Market Signal Briefing

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until December 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in James Hardie common stock (formerly American Depositary Shares). The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Laborers’ District Council and Contractors’ Pension Fund of Ohio v. James Hardie Industries plc, et al., No. 1:25-cv-13018.

Why Was James Hardie Sued for Securities Fraud?

James Hardie is a producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement building solutions. The largest application for the Company’s fiber cement building products in the United Stated and Canada is in external siding for the residential building industry.

During the relevant period, James Hardie told investors that the results of its North American fiber cement segment demonstrated its “inherent strength” and “the underlying momentum in our strategy.” The Company also stated on May 20, 2025, that it was seeing “normal stock levels” among its customers and that it was “seeing performance in the month to date as we would expect.”

As alleged, in truth, the Company’s North American sales during the relevant period were the result of inventory loading by channel partners, with the hallmarks of fraudulent channel stuffing, not sustainable customer demand as represented.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On August 19, 2025, James Hardie revealed that its North American fiber cement sales declined 12% during the quarter, driven by destocking first discovered “in April through May” as customers “made efforts to return to more normal inventory levels[.]” The Company also revealed that significant inventory destocking was expected to continue to impact sales for the next several quarters. On this news, the price of James Hardie stock fell $9.79 per share, or more than 34%, from $28.43 per share on August 19, 2025, to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025.

On November 17, 2025, James Hardie announced that Rachel Wilson had decided to step down from her role as CFO.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in James Hardie you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Freeport, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until January 12, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Freeport securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and is captioned Reed v. Freeport-McMoRan Inc., et al., No. 2:25-cv-04243.

Why is Freeport Being Sued For Securities Fraud?

Freeport is a mining company with its Indonesian affiliate operating as PT Freeport Indonesia (“PTFI”). PTFI operates the Grasberg Copper and Gold Mine (“Grasberg”), in which the Indonesian government holds a commercial interest. During the relevant period, Freeport touted its safety procedures, including its use of data and technology as well as behavioral science principles to prevent fatal incidents. It indicated it provides the training, tools, and resources needed to identify risks and consistently apply effective controls.

As alleged, in truth, Freeport overstated its commitment to safety, given that it conducted unsafe mining practices at the Grasberg mine which were reasonably likely to result in worker fatalities.

Why did Freeport’s Stock Drop?

On September 9, 2025, Freeport issued a press release on its PTFI operations. It announced that mining operations in Grasberg had been suspended to evacuate seven team members that were trapped due to a landslide at one of its underground mines. This news caused the price of Freeport stock to drop $2.77 per share, or more than 5.9%, from a closing price of $46.66 per share on September 8, 2025, to $43.89 per share on September 9, 2025.

On September 24, 2025, Freeport issued an update on the incident noting that two of the seven individuals had been fatally injured and that the remaining five team members remained missing. In the same release, Freeport noted that due to the suspension in operations, sales were expected to be 4% lower for copper and approximately 6% lower for gold than July 2025 estimates. This news caused the price of Freeport stock to drop $7.69 per share, or almost 17%, from a closing price of $45.36 per share on September 23, 2025, to $37.67 per share on September 24, 2025.

Then, on September 25, 2025, Bloomberg reported that the incident and halt in production was straining the relationship between Freeport and Indonesia, that “the Jakarta government [had already been] looking to take greater control,” and that government officials may increase its demand for an increased share. This news caused the price of Freeport stock to drop $2.33 per share, or more than 6%, from a closing price of $37.67 per share on September 24, 2025, to $35.34 per share on September 25, 2025.

Finally, on September 28, 2025, an Indonesian news organization reported that the incident was preventable, not just a natural disaster. The article quotes an Indonesian professor stating that “the landslide, often termed a mud rush, is a known flow of mud and rocks from the mine cavity, a risk long associated with certain mining methods.” The professor stated, “[i]n other words, this danger is not new and should have been anticipated from the beginning[.]”

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Freeport you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/freeport-mcmoran-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in CarMax, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until January 2, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in CarMax securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and is captioned Jason Cap v. CarMax, Inc., et al., No. 1:25-cv-03602.

Why is CarMax Being Sued For Securities Fraud?

CarMax sells used cars. During the relevant period, the Company touted the strong and sustainable demand for its cars, driven by factors such as a seamless customer experience.

As alleged, in truth, it appears that the announcement of U.S. tariffs imposed on cars provided a short-term boost to demand, as customers purchased cars prior to the tariffs taking effect.

BFA Law is also investigating the unexpected departure of CEO Bill Nash on November 6, 2025, and whether CarMax properly assessed or reserved for its portfolio of car loans.

Why did CarMax’s Stock Drop?

On September 25, 2025, the Company reported disappointing financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2026. Specifically, CarMax announced sales declines across the board, including a 5.4% decline in retail used unit sales, a 6.3% decline in comparable store used unit sales, and a 2.2% decline in wholesale units. The Company also posted a disappointing second quarter net income of about $95.4 million, down from $132.8 million over the prior year. A main reason for the declines, according to CarMax, was a “pull forward” in demand into the first fiscal quarter due to the announcement of tariffs.

On this news, the price of CarMax stock dropped $11.45 per share, or roughly 20%, from $57.05 per share on September 24, 2025, to $45.60 per share on September 25, 2025.

Then, on November 6, 2025, CarMax announced the unexpected departure of CEO Bill Nash and a weak preliminary Q3 2025 outlook. On this news, the price of CarMax stock dropped over 24%.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in CarMax you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Stride, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/stride-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until January 12, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Stride securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and is captioned MacMahon v. Stride, Inc., et al., No. 1:25-cv- 02019.

Why is Stride Being Sued For Securities Fraud?

Stride is an education technology company that provides an online platform to students throughout the U.S. During the relevant period, Stride stated it was seeing “increasing growth in our business,” “in-year strength in demand” for its products and services, and that its customers and potential customers “continue to choose us in record numbers.”

As alleged, in truth, Stride had inflated enrollment numbers by retaining “ghost students,” ignored compliance requirements for its employees, and had “poor customer experience” that resulted in “higher withdrawal rates,” “lower conversion rates,” and had driven students away.

Why did Stride’s Stock Drop?

On September 14, 2025, a report stated that a complaint had been filed against Stride for fraud, deceptive trade practices, systemic violations of law, and intentional and tortious misconduct. It claimed Stride inflated enrollment numbers by retaining “ghost students” on rolls to secure state funding and ignored compliance requirements, including background checks and licensure laws for its employees. This news caused the price of Stride stock to drop $18.60 per share, or more than 11%, from a closing price of $158.36 per share on September 12, 2025, to $139.76 per share on September 15, 2025.

Then, on October 28, 2025, Stride admitted that “poor customer experience” resulted in “higher withdrawal rates,” “lower conversion rates,” and drove students away. Stride estimated the impact caused approximately 10,000-15,000 fewer enrollments and stated that, because of this, its outlook is “muted” compared to prior years. This news caused the price of Stride stock to drop $83.48 per share, or more than 54%, from a closing price of $153.53 per share on October 28, 2025, to $70.05 per share on October 29, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/stride-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Stride you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/stride-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/stride-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Synopsys, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until December 30, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Synopsys securities. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Kim v. Synopsys, Inc., et al., No. 3:25-cv-09410.

Why Was Synopsys Sued for Securities Fraud?

Synopsys provides design automation software products used to design and test integrated circuits. The Company’s Design IP segment, which provides pre-designed silicon components to semiconductor companies, has been the Company’s fastest-growing segment, growing from 25% of its revenue in 2022, to 31% in 2024.

During the relevant period, Synopsys told investors that its customers “rely on Synopsys IP to minimize integration risk and speed time to market” and that it was seeing “strength in Europe and South Korea.” Synopsys also stated it was “continuing to develop and deploy[] AI into our products and the operations of our business.”

