Market Signal Briefing

Thinking ahead is the easiest way to set yourself up for success later.

On any given day, you probably shouldn't bet on a stock market crash happening, and generally, it isn't worth losing sleep over whether a crash is about to happen. Nonetheless, it's worth planning ahead so that you'll know precisely what to do when one actually does happen someday.

So, on that note, between Bitcoin (BTC +2.77%) or XRP (XRP +1.50%), which one is more likely to still have a reason to exist after the dust from a crash settles?

Image source: Getty Images.

Bitcoin's edge in a crash is structural As you probably remember, the Oct. 10, 2025 crypto sector crash erased more than $1 trillion of market value across cryptoassets. That means we have a very recent example in hand to guide how we think about how these assets perform and why.

Take a look at this chart:

Bitcoin Price data by YCharts

As you can see, Bitcoin tends to come out the other side of turbulent episodes looking a bit better because it is the simplest big asset with the widest base of long-term holders in the crypto sector, as well as one of the biggest in the world. The proof is in the pudding; in the past, it has recovered from absurd drawdowns, including declines deeper than 70%, and importantly, it still eventually set new highs afterward.

That pattern isn't a promise of the price going up when you want it to, of course. Still, Bitcoin's core mechanism is its ever-increasing scarcity, which remains in effect even after the market craters. The halving schedule that reduces new supply roughly every four years is part of that design.

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So if a crash occurs, it tends to pay off to start buying Bitcoin in small tranches over the course of weeks or months. If you're comfortable with feeling uncomfortable (due to your investment being underwater) for a while, such behavior has so far always paid off in the long run.

XRP can rebound, but expect slower progress XRP has recovered from brutal declines before, just like Bitcoin, but it's also far more entangled with institutional financial adoption narratives and Ripple's execution with the chain's technical development.

Ripple markets the coin and its chain as financial infrastructure for faster cross-border payments and tokenized real-world asset (RWA) management, so there are a lot more economic, market, and financial risks that bleed into the coin's price and keep it down. And while the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is maintained by a broader community, there's still no escaping the reality that a lot of demand for the coin still depends on institutions choosing to build their operations on a tech stack that Ripple champions.

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Therefore in the context of a market crash -- especially one triggered by real economic phenomena that alter how willing financial businesses will be to invest in onboarding new technologies -- XRP is practically destined to see a worse near-term outcome than Bitcoin, as well as a recovery that's more likely to be hampered by real economic constraints.

So, if there's a future crash, buy Bitcoin if you want the asset whose investment thesis requires the fewest external parties to behave well.

Journalist

Posted: February 7, 2026

Worldcoin [WLD] staged a strong comeback, rebounding from a $0.30 decline as the market signaled a broader recovery. 

WLD climbed 20% to a local high of $0.42 after defending the $0.40 level, before slightly retracing. At press time, it traded at $0.40, still up 14.42% on the daily chart.

Meanwhile, the altcoin market cap reclaimed $1 billion, signaling fresh capital inflows. With this rally, WLD effectively erased the losses from the past three days of weakness.

Worldcoin shows bullish momentum  WLD exhibited bullish momentum as tensions and fears in the futures market cooled and traders’ risk appetite recovered.

A break from the recent trend, investors turned bullish and started taking long positions. According to CoinGlass data, Open Interest (OI) rose 16.3% to $130 million, at press time, indicating increased capital flows into futures positions. 

Source: CoinGlass

In fact, Worldcoin recorded $135.55 million in Futures Inflows compared to $133.25 million in Outflows, resulting in $2.29 million in net flow. 

Interestingly, most of this capital flowed into long positions, as evidenced by the Long-Short Ratio. This metric increased from 0.7 to 1.2, with investors on OKX and Binance accounting for the majority. 

Source: CoinGlass

A ratio exceeding 1 indicates that most participants were bullish and had placed aggressive bets on further gains. 

Pressure on prices eases In addition to a future recovery in risk appetite, the spot market recorded a significant increase in demand. 

The BSVP ratio indicates that sellers are exhausted in the market. As such, sell pressure turned negative, while buy pressure rose to 19 as of writing, a significant jump from the previous day. 

Source: TradingView

The shift in dynamics indicated increased buyer activity as they sought to absorb market pressure. 

Although buyers have attempted to exert pressure, net market pressure remains bearish, suggesting they have not yet fully dominated the market. As such, the market needs a sustained period of higher buying pressure for a momentum shift. 

Furthermore, exchange activities also echoed this recovering demand. As such, more than $28.29 million in WLD flowed out of exchanges over the past 24 hours. 

Source: CoinGlass

At the same time, only $27 million flowed into the market, indicating a significant jump in market demand. 

With demand for Worldcoin recovering across the market, these could create new upside pressure on the price. Often, increased upside pressure precedes higher prices for the given asset. 

Can WLD’s upside momentum sustain? Worldcoin rebounded from the recent slip as demand recovered across all market participants amid broader market reactivation.

As a result, the altcoin’s Relative Strength Index made a bullish crossover, hiking from 32 to 42 at press time. Equally, WLD crossed its short-term moving average (9MA) before a slight pullback.

