Market Signal Briefing

Dogecoin price dropped for two consecutive days after hitting the 50-day Exponential Moving Average as demand dropped and key headwinds rose.

Summary

Dogecoin price has slumped in the past few months. Spot DOGE ETFs inflows have stalled this year. The futures open interest has continued falling, while the funding rate has turned negative. Dogecoin (DOGE) token dropped to the important support level at $0.100, much lower than this month’s high of $0.1176. It remains ~67% from its highest level in 2025.

The coin faces major headwinds, which may drag its price in the near term. For example, it faces a major challenge on the ongoing crypto market crash, which has affected Bitcoin and most altcoins.

Additionally, the futures open interest has continued falling in the past few months, moving from a high of $5.20 billion in September to the current $1.16 billion. Falling open interest is a sign that demand has continued falling in the past few months.

More data shows that the weighted funding rate has remained in the red in the past few days. It dropped to the lowest level since February 10. A falling funding rate is a sign that investors believe that the coin will continue falling in the near term.

The same is happening in the exchange-traded fund market this year. Data compiled by SoSoValue shows that spot three spot DOGE ETFs by companies like Grayscale, 21Shares, and Bitwise have not had any inflows or outflows since February 3 this year. These funds now have had over $6.67 million in cumulative inflows, bringing the net inflows to $8.69 million.

Dogecoin price technical analysis  DOGE price chart |Source: crypto.news  The daily timeframe chart shows that the DOGE price has been in a strong downward trend in the past few months, moving from a high of $0.3073 in September last year.

Dogecoin price has dropped below the key support level at $0.1295, its lowest level on April 7 last year. It has fallen below all moving averages, while the Percentage Price Oscillator remains below the zero line.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the coin continues falling, potentially to the year-to-date low of $0.0790, its lowest level this month. A drop below that support level will signal more downside.

The rapid buildout of AI data centers has revived a long-running debate over energy consumption, with critics arguing that large computing operations, including Bitcoin mining, strain power grids and drive up electricity prices.

As Cointelegraph previously reported, the surge in AI data center construction has fueled local resistance in several US regions, with residents and lawmakers raising concerns about power demand and rising electricity costs. Bitcoin (BTC) mining has increasingly been linked to the broader debate over high-density computing infrastructure.

In a recent research note, crypto investment firm Paradigm pushed back on that narrative, arguing that Bitcoin mining is frequently misunderstood and often mischaracterized in public energy debates. Rather than treating mining as a static energy drain, Paradigm frames it as a participant in electricity markets, one that responds to price signals and grid conditions.

Paradigm’s Justin Slaughter and co-author Veronica Irwin also challenge several common assumptions used in energy modeling. For example, they note that some analyses measure Bitcoin’s energy use on a per-transaction basis, even though mining energy consumption is tied to network security and competition among miners, not transaction volume. 

Other models assume energy production is effectively limitless or that miners will continue operating regardless of profitability, assumptions Paradigm argues are unrealistic in competitive power markets.

According to Paradigm, Bitcoin mining currently accounts for about 0.23% of global energy consumption and about 0.08% of global carbon emissions. Because the network’s issuance schedule is fixed and mining rewards decline about every four years, Paradigm argues that long-term energy growth is constrained by economic incentives.

Source: Daniel BattenBitcoin mining as flexible grid demandA central pillar of Paradigm’s argument is demand flexibility.

Bitcoin miners typically seek out the lowest-cost electricity, often sourced from surplus or off-peak generation.

Mining operations can scale consumption based on grid conditions, reducing usage during periods of stress and increasing it when supply exceeds demand. In that sense, Paradigm describes mining as a flexible load, similar to energy-intensive industries that respond to real-time pricing signals.

The debate has taken on new urgency as AI data center expansion accelerates. As Cointelegraph recently reported, some crypto-era infrastructure is now being repurposed to support artificial intelligence workloads, with companies shifting from Bitcoin mining to AI data processing to pursue higher margins. Several traditional Bitcoin miners, including Hut 8, HIVE Digital, MARA Holdings, TeraWulf and IREN, have begun making partial transitions.

By framing mining as responsive demand rather than constant consumption, Paradigm’s report shifts the debate from environmental alarmism to grid economics. The implication for policymakers is that Bitcoin mining should be evaluated within the broader electricity market rather than through simplified energy comparisons.

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Despite its steady bearish performance over the past few months, the sentiment toward XRP in certain areas appears to have turned bullish once again. One of the regions showing renewed interest and attention in the leading altcoin is South Korea, as its traders quietly build up more positions.

Signs Of XRP Accumulation Among Korean Traders Trading activity of XRP is gaining momentum once again, especially from the South Korean region. There are emerging signs that Korean traders are stepping back into the market, re-accumulating the altcoin after a period of reduced exposure.

Regional exchange market data indicates a resurgence in buying demand, suggesting a potential change in attitude inside one of XRP’s most significant marketplaces. Arthur, a market expert and partner of the BingX exchange, disclosed the development using data from Bithump, one of South Korea’s largest exchanges.

As seen on the chart shared by the market expert, the leading South Korean cryptocurrency exchange has seen renewed activity on XRP pairs. In the past, periods of accumulation on the Korean markets have frequently been accompanied by greater momentum and liquidity. Meanwhile, this renewed buying activity could mark the beginning of an upward swing for XRP, driven by growing demand.

Source: Chart from Arthur on X Since the re-accumulation signal, the price of the altcoin has increased by over 38%. Historically, when Korean liquidity steps in, Arthur stated that the price typically follows the trend. Thus, the expert believes that monitoring the flows could provide insights into the possible next direction of the token.

On the institutional level, accumulation appears to be showing robust strength. Business owner and investor Minus Wells shared that Evernorth, regarded as the MicroStrategy of XRP, has quietly scooped up nearly 0.5% of all the altcoin’s supply in the market.

Following the recent acquisition, the company now has more than 473 million XRP locked in its treasury vault. This stash represents almost half a percent of the entire supply sitting in one corporate vault. According to the expert, the firm is just getting started. “While everyone else is panicking over dips, this Ripple-backed beast is building the biggest public XRP hoard ever,” he added.

Positioned In A Sweet Spot After persistent downside pressure, the altcoin is now positioned in a sweet spot as all of the liquidity below has been cleared, while the deep liquidity above is stacked all the way up to $4+. Bird highlighted that this is the point where many shorts, leverage positions, and stop levels are sitting.

Despite the price trajectory, the markets naturally move toward liquidity because that is where the orders are located. When price reclaims these areas, shorts are forced to close, and a closed short hints at buying re-accumulation at higher levels. As a result, upside moves can be extremely swift.

Furthermore, liquidations trigger buying pressure, which pushes prices higher and closes more shorts, leading to a resurgence of momentum. Following this, the market buys, and retail rushes in, driving the price wild.

XRP trading at $1.45 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from Tradingview.com

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Solana’s structure outperforms Ethereum, rebounding 30% from $67 lows, with key liquidity clusters above $90 signaling a squeeze.

Izabela Anna2 min read

16 February 2026, 09:04 PM

Solana traded near a decisive technical zone on Monday as analysts tracked a growing liquidity pocket above current price. The token changed hands at $84.59, down 0.62% over 24 hours. Weekly losses stand at 3.26%, while daily volume reached $3.7 billion. Despite the short-term pullback, several market watchers said positioning suggests a potential volatility spike if key levels break.

Liquidity Cluster Builds Above $90TedPillows said SOL holds a notable liquidity cluster between $90 and $105. He argued that many traders opened short positions after the recent breakdown. Consequently, those late shorts now sit vulnerable if price pushes higher.

