Market Signal Briefing

GLP-1 drugs are all the rage on Wall Street today, with demand for these weight loss products expected to be strong for years to come. That's helped to supercharge Eli Lilly's (LLY +0.72%) growth and its stock price. However, you might be better off with this higher-yielding drug peer, even though it doesn't compete in the GLP-1 market.

Image source: Getty Images.

Too much of a good thing Eli Lilly was second to market with a GLP-1 drug, but Mounjaro and Zepbound proved to be more effective than competing products. They are now the leading GLP-1 drugs, with 2025 revenue growth of 99% and 175%, respectively. Together, they account for 56% of Eli Lilly's top line. Eli Lilly has a lot riding on the success of these two drugs.

Wall Street isn't focusing on that risk; it has pushed Eli Lilly's stock price sharply higher. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 44, and the dividend yield is a miserly 0.6%. It looks like Eli Lilly is priced for perfection. If you have a value bias or prefer more income, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.

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Merck operates in different places Merck (MRK 0.17%) doesn't compete with Eli Lilly in the GLP-1 space. Merck is focused on treating cancer, infections, and cardiometabolic disease. These areas may not be as exciting as weight loss right now, but they are very important therapeutic categories. And while Merck has some patent expirations coming up, it also has a strong pipeline of new drugs.

Meanwhile, the big patent expiration for Keytruda in the U.S. market may not be as bad as it seems. Merck has international patents for the drug that extend into the early 2030s. It also has a new Keytruda delivery method that could extend patent protection into the late 2030s.

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That said, the real reason to prefer Merck over Eli Lilly is a mixture of valuation and yield. Merck's P/E ratio is a far more reasonable 16, and its yield is a dramatically higher 2.8%. Merck also has a long history of supporting its dividend, which hasn't been increased every year but has moved steadily higher for over three decades. And with a payout ratio of roughly 50%, there seems to be little risk that a cut would take place at this juncture.

Eli Lilly isn't bad, just expensive There's nothing wrong with Eli Lilly, per se. It is doing very well as a business right now. However, Wall Street has placed a very rich valuation on the stock. If you are looking for a dividend-paying pharmaceutical giant, Merck will probably be more to your liking.

March 08, 2026 14:00 ET  | Source: Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and BOSTON, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: XENE), a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need, will announce topline data from the Phase 3 X-TOLE2 study of azetukalner, a novel, potent KV7 potassium channel opener, in patients with focal onset seizures (FOS), on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Conference Call/Webcast Information:  Date:Monday, March 9, 2026  Time:8:00 am ET (5:00 am PT)  Webcast:Pre-register here  Dial-In:(800) 715-9871 toll-free or (646) 307-1963 for international callers
  Conference ID:7885306   A live webcast of the company presentation will be available on the Investors section of Xenon's website and posted for replay following the event. The above listed dates and times are subject to change.

About Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: XENE) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need. Xenon’s lead molecule, azetukalner, is a novel, potent KV7 potassium channel opener in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of epilepsy, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD). Xenon is also advancing an early-stage portfolio of multiple promising potassium and sodium channel modulators, including KV7 and NaV1.7 programs in Phase 1 development for the potential treatment of pain. Xenon has offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.xenon-pharma.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Xenon and the Xenon logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. All other trademarks belong to their respective owner.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CRM, NOW either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Plug Power (PLUG 7.21%) published its fourth-quarter and full-year results on March 2, and the contents of the report have powered big gains for the company's stock. Sales for the year increased 12.9% on an annual basis to come in at $709.9 million, beating the average analyst estimate by approximately $7.9 million. The business also shifted into posting a positive gross profit of $5.5 million in the fourth quarter -- coming in at 2.4% of revenue for the period.

Plug Power is a specialized provider of hydrogen fuel cells, elctrolyzers, transportation services, and related technologies that went public in 1999. The company's progression of commercial scaling has frequently fallen short of expectations since going public, and management has relied on new share offerings to fund business operations. As a result, the stock is down roughly 98.5% since market close on the day of its initial public offering (IPO). Has Plug Power reached a turnaround point that could eventually turn the stock into an income-generating machine?

Image source: Getty Images.

Long-term shareholders could be a looking at a binary outcome When it comes to the outlook for Plug Power stock over the next 25 years, investors are probably looking at a binary outcome. If the business is still in operation as a stand-alone entity and the stock has started paying a dividend, it's virtually certain that the company's share price will have seen massive capital appreciation. Along those lines, strong performance for the business will have likely put the company in a position where it can return cash to shareholders through substantial dividend payments at regular intervals.

On the other hand, the business still recorded a net loss of $1.69 billion. While that performance represented a significant improvement over the $2.1 billion loss it posted in 2024, the viability of the company's pathway to profitability is still highly uncertain.

The other side of this binary dynamic is that Plug Power still faces substantial risks of going bankrupt at some point over the next 25 years. In that scenario, investors would likely see most or all of the value of their position wiped out.

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In order for paying regular dividends to be sensible, Plug Power will almost certainly have to have reached a point where it's reliably generating positive earnings and free cash flow. If such a scenario were to pan out, investors who take a buy-and-hold approach to the stock over the next 25 years will likely be generating substantial income on their holdings after years of dividend growth. Gains on the stock could also be life-changing depending on the principle amount invested in that scenario.

Of course, investors should move forward with the understanding that such an outcome is anything but certain. Plug Power still has a long way to go before it shifts into generating positive cash flows, and there's a lot that could still go wrong over the next 25 years.

Keith Noonan 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.

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

© MCCAIG / iStock via Getty Images

Hedge funds and institutional investors have been quietly building positions in Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) despite recent market volatility, viewing it as one of the most compelling opportunities in the AI and digital advertising space. With its massive user base, dominant ad business, and aggressive push into generative AI, Meta has attracted significant buying interest from sophisticated money managers who see the stock trading at a discounted valuation relative to its long-term growth potential. 

In recent quarters, multiple high-profile funds have added to or initiated stakes, reflecting broad confidence that near-term concerns are overblown and that Meta is positioning itself as a foundational player in the next wave of technology. This institutional accumulation highlights the growing consensus that Meta offers asymmetric upside in a market hungry for proven AI exposure.

Investor Fears Over AI Spending Meta’s decline stems largely from Wall Street’s unease over the company’s aggressive AI buildout. It guided 2026 capital expenditures to a staggering $115 billion to $135 billion — nearly double 2025 levels — primarily for data centers, GPUs, and AI infrastructure. Investors worry this spending spree will compress margins in the near term, especially if returns from new AI products lag.

