Market Signal Briefing

Explore how these two income-focused ETFs differ in cost, sector exposure, and portfolio breadth for diversified dividend strategies.

The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM +2.29%) stands out for its low cost, higher trailing return, and broader sector exposure, while the ProShares - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL +1.33%) targets dividend growth with a focus on industrials and consumer defensives.

Both VYM and NOBL are popular choices for income-focused investors, but their approaches differ. VYM aims for high current yield from a wide swath of U.S. stocks. This comparison explores key differences in cost, returns, risk, and portfolio composition.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricVYMNOBLIssuerVanguardProSharesExpense ratio0.06%0.35%1-yr return (as of 2026-01-30)12.7%6.6%Dividend yield2.3%2.0%Beta0.760.83AUM$84.6 billion$11.5 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

VYM is significantly more affordable with a 0.06% expense ratio compared to NOBL's 0.35%, and it also offers a slightly higher dividend yield.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricVYMNOBLMax drawdown (5 y)-15.83%-17.92%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$1,636$1,396What's insideNOBL tracks U.S. companies in the S&P 500 that have raised dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, resulting in a focused portfolio of 70 stocks. Industrials (24%) and consumer defensive (21%) sectors dominate, and the fund’s top holdings — Sysco Corp. (SYY +2.26%), C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW +1.59%), and Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL 0.49%) — are each equally weighted at around 1.5%. NOBL has a 12.3-year track record and enforces sector caps to avoid over-concentration.

VYM, in contrast, casts a much wider net with 589 holdings and larger positions in financial services (21%) and technology (18%). Its top holdings include Broadcom Inc. (AVGO +7.26%), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM +3.95%), and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM +2.18%), with weights more concentrated at the top. VYM’s broader diversification may appeal to those seeking exposure across more sectors and companies.

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

What this means for investorsBoth the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) are solid choices for investors seeking income. Each exchange-traded fund offers an attractive dividend yield, so the selection between the two come down to a handful of differences.

NOBL is appealing for investors seeking stocks that have a history of consistently raising dividends over time. This delivers income stability. The ETF also provides lower volatility, given the sectors it focuses on, and its caps to promote equal weighting.

However, NOBL sports a significantly higher expense ratio compared to VYM, which eats into that dividend income, and its limited holdings deliver lower diversification.

VYM’s strengths include a low expense ratio, and far greater number of stocks. Its larger exposure to the technology sector helped it deliver strong returns of late thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence.

That said, the tech industry introduces greater volatility. Moreover, while VYM focuses on high-yield dividend stocks, its lack of a criteria for dividend growth means its potential to deliver income over the long term may end up being lower than NOBL’s.

Deciding between the two depends on whether an investor favors NOBL’s dividend growth focus or VYM’s more diversified ETF and lower cost.

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Broadcom and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive, JPMorgan Chase, ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF, Sysco, and Vanguard Whitehall Funds - Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and C.H. Robinson Worldwide. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

There are several great investment opportunities in the AI sector.

If you've got $5,000 ready to invest that isn't needed for monthly bills or to boost an emergency fund, I've got a list of stocks that look like excellent buys. All of them are key beneficiaries of massive artificial intelligence (AI) spending and look primed to soar throughout this year and many years to come.

I think Nvidia (NVDA +8.01%), Broadcom (AVGO +7.22%), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM +5.48%), and Microsoft (MSFT +2.00%) all make for excellent buys right now and should crush the market moving forward.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia Nvidia, the world's most valuable company (as measured by market cap), has risen to this level thanks to insatiable demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs). These computing units have become the primary option for training and running AI models. Even after the company saw three years of strong growth, 2026 looks like another great one.

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Wall Street analysts expect 52% growth for Nvidia in fiscal 2027 (which just began and will end in January 2027). While some investors may be worried about investing in Nvidia's stock right now because an AI bubble may be forming, the reality is far from that. Nvidia is providing the picks and shovels for the AI gold rush. It will do just fine even if the gold rush eventually peters out. With its strong projected growth over multiple years, Nvidia stock is a no-brainer buy for me right now.

Broadcom One company challenging Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip sector is Broadcom. Instead of launching a competing GPU, Broadcom is taking a different approach. It has designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) that are getting a lot of attention from AI hyperscalers. ASICs optimize the computing unit to handle specific types of workloads (like the ones needed to handle AI calculations). These specialized chips can provide superior performance to GPUs as long as the workload is configured to take advantage of the chip's design. It also helps that the chips tend to be less expensive.

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With AI hyperscalers looking to maximize their unlimited spending power, these ASIC chips are starting to become more popular. For the first quarter, Broadcom expects its AI semiconductor revenue to double year over year -- far faster than Nvidia's growth rate. While Broadcom's chips won't fully replace GPUs, they could steal some of Nvidia's market share, although there is plenty of room for each company to succeed.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) TSMC is a key player in the AI realm due to its leading chip foundry capabilities. Nobody has the technology and capacity that TSMC has to manufacture the chips that companies like Nvidia and Broadcom design, so it has become the go-to foundry for nearly every computing company competing in the AI arms race. This makes TSMC a great neutral way to play the AI build-out.

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As long as there is increased AI spending, TSMC's stock will do well. With most projections estimating that AI spending will stay elevated through at least 2030, TSMC is in a great position. Wall Street analysts expect 31% growth this year and 22% next year as measured in New Taiwan dollars. While currency effects will affect these growth results somewhat, they are still excellent results and make the stock worth buying today.

Microsoft Microsoft operates on both sides of the AI market, tapping into AI application use as well as infrastructure. Its cloud computing platform, Azure, is seeing solid market share growth as well as rapid revenue growth as a result. During fiscal 2026's second quarter (ending Dec. 31, 2025), Azure's revenue rose an impressive 39% year over year. Microsoft still has a $625 billion backlog in this business unit, so there is still plenty of growth in store for Azure.