SOL recently defended the $78–$80 support band with strong buying interest. Hence, price reclaimed the $85 region and started grinding toward the $90 pivot. The heatmap shows concentrated liquidity in the $90–$105 range. That cluster signals heavy stop placement from short sellers.

If SOL clears $90 with conviction, momentum could expand toward $95 and $100. Moreover, a firm Bitcoin move would likely intensify that squeeze. Market makers often target crowded positioning. A push toward $105 could occur before any deeper retracement unfolds.

Relative Strength Versus EthereumCrypto Bully noted that SOL’s structure looks stronger than Ethereum’s. He observed that SOL has rebounded nearly 30% from the $67 low. Therefore, he considers a full revisit of $67 less likely under current conditions.

However, that outlook depends on Bitcoin holding the $70,000–$75,000 support zone. If Bitcoin loses that range, downside risk increases across large-cap altcoins. On the 2-hour chart, SOL now consolidates between $85 and $88. The $90 level remains the immediate barrier.

A clean break above $90 could open a relief move toward $95 and possibly $100. Additionally, the $80–$82 area now serves as near-term support. A failure there would expose $75 and potentially the prior sweep low at $67.

Key Pivot at $77 Remains in FocusSource: X

Crypto Tony shifted attention to the $77 level. He said a controlled sweep of $77 could reset positioning this week. On the 4-hour chart, SOL rebounded after flushing into the $67–$70 zone. Price then reclaimed $77, turning it into a central pivot.

Significantly, resistance stands at $90–$92, followed by $95. Short-term momentum cooled as price pulled back toward $84–$85. If bulls defend $76–$78, a renewed push toward $88 and $92 could follow. However, a decisive break below $76 would likely drag price back toward $70 and possibly $67.

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Izabela Anna is a knowledgeable freelance journalist, who boasts over five years of experience covering the cryptocurrency market. Her tenure has seen her navigate through the ebbs and flows of multiple market cycles, giving her a deep understanding within. Her journalistic focus lies in dissecting price action dynamics, scrutinizing the on-chain landscape, and providing insights from a technical perspective, making her a trusted voice in the realm of cryptocurrency reporting.

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Latest Solana (SOL) News Today

Standard Chartered has reduced its year-end target for XRP by approximately 65%, bringing it down to $2.80 from an earlier projection of $8. The decision follows a broader slump in the cryptocurrency market, marking one of the worst downturns in almost four years. Analysts at Standard Chartered cited persistent weakness across digital assets as the primary reason for the cut in their price forecast.

XRP's price has faced significant challenges, recently falling to $1.16, its lowest point since late 2024 before attempting a partial recovery. The drop in value prompted the bank to revise its expectations for XRP and other major cryptocurrencies. Geoffrey Kendrick, the global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, highlighted the continuing price challenges and warned of further declines in the short term.

This downward revision reflects the broader struggle in the cryptocurrency market, where Bitcoin and Ethereum have also seen price reductions. Standard Chartered has similarly adjusted its price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, reducing Bitcoin’s target from $150,000 to $100,000 and Ethereum’s from $7,000 to $4,000. Solana also saw a reduction in its year-end price target, from $250 to $135.

XRP ETF Flows and Institutional InterestWhile XRP’s price has struggled, recent fund flow data suggests that there is still interest from institutional investors in the cryptocurrency. According to CoinShares’ weekly report, XRP saw inflows of $33.4 million in the last week, although this was down from the previous week’s $63.1 million. This indicates that while overall interest in XRP remains, the momentum has slowed down in recent weeks.

Source: X

The bank's decision to slash its XRP price forecast coincides with a notable pullback in assets linked to XRP in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The total assets in XRP-related ETFs fell by approximately 40% from $1.6 billion to around $1 billion between January and mid-February. These declines signal caution among investors as they react to the broader downturn in the crypto markets.

Notably, XRP’s ETF remained more attractive compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which saw higher outflows. This has led some analysts to suggest that institutional investors may be rotating their funds into specific altcoins like XRP rather than leaving the market entirely. Bank of America, for example, reported owning 13,000 shares of the Volatility Shares XRP ETF, indicating continued interest in the asset despite the broader market struggles.

XRP Price Volatility Amid RecoveryXRP’s price has experienced significant volatility, with sharp fluctuations in recent days. Over the weekend, XRP price rose from $1.53 to a high of $1.66, a 9% increase within five hours, before plummeting back to $1.44 by the evening. 

This sharp rise and fall were largely attributed to trading activity on Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, which recorded over $600 million in XRP trading volume. This volume surpassed both Bitcoin and Ethereum on the platform, contributing to the rapid price swings.

Source: X

Market analysts have pointed out that Upbit's order books may have played a central role in XRP’s recent price movements. According to data from Dom, a market analyst, the exchange placed significant sell pressure on the XRP market, resulting in the steep decline in price after the brief rally. 

However, further investigations into the trading activity on Upbit revealed no signs of manipulation or wash trading, suggesting that the price swings were the result of genuine market activity from both retail and institutional traders.

Ether (ETH) opened the week with a drop below the psychological $2,000 level, placing the altcoin into a 20% loss for February. Still, onchain data shows long-term investors accumulating ETH and rising network usage. 

Now, analysts are examining how ETH’s technical outlook and the derivatives data align with its emerging demand to determine if a prolonged rally above $2,000 is possible.

Key takeaways:

Over 2.5 million ETH flowed into accumulation addresses in February, lifting holdings to 26.7 million for 2026.

Ethereum weekly transactions hit 17.3 million as the median fees fell to $0.008, a 3,000x drop from 2021 peaks.

ETH open interest dropped to $11.2 billion, but leverage remains elevated, with liquidation clusters stacked near $1,909 and $2,200.

Ether accumulation grows despite price dropEther accumulation addresses added more than 2.5 million ETH in February, even as the price declined around 20%. Total holdings have risen to 26.7 million ETH, up from 22 million at the beginning of 2026.

ETH balance on accumulation addresses. Source: CryptoQuantMN Capital founder Michaël van de Poppe noted that ETH valued against silver is at its lowest level on record, arguing that such difficult market phases often present a long-term accumulation window.

The network demand is also improving alongside improving fundamentals. Over 30% of ETH’s circulating supply (37,228,911 ETH)  is currently staked, reducing the liquid supply. At the same time, weekly transaction count reached an all-time high of 17.3 million, while median fees fell to $0.008.

Ether total value staked. Source: CryptoQuantIn comparison, head of research at Lisk, Leon Waidmann, noted that the weekly transactions were near 21 million, but the median fees surged above $25 during the 2021 peak. The current structure reflects a higher usage at significantly lower cost.

ETH compresses below $2,000 as leveraged traders brace for a breakoutOn the four-hour chart, Ether appears to be forming an Adam and Eve bottom, a bullish reversal setup that begins with a sharp, V-shaped low (the “Adam”) followed by a slower, rounded base (the “Eve”).

The structure reflects an initial aggressive sell-off that quickly finds buyers, then a period of gradual accumulation as the volatility contracts. 

ETH/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA confirmed breakout above the $2,150 neckline validates the pattern and may open the door toward the $2,473–$2,634 region, based on the measured move projection from the base. The invalidation remains below recent higher lows, with $1,909 acting as a key short-term liquidity level. 

Open interest has declined to $11.2 billion from a $30 billion cycle peak in August 2025. However, the estimated leverage ratio remains elevated at 0.7, only slightly down from 0.77 in January. This suggests leverage is still concentrated in the system, increasing the possibility of a sharp move.

