Market Signal Briefing

The CRCL stock was one of the largest gainers in the stock market this week, even as the U.S.-Iran war put pressure on risk assets. The stock notably extended its gains from last week as USDC issuer Circle moves to dominate in AI agent payments.

CRCL Stock Gains 22% This Week as Circle Bets On AI Agent Payments TradingView data shows that the Circle stock climbed 22% this week, rising above $100 for the first time this year. The stock had climbed above $108 on March 5 before closing out the week at almost $102.

Source: TradingView; CRCL Weekly Chart With this weekly gain, the CRCL stock is now up 26% year-to-date (YTD). It is also notably one of the few crypto stocks in the green this year, as crypto stocks as a whole are facing downside pressure amid a bear market for crypto prices, led by Bitcoin, which is down from a yearly high above $97,000.

It is worth noting that the CRCL stock rally comes amid the U.S.-Iran war, which is also putting pressure on risk assets. Crypto prices had rallied earlier in the week but quickly corrected as the war sent oil prices above $90 yesterday, marking a multi-year high for the oil markets.

A recent CoinGape market analysis predicted that the Circle stock price could rally to $120 in the coming weeks if the bullish trend continues. A positive for the stock is that USDC continues to enjoy greater adoption.

Allium data, shared by Visa, showed that USDC topped USDT and other stablecoins in transaction volume last month. Stablecoins saw a record transaction volume of $1.78 trillion, with USDC accounting for $1.28 trillion of these transactions.

Source: Visa; Allium Move To Dominate In AI Agent Payments According to a Bloomberg report, USDC issuer Circle is betting big on AI agent payments as it looks to dominate other stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Ripple in this regard. The company’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, had stated during the earnings call that they are building a new financial system and that he is optimistic that his company can play a key role in the “convergence between AI and stablecoins and blockchain.”

Stablecoins are expected to be the preferred currency for AI agents, as they are cheaper and faster than traditional payment systems. In a separate interview after Circle’s earnings call, Allaire described how stablecoins could also play a key role in AI commerce as agents move to secure the services of other agents.

USDC may already be leading in the AI agent payments space, which could provide a significant boost to the CRCL stock. In a recent X post, the Circle CEO noted that AI agents “overwhelmingly” prefer USDC, though he acknowledged it is still early days.

Allaire was commenting on data showing that AI agents have made 140 million payments among themselves over the last nine months, totaling $43 million in volume. 98.6% of these transactions have been settled in USDC.

AI agents have made 140 million payments to each other over the past nine months. Some stats:

• $43 million in volume (98.6% settled in USDC)
• $0.31 average transaction size
• 400k+ agents with buying abilities@USDC is the default currency agents have chosen. https://t.co/9cJLOzaMxt pic.twitter.com/Eb6QyDBFKy

— Peter Schroeder (@peterschroederr) March 5, 2026

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

The crypto market has grown increasingly cautious as Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have crashed to former lows amid growing concerns about institutional flows and network fundamentals. Bitcoin’s recent decline below $70,000 appears closely tied to shifts in the demand for its exchange-trading fund (ETF). Meanwhile, Ethereum’s price fell below $2,000 amid strong criticism over its token economics and long-term sustainability, with top market researchers shorting it as they forecast a potential collapse.  

Bitcoin Price Crashes As ETF Flows Reverse The Bitcoin price is currently trading near $67,000, after falling more than 3% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data. The latest drop comes after a sudden shift in institutional demand for Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have been a major driver for market momentum since their launch in 2024.

Data from SoSo Value shows that Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded staggering outflows of roughly $228 million on Thursday, March 5, ending a three-day inflow streak that had brought roughly $1.1 billion into the funds earlier in the week. The reversal comes as sentiment flipped bearish despite the brief bounce above $73,000, underscoring broader market fear and uncertainty. 

Notably, ETF outflows carried over to the next day, with Friday alone seeing withdrawals of more than $348.8 million. While March 2 to 4 initially recorded total net assets of more than $94.57 billion, this figure has since declined to $87.07 billion.

Alongside outflows from Spot Bitcoin ETFs, broader market sell-offs have emerged as a key driver behind Bitcoin’s latest slump. On Friday, major holders sold BTC in large volumes. Additionally, reports reveal that top crypto exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase have been selling Bitcoin, further pressuring the leading cryptocurrency. 

As geopolitical tensions escalate and market volatility rises, Bitcoin’s next price direction remains uncertain. Consequently, analysts like Michael van de Poppe maintain a broadly bearish outlook, predicting steeper declines between $60,000 to $48,000 for BTC. 

Ethereum Price Weakens Amid Token Economics Backlash The Ethereum price has also slipped below the key psychological $2,000 level and is now trading slightly above $1,900. This decline comes as negative sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency and its network economic structure surges. 

A recent report from short-selling firm Culper Research warns that Ethereum may be entering “a death spiral” following its December 2025 Fusaka upgrade. According to the report, the upgrade expanded block capacity faster than actual demand, leading to blocks filled with low-value transactions and spam. The firm also criticized Ethereum’s founder, Vitalik Buterin, for selling ETH and dismissed Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee as “clueless” in the face of Ethereum’s new reality. 

BTCUSD now trading at $68,003. Chart: TradingView Culper Research emphasized that the Fusaka upgrade weakened Ethereum’s tokenomics by reducing transaction fees and lowering validator earnings and staking yields. The firm also highlighted a surge in address-poisoning attacks, in which attackers send tiny transactions to wallets to trick users into sending funds to fraudulent addresses. They estimate that victims lost at least $87 million just three months following Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade.

In light of these bearish developments, Culper Researchers have announced that they are “short Ether.” The firm has also labeled ETH a “broken token,” predicting that holders will be left with little economic value in the future. 

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

It's obviously quite stimulating to place a $1,000 bet on a sporting event. The payoff could make you rich overnight, and the act of betting feels like putting some weight behind your hunch about which team is the more likely to win. In contrast, putting a $1,000 investment into an asset like Bitcoin (BTC 0.75%) feels like surrendering to time and uncertainty, and the payoff can often seem even more improbable than a sports bet.

So which of these two plays is the better option for building your wealth over the long term?

Image source: Getty Images.

The house always wins Let's start by evaluating the economic proposition of sports betting.

As you may know, sportsbooks track "hold," which is the share of total wagers they keep after paying winners. Sportsbooks would go out of business if they didn't retain more money than they pay out. This is important to understand, as it means the average bettor must lose more than they win over time. There simply wouldn't be so many sports betting companies if it weren't a profitable service to offer.

On that note, Motley Fool research found that during recent football seasons, bettors lost around 8% to 9% of their wagers, and sports bettors as a whole were expected to wager about $1.7 billion in February 2026. Of that sum, sportsbooks were expected to keep about $100 million, or a 6% hold. Put differently, that means with average results, gamblers will experience roughly $6 lost per $100 wagered.

So if you keep recycling $1,000 through bets, the expected outcome is that your bankroll will slowly shrink over time even if you get some wins along the way. And that's the opposite of building wealth.

Bitcoin isn't stacked against you As a volatile cryptocurrency, Bitcoin can and does experience ugly drawdowns of around 80%. With or without an investing strategy, there is absolutely no guarantee that you'll be able to take out more money than you put into it.

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But Bitcoin is not a negative-expectation use of your money in the same way that sports betting is. Buying it grants you control of an asset that will likely always have at least some value.

The asset's core propositions are its scarce supply, which can never surpass 21 million Bitcoins, and the difficulty of its mining, which increases dramatically every four years. Because of those supply constraints, and the population of people who are willing to buy it at any price, the chances of a $1,000 investment in it becoming $0 over the long term are fairly small.

Unless you click "sell," you'll even be able to hold your position underwater for as long as you have the fortitude, thereby granting you the possibility of eventually seeing its value recover. In fact, its price is up by more than 15,000% over the last 10 years.

So if you're trying to choose between putting $1,000 into sports bets, where you're guaranteed to lose money over time, or into Bitcoin, Bitcoin obviously has by far the better odds of building your wealth.