Source: TradingView

These two bullish moves indicated stronger market demand, as bulls attempted to regain control of the market. Although RSI remains within the bearish zone, these moves indicate a recovery in buying activity, a signal for sustained upside.

If demand holds, Worldcoin will cross its 9- and 21-day MAs at $0.45, setting the stage for a move towards $0.55, where the upside previously collapsed.

However, if this market attempt fails and bears retest the market, WLD will seek support at approximately $0.34.

Final Thoughts WLD rebounded from a $0.30 drop, successfully defended $0.4, and touched a local high of $0.42. Worldcoin experienced renewed risk appetite and eased price pressures, accelerating upside momentum. 

Researchers have revealed that bad actors are targeting dYdX and using malicious packages to empty its user wallets. According to the report, some open source packages published on the npm and PyPi repositories were laced with code that stole wallet credentials from dYdX developers and backend systems.

dYdX is a decentralized derivatives exchange that supports hundreds of markets for perpetual trading. In the report, researchers from security firm Socket mentioned that all the applications using the compromised npm versions are at risk. They claimed the direct impact of the attacks has included complete wallet compromise and crypto thefts. The attack scope includes all the applications that depend on the compromised version, and both developer testing with real credentials and production end-users.

Malicious packages breach wallets associated with dYdX According to the report, some of the packages that have been infected include npm (@dydxprotocol/v4-client-js):(3.4.1, 1.22.1, 1.15.2, 1.0.31 versions) and PyPI (dydx-v4-client): (1.1.5post1 version). Socket mentioned that the platform has processed more than $1.5 trillion in trading volume since it made its debut in the decentralized finance industry, with an average trading volume of $200 million to $540 million. In addition, the platform also has about $175 million in open interest.

The exchange provides code libraries that allow third-party applications for trading bots, automated strategies, or backend services, all of which involve mnemonics or private keys for signing. The npm malware embedded a malicious function in the legitimate package. When a seed phrase that underpins a wallet’s security is processed, the function copies it along with a fingerprint of the device running the application.

The fingerprint allows the threat actor to match stolen credentials to victims across several compromises. The domain receiving the seed phrases is dydx[.]priceoracle[.]site, which mimics the legitimate dYdX service at dydx[.]xyz through typosquatting. The malicious code available on PyPI continued the same credential theft function, although it implements a remote access Trojan (RAT) that allows execution of new malware on already infected systems.

The researchers noted that the backdoor received commands from dydx[.]priceoracle[.]site, adding that the domain was created and registered on January 9, 17 days before the malicious package was uploaded to PyPI. According to Socket, the RAT runs as a background daemon thread, beacons to the C2 server at a 10-second interval, receives Python code from the server, and executes it in an isolated subprocess with no visible output. In addition, it also uses a hard-coded authorization token.

New attack showcases disturbing trend Socket added that once installed, the threat actors were able to carry out arbitrary Python code with user privileges, steal SSH keys, API credentials, and source code. In addition, they could also install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive files, monitor user activity, and modify critical files. The researchers added that the packages were published to npm and PyPI using official dYdX accounts, which meant they were compromised and used by the attackers.

While dYdX is yet to release a statement addressing the issue, this is at least the third time that it has been targeted in attacks. The previous incident occurred in September 2022 when a malicious code was uploaded to the npm repository. In 2024, the dYdX website was commandeered after the V3 website was hijacked through DNS. Users were redirected to a malicious website that prompted them to sign transactions designed to drain their wallets.

Socket claimed that this latest incident highlights a disturbing pattern of adversaries targeting dYdX-related assets using trusted distribution channels. It noted that the attackers knowingly compromised packages in the npm and PyPI ecosystems to expand the attack surface to reach JavaScript and Python developers working with the platform. Anyone using the platform should carefully examine all applications for dependencies on the malicious packages.

After a heart-stopping crash that wiped 2B from crypto's market cap, February 7 delivers a rebound – Bitcoin blasts above $70,500, Ethereum nears $2,000, and XRP surges double-digits as short-sellers get crushed.

From Crypto Winter to Hot Streak: The SetupThe bloodbath peaked Thursday with Bitcoin plunging 15% to $62,700 – its sharpest drop since FTX's 2022 implosion, dragging total cap below $2 trillion amid miner sells, ETF outflows, and macro fears like rising yields. Extreme fear gripped the market, RSI hitting oversold at 15.82, setting the stage for today's relief rally.

Now, BTC trades at $70,578 (up 13% from lows), holding crucial support after Polymarket odds favored sub-$72K but momentum flipped. This isn't hype-driven; it's technical exhaustion meeting weekend risk-on vibes.

BTC and ETH Spearhead the SurgeBitcoin's rebound erased much of the pain, climbing from $62,702 open to $70,578 close Friday, with volume spiking on bullish engulfing candles signaling potential bottom. Analysts like 10x Research call $60K-$70K the new floor, eyeing $84K if resistance breaks, fueled by whale accumulation and stabilizing tech stocks.​

Ethereum mirrors the move, up to $1,950-$2,000 from $1,700 lows, as layer-2 scaling and ETF inflows lure buyers eyeing 170% rally patterns to $8,500 by year-end.

