a high-margin recurring revenue stream.

The company is investing heavily in AI capacity, and its capital expenditures have exceeded $30 billion per quarter to meet surging demand. Azure remains a primary catalyst for the business's long-term value and consistently delivers high growth even on a massive revenue base. For the full fiscal year 2025, Microsoft's annual revenue surpassed $281 billion, growing by 15% from the prior year. Azure revenue was more than $75 billion, a 34% increase year over year. Azure holds approximately 20% of the global cloud market.

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Microsoft maintains one of the strongest balance sheets in the corporate world, which supports its consistent returns to investors. It's one of only two U.S. companies with a perfect AAA credit rating (that's higher than the U.S. government). The company generated over $100 billion in net income in fiscal 2025, so it continues to have massive flexibility for R&D and acquisitions.

Microsoft has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years and regularly repurchases billions in stock (it returned almost $11 billion to shareholders in the most recent quarter alone through dividends and share repurchases). Management and analysts have set ambitious targets for the next five years. CEO Satya Nadella aims to exceed $500 billion in annual revenue by 2030, nearly double its current scale.

3. Alphabet
Alphabet (GOOGL 0.20%) (GOOG 0.23%) is deeply integrating powerful AI models like Gemini across its massive ecosystem (e.g, Search, YouTube, Cloud). AI improves its search relevance, makes YouTube more engaging, and personalizes user experiences, which in turn can drive better engagement and more ad dollars. Instead of cannibalizing search, Alphabet's new tools like AI summaries are increasing ad impressions and conversions, and expanding its commercial pathways in search.

Alphabet is also leveraging its custom TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) semiconductor chips to compete in cloud infrastructure. While historically the company had reserved most TPUs for in-house use and cloud services, it has recently begun selling some directly to third parties in specific bilateral deals. These include major AI clients like Anthropic as Alphabet creates a new high-margin revenue stream.

Alphabet's TPUs are revolutionary, particularly because they are application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) purpose-built for the core mathematical operations of deep learning applications. This specialized design provides significant advantages in performance, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness at scale compared to the more general-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs). Revenue from TPUs is a key driver of the overall Google Cloud segment's growth, which generated robust Q3 2025 revenue of $15.2 billion, a 34% year-over-year increase.

Analysts from firms like Morgan Stanley project that expanded external sales could add billions in new revenue to Alphabet's top line in the coming years (an estimated $13 billion for every 500,000 units sold by 2027). AI could also unlock opportunities in robotics (Waymo), healthcare, and enterprise solutions outside of Alphabet's traditional advertising and cloud businesses. Alphabet's strong balance sheet with substantial cash and low debt, and a generous history of providing enviable returns to shareholders, are icing on the cake for long-term investors in this storied business.

4. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM +1.33%) or TSMC is the undisputed leader in semiconductor manufacturing and controls roughly 70% of the global foundry market. Unlike investing in a single chip designer, holding TSMC can allow investors to profit regardless of who wins the AI race. And the reality is that there will likely be many winners as the AI revolution heats up.

The demand for AI computing power is soaring, and only a few companies possess the capabilities to design the required chips. All major AI players -- including Nvidia, Apple, and Broadcom -- rely on TSMC to build their most advanced chips. The company produces at least 90% of the world's most advanced chips, which has created a massive technological moat that competitors like Intel and Samsung are currently struggling to bridge.

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Management expects AI-related revenue to grow at a more than 40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years. TSMC had a very strong Q3 2025 financially and beat expectations with both record profits and revenue. Substantial and growing demand for AI chips and high-performance computing (HPC) drove revenue up over 30% year over year. Net income surged 40% year over year, and TSMC's gross margin improved to 59.5%.

TSMC is aggressively expanding its manufacturing footprint outside of Taiwan. The company has committed $165 billion to build six advanced fabs in Arizona, with the first already being in volume production. Additional major investments are underway in Japan and Germany, and management aims to have 30% of its most advanced capacity located outside Taiwan by 2028. Shares are up about 40% year to date, and it may be wise to scoop some up before the business soars higher.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Significant Losses In Nidec To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you suffered significant losses in Nidec stock or options and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Nidec Corporation ("Nidec" or the "Company") (OTC: NJDCY).

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

On September 3, 2025, Nidec disclosed it had established a third-party committee to investigate suspicions of improper accounting. The Company further revealed its "investigations found multiple documents suggesting that . . . the Company and its group companies could have engaged in improper accounting with the involvement or knowledge of its or their management[.]"