Vancouver city staff have recommended that council halt work on a motion exploring a municipal bitcoin reserve, concluding the cryptocurrency is not an allowable investment under the Vancouver Charter.

Journalist

Posted: March 8, 2026

Zcash faced rejection at $251 and lost the $250 support level shortly after. Since then, the altcoin has closed at lower lows for three consecutive days, touching a low of $205.

At the time of writing, Zcash [ZEC] was trading at $207, down 8.29% on the daily charts. Thanks to a sustained decline, ZEC fell further below its short-term and long-term moving averages, indicating intense downside pressure. 

Buy-side liquidity shrinks as sell pressure intensifies Following an extended bearish streak across the market, Zcash holders started to close their positions while speculators stepped back. In fact, the market saw higher sell-side volume, as evidenced by the Spot Taker CVD. 

The altcoin faced massive selling pressure below $250 as short-term holders capitulated and began closing positions.

In the last 2 days alone, downside pressure, as sellers defended $210, contributed to a significant decline and repelled any attempt to move above it.

Source: CryptoQuant

At the same time, Buy Sell Volume to Price Pressure has remained negative for two consecutive days. 

At press time, the VPO1 sat around -22, while VPO2 sat around -10. Here, a negative value means that pressure to price for both sellers and buyers is negative. As a result, even the net buy has been negative, suggesting that selling pressure was dominant over buying pressure. 

Source: Tradingview

Coupled with that, the Demand Index also fell into the negative zone. It had a reading of -25, hinting at a weaker demand relative to supply. With the index negative and trending downward, it further seemed to support the ongoing market decline. 

Traditionally, weak demand and a hike in supply have accelerated downside momentum, resulting in lower prices. In fact, the altcoin’s momentum indicator was indicative of this bearishness.

Source: Tradingview

For starters, the altcoin’s Stochastic Ergodic Indicator (SMII) made a bearish crossover, falling to -0.23. When this indicator falls into the negative zone, it alludes to strong downside risk, with sellers commanding total market control. 

Historically, such market conditions have preceded lower prices too. 

Retail attempts to absorb the rising pressure Despite the sustained market weakness, some investors on exchanges have taken the opportunity to accumulate at a discount.

In fact, CoinGlass revealed that over $48.3 million flowed out of exchanges compared to $43.9 million in inflows over the past 3 days. This period coincided with a significant drop in ZEC’s price charts, with the same highlighting greater dip buying.

Source: Coinglass

The hike in accumulation provides ZEC with much-needed relief and could help the altcoin avoid further declines. Often, higher buying pressure helps absorb market pressure, boosting asset’s upside potential.

Therefore, if demand becomes significant and finally manifests in the market, ZEC could see a trend reversal and reclaim its short-term resistance at $238.

However, if the prevailing trend continues, with sellers overwhelming the market, Zcash is likely to breach the $200-support and drop towards $185.

Final Summary Zcash’s [ZEC] bearish streak is persisting, with the memecoin dropping by 8.29% to a low of $205.  ZEC saw low buy-side liquidity and intense selling pressure, threatening a dip below $200. 

PayPal (PYPL 1.32%), one of the world's largest digital payment companies, was once a promising growth stock. Yet over the past five years, its stock has declined nearly 80% as intense competition, the loss of eBay (EBAY +0.07%) as a top customer, and a challenging macro environment throttled its growth in active accounts and revenues.

From 2021 to 2025, PayPal's year-end active accounts only grew from 426 million to 439 million. That was well below its original goal (which it later abandoned) of hitting 750 million active accounts by 2025. As its account growth stalls out, it's trying to drive more transactions through its branded checkout platform, Venmo peer-to-peer payments app, debit cards, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) services to offset that pressure.

Image source: PayPal.

At the same time, it's downsizing its higher-volume, lower-value platforms (including its backend platform Braintree) to stabilize its margins and transaction take rates. It's also cutting costs and aggressively repurchasing its shares to boost its EPS as its top-line growth cools.

But for 2026, it still expects EPS to decline by mid-single digits as its branded checkout platform struggles to stand out in a sea of similar services. So while PayPal's stock might seem cheap at nine times this year's earnings, it might deserve that discount valuation. Therefore, it might be smarter to invest in another financial giant with a wider moat: American Express (AXP 2.05%).

Why is American Express a better buy? American Express is often compared to Visa (V 0.68%) and Mastercard (MA 0.44%), but it operates a different business model. Visa and Mastercard don't issue their own cards -- they only partner with banks, which issue the cards and take on the debt. They generate most of their revenues by charging merchants "swipe fees" whenever those cards are used.

American Express is both a card-issuing bank and a payment network operator. Therefore, it backs its own cards with its own balance sheet and earns interest on those accounts. It's well insulated from interest rate swings: if interest rates rise, its net interest income rises; if interest rates decline, it earns higher card processing fees as consumer spending accelerates.

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American Express serves fewer cardholders than Visa or Mastercard, but its focus on more affluent, lower-risk customers enables it to grow steadily. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its EPS to grow at a 15% CAGR as its "closed-loop" system locks in more customers. That's a robust growth rate for a stock that trades at just 17 times this year's earnings -- and I believe it will continue to outperform PayPal and many of its financial peers for the foreseeable future.

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard, PayPal, Visa, and eBay. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short March 2026 $65 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Chili's is the main brand inside Brinker International (EAT 3.99%), and management has turned it into one of casual dining's strongest operators. More than 90% of Chili's restaurants in the U.S. are company-owned, which means management controls everything from menu changes to kitchen upgrades.

Before the turnaround, the average Chili's generated around $370,000 in restaurant-level profit. At the end of fiscal 2025, that figure stood at $790,000. Despite the underlying progress, the stock still trades at a below-market multiple.

Image source: Getty Images.

3 For Me Chili's was repositioned at exactly the right time. In recent years, quick-service and fast-casual chains pushed prices so high that consumers started looking elsewhere for value.

Chili's already had its 3 For Me menu in place, starting at $10.99 for a full-service meal at a discount to most fast-food joints. The result was traffic-led growth, with same-store visits (comps) up 16.3% in 2025.

That strength carried into the new fiscal year. Brinker reported second-quarter 2026 results on Jan. 28, with comps growing 8.6% and traffic up 2.7%. That's on top of 31% comps growth in the year-ago quarter.

When a sit-down meal at Chili's costs about the same as a Chipotle bowl, consumers are choosing table service. That's how Brinker fills the seats. The pricing strategy is disciplined, too. The $10.99 promotion accounts for under 8% of total sales.

Twice the profit, same discount The risk is straightforward. Chili's is now lapping comps growth of 31.6% from the year-ago quarter. The rate of increase is moderating, and that's what investors are worried about in the near term. Management guided for comps growth in each quarter of fiscal 2026 and has delivered through the second, but this quarter is the toughest comparison yet.

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Profitability tells a similar story. Restaurant-level margins have expanded from 11.9% in 2022 to 19.1% in the most recent quarter, but the gains are getting tougher to come by. Over the same period, free cash flow grew at an average annual rate of 60% (recalculated through the second quarter of 2026), even as management reinvested heavily in store redesigns and kitchen upgrades.

Brinker is refreshing about 10% of its restaurants each year with updated kitchens and dining rooms and plans to start growing Chili's net store count in fiscal 2027. With the higher restaurant-level profitability today, the return on those new builds should be greater than ever before.

At roughly 14 times forward earnings, Brinker trades at a significant discount to peers Darden Restaurants and Texas Roadhouse, which trade at 20 and 28 times, respectively. That looks reasonable for a business that keeps delivering. Comps could go flat tomorrow, and you would still own twice the restaurant.

Bryan White has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill and Texas Roadhouse. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. 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.

It was a week that reminded investors how quickly the Magnificent 7 can splinter. AI optimism and fresh earnings momentum gave way to macro headwinds, geopolitical jitters, and stock-specific news pulling the cohort in opposite directions.

