Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways USB is set to report Q4 2025 results on Jan. 20, with revenue and earnings expected to rise year over year.USB expects stable NII, supported by easing rates, stabilizing funding costs and resilient loan demand.Fee Income is projected to dip sequentially, while expenses are expected to remain elevated. U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 20, 2026, before the opening bell. The company is expected to have witnessed year-over-year increases in quarterly revenues and earnings.

In the third quarter, U.S. Bancorp benefited from lower expenses, higher non-interest income and an increase in net interest income (NII), along with a strong capital position. However, higher provisions acted as a headwind.

USB has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat estimates in the trailing four quarters, the surprise being 4.7%, on average.

U.S. Bancorp Price and EPS SurpriseFactors Influencing U.S. Bancorp’s Q4 PerformanceNII: During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates twice, bringing the benchmark rate down to the 3.50–3.75% range. Thus, stabilizing funding and deposit costs are expected to have supported USB’s NII growth.

Management expects NII for the fourth quarter of 2025 to remain relatively stable sequentially.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pegged at $4.29 billion, indicating a 1.8% increase from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

Loans: Despite uncertainties surrounding tariff policies, lending activity remained resilient in the fourth quarter, supported by improving macroeconomic clarity. Per the Federal Reserve’s latest data, demand for commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate loans remained solid. As a result, USB’s lending activity is expected to have seen a decent improvement.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $620.8 million for average earning assets indicates a marginal sequential increase.

Non-Interest Income: The fourth quarter witnessed solid client activity and elevated market volatility, driven by the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, easing monetary policy and a dominant AI-led investment theme. Volatility remained high across equity markets and other asset classes, including commodities, bonds and foreign exchange. This might have aided capital markets revenue growth to some extent in the fourth quarter. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for capital markets revenues is pegged at $414.6 million, indicating a decrease of 4.4% from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

During the fourth quarter, mortgage rates declined meaningfully, primarily driven by the Fed’s monetary policy easing. However, refinancing activity and origination volumes did not witness a notable pickup. Hence, U.S. Bancorp’s mortgage banking fees are likely to have remained under pressure in the quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for mortgage banking revenues is pegged at $166.9 million, which indicates a 7.3% decrease from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

The consensus mark for income from card revenues is pegged at $441.9 million, indicating a marginal rise from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for trust and investment management fees is pegged at $733.74 million, indicating a marginal rise from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

Overall, the consensus estimate for total non-interest income is pegged at $3.04 billion, indicating a sequential decline of 1.3%. Management expects total non-interest income to be approximately $3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Expenses: Although the company has been implementing expense management actions, higher costs related to compensation and employee benefits, net occupancy and ongoing investments in technology-led initiatives are likely to have kept the expense base elevated.

Management projects total non-interest expenses to rise by around 1%–1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the prior quarter’s reported figure. Also, it anticipates a positive operating leverage of more than 200 bps.

Asset Quality: The company is likely to have set aside a modest amount of money for potential bad loans, given expectations of an additional rate cut this year, as signaled by the Federal Reserve, along with improving economic clarity.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-performing loans is pegged at $1.63 billion, indicating a rise of 1.4% from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for USBPer our proven model, the chances of U.S. Bancorp beating estimates this time are high.  The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is exactly the case here, as you can see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: U.S. Bancorp has an Earnings ESP of +0.78%.

Zacks Rank: USB currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.19 has been unchanged in the past seven days. The figure indicates an increase of 11.2% from the year-ago reported number.

The consensus estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 revenues is pegged at $7.33 billion, indicating a rise of 4.9% from the year-ago reported figure.

Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are a couple of other bank stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.

The Earnings ESP for KeyCorp (KEY - Free Report) is +0.50% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is slated to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 20, 2026. Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KEY's quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at 38 cents per share.

The Earnings ESP for Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB - Free Report) is +1.33% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The company is slated to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Jan. 20.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for FITB’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at $1.01.

Key Takeaways DVA benefits from its integrated kidney care model and international expansion.DaVita is expanding across Europe and Asia, adding centers via acquisitions and partnerships.DVA faces margin pressure risk as it shifts from commercial insurance to Medicare and Medicaid. DaVita Inc. (DVA - Free Report) has been gaining from its business model. The optimism, led by a decent third-quarter 2025 performance and the overseas growth, is expected to contribute further. However, concerns regarding its dependence on commercial payers persist.

So far this year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has lost 24.9% against the industry's 11.2% growth and the S&P 500's 12.9% increase.

The renowned global comprehensive kidney care provider has a market capitalization of $7.39 billion. The company projects 12.6% growth for the next five years and expects to maintain its strong performance going forward. DaVita’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 0.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

UpsidesBusiness Model: DaVita’s patient-centric model integrates a broad kidney care platform to expand patient choice across care settings and treatment modalities. As value-based arrangements gain traction in kidney care, collaboration among nephrologists, providers and transplant programs is deepening, enabling better care coordination and earlier clinical intervention. DaVita’s Integrated Kidney Care business actively participates in CMMI’s Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting model, which focuses on managing late-stage CKD and ESKD patients to slow disease progression, increase home dialysis adoption and encourage transplants.

The company also operates dialysis centers through joint ventures in which it typically holds controlling stakes, while partners such as nephrologists, hospitals and other healthcare providers own minority interests. Many of DaVita’s outpatient centers support home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, helping eligible patients receive treatment at home.

Overseas Growth: DaVita is steadily expanding in the international markets. In the past few years, the company has strengthened its position in the emerging and developing markets of Brazil, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Saudi Arabia through strategic alliances and acquisitions of dialysis centers. These are expected to help DaVita deliver more efficient patient care.

Currently, DaVita is seeking to expand in major European and Asian countries via acquisitions and partnerships. In 2025, management expects operating growth in the company’s international business as it continues expansion in international markets.

As of Sept. 30, 2025, DaVita provided dialysis services to around 293,200 patients at 3,247 outpatient dialysis centers, of which 2,662 were U.S. centers while 585 were located across 14 other countries. During the third quarter of 2025, the company opened three dialysis centers in the United States. It also acquired 58 dialysis centers outside the United States in the same period.