On this news, Nidec's stock price fell $0.81, or 16.5%, to close at $4.11 per share on September 4, 2025, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on September 26, 2025, Nidec disclosed further investigative findings of additional suspected inappropriate accounting practices, including "cases where the reported value for customs purposes was declared to be lower than the appropriate amount without legitimate reason." The Company also revealed that it "received an audit report containing a disclaimer of opinion" from its auditor due to the "ongoing investigations by the third-party committee, other internal investigations, and other action[s]."

On this news, Nidec's stock price fell $0.29, or 6.6%, to close at $4.09 per share on September 26, 2025.

Then, on October 23, 2025, Nidec published a press release announcing that it was withdrawing its year end forecast, and had decided not to pay a surplus dividend as "investigations by the Third Party Committee regarding suspected inappropriate accounting practices involving the Company and its group, as well as other internal investigations, are ongoing."

On this news, Nidec's stock price fell $1.17, or 25.4%, to close at $3.43 on October 23, 2025.

Finally, on October 27, 2025, the Tokyo Stock Exchange ("TSE") designated Nidec under a Special Security alert in part because "TSE deems that the improvement of the internal management system of said listed company is highly necessary." The alert noted that "[s]ince the initial issue was discovered, the scope of the investigation has continued to expand" and that "deficiencies have already been identified in the Company's company-wide internal control systems (particularly in areas related to information and communication), as well as in the internal controls related to its accounting and financial closing processes."

On this news, Nidec's stock price fell $0.80, or 20.3%, to close at $3.15 per share on October 27, 2025, thereby injuring investors further.

To learn more about the Nidec investigation, go to www.faruqilaw.com/NJDCY or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278625

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Sprouts To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Sprouts between June 4, 2025 and October 29, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. ("Sprouts" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SFM) and reminds investors of the January 26, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: Defendants provided 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 Sprouts' growth potential; notably, that a more cautious consumer could result in significant slowdown in sales growth and the purported tailwinds with be unable to dampen the slowdown or would otherwise fail to manifest entirely. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Sprouts' securities at artificially inflated prices.

On October 29, 2025, Sprouts unveiled its third quarter fiscal 2025 results, which highlighted a worrying 4.3% decrease in comparable stores growth compared to the prior quarter, below the company's previous projections. Management further unveiled a continued reduction of comp sales into the fourth quarter, projecting only a 0%-2% growth, and reduced their full year expectations ass well from 7.5% - 9% last quarter to only 7%. While Sprouts is attributing its shortfall to challenging year-over-year comparisons and a softening consumer, just last quarter management attested to their "resilience almost irrespective of what happens in the macro economy."

Following this news, Sprouts' stock price fell by $22.64 per share to open at $81.91 per share.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Sprouts's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Sprouts Farmers Market class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/SFM or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278620

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses in DeFi Technologies to Contact Him Directly to Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in DeFi Technologies between May 12, 2025 and November 14, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against DeFi Technologies Inc. ("DeFi Technologies" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DEFT) and reminds investors of the January 30, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (i) DeFi Technologies was facing delays in executing its DeFi arbitrage strategy, which at all relevant times was a key revenue driver for the Company; (ii) DeFi Technologies had understated the extent of competition it faced from other DAT companies and the extent to which that competition would negatively impact its ability to execute its DeFi arbitrage strategy; (iii) as a result of the foregoing issues, the Company was unlikely to meet its previously issued revenue guidance for the fiscal year 2025; (iv) accordingly, Defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of the negative impact that the foregoing issues were having on DeFi Technologies' business and financial results; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On November 6, 2025, DeFi Technologies issued a press release purporting to report an arbitrage trade by DeFi Alpha. The press release disclosed, inter alia, that "[DAT]s have absorbed or delayed a significant share of arbitrage opportunities over the past year."

On this news, DeFi Technologies' stock price fell $0.13 per share, or 7.43%, to close at $1.62 per share on November 6, 2025.

Then, on November 14, 2025, DeFi Technologies issued a press release reporting its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Among other items, DeFi Technologies reported a revenue decline of nearly 20%, falling well short of market expectations. The Company also significantly lowered its 2025 revenue forecast, from $218.6 million to approximately $116.6 million, and attributed this reduction to "a delay in executing DeFi Alpha arbitrage opportunities previously forecasted due to the proliferation of [DAT] companies and the consolidation in digital asset price movement in the latter half of 2025."

