Market Signal Briefing

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRChainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams RoleHow 24/5 Data Enhances Equity Markets and DeFi ProtocolsAdoption and Industry Support for Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams offer continuous market data beyond standard trading hours. The streams provide real-time pricing, including bid/ask prices, market status flags, and last-traded prices. They enable onchain equity markets to support perpetual contracts, prediction markets, and synthetic equities. Chainlink’s solution enhances decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols with safer liquidations and precise pricing. Platforms like Lighter and BitMEX have already integrated Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams for improved market data. Chainlink has introduced its 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams, a breakthrough in delivering reliable U.S. equities and ETF market data. This new offering will provide continuous, secure pricing data for U.S. stock markets across all trading sessions.

Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams aim to address the issue of fragmented data in traditional markets. These streams offer real-time pricing data not just during regular trading hours, but also for pre-market, post-market, and overnight sessions.

By providing this continuous data, Chainlink ensures that onchain markets can operate 24/7, removing data blind spots that had previously increased market risks. The 24/5 Streams provide essential data such as bid/ask prices, market status flags, and last-traded prices.

These features offer a more complete view of the market, crucial for applications like equity derivatives, prediction markets, and synthetic equities. The ability to access this information around the clock marks advancement for onchain equity markets and RWA adoption.

How 24/5 Data Enhances Equity Markets and DeFi Protocols The introduction of Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams enables onchain markets to build products like perpetual contracts and prediction markets. Continuous, real-time data allows for better pricing and more accurate liquidations, creating safer, more efficient decentralized financial products.

The expanded data access opens the door for creating synthetic equities and dynamic margining for lending markets. The additional coverage and data accuracy provided by 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams enable support for a wider range of financial instruments.

This includes structured products and vaults, offering new opportunities for yield generation and U.S. equity exposure. Chainlink’s infrastructure provides reliability, enabling protocols to operate beyond regular market hours.

Adoption and Industry Support for Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams Top platforms like Lighter and BitMEX have already integrated Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams into their systems. Lighter’s partnership with Chainlink has allowed the platform to offer low-latency perp execution during off-market hours.

BitMEX also relies on Chainlink to provide critical pricing data for its equity derivatives markets, ensuring data integrity in a professional-grade financial environment.

The early adoption of Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams by prominent players in the DeFi space reflects growing interest in continuous market data. By leveraging Chainlink’s secure, battle-tested oracle solutions, these platforms can maintain robust, real-time access to U.S. equities pricing data.

TL;DR

SOL Strategies launched $STKESOL, a liquid staking token for Solana. The company manages over 3.3 million SOL through acquired validators. Liquid staking tokens now represent 14% of all staked SOL. SOL Strategies Inc. introduced $STKESOL, a liquid staking token designed to combine staking rewards with continued usability across decentralized finance platforms. Holders receive yield from staking $SOL while retaining the ability to deploy tokens in lending, trading, or yield products. The launch reflects a gradual expansion of services built around Solana infrastructure rather than a sudden shift in direction.

At release, the company plans to stake more than 500,000 SOL through $STKESOL. Integration work already connects the token with established DeFi venues such as Kamino and Loopscale, allowing early participants to access onchain activity without locking assets. 

SOL Strategies trades publicly under CSE: HODL and NASDAQ: STKE and currently reports holdings above 427,000 SOL in its treasury. Management continues to emphasize infrastructure development and service delivery linked to Solana’s long-term growth.

SOL Strategies began accumulating SOL in June 2024 after operating for years as Cypherpunk Holdings. A rebrand in September 2024 marked a clear decision to align corporate activity with Solana-based operations. Since then, the firm expanded onchain presence through validator ownership and targeted investments tied directly to network participation.

The company acquired several established validators, including Cogent, OrangeFin Ventures, and Laine. Each operation retained its identity and performance history while joining a broader operational structure. As a result, SOL Strategies increased total staked SOL under management to roughly 3.3 million, strengthening its role in network security and uptime.

Liquid staking as an extension of validator operations Alongside validator growth, SOL Strategies widened asset exposure beyond staking alone. In June 2025, the firm purchased more than 52,000 JTO tokens and announced the creation of a reserve aimed at supporting additional Solana-based projects.

$STKESOL builds directly on existing validator and staking operations. The token pools stake across multiple validators, spreading delegation while preserving reward flow. Rather than introducing an unfamiliar product line, the company packaged internal capabilities into a format accessible to a broader user base.

Michael Hubbard, interim chief executive officer, stated that $STKESOL shows the firm’s capacity to develop technology that delivers value to users and generates revenue. He emphasized support for dozens of validators and the provision of an additional liquid staking option within a growing market segment.

Liquid staking on Solana has expanded steadily since mid-2023. Data from SolanaFloor shows about 454 million SOL staked across the network as of early January 2026. Liquid staking tokens represent roughly 14.06% of that total, equal to 63.8 million SOL. Growth followed increased DeFi support and broader acceptance of yield-bearing tokens that remain usable.

Published: Jan 20, 2026 at 20:18

The Zcash price fell below the moving average lines after being rejected at the $600 level.

ZEC price long-term forecast: ranging Buyers failed to push the altcoin to its previous high of $740. Currently, the cryptocurrency price has dropped to the support level of $300.

Since December 2, 2025, the ZEC price has traded above $300, with resistance at $600. The sideways movement has paused above the $300 support level. This support has held as the cryptocurrency continues its sideways movement since December 2.

On the upside, ZEC will resume its upward trend if buyers maintain the price above the moving average lines. The altcoin will then return to its previous high of $600. Today, ZEC price is at $366.

Technical Indicators Key Resistance Zones: $700, $750, and $800

Key Support Zones: $400, $350, and $300

Zcash price indicators analysis The price bars are below the horizontal moving average lines. The crypto is range-bound due to the presence of small, indecisive candlesticks known as Doji candlesticks. On the 4-hour chart, the price bars are below the downward-sloping moving average lines, indicating a downtrend.

What is the next move for Zcash? Zcash is falling below the moving average lines, reaching a low of $336 before rebounding. The cryptocurrency price is trading above the $340 support level but remains below the moving average lines. The presence of Doji candlesticks has kept the price movement steady. However, the altcoin will trend once the current range-bound levels are broken.