Percentage of ETH Global accounts long on Binance. Source: HyblockHyblock data shows that 73% of the global accounts are currently long on ETH. Liquidation heatmaps show more than $2 billion in short positions clustered above $2,200, compared with roughly $1 billion in long liquidations stacked near $1,800, highlighting a heavier squeeze risk to the upside.

Although the nearest dense cluster sits at $1,909, where $563 million in longs are vulnerable, which may act as a potential short-term liquidity magnet before the expected uptrend. 

ETH liquidation map. Source: CoinGlassThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

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

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It hasn’t gone unnoticed by the broader market that Shares of Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) fell sharply in early February, coinciding with a noticeable shift in retail investor sentiment on platforms like Reddit and X from cautiously optimistic to decidedly bearish. The chipmaker reported Q1 revenue of $12.3 billion, a record for the quarter, yet the stock has tumbled 18% year-to-date. The disconnect stems from weak forward guidance, driven by a global memory chip shortage that’s constraining smartphone manufacturers and forcing them to scale back production plans.

On the plus side, Qualcomm’s automotive segment delivered $1.10 billion in revenue, up 15% year-over-year, but this positive was overshadowed by management’s Q2 guidance of only $10.2 to $11 billion in revenue, well below Wall Street expectations. CEO Cristiano Amon attributed the shortfall to memory supply constraints affecting handsets, particularly among Chinese OEMs who are adjusting build plans downward to manage cost pressures.

Reddit Turns Pessimistic on Qualcomm’s Near-Term Outlook Mentions of Qualcomm on Reddit’s r/stocks and r/WallStreetBets have shifted from bullish to bearish in recent weeks. Sentiment scores dropped from 65 pre-earnings to a range of 20 to 36 post-earnings, reflecting growing skepticism about the company’s ability to navigate near-term headwinds. Retail traders are voicing three primary concerns:

This infographic provides a snapshot of Qualcomm’s investment landscape, highlighting a significantly bearish social sentiment score and key factors impacting its stock performance, despite a record Q1 revenue. Memory chip shortages are diverting supply to AI data centers, leaving smartphone manufacturers scrambling and delaying handset launches Weak Q2 guidance signals that the memory crisis will persist longer than initially expected, pressuring Qualcomm’s core handset business Despite record revenue, earnings per share actually fell back over the last year, indicating operational challenges beneath the surface One trader posted about their QCOM earnings play, writing about the cautious sentiment around the stock’s near-term prospects. The post, which received 21 upvotes and 4 comments, reflects prevailing skepticism among retail traders regarding Qualcomm’s memory-constrained guidance.

Oversold Technicals and Analyst Support Suggest a Floor Despite the negativity, technical indicators show Qualcomm is deeply oversold. The stock’s RSI hit 21 on February 5, the lowest level in years, and has since recovered slightly to 33. Analysts maintain a consensus “Buy” rating with an average price target of $168.53, implying nearly 20% upside. For context, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) is down just 2% year-to-date, highlighting how Qualcomm’s struggles are company-specific rather than sector-wide. Investors should closely monitor trends in memory supply and Chinese smartphone demand. If the memory crunch eases, Qualcomm’s strong automotive and IoT growth could drive a sharp recovery.

The composition of S&P 500 returns has changed significantly in 2026. Equal-weighting the index might be the best way to take advantage of it.

U.S. stocks are continuing to move higher to start 2026, but where those gains are coming from has completely changed.

Over the past three years, the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.05%) has been pulled higher by a narrow group of megacap tech stocks. This year, tech is one of the worst-performing sectors, and others, including energy, consumer staples, and industrials, have taken its place as the leader.

That doesn't mean investing in the S&P 500 is no longer a wise play. It may, however, mean you need to rethink the right way to approach it. Finding ways to reduce tech exposure within an existing large-cap portfolio allocation could work well in the current market environment.

Image source: Getty Images.

How an equal weighting changes the index's composition In the traditional S&P 500, technology accounts for roughly 34% of the index. That's right around the same allocation the index saw during the peak of the tech bubble.

Equal-weighting the index maintains that tech exposure, but in a much less concentrated way. Plus, it lifts the weightings of several sectors that have been laggards in recent years but have performed much better recently. Considering the current market rotation happening within U.S. stocks, I believe the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP +1.04%) is the best way to invest in the index right now.

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If you're worried about the risk of having too much of your portfolio in tech, growth, and the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, the Equal Weight ETF solves that issue immediately.

SectorS&P 500Equal Weight S&P 500DifferenceTechnology33.4%13.5%(19.9%)Financials12.9%14.8%1.9%Communication services11%3.9%(7.1%)Consumer discretionary10.4%9.5%(0.9%)Healthcare9.4%11.9%2.5%Industrials8.6%16.4%7.8%Consumer staples5%7.4%2.4%Energy3.2%4.6%1.4%Utilities2.2%6.2%4%Materials2%5.6%3.6%Real estate1.9%6.2%4.3% Data source: S&P Global

The tech and communication services sectors, which house all of the Magnificent Seven stocks, get their combined 43.4% weighting in the S&P 500 trimmed all the way down to 17.4% in the equal-weight version. With the exception of consumer discretionary, every other S&P sector sees a meaningful increase in their index weight, especially those at the bottom of the list.

This produces a much more diversified portfolio. Eight of the 11 sectors have weightings of at least 6% and none gets more than 16%. The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF has just 2.9% of its assets in the top 10 holdings, compared to 38% in the traditional S&P 500 index.

Valuation is also much more reasonable. The S&P 500 currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 22. The equal-weight version has a forward P/E ratio of just over 17.

In short, the equal-weight S&P 500 is better constructed to take advantage of the current market rotation. Most importantly, it reduces the heavy reliance on the megacap tech stocks that are looking more vulnerable at the moment. As investors place more importance on relative value and quality in case conditions start turning south, an equal-weight S&P 500 helps take some of the larger tail risks off the table.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 16, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds persons who invested in securities of SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) between July 25, 2025 and August 14, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 17, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased SLM securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 17, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) SLM was experiencing a significant increase in early stage delinquencies; (2) accordingly, defendants overstated the effectiveness of SLM's loss mitigation and/or loan modification programs, as well as the overall stability of SLM's private education loan ("PEL") delinquency rates; and (3) as a result, defendants' public statements made a materially false and misleading impression regarding SLM's business, operations, and prospects at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the SLM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49601 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Vår Energi ASA (VARRY) Analyst/Investor Day February 10, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Ida Fjellheim - Vice President of Investor Relations
Nicholas Walker - Chief Executive Officer
Torger Rod - Chief Operating Officer
Oddgeir Dalane
Luca Dragonetti
Ellen Hoddell - Executive Vice President of Sustainability & Safety
Carlo Santopadre - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Sasikanth Chilukuru - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Teodor Nilsen - Sparebank 1 Markets AS, Research Division
Victoria McCulloch - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Naisheng Cui - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Tianhong Bi - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Steffen Evjen - DNB Carnegie, Research Division
Alejandra Magana - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division

Presentation

Ida Fjellheim
Vice President of Investor Relations

Good afternoon, everyone. It's a pleasure to welcome you all to Var Energi's 2026 Capital Markets Update and presentation of our Fourth Quarter 2025 Results. It's great to see so many people here in the room and also joining us on the webcast.

2025 has been a transformational year for the company. And today, we will present an updated plan for how we will be delivering higher production and more value for longer with material cash flow generation and attractive dividends. Our CEO, Nick Walker, will lead the way, followed by presentations held by several members of our leadership team.