Despite robust fundamentals — advertising revenue grew 24% in Q4 to nearly $60 billion, driven by Reels and AI-powered ad tools — short-term execution risks have overshadowed the story. Meta’s stock pulled back sharply after prior earnings as capex guidance rose, reflecting broader concerns that the social media giant is over-investing without immediate payoff. Yet this pullback created the very entry point that caught Ackman’s eye.

Wall Street’s Optimistic Forecast Analysts remain overwhelmingly bullish. The consensus 12-month price target sits at $844, implying roughly 31% upside from current levels, with 42 out of 49 analysts issuing Buy ratings.

Their confidence stems from Meta’s core advertising machine remains unmatched, powering double-digit revenue growth even as AI enhancements boost engagement and ad efficiency. Open-source Llama models are gaining traction, positioning Meta as a leader in accessible AI. 

Analysts project continued margin expansion long-term as AI monetization scales through targeted ads, creator tools, and potential new revenue streams like AI agents and smart glasses. The stock’s forward P/E of around 18x looks attractive relative to growth prospects, especially compared with pricier AI peers. Wall Street forecasts 19% annual EPS growth over the next five years.

Strengthening AI Infrastructure Meta is not betting blindly. In February, the company expanded its partnership with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), securing millions of current- and next-generation GPUs plus Vera Rubin rack-scale systems for its data centers. To diversify beyond Nvidia and mitigate supply risks, Meta also signed a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year deal to rent Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). This move reduces dependency on a single supplier while accelerating model training for Llama and other AI initiatives.

These alliances signal disciplined execution: Meta is building one of the largest AI infrastructures globally while hedging costs and timelines. Combined with its massive base of nearly 4 billion active monthly users, the setup positions Meta to translate heavy investment into a sustainable competitive advantage.

Key Takeaway Despite Meta Platforms’ solidifying position as an AI powerhouse — evident in cutting-edge models, ad platform enhancements, and strategic chip partnerships — its ballooning capex puts it at risk of margin pressure if AI monetization lags. Depreciation, talent costs, and infrastructure operating expenses could weigh on profitability through 2026 and beyond.

That said, its AI bets clearly outweigh the risks. The company’s proven advertising engine generates the cash flow to fund this transformation without debt strain, while early AI wins already show up in engagement metrics and efficiency gains. With Wall Street projecting strong earnings growth and analysts’ high-conviction stake validating the thesis, Meta stands as a compelling long-term winner. Investors who look past near-term noise will likely be rewarded as AI delivers the next leg of hyper-growth.

Small Cap write on sticky notes isolated on Office Desk. Stock market concept

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What’s better than getting to buy 6.6%-11% yields at discounted prices?

How about snapping those sweet dividend payers while momentum is on your side?

Late in 2025, I wrote about a “small-cap reawakening”—a bullish tailwind from retreating Federal Reserve rates that had begun to propel smaller companies forward and could continue well into 2026.

So far, so true. Small- and mid-cap stocks (or “SMIDs”) alike have been cruising full sail ahead while their larger cousins have been dead in the water.

SMID Total Returns

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Better still for you if you haven’t yet taken the plunge into Wall Street’s more diminutive stocks: Small caps’ hot start has done little to drive up valuations. They still look like a screaming bargain compared to the market’s bigger names:

Broad-Market Forward P/Es:

S&P 500: 21.2S&P MidCap 400: 17.0S&P SmallCap 600: 15.6Fair warning: Economic turbulence is almost always tougher on smaller-cap equities, so we could always be a market scare away from a flight back into large caps.

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The fuel driving smaller companies could run out in a few months, too. The Fed declined to move its target interest rate lower in late January, and the market is betting we don’t see another step lower until summer at the soonest.

But we’re all aware that a step into small caps means swallowing at least a spoonful of risk. Our best bet? Find the most advantageously positioned small caps… and get paid a truckload while we hold on for the ride.

Which is exactly what I see in these five small caps paying us between 6.6% and 11.0% right now.

High Yield Small Cap #1: Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH)Financial firms as a group don’t deliver much more income than the broader market, but you can find some downright respectable yields in the sector’s smaller names: specifically, regional banks and credit unions.

Washington Trust Bancorp. (WASH), for instance, currently pays more than 6%.

This 225-year-old regional bank is neither in Washington, D.C., nor Washington State. Instead, it was named for the nation’s first president, and it proudly claims that it was “the first bank to print George Washington’s likeness on currency—69 years before President Washington appeared on the federally issued one-dollar bill and 132 years before the Washington quarter appeared.”

The operations are typical bank fare: personal and business banking offerings such as checking, savings, mortgages, financing and wealth management. The stock really hasn’t been noteworthy, either, delivering subpar performance relative to both the market and the financial sector for quite some time. WASH shares were barely above breakeven in 2025—and that’s only once we include its sizable dividend!—following a balance sheet repositioning near the end of 2024.

But Washington Trust is alive and well in 2026. In January, the company’s Street-beating results were helped by net interest margins that improved by 16 basis points YoY for the fourth quarter, and by 53 basis points YoY for the full year. The news sparked one of the biggest moves in WASH stock in years. Meanwhile, shares still trade for just 10 times earnings that are expected to jump by 27% in 2026 and offer one of the best yields in banking.

High Yield Small Cap #2: Diversified Energy Company (DEC)When we think of “integrated” energy companies, we typically think of mega-cap titans like Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX). But $1 billion Diversified Energy Company (DEC) checks off the right boxes, too.

It produces predominantly natural gas, but also some oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs), from the Appalachian (70% of production) and Central (30% of production) regions of the U.S. It also has about 17,000 miles of gathering and transportation lines, as well as compression stations, and it’s a top-25 North American gas marketer. It even has a well retirement service arm: Next LVL Energy.

It’s an odd stock with an odd history. The company started in the U.S. back in 2001, but it didn’t list publicly until 2017—on the London Stock Exchange. It only began trading in the U.S. in 2023, when it launched a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange; those NYSE shares became the company’s primary listing in 2025. Shares have delivered all the excitement of a small-cap company since then.

DEC Total Returns

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That largely reflects the Diversified model—rather than undergoing capital-intensive drilling and development programs that can make splashy discoveries, DEC instead acquires long-life assets and tries to squeeze as much life out of them as possible.

Last year was no exception. The company completed the acquisition of “liquids-rich” Maverick Natural Resources in March 2025, then closed on a purchase of Oklahoma-based oil-and-gas E&P firm Canvas in November. The buying has continued this year; DEC recently announced it was buying natural gas properties in east Texas from Sheridan Production.