XRP and Altcoins Steal the SpotlightXRP leads alts with a 25%+ pop to $1.45, RSI rebounding from oversold amid $1.37B ETF holdings and supply squeezes – positioning for new highs if BTC dominance (59%) eases. Solana recovers from $70 lows post-$77M liquidations, DOGE and others ride speculative waves, hinting at altseason stirrings.

Total altcoin market cap jumps 8-12%, with TRON, BNB, and Chainlink outperforming on ecosystem bets.​

$2.6B Liquidations: The Short Squeeze CatalystThe rocket fuel? Massive deleveraging: $2.6B liquidated in 48 hours, including $980M BTC longs and $337M ETH, zapping 311K traders – fourth-worst flush in 90 days per CoinGlass. This short squeeze flipped sentiment from panic (Fear & Greed at 12) to neutral, with open interest rebounding and no fresh longs dominating yet.

Exchanges like Binance saw $1.4B wiped, resetting leverage for sustainable upside.

Deeper Reasons and What's NextBeyond techs, Trump's crypto-friendly admin provides tailwinds despite "crypto winter" doubts. Miners pivot to AI eases supply pressure; prediction markets bet on $72K-$74K noon ET. Macro: Gold/silver volatility and Fed pause hopes aid risk assets.

Risks linger – miner capitulation, quantum threats, regulation, but today's action screams capitulation bottom. If $70K holds, $80K+ beckons; failure risks retest $62K. For alts like XRP, ETF momentum could spark 2026 fireworks. The bear market may be thawing – strap in.

Bitcoin ripped from $60,000 to above $70,000 in less than 24 hours, erasing most of a brutal 14% drawdown that had tested every bottom-calling thesis in the market.

The speed of the reversal, 12% in a single session and 17% off the intraday low, was violent enough to feel like a capitulation resolved. Yet, the mechanics beneath the bounce tell a different story: this was cross-asset stabilization meeting forced-position rebalancing, not a flood of conviction-driven spot demand.

And the derivatives market, still crowded into downside protection, is pricing the possibility that $70,000 becomes a pause rather than a floor.

Forced unwinds met macro stressFeb. 5 opened near $73,100, traded briefly higher, then collapsed to $62,600 by close, a one-day decline that liquidated approximately $1 billion in leveraged Bitcoin positions, according to CoinGlass data.

That figure alone captures the forced-selling cascade, but the broader picture was worse.

Open interest in BTC futures fell from roughly $61 billion to $49 billion over the prior week, according to CoinGlass, meaning the market had already been shedding leverage when the final flush hit.

The trigger wasn't crypto-specific. Reports framed the selloff as a weakening of risk sentiment, driven by tech-stock selling and a volatility shock in precious metals, with silver declining by as much as 18% to around $72.21, dragging down correlated risk assets.

Deribit research confirmed the spillover, noting that derivatives sentiment turned extremely bearish, with funding rates negative, inverted implied volatility term structures, and a 25-delta risk-reversal skew crushed to approximately -13%.

These are classic “crowded fear” conditions in which positioning amplifies price moves in both directions.

A policy narrative added fuel. Reuters reported market reaction to President Donald Trump's selection of Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair, with traders interpreting the choice as signaling balance-sheet contraction and tighter liquidity conditions ahead.

Meanwhile, miners faced acute margin pressure. TheMinerMag reported that hash price fell below $32 per petahash per second, with network difficulty projected to drop roughly 13.37% within two days. This relief valve wouldn't arrive until after the price had already broken support.

Bitcoin's 48-hour price action shows a breakdown from $73,000, sweep below $63,000, local bottom near $60,000, and subsequent rebound above $70,000.Macro reversal plus squeeze mechanicsFeb. 6 opened where Feb. 5 closed, dropped to an intraday low near $60,000, then ripped to a high around $71,422, which it failed to breach three times before dropping back below $70,000.

The catalyst wasn't internal to crypto, but a sharp reversal in the cross-asset tape. Wall Street surged: the S&P 500 up 1.97%, Nasdaq up 2.18%, Dow up 2.47%, and the SOX semiconductor index up 5.7%.

Metals snapped back hard, with gold up 3.9% and silver up 8.6%, while the dollar index fell 0.2%, signaling a looser financial conditions impulse.

Bitcoin moved mechanically with that shift. The correlation isn't subtle: when tech stabilizes and metals rebound, BTC gets pulled along via shared risk exposure.

However, the violence of the snapback also reflects the derivatives' positioning. Skew near -13%, negative funding, and inverted volatility structures create conditions where any macro relief can trigger short-covering and forced rebalancing.

The rebound was driven by a liquidity event, amplified by the unwinding of crowded short positions.

Nevertheless, the forward-looking signal remains bearish. Derive data showing heavy put open interest concentrated at $60,000-$50,000 strike prices for the Feb. 27 expiry.

Derive's Sean Dawson told Reuters that the downside demand is “extreme.” That's not hindsight analysis, but traders explicitly hedging for another leg lower, even after the bounce.

Bitcoin deleveraging chart displays liquidation spike, open interest reset from $62 billion to $49 billion, negative funding rates, and skew reaching negative 13%.Can $70k hold? The frameworkThe case for holding above $70,000 rests on three conditions.

First, the macroeconomic rebound needs to persist, with technology continuing to stabilize, yields not re-tightening, and the dollar not re-tightening.