Mixed Q3 Results: DaVita ended the third quarter of 2025 with mixed results. The uptick in the company’s top line and revenue per treatment was encouraging. The per-day increase in total U.S. dialysis treatments for the third quarter on a sequential basis and solid revenues from dialysis patient service were encouraging. The opening of dialysis centers within the United States and the acquisition of centers overseas were promising.

However, the year-over-year decline in the bottom line and normalized non-acquired treatment was disappointing.

DownsidesDependence on Commercial Payers: DaVita generates a meaningful share of dialysis and lab revenues, and most of its profits, from commercially insured patients, but this mix is under pressure. Rising unemployment could accelerate shifts from commercial plans to government coverage, and the share of non-government reimbursed treatments has already been declining.

With a large portion of patients already covered by Medicare or Medicaid, further growth in Medicare Advantage enrolment could compress margins, as lower government reimbursement rates may strain profitability and potentially lead to dialysis center closures.

Estimate TrendDaVita is witnessing a stable estimate revision trend for 2025. In the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has remained stable at $10.70.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 revenues is pegged at $3.53 billion, indicating a 6.9% uptick from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $3.24 per share, implying a 44.6% year-over-year decline. 

Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX - Free Report) , Boston Scientific (BSX - Free Report) and STERIS (STE - Free Report) . Each stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Estimates for IDEXX’s 2025 earnings per share (EPS) have remained constant at $12.93 in the past 30 days. Shares of the company have risen 12.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s 11.1% growth. IDXX’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 7.1%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 8.3%.  

Boston Scientific shares have gained 2.9% in the past year. Estimates for the company’s 2025 EPS have remained constant at $3.04 in the past 30 days. BSX’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 7.4%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 5.6%.

STERIS shares have risen 9.1% in the past year. Estimates for the company’s 2025 EPS have increased by 2 cents to $10.23 in the past 30 days. STE’s earnings topped estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and matched on one occasion, delivering an average surprise of 2.6%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 2.6%.

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”) and Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”), and their broker-dealer subsidiaries (together, the “Defendants”). The action alleges that Defendants defrauded investors by placing and executing manipulative trades designed to artificially deflate the price of Quantum Biopharma Ltd. (“Quantum”) (NASDAQ: QNTM) securities.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that sold Quantum securities between January 6, 2021 and October 15, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/QNTM.

Quantum Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 

(1) Defendants repeatedly entered thousands of spoofed sell orders designed to create the false appearance that Quantum’s stock price was declining; 
(2) These manipulative orders were calculated to—and did—deceive or induce investors to sell their shares at artificially depressed prices; 
(3) After driving the market price down, Defendants purchased Quantum shares at these artificially deflated levels, positioning themselves to profit from the scheme; and 
(4) As a result of Defendants’ misconduct, investors, including Plaintiff, were improperly induced into selling their shares at artificially depressed prices.

What's Next for Quantum Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/QNTM or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Quantum you have until February 23, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Quantum Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Quantum Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

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Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

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NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Gauzy Ltd. (“Gauzy” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: GAUZ) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Gauzy securities between March 11, 2025 and November 13, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/GAUZ.

Gauzy Case Details

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that:

three of the Company's French subsidiaries lacked the financial means to meet their debts as they became due;as a result, it was substantially likely insolvency proceedings would be commenced;as a result, it was substantially likely a potential default under the Company's existing senior secured debt facilities would be triggered; andas a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. What's Next for Gauzy Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/GAUZ. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Gauzy you have until February 6, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Gauzy Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman for Gauzy Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com.

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace,” said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC. 

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

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NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE: ITGR) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Integer securities between July 25, 2024 and October 22, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ITGR.

Integer Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants failed to disclose that:

Integer materially overstated its competitive position within the growing EP manufacturing market;despite Integer’s claims of strong visibility into customer demand, the Company was experiencing a sustained deterioration in sales relating to two of its EP devices;in turn, Integer mischaracterized its EP devices as a long-term growth driver for the Company’s C&V segment;as a result of the above, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
What's Next for Integer Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/ITGR. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Integer you have until February 9, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Integer Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Integer Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX) today announced the appointment of Namita Jindal as Senior Vice President and Chief AI and Data Officer, effective immediately. She will report to Simon Meester, Terex President and Chief Executive Officer, and will serve on the Company's Executive Leadership Team.

Namita Jindal, Senior Vice President, Chief AI & Data Officer Jindal is joining Terex from CentralSquare Technologies, where since 2021 she has served as Chief Information Officer. Over the previous two decades, she has held key leadership roles driving digital transformation, including serving as CIO for the Honeywell Intelligrated automation business entity.

"I am delighted to welcome Namita to Terex. Her extensive experience with artificial intelligence and enhanced data management will accelerate our transformational digital strategy and help us build a stronger, more efficient, more profitable company," Meester said. 

Jindal holds a master's degree in business administration from Ohio University and a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering from India.

About Terex
Terex Corporation is a global industrial equipment manufacturer of materials processing machinery, waste and recycling solutions, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), and equipment for the electric utility industry. We design, build, and support products used in maintenance, manufacturing, energy, minerals and materials management, construction, waste and recycling, and the entertainment industry. We provide best-in-class lifecycle support to our customers through our global parts and services organization, and offer complementary digital solutions, designed to help our customers maximize their return on their investment. Certain Terex products and solutions enable customers to reduce their impact on the environment including electric and hybrid offerings that deliver quiet and emission-free performance, products that support renewable energy, and products that aid in the recovery of useful materials from various types of waste. Our products are manufactured in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific and sold worldwide. For more information, please visit www.terex.com.

Contact Information
Derek Everitt
VP Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Terex Corporation

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UPS trades at a discount with a 6.1% yield and strong buybacks, but volume and margin headwinds linger.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regenx Tech Corp. (the “Company” or “Regenx”) (CSE: RGX) (OTCQB: RGXTF) (FSE: YRS WKN: A2DSW3) is providing an update to shareholders regarding the status of its ongoing audit, a debenture maturity extension, and an operational transition within the Company. Audit Update Regenx wishes to acknowledge shareholder frustration regarding the timing of its audit and the resulting cease trade order (“CTO”).