As alleged, in truth, the Company’s Design IP customers began to require additional customization for IP components, which was deteriorating the economics of its Design IP business and jeopardizing its business model.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On September 9, 2025, Synopsys released its Q3 2025 financial results, revealing its “IP business underperformed expectations.” The Company reported revenue for its Design IP segment of $425.9 million, a 7.7% decline year-over-year and net income of $242.5 million, a 43% year-over-year decline. The Company revealed that its Design IP customers require “more and more customization,” which “takes longer” and requires “more resources.” As a result, the Company stated it was having “an ongoing dialogue with our customers” regarding changing its business model. This news caused the price of Synopsys stock to fall $217.59 per share, or nearly 36%, from $604.37 per share on September 9, 2025, to $387.78 per share on September 10, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Synopsys you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Journalist

Posted: November 23, 2025

Key Takeaways
What triggered Cardano’s recent sell-off?
A rare partition event exposed vulnerabilities in Cardano’s network, disrupting DeFi activity, stake pool operators, and damaging stakeholder confidence.

How weak is ADA, fundamentally?
ADA has already shed 50% in Q4 and is technically fragile. Analysts suggest another 5× drop could align fundamentals with network strength.

Cardano has been among the worst Q4 performers among large-cap cryptocurrencies so far, shedding 50% of its value. However, looking back, ADA has been bearish since peaking in mid-August above $1.

This means that Cardano [ADA] was already in a technically weak spot before the October crash, with bulls failing to defend key support zones.

That crash further eroded stakeholder confidence, pushing ADA back to pre-election levels.

In such a fragile environment, even a small trigger could spark a major sell-off. Recently, Cardano experienced a rare partition event. The incident was later addressed by founder Charles Hoskinson.

Source: X

In his post, Hoskinson emphasized the seriousness of the issue, noting that “it will take weeks to clean up this mess.” For context, the partition event was caused by a glitch, creating a split in Cardano’s blockchain history.

Hoskinson highlighted the impact of the incident, explaining how the “accidental” action by a user disrupted the network, affecting DeFi activity, stake pool operators (SPOs), and damaging Cardano’s overall reputation.

However, the market reaction largely contradicted this perspective. Many viewed the event as a “much-needed” catalyst that exposed vulnerabilities in the network and sparked debates about Cardano’s resilience.

Community questions Cardano’s technical strength
This partition event has once again put Cardano’s resilience under scrutiny.

Price-wise, ADA has already shaken stakeholder confidence, emerging as one of the weakest top-cap assets. The recent network issue has worsened the situation, further dampening market sentiment.

On-chain data reflects this weakness as well. According to Token Terminal, Cardano’s key metrics are deep in the red. For instance, 30-day trading volume is down 25%, while network fees have fallen by 22%. 

In simple terms, the network was already weak before the incident. 

Adding to this, an X page noted that ADA is overvalued, suggesting that another 5× drop may be needed to bring Cardano’s fundamentals in line with its technical positioning. If that happens, ADA could fall to $0.08.

Source: X

Technically, that would represent a full-fledged price collapse. In this context, Cardano’s recent partition event was more than just a glitch. Instead, it acted as a catalyst that exposed ADA’s perceived overvaluation.

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

Sun, 23/11/2025 - 10:07

Aggressive capture might no longer seem risky for crypto projects in the current regulatory environment, according to Bitwise's Matt Hougan .

Cover image via U.Today

Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, has opined that XRP is now entering its value capture era. 

Hougan has stressed that one of the key sources of investment alpha is recognizing when tokens improve their ability to capture value for holders, rather than just serving as governance or utility tokens. 

He has cited UNI, the native token of Uniswap, as an example. Previously a governance token with little direct benefit to holders, UNI may now burn a portion of trading fees, thus boosting the intrinsic token value.

HOT Stories

When it comes to Ethereum (ETH), the Fusaka upgrade introduces minimum fees for Layer 2 data recording. This will potentially increase revenue capture by up to ten times.

"You see a growing focus on value capture in XRP as well. The community is starting to consider ideas like staking, which would change the economics for token holders," Hougan says. 

He’s arguing that XRP is entering a phase where holders could see more direct economic benefit, rather than relying solely on network growth or speculative demand.

Value capture is no longer risky Tokens like XRP were created in a regulatory era where aggressive value capture was risky, so most defaulted to governance-only designs.

Now that regulatory clarity is improving, networks can implement features like staking, fee capture, or token burns. This will benefit token holders.

“Most of today’s tokens were created in a regulatory era where value capture was risky; as a result, they defaulted to vague governance-style design choices. Under the new regulatory climate, that’s being unwound," he said. 

As reported by U.Today, XRP Ledger is currently exploring staking or other value-capture mechanisms for XRPL without compromising speed, low fees, or decentralized governance.

The goal is to align network incentives with token holders, thus creating a long-term economic model for XRP.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz also recently weighed in on the matter, floating the idea of creating a two-layer consensus model. 

Related articles

Franklin Templeton and Grayscale XRP ETFs are set to launch tomorrow after NYSE approval.

Brian Njuguna2 min read

23 November 2025, 10:12 AM

Source: ShutterstockFranklin Templeton & Grayscale XRP ETFs Cleared for NYSE Launch — Trading Expected MondayRenowned analyst Diana highlights a major crypto milestone that Franklin Templeton and Grayscale’s XRP ETFs have received NYSE Arca approval under the Exchange Act of 1934, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for their expected launch on Monday, November 24.

The approvals come at a time of heightened interest in digital assets among institutional and retail investors. The NYSE listing of ETFs from two of the world’s most respected financial firms signals growing confidence in the cryptocurrency sector from traditional finance.

Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader, and Grayscale, a pioneering crypto asset manager, are set to boost XRP’s credibility and liquidity. Analysts predict their NYSE listings will draw both seasoned investors and newcomers seeking regulated crypto exposure without directly holding digital assets.

ETFs provide a streamlined path for investors to access specific assets under the regulatory safeguards of traditional markets. 

Unlike buying crypto directly, XRP ETFs can be traded through standard brokerage accounts, offering familiar protections and compliance. This accessibility, coupled with Bitwise and Canary Capital’s existing XRP ETFs, is poised to expand XRP’s appeal, particularly among institutional investors who previously faced custody and compliance hurdles.

ETFs provide a regulated, convenient way to invest in assets like XRP through standard brokerage accounts, bypassing the compliance and custody challenges of direct crypto purchases. This accessibility is poised to boost XRP’s appeal, particularly among institutional investors, building on the precedent set by Bitwise and Canary Capital’s XRP ETFs.

Therefore, tomorrow NYSE Arca might witness the debut of landmark XRP ETFs, a pivotal moment set to redefine institutional participation in digital assets.

ConclusionWith Franklin Templeton and Grayscale set to launch XRP ETFs on the NYSE Monday, this milestone goes beyond a new investment product, it marks a major step toward mainstream crypto adoption. The ETFs could boost XRP liquidity, influence market dynamics, and pave the way for future digital asset offerings in regulated finance

ENRICH your inbox with our best storiesDon’t miss out and join our newsletter to get the latest,
well-curated news from the crypto world!

Brian Njuguna

Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

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Latest Cryptocurrencies News TodayXRP (Ripple) News

1 hour ago

Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas says Zcash could dilute political and cultural support for Bitcoin, as critics accuse the privacy coin of manufactured hype.

988

Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas has warned that Zcash may adversely impact Bitcoin at this crucial moment.

In a recent post on X, Balchunas said Zcash (ZEC) has “third-party candidate vibes, like Gary Johnson or Jill Stein,” arguing that pushing a separate privacy coin risks “splitting the vote” when Bitcoin (BTC) needs unified political and cultural support.

Balchunas’s comment comes as the Bitcoin vs Zcash debate intensifies. Arman Meguerian, founder and CEO of Timestamp, dismissed the idea that BTC supporters are pivoting to Zcash. “I don't know a single Bitcoin maxi that thinks about Zcash at all,” he wrote on X.

Jan3 founder Samson Mow echoed the sentiment, claiming that Bitcoin maxis are “only looking at Zcash to roll our eyes at it.”

Eric Balchunas says Zcash has third-party candidate vibes. Source: Eric BalchunasCritics accuse Zcash of manufactured hypeThe backlash grew sharper as other industry personalities accused Zcash advocates of manufacturing hype.

Mark Moss, a Bitcoin-focused venture capitalist, seasoned entrepreneur, and educator, recently posted screenshots of outreach messages from marketing agencies offering paid ZEC collaborations. “Wonder why ZCash is showing up EVERYwhere all of a sudden?” he asked.

