Market Signal Briefing

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUL) Analyst/Investor Day September 30, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Company Participants

Pravin Dugel - Executive Chairman, President & CEO
Nadia Waheed - Chief Medical Officer
Jeffrey Heier, - Chief Scientific Officer
Namrata Saroj - Chief Business Officer
Jay Robins
Peter Kaiser - Chief Development Officer
William Slattery - Vice President of Investor Relations

Conference Call Participants

Arshad Khanani - Sierra Eye Associates
Eleonora Lad
Adnan Tufail
Patricio Schlottmann
Tara Bancroft - TD Cowen, Research Division
Biren Amin - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Colleen Hanley - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Sean McCutcheon - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

All right. We're going to go ahead and get started. Thank you all for joining us today. We appreciate your interest in Ocular and look forward to sharing the story with you. Before I pass the mic to Pravin, please note that during today's presentation, we will be making forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Risk Factors section of our annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC.

With that, it is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Pravin Dugel, Ocular's Executive Chairman, President and CEO.

Pravin Dugel
Executive Chairman, President & CEO

Thanks, Bill, and welcome. Welcome to all of you. It's an exciting day for us. You'll have -- you'll see that we have a very robust and informative Investor Day, and we've got great speakers, panelists, et cetera. The last time we had one of these, it was right here in this room, and it was -- I think it was June 14 of last year. And if you think about where we were then, and think about where we are now, it's pretty incredible.

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Investors looking for reliable option income ETFs should avoid the lure of huge yields and stick with something a bit more boring.

Income-focused investors have plenty of options at their disposal when it comes to exchange-traded funds (ETFs). One type of ETF that is gaining a lot of traction today is option income ETFs. The big draw is large yields, but there are material risks to consider before you buy one of these funds.

In the end, most investors will be better off with fairly simple options like Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO 0.18%) and Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (IDVO 0.24%). The ultra-high yields on offer from ETFs like YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY 1.45%) could be a siren's song that hurts you more than helps you.

Image source: Getty Images.

What is an option?
Options are created when a person sells another person the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock at a future date. The person buying the right pays a fee to the person selling the right. The most common type of option is a covered call, in which a person who owns a stock sells someone the right to buy that stock at a future date. If the option is used (exercised), the stock must be sold. If the option is not exercised, nothing happens. Either way, the fee that is paid is kept by the stockholder.

Selling covered calls is a fair amount of work and only more active, and probably aggressive, investors should use this income-generating approach. However, it is a way to create an additional income stream from your stock portfolio that could be valuable. This is where option income exchange-traded funds come in. Simply put, you don't have to do the work because someone else is doing it for you.

Tread carefully with option income ETFs. There are some that offer dividend yields that just can't be sustained over the long term. And often, those same ETFs are so highly concentrated that there is material asset-specific risk (also called idiosyncratic risk) to consider.

Simple is better with covered call ETFs
If you were going to sell covered calls to generate additional income from your dividend portfolio, you would likely start by building a portfolio of stocks you like. And then you would start looking at selling covered calls on those stocks. You would probably find that selling covered calls worked better at different times for different stocks, which would leave you strategically selling covered calls across the portfolio. This is what Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF and Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF both do.

Data by YCharts.

The difference between these two covered call ETFs is in the name. One is focused on international stocks and the other is U.S.-focused. Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF owns around 30 stocks that are fairly well diversified by sector. And it sells covered calls on just a portion of the portfolio at any given time. That allows the owners of the ETF to generate extra income and benefit from capital appreciation, too. (Covered calls can limit the upside of a stock if the call is exercised.)

Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF owns around 60 or so stocks, applying the same basic approach to foreign stocks.

In both cases, the outcome has been a fairly reliable dividend over time, accompanied by a rising share price. Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF has a yield of around 4.6%. Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF has a trailing 12-month yield of around 5.5%. Both are actively managed ETFs and have fairly high expense ratios of 0.56% and 0.66%, respectively. But if you are looking for consistent income from a covered-call strategy, these ETFs basically do what you would do if you chose to sell covered calls yourself.

Be careful how far you reach for yield
At the other extreme is YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF. It is actually just one of an entire family of option income ETFs offered by YieldMax. YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF's trailing 12-month yield is 81%. If that sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

For starters, many of the YieldMax ETFs are focused on just one stock, and they use a complex options approach to generate income instead of buying the stock and then selling covered calls. That's a lot more aggressive than what either of the Amplify ETFs does.

On top of that, option income can be highly variable from month to month for any given stock. Amplify addresses that issue by having a diversified portfolio and selling covered calls strategically. YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy can't do that. The income it generates is entirely reliant on just one stock. As the chart below highlights, the income you actually collect can change dramatically each month.

Data by YCharts.

Then there's the risk posed by return of capital. Notice in the chart above how YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF's price has declined over time. That's because it is paying so much out in dividends that it is depleting its capital. There are some fairly complex tax issues involved here, but from a practical point of view, you are getting some of your original investment back with each dividend you collect. The only way to avoid that is if the underlying stock goes up dramatically. That can happen for a period of time, but Wall Street has a habit of pushing up stocks and then eventually pushing them down again. There are no free lunches, as the saying goes.

Meanwhile, the expense ratio for YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF is a lofty 1.27%. You are paying more for a less reliable income stream and the risk of your capital declining over time.

Keep it simple and go with DIVO or IDVO
To be fair, the huge yield numbers from YieldMax Option Income ETFs are very alluring. And perhaps for some investors, they will be a good fit. But if you are looking for a long-term investment, you should probably keep it simple and focus on option income ETFs that do what you would do. Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF and Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF don't have the highest yields, but they do have much more sustainable investment approaches.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Amplify ETF Trust-Amplify Cwp Enhanced Dividend Income ETF. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

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

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, takes his seat before a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

If the future of the internet looks like a constant stream of amusing videos generated by artificial intelligence, then OpenAI just placed its stake in an emerging market.