However, the market was unimpressed by some aspects of Microsoft's quarter, which caused the stock to tumble. Now it trades for 25 times forward earnings, the lowest levels it has seen in some time.

Data by YCharts.

I think this presents a rare buying opportunity for Microsoft stock, and investors should use this temporary sell-off to their advantage and scoop up shares now.

Keithen Drury has positions in Broadcom, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

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

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Hub Group, Inc. (“Hub Group” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HUBG).

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

On February 6, 2026, Hub Group shares fell sharply, after the logistics company disclosed a $77 million accounting error related to purchased transportation costs and accounts payable, prompting a restatement of prior financial results. The company said the error did not impact cash flow, but investors reacted negatively to the disclosure, sending the stock down as much as roughly 25% intraday. The announcement coincided with the release of preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results and a delay in filing updated financial statements.

To learn more about the Hub Group investigation, go to www.faruqilaw.com/HUBG 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.

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With Greg Abel now at the helm, some investors are nervous about the company Warren Buffett built.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A +0.74%) (BRK.B +0.80%) has a track record of excellence that's hard for any other stock to match. A big part of Berkshire's success has come as a result of its legendary leader, Warren Buffett, who just stepped down as CEO at the end of 2025. With decades of market outperformance under Buffett's belt, successor CEO Greg Abel has his work cut out for him to build on his predecessor's legacy.

Today, this three-part series on Berkshire Hathaway for the Voyager Portfolio concludes with a closer look at the CEO succession from Buffett to Abel and what investors can expect. And although I won't be adding Berkshire Hathaway stock to this portfolio, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't strongly consider it as a complement to the other individual stock holdings you may own.

Image source: Getty Images.

The inevitable passing of the baton Given Buffett's incredible tenure at Berkshire, succession has been in the forefront of shareholders' minds for a long time. For years, Buffett and former vice-chair Charlie Munger reassured Berkshire stock investors by stating that there was a plan in place without providing specifics. Then, in 2021, Berkshire announced that its board of directors had unanimously supported Abel to be Buffett's designated successor.

After that, Buffett said encouraging things about Abel's prowess on multiple occasions. Buffett is on record saying he'd rather have Abel managing his finances than any of a host of other corporate leaders or investment advisors. He even said that Abel has better management skills than he does, highlighting the important need for any Berkshire CEO to manage the conglomerate's subsidiaries adeptly while still leaving day-to-day operational decisions to respective leaders at each subsidiary. That's been a key ingredient in Berkshire's past success.

Setting Abel up for success Perhaps the most valuable thing that Berkshire and Buffett did to set the stage for Abel to take over was to get the company's finances in top shape to give the incoming CEO maximum flexibility to pursue his own vision. For years now, Berkshire has been accumulating cash, with the figure hitting a record $382 billion as of the end of 2025.

With that amount of cash on hand, Abel will have plenty of options for capital allocation. If Abel were to find a relatively large company at an attractive valuation, then Berkshire's rich reserves would give the conglomerate opportunities that nearly any other company couldn't match. At the same time, Abel could choose to restart Berkshire's past practice of repurchasing shares of its own stock, if he found the stock price to be attractive at some point in the future. Some analysts have even gone so far as to suggest that Abel might do what was unthinkable under Buffett: look to initiate a dividend for shareholders.

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Zigging when the market zags I won't be buying Berkshire Hathaway for my Voyager Portfolio, but that doesn't mean I think it's a bad investment. In fact, Berkshire is already my top individual stock holding by far, making it unnecessary to add any more shares to my mix.

It's true that any broad-market index investor already has a considerable holding in Berkshire because of its trillion-dollar market capitalization. But what I've found that makes Berkshire especially valuable is that often, it moves higher when its more tech-focused peers in the trillion-dollar market cap club falter. That kind of ballast can make long-term investors a lot happier. I might not know exactly what Berkshire will look like a few years from now, but I share Warren Buffett's confidence that Greg Abel will be more than able to lead the company forward to new heights.

With your more serious money, you want to own more serious investments.

Most investors don't mind risking a few hundred bucks to take a flier on a high-risk/high-reward prospect. When you're looking to put a few thousand bucks on the table though, thing change. That's not a throw-away amount of money for most households. You'll take a little less upside in exchange for less risk.

With that as the backdrop, here's a rundown of three names to consider stepping into if you're ready to put $5,000 to work in the stock market.

Image source: Getty Images.

Fluor Last year wasn't a great one for heavy-construction outfit Fluor (FLR +4.34%). Largely thanks to economic uncertainty, full-year revenue is expected to shrink by nearly 4%. That's ultimately why the stock's now priced right around where it was as of the middle of 2024.

But there's a case to be made for buying a stake in FLR stock here and now, in anticipation of better days ahead. That is, many infrastructure projects simply can't be postponed any longer.

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Then there's the underappreciated facet of the long-term bullish argument for Fluor. That's its experience in constructing nuclear power facilities. With the need for electricity soaring, by 2050 the U.S. Department of Energy aims to triple the amount of nuclear power being produced within the United States alone. That's going to require at least a few dozen new reactors, boding well for this company's business.

Palo Alto Networks You didn't hear nearly as much about it this time around as you have in the past; there's simply too much else going on. But the Identity Theft Resource Center reports that there were a record-breaking 3,322 data breaches last year, up 79% from 2020's count, and exposing personal sensitive information for millions of people.

Clearly the problem isn't simply going away -- it's getting worse! And that's just one type of cyberattack. That figure underscores the need for high-level cybersecurity services from industry leader Palo Alto Networks (PANW +3.01%), which is expected to report top-line growth of 14% this year followed by 13% growth next year.

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Yes, like Fluor, this ticker's not been able to sustain any net progress since 2024. Don't be too dissuaded, though. Analysts aren't. Most of them still consider PANW a strong buy, with a consensus price target of $228.79 that's 37% above the stock's present price.