Market analyst Rajat Soni also warned that recent excitement around ZEC looks like an attempt to “find exit liquidity,” pointing to fabricated headlines claiming that Fidelity analysts predicted Zcash reaching $100,000.

Winklevoss twins back ZcashNevertheless, not everyone is skeptical of Zcash’s recent resurgence. The Winklevoss twins, founders of Gemini and early Bitcoin investors, recently launched Cypherpunk Tech, the first Zcash-focused treasury company.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, they described Zcash as “encrypted Bitcoin”, arguing that Bitcoin is best for storing value while Zcash excels in private transactions. They view Zcash as complementary, not competitive.

Magazine: 2026 is the year of pragmatic privacy in crypto — Canton, Zcash and more

2 mins mins

 Key Insights:

Proposal may accelerate inflation drop, cutting SOL issuance by 22.3 million over six years.
Faster decrease in supply could reduce staking pressure and improve long-term holder retention.
Governance vote will decide if Solana adopts the accelerated path to 1.5% inflation.

$2.9B Cut? Solana Eyes Faster Path to 1.5% Inflation
Solana’s community is reviewing a new proposal, SIMD-0411, that would speed up the network’s path to its long-term inflation target. The current inflation decrement rate is set at –15%. The new proposal aims to double it to –30%, cutting the time to reach 1.5% inflation from 6.2 years to about 3.1 years.

If passed, the target would be met in early 2029 instead of 2032. The annual inflation rate currently sits near 4.18%.

Over 22 Million SOL Could Be Removed From Future Issuance
The proposed adjustment would lower token issuance by an estimated 22.3 million SOL over six years. Based on today’s prices, that’s a cut of roughly $2.9 billion. This change would reduce the supply entering circulation and ease pressure on staking rewards.

Supporters say the shift could improve long-term network value and make the yield structure more stable. According to the proposal: “The adjustment reduces issuance pressure and improves holder retention over time.”

Staking Yield May Stabilize if Inflation Drops
The decrease in token supply growth may help reduce volatility in staking returns. This could encourage long-term participation from validators and token holders. With lower yield dilution, holders may be more likely to keep their tokens staked.

There are some concerns in the community that the faster reduction could be too aggressive. Others argue it brings forward a change that is already planned and helps the network adjust to evolving demand.

Governance Review in Progress
The proposal is under open discussion and will require a vote from validators and stakeholders before it can take effect. If approved, it will be implemented through a future network upgrade.

The authors of the proposal describe it as “predictable and minimal in complexity,” aimed at creating fewer disruptions while achieving long-term supply control.

At the time of writing, Solana (SOL) trades at $129.50. The market cap stands near $57.3 billion.

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

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Analysts debate Bitcoin's pullback as MVRV bottom zones, ETF liquidity and $75K to $130K path frame next moves.

Sun, 23/11/2025 - 10:59

Gold bug Peter Schiff is facing fresh backlash due to his anti-Bitcoin comments, with Peter McCormack slamming him as "nasty." .

Cover image via U.Today

Bitcoin evangelist Peter McCormack has slammed gold bug Peter Schiff as a "nasty" human in his social media post. 

"The thing that I despise most about Schiff is that he is a nasty human. So many people have worked so hard to save money and invest in their future and the future of their family," McCormack said following Schiff's most recent attack against Bitcoin.  

Earlier this week, Bitcoin experienced a dramatic price drop, briefly nose-diving below the $81,000

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Schiff's schadenfreude was glaringly obvious during the crash, with the gold bug not even trying to hide his glee on social media. 

The financial commentator is busy reveling in Bitcoin's downfall, predicting that the leading cryptocurrency will manage to log a new record high only if there is a US government bailout. 

In his most recent social media post, which has prompted McCormack's response, Schiff now claims that the political incentive to back Bitcoin will not erode following the most recent price crash. 

"As the price drops, the whales will have less money to donate, and voters will be looking for someone to blame for their losses. Once political support is gone, the bubble will deflate even faster," Schiff said. 

Schiff has also predicted that Bitcoin's future sell-off will be even bigger, given that a significant portion of Bitcoin's supply is moving from strong hands to weak hands.

More backlash Schiff is now facing more backlash following his anti-Bitcoin comments. 

"He has cost gold people who listened to him millions of dollars of lost profit. He shows zero shame for this," investment manager Lawrence Lepard said. 

Even though gold has vastly outperformed Bitcoin this year, it is still lagging behind the leading cryptocurrency on higher time frames. 

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12h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Fenelon L.

Summarize this article with:

After recording spectacular gains exceeding 1,000% since January, Zcash is going through a turbulent phase marked by a sharp 24% drop in one day. But behind this sharp drop, conflicting signals emerge: some crypto investors see a buying opportunity, while the derivatives markets sound the alarm. 

In brief

Zcash recorded a 24% drop in 24 hours despite an annual gain of over 1,000%.
Retail investors accumulated 72 million dollars of ZEC during the decline.
A massive outflow of 236.6 million dollars hit the derivatives market.
The Money Flow Index (MFI) remains above 50, suggesting continued capital inflows.

Sharp drop for the crypto Zcash after a year of exceptional gains
Zcash experienced one of the most violent corrections in the crypto market this week. While the overall crypto capitalization slipped below 2.9 trillion dollars, ZEC lost 24% of its value in one day. 

A spectacular setback for one who recently still showed an annual performance exceeding 1,000%.

However, on-chain data reveals unexpected behavior. According to CoinGlass, retail investors accumulated 72 million dollars worth of tokens on spot during this decline phase. 

This massive accumulation reflects a conviction: many perceive this correction as a bargain rather than a warning signal. Historically, such buying movements during declines often precede significant rebounds, especially when fundamentals remain strong.

The Money Flow Index (MFI) reinforces this optimistic scenario. This technical indicator remains anchored above the bullish threshold of 50, confirming that funds continue to flow in despite volatility. Analysts identify a strategic demand zone between 440 and 507 dollars, where buyers could massively step in.

Derivatives cast a chill on the euphoria
The picture becomes more complex on the derivatives markets side. In just 24 hours, 236.6 million dollars left this segment, dropping open interest to 861.5 million dollars. These outflows reflect growing nervousness: traders anticipate increased volatility and prefer to reduce their exposure.

This uncertainty triggered a cascade of forced liquidations reaching 32.95 million dollars. Long and short positions were swept away, illustrating the violence of price movements. 

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which measures buying pressure versus selling, begins to falter. If this indicator crosses the neutral 0.00 level to turn negative, sellers could definitely regain control and push ZEC towards lower floors.

Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope remains. The weighted funding rate has returned to positive territory at 0.0195%. This switch suggests that long positions regain attractiveness and that sentiment could reverse. 

For optimists, the current correction would be only a “technical reset” after too rapid a rise, not a true trend reversal.

Zcash is going through a classic turbulence zone after a meteoric rise. Massive accumulation by spot investors and still favorable technical indicators argue for a temporary consolidation. But caution remains essential: if derivatives continue to drain and CMF turns negative, the 2025 rally could well have reached its peak.

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Fenelon L.

Passionné par le Bitcoin, j'aime explorer les méandres de la blockchain et des cryptos et je partage mes découvertes avec la communauté. Mon rêve est de vivre dans un monde où la vie privée et la liberté financière sont garanties pour tous, et je crois fermement que Bitcoin est l'outil qui peut rendre cela possible.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Published: Nov 23, 2025 at 11:08

GateToken (GT) is the native utility token of the Gate.io cryptocurrency exchange.

Gate.io is a global cryptocurrency trading platform that offers a wide range of digital assets for trading, including popular cryptocurrencies and various altcoins.

Gate.io has a membership system, and holding GT can help users advance to higher membership tiers, which may come with additional benefits, such as higher withdrawal limits.

GT tokens

GT holders can use the token to pay for trading fees on the Gate.io exchange. When GT is used to pay fees, traders often receive a discount, which can be an incentive for using GT as opposed to other cryptocurrencies.

Gate.io users can stake GT to earn additional GT tokens as rewards. Staking GT can provide passive income in the form of additional tokens. 

GT holders have the ability to participate in voting for new token listings on the Gate.io exchange. This allows the community to have a say in which tokens are added to the platform.