There’s admittedly not much room for breakneck growth in this model. But it does adequately fund a generous dividend yielding 8% right now, on a stock that trades at less than 8 times this year’s earnings estimates.

High Yield Small Cap #3: Granite Ridge Resources (GRNT)Granite Ridge Resources (GRNT) is another energy name with an unorthodox business model. It says it “combines the agility of an investment firm with the expertise of an energy company.” In practice, it doesn’t operate anything—it simply holds oil and gas assets in the Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken, Haynesville, DJ and Appalachian formations.

It’s almost fitting, then, that the company didn’t go public via a traditional IPO, but via special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Investment firm Grey Rock Investment Partners merged in October 2022 with Executive Network Partnering Corporation (the SPAC).

GRNT hit the market with a thud, dropping like a rock over the first few months. Since then, it has delivered roughly breakeven returns (and that’s after factoring in the 8%+ dividend), which is right in line with its nonexistent dividend growth.

However, like DEC, Granite Ridge might have been building toward something in 2025, with the company projecting 28% production growth for the full year. That should allow the company and its roughly 3,200 wells to take better advantage of any improvements in price.

But unlike other small energy names, Granite Ridge appears to be a primarily steady cash flow and dividend producer first, and a growth prospect second.

High Yield Small Cap #4: Perrigo (PRGO)Perrigo (PRGO) is an over-the-counter health and wellness company with a wide range of products we’re all used to seeing on Walgreens and CVS shelves: sinus and allergy relief, antacids, sleep aids, pain relievers, toothbrushes, skin care, vitamins, contraceptives and more.

It’s also a long, long, long way removed from its heyday of roughly a decade ago.

In 2015, Perrigo was a large cap on the rise—so much so that it attracted the advances of global generics specialist Mylan. PRGO rebuffed Mylan several times, most notably in April 2015 when it turned down a $205-per-share offer, then a $232-per-share offer shortly thereafter. Perrigo’s board, then its shareholders, turned back a hostile bid later in the year.

PRGO Total Returns

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The top and bottom lines have stagnated or declined in most years since 2015. Generics margins suffered amid growing competition, and FDA approvals tapered off. The company has since undergone multiple restructuring plans and pivoted to lean harder into self-care products. But it’s still sliding; during its Q4 2025 report, it said sales would be down 1.5% to 5.5% in 2026, and adjusted diluted earnings per share would fall by 16% to 27%.

A few days earlier, it also announced that it would keep its dividend level—maybe not surprising given its continued weakness, but perhaps another warning sign given that PRGO is currently riding a 22-year streak of annual dividend growth.

Perrigo is very much a stock to watch just given the potential to pick up a double-digit yielder on the cheap—it currently trades at a skinny 5 times 2026 earnings estimates. But we need to see some signs of operational stabilization first; otherwise, this small cap will just keep getting smaller.

High Yield Small Cap #5: Insperity (NSP)Insperity (NSP) is a human resources (HR) and business solutions provider to small- and medium-sized businesses. That’s payroll, benefits, HR, employee onboarding, time and attendance, performance and more, provided through multiple Insperity-branded platforms.

This is a name that has only recently started to ping my high-yield radar, which usually means one of two things has happened:

A massive dividend increase, say, double or more (rare)The stock has plunged into the earth’s core (common)NSP Total Returns

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The stock is unsurprisingly cheap as a result, trading at 10 times this year’s earnings estimates.

The question is whether NSP is a generational value play or a falling knife.

The plunge was due to a complete erosion of Insperity’s bottom line, as well as sentiment for both small- and midsized businesses and the labor market. The company earned $171.4 million in 2023, then $91 million in 2024, then suffered a $7 million net loss in 2025. Health care costs have been a major factor here, chewing into Insperity’s margins.

But the top line hasn’t flinched. Revenues have climbed in all but one year over the past decade, and they’re expected to keep rising by single digits in each of the next two years. A renegotiated contract with UnitedHealth Group (UNH) could relieve some of its cost pressures. And there’s potential in its new Insperity HRScale—an HR platform built in partnership with Workday (WDAY) that promises “faster deployment and simpler setup” and that the company expects will host 6,000 to 8,000 paid worksite employees (WSEEs) by year’s end.

It might be enough for a turnaround, but even if it is, we have to consider whether the dividend will still be there. The $2.40 per share that Insperity pays across the year was more than twice NSP’s adjusted earnings in 2025, and it’s projected to overshoot 2026 profits, too.

Brett Owens is Chief Investment Strategist for Contrarian Outlook. For more great income ideas, get your free copy his latest special report: How to Live off Huge Monthly Dividends (up to 8.2%) — Practically Forever.

Oklo (OKLO 6.08%) is navigating the tension between explosive AI-driven power demand and the slow reality of nuclear licensing. I break down why new-customer backing matters, what execution risks remain, and how long-term upside depends on milestones that most investors are not yet fully pricing in.

Stock prices used were the market prices of March 2, 2026. The video was published on March 7, 2026.

Rick Orford has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

NEW YORK, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Ardent Health, Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Ardent securities between July 18, 2024 and November 12, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ARDT.

Ardent Case Details

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

(1) Ardent Health’s third quarter 2025 revenue was overstated due to inadequate determinations of accounts receivable collectability following the Company’s transition to a new revenue accounting system and “recently completed hindsight evaluations of historical collection trends”; 
(2) the Company’s 2025 EBITDA guidance was overstated and would be reduced by $57.5 million at the midpoint, or approximately 9.6%, due to “persistent industry-wide cost pressures,” including “payer denials”; and 
(3) as a result, Defendants’ statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

What's Next for Ardent Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ARDT. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Ardent you have until March 9, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Ardent Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Ardent Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

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NEW YORK, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired BellRing securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BRBR.

BellRing Case Details

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose materially adverse facts. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that:
(1) the Defendants failed to disclose to investors that its strong sales results did not reflect increased end-consumer demands or brand momentum; 
(2) rather, customers accumulated excess inventory as a safeguard against product shortages that had previously constrained BellRing’s supply; 
(3) once customers gained confidence that product shortages were a thing of the past, they promptly reduced their inventory by selling through existing products and cutting back on new orders; and 
(4) following the destocking, the Company admitted that competitive pressures were materially weakening demand.

What's Next for BellRing Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BRBR. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in BellRing you have until March 23, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to BellRing Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for BellRing Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

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NEW YORK, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against China Liberal Education Holdings Ltd. (OTCMKTS: CLEUF) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired China Liberal securities between January 22, 2025 and January 30, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/CLEUF.