IBM Finally, add International Business Machines (IBM +3.12%) to your list of stocks to invest $5,000 in right now; you of course know it as IBM. If you know the company at all, then you likely know it was largely left out of some of the more recent technological leaps like cloud computing, mobile, and most recently, artificial intelligence.

IBM's fought its way back to a seat at the table, however, and then some. Last quarter's year-over-year revenue growth of 12% was mostly driven by sales AI-capable mainframes and software, with particularly strong showings from automation and data management software.

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In other words, IBM is now very much in the thick of the artificial intelligence race, even if most investors don't yet realize it. Perhaps more important to interested investors, one-third of this software-centric company's revenue is recurring, leaving it much better shielded from a popping of any AI bubble than the stock's performance since late last year suggests.

These companies have highly visible growth profiles for the next several years.

No one knows exactly what the future will hold. However, some companies have more visibility into what's ahead due to the durability of their cash flow and the growth investments they've secured. That gives them lots of confidence in their ability to continue increasing their dividends.

Brookfield Renewable (BEPC +3.02%) (BEP +2.98%) and Oneok (OKE +1.78%) have visibility into their growth over the next five years. As a result, you can confidently hold these dividend stocks for the long haul.

Image source: Getty Images.

A powerful growth outlook Brookfield Renewable operates a globally diversified portfolio of renewable energy assets. It sells the bulk of the electricity it produces under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with utilities and large corporate customers (90% of which are contracted for an average of 13 years). Most of these PPA link rates to inflation (70% of its revenue). The company routinely signs higher-rate PPAs as legacy agreements expire. For example, it recently signed two 20-year hydropower deals with Google, representing over $3 billion in revenue. As a result, Brookfield generates stable and steadily rising cash flow.

The company also has an enormous backlog of renewable energy development projects (84 gigawatts (GW) of advanced-stage projects). It delivered 8 GW of new capacity last year and expects to increase its annual delivery run rate to 10 GW by 2027. The company expects to deliver 10.5 GW of capacity to Microsoft alone in the 2026 to 2030 time frame as part of their global renewable energy framework agreement.

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Brookfield's growth drivers, which also include acquisitions, power its view that it can grow its funds from operations per share by more than 10% annually through 2030. That supports its plans to increase its 3.7%-yielding dividend by 5% to 9% per year. Brookfield has raised its payout by at least 5% annually since 2011.

Dual growth drivers Oneok is a leading pipeline company. It has a diversified portfolio of midstream assets that generate fee-based cash flows backed by long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures (over 90% fee-based earnings).

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The company has significantly expanded and diversified its operations in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Oneok still expects to capture hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial synergies from these deals over the next few years, boosting its cash flow. Additionally, the company has several organic expansion projects underway that should enter commercial service through the middle of 2028. It has ample financial flexibility to make bolt-on acquisitions and approve additional expansion projects to further enhance and extend its growth.

This visible growth supports Oneok's plan to increase its 5.3%-yielding dividend by 3% to 4% per year. The pipeline company has delivered over a quarter-century of dividend stability and growth.

Visible dividend growth ahead Brookfield Renewable and Oneok generate durable cash flows secured by long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures. That supports their high-yielding dividends and highly visible growth profiles. That should give investors the confidence to hold these dividend stocks for the long term.

Matt DiLallo has positions in Alphabet, Brookfield Renewable, and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, and Oneok. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ: RR) publicly traded securities between January 27, 2026 and 12:00 p.m. EST on January 29, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until April 3, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit. Captioned Diez v. Richtech Robotics Inc., No. 26-cv-00231 (D. Nev.), the Richtech Robotics class action lawsuit charges Richtech Robotics as well as certain of Richtech Robotics’ executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A massive nuclear commitment puts Oklo at a crossroads. Discover the upside, risks, and whether this AI energy stock is worth the gamble.

Oklo (OKLO +14.50%) is positioning itself as a critical power source for AI and data centers, backed by Meta's massive nuclear deal. I break down the upside, the risks, and why this stock could either soar or collapse as commercialization approaches.

Stock prices used were the market prices of Feb. 2, 2026. The video was published on Feb. 5, 2026.

Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: METC) between July 31, 2025 and October 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In F5 To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in F5 between October 28, 2024 and October 27, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 7, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against F5, Inc. ("F5" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FFIV) and reminds investors of the February 17, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

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

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that the true state of F5's security capabilities; notably, that it was not truly equipped to safely secure data for its clients as F5 itself was, for all relevant times, experiencing a significant security breach (the "Security Breach") of some of its key offerings and, further, that the revelation of this breach would significantly impact F5's potential to capitalize on the security market.

On October 27, 2025, F5 announced their fourth quarter fiscal year 2025 results after the market closed, providing significantly below-market growth expectations for fiscal 2026 due in significant part to the Security Breach as the Company announced expected reductions to sales and renewals, elongated sales cycles, terminated projections, and increased expenses attributed to ongoing remediation efforts. Pertinently, defendants also disclosed that BIG-IP, the product that was the subject of the Security Breach, is the company's highest revenue product, elevating the scope of the impact from the original disclosure as F5 does not otherwise provide revenue contributions by product line.

Following this news, the price of F5's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $290.41 per share on October 27, 2025, F5's stock price fell to $258.76 per share on October 29, 2025, a decline of an additional 10.9% in the span of two days.

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 F5's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the F5 class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FFIV 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/283019

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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More than 900 Google workers have signed an open letter condemning recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), urging the tech giant to disclose its dealings with the agencies and divest from them.

The letter, citing recent ICE killings of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, said that the employees are "appalled by the violence" and "horrified" by Google's part in it.

"Google is powering this campaign of surveillance, violence, and repression," the letter reads.

It goes on to cite that Google Cloud is aiding CBP surveillance and powering Palantir's ImmigrationOS system, which is used by ICE. The letter states that Google's generative artificial intelligence is used by CBP and that the Google Play Store has blocked ICE tracking apps.