The company behind ChatGPT released its new Sora social media app on Tuesday, an attempt to draw the attention of eyeballs currently staring at short-form videos on TikTok, YouTube or Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook.

The new iPhone app taps into the appeal of being able to make a video of yourself doing just about anything that can be imagined, in styles ranging from anime to highly realistic.

But a scrolling flood of such videos taking over social media has some worried about "AI slop" that crowds out more authentic human creativity and degrades the information ecosystem.

"These things are so compelling," said Jose Marichal, a professor of political science at California Lutheran University who studies how AI is restructuring society. "I think what sucks you in is that they're kind of implausible, but they're realistic looking."

The Sora app's official launch video features an AI-generated version of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaking from a psychedelic forest, and later, the moon and a stadium crowded with cheering fans watching rubber duck races. He introduces the new tool before handing it off to colleagues placed in other outlandish scenarios. The app is available only on Apple devices for now, starting in the U.S. and Canada.

Meta launched its own feed of AI short-form videos within its Meta AI app last week. In an Instagram post announcing the new Vibes product, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a carousel of AI videos, including a cartoon version of himself, an army of fuzzy, beady-eyed beings jumping around and a kitten kneading a ball of dough. Both Sora and Vibes are designed to be highly personalized, recommending new videos based on what people have already engaged with.

Marichal's own social media feeds on TikTok and other sites are already full of such videos, from a "housecat riding a wild animal from the perspective of a doorbell camera" to fake natural disaster reports that are engaging but easily debunked. He said you can't blame people for being hard-wired to "want to know if something extraordinary is happening in the world."

What's dangerous, he said, is when they dominate what we see online.

"We need an information environment that is mostly true or that we can trust because we need to use it to make rational decisions about how to collectively govern," he said.

If not, "we either become super, super skeptical of everything or we become super certain," Marichal said. "We're either the manipulated or the manipulators. And that leads us toward things that are something other than liberal democracy, other than representative democracy."

OpenAI made some efforts to address those concerns in its announcement on Tuesday.

"Concerns about doomscrolling, addiction, isolation, and (reinforcement learning)-sloptimized feeds are top of mind," it said in a blog post. It said it would "periodically poll users on their well-being" and give them options to adjust their feed, with a built-in bias to recommend posts from friends rather than strangers.

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OpenAI's Sora joins Meta in pushing AI-generated videos. Some are worried about a flood of 'AI slop' (2025, October 1)
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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 report is from this week's CNBC's The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what's driving the world's second-largest economy. You can subscribe here.

The big storyImmigration anxieties and a challenging job market have sparked an online backlash over China's latest attempt at attracting global talent — a new visa program announced in August.

The program, which was rolled out on Wednesday with the aim of attracting foreign professionals, will also test how China balances its immigration policy with its pursuit of technological ambitions.

Under the new rules, young graduates — in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM — no longer need backing from a local employer and can enjoy more flexibility in terms for entry frequency and duration of stay.

The keyword "K-visa" — as China's new visa category is called — was among the top searches on social media site Weibo for days, before chatter about National Day traffic jams pushed it off the charts as millions hit the road for a week-long holiday.

Chinese social media users argue that the new visa tilts the playing field toward foreign graduates at the expense of those educated in China. Others on Weibo warned that without employer sponsorship, the program could invite fraudulent applications and open the door to a surge in arrivals from developing countries, piling pressure on an already strained labor market.

"It's already hard enough to verify local degrees. Now the K-visa would quickly spawn a cottage industry of agencies helping foreigners secure entry," one user, with the handle name "momo has a new life," wrote on the platform.

The backlash has prompted an unusually sharp response from state media, that has dismissed the criticism as "misleading" and "narrow-minded." An editorial in People's Daily argued that China still lacks in high-level talent needed to sharpen its technological edge, brushing aside fears of excessive immigration.

Hu Xijin, the outspoken former chief editor of nationalist tabloid Global Times, called the public backlash "a messaging problem," adding that expatriates account for just 0.1% to 0.2% of China's population, compared with 15% in the U.S.

Beijing's focus on courting foreign talent is in stark contrast to Washington that recently introduced visa restrictions, making it difficult for overseas professionals to work in the U.S. China lags behind the U.S. in some key fields such as semiconductors and biotechnology and has been eager to draw its foreign talent to help it catch up.

It will be "a test" for Beijing to manage the program amid strong public opposition, said Dan Wang, China director at geopolitical risk advisory Eurasia Group, expecting China to keep K-visa issuance "tightly controlled in small numbers and strict criteria so it looks like targeted recruitment rather than mass immigration."

The debate comes at a time when China's job market has been deteriorating, with the urban unemployment rate in August rising to its highest level since February.

Adding to a mismatch between an abundant supply of educated workers and a shortage of white-collar openings is an avalanche of 12.2 million college graduates — a record high — entering the job market this year.

The official youth unemployment rate spiked in August to 18.9%, the highest number since the new system of record-keeping took effect in 2023, excluding students.

Still, fears of expatriates flooding local job market appear to be overblown as the new policy, led by state-backed capital, will target the "top-tech talents" with limited impact on the broader job market, said Bob Chen, economist at Shanghai-based FG Venture with investments in advanced technology, semiconductors and AI segments.

Calculated moveWhile Beijing has not released specific details on who will be eligible for the program or whether they will be allowed to take up formal employment in the country, the gesture alone signals that China is becoming more open to the world.

Meanwhile, the U.S. appears to be closing itself off as President Trump imposed a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants, making it more expensive for American companies to bring in skilled foreign workers.