China Liberal Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
      (1)   In January 2025, individuals impersonating investment advisors on social media platforms fraudulently induced investors to purchase shares of China Liberal stock, artificially inflating (“pumping”) the price of China Liberal shares;
      (2)   On January 30, 2025, the price of China Liberal stock abruptly collapsed, causing many investors to lose nearly all of the funds they had invested as a result of the scheme;
      (3)   Although several individuals responsible for the coordinated pump‑and‑dump scheme are now being prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice, there is evidence indicating that executives at China Liberal may have known of, participated in, or acted with severe recklessness regarding the fraudulent conduct; and
      (4)   As a result, Defendants’ statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

What's Next for China Liberal Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/CLEUF. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in China Liberal you have until March 31, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to China Liberal Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for China Liberal Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
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Did you buy RARE common stock between August 3, 2023, and December 26, 2025?

Affected Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Investor Summary

Who: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE) What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filed Class Period: August 3, 2023, through December 26, 2025 Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 6, 2026 Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company's drug, setrusumab Investor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options at no cost to investor , /PRNewswire/ -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com)  informs investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (Ultragenyx) (NASDAQ: RARE) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Ultragenyx common stock between August 3, 2023, and December 26, 2025, inclusive. The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Bailey v. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., et al, Case No. 3:26-cv-01097 (N.D. Cal.).  Investors have until April 6, 2026, to file for lead plaintiff status. 

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:    

If you purchased or acquired Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. common stock and have lost money on your investment, you are encouraged to contact KTMC attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. at:

📞 (484) 270-1453
📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://www.ktmc.com/rare-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-inc-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=rare&mktm=PR  

There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney.

Learn more about Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. on YouTube:

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (long video) Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (short video) ULTRAGENYX PHARMACEUTICAL INC. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY:

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Ultragenyx created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to the effects of the company's drug, setrusumab, on patients with variable types of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, while also minimizing risk that patients in Ultragenyx's Phase III Orbit study would fail to achieve a statistically significant reduction in annualized fracture rate ("AFR"), such that the second interim analysis could be performed and presented to the investing public; (2) in truth, Ultragenyx's optimism in the Phase III Orbit study's results and interim analysis benchmark were misplaced because Ultragenyx failed to convey the risk associated with basing such threshold figures on Phase II results that had no placebo control group for appropriate comparison and thus had not ruled out that the reduction in AFR from that study could merely be triggered by an increased standard of care and the placebo effect of being provided a novel treatment; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did Ultragenyx's Stock Drop?

On December 29, 2025, Ultragenyx shocked the market when it revealed that both its Phase III Orbit and Cosmic studies had not "achieved statistical significance against the primary endpoints of reduction in annualized clinical fracture rate compared to placebo or bisphosphonates, respectively." On this news, Ultragenyx's stock price fell over 42%, from a close of $34.19 per share on December 26, 2025, to close at $19.72 per share on December 29, 2025.

WHAT RARE INVESTORS CAN DO NOW:

File to be lead plaintiff by April 6, 2026. Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation. Retain counsel of choice or take no action. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR ULTRAGENYX PHARMACEUTICAL INC. INVESTORS:

Ultragenyx investors may, no later than April 6, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Ultragenyx investors to contact the firm for more information.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP (KTMC):

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (KTMC) is a leading U.S. plaintiff-side law firm focused on securities-fraud class actions and global investor protection. The firm represents individual investors as well as institutions, such as major pension funds, asset managers, and international investors. KTMC has led some of the largest recoveries in securities litigation and has been recognized by peers and the legal media with numerous accolades, including The National Law Journal's Plaintiff's Hot List and Trailblazers in Plaintiffs' Law, BTI Consulting Group's Honor Roll of Most Feared Law Firms, The Legal Intelligencer's Class Action Firm of the Year, Lawdragon's Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, and Law360's Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar.  The firm operates globally with offices in Pennsylvania and California.  KTMC has recovered over $25 billion for our clients and the classes they represent.  For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com.  The complaint in this matter was not filed by KTMC.

CONTACT:
Jonathan Naji, Esq.
(484) 270-1453
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
[email protected] 

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.  Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

NEW YORK, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FBRT) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired FBRT securities between November 5, 2024 and February 11, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/FBRT.

FBRT Case Details

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
      (1)   Defendants recklessly overstated Franklin BSP Realty Trust’s prospects;
      (2)   Defendants recklessly overstated Franklin BSP Realty Trust’s ability to maintain the $0.355 dividend; and
     (3)  as a result, defendants’ statements about Franklin BSP Realty Trust’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

What's Next for FBRT Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/FBRT or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in FBRT you have until April 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to FBRT Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for FBRT Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

There are countless ways for investors to make money on Wall Street, but few are as consistently successful as buying and holding high-quality dividend stocks. Based on a study by Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research ("The Power of Dividends: Past, Present, and Future"), dividend stocks have more than doubled the annualized return of non-payers over more than half a century (1973-2024): 9.2% vs. 4.31%.

While it's probably not a surprise that dividend stocks have a track record of outperforming, you might be shocked to learn that some of the biggest dividend payers on the planet aren't necessarily the highest-yielding stocks. You can find higher yields than Microsoft (MSFT 0.43%), ExxonMobil (XOM +0.30%), and JPMorgan Chase (JPM 1.28%), but you'd struggle to find public companies with more generous dividend programs on a nominal-dollar basis than this trio.

Collectively, seven of Wall Street's most influential businesses are returning more than $114 billion annually to their shareholders through dividends.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Microsoft: $27.05 billion in annual dividends paid to shareholders Even though Microsoft's quarterly payout of $0.91 ($3.64/annually) equates to just a 0.9% yield, it's on track to dole out more than $27 billion to its shareholders from dividends over the next year.

Microsoft's ability to pay Wall Street's largest nominal dividend reflects the duality of its operating model. On the one hand, it's enjoying lightning-fast growth potential from cloud computing, its cloud infrastructure service platform, Azure, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into Azure and other platforms. AI has reaccelerated Azure's growth rate to nearly 40% on a constant-currency basis.

But Microsoft is still generating exceptional operating cash flow from its legacy segments, such as Windows and Office. Even though Windows is no longer, by itself, a growth catalyst, it remains the dominant global desktop operating system and can generate robust margins for Microsoft.

The spot price of crude oil has been rapidly climbing since the Iran war began. WTI Crude Oil Spot Price data by YCharts.

2. ExxonMobil: $17.18 billion in annual dividends Although it's quite the gap down after Microsoft, oil and gas goliath ExxonMobil is no dividend slouch. Based on a $1.03-per-quarter dividend ($4.12/annually), it's pacing nearly $17.2 billion in outlays over 12 months.