The letter also quotes a social media post by Google Chief Scientist Jeff Dean from early January, who wrote, "We all bear a collective responsibility to speak up and not be silent when we see things like the events of the last week."

"We are vehemently opposed to Google's partnerships with DHS, CBP, and ICE," the employees wrote. "We consider it our leadership's ethical and policy-bound responsibility to disclose all contracts and collaboration with CBP and ICE, and to divest from these partnerships."

The letter calls on Google to acknowledge the danger that workers face from ICE, host an emergency internal Q&A on the company's DHS and military contracts, implement safety measures to protect workers — such as flexible work-from-home policies and immigration support — and reveal its ties with the government agencies to help all involved determine where the company will draw a line.

"As workers of conscience, we demand that our leadership end our backslide into contracting for governments enacting violence against civilians," the letter reads. "Google is now a prominent node in a shameful lineage of private companies profiting from violent state repression. We must use this moment to come together as a Googler community and demand an end to this disgraceful use of our labor."

Google did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

The letter comes as employees place mounting pressure on tech CEOs to speak out against ICE. Just two weeks prior, employees representing Amazon, Spotify, Meta and more wrote a similar letter demanding ICE "out of our cities."

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryVanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) appears to have experienced a blowoff top, resembling the 2011, 1980, and 1974 peaks in precious metals.I believe the recent parabolic move in GDX, with a 300% gain since early 2024, signals the party is ending for gold/silver miners.Current price action and investor euphoria suggest a multi-year or even decade-long top is being outlined in 2026, making it prudent to sell on strength and/or avoid GDX for now.If gold and silver continue correcting, GDX may struggle to maintain today's price levels the remainder of the year. bagi1998/iStock via Getty Images

It appears to me gold and silver have just experienced a once every 10 to 20-year blowoff top. In many respects, hysterical price swings higher in December-January, followed by the wicked almost crash in pricing during the past

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

All opinions expressed herein are not investment recommendations and are not meant to be relied upon in investment decisions. The author is not acting in an investment advisor capacity and is not a registered investment advisor. The author recommends investors consult a qualified investment advisor before making any trade. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates herein are forward-looking statements based upon certain assumptions that should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur. This article is not an investment research report but an opinion written at a point in time. The author's opinions expressed herein address only a small cross-section of data related to an investment in securities mentioned. Any analysis presented is based on incomplete information and is limited in scope and accuracy. The information and data in this article are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. The author expressly disclaims all liability for errors and omissions in the service and for the use or interpretation by others of information contained herein. Any and all opinions, estimates, and conclusions are based on the author's best judgment at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. The author undertakes no obligation to correct, update, or revise the information in this document or to otherwise provide any additional materials. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Thanks for reading. Please consider this article a first step in your due diligence process. Consulting with a registered and experienced investment advisor is recommended before making any trade.

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

Aftermath Silver Ltd (TSX-V:AAG, OTCQX:AAGFF, FRA:FLM1) earlier this week outlined further progress at the Berenguela project as the company moves toward the engineering and development stage, highlighted by the appointment of a new chief operating officer and the resumption of drilling activity.

The company said Danny Keating has joined as chief operating officer, bringing extensive experience in mine development, mineral processing and large-scale project execution.

CEO Ralph Rushton explained that the appointment reflects a strategic shift in focus as Berenguela advances beyond early-stage geological work.

Rushton said the company recognised that specialist engineering expertise was required to properly advance the project, noting that existing experience within the team only went so far once studies moved into detailed engineering and coordination. He added that Keating has been known to the company for many years and has worked across several jurisdictions on major projects.

A key differentiator, according to Rushton, is Keating’s experience with manganese projects. Berenguela hosts a significant manganese component alongside silver and copper, and Rushton said Keating and his teams have previously designed and constructed test plants and pilot plants specifically for manganese operations. He described this experience as a “specific skill set” and said it was expected to help unlock value at Berenguela.

Operationally, Rushton confirmed that drilling has resumed at Berenguela, with current work focused on areas within the existing resource that are expected to be mined first. He said this approach is designed to increase confidence in both geology and grade as development planning progresses.

In parallel, the company is also drilling on the eastern side of the Berenguela project, where higher copper grades have been identified. Rushton said these programs have multiple objectives and that investors should expect a steady flow of assay results over the coming months.

Beyond Peru, Aftermath Silver is also advancing exploration at the Challacollo project in Chile. Rushton noted that drilling is currently underway, although progress has been temporarily slowed due to technical issues with the drill rig. He added that the company plans to continue the program once those issues are resolved.

The combination of strengthened management, advancing engineering studies and active drilling across two projects positions the company for a period of regular news flow as Berenguela moves closer to development.

Intuitive Surgical's stock is prone to drawdowns, and January could be an opening for long-term growth investors.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG +2.48%) is not going to interest value-conscious investors. In fact, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 60, it is quite an expensive stock. For reference, the S&P 500 index has an average P/E of 28, and it is trading near all-time highs right now. Aggressive growth investors that take a long-term view, however, may appreciate the opportunity opened up by the stock's January swoon.

What does Intuitive Surgical do? Intuitive Surgical makes the da Vinci surgical robot. At the end of 2025, there were 11,106 da Vinci systems operating globally, up 12% year over year. The number of surgeries performed with a da Vinci system rose 18%, showing that there's both high demand for the system from medical professionals and high demand among patients for robotic-assisted surgery. The company is expecting the number of surgeries performed with da Vinci systems to rise as much as 15% in 2026.

Image source: Getty Images.

What's interesting is that robots account for only around 25% of the company's sales. The rest comes from services, instruments, and accessories. These are annuity-like business lines because they provide Intuitive Surgical with a recurring income stream. That income stream grows with each new robot sold.

With advances in AI and improvements in surgical outcomes enabled by robot-assisted surgery, it seems Intuitive Surgical is well positioned to be a long-term winner in the healthcare sector.