Concurrently, DeFi Technologies announced that Defendant Newton would leave his role as CEO and transition to an advisory position.

Following these disclosures, DeFi Technologies' stock price fell $0.40 per share, or 27.59%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $1.05 per share on November 17, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding DeFi Technologies' conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the DeFi Technologies class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/DEFT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278611

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In StubHub To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or otherwise acquired stock of StubHub pursuant and/or traceable to StubHub's registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about September 17, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against StubHub Holdings, Inc. ("StubHub" or the "Company") (NYSE: STUB) and reminds investors of the January 23, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that Registration Statement was materially false and/or misleading and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was experiencing changes in the timing of payments to vendors; (2) those changes had a significant adverse impact on free cash flow, including trailing 12 months ("TTM") free cash flow; (3) as a result, the Company's free cash flow reports were materially misleading; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On September 17, 2025, StubHub conducted its IPO, selling approximately 34 million shares of Class A common stock at $23.50 per share.

On November 13, 2025, after the market closed, StubHub issued a press release announcing financial results for the third quarter 2025, which ended September 30, 2025. The press release revealed free cash flow of negative $4.6 million in the quarter, a 143% decrease from the Company's free cash flow in the year ago period, which was positive $10.6 million. The press release further revealed the Company's net cash provided by operating activities was only $3.8 million, a 69.3% decrease from the year ago period, where the Company reported $12.4 million in net cash provided by operating activities.

On the same date, the Company filed its Form 10-Q for the same quarterly period ended September 30, 2025, with the SEC. The quarterly report revealed that this year-over-year decrease "primarily reflects changes in the timing of payments to vendors."

On this news, StubHub's stock price fell $3.95 per share, or 20.9%, to close at $14.87 per share on November 14, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

By the commencement of this action, the Company's stock was trading as low as $10.31 per share, a nearly 56% decline from the $23.50 per share IPO price.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding StubHub's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the StubHub Holdings, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/STUB or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278618

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Both funds share identical expense ratios, but VONG offers a slightly higher dividend yield and holds more stocks. MGK has delivered a higher 1-year total return and larger technology sector tilt, while VONG spreads its bets across nearly 400 holdings.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses in Bitdeer to Contact Him Directly to Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Bitdeer between June 6, 2024 and November 10, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Bitdeer Technologies Group ("Bitdeer" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BTDR) and reminds investors of the February 2, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that the true state of Bitdeer's SEALMINER A4 project. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose that the SEAL04 chip projected to have a chip-level energy efficiency of 5 J/TH would be ready for use in the A4 rigs with an expected mass production to begin in the second quarter 2025.

On November 10, 2025, Bitdeer issued a press release reporting its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Among other items, Bitdeer reported earnings per share of -$1.28, significantly missing the consensus estimate of -$0.22. Bitdeer also disclosed that "development of [its] next-generation Seal 04 [ASIC chip] is significantly delayed."

On this news, Bitdeer's stock price fell $2.63 per share, or 14.9%, to close at $15.02 per share on November 11, 2025.

Then, on November 12, 2025, Bitdeer issues a press release "reporting a fire incident at its under-construction facility in Massillon, Ohio." According to the press release, "[t]he fire incident occurred on the afternoon of November 11" and "2 of the 26 buildings currently under construction sustained fire damage."

On this news, Bitdeer's stock price fell another $2.83 per share, or 20.3%, to close at $11.11 per share on November 13, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Bitdeer's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Bitdeer Technologies class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/BTDR or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278613

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses in Alexandria to Contact Him Directly to Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Alexandria between January 27, 2025 and October 27, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2025) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. ("Alexandria" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARE) and reminds investors of the January 26, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: Defendants provided 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 its Long Island City (LIC) property; notably, the Company's claims and confidence about the leasing value of the LIC property as a life-science destination aligning with ARE's Megacampus™ strategy.

Alexandria issued a press release on October 27, 2025, reporting its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Among other items, Alexandria reported third quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations, a 5% decline in revenue, and a 7% decline in adjusted funds from operation. Alexandria also reported a decline in its average occupancy rate from 94.8% in the prior year to 91.4%.

Following this news, Alexandria's stock price fell over 19% on October 28, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Alexandria's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Alexandria Real Estate Equities class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ARE or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278614

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Explore how sector focus and risk profiles set these two popular leveraged ETFs apart for tactical investors.