Key Takeaways Sandisk supplies high-performance NAND storage powering AI training, inference and low-latency data access.APLD builds power-dense data centers in low-cost regions, under long-term hyperscaler lease agreements.Sandisk trades at a lower forward price-to-sales than APLD despite stronger recent share gains. Applied Digital (APLD - Free Report) and Sandisk (SNDK - Free Report) are well-positioned to benefit from the rapid build-out of AI-driven data infrastructure. Applied Digital enables AI deployment through the development and operation of power-dense, purpose-built data centers designed to support large-scale GPU clusters and high-performance computing workloads. Sandisk supports those same AI systems at the data layer, supplying high-performance NAND flash storage that underpins data ingestion, model training, inference and low-latency access across hyperscale and enterprise environments.

Per Mordor Intelligence, the global digital infrastructure market was valued at approximately $360 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass $1.06 trillion by 2030, implying a CAGR of about 24.10%. As data center capacity and storage performance scale in parallel, Applied Digital and Sandisk are positioned to gain exposure to the same structural data infrastructure upcycle. Let's delve deeper to determine which is a better investment now.

The Case for APLDApplied Digital's business strategy centers on building data centers in locations with structural cost advantages. North Dakota offers APLD access to inexpensive energy, natural cooling and favorable regulations that reduce operating costs. This approach addresses a critical constraint in AI infrastructure by securing reliable, affordable power at the scale required for GPU computing. The lease-based model converts these facilities into steady recurring revenue once operational.

Applied Digital has secured a $5 billion, 15-year lease with an investment-grade hyperscaler for 200 megawatts at Polaris Forge 2, with initial capacity expected in 2026 and full build-out targeted for 2027. This follows the 400-megawatt CoreWeave agreement at Polaris Forge 1, bringing total contracted capacity to 600 megawatts and approximately $16 billion in prospective lease revenues over 15 years. The on-time completion of the first 100-megawatt phase at Polaris Forge 1 reinforces confidence in construction and project management capabilities. Beyond core facilities, investments in advanced liquid cooling through Corintis and collaboration with Babcock & Wilcox to explore grid power expansion extend the company’s positioning within the broader data-center ecosystem.

However, the model remains capital-intensive and execution dependent. Multi-year construction timelines delay cash generation, while returns are contingent on securing additional long-term leases and managing construction, supply chain and weather-related risks effectively.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APLD's fiscal 2026 loss is pegged at 36 cents per share, up by 5 cents over the past 30 days, but suggesting an annual improvement of 55%.

The Case for SNDKSandisk operates across data centers, edge devices and consumer applications, supplying NAND flash storage that addresses critical AI infrastructure requirements. Expanding model sizes and context windows drive demand for high-performance, high-capacity storage solutions. The company maintains disciplined capacity expansion to support sustainable market growth. This positions Sandisk to serve the same hyperscale customers deploying AI infrastructure through storage that Applied Digital targets.

The competitive foundation rests on BiCS8 technology, jointly developed with Kioxia, utilizing CBA architecture that bonds logic circuitry separately from the 218-layer 3D NAND memory array to deliver industry-leading capacity and energy efficiency. BiCS8 accounted for 15% of bit shipments in the fiscal first quarter and is expected to become the dominant production node by year-end. The technology enables two product categories. High-speed TLC-based drives serve compute-intensive workloads requiring fast data access. High-capacity QLC solutions through the Stargate platform target storage-class applications, with 128TB enterprise SSDs currently under qualification with hyperscalers. The data center segment grew 26% sequentially in the first quarter.

Growth prospects center on data center becoming the largest NAND consumption segment. Sandisk is gaining traction through BiCS8-enabled products offering superior performance and energy efficiency aligned with AI workload requirements. The company is developing high-bandwidth flash technology specifically designed for AI inference applications in both data center and edge markets.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNDK's fiscal 2026 EPS is pegged at $13.46, up by 7% over the past 30 days, suggesting a substantial improvement from the year ago EPS of $2.99.

Price Performance and Valuation of APLD and SNDKOver the past six months, Sandisk’s shares have jumped 894%, substantially outperforming Applied Digital’s shares, which are up 237.2%. Sandisk’s stronger performance reflects improving earnings visibility, accelerating data-center demand and firmer NAND industry fundamentals. Applied Digital’s performance has been driven more by expectations around future capacity ramp-ups and long-term lease monetization rather than current profitability.

APLD vs. SNDK Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Sandisk shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 5.08x, which compares favourably with Applied Digital’s 22.98x, despite Sandisk’s stronger share price performance over the past six months and its transition into a focused, standalone storage business. The valuation gap suggests Sandisk’s improving fundamentals and expanding data-center exposure are not yet fully reflected in its multiple, while Applied Digital’s valuation continues to embed higher expectations around future execution and capacity ramp-ups.

APLD vs. SNDK Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionWhile both Sandisk and Applied Digital are leveraged to the AI-driven expansion in data infrastructure, Sandisk’s growth profile appears more balanced at this stage. Applied Digital offers long-term upside through large-scale data center development, but its trajectory remains tied to capital-intensive execution and delayed cash generation. Sandisk, in contrast, benefits from improving earnings visibility, accelerating data-center demand and disciplined capacity expansion.

Sandisk sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), making it a better buy compared with Applied Digital, which carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Image: Bigstock

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An updated edition of the Nov. 28, 2025, article.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries by enabling machines to analyze massive volumes of data, identify patterns and make increasingly sophisticated decisions. The fast adoption of generative AI, agentic AI and multimodal learning — accelerated by powerful hardware such as GPUs and TPUs — is driving breakthroughs across healthcare, finance, robotics, cybersecurity and e-commerce. From conversational chatbots and medical diagnostics to fraud prevention and autonomous systems, AI has become a core enabler of organizational agility, while also driving meaningful gains in productivity and operational efficiency.