Not cheap, but cheaper What's interesting is that growth stocks like Intuitive Surgical tend to move higher in a jagged fashion. And while the stock isn't cheap on an absolute basis, its current P/E ratio of 60 is below its five-year average of 71, thanks to the stock's January drawdown. The stock is roughly 19% below its 2026 high-water mark and 21% below its all-time high reached in late 2025.

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The stock has experienced frequent drawdowns of 25% to 30%, and sometimes more. If you are a long-term investor with a growth focus, Intuitive Surgical's January slump could be setting up a buying opportunity. Again, Intuitive Surgical is not cheap on an absolute basis, but if you believe in the long-term opportunity presented by surgical robotics, now could be a good time to pay attention to Intuitive Surgical's stock.

When it comes to growth stocks, it is often better to be roughly right in your entry point than to miss a buying opportunity by trying to time it perfectly.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Item 1 of 2 Harley-Davidson motorcycles stand in a garage at Harley-Davidson dealer in Wrigleyville neighborhood, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Bianca Flowers

[1/2]Harley-Davidson motorcycles stand in a garage at Harley-Davidson dealer in Wrigleyville neighborhood, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Bianca Flowers Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesIndia to cut duties on high-end U.S. cars to 30%India to eliminate tariffs on Harley-Davidson bikesNo tariff concession for U.S. electric vehiclesNEW DELHI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - India will slash tariffs on high-end American cars to 30% from as high as 110% and eliminate duties on Harley-Davidson bikes under an interim trade pact, an official said, but will not make concessions for electric vehicles, a move that pointedly leaves Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab out.

The U.S. and India moved closer to a trade pact after releasing an interim framework on Friday, days after President Donald Trump said duties on Indian exports would be cut to 18% from 50% in exchange for New Delhi halting purchases of Russian oil.

Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.

Under the deal, tariffs on traditional internal-combustion cars with engine capacity above 3,000 cc would fall gradually to 30% over 10 years, an Indian government official said.

TESLA SHUT OUT OF TARIFF CUTSElectric vehicles have been excluded from the deal, the official added, shutting the door on a possible lower-tariff entry route for Tesla - ignoring a key demand from Elon Musk, who has frequently criticised India's high duties.

The stance contrasts with the broader auto access India has offered to the European Union, where New Delhi agreed to steeper tariff cuts to as low as 10%, across a wider range of vehicles, including eventual concessions on some electric vehicles.

India, the world's third-largest car market after the U.S. and China, has long protected its domestic auto industry with steep import tariffs of 70% to 110%.

It currently imports few cars from the U.S., although it does bring in high-end motorcycles such as Harley-Davidsons, and other premium motorbikes will also receive reduced duties, the official said.

The official, aware of the discussions, declined to be identified as the details of the interim pact have not been fully disclosed. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside usual office hours.

The tariff cuts are likely to be implemented after the two sides sign an agreement in March.

Reporting by Shivangi Acharya, Editing by Louise Heavens

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

These technology giants offer a higher risk-adjusted upside potential than many cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrencies can deliver explosive gains, but they remain heavily influenced by investor sentiment, speculation, and a changing regulatory landscape. The artificial intelligence (AI) boom, however, is evolving into a more sustainable, measurable global investment cycle. Research firm Gartner expects worldwide AI spending to grow 44% year over year to $2.5 trillion in 2026.

Against this backdrop, here are two technology stocks that appear to offer a better risk-reward proposition than cryptocurrencies in the long run. While these stocks may suffer during a potential technology industry downturn, their recovery prospects appear higher due to strong underlying fundamentals.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia Nvidia (NVDA +8.01%) is a critical enabler of the global AI infrastructure build-out and is not relying heavily on a sentiment-driven narrative cycle. According to Goldman Sachs, the consensus estimate for hyperscaler capital spending on AI initiatives is $527 billion in 2026, up from $400 billion in 2025.

With this spending cycle still intact, Nvidia should continue to witness robust demand for its AI-optimized chips, networking, and software solutions. Unlike cryptocurrency, where demand can surge and fade with changing regulation or risk appetite, AI capital expenditure (capex) is increasingly tied to productive workloads across enterprise and government clients.

AI demand is also shifting from less frequent training workloads to recurring inference workloads (deploying AI models in real products and workflows), making demand stickier once deployed.

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Management has highlighted that revenue visibility for Blackwell and next-generation Vera Rubin systems is more than $500 billion from the start of 2025 to the end of 2026. Nvidia is also well positioned to benefit from the next data center upgrade cycle. The company has designed Vera Rubin systems as rack-scale AI solutions, where entire AI server systems, including compute, networking hardware, and software, are sold as an integrated platform.

Rubin platforms are also designed to be more power-efficient and higher throughput than the Blackwell systems. Rubin systems are already seeing early success, as evidenced by Nvidia's strategic partnership with OpenAI to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia's systems, involving millions of GPUs. The first gigawatt deployment is scheduled for the second half of 2026 on the Vera Rubin system.

In this environment, Nvidia appears to be a smarter and more resilient pick than any cryptocurrency.

ServiceNow ServiceNow (NOW 1.84%) can be a better pick than any cryptocurrency, as its upside is primarily driven by recurring cash flows and AI monetization, rather than regulatory changes or speculation. The company's cloud-based platform seeks to digitize and automate enterprise workflows.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the company's subscription revenue increased 19.5% on a constant-currency basis to $3.47 billion. The company exited the fourth quarter with a 98% customer renewal rate and total remaining performance obligation (RPO, a measure of contracted backlog) of $28.2 billion, up 22.5% on a constant currency basis. Hence, the company has impressive revenue visibility through 2026.

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ServiceNow is also effectively monetizing its AI capabilities. The company's AI product suite, NOW Assist, surpassed $600 million in annual contract value (ACV) at the end of the fourth quarter. NOW Assist is expected to reach over $1 billion in ACV in 2026, as enterprises scale agentic AI use cases across their processes.