Disclaimer. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. They are not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

Expert in finance, blockchain, NFT, metaverse, and web3 writer with great technical research proficiency and over 15 years of experience.

With market dynamics shifting, several major cryptocurrencies are now within a realistic range of hitting the $100 billion market-cap milestone over the next year.

Strengthening fundamentals, rising adoption, and major protocol upgrades are positioning some digital assets for significant valuation growth as the broader ecosystem evolves. 

To this end, Finbold has identified two assets with the potential to reach the $100 billion mark.

Solana (SOL)
Solana (SOL), currently valued at roughly $72.6 billion, would need to grow by about 38% to hit the $100 billion threshold. That trajectory appears increasingly plausible given the chain’s improving fundamentals.

Notably, Solana is preparing for the Alpenglow upgrade, the most significant consensus overhaul in its history. The new architecture promises near-instant finality of around 150 milliseconds and far greater resilience through components such as Votor and Rotor, reforms that have already received overwhelming validator approval.

Combined with the upcoming Firedancer validator client, which has demonstrated massive throughput capacity in testing, Solana is building the infrastructure required to support institutional-scale usage and high-frequency decentralized applications.

Its expanding footprint in real-world asset tokenization, growing DApp revenues, and deepening staking activity further reinforce the bullish outlook.

Meanwhile, following the recent market downturn, SOL is seeing short-term price relief, having rallied over 3% in the past 24 hours to trade at $129 as of press time. Over the past week, however, the asset has plunged more than 9%.

SOL seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold
Tron (TRX)
Tron (TRX), meanwhile, sits at a market capitalization of approximately $26 billion, meaning it would need to nearly quadruple, rising by about 284%, to reach the $100 billion mark. While the growth requirement is significantly larger than Solana’s, Tron’s fundamentals continue to strengthen, especially in stablecoin settlement.

The network has evolved into the dominant global infrastructure for USDT transactions, handling the majority of retail-sized stablecoin transfers thanks to its extremely low fees and high reliability.

Reports indicate that Tron averages more than 2.6 million daily active users, with most on-chain activity tied to wallet-to-wallet payments. 

Recent governance-driven fee reductions, upgraded virtual-machine efficiency, and expanding cross-chain integrations, including native MetaMask support, are positioning Tron as the backbone for fast, inexpensive digital payments across emerging markets.

As of press time, TRX was trading at $0.27, having gained about 0.3% in the past 24 hours, while on the weekly timeline, the asset is down more than 5%.

TRX seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold
It is worth noting that despite strong fundamentals, both assets will ultimately depend on broader cryptocurrency market momentum to propel them toward the $100 billion milestone.

Featured image via Shutterstock

VanEck CEO Concerned About Bitcoin's Encryption and Privacy, Says Firm Could Walk AwayJan van Eck questioned whether Bitcoin offers enough encryption and privacy, saying some longtime holders are examining Zcash as the market reassesses long-term assumptions.Updated Nov 23, 2025, 11:24 a.m. Published Nov 23, 2025, 11:18 a.m.

Bitcoin’s long-term design came under renewed scrutiny on Friday after VanEck CEO Jan van Eck questioned whether the network provides sufficient encryption and privacy during an appearance on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” with anchor Brian Sullivan.

Van Eck said the issues drawing attention inside the Bitcoin community go beyond short-term market swings. “There’s something else going on within the Bitcoin community that non-crypto people need to know about,” he said.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

He added that VanEck evaluates Bitcoin’s staying power the same way it assesses traditional assets. “Ultimately, VanEck has been around before Bitcoin. We will walk away from Bitcoin if we think the thesis is fundamentally broken. We don’t right now, but you always have to look at the underlying technology and the crypto.”

He did not define what he meant by “the Bitcoin thesis,” but his comments pointed toward the foundations that support Bitcoin’s long-term viability, including the strength of its cryptography, the network’s readiness for advances in quantum computing and whether its privacy model aligns with user expectations. His remarks centered on whether Bitcoin has “enough encryption” and “enough privacy,” which he said were now central questions for parts of the Bitcoin community.

Van Eck also said some longtime Bitcoin holders and self-described maxis have begun examining Zcash, calling it “sort of related to Bitcoin with a lot more privacy.” He argued that Bitcoin’s transparent ledger can clash with rising expectations around transaction confidentiality. “When you move money around on the Bitcoin blockchain, you can see it,” he said. “You can see it move from one wallet to another.”

Following the interview, van Eck posted a summary on X, asserting that the current Bitcoin bear market reflects “the onchain reality of the halving cycle (bearish for 2026), quantum-breaking-encryption concerns and the better privacy of Zcash.” He also amplified VanEck portfolio manager Pranav Kanade’s guidance to “dollar cost average into bear markets.”

Bitcoin was trading around $84,643 during the CNBC interview. As of 9:15 a.m. UTC on Sunday, Nov. 23, the price was $86,204, up 2.4% in the past 24 hours but down 7.7% year to date and 31.6% below its all-time high of $126,080 on Oct. 6, 2025.

Industry ReactionSome voices in the broader crypto and research community echoed van Eck’s concerns.

On Nov. 17, during a presentation on the Ethereum roadmap at the Devconnect conference in Argentina, Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin warned that quantum computing could threaten elliptic curve cryptography, stating, “Elliptic curves are going to die.”

Separately, in a Nov. 13 blog post, quantum computing researcher Scott Aaronson — the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin — wrote that “given the current staggering rate of hardware progress,” it is “a live possibility” that a fault-tolerant quantum computer capable of running Shor’s algorithm could be built before the next U.S. presidential election in 2028.

Others responded forcefully against van Eck’s remarks. For example, Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3 and one of Bitcoin’s earliest advocates, rejected the idea that Bitcoin maxis are turning to privacy alternatives. In a post on X, he wrote, “You wouldn’t be able to point out a Bitcoin Maxi even if they were standing in front of you. You shouldn’t be speaking on anything Bitcoin whatsoever. You’re a crypto guy, stay in your lane and push the latest shitcoin narrative.”

Zcash’s ZEC token has surged as privacy discussions intensify. ZEC is now the 13th-most valuable cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of $9.43 billion and was recently trading at $578.35, up 17.3% in the past 24 hours, 121.3% over the past 30 days and 930% year to date. On Sept. 24, ZEC traded near $55.06.

Read More: "Inside Zcash: Encrypted Money at Planetary Scale"

Van Eck’s comments, alongside the broader debate over encryption, privacy and quantum readiness, suggest the conversation around Bitcoin’s long-term architecture is likely to intensify as the market heads into 2026 and traders reassess the halving’s role in the current downturn.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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Despite volatility, Strategy's balance sheet faces no immediate stress, and the main pressure point sits about 18 months away when the first put option on the company’s convertible notes becomes exercisable.Performance has diverged across the preferreds, with the STRF and STRC series trading above issue, while STRK and STRD sit meaningfully below their launch prices.Management has multiple options should the bitcoin market remain under stress, but use of any is likely to hinder future capital-raising efforts.Read full story

More than 85,000 participants took part in the token sale.

Monad, a self-proclaimed next-generation, Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 chain with low fees and scalable decentralization, has completed its token sale on Coinbase with a substantial oversubscription.

Interestingly, just a few days before the event concluded, the demand was evidently lacking, which raised some concerns within the community.

$270M Raised From 85K participants
The team behind the project announced earlier today that 85,820 participants took part in the token sale, and the total raised amount was $269 million. The co-founder, Keone Hon, noted on X that the most “important statistic” was not the millions of raised funds but the number of participants.

However, Hon acknowledged that a sizeable portion is “crypto insiders” but believes that many are also newbies. He praised the team for their efforts and added that the mainnet launch is scheduled for Monday.

The MON token sale has concluded

The sale more than sold out, with a dramatic surge of activity at the end as many had predicted

But the most important statistic to me is 85,000 participants

A number of these folks are crypto insiders. But many are newbies. This is incredibly…

— Keone Hon 🎟️ (@keoneHD) November 23, 2025

Monad’s website explains that the network is EVM-compatible “at the bytecode level.” This means that Solidity contracts, EVM addresses, infra, tooling, and libraries work out of the box. Its custom code database and low system requirements allow validators to run on consumer-grade hardware, which is supposed to provide “real decentralization from day one.”