Per Gartner, global AI spending is expected to hit $2.5 trillion in 2026, indicating 44% growth over 2025. Per IDC, global spending on AI infrastructure is expected to reach $758 billion by 2029. U.S. tech giants, including Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) , Adobe, Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) and Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) , have been at the forefront of bringing remarkable advances to AI technology, well supported by powerful AI chips from NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) , Analog Devices (ADI - Free Report) and Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) . The deals between OpenAI and AMD, as well as OpenAI and NVIDIA, reflect growing demand for AI chips. Alphabet’s Tensor Processing Units are also gaining traction. Per NVIDIA, spending on AI infrastructure by cloud service providers and hyperscalers is expected to hit $600 billion in 2026, an increase of more than $200 billion estimated at the beginning of 2025.

AI models continue to evolve thanks to strong spending on developing large language models (LLMs). Microsoft-backed OpenAI introduced GPT-5 in August, which offers multi-modal understanding across text, images, audio and more. Anthropic’s latest Claude Opus 4.5 targets enterprise workflows and advanced agentic use cases. Expanding its generative AI footprint, Alphabet introduced Nano Banana Pro, which is built on Gemini 3 Pro. Alphabet is infusing AI into its search business in order to attract more users, while Meta Platforms’ focus on integrating AI into its platforms is driving user engagement. Both initiatives are driving ad revenue growth.

We believe that the rapid deployment of AI technology and huge spending on its development efforts offer significant growth opportunities for investors. Our Artificial Intelligence Screen is an invaluable source for identifying AI stocks with massive growth prospects.

Explore 36 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and uncover your next big opportunity.

3 AI Stocks to Buy Right NowMicron Technology is benefiting from surging demand for HBM and robust DRAM pricing recovery. The pricing benefits are likely to be driven by rising AI server demand, causing a scarcity in the availability of cutting-edge DRAM supplies. This will support Micron’s margin expansion and profitability. This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company is capitalizing on the AI boom with its HBM3E solutions, which are increasingly being adopted by major hyperscalers and enterprise customers. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Micron is poised to be the key beneficiary of surging AI-related infrastructure spending, as companies continue to build out GPU clusters and AI data centers that require advanced memory solutions. AI PCs are an important part of Micron’s growth plan. MU’s new LPCAMM2 memory is made for AI-ready laptops and workstations that need to handle heavy workloads, such as AI tasks, simulations and multitasking.

An expanding partner base that includes the likes of NVIDIA, AMD and Intel, is enabling Micron to capture a larger share of the AI infrastructure market. Deepening relationship with major cloud and enterprise customers ensures stable revenue streams and reduces the risk of pricing volatility.

Analog Devices is benefiting from secular growth drivers in automation, AI infrastructure, and automotive electrification. This Zacks Rank #1 company is riding on its strong market position in high-performance analog, especially in the industrial, communications infrastructure and consumer markets.

ADI is benefiting from a diversified portfolio and a resilient business model. The company believes that the industrial segment will remain one of its fastest-growing markets in fiscal 2026. Automation demand is rebounding, with increased adoption of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable decentralized intelligence in manufacturing.

AI-driven demand for automatic test equipment is fueling a surge in Analog Devices’ signal chain and power content. Accelerating AI investments bodes well for Analog Devices’ communications segment. Robust demand for ADI’s solutions across both wireline/data center and wireless markets is a key catalyst. Analog Devices is also targeting robotics and humanoid markets as a multi-year growth driver for its industrial automation business.

Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI and acquisitions have been shaping the company’s prospects in the AI field. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company announced the acquisition of Osmos, an agentic AI platform that will enhance autonomous data engineering capabilities within Microsoft Fabric, reinforcing its commitment to simplifying enterprise AI adoption in January. Meanwhile, Azure's competitive moat stems from its ability to support over 11,000 AI models within a unified infrastructure, enabling enterprises access multiple providers without rebuilding technology stacks. This bodes well for MSFT’s prospects.

Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI continues delivering strategic advantages. An incremental $250 billion Azure services contract with OpenAI, announced in the fiscal first quarter, represents a substantial future revenue opportunity. Azure AI Foundry now serves 80,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500, demonstrating broad enterprise adoption of Microsoft's AI platform. Microsoft has deployed the world's first large-scale cluster of NVIDIA GB300s and plans to increase total AI capacity by more than 80% this year while roughly doubling data center footprint over two years.

Published in artificial-intelligence tech-stocks

Key Takeaways Skin care sales rose 3% to $1,575 million in Q1 FY26, helping EL return to growth after prior declines.U.S. and Mainland China share gains lifted results, with EL posting 8% U.S. skin care retail growth.Skin care operating income jumped 60% year over year, helped by higher sales and efficiency gains. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) has experienced prolonged softness in its skin care business over recent quarters, making the category a key area of focus. First-quarter fiscal 2026 results provide updated insight, with skin care sales increasing 3% to $1,575 million. This marked an improvement from prior declines and supported the company’s overall sales growth during the quarter. Growth was fueled by core brands La Mer and Estee Lauder, which benefited from a low prior-year base and recovery in Asia travel retail.

Performance improved largely due to share gains in the United States and Mainland China. In the U.S. prestige beauty market, Estee Lauder reported 8% retail growth in skin care compared with 6% growth for the broader category. Momentum was driven by The Ordinary, which continues to attract consumers and the Estee Lauder brand, which posted its third consecutive quarter of overall share gains.

Initiatives under the company’s “Beauty Reimagined” strategy also supported results. New launches in faster-growing areas such as longevity-focused products and acne treatments, along with expanded distribution through Amazon in Mexico and TikTok Shop in select markets, helped broaden consumer reach.

Profitability within the segment also showed resilience. Skin care operating income rose 60% year over year during the quarter, supported by higher sales and operational efficiencies from the Profit Recovery and Growth Plan.

Despite these gains, the path forward is not without obstacles. Global travel retail remains a volatile channel, with persistent challenges in Eastern markets. Management noted that while consumer sentiment in Mainland China is improving, it remains subdued relative to historical peaks. While the first-quarter results are encouraging, the company must continue to navigate a dynamic macroeconomic environment to prove that skin care’s recent growth is sustainable rather than a temporary rebound from a low base.