With its rapidly growing subscription revenue, expanding operating margin, and free cash flow, ServiceNow is a more durable pick than most of the cryptocurrencies in the long run.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Fermi Inc. (NASDAQ: FRMI): (i) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with Fermi’s October 2025 initial public offering (“IPO”); and/or (ii) securities between October 1, 2025 and December 11, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until Friday, March 6, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Fermi class action lawsuit. Captioned Lupia v. Fermi Inc., No. 26-cv-00050 (S.D.N.Y.), the Fermi class action lawsuit charges Fermi, certain of Fermi’s top executives and directors, as well as underwriters of Fermi’s IPO with violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-fermi-inc-class-action-lawsuit-frmi.html

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

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Fermi purports to be an energy and AI infrastructure company. In its October 2025 IPO, Fermi sold 37,375,000 shares of common stock at a price of $21.00 per share.

The Fermi class action lawsuit alleges that in the IPO’s offering documents and throughout the Class Period defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (i) that Fermi overstated its tenant demand for its Project Matador campus; (ii) the extent to which Project Matador would rely on a single tenant’s funding commitment to finance the construction of Project Matador; and (iii) that there was a significant risk that the tenant would terminate its funding commitment.

The Fermi class action lawsuit further alleges that on December 12, 2025, Fermi revealed the first tenant for its anticipated Project Matador AI campus had terminated its $150 million Advance in Aid of Construction Agreement, which would have supplied construction costs for the facility. On this news, the price of Fermi stock fell nearly 34%, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges that by the commencement of the Fermi class action lawsuit, the price of Fermi stock has traded as low as $8.59 per share, a 59% decline from the $21.00 per share IPO price.

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

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

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

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

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

Bob Iger officially announced his retirement (again), so let's look back at how he did the second time around.

Disney (DIS +3.61%) recently announced that current head of the theme parks and cruise line will take over the CEO role from Bob Iger, who is now set to retire at the end of 2026. In this video, longtime Disney fans Matt Frankel and Rick Munarriz discuss whether Disney is in a better position now than when Iger decided to come out of retirement a couple of years ago.

*Stock prices used were the morning prices of Feb. 3, 2026. The video was published on Feb.4, 2026.

Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in Walt Disney. Rick Munarriz has positions in Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Matthew Frankel is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

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

I may add to the preferred share position, and I may buy back a position in the common shares, but both are unlikely to happen within the next 72 hours.

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

XRP has dropped more than 50% from its peak, but I want more than just a lower price tag. Here's what needs to happen before I'd consider buying this cryptocurrency again.

Back in 2024, XRP (XRP 3.40%) looked like a great investment. Parent company Ripple Labs was wrapping up its long-running legal troubles, and the election results pointed to a more crypto-friendly administration. And XRP traded at just $0.70 per coin in early November that year, making its total market value a fairly modest $41 billion.

Things changed at that point. XRP started to skyrocket, soaring to $2.70 by Dec. 2 and $3.30 in mid-January 2025. At that point, XRP was a crypto giant. With a market value of $182 billion, only Bitcoin (BTC +0.89%) and Ethereum (ETH +1.90%) had a larger footprint.

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That jump was too much, too fast. XRP was priced for absolute perfection, leaving little room for further gains and a steep downside. The coin was no longer a top choice, in my view.

The price chart has been diving since July, primarily due to macroeconomic uncertainty. The downturn applies to most of the crypto market, but XRP took a deeper six-month dive than Ethereum or Bitcoin. It's down more than 50% from the peak, and valuation isn't really holding me back anymore.

All told, XRP has roughly doubled from 2024's election week, which looks appropriate, given the lawsuit resolution. But I'm still not buying XRP until people and financial institutions actually start to use it.

Show me the money (moving through XRP) XRP was designed to facilitate cross-border payments. Ripple Labs pitched it as a faster, cheaper alternative to the SWIFT network (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) that banks use for this purpose today. The idea is compelling; international wire transfers can take days and cost a fortune in fees. XRP transactions settle in seconds and cost fractions of a penny.

Image source: Getty Images.

So XRP sounds great on paper. In practice, Ripple has announced dozens of partnerships with banks and payment providers over the years. Most of these pilots never scaled into meaningful transaction volume, though. The company doesn't disclose how much XRP actually flows through its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, so investors are left squinting at loosely related press releases and hoping for the best.

I've been squinting for a while now. Here's what would make me stop and possibly invest:

Transparent volume data: Ripple publishing regular, audited reports on ODL transaction volume would help. Show me the receipts, please. A big bank goes on the record: Not a pilot, not a memorandum of understanding, not a "strategic partnership" that goes nowhere. I want a top-20 global bank saying, "We move billions of dollars with XRP." Some defense against the competition: Stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are reaching for the same cross-border payments market with different blockchain-based solutions. XRP needs a reason to win that fight beyond "We got here first." Without these signals, XRP remains a bet on potential rather than performance. Ripple has been making the same pitch for nearly a decade. I'd like to see it land before I buy a ticket. Lower coin prices are a good start, but I'm looking for serious real-world progress.

Anders Bylund has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

PEPE price consolidates near key support as bearish pressure persists, while analysts point to a potential 600% breakout if the trend reverses.

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APEMARS grabs crypto spotlight. The meme coin’s rise comes as SHIB and PEPE struggle with major selling pressure that’s hammered their prices over recent weeks. Investors can’t ignore the shift.

SHIB and PEPE both took hits since January started, with market chaos adding fuel to the fire that’s burned through investor confidence pretty fast. Trading volumes for SHIB hit $500 million on February 3, but the price kept sliding anyway. PEPE didn’t fare much better, losing ground as whales dumped positions and retail traders got spooked. The uncertainty around these established meme coins opened doors for newcomers like APEMARS to steal attention from frustrated investors looking for fresh opportunities.

APEMARS benefits from the mess. The timing looks perfect.