The most notable differences between the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares ETF (SPXL 0.11%) and the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares ETF (SOXL +0.00%) are sector concentration, risk profile, and five-year performance swings, with SOXL offering more volatility and a heavier tech tilt.

Both Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares (SPXL) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) are leveraged exchange-traded funds designed for traders seeking amplified daily moves. SPXL tracks the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.03%), while SOXL targets the semiconductor industry.

This comparison highlights their cost, recent returns, risk, liquidity, and portfolio makeup to help investors decide which approach may appeal for a tactical bet.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricSPXLSOXLIssuerDirexionDirexionExpense ratio0.87%0.75%1-yr return (as of Dec. 18, 2025)27.2%38.6%Dividend yield0.8%0.5%AUM$6.0 billion$13.9 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

SPXL has a 0.87% annual expense ratio, and SOXL has a 0.75% expense ratio, making them similarly priced for leveraged funds. SPXL offers a slightly higher dividend yield, while SOXL pays a bit less, reflecting the income profile of their underlying holdings.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricSPXLSOXLMax drawdown (5 y)(63.84%)(90.51%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$3,078$1,280What's insideSOXL is a pure-play bet on the semiconductor sector, with 100% of assets in technology and just 44 holdings. Its largest positions include Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 0.02%), Broadcom (AVGO +0.55%), and Nvidia (NVDA +1.02%). The fund has operated for nearly 16 years and resets its 3x leverage daily, which can lead to performance drift over time, especially in volatile markets.

SPXL spreads its exposure across the entire S&P 500, providing broader sector diversification — technology makes up 36%, with financial services and consumer cyclicals also featuring prominently. Its top holdings are Nvidia, Apple (AAPL 0.19%), and Microsoft (MSFT 0.06%). Like SOXL, it employs daily leverage resets, which can amplify both gains and losses if held longer than a day.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investorsThe Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares (SPXL) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) are both for investors who are after high-risk, high-reward vehicles for short-term trading. Neither is appropriate for long-term buy-and-hold investing, given their extreme volatility and high leverage, which can amplify losses.

SOXL is more for investors who want to target the semiconductor industry, which is hot right now thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence. But that focus on a single sector elevates the risk, especially if the current AI frenzy turns out to be a bubble that suddenly bursts.

SPXL is a bit more of a safe investment compared to SOXL in that its holdings are more diversified over a number of industries due to its focus on the entire S&P 500. This is also illustrated in its much smaller max drawdown. So if the AI market should cool off, this ETF is still buoyed by its non-AI stocks. But that comes with a slightly higher expense ratio.

SOXL is great for investors who want to take advantage of the hot AI field, while SPXL is for those who prefer a little more safety and are willing to accept a higher expense ratio for that.

GlossaryLeveraged ETF: An exchange-traded fund using financial derivatives to amplify daily returns, often by 2x or 3x the underlying index.
Expense ratio: The annual fee, as a percentage of assets, that a fund charges investors to cover operating costs.
Drawdown: The percentage decline from a fund’s peak value to its lowest point over a specific period.
Beta: A measure of an investment’s volatility compared to the overall market, typically the S&P 500.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a fund, expressed as a percentage of its current price.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of assets that a fund manages on behalf of investors.
Sector concentration: The extent to which a fund’s assets are invested in a particular industry or sector.
Daily leverage reset: The process by which leveraged ETFs adjust their exposure each day to maintain a target multiple of the index’s daily return.
Performance drift: The divergence of a leveraged ETF’s long-term returns from its expected multiple due to daily compounding and volatility.
Max drawdown: The largest observed loss from a fund’s peak to trough during a specific time frame.
Growth of $1,000: The value to which a $1,000 investment would have grown over a stated period, including reinvested returns.
Pure-play: A fund or company focused exclusively on a single industry or sector, with little diversification.

Robert Izquierdo has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Broadcom, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

If you're hunting for dividend stocks, don't overlook these businesses.

Dividend stocks can provide a meaningful path to enhancing your portfolio returns. Investing in businesses with a track record of profitability and favorable cash flows that have the financial foundation to support a continued payout can benefit your portfolio through both share price returns and dividend income.