Skin Care Strategies Among EL’s CompetitorsCoty Inc.’s (COTY - Free Report) continues to face pressure in skin care, which weighed on its Prestige segment in the first-quarter fiscal 2026. Even as overall prestige sell-out remained positive, Coty reported declines in prestige makeup and skincare sales during the quarter. Management highlighted ongoing efforts to adjust retailer inventories and improve execution, while continuing initiatives to strengthen the Consumer Beauty business, reflecting that skin care remains a less consistent contributor than Coty’s fragrance portfolio.

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF - Free Report) continues to expand its skin care presence, positioning the segment as an increasingly important growth driver. As a top-ranked teen skin care brand, e.l.f. Beauty SKIN has reached a new high, reflecting strong consumer engagement. The acquisition of Naturium adds a fast-growing, ingredient-focused platform, while the addition of rhode further strengthens the portfolio. Together, these brands highlight e.l.f. Beauty’s focus on accessible, high-performance skin care innovation.

EL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Estee Lauder have gained 6.5% in the past month compared with the industry growth of 6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Estee Lauder trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 44.45X, up from the industry average of 30.35X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Estee Lauder’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved up 2 cents and 1 cent to $2.16 and $2.93, respectively, over the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estee Lauder currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST stock has extended its recent rally after the retailer reported strong December sales. As a dominant player in the warehouse club space, Costco continues to benefit from a resilient membership-driven model, steady traffic trends and improving digital demand.

Millennial Potash Corp (TSX-V:MLP, OTCQB:MLPNF, FRA:XOD) said on Monday it will raise C$15.25 million through a bought-deal private placement to fund work on its Banio potash project.

The junior resource company will issue five million units at C$3.05 each under the offering, it said. Each unit will comprise one common share and half of one share purchase warrant. Each full warrant will be exercisable at C$4 per share for a period of three years from the closing date.

Cantor Fitzgerald Canada is acting as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner for the offering. The underwriters have agreed to purchase the units, or arrange for substitute purchasers, with a formal underwriting agreement expected to replace the letter agreement ahead of or at closing.

Under the terms of the deal, the underwriters will receive a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds and broker warrants equal to 4% of the total number of units sold. Each broker warrant will allow the holder to buy one common share at C$3.05 for up to 36 months.

Millennial Potash has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the units at the same price, exercisable in whole or in part up to 48 hours before the closing date.

The company said proceeds will primarily be used to cover costs related to a definitive feasibility study for the Banio project, with the remainder allocated to working capital and general corporate needs.

Spot XRP (XRP) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have continued to attract investor interest, recording inflows every day of last week as transactions surged to a six-month high.

Unfortunately, these positive fundamentals didn’t help the bulls hold the price above the psychological $2 support level. How low can XRP price go?

Key takeaways:

XRP fell below $2 in a 6-day correction as trade war fears from Trump's Greenland tariff threats triggered market-wide sell-offs.

Strong fundamentals, such as $1.28 billion cumulative ETF inflows and a surge in XRP Ledger transactions to a six-month high, failed to lift investor sentiment. 

XRP price under exchange reserves surgeXRP extended its correction on Monday, dropping below the $2 psychological level, marking six consecutive days of declines. 

The sell-off extends across the crypto market, with Bitcoin (BTC) falling to $92,000 and Ether (ETH) pressing down on support at $3,000, triggered by US President Trump's weekend threat of new tariffs on European countries (over buying Greenland), sparking fears of renewed trade wars.

More than $788.9 million in long positions were liquidated, with Bitcoin accounting for $224 million of that total. XRP saw $39.5 million in long liquidations, the highest since Nov. 22, 2025.

Across the board, a total of $875 million was wiped out of the market in short and long positions, affecting around 250,000 traders, as shown in the figure below.

Crypto liquidations. Source: CoinGlass Meanwhile, demand for XRP derivatives has remained weak, falling to $3.56 billion on Monday from its yearly high of $4.55 on Jan.6, representing a 21.7% decline.

Further decline in the OI could accompany prices lower, as seen in October 2025.

XRP Futures Open Interest. Source: CoinGlassXRP price ignores ETF demand, onchain activityThe six-day price correction comes even as institutional sentiment remains relatively positive, as reflected in steady inflows into US-based XRP spot ETFs.

According to data from SoSoValue, XRP ETFs added $1.12 million on Friday, bringing cumulative inflows to $1.28 billion and total assets to over $1.52 billion. The Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) was the only XRP ETF with inflows on Friday, bringing its net assets to $287.75 million.

Spot XRP ETF flows chart. Source: SoSoValueAs Cointelegraph reported, global XRP investment products also attracted $69.5 million in inflows during the week ending Jan. 16, signaling steady demand from institutions.

XRP has also seen an increase in onchain demand, evidenced by the surge in transactions to a six-month high last week.

Data from XRPScan shows that the number of transactions executed on the XRP Ledger soared to 2,575,561 on Wednesday, levels last seen in July 2025.

XRP Ledge: Daily transaction count. Source: XRPScanDespite this robust network usage and persistent ETF demand, XRP price has underperformed, dropping 18.5% from its eight-week high of $2.41 reached on Jan. 6.

As Cointelegraph reported, stronger technical validation and high volumes across spot and derivatives markets would be needed to confirm a breakout to higher levels. 

XRP price must hold $1.80The XRP/USDT pair is currently testing a daily order block around $1.96, a level with strong support, according to data from Glassnode.

The cost basis distribution heatmap reveals that more than 1.78 billion XRP were bought around this level over the last six months. The next significant support sits at $1.78 and $1.80, where investors acquired approximately 1.84 billion XRP. 

XRP: Cost basis distribution heatmap. Source: GlassnodeNote that the XRP/USD pair has not closed a daily candlestick below this level since April 2025, and bulls must defend it to avoid a deeper correction.

If the price breaks below this level, it could drop toward the green zone shown below, supported by the $1.61 local low and the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA), which is about $1.41 and represents the last line of defense for the XRP price.

XRP/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewUnfortunately for the bulls, XRP’s downside momentum is increasing based on the relative strength index, or RSI, which has hit its lowest level in 2026.

As Cointelegraph reported, a break below the support line of a descending channel at $2 will see the XRP/USDT pair extend the decline to $1.75 and subsequently to the Oct. 10 low of $1.61.

This 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.