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

Bitcoin (BTC) has struggled to regain momentum after the price dipped below $90,000 on Tuesday, with multiple analysts pointing to continued selling pressure in the short term.

Key takeaways:

New BTC whales with a holding period of less than 155 days now control more realized capital than the “OG” long-term holders.

Whale-dominated exchange inflows signal elevated sell-side pressure for Bitcoin near $95,000 to $90,000.

Market analysts suggest a pullback toward the $85,000 level based on bearish order book data.

New Bitcoin whales take the wheel, for nowCryptoQuant analyst Moreno DV said that new whales, i.e., holders of over 1,000 BTC with UTXOs younger than 155 days, now account for a larger share of Bitcoin’s realized cap than long-term holders.

Bitcoin realized cap of New and Old Whales. Source: CryptoQuantRealized cap reflects the aggregate cost basis of coins based on their last onchain movement, indicating that a significant portion of the supply has changed hands at higher prices.

The realized price of this cohort sits near $98,000. With BTC trading below that level, new whales currently hold $6 billion in unrealized losses. 

Long-term holders, with a realized price near $40,000, remain largely inactive, meaning near-term price action is being driven by capital under pressure rather than conviction.

Bitcoin short-term holders (STH) unrealized PnL. Source: CryptoQuant Exchange flows and market structure keep $85,000 in focusCrypto exchange data reinforces the increasing chance of price downside. The Exchange Whale Ratio has surged to the 0.52–0.55 range, signaling that a large share of BTC inflows is dominated by big transactions, usually linked with selling or reallocation.

If this ratio remains elevated and price fails to reclaim the $95,000 to $98,000 zone, distribution pressure could extend the pullback toward $85,000 to $80,000.

BTC exchange whale ratio. Source: CryptoQuantTrader XO noted Bitcoin is trading below both the 21-period daily and 12-period weekly exponential moving averages (EMAs) and has broken multiple prior higher lows. The trader noted that BTC could “gravitate” towards the mid-$80,000s unless a sharp relief rally occurs.

Order flow analysis from analyst ‘exitpumpBTC’ shows large negative delta clusters below $91,000, with more than $300 million in total selling pressure realized, signaling an aggressive short positioning. Although this could create a short squeeze if $91,000 is reclaimed, it currently reinforces the downside momentum for BTC.

Futures analyst Dom described the setup as a “failed auction.” Bitcoin briefly broke above the Value Area High (VAH), the upper boundary where most trading previously occurred since November 2024, only to re-enter the value area.

Such moves carry a high possibility of rotating toward the Value Area Low (VAL), which currently sits near $86,000. 

Bitcoin analysis by Dom. Source: XThis 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.

TL;DR

An attacker drained 1,299 ETH from the DUSD/USDC pool by manipulating the price oracle. MEV bots intercepted the original transaction to execute offensive arbitrage operations. The team activated security mode and confirmed that underlying assets remain safe. The year 2026 begins with a new security incident for the DeFi sector, as a flash loan exploit on Makina Finance was confirmed this January 20. According to reports from security firms such as PeckShield and CertiK, the protocol lost approximately 1,299 ETH, equivalent to about $4.13 million.

Gmak, early this morning we received reports regarding an incident with the $DUSD Curve pool

At this stage, the issue appears to be isolated to DUSD LP positions on Curve. There is currently no indication that other assets or deployments are affected.

Underlying assets held in…

— Makina (@makinafi) January 20, 2026 The attack directly targeted the Dialectic USD/USDC Stableswap pool within the Curve platform. The perpetrator initiated the operation by obtaining a 280 million USDC flash loan, using a substantial portion to manipulate the price oracle upon which the pool depends.

Subsequently, the attacker executed massive swaps that allowed them to extract a value close to $5 million. However, a Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) bot detected the maneuver and managed to front-run the transactions, capturing a large portion of the drained funds.

Technical Analysis and Security Team Response The stolen funds are currently distributed across two Ethereum addresses, while authorities and on-chain analysts track the attacker’s steps. For its part, Makina Finance issued a statement clarifying that the issue is exclusively limited to DUSD liquidity positions on Curve.

Fortunately, the technical team assured that there are no signs that other assets or protocol deployments were compromised during the incident. As an immediate precautionary measure, security mode was activated across all its “machines” to prevent further damage.

This new security incident occurs just one week after the multi-million dollar Truebit Protocol hack, underlining the persistent risks in decentralized finance. Experts from SlowMist and CertiK warn that the use of outdated Solidity versions continues to represent a systemic threat to the entire crypto ecosystem.

🚨 Another exploit today (4.1M):

Flashloan + permissionless AUM refresh is a dangerous combo.

A share-price oracle was pushed mid-tx, letting a Curve pool pay out at an inflated rate. ~5.1M USDC left the DUSD/USDC pool, the attacker profits about 4.1M. pic.twitter.com/t4RKYoUWDl

— n0b0dy (@nn0b0dyyy) January 20, 2026 In summary, liquidity providers in the affected pool have been instructed to withdraw their funds immediately to mitigate risks. Meanwhile, the development team continues to assess the damage and work on a comprehensive recovery plan for users affected by this attack.

TL;DR

The WhiteWhale memecoin dropped 60% after a sale of roughly $1.3 million by its largest holder, three months after its launch on Pump.fun. Market capitalization fell from around $200 million to the $20 million area in less than five minutes. The token showed a partial recovery and now trades between $0.033 and $0.040, with a market cap of $33.8–$40 million and volume above $12 million. The WhiteWhale memecoin recorded a sharp 60% drop in market capitalization following a large-scale sale carried out by its largest private holder. The Solana-based token, launched three months ago on Pump.fun, lost a significant portion of its value within minutes after one or more wallets offloaded approximately $1.3 million worth of WHITEWHALE, according to on-chain data.

The sell-off occurred without prior notice and pushed market capitalization down from levels near $200 million to the $20 million area at the lowest point of the move. The decline unfolded in under five minutes and coincided with a rapid loss of liquidity, which amplified the impact of the sell orders.

