Market Signal Briefing

-

WYOMISSING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PENN Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) announced today that it will release its 2025 fourth quarter financial results at 7:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 26, 2026, followed by a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET. Both the call and webcast are open to the general public.

The conference call number is 785-424-1789 (conference ID: PENN); please call five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected prior to the presentation. Interested parties may also access the live call at www.pennentertainment.com; allow 15 minutes to register, download, and install any necessary software. Questions and answers will be reserved for call-in analysts and investors. A replay of the call can be accessed for thirty days at www.pennentertainment.com.

About PENN Entertainment
PENN Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (“PENN,” or the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), operates in 28 jurisdictions throughout North America, with a broadly diversified portfolio of casinos, racetracks, and online sports betting and iCasino offerings. PENN’s focus is on organic cross-sell opportunities, reinforced by its market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets and technology, including a proprietary state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital sports betting and iCasino platform, and an in-house iCasino content studio. The Company’s portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading PENN Play™ customer loyalty program, offering its over 33 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences.

More News From PENN Entertainment, Inc.

Back to Newsroom

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.

I may initiate long positions, but this is very unlikely to happen within the next 72 hours.

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.

AI-driven innovation, client-focused solutions, scalable delivery and automation capabilities position Unisys as a leader in the U.S., U.S. Public Sector, U.K. and Brazil

, /PRNewswire/ -- Unisys (NYSE: UIS) has been named a leader in the 2025 Multi Public Cloud Services Provider Lens® report. The report evaluates providers' ability to facilitate public cloud services, including migration, consulting and transformation, managed services, financial operations services (FinOps), and other related services. The 2025 report marks the sixth year ISG has designated Unisys as a leader in multiple quadrants evaluated by the global analyst firm.

ISG defines leaders as companies with a comprehensive solution and service offering, innovative strength, a strong market presence and competitive strategies that position them to win business.

"As a client-first organization, we are committed to providing tools and solutions that empower businesses to succeed in their cloud transformations," said Manju Naglapur, senior vice president and general manager of Cloud, Applications & Infrastructure Solutions at Unisys. "We are proud to be recognized again by ISG, reinforcing that we are not only keeping pace with industry trends, but driving change in this dynamic global market."

Unisys received seven leader designations across five quadrants spanning four regions:

Consulting and Transformation Services in the U.S. Public Sector, and Consulting and Transformation Services – Midmarket in the U.S. and U.K. Unisys prioritizes cybersecurity and compliance in tailored offerings that safeguard sensitive government and citizen data, while leveraging AI-driven innovation and a robust partner network to empower smarter decisions and transformation. Managed Services with Integrated Financial Operations (FinOps) in the U.S. Public Sector, and Managed Services – Midmarket in the U.S. and U.K. Unisys integrates AI and automation into managed services, delivers Zero Operations (ZeroOps) capabilities, and applies a client-centric engagement model to manage complex hybrid environments with embedded security. FinOps Services and AI-driven Optimization in Brazil Unisys provides comprehensive cloud assessments, real-time insights into cloud spend, and end-to-end integration of customizable FinOps solutions to enhance visibility, control, and scalability for evolving client needs. "Unisys demonstrates a mature, differentiated play in regulated sectors by aligning AI-first innovation with ZeroOps automation and embedded governance," said Meenakshi Srivastava, lead analyst at ISG. "Its ability to deliver secure, outcome-driven transformations at enterprise scale positions the company as a credible partner for mission-critical modernization."

Unisys was also recognized as a product challenger in Consulting and Transformation Services – Large Accounts in Brazil, as well as in Managed Services – Large Accounts in Brazil and the U.K., and a contender in Germany.

ISG Provider Lens® reports offer enterprises valuable insights into vendor strengths, challenges and differentiators across service categories. Learn more about ISG's 2025 Multi Public Cloud Services Provider Lens® report here.

About Unisys 

Unisys is a global technology solutions company that powers breakthroughs for the world's leading organizations. Our solutions – cloud, AI, digital workplace, applications and enterprise computing – help our clients challenge the status quo and unlock their full potential. To learn how we have been helping clients push what's possible for more than 150 years, visit unisys.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

RELEASE NO.: 0120/10033
Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder.
UIS-C

SOURCE Unisys Corporation

Key Takeaways DLR gains immediate presence in Malaysia with TelcoHub 1, a live data center in a key regional hub.Digital Realty secures future growth with adjacent land supporting up to 14 MW of additional IT load.DLR expands PlatformDIGITAL in Southeast Asia, enhancing interconnection and regional customer reach. In a major boost to its portfolio, Digital Realty (DLR - Free Report) recently announced plans to enter Malaysia through an agreed-upon arrangement to acquire CSF Advisers. The entity owns TelcoHub 1 data center in Cyberjaya, one of the most established data center hubs in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area.

Known as Malaysia’s largest dark fiber interconnected hubs, with more than 6,000 crores of regional and long-haul fiber landing, TelcoHub 1 is an operational 1.5 megawatt data center. DLR has further committed to the acquisition of adjacent land with the ability to support 14 megawatts of IT load to meet future capacity expansion needs.

Digital Realty plans to integrate the Malaysian campus into PlatformDIGITAL, its global data center platform and introduce its interconnection and orchestration solution, ServiceFabric. This will provide customers with a consistent, secure and interconnected environment for their infrastructure deployment, building global connectivity and enhanced flexibility.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon the closing of the acquisition, the local leadership team and more than 40 skilled professionals are set to come on board at Digital Realty. With their experience and expertise, they will support CSF’s diverse customer base.

Wrapping Up on DLRThe Malaysian market is embarking on a sustained scale-up phase for digital infrastructure, with its data center capacity anticipated to rise from 1.26 gigawatts in 2025 to 2.53 gigawatts in 2030. The growing demand for cloud services, AI acceleration, robust connectivity infrastructure and supportive government policies are paving the way for continued expansion.

DLR’s foray into Malaysian markets will extend its Southeast Asia Platform, alongside Singapore and Jakarta, to tap the region’s growing digital infrastructure demands. The move underpins the data center REIT’s long-term investment commitment in the country, marking it as a credible location for interconnected, secure and sovereign-ready digital infrastructure serving Southeast Asia.

Over the past month, shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) REIT have risen 6.6% compared with the industry’s growth of 4.8%.

Analysts also seem bullish on this stock, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 FFO per share having been revised northward by 1.9% to $7.35 over the past two months. The estimate for 2026 has been moved up by 2.2% to $7.91 over the same period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Prologis Inc. (PLD - Free Report) and Lamar Advertising (LAMR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLD’s 2025 and 2026 FFO per share is pinned at $5.80 and $6.08, respectively. This calls for year-over-year growth of 4.3% for 2025 and 4.7% for 2026.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LAMR’s 2025 and 2026 FFO per share is pegged at $8.19 and $8.83, respectively. This implies year-over-year growth of 2.5% for 2025 and 7.8% for 2026.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

Key Takeaways NIKE leads global athleticwear with scale, brand power and a business centered on direct-to-consumer control.ADDYY is gaining momentum with broad regional growth, franchise-led innovation and expanding margins.NKE is managing margin pressure, inventory cleanups and channel resets amid uneven global demand. NIKE Inc. (NKE - Free Report) and adidas AG (ADDYY - Free Report) have spent decades running side by side at the front of the global sportswear race, yet the gap between them has rarely felt more strategic. Together, the two brands define the modern athleticwear industry, but they occupy it in very different ways.

NIKE remains the clear market share leader, powered by its scale, direct-to-consumer dominance and deep integration into sport, culture and performance innovation. adidas, while smaller in size, competes from a position of heritage, global reach and a lifestyle-led business that blends sport, fashion and streetwear.

The contrast goes beyond logos and sponsorships. NIKE’s business is built around owning the athlete ecosystem, from product creation to consumer engagement, while adidas leans more heavily on wholesale partnerships and trend-driven categories. As consumer preferences shift and growth slows across key markets, market position matters more than ever.

This face-off examines how NIKE and adidas stack up on market share, strategic positioning and business models, and which approach appears better suited for the next phase of the athleticwear cycle.

The Case for NIKENIKE’s investment case is anchored in its dominant market share and leadership within the global consumer discretionary and athleticwear space. As the industry bellwether, NIKE commands a significant portion of athletic footwear and apparel spending, supported by unmatched scale, brand equity and global reach. Its diversified portfolio spans Running, Basketball, Training and Sportswear, with the Jordan Brand extending NIKE’s influence beyond performance into lifestyle and culture. This breadth allows the company to serve multiple demographics, from elite athletes to younger, style-driven consumers, while maintaining premium brand positioning across regions.

NIKE is repositioning the business around sport-led innovation and sharper portfolio discipline. Management is prioritizing fewer, bigger franchises, accelerating innovation pipelines and tightening execution across wholesale and direct channels under its “Win Now” actions. This approach is designed to strengthen storytelling, elevate the marketplace and improve sell-through, while reinforcing NIKE’s long-term market position. Digital innovation remains central, with investments in membership, data and digital platforms enhancing consumer engagement, personalization and demand sensing, which support inventory discipline and long-term margin recovery.