The S&P 500 fell 1.98% for the week, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.24%. The Magnificent 7 mirrored that split: Microsoft surged while Apple fell, and Alphabet dropped 4.25% with the rest scattered in between.

The VIX fear gauge spiked 27.5% week-over-week, reaching 23.75 by Thursday, pushing into elevated uncertainty territory. Investors were navigating an Iran conflict mid-week, continued AI capital expenditure scrutiny, and a Friday S&P 500 rebalancing that added more AI stocks into the widely followed index.

This Week’s Biggest Winners and Losers in the Magnificent 7 Ticker Company Feb 27 Close Mar 6 Close Weekly Return MSFT Microsoft $392.74 $408.96 +4.13% AMZN Amazon $210.00 $213.21 +1.53% NVDA NVIDIA $177.19 $177.82 +0.36% META Meta $648.18 $644.86 -0.51% TSLA Tesla $402.51 $396.73 -1.44% AAPL Apple $264.18 $257.46 -2.54% GOOGL Alphabet $311.76 $298.52 -4.25% Broad Industry News Mid-week geopolitical tensions tied to the Iran conflict rattled markets. The headline is oil prices have surged. That’s raised the fear gauge and led to a broad sell-off of stocks. Friday’s close was especially ‘fear-driven’ as investors fled stocks seen as more risky. AI darlings like Lumentum and Bloom Energy saw steep declines in the last 30 minutes of trading before the weekend.

Yet, after the market closed, Lumentum (and the broader AI industry) received a strong stamp of approval.

On Friday night, the S&P 500 completed a quarterly rebalancing that added several AI infrastructure names including Vertiv, Lumentum, Coherent, and EchoStar, effective March 23, reflecting how deeply AI infrastructure has penetrated the broader index. As we noted in our preview of the rebalancing, Lumentum and Coherent were seen as ‘long shots’ to join, while Vertiv was the favorite.

Microsoft Leads the Pack on AI Narrative Shift Microsoft was the clear standout this week. A Seeking Alpha analysis framed Microsoft’s heavy AI capital expenditure as profit-driving rather than margin-destroying, a narrative that directly contrasts with how the market has treated the stock since its latest earnings.

Product news added fuel. Microsoft announced new Cloud PC devices with ASUS and Dell, launching by Q3 2026, devices that boot directly into Windows 365 Cloud environments. Meanwhile, Morningstar identified Microsoft as a top pick expected to thrive regardless of AI disruption, a notable exception after the firm downgraded six other software companies including Adobe and Salesforce.

Reddit sentiment on MSFT leaned bullish, with a high-engagement post about Trump’s mid-week AI energy strategy meeting with Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and OpenAI generating over 1,000 upvotes on wallstreetbets.

The bottom line is that investors broadly rotated back into software-adjacent stocks that could be (relative) beneficiaries if tariff fears begin weighing on the market again. Amongst Dow stocks, Microsoft was a winner alongside IBM and Salesforce.

Alphabet Breaks Below $300 as CapEx Concerns and Legal Risks Pile Up Alphabet had a rough week on multiple fronts. The stock slipped below the $300 critical support level as a weaker-than-expected U.S. labor report hit megacap tech broadly. But Alphabet’s drop was sharper than peers for reasons beyond macro.

The core concern is capital allocation. Alphabet’s 2026 CapEx guidance of $175-185 billion is drawing scrutiny over near-term free cash flow pressure, even as the company wins meaningful enterprise AI business. Positive Google Cloud announcements included a partnership with CVS for an AI-powered health platform called Health100 using Gemini models, plus a Waystar partnership preventing $15 billion in denied healthcare claims. Good news, but not enough to offset the macro and structural concerns weighing on the stock.

Legal and regulatory headwinds also emerged. Multiple articles on the company this week zeroed in on a wrongful-death lawsuit involving the Gemini chatbot, a Play Store commission settlement, and Waymo facing NTSB regulatory review. Prediction markets reflect the caution: markets priced only a 39.5% probability of Alphabet closing above $300 by March 9. Analysts remain constructive with a consensus price target of $366.57 and a Moderate Buy rating from 51 brokerages, but the near-term picture looks challenged.

Apple Launches Seven Products, Stock Falls Anyway Apple unveiled seven new products including the MacBook Neo at $599, the iPhone 17e at $599, iPad Air M4, MacBook Pro M5, and a new Studio Display. The MacBook Neo generated buzz as the first Mac with an A-series chip, with one analysis calling it “the most consequential product in a decade.”. Apple TV also launched an exclusive Formula 1 deal that scored a bullish sentiment reading among analysts covering the services segment.

Yet the stock fell 2.54%. The disconnect comes down to valuation and sector pressure. UBS and Jefferies both maintained Neutral ratings, arguing current pricing already reflects near-term growth, while broader tech selling dragged the stock lower. MacBook price increases tied to a memory chip shortage also raised supply cost concerns that partially offset the product launch enthusiasm. Reddit sentiment remained bullish, centered on a thread titled “The $599 iPhone 17e made me rethink AAPL’s near term outlook”, suggesting retail investors view the product strategy positively even as the stock drifted lower.

Data from LSEG/Lipper shows that American investors have pulled $52 billion out of U.S. stocks in 2026. Meanwhile, major international stock indexes have outperformed the U.S. stock market for the past year.

Did you buy ORCL common stock between June 12, 2025, and December 16, 2025?

Affected Oracle Corporation Investor Summary

Who: Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL)What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filedClass Period: June 12, 2025, through December 16, 2025Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 6, 2026Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company’s data center capabilities for artificial intelligence infrastructure and capital expenditures.Investor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options at no cost to investor RADNOR, Pa., March 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) (Oracle) on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Oracle common stock between June 12, 2025, and December 16, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action, captioned Barrows v. Oracle Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:26-cv-00127-JLH, was filed on February 3, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and is pending before the Honorable Jennifer L. Hall.

Important Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Oracle common stock during the Class Period may, no later than April 6, 2026, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class.

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:
If you purchased or acquired Oracle common stock and 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/orcl-oracle-corporation-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=Globe&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=orcl&mktm=PR

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

Learn more about Oracle Corporation on YouTube:

Oracle Corporation Securities Class Action Lawsuit (long video)Oracle Corporation Securities Class Action Lawsuit (short video) ORACLE CORPORATION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY:
Oracle, a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices in Austin, Texas, is a technology company that provides, among other things, infrastructure for operating artificial intelligence (AI) programs.   During the Class Period, Defendants misled investors by touting the Oracle’s contracts to develop data center capabilities for AI infrastructure and falsely assuring investors that the Company’s significant capital expenditures (CapEx) would quickly result in accelerated revenue growth.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about Oracle’s business and operations. Specifically, Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Oracle’s AI infrastructure strategy would result in massive increases in CapEx without equivalent, near-term growth in revenue; (2) Oracle’s substantially increased spending created serious risks involving Oracle’s debt and credit rating, free cash flow, and ability to fund its projects, among other concerns; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ representations about Oracle’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did Oracle’s Stock Drop?
The truth began to be revealed on September 24, 2025, when S&P Global Ratings warned that OpenAI “could account for more than a third of total Oracle revenues by fiscal 2028 and even a greater share by fiscal 2030,” creating risks given that “OpenAI’s ability to meet contractual obligations will be contingent on AI tailwinds continuing and its models being a market leader to continue to raise external financing.” On this news, the price of Oracle common stock declined $5.37 per share, or nearly 2%, from a close of $313.83 per share on September 23, 2025, to close at $308.46 per share on September 24, 2025.   

Oracle’s stock price continued to fall in response to multiple additional disclosures, the last of which was on December 17, 2025, when the Financial Times reported that Blue Owl Capital—“the primary [financial] backer for Oracle’s largest data centre projects in the US”—had backed out of funding a $10 billion Oracle data center intended to serve OpenAI. According to the report, Blue Owl pulled out of the deal as a result of concerns about Oracle’s spending commitments and rising debt levels. On this news, the price of Oracle common stock declined $10.19 per share, or approximately 5.4%, from a close of $188.65 per share on December 16, 2025, to close at $178.46 per share on December 17, 2025.

