Market Signal Briefing

XRP is currently trading sideways after rebounding from recent lows, showing signs of stabilization following a sharp sell-off. Instead of continuing to post aggressive lower lows, the cryptocurrency is attempting to hold a key support zone. This price behavior has formed what many traders recognize as a potential double bottom pattern, a technical setup that can signal a trend reversal if confirmed.

The second retest of the support area, combined with a modest bounce, is strengthening the bullish narrative. A double bottom typically indicates that selling pressure is weakening, as bears struggle to push the asset lower. If confirmed, this formation could shift overall market sentiment and encourage renewed interest in altcoins. As risk appetite slowly returns to the crypto market, XRP’s current structure is drawing attention from traders watching for early reversal signals.

At the moment, $1.40 stands out as the most critical support level. This zone acts as the foundation of the developing double bottom. A breakdown below $1.40 would invalidate the bullish setup and potentially open the door to further downside. On the upside, immediate resistance lies between $1.52 and $1.55, where short-term sellers may attempt to regain control. A successful move above this range would strengthen the recovery outlook.

For a more decisive trend reversal, XRP must reclaim the $1.75 to $1.80 area, where major moving averages converge. A breakout above this region would provide stronger confirmation of a broader bullish shift.

Although XRP remains in a decision phase, improving momentum and stabilizing trading volume suggest that the market is carefully building a base. If buyers continue defending support, XRP price action could transition from consolidation into a more sustained recovery phase.

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The Bitcoin vs gold debate is intensifying in February 2026 as both hard assets send mixed market signals. Gold has surged to new record highs above $5,100, fueled by strong macroeconomic flows and safe-haven demand. Meanwhile, Bitcoin price has struggled to break above the $67,000 level, remaining in a consolidation phase that has lasted nearly a month. This divergence has reignited discussions about which asset is poised for its next major expansion.

According to crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe, the true measure of performance lies in the BTC vs gold ratio rather than USD price alone. He notes that Bitcoin has been declining relative to gold for roughly 14 months, after peaking in December 2024. Historically, similar Bitcoin vs gold bear markets occurred in 2013–2015, 2017–2019, and 2021–2022. Each cycle ended with Bitcoin entering a multi-year bullish trend.

Technical indicators further support this outlook. The weekly RSI on the BTC vs gold chart has dropped to record lows, levels that previously marked macro bottoms for Bitcoin. This suggests BTC may be approaching the end of its relative downtrend. Van de Poppe argues that Bitcoin’s October 2025 all-time high in USD terms is somewhat misleading, as gold was also rising at the time, limiting BTC’s independent strength.

Market sentiment reflects caution. Polymarket data shows only a 29% probability that Bitcoin will outperform gold in 2026. However, prolonged consolidation often precedes significant volatility in crypto markets. Adding to the shift in institutional sentiment, BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) options recently became the ninth-largest in the U.S. market, surpassing major gold ETFs in trading volume. JPMorgan analysts have also suggested Bitcoin may hold stronger long-term appeal than gold.

While gold maintains strong upward momentum, the BTC vs gold ratio indicates Bitcoin could be nearing a historical inflection point. A reversal in this ratio may trigger a sharper percentage gain for BTC compared to gold. Still, analysts like Willy Woo warn that macro risks, quantum computing fears, and dormant coins re-entering circulation could create downward pressure. With global debt concerns rising, investor demand for scarce assets such as Bitcoin and gold is likely to remain elevated.

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CME ‘smart money’ cutting shorts signals reduced downside riskCME ‘smart money’, non-commercial futures traders, has been cutting short positions, based on data from the CFTC Commitment of Traders (COT) report. Reduced net shorts typically signal easing left‑tail risk as hedges are unwound.

At the same time, Bitcoin continues to trade above its 200‑week exponential moving average. Holding this long‑term gauge keeps the primary uptrend intact, while a clean weekly break below would re‑introduce material downside risk.

Why this positioning shift matters for Bitcoin trendPositioning shifts matter because CME futures often anchor institutional hedging and basis trades. When larger speculators cover shorts or tilt long, it can reduce forced‑seller pressure and improve liquidity on rebounds.

Historical episodes show that such shifts have preceded multi‑week recoveries when long‑term support held. As one perspective on the current setup, Tom McClellan, market analyst, said, ‘large speculators have shifted from net short toward long, a pattern that has preceded strong rallies in prior cycles.’

Analysts have also discussed a possible approach toward the mid‑$80,000 area before April if support persists and momentum accelerates; this remains a conditional scenario, not a guarantee.

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

Defending the 200‑week EMA on a weekly closing basis is the first line of risk management for trend followers. Above it, focus turns to successive lower‑highs and whether they can be reclaimed.

If rebound breadth falters, a drawdown toward the mid‑$70,000s has been flagged in recent analysis; Bitget Research’s Ryan Lee has noted the $76,000 region as a potential magnet if momentum fails.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin trades near $67,294 with very high short‑term volatility around 11.37%. Near‑term sentiment screens as bearish, and 13 of the past 30 sessions closed green.

How to track CME positioning and key Bitcoin levelsMonitoring positioning, term structure, and trend proxies provides a structured read on risk. Weekly cadence and consistent signal definitions help separate noise from changes in underlying flows.

Commitment of Traders (COT) report and CME crypto data sourcesUse the weekly COT release to track non‑commercial net positions in Bitcoin futures and options. For product details and historical ADV/open interest, consult CME Group’s cryptocurrency data, which reported a 139% jump in crypto ADV in 2025 to a record 278,000 contracts.

Monitor weekly closes: 200-week EMA support and near-term resistanceTrack the 200‑week EMA on weekly close. Sustained closes above it reduce left‑tail risk; consecutive weekly closes below would warn of trend deterioration. Watch whether prior lower‑highs and the mid‑$70,000s cap rebounds.

FAQ about CME Bitcoin futuresWhy is Bitcoin’s 200-week EMA important, and what happens if BTC loses this level?Institutions use it as a long‑term trend proxy. Holding it implies trend integrity and softer downside tails; decisive weekly closes below often precede deeper drawdowns and volatility expansion.

What conditions would need to align for Bitcoin to reach ~$85,000 before April?Smart‑money short covering, sustained 200‑week EMA support, improving breadth, and momentum through successive lower‑highs. As reported by Cointelegraph, such alignments preceded prior advances; the scenario remains conditional and time‑sensitive.

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

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Posted: February 23, 2026

The real-world asset ecosystem on Solana [SOL] surged to a historic milestone of $1.66 billion in tokenized value recently.

The steady growth in RWA reflected capital moving on-chain and increased institutional participation in Solana’s settlement infrastructure.