Success at Last
The final number of $269 million indicates the token sale was oversubscribed, since the initial goal was to raise $187 million. Just a few days before the event concluded, though, the figures were different and quite worrying.

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Within the first day of the token sale on November 17, the team had reached only 45% of its target, which pales in comparison to other similar events for Layer 1 or 2 networks. Some of the blame could be attributed to the overall crypto market conditions in mid-November, given the crash that wiped out over $1 trillion from the capitalization.

The initial numbers prompted Hon to display his support for the project and reassert his commitment to making it a success.

“Token sales are a major trend this year, and with many sales, there is a sense in which the sale terms are constructed to make the outcome sound as impressive as possible – “XX oversubscribed” and so on. Smart people see through the gamesmanship anyway. Better to be transparent and to focus on the stakeholders who will be most beneficial to the project’s growth,” he said at the time.

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The obesity drug producer has taken some hits throughout the past year, but it is beginning to punch back.

Over the past several years, GLP-1 agonist weight-loss drugs have evolved from a celebrity trend to arguably the hottest growth opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry.

Novo Nordisk (NVO +0.06%) jumped out to an early lead with the immense popularity of its Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, a shortage in 2022 spurred competition from compounding pharmacies, and arch-rival Eli Lilly's (LLY +1.57%) Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) have come on strong.

Share prices of the Danish healthcare company have tumbled over the past 18 months, shedding two-thirds of their value. But after replacing its CEO earlier this year, Novo Nordisk is beginning to punch back in a big way.

The company is slashing prices to recapture market share in what could be a $150 billion industry by 2035. Here is what you need to know.

Image source: Getty Images.

Slashing prices is bold, but it has become necessary
Novo Nordisk didn't have much choice but to face the music and get more aggressive in its pricing strategy.

The Trump administration has pushed for lower drug prices, announcing TrumpRx, a website that sells drug treatments, including Ozempic and Wegovy, at negotiated prices. It follows the surging popularity of telehealth companies like Hims & Hers Health, which began selling compounded semaglutide directly to patients at low prices under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) loopholes.

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound have come on strong over the past couple of years. That success has begun to be reflected in each company's growth: Lilly's revenue has increased significantly faster than Novo Nordisk's over the past year.

Data by YCharts; TTM = trailing 12 months.

But Novo Nordisk is finally going on the offensive. Under the new pricing plan, existing self-paying patients (those not using health insurance) will pay $349 per month for FDA-approved Ozempic and Wegovy, down from $499. That excludes the 2mg dose of Ozempic. First-time patients will pay $199 each for their first two doses.

It puts Ozempic and Wegovy on approximate price parity with Lilly's Zepbound, as well as with the pricing structure announced for TrumpRx.

Punching back against compounders
Novo Nordisk's struggles aren't due entirely to Lilly's success. Hims & Hers Health and other telehealth companies that began selling compounded semaglutide under FDA loopholes during the shortage have continued pushing them despite the shortage having ended earlier this year.

Regulators haven't yet taken drastic enough action to remove compounded semaglutide from the market, and it's no guarantee they will.

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Novo Nordisk has clearly struggled with these telehealth competitors. It briefly tried to partner with Hims & Hers Health under the prior CEO, but it didn't prevent the telehealth provider from pushing compounded semaglutide, which quickly ended that relationship.

A more aggressive pricing strategy is probably the best tool to combat telehealth companies, given the lack of stronger regulatory support. Hims & Hers Health charges as little as $199 per month for its compounded semaglutide. While FDA-approved Ozempic and Wegovy will still cost more after the two-month promotion ends, there is less incentive for patients to use compounded semaglutide as the prices of the FDA-approved treatments drop.

Setting the stage for the Wegovy pill
A price war isn't ideal, but the timing of this is notable. Novo Nordisk expects to receive a decision from the FDA by the end of the year on its approval request for a tablet version of semaglutide. It could appeal to more people since many patients may prefer taking a pill to an injection.

It's the same drug in pill form, so anyone taking a semaglutide injection would theoretically have an easy time switching to the pill in an equivalent dose. That could help Novo Nordisk retake market share, especially from the telehealth companies. Its new CEO has emphasized that the company is investing heavily in the launch of the Wegovy pill, touting its supply ahead of the FDA's decision.

As competitive as the obesity drug market has become, Novo Nordisk's decision to slash the prices of its GLP-1 agonist drugs could put it back on the right track. While profit margins may slip due to the price cuts, the company could ultimately benefit more from making its drugs more accessible to patients.

The world will need plenty of crude oil for at least a little longer than previously anticipated.

The proliferation of renewable energy sources like solar and wind isn't happening quite as quickly as initially expected, postponing the point in time where the world's consumption of crude oil and natural gas stops finally stops growing and starts shrinking.

That's the overall take from investment bank Goldman Sachs' analysts, anyway. In a recent research report, they suggested that the planet's daily consumption of oil will likely grow from last year's average of 103.5 million barrels per day to 113 million in 2040, driven by a combination of growing demand for jet fuel, AI data centers' soaring need for power, and slower-than-anticipated uptake of electric vehicles. This outlook adds five years to Goldman Sachs' previous belief that the world would reach "peak oil" in 2035.

This shift has implications for all stocks within the energy sector, and plenty of stocks outside of it. It's Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A +0.09%) (BRK.B +0.48%), however, that's arguably positioned to experience the most unexpected benefit of crude oil's now-lengthened lifespan.

Too much agreement to simply dismiss
Were it just Goldman Sachs, the report might be dismissible. Even the investment bank itself acknowledges that its view is markedly "above consensus."

It's not just Goldman Sachs, though. The International Energy Agency also recently moved its expectation for the planet's peak-oil pivot all the way up to 2050. This aligns with oil giant ExxonMobil's outlook citing the 25% increase in electricity production the world will likely need between now and then. Indeed, even in the most optimistic of scenarios, ExxonMobil says oil and natural gas are still likely to be the planet's single biggest sources of power 25 years from now. And we'll still need lots of crude past that point as the world continues to wean itself from fossil fuels.

Pro-oil OPEC, of course, has never not been bullish on crude for the long haul. In July, it reiterated that it believes demand for oil will grow indefinitely into the distant future.

Image source: Getty Images.

This all obviously bodes well for energy stocks. Investing in oil and gas names, however, can be a bit more "adventurous" than most investors may be willing to accept. These stocks tend to ebb and flow on a daily basis with crude prices themselves, yet are also affected by an ever-changing supply and demand dynamic regardless of the commodity's price. It might make sense to curb some of these names' inherently unpredictable volatility.

It's Berkshire Hathaway, of all things, that just might do the trick.

The Berkshire you know, and the one you don't
Berkshire remains a most curious enigma. It's one part mutual fund and one part private-equity fund, supporting -- yet also somehow supported by -- an insurance operation with a reliable and largely unrestricted cash flow.

It's also a surprisingly effective way of tapping into oil's bright future without the usual stress of owning direct exposure to the sector.

The most obvious way it does so is with its stakes in individual oil and gas stocks Occidental Petroleum (OXY +0.56%) and Chevron (CVX 0.22%). As of the latest look, Berkshire owns 265 million shares of the former (more than $11 billion worth), and 122 million shares of the latter (worth nearly $19 billion). Combined, they account for roughly 10% of the conglomerate's entire portfolio of publicly traded stocks.

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Then there are the related holdings that you may not realize are part of the Berkshire family because they're small subsidiaries of wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway Energy. These include natural gas pipeline outfits Kern River, Northern Natural Gas, and BHE GT&S. There's also pipeline-optimization outfit LiquidPower Specialty Products Inc. (or LSPI), motor oil and automotive additive brand Lubrizol, and Pilot Travel Centers, each of which also benefits in its own way from continued demand for oil and gas.

The company's regular reporting doesn't provide a great deal of detail as to how these units perform. Berkshire Hathaway does, however, confirm that its gas pipelines and its non-utility energy businesses each reliably add more than $1 billion to the conglomerate's annual operating income, or about 5% of its GAAP bottom line. That's not insignificant, particularly when added to the conglomerate's sizable positions in conventional energy stocks.

More to the point for interested investors, Berkshire is a clever way of taking on a fair amount of exposure to the energy sector without also taking on its volatility and unpredictability.