Mon, 19/01/2026 - 15:51

Mysterious Shiba Inu whale on Binance that disappeared in mid-2025 just came back to life with a 15.18 billion SHIB transfer, right as the price of the meme coin tests the bottom.

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A Binance-linked whale that had been inactive for six months just made a comeback with a new $119,330 bet on Shiba Inu (SHIB), sending 15,182,013,963 SHIB into wallet "0xDB345...fba0," according to Arkham. The same address got the most SHIB in mid-2025, grabbing 46.6 billion tokens in a multistage buildup before disappearing. 

That play — which is now 6.7% underwater — looks like it was not abandoned, but rather patiently extended.

Source: ArkhamThis happened at the same time as smaller amounts of ETH, DOGE and WLD were sent from Binance hot wallets in a three-hour period.

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But SHIB dominated in both volume and intent. With this latest top-up, the wallet's SHIB stash rises to 61.84 billion, worth $484,840 at current prices — making it the largest allocation in a $1.67 million portfolio.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) price turbulence triggers whale awakeningOn the price side of the transfer, SHIB is down 6.78% today, "thanks" to a market sell-off, but the new inflow suggests the whale is averaging into weakness rather than cutting risk.

The wallet's other holdings — 495.1 BNB worth $459,840, 138.95 ETH equal to $447,040, 660K FET estimated at $159,870 and smaller PEPE, APE and WLD positions — are all down too, with FET and APE sliding over 11% in particular.

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This does not seem like a random action. When a whale surfaces after six months of  silence and does exactly what it did last time — buy in tranches, vanish, repeat — it is either preparing for a comeback or playing a long game nobody else is invited to. This is especially true when the address is linked to Binance exclusively, avoiding any DEX.

If the Shiba Inu coin can hold onto the $0.0000076 floor and bounce back to its 50-day line, this wallet's deep red will turn green before most people even notice.

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A new week has started with the drop of most of the coins, according to CoinMarketCap.

Top coins by CoinMarketCap XRP/USDThe rate of XRP has declined by 3.71% over the last day.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the price of XRP is near the local resistance of $1.9829. However, most of the daily ATR has passed, which means traders are unlikely to see sharp moves by tomorrow. 

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But if bulls can hold the gained initiative, the upward move may lead to the test of the $2-$2.05 zone shortly.

Image by TradingViewOn the longer time frame, the rate of XRP is far from main levels. The volume remains low, which means neither bulls nor bears have accumulated enough energy for a further move. In this case, sideways trading in the range of $1.95-$2.05 is the most likely scenario.

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, the picture is similar. However, it is too early to make any long-term predictions as the week has just begun. As the price of XRP is far from support and resistance levels, one should focus on the nearest zone of $2. If the candle closes above it, traders may witness an upward move to the $2.20 area.

XRP is trading at $1.9801 at press time.

XRP Price Needs to Replicate This Four-Month-Old Move to Get a 33% Rally ‘Moving’XRP must reclaim the 100-day EMA near $2.24 to have a chance at 33% breakout.Whales and long-term holders added 17 million XRP since Jan 14, signaling early positioningShorts dominate derivatives over 95%, making a 100-day EMA reclaim a squeeze triggerXRP has been one of the weaker large-cap tokens this week. The XRP price is down about 6% over the past seven days, putting pressure on short-term sentiment.

Still, the latest pullback may not be the end of the move. The chart and on-chain data suggest XRP is sitting at a make-or-break moment that depends on whether it can repeat a setup last seen four months ago.

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Price Chart Shows a Familiar SetupXRP appears to be forming an inverse head-and-shoulders structure on the daily chart. This pattern often signals a trend reversal, but only if key levels are reclaimed. Right now, the neckline of the structure sits near $2.52, around 28% above current prices.

For that rally path to open, XRP first needs to reclaim the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA), the sky blue line. An EMA gives more weight to recent prices, so it reacts faster to trend changes than a simple moving average. Historically, this level has acted as a major decision point for XRP. In September, reclaiming the 100-day EMA led to a roughly 12% rally. Earlier that same month, a similar reclaim produced a 16% move higher.

Bullish XRP Structure: TradingViewWant more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

So far, XRP has failed to hold above shorter-term EMAs (20-day and 50-day) and was rejected again near the 100-day EMA on January 14. Still, the latest sell-off printed a long lower wick, showing buyers quickly absorbed downside pressure. That response suggests demand is present, keeping the bullish structure alive for now, but only if the EMA barrier is eventually reclaimed.

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Whales and Holders Position Early, but Spot Buying Alone May Not Be EnoughOn-chain data shows early positioning beneath the surface. Whales holding 10 million to 100 million XRP increased balances from roughly 11.14 billion to 11.17 billion tokens, worth roughly $60 million at current prices.

Smaller whales holding 1 million to 10 million XRP were even more active. Their balances rose from around 3.54 billion to 3.59 billion XRP, or nearly $100 million. These additions began around January 14, ahead of broader holder accumulation. While they dumped a few tokens on January 15 as the XRP price started correcting, the net positioning since January 14 still remains positive.

XRP Whales: SantimentHolders followed the whales. Since January 16, the long-term holder net position change has turned decisively positive. This metric tracks wallets holding XRP for roughly 155 days or more, making it a useful proxy for conviction-based holders rather than short-term traders.

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On January 16, this cohort held approximately 223,201,195 XRP. By January 18, holdings had risen to about 234,886,841 XRP. That is an increase of roughly 11.69 million XRP, representing a 5.2% rise in holdings over just two days.

HODLers Adding: GlassnodeThe timing matters. Whales began positioning earlier, during the initial correction, while long-term holders stepped in after January 16. This staggered accumulation suggests deliberate buying rather than emotional dip-chasing.

Derivatives Skew Sets Up the Catalyst, While XRP Price Levels Decide the OutcomeDerivatives positioning adds a key twist. On XRP perpetual markets, short liquidation leverage sits near $520 million, while long leverage is closer to $22 million. That means positioning is skewed over 95% toward shorts.

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XRP Liquidation Map: CoinglassThis imbalance creates fuel. A modest upside move could trigger a short squeeze, amplifying price strength quickly if key levels break.