The bounce was explicitly cross-asset. If equities roll over again, BTC won't decouple.

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Second, leverage needs to continue to cool without fresh forced selling. Open interest has already dropped hard, reducing air-pocket risk.

Third, miner stress needs real relief when the difficulty adjustment lands.

If price holds within that window, the projected 13.37% drop could reduce marginal selling pressure and allow hashrate to stabilize.

The case for another shakeout has three legs.

First, options positioning remains skewed toward the downside. The largest put concentration is at $60,000-$50,000 in late February, a forward-looking signal embedded in market-implied probabilities rather than backward-looking sentiment.

Second, derivatives signals remain fragile. Skew near extremes, recently negative funding, and inverted volatility structures are consistent with a relief rally inside a fear regime rather than a trend reversal.

Third, ETF flow data show persistent outflows. Bitcoin ETFs registered $690 million in monthly net outflows as of Feb. 5.

Although the Feb. 6 results are not yet available, the pattern suggests institutional allocators haven't shifted from de-risking to re-engagement.

Signal bucketMetricLatest reading / regime (as of press time)Bullish confirmation (what change you need)Bearish continuation (what to fear)SourceDerivativesPerp funding rateNegative (below 0%) — “extreme bearishness” regimeFunding flips positive and stays positive across major venues (not just a 1–2 hour blip)Funding stays negative / whipsaws while price chops → “relief rally” riskDeribit Insights / Block Scholes, Week 6 (funding below 0%; BTC funding negative)Options risk25D risk reversal (skew)Short-dated skew as low as ~ -13% (put demand surge)Skew rebounds toward 0 (less demand for downside protection) and holdsSkew remains deeply negative (persistent protection bid)Deribit Insights / Block Scholes, Week 6 (25D RR “as low as -13%”)LeverageFutures open interest (OI)Deleveraging / OI falling (forced liquidation phase); recent reporting highlights ~$55B equivalent OI exiting in 30 daysOI stabilizes (no rapid re-leveraging) while price holds >$70KOI rebuilds quickly into rallies → higher odds of another liquidation legGlassnode: forced deleveraging + long liquidation spikesFlowsSpot BTC ETF net flows (daily/weekly)Net outflows: Feb 4 – $544.9m, Feb 5 – $434.1m; Feb 6 not yet posted on the tapeOutflows decelerate to flat, then modest inflows (even “less negative” helps in thin liquidity)Outflows accelerate (more -$400m to -$500m days) → repeated shakeout riskFarside Investors daily ETF flow tableOn-chain stressRealized losses (7D avg)> $1.26B/day (7D SMA) — capitulation/forced selling still elevatedRealized losses peak then trend down while price holds the $70K area (seller exhaustion)Losses stay elevated or rise into bounces → distribution, not accumulationGlassnode Week On-chain Week 05 (“7D SMA … above $1.26B per day”)MiningHashprice + next difficulty adjustmentHashprice < $32/PH/s (record low); difficulty projected -13.37% next adjustment (~2 days)Difficulty relief arrives and hashrate stabilizes (reduced miner stress/sell pressure) while BTC holds >$70KHashprice falls further / hashrate drops more → miner selling/treasury drawdowns increaseTheMinerMag (hashprice < $32/PH/s; difficulty proj. -13.37%)What $70k actually meansThe level itself isn't magical. The significance lies in its position above Glassnode's identified on-chain absorption cluster between $66,900 and $70,600.

Holding above $70,000 would suggest that the cluster absorbed enough supply to stabilize price action, at least temporarily. Yet, holding requires more than technical support. It requires spot demand returning while derivatives hedging unwinds and institutional flows stabilize.

The rebound off $60,000 was real, but its composition matters. Cross-asset stabilization can reverse if macro conditions shift.

Forced-position unwinding creates mechanical bounces that don't necessarily translate into sustained trends. And options traders are still pricing a meaningful probability of a move toward $50,000-$60,000 over the next three weeks.

Bitcoin reclaimed $70,000, but it is already consolidating below that level, suggesting a pause before another test in which three conditions must occur sequentially: macro risk appetite holding, ETF outflows decelerating or reversing, and derivatives sentiment normalizing beyond short-term relief.

The market delivered a violent snapback, but the forward curve and flow data suggest traders aren't yet betting on durability. The $70,000 level isn't the endgame, it's just the level where the next phase of the argument gets decided.

Mentioned in this articlePosted in

ENS dropped plans for Namechain, its own Layer-2 network, as the ENSv2 upgrade stays on Ethereum L1. The ENSv2 will remain fully compatible with Layer-2 networks. In a significant strategic shift, the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has announced that its next-generation protocol, ENSv2, will stayon Ethereum’s Layer-1 mainchain, dropping previous plans of building its own Layer-2 network, Namechain, according to a blog post by ENS co-founder Nick Johnson on February 6.

ENSv2 is the Ethereum Name Service’s upcoming major upgrade,  intended to expand ENS capabilities to a Layer-2 network, providing users with lower fees and faster transactions than the Ethereum mainnet, as well as to provide structural modifications such as hierarchical registries, which give name owners more power and support for numerous chains.