An easy, backdoor way to invest in the energy sector
It's obviously not the only way to plug into the sector's future, which is suddenly more promising than it was just a few days ago. An energy-focused ETF like the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE +0.63%) or the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE +0.58%) will do the trick nicely as well.

It's also worth mentioning that while Goldman Sachs expects usage of oil to continue growing through 2040, that doesn't mean prices will necessarily follow. Goldman Sachs believes that WTI crude prices will actually slip to an average of $53 per barrel next year, down from a little over $60 right now, thanks to a swell of new supply that will reach the market in the meantime. Lower crude prices make drilling oil and refining it less profitable.

They don't make it unprofitable though, and oil and gas prices have very little effect on the profitability of Berkshire's wholly owned pipelines and its oil-related brands and services.

Bottom line? If Goldman Sachs' outlook has you looking for an easy way to scoop up more exposure to the energy sector, Berkshire Hathaway is a surprising and easy-to-own way of doing it.

This AI stock has lost its wheels despite reporting outstanding results recently, but investors shouldn't miss the bigger picture.

Oracle (ORCL 5.74%) stock has been sliding ever since it released solid earnings a couple of months ago. Shares of the company hit a 52-week high on Sept. 10, the day following the release of its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results (which ended on Aug. 31).

It is worth noting that Oracle's stock price shot up more than 30% after releasing its previous report. Investors were buoyed by the company's rapidly expanding revenue backlog and the multibillion-dollar deals that it is signing, thanks to the fast-growing demand for its cloud infrastructure, which is being used for running artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

However, the investor enthusiasm has faded in the past two months, and the stock is down 36% from its 52-week high. Let's see why that has been the case and then look at the reasons why it may be a good idea to buy Oracle stock following its recent pullback.

Image source: Getty Images.

Investors are doubting Oracle's prospects
When Oracle released its fiscal Q1 report, it noted a year-over-year increase of 12% in revenue to $14.9 billion. The company reported a much bigger increase of 359% in its remaining performance obligations (RPO) to a whopping $455 billion. RPO is the total value of a company's contracts that have yet to be fulfilled at the end of a period. So, this sizable backlog suggests that Oracle is on track to witness an acceleration in its revenue and earnings growth. This is precisely what the company pointed out at its financial analyst meeting last month.

Oracle has upgraded its fiscal 2029 revenue estimate to $185 billion from the prior expectation of $104 billion. It expects its top line to hit $225 billion in fiscal 2030. That points toward an annual growth rate of 31% from fiscal 2025's reading. Additionally, Oracle forecast 28% annual growth in its non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings through this period to $21 per share in fiscal 2030.

So, what has gone wrong with the stock? The first concern for investors is Oracle's mounting debt. The company had over $111 billion in debt at the end of the previous quarter. That was way higher than its cash position of $11 billion. What's worth noting is that Oracle is willing to take on more debt to fund the aggressive expansion of its AI infrastructure.

Now, expanding its AI data center infrastructure is important for Oracle to convert its massive backlog into revenue, and that will be critical for the company to achieve its long-term growth targets. The tech giant is reportedly looking to raise $38 billion worth of debt, a move that's likely to put more strain on the balance sheet.

Another reason why investors seem to have pressed the panic button is because of the company's reliance on OpenAI for a major chunk of its revenue backlog. The two companies unveiled a five-year, $300 billion contract shortly after Oracle's last earnings report. This deal seems to account for a significant chunk of Oracle's $455 billion RPO, considering that this metric stood at $138 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.

Wall Street is concerned about whether OpenAI will have enough money to fund the $1.4 trillion worth of computing capacity that it committed to buy from multiple providers, including Oracle. That's not surprising as OpenAI is expected to burn a whopping $115 billion in cash through 2029, according to tech news site The Information. However, CEO Sam Altman is confident of scaling the company's revenue rapidly in the coming years.

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Investors may be pressing the panic button too soon
OpenAI aims to hit an annualized revenue run rate of more than $20 billion in 2025. More importantly, it is confident it will scale up its revenue into "hundreds of billions by 2030," as per Altman. The OpenAI CEO plans to branch into multiple areas, ranging from enterprise AI products to consumer devices and robotics to an AI handheld device.

The ChatGPT developer is also open to selling more equity to finance its purchase commitments, according to reports. Given that each dollar spent on AI-related solutions is expected to generate $4.60 in value, according to IDC, there is a good chance that OpenAI's upcoming offerings could indeed become a hit among customers as they look to boost productivity.

The company has been able to quickly scale up its revenue, having hit an estimated $10 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) earlier this year. For comparison, its ARR stood at $5.5 billion last year, as per reports. So, OpenAI is indeed growing its top line at an impressive pace.

Additionally, Oracle isn't just reliant on OpenAI for its backlog. The company points out that its multicloud database revenue is also growing at a stunning pace. Multicloud database allows Oracle's customers to run its database services in other cloud environments, such as those from Amazon, Alphabet's Google, and Microsoft.

The company saw a stunning rise of 1,529% in multicloud revenue in fiscal Q1. This explains why it is on track to build another 37 multicloud data centers, which will take its overall multicloud data center count to 71. As such, investors seem to be overreacting as there is enough room for Oracle to grow its business in the long run, especially considering that the productivity gains that AI is expected to deliver will help it eventually convert its backlog into revenue.

That's why it may be a good idea to buy this AI stock following its recent slide, as it is now available at a fairly decent 32 times forward earnings, a slight discount to the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index's earnings multiple of 33. If Oracle maintains its earnings multiple after five years and hits $21 per share in earnings as per its internal estimates, its stock price could hit $672. That would be just over 3 times its current stock price.

That's why investors looking to buy a potential multibagger can consider using the recent slide in Oracle stock to buy more shares.

AI's soaring electricity demand is putting quiet but strong momentum behind nuclear energy and the miners fueling it.

There's little doubt that generative artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global economy. And here's a simple way to see it playing out. Data centers are consuming so much power that utility companies are still trying to figure out how to handle the demand.

This is the environment that utilities are facing. Global data center electricity use could double by 2030, according to some estimates. The Department of Energy thinks it might even triple. And in the United States, electricity demand is expected to hit record highs in both 2025 and 2026 after showing little growth in the two decades prior.

Whichever stat you want to look at, it's clear that data center power demand is going to keep rising. Quickly!

One energy source that is getting more attention as a means of servicing that demand is actually an old and misunderstood one: nuclear power.

This is why the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM 1.03%) -- an exchange-traded fund focused on investing in uranium miners and physical uranium -- is starting to look more attractive right now. If electricity demand keeps accelerating as expected, the demand for uranium to fuel the nuclear industry could rise along with it.

Let's take a look at why now could be an ideal time to buy this ETF.

Image source: Getty Images.

The burgeoning nuclear boom
Nuclear power, not surprisingly, has a reputation problem. Catastrophic events, such as Chernobyl or Fukushima, show how when things go bad, they can go really bad.

The data, however, suggests that the nuclear story is more positive than people might give it credit for:

Nuclear is already the second-largest source of clean energy in the world.
Nuclear plants currently operate at over 90% capacity, making it far more efficient than both solar and wind.
It can provide a consistent power supply that data centers need.

According to a recent commentary from Sprott, the lack of development and investment into the nuclear sector has contributed to a major supply deficit. With nuclear energy demand forecast to grow 28% by 2030 , a supply shortage could create an imbalance that persists for years even if nuclear development starts to ramp up.

In addition to big tech companies signing deals with nuclear energy companies, the best evidence for nuclear's potential to address AI energy demand is the U.S. government's recent partnership to construct at least $80 billion of new nuclear power plants with the goal of taking the lead in the global AI race.

The momentum has significant implications for the uranium industry.

These are the conditions that could (1) drive uranium prices higher and (2) improve profitability for uranium miners as margins improve. That's how Sprott Uranium Miners ETF becomes a real investment opportunity.

But it won't necessarily be a quick or easy road. The average construction time for new power plants is around 10 years, but the timeline for any individual project can vary widely.

Regulatory hurdles are a big roadblock that add to the timeline. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) uses a complex, multistep process that involves environmental impact assessment and design certifications before the ground even gets broken.