If you are searching for dividend stocks to double up on right now, here are two names to consider the next time you add to your investment portfolio.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale (COST +0.21%) has increased its regular quarterly dividend every year for more than two decades and counting. Its current annual regular dividend is $5.20 per share, and the last quarterly payment was $1.30 per share in November 2025. The company is known for periodically paying large, one-off special dividends to return excess cash to shareholders. Previous special dividends included $15 per share in December 2023 and $10 per share in December 2020.

While Costco's dividend yield is low (less than 1%), this is because its stock price has soared due to its strong business performance through the years and has outpaced its dividend growth. The company habitually prioritizes reinvesting profits and issuing large, infrequent special dividends over consistently high regular payouts. While its regular dividend is modest, its high-margin membership model generates huge cash flow to allow for these sporadic, large cash returns, which significantly boost shareholder value over time, even if the stated yield looks small. Case in point: Costco delivered a total return (including dividends) of nearly 150% over the trailing five-year period.

Costco also maintains a low payout ratio of approximately 27%, so the company continues to retain ample earnings for growth and reinvestment. Unlike traditional retailers, most of Costco's profitability comes from predictable, high-margin annual membership fees, which reached over $1.3 billion in Q1 fiscal 2026.

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This reliable revenue stream allows the company to operate its warehouses on extremely thin margins and pass on these significant savings to its members. This value proposition fosters fierce customer loyalty, with consistently high renewal rates (around 92% in the U.S. and Canada). Even during periods of inflation or economic uncertainty, consumers remain loyal because the bulk purchasing and low prices make the membership a valuable investment that helps them save money.

Costco also maintains a limited, curated product selection (around 4,000 SKUs compared to tens of thousands at other retailers), which provides it with enormous purchasing and negotiating power with suppliers and boosts operational efficiency. Beyond groceries, its services, including gas stations, optical centers, and e-commerce, drive additional traffic and revenue streams that further insulate the company from dependence on any single product category and cater to a wide range of member needs.

For the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2025, Costco's annual revenue reached $275.2 billion, an 8.2% increase from the prior year. Its most recent quarterly revenue (Q1 Fiscal 2026) was $67.31 billion, a similar increase of 8.3% year over year. Net income for fiscal year 2025 was $8.1 billion, up about 10% year over year, and Q1 net income totaled $2 billion, an 11% spike from the year-ago quarter.

2. AbbVie
AbbVie (ABBV +0.04%) has increased its dividend every year for 54 consecutive years, a track record that places the company as a notable name on the list of income stocks known as Dividend Kings. The stock offers a forward annual dividend of $6.92 per share, which translates to a yield of around 3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average yield of 1.1%.

The company has effectively managed the patent cliff of its former top-selling drug Humira with rapid sales growth of newer immunology drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq. These two drugs are projected to achieve combined sales of over $31 billion by 2027. Skyrizi and Rinvoq are approved for various conditions, including psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, and are showing strong market share gains. The recent settlement of patent litigation for Rinvoq has extended its U.S. market exclusivity until 2037.

AbbVie's business is diversified across immunology, neuroscience, oncology, and aesthetics. Its acquisition of ImmunoGen in 2024 was a crucial acquisition for AbbVie because it provided a leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform to its portfolio. An ADC combines a cancer-targeting antibody with a chemotherapy drug. The acquisition also added the ovarian cancer drug Elahere to AbbVie's slate of approved therapies, in addition to a strong pipeline of next-generation ADCs for solid tumors and blood cancers. ImmunoGen's assets were expected to become accretive to AbbVie's earnings by 2027.

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AbbVie's neuroscience portfolio is the second-largest and fastest-growing segment for the company, which recorded a 20% increase in Q3 2025 revenue. Key growth drivers include Vraylar for bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder, and migraine treatments Ubrelvy and Qulipta.

As for its pipeline, AbbVie's new potential Parkinson's disease treatment tavapadon is one of many in its pipeline that bear close watching. AbbVie recently filed for FDA approval for this novel D1/D5 dopamine receptor agonist, gained through its prior acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics, which has shown promise as a once-daily oral option for both early and advanced Parkinson's disease, and has achieved reduction of motor symptoms. The candidate could potentially fill a significant gap in care for the off periods that are common with existing medications.

AbbVie reported worldwide net revenue of $15.8 billion in the third quarter of 2025, a 9.1% increase year over year. Total revenue for the last 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2025, was $59.6 billion. Net income can be volatile due to one-time charges, such as those related to acquisitions. However, the company consistently generates high operating income and cash flow of around $19 billion annually as of 2024.