Why ENS Dropped Its Layer-2 Plans Johnson wrote, “ Ethereum is scaling faster than almost anyone predicted two years ago; we’ve seen a 99% reduction in ENS registration gas costs over the past year, coinciding with Ethereum’s gas limit increases from 30M to 60M in 2025. By staying on L1, we’re aligning ENS with the strongest possible infrastructure guarantees, Ethereum itself.”

As Johnson mentioned, ENSv2 will still be released as planned, and halting work on Namechain will not affect the company’s broader roadmap. By having everything on one blockchain rather than two, he expects names to load faster and run more smoothly for users. Also, Johnson noted that the majority of the improvements made to make ENS easier to use over the last two years will stay in place.

Further, ENS Labs COO Katherine Wu shared a post via her X handle, “It is important to note that ENSv2 is ultimately an upgrade to ENS as it exists today — it’s still ENS! Regardless of where it ultimately gets deployed,” and highlighted new features such as individual registries for each ENS name and new apps currently in testing.

Vitalik Backs ENSv2’s Ethereum L1 Move Vitalik Buterin supported the ENS labs decision by saying, “It’s a good decision!” As he noted that ENS names and records represent a critical on-chain state for the Ethereum ecosystem, should remain easily accessible from anywhere.

Further, he added, “It’s also a semi-financial application, in the sense that buying and holding ENS names has a cost, and ENS names can become very valuable objects. With the expanded scaling roadmap, Ethereum L1 is the ideal place for these applications.”

Highlighted Crypto News:

Shiba Inu Eyes Recovery as Bitcoin Rebounds Above $60K

The leader in electronic payments is struggling to get back to its pandemic highs.

PayPal (PYPL +1.30%) has not given investors much of a reason to be optimistic. The market hasn't been happy with the drastic slowdown following surging growth during the pandemic, which is understandable. But shares continue to march lower.

Investors weren't pleased with the latest financial results. And the board of directors has decided to fire CEO Alex Chriss and bring in HP boss Enrique Lores, who will start on March 1.

This beaten-down fintech stock is trading 86% below its peak (as of Feb. 3). And the forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9.2 would pique the interest of value investors.

Is PayPal an underrated investment play right now?

Image source: PayPal.

Focus on discretionary spending "Branded checkout represents over half our profit dollars," Chief Investor Relations Officer Steve Winoker said on the Q4 2025 earnings call. Softness in this category can hurt the business, which is what happened.

During the fourth quarter (ended Dec. 31), online branded checkout saw a 1% rise in total payment volume compared to Q4 2024, not an encouraging sign during the holiday season. Engagement is also falling, as transactions per active account fell 5% in Q4.

Management called out retail weakness here in the U.S. as a key headwind. It also doesn't help that competition is intense, from the likes of tech giants like Apple Pay and Alphabet's Google Pay, popular digital wallets that control distribution via integration with smartphones.

This highlights the unique position PayPal has in the payments landscape, focusing heavily on discretionary and online spending, as well as a middle-income demographic, which didn't work to its favor in the fourth quarter. The contrasts with Visa and Mastercard, massive payment networks that both posted double-digit year-over-year revenue growth, and whose leadership teams called out healthy consumer spending and macro conditions. PayPal is proving that the activity on its platform is more sensitive to economic factors, introducing cyclicality.

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Dividend head-scratcher Investors are forward-looking. So it makes sense that management's "low-single digit decline to slightly positive" guidance for adjusted earnings per share in 2026 wasn't well received. Hiring a new CEO after less than three years also doesn't instill confidence among shareholders.

In light of these negative developments, the company just paid its first ever quarterly dividend of $0.14 in December. The total payout was $130 million in the fourth quarter. While PayPal is profitable and generates positive free cash flow, this could be viewed as a head-scratching capital allocation decision. This money could be directed to boost marketing spending by 19% or product development expenditures by 16% (based on the Q4 income statement), which should be the top priority.

PayPal's stock is trading at a dirt cheap valuation. However, this clearly isn't an underrated investment play. Investors should demand fundamental improvements before taking a chance on the business.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, HP, Mastercard, PayPal, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short March 2026 $65 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

According to Musk, autonomous driving will be the norm in the future. Tesla's investments encompass lithium, batteries, the new Semi truck, Optimus production, a megafactory, and above all, a ramp-up in Cybercab production.

All eyes are on Tesla's robotaxi expansion.

Investors have completely turned their attention to Tesla's (TSLA +3.50%) autonomous future. Despite the company's weak automotive revenue, the stock currently sits about 15% off its all-time high.

With Tesla potentially scaling its robotaxi fleet in multiple cities this year, the stock could climb higher. However, there's one hurdle it needs to overcome.

Image source: Tesla.

Tesla investors are laser-focused on its autonomous future. The company says its car owners are collecting the equivalent of 500 years' worth of driving data per day.

This is rapidly improving Tesla's full-self-driving (FSD) system and driving demand for this add-on feature. The number of Tesla owners using FSD grew 38% year over year in the fourth quarter to more than 1.1 million.

Cybercab, which is designed with no steering wheel or pedals, is scheduled to enter production this year. This signals that Tesla is preparing to rapidly scale its robotaxi service nationwide. As the service expands, investors could start to discount future earnings from this profitable revenue stream, sending the stock higher.