AMBCrypto also reported that the Layer 1 blockchain was one of the leading competitors in dApp revenue. Combined with spot ETF inflows and high network activity, it seemed that the Solana fundamentals were strong.

Even in risk-off market conditions, the network saw a leap in app revenue capture ratio from 262% to 375%. An increasing RWA base and whale accumulation have not been enough to halt SOL’s downward march.

Source: SOL/USDT on TradingView

The long-term descending channel remained unbroken. The weekly chart showed why further losses were likely.

There were sizeable imbalances up to $140, which could be filled before the $47.9 southward extension level is tested as support.

The trend was too strongly bearish to be overcome anytime soon. Crypto analyst Ali Martinez posted the monthly chart of SOL on X. On it, the monthly SuperTrend indicator had flipped to a “sell” signal.

The last time this happened was in 2022, and SOL faced a 95% price drop afterward.

Accumulation is too weak to stave off SOL bears The Hodler net position change turned green in January. This meant that the monthly position change of long-term SOL holders had been increasing, a sign of accumulation.

However, the metric has slowed down over the past three weeks.

The slowdown came alongside a SOL slide below the $100 level. It reflected weakened long-term conviction from long-term holders compared to the first half of January.

There could be more pain ahead, and the trepidation from holders might be justified. The percent of addresses in profit was at lows not seen since November 2023, hovering around 20% in February.

During the previous bear cycle, the percent of addresses in profit had dropped to 1.37% on the 28th of December, 2022.

History need not repeat exactly, but long-term investors can wait a few more months before buying SOL. The market-wide sentiment remained bearish, and it was too early to call the bottom.

Final Summary The Solana fundamentals remained strong, and institutional confidence in the network has not flagged. The cyclical nature of the market has thrown SOL deep into a bear market, and there could be more drawdown ahead later this year.

Micron is benefiting from a surge in AI spending.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a major catalyst for Alphabet over the past couple of years, as the company's chatbot, Google Gemini, has gained popularity and as it invests heavily in new AI data infrastructure.

But one company, Micron Technology (MU +2.36%), is reaping even more rewards from AI than Alphabet and could outperform the tech giant this year. Here's why.

Image source: Getty Images.

Alphabet is no AI laggard Alphabet has gained a lot of ground in the AI race lately, especially given that Gemini now has 750 million monthly active users -- a nearly 88% increase from just nine months ago. And it's not just that Gemini is popular. The company said that in the fourth quarter of 2025, revenue from products built on its generative AI models grew by nearly 400% year over year.

And more AI wins are likely on the way. Alphabet recently entered into a collaboration with Apple, in which the iPhone maker will reportedly pay Alphabet $1 billion a year to use Gemini as the underlying model for the latest iteration of Siri.

Alphabet benefits from artificial intelligence mostly through its Google Cloud services, and its fourth-quarter results showed just how well this segment is doing, with cloud sales rising 48% to $17.7 billion.

Micron is doing even better As good as Alphabet has been doing over the past year, Micron Technology has it beat -- and the pattern will likely continue this year. Micron makes memory chips that are a critical part of AI data centers, and demand has been off the charts recently.

Micron's Chief Business Officer, Sumit Sadana, recently said that it was "sold out" of memory for 2026 -- and that was before Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Amazon said they would increase their capital expenditure spending (mostly for data center infrastructure) to up to $650 billion this year.

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To ensure that it can meet the demand, Micron will spend $200 billion to build new manufacturing facilities across the U.S., with the factories coming online over the next several years. And it should help the company build on its current success. Micron's sales spiked 56% to $13.6 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, and non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings surged 167% to $4.78 per share. Analysts' consensus estimates are for Micron's sales to more than double from 2025 and reach $97.6 billion in 2027.

With big tech companies like Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and others competing for the top spot in AI, Micron is well positioned to continue benefiting from their intense need for memory demand, giving Micron's stock the potential to outpace Alphabet shares this year.

Chris Neiger has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The next-generation battery developer is making important progress in its business, but is it a buy today?

It has been a tough backdrop for electric vehicles and related stocks. One stock that has had an up-and-down year is battery manufacturer QuantumScape (QS 4.04%). The company had a pretty solid year last year, making strides in its battery technology.

The stock reached $19 per share last October, but today it is 63% below its 52-week high. With shares trading under $9 a share, is QuantumScape stock a buy? Let's dive into the business and its progress to find out.

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QuantumScape is making crucial progress on its battery technology Last year was a productive one for QuantumScape, as the company made significant progress with its battery technology. One of its top achievements was the integration of what it calls the Cobra separator process into baseline cell production in the second quarter. This manufacturing process achieved a 25x improvement in heat-treatment speed (compared to its previous Raptor process) and requires significantly less floor space, bringing it one step closer to mass-producing its batteries.

In the third quarter, the company began shipping QSE-5 B1 cell samples to automotive customers, which feature separators produced using its Cobra process. This cell demonstrated an energy density of 844 Wh/L and 301 Wh/kg, which means its battery is smaller and lighter than current technology. In addition, it can fast-charge from 10% to 80% in under 15 minutes, which addresses one of the key disadvantages of electric vehicles.

Image source: Getty Images.

The company also expanded its collaboration with PowerCo, which is Volkswagen's battery arm. As part of this, there is a non-exclusive license to mass-produce battery cells up to 40 GWh per year, expandable to 80 GWh per year. It also entered a joint development agreement with Murata Manufacturing and Corning to produce ceramic separators at high volume for its solid-state batteries. These companies help QuantumScape build up its global supplier ecosystem as it prepares to produce batteries at scale.

What's next for QuantumScape? This year, QuantumScape will begin field testing of its QSE-B1 sample cells in vehicles, as part of a launch program to demonstrate the technology's capabilities in real-world automotive applications. For the full year, the company expects its adjusted EBITDA loss to be between $250 million and $275 million.

Looking further down the line, its goal is to have a series-production car in partnership with Volkswagen and PowerCo, featuring its technology on the road by 2029. In the meantime, the company will need to continue testing and scaling up its manufacturing capabilities and building its supply chains.

Management believes its cash runway will extend through the latter half of the decade, suggesting it could operate over the next several years without raising capital. This is important for investors because capital raises can be very dilutive. That said, the company is still a couple of years away from generating meaningful revenue. In the meantime, it remains highly speculative and story-driven, and most investors are best off avoiding the stock for now.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ: RR) publicly traded securities between January 27, 2026 and 12:00 p.m. EST on January 29, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until Friday, April 3, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit. Captioned Diez v. Richtech Robotics Inc., No. 26-cv-00231 (D. Nev.), the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit charges Richtech Robotics and certain of Richtech Robotics’ top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-richtech-robotics-inc-class-action-lawsuit-rr.html

You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Richtech Robotics develops, manufactures, deploys, and sells robotic solutions for automation in the service industry.

The Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period Richtech Robotics claimed that it had a collaborative and commercial relationship with Microsoft when it did not.

The Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit further alleges that on January 29, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST, Hunterbrook Media published an article entitled “Breaking: Microsoft Denies Partnership with Richtech Robotics,” which alleged that “‘Richtech participated in an AI Co-Innovation Lab engagement, which is a standard customer engagement focused on exploring and prototyping AI solutions using Microsoft technologies . . . . There is no commercial element in this lab engagement.’” On this news, the price of Richtech Robotics Class B stock fell more than 29% over two trading days, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Richtech Robotics publicly traded securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Richtech Robotics investor class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Richtech Robotics shareholder class action lawsuit. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world’s leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors – $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world, and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:
        Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
        J.C. Sanchez
        655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
        800-449-4900
        [email protected]

An executive at Alaska Air Group recently sold 5,500 shares, following the company's strong start to 2026, marked by heavy investments to expand its operations.

Andrew R. Harrison, EVP and CCO at Alaska Air Group (ALK +0.94%), reported the sale of 5,500 shares of Common Stock in an open-market transaction on Feb. 18, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares traded (direct)5,500Transaction value$311,000Post-transaction shares (direct)30,828Post-transaction value (direct ownership)$1.7 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($56.63); post-transaction value based on Feb. 18, 2026 market close ($56.63).

Key questionsHow does the scale of this sale compare to Harrison's prior selling activity?
The 5,500-share sale is at the lower end of Harrison’s historical sales transactions, which have ranged from 5,500 to 7,600 shares since February 2025, with a median of 6,600 shares per sale across five sales events in the past year.What proportion of Harrison's available share capacity was reduced in this transaction?
The sale represented 15.14% of his direct holdings at the time, exceeding the median percentage of holdings sold per transaction (13.01%).

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Company overviewMetricValueEmployees35,951Revenue (TTM)$14.24 billionNet income (TTM)$100 million1-year price change (as of Feb. 21, 2026)-31.36%Company snapshot Alaska Air Group is a leading air transportation provider for passengers and cargo in North America through its subsidiaries. It serves approximately 120 destinations on the continent and parts of South America. Its three main brands are Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Regional. 

What this transaction means for investorsA month removed from its Q4 FY 2025 earnings report, Alaska Air Group closed out its FY 2025 with flat numbers, which included its lowest annual net income and earnings per share (EPS) in three years. Annual net income and EPS both fell nearly 75% year-over-year (YoY).

When the company acquired Hawaiian Airlines in late 2024, it was expected to be a big boost, but it had little impact on the company in 2025, and there may be more time needed to see actual results, especially when considering that both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will continue to operate as separate entities.

It may not have been the best year for Alaska Air Group, but the company has ramped up its internal investments since 2026 began. On Jan. 7, the company announced its largest-ever fleet order, placing an order for 110 new Boeing jets. It followed up by unveiling its new 660,000-square-foot global training facility.

Most recently, on Feb. 12, Alaska Air Group announced it was investing more than $3 billion in hub airports to improve the guest experience worldwide, aiming to expand its operations in Europe in the spring. Given how aggressively the airline is moving, there may still be hope for its stock.

Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Alaska Air Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of PomDoctor Ltd. (NASDAQ: POM) between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Information:

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284799

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Oil fell in early Asian trade. President Trump is weighing an initial limited military strike on Iran to compel the country to meet his demands for a nuclear deal.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Smart Digital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: SDM) between May 5, 2025 and September 26, 2025 at 9:34 AM EST, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 16, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SDM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50638 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 16, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Smart Digital was the subject of a market manipulation and fraudulent promotion scheme involving social-media based misinformation and impersonators posing as financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used and/or intended to use offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) Smart Digital's public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of realized risk of fraudulent trading or market manipulation used to drive Smart Digital's stock price; (4) as a result, Smart Digital securities were at unique risk of a sustained suspension in trading by either or both of the SEC and NASDAQ; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Smart Digital's business, operations and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the SDM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50638 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284691

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Garden believes the company behind Moen faucets and Master Lock could grow much larger over the next decade.

The stock is trading down about 25% over the past year.

It's been a tough past year for the stock of Palo Alto Networks (PANW 1.52%), with the stock down more than 25% as of this writing. Meanwhile, the stock sank further following the announcement last week of its fiscal 2026 second-quarter (Q2) earnings results.

Let's delve into the cybersecurity company's latest report and prospects to see if the stock's recent weakness is a buying opportunity.

Image source: Getty Images.

On an acquisition spree As Palo Alto has embarked on its platformization strategy (selling its solutions as one of three cybersecurity platforms instead of as point solutions), the company has become aggressive on the acquisition front to add new cybersecurity solutions. In January, it closed its acquisition of real-time data monitoring company Chronosphere, while earlier this month, it completed its acquisition of privileged access company CyberArk. Meanwhile, along with its earnings report, it also announced that it will acquire Koi, which provides agentic artificial intelligence (AI) enterprise endpoint security solutions.

While these deals strengthen Palo Alto's positioning in the cybersecurity space and expand on its platformization strategy, they will also weigh on its earnings per share (EPS) in the near term. This is chiefly due to the stock component of the large CyberArk deal.

For Palo Alto's fiscal 2026 Q2, ended Jan. 31, revenue jumped 15% year over year to $2.59 billion, which was at the high end of its previous forecast for revenue of between $2.57 billion and $2.59 billion. Service revenue increased by 13% to $2.08 billion, with subscription revenue climbing by 14% and support revenue up 12%. Product revenue climbed by 22% to $514 million, led by growth in software firewalls.

Next-generation security once again powered Palo Alto's growth, with next-generation security annual recurring revenue (ARR) surging by 33%, or 28% excluding acquisitions, to $6.33 billion. Its largest next-generation security solution is SASE (secure access service edge), which saw its annual recurring revenue (ARR) soar about 40% to more than $1.5 billion.

Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) surged by 27% year over year to $1.03, which was ahead of its guidance of $0.93 to $0.95.

Looking ahead, Palo Alto updated its full-year guidance, taking its revenue up and EPS down, given its recent acquisitions. Below is a table of the company's fiscal Q3 and full-year forecast.