, /PRNewswire/ -- A securities class action lawsuit styled Smith v. F5, Inc., et al., No. 2:25-cv-02619 (W.D. Wash.) has been filed, seeking to represent investors in F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) who purchased or otherwise acquired F5 securities between October 28, 2024 and October 27, 2025. 

The lawsuit comes in the wake of F5's October 15, 2025 report that, on August 9, 2025, it learned of a major cybersecurity incident involving a nation-state actor that gained unauthorized access to certain Company systems, including its highest revenue product (F5 BIG-IP). This and related subsequent disclosures drove the price of F5 shares sharply lower.

National shareholders rights firm Hagens Berman continues to investigate whether F5 timely reported the breach to investors and its impact on the company's business. The firm urges F5  investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys.

Class Period: Oct. 28, 2024 – Oct. 27, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Feb. 17, 2026
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/ffiv|
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
                                       844-916-0895

F5, Inc. (FFIV) Securities Class Action:

The lawsuit is focused on the timing and propriety of F5's disclosures about the sufficiency of its cybersecurity response plan, the adverse effect of any cybersecurity incidents on its business and growth prospects including its F5 BIG-IP products which provide application delivery and security solutions.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that during the Class Period F5 assured investors that it "delivers the most effective and comprehensive app and API security platform in the industry[]" and claimed that it could uniquely address newly developing security concerns while providing best-in-class security offerings.

Investors' expectations were dashed beginning on October 15, 2025. That day, F5 revealed that "[o]n August 9, 2025, F5, Inc. […] learned that a highly sophisticated nation-state threat actor had gained unauthorized access to certain Company systems." F5 also disclosed "the threat actor maintained long-term, persistent access to certain F5 systems, including the BIG-IP product development environment and engineering knowledge management platform."

Still, the company assured investors "this incident has not had a material impact on the Company's operations[.]"

This news sent the price of F5 shares down $47.82 (-13.9%) during the two trading days ended October 16, 2025.

The incident's full impact became clearer on October 27, 2025. That day, the company reported its Q4 and FY 2025 financial results and guided for 2026 revenue growth of only 0% to 4% as compared to 2025 revenue growth of 10%. Management blamed the steep growth deceleration "on what we see as potential near-term impact related to the security incident[]" and said "it would be natural that in some of our customers, at an executive level, we may see some delays of approvals or delays of deals or additional approval, as customers across a complex organization make sure that they want to be reassured that their projects should move forward[.]"

This news sent the price of F5 shares down $22.83 (-7.8%) the next day.

"We're focused on when F5 determined that the August 2025 cybersecurity incident was material and whether the company timely informed investors consistent with the SEC's 4 business day rule and which might have predated the October 15 disclosure," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation.

If you invested in F5 and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now »

If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the F5 case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding F5 should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

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

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Partner Reed Kathrein Scrutinizing Allegedly Omitted Known Trends in Vendor Payments

, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is issuing a reminder to investors in StubHub Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: STUB) ahead of the January 23, 2026, deadline of their opportunity to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the pending securities class action lawsuit.

The litigation centers on allegations that StubHub's highly anticipated September 2025 Initial Public Offering (IPO) was launched using Offering Documents that contained material misstatements and omissions. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the company failed to disclose crucial "known trends, events, or uncertainties" that were already adversely impacting its Free Cash Flow (FCF)—a key liquidity metric touted to prospective investors.

"This litigation focuses alleged violations of the Securities Act of 1933, which requires transparency for newly public companies. The complaint alleges that the Registration Statement was materially flawed because it failed to disclose the known trends regarding vendor payments, causing the stock to collapse shortly after the IPO," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation in this matter.  "We urge investors in StubHub who purchased or otherwise acquired company shares pursuant to the IPO to contact the firm now."

Legal Analysis: Alleged Undisclosed Vendor Payment Trends and IPO Disclosure Failures

The complaint focuses on the alleged misrepresentations and omissions within the core offering documents, which led to a substantial loss of market capitalization:

Securities Act of 1933 Liability: The lawsuit alleges the Registration Statement and Prospectus were materially flawed, making Defendants liable to investors who acquired shares pursuant to the IPO.
Concealment of Known Trends: The Offering Documents allegedly failed to disclose adverse changes in the timing of payments to vendors—an alleged known trend that directly impacted liquidity.
143% Liquidity Collapse: The alleged omitted truth led to Q3 2025 results revealing Free Cash Flow was negative $4.6 million, marking a stunning 143% decline from the prior year. This revelation corrected the market's perception of the company's operational financial health.
Investor Damages: This disclosure caused the stock to fall well below the IPO price resulting in compensable damages for investors who acquired shares traceable to the IPO.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman has a proven track record, securing significant recoveries for investors.