WHAT ORCL 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 ORACLE CORPORATION INVESTORS:
Oracle 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 Oracle 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 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.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG 4.49%) had been one of the restaurant industry's steadier stocks. For two straight years, transactions grew around 5% annually. Then last year, traffic turned negative in all four quarters.

Entering 2026, the restaurant landscape had shifted. Fast-casual and fast-food prices had climbed so much that some diners needed a rest. Casual dining chains like Chili's picked up traffic, while Wingstop and Chipotle lost it. A brand built on affordable food and quality ingredients is not supposed to be on that list.

Management has been fairly specific about who is pulling back. Households earning under $100,000 a year make up about 40% of Chipotle's sales. Younger diners in the 25 to 35 range are visiting less, too. Lunch and snack visits took the biggest hit last year.

The company says these customers aren't leaving for competitors. They're eating out less often and shifting more spending to groceries and food at home. Maybe. But not every investor is going to buy the idea that they are suddenly home, cooking for themselves.

Image source: Getty Images.

Fewer orders, same overhead Transactions fell 4.9% in the second quarter, improved to a 0.8% decline in Q3, then slipped to negative 3.2% in Q4. That's not a recovery. It's a bounce that faded.

For the full year, same-store sales fell 1.7%. Check growth alone won't cover the fixed costs. The efficiency that makes this model best in class on margins is the same reason there's not much flexibility when volume drops.

When traffic falls, Chipotle is still running the same kitchens with the same labor for fewer orders. It is a model built for throughput, and weaker traffic shows up quickly in margins.

Restaurant-level operating margin fell from 28.9% in Q2 2024 to 23.4% in Q4 2025, roughly 550 basis points in six quarters. In a model this lean, it is tough to cut fat. The fix is getting customers back through the door.

No discounts, just patience Management's answer is to push the value messaging harder without discounting, feeling the menu is already cheaper than most fast-casual competitors.' They've called it a multiyear effort.

Domestic labor markets were disrupted last year, and that may need to settle before Chipotle's numbers start to improve. The company is guiding for roughly flat same-store sales in 2026.

Today's Change

(

-4.49

%) $

-1.67

Current Price

$

35.40

Chipotle has not stopped generating cash. Free cash flow held steady at $1.5 billion last year, but at 33 times trailing free cash flow and 32 times forward earnings, the stock is still priced for growth.

Average check has grown about 1.5% annually over the past two years, enough to hold the line but not enough to close the gap. Chipotle needs to get both components of same-store sales heading in the right direction to support its valuation.

Bryan White has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool recommends Wingstop and recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Lemonade (LMND +0.22%), the online insurer that uses AI chatbots to onboard customers and process claims, went public at $29 per share in July 2020. Today, its stock trades at about $55 -- yet it's still below Wall Street's median price target of $65. Should you buy Lemonade's stock before it hits that price? Let's review its business model and growth rates to make a decision.

Image source: Getty Images.

How fast is Lemonade growing? Lemonade's digital-first approach attracted many younger and first-time insurance buyers who were intimidated by the byzantine process of buying insurance. It initially offered only homeowners and renters insurance, but expanded into the term life, pet health, and auto insurance (via its acquisition of Metromile) markets after its public debut.

Today's Change

(

0.22

%) $

0.12

Current Price

$

55.16

At the end of 2025, Lemonade served 2.98 million customers, up from 1.00 million at the end of 2020. Over the past five years, it consistently grew its in-force premium (IFP) and gross-earned premium (GEP) at high double-digit rates while reducing its gross loss ratio. That stable expansion boosted its gross margins, but it's still unprofitable.

Metric

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Customer Growth (YOY)

56%

43%

27%

12%

20%

23%

IFP Growth (YOY)

87%

78%

64%

20%

26%

31%

GEP Growth (YOY)

110%

84%

68%

37%

23%

28%

Gross Loss Ratio (TTM)

71%

90%

90%

85%

73%

64%

Adjusted Gross Margin

33%

36%

25%

23%

33%

41%

Data source: Lemonade. YOY = Year-over-year. TTM = Trailing 12 months.

However, Lemonade expects its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive (for at least a quarter) this year as its AI platform trims its expenses and economies of scale kick in. It also expects its IFP to increase from $1.24 billion in 2025 to about $10 billion in the "coming years".

From 2025 to 2027, analysts expect Lemonade's revenue to grow at a 41% CAGR, with adjusted EBITDA turning positive in the final year. With an enterprise value of $4.5 billion, it still looks reasonably valued at 3.8 times this year's sales.

Will Lemonade's stock rise to $65 and beyond? If Lemonade's stock rises 18% to $65, it would still trade at 4.4 times this year's sales. If it matches Wall Street's estimates in 2028, and trades at a more generous five times forward sales by the beginning of the year, its stock could rise nearly 130% over the next two years.

That could easily outperform the S&P 500's average annual return of 10%. Still, investors should keep a close eye on its stock-based compensation expenses (which accounted for 8% of revenue in 2025) and its share count (which has risen 39% since its IPO). That said, Lemonade could still have a bright future -- as long as it keeps pulling younger customers away from conventional insurers while steadily expanding its ecosystem with new policies and features.

Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lemonade. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

As Warren Buffett approached the end of his tenure as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA 0.39%) (BRKB 0.28%), he went on a selling streak unlike any in history. He sold more stock than he bought in each of the last 13 quarters of his time in charge of Berkshire's massive marketable equity portfolio. That led to an astounding cash pile of $373 billion at the end of 2025.

Buffett took the axe to some of Berkshire's biggest positions, and last quarter was no different. He continued to trim its massive stake in Apple (AAPL 0.96%) and began selling Berkshire's Amazon (AMZN 2.61%) shares as well. Those sales totaled an estimated $4.5 billion. Meanwhile, Buffett started a new position in a company that's been around since the 1850s.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Cutting a couple of longtime holdings Buffett invested over $30 billion in Apple between 2016 and 2018, making it one of his largest-ever investments. And boy, did it pay off.

Berkshire's shares approached nearly $200 billion in value in 2023 prior to Buffett's decision to trim the position. At one point, the stock accounted for more than 50% of Berkshire's marketable equity portfolio. Even after selling more than three-quarters of its shares, the position is still worth about $60 billion today.

Buffett has previously said he doesn't mind a high concentration of his highest-conviction stocks in a portfolio, a sentiment echoed by new CEO Greg Abel in his first letter to shareholders. While Buffett may have been comfortable with 50% of Berkshire's portfolio in a single stock, he probably wasn't as comfortable with the valuation of that stock.

Apple's trailing P/E climbed from around 10 when Buffett first started buying the shares to about 29 when he first started selling shares in 2023 and 34 at the end of 2025. The valuation remains elevated, even on a forward-looking basis, with the stock trading for 31 times analysts' estimates for the next 12 months.

Even after selling a huge chunk of Apple shares, the stock remains its largest marketable equity position, accounting for about 19% of the total portfolio as of this writing. Abel said investors should expect "limited activity" with regard to Berkshire's Apple stake in the future, so Berkshire may be done selling Apple stock.

Today's Change

(

-0.96

%) $

-2.49

Current Price

$

257.80

The decision to sell Amazon comes after Berkshire has held roughly the same position since early 2019. Many believe the Amazon position was established by Todd Combs, who left the company last quarter. As a result, it's not a big surprise that the company would want to dispose of some of the stocks he was in charge of managing for Berkshire.

Amazon looks like a relative value compared to where it was when Berkshire initially bought shares in 2019. Its P/E ratio fell to 32 by the end of 2025, compared to the 80 times earnings multiple it garnered when Berkshire bought it.

That said, there may be concerns about its free cash flow as it invests heavily in new data centers to meet demand for artificial intelligence (AI) compute. Amazon surprised investors with its $200 billion capital expenditure budget for 2026, which will likely result in negative free cash flow for the year.