Metric

Fiscal 2026
Q3 Forecast

Prior
Fiscal 2026
FY Forecast
(from Aug)

Prior
Fiscal 2026
FY Forecast
(from Nov)

Current
Fiscal 2026
FY Forecast

Revenue

$2.941 billion to $2.945 billion

$10.475 billion to $10.525 billion

$10.5 billion to $10.54 billion

$11.28 billion to $11.31 billion

Revenue growth

28% to 29%

14%

14%

22% to 23%

NGS ARR

$7.94 billion to $7.96 billion

$7 billion
to $7.1 billion

$7 billion
to $7.1 billion

$8.52 billion
to $8.62 billion

NGS ARR growth

56%

26% to 27%

26% to 27%

53% to 54%

Adjusted EPS

$0.78 to $0.80

$3.75 to $3.85

$3.80 to $3.90

$3.65 to $3.70

EPS growth

-3% to 0%

12% to 15%

14% to 17%

9% to 11%

Data source: Palo Alto Networks. FY = full year. ARR = Annualized recurring revenue. NGS = Next-Gen Security.

Is the stock a buy? The drop in stock price has taken Palo Alto to a much more attractive valuation than it has traded at in the past, with a forward price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 9 times fiscal 2027 estimates and a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 33 times 2027 estimates. While its recent acquisitions will initially cause some EPS pressure, these look like smart moves that will help with its platformization approach over the long term.

As such, I think investors can look to accumulate the stock at current levels on this dip.

Graphic Packaging delivers fiber-based packaging solutions to major consumer brands worldwide, serving food, beverage, and retail sectors.

On February 17, 2026, Atlantic Investment Management, Inc. disclosed it sold out its entire stake in Graphic Packaging (GPK 2.98%), an estimated $12.63 million trade.

What happenedAccording to a recent SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Atlantic Investment Management, Inc. completely exited its position in Graphic Packaging during the fourth quarter of 2025. The fund sold all 645,584 shares, with the quarter-end value of the position falling by $12.63 million, consistent with the liquidation.

What else to knowThe fund sold out its entire holding in Graphic Packaging, which previously represented 7.3% of 13F reportable assets under management in the prior quarter.Post-filing, top holdings are:NYSE:AXTA: $33.09 million (18.6% of AUM)NYSE:KEX: $24.57 million (13.8% of AUM)NYSE:FLS: $21.79 million (12.3% of AUM)NYSE:APTV: $21.00 million (11.8% of AUM)NYSE:OSK: $19.42 million (10.9% of AUM)As of February 17, 2026, shares of Graphic Packaging were priced at $12.37, down 53.2% over the past year and significantly underperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 13% gain in the same period.Company overviewMetricValuePrice (as of market close February 17, 2026)$12.37Market capitalization$3.65 billionRevenue (TTM)$8.62 billionNet income (TTM)$444.00 millionCompany snapshotGraphic Packaging offers fiber-based packaging products, including coated paperboard, folding cartons, cups, lids, food containers, and barrier packaging solutions.The firm generates revenue primarily through manufacturing and distributing packaging materials and specialized packaging machinery to the food, beverage, and consumer goods sectors.It serves consumer packaged goods companies, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice providers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.Graphic Packaging is a leading provider of fiber-based packaging solutions, operating at scale with a global customer base and a diverse product portfolio. The company leverages integrated manufacturing capabilities and a broad distribution network to deliver value-added packaging products to major consumer brands. Its focus on innovation and operational efficiency supports its competitive positioning within the packaging and containers industry.

What this transaction means for investorsIt’s been a rough year for Graphic Packaging, and this exit signals a clear pivot away from a capital-heavy turnaround story in favor of higher-conviction industrial names already showing operational momentum.

Graphic Packaging’s 2025 results were solid on paper but trending the wrong way. Net sales slipped 2% to $8.6 billion, while net income fell to $444 million from $658 million the year prior as margins compressed meaningfully year over year. At the same time, net leverage rose to 3.8x from 3.0x, even as the company spent $935 million in capital expenditures tied largely to its $1.67 billion Waco project.

Yes, management is targeting $700 million to $800 million in adjusted free cash flow in 2026. But that comes alongside guidance for lower adjusted EBITDA and EPS of $0.75 to $1.15, reflecting operational headwinds and inventory-related actions.

Nevertheless, for long-term investors, this looks less like panic selling and more like capital discipline. When leverage is rising and margins are shrinking, reallocating toward businesses with cleaner earnings momentum can be the smarter compounding move.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Aptiv. The Motley Fool recommends Flowserve. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

IonQ is one of the most popular quantum computing stocks.

Quantum computing is the next big technology that's expected to follow AI. While the AI build-out is in full swing, so is the quantum computing arms race. Every company competing in the quantum computing realm is racing toward one goal: accuracy. That's the one hold-up with quantum technology right now, as its solutions aren't accurate enough to be deployed in a commercial setting.

If that's the primary issue that every company is trying to solve, then a logical investment idea is to pick the current leader. Right now, that's IonQ (IONQ 4.52%). IonQ has made some structural decisions that optimize its technology for accuracy, which is why it's a leader in the space. But will those decisions be enough to transform $10,000 into $1 million?

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ holds a commanding lead IonQ's latest measure of accuracy was in October 2025, when it delivered 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity. This metric has become the industry standard in quantum computing and can be utilized when comparing systems from different providers.

It measures if a calculation is still correct after passing through two processing "gates," and a 99.99% score indicates one error out of every 10,000 operations. While you and I would be incredibly happy only making one error in every 10,000 decisions we make, that's not good enough for a computer. Basic processes require thousands of operations, and if one error happens, it can propagate to ruin the entire system.

That's why accuracy is so important, and with the rest of the quantum computing competition not yet reaching the 99.99% accuracy threshold, IonQ has a decent lead.

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But will this be enough to fend off competitors? That's an impossible question to answer. There are several other viable quantum computing companies, including some divisions in major tech companies with nearly unlimited resources. That's going to be tough to beat, although this wouldn't be the first time an upstart outperformed a legacy tech company.

IonQ is a high-risk, high-reward company, which is why some investors are looking to it to provide life-changing returns. I don't think investors should go all-in on IonQ's stock, as there is a strong likelihood of failure due to its operation in an emerging technology field that could rapidly shift. There are too many unknowns to be unnecessarily bullish on the stock, but allocating a small percentage of your portfolio (say no more than 1%) could be a smart move. However, if 1% of your portfolio is $10,000, then congratulations, you're already a millionaire.