Mr. Kathrein and the firm's investor fraud team are actively advising investors who purchased STUB shares pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO and suffered significant losses due to the alleged undisclosed financial trends.

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 23, 2026.

TO SUBMIT YOUR STUBHUB (STUB) INVESTMENT LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your StubHub (STUB) IPO Losses
Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]

If you'd like answers to frequently asked questions about the StubHub case and our investigation, read more »

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

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

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Also from this source

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Alleged Enrollment Fraud & Compliance Risk:

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

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

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

Financial Impact: The alleged revelation of this operational failure forced the company to forecast a dramatically slowed sales growth of only 5% (down from its historical 19%), and triggered the single-day 54% stock crash.
Alleged Recoverable Damages and the Defined Class:The complaint seeks to recover losses for investors who purchased LRN securities during the Class Period (October 22, 2024 – October 28, 2025), seeking to hold Stride and certain of its key executives accountable for the alleged misrepresentations regarding core business metrics and operational stability.

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

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

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

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 12, 2026.

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

Submit Your Stride (LRN) Investment Losses Now
Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]

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

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

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

It's still beating the market by far for the year.

Nvidia (NVDA +1.09%) made stock market history, again, when it reached a $5 trillion market value at the end of October. However, it has since fallen almost 10% from those highs and currently sports a $4.4 trillion value. What's next for the artificial intelligence (AI) giant?

Image source: Nvidia.

Competition and new products
One way Nvidia has stayed on top of the AI mountain is by constantly upping its game and releasing new, groundbreaking products. It's best known for its expensive and powerful graphics processing units (GPUs), but it's increasingly focused on vertically integrated products that draw high-paying clients into its ecosystem.

These companies are spending vast amounts of money on their AI development using Nvidia products, creating high barriers to entry for other vendors. That gives Nvidia an edge on top of the one it already has from having the most powerful program.

Today's Change

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1.09

%) $

2.05

Current Price

$

190.66

However, there are other top companies, including Amazon and Alphabet, that are creating their own AI chips and finding the white space to drive AI.

What seems likely is that Nvidia will keep launching new and improved technology and keep its lead, but as competition heats up, the landscape continues to change, and the company gets bigger, growth will decelerate. The price is already coming down to a more realistic valuation, and it could still beat the market next year, but it isn't likely to deliver the life-changing gains it has in the past.

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The GLP-1 fight just entered a new round, and it highlights why these three out-of-favor drug makers are worth a deep dive.

The pharmaceutical industry is highly technical, and significant developments can rapidly transform the sector. For instance, Novo Nordisk's (NVO 0.53%) introduction of GLP-1 weight loss drugs was a huge development. Eli Lilly (LLY 0.01%) introduced more attractive GLP-1 drugs, however, leading to Novo Nordisk losing its early lead in the weight loss niche.

More change is on the way, including from Novo Nordisk, but if you have a contrarian bent, you might prefer out-of-favor drug makers Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY 0.13%), Merck (MRK +0.34%), and Pfizer (PFE +0.26%).

The latest news on GLP-1 drugs says a lot
Novo Nordisk kick-started the GLP-1 market in a big way. Eli Lilly entered the market with GLP-1 shots that were more attractive. This illustrates how rapidly the pharmaceutical sector can evolve. But the change isn't over yet, with Novo Nordisk just receiving approval to sell a GLP-1 pill.

Image source: Getty Images.

Not surprisingly, many consumers prefer to take a pill over using a shot. Novo Nordisk's stock jumped on the news of its GLP-1 pill, which is also not a surprise. The pill, which is expected to launch in early 2026, could put the company at the forefront of the pharmaceutical sector once again. Innovation and intense competition are actually normal for drug makers.

The interesting thing is that there are a handful of large and established drug companies that have proven they know how to survive in the industry. They go in and out of favor on Wall Street based on the current roster of drugs they possess, the timing of patent losses on key drugs (also known as a patent cliff), and the quality of the pipeline of the drugs they have in development.