Sectors tied to strategic rivalry with the U.S. — from semiconductors and clean energy to advanced manufacturing, AI and biotech — will likely see most traction under China's new visa as it strives build its advanced tech ecosystem.

"Winning more American engineers is key, it is a chance for Beijing to showcase the superiority of its system," said Eurasia's Wang, adding that while India has a large pool of engineers, political and cultural sensitivities could limit approvals.

A biotech veteran who spent nearly 20 years at global pharmaceutical firms and now runs a research center in Shanghai acknowledged that the K-visa could draw more Chinese Americans to China, who have faced a "bamboo ceiling" that still limits career advancement in U.S. companies. The person wished to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns.

Despite signaling a greater openness to global talent, the policy does not represent a sweeping liberalization of China's immigration approach. China has historically maintained strict immigration policies, tightly restricting low-skilled workers with limited paths to permanent residency for foreigners.

China wants to use K-visa to bring in more talent, but the ultimate goal is still to rely on China's own capacity to build future tech, said George Chan, a partner at Washington-based consultancy The Asia Group and former Asia policy director at Meta.

"Make no mistake: this is a highly calculated move by China, not an open invitation," said Alfredo Montufar Helu, managing director at advisory GreenPoint in Beijing. "The goal isn't mass recruitment [but] the strategic acquisition of exceptional individuals who can sharpen China's competitive edge."

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Daniel Kritenbrink, partner at Asia Group and former U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said the U.S. and China may not reach a broader trade deal like the ones that the White House has with other trading partners.

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Leland Miller, China Beige Book CEO, joined "Squawk Box" to discuss the state of China's economy, U.S.-China trade talks, the future of Taiwan independence and more.

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U.S. interior secretary Doug Burgum joined "Power Lunch" to discuss President Donald Trump's coal leasing plan, U.S. energy security and the AI race with China

Need to knowDeepSeek launched V3.2-Exp model. The latest model, an experimental version of its current model DeepSeek-V3.1-Terminus, is expected to increase efficiency and improve AI's ability to handle a lot of information at a fraction of the cost.

China's industrial profits soared. The improved profitability came as Beijing intensified efforts to rein in excess supply and aggressive price wars that had hurt companies' bottom line. Economists believe that a restructuring of China's over-capacity issue is already in motion and will likely be a lasting theme in the 15th five-year plan.

Manufacturing activity improved in September. China's official gauge for manufacturing activity showed a smaller-than-expected contraction in September as Beijing intensified its efforts aimed at curbing industrial overcapacity amid sluggish domestic demand and global trade disruptions.

Quote of the weekChina equity market, over the last several years, they have gone through very significant composition shift ... we need the macro to catch up, and we need to see that inflection turnaround point for the broad earnings to happen sometime in the next year.

— Laura Wang, Chief China equity strategist at Morgan Stanley

In the marketsChina's stock market was closed for a holiday, while its 10-year government bond yields were trading nearly 2 basis points higher at 1.878%. 

Coming upOct. 1-8: Mainland China markets closed for China's National Day holiday

SummarySharpLink Gaming has transformed into a major Ethereum treasury, holding over 838,000 ETH and trading near its net asset value.SBET offers direct, institutional-grade Ethereum exposure with staking yield, transparent reporting, and a world-class leadership team blending crypto and Wall Street expertise.Trading at ~1x mNAV, SBET provides downside protection regarding the mNAV multiple and upside optionality if market sentiment drives a premium to NAV, enabling accretive ETH/share growth.SBET is rated a Buy for long-term Ethereum bulls, offering a compelling vehicle to benefit from ETH’s growth, staking rewards, and potential sentiment-driven re-rating.Buybacks can help keep the stock from dropping too far below 1.0x mNAV, and they're also accretive to ETH per share when done under mNAV. Hanif Zahari/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

SharpLink Gaming (NASDAQ:SBET) had a makeover this year, going from a small sports-betting affiliate platform into a large Ethereum (ETH-USD) treasury company. It all started on May 27, when the company announced

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

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TORONTO, ON AND LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / October 1, 2025 / Retained executive search firm Caldwell (TSX:CWL)(OTCQX:CWLPF) today announced the addition of Jake Parish as a partner in the firm's London office, further strengthening its global Technology Practice. Jake Parish brings deep expertise in technology, data, and AI leadership to Caldwell's global Technology Practice.

Salesforce, Inc. - Special Call

Company Participants

Emmanuel Schweitzer

Presentation

Emmanuel Schweitzer

Good morning, everyone. This is Emmanuel. I'm your host today. Welcome to the session Trusted Services: Getting Your Data Protection Strategy in Motion. My name is Emmanuel Schweitzer. Yes, I'll introduce myself a little more properly in the jiffy. But I'm excited to walk you through our Trusted Services deck today and see all the services that are available in that part of the Salesforce portfolio just for having 10,000 feet view of what's available, and we'll focus on everything that's related to data protection.

All right. About myself, Emmanuel Schweitzer. I have the privilege of being Australian, French and German. That's probably a lot. I am a distinguished. engineer -- solution engineer with public sector. I'm based in Brisbane, it's actually sunny today. I've been with Salesforce for a little more than 6 years going to 7. I've been in Australia for almost 9 years and I'm a European citizen at heart as well.

Among my passions are photography and traveling the world to get just a perfect chart. So going from Svalbard all the way very close to down to South Africa and anything in between I am also proud father of a son of 9 and a proud husband of my wife, Valerie. And yes, always happy to have a chat about any topics professional or personal if we share interests.