Beyond that, I think IonQ is a solid long-shot pick, but investors also need to be prepared for the worst if IonQ's technological advantage disappears. I think it will pan out, but there are no guarantees.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) between January 17, 2025 and November 13, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 3, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Plug Power class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=1011 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 3, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants had materially overstated the likelihood that funds attributed to the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan would ultimately become available to Plug Power, and/or that Plug Power would ultimately construct the hydrogen production facilities necessary to receive those funds; (2) as such, Plug Power was likely to pivot toward more modest projects with less commercial upside; and (3) as a result, Plug Power's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Plug Power class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=1011 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284738

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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(in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted)

, /PRNewswire/ - Franco-Nevada Corporation ("Franco-Nevada" or the "Company") (TSX: FNV)(NYSE: FNV) is pleased to announce that, through a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, it has entered into an agreement to acquire a A$170 million (approximately $120 million) gross royalty (the "Royalty") from Minerals 260 Limited ("Minerals 260") to support its development of the Bullabulling Gold Project ("Bullabulling" or the "Project") located in Western Australia. Additionally, Franco-Nevada has agreed to subscribe for A$50 million (approximately $35 million) of Minerals 260's ordinary shares (the "Shares").

The Royalty acquisition will be in addition to Franco-Nevada's historical 1.00% gross royalty over certain Project tenements, effectively increasing it to a 2.45% gross royalty over a Bullabulling land package, covering all Mineral Resources, plus an area of interest.

"Bullabulling is a large and growing Resource and one of the most attractive gold development projects in Australia," said Paul Brink, President & CEO of Franco-Nevada. "After a full review by our team of the rapid and impressive progress made by Minerals 260, we are excited to increase our exposure to the Project. This represents Franco-Nevada's largest ever royalty acquisition in Australia and adds to the extensive royalty coverage we have in the country. Our equity investment demonstrates our confidence in the Minerals 260 team's ability to deliver the Project and unlock value for shareholders. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Minerals 260 for the development of Bullabulling and beyond."

Luke McFadyen, Managing Director of Minerals 260, commented: "Securing a A$220 million funding package with the world's leading gold royalty company at this stage of Bullabulling's development is a major milestone that will allow us to rapidly accelerate the Project towards production, while also substantially de-risking our development funding pathway. Franco-Nevada's extensive due diligence across all areas of the Project validates Bullabulling as one of the leading gold development projects in Australia."

Transaction Highlights

Near-Term Production Pathway: Bullabulling is one of Australia's largest near-term gold projects, located approximately 65 km from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in the Eastern Goldfields, with an existing resource of 3.0 Moz Indicated Resources (93 Mt at 1.0 g/t) and 1.5 Moz Inferred Resources (42 Mt at 1.1 g/t). The Project is located on existing mining leases and has a straightforward pathway to meaningful near-term production from conventional open-pit and CIL processing. A pre-feasibility study is targeted by Minerals 260 for completion in mid-2026, with a final investment decision expected early 2027, and first gold production potentially as soon as H2 2028.  Meaningful Production Profile: Minerals 260's intended strategy is to incrementally develop and expand Bullabulling to accelerate and optimize production. Based on Franco-Nevada's review and current Resources, we see potential for throughput expanding in phases to 7 to 8 Mtpa, which corresponds with historical studies.1 Substantial Funding for Project Development: Financing proceeds will enable Minerals 260 to accelerate the development of Bullabulling  through the expansion of resource drilling and growth, bringing forward camp construction and other infrastructure to fast-track development, and facilitate the ordering of long lead items. Large Mineral Resource with Exploration Potential: The Royalty will cover a large Resource base, including the Phoenix, Bacchus, Dicksons, Kraken deposits which cover 8.5 km strike-length on the Bullabulling trend and the Gibraltar deposit which currently spans 1 km strike-length on a sub-parallel trend. Since acquiring the project in 2025, Minerals 260 has had significant success growing the Resource through the first significant drilling campaign on the Project since 2011, nearly doubling Mineral Resources. Considerable growth potential exists on the deposits both along strike and at depth, along with conversion of Inferred Resources. We expect the financing proceeds will assist Minerals 260 to continue expanding their Resource base through both exploration and infill drilling on ground covered by the Royalty, along with advancing the Project. Experienced Board & Management Team: Minerals 260 is led by its Chairman Tim Goyder, who has over 40 years of experience in the resource industry and is Minerals 260's second largest shareholder. Mr. Goyder is the also the Chairman of Liontown Limited which recently developed and is operating the Kathleen Valley Lithium mine in Western Australia. The Minerals 260 management team is lead by its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Luke McFadyen who has over 15 years of mining industry experience and, prior to joining Minerals 260 in 2023, held senior roles at OZ Minerals, Syrah Resources, South32 and BHP. Transaction Highlights Exploration Royalty Portfolio Upside: The Royalty acquisition underscores the value and optionality of Franco-Nevada's historical Bullabulling royalty and the 300+ exploration and advanced-stage royalty and stream interests in our portfolio, including several other royalties that Franco-Nevada holds on the Kalgoorlie belt, one of Australia's most prolific mining camps. ____________________________________

1

Throughput potential is based on Franco-Nevada's own review, including of the current Resources and historical studies, and is not a Minerals 260 production target for the Project.

Key Terms

Royalty Acquisition

Upfront proceeds of A$75 million (approximately $53 million) upon closing, with a further A$95 million (approximately $67 million) payment upon obtaining Foreign Investment Review Board ("FIRB") approval for the acquisition of security interests over the Project tenements Franco-Nevada will hold a 2.45% gross royalty comprised of: an additional 1.45% gross royalty over Bullabulling tenements on which Franco-Nevada currently holds a 1.00% royalty a new 2.45% gross royalty over Bullabulling tenements where Franco-Nevada currently holds no existing royalty Upon production of 4 Moz Au from Royalty lands, the royalties, in aggregate, will step down from 2.45% to 1.63% Royalties cover a Bullabulling land package, inclusive of all Mineral Resources, plus an area of interest Franco-Nevada will maintain a right of first refusal on future streams, royalties and similar interests related to the Royalty properties The initial A$75 million Royalty funding is expected to occur on or about February 26, 2026. The second A$95 million Royalty funding is expected to occur upon obtaining FIRB approval Equity Participation

Franco-Nevada has committed to purchase 111,111,111 Shares of Minerals 260 at an issue price of A$0.45 per Share for an aggregate purchase price of A$50 million (or approximately $35 million) Upon closing of the equity transaction, Franco-Nevada will own approximately 4.9% of Minerals 260's issued and outstanding Shares Financing the Transactions

Franco-Nevada intends to finance the transactions from cash on hand. The Company had $0.9B in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities and $1.9B in available capital as at September 30, 2025.