The episode was initially flagged by on-chain analysts, who identified a trader known as “Remus” among the main sellers. Records show that Remus acquired roughly 1.5% of the total supply for $370. During the token’s rally, that position reached a valuation close to $1.2 million. The trader later sold about $220,000 worth of tokens, a transaction that coincided with the start of the decline. After the correction, the wallet still holds a remaining balance close to $1 million in WHITEWHALE.

The WhiteWhale Team Denied a Treasury Dump In parallel, Bubblemaps charts and Arkham data detected transactions from wallets linked to early purchases and addresses associated with the token’s initial deployment. Two addresses, including one tied to the deployer, executed sales totaling around $1.3 million during the same time window. No direct sale from the project’s treasury was confirmed.

Following the initial collapse, the WhiteWhale deployers posted a statement on X. In the message, they denied a treasury dump and described the episode as a “liquidity event.” They stated that the exit of an oversized holder altered the supply distribution and confirmed that buybacks were executed during the drop.

After the shock, the token posted a partial recovery. The memecoin now trades between $0.033 and $0.040, with a market capitalization ranging from $33.8 million to around $40 million. Trading volume exceeded $12 million, driven by elevated activity

All eyes are on Netflix, which is set to report fourth-quarter earnings after Tuesday’s closing bell.

In the ongoing saga over whether Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the streaming giant is now offering to pay all cash for the deal, revising a previous bid that included a mix of stock with cash, according to a filing from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

On Tuesday, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the amended agreement, which simplifies the deal for investors who no longer have to worry about Netflix’s fluctuating stock price.

The news comes as Netflix continues to stave off a hostile takeover bid from rival Skydance-owned Paramount, led by chief executive David Ellison, who has tried to blow up the deal. The acquisition deal would include Warner Bros. Discovery’s movie studio, along with HBO and HBO Max, a natural fit for Netflix. (Paramount had been offering an all-cash deal.)

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The saga started about six weeks ago in early December, when Netflix initially offered to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $27.75 per WBD share ($23.25 per share in cash, $4.50 in Netflix stock) which comes out to about $72 billion stock, totaling $82.7 billion in enterprise value.

Warner has repeatedly rebuffed Paramount’s offer. “The WBD Board continues to support and unanimously recommend our transaction, and we are confident that it will deliver the best outcome for stockholders, consumers, creators and the broader entertainment community,” Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, said in a statement.

The large scope of the mega-merger “would reshape the entertainment industry,” according to CNN. And the back-and-forth developments have had both Wall Street and investors closely watching their share prices.

Explore TopicsNetflixnewsWarner BrosWarner Bros Discovery

Restaurant Brands Asia said on Tuesday that Inspira Global will acquire a controlling stake in the Burger King India and Indonesia operator for around 4.60 billion rupees ($50.54 million).

NAARDEN, The Netherlands, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forbion, a leading life sciences venture capital firm with deep roots in Europe, today announces that GSK (NYSE: GSK) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Forbion Growth Fund III portfolio company RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAPT) in a transaction valued at $2.2 billion.

RAPT Therapeutics was a recent, undisclosed investment within Forbion Growth Fund III’s public value opportunities strategy and represents the fund’s second exit. The transaction follows the acquisition of Astria Therapeutics by BioCryst for $920 million in October 2025, further underscoring the fund’s strong momentum and execution capabilities.

The acquisition highlights significant strategic interest in RAPT’s lead therapeutic candidate, ozureprubart, a long-acting monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize IgE, a key driver of severe allergic disease. Ozureprubart has the potential to meaningfully transform the treatment landscape for allergies and other immunologic conditions, including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). The program is currently in late-stage clinical development, with a Phase 2b trial ongoing in food allergy and a Phase 3 trial in CSU expected to commence in 2026.

“Forbion Growth Fund III was established to back differentiated, late-stage assets with clear clinical value and strong strategic relevance,” said Mathias Vinther, PhD, Partner at Forbion. “Our investment in RAPT Therapeutics reflects this approach, combining deep scientific conviction with disciplined capital deployment in the public markets. The outcome announced today demonstrates the value of early engagement, active ownership and a long-term perspective in building positions in high-quality companies.”

This transaction reinforces Forbion’s growth strategy of backing differentiated, late-stage clinical assets in areas of high unmet medical need with clear strategic relevance to global pharmaceutical companies. It also serves as a strong example of the fund’s public markets sub-strategy, which focuses on identifying and capitalizing on attractive public value opportunities.

The closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions. The official press release issued by GSK and RAPT Therapeutics can be found here.

About Forbion
Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep roots in Europe and offices in Naarden, the Netherlands, Munich, Germany, and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies covering all stages of (bio)pharmaceutical drug development. In addition to its human health focus, Forbion also invests in planetary health solutions through its BioEconomy strategy. The firm’s team of over 30 investment professionals has a strong track record, with more than 130 investments across 11 funds, resulting in numerous approved therapies and successful exits. Forbion is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and operates a joint venture with BGV for seed and early-stage investments in the Benelux and Germany regions.

For more information, please contact:

Forbion Communications
Email: [email protected]
Head of Marketing & Communications

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / January 20, 2026 / For those who may not have seen our prior announcement, Elektros Inc. is pleased to reaffirm and outline its strategic objectives moving forward. The Company remains focused on advancing its lithium operations in Sierra Leone to meet the accelerating global demand for critical battery materials essential to electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.

As noted by Benzinga, the strategic importance of lithium continues to grow globally: "As the backbone of modern batteries powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, lithium's importance to the world economy cannot be overstated." - Benzinga

Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK) is strategically focused on the advancement and development of its hard‑rock lithium project in Sierra Leone, Africa.

The Company has executed a joint venture ground lease agreement for mineral rights within the Tinkoko Chiefdom of Bo District, maintaining a 75% controlling interest while ensuring full compliance with Sierra Leonean mining regulations.

As of September 2025, Elektros Inc. has obtained an artisanal mining license and has stockpiled approximately 54 metric tons of hard‑rock lithium ore, positioned for export to the United States upon securing shipping capital.