The levels are clear. XRP needs to close above $2.24 to confirm strength and reclaim the 100-day EMA line. It can then push into the $2.48–$2.52 zone to activate the pattern. If that happens, a 33% rally projection comes back into play.

XRP Price Analysis: TradingViewOn the downside, losing $1.84 weakens the setup, while a drop below $1.77 invalidates it entirely. For now, XRP is not breaking out. But if it can replicate the September move, the rally may finally get moving.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

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Posted: January 19, 2026

Bittensor’s TAO token extended its bearish run as selling pressure intensified for a fifth straight session.

The decline followed a failed retest of the $310 supply zone on the 10th of January, which triggered sustained short positioning.

That area had capped prior recovery attempts and remained a key reference point for near-term price behavior.

For bullish momentum to regain credibility, TAO buyers would need to invalidate that zone decisively.

At press time, TAO traded near $251 after posting a sharp daily decline, marking its weakest level since listing on Coinbase in late October.

The move reflected fading upside momentum. Repeated stabilization attempts over recent sessions failed to attract follow-through buying. Sellers retained control as price drifted lower across the daily timeframe.

Source: TradingView

Supply zone retest highlights growing pressure For traders, the recent interaction with the $310 region placed Bittensor [TAO] at a technically sensitive level.

Moreover, price approached that zone while forming successive lower highs. It signaled persistent distribution rather than short-term volatility.

The retest occurred without a meaningful pickup in bullish participation, keeping downside risks in focus. That weakness left the price vulnerable as the market structure continued to tilt lower.

Network metrics reflect fading engagement Beyond price action, network metrics softened notably during the drawdown. Development Activity dropped to its lowest observed level for TAO, pointing to reduced ecosystem momentum.

Historically, sustained declines in Development Activity often aligned with cooling investor interest during extended downtrends.

Source: Santiment

On top of that, social metrics weakened alongside price.

Santiment data showed TAO recorded roughly 30 social mentions over the past 24 hours, reflecting fading speculative attention.

Lower Social Volume mirrored shrinking demand and limited participation from retail traders.

Source: Santiment

TAO market sentiment remains cautious Taken together, declining price action, subdued Development Activity, and weaker social presence kept sentiment cautious.

On-chain signals suggested traders remained reluctant to step in aggressively near current levels. That alignment left near-term conviction fragile as participants watched for signs of stabilization.

With TAO holding below the $310 supply zone and engagement metrics muted, selling pressure remained the dominant force.

Final Thoughts Rejection near $310 aligned with lower highs and weak follow-through buying, reinforcing downside structure. Falling Development Activity and roughly 30 daily social mentions pointed to thinning participation, limiting dip-buying interest.

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Ripple USD stablecoin (RLUSD) has spiked by over 129% in volume in the last 24 hours as market activity picked up in some sectors of the cryptocurrency space.

RLUSD trading bolume surges amid stablecoin demandAs per CoinMarketCap data, the increased activity led to an increased 145.56%, or $49.55 million, within this time frame. The spike in volume signals that there is a demand for the stablecoin, which has soared into the top 10 stablecoin in the sector.

Notably, during periods of market decline, investors might decide to accumulate a particular asset by buying at a lower price. This generally creates a demand for stablecoins, which are used for such purchases on different exchanges.

It is worth mentioning that the Ripple USD stablecoin, which was launched in December 2024, has registered accelerated growth. RLUSD’s market capitalization now stands at $1.33 billion within this short timeline of hitting the crypto market.

The growth could have a positive impact on Ripple’s XRP and amplify its purchasing power. The high demand for the stablecoin could serve as a bridge for users entering the ecosystem and also boost XRP demand for liquidity.

Additionally, the transaction fees, which are paid in XRP, get burned, thereby reducing the circulating supply. 

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That scarcity in XRP might serve to trigger pressure on the market and support a price rebound. XRP has been facing volatility issues and has failed to regain the $3 level since October 2025.

XRP price slides below $2, can RLUSD revive price?As of press time, XRP is exchanging hands at $1.97, which represents a 3.58% decrease in the last 24 hours. 

However, trading volume remains in the green zone by 182.66% at $3.85 billion. The plunge in price comes as a shock, given that the coin recently posted the first golden cross of 2026.

The decline has been attributed to a sudden reversal in price outlook as a result of a death cross that emerged in the last 24 hours. The death cross, which suggests bearish sentiment, appears to have limited the coin to a tight range of $1.97 and $2.06.

Original U.Today article

Mon, 19/01/2026 - 16:07

Can traders expect Ethereum (ETH) to drop to the $3,000 area soon?

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The cryptocurrency market is mostly falling today, according to CoinStats.

ETH chart by CoinStatsETH/USDThe price of Ethereum (ETH) has dropped by 3.2% over the last 24 hours.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the rate of ETH has made a false breakout of the local resistance at $3,231. If the daily candle closes above that mark, there is a chance to witness a test of the $3,250 area tomorrow.

Image by TradingViewOn the longer time frame, the picture is less positive for bulls. Buyers may start thinking about a midterm rise only if the rate of the main altcoin fixes above the resistance at $3,447. 

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Until it happens, bears remain more powerful than bulls. 

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, none of the sides is dominating. Such a statement is also confirmed by the falling volume. All in all, sideways trading around the current prices is the most likely scenario untli the end of the month.

Ethereum is trading at $3,218 at press time.

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XRP Ledger Validator Vet is optimistic about the frontier of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) on the XRPL. Zero-knowledge proofs are believed to possess the potential to drive breakthroughs in privacy and compute scalability.

Vet cited the most recent episode of Ripple's on-chain economy, where Aanchal Malhotra, Research Lead at Ripple, explained XRP Ledger's privacy push.

How can you not be bullish?

.@aanchalmalhotre is one of the coolest person you'll find in the community!

She co authored the XRP AMM and other features.

Now she is on ZKP and this is what it enables for us

- Trust minimized bridging for interoperability

- Compliant privacy,… https://t.co/B4Ly1VciIb

— Vet (@Vet_X0) January 19, 2026 The XRP Ledger validator hints at what zero-knowledge proofs might bring to the XRP Ledger, which includes trust-minimized bridging for interoperability, compliant privacy and selective disclosure to authorities and third parties.