The investment case carries notable risks. Growth remains uneven across geographies, with continued pressure in international markets limiting overall momentum. NIKE is also navigating margin headwinds from elevated promotions, inventory cleanups and higher product costs linked to tariffs, which weigh on near-term profitability. The ongoing reset of classic franchises and channel rebalancing has introduced volatility in digital sales trends, underscoring execution risk. While NKE’s scale, cash generation and innovation capabilities position it well for long-term leadership, macro uncertainty and intense competition suggest the recovery may remain nonlinear, tempering expectations in the near term.

The Case for ADDYYadidas’ case is increasingly defined by renewed brand momentum and a strengthening market position within the global consumer discretionary space. As one of the largest pure-play sportswear companies, adidas commands a meaningful share of global athletic footwear and apparel spending, benefiting from broad-based growth across regions, categories and channels.

Management highlighted double-digit brand growth across Europe, North America, Greater China and emerging markets, underscoring adidas’ relevance across both mature and developing consumer bases. This scale positions it as a core discretionary spend beneficiary, with performance and lifestyle categories allowing it to capture demand tied to sport participation, fashion trends and cultural relevance.

adidas has sharpened its focus on being a “sports company that connects sport and street culture.” Its portfolio is balanced across Performance and Lifestyle, with strong momentum in Running and Football alongside a resurgence in Originals. Franchise-led innovation, including Adizero in running and refreshed classics like Superstar, supports brand heat while maintaining accessibility across price points. Target demographics span athletes, urban youth and style-conscious consumers, supported by locally relevant assortments and collaborations. Digitally, adidas continues to scale its direct-to-consumer ecosystem, with double-digit growth in e-commerce and disciplined full-price execution strengthening brand control and consumer engagement.

adidas’ recovery is evident in expanding margins and operating leverage. Improved gross margin reflects better product mix, lower costs and strong sell-throughs, while operating profit growth highlights disciplined expense management alongside elevated brand investments. Although macro volatility, tariffs and inventory build-ups remain risks, the company’s upgraded outlook signals confidence in sustained momentum. Overall, its diversified portfolio, global brand equity and improving financial profile support a compelling long-term investment case.

How Does Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for NKE & ADDYY?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIKE’s fiscal 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 1%, while EPS indicates a decline of 28.2%. The EPS estimate has moved down 6.1% in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adidas’ 2025 sales and EPS suggests year-over-year growth of 13.5% and 88.7%, respectively. The EPS estimate has been unchanged in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

This clearly illustrates that adidas’ estimate has been stable in the past month, compared with NIKE’s downward estimate trend. ADDYY’s earnings outlook signals confidence in its ability to sustain momentum and deliver stronger performance across its diverse global footwear portfolio.

Price Performance & Valuation of NKE & ADDYYShares of both NIKE and adidas reflect a decline in the past three months. In the past three months, NIKE shares have declined 5.8%, whereas adidas’ stock has lost 17.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NIKE is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.98X, below its median of 2.98X in the last five years. adidas’ forward P/S multiple sits at 1.05X, below its median of 1.52X in the last five years.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NIKE seems pricey. However, its valuations reflect its focus on repositioning itself to be more competitive and drive sustainable, profitable long-term growth. If the company sustains its execution, the premium can be warranted.

adidas’ forward P/S multiple reflects a compelling valuation opportunity, trading below its long-term median while offering consistent global growth prospects. ADDYY’s lower valuation underscores its attractiveness for investors seeking a balance of resilience, expansion potential and relative affordability in the footwear sector.

ConclusionNIKE and adidas bring distinct strengths to the table, but the balance tilts toward adidas at this stage of the cycle. NIKE’s scale, brand power and long-term innovation engine remain formidable, yet its near-term narrative is weighed down by uneven demand recovery, margin pressure and execution risks tied to portfolio and channel resets.

adidas, in contrast, is emerging from its transition phase with clearer momentum, stronger operational traction and improving profitability. Its ability to capture growth across performance and lifestyle categories, while regaining brand heat globally, places it in a more favorable position as consumer spending patterns stabilize.

From an investment perspective, adidas stands out on earnings momentum, relative valuation and forward growth visibility. Its stock reflects a more attractive entry point while fundamentals continue to improve, offering a compelling risk-reward profile. Importantly, stable and supportive estimate revisions signal growing investor confidence in adidas’ earnings potential and execution outlook.

While NIKE remains a long-term compounder, adidas currently appears better positioned to deliver upside as momentum builds, valuations normalize and investor optimism around earnings sustainability strengthens. NKE currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), whereas ADDYY has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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

Key Takeaways CRDO delivered record Q2 FY26 revenue of $268M, rising 20% sequentially and 272% year over year.Credo's AEC business led growth, with hyperscale adoption and four customers each over 10% of revenue.CRDO guided Q3 revenue to $335-$345M and expects more than 170% year over year growth in fiscal 2026. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd.’s (CRDO - Free Report) explosive revenue growth in fiscal 2026 is being driven by record execution across its core businesses and the rapid expansion of its connectivity solutions. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company delivered record revenue of $268 million, representing 20% sequential growth and a whopping 272% year over year increase. This surge reflects the rapid build out of massive AI training and inference clusters, where reliability, power efficiency, latency, reach and total cost of ownership have become mission-critical requirements. Credo’s solutions are increasingly central to these deployments as AI clusters scale from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of GPUs.

The largest contributor to this growth continues to be Credo’s active electrical cable (AEC) business, which remains the fastest growing segment. AEC revenue again grew strongly in the second quarter, supported by broadening customer adoption and deeper penetration across hyperscale data centers. Four hyperscalers each contributed more than 10% of total revenue during the quarter, with a fourth customer now in full volume production and a fifth beginning to contribute initial revenue. AECs have become the preferred standard for inter-rack connectivity, increasingly replacing optical connections for distances of up to seven meters. As a result, customer demand and forecasts have strengthened broadly over the past few months.

Credo’s integrated circuit business, including retimers and optical DSPs, also delivered strong performance and is expected to be a significant growth driver throughout fiscal 2026. Optical DSP demand is increasing with deployments at 50 gig and 100 gig per lane, while interest in 200 gig per lane solutions is building following successful demonstrations. Ethernet and PCIe retimers continue to gain traction across AI servers and switching fabrics, benefiting from Credo’s purpose built SerDes architecture that delivers a rare combination of reach, latency and power efficiency. The company continues to expect PCIe design wins in fiscal 2026, with meaningful production revenue anticipated in fiscal 2027.

Going forward, continued momentum in the company’s core AEC and IC businesses, along with upcoming ramps of ZeroFlap optics, ALCs, and OmniConnect gearboxes, positions it well for sustained revenue growth through fiscal 2026 and beyond. Management expects continued momentum through fiscal 2026, with third-quarter revenue guided at $335–$345 million, implying 27% sequential growth at the midpoint. For fiscal 2026, Credo anticipates more than 170% year over year revenue growth.

Taking a Look at Competitors’ Revenue OutlookAstera Labs, Inc. (ALAB - Free Report) benefits from an innovative portfolio, strong demand for Aries and Taurus product families and an expanding partner base. ALAB expects accelerated shipments of Scorpio P-Series switches and Aries 6 retimers on a customized rack-scale AI platform based on market-leading GPUs to boost top-line growth. Scorpio revenues are expected to account for more than 10% of total revenues in 2025, while becoming the largest product line for Astera Labs over the next several years. For fourth-quarter 2025, Astera Labs expects revenues between $245 million and $253 million.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) is experiencing strong momentum fueled by growth in AI semiconductors and continued success with its VMware integration. Strong demand for its networking products and custom AI accelerators (XPUs) has been noteworthy. Its AI segment benefits from custom accelerators and advanced networking technology that supports large-scale AI deployments with improved performance and efficiency. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Broadcom expects revenues of $19.1 billion. AI revenues are expected to double year over year to $8.2 billion, driven by strong demand for custom AI accelerators and Ethernet AI switches.

CRDO Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CRDO have surged 85.1% in the past year compared with the Electronics-Semiconductors industry’s growth of 37.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Regarding the forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio, CRDO is trading at 17.92, higher than the Electronic-Semiconductors sector’s multiple of 8.53.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRDO earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CRDO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).  You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Blue Owl Capital Inc. (“Blue Owl” or “the Company”) (NYSE: OWL) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 6, 2025 and November 16, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before February 2, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Blue Owl suffered from significant pressure on its asset base due to BDC redemptions. The Company was negatively impacted by undisclosed liquidity issues. Based on these problems, the Company would likely halt or limit redemptions of BDCs. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Blue Owl, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

15 January 2026, Bavaria, Munich: The Google logo and lettering can be seen on the façade of the company's Munich headquarters building in Munich (Bavaria). The company's development center is located in Arnulfpark. More than 2500 employees work for the US company at various locations in Germany. The parent company of Google LLC is Alphabet Inc. (symbol image, symbol photo, illustration, symbolic photo, illustrative photo, theme image, general image, theme photo) Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Over the past ten years, Alphabet (GOOGL) stock has provided an incredible $357 Bil to its investors in the form of cash through dividends and stock buybacks.