In addition to Nick, Thorhild, Carlo and Ellen, we will have our Head of Projects, Oddgeir Dalane, that will walk us through our high-value project portfolio; and our Head of Exploration, Luca Dragonetti, who will take us through how we will continue to deliver value through our exploration activities. Following the presentations, we will open up for questions.

With that, I'd like to invite Nick to the stage.

Nicholas Walker
Chief Executive Officer

Well, thank you, Ida, and good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Var Energi's 2026 Capital Markets Update, together with a review of our Full

Has Wall Street Finally Thrown In The Towel On Target?

getty

According to the Law of Holes, an adage that describes a common dilemma in life or business, “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” As reflected in declining sales, eroding financials, and a series of unforced public relations fiascos, Target has been digging itself a deep hole for the past four years.

Now, a few weeks shy of reporting its annual results (the retail year ends Jan. 31), Wall Street is braced for more of the same. In spite of a recent executive shakeup and the company’s promise of a $5 billion rehabilitation plan, it appears analysts who follow the company have pretty much given up hope of a turnaround anytime soon.

A year ago there were 33 investment experts who had published opinions on the stock, according to Tipranks.com, an AI-based platform that institutional investors use to track analyst performance. Half had rated Target a buy and the other half a hold. The stock was trading at $133 a share, down 50% from its all-time high of $264 in 2022.

At the time, none recommended selling, in part because Target is a so-called “dividend king,” a sobriquet bestowed on companies that have paid stockholders a dividend for more than 50 consecutive years. Last fall, its dividend rate flirted with a high of 5%, making a compelling case for owning it. The stock has recovered somewhat since then, but the dividend rate still looks good today, in theory, at about 4%.

Nevertheless, the number of analysts listed as following the company now has shrunk to 22. Only three rate it a buy. In spite of the dividend, nearly half have issued a sell signal.

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Target, once a Wall Street darling for its transformation from mass-merchandise discounter to budget chic-boutique vibe and earning the nickname “Tar-Zhay,” has become a challenge of a retailer. It has flailed its way through a resilient consumer economy while its rivals, like Walmart, have flourished.

Target’s problems blossomed in 2023 when the company debuted a poorly executed Pride Month promotion that became the focus of a right‑wing campaign. The controversy escalated to include in-store confrontations with employees. The company ended up abandoning its diversity commitment altogether, a move that outraged a whole other swath of shoppers. Nobody was happy.

A few months later, Target announced that it was closing some of its stores that it said had been hit by gangs of shoplifters.

Since then, revenue growth sputtered and then stalled. In seven of the last 10 quarters, quarterly revenue has been shrinking, reflecting what some analysts say is uninspired merchandise and disorganization. Customers complain about bare shelves, uneven service, tired layouts, and a confusing proliferation of private label goods.

Target’s latest PR fumble came late last year when it introduced a rule requiring employees to actively engage with shoppers when they were within 10 feet by smiling, making eye contact, and waving. Within four feet they were instructed to make a verbal greeting. Target said this “10-4” rule was supposed to make customers feel more “appreciated” and boost “guest loyalty.” Instead, many shoppers found it forced and creepy.

“A lot of people who used to adore Target are now, in a word, haters,” according to Celine Provini, a senior editor at TheStreet.com. In a recent lengthy post, she writes, “I used to love walking into Target and roaming the aisles for interesting finds. The days of browsing Target’s inventory for fun are long gone.”

In its announcement about the $5 billion commitment, Target’s new CEO Michael Fiddelke said plans include building new mega-stores, remodeling existing stores, upgrading its tech infrastructure, and protecting the dividend.

Little was said about the real challenge — how to repair the extensive damage that has been done to the brand. That will take years and a lot more imagination and attention to detail than the company has shown in a long time. Until then, the hole is likely to just get deeper.

Key Takeaways Magna International posted Q4 EPS of $2.18, topping estimates as sales rose 2% to $10.85B.MGA's Body Exteriors & Structures and Seating Systems drove EBIT gains on productivity and launches.MGA guides 2026 revenues of $41.9-$43.5B and EPS of $6.25-$7.25, and raises dividend to 49.50 cents. Magna International (MGA - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.18 per share, which rose from the year-ago quarter’s $1.69. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81.

Net sales increased 2% year over year to $10.85 billion, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.48 billion.

MGA’s Segmental PerformanceThe Body Exteriors & Structures segment’s revenues totaled $4.25 billion, up 4.6% year over year. This was due to higher production on certain ongoing programs, the launch of new programs, and the overall appreciation of foreign currencies compared to the U.S. dollar. The figure also topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.1 billion.

The segment reported an adjusted EBIT of $465 million, up from $371 million recorded in the year-ago period. The metric also topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $365.22 million on enhanced productivity and efficiency and supply-chain premiums in 2024.

The Power & Vision segment’s revenues increased 1.5% year over year to $3.84 billion due to higher production on certain programs, the launch of new programs and the overall appreciation of foreign currencies compared to the U.S. dollar. The metric surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.8 billion.

Segmental adjusted EBIT fell from $235 million to $166 million due to unfavorable product mix and higher net warranty costs and input production costs. The metric missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $269.2 million. 

Revenues from the Seating Systems segment rose 8.1% year over year to $1.63 billion due to the launch of programs and the net strengthening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar. The metric also topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.48 billion.

Segmental adjusted EBIT rose to $136 million from $67 million in the year-ago period due to productivity and efficiency improvements, lower net warranty costs and customer recoveries for tariffs. The metric also topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $89 million.

The Complete Vehicles segment’s revenues decreased 10.1% year over year to $1.26 billion due to lower engineering revenues and the end of production of the Jaguar I-Pace and Jaguar E-Pace. The metric outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 billion.

The segment reported adjusted EBIT of $50 million, down from $56 million in the year-ago period due to lower income resulting from reduced engineering sales and unfavorable net commercial items. The metric outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $39.62 million.

Magna’s FinancialsMagna had $1.61 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of Dec. 31, 2025, up from $1.25 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024. As of Dec. 31, 2025, long-term debt was $4.69 billion, up from $4.13 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024.

In the reported quarter, cash provided from operating activities totaled $1.98 billion, up from the year-ago figure of $1.91 billion. 

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 2% to 49.50 cents per common share, which will be paid on March 13, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Feb. 27, 2026.

MGA’s 2026 GuidanceMagna expects 2026 revenues to be in the band of $41.9-$43.5 billion compared with 42.01 billion reported in 2025. Adjusted EBIT margin is expected to be in the band of 6-6.6%. Adjusted diluted EPS is anticipated to be in the band of $6.25-$7.25 compared with $5.73 reported in 2025. Capex is guided in the band of $1.5-$1.6 billion.

Magna Zacks Rank & Key PicksMGA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Ford Motor (F - Free Report) , Modine Manufacturing (MOD - Free Report)  and Strattec Security (STRT - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for F’s 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 39.5%. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 7 cents and 8 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOD’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 21.2% and 18.8%, respectively. The EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 has improved 5 cents and 7 cents, respectively, in the past seven days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STRT’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 2.1% and 16.2%, respectively. The EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has improved 85 cents and 48 cents, respectively, in the past sev

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 16, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Richtech Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ: RR) between January 27, 2026 and 12:00 PM ET on January 29, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 3, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Richtech Robotics securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Richtech Robotics class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51742 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 3, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Richtech claimed that it had a collaborative and commercial relationship with Microsoft when it did not; and (2) as a result, defendants' statements about Richtech's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Richtech Robotics class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51742 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284047

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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-->

  AIRDRIE, ALBERTA: February 16, 2026 – TheNewswire - Vitreous Glass Inc. (TSXV:VCI) (the "Corporation") announces that it has granted 510 deferred share units (the "DSUs") to an independent director. The DSUs were granted as a non-cash settlement of dividends received on previously issued and outstanding DSUs held by the independent director and relating to dividend paid by the corporation on common shares on February 13, 2026.