That all makes this sector a long-term play, but one that's being eyed as a potential opportunity. Supply limitations and rising demand are setting the stage for a structural uptrend for uranium miners that could last for years.

Why URNM is positioned to benefit as uranium demand grows
The Sprott Uranium Miners ETF is one of the purest plays on the uranium narrative.

This fund invests entirely in uranium miners, developers, explorers, and physical uranium. In that way, it offers better exposure to the total space because it owns the companies that pull uranium out of the ground as well as the commodity itself.

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The fund tracks the North Shore Global Uranium Mining Index. This index targets companies that devote at least 50% of their assets to the uranium mining industry. It typically holds about 30-40 names, including its current largest holdings, Cameco and National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC. Its expense ratio of 0.75% is a little on the high side, but not that unusual for a thematic ETF that targets a relatively narrow sector.

One of Sprott Uranium Miners ETF's advantages is that it hits all points of the nuclear fuel cycle. It invests in uranium explorers, miners, developers, and ultimately physical uranium itself. In that way, it offers better exposure to the total space.

Investing directly in uranium stocks tends to be more volatile because there are company-specific factors to consider, such as cash flow, capital expenditures, and margins. Trying to pick individual winners in a sector like this can be tricky, which is why owning the whole basket with URNM is the better bet. With the sector still developing, a more diversified composition could help balance out some risk.

A lot of people will think of AI as the biggest tech story of a generation. It may also end up being the biggest energy story in decades. As data centers expand and energy demand grows, clean and reliable power becomes a necessity. Nuclear energy, which has been long overlooked, is looking like a practical solution.

The Sprott Uranium Miners ETF is an ideal way to play an underappreciated theme in the AI boom.

Home Depot is having one of its worst performances relative to the S&P 500 in years.

Home Depot (HD +3.29%) is among a rare breed of companies that is so massive and influential that it's worth following even if you aren't interested in the stock. Home Depot's results act as a barometer on the state of the housing market, the construction industry, the U.S. consumer, and more.

When Home Depot is doing well, it typically means consumers are spending on costly home improvement and home renovation projects. Slowing results can signal that consumers are tightening their purse strings amid economic pressures.

Unfortunately, Home Depot has been in slowdown mode for years.

Here's what investors need to know from the company's latest quarterly results and whether the dividend-paying Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +1.08%) component is worth buying now.

Image source: Home Depot.

The slowdown continues
Home Depot stock is hovering around a 52-week low after the company reported disappointing third-quarter fiscal 2025 results and updated its full-year guidance.

Home Depot now expects a slight increase in comparable 52-week sales growth but a 5% decline in adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS). For context, when Home Depot reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results in February, it guided for a 1% increase in comparable-sales growth and a 2% reduction in diluted EPS from $15.24 in 2023.

Home Depot's fiscal 2023 diluted EPS was $15.25, which was a 9.5% decline from $16.69 in fiscal 2022 diluted EPS. This means that Home Depot's growth isn't just slowing. Earnings have been falling for more than three years.

On Home Depot's Nov. 18 earnings call, CEO Ted Decker said that Home Depot expected to see a pickup in demand in the second half of the year because management was expecting interest rates and mortgage rates to come down. Instead, Home Depot saw ongoing consumer uncertainty and a weak housing market that is disproportionately impacting home improvement demand.

Home Depot's weak results highlight the bifurcation in today's economy between the struggling consumer-facing sector and the rip-roaring stock market, which has been on a tear for the last three years, largely thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) growth stocks and financial stocks.

Decker addressed this divide on the earnings call:

So it's certainly a very interesting consumer dynamic out there. On the one hand, you look at certain economic indicators and you say, geez, things are pretty good. You look at GDP [Gross Domestic Product], you look at PCE [Personal Consumption Expenditures], those are both strong. But on the other hand, what's impacting us in home improvement is the ongoing pressure in housing and incremental consumer uncertainty.

In recent earnings calls, management's tone has noticeably shifted from cautiously optimistic to more serious as the severity of the slowdown in housing and consumer spending intensifies. This is why it's unsurprising to see Home Depot trim its full-year fiscal guidance.

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Home Depot is a reasonable value with a sizable dividend yield
After falling 6% on Nov. 18 and another 0.6% on Nov. 19, Home Depot is now down 14% year to date and is up just 24% over the last five years, compared to an 86.2% gain in the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.98%) and a 56.7% gain in the Dow.

The sell-off is arguably justified, given three consecutive years of lower adjusted earnings. Despite the poor results, there are still reasons to be optimistic about owning Home Depot over the long term.

Home Depot is far from alone in this slowdown. It's an industrywide decline. In fact, management reiterated on the recent earnings call that it still believes Home Depot is taking market share -- meaning many of its peers are faring even worse.

Home Depot's valuation was overextended after the company experienced a temporary boom in demand during the pandemic's heights. Since then, however, the valuation has gone from expensive to now much more reasonable at 23.2 times its updated fiscal 2025 adjusted diluted EPS guidance.

Despite negative earnings growth, Home Depot continues to raise its dividend. It has increased its annual payout for 16 consecutive years. However, its latest increase was a 2.2% dividend raise -- the smallest percentage increase since it began boosting its payout in 2010. The ongoing raises, paired with Home Depot's declining stock price, have pushed its yield up to 2.7%. For context, Home Depot's dividend yield hasn't been above 3% in the last five years, and it has gotten as low as 1.6%.

Home Depot is a worth a closer look for patient investors
Home Depot is a fantastic company that is operating in the midst of arguably the worst industry slowdown since the 2008 financial crisis. At times like these, it's essential for long-term investors not to let present-day narratives cloud their judgment.

Home Depot remains the dominant home improvement company in the U.S., with a sizable presence in Canada and Mexico.

After years of being somewhat expensive, the stock is now a much better value and sports a sizable dividend yield.

Overall, Home Depot stands out as a great buy for long-term investors with at least a three-to-five-year ownership plan, especially those looking for a blue chip dividend stock to boost their passive income stream.

This company is earning much more than Palantir and trades at a reasonable valuation.

Even though Palantir Technologies (PLTR 0.62%) has experienced a 20% drawdown, the stock is still one of the best performers of the past few years. Up over 1,700% since going public, the artificial intelligence (AI) software and analytics pioneer has become an investor favorite on the back of accelerating revenue growth, increasing earnings power, and its unique founder Alex Karp.

However, if you look at the underlying business, it is clear that Palantir's stock price is divorced from reality. The stock has a market cap of $400 billion compared to under $4 billion in revenue and even less in earnings. Palantir stock is likely going to disappoint investors who buy today.

Here is a value stock that will likely be worth more than Palantir by the end of 2026.

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Steady earnings from smokeables
The company's name is Philip Morris International (PM 0.26%), a global nicotine giant that produces steady cash flow for shareholders each and every year. It owns the Marlboro cigarette brand, along with other smokeable products that it sells outside the United States.

With population increases and a greater tolerance for smoking in markets outside of North America, Philip Morris's smokeables volumes hold up much better than the competition despite decreased usage globally of cigarettes. Through the first nine months of 2025, smokeable volumes declined just 1.3% year over year for Philip Morris.

By increasing prices, Philip Morris International is able to grow its smokeables revenue, which was up 1% year over year through the first nine months of the year. Smokeables are stable cash producers for shareholders, generating the majority of company free cash flow of $10 billion over the last 12 months.

Image source: Palantir Technologies.

Long-term growth in nicotine pouches and vaping
Cigarettes should produce stable cash flow for Philip Morris for a decade, if not longer. But the true gem of this business lies in its new age nicotine brands, namely IQOS, Zyn, and Veev.

Zyn is a leading tobacco-free nicotine pouch brand that is growing like wildfire in the United States and expanding around the globe. An estimated 205 million Zyn cans were sold in the United States last quarter alone, up 37% year over year and providing the majority of category share growth for nicotine pouches. IQOS is a heat-not-burn smoking device that is popular in Japan and Europe, while Veev is an electronic vaping device that is seeing accelerating unit volume growth.

Altogether, smoke-free net revenue has grown by 16.1% year over year so far this year and now counts for 41% of total net revenues. As it becomes a growing part of the Philip Morris International business, it will help the company put up durable revenue growth over the next five years and beyond.