This level of capital distribution is a testament to the sheer scale of the company’s free cash flow. It marks a decade of dominance where Google didn't just grow its market cap, but actively shared its success with those who invested in its vision.

Let’s examine some figures and see how this distribution strength compares to the largest capital-returning entities in the market.

Interestingly, GOOGL stock ranks as the 3rd largest contributor to shareholders in history.

Google Stock Shareholder Returns

Trefis

Why should this matter to you? Because dividends and share repurchases provide direct, tangible returns of capital to investors. They also indicate management’s trust in the financial health of the company and its capacity to produce sustainable cash flows. Additionally, there are other stocks that follow this trend. Below is a list of the top 10 companies rated by the total capital returned to stakeholders through dividends and stock buybacks.

MORE FOR YOU

Top 10 Stocks By Total Shareholder ReturnTop 10 Stocks By Total Shareholder Return

Trefis

For complete rankings, check out Buybacks & Dividends Ranking

What stands out here? The overall capital returned to investors as a percentage of the current market cap seems inversely related to growth potential for reinvestment opportunities. Companies such as Meta (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are expanding at a significantly faster and more predictable pace compared to others, yet they have returned a smaller proportion of their market valuations to shareholders.

That’s the downside to high capital returns. While they can be appealing, one must contemplate: Am I forfeiting growth and solid fundamentals? Keeping that in mind, let’s consider some figures for Google stock (see Buy or Sell Alphabet Stock for additional insights).

Google Stock FundamentalsRevenue Growth: 13.4% LTM and 11.0% average over the last 3 years.Cash Generation: Approximately 19.1% free cash flow margin and 32.2% operating margin LTM.Recent Revenue Surprises: The lowest annual revenue growth for GOOGL in the past 3 years was 5.3%.Valuation: Alphabet stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 32.1Google Fundamentals

Trefis

*LTM: Last Twelve Months

The table provides a solid overview of what GOOGL stock offers, but what about potential risks?

GOOGL Historical RiskGoogle stock has not escaped market pullbacks either. Its value fell approximately 65% during the Global Financial Crisis, decreased by 44% during the inflation surge, and declined by 31% amid the Covid pandemic. The 2018 correction also caused a decline of more than 23%. While strong fundamentals are important, these drops illustrate how even the strongest stocks can be susceptible when market conditions shift.

The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, comprising 30 stocks, consistently outperforms its benchmark, which includes the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is this the case? Collectively, HQ Portfolio stocks have delivered superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; providing a smoother investment experience, as seen in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.

Key Takeaways NTRS to report Q4 results on Jan. 22, with estimates for higher earnings and revenues from a year ago.NTRS is expected to see higher NII and loan demand, supported by stabilizing funding costs.Northern Trust may see higher asset servicing fees, though expenses and non-performing assets are elevated. Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS - Free Report) is scheduled to release fourth-quarter and 2025 results on Jan. 22, 2026, before market open. The company’s quarterly earnings and revenues are expected to have increased year over year.

In the last reported quarter, the bank delivered an earnings surprise. NTRS results benefited from a rise in net interest income. Also, an increase in total assets under custody and assets under management balances supported the financials. However, elevated expenses and reduced other fee income were concerning.

Northern Trust has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 4.58%.

Northern Trust Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NTRS’ fourth-quarter earnings has been revised upward over the past month to $2.37 per share. The figure indicates a 4.9% increase from the year-ago reported number.

The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $2.07 billion, indicating a year-over-year rise of 5.8%

Key Factors & Estimates for NTRS’ Q4 ResultsNII & Loans: In the fourth quarter, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates twice. This, along with a rate cut in September, lowered rates to 3.50-3.75%. As such, NTRS’ NII is expected to have witnessed growth in the to-be-reported quarter, given stabilizing funding costs. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pegged at $600.8 million for the to-be-reported quarter, indicating a 6.6% rise on a year-over-year basis.

Also, per the Fed’s latest data, the overall lending scenario was robust in the fourth quarter. Thus, NTRS is likely to have witnessed growth in loan demand, which is expected to have supported its average interest-earning asset growth in the quarter under review.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for average earning assets is pegged at $142.5 billion, indicating a 29% rise from the prior-year quarter.

Non-Interest Income: Northern Trust calculates its asset servicing and wealth management servicing fees using a lag effect, relying on prior-quarter end valuations for these computations. Asset servicing fees comprise custody and fund administration, investment management, securities lending and other fees.

The equity market performance was decent in the fourth quarter. As such, NTRS is likely to have witnessed growth in custody and fund administration revenues, as well as its investment management fees.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for custody and fund administration fees is pegged at $488.7 million, indicating an 6.9% rise on a year-over-year basis.

The consensus estimate for investment management fees is $167.4 million, implying a 6.7% rise from the year-ago quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total wealth management fees is pegged at $580.7 million, indicating a 6.2% rise from the year-earlier quarter.

For the fourth quarter of 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for other operating income is pegged at $59.2 million, indicating a 1.1% decline on a year-over-year basis.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total fee income is pegged at $1.47 billion, suggesting a 5% increase from the prior-year quarter.

Expenses: The company’s expenses are expected to have remained elevated in the fourth quarter due to higher compensation costs and continued investments in equipment and software to modernize its technology infrastructure and strengthen operational resiliency.

Asset Quality: We expect the company to keep a decent reserve this time, given a slowdown in job growth, which could weigh on consumer demand, leading to higher delinquencies.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-performing assets in the fourth quarter is pegged at $82.9 million, indicating a 48% jump on a year over year basis.

What the Zacks Model Reveals for NTRSOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Northern Trust this time around. 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. This is not 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: The Earnings ESP for NTRS is -0.38%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performance of Other BanksBOK Financial Corporation's (BOKF - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted net income per share of $2.48 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.13. The bottom line increased 16.9% from the prior-year quarter.

BOKF’s results benefited from higher NII and total fees and commissions. An increase in loans and deposit balances was another positive. However, the increase in operating expenses was a major undermining factor.

First Horizon Corporation’s (FHN - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 52 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents. This compares favorably with 43 cents in the year-ago quarter.

FHN’s results benefited from higher NII and a significant rise in non-interest income, along with the absence of provision for credit losses. However, the rise in expenses remains a headwind.

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

© Andrew Burton / Getty Images

The small-cap stocks have been flying under the radar of most retail investors amid the magnificent rise of the Magnificent Seven tech giants. More recently, the Mag Seven names have begun to stall, and as the mega-cap tech titans drag their feet in the first few weeks of the year, perhaps it’s no mystery as to why we’ve heard more of the S&P 493 (the S&P 500 minus the Mag Seven). As market strength broadens out, though, I think it’s worth broadening one’s horizons even further to encompass the U.S. stocks outside of the S&P 500.

Undoubtedly, the small- and mid-cap names certainly stand to benefit from further interest rate reductions. With talks of who will be the new Federal Reserve chair and how much more dovish they could be compared to Jerome Powell, perhaps we could get more rate cuts than expected this year. Either way, I think the rate outlook bodes quite well for the small caps, as their debt burdens become lighter while larger firms obtain greater purchasing power, perhaps enough to increase the rate of acquisitions.

While the case for rotating into the small caps seems the strongest it’s been in a number of years, questions linger as to whether such a move is worth doing, especially as the Mag Seven look to regain their footing. Bigger firms have proven better for such a long time now, after all.

Though I think the small caps could do well, perhaps due to the relative undervaluation, I’m just not sure if they can break their streak of trailing the S&P 500 gains. Indeed, the trend suggests that something like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is still worth sticking with.

Can you remember the last time that small-cap stocks topped the S&P 500 over a lengthy timespan? On the one hand, you could say that the small-cap stocks have a stage set for outperformance, especially as the S&P’s higher valuations become more of a drag on returns. At the same time, it’s tough to call when the shift will happen or if it’s even deserved.

After all, economies of scale in the AI age might warrant a higher multiple. And given so much of the S&P 500’s premium is tied to large-cap tech stars, many of which are going big on AI, I wouldn’t be so quick to conclude that the small caps are overdue for a couple of years of big gains, even if lower rates, more M&A, and cheaper valuations are more conducive to a better path forward.

Of course, a number of big banks and pundits believe that the small caps are better positioned than the S&P 500 from here. Undoubtedly, the decade-ahead outlook for the S&P 500 isn’t all too grand. And that’s probably thanks to the incredible returns that we’ve witnessed over the past decade.

It could be a closer race in 2026 as the smaller caps look to make up for lost time In any case, it’s going to be a closer race, especially if investors start turning away from growth stocks and turning towards the lower-multiple names that may have been neglected in recent years. The small-cap scene is a great place to look if hidden gems and deeper relative value are what one seeks. And given the macro picture is improving the case for owning them, I wouldn’t be against buying smaller, lesser-known names for 2026.