APEMARS built its strategy around community engagement, and that approach seems to work where others failed. The project’s developers focus on participation and inclusivity, which resonates with investors who got burned by projects that ignored their user base. Community members actively discuss plans on Discord and Telegram channels, creating buzz that spreads organically across crypto Twitter. And the positive sentiment keeps building as more people discover the project through word-of-mouth recommendations rather than paid promotions.

Stage 6 pricing for APEMARS stays live right now, giving potential buyers a chance to get in at $0.015 per token. The developers want to keep momentum going strong, hoping to push APEMARS into the top tier of cryptocurrencies worth watching in 2024. But they’re not making wild promises or setting unrealistic timelines that could backfire later.

Market skepticism hit SHIB and PEPE hard. Both coins face serious challenges trying to win back investor trust after their recent performance dips disappointed people who expected better returns. Some traders already shifted money toward alternatives like APEMARS, viewing it as a more stable bet in an unstable market that’s crushed dreams and portfolios alike.

The crypto landscape keeps changing as APEMARS rises from relative obscurity. Fresh projects often benefit when established players stumble, and that’s exactly what’s happening here. Still, the sector remains unpredictable as always. Market participants need to exercise serious caution because things can flip overnight.

APEMARS developers stay optimistic about future growth prospects, planning new initiatives to boost value and expand the user base beyond current levels. Their next moves will determine whether the coin can sustain its upward trajectory or become another flash in the pan that fades quickly. Market reaction to these efforts matters more than the efforts themselves.

Jamie Whitaker, a crypto analyst, said on February 4 that APEMARS’ ability to maintain user enthusiasm could drive sustained growth. “The community engagement sets a precedent for emerging cryptocurrencies,” Whitaker noted. He thinks other projects will copy the approach if it works.

Despite the beating SHIB and PEPE took, some investors still hope for a comeback. The trading volume numbers show people haven’t completely given up on these coins yet. But they face an uphill battle to regain previous momentum that carried them to much higher prices last year.

Binance hasn’t made any official statement about listing APEMARS. The coin trades mainly on smaller platforms right now, which limits exposure to broader audiences who stick with major exchanges. Speculation about potential listings keeps circulating among investors eager to see how such developments might impact market presence and trading volume.

APEMARS developers reportedly consider new partnerships to enhance the ecosystem around their token. No specific deals got confirmed yet, but insider sources suggest discussions with several blockchain projects are underway. The outcome of these talks could shape APEMARS’ future and its ability to compete with more established cryptocurrencies that have deeper pockets and better connections.

The team announced plans on February 5 for an upcoming marketing campaign aimed at increasing visibility. The initiative launches later this month and will highlight unique features plus commitment to community-driven development. Campaign success could determine whether the coin maintains its upward trajectory in a competitive market that’s littered with failed projects.

Laura Chen from CryptoCompare said on February 6 that APEMARS’ current $0.015 price reflects growth potential, especially given ongoing retail investor interest. “The coin’s ability to sustain this interest could differentiate it from other meme coins struggling with market pressures,” Chen noted. She thinks the price level offers room for expansion.

Trust Wallet discussions surfaced recently about potential APEMARS integration. A spokesperson hinted at preliminary talks on February 4, though no official announcement came yet. Such integration could significantly enhance accessibility and user experience, providing another boost to market appeal that the coin needs to compete effectively.

Mark Thompson, a crypto influencer known for insights on emerging digital currencies, tweeted about APEMARS potential on February 6. “This could become a major player in the meme coin space,” Thompson wrote. His endorsement adds interest to already buzzing discussions about future prospects.

The coin’s trajectory stays under close observation as dialogue develops. Major exchanges remain silent about listing plans, adding intrigue to speculation that won’t die down anytime soon. APEMARS’ next steps could prove pivotal in cementing market status while SHIB and PEPE fight to recover lost ground.

Coinbase and Kraken executives have remained notably quiet about APEMARS, though industry insiders report increased inquiries from retail investors about availability. The silence contrasts sharply with how quickly these platforms listed other meme coins during previous bull runs. Meanwhile, smaller exchanges like Gate.io and MEXC have seen APEMARS trading volumes surge 340% since February 1st, suggesting demand exists despite limited access.

Whale wallet movements tracked by Etherscan show several large holders accumulating APEMARS tokens worth over $2 million combined. Three wallets purchased significant amounts between February 3-5, with one transaction alone worth $750,000 at current prices. These moves mirror early accumulation patterns seen with successful meme coins, though past performance never guarantees future results in crypto’s volatile environment.

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ONDO price is hovering around $0.2539, up roughly 20% from its recent $0.2017 low, and the timing isn’t random. While broader markets remain choppy, Ondo Global Markets has already crossed $10 billion in cumulative volume since launch, a detail that cuts through the noise faster than most price charts do.

And yes, that matters. This isn’t about vibes or speculative excitement. It’s about usage. Tokenized RWAs are still the fastest-growing corner of crypto, mostly because they do something radical: they work. Global access, smoother settlement, fewer intermediaries, these are the unglamorous stuff that institutions actually care about.

$10B Tokenized stock volume highlights structural growthSince launch, Ondo Global Markets has pushed past $10 billion in total volume. That number doesn’t come from retail gambling on memes. It comes from tokenized stocks and structured products steadily finding demand.

Tokenized stocks keep growing.

Since launch, Ondo Global Markets has surpassed $10 billion in total volume.

Tokenized RWAs continue to be the industry's fastest growing sector, unlocking global access to the world's largest markets. pic.twitter.com/PxzB8fqCto

— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) February 5, 2026 Well, here’s the kicker: tokenization isn’t just a crypto buzzword anymore. It’s becoming financial plumbing. Industry commentary continues to frame tokenization as a way to make markets faster and more efficient, cutting down friction that traditional systems still haven’t solved.

So when volume keeps stacking up, it signals something simple and that is Ondo isn’t being “tested” anymore. It’s being used.