Thank you for attending. I really appreciate your time. We're all very busy, and I think there's a lot of competition for our attention. So I appreciate your interest in Trusted Services. And as a bit of introduction of the Zoom system, if you don't know it. [Operator Instructions] I will not be able to see the QA and chat while I present, but there will be a time towards the end

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The logo of Italian Eni energy company is seen at a Agip gas station in Lugano, Switzerland, June 3, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesCAPE TOWN, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Italian energy group Eni

(ENI.MI), opens new tab is expected to agree a final investment decision for Mozambique's second floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) platform at an event in the capital Maputo on Thursday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Mozambique's government in April approved the development plan for the Coral North floating platform, which will produce 3.5 million metric tons of LNG a year once operational.

Sign up here.

Eni's Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi is expected to attend Thursday's signing ceremony along with Mozambique President Daniel Chapo, the sources said.

Coral North will double existing LNG production from the southern African country's offshore Rovuma Basin.

Eni's first floating LNG platform, Coral South, started exports from Mozambique in 2022.

Eni's projects, far out into the ocean, have not been affected by the security delays that have blighted onshore LNG terminals being developed by other global energy companies TotalEnergies

(TTEF.PA), opens new tab and Exxon Mobil

(XOM.N), opens new tab.

Reporting by Wendell Roelf;
Writing by Sfundo Parakozov;
Editing by Alexander Winning

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM, OTC:TTIRF) shares leapt 66% higher on Wednesday, after revealing the highest-grade silver and copper intersection to date from its Target A1, at the Mushima North project in Zambia.

"We are thrilled to report not only our best intersection of silver mineralisation so far on this project, but also higher-grade copper mineralisation," said managing director Richard Belcher.

"Significantly, the high copper and silver values are from the northern most drill line, so the mineralisation remains open to the north and at depth."

The explorer said the latest drill hole returned 58 metres at 72 grams per tonne silver equivalent. Within the broader interval, high-grade results include 9 metres at 185 grams per tonne silver equivalent and 2.40% copper equivalent from 57 metres depth.

The mineralisation footprint now spans approximately 450 by 400 metres and remains open in multiple directions and at depth.

Belcher added: "The mineralisation footprint is now approximately 450m by 400m within a northwest-southeast orientation and remains open to the north/northwest, south/southeast and at depth.

"These results further support our bulk tonnage, open pit silver exploration model as well as the additional potential for copper and adds further credence to the significance of this discovery for the company."

In London, Tertiary shares were up 69% changing hands at 0.071p.

2 mins mins

Key Points:

Metaplanet now holds 30,823 BTC, joining MicroStrategy among top corporate Bitcoin holders globally.

The company plans to scale its Bitcoin platform and expand into banking and cash flow businesses.

Shares closed at JPY 516, down 10.26%, yet analysts maintain confidence in long-term Bitcoin income growth.

Metaplanet has expanded its Bitcoin reserves with the purchase of 5,268 BTC, bringing its total holdings to 30,823 BTC. This milestone cements its position among the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holders, alongside firms like MicroStrategy.

The company’s accumulation strategy accelerated throughout 2024 and 2025, reflecting a structured approach to long-term digital asset growth. In October 2024, it held only 748 BTC, but by December that year, its reserves grew to 1,761 BTC.

Rapid acquisitions defined 2025, including 2,391 BTC in March, 5,555 BTC in May, and 11,111 BTC in June. By the end of June, Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings surpassed 13,350 BTC, worth more than 191 billion yen.

The latest acquisition builds on this momentum and takes the company beyond its previously stated 30,000 BTC goal for the year. At current prices, these holdings represent hundreds of billions of yen and underscore a strong conviction in Bitcoin.

Strategic Expansion and Market Response
Metaplanet has also launched the second phase of its Bitcoin strategy, focusing on scaling its platform and expanding into complementary businesses. Plans include using Bitcoin as collateral to acquire cash flow assets, such as Japanese digital banks.

The company reported third-quarter revenue of JPY 2.438 billion, a 115.7% increase from the previous quarter, driven by Bitcoin income generation. Capital Group recently became Metaplanet’s largest shareholder with an 11.45% stake worth nearly $500 million.

Additionally, new subsidiaries have been established, including Metaplanet Income Corp. in the US and Bitcoin Japan Inc. in Japan. These entities will handle Bitcoin derivatives, trading, community engagement, and media operations.

Despite strong growth, Metaplanet’s shares closed at JPY 516 on October 1, down 10.26% from the previous session. The company’s market capitalisation stands at JPY 588.74 billion, with a P/E ratio of 59.74, reflecting high growth expectations.

Metaplanet Acquires Additional 5,268 BTC, Total Holdings Reach 30,823 BTC 2
Source : Google

The stock has experienced significant volatility over the past year, reaching highs of JPY 1,930 and lows of JPY 90. Analysts maintain a positive outlook, citing the company’s ability to generate income through derivative strategies as a key advantage.

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Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum today launched the Starboard Sygnum BTC Alpha Fund, developed with Starboard Digital and Starmark as AIFM, targeting an 8–10% annual return paid in bitcoin via systematic arbitrage strategies that convert trading profits into additional BTC.

The cryptocurrency community has reacted to the first US government shutdown since 2018 with pro-Bitcoin messaging.

Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum has introduced the BTC Alpha Fund, a new investment vehicle designed to generate consistent yield on Bitcoin while preserving exposure to its price appreciation. Developed in partnership with Athens-based Starboard Digital, the fund leverages arbitrage strategies to target annual net returns of 8–10%, with payouts made directly in Bitcoin.

The fund is domiciled in the Cayman Islands and is tailored to professional and institutional investors. By reinvesting arbitrage profits into Bitcoin, participants can increase their BTC holdings without missing out on the cryptocurrency’s long-term growth potential. According to Sygnum, demand from clients seeking institutional-grade yield products in digital assets has already been strong.