Franco-Nevada Corporate Summary

Franco-Nevada Corporation is the leading gold-focused royalty and streaming company with the largest and most diversified portfolio of cash-flow producing assets. Its business model provides investors with gold price and exploration optionality while limiting exposure to cost inflation. Franco-Nevada is debt-free and uses its free cash flow to expand its portfolio and pay dividends. It trades under the symbol FNV on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Franco-Nevada is the gold investment that works.

About Minerals 260

Minerals 260 is building an Australian gold company by developing the Bullabulling Gold Project, located approximately 65 km from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in the Eastern Goldfields. Minerals 260's shares are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX:MI6). For more information, visit www.minerals260.com.au.

Additional Information

Minerals 260's head office is located at Level 2, 1292 Hay Street, West Perth WA 6005. Franco-Nevada's head and registered office is located at 2000-199 Bay Street, Commerce Court West, Toronto, Ontario, M5L 1G9.

Information relating to Bullabulling contained in this news release has been provided by Minerals 260. All Mineral Resource estimates are reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012).

Scientific and technical information included in this news release has been reviewed by Darrol van Deventer, Vice President, Mining of Franco-Nevada, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, respectively, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, including the expected timing of closing the transaction, the expected future performance of Bullabulling and the Royalty, and production and mine life estimates relating to Bullabulling. In addition, statements relating to mineral resources and mineral reserves, gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs") and mine life are forward-looking statements, as they involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, and no assurance can be given that the estimates and assumptions are accurate and that such mineral resources and mineral reserves, GEOs or mine life will be realized. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "potential for", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Franco-Nevada to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation: fluctuations in the prices of the primary commodities that drive royalty and stream revenue (gold, platinum group metals, copper, nickel, uranium, silver, iron ore and oil and gas); fluctuations in the value of the Canadian and Australian dollar, Mexican peso, and any other currency in which revenue is generated, relative to the U.S. dollar; changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies and the enforcement thereof; proposed tariff and other trade measures that may be imposed by the United States and proposed retaliatory measures that may be adopted by its trading partners; the adoption of a global minimum tax on corporations; regulatory, political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held; risks related to the operators of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership and control of such operators; relinquishment or sale of mineral properties; influence of macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by Franco-Nevada; reduced access to debt and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; whether or not the Company is determined to have "passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") status as defined in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; potential changes in Canadian tax treatment of offshore streams; excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; access to sufficient pipeline capacity; actual mineral content may differ from the mineral resources and mineral reserves contained in technical reports; rate and timing of production differences from resource estimates, other technical reports and mine plans; risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest, including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, sinkholes, flooding and other natural disasters, terrorism, civil unrest or an outbreak of contagious disease; the impact of future pandemics; and the integration of acquired assets. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: the ongoing operation of the properties in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice; the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties; no material adverse change in the market price of the commodities that underlie the asset portfolio; the Company's ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status; no material changes to existing tax treatment; the expected application of tax laws and regulations by taxation authorities; the expected assessment and outcome of any audit by any taxation authority; no adverse development in respect of any significant property in which Franco-Nevada holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the accuracy of publicly disclosed expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production; integration of acquired assets; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. However, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In addition, there can be no assurance as to (i) the outcome of any ongoing or future audits by the CRA or the Company's exposure as a result thereof, or (ii) the future status and any potential restart of the Cobre Panama mine or the outcome of any related arbitration proceedings. Franco-Nevada cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For additional information with respect to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Information Form as well as Franco-Nevada's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on www.sedarplus.com and Franco-Nevada's most recent Annual Report filed on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only and Franco-Nevada does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Franco-Nevada Corporation

Silver Finishes Above All Four Pivots and the 50-Day MA, Setting Up a Strong Monday Opening On Friday, the market finished above all four pivots, giving it an upside bias. Spot Silver also ended the session on the strong side of the 50-day moving average at $81.72. Combining the two indicators puts the market in a strong position ahead of Monday’s opening.

$86.32 Is the Next Target — A Breakout Could Open the Door to $92 and Beyond The close over both the 50-day MA and the 50% level has put the market in a position to challenge the swing top at $86.32. If taking out this level creates enough upside momentum, we could see a surge into the February 4 swing top at $92.20, followed by a major retracement zone at $92.87 to $99.66.

Iran Tensions, Supreme Court Ruling and New Tariffs Underpin Friday’s Rally Fundamentally, Spot Silver was underpinned by three factors: the threat of a war between the United States and Iran, the Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down President Trump’s emergency tariff powers, and his announcement of a new 15% global tariff. Perhaps putting a lid on Friday’s rally was a drop in the chances of a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in June.

Tariff News Overshadows the Fed — but That Narrative Won’t Last Long On Friday, the Supreme Court and new tariff news overshadowed economic data that dampened the chances of a Fed rate cut. I think this was a kneejerk reaction by silver traders and that over time, traders will drift back toward the rate cut narrative.

The Supreme Court ruling and the Trump administration’s response were largely in line with expectations. The most important takeaway, in my opinion, was that it lifted an overhang that may have been weighing on some traders. However, it does open the door to additional issues down the road, including how any refunds will be delivered, for example. Additionally, these measures are likely to be litigated in court, which could take years. My best guess is that the tariff issue will quickly fade as a factor driving silver prices. It’s better to focus on Fed policy.

Weak GDP, Sticky Inflation and a Strong Labor Market Keep June Rate Cut Odds Below 50% Weak GDP data and sticky inflation are the two key issues driving the Fed rate cut story right now. You can throw in stronger-than-expected labor market data too. We can look at a lot of input factors, but the bottom line is there is currently a less-than-50% chance of a June rate cut, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, which stands at 44%.

The ProShares UltraShort Financials ETF ratchets up bearish bets on a popular sector.

It's been nearly two decades since the Global Financial Crisis sparked a wave of bank failures, casting a dark cloud over the financial services sector. Fortunately, things are different today. Broadly speaking, large U.S.-based banks are on solid footing.

That doesn't mean bank stocks will behave like high-octane tech names, but the group is a value destination and an increasingly resurgent source of dividend growth. If there's a "dark side," it's that some investors have long memories. Many of today's market participants were invested during the crisis or old enough during that calamity to comprehend its gravity.

For risk-tolerant traders, this ETF is a great way of being bearish on financial stocks. Image source: Getty Images.

So it's plausible that even to this day, some investors are skittish about the financial services sector. Some may even want to tempt fate and embrace an exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the ProShares UltraShort Financials ETF (SKF 1.25%). There are risks and potential rewards accompanying that strategy.

Not just bearish, but ultra-bearish From this fund's title, investors can infer that this is an inverse ETF, meaning it's a bearish bet on an underlying asset or index. In that case, that index is the S&P Financial Select Sector index, which comprises the financial services stocks in the S&P 500.