The DSUs were granted under the DSU plan adopted in 2022. The DSUs vest immediately and entitle the holder to receive a cash payment equal to the value of one share of the Company for each DSU held, at the time the holder ceases to be a director of the Company.

  For further information, please contact:

VITREOUS GLASS INC.

Pat Cashion, President

(403) 948-7811

  Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

  Not for Dissemination to the US or to US Newswires

 

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

Summary: Our AI Investor Podcasts have been counting down the 12 trends that AI investors should be watching in 2026.

Recently, Eric Bleeker and Austin Smith focused their attention on the competitive battle between OpenAI and Alphabet. While OpenAI was the early leader in artificial intelligence, Alphabet has staged a powerful resurgence and now appears ahead in several dimensions.

“There’s been a large divergence in the performance of companies seen as part of the OpenAI sphere versus the Alphabet sphere,” Bleeker explains. “So when we look at a company like Oracle, they are highly associated with OpenAI. They’re down 50.3%. Meanwhile, stocks that have been associated with Alphabet, such as Celestica, Lumentum and Broadcom really had a great start to the second half of 2025.”

However, Bleeker argues that media coverage of OpenAI has become excessively negative, especially regarding its plans to raise tens of billions of dollars in capital. He suggests that much of Wall Street had already anticipated large capital raises, meaning the headlines may not accurately reflect the underlying financial reality.

“You need to be able to look beyond what’s in the media, and that often provides opportunity because it is non-consensus. You make your money by being non-consensus. As you know, we generally have been non-consensus with AI, and when the trend works, you see the benefits from it.”

Transcript: Austin: Okay, Eric, this is the moment our listeners have been asking for. They want to hear the discussion of the final four AI trends that you had identified for 2026, and let’s just jump right into the first one. This is our first back-to-back special episode drop here. No need for a special intro.

Talk to me about the battle between OpenAI and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) | GOOGL Price Prediction. You and I have discussed Alphabet’s incredible resurgence, first starting late to the AI race and now seemingly being ahead in most dimensions while OpenAI started first. And I wonder if this is a case of the first pioneer getting arrows in their back.

Is that what we are going to see here with OpenAI? And is the second pioneer actually the winner? Tell me what’s going on.

Eric Bleeker: As background, what we’re doing is we’ve been going through our 12 biggest trends for 2026, and at the end we’re going to do a larger portfolio rebalance. Once we conclude episodes, we’ll be able to talk about these trends as establishing factors and how the companies play into them. Then we’ll be able to rebalance the portfolio.

We’ve talked in the past, Austin, about areas like the emergence of CPUs this year, the birth of larger AI factories, and memory. Today we’re going to talk about a few themes that are relatively interconnected. The first one I wanted to talk about was OpenAI versus Alphabet. Listeners of the podcast will know we’ve discussed this before, that there’s been a large divergence in the performance of companies seen as part of the OpenAI sphere versus the Alphabet sphere.

OpenAI has ambitious plans, while Alphabet is really focusing on its TPUs and the unique infrastructure involved in that build-out.

So when we look at a company like Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), they are highly associated with OpenAI. They’re down 50.3%. Meanwhile, stocks that have been associated with Alphabet, such as Celestica (NYSE: CLS), Lumentum (NASDAQ: LITE), and Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), really had a great start to the second half of 2025.

But Austin, what I find interesting here is the media cycle. I went on my rant in the last episode and won’t do as long a rant here, but the media cycle around OpenAI is terrible. It’s reached a fervor where any article about the company can’t be fair.

For example, this week it was announced that they’re going to be looking to raise $50 billion between debt or equity, which led to no shortage of handwringing about the bubble being here and Oracle not being able to afford to do this build-out. But the thing is, most of Wall Street already built into their models that OpenAI would be raising far more than that. This was actually relatively good news if you were an Oracle investor, but you wouldn’t have known that from the headlines.

Another headline this week was that The Wall Street Journal ran a story about how Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) was breaking up with OpenAI and wouldn’t be investing a previously stated amount in the company. But the reality is this: OpenAI is in a funding round. They’re looking to raise about $100 billion that’s almost surely going to involve Nvidia. They also have other companies interested in providing large sums of capital like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and SoftBank.

If they raise $100 billion and are aiming for an IPO in Q4, that probably gives OpenAI several hundred billion dollars’ worth of capital. It gives them the runway that they need.

The final point I want to make here is we’ve been talking about this Claude Code moment and how it’s become the driving narrative of the market in early 2026. Well, who’s the primary competitor to Claude Code? It’s OpenAI’s Codex. The company you don’t really see a lot of discussion about with their coding tools is Alphabet.

So sometimes you have to zag away from market sentiment. I believe this is an area rich with opportunities. There’s a lot of negative sentiment, and I believe companies in the Alphabet ecosystem will still see strong results in 2026. But the negativity is so high on many stocks indexed to OpenAI that I think it’s become a relative zone of opportunity.

This is going to be one of the zones we’re looking at. I want to explain why that is because if we issue recommendations into a lot of these companies, listeners might say, “All I’ve heard is bad things about OpenAI.”

Austin: Mm-hmm.

Eric Bleeker: We need to talk about how the narratives don’t accurately reflect the situation happening at the beginning of 2026.

Austin: Yeah, and you’ve discussed the importance of companies having a good narrative and being able to look through narratives to reality. I’ll give you another example. Alphabet has had a fantastic run post-2025, from the tail end of 2025 through to now, and we’ve talked a lot about that.

They have a lot of great narratives going right now. One of the other ones you’ll hear is that Alphabet owns 7% of SpaceX, Waymo is a $100 billion company in their portfolio, and they have a stake in Anthropic. All of these are true and very impressive.

If you add up the estimated stakes of all of those companies I just mentioned, it’s about $225 billion. That is a lot of money, but it’s against a $4 trillion market cap. So we’re talking about maybe 6% of the company.

This is a case where Alphabet has some shine on it and some good narratives out there. But when you actually start to look through the context and put these numbers against reality, you have to understand how much of this could just be good vibes, good media coverage, and the fact that OpenAI has negative coverage.

I like that you’re trying to look through that to understand the ground truth of whether or not the company is going to be in a good position. If they can raise $100 billion and plan for an IPO, as you said, they’re going to have all the money they need to go fight this AI war for a number of years.

Eric Bleeker: You need to be able to look beyond what’s in the media, and that often provides opportunity because it is non-consensus.

Austin: Mm-hmm.

Eric Bleeker: You make your money by being non-consensus. As you know, we generally have been non-consensus with AI, and when the trend works, you see the benefits from it.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 16, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Klarna's September 2025 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important February 20, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Klarna securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that Klarna's loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna's buy now, pay later ("BNPL") loans; and (2); as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284055

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Q3: 2026-02-16 Earnings SummaryEPS of -$0.01 beats by $0.11

 |

Revenue of

$348.58M

(40.60% Y/Y)

beats by $85.54M

ReNew Energy Global Plc (RNW) Q3 2026 Earnings Call February 16, 2026 8:30 AM EST

Company Participants

Anunay Shahi - Head of Investor Relations
Sumant Sinha - Founder, Chairman & CEO
Kailash Vaswani - Chief Financial Officer
Vaishali Sinha - Cofounder of ReNew & Chairperson of Sustainability

Conference Call Participants

Maheep Mandloi - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division
Nikhil Nigania - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Puneet Gulati - HSBC Global Investment Research

Presentation

Operator

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to ReNew's Third Quarter FY '26 Earnings Report. [Operator Instructions]

I would now like to hand the conference over for opening remarks. Please go ahead.