This move comes as institutional players increasingly look beyond simply holding Bitcoin to more advanced strategies that use decentralized finance (DeFi) to boost returns. Despite growing interest, only about 0.8% of Bitcoin’s supply is currently deployed in DeFi, according to Binance research. Analysts, including Franklin Templeton’s Julian Love, estimate that the market opportunity for Bitcoin DeFi could reach $1 trillion.

Markus Hämmerli, who is leading the BTC Alpha Fund initiative at Sygnum, emphasized Bitcoin’s role as a core asset in modern portfolios, noting that many clients want to expand their positions while generating additional yield.

The BTC Alpha Fund also offers practical benefits for investors. Fund shares can be pledged as collateral for USD Lombard loans at Sygnum, enabling long-term Bitcoin holders to unlock liquidity without liquidating their crypto assets. With monthly liquidity and a strict risk management framework, the fund aims to provide stability while navigating digital asset volatility.

This launch further strengthens Sygnum’s growing suite of regulated Bitcoin investment products, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital economy. The collaboration with Starboard Digital combines institutional trading expertise with robust risk controls, making the BTC Alpha Fund a notable development for professional Bitcoin investors.

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This cryptocurrency should benefit from regulatory tailwinds and increased institutional interest.

Ethereum (ETH -0.86%), the world's second-largest cryptocurrency, has had a volatile year. It struggled earlier in the year, even as Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, took off. Then it rallied, rising from less than $1,500 to more than $4,800. Recently, it has struggled as the crypto sector lost some of its enthusiasm after the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut at its September meeting.

The coin now trades at about $4,200. But many crypto investors are still quite bullish on Ethereum's future. One top crypto analyst thinks Ethereum can rise by 525% during the next three years or so.

Image source: Getty Images.

Momentum remains strong among institutional investors
Bitcoin has benefited from the Bitcoin treasury movement, in which companies tap the capital markets to raise funds that they then use to buy Bitcoin. This trend has shifted to Ethereum, which is now being gobbled up at a faster pace than Bitcoin, according to Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets at Standard Chartered.

In mid-August, Kendrick noted that Ethereum treasury companies and spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had purchased 3.8% of all circulating Ethereum since early June. That's double the fastest pace at which Bitcoin treasury companies ever bought Bitcoin.

Kendrick also thinks that Congress passing of the U.S. Genius Act will serve as another big tailwind for Ethereum. The law creates a regulatory framework for stablecoins, which are digital assets pegged to a commodity or currency like the U.S. dollar.

U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins are potentially a huge innovation in the world of payments because they possess the characteristics of cryptocurrencies but without the volatility. Anyone with access to the internet can use stablecoins to transmit money.

While the devil is always in the details, the framework could provide regulatory clarity, which will encourage more mainstream financial institutions, like banks and investment funds, to use stablecoins. Kendrick said in a research note that more than half of all stablecoins are issued on Ethereum, and make up roughly 40% of the network's fees.

Growth of stablecoins should help expand Ethereum's network, bolstering the case for Ether coins and driving up demand. Kendrick said that Ethereum developers are planning to boost the main network's throughput by 10-fold, letting the network process larger and more transactions.

Based on the tailwinds mentioned above and rising demand from institutional investors, Kendrick in August said Ethereum could reach $7,500 by the end of the year and then vault to $25,000 by the end of 2028, implying a roughly 525% gain from current levels.

Can Ethereum hit $25,000?
Kendrick is one of the few Wall Street analysts I know who covers cryptocurrencies like stocks and issues price targets. There are likely others, but they aren't as prominent as Kendrick. While Kendrick has a breadth of experience and knowledge, I would caution investors from reading too much into these price targets.

Crypto is extremely volatile and harder to value than traditional stocks because cryptocurrencies don't generate earnings and free cash flow, which is how most stocks are valued. Additionally, crypto tends to rise and fal in cycles.

I do, however, agree with a lot of what Kendrick said in terms of catalysts. More stablecoin usage and institutional interest should help the network grow and, therefore, so should demand for Ether coins. Better throughput on the network and the ability to process more transactions would help Ethereum stave off competition and remain the leading network for decentralized applications.

Although I can't provide a price target for 2028, Ethereum is one of the few cryptocurrencies that I think investors can buy that will generate good long-term returns.

Bram Berkowitz has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool recommends Standard Chartered Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The X account belonging to the official BNB Chain has been hacked and used to market a meme coin linked to Binance founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), and a bogus airdrop campaign. The Chinese account of Binance verified that the handle of @BNBCHAIN was hacked, and users should not like new posts.

The account issued a warning that the official English-language BNB Chain account has been hacked. Attackers promoted a memecoin featuring CZ just two weeks after the creator commented that meme coins carry “utility” of memecoins.

Hackers promote token CA via the compromised BNB Chain account. Source: X
Along with the meme coin push, hackers shared links for free reward distribution through an airdrop event.

One fraudulent post stated that users could receive early access to $BSC rewards if they participated within 24 hours. The links implicated in this scam led to phishing websites to acquire wallet credentials via Wallet Connect prompts.

CZ warns about BNB Chain account compromise
CZ responded directly on his personal X account, asking users to stay vigilant. He confirmed that a Binance security team had reached out to X, asking to suspend the compromised account, and is also working on takedown requests for the phishing domains.

“The @BNBCHAIN account is compromised. The hacker posted links to phishing websites. Do NOT connect your wallet,” Zhao wrote, reinforcing his standard SAFU warning.

He advised followers to exercise caution on all fronts, even when it is on official channels.

Wider pattern of crypto account breaches
The BNB Chain hack is one among a series of high-profile social media hacks in 2025. In February, the account of Pump.fun was stolen to advertise a fake governance token, and the account of a WIRED journalist was used to advertise a meme token.