Near‑term objectives include establishing continuous extraction and export operations, executing regular container shipments, securing long‑term offtake agreements with U.S. lithium refineries, and attracting strategic investment partners.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward‑Looking Statements

This release contains forward‑looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. For additional information, please refer to the Company's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Elektros Inc. undertakes no obligation to update forward‑looking statements.

Contact:

Elektros Inc.
IR and Media Inquiries
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.elektros.energy

SOURCE: Elektros, Inc.

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SummaryPeoples Bancorp Inc. is a Buy for income, offering a 5.3% yield and consistent dividend growth.PEBO Q4 revenues rose 11.4% year-over-year to $117.3 million, with net income up sequentially despite a modest increase in credit loss provisions.Loan balances grew 2% annualized, while consumer deposits increased; net interest margin remains robust at 4.12%.PEBO asset quality is strong overall, with nonperforming assets down and return metrics improving, supporting a stable dividend payout ratio.Looking for more investing ideas like this one? Get them exclusively at BAD BEAT Investing. Learn More » Guido Mieth/DigitalVision via Getty Images

We examine trends in regional banks every reporting season, which for our purposes is like a "pulse check" on the local economies in the United States. Taken in aggregate, it helps us determine if we are seeing growing weakness (or

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.

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

Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is the world’s second-largest investment bank by revenue and is ranked 55th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations by total revenue. The Wall Street white-glove giant offers financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for the firm’s institutional and corporate clients. In addition, they produce some of Wall Street’s most coveted research and serve as a bellwether for the financial industry. At 24/7 Wall St., we have followed the company’s research for 15 years to bring our readers its top stock ideas.

It is always a good sign when the Goldman Sachs team starts raising price targets on Buy-rated companies. Typically, when a stock has been performing well, and its target price is increased, it usually means that analysts are optimistic about what they see six to 12 months ahead. When we see significant price increases of 10% or more, it is time to share this with our readers. Recently, the firm raised price targets on three blue-chip giants, including one of the top-performing Magnificent 7 technology leaders. In an interesting side note, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns two of the stocks we are featuring.

Why we recommend Goldman Sachs stocks

Goldman Sachs is the acknowledged leader in the investment landscape on Wall Street and worldwide. The firm’s top-notch research department continues to provide clients with the best ideas across the investment spectrum and is likely to do so for years to come.

Ally Financial The bank with no buildings, formerly known as GMAC, offers a solid 2.75% dividend. Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation’s largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business. The company serves approximately 10 million customers with deposits, securities brokerage, investment advisory services, auto financing, and insurance offerings. The company also includes a corporate finance business that offers capital for middle-market companies.

The company’s segments include:

Automotive Finance operations Insurance operations Mortgage Finance operations Corporate Finance operations The Automotive Finance operations segment provides services such as:

Retail installment sales contracts Loans and operating leases Term loans to dealers Financing dealer floorplans Lines of credit to dealers and other services Insurance operations is a complementary automotive-focused business offering consumer finance protection, insurance products sold primarily through the automotive dealer channel, and commercial insurance products sold directly to dealers.

The Mortgage Finance operations segment includes its direct-to-consumer Ally Home mortgage offering and bulk purchases of jumbo and LMI mortgage loans from third parties. The Corporate Finance operations segment provides senior secured asset-based and leveraged cash flow loans.

The Goldman Sachs price target is lifted to $55 from $50.

Alphabet This technology giant was one of the few additions to Berkshire Hathaway over the past year and offers a small 0.31% dividend. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) segments include Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets.

The Google Services segment includes products and services such as:

Ads Android Chrome Devices Google Maps Google Play Search YouTube The Google Cloud segment includes infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers.

Its Other Bets segment sells healthcare-related services and Internet services.

The Google Cloud provides enterprise-ready cloud services, including Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. Google Cloud Platform provides access to solutions such as:

Cybersecurity Databases Analytics Artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, including its AI infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, and Duet AI for Google Cloud Google Workspace includes cloud-based communication and collaboration tools for enterprises, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, and more.

The Goldman Sachs price target is lifted to $375 from $330.

Applied Materials This company is the leader in the semiconductor capital equipment arena and pays a small 0.56% dividend. Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) provides equipment, services, and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries.

It operates in three segments:

Semiconductor Systems Applied Global Services (AGS) Display The Semiconductor systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, and sells a range of primarily 300 mm equipment used to fabricate semiconductor chips, also referred to as integrated circuits (ICs).

The AGS segment provides services, spares, and factory automation software to customer fabrication plants globally. The AGS segment also manufactures and sells 200 mm and other equipment.

The Display segment comprises primarily products for manufacturing liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and other display technologies for televisions, monitors, laptops, personal computers (PCs), tablets, smartphones, and other consumer-oriented devices.

Goldman Sachs raised its $250 target price to $310.

Four Strong Buy Passive Income Dividend Stocks Goldman Sachs Loves in January

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By PYMNTS  |  January 20, 2026

 | 

Amazon’s CEO says White House tariffs have begun showing up in the price of some goods.

The tech giant and many of its third-party sellers bought products ahead of time to fend off tariff-related price hikes, though most of that inventory has since run out, Andy Jassy told CNBC in an interview at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday (Jan. 20).

“So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items, and you see some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand and some are doing something in between,” Jassy said. “I think you’re starting to see more of that impact.”

CNBC notes that these comments are a notable shift from last year, when Jassy said the company hadn’t seen “prices appreciably go up” a few months after President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs.

Last April, the chief executive also predicted that some merchants could be forced to pass the added cost of the tariffs on to consumers as some sellers “don’t have 50% extra margin that you can play with.”

Jassy told CNBC Amazon is now trying to “keep prices as low as possible” but said there are some cases where it won’t be able to avoid price increases. He added that consumers remain “pretty resilient” and are still spending despite the tariffs, though some are trading down or holding back from larger discretionary purchases.

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Jassy’s comments come amid a new round of tariff threats, and at a time when, as PYMNTS wrote Tuesday, millions of American households are already dealing with financial margins, limited savings and greater sensitivity to price changes.