Anunay Shahi
Head of Investor Relations

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. We have put out a press release announcing results for our fiscal 2026 third quarter ended December 31, 2025. A copy of the press release and the earnings presentation are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.renew.com.

With me today are Sumant Sinha, our Founder, Chairman and CEO; Kailash Vaswani, our CFO; and Vaishali Nigam Sinha, our Co-Founder and Chairperson, Sustainability. After the prepared remarks, which we expect will take about 30 minutes, we will open the call for questions.

Please note that our safe harbor statements are contained within our press release, presentation materials and materials available on our website. These statements are important and integral to all our remarks. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. So we encourage you to review the press release and the presentation on our website for a more complete description.

Also contained in our press release, presentation materials and annual report are certain non-IFRS measures that we reconcile to the

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of PomDoctor Ltd. (NASDAQ: POM) between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important April 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PomDoctor securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 7, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) PomDoctor was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) PomDoctor’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about PomDoctor’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Salesforce Today

$189.58 +4.15 (+2.24%)

As of 02/13/2026 03:59 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$180.24▼

$329.74Dividend Yield0.88%

P/E Ratio25.31

Price Target$323.57

Salesforce NYSE: CRM stock price dropped significantly, presenting a deep-value opportunity amid the widespread sell-off of software stocks this year. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) apocalypse, however, is overblown, and analysts are taking note. While AI can disrupt SaaS stocks, not all are equally at risk. Leading AI modelers are expanding into new verticals, threatening SaaS vendors, who are in turn leaning into AI to drive value for their clients. 

Salesforce, for one, has been a leader in AI, machine learning, and automation for years. The result of its efforts culminated in the Data Cloud/Agentforce combination, which enables a unified platform for CRM data, data management, and insights, as well as AI-powered execution. The impact on businesses is an automated end-to-end CRM platform that drives efficiencies internally and externally. Regarding AI models, Salesforce has partnered with all the major models, integrating access and application into its platforms. 

Get Salesforce alerts:

Analysts Trimmed Targets: Highlight Market’s Overreaction  Analyst activity contributed to Salesforce’s stock price decline, as some analysts trimmed their price targets in late 2025 and early 2026. However, the market overreacted, moving well below the lowest target posted. Upside potential starts at a minimum 15% as of mid-February, running as high as 70% at the consensus. 

While the revision trend suggests a price below consensus is likely, the $221 low-end is an outlier, with most targets ranging from $235 to nearly $400, well above the consensus. The takeaway for investors is that analysts are uncertain of the future but still see robust upside potential in this stock, running in the moderate to robust double-digit range.

Recent commentaries include two updates from Wedbush and Dan Ives. In them, he states the SaaS sell-off is overdone, opening a table-pounding buying opportunity for SaaS stocks. Regarding Salesforce, he views the company not as an AI loser but as a core participant in the AI revolution, and has added it back to the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF NYSEARCA: IVES portfolio. 

The reinclusion in the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Revolution ETF highlights another bullish factor underpinning the stock price outlook. Institutions, which own 80% of the stock, are accumulating in 2026. MarketBeat’s data shows them buying at a $2-to-$1 pace over the trailing 12 months and sustaining the trend in early 2026. This provides a solid support base and market tailwind, which strengthened as price action declined. Conversely, short-sellers, a risk for this market, aren’t selling into the weakness. Short interest has been elevated in the past few months, but remains sufficiently low to be of little impact. 

Underappreciated Salesforce Can Rise Triple Digits on Valuation Alone Disruption or not, Salesforce’s revenue and earnings outlook remains robust, and the market undervalues it. Analysts' estimates put this stock at approximately 16x this year’s earnings, a value in its own right, and under 7x the 2035 forecast, suggesting a 200% to 400% stock price gain is possible over time. Blue chip tech stocks, this one included, end to trade closer to 30x their current-year earnings outlook. The only thing missing from the equation is a catalyst, which may emerge in the upcoming earnings release and guidance. 

The Q4 fiscal year 2026 report is due in late February and will likely outperform the consensus forecast. Analysts have been raising their estimates, but the consensus remains in the single digits despite the company’s forecast of acceleration into the double digits. Guidance will be a critical factor, with any signs of weakness or strength a catalyst for stock price movement. 

The stock price action has been sketchy. The market fell to fresh lows in early February and could continue to fall. However, the market shows signs of indecision as of mid-month, and could be at its floor. If so, resistance targets are near $195 and $225, while critical support is $180.

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Product managers at X do not execute transactions or brokerX clarified that it does not execute transactions or act as a broker, according to X (formerly Twitter). The company’s product managers are not responsible for brokering or settling user trades.

Within this model, PMs focus on discovery, roadmap, and disclosure alignment. Execution of orders, custody, and settlement remain with regulated partners outside the platform.

Role boundaries under FCA and SEC: why it mattersRegulatory boundaries under the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the u.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) distinguish product design from the licensed activity of effecting transactions. Clear separation reduces regulatory risk and misinterpretation.

As summarized by Morgan Lewis, SEC staff have indicated that transaction-linked compensation alone does not confer broker status unless a party effects trades for others. This underscores why PM roles stay non-brokerage.

BingX: a trusted exchange delivering real advantages for traders at every level.

For users, price displays and charts are informational. When trading is available, order placement and execution occur off-platform via partner brokers, with clear routing and risk disclosures on handoffs.

For partners, responsibilities typically include best-execution, recordkeeping, and surveillance on their side, while the platform manages UI integrity, data labeling, and incident escalation defined in contracts.

For disclosures, the platform should state it is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not execute trades. Language should mirror operational reality and remain consistent across surfaces.

At the time of this writing, Robinhood Markets (HOOD) last traded near $76.07 after hours, based on data from Yahoo. This context does not imply endorsement or advice.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice.

How X separates price displays from off-platform tradingProduct surfaces can show live prices and charts while routing any trade to external rails. As reported by Coin Edition, “smart cashtags will show live news/crypto/”>crypto prices and charts, but all trades remain off-platform through partner brokers,” said Nikita Bier.

This design keeps pricing UI, education, and discovery on X, while order handling, execution, and settlement occur with regulated intermediaries under their own compliance programs.

Partner brokers execute trades, not XUnder this approach, X does not handle customer orders or custody. Partner brokers receive instructions, provide confirmations, and maintain required books and records under applicable rules.

Compliance-first SaaS patterns in private marketsA similar model appears in private-markets infrastructure. As reported by Newswire, Equidefi described a “compliance-first SaaS model” that does not act as a broker-dealer or investment adviser.

The common principle is clear boundaries: software enables workflow and information, while regulated entities perform solicitation, execution, and investor-facing regulated activity.

FAQ about product manager responsibilitiesDo product managers need to register as broker-dealers to work on financial products?No. PMs working on financial features do not execute or intermediate trades, so they generally do not register as broker-dealers.

What is the broker-dealer definition and how does it differ from a product manager’s role?A broker-dealer effects transactions for others. A product manager defines strategy, requirements, and disclosures but does not place, route, or settle customer orders.

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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Metaplanet’s $621M net loss was driven primarily by a $668M Bitcoin valuation adjustment despite record operating income.

Metaplanet reported a $621 million net loss for fiscal year 2025 after a sharp Bitcoin valuation loss outweighed strong operating performance, according to its earnings presentation.