ZK proofs are also anticipated to bring about transactional scalability, where computations and transactions can be done on XRPL layer 2s, and then the main chain is used as a settlement layer.

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Vet believes this is the path to mass adoption and highlighted the need to pay attention at this time.

What's coming?In the most recent on-chain economy series, Aanchal Malhotra, Research Lead at Ripple, states where XRP Ledger currently stands in the push for on-chain privacy.

According to Malhotra, the XRP Ledger is getting past the exploration phase of zero-knowledge technologies.

Malhotra highlighted that no off-the-shelf solution can be used with the XRPL now at the stage of prototyping zero-knowledge proofs in its journey toward achieving programmable privacy.

The XRP Ledger is adopting a hybrid approach, where certain parts of the zero-knowledge proofs will be implemented natively for better performance and flexibility so that developers can build different applications and proving systems based on their needs within the programmability layer. Malhotra stated that the XRPL is much further in this journey, while teasing real world applications being built on the XRP Ledger soon.

The Ripple head of research explains what programmable privacy means in the context of the XRP Ledger. This advantage presented by blockchains allows users to get the best of both worlds, where they can hide information and at the same time do selective disclosure — for instance, disclosing the relevant information to third parties, such as auditors for compliance purposes.

Range-bound price action continues within a familiar cycle pattern.

Institutional investors have continued to allocate capital to U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), prioritizing the top asset even as broader crypto market sentiment remains fragile.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in net inflows of over one billion last week, marking the largest tally in three months. 

BTC ETFs Just Had Their Best Week Since October The nearly dozen spot BTC funds logged a net inflow of $1.42 billion last week, the largest inflow since the week ended October 10, when the ETFs pulled in $2.7 billion.

BlackRock’s IBIT led last week’s inflows, attracting $1.03 billion in net inflows for the week ended Jan. 16, per data from SoSoValue.

The strong inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, despite the short-term volatility in the crypto market, indicate renewed institutional demand and conviction in BTC as a long-term asset class.

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Ether spot ETFs also registered notable demand, pulling in $479 million in inflows, their highest weekly tally since early October, which reflects a bullish near-term outlook for ETH. BlackRock’s ETHA registered a lion’s share of this, raking in $219 million.

Bitcoin’s Upside Capped By Growing Geopolitical Tensions Last week’s positive momentum came as the premier crypto topped the $97,000 level toward the end of the week, up from around $90,500 at the beginning of the period. BTC has since retreated after news emerged about US-European tensions over Greenland. 

President Donald Trump threatened to increase tariffs, beginning at 10% on February 1 and surging to 25% by June, on imports from eight NATO allies, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the United States. 

Bitcoin has shed 2.2% over the last 24 hours to trade hands at $92,951, according to CoinGecko data. The asset remains roughly 26% below its October record high of just above $126,000.

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HBAR price is bouncing from $0.10 high-time-frame support, after a sharp drop, forming a potential double bottom that could signal a reversal if key resistance levels are reclaimed.

Summary

HBAR defended $0.10 support, triggering a strong bounce Price structure is forming a double bottom reversal pattern A reclaim of value area low with volume is needed for confirmation HBAR (HBAR) price is entering a technically important phase after price action rotated back into $0.10 high-time-frame support and printed a strong bounce. This move comes after the market gave back much of its prior rally, triggered by a breakdown below the value area low, which shifted short-term momentum bearish.

However, the pullback into support has now produced a structure resembling a double bottom, a common reversal pattern that can signal the end of a downtrend if confirmed. While the pattern is still developing and confirmation is not complete, the response at $0.10 suggests demand is present, and the market may be building a base for a rotation back toward higher levels.

HBAR price key technical points HBAR bounced strongly from $0.10 high-time-frame support Price action is forming a potential double bottom reversal pattern Reclaiming the value area low is required to confirm bullish continuation HBARUSDT (1D) Chart, Source: TradingView HBAR’s recent weakness was driven by the loss of the value area low, which typically marks the lower boundary of accepted value in the market. When price breaks below this region and fails to reclaim it quickly, it often signals a shift toward lower value and increased selling pressure.

In this case, HBAR’s breakdown led to a corrective rotation that erased much of the prior upside move. Structurally, this type of drop can look bearish, but it becomes more meaningful when it tests a major high-time-frame level that has historically acted as demand.

That is what happened at $0.10. The market reached a key support zone and reacted strongly, which is often the first condition required for a reversal structure to form.

Double bottom formation and reversal potential From a technical analysis perspective, a double bottom is considered a reversal pattern that often appears after a prolonged downtrend. It reflects a scenario where sellers fail to push price to new lows on the second test, while buyers begin stepping in more aggressively at the same support zone.

HBAR’s current structure is beginning to resemble this pattern because price has revisited the $0.10 area and bounced again, suggesting demand may be absorbing sell pressure. This is important because when double bottoms form at high-time-frame support, they can often lead to larger trend shifts once resistance breaks.

However, a double bottom is not confirmed simply by bouncing. Confirmation comes when price breaks above the neckline resistance and holds those levels with acceptance. That is the next step HBAR must complete for a reversal to solidify.

Value area low is the next resistance to reclaim The next major level HBAR needs to reclaim is the value area low. This zone is important because it marks the threshold at which the market shifts from lower value back toward balance and strength.

If HBAR can break above the value area low and hold it on a closing basis, it would signal that buyers are regaining control and that the double bottom structure is transitioning from potential to confirmed.

This reclaim must be supported by bullish volume inflows. Breakouts without volume are vulnerable to failure and often lead to another rejection back toward support. A volume-backed reclaim would strengthen the reversal narrative and increase the probability of continuation toward higher resistance levels.

What to expect in the coming price action HBAR is currently positioned at a critical support level where reversal conditions are starting to form. As long as price continues to hold $0.10 support, the probability remains elevated for the double bottom structure to develop further and rotate price back toward resistance.

The key confirmation level is the value area low. A successful reclaim with bullish volume would validate the reversal setup and increase the likelihood of a sustained rally. If HBAR fails to reclaim resistance, the market may remain range-bound and vulnerable to additional downside tests.