Either way, I think 2026 will be a close race between the S&P 500 and a fund like the Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA:VO). Instead of asking whether small- or mid-cap stocks will beat the S&P, I think the right question is whether both are worth owning for a new year, given all that there is to gain for the two groups.

The mid-caps have a lot on their side for value investors, but as the AI revolution unfolds, I think it’s also a mistake to throw in the towel on the Mag Seven and other stocks atop the S&P 500, which has become more of a tech-weighed index in the past decade. So, why not consider owning both the smaller caps along with the blue chips?

If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor) Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.

Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!

Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality. (sponsor)

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Mantle partners with Everclear to enable instant, frictionless wETH-to-mETH swaps across major Ethereum chains, eliminating traditional bridging.

Mantle, the Ethereum Layer-2 solution, today announced a new collaboration with Everclear, introducing cross-chain asset settlement to the Mantle ecosystem that allows users to swap wETH from Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, or Polygon directly into mETH on Mantle, without traditional bridging friction.

This integration addresses one of the most pressing challenges in multi-chain DeFi: liquidity fragmentation across multiple representations of the same asset.

As ecosystems scale, assets like ETH and USD now exist in many forms, from wETH, mETH, stETH to an expanding set of stablecoins. Everclear’s clearing and settlement infrastructure solves this fragmentation by netting cross-chain flows and automatically rebalancing inventory, reducing redundant liquidity and lowering costs.

With this launch, users can access Mantle directly using assets they already hold, while Everclear handles settlement and rebalancing behind the scenes.

Users holding wETH on supported chains can select Mantle as the destination and receive mETH on Mantle in a single transaction, typically in under one minute.

Mantle is the first launch partner for Everclear’s expanded cross-asset settlement initiative, with future plans to support additional ETH-based assets, stablecoins, and new chains.

This collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward chain-abstracted finance, where users interact with assets and applications without needing to manage the complexity of bridges, liquidity pools, or fragmented representations.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

The platform breaks down returns as 0.25% lending APY, 0.68% oDOLO APY, and a hefty 7.14% from WLFI rewards. Eligible users also earn USD1 points, claimable via Merkl.

Yield Breakdown on Dolomite Dolomite, a DeFi lending platform, lets users deposit USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin fully backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, to earn interest while enabling others to borrow. The headline 8.07% APY comes from multiple streams: a modest 0.25% base lending rate reflects supply and demand dynamics, much like traditional savings accounts but settled on-chain instantly. The 0.68% oDOLO yield rewards holding Dolomite’s governance token, and the standout 7.14% WLFI rewards incentivize early liquidity providers with World Liberty Financial tokens, claimable through Merkl’s distribution system.​

Picture a small business owner in Peru parking $10,000 in USD1 on Dolomite: at 8.07% APY, that generates about $807 yearly, far outpacing bank rates, all while keeping funds liquid for quick withdrawals.

USD1 on Dolomite earns 8.07% APY.

→ Lending APY: 0.25%
→ oDOLO APY: 0.68%
→ $WLFI rewards APY: 7.14%
+ USD1 points

Claim @worldlibertyfi rewards on @merkl_xyz. pic.twitter.com/Rg1T68oi0x

— Dolomite 🏔️ (@Dolomite_io) January 19, 2026

This launch rides Solana’s DeFi surge, where platforms like Dolomite tap low fees to offer competitive rates amid $15 billion in chain-wide stablecoin inflows last month. A key trend is yield-bearing stablecoins exploding, with USD1’s $3.4 billion supply reflecting demand for “productive” dollars that earn passively, unlike idle USDT holdings. ​

More About DeFi Lending Kamino Lending Vaults on Solana have now generated over $10 million in yields for users, showcasing the DeFi app’s rapid rise as a go-to platform for reliable returns. Spread across more than 15 vaults, six key assets, and seven professional vault managers, these automated strategies deliver secure, open-source lending yields verified on-chain, making sophisticated portfolio management accessible to everyday users without the need for constant oversight.

Kamino Lending Vaults have now generated over $10M for users.

Across 15+ vaults, 6 assets, and 7 vault managers, Kamino delivers secure, open source, and verified lending yields on Solana, expanding DeFi access to transparent, professionally managed strategies at scale. pic.twitter.com/8JKR7Y8ti8

— Kamino (@kamino) January 8, 2026

This milestone highlights Solana’s edge in DeFi, where low fees and blazing transaction speeds enable vaults to optimize lending across protocols like marginfi and MarginX, compounding earnings through dynamic allocation. For beginners, vaults act like smart savings pots that lend your crypto to borrowers while chasing the best rates automatically, all transparent and auditable by anyone.

Strategy acquired 22,305 BTC last week at about $95,284 per coin, lifting its holdings to 709,715 BTC.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the world’s largest public Bitcoin holder, blasted past 700,000 BTC in holdings with its latest large-scale purchase.

Strategy bought 22,305 Bitcoin (BTC) for $2.13 billion last week, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday.

The purchases were made at an average price of $95,284 per BTC, with Bitcoin briefly rising past $97,000 on Wednesday, according to CoinGecko data.

The acquisition brought Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 709,715 BTC, purchased for about $53.92 billion at an average price of $75,979 per coin.

Strategy’s biggest Bitcoin buy since February 2025Strategy’s latest Bitcoin acquisition marks a sharp acceleration in buying pace compared with most of 2025, and is the company’s largest purchase since February last year, when it bought 20,356 BTC for around $2 billion.

The company announced a 13,627 BTC ($1.3 billion) purchase on Jan. 12, which had been its largest Bitcoin acquisition since July last year.

Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases since November 2025. Source: StrategyThe purchase came amid a slight uptick in Strategy shares (MSTR), with the stock surging past $185 on Wednesday, coinciding with Bitcoin’s multi-month high of above $97,000, according to TradingView data.

The surge also followed Morgan Stanley Capital International’s (MSCI) decision not to exclude digital treasury companies from its market index in early January.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Onyxcoin Holders Exit in Size — How an 85% Supply Dump Could Help XCN PriceSpeculative holders cut supply exposure by 85%, sharply reducing forced selling risk.RSI bullish divergence is close to forming as XCN tests heavy cost basis support.XCN price needs $0.0075 reclaim first, with $0.0096 defining real trend reversal.Onyxcoin has had one of the most uneven price paths in the market recently. Over the past three months, the XCN price has been down about 22%, even though it has remained up roughly 45% over the past month. Most of that upside came in a short burst between December 30 and January 6, when the price surged rapidly before momentum faded.

Since peaking near $0.013, Onyxcoin has corrected nearly 48%. At face value, this looks like a classic boom-and-bust move driven by profit-taking. But under the surface, the correction is doing something more important. A large portion of speculative supply has already exited, selling pressure is thinning, and momentum is starting to stabilize near heavy historical support.

A Familiar Structure Is Forming as Price Tests Heavy Cost Basis SupportMomentum is beginning to diverge from price. On the daily chart, Onyxcoin is forming the early structure of a bullish divergence on the Relative Strength Index. RSI measures the balance between recent gains and losses and often turns higher before the price does when selling pressure is fading.

Sponsored

Sponsored

This setup has mattered for XCN before. Between October 10 and December 30, the price made a lower low while the RSI formed a higher low. That divergence marked seller exhaustion and was followed by a rally of more than 200% in less than a week.

XCN Price Structure: TradingViewA similar structure is now developing between October 10 and January 20. Price continues to drift lower, but RSI is holding up better than during the prior selloff. The signal is not confirmed yet. For immediate divergence confirmation, the next daily candle needs to hold above roughly $0.0067. If that happens, the divergence shifts from potential to active. If not, a deeper correction, provided the RSI doesn’t drop under the October 10 levels, still keeps the bullish divergence setup alive.

Even if XCN price slips further, the downside is becoming increasingly defined. Cost basis data shows a dense accumulation zone between $0.0060 and $0.0061, where roughly 4.9 billion XCN were acquired. This cluster represents a level where many holders are already near breakeven, making it a natural area for selling pressure to fade and for buyers to step in.

Key XCN Supply Clusters: GlassnodeMomentum is trending up just as the price approaches one of its heaviest historical support zones.

Speculative Holders Exit in Size — Why That May Be ConstructiveThe most important change is happening in holder behavior.

Sponsored

Sponsored

Over the past month, speculative Onyxcoin holders have exited aggressively. Wallets holding XCN for one day to one month saw their combined share of circulating supply collapse, as shown by the HODL Waves metric. This metric segregates wallets based on holding time.

The one-week to one-month cohort fell from 27.56% of supply to just 3.65%, while the one-day to one-week group dropped from 4.69% to roughly 0.80%.

1w-1m Onyxcoin Cohort Dumping: GlassnodeTogether, these speculative cohorts controlled more than 32% of the total supply earlier in the correction. They now control less than 5%.

1d-1w Cohort Dumping: GlassnodeThat represents an 85% reduction in speculative supply.