However, for Tesla to further scale its fleet, it has to overcome one major hurdle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently limits the annual sales of vehicles that don't comply with certain safety standards, such as those with no steering wheel, to just 2,500.

The NHTSA is considering modernizing these rules, given the advancements in driverless technology. But until this cap is lifted, it could delay Tesla's Cybercab production plans and limit the stock's upside.

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Tesla can still expand its robotaxi service using the Model Y, the vehicle it's been using for its fleet since last year. The company is currently planning to launch in seven new cities in the first half of 2026, including Las Vegas and Miami.

Growth in Tesla's robotaxi fleet, including news that the NHTSA has lifted the cap, would likely send the stock higher in 2026. Analysts expect Tesla's earnings to grow at a 35% annualized rate over the next few years as higher margins from robotaxis begin to kick in.

John Ballard has positions in Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

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

Shares in Coca-Cola and Phillip Morris International are built to stand the test of time.

Dividends are an often overlooked part of long-term investing, but they are crucially important. According to data from S&P Global, these periodic cash payments have accounted for a whopping 31% of all the stock market's gains since 1926, making them a key part of its total return.

Dividends allow investors to ignore the constant fluctuations of stock prices and focus on fundamentals like profits and future-focused leadership, which are key to the sustainability of the payout.

Let's dig deeper into why The Coca-Cola Company (KO +0.66%) and Phillip Morris International (PM +0.47%) have these characteristics and could make excellent long-term buys.

Image source: Getty Images.

The Coca-Cola Company Blue chip stocks are shares in the largest and most established companies available in the market. Coca-Cola fits the bill with its globally recognizable beverage empire that has delivered decades of consistent dividend payouts. The company looks poised to continue performing well over the long term because of its healthy margins and ability to hold its own in both good and bad macroeconomic conditions.

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While beverages are technically discretionary items that people want but don't need, Coca-Cola's brands have become so ubiquitous that people tend to keep buying them even in a bad economy. The company also has surprisingly high pricing power. According to FinanceBuzz, it was able to raise Coke 12-pack prices by a whopping 89% between 2020 and 2025.

Despite these high prices (which are influenced by external factors like aluminum and sugar costs), Coke's loyal customers continue to drink like there's no tomorrow. Third-quarter revenue grew 5% year over year to $12.5 billion. The company also maintains a robust operating margin of 32%, which shows it is successfully passing on rising costs to consumers. Keeping margins high is key to dividend sustainability.

The stock offers a dividend yield of 2.71%, which is modest compared to other income-focused equity options such as real estate investment trusts (REITs). That said, Coca-Cola also generates substantial capital appreciation, with shares up roughly 58% over the last five years.

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Phillip Morris International Like soft drinks, tobacco is another thing people tend to keep buying even in a bad economy. After all, nicotine is addictive. This fact has helped the tobacco industry generate huge profits while also attracting ethical concerns and negative attention from regulators. But Phillip Morris stands out because of its aggressive pivot to alternative tobacco products.

Over the long term, it's reasonable to assume that traditional cigarettes will continue to fall out of favor and potentially become obsolete. Phillip Morris' decision to focus on cigarette alternatives has already led to a widely diverging performance compared to its former peers in the tobacco industry. Over the last decade, the company's shares have risen 97%, while Altria and British American Tobacco have only gained 7% and 11%, respectively, over the same period. The trend looks set to continue.

PM data by YCharts.

As of the third quarter, smoke-free products account for 41% of Phillip Morris' sales and are available in 100 global markets. The company's global reach was massively expanded by the $16 billion takeover of Swedish Match in 2022. This deal significantly expanded Phillip Morris' distribution network, especially in the U.S., while giving it more diversification with smoke-free products like Zyn oral tobacco pouches.

While Phillip Morris tends to generate respectable stock price growth, the main appeal of the company remains its dividend. With a yield of 3.3%, the payout far exceeds the S&P 500 average of 1.14%. Management also has a track record of returning cash to investors through buybacks, although these are currently on hold while the company absorbs the costs associated with the recent Swedish Match acquisition.

UiPath has flown under the media's radar despite some heavy Wall Street investment late last year, is it worth a look?

For every artificial intelligence (AI) headline grabber like OpenAI, there's usually a much quieter company that's potentially working on something even more interesting. And oftentimes those are the companies the smart money is looking at.

Case in point, UiPath (PATH +6.71%).

This company, working on developing an agentic AI toolkit for its customers to build their own custom AI machines, saw a cluster of institutions buying shares going into the end of 2025.

In December of last year, Vanguard Group added 1.2 million shares to its stake, an increase of 2.5%. BlackRock increased its position by 6.9% as of Sept. 30, 2025. That same day, Bank of America reported a 9.8% increase in its position, and Morgan Stanley reported an 11.21% increase.

So why are the institutional investors of Wall Street keeping an eye on and investing in UiPath? Let's take a look.

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Deus ex machina In ancient Greek theater, there was a plot device called "Deus ex Machina" or "God from the machine." The way it worked was that at the end of a play, a statue of one of the Greek gods would be lowered on stage to tie up all the story's loose ends in a neat little bow.

In a way, that's precisely what UiPath offers. Its software allows a client to build and tailor an AI bot to automate workflows and boost company efficiency.