PM EBIT (TTM) data by YCharts.

Much cheaper valuation
What separates Philip Morris International from Palantir is the stock's much cheaper valuation. Philip Morris has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 28 compared to Palantir's 391. Yes, a company like Palantir is growing much faster than Philip Morris International, but a decade of growth is already priced into the stock at current levels.

Philip Morris generates $13.5 billion in EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes). Palantir generates $850 million. It may take a decade to catch Philip Morris International's earnings power, if it ever does. Then why is Palantir trading at a market cap of $400 billion while Philip Morris trades at $243 billion?

Current stock prices don't match the fundamentals. By the end of 2026, it is likely that Philip Morris International surpasses Palantir in market capitalization.

If you're searching for passive income from your portfolio, here are four excellent dividend stocks to scoop up today.

Passive income is the dream for many investors. Who doesn't want to make money while they sleep? What's great is that the stock market offers investors an opportunity to generate passive income from their portfolios.

One way to do so is with dividend stocks. These companies distribute a portion of their profits to their shareholders on a regular basis. This steady income shows management's propensity to reward shareholders. It also helps the stock perform better overall.

In the report "The Power of Dividends: Past, Present, and Future," by Hartford Funds and Ned Davis Research, researchers found that dividends comprise a significant portion of the stock market's total returns over time. Since 1960, 85% of the S&P 500's cumulative return has been generated by reinvested dividends compounded over time.

Image source: Getty Images.

Companies that pay dividends outperformed non-dividend payers over a 50-year period, returning 9.2% on average versus 4.3%, respectively. Even better, companies that have consistently grown their dividends have performed, delivering annualized returns of 10.2%, with lower volatility.

Dividend-paying companies tend to have sound business models, strong fundamentals, and competitive advantages that enable them to grow their businesses over time. These companies can form a strong foundation for investors' portfolios. If you have $5,000 to invest, here are four dividend stocks to buy now.

The world's largest asset manager
BlackRock (BLK +2.11%) is the world's largest asset manager, renowned for its unmatched size and diversified product offerings. The company caters to investors of all kinds with its expansive platform and numerous iShares-branded exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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In addition to ETFs, BlackRock offers fixed-income and equity products, along with cutting-edge portfolio management technology through its Aladdin platform. With over $13.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM), BlackRock has a massive business that generates steady recurring revenue.

Long-term trends that benefit BlackRock include growing asset prices and rising 401(k) contributions, which help fuel steady growth in its asset base. BlackRock has demonstrated a commitment to shareholders by raising its dividend for 16 consecutive years.

A major player in global insurance
Chubb (CB +0.67%) is one of the world's leading insurers, providing property and casualty insurance across commercial, personal, specialty, and reinsurance markets.

What sets Chubb apart is its ability to balance risk and price its policies appropriately across the wide range of products it offers. This stellar underwriting ability enables Chubb to consistently generate profits from its core business, allowing it to grow in tandem with an expanding economy.

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Its global presence enables Chubb to select unique risks while also diversifying its client base, reducing its reliance on any single line of coverage. It also benefits from periods of rising interest rates. That's because its investment portfolio is heavily tilted toward fixed-income, which allows it to earn interest on its float.

The insurer has increased its dividend payout for 32 consecutive years, a testament to its sound business model, strong capital management, and commitment to rewarding shareholders.

A key cog in financial markets
S&P Global (SPGI +0.55%) has a business model that combines high margins and recurring revenue. As one of the top credit rating agencies in the U.S., S&P Global enjoys a strong market position alongside Moody's. Due to the difficulty of breaking into the industry, the two companies essentially have a duopoly over the market.

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Corporations, governments, and structured finance product issuers rely on credit rating agencies to provide opinions on companies and their ability to repay debts. Being in this position requires trust, which can take decades to build up. Because S&P Global is one of the few in this position, the company enjoys high margins and a steady stream of revenue from ongoing credit issuance.

S&P Global is well positioned to benefit from rising global debt issuance from both countries and corporations. It also has a robust data analytics business that provides alternative revenue when issuance activity slows. With over 53 years of raising its dividend payout, S&P Global is a Dividend King worth buying today.

A high-yielding dividend stock at a discount
Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC +1.67%) is the largest business development corporation (BDC) in the U.S. As a BDC, Ares Capital steps up to fill the hole left by major banks that have left the smaller private-lending markets in droves.

Ares Capital provides loans and structured finance to middle-market companies that traditional banks often overlook. The company leverages its scale and depth of expertise to underwrite these loans, which are primarily high-priority, senior-secured, and collateral-backed.

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More recently, investors have become nervous about private credit investments and BDCs, which lend to middle-market companies. This is due to the bankruptcy of First Brands and Tricolor Automotive, two large borrowers in the private-credit ecosystem. Ares Capital's management has stated that they don't have any exposure to those companies and that the quality of their portfolio remains stable.

The company has been lending to middle-market companies for more than two decades, with consistently strong performance over time, including during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. For investors comfortable with the risk, Ares Capital Corporation's 9.8% dividend yield makes it a very appealing high-yield stock for investors today.

It's a good time to look at both of these high-profile stocks.

Netflix (NFLX 1.45%) has pulled back recently following its latest earnings report, even though the streaming service posted impressive top-line growth and continues to expect its full-year operating margin to expand. That move has some investors wondering whether this is a good time to buy one of the market's most closely watched growth stories.

Like Netflix, Alphabet (GOOG +3.33%)(GOOGL +3.53%) taps into similar streaming and digital video trends while leaning on digital advertising and subscription services. But unlike Netflix, Alphabet operates a much more diversified business, featuring Google Search, YouTube, a rapidly growing cloud platform, and even a small but important self-driving car technology business.

Both companies benefit from structural shifts in how people watch video and use the internet. But their business models and valuations point in different directions for investors deciding where to put new money to work. One arguably looks like the clear winner when comparing their investment prospects head-to-head.

Image source: Getty Images.

Netflix's focused streaming model
Both businesses have been growing rapidly. Netflix's third-quarter revenue rose 17% year over year to about $11.5 billion. Management expects similar growth in the fourth quarter.

Additionally, the company is guiding for operating margin expansion. Specifically, it expects its full-year operating margin to be around 29%, up from 27% last year.

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Netflix is also leaning into its small but meaningful advertising-supported plans, as the company's three-year-old ad business continues to grow quickly. Management has said that advertising revenue should more than double in 2025 as the ad tier and in-house ad technology scale, adding another growth lever beyond subscription growth.

But unlike Alphabet, Netflix remains heavily concentrated in subscription video. Additionally, the company must keep funding a large slate of licensed and original programming to sustain engagement, while much of Alphabet's YouTube content is user-generated.

Alphabet's diversified growth drivers
Alphabet's latest results show a broader way to tap similar streaming and online video tailwinds. In Q3 2025, revenue grew 16% year over year to about $102.3 billion, fueled by strong growth across its core Google Search platform, Google subscriptions, YouTube, and its cloud computing business.

Additionally, AI (artificial intelligence) is having a positive effect on its business.

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"We are seeing AI now driving real business results across the company," said Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai in the company's Q3 earnings release.

Alphabet's cloud business, in particular, is benefiting from AI.

"Cloud had another great quarter of accelerating growth with AI revenue as a key driver," Pichai explained during the call. "Cloud backlog grew 46% quarter over quarter to $155 billion."

YouTube sits at a useful intersection between the two companies. Like Netflix, it benefits from viewers spending more time streaming video on connected TVs, yet most of its content is user-generated or creator-led. This keeps funding needs far lower than a library of scripted series and films while still supporting meaningful ad and subscription revenue.

There's a clear winner
Ultimately, Alphabet looks like the better buy today -- and valuation is what ends up tipping the scales in its favor. Netflix trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of around 44 as of this writing, while Alphabet's ratio is closer to 29. Investors, therefore, are paying substantially less for each dollar of Alphabet earnings -- and those earnings are from a more diversified source with significant growth potential as AI positively affects its business.

Of course, both stocks have risks. Alphabet's biggest risk is that generative AI from companies like OpenAI will disrupt its core search business. Netflix competes against streaming services from several of the world's biggest tech companies. But Alphabet's lower valuation does a better job of pricing in its unique risks.