The beauty of ExxonMobil's operating model is that it's integrated. While drilling generates the most favorable margins for oil and gas companies, ExxonMobil also oversees midstream assets, such as pipelines and terminals, as well as downstream assets, including refineries and chemical plants. Midstream and downstream assets can hedge against weakness in the price of crude oil and help steady the company's operating cash flow.

But let's be honest: commodity prices matter, too! The recent start of the Iran war, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most oil exports -- roughly 20% of the world's daily liquid petroleum travels through the Strait of Hormuz -- is boosting the spot price of crude and lifting ExxonMobil's outlook.

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3. JPMorgan Chase: $16.2 billion in annual dividends When the U.S. economy is firing on all cylinders, bank stocks offer some of Wall Street's steadiest capital-return programs. The $1.50/quarter ($6/annually) being paid by JPMorgan Chase equates to $16.2 billion in annual dividend outlays.

Banks are inherently cyclical, meaning they usually struggle during recessions and thrive during periods of economic expansion. The good news is that periods of growth last considerably longer than downturns. This allows JPMorgan Chase and its peers to spend most of their time prudently expanding their loan portfolios.

Furthermore, bank stocks benefited immensely from the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate-hiking cycle from March 2022 to July 2023. To combat the highest inflation rate in four decades, the central bank ultimately increased its federal funds target rate by 525 basis points, leading to a sizable increase in interest income for JPMorgan Chase and its peers.

Image source: Apple.

4. Apple: $15.27 billion in annual dividends In addition to Apple (AAPL 0.96%) sporting the best share repurchase program on the planet ($841 billion spent on buybacks since fiscal 2013 began), it has one of the largest nominal-dollar dividend payments. The $0.26/quarter ($1.04/annually) it's paying shareholders equates to nearly $15.3 billion annually.

The lion's share of Apple's profits still derives from its physical devices, led by the iPhone. The incorporation of AI-driven solutions through Apple Intelligence into its physical devices appears to have reignited sales growth in recent quarters. Apple also has an incredibly loyal customer base, giving the company exceptional pricing power.

But Apple's future is all about its pivot to subscription services. Placing added emphasis on subscriptions should boost the company's operating margin over time, minimize sales fluctuations during iPhone replacement cycles, and further enhance its already impressive customer loyalty.

Chevron has increased its dividend for 39 consecutive years. CVX Dividend data by YCharts.

5. Chevron: $14.1 billion in annual dividends Did I mention that big oil companies and jaw-dropping dividend payouts often go hand in hand? The $1.78-per-share payout ($7.12/annually) that Chevron (CVX +0.05%) declared in its most recent quarter works out to $14.1 billion in annual dividends to its investors. Chevron has hiked its base annual payout for 39 consecutive years.

Many of the same catalysts that are fueling ExxonMobil's growth are also at play for Chevron. In particular, the integrated operating model is paramount to its success. Chevron's refineries, chemical plants, and pipelines provide hedges in the event that the spot price of crude oil declines.

However, drilling is still Chevron's bread-and-butter. It's expanding its production capacity in the oil-rich Permian Basin, as well as integrating its $53 billion acquisition of Hess, which closed last July and gave Chevron a 30% stake in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The Guyana Stabroek Block is estimated to contain more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

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6. Johnson & Johnson: $12.53 billion in annual dividends Another elite dividend stock that's been even steadier than Chevron in raising its base annual payout is healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.43%). "J&J," as Johnson & Johnson is more commonly known, has raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years. Its $1.30/quarter payout ($5.20/annually) results in the company doling out approximately $12.5 billion yearly to its shareholders.

The stability of J&J's cash flow is a function of its management team steadily shifting toward juicier-margin opportunities. It spun off its consumer health division, now known as Kenvue, in 2023 and plans to spin off its orthopedics segment (DePuy Synthes) in the quarters to come. J&J's focus has been on high-margin novel drug development and medical devices with long growth runways.

Johnson & Johnson's success also derives from continuity in the executive suite. You only need two hands to count the number of CEOs J&J has had since its founding in 1886. Long-tenured leadership means growth initiatives and strategic shifts are being seen through from start to finish.

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7. Verizon Communications: $11.94 billion in annual dividends Last but certainly not least is telecom titan Verizon Communications (VZ 0.05%), which is paying out one of the largest nominal-dollar dividends on Wall Street -- $0.7075/quarter ($2.83/annually), working out to $11.94 billion annually -- and sports an ultra-high yield of 5.5%. Verizon has raised its base annual dividend for 20 straight years.

Despite mediocre sales growth in the low-to-mid single digits, Verizon has benefited from wireless services, broadband access, and smartphones, effectively evolving into a basic necessity. It's enjoying a relatively low wireless churn rate, which is translating into highly predictable operating cash flow year after year.

What's more, broadband has been a cash flow bright spot. The closing of Verizon's acquisition of Frontier in January 2026 scaled its "fiber footprint to over 30 million homes and businesses," according to the company. Even though broadband isn't the double-digit growth story it was a quarter century ago, it serves as the perfect dangling carrot to encourage high-margin service bundling.

Dividend stocks are not all the same. Some will readily decrease or suspend their payouts at the first sign of trouble, while others will continue increasing them even during market downturns or economic recessions.

Dividend investors prefer those that are in the latter category. Let's consider two stocks along those lines that are worth buying: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.32%) and Zoetis (ZTS 0.63%). These two healthcare companies are excellent picks for income-oriented investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson has many qualities that long-term income seekers seek. The company's business, albeit not particularly exciting, is consistent and resilient. Johnson & Johnson is a leading pharmaceutical company with a vast portfolio of approved medicines, as well as a medical device leader operating across several therapeutic areas.

Revenue and earnings typically grow at a decent clip. That's the case even when it encounters problems such as patent cliffs and government-led drug price negotiations -- issues it is currently dealing with, but it expects its annual reported sales to grow this year and top $100 billion for the first time. Johnson & Johnson also has a rock-solid balance sheet, evidenced by its higher credit rating than the U.S. government's.

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Further, Johnson & Johnson is an innovative company. It routinely launches new products, both in its biopharma and medtech divisions, that help it counter stiff competition, whether biosimilar or otherwise.

Johnson & Johnson is now awaiting approval for its robotic-assisted surgery system, the Ottava, that could be an important growth driver over the long run. And the company's pharmaceutical pipeline features several dozen ongoing clinical trials that will help it replenish its portfolio and earn important label expansions.That's how the company has performed well over the long run.