The best part is, UiPath's bots don't seem like they're made to replace anyone. Instead, they are meant to automate the busywork nobody particularly enjoys. For instance, with UiPath's software, a customer can build a bot to handle invoice disputes. Or perhaps a business can speed up the tedium of filling out and filing tariff forms.

Employees who had that as part of their workload can now focus on the essential parts of their job that only a human could do, and not tedious, repetitive tasks.

Sounds useful for a business, right? Well, plenty of companies have already agreed.

The company has partnered with International Business Machines, SAP, Infosys, and Deloitte, among others, and on the tech end, it partnered with Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon.

And, despite its low share price and relatively low market cap of $6.7 billion, UiPath is demonstrating some solid growth with a large cash position relative to its debt.

Image source: Getty Images.

Artificial intelligence, authentic money In Q3 of UiPath's fiscal 2026, it recorded revenue of $411 million, up 16% year over year. More important for a software-as-a-service company like UiPath, though, its annual recurring revenue (ARR) hit $1.78 billion, up 11% year over year.

The company also grew its customers paying over $100,000 in ARR by 12% to 2,506, and its customers paying over $1 million by 10% to 333.

In the quarter, UiPath saw its free cash flow grow 8.2% to $25.11 million, its net cash position totaled $744.1 million, and its total debt position was just $82 million by comparison.

The only concerning point for me is that UiPath has yet to achieve net profitability, but aside from that, it's growing quickly and seems to be run well. Wall Street certainly sees potential, and I think UiPath is worth a look as perhaps a more speculative opportunity.

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

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

Following the external shocks of 2025—tariffs and a temporary slowdown in energy—WEG enters 2026 having preserved the integrity of its operating model, with margins and returns. The ADR's rebound from mid-2025 lows has been driven more by a favorable macro backdrop for Brazilian equities and emerging markets than by a renewed acceleration in company-specific fundamentals. With valuation still demanding and limited near-term catalysts, the investment case for WEG has shifted from multiple expansion to value preservation, supporting a constructive neutral stance heading into 2026.

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

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

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

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

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisClosed End Funds Analysis

SummaryThe Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund offers an 8.96% yield, using options strategies to enhance income beyond low-yielding equity holdings.ETJ's approach—writing naked S&P 500 call options and buying puts—reduces volatility but limits upside, leading to underperformance versus peers and the S&P 500 in bull markets.Distribution coverage has been inconsistent; while recent periods saw shortfalls, the trailing eighteen months were fully covered, warranting ongoing NAV monitoring.ETJ trades at a 7.05% discount to NAV, a reasonable valuation relative to its history and peer group, making it attractive for income-focused, risk-averse investors.Looking for a helping hand in the market? Members of Energy Profits in Dividends get exclusive ideas and guidance to navigate any climate. Learn More » Silver Place/iStock via Getty Images

The Eaton Vance Risk-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETJ) is a closed-end fund that aims to provide its investors with a very high level of current income from a portfolio that is primarily

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

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

FY25 and Q4 results came in above consensus, supported by cost discipline, resilient NII, and solid French Retail performance. The company reported weaker trends in GBIS and International Retail. The ECB's unchanged and unanimous rate decision provides a constructive backdrop for EU banks, yet SocGen's improved ROTE trajectory is, in our view, already priced in given its elevated P/E.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in PINE over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryFair Isaac Corporation serves as a critical utility in U.S. financial services, underpinning lending decisions with its proprietary scoring model.FICO's most recent earnings report showcased an accelerating business with overall scores revenue growing at 29%, non-GAAP operating margins reaching 55%, and ROIC soaring to 91%.Structural integration within the financial ecosystem offers a deep moat and dependable business model, as the FICO score is a "standard language" in the mortgage-backed security market.Management demonstrates resilience by deploying the FICO 10T model and implementing a Direct License program to employ their operating leverage. Sinenkiy/iStock via Getty Images

The Thesis Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) operates as an essential utility within the United States loan and mortgage origination ecosystem, with its proprietary scoring model being widely adopted by financial institutions. While the market remains fixated

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

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

Yuzo Nouchi
Executive VP, Corporate Functional Officer, CFO & Representative Director

I'm Nouchi, the CFO. Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend our fiscal '25 third quarter earnings briefing today. First, I'll walk you through an overview of our fiscal '25 third quarter results as well as key updates under Corporate Strategy 2027.

Please turn to Page 3 of the earnings presentation. First, let me begin with our financial results. In fiscal '25 Q3, underlying operating cash flow was 763.3 billion, and consolidated net income was JPY 607.9 billion. Supported by improved market conditions, enhanced profitability and revenue growth across multiple businesses, performance remained stronger than we had initially anticipated.

Regarding the full year forecast, we have reflected changes in the business environment since the second quarter earnings announcement as well as updated segment level risk assessments. Accordingly, we have revised our forecast for underlying operating cash flow upward by JPY 20 billion to JPY 920 billion, while maintaining consolidated net income at JPY 700 billion. Progress against the revised forecast are at high levels with 83% for underlying operating cash flow and 87% for consolidated net income. While there is a possibility that full year results may exceed the revised forecast, given the continued uncertainty in parts of the business environment toward fiscal year-end, we will carefully monitor conditions across each business and work steadily toward realizing potential upside.