Meanwhile, tokenized US stocks and ETFs are now live inside MetaMask with ONDO infrastructure doing the heavy lifting. That’s not cosmetic. It drops tokenized assets directly into one of the largest self-custody wallets in the market.

But let’s be real. Accessibility is only half the story. Trust is the other half. And this is where institutional behavior quietly enters the frame.

An asset manager has taken another formal step toward launching an exchange-traded product tied to Ondo by submitting an amended S-1 filing. No approvals yet. No victory laps either. Still, the filing keeps the process alive and confirms that tokenization-focused products are staying on regulatory radars.

Goldman Sachs on tokenization:

“Tokenization has the potential to really improve operational efficiencies.”

What the ONDO Price Chart isn’t Saying?Now for the part traders keep staring at. The ONDO price chart shows price compressing near the lower boundary of a falling wedge, a structure aligning closely with the February 2024 base. Technically, it’s a pressure zone.

Momentum indicators are trying to turn. CMF is climbing. MACD and AO are improving. RSI is crawling out of oversold territory. None of this guarantees upside, but it does suggest selling pressure isn’t accelerating anymore.

If demand actually shows up, the ONDO/USD structure opens space toward the $0.60 region. Beyond that, higher levels come into view only if participation expands meaningfully. That’s where any ONDO price prediction becomes conditional, not confident.

And for now, ONDO price remains stuck between solid fundamentals and a market that still isn’t ready to reward them.

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XRP’s price crash earlier this week has kept many bullish investors in the XRP community on edge, but one outspoken voice in the community believes the move is not as random as it looks. 

A crypto pundit known as Stellar Rippler has encouraged XRP holders to pull their cryptocurrencies off centralized exchanges immediately, with the outlook that the recent volatility is not just another routine market dip but a warning sign of what’s to come.

Engineered XRP Crash? Stellar Rippler’s position is based on the idea that XRP is being treated differently from most digital assets behind the scenes. He pointed to past remarks from David Schwartz, co-creator of the XRP Ledger, where XRP was described as a form of pre-allocated liquidity for institutional use, as well as statements suggesting that XRP currently held in escrow can be sold to institutions but will not be circulated until NDAs are disclosed. 

He went further to name large financial players, including BlackRock, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and institutions linked to the BRICS, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and European central banking structures. According to the pundit, all these institutions have bought the right to buy the XRP currently held in escrow by Ripple.

At the time of writing, there are no public filings that confirm coordinated buying of XRP escrows by these entities, but the argument has found receptive ears among investors unsettled by the recent sell-off.

XRPUSD currently trading at $1.41. Chart: TradingView From that angle, the pundit noted that sudden downside moves, such as the recent drop to $1.15, are engineered. By “engineered,” this means the price crash serves a strategic purpose of creating opportunity for large financial players to accumulate XRP at lower prices before any market repricing takes place.

Should You Take Your XRP Off Exchanges? Another part of the warning focused on user experience at major crypto exchanges. According to the pundit, Binance and Coinbase users have reportedly been facing difficulties getting their crypto off the exchanges. This, in itself, is a warning for XRP holders to get their cryptos off crypto exchanges and into a cold wallet. That message taps into conversation in crypto about self-custody versus keeping holdings on crypto exchanges. 

Calls to be your own bank tend to resurface whenever price action turns volatile. The alarm was sounded against the backdrop of a Bitcoin price crash below $70,000 that pulled most cryptocurrencies lower. XRP, in particular, dipped to around $1.15 during the sell-off before rebounding. 

At the time of writing, XRP is trading near $1.42, easing some immediate pressure but not fully restoring confidence. On the subject of confidence, sentiment surrounding XRP on social media is relatively optimistic. Data shows XRP is drawing more positive commentary than other large-cap assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum despite the recent market-wide crash.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The crypto market climbed 5.57% in the past 24 hours, bringing the total market cap to $2.35T. Bitcoin led the recovery, and altcoins also surged. In the aftermath of a huge decline, the cryptocurrency market rose 5.57%  in the last 24 hours, raising its entire market value to $2.35 trillion. Although the mood is still staying in the extreme fear zone, it sees cautious optimism, as the crypto Fear & Greed Index increased to 8 from its previous low of 5, and Bitcoin’s rebound to $70,000 from recent lows drove increases in the overall market.

The whole market’s upward trend is majorly driven by Bitcoin’s upswing, which contributes more than half, around 58.2%, to the overall crypto market cap. As it is currently trading at 67,978 with 4.74% high in the past 24 hours, before this, it had reached $71,605 earlier today. But, it is down by 19% over a week and 25% down over a month, which signals the broader downturn. 

Bitcoin Gains Back Momentum  As per the Coinglass liquidation data, over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin short positions were liquidated for around $282 million, while longs were liquidated for $118 million, and the open interest has increased by around 2%. 

Analysing the exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, as per SoSoValue data,  Bitcoin ETFs recorded $330.67 million in inflows as of February 6, which shows the positive momentum of the institutional side, even though the spot price declined yesterday.

With that, seeing the 4-hour chart, the Bitcoin Relative Strength Index is currently at 40, suggesting the asset is approaching oversold territory but not yet fully reached that zone. The Bitcoin’s  MACD line remains above the signal line, indicating that bearish momentum may be easing. If it maintains the same momentum, it can attempt to retest resistance near $72,000 in the near term. But if it falls again, selling pressure can quickly reverse the recent gains. 

Altcoins Follow Bitcoin’s Lead with Strong Gains Followed by Bitcoin rise, Ethereum saw 6.85% up in the past 24 hours, trading at $2,016, then, XRP surged by 9%, and Solana is trading up with 7.05%. While other major cryptos like Cardano and Chainlink all of them rebound, as of writing.
According to CoinMarketCap, yesterday saw a large number of top losers, while gainers were few or none, but today,  only three cryptocurrencies in the top 100 are recording losses, as of writing. While LEO led the top gainers with a 17.39% surge, followed by NIGHT and LIT tokens, this highlights the return of positive momentum among altcoins.

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