Sponsored

Sponsored

This type of exit usually occurs late in a correction, not early. These holders tend to chase momentum and exit aggressively during drawdowns, booking whatever profits they can muster. Once they are gone, forced selling pressure often dries up quickly.

At the same time, longer-term holders are moving the other way. Wallets holding XCN for 6 to 12 months increased their share of supply from 6.81% to 8.03% between December 20 and January 19.

6m-12m Cohort Buying: GlassnodeEven the oldest cohorts, 2-3y, posted modest increases. These holders typically add during weakness rather than strength and tend to sell much more slowly.

2y-3y Cohort Buying: GlassnodeThis rotation matters. Supply is moving from reactive traders to conviction holders. That does not guarantee an immediate rally, but it significantly reduces the risk of another sharp dip.

Sponsored

Sponsored

In short, the dump may already have done its job.

XCN Price Levels That Decide Whether the Correction Is EndingWith speculative supply flushed and momentum stabilizing, price levels now decide what comes next.

The first area to watch is $0.0067. Holding above this level allows the RSI divergence to confirm and signals that buyers are willing to defend higher lows. If price slips below that, $0.0060 becomes the critical line. This level aligns with the lower edge of the cost basis cluster and represents the point where downside risk starts to compress.

XCN Price Analysis: TradingViewOn the upside, the first meaningful test sits near $0.0075. Clearing that zone would mark a rebound of roughly 10% and suggest buyers are stepping back in with intent. A broader bullish shift only appears if XCN can reclaim $0.0096, the level lost in early January that has capped every bounce since.

Until that happens, rallies remain corrective rather than trend-changing.

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.

BTCUSA data shows Bitcoin and Ethereum heavily shorted, with liquidation maps flagging key upside levels that could trigger sharp short squeezes.

Summary

TCUSA liquidation map data shows crypto positioning skewed toward shorts, led by Bitcoin and Ethereum.​ Dense short clusters above spot mean any sharp move up in BTC or ETH could spark cascading liquidations and volatility.​ Heavy shorting does not guarantee a rally but creates squeeze potential if bullish catalysts or breakouts emerge. Recent liquidation map data indicates the cryptocurrency market is currently weighted toward short positions, according to market analysis from BTCUSA.

Bitcoin and Ethereum shorts hit healthy levels The concentration of short positions is particularly evident in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), the two largest digital assets by market capitalization, the data shows. Traders have increased bets on further price declines, creating a structural imbalance in positioning.

Liquidation heatmap data suggests a rapid move in Bitcoin above current price levels could trigger forced liquidations of short positions. Such liquidations occur when traders using leverage are forced to close losing positions, potentially accelerating upward price movement.

A similar pattern has emerged in Ethereum, where liquidation volumes on short positions could become substantial if prices rise swiftly to certain higher levels, according to the analysis. The data indicates a significant portion of market participants are positioned for further price declines.

Liquidation maps display areas where leveraged positions face the greatest vulnerability. When markets carry heavy concentrations of short positions using borrowed capital, price movements near those levels can become more volatile, according to market analysts.

The current positioning creates sensitivity to potential catalysts including positive news, strong capital inflows, or technical breakouts, the analysis states. However, liquidation maps do not guarantee an imminent price rally, but rather highlight areas where price movements could intensify if key levels are reached.

For Bitcoin, the critical zone to monitor sits just above current prices, while Ethereum has a similar threshold that could trigger cascading liquidations if breached, according to the data.

Market analysts note that while heavy short positioning does not automatically signal an imminent bullish reversal, it creates conditions for potentially volatile price movements if market sentiment shifts. Volume and market catalysts will likely determine the direction and intensity of any subsequent price action, the analysis concludes.

TL;DR

Pendle will phase out vePENDLE for sPENDLE, with staking live January 20 and new vePENDLE locks paused January 29 after a snapshot required. Pendle says eligible sPENDLE will receive over 80% of revenue via buybacks and airdrops, addressing concentration seen despite $37M earned in 2025 overall. sPENDLE offers 5% redemption or 14 day unstaking; missing votes during an active PPP forfeits rewards for 14 days, while vePENDLE boosts reach 4x. Pendle is overhauling its tokenomics by phasing out vePENDLE and introducing sPENDLE, a liquid staking token built around a 14 day withdrawal period rather than multi year locks. sPENDLE staking is set to go live on January 20, while vePENDLE locks will be paused on January 29, when the new PENDLE incentive structure also takes effect. Pendle asks users to snapshot vePENDLE balances and lock durations as of January 29 for virtual sPENDLE calculations. Protocol revenue will be distributed to eligible sPENDLE holders. Pendle is prioritizing adoption by making governance easier to enter and exit.

https://t.co/YjEk6OUnVF

— Pendle (@pendle_fi) January 20, 2026

Why Pendle Is Swapping Locks for Liquid Governance sPENDLE will replace vePENDLE as Pendle’s main governance and reward token, and new vePENDLE locks pause during the transition. Pendle says eligible sPENDLE holders will receive over 80% of protocol revenue through PENDLE buybacks and fee funded airdrops. Internal analysis argues the vePENDLE model created adoption barriers: tokens were non transferable, composability was limited, and vote to earn demanded expertise. Even with more than $37 million generated in 2025, rewards concentrated among a small slice of holders. It discouraged many casual users and newcomers. Pendle wants governance incentives to feel accessible, not engineered for specialists.

Pendle frames sPENDLE as liquid, composable, and fungible, aiming for easier integration with other dApps while still earning rewards. Holders can redeem instantly for a 5% fee, or queue unstaking with a 14 day withdrawal, removing the usual trade off between liquidity and participation. Governance is simplified around Pendle Protocol Proposals (PPPs): users stay eligible for yield even if they do not vote, but missing a vote during an active PPP forfeits rewards for 14 days. sPENDLE in eligible DeFi integrations is always active. The model tries to keep engagement lightweight until a critical decision appears.

Existing vePENDLE holders are not ignored: Pendle says they will receive exclusive boosted sPENDLE, up to 4x, based on remaining lock time, with the multiplier decaying linearly from 4x to 1x by the end of each lock period. Pendle also says the special boost and virtual sPENDLE fully expire after two years. During queued withdrawals, sPENDLE holders do not earn rewards or vote. An upcoming algorithmic emissions model aims to cut emissions by about 30% and allocate rewards using data driven KPIs. The overhaul is positioning incentives to be more liquid, capital efficient, and sustainable.

Bitcoin is undergoing a decisive pullback after the strong recovery that followed the early-January reset. The price has been rejected from a major confluence area around $98,000, where higher-timeframe resistance and a key moving average cluster are.

It is now rotating lower while still holding above the most important higher-low zones established during December.

The current phase, therefore, appears as a test of support strength within a maturing corrective structure rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: The Daily Chart On the daily chart, Bitcoin has rolled over from the $98,000 resistance band, which coincides with the upper boundary of a rising channel structure and the vicinity of the 100-day moving average.

The 200-day moving average remains overhead and downward-sloping around $105,000, confirming that the broader medium-term trend is not yet fully realigned to the upside. The Daily RSI has also retreated from overbought territory and is dropping below the 50% threshold.

The first important support now sits in the $90,000 region, where the lower channel boundary and the recent bounce’s base overlap. Loss of this area on a closing basis would open the way toward the deeper demand block around $80,000, which marks the origin of the latest leg higher and the prior major accumulation zone. As long as price holds above $88,000 and reclaims the mid-$90,000s with conviction, the daily structure can still evolve into a constructive higher-low configuration, but sustained trade below $88,000 would significantly weaken that constructive bias.

Source: TradingView BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart shows the price is poised to test the lower boundary of the ascending channel. It has declined from the recent local high near $96,000 back into the $90,000–$91,000 area, where short-term support formed during the earlier consolidation.

The 4-hour RSI has also moved into oversold territory, signalling stretched downside momentum after several consecutive red candles.

If the lower boundary around $89,000–$90,000 holds, a technical rebound toward $93,000–$95,000 would be consistent with a standard retest of the broken intraday range and could help determine whether sellers retain control.

On the other hand, a clean break below $89,000 with would confirm a loss of the short-term up-channel and probably invite a deeper test of the high-timeframe demand zone around $80,000. At the moment, the intraday structure reflects corrective pressure within a broader consolidation band rather than a fully developed bearish trend.

Source: TradingView On-Chain Analysis Short-term holder behaviour over recent months has been characterised by persistent loss realisation. The 30-day EMA of the short-term holder SOPR has spent an extended period below its neutral threshold around 1, indicating that coins held for a relatively short duration have been spent on average at a loss. This pattern suggests that late entrants and weaker hands have been continuously exiting during the consolidation phase, absorbing downside and sideways volatility instead of aggressively defending higher prices.

Historically, prolonged periods in which short-term holders realise losses while price holds above key higher-timeframe support are often associated with a “reset” of market positioning: speculative excess is reduced, ownership shifts toward stronger hands, and sensitivity to marginal new demand increases.