Here's where things get interesting. This ProShares fund isn't just an inverse product; it's a leveraged ETF. It's designed to deliver -2x of the daily performance of the aforementioned financial services gauge. This is how that plays out in real, recent time. On Feb. 18, that index gained 0.85%, but the ProShares ETF slipped 1.69%. For better or worse, mostly the latter, the ETF behaved as expected on that day.

Sure, this bearish financials ETF can be tempting, particularly for traders who have been watching The Big Short and Margin Call -- but there's a big "but." Actually, a couple of them. First, pinpointing when another bank stock bear market, let alone a crisis, will arrive is a near-impossible task.

NYSEMKT: SKFProShares Trust - ProShares UltraShort Financials

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With that in mind, newer traders may be tempted to hold an inverse or geared ETF for weeks or months, but that strategy isn't suitable for most market participants. Don't just take my word for it. ProShares cautions investors that leveraged ETFs shouldn't be expected to deliver their stated daily objectives over periods of more than a single day.

What is this ETF suitable for? Let's work on the assumption that another banking crisis isn't right around the corner. Even with that, the ProShares UltraShort Financials ETF remains a valuable tool for tactical traders. It can be used as a short-term hedge on long positions in financial services stocks. Likewise, this and other leveraged sector ETFs can be valuable tools for capitalizing on company- or sector-specific news, such as earnings reports.

This ETF may also offer short-term protection on long exposure to Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase, as those stocks combine for 23% of the underlying index's weight. Just remember that this ETF and its brethren are short-term trades, not long-term buy-and-hold investments.

CrowdStrike is still growing quickly, but the stock's valuation assumes that pace holds up with little noise.

Shares of cybersecurity specialist CrowdStrike (CRWD 8.04%) are down meaningfully early in 2026, despite the company announcing another quarter of strong growth and cash generation when it reported quarterly results last December.

Is the disconnect between the stock's recent performance and the underlying business the basis for a buying opportunity?

With the company scheduled to release its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year results on March 3, this is a timely question. After all, better-than-expected results could cause shares to rebound when the company reports earnings. Of course, investors can't rule out the possibility that the stock will fall when CrowdStrike reports earnings, either.

Unfortunately, there's no way to know how the stock will move after the report, so investors may be better off focusing on the longer-term (and arguably more important) question: Does the stock look undervalued relative to its long-term potential?

Image source: Getty Images.

Another quarter of strong growth CrowdStrike's third quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Oct. 31, 2025) showed that its subscription revenue continued to drive robust results, with its security module adoption rates remaining strong.

The company's revenue rose 22% year over year to $1.23 billion, while subscription revenue grew 21% to $1.17 billion. CrowdStrike said 49% of its customers were using six or more modules, up from 48% in fiscal Q2 and 47% in the year-ago period. Impressively, 34% and 24% of customers have adopted seven and eight modules, respectively.

CrowdStrike said annual recurring revenue (ARR) rose 23% year over year to $4.92 billion, and net new ARR was $265 million in the quarter. ARR is the annualized value of customer subscription contracts as of the measurement date, assuming contracts that expire in the next 12 months renew on existing terms.

The cybersecurity company's cash generation was a strength as well. Operating cash flow was $398 million and free cash flow was $296 million, translating to a free cash flow margin (free cash flow as a percent of revenue) of 24% in the quarter. This robust cash generation helped the company end the period with $4.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

"Q3 was one of our best quarters in company history," said CEO George Kurtz in the company's third-quarter earnings release. He pointed to its platform approach intended to help customers consolidate security tools.

Does the stock deserve its valuation? But despite CrowdStrike's strong cash generation and its impressive top-line momentum, there's one glaring problem with the bull case for the stock at its current valuation: CrowdStrike remains unprofitable on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. CrowdStrike still reported a loss from operations of $69 million in fiscal Q3.

For a company with a market capitalization of about $98 billion, it's concerning that it still isn't reporting consistent, meaningful profits.

The valuation is asking for near-perfection from here. Even after the sell-off, CrowdStrike is still valued like a business that can profitably compound at a high rate for a long time with limited setbacks. Even its price-to-sales ratio of 21 is quite extreme for a software company. At a multiple like that, investors are not just paying for continued revenue growth. They are paying for sustained strength in net new ARR, a steady gross margin, and sufficient operating leverage to help CrowdStrike's bottom line swing to substantial positive levels.

Today's Change

(

-8.04

%) $

-33.94

Current Price

$

388.20

To the company's credit, there are some huge positives to its economic model. CrowdStrike's GAAP subscription gross margin was 78% in fiscal Q3, and free cash flow is robust. If the company can maintain these characteristics years after its bottom line turns positive, the security company's valuation could work.

The risk is that cybersecurity is both crowded and increasingly sold in bundles. When a security tool becomes part of a broader platform deal, sold by deep-pocketed tech giants, pure-play cybersecurity companies may be pressured on price over time.

Then, of course, there's execution risk, which CrowdStrike investors are already familiar with. The company has incurred significant incident-related costs associated with the July 19, 2024, Falcon sensor update. And those kinds of situations can create both direct costs and indirect friction in sales conversations.

So, is this a buying opportunity?

I would avoid buying shares here. The fundamentals are solid, but the valuation simply doesn't leave enough room for any slip-ups or an environment that becomes more competitive over time.

If the stock keeps falling or if CrowdStrike can keep delivering elevated net-new ARR while swinging to substantial profitability, I would consider changing my mind.

Yoav Landman sold 45,000 shares of Common Stock for a transaction value of approximately ~$2.47 million across Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, 2026. The transaction represented 0.76% of Mr.

The spaceflight company has shot up like, well, a rocket since its market debut a few years ago.

The space economy is growing at an unheard-of pace. Soon, SpaceX may even have artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in orbit, powered by its gigantic Starship system. However, you cannot invest in SpaceX stock as an individual investor today. You'll have to wait for its proposed initial public offering (IPO), rumored to happen later this year.

So how does a retail investor get a slice of that sweet space economy pie? One publicly traded space economy stock is Rocket Lab (RKLB 7.50%). It is one of the only companies competing directly with SpaceX for launch contracts, and its revenue has grown by close to 900% in the last five years.

Image source: Getty Images.

Where will Rocket Lab stock be in 10 years? And is it a buy for your portfolio today?

Today's Change

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-7.50

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-5.74

Current Price

$

70.84

Ambitious expansion plan Rocket Lab is a rocket launch provider for both commercial and military use cases, using its small Electron rocket to deliver small payloads to orbit with precision. It has now been reliably (and safely) operating this launch system for years, with a backlog that totaled over $500 million last quarter.