In March, the former president of Ghana, John Mahama, had his X profile used to advertise a fake Solana-based token called Solanafrica. In April, there were further cases where the account of a UK government minister, Lucy Powell, was hacked, in promotion of a fake community token.

Following the breach, BNB fell 1.83% to $1,010 but managed to find support above the $1,000 support zone. Despite the setback, bulls still successfully defended the key level as the broader market headed into October on a positive note, with a brand given to it by traders: “Uptober” after a resilient September.

On the other hand, BNB Chain saw the biggest inflow ever of stablecoins in a single 24-hour period. BNB also had a major breakout, and the $780-$800 resistance zone is now solid support. Analysts are pointing out that as long as the token is still trading above that range, momentum is heading toward higher price targets of $1,100 and $1,200.

Sign up to Bybit and start trading with $30,050 in welcome gifts

Metaplanet bought 5,268 BTC for around $623 million, pushing its total holdings to 30,823 BTC.

21 minutes ago

SlowMist’s chief security officer said the phishing domains behind BNB Chain’s compromised X account are tied to the notorious Inferno Drainer group.

204

The official X account of the BNB Chain blockchain network, with nearly four million followers, was compromised on Wednesday. Hackers used the account to spread phishing links targeting cryptocurrency wallets. 

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao confirmed the incident, warning his followers not to interact with the malicious posts containing phishing links. “The hacker posted a bunch of links to phishing websites that ask for Wallet Connect. Do NOT connect your wallet,” CZ wrote.

He added that BNB Chain’s security teams have notified X and are working to suspend the account and restore access. Zhao said takedown requests for the phishing sites have already been submitted.

A BNB Chain team member told Cointelegraph that their team is currently investigating and will share more information shortly. 

Source: Changpeng ZhaoPhishing links disguised as Wallet Connect promptsSlowMist’s chief information security officer, who goes by the handle 23pds on X, said attackers used a classic trick, swapping letters in the phishing domain to make it appear legitimate. 

“BNB Chain’s English official X account has been hacked! The phishing website changed the letter i into l,” 23pds posted, warning users not to be deceived. The security professional also suggested that the malicious domain belongs to the infamous Inferno phishing group. 

The Inferno Drainer is a crypto wallet-draining software and phishing-as-a-service platform that emerged around 2022 and gained notoriety in 2023. It operates by allowing its affiliates to deploy ready-made phishing sites that mimic legitimate crypto project interfaces. 

The incident highlights challenges in protecting official crypto project accounts from takeovers. The SlowMist CISO suggested that the breach raises questions about the team’s security practices. 

“The BNB Chain team’s security awareness shouldn’t be this poor,” 23pds said. 

Source: 23pdsCZ warns users to check domains carefullyIn his X post, Zhao advised community members to always check domains even when the links are coming from official or verified social handles. “Always check the domains very carefully, even from official X handles. Stay SAFU!” he wrote.

One of the phishing links shared by malicious attackers. Source: XAt the time of writing, the phishing posts were no longer visible, yet it remains uncertain whether any users connected their wallets or lost funds.

Magazine: Avalanche in deal with ETF giant, yuan stablecoin ‘fake news’: Asia Express

Spot Sui and Polkadot exchange-traded funds from 21Shares have been listed on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s National Securities Clearing Corporation list as they await regulatory approval.

Summary

21Shares’ SUI and Polkadot ETFs have been listed on the DTCC’s clearing list under tickers TSUI and TDOT.
SUI and DOT prices slipped despite initial gains.
Analysts believe the chances of SEC approval are high, especially following recent regulatory developments.

According to the DTCC’s updated list, 21Shares SUI ETF was added under the ticker TSUI, while the DOT ETF was listed under the ticker TDOT, which clears them for listing and settlement.

SUI and Polkadot ETFs added to DTCC website | Source DTCC
A DTCC listing is a routine step that precedes an ETF’s potential launch and doesn’t confirm regulatory approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Over the past weeks, the DTCC has added a number of crypto ETFs to its list, including funds tied to Solana, XRP, Hedera, and Dogecoin.

As of Oct. 1, neither of the ETFs has been approved by the agency, but these listings can be considered a sign that issuers are laying the operational groundwork as they likely expect an SEC approval soon.

SUI and Polkadot ETFs has high odds of approval
Bloomberg analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas have previously placed the odds of approval for the Polkadot and Sui ETFs at around 90 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

However, following some recent regulatory developments, these odds have likely improved as the SEC appears to be moving toward a more streamlined review process for crypto-linked funds.

On Sep. 29, the agency withdrew its delay notices for at least 16 applications for exchange-traded fund products based on Solana, XRP, and other tokens, just days after it approved new generic listing standards for crypto-based ETFs.

In a recent X post, Balchunas said these developments are a sign that the long wait for crypto ETF approvals may finally be over. According to him, the SEC’s decision to adopt generic listing standards has removed many of the procedural bottlenecks that once slowed down the review process.

Essentially, issuers now only need to secure approval for their S-1 registration statements from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, instead of waiting through the lengthy 19b-4 review process that previously governed ETF applications.

Balchunas sees Solana as the first among the upcoming crypto ETFs to be approved; however, with many of the other application deadlines clustered throughout October, other funds are expected to follow suit in quick succession.

SUI and DOT prices fail to react
Even with ETF approval chances now higher than ever, both SUI and DOT failed to pull off noteworthy rallies supported by the DTCC listing news.

SUI initially rallied by over 3 percent while DOT recorded gains of nearly 2 percent following the DTCC listing; however, as of press time, both tokens were in the red as sentiment across the broader market remained cautious, especially with the U.S. government shutdown in effect, which has dampened risk sentiment.

Tether, the issuer behind the leading stablecoin, USDT, has made headlines by acquiring $1 billion worth of Bitcoin—approximately 8,800 BTC—during the third quarter of this year. 