Finally, Johnson & Johnson is a Dividend King, a company with at least 50 consecutive annual dividend hikes. That's what helps make it an outstanding income stock that dividend investors shouldn't think twice about.

2. Zoetis Zoetis is a leading animal health company. It hit some headwinds last year, as two of its growth drivers, Librela and Solensia, which treat osteoarthritis (OA) pain in dogs and cats, respectively, raised safety concerns; this issue particularly affected Librela.

The good news is that the company has earned approval for newer products for OA pain in dogs and cats, Lenivia and Portela.These two also have the advantage of being longer-acting medicines (administered monthly rather than once every three months) that would likely have stolen market share from their predecessors even without safety problems.

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The company has maintained a solid position in its industry thanks to its routinely launching newer and better products. Its growth portfolio also features Apoquel, a medicine for allergic itch in dogs that was a breakthrough in its niche. Although it was approved more than a decade ago, Zoetis still sees room for growth in Apoquel, as a large population of dogs remains untreated worldwide.

Zoetis may face challenges due to competition, safety issues, or patent cliffs, but the company's deep portfolio of medicines and innovative approach should help it capitalize on an important trend: Younger generations are increasingly choosing owning pets over having children.

Then there is the company's dividend, which it has increased by an impressive 458% over the past decade. Zoetis is another terrific healthcare dividend stock to buy in 2026 and hold for a while.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phillips 66 today announced that it has appointed Howard Ungerleider and Kevin Meyers to serve on the Company's Board of Directors.

A prominent market analyst is pushing back against growing expectations of an altcoin season in 2026, arguing that while significant upside may emerge in the near term, a full cycle rotation into alternative cryptocurrencies is likely years away.

Matthew Hyland contends there will be no true altseason this year, citing historical cycles in altcoin dominance. The analyst notes that from cyclical lows to highs, altcoin dominance has typically required two to three years to complete a full expansion.

With the latest low likely set in October 2025, the earliest window for a broad-based altseason would fall in 2027 or 2028. That timeline does not negate opportunity.

Hyland maintains that investors are currently in a “maximum opportunity zone” for long-term crypto accumulation. Altcoin dominance is breaking out, and momentum is shifting for the first time since June 2020, creating asymmetric upside unless one assumes Bitcoin collapses entirely. In the analyst’s view, current prices will appear deeply discounted over a multi-year horizon.

However, not all market watchers agree. Mark Chadwick argues that altcoins are forming what he describes as a multi-year cup structure, with support repeatedly respected and a handle developing near resistance. Chadwick points to macro alignment reminiscent of 2020, when TOTAL3 expanded from roughly $40 billion to $1.7 trillion, a fortyfold surge that produced triple-digit gains in select tokens.

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Supporting indicators include the ISM index moving back above 50, improving Federal Reserve liquidity conditions, three consecutive monthly green candles for altcoins versus Bitcoin, and the first bullish monthly crossover in six years.

Despite the debate, market data still reflects a Bitcoin season. The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Index stands at 32 out of 100, well below its yearly high of 78.

Ethereum price has come under renewed pressure after a major on-chain event shook the market. Since March 6, ETH has dropped nearly 8%, even though it is down only about 1.4% over the past 24 hours.

The weakness followed a $157 million ETH transfer by Ethereum co-founder Jeffrey Wilcke, possibly to dump. However, deeper on-chain data now suggests that some whale cohorts may actually be trying to absorb the selling pressure.

Co-Founder’s $157 Million Transfer May Be Misread as Whale SellingEthereum’s recent weakness began when Jeffrey Wilcke, one of the network’s co-founders, moved 79,176 ETH to the Kraken exchange, worth roughly $157 million at current prices. Large transfers to exchanges often signal potential selling activity and can hit sentiment hard. Shortly after this transfer appeared, standard whale metrics also showed a decline in large ETH holdings.

Data tracking Ethereum supply held by whales outside exchanges dropped by roughly 80,000 ETH, almost identical to the size of Wilcke’s transfer. This is an important detail.

Because whale metrics group many large wallets together, a single very large wallet movement can sometimes appear as broad whale selling. In this case, the 80,000 ETH decline closely matches Wilcke’s deposit, suggesting the co-founder’s transfer may be reflected in those whale metrics.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Whale Selling Probably Reflecting Wilcke’s Transfer: SantimentIn other words, what initially looked like widespread whale distribution could simply be one large founder-level transfer showing up inside aggregate data. This is why a deeper breakdown of whale cohorts becomes important.

Whale Cohorts Are Actually AccumulatingWhen whale data is examined more closely using balanced cohort metrics, the narrative becomes very different. Two major Ethereum whale cohorts have been increasing their holdings during the same period.

The first group consists of wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million ETH. This cohort began accumulating on March 5, raising its supply from 6.28 million ETH to about 6.40 million ETH.

That represents an increase of roughly 120,000 ETH, worth approximately $234 million at current prices.

ETH Whales Net Buying: SantimentAnother cohort: wallets holding between 100,000 and 1 million ETH, also began accumulating shortly afterward. Since March 6, their holdings have increased from 11.48 million ETH to roughly 11.57 million ETH, meaning they added nearly 90,000 ETH, worth about $175 million.

This accumulation suggests that some large investors may have stepped in to absorb the supply entering the market, offsetting part of the selling pressure. It also explains why the broader whale metrics initially appeared bearish, even though specific whale groups were actually increasing their exposure.

Momentum Signal and Rising Channel Flag Contradictory MovesEven before the co-founder transfer appeared, Ethereum’s chart had already started flashing warning signs. On the 8-hour chart, ETH formed a hidden bearish divergence between February 14 and March 6. During that period, the Ethereum price created a lower high, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator, formed a higher high.

Hidden bearish divergence typically appears during downtrends and often signals that selling pressure is still present despite temporary rebounds. Soon after the signal appeared, Ethereum weakened and eventually dropped nearly 8%, triggered further by the possible Co-Founder transfer.

RSI Divergence: TradingViewAt the same time, ETH has been trading inside a rising channel since February 24, which indicates that buyers were still attempting to build a short-term bullish structure. This channel may also explain why certain whale cohorts continued accumulating.

However, that bullish structure is now under pressure. If Ethereum breaks below the lower boundary of the rising channel, the bearish momentum indicated by the RSI divergence could accelerate. But whales are not the only optimistic cohort.

Long-Term Holders Continue Accumulating as $1,800 Ethereum Price Risk EmergesDespite the recent selling pressure, long-term Ethereum holders continue accumulating ETH. Glassnode data shows that the 30-day Holder Net Position Change, which tracks wallets holding ETH for 155 days or more, has been rising steadily.