Today's Change

(

-2.61

%) $

-5.71

Current Price

$

213.23

Apple and Amazon aren't the only stocks Buffett sold last quarter. And continued selling in Berkshire's portfolio is a sign that Buffett still thinks much of the market is overvalued at this point. That said, there are pockets of opportunities, and Buffett may have found another one right before he retired.

Out with the old, in with the ... older In his 2023 letter to shareholders, Buffett told investors, "Berkshire is not big on newcomers." He mentioned it as an aside when describing two of his favorite stocks: American Express and Coca-Cola.

Amex began operations all the way back in 1850, and Coca-Cola got its start in 1886. Buffett's latest investment started in 1851 when it published the New-York Daily Times. Today, it's known as The New York Times (NYT 1.90%). Buffett's bet on the newspaper company comes at a time when the news media, particularly the print news media, are facing significant disruption. But Buffett's no stranger to the news business.

Berkshire previously held shares of Graham Holdings, which owned the Washington Post before Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought it. Buffett served on the board there for a combined 37 years across two stints. Today, the Post is facing significant turmoil, and it recently laid off 30% of its workforce after posting a loss exceeding $100 million in 2025.

But The New York Times has been able to buck the trend. It pushed revenue 9% higher in 2025 while keeping expenses low, leading to a 23% increase in its operating profit. Net income came in at $344 million, up 18% for the year.

Today's Change

(

-1.90

%) $

-1.56

Current Price

$

80.39

That's owed to the publisher's digital transformation, which includes top-tier content across multiple categories beyond news. Its Cooking and Games content keep readers subscribed and coming back to The New York Times for its journalism. Additionally, it expanded its addressable market with sports coverage (The Athletic), product reviews (Wirecutter), and podcasts. The New York Times has managed the shift to digital better than any other 174-year-old publisher and even much younger ones.

Subscriber growth remains strong for the company, up 1.4 million for the year, and 96% of its 12.8 million subscribers are digital-only and pay an average of $9.72 per month. Management expects its strength to continue in the first quarter, with digital-only subscribers rising between 14% and 17% year over year, which should lead to low double-digit revenue growth.

It's worth noting that investors currently have to pay up for the high-quality company. Shares trade for close to 30 times forward earnings estimates. Buffett likely got a much better deal on the shares, which traded for a multiple in the low-to-mid-20s in the third quarter. That seems like a fair price to pay for a wonderful business. At the current price, though, it might be worth waiting for a better entry point.

In a scenario that was nearly unthinkable as recently as last year, the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP +0.43%) is up some 13% year to date. In comparison, the equivalent technology exchange-traded fund (ETF) is saddled with about a 4.5% loss.

That's great for investors who bought the consumer staples ETF late last year or in early 2026, but its credentials as a value fund are debatable. Consider this: Costco Wholesale and Walmart, the ETF's two largest holdings, sport price-to-earnings ratios above Nvidia's. To be sure, that's an interesting, perhaps concerning factoid.

Mondelez is offering value and dependable dividend growth. Image source: Getty Images.

It doesn't mean the consumer packaged goods sector is lacking value. Investors just need to know where to look, and they don't have to look far: Mondelez International (MDLZ +0.50%) offers not only value but also reliable income. That combination could make this a stock worth snacking on.

Take a bite of this fundamental outlook Depending on an investor's perspective, the Triscuit maker is either in dubious or illustrious company, as it's one of just 13 S&P 500 consumer staples stocks yielding more than 3% that are also in the red over the past 12 months. To be precise, Mondelez is off 10.6% over that span, and to be fair, that period includes a lengthy stretch in which U.S. stocks were led higher by growth equities while the defensive staples sector faltered.

Specific to Mondelez, which is considered a wide-moat name, the Oreo maker was hindered by market participants' affinity for more glamorous investment themes and lack of appreciation for this company's enviable brand portfolio. Those skeptics may have glossed over Mondelez's crucial investments in innovation, which are speeding up the timeline for bringing new and refreshed products to market.

There's a silver lining. Not only is the stock considered undervalued by some analysts, but the company is pacing toward 4% organic sales growth on operating margins of 18%, which tops the five-year average of 16.5%, according to Morningstar.

Today's Change

(

0.50

%) $

0.29

Current Price

$

58.47

Of course, the dividend is a major draw for this stock. Investors considering a long-term relationship with Mondelez can take heart in knowing its past payout growth track record is impressive, and some analysts believe those increases will continue at a high-single-digit pace through 2034.

Mondelez is right for right now, too The appropriate context for shares of the Ritz cracker maker is as a long-term investment, but at the same time, the stock is up more than 9% year to date, indicating it can deliver the goods over shorter holding periods.

Its 2026 showing may be a sign that Mondelez is worth owning amid geopolitical stress and tariff tumult. Cocoa prices, which are 70% below 2024 highs, also fortify the near-term case for this consumer staples stock.

Indeed, if investor anxiety runs high and market breadth widens this year, Mondelez could add to its year-to-date gain while setting up for a durable, long-term rally.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) had a rough week, falling 2.95% as tariff anxiety, macro uncertainty, and a VIX spike to 23.75 rattled blue-chip investors.

That fear gauge is now sitting at its 88th percentile over the past year, we’ll see if that continues as much of this week’s sell-off came from worries the war in Iran could drag out and leave oil prices elevated for an extended period.

Stock Weekly Change IBM +7.76% Microsoft (MSFT) +4.13% Salesforce (CRM) +3.76% Sherwin-Williams (SHW) -9.02% Caterpillar (CAT) -8.34% Nike (NKE) -8.31% The headline story of the week was that consumer staples stocks, which have been a safe haven so far in 2026, came under pressure. That sell-off was best seen in the price of Sherwin-Williams, which declined 9.02% last week. Sherwin-Williams shares were trading for 32X earnings, a high multiple for a company that’s expected to see 4% sales growth this year.

On the other hand, software stocks that have been broadly sold-off in 2026 saw a rebound last week. IBM shares may be down more than 11% year-to-date, but they bounced back 7.8% in the past week as this rotational trade drove investors back into the sector.

Let’s look at a few other Dow stocks with major news this week.

Salesforce: Two Analysts, Two Very Different Stories Salesforce gained 3.76% this week, closing at $202.11, but the real story is the analyst war playing out in the background. On March 6, two firms went in opposite directions on the stock.

Stephens cut its price target from $285 to $241 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating, reflecting concern over sluggish revenue growth. On the same day, Phillip Securities analyst Paul Chew reiterated a Buy rating with a $253 price target, pointing to rapid Agentforce adoption and expanding AI revenues as the bull case. Meanwhile, Citi’s Tyler Radke held his Hold rating, nudging his target only to $200 from $197.

The divide reflects a genuine debate about whether Salesforce’s AI pivot is a growth accelerator or a distraction from decelerating core software revenue. The bull case has real data behind it: Agentforce ARR hit $800 million, up 169% year over year, with 29,000 deals closed since launch. The bear case continues to focus on margin erosion across software: Morningstar downgraded Salesforce’s moat rating from wide to narrow, citing AI disruption to traditional seat-based software models. It’s worth noting however that their price target of $300 still would give substantial upside to the stock.

The stock is still down nearly 24% year to date, so one good week does not resolve the debate. However, the recent change in software sentiment is worth paying attention to.

Microsoft Gains Despite Japan Antitrust Probe and Copilot Headwinds Microsoft added 4.13% this week, closing at $408.96, even as a pair of regulatory and product concerns surfaced. On March 7, reports confirmed Microsoft faces an antitrust probe in Japan, adding to an already crowded list of regulatory risks for the company. Separately, a March 6 analysis identified four obstacles slowing paid Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption: confusing product naming, high costs relative to free AI alternatives, difficulty proving ROI, and compliance concerns.

On the positive side, Microsoft announced new Cloud PC devices launching in Q3 2026 in partnership with ASUS and Dell, deepening its Windows 365 ecosystem. The White House’s emerging AI policy framework, which would mandate “any lawful use” access for AI firms, could also benefit Microsoft’s broad AI infrastructure footprint if implemented.