While many investors have reacted positively to this significant investment, caution has emerged from industry experts like Jacob King, CEO of SwanDesk, who warns that this move may contribute to what he believes could be the “largest bubble in history.”

Bitcoin’s True Value Could Be Below $1,000
In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), King raised serious concerns about the Bitcoin market, claiming that 80-90% of the total buy volume is artificially inflated. 

He argues that Tether essentially creates money “out of thin air,” injecting it into Bitcoin and thereby exacerbating the speculative environment. Despite the growing trend of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and institutional accumulation of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve, the cryptocurrency’s real value might be “far below $1,000.”

This narrative has been ongoing for years, provoking varied responses within the community. One investor countered King’s assertion by asking why major institutional players, including sovereign ETFs and Fortune 500 companies, continue to invest in Bitcoin if such a large portion of the trading volume is deemed fake. 

His argument suggests that either these institutions are misinformed or that the real bubble lies within traditional fiat currencies rather than cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

King refuted this notion, alleging that the idea of significant institutional investment in Bitcoin is largely “a myth.” He contended that most inflows into ETFs are driven by retail investors, not large institutions. 

Skepticism Vs. Optimism
Further amplifying his skepticism, King criticized Strategy (previously MicroStrategy), the largest publicly traded company holding over 600,000 BTC, describing it as a “leveraged Bitcoin casino.” 

He alleged that the company’s co-founder, Michael Saylor, has a history of inflating numbers during the dot-com bubble, suggesting that the current situation is a repetition of “past mistakes.”

In contrast, other experts like Quinten Francois view Tether’s recent Bitcoin purchase through a more optimistic lens. Francois highlights the US government’s push for stablecoin adoption via the GENIUS Act, which mandates that stablecoin issuers be licensed, transparent, and fully backed by US Treasuries. 

He argues that this regulatory framework could channel trillions in offshore Eurodollars into US bonds through stablecoins, effectively continuing quantitative easing but through these private entities rather than the Federal Reserve (Fed).

The daily chart shows BTC’s price consolidation below record highs. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
At the time of writing, BTC is trading within the lower channel of its consolidation range at $113,200, with no clear indication of where prices will move next. According to CoinGecko data, the leading cryptocurrency is currently 8% below its all-time high. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Journalist

Posted: October 1, 2025

Key Takeaways
What are Bit Digital’s upcoming plans like?
Bit Digital plans to raise $100 million through senior convertible notes, with Ethereum set to take the lion’s share of the proceeds.

What is Ethereum up to on the price charts?
Ethereum’s price performance remains uncertain, with the asset testing a critical support level on the charts.

Bit Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTBT) has announced plans to raise $100 million through a public offering of senior convertible notes due 2030, with most of the proceeds earmarked for Ethereum [ETH] purchases.

In fact, the company has also granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional $15 million in notes.

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations, maturing on 01 October 2030, unless converted, redeemed, or repurchased earlier. Holders will have the option to convert them into cash, Bit Digital shares, or a mix of both.

Final terms, including the interest and conversion rates, will be determined at pricing. Barclays, Cantor, and B. Riley Securities will lead the deal as joint bookrunners under the company’s effective Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) shelf registration.

Ethereum reserve strategy
According to the company, its Ethereum purchases are in line with its broader digital asset strategy. Even though proceeds may also fund acquisitions, investments, and other corporate initiatives.

Bit Digital is currently the third-largest holder of ETH reserves among corporate investors who see the crypto as a treasury asset. According to CoinGecko, it owns about 120,000 ETH right now – Valued at roughly $494 million.

This latest purchase would place Bit Digital ahead of Coinbase, with the latter holding approximately 136,000 ETH. This would be the case if the company commits a significant portion of its convertible notes to Ethereum.

Source: CoinGecko

Corporate entities now hold about $16.5 billion in ETH reserves, a figure that continues to grow. BitMine Immersion Technologies leads the pack with the world’s largest reserves, valued at $10.5 billion.

According to Tom Lee, Chairman of BitMine, their Ethereum bet focuses on long-term outcomes, with the firm expecting the asset to outperform over the next decade.

“We continue to believe Ethereum is one of the biggest macro trades over the next 10-15 years.”

This is a position shared by several other corporate entities holding Ethereum as a strategic reserve asset.

Ethereum’s market outlook
On the price charts, the altcoin is still under some pressure and could slide even lower. In the last 24 hours alone, ETH slipped by 0.89%, with trading volume falling to $36 billion at press time.

ETH seemed to be testing a key support zone between $4,003 and $4,093 – A level that has previously triggered rallies. This suggested that a similar scenario could unfold soon.

Source: TradingView

On the contrary, the Accumulation/Distribution (A/D) indicators highlighted a decline in accumulation over time, pointing to weaker buying momentum.

And yet, the metric has remained in positive territory – A sign that the overall outlook is still bullish and that this might just be a corrective phase.

A renewed uptick in accumulation could allude to fresh capital flowing back into ETH. This could potentially push the crypto higher, with the same reclaiming its previous levels. For now, however, the market direction remains uncertain.

XRP Futures See Institutional Adoption, Solana Futures Hit $1B OI in 5 Months, Outpacing Bitcoin and Ether: CME GroupInstitutional investors are increasingly adopting CME's futures for XRP and solana, the exchange's global head of equity and FX products said. Updated Oct 1, 2025, 8:06 a.m. Published Oct 1, 2025, 8:06 a.m.

SINGAPORE – Institutional investors are quickly embracing CME’s futures for XRP$2.8211 and solana SOL$201.48, both launched earlier this year, alongside steady growth in bitcoin BTC$111,480.33 and ether ETH$4,005.03 derivatives, according to Tim McCourt, the exchange’s Global Head of Equity & FX Products.