The company generated revenue of approximately $58 million, up 738% year over year, and posted operating profit of about $41 million. However, a $668 million Bitcoin valuation loss pushed pre-tax results to a loss of roughly $628 million for the year.

The deficit reflects mark-to-market accounting rather than realized cash flow. In its breakdown of results, Metaplanet shows operating profit offset by the Bitcoin valuation loss and minor non-operating items.

Metaplanet ended 2025 holding 35,102 BTC, surpassing its 30,000 BTC target and ranking as the fourth-largest public company Bitcoin holder globally. Its Bitcoin NAV stood at approximately $3.15 billion as of December 31, 2025, with an equity ratio of 90.7%.

At current prices near $68,000, its Bitcoin holdings are worth approximately $2.39 billion, though the company is facing an estimated 37% drawdown based on an average acquisition cost of roughly $107,000 per BTC.

The company said it will not provide net income forecasts due to Bitcoin price volatility, though it projects fiscal 2026 revenue of about $105 million and operating profit of roughly $75 million.

Bitcoin has traded sideways since last Friday, fluctuating between $68,000 and $70,000, as broader volatility remains contained.

Note: Yen figures have been converted to US dollars using an exchange rate of 153 JPY per USD.

Bitcoin fell sharply on Feb. 16, dropping below $68,000 after briefly testing $70,000 and remains stuck in a consolidation range between $65,000 and $72,000. Market sentiment is deeply bearish, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index in extreme fear.

TLDR Metaplanet posted a $605 million loss due to the decline in Bitcoin’s value. The company spent $3.8 billion on Bitcoin, purchasing the asset at an average price of $107,000 per coin. Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings are currently down by 37%, reflecting an unrealized loss of $1.4 billion. Despite the losses, the company saw an 81% increase in operating profit from its options business. Metaplanet continued purchasing Bitcoin even when the price exceeded $100,000, making its largest purchases in September and October. Metaplanet, a Japanese firm that heavily invested in Bitcoin, has revealed a significant financial setback. The company announced a loss of ¥95 billion, or $605 million, for the past year. This decline follows the cryptocurrency’s steep drop in price from its all-time highs in October.

Metaplanet’s Losses Stem from Falling Bitcoin Value The primary reason behind Metaplanet’s financial struggles lies in the falling value of its Bitcoin holdings. The firm’s 35,100 Bitcoin, which was worth $2.4 billion, has seen a dramatic decline in value. Since the company began accumulating Bitcoin 21 months ago, it has spent approximately $3.8 billion, acquiring the digital asset at an average price of $107,000 per Bitcoin.

At the current market value, Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings are down by about 37%, reflecting an unrealized loss of $1.4 billion. In the last quarter, ending December 31, the company’s Bitcoin stash lost ¥102 billion, or $664 million, in value. Despite these losses, Metaplanet’s stock price saw a minor increase to ¥326 on Monday.

Revenue from Premiums Amid the Losses Metaplanet’s revenue model remains largely dependent on premiums from writing options. Over the course of the year, the company’s option premiums increased substantially, rising to ¥7.9 billion, or $51 million. This marks a sharp contrast to the previous ¥691 million, or $4.5 million, recorded in the prior year.

The firm has projected an 81% increase in operating profit, which it expects to come from its options business. While Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings have significantly decreased in value, this shift in focus toward its options business aims to provide some financial stability.

Bitcoin Purchases Amid the Decline Metaplanet has continued to invest in Bitcoin even as its value fluctuated. The company made some of its largest purchases when Bitcoin was trading above $100,000. In September, Metaplanet acquired $630 million worth of Bitcoin when the price was around $106,000, followed by another purchase of $615 million in October.

In total, Metaplanet has been purchasing Bitcoin through a combination of common stock issuance and preferred shares. The company’s strategy mirrors that of Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy, which has also invested heavily in Bitcoin. However, unlike Strategy, Metaplanet has introduced products like MERCURY and MARS to help mitigate market risks.

Maxwell Mutuma

Maxwell is a crypto-economic analyst and blockchain enthusiast, passionate about helping people understand the potential of decentralized technology. His goal is to spread knowledge about this revolutionary technology and its implications for economic freedom and social good.

Aave Labs posted a governance proposal on Feb. 12 asking tokenholders to endorse a strategic package that would direct 100% of Aave-branded product revenue to the DAO treasury, formalize brand protection, and center the roadmap on Aave V4.

The initiative was named the “Aave Will Win Framework.”

The proposal hasn't been implemented yet, as an early governance temperature check. Yet, the public framing is unambiguous: “We believe there's no better time to align behind a token-centric vision and position Aave to win over the next decade.”

That timing language is the real story.

Aave isn't just restructuring its economics. Instead, it is building as if the US enforcement overhang that defined 2022 through 2024 is shrinking, and value accrual to tokenholders is safe to pursue again.

The proposal explicitly references “regulatory clarity emerging in certain markets,” and the numbers suggest that assessment isn't just vibes.

SEC crypto enforcement fell 60% in 2025 compared with 2024, dropping from 33 actions to 13, per Cornerstone Research. That decline coincides with the first year under SEC Chair Paul Atkins.

Chart showing SEC crypto enforcement actions dropped 60% from 33 in 2024 to 13 in 2025, with monetary penalties falling to less than 3% of 2024 levels.Additionally, the SEC's 2026 exam priorities placed less emphasis on crypto than in prior years, and the agency voluntarily dismissed its Binance lawsuit with prejudice, a move that explicitly links to the President Donald Trump administration's policy stance.

The DOJ also signaled a softer posture, with a memo that scaled back certain crypto-platform enforcement and disbanded the national crypto enforcement team.

Aave's move reads like pricing in a multi-year window, when enforcement risk is lower, and protocols can compete like businesses again without immediately triggering securities-tripwire fears. This includes budgets, brand protection, and product revenue funnels.

That's bigger than one proposal. It's a regime-shift thesis playing out across DeFi.

Building like a business, but on-chainThe Aave framework goes beyond tokenomics. It defines a comprehensive operating model.

If approved, the DAO would receive product revenues from aave.com interface fees, the mobile app, card products, Aave Pro, Aave Kit, Aave Horizon, and even an AAVE exchange-traded product line item.

Aave claims the swap integration on aave.com generates roughly $10 million in annualized revenue that would flow to the DAO under the framework. It also states that Aave V3 generates over $100 million in annualized revenue.

Those numbers position the DAO as more than a governance wrapper, as it's being set up to steward a brand, allocate capital, and pursue regulated product ambitions.

The proposal bundles value capture with brand and IP protection, operational funding, and a faster execution path than governance by committee would allow.

Aave says it has been self-funding product development and legal work, including SEC defense, and now wants to align behind a token-centric model.

The framing is explicit: build the DAO to function as an entity that can compete institutionally, not just in a decentralized manner.

That shift matters because, when enforcement is intense, protocols avoid anything that appears to be profit distribution.

When enforcement cools, the opportunity cost of governance-only tokens becomes harder to defend, especially with institutions looming as users. Aave is betting the enforcement window has opened wide enough to make value accrual a feature, not a liability.

Value accrual is backAave isn't alone. Uniswap is pursuing a similar playbook.

The UNIfication proposal aims to turn on protocol fees and burn UNI, among other ecosystem changes.

DefiLlama's Uniswap V2 methodology shows that since Dec. 28, 2025, 17% of Ethereum fees have been allocated to UNI buybacks and burns. Tokenholder value accrual is embedded directly into the protocol’s live design and operations.

Uniswap is also pursuing a broader fee-and-burn roadmap across versions over time.

Other protocols already show measurable value accrual. DefiLlama tracks “holders revenue” across protocols such as Pendle, illustrating that value-capture mechanisms are normalized across parts of DeFi.