The stock remains down 15% year to date, so this week’s bounce should be read as stabilization, not a reversal. The underlying business remains strong: Azure grew 39% last quarter and the Intelligent Cloud segment crossed $50 billion in a single quarter for the first time. But regulatory friction and Copilot adoption challenges are real variables that investors will need to track heading into the next earnings cycle.

Nike Joins the Tariff Casualty List Nike dropped 8.31% this week to $57.01, making it one of the Dow’s worst performers alongside Caterpillar, which fell 8.34%. The common thread: tariff exposure.

For Nike specifically, new 15% global tariffs are forcing the company to restructure its supply chain and reduce manufacturing in China for U.S.-bound footwear. That compounds an already difficult setup: Greater China revenue fell 17% in Nike’s most recent quarter, and gross margins are already under pressure from tariff-related costs. Consumer sentiment is not helping either, with the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index sitting at 56.4, well below the 80 threshold that typically signals healthy consumer spending.

Caterpillar faces a parallel problem from the industrial side. The company absorbed $1.03 billion in tariff-related manufacturing costs last quarter, and with no specific 2026 guidance provided at earnings, investors have little visibility into how management plans to navigate an escalating trade environment.

So, this week saw new pressures on many stocks that have been seeing strong gains in 2026, such as Caterpillar, while providing a needed ‘bounce back’ for deeply sold off stocks like Salesforce and Microsoft.

Did you buy PYPL common stock between February 25, 2025, and February 2, 2026?

Affected PayPal Holdings, Inc. Investor Summary

Who: PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL)What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filedClass Period: February 25, 2025, through February 2, 2026Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 20, 2026Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company’s projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth.Investor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options at no cost to investor RADNOR, Pa., March 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com), a nationally recognized securities litigation law firm, informs investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PayPal) (NASDAQ: PYPL) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired PayPal common stock between February 25, 2025, and February 2, 2026, inclusive. Investors have until April 20, 2026, to file for lead plaintiff status.  

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:
If you purchased or acquired PayPal 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/pypl-paypal-holdings-inc-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=Globe&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=pypl&mktm=PR

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

Learn more about PayPal Holdings, Inc. on YouTube:

PayPal Holdings, Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (long video)PayPal Holdings, Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (short video) PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY:
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about PayPal’s business and operations. Specifically, Defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to PayPal’s projected revenue outlook and anticipated growth while also minimizing risk from seasonality and macroeconomic fluctuations. In truth, PayPal’s optimistic plan for growth through various initiatives to bolster PayPal’s Branded Checkout offerings fell short of reality as the 2027 targets were not achievable under the tenure of PayPal’s CEO and required both an unrealistically stable consumer landscape and strong execution with clear direction from PayPal and its management.

Why did PayPayl’s Stock Drop?
On February 3, 2026, PayPal announced a surprise leadership change replacing the company’s CEO. The leadership change coincided with PayPal’s fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings report, wherein PayPal missed consensus estimates for both revenue and profit. On this news, PayPal’s stock price fell $10.63, or 20.3%, to close at $41.70 per share on February 3, 2026.

WHAT PYPL INVESTORS CAN DO NOW:

File to be lead plaintiff by April 20, 2026.Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you.Retain counsel of choice or take no action. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR PAYPAL HOLDINGS, INC. INVESTORS:
PayPal investors may, no later than April 20, 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 PayPal 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.

Taking on trillion-dollar companies is no easy feat. That's evident in the recent performances of both The Trade Desk (TTD 1.75%) and AppLovin (APP 1.16%). The two adtech companies have seen their share prices slashed amid competitive pressures from tech giants Amazon (AMZN 2.61%) and Meta Platforms (META 2.38%).

While growing competition from deep-pocketed tech giants with established relationships with millions of small businesses creates significant uncertainty for smaller competitors, the sell-off in both stocks may present an opportunity for investors. If you have to pick one, though, which stock should you buy: The Trade Desk or AppLovin?

Image source: Getty Images.

2026 outlook for pure-play adtech stocks While fears of competitive pressure have impacted both The Trade Desk and AppLovin, the threat is most evident in The Trade Desk's financial results.

The Trade Desk has produced slowing revenue growth in each of the last three quarters. 2025 revenue growth slowed to 18% for the year, down from 26% in 2024.

Management's first-quarter outlook is far from encouraging, too. It expects just 10% revenue growth. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the year. Making matters worse, management's guidance suggests that adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) will decline this quarter.

However, The Trade Desk CFO Tahnil Davis assured investors the adjusted EBITDA margin for the full year is expected to match last year's. The company will experience higher costs in the first quarter due to investments in infrastructure and talent.

Today's Change

(

-1.75

%) $

-0.52

Current Price

$

29.27

Many investors attribute the slowdown in growth to Amazon's demand-side platform. CEO Jeff Green has repeatedly argued that Amazon primarily sells its owned-and-operated inventory, whereas The Trade Desk operates on the "open internet," as the CEO puts it. However, the financial results clearly show a competitive impact on the company.

At AppLovin, however, the threat of Meta's reentry into in-app advertising bidding has yet to show up in its financials. Revenue grew 66% year over year in the fourth quarter, and the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded from 77% to 84%. Management's first-quarter revenue guidance came in ahead of analysts' expectations, projecting 19% growth at the midpoint as it digests the strong earnings growth of 2025. Analysts expect revenue to climb 46% for the full year.

Could artificial intelligence be a turnaround catalyst? The Trade Desk's Green told analysts, "We think our business model is more conducive to, and will benefit more from, AI than any of our competitors," during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. That starts with its new ad-buying platform, Kokai, which puts AI at the center. After a rough transition, nearly all its clients are now running through Kokai as of late February.

Green argues that The Trade Desk's advantage with artificial intelligence (AI) stems from its objectivity, which enables it to leverage first- and third-party data to optimize bids for ad buyers. Competitors like Amazon or Meta will always prioritize what's best for themselves. If it can deliver on that promise with Kokai, it could reaccelerate growth.

AppLovin's recent acceleration in revenue growth has been driven by its Axon 2 model, which optimizes ad bidding to increase return on ad spend. While The Trade Desk aims to use AI to help facilitate advertisers' decisions, AppLovin is using AI to make those decisions for them. Meta uses a similar "black box" ad optimizer.

AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi argues that it has built a dominant AI model in the space that won't be overcome by Meta or any other competitor. "It is a closed-loop model that is continuously reinforcing itself and getting smarter," he told analysts on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call.

Today's Change

(

-1.16

%) $

-5.90

Current Price

$

502.66

Meanwhile, AppLovin sees a couple more initiatives that could boost its revenue growth. First, it's rolling out self-service tools in the first half to ease the bottleneck for onboarding new customers. Second, it's testing generative AI tools that can develop ad campaigns for marketers. Both have the potential to increase the number of advertisers and the number of ads they run on AppLovin's platform, enabling it to win more placements and generate more revenue.

While AppLovin currently trades at a much higher earnings multiple than The Trade Desk, it looks like a better value right now. AppLovin's forward P/E of 29 looks like a bargain, as analysts expect earnings growth above 40% this year and around 33% next year. The Trade Desk shares are cheap, at just under 12 times earnings expectations, but the deteriorating performance makes shares tough to own.

One word of caution about AppLovin, though: It's currently under SEC investigation regarding its data-collection practices. That provides an overhang on the stock and could explain its relatively low P/E ratio, given its growth expectations. Investors may want to hold off on purchasing shares until the SEC concludes the investigation. Otherwise, it's prudent to consider a smaller position size given the risk.

Did you buy QURE ordinary shares between September 24, 2025, and October 31, 2025? 

Affected uniQure N.V. Investor Summary

Who: uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ: QURE) What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filed Class Period: September 24, 2025, and October 31, 2025 Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 13, 2026 Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company's Huntington's disease gene therapy drug. 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 informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ: QURE) (uniQure) on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired uniQure ordinary shares between September 24, 2025, and October 31, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action, captioned Scocco v. uniQure N.V., et al., Case No. 1:26-cv-01124, was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Important Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired uniQure ordinary shares during the Class Period may, no later than April 13, 2026, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class.