This dynamic does not guarantee immediate continuation, and if macro demand were to weaken further, the overhang of realised losses could still weigh on price. However, the combination of structural support holding on the chart and evidence of capitulation among shorter-term participants is consistent with a late-stage corrective environment that can, once selling pressure is exhausted, provide the foundation for a subsequent impulsive advance.

Source: CryptoQuant Tags:

Vanguard increased its position in Metaplanet from 14.12 million shares at the end of November to 15.64 million shares by Dec. 31, an 11% jump that sent speculation rippling through Bitcoin (BTC) treasury circles.

The move arrived at a moment when digital asset treasury companies had spent months nursing underwater positions and watching their market valuations compress below the value of their crypto holdings.

For those tracking the sector, the question became immediate: Is Vanguard betting that the DAT playbook works again, or is this just index mechanics doing what index mechanics do?

The reality is less dramatic than the framing suggests.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VGTSX) held $573.7 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 31. Metaplanet now represents $40 million of that total, less than 0.01% of the fund.

VGTSX tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, which means positions appear, expand, or contract mechanically in response to index reconstitutions, market cap drift, corporate actions, and fund flows.

Metaplanet's inclusion and subsequent position increase likely reflect the company's rising market capitalization and its growing weight within the index, not an active directional call by Vanguard on Bitcoin treasuries as an asset class.

That clarification matters because it reframes the question. The relevant inquiry isn't whether Vanguard endorses the DAT thesis, as it doesn't, but whether the underlying fundamentals that drive DAT valuations have shifted enough to justify renewed optimism.

The answer requires examining how the largest Bitcoin treasury operators are trading today, whether their market-to-net-asset-value ratios have re-expanded into premium territory, and whether they're still accumulating Bitcoin at a pace that validates the equity-issuance flywheel that powered the sector's ascent.

Premium regime vs repair modeMarket-to-net-asset-value (mNAV) serves as the primary lens for evaluating DAT health.

When mNAV trades above 1, equity is worth more than the underlying Bitcoin, enabling companies to issue shares, buy Bitcoin, and accrete value to existing holders even after dilution.

When mNAV falls below 1, the mechanism breaks. Issuing equity to buy Bitcoin destroys per-share value, and the playbook shifts toward capital preservation, buybacks, or slower accumulation.

CoinGecko's crypto treasuries data, which calculates mNAV as enterprise value divided by the current market value of crypto holdings, provides a consistent cross-company snapshot.

As of mid-January, the largest Bitcoin treasury operators show sharp dispersion rather than coordinated strength.

Strategy (MSTR), the sector's flagship operator with 687,410 BTC, trades at $173.71 per share with an mNAV of 0.93x. The company added 13,627 BTC on Jan. 12 and another 1,283 BTC on Jan. 5, signaling continued accumulation despite trading below net asset value.

Strategy holds 687,410 Bitcoin with an average cost of $75,353, yielding $12.14 billion in unrealized gains as of mid-January 2026.That positioning reflects a bet that the discount will close, but it also means that near-term equity issuance will be dilutive unless the stock re-rates higher.

Metaplanet (3350.T), the Japanese operator now attracting attention due to Vanguard's index position, trades at ¥591 ($3.74) with an mNAV of 1.37x. The company holds 35,102 BTC and last disclosed a purchase of 4,279 BTC on Dec. 30.

That premium mNAV places Metaplanet in a fundamentally different regime than Strategy: equity issuance remains accretive, and the company retains the ability to expand its treasury without penalizing existing shareholders.

Semler Scientific (SMLR), a smaller operator holding 5,048 BTC, trades at $20.33 with an mNAV of 0.88x. The company's most recent visible transaction on CoinGecko dates to Oct. 3, and the absence of January purchases suggests a shift toward capital discipline while the stock trades at a discount.

The pattern is clear: Metaplanet operates in premium territory, while Strategy and Semler remain in repair mode. That bifurcation complicates any claim that “DATs are back” unless the thesis hinges entirely on a single Japanese operator rather than sector-wide re-rating.

Why mNAV dispersion matters more than individual movesThe divergence between Metaplanet's premium and Strategy's discount reflects different market perceptions of execution risk, regulatory exposure, and the credibility of each company's accumulation strategy.

Metaplanet benefits from operating outside the US regulatory jurisdiction and from a relatively clean narrative as a pure-play Bitcoin treasury without the operational complexity of Strategy's convertible debt stack.

Strategy, despite aggressive accumulation and a well-established playbook, trades at a discount that suggests the market remains skeptical about near-term catalysts or is pricing in dilution risk from future equity raises.

That dispersion also exposes the limits of treating DATs as a homogeneous asset class.

MARA Holdings, a Bitcoin miner with treasury operations, holds 52,850 BTC and trades at an mNAV of 1.44x, reflecting a different valuation dynamic tied to mining economics and operational leverage.

MARA Holdings holds 52,850 Bitcoin valued at $4.92 billion, with cost basis data not publicly disclosed on CoinGecko as of mid-January 2026.Coinbase, often cited alongside treasury operators, trades at an mNAV of 34.65x. This number reveals why operating businesses with revenue streams unrelated to Bitcoin holdings should not be evaluated using DAT frameworks.

The cleanest read on whether the sector is recovering requires tracking month-over-month mNAV trends across the largest pure-play operators.

If Strategy, Metaplanet, and Semler all show rising mNAVs over the past three months, the case for a regime shift strengthens. If only Metaplanet is re-rating while others remain flat or compressed, the story is narrower: one company executing well in a favorable jurisdiction, not a sector-wide revival.

The flywheel only works when equity trades are richLate last year, analysts flagged Bitcoin treasury stocks as distressed assets, with late entrants trapped underwater as their cost bases climbed above $100,000 per Bitcoin while spot prices pulled back.

The core tension hasn't disappeared: when mNAV falls below 1, the accretive-dilution thesis collapses. Issuing equity to buy Bitcoin at a discount to NAV destroys value for existing holders, rendering the entire model inoperable until the stock re-rates.

Strategy's continued accumulation despite a sub-1 mNAV suggests the company is either betting on a near-term stock recovery or prioritizing Bitcoin accumulation as a long-term positioning move, regardless of short-term dilution.

Metaplanet's premium mNAV enables it to maintain the flywheel without those trade-offs, which explains why the company remains active in the market.

The absence of recent Semler purchases aligns with rational capital allocation under discount conditions. When equity trades at 0.88x net asset value, buying more Bitcoin with dilutive equity makes shareholders poorer on a per-share basis.

The logical response is to pause accumulation, focus on operational efficiency, or explore buybacks if liquidity permits.

Metaplanet trades at a 1.37x premium to net asset value, while Strategy and Semler remain below 1x in repair mode.What would confirm “DATs are back”A credible claim that digital asset treasuries have returned to form requires three conditions: broad-based mNAV expansion across multiple operators, sustained Bitcoin accumulation at accretive valuations, and evidence that equity markets are rewarding the model rather than penalizing it.

Right now, only one of those conditions holds, and it applies only to a subset of the sector.

Metaplanet's premium mNAV and Vanguard's mechanically driven position increase demonstrate that pockets of strength exist, particularly among operators outside the US jurisdiction with clean balance sheets and disciplined execution.

But Strategy's discount and Semler's accumulation pause indicate that the broader market remains unconvinced, at least at current Bitcoin prices and equity valuations.

The sector isn't back, but bifurcated. Outcomes increasingly tied to company-specific execution rather than rising tides lifting all boats.

Mentioned in this article

Pendle has begun unwinding its long-standing vePENDLE lockup model, rolling out a liquid staking alternative that shortens withdrawal timelines from years to 14 days, the DeFi project announced on Tuesday.

The transition marks a reset for the yield trading platform, which said the change will also redirect protocol revenue toward token buybacks and introduce an algorithmic emissions model expected to reduce overall emissions by roughly 30%.

Pendle framed the overhaul as a response to constraints in the vePENDLE system, which relied on non-transferable, multi-year locks and a weekly vote-to-earn process. Despite generating more than $37 million in protocol revenue in 2025, Pendle said rewards were concentrated among a small subset of users able to navigate what it described as “complex” voting mechanics.

According to Pendle, roughly 20% of the total PENDLE supply was engaged under vePENDLE, the lowest participation rate among comparable veToken models. The platform also cited internal pool-level data showing more than 60% of markets were unprofitable, despite overall fee efficiency exceeding emissions, due to concentrated voting power and manual gauge allocation.

Resetting Pendle’s incentive structure Pendle said sPENDLE is designed to address these frictions by restoring liquidity and simplifying participation. The liquid staking token is fungible and composable, allowing holders to deploy it across eligible DeFi integrations while remaining active for reward distribution.

Eligibility for rewards is contingent on participating in governance when required. Per the announcement, sPENDLE holders are only deemed inactive if they fail to vote during an active Pendle Protocol Proposal window, with rewards paused for 14 days in that case. sPENDLE deployed in approved DeFi integrations is consistently considered “active.”