Novo Nordisk, even after the price spike following the approval of its GLP-1 pill, remains down by more than 50% from its high-water mark. Investors might want to look at the discounted shares. But the good news is already out, so if you are a true contrarian, you might be a bit late to the show. There are other options.

Today's Change

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%) $

-0.28

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$

52.28

Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, and Pfizer
Pfizer is probably the riskiest option right now, given that its lofty 6.8% dividend yield makes it appear to be an attractive dividend stock. However, the payout ratio is above 100% at the moment, so income investors should go in with a bit of caution. The company is probably best viewed as a turnaround story.

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0.26

%) $

0.07

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$

25.09

Essentially, Pfizer's own GLP-1 drug candidate didn't pan out. It has a patent cliff approaching on another drug, so this was a significant setback. The company has moved quickly to shore up its drug pipeline, acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate and partnering with a Chinese company to distribute its GLP-1 drug, pending regulatory approval. In the meantime, Pfizer's shares are down more than 50% from their high-water mark.

Bristol Myers Squibb is an interesting balance of risk and reward. It has an attractive 4.6% yield, and the payout ratio is around 85%, which gives the company some wiggle room with regard to supporting the dividend. The drug maker is facing a patent cliff, but it has made a series of acquisitions to bolster its pipeline and diversify its target markets.

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-0.13

%) $

-0.07

Current Price

$

54.64

The next couple of years are likely to be tough on the income statement, as key cancer drugs Revlimid and Pomalyst lose patent protection. However, the company is almost certainly going to survive the hit, and even if the timing doesn't work out perfectly, introduce new drugs to replace them. The stock is down around 30% from its high-water mark.

Merck is the safest bet if you are a dividend lover, given that its payout ratio is a very reasonable 45% or so. The dividend yield is 3.2% and the stock is off from its highs by around 20%. The story is roughly similar to Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb. Merck is facing a patent cliff over the next few years. It is working on its pipeline of drug candidates in an effort to offset the revenue loss that will occur when patents expire.

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0.36

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$

106.81

Cancer drug Keytruda is the big story. However, it won't lose patent protections until 2028. Merck also has international patents that last into the early 2030s. And the company is working on alternative delivery methods and drug combinations that could extend patent protections into the late 2030s. If you are risk-averse, Merck could be the sale rack option that best suits your needs.

Big drug companies know how to survive
The key to buying Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Merck is that these large drug companies have proven they know how to survive within the highly competitive and innovation-driven pharmaceutical sector. They may be out of step right now, but each one has been working hard to solve the patent cliffs they face. Given the history, it is highly likely that all of them will eventually find new and important drugs. Buying now, while Wall Street is deeply negative, could be a good long-term decision.

Beyond Meat already staged an epic rebound, but the gains didn't stick. Betting on another one may be foolhardy.

In mid-October, an army of retail investors, many taking their cues from social media, sparked a rally in Beyond Meat (BYND 8.77%) that propelled the previously struggling stock from around $0.50 to nearly $8 in just days. Those gains evaporated, and the shares' penny stock status was reborn, as highlighted by a Dec. 19 close of $1.11.

Betting on a sequel is a long-odds wager unlikely to pay off because good news, including the company's debt-reducing efforts, looks priced into the stock. As for the often discussed short interest, 26% of the stock's float is sold short, according to FinViz data, but if traders don't buy the stock to close short position, a potential catalyst is eliminated.

Image source: Getty Images.

Likewise, Beyond Meat's expanded partnership with Walmart is now ancient history. If similar headlines don't emerge, near-term upside could be hard to come by.

Beyond Meat has an array of challenges
Beyond Meat's outlook is murky and it's contending with headwinds. Last week, the company announced the termination of Controller Yi Luo. That firing stemmed from "existing material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting" disclosed in a November regulatory filing.

Beyond Meat admitted it doesn't yet have the resources in place to handle some of the complex transactions in which it previously engaged. So it needs to clean up its own backyard before a rally materializes.

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-0.09

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$

0.90

Even if cleaning occurs, investors can't ignore waning plant-based meat demand in the U.S. Plant-based burgers, once Beyond Meat's bread and butter, are one of the reasons for that decline. American consumers are souring on meat alternatives because those products are considered processed foods, which are out of fashion.

Some studies confirm that meat alternatives are among the least healthy vegan foods, and those products offer little to no benefit relative to "the real thing." With that, it's hard to bet on a Beyond Meat rebound.

Todd Shriber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Beyond Meat. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.