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:
If you purchased or acquired uniQure ordinary shares 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/qure-uniqure-nv-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=qure&mktm=PR There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney.

Learn more about uniQure N.V. on YouTube:

uniQure N.V. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (long video) uniQure N.V. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (short video) UNIQURE N.V. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY:
uniQure is a biotechnology company developing gene therapies for rare diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD). uniQure's leading drug candidate is AMT-130, a novel gene therapy being developed to slow the progression of HD. During the Class Period, uniQure misled investors about its Phase I/II clinical trials (Pivotal Study) of AMT-130 as well as the prospects and timeline of uniQure's Biologics License Application (BLA) submission to the FDA for approval to use AMT-130 to treat patients with HD.

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about uniQure's business and operations. Specifically, Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the design of uniQure's Pivotal Study—including comparison of the Pivotal Study results to the ENROLL-HD external historical data set—was not fully approved by the FDA; (2) Defendants downplayed the likelihood that, despite purportedly highly successful results from the Pivotal Study, uniQure would have to delay its BLA timeline to perform additional studies to supplement its BLA submission; and (3) as a result, Defendants' statements about uniQure's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did uniQure's Share Price Drop?
Investors learned the truth about the company's prospects and the BLA timeline for AMT-130 on November 3, 2025, when uniQure revealed that "the FDA currently no longer agrees that the data from the Phase I/II studies of AMT-130 in comparison to an external control, as per the prespecified protocols and statistical analysis plans shared with the FDA in advance of the analyses, may be adequate to provide the primary evidence in support of a BLA submission." Although the Company "plan[ned] to urgently interact with the FDA to find a path forward for the timely accelerated approval of AMT-130," uniQure admitted that "the timing of the BLA submission for AMT-130 is now unclear." On this news, the price of uniQure ordinary shares plummeted $33.40 per share, or more than 49%, from a close of $67.69 per share on October 31, 2025, to close at $34.29 per share on November 3, 2025. 

WHAT QURE INVESTORS CAN DO NOW:

File to be lead plaintiff by April 13, 2026. Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation. Retain counsel of choice or take no action. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR UNIQURE N.V. INVESTORS:
uniQure investors may, no later than April 13, 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 uniQure 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 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

Tech investors have had a volatile start to 2026, and artificial intelligence (AI) darling Nvidia (NVDA 2.94%) hasn't been spared. As of this writing, the semiconductor giant's stock has fallen almost 5% year to date.

With shares taking a breather after an incredible multi-year run, investors might be wondering if this is a rare opportunity to buy the dip.

Or is the market right to be cautious about a stock?

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Firing on all cylinders Looking at the company's latest results, it's hard to find much to complain about. The business is undeniably strong.

In its fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Jan. 25), Nvidia's revenue was $68.1 billion, up 73% year over year. This top-line surge was fueled by the company's crucial data center segment, where revenue jumped 75% from a year ago to a record $62.3 billion.

"Computing demand is growing exponentially -- the agentic AI inflection point has arrived," noted CEO Jensen Huang in the company's earnings release.

The company's massive revenue growth efficiently trickled down to the bottom line. Nvidia's fourth-quarter earnings per share skyrocketed 98% year over year to $1.76.

And management is also putting its immense cash generation to work. During fiscal 2026, Nvidia returned $41.1 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and cash dividends. A buyback of this scale highlights management's confidence and directly benefits shareholders by reducing the overall share count.

Even more, the company isn't forecasting a slowdown anytime soon. Management guided for first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of approximately $78.0 billion, indicating sequential growth will persist. Even more, this guidance represents an acceleration, implying about 77% year-over-year growth, compared to the 73% growth the company reported in fiscal Q4.

Competition and margin uncertainty The problem, however, lies in what the future might hold as the AI landscape matures.

The risk is not necessarily a sudden collapse in AI spending. It is rising competition and the potential for margin erosion over time as the competitive environment intensifies.

Hyperscalers like Amazon (AMZN 2.61%), Alphabet, and Microsoft are spending heavily on Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) today, but they are also leaning increasingly on their own custom silicon solutions. These massive tech companies are some of Nvidia's largest customers, but it makes sense for them to find ways to reduce their dependence on Nvidia over time. Alphabet, for example, has spent years deploying its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), while Amazon continues to tout the cost-efficiency of its Trainium chips for training AI models.

Amazon specifically called out the need for cheaper AI computing chips during its earnings call, noting that it's working to address the issue of high-priced chips directly.

"A significant impediment today is the cost of AI chips," explained Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. "Customers are starving for better price performance [...] and, understandably, the dominant early leaders aren't in a hurry to make that happen. They have other priorities. It's why we built our own custom silicon in training."

This push for cheaper, custom alternatives could eventually pressure Nvidia's pricing power.

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Priced for perfection But with shares trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 36 as of this writing, Nvidia stock isn't priced as if margins will erode over time. It's priced as if the company remains the dominant leader with significant competitive advantages for the foreseeable future.

Of course, this isn't an outlandish assumption, considering Nvidia's extraordinary momentum.

Still, the risk of intensifying competition is one investors should consider carefully. If Nvidia is forced to compete more aggressively on price in the future to maintain its market share against these hyperscalers -- who represent a massive concentration of its revenue base -- margins could face severe pressure.

With this significant customer concentration risk and the potential for margin compression in mind, I'd be cautious at this price.

The company is fantastic, but the stock's valuation demands continued dominance for not just the next few years, but for the next decade. For most investors, therefore, I think buying at this price doesn't make sense. However, for investors who truly believe we are still in the early innings of the AI build-out and that Nvidia will maintain its iron grip on the market, this 5% pullback could be a reasonable opportunity to start a small position. But I'd keep any position size modest and recognize the risks involved.

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

If you purchased or acquired securities in Varonis between February 4, 2025 and October 28, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Varonis Systems, Inc. ("Varonis" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: VRNS) and reminds investors of the March 9, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

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

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: Defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Varonis' ability to convert its existing customer base; notably, that it was not truly equipped to convince existing users of the benefits of converting to the SaaS offering or otherwise maintain those customers on its platform, resulting in significantly reduced ARR growth potential in the near-term. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Varonis' securities at artificially inflated prices.

On October 28, 2025, Varonis announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, disclosing a significant miss to ARR and reducing its projections for the full fiscal year 2025, despite previously uplifting guidance for the previous two consecutive quarters. The Company attributed its results and lowered guidance on weaker than expected renewals and conversions in their federal and non-federal on-premises subscription business. Varonis further resultantly announced the end of life of the self-hosted solution and a 5% headcount reduction.

Following this news, Varonis' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $63.00 per share on October 28, 2025, Varonis' stock price fell to $32.34 per share on October 29, 2025, a decline of about 48.67% in the span of just a single day.

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

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286587

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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A big trend right now is investors looking for opportunities beyond the U.S. market. If you want to diversify your portfolio away from U.S. stocks and bonds, one way to do it is to buy an international bond fund, like the Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX 0.29%).

But if you want to earn higher yields and are willing to accept some additional risk, you could buy the Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB 0.67%). This international bond fund lets you own government debt from up-and-coming markets. The VWOB has outperformed the BNDX and another popular bond index fund, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND 0.14%), for the past year.

VWOB Total Return Price data by YCharts

Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider the VWOB for your bond portfolio -- and why you should also beware of the risks.

What it means to invest in emerging market bonds When you buy emerging-market bonds, you are investing in debt issued by foreign governments from nations with emerging economies. That includes countries with economies that are more developed than some of the world's poorer nations, but that have not yet reached the more prosperous levels of advanced economies like the U.S., Japan, Canada, or Western Europe.