The data infrastructure exists to measure fees, revenue, and tokenholder-directed flows, which makes the shift from “governance token with unclear value” to “token with measurable capture” legible to institutions.

The pattern is clear: protocols that avoided fee switches or value routing during the enforcement-heavy years are reopening those levers. The calculus changed because the risk profile changed.

Timeline showing US regulatory signals like the SEC dismissing the Binance suit and de-emphasizing crypto in exam priorities correlating with DeFi protocols activating value-accrual mechanisms.What the regime shift signalsBack to building like a business, but on-chain. Aave's proposal doesn't read like a DAO governance exercise. It reads like a company outlining its revenue model, brand strategy, and institutional roadmap.

The difference is that the “company” is on-chain, the budget flows to a treasury governed by tokenholders, and the distribution mechanism runs through smart contracts. However, the operational logic is familiar: capture value, allocate resources, protect IP, and compete for market share.

That kind of clarity was radioactive when the SEC was treating most tokens as unregistered securities. Now it's being pitched as a competitive advantage.

Regime shift triggers value-accrual experiments. When the enforcement posture shifts, the opportunity set for protocol design shifts as well.

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The underlying technology didn't change. The regulatory environment did, and that unlocks design space.

Protocols can now experiment with fee switches, treasury routing, buybacks, burns, and distribution mechanisms that were too legally risky to implement when every token allocation was under scrutiny.

The next fight is legitimacy alongside decentralization. Aave bundles brand and IP protection into a single package alongside token-centric alignment. That’s a bet that the DAO must operate as a legible entity capable of stewarding a brand and a product suite, functioning as a coherent organization with accountable ownership over its ecosystem.

The proposal positions the DAO to interact with regulated markets, such as exchange-traded products, institutional custody, and compliance-wrapped interfaces. At the same time, it maintains on-chain economics.

That tension between decentralization and institutional legibility is the new frontier.

ProtocolMechanism (treasury routing / buyback+burn / staker distribution)Status (proposed vs active) + dateQuant hook (what you can cite)Data sourceAaveTreasury routing — “100% of Aave-branded product revenue → Aave DAO treasury” (incl. aave.com fees, App, Card, Pro, Kit, Horizon, AAVE ETP)Proposed (governance TEMP CHECK) — Feb 12, 2026Swap integration on aave.com “~$10M annualized revenue”; “Aave V3 already generates over $100M in annualized revenue”Aave governance temp check. (Aave)Uniswap V2Buyback+burn — DefiLlama methodology: protocol routes 17% of fees (Ethereum) to buy back & burn UNIActive — since Dec 28, 2025 (per DefiLlama methodology note)“From 28 Dec 2025, 17% (0% before) fees on Ethereum shared to buy back and burn UNI”DefiLlama Uniswap V2 methodology section. (DeFi Llama)Uniswap (UNIfication roadmap)Roadmap to protocol fees + UNI burn (broader rollout intent across versions over time)Proposed / governance roadmap — Nov 2025 (UNIfication post)Explicitly proposes: turn on protocol fees → burn UNI, plus a retroactive burn of 100M UNI; rollout starts with v2 + a set of v3 pools representing ~80–95% of LP fees on Ethereum mainnetUniswap “UNIfication” post. (Uniswap Labs)PendleTokenholder-directed value (DefiLlama “Holders Revenue” — i.e., value routed to tokenholders via burn/distribution mechanisms)Active (ongoing)Holders Revenue 30d: $893,526; Holders Revenue (annualized): ~$10.9MDefiLlama Pendle fees/revenue page + “Holders Revenue” definition. (DeFi Llama)What could derail thisAave’s framework remains a governance proposal awaiting implementation. Legislative optionality exists, but the policy architecture is still developing.

Yet, if enforcement resurges, protocols could pause value accrual, route more through foundations or offshore structures, or limit US exposure.

Technical and competitive risks also matter. If Aave's product revenue projections don't materialize, or if competitors offer better terms by avoiding tokenholder routing, the framework's appeal diminishes.

If the regulatory environment shifts again and the SEC or DOJ treats fee-routing structures as securities violations, the entire value-accrual thesis collapses back into risk mitigation mode.

Three forward scenariosOne potential scenario moving forward is a “durable thaw.”

If the current posture persists, expect more DAOs to flip fee switches, formalize budgets, and pursue US-compliant product wrappers. Key indicators to watch are the decline or flatlining of SEC crypto actions, incremental rulemaking, and more protocols copying the “protocol usage → token burn or treasury” model.

Another scenario is clarity without comfort. Laws move, but enforcement stays selective. Protocols engineer token-centric models to avoid “dividend optics,” more treasury routing, buybacks, and burns versus direct payouts.

Topics to watch are progress or stalls on bills like CLARITY and agency guidance details.

Lastly, a whipsaw is also a likely scenario. Political or legal backlash, or high-profile protocol failures, trigger a resurgence in enforcement.

Protocols pause value accrual, route more through foundations or offshore, or limit US exposure.
Even a friendlier SEC still says “fraud is fraud,” and a major scandal could reset the tolerance for tokenholder-directed revenue.

What's at stakeAave's proposal doesn't just ask tokenholders to endorse a budget. It asks them to endorse a thesis on what the next decade will look like: protocols competing as businesses, value accruing to tokens, and DAOs functioning as institutions.

That thesis depends on the US regulatory environment remaining more favorable than it was in 2022 through 2024.

The enforcement data, exam priorities, and dismissed cases suggest that the bet is rational at this time. Whether it holds for a decade is the open question.

Protocols are repricing themselves in anticipation of a window they believe is open. How long it stays open, and whether other jurisdictions follow or diverge, will determine whether this wave of value-accrual experiments becomes the new normal or another chapter in DeFi's regulatory whiplash.

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The British financial giant Standard Chartered sharply reduced its price outlook for XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency. The company trimmed its end-of-2026 target by 65% following the severe downturn in the broader crypto market in the past month.

The revision comes even as the altcoin posted a modest 2% rebound over the past week, trading around $1.47 per token at the time of writing. Despite that short-term recovery, the bank’s digital assets team now believes the token is unlikely to reach a new all-time high this year.

New XRP Price Prediction The updated forecast was first reported on Monday by DL News, with Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, outlining the changes in a note to investors. 

Kendrick, who leads the bank’s crypto research efforts, acknowledged that recent market conditions have forced a broad reassessment of price expectations across the sector.

“Recent price action for digital assets has been challenging, to say the least,” Kendrick wrote. “We expect further declines near-term, and we lower our forecasts across the asset class.”

The 1-D chart shows XRP’s increased volatility witnessed over the past month. Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com Under the revised outlook, Standard Chartered now expects XRP to reach $2.80 by the end of 2026, a substantial cut from its previous $8 projection. The earlier target had been issued in December, when the bank took a far more optimistic stance. 

At that time, Kendrick pointed to increasing regulatory clarity surrounding XRP’s status as a financial asset, along with progress toward exchange-traded fund (ETF) products, as key catalysts that could drive significant price appreciation.

Broad Forecast Cuts Across Major Tokens The $8 forecast was made roughly two and a half months after the sharp market crash on October 10, when sentiment had begun to stabilize. 

However, as February draws to a close, the broader crypto market has yet to mount a sustained recovery. That prolonged weakness has prompted Standard Chartered to reassess not only XRP but the wider digital asset landscape.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) expected price has been reduced from $150,000 to $100,000. Ethereum’s (ETH) forecast has been revised down from $7,000 to $4,000, while Solana’s (SOL) target has been cut from $250 to $135.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com