The transition also includes a loyalty mechanism for existing vePENDLE holders. Pendle said vePENDLE balances will convert into a boosted form of sPENDLE, with multipliers of up to 4x based on remaining lock duration. The boost is calculated from a snapshot scheduled for Jan. 29 at 00:00 UTC and decays linearly over the remaining lock period, expiring after two years.

sPENDLE staking went live on Jan. 20, while new vePENDLE locks will be paused on Jan. 29, when the protocol’s revised incentive structure formally begins.

Pendle's native token is currently trading at $1.94, according to The Block’s PENDLE price page. This represents a 2.4% gain over the previous 24 hours and places the token’s price approximately 74% below its all-time high of $7.50, set in April 2024. PENDLE currently holds a market capitalization of $327.7 million.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Fresh waves of bearish forces have captivated the crypto markets. The Bitcoin price is also facing significant upward pressure since the start of the day, with the sellers attempting to drag the price into the key support range below $90,000. While the market conditions are bearish, the bigger concern for the traders is not just the dip but what’s going on beneath. The derivatives are not cooled yet, while the BTC price maintains a steep bearish trend. This combination usually signals that leverage hasn’t flushed, keeping the downside risk alive. 

Bitcoin Price Today: BTC Retests $91K as Bears Defend $98K ResistanceThe BTC price has been printing consecutive bearish candles for nearly a week, hinting towards growing bearish influence over the token. With this, it has reached a pivotal price range, which has been a strong support earlier. But considering the current scenario, the rebound appears to be more distinct than expected. Currently, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $90,865 with more than a 2.6% pullback, flashing more bearish possibilities. 

As seen in the above chart, the BTC price has tested the upper resistance of the rising channel soon after it rebounded from the lows close to $80,000. However, things changed when the price began to trade within the lower bands, signalling the draining strength of the bulls. Currently, the price is not only testing the lower support of the channel but also the 50-day MA at $90,430, which has been a strong base during the bearish events. On the other hand, the price is yet to enter the demand zone that sits just above the support zone between $86,400 and $86,700. 

Therefore, a daily close below the 50-day MA may weaken the structure, extending the correction to the previous lows.

Why Bitcoin’s Selloff Doesn’t Look Like Capitulation YetBitcoin is sliding again, but the derivatives data suggest this isn’t a full panic flush. Open interest is rising as price falls, funding remains slightly positive, and long liquidations are still relatively small. That combination typically signals leverage hasn’t fully reset, keeping the risk of another downside sweep on the table. The Price vs OI setup is the key reason traders are staying cautious.

Rising Open Interest During a BTC Dip = New Leverage EnteringWhen open interest increases while BTC price drops, it typically means traders are opening new positions into the decline rather than closing risk. That usually keeps volatility elevated because leverage can be forced out later.

Positive Funding (0.003) Suggests Longs Still Leaning InFunding staying positive while the price falls often implies the market is still slightly long-skewed. In a true washout, funding commonly cools sharply or flips negative as longs exit and shorts dominate.

Long Liquidations (~2K) Are Too Small for a “Flush” BottomThe long liquidation chart shows recent liquidations are mostly ~1K–3K, nowhere near the earlier large spikes. That supports the “not capitulation” read: the market hasn’t seen a forced liquidation event big enough to reset positioning.

The above charts suggest the BTC price is dropping, but leverage has not cleared. That makes the current support test more dangerous, because the market may still need a sharper shakeout to fully reset sentiment. 

Bitcoin at a Key Support, But Leverage Signals Raise Downside RiskBitcoin price is approaching a decisive support zone near $90K–$88K after failing to break through $98K resistance. While the chart shows a critical demand band that could spark a bounce, the Price vs OI data suggests this selloff is not capitulation yet. Rising open interest, positive funding, and relatively light long liquidations imply leverage remains in the system. If support holds and BTC reclaims $98K–$100.6K, a recovery toward $110.7K is back on the table. If it breaks, the market may need a deeper flush before a durable bottom forms.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Ripple's UK & Europe policy director Matthew Osborne is urging central banks to stop treating stablecoins as an external threat and instead fold well-regulated issuers into core safeguards, arguing that oversight plus access to official infrastructure can make stablecoins a net stabiliser for payments and settlement.

XRP is showing active short-term trading, while long-term holders continue to sit below their entry prices.

Brian Njuguna2 min read

20 January 2026, 02:32 PM

Source: ShutterstockXRP Market Dynamics Signal Pressure on Long-Term HoldersAccording to market analyst Zizcrypto, XRP’s current market setup indicates a landscape where short-term participation is active, while older holders are struggling underwater. 

Well, this market structure bears a striking resemblance to February 2022, suggesting that XRP may be navigating a critical juncture in its price cycle.

Data shows that recent buyers, those entering the market within the one-week to one-month (1W–1M) window, are accumulating XRP at levels below the cost basis of the six- to twelve-month (6M–12M) cohort. 

In simple terms, newer participants are purchasing XRP at lower prices than earlier buyers, creating a layered market where older holders face unrealized losses. This setup inherently builds psychological pressure on those who purchased XRP earlier, as they weigh the decision to hold or sell in the face of underperformance.

Zizcrypto highlights that when new buyers enter below the cost basis of older holders, failure to rebound quickly can trigger selling. This tension between short-term traders and long-term holders means that if XRP’s price doesn’t recover, older investors may offload, intensifying downward pressure.

XRP is currently trading at $1.93 per CoinCodex data, showing a market of cautious accumulation. New buyers are stepping in, but long-term holders face pressure, making price stability crucial to sustain momentum and prevent older investors from capitulating.

Source: CoinCodexHistorical market patterns often signal upcoming volatility. In February 2022, a similar structure triggered brief price consolidation before a fresh surge. Therefore, recognizing these dynamics reveals buying and selling pressures and highlights how market psychology drives price movements.

Notably, XRP’s market is showing a clash between short-term buyers accumulating below cost and long-term holders underwater. At $1.93, the price faces a pivotal test: can new buying stabilize it, or will long-term holders offload, adding pressure?

ConclusionXRP’s market shows tension between short-term accumulation and long-term holders in the red. New buyers at lower prices are creating psychological pressure on older investors, making stability critical. 

How XRP balances renewed upward momentum against potential long-term selling will shape its next major move, key intel for traders aiming to navigate volatility and position strategically.

ENRICH your inbox with our best storiesDon’t miss out and join our newsletter to get the latest,
well-curated news from the crypto world!

Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

Read more about

Latest Cryptocurrencies News TodayXRP (Ripple) News

Seasoned Industry Executive to Succeed Brian Appelgate, Who Will Retire After Distinguished Career January 20, 2026 08:30 ET  | Source: Holley Performance Brands

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holley Performance Brands (NYSE: HLLY), a leader in automotive aftermarket performance solutions, today announced the appointment of Del Bohlman as vice president of its Safety & Racing Division, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Bohlman succeeds Brian Appelgate, who is retiring after a distinguished four-decade career in the performance automotive industry.

Bohlman brings more than 20 years of global leadership experience in the powersports and performance sectors, most recently as CEO of Dealer Rocket LLC and previously in senior roles at Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). At BRP, Bohlman led global services, parts, accessories and garments distribution, as well as dealer development, driving profitable growth in parts and accessories while scaling customer experience initiatives across multiple continents. At Holley, he will lead the Safety & Racing Division’s global operations, brand strategy and innovation agenda across its iconic portfolio of brands, including Simpson, Stilo, HANS and RaceQuip.

“Del’s appointment underscores the strategic importance of our Safety & Racing vertical and the opportunities ahead,” said Matthew Stevenson, president and CEO of Holley Performance Brands. “With his operational expertise, global mindset and deep channel experience, Del is well positioned to lead this business into its next phase of growth as we continue expanding our platform across motorsports, motorcycle and broader powersports markets.”

The Safety & Racing Division represents a strategically important growth platform within Holley Performance Brands. The brands in the division collectively serve professional and grassroots motorsports participants across automotive, motorcycle and powersports categories, with products trusted and certified by leading sanctioning bodies worldwide. The division benefits from strong brand equity, stringent regulatory standards and a differentiated product portfolio that spans helmets, head-and-neck restraint systems, protective apparel and safety hardware, positioning Holley as a global leader in motorsports safety with long-term growth opportunities across established and emerging racing disciplines.

Appelgate, who previously served as Holley’s interim Chief Operations Officer and as Head of M&A, leaves a lasting legacy. He joined Holley in 2018 following his tenure as CEO of Driven Performance Brands and earlier served as chairman of SEMA. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the industry.

“We thank Brian for his extraordinary impact, not only in building the Safety & Racing Division into a global leader but also for shaping Holley’s operational capabilities and culture,” Stevenson added. “His leadership helped set the foundation for our current transformation and future growth within the Safety & Racing portfolio and across the broader enterprise.”