“For families living paycheck to paycheck (about two-thirds of consumers), even modest cost increases can ripple quickly through household budgets,” that report said.

“That backdrop helps explain why tariffs were already on consumers’ radar as the new year began, and ahead of the latest uncertainty that arrived this week. Rather than viewing tariffs as abstract geopolitical tools, many households appear to be weighing their potential effects in personal terms.”

New PYMNTS Intelligence data show this concern is not confined to any one segment of the paycheck-to-paycheck population. Tariff-related anxiety is widely felt, reflecting how exposed household finances remain after inflation, uneven wage growth and ongoing cost pressures.

Advanced Micro Devices Today

AMD

Advanced Micro Devices

$231.41 -0.42 (-0.18%)

As of 02:40 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$76.48▼

$267.08P/E Ratio114.37

Price Target$276.16

Advanced Micro Devices' NASDAQ: AMD late 2025 sell-off hit and confirmed its bottom in early 2026, indicating a robust rebound could lie ahead.

The 15% gain posted in the second week of 2026 is only the beginning of a significant movement that will be driven by an upcoming catalyst—the launch of its MI450 products later this year. 

The launch will push Advanced Micro Devices into direct competition with NVIDIA NASDAQ: NVDA for the hyperscale GPU business, which is worth hundreds of billions in revenue.

Get Advanced Micro Devices alerts:

Analysts and market participants are still unsure how to price in this catalyst, but it's possible that it could accelerate AMD's growth into the triple-digit range and sustain it for several quarters. 

As it stands, AMD's revenue growth forecasts in early 2026 look too low. Analysts forecast AMD to sustain only a 30% growth rate in fiscal 2026, then mildly accelerate in fiscal 2027. If this forecast is indeed too low, the stock is positioned for a persistently bullish revision cycle.

This revision cycle may already be underway—after a late-2025 reset, forecasts started rising in early 2026. On this view, AMD trades at about 60x its 2025 forecast but only 10x its 2030 consensus, implying roughly 100% upside to match the average S&P 500 valuation and 200%+ to match blue-chip tech peers.

Analyst Sentiment Trends Support AMD’s Robust Upside Outlook  While analyst price target trends moderated in late 2025, the trend is very bullish and points to significant upside in this market. The early January activity includes two initiations, resulting in a combined Moderate Buy rating and a $260 price target, which extend the trends in place.

Advanced Micro Devices Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$276.16
16.30% Upside

Moderate Buy
Based on 44 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$237.45High Forecast$380.00Average Forecast$276.16Low Forecast$140.00Advanced Micro Devices Stock Forecast Details

The critical takeaways are that coverage continues to swell (up more than 40% year-over-year (YOY) in early January), and the consensus Moderate Buy rating is firming. Buy-side bias is 73%, and there is 20% upside at the midpoint of analyst price targets, with approximately 65% at the high end. 

Catalysts to drive sentiment and price trends include the Q4 earnings release scheduled for early February, and the launch of MI450 later in 2026. The forecasts for Q4 2025 look conservative, with recent revision activity mixed, and YOY growth is expected to slow to the mid-20% range.

The likely outcome is that results will outperform the consensus and be compounded by solid guidance. Regarding MI450, reports suggest a release in the first half of 2026, followed by a quick deployment ramp.

Deals with OpenAI and Oracle NYSE: ORCL could amount to billions in revenue, with initial realization beginning as soon as Q3 2026, then ramping over the subsequent quarters as production ramps and follow-on deals are announced. 

Forecasts for GPU demand vary but have only gotten stronger over the past few months. RBC’s mid-January update suggests the GPU market could more than double over the next 2.5 years to $550 billion, with growing backlogs pointing to improved long-term visibility. The push toward model deployment and memory-intensive inference is behind the move, with HBM4 (used prominently in AMD’s MI450 lineup) being a critical component. HBM4 provides the superior capacity and performance required for the most advanced workloads: AMD’s MI450 design and high-density rack configuration are expected to deliver 1.5 times the memory and bandwidth of competing GPUs. 

Advanced Micro Devices Positioned to Retest All-Time Highs AMD’s January price action has it set up to advance 15% and retest its all-time highs, with trends and outlook suggesting a new all-time high could be reached.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) Price Chart for Tuesday, January, 20, 2026

In the event AMD remains range-bound, more potent catalysts are still ahead, so the long-term outlook will remain intact. Assuming the market sets a new high in early 2026, a move into the high end of the analyst target range is likely, potentially as high as $320, based on technical projections. 

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Wealthfront Corporation (NASDAQ: WLTH) resulting from allegations that Wealthfront may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Wealthfront securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. 

According to a federal securities lawsuit, Insiders at Synopsys caused the company to misrepresent or fail to disclose that: (1) the Company's growing focus on AI customers who require more customization, was weakening its Design IP business; (2) as a result, certain of the Company's plans were not likely to achieve their intended outcomes; and (3) these issues were materially harming the Company's financial performance. 

If you currently own SNPS and purchased prior to March 14, 2024 please contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. by email at [email protected] or call (833) 672-0814. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights. 

Why Your Participation Matters:

As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future.™

For additional information, please visit Shareholder Derivative Litigation - Kuehn Law.

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Contacts:
Kuehn Law, PLLC
Justin Kuehn, Esq.
53 Hill Street, Suite 605
Southampton, NY 11968
[email protected]
(833) 672-0814

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAPT) related to its sale to GSK plc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, RAPT shareholders are expected to receive $58.00 in cash for each share of RAPT common stock. Is it a fair deal?

Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/rapt-therapeutics-inc/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much? About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:
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MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
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[email protected]
Tel: (212) 971-1341

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NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLP) resulting from allegations that Simulations Plus may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=42476 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 15, 2025, during market hours, Benzinga published an article entitled “Simulations Plus Sees Weaker Demand Persist, Outlook Softens.” The article stated that Simulations Plus shares had declined “following the release of [Simulations Plus’] third-quarter 2025 earnings report. The article stated that Simulations Plus had reported sales of $20.4 million, representing a 10% year-over-year increase, but this fell short of the consensus estimate of $20.9 million.” Further, “[t]his miss followed preliminary third-quarter sales figures released in June, which were already lower than expectations at $19 million to $20 million, compared to a consensus of $22.78 million.”

On this news, Simulations Plus’ stock fell 25.75% on July 15, 2025.

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

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

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Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) shares are up on Tuesday following news that the company has secured reimbursement for its FDA-approved TruSight Oncology Comprehensive test.

CMS Reimbursement to Boost ILMN AdoptionThe reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow the TruSight Oncology Comprehensive test to be reimbursed at a rate of $2,989.55 per test, effective January 1.

The decision is expected to enhance the adoption of comprehensive genomic profiling in the U.S. healthcare system, enabling more laboratories to deliver clinically actionable results.

The test assesses over 500 genes to inform treatment decisions, promoting broader access to precision oncology diagnostics across various healthcare settings. The move is anticipated to drive growth, as approximately 60% of Illumina’s sequencing consumables revenue was attributed to clinical customers last year.

ILMN Shows Positive Trend Above Moving AverageIllumina’s stock is currently trading 2.65% above its 12-month moving average, reflecting a positive trend over the past year. Shares have increased 2.9% over the past 12 months and are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows.

The RSI is currently neutral, indicating that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. Meanwhile, MACD is below its signal line, suggesting bearish pressure on the stock.

The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum.

Key Resistance: $151.50 Key Support: $130.50 ILMN Earnings Forecast and Analyst RatingsInvestors are looking ahead to the next earnings report on February 5, 2026.

EPS Estimate: $1.22 (Up from $0.95 YoY) Revenue Estimate: $1.10 billion (Down from $1.10 billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 31.8x (Indicates premium valuation) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions:

The stock carries a Neutral Rating with an average price target of $130.24. Recent analyst moves include:

TD Cowen: Hold (Raised Target to $140.00) (January 7) Guggenheim: Buy (Raised Target to $144.00) (January 5) Canaccord Genuity: Hold (Raised Target to $130.00) (December 22, 2025) Valuation Insight: While the stock trades at a premium P/E multiple, the consensus and 28% expected earnings growth suggest analysts view this growth as justification for the current valuation.

ILMN Scores High on Benzinga Edge RankingsBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Illumina, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

Momentum: Bullish (Score: 86.32/100) — Stock is outperforming the broader market. Quality: Weak (Score: 4.59/100) — Balance sheet may raise concerns. Value: Risk (Score: 18.92/100) — Trading at a steep premium relative to peers. Growth: Strong (Score: 82.49/100) — Indicates potential for future expansion. The Verdict: Illumina’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a classic ‘High-Flyer’ setup. While the Momentum score indicates strong short-term performance, the low Value score warns that the stock is priced for perfection—investors should proceed with caution.

ILMN’s Impact on Top ETFs Invesco S&P MidCap Quality ETF (NYSE:XMHQ): 3.84% Weight ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (NYSE:ROBO): 1.72% Weight First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (NYSE:FBT): 4.39% Weight ILMN Price Action: Illumina shares were up 2.52% at $145.22 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (“Apogee” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APOG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Apogee and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 7, 2025, Apogee reported its financial results for the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year. Among other items, Apogee reported $355.3 million in sales, missing the consensus estimate of $348.6 million. Apogee’s Chief Executive Officer said that “higher aluminum, restructuring and health insurance costs” all weighed on the Company’s results.

On this news, Apogee’s stock price fell $5.18 per share, or 13.89%, to close at $32.11 per share on January 7, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP

[email protected] ext. 7980

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of KSS 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.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 18: A Walmart sign is displayed outside a Supercenter on November 18, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Walmart is set to report its third-quarter results on Tuesday, Nov. 19th. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Over the past ten years, Walmart (WMT) stock has provided a remarkable $132 Bil back to its investors in the form of cash through dividends and buybacks. Let’s examine some figures to see how this payout capability compares with the largest capital-return companies in the market.

Interestingly, WMT stock has delivered the 13th highest amount to shareholders in history. Unlike many companies that rely on cyclical earnings spikes or aggressive leverage to fund shareholder payouts, Walmart has generated this return while steadily expanding revenue, investing heavily in e-commerce, automation, and logistics, and maintaining a conservative balance sheet.

metrics

Trefis

Why should this matter to you? Because dividends and share repurchases signify direct, tangible returns of capital to shareholders. They also reflect management's confidence in the company’s financial stability and ability to produce sustainable cash flows. Additionally, there are more stocks that fit this description. Here is a list of the top 10 companies ranked by total capital returned to shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks.

Top 10 Stocks by Total Shareholder Return

shareholder returns

Trefis

MORE FOR YOU

For the complete ranking, visit Buybacks & Dividends Ranking

What stands out here? The total capital returned to shareholders as a percentage of the current market cap seems inversely related to growth potential for re-investments. Companies such as Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are experiencing significantly faster, and more consistent growth compared to others, yet they have returned a smaller portion of their market cap to shareholders.

This is the inverse aspect of high capital returns. While they are appealing, it leads to the question: Am I compromising growth and robust fundamentals? Bearing that in mind, let’s review some figures for WMT. (see Buy or Sell Walmart Stock for further information)

Walmart Fundamentals

Revenue Growth: 4.3% LTM and a 5.4% average over the last 3 years.Cash Generation: Approximately 2.2% free cash flow margin and 4.1% operating margin LTM.Recent Revenue Shocks: The minimum annual revenue growth in the past 3 years for WMT was at 4.3%.Valuation: Walmart's stock trades at a P/E ratio of 41.7other metrics

Trefis

*LTM: Last Twelve Months

The table provides a good summary of what you can expect from WMT stock, but what about the associated risks?

WMT Historical Risk

Walmart is not resistant to significant sell-offs. Its stock dropped around 38% during the Dot-Com Bubble and fell 26% amid the Global Financial Crisis. The 2018 Correction erased nearly 24%, while COVID led to a smaller yet significant 13% decline. Recently, the Inflation Shock resulted in a 26% drop. Strong fundamentals are important, but when the market shifts, even stable giants like Walmart can suffer.

The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, consisting of 30 stocks, boasts a history of consistently outperforming its benchmark that covers the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why does this happen? Collectively, HQ Portfolio stocks have generated superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; providing a smoother experience as demonstrated in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.

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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Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) pioneered the Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) treasury company strategy that once drove mutual gains. The company bought Bitcoin, which often boosted the cryptocurrency’s price and, in turn, lifted Strategy’s stock. Similarly, any unrelated jump in Bitcoin’s price would also lead to Strategy share gains.

However, this dynamic has weakened. Bitcoin’s price has declined 27% from its October 2025 peak of over $126,000, but Strategy’s shares have fared worse, dropping more than 64% from their peak. Recent purchases illustrate the shift: Strategy revealed this morning it had bought 22,305 Bitcoin for $2.13 billion, yet its stock is falling nearly 7% in midday trading, reflecting the market’s diminished enthusiasm for the strategy.

Bitcoin has encountered significant headwinds and is trading around $90,200 today, down from recent highs. Proponents argue it serves as a store of value — it is called “digital gold” — offering protection against inflation and economic uncertainty. However, market behavior is increasingly challenging this view. Gold prices have risen sharply over increased geopolitical tensions, while Bitcoin has declined.

The Widening Bitcoin-Gold Divide Billionaire Frank Giustra citing the U.S.’s push to acquire Greenland as an example of why “Bitcoin is not gold.” Saying the latter was truly a safe haven asset and the crypto is a risk-on one, he declared “The facts on this are clear & indisputable.” 

Gold has surged to record highs, in part due to  concerns over U.S. ambitions in Greenland, while Bitcoin dropped. He also makes the case that Bitcoin can be more easily confiscated than gold, pointing to the government’s Bitcoin reserve, which consists solely of confiscated Bitcoin.

Dilution Weighs Heavily on Strategy Investors Strategy’s latest Bitcoin acquisition was funded through $1.83 billion in common stock sales and $294.3 million from its perpetual preferred equity Stretch (STRC), leading to ongoing shareholder dilution. 

Since adopting its Bitcoin treasury strategy, the company has issued shares repeatedly to finance purchases, increasing outstanding shares and reducing existing investors’ ownership stakes. A year ago, shareholders approved what many thought was an “infinite money glitch” by authorizing Class A shares to grow from 330 million to 10.33 billion and preferred shares from 5 million to 1.005 billion, enabling further dilution for Bitcoin buys. Each acquisition now amplifies this effect, as seen in the stock’s decline despite the latest purchase.

The company’s aggressive capital raises, including at-the-market (ATM) offerings of common and preferred stock, have supported massive Bitcoin accumulation — now totaling 709,715 bitcoin acquired for about $53.92 billion, or an average price of $75,979 per coin. 

But this has come at the cost of significant dilution. Shares outstanding have increased substantially through repeated equity issuances, eroding Strategy’s “Bitcoin Yield.” Analysts note that as the bitcoin stack grows larger, generating incremental yield becomes harder, and ongoing equity sales directly dilute common shareholders’ claims on the treasury. 

The premium at which Strategy stock trades relative to its net asset value (mNAV) has compressed sharply, recently hovering near 1.0x or slightly above, limiting the arbitrage that once fueled the flywheel.

Compounding those concerns, Strategy’s software business only generates modest revenue — around $460 million to $500 million annually — insufficient to cover rising obligations like preferred stock dividends, that are projected to cost around $775 million annually for years. This reliance on equity raises to fund both Bitcoin buys and dividends heightens the dilution pressure during periods of crypto weakness.

Key Takeaway Although investors voted for the dilution plan, market reactions suggest they are suffering from buyers’ remorse, with Strategy stock falling regardless of Bitcoin’s direction. Considering executive chairman Michael Saylor has recently acknowledged circumstances where the company might sell Bitcoin — a reversal from prior statements that he would never sell — the market seems to be rejecting further dilution for Bitcoin acquisitions. 

That means the question investors face is a critical one: will Bitcoin’s price grow sufficiently to restart Strategy’s flywheel before the stock implodes?

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Jason Gewirtz is vice president of news at CNBC.  What follows is a personal account of his experience with a scammer.

Last week my cell phone rang. It was about 1:30 p.m., and the iPhone ID showed the 650 area code, which I recognized as the San Francisco Bay Area. The caller ID listed the number as unknown but labeled it as coming from San Francisco.

Given San Francisco's position in the heart of global innovation and technology and that it's the location of one of CNBC's key bureaus, I picked up despite not knowing who was calling, something people rarely do anymore.

The voice on the other end introduced himself as Brian Miller from Coinbase's security office. He quickly told me there was "suspicious activity" on my account and wanted to know if I was trying to log in from Frankfurt, Germany, on an iPhone. I told him, "No, I haven't been in Germany in 20 years, and I never use my cell phone to log into my Coinbase account." 

He told me someone with an address of "[email protected]" was in my Coinbase account and had tried to make a transfer. The man claiming to be Miller then said, "I haven't seen this one before. He's saying he lost his phone on a conveyor belt at the airport in Frankfurt and needs access." Miller stopped for a second and then said, "He's trying to make another transfer right now."

He continued, "I'm trying to figure out how he got access, he has your Social Security number, your phone and your email address. He also gave us a photo that matches your Coinbase face scan. Have you given anyone access to your information lately or have you noticed anything else suspicious on other accounts?"

"No," I said.

Looking back it's pretty clear, even to me, the attempted scam used classic pressure tactics to get me to feel like I was in danger, so I'd make a fast decision, rather than a smart one.

"They try to make you scared by making you feel like you're the victim, and they're calling to help," said Rick Wash, professor of information science at the University of Wisconsin, in a phone interview. Wash is a computer scientist who researched the possibility of electronic breaches two decades ago. He then began mixing his vast technical knowledge to focus on the personal side of the scam. 

"I began to realize the human factor was often the most critical factor of computer scams," Wash said.

watch now

While something always seemed out of place, my suspicions grew when Miller mentioned my photo.

"I never gave Coinbase my photo," I told him. 

He said, "In order to get an account you would have had to. You might not remember doing it but we have to have it due to know-your-customer rules." Miller then told me, "He's trying to make another transfer, but I have it on hold so he can't."

I asked him to please send me an email so I know that he's really calling from Coinbase. He said, "I just sent you a case number about 10 seconds ago, you should have it." Then he asked if I had something to write with, and he read me a six-digit number. I told him that the email didn't arrive. 

"Let me send another one," he said. "This will have a new case number."

He read a second number and then said, "I'll wait until you get the email. You might not get it in your inbox because he's trying to change your email address. Check your spam." 

Both messages were in the spam folder from what appeared to be a Coinbase email. 

The messages had the same confirmation codes as the ones he gave me on the phone. There were no typos, there was a Coinbase logo and a text box with all the key information. The email address appeared to have come from Coinbase, but I thought it was odd it didn't have Miller's name on it. Then I spotted another sign that something wasn't right: The two emails came from slightly different addresses. One said "[email protected] via sportuel.com," and the other said "[email protected] via live-coinbase.com."

He asked, "When was your last Coinbase transaction?" I thought for a few seconds and then remembered buying a very small amount of "Monad" which I'd never heard of before a guest mentioned it on "Squawk Box" last month. 

Read more CNBC reporting on AIThis Meta alum has spent 10 months leading OpenAI's nationwide hunt for its Stargate data centersAI Sam Altman and the Sora copyright gamble: 'I hope Nintendo doesn't sue us'Anthropic launches Claude Sonnet 4.5, its latest AI model that's 'more of a colleague'Sam Altman on worries about OpenAI’s $850 billion in planned buildouts: ‘I totally get that’When he followed by asking, "What are your total assets?" I responded, "Shouldn't you know that?" 

He said, "Due to confidentiality, I can't say."

So, I gave him a wide range, being embarrassed about how little money I had, and starting to realize that something wasn't right.

Miller then told me I really needed a "Coinbase Hard Wallet" and asked if I was familiar with that. I said I was not. He offered to help me set it up. 

I asked, "First should I change my Gmail password?" 

"Probably a good idea," he said.

Then I asked, "Shouldn't I change my Coinbase password?"

At that point, he hesitated and said, "We don't recommend that. Right now I have your account on hold. If you change your password, it will freeze it for up to two weeks." 

I told Miller that I had a meeting in five minutes and asked how long it would take to get the Coinbase Hard Wallet. He told me 20 minutes. I said I had to go, but I asked if we could talk again at 3 p.m. He promised to call me back.

Close callWhen I hung up, I tried to figure out what to do next. It didn't seem right but several details lined up. I checked my account. Nothing seemed out of order.

Then I took the email addresses he had sent. I copied them and asked Claude, Anthropic's AI chatbot, if they were legitimate. The response came back, "This is almost certainly a PHISHING scam."

Several red flags popped up, including that the messages were coming from the wrong domain.

"The real Coinbase sends emails from @coinbase.com, not @live-coinbase.com. That hyphenated domain is a classic phishing tactic," according to the AI program's notes. Claude also flagged the suspicious "via" address: "Legitimate companies don't route emails through third-party domains like this," according to the AI program.

I said to myself, "Thanks, Claude," while also thinking, "That was close." 

I called an old contact in Coinbase's public relations department who told me, "I don't work there anymore, but that's probably a scam. Coinbase doesn't call people." 

She promised to send details on my situation to the current team at Coinbase who texted and called within a few minutes confirming it was a scam.

The caller ID lit up on phone, "Coinbase" and because I expected the call, I was willing to trust it despite being a little nervous at first. I told the Coinbase representative I'd write up the whole 15-minute call for her so they could hopefully use it to warn others… then decided, maybe this would be a good article for CNBC.com. 

Coinbase agreed. A spokesperson who often deals with security issues said the company has ways to prevent people from being scammed, even when the victim falls for it, including watching for large transfers or sudden sales from accounts that don't often transfer or sell crypto. 

"We invest heavily in prevention, detection, and rapid response," the spokesperson said in an email. The rep added that Coinbase would never tell a customer to transfer crypto into a safe wallet. "If someone tells you to move funds to protect them, it's a scam," the spokesperson said.

Coinbase also acknowledged that artificial intelligence was a multiplying factor in scam attempts and the quality of scams. 

"Attackers use a variety of bots and AI automations to make their workflows easier" the company said, noting that AI voice agents are being used "to create more believable automated calls."

According to ZeroShadow, a firm that tries to return stolen crypto assets back to their rightful owners, their systems have seen a 1,400% increase in "impersonation scams" in the last year. 

"The attacks come from inside and outside of the U.S., but the people behind the scams often try to hire young men or teenagers, people who have less inhibition, and train them," said Casey G., ZeroShadow's CEO, who asked that his full last name be withheld because of security threats. "They sell them scripts and sometimes voice modulation devices."

The CEO said his firm has recovered about $200 million for victims over the last four years, but he admits it's a difficult process.

"Once the crypto is out of your account, we can trace it, but getting it back isn't so easy," he said. "We need help from local authorities. Crypto has less protection than the traditional banking system in the U.S." Casey G. also said AI is being used by scam chiefs to multiply their workforce.

One of the most successful techniques the scammer used was creating a sense of urgency. By telling me there was an ongoing attempt while we were on the phone, I was almost tricked into taking action or giving up information. I felt my pulse racing and had an instinct to stop whatever was happening. 

Anti-scam experts say that's a common tactic that's getting more sophisticated as bad actors buy and sell successful "scam scripts" on the dark web. Coinbase said it advises people to "slow down, take a beat, verify things independently and don't act under pressure."

Be careful out there.

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NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Instil Bio, Inc. (“Instil” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: TIL).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Instil and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 6, 2026, Instil issued a press release announcing that Axion Bio, Inc. (“Axion”), an Instil subsidiary, “has decided to discontinue clinical development of AXN-2510 and that Axion and ImmuneOnco Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Inc. . . . have entered into an agreement terminating their license and collaboration agreement for AXN-2510 and AXN-27M (‘Termination Agreement’).” 

On this news, Instil’s stock price fell $5.63 per share, or 45.81%, to close at $6.66 per share on January 6, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980