On February 24, long-term holders had accumulated about 9,454 ETH. Since then, that figure has climbed sharply. At press time, the metric has increased to roughly 442,646 ETH, showing continued conviction among long-term investors. That’s a 4,500%+ rise in under two weeks.

Hodlers Keep Buying: GlassnodeInterestingly, this accumulation trend began around the same time Ethereum entered the short-term rising channel (started developing on February 24), suggesting that these holders may still believe the broader structure remains intact. However, this optimism carries risk.

From a technical perspective, Ethereum must now reclaim $2,050, which corresponds to the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level. A clear 8-hour close above $2,050 could open the path toward $2,180.

On the downside, the key support sits near $1,910. If Ethereum breaks below this level, it would confirm a breakdown of the rising channel. Such a move could push ETH toward $1,830 (the psychological $1,800 zone)

Ethereum Price Analysis: TradingViewFor now, Ethereum’s market sits between two opposing forces. Founder selling and technical weakness are increasing downside pressure, while whale accumulation and long-term holder conviction continue to provide support. Whether ETH holds above the channel — or slips toward the $1,800 zone — may determine the next phase of the market.

Most of the answers we received were quite promising for BTC. Here's the most interesting part.

Bitcoin’s price nosedived from its October 2025 all-time high of over $126,000 to $60,000 by early February, posting a massive 52% decline. This put the asset in a bear market territory, at least according to most analysts, many of whom started to outline even more painful declines for BTC.

The situation worsened as Israel and the USA engaged in direct military conflict last week against Iran, and the cryptocurrency quickly tumbled to its local lows. However, it reversed its trajectory in the following days and rocketed to a monthly peak of $74,000.

Although it failed there, it still trades at around $70,000 as of now, which is more than 15% higher than its early February low. The question we decided to ask Gemini and ChatGPT is whether they believe BTC has already bottomed out during this cycle.

Bottom In? ChatGPT began by admitting that such a 50%+ decline is “very normal for Bitcoin bull-cycle corrections,” and doesn’t necessarily mean that the asset is in a deep bear market phase. In fact, it noted that the $60,000 low “fits historically as a typical mid-cycle shakeout.”

It put the odds that the bottom is in at 45%, which would mean that the early February crash was the “final capitulation flush.” Some of the reasons supporting this narrative include the completion of a 50% correction, improvements in liquidity and overall sentiment, and a surge in strong buyers at those levels.

If this was indeed BTC’s bottom, the next stages would be a surge to $90,000 before it breaks the psychological $100,000 level. Then comes the “parabolic phase.” Its bold prediction here would be a massive run to a new all-time high between $180,000 and $220,000 this year.

Gemini also agreed to a large extent that the bottom might be in, suggesting that there have been a few leverage crashes already, and added:

You may also like: On-Chain Data Signals Weakening BTC Sell Pressure as Spot Demand Recovers ‘Iran Will Be Hit Very Hard Today,’ Warns Trump: How Will BTC’s Price React? Analysis: Bitcoin Exchange Outflows Signal Holder Conviction Amid Hormuz Crisis “During that February low, Bitcoin’s momentum indicators and its distance from its 200-day moving average reached oversold levels we haven’t seen since the 2022 bear market or the FTX collapse. The selling pressure simply exhausted itself.”

No Bottom, Not Yet Although both AIs suggested that the most likely scenarios are that BTC had already bottomed out, they left the door open for another correction, especially if the macro situation worsens.

Gemini said that investors have been rotating out of speculative tech stocks, lingering inflation concerns, and geopolitical tension, which means that the broader institutional appetite for risk-on assets “is currently shaky.”

ChatGPT gave a 20% chance for a “one last brutal flush” scenario, in which the bears resume control of the market and drive the leading cryptocurrency to fresh lows of somewhere between $48,000 and $52,000. However, it noted that there’s a very slight probability of an extreme panic wick to $42,000 but “such a move would likely be very short-lived.”

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Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

By the end of the first week of March, a classic situation appeared on the XRP price chart that market participants call a Bollinger Bands squeeze, as presented by TradingView.

Bollinger Bands measure volatility. When the upper and lower boundaries move as close to each other as possible, as seen now on the right side of the chart, it signals extremely low volatility. The logic of the market is that periods of low volatility are always followed by periods of high activity. The more the bands compress, the stronger the following impulse usually becomes.

How CPI and FOMC in March could impact XRP priceIt is visible that the price is trapped in a narrow range, around $1.32-$1.46 per XRP. This is the classic calm before the storm. A similar compression, for example, led to a rapid increase in the price of XRP in January this year, when the price rose by more than 25%.

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However, it is important to remember that a breakout from the squeeze can occur in either direction, upward or downward. Right now the price is located very close to the middle line. On the daily chart, consolidation above it would be a bullish signal, while consolidation below it would be bearish.

XRP-USD Daily Chart with Bollinger Bands, Source: TradingViewAt the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator is in a neutral zone, which means the asset is neither oversold nor overbought. This means there is room for movement in both directions.

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It is also interesting that this Bollinger squeeze is forming just as potential triggers approach. The FOMC decision on March 17-18 and the February CPI release on March 11 are extremely important macroeconomic events. These events may become the trigger that temporarily brings volatility back to XRP and the broader cryptocurrency market.

What can be expected in the near future is a rapid increase in trading volume and a breakout of the price beyond the current narrow corridor.

Target levels for XRP right now are the $1.60 area and above in case of an upward breakout. If the breakout occurs downward, support is located around the $1.10-$1.20 range.

Long-time Bitcoin advocate and Jan3 CEO Samson Mow has reignited the long-unsettled Bitcoin versus Gold debate, declaring that Bitcoin is “exponential gold.”

While this has become a regular topic of discussion across the crypto community, Mow has often argued that Bitcoin’s economic model makes its long-term outperformance almost inevitable.

Bitcoin to outperform gold?Apart from Mow, Bitcoin experts have often weighed in on the scarcity of both assets, which is considered a measure to their various long-term performances.

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Hence, they argue that gold’s supply continues to expand gradually through mining, while Bitcoin already has a fixed supply of 21 million tokens that becomes increasingly scarce over time as no addition will be made to the supply.

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In Mow’s recent argument, he stated that Bitcoin is exponential gold, so it will inevitably outperform gold, stressing on the asset’s programmed scarcity.