About Holley Performance Brands
Holley Performance Brands (NYSE: HLLY) leads in the design, manufacturing and marketing of high-performance products for automotive enthusiasts. The company owns and manages a portfolio of iconic brands, catering to a diverse community of enthusiasts passionate about the customization and performance of their vehicles. Holley Performance Brands distinguishes itself through a strategic focus on four consumer vertical groupings, including Domestic Muscle, Modern Truck & Off-Road, Euro & Import, and Safety & Racing, ensuring a wide-ranging impact across the automotive aftermarket industry. Renowned for its innovative approach and strategic acquisitions, Holley Performance Brands is committed to enhancing the enthusiast experience and driving growth through innovation. For more information on Holley Performance Brands and its dedication to automotive excellence, visit Holley.com.

Media Contact:
Kahn Media
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact(s):
Anthony Rozmus / Neel Sikka / Jenna Kozlowski
Solebury Strategic Communications
203-428-3224
[email protected] 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5889ef64-a4f5-4779-a699-42f01e257809

ChromeOS integration delivers seamless, cross-platform access to Promethean's interactive teaching tools for educators worldwide

, /PRNewswire/ -- Promethean, a global education and workplace technology company and a brand of Mynd.ai (NYSE American: MYND), today announced a major expansion of its flagship Promethean ActivSuite®, which is now fully compatible with ChromeOS™ operating system. Available to educators since December 2025, the update expands access to Promethean's interactive teaching tools and supports seamless use across device‑diverse classrooms.

With this enhancement, educators can now access the full Promethean ActivSuite experience directly through their Chrome interface. Using Google Admin, IT administrators can seamlessly deploy ActivSuite apps across all managed devices—including ChromeOS, Chromebox™ computing devices, and Chromebook™ notebook computers—ensuring a consistent teaching workflow regardless of device or operating system. Promethean ActivSuite is already available for macOS® operating system software and Windows® operating system and will launch for Android™ platform in late January 2026 with a release of OPS-A2.

Promethean ActivSuite—featuring tools such as Whiteboard, Annotate, Timer, Spinner, and Screen Share—has long supported interactive learning on Windows and Android, and now fully extends the same experience to Chromebooks and other Chrome‑enabled devices.

"For educators who operate in Chrome‑first environments, this update reflects our commitment to meeting them where they are," said Lance Solomon, Chief Product Officer at Promethean. "By extending ActivSuite to ChromeOS, we're making it easier for schools to integrate powerful teaching tools into their existing infrastructure, while expanding choice and preserving the flexibility to evolve technology ecosystems over time."

For schools operating in Google‑based environments, the ChromeOS expansion complements ActivPanel® 10 paired with a Promethean Chromebox OPS, enabling an all‑in‑one, walk‑up‑and‑teach, on‑panel Chromebook experience that integrates ChromeOS‑based content with Promethean's classroom tools. Educators can also run ActivPanel from their own device—such as a Chromebook, PC, or Mac® computer—using Promethean ActivSuite, with the same seamless experience as running directly on the panel for maximum flexibility.

The ChromeOS integration is available now and supports Promethean's broader strategy to deliver interoperable, platform‑agnostic solutions.

Key Benefits of the ActivSuite ChromeOS Integration

Cross‑platform compatibility — Seamless use across Windows, Android, and ChromeOS Enhanced classroom engagement — Interactive teaching tools accessible from nearly any device Streamlined setup — No additional software installation required Experience Promethean's ChromeOS‑Enabled Ecosystem Live:
Promethean will demonstrate its full hardware and software portfolio, including Promethean ActivSuite on ChromeOS, at major international trade events from January through March 2026, highlighting flexible solutions for educators and partners.

BETT — Booth #NK40 | January 21–23, 2026 | London, UK TCEA — Booth #534 | January 31–February 4, 2026 | San Antonio, TX ISE — Booth #EA555 | February 3–6, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain Didacta — Booth #E31 | March 10–14, 2026 | Cologne, Germany Educators can begin using ActivSuite on ChromeOS immediately by visiting the Promethean ActivSuite support page.

For more information, demos, or support, please contact Promethean or visit PrometheanWorld.com.

About Promethean
Founded in Blackburn, England, Promethean reshapes how education organizations and modern workplaces use AV tech. A trusted leader and proven partner for over 25 years, the company's award-winning ActivPanel displays and innovative software, ActivInspire®, Explain Everything, and Promethean ActivSuite, engage students, connect colleagues, and work together seamlessly. Promethean's learning, collaboration, and communication solutions inspire users in 126 countries in various industries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices worldwide, Promethean is a subsidiary of Mynd.ai, Inc. (NYSE American: MYND). Learn more at PrometheanWorld.com.

©2026 Promethean Limited. All rights reserved. Promethean, the Promethean logo, ActivPanel, ActivInspire, Explain Everything, and Promethean ActivSuite are trademarks or registered trademarks of Promethean Limited in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries around the world. All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by Promethean remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified, the use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between Promethean and the owners of these trademarks. Applicable Terms and Conditions for warranty and support available at PrometheanWorld.com/Warranty. All weights and dimensions are approximate. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Promethean Inc

Local Entrepreneur to Lead Market Expansion
 with Flagship Location and Multi-Unit Growth Plan

CENTERVILLE, UTAH, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TruGolf Links Franchising, LLC (“TruGolf Links”), owned by TruGolf Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUG), the leading provider of golf simulator software and hardware, announced today the signing of a new regional developer for the greater Chicagoland area. Sharif Ali, a local entrepreneur and marketing executive in Tinley Park, plans to open a TruGolf Links flagship location in his area, and represent TruGolf Links throughout the Chicagoland market with recruiting franchisees and providing onsite support. TruGolf Links anticipates as many as 70 retail locations in the market over the next several years. Sharif is replacing Bob Early as the regional developer for the Chicagoland area. Mr. Early reduced his involvement in TruGolf Links to just the existing Manteno executive location due to family matters. We thank Bob for his efforts and look forward to our continuing work with him in the TruGolf Links community.

“Sharif is exactly the kind of regional developer we look for — entrepreneurial, community-minded, and deeply aligned with our vision for the future of golf entertainment,” said Dr. Ben Litalien, Chief Development Officer of TruGolf Links. “The Chicagoland market is a prime opportunity, and Sharif’s background and passion position him perfectly to build a strong network of TruGolf Links locations throughout the region.”

Ali brings more than a decade of experience helping build and scale organizations delivering data-driven solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. A longtime entrepreneur with a passion for innovation and community-focused ventures, Ali was drawn to TruGolf Links by its cutting-edge technology, immersive entertainment experience, and forward-thinking business model. “Living in Illinois, year-round, access to golf just isn’t realistic,” said Ali. “I caught the golf bug during the pandemic while looking for ways to spend more quality time with friends and family, and I quickly realized how limiting the weather can be for golfers in this region. TruGolf changes that completely. The technology, accuracy, graphics, and overall experience truly set it apart, and the constant innovation keeps people engaged and improving.”

As golf participation continues to grow nationwide, traditional courses in the Chicagoland area are often fully booked, creating demand for accessible, flexible alternatives. TruGolf Links fills that gap by offering a fun, safe, and welcoming indoor environment where guests can play regardless of weather, gather socially, and enjoy high-quality food and beverages. In addition to golf, TruGolf Links features a variety of interactive sports and games including soccer, baseball, hockey, cornhole, and fan-favorite experiences like zombie dodgeball.

Ali plans to be actively involved at the ground level, opening a flagship TruGolf Links location in the Tinley Park area and supporting expansion across the territory through additional company-owned units and franchise partnerships. “TruGolf Links isn’t just about golf — it’s about bringing people together,” Ali added. “I’m excited to help grow the brand locally and introduce this experience to more communities across Chicagoland.”

About TruGolf, Inc.

Since 1983, TruGolf has been passionate about driving the golf industry forward through innovative indoor golf solutions. TruGolf builds products that capture the spirit of the game while making golf more available, approachable, and affordable through technology. The company is known for its award-winning software, industry-leading hardware, and the E6 CONNECT platform that connects golfers worldwide. For more information visit www.trugolf.com.

About TruGolf Links Franchising

TruGolf Links offers both individual franchise and regional developer opportunities. Regional Developers acquire exclusive territories, open a flagship location, and develop additional units either through ownership or franchising. This model allows strong local operators to scale entire markets while providing localized support to franchisees. For more information about TruGolf Links or franchise opportunities, visit www.trugolflinks.com/franchising or contact Andrew Johnson, Vice President of Franchising, (480) 205-2947, [email protected].

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "will," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "plan," or their negatives or variations of these words, or similar expressions. All statements contained in this press release that do not strictly relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, the risk that we and our current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize our products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that we may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that we experience difficulties in managing our expected growth and expanding operations; the risk that third party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that we are unable to secure or protect our intellectual property; the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's prospectus in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2024, and the Company's periodic filings with the SEC. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

CONTACTS:Rebecca ChurchMichael Bacal [email protected]@darrowir.com (801) 298-1997(917) 866-9071 trugolflinks.comdarrowir.com    ###

TruGolf Links Franchising, LLC

TruGolf Links Franchising, LLC Announces New Regional Developer Sharif Ali for Greater Chicagoland Area