Building on the Electron, Rocket Lab has expanded into new areas of the space economy, including satellite design for its customers. This is its space systems segment, which now generates over $100 million in quarterly revenue and is much larger than its launch segment in terms of sales.

In the future, Rocket Lab will continue launching the Electron and plans to expand its capabilities in space systems. However, its most important expansion plan is its newer Neutron rocket, which will be significantly larger than the Electron and deliver much larger payloads. This will help Rocket Lab compete directly with SpaceX for launch contracts and could lead to $50 million in revenue per launch, using SpaceX contracts as a proxy.

The Neutron testing and commercial deployment have been slightly delayed, but the company is close to the finish line and hopes to perform its first test/commercial launch in 2026. Once it's ready, the Neutron will significantly grow Rocket Lab's revenue. One launch at a $50 million sale is close to 10% of Rocket Lab's trailing revenue of $554 million.

In 10 years, you could see Rocket Lab performing dozens of launches every year with its Electron and Neutron rockets. On top of this, it will likely have greatly expanded its capabilities in space systems, offering bundled packages to commercial and military customers for contracts. It may even have its own satellite constellation, which management has hinted at building. Altogether, this could lead to billions of dollars in revenue.

The issue for Rocket Lab is that the stock may already be pricing in a lot of this growth. It currently has a $40 billion market cap, with significant future shareholder dilution expected. Even if the business reaches $10 billion in revenue, the low margins in the spaceflight industry will make it difficult for the company to generate enough profit to justify this sizable market cap.

Rocket Lab stock is unlikely to perform well for investors over the next 10 years.

Exceptional Returns With Low Volatility: Why I Exited Ellington Financial Series B Preferred Share

The equity market is in record territory, as measured by the S&P 500 index. Investors looking to put a relatively large sum of money to work might not think now is a good time. But that's a flawed view.

Here are the best companies to invest $50,000 in right now. Hint: They're both dominant artificial intelligence (AI) stocks.

Image source: Getty Images.

These are some mind-boggling metrics In July 2023, Alphabet (GOOGL +4.00%) (GOOG +3.74%) CEO, Sundar Pichai, revealed a monster data point. He said that the business had "15 products that each serve half a billion people, and six that serve over 2 billion each."

Not far from the Google parent's headquarters in the Bay Area is Meta Platforms (META +1.66%). During the fourth quarter of 2025 (ended Dec. 31), this business reported having 3.58 billion daily active users.

Take a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor. These two companies, which are each deserving of a $25,000 investment allocation, have unrivaled adoption. They quite literally impact the daily lives of people across the globe.

Consequently, there are unbelievably powerful network effects at play. Google Search and YouTube are constantly getting better with more usage, data, and improving algorithms. The same is true of Meta's various social media apps.

Today's Change

(

4.00

%) $

12.13

Current Price

$

314.98

Putting all their eggs in the AI basket Another reason to buy these stocks is because both companies are in enviable financial positions. Alphabet and Meta posted 18% and 24% year-over-year revenue growth, respectively, in Q4 2025. At their huge scale, this type of expansion is impressive. And it shows that the digital ad market in particular has a long runway ahead.

But what stands out is further down the income statement. They produce massive profits. This supports their free cash flows and robust balance sheet positions. As of Dec. 31, 2025 Alphabet and Meta had $126.8 billion and $81.6 billion, respectively, of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

As a result, Alphabet and Meta have the financial resources to go all in on AI. Combined, they plan to spend $290 billion to $320 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, big jumps from last year. In an effort to bolster computing capacity and build the required technical infrastructure to better serve users and their various customers, the leadership teams view these capital outlays as necessary.

Today's Change

(

1.66

%) $

10.70

Current Price

$

655.48

Two of the cheapest "Magnificent Seven" stocks Besides Microsoft, these two trade at the lowest price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios of all the "Magnificent Seven" stocks. Their compelling valuations, with both P/E multiples sitting firmly below 30, are another reason that they make good investment opportunities for those with $50,000 ready to put to work.

The Hayne family have been on a selling spree the last few months, but these transactions typically have one thing in common.

Margaret Hayne, Co-President & CCO of Urban Outfitters (URBN 0.90%), disposed of 18,666 shares via indirect open-market sales on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, 2026, for a transaction value of approximately $1.3 million, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summary MetricValueShares sold (indirect)18,666Transaction value$1.3 millionPost-transaction shares (direct)1,176,273Post-transaction shares (indirect)2,034,615Post-transaction value (direct ownership)$85.4 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($71.87); post-transaction value based on Feb. 3, 2026 market close ($71.87).

Key questionsWhat proportion of Margaret Hayne's Urban Outfitters stake was impacted by this transaction?
The 18,666 shares sold represented 0.58% of Hayne's aggregate Urban Outfitters holdings and 0.91% of her indirect holdings, leaving her with 1,176,273 direct shares and 2,034,615 indirect shares post-transaction.Was the disposition executed directly or through intermediaries?
All shares were disposed indirectly, attributed to family trusts as noted in the footnotes. Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$6 billionNet income (TTM)$488.95 millionEmployees11,3101-year price change (as of Feb. 21, 2026)22.38%

Today's Change

(

-0.90

%) $

-0.62

Current Price

$

68.35

Company snapshotUrban Outfitters is a diversified specialty retailer with a multi-brand portfolio and a strong presence in both physical stores and digital channels. The company utilizes a combination of retail, wholesale, and subscription models to reach a diverse customer base and drive revenue growth.Its brands include Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Bhldn, Terrain, and Nuuly.The retailer targets young adults and women aged 18 to 45, focusing on fashion-forward, lifestyle-oriented consumers in North America and Europe. What this transaction means for investorsAt this point, these sales are just business as usual for Hayne and her husband. With how their Rule 105b-1 trading plan is set up, they have structured pre-determined sales that occur almost every week. Last week, Richard Haynes sold 40,000 indirect common shares on Feb. 17 and 18, 2026, for a total sale amount of approximately $2.8 million. And the week before that, Margaret Haynes sold 18,666 indirect shares on the 10th and 11th, for a combined value of $1.33 million.

Investors should consider these sales routine and not affect their investing decisions for the time being. And for the Co-Presidents, their trading plan is paying off well, as URBN stock is still sitting high after a strong run in 2025. The stock is currently down 9.40% for the year of 2026 (as of Feb. 21), but a small price pullback was expected at some point because the stock was simply overbought, having risen dramatically over the last three years, and the price can’t keep rising every day without any breaks.

Now, actually, maybe a great time to consider investing in Urban Outfitters’ stock because the price has pulled back, and the company is still poised for long-term success.

Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.