Bitcoin versus gold scarcity discussedAs usual, the debate has drawn attention from crypto users who laid further comparisons on both assets. One of the commentators mentioned that gold represents “linear, analog scarcity” with a supply that steadily grows each year.

However, he mentioned that Bitcoin, on the other hand, has a supply that is capped at 21 million tokens and follows an exponentially declining issuance curve due to periodic halving events.

This event is expected to make Bitcoin more valuable than gold in the coming years, as the assets tend to become increasingly scarce year after year, while gold will continue to see steady issuance, increasing its availability over time.

Another commentator suggested that the term “exponential gold” may even understate Bitcoin’s growth potential. Beyond scarcity, they pointed to the network’s ability to transfer value globally within minutes and operate continuously, a feature that is not familiar with gold.

Following a rollercoaster performance during the past week, Bitcoin has had a somewhat stable price action throughout the weekend. With eyes on the escalating tensions in the Middle East, it’s been a little challenging to determine the future trajectory of the crypto market.

Nevertheless, the technical and on-chain structure of the premier cryptocurrency suggests that the bear market is still fully on. In fact, the latest on-chain evaluation suggests that the price of Bitcoin is still vulnerable to downside volatility.

BTC Price Preparing For Another Round Of Bearish Momentum? In a new post on the X platform, on-chain analyst Boris argued that the Bitcoin price remains within market structures that ultimately lead to downside movements. This observation is based on the rising long-term holder (LTH) Active Supply Ratio, indicating an increasing level of activity within the LTH supply.

According to Boris, volatility typically emerges within the long-term holder supply before major upward price movements. This phase is characterized by the strategic distribution of Bitcoin to the right locations in preparation for market activity. 

Boris said:

As the market rises, these coins are gradually distributed to meet demand. When demand begins to weaken, the market typically transitions into a sideways structure, allowing the distribution process to continue.

Now, the Bitcoin market tends to enter a downward move once the distribution phase is complete and fresh positions are established. For instance, since the start of this increase in LTH activity, the price of BTC has fallen from around $95,000 to nearly $60,000.

Source: @fundingvest on X Interestingly, the Bitcoin price decline has not reversed the upward trend in the long-term holder supply, implying that downside movement is still a major possibility. “Even if we see upward movements in the coming weeks, these are likely to represent a liquidity illusion occurring within the broader distribution phase,” Boris said.

The analyst noted that although the $60,000–$62,000 range appears to be a support zone, the current market structure suggests that this region may simply be acting as a liquidity generation zone within a redistribution phase.  A liquidity generation zone (or liquidity zone) typically refers to a key technical area with a concentration of trading orders, typically stop losses and limit orders.

Boris concluded that, based on the current data evidence, downward price movements toward the end of the year seem to be the more probable scenario for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $67,628, reflecting a 1% decline in the past 24 hours.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView

Sun, 8/03/2026 - 15:05

Bitcoin faces a critical test in March as technical indicators point toward a $60,000 retest. Explore key support levels, RSI signals and the BTC price outlook.

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Bitcoin continues to experience serious selling pressure at the end of the first week of March, forcing market participants to prepare for a potential retest of the psychological $60,000 mark. After unsuccessful attempts to hold above the $70,000 level, the technical picture on the chart is beginning to point to the dominance of bearish sentiment.

BTC/USD Chart, Source: TradingViewOn the current weekly BTC/USDT chart by TradingView, the formation of a descending channel is clearly visible. The key negative event and signal was the break of the $68,000 zone, which previously acted as local support for buyers. Now this level has turned into resistance that currently limits any attempts at a local recovery.

Why Bitcoin could break below $60,000Three main factors can be identified that indicate why a move below $60,000 is now possible as never before:

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The 200-day moving average, below which the BTC price has fallen. This is a classic signal that the medium-term trend is currently bearish.RSI, the relative strength indicator, which is now in the bearish zone, meaning below 40 points. This suggests that the strength of buyers has been exhausted and the potential for further decline still remains.The main interest of large Bitcoin buyers is currently concentrated in the $52,000 to $55,000 range. The market often moves toward such zones to collect liquidity before the start of a new growth cycle.If the current week closes below $65,000, where the 200-day moving averages pass, the probability of a fast squeeze toward $60,000 and even lower will become the dominant scenario.

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The current chart suggests that the bottom of the local correction has not yet been reached. Holding $60,000 for BTC could become the base for a rebound, while a break below it would open the path to a continuation of the extended correction.

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Bitcoin derives value from its scarcity and its legacy as a crypto asset. Cardano derives value from its potential use in smart contracts.

Oil prices jumped to $115 a barrel over the weekend on the decentralized exchange ( DEX) platform Hyperliquid as Middle East conflict and sudden production cuts from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates rattled energy markets.

Ethereum co-founder and core developer, Jeffrey Wilcke, reportedly transferred 79,358 ETH— worth about $158.31 million— to the U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken on Saturday, according to data from blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens.

Ether briefly climbed above the $2,179 mark on Wednesday, but bearish pressure pushed the price back below $2,000 by the time of publication.

Wilcke joined the Ethereum team in late 2013 and became well known for developing Geth, the most widely used client for operating Ethereum nodes. As one of Ethereum’s early co-founders, Wilcke is estimated to have received an initial allocation of about 463,000 ETH.

Following the latest transfer, Wilcke’s known wallet now holds about 16,037 ETH, valued at roughly $32 million. Since stepping back from active Ethereum development in 2019 to concentrate on his gaming venture, Grid Games, he has periodically sold portions of his ETH stash. As a result, the recent transaction has not come as a major surprise.

At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading around $1,936, marking a 2.1% decline over the past week, according to CoinGecko data. The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency remains about 60.9% below its all-time high of roughly $4,946 recorded last August.

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Crypto majors such as Ethereum have historically been sensitive to the actions of prominent holders. When high-profile figures move massive amounts of tokens, the market often reacts more strongly than it does to transactions from anonymous whales.

Notably, Wilcke is not the only Ethereum co-founder reducing his holdings in early 2026. Vitalik Buterin, another co-founder of Ethereum, has also been actively liquidating portions of his personal ETH reserves.

In January 2026, Buterin revealed that he had earmarked 16,384 ETH, worth $45 million at the time, to support the development of privacy-focused technologies, open hardware, and secure software systems. He said he would personally oversee the initiative as the Ethereum Foundation entered a phase of “mild austerity” while continuing to pursue its technical roadmap. According to Buterin, the funds will be distributed gradually over the coming years.

By late last month, Buterin had already liquidated approximately 19,326 ETH, valued at roughly $39.36 million, as the price of ETH continued to fall.