Next, I will discuss progress under Corporate Strategy 2027. With respect to our value creation framework of Enhance, Reshape, and Create, we have announced several new initiatives since our

HomeStock IdeasIPO Analysis

SummarySeven IPOs and six SPACs priced this week.Five IPOs and five SPACs submitted filings.Five IPOs are currently scheduled in the week ahead, and some smaller issuers may join the calendar throughout the week.Street research is expected for one company in the week ahead, and six lock-up periods will be expiring in the week ahead. Chinmayi Shroff/iStock via Getty Images

Seven IPOs and six SPACs priced this week. Five IPOs and five SPACs submitted filings.

Hair loss biotech Veradermics (MANE) priced its upsized IPO above the range to raise $256 million at a $612 million

Nvidia was propelled to its current highs by the development of AI, but is it still one of the best ways to play it?

Without a doubt, Nvidia (NVDA +7.87%) has been the biggest story of the stock market in the first half of this decade. It became a $1 trillion company in 2023, and it has since grown to $4.38 trillion, briefly breaking $5 trillion in late 2025.

The company is the go-to hardware provider for dozens of companies looking to develop or expand their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities like Alphabet, which, despite developing its own Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) to reduce dependence on Nvidia, still uses Nvidia hardware.

Even companies that aren't directly focused on AI like Mercedes-Benz or Illumina go to Nvidia for their AI hardware needs. And the majority of language models released in 2025 have been built for Nvidia hardware.

There are some concerning headlines about OpenAI and other companies looking to move away from Nvidia hardware. But, based on the company's latest results, its current bull run is showing no signs of stopping, or even slowing down for that matter.

So, is Nvidia still the way to go for an AI hardware play? Let's take a look.

Image source: Getty Images.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but full is their wallet Nvidia got to where it is by building some of the most advanced hardware on the market. Its Blackwell chip became the subject of negotiations between the United States and China. And its next-gen Rubin GPU has 5 times the inference capabilities of Blackwell.

And between it and the associated Vera CPU, it will take 25% fewer GPUs to train a new model when compared to Blackwell.

Finally, it's also worth noting that Nvidia has a full-stack AI hardware product line for training, inference, and simulation. So, it can provide all the hardware you need to run AI and because they're all Nvidia's they will play nicely with one another.

Now, on to the financial end where you will see why the entire market watches with bated breath every time Nvidia releases earnings.

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Machine earning Despite Nvidia's incredible size, it's still growing like a much smaller company. In its latest results for Q3 of its fiscal 2026 (ended Oct. 26, 2025), Nvidia recorded 62% year-over-year revenue growth, topping $57 billion for the quarter. Operating income surged 65% to $36 billion. And the company's diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew 67%.

Also in that quarter, the company reduced its long-term debt by 4.7% and it holds total debt of $10.8 billion to a net cash position of $11.49 billion. And it grew that cash position 26% year over year.

Nvidia's free cash flow grew 31.5% year over year and its operating free cash flow grew 34.7% year over year. Its gross margin is sitting at 70%, its operating margin at 58%, and its net margin at 53%.

In short, Nvidia has rapidly growing revenue and income, it has manageable debt and a large cash position, it is incredibly profitable, and it continues to be a leader in the AI hardware market both in terms of market share and the sophistication of its product lines.

While past performance is no indication of future success, when a company consistently posts incredible growth then the odds of strong continued performance go up. Despite OpenAI looking to replace it, Nvidia remains the go-to hardware company for AI efforts and it's definitely worth a look for 2026.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummarySDVY's Index underwent a significant strategy change in March 2025, and results since then have been excellent. This article breaks down the changes and SDVY's new fundamentals in detail.Key impacts include a revised reconstitution schedule that allows for better responsiveness in fast-changing markets and a higher and dynamic holdings count, currently at 176 vs. 100 previously.Fundamentally, SDVY is very attractive from a growth, value, and quality perspective. However, it's unclear if these advantages will persist. I also found some of SDVY's screens questionable and unhelpful.As a result, I've maintained my "hold" rating on SDVY, and I look forward to covering its updated strategy throughout 2026. Igor Kutyaev/iStock via Getty Images

Investment Thesis This article continues my coverage of the First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY), which I last reviewed on November 27, 2025. In that article, I discussed SDVY's strategy update that

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

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until March 23, 2026 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period").  This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Get Help

BellRing investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-brbr/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658.  Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

BellRing and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. 

On May 6, 2025, the Company disclosed that "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which is expected to be a mid-single-digit headwind to our third quarter growth," and that "[w]e now expect Q3 sales growth of low single digits." On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $14.88 per share, or 19%, from $78.43 per share on May 5, 2025, to close at $63.55 per share on May 6, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Then, on August 4, 2025, post-market, the Company reported its fiscal 3Q 2025 financial results, disclosing a disappointing new 2025 sales outlook, stating "BellRing management has narrowed its fiscal year 2025 outlook for net sales to [a] range between $2.28-$2.32 billion," due to "several other competitors" gaining space to sell their products with a large retailer and that "it is not surprising to see new protein RTDs enter[ed]" the convenient nutrition market.  On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Denha v. BellRing Brands, Inc., No. 26-cv-00575.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

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