Some emerging economies represented in the Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF include:

Saudi Arabia (13.5% of the fund) Mexico (11%) Turkey (6.4%) Indonesia (6.1%) United Arab Emirates (5.6%) Argentina (3.9%) Qatar (3.8%) Brazil (3.4%) The Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF holds 902 bonds and charges an expense ratio of 0.15%. It has delivered average annual returns (by net asset value) of 2.6% for the past five years, 9.99% for the past three years, and 11.6% in the past year.

Image source: Getty Images.

Risks of emerging market bonds High yields on bonds can be tempting. But emerging markets' government debt tends to be riskier than advanced economies' debt. Some of these countries are politically unstable, vulnerable to economic crises, or otherwise might struggle to repay their debts to bond investors like you.

Let's compare the risk of emerging market government bonds to U.S. bonds. For example, about 41% of the emerging-market bonds in the VWOB have a credit rating of BB or lower, making them speculative grade. But in the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, 69% of the fund's bonds are U.S. government bonds (generally considered some of the safest in the world), while the other 31% of the bonds have investment-grade credit ratings of BBB or higher.

If you want to own emerging market bonds, a lower-risk strategy might be the Vanguard Total International Bond Market ETF (BNDX). This international bond fund holds 6,612 bonds from around the world, with 7.5% of its holdings in emerging markets. The BNDX could give you a more diversified way to capture some of the upside of emerging-market bond yields, while including plenty of bonds from lower-risk markets.

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Diversifying your bond investments with international exposure can be a good idea, but try not to take more risk than you can afford. Emerging-market bonds might pay higher yields but could have higher volatility and bigger price declines.

Ben Gran has positions in Vanguard Charlotte Funds - Vanguard Total International Bond ETF and Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Hims & Hers (NYSE: HIMS) Health stock experienced a dramatic surge in after-hours trading on Friday, transforming what had been a subdued regular session into one of the most explosive moves of the day.

The shares closed the regular trading session at $15.74, a decline of about 0.88% amid lingering investor concerns over regulatory pressures on compounded weight-loss medications and broader market caution. However, in after-hours trading, HIMS stock jumped 39% to $22.

HIMS one-week stock price chart. Source: Finbold The rapid after-hours surge quickly drew the attention of traders and analysts. The rally was driven by a key development in the company’s ongoing dispute with pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO).

Reports indicated the two firms had resolved a legal conflict that escalated earlier this year. Tensions had arisen over Hims & Hers offering compounded alternatives to Novo Nordisk’s branded obesity drugs, including Wegovy, which triggered lawsuits, patent challenges, and regulatory scrutiny.

Those issues had weighed heavily on investor sentiment, contributing to significant declines in the stock throughout 2026 as uncertainties mounted over the future of compounded GLP-1 therapies.

Under the emerging partnership, Novo Nordisk plans to make its authentic, FDA-approved weight-loss medications available directly through the Hims & Hers platform. 

The collaboration effectively ends the prior feud and positions Hims & Hers to benefit from branded product sales rather than relying solely on compounded versions that faced legal and regulatory headwinds.

HIMS stock new opportunities  The arrangement opens new revenue opportunities for the telehealth provider while alleviating a key overhang that had pressured the stock for months.

Market participants viewed the news as a significant positive shift, removing a major risk factor and potentially enhancing long-term growth prospects in the booming obesity treatment market.

The announcement, expected to be formalized as early as Monday, sparked immediate enthusiasm among retail and institutional investors. 

After-hours trading volume surged as the news spread across financial outlets and social platforms, boosting momentum. Shares of Novo Nordisk also rose modestly in extended trading, reflecting the perceived mutual benefits of the partnership and expanded distribution.

The rally followed earlier weakness in Hims & Hers stock, which had faced sharp pullbacks linked to FDA scrutiny of compounded drugs, patent litigation, and softer forward guidance after strong prior-year results.

The partnership news quickly shifted sentiment, highlighting the stock’s sensitivity to developments in the weight-loss market and its potential for rapid repricing on positive catalysts.

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

If you purchased or acquired securities in Franklin between November 5, 2024 and February 11, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. ("Franklin" or the "Company") (NYSE: FBRT) and reminds investors of the April 27, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

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

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (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 misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On February 11, 2026, Franklin announced its financial results for fourth quarter and full year 2025. Among other items, Franklin reported fourth quarter earnings per share of only $0.12, missing consensus estimates by $0.16, and revenue of only $81.12 million, compared to the consensus estimate of $93.65 million. In a press release, Franklin's Chief Executive Officer said that "2025 was a year of transition" and that "it has taken longer to resolve and sell" certain real estate assets "than we originally planned."

On this news, Franklin's stock price fell $1.44 per share, or 14.19%, to close at $8.71 per share on February 12, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286577

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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In 2026, evaluating Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 3.46%) stock has arguably become a struggle for investors. After almost returning to its all-time high in January, its most recent earnings report appeared to disappoint investors, leading to a 25%-plus decline from the stock's October 2025 all-time high price. It now trades around $196 a share.

Despite the recent drop, the 2025 surge has some investors wondering if AMD stock could reach $300 per share. There are reasons to believe that milestone could come in 2026, and here's why.

Image source: AMD.

Where AMD stock stands AMD is a semiconductor company specializing primarily in the design and sale of CPUs, GPUs, and embedded chips. Although it still drives significant revenue from all of those business segments, the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market is its largest and fastest-growing. Management is forecasting a 35% revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next three years for AMD. That CAGR rises to 60% for the data center segment, which designs AI chips. Although Nvidia leads the AI chip market, AMD is emerging as the second-most prominent company in this area.

AMD has historically been adept at catching up to competitors, and AI chips are no exception. The MI450 will have a 2-nanometer node thanks to its work with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, an advantage over Nvidia's Vera Rubin, which will run on the 3nm node. Moreover, AMD's MI450 chip just delivered its first megadeal, as Meta Platforms has agreed to a $100 billion deal where Meta will purchase 6 gigawatts of custom AMD Instinct MI450 GPUs and sixth-gen AMD EPYC CPUs.

This includes a performance-based warrant for Meta to purchase up to 160 million AMD shares, about 10% of the current total shares. AMD made a similar deal with OpenAI for another 160 million shares. Admittedly, those deals could be somewhat dilutive in later years, but they are undoubtedly a huge step forward for its business.

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The numerical path higher for AMD AMD is coming close to its growth target fast. In 2025, revenue of almost $35 billion rose 34% from year-ago levels. With that, AMD kept cost and expense growth in check and earned additional income from investors. Thus, its $4.3 billion in net income in 2025 increased by 164% yearly.

Looking forward, analysts forecast 34% revenue growth again in 2026. Additionally, they predict the growth rate will rise, bringing a 43% revenue increase in 2027, a factor that should further fuel stock price growth.

Valuations are also unlikely to stop the surge. Even though AMD's P/E ratio is at 74, its forward P/E ratio of 30 is arguably low, assuming it can meet or exceed growth forecasts. That indicates AMD could reach $300 per share this year without needing an excessively high valuation.

Is AMD going to $300 per share? AMD is on track to deliver the growth it needs to surge to $300 per share and likely beyond.

Aside from the high interest in the MI450, AMD remains a diversified growth business on track to deliver gains from AI chips and its other products.

Admittedly, the P/E ratio may appear high. Still, the much lower forward P/E ratio and the fact that its 34% revenue growth is on track to accelerate next year should provide the needed tailwinds to reach the $300-per-share milestone.

Will Healy has positions in Advanced Micro Devices. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) resulting from allegations that Santander may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Santander securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22671 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 27, 2026, Reuters published an article entitled "Wall Street hit by UK mortgage lender collapse, raising fears of more credit 'cockroaches.'" The article stated that "Wall Street lenders on Friday were rocked by the implosion of little-known UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd, fueling concerns about wider losses among banks and reviving warnings of more "cockroaches" in the booming private credit industry." Further, it stated that Santander faces potential losses from the collapse.

On this news, Santander's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") fell 4.48% on February 27, 2026, and a further 3.2% on February 28, 2026.

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. 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. At the time 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.

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/286662

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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