Speaking at the ongoing Token2049 conference attended by CoinDesk, McCourt stated that total crypto futures open interest, a key indicator of institutional activity, has doubled year-over-year, now reaching $30 to $35 billion daily. Importantly, this growth isn’t driven solely by bitcoin.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

CME’s cash-settled futures have long served as a go-to for institutions wanting exposure to cryptocurrencies through regulated products, without having to own the tokens directly.
Futures contracts are standardized, legally binding agreements between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a set price on a specific future date. Open interest refers to the number of active contracts at any one time, often expressed in dollar value.

"When we look at the new futures that we recently introduced this year, XRP and SOL, they are also enjoying institutional adoption, with open interest at record highs," McCourt said during the panel ", Institutional Flows Into Digital Assets."

SOL and XRP surge to $1B OI markThe standard solana futures contract, sized at 500 SOL, debuted in mid-March and crossed the $1 billion notional open interest mark in August. Futures tied to the payments-focused XRP crossed that threshold in August, just three months after they began trading with a standard contract size of 50,000 XRP.

"The speed at which solana is accumulating open interest is really interesting. SOL took about five months to hit the one billion [OI] mark, compared to ether, which took about eight months. Meanwhile, BTC took three years," McCourt said.

He also took note of the record activity in both ether futures and options. As of Tuesday, open interest in ether futures contract, sized at 50 ETH, stood at $9.05 billion, having hit a lifetime peak of $10.42 billion in August.
Ether futures began trading on the CME in early 2021. Open interest in ether options also hit a record high of over $1 billion in September.

"While crypto is hot, certainly ether is hot at the CME. We see record open interest, record trading volume, both in standard and micro size contracts," McCourt noted.

CME futures contribute to price discoveryThe availability of regulated crypto futures, along with the debut of spot ETFs in the U.S., has brought greater legitimacy and transparency to the market, attracting more institutional capital and increasing overall market liquidity.

CME's cash-settled futures enable large investors to hedge risks, speculate, and establish arbitrage plays, effectively managing their net exposure.

These futures, therefore, contribute to price discovery, reduce volatility through an orderly trading mechanism, and pave the way for the broader adoption of digital assets within traditional markets.

Stablecoins as partners of traditional banksThe panel also included a discussion on the impact of ETFs and stablecoins, featuring insights from Binance CEO Richard Teng, Bitwise Asset Management CEO Hunter Horsley, and Heath Tarbert, president of Circle, the issuer of USDC, the world’s second-largest stablecoin.

Tarbert said that stablecoins are ideal partners for traditional banks, emphasizing the importance of legal and regulatory clarity.
He added that stablecoins like USDC can help banks integrate and offer tokenized versions of their lending products, stressing that these dollar-pegged tokens are not competitors to banks but pathways to create new financial products.

Horsley said that 2025 marks the beginning of the mainstream era for crypto while Teng highlighted different waves of institutional interest.

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Total Crypto Trading Volume Hits Yearly High of $9.72T

Sep 9, 2025

Combined spot and derivatives trading on centralized exchanges surged 7.58% to $9.72 trillion in August, marking the highest monthly volume of 2025

What to know:

Combined spot and derivatives trading on centralized exchanges surged 7.58% to $9.72 trillion in August, marking the highest monthly volume of 2025Gate exchange emerged as major player with 98.9% volume surge to $746 billion, overtaking Bitget to become fourth-largest platformOpen interest across centralized derivatives exchanges rose 4.92% to $187 billionView Full Report

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Metaplanet Acquires 5,288 BTC, Lifts Total Holdings to 30,823 BTC

20 minutes ago

Stronger Bitcoin strategy drives revised forecasts of $46M revenue and $32M operating profit, though shares fall sharply.

What to know:

Metaplanet acquired 5,288 BTC in Q3, bringing total holdings to 30,823 BTC worth $3.33 billion.Revised FY2025 guidance projects $46.26 million in revenue and $31.97 million in operating profit, up nearly 100% and 88% from prior estimates.Read full story

Aster DEX statistics. Source: DeFi Llama
That level of activity suggests the market may be able to absorb the new supply. Some traders even argue the unlock could act as a springboard for ASTER’s next leg higher, framing it as a “buy the dip” opportunity.

Not everyone agrees. Independent trader Gordon, who claims to have netted $1.40 million shorting ASTER, warns that buyers may hesitate at current levels.

$ASTER can’t stop bleeding, and with $700M of unlocks around the corner they really need buyers to step in here

Is ASTER becoming disASTER? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/MDALftLrI9

— Gordon (@AltcoinGordon) September 30, 2025

He points to the project’s tokenomics, stressing that around $700 million worth of ASTER is set to unlock before year’s end.

“The token may keep bleeding as new supply hits the market,” Gordon said.

To counterbalance such risks, Aster is reportedly considering vesting schedules for airdrop recipients, which could help smooth out supply shocks and reduce sell pressure in the coming month.

SummaryFreehold Royalties offers strong long-term potential, supported by a diversified US-Canada portfolio, high-quality assets, and a resilient business model.FRHLF maintains a robust ~7.7% dividend yield, manageable leverage, and capital-light operations, even amid weak oil prices and sector headwinds.Strategic US expansion, solid operator base, and a shift to self-management position FRHLF for growth and potential M&A opportunities in a consolidating industry.I rate FRHLF a Strong Buy, citing attractive valuation, stable dividends, and multiple tailwinds for oil and gas royalty exposure. sefa ozel/iStock via Getty Images

Introduction & Financials Freehold Royalties (OTCPK:FRHLF) is an oil and gas royalty company with 6.1 million gross acres in Canada and 1.2 million in the US, with about 52% of its revenue coming from oil

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

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

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