Market Signal Briefing

Due to their continuous 24/7/365 operations, data centers consume electricity constantly.

Generating dividend income from stocks is a great way to stay invested in the market while boosting your passive income stream.

Dividend stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with high yields are excellent ways to generate passive income. But even a high-yield passive income stream doesn't look all that impressive when the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.59%) is notching big-time returns.

Therefore, the best way to approach investing in dividend stocks and dividend-paying ETFs isn't to try to beat the market in a given year, but rather to achieve a financial goal, such as a certain amount of passive income or supplementing retirement income. Investors interested in ways to generate income from stocks, no matter what the market is doing, have come to the right place.

Investing $28,000 into equal parts of ExxonMobil (XOM 1.35%), Whirlpool (WHR -0.07%), and the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU 1.42%) should help you generate at least $1,000 in annual dividend income. Here's what makes these two high-yield dividend stocks and one low-cost ETF top buys in October.

Image source: Getty Images.

ExxonMobil has grown its dividend for decades, and it doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon
Scott Levine (ExxonMobil): High-yield dividend stocks are a great way to put you on the path to growing your personal wealth. High-yield dividend stocks that are also backed by management teams committed to continue rewarding shareholders for years to come is a winning combination that's hard to beat. For investors whose interests are piqued with the prospect of such an opportunity, ExxonMobil stock -- along with its 3.4% forward-yielding dividend -- will seem particularly alluring.

For 42 consecutive years, ExxonMobil has raised its payout to shareholders. That's no small accomplishment, considering the fact that the energy sector stalwart also must ensure that it remains in solid financial health amid the cyclical nature of energy prices. Over the past four decades, management has navigated this dynamic extremely well, and it remains committed to continue doing so in the years to come. During an investor presentation in May, management stated explicitly, "We know how important the dividend is, especially to our retail shareholders. We're committed to maintaining a sustainable, competitive, and growing dividend long into the future."

Experienced investors know the perils of blindly taking a company's words at face value and not digging deeper. Skeptics, therefore, will find reassurance from the fact that the company has averaged a conservative 68% payout ratio over the past five years.

XOM Normal Dividends Paid (Annual) data by YCharts.

Plus, the company consistently generates ample free cash flow from which it can source its dividend.

Investors motivated to ramp up their income streams will surely find ExxonMobil, a leading oil dividend stock, to be a keen way to grease the wheels of their passive-income machines.

The recent sell-off is a buying opportunity
Lee Samaha (Whirlpool): The Federal Reserve cut rates recently, and the market promptly sold off Whirlpool stock. While the logic may seem perplexing, after all, Whirlpool is an interest rate-sensitive stock that will do better in a lower rate environment; it reflects how many investors invest on the basis of "buy on the rumor, sell on the news." In this case, the "rumor," which later became the "news," is the rate cut.

All of which is perfectly fair in love and war, and investing, too, for that matter. Still, investors may regret rushing to sell out of Whirlpool as the case for the stock doesn't just rest on a lower-rate environment stimulating housing sales and, in turn, discretionary purchases of major domestic appliances by homeowners preparing for a sale or new buyers moving in.

Lower rates will help, but the key to the investment case lies in the positive change in its competitive positioning when the full effect of the tariffs imposed on its Asian competitors takes hold in the future. As a reminder, its rivals have been merrily preloading the market in 2025, first ahead of the Trump presidency launching "Liberation Day" tariffs in early April, and second after the 90-day pause (which ended on Aug. 1 for many countries) was imposed.

That has created a fiercely competitive pricing environment, and Whirlpool has had to lower its earnings expectations for 2025. That said, the tariff landscape now strongly favors domestic producers like Whirlpool, and the company should start to see the benefit of it when its competitors' inventory is sold off through 2025 and into 2026. Throw in a 4.7% dividend yield, and the stock is attractive to both income-seeking and speculative investors.

AI's demand for power benefits the utilities sector
Daniel Foelber (Vanguard Utilities ETF): The stock market sectors that typically benefit the most from bull markets accelerate their earnings growth from innovation, favorable business conditions, tax policy, etc. The usual suspects are technology, communications, industrials, and financials. You'll find all of those sectors up over 10% year to date. But the utility sector is hovering around all-time highs and even outperforming the S&P 500.

^SPCMSVSS data by YCharts

Utilities tend to be a safe and stodgy sector that underperforms during bull markets and outperforms during bear markets or when investor risk appetite is muted. The sector is dominated by electric utilities, especially regulated electric utilities. These companies work with government agencies to set fair prices for customers. In exchange, they benefit from steady cash flow and the need for more power.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally changed the investment for utilities. The grid is simply too constrained to handle the power demands of AI. Which is why investors are excited about companies with solutions that function off-grid, like small modular nuclear reactors by NuScale Power and Oklo.

Hyperscalers are spending a fortune on compute through capital expenditures toward data centers and infrastructure build-out. Power is an integral part of the equation. For example, Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) is bringing over 70 data centers online in just a few years. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) just landed a $100 billion strategic partnership with OpenAI to build a staggering 10 gigawatts of compute power that would feature 4 million to 5 million graphics processing units.

The hyperscalers and chipmakers get a lot of attention in headline AI news. But it would be a mistake to overlook the immense opportunity this creates for the utility sector. However, due to the regulated nature of many top electric utilities, there is limited upside potential from AI compared to AI stocks like Oracle, Broadcom, or Nvidia. Still, the utility sector provides a catch-all way to bet on increased power demand from commercial, industrial, and residential customers.

The Vanguard Utilities ETF is one of the simplest ways to invest in the sector. With a dirt-cheap expense ratio of 0.09%, the ETF's fees are just 9 cents for every $100 invested. Many utilities have regional focuses. So an ETF provides a way to invest in the general demand for more power in the U.S. rather than just betting big on one region. And with a 2.8% yield, the sector also provides a solid source of passive income. Whereas many AI growth stocks have low yields or don't pay dividends at all.

Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom, NuScale Power, and Whirlpool. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Palantir has been one of the best-performing S&P 500 stocks this year.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR -0.83%) has been a genius investment this year. The stock is up over 140%, placing it in the top five best-performing stocks in the S&P 500.

However, with a run like that, many investors may be questioning whether right now is a good time to invest in Palantir. I think there's one primary reason that makes it clear what investors should do, and it's only a matter of time before Palantir's stock makes a sizable move as a result.

Image source: Palantir.

Palantir's growth rate shows no signs of slowing down
Palantir's software is centered around artificial intelligence-powered data analytics. Originally, this software was intended for government use, and this is still a massive chunk of Palantir's business today. However, it expanded onto the commercial side and is seeing widespread adoption in this area as well.

One of Palantir's biggest growth drivers is its AIP product. AIP allows users to automate workflows through AI agents and also incorporates generative AI into its existing products.

This software package resulted in rapid growth for Palantir. In Q2, Palantir's revenue rose 48% year over year -- an acceleration from previous growth rates.

PLTR Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts

The most promising segment is Palantir's U.S. commercial, which experienced 93% year-over-year growth to $306 million with only 485 customers. That's a small customer base, so it seems like Palantir has a ton of room to expand. However, Palantir's software isn't for everyone, as the average annual cost of this software for this cohort is $2.52 million.

There aren't a ton of businesses that can spend $2.5 million a year on a software package, so this limits the potential client base. Still, there are plenty of companies that can adopt Palatinir's technology, and this should lead to further growth.

But will it be enough to justify its valuation?

Palantir's growth rate doesn't justify its valuation
From the start of 2023 until now, Palantir's revenue has risen by 81%. However, the stock has risen by 2,740%. That's a gross mismatch between stock and business performance, and points toward Palantir's valuation drastically rising as the primary factor in its stock performance.

With the stock trading at 134 times sales and 284 times forward earnings, this thesis is confirmed.

PLTR PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

Few stocks ever reach those valuation levels, let alone a company that isn't doubling or tripling its revenue each quarter.

For example, Nvidia posted several quarters in a row where its revenue more than tripled. Even now, it's growing at a quicker pace (its revenue rose 56% year over year in Q2). However, the stock never traded for more than 50 times sales or 50 times forward earnings, yet Palantir's valuation is currently far higher than that.

This points toward the stock being in a bubble, as Palantir will need to post several years of incredible growth before today's price makes any sense. I predict one of two things will happen with the stock. First, sometime over the next few years, Palantir's bubble will pop, and the stock will come crashing down. I'm not sure when that will happen, but with a valuation like that, it's impossible to live up to expectations. Second, Palantir's stock may not have a dramatic fall, but the stock may post underperforming results as it struggles to live up to high expectations.

Either way, I don't think Palantir is a great place to invest right now. The stock may continue going up, but that's because hype rather than actual business results drives it. Palantir's business is still doing phenomenally, but I want no part in the stock because it's far too richly valued.

Keithen Drury has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ: LINE) and certain of the Company’s senior executives and directors for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Lineage, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/lineage-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until September 30, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of investors who purchased stock pursuant and/or traceable to Lineage’s registration statement for its initial public offering held on or about July 25, 2024. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and is captioned City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System v. Lineage, Inc., et al., No. 2:25-cv-12383.

Why Was Lineage Sued Under the Federal Securities Laws?

Lineage is a cold storage focused real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Through its Global Warehousing Segment, Lineage owns and operates hundreds of temperature-controlled storage facilities used by companies to store food and other perishable products.

As alleged, Lineage’s IPO documents touted its “consistent cold chain demand,” which purportedly provided Lineage “with strong cash flows even during periods of broader economic stress.” The IPO documents also represented that the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had “accelerated trends that . . . have the potential to be growth engines for the industry in coming years.”

In truth, Lineage was allegedly in the midst of a sustained downturn, as its customers destocked excess inventory built up during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also shifted to leaner inventories on a go-forward basis and as more cold-storage supply came on line.

Events Following the IPO

On February 26, 2025, Lineage announced its fiscal Q4 2024 financial results, revealing that customers had been “unwinding” previously “overbuil[t]” levels of inventory, returning to a “more normal seasonal pattern” that was expected to “continue moving forward.” Lineage conducted its IPO at $78 per share. Since the IPO, the price of Lineage stock has fallen dramatically, to lows near $40 per share—approximately half the IPO price.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/lineage-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Lineage you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/lineage-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/lineage-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in CarMax, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action.

Why Is CarMax being Investigated?

CarMax sells used cars. During the relevant period, the Company touted the strong and sustainable demand for its cars, driven by factors such as a seamless customer experience.

In truth, it appears that the announcement of U.S. tariffs imposed on cars provided a short-term boost to demand, as customers purchased cars prior to the tariffs taking effect.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On September 25, 2025, the Company reported earnings for fiscal Q2 2025.  For that quarter, CarMax announced sales declines across the board, including a 5.4% decline in retail used unit sales, a 6.3% decline in comparable store used unit sales, and a 2.2% decline in wholesale units.  The Company also posted a disappointing Q2 net earnings of about $95.4 million, down from $132.8 million over the prior year.  A main reason for the declines, according to CarMax, was a “pull forward” in demand into Q1 due to the announcement of tariffs.  On this news, the price of CarMax stock fell $11.45 per share, or roughly 20%, from $57.05 per share on September 24, 2025, to $45.60 per share on September 25, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in CarMax you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action

Or contact:
Ross Shikowitz
[email protected]
212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/carmax-inc-class-action

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Over the past few years, a handful of high-profile companies saw their market caps top $1 trillion. Many of those stocks -- including Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon -- were in the tech sector. Amazon, the top cloud infrastructure company, also became the first online retailer to join the 12-zero club.

Yet not a single brick-and-mortar retailer has joined that elite group. Could Costco Wholesale (COST -2.92%), with a market cap of $420 billion, cross that threshold in the near future?

Image source: Getty Images.

How fast has Costco grown since its public debut?
Costco, the world's largest warehouse club retailer, went public at a split-adjusted price of $1.67 per share on Dec. 5, 1985. Today, it trades at about $950 -- a $1,000 investment in its initial public offering (IPO) would be worth nearly $569,000 today and pay out more than $3,100 in annual dividends. That 56,786% gain over the past 40 years was driven by its constant construction of new warehouses, its rising number of cardholders, and its high renewal rates.

From fiscal 1985 (which ended in September 1985) to fiscal 2024, Costco's number of warehouses increased from 11 to 891 locations, its number of cardholders jumped from 1.3 million to 136.8 million, and its annual revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% from $1.1 billion to $254.4 billion.

How does Costco keep expanding?
Costco generates most of its profits from its high-margin membership fees, which allows it to sell a lot of its products at low, break-even, or even loss-leading margins. It also leverages its scale to negotiate favorable bulk rates with its suppliers, and it promotes its own Kirkland private-label products as a cheaper alternative to name-brand products.

Costco carries a narrower selection of products than superstores like Walmart, but it constantly rotates them to draw its shoppers back for return visits. Its gas stations, food court, vision center, and other ancillary services reinforce that strategy. So as long as Costco keeps growing its comparable store sales, opening new warehouses, gaining new cardholders, and locking them in with high renewal rates, its business will flourish. All of those core growth metrics headed in the right direction over the past few years -- even as the pandemic, inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical conflicts, and other macro headwinds rattled the global economy.

Metric

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Adjusted* comps growth

9.2%

13.4%

10.6%

5.2%

5.9%

7.6%

Total warehouses

795

815

838

861

890

914

Total cardholders (millions)

105.5

116.1

118.9

127.9

136.8

-- **

Global renewal rate

88%

89%

90%

90.4%

90.5%

-- **

Data source: Costco. FY = fiscal year. *Excludes fuel sales and foreign exchange rates. **Not disclosed yet.

Costco weathered the pandemic because it remained a top destination for stocking up on household goods, while inflation drove more cost-conscious shoppers to its stores. It raised its membership fees for the first time in seven years last September to offset the inflationary pressure on its margins, but that price hike didn't impact its growth.

Costco hasn't reported its full-year earnings for fiscal 2025 yet, but it ended the third quarter with 142.8 million cardholders and a healthy global renewal rate of 90.2%. For the full year, analysts expect its revenue and earnings per share (EPS) to grow 8% and 9%, respectively.

Could Costco become a trillion-dollar company?
From fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, analysts expect Costco's revenue and earnings per share (EPS) to grow at a CAGR of 8% and 10%, respectively. That growth should be fueled by its ongoing overseas expansion, its rising e-commerce sales, and upgrades for its ancillary services.

We should take those estimates with a grain of salt, but Costco has a proven track record of expanding through bear and bull markets. But it isn't a bargain at 47 times next year's earnings -- presumably because too many investors bought it as a safe haven play in this choppy market. If Costco matches analysts' expectations, continues to grow its EPS at a CAGR of 10% over the following eight years, and trades at a more reasonable 30 times earnings, its stock could rise nearly 50% to $1,420 over the next 10 years.

That would be a decent gain, but it would only boost its market cap to $630 billion. It could also underperform the S&P 500, which has generated an average annual return of about 10% since its inception. So while Costco is still a stable investment, it's getting overheated and probably won't become a trillion-dollar retailer within the next decade.

Leo Sun has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

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

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The Trump administration needs to strike multiple deals with U.S. miners to secure the nation's supply chain against China, said Mark Chalmers, CEO of Energy Fuels, a miner focused on uranium and rare earth minerals.

The Pentagon decision to take an equity stake in MP Materials, the largest U.S. rare earth miner, in July and support the company with a price floor surprised many in the industry, Chalmers told CNBC.

But it was a necessary step that the White House should now follow with more deals to diversify the U.S. supply chain and reduce the risk that would come with backing a single national champion, the CEO said.

"One company doesn't fix it," Chalmers said of the MP Materials deal. "You have to have multiple deals to ensure that you don't just have the company risk, because all companies aren't going to deliver."

The White House is "not ruling out other deals with equity stakes or price floors as we did with MP Materials, but that doesn't mean every initiative we take would be in the shape of the MP deal," a Trump administration official told CNBC.

Rare earths are key inputs in weapons platforms such as the F-35 warplane as well as consumer products like electric vehicles and smartphones. The U.S. is almost entirely dependent on China, which supplied 70% of rare earth imports in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

China has manipulated the market by suppressing prices to drive Western competition from the market, said Ryan Castilloux, founder of Adamas Intelligence, a critical mineral market research firm. The MP deal demonstrated that the U.S. is willing to break with free market ideals and push back against China by mimicking its model of strategic capitalism when necessary, Castilloux said.

"We've seen just how disadvantaged the free market view is versus a long term, industrial policy driven market — and something needed to give," Castilloux, an expert on critical minerals, told CNBC.

Possible rare earth targetsEnergy Fuels' stock has surged nearly 200% since the MP deal on July 10, as investors speculate that it could be a deal target for the Trump administration. Critical mineral miner NioCorp Developments is also up almost 200%, Ramaco Resources has gained 140%, and USA Rare Earth is up more than 70%.

MP Materials will likely need more heavy rare earths as it develops a second facility to make magnets under the Defense Department deal, Castilloux said. Heavy rare earths are needed to produce magnets that can withstand high temperatures in EV motors and defense industry applications, he said.

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Headquartered in Denver, Energy Fuels is the largest uranium miner in the U.S. and is forming a rare earth operation through mines it has acquired around the world. Its operation will produce heavy rare earths, Chalmers said.

Energy Fuels is focused on "providing a product that is attractive to the U.S government" and complements the strengths of MP Materials, the CEO said.

"The government cannot bet on one horse — it just doesn't make sense," Chalmers said. "We spend a lot of time in D.C. making sure they understand the merits of our strategy," he said.

Trump eyes lithiumOther critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and graphite are ripe for federal investment to smooth out volatile price fluctuations that undermine U.S. miners, said Rich Nolan, CEO of the National Mining Association. Those minerals are all used in batteries, among other applications.

The Trump administration has proposed an equity stake in Lithium Americas, as the Canadian company renegotiates the terms of a $2.2 billion loan from the Department of Energy for its Thacker Pass mine in northern Nevada. The mine is expected to become one of the largest sources of lithium in North America, with the first phase of the project scheduled to start operations in late 2027.

Lithium Americas stock surged more than 90% this week on news of the potential government stake.

Albemarle CEO Kent Masters told CNBC that something "in the ballpark" of the MP deal could apply to the lithium sector. Albemarle, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the largest lithium producers in the world.

"What you want to do is move the market such that private industry can invest behind it," Masters told CNBC in July, pointing to Apple's offtake agreement with MP just days after the Defense Department deal.

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Miners seek price floorsWhile it might take a government equity stake to move the market in some cases, the price floor established by the Pentagon in the MP deal is the "critical part" that allows private industry to invest and build out the supply chain, Masters said.

Price support from the federal government "sends a true market signal that these investments are long term, that they are here to stay," the National Mining Association's Nolan said.

Under the MP deal, the Pentagon set a price floor of $110 per kilogram for neodymium-praseodymium oxide, or NdPr, a key input in rare-earth magnets. The government pays MP the difference when the market price is below $110 but in turn takes 30% of the upside when the price is above $110.

The price of NdPr surged 40% in the wake of the MP deal, Castilloux said.

"It serves as a blueprint for any market where suppressed pricing is slanting the competitive playing field against the U.S. and its allies," the analyst said of the price floor. The deal signals that "there is a way to break free of China's artificially suppressed pricing," he said.

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

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

A young girl named Gabby, alongside her menagerie of animated cat friends, is making the leap from streaming to the big screen.

Universal and DreamWorks Animation's "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" is the latest kid's TV show to head to the box office, following in the footsteps of Paramount's Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants franchises.

"We felt like the franchise had gotten to the point where there was enough fandom to justify a theatrical event, and we wanted to expand the world," Margie Cohn, president of DreamWorks Animation, told CNBC.

Children's programming has become an increasingly important piece of the media landscape in recent years. As linear TV has given way to streaming, studios are looking for ways to drive and sustain subscriber growth. For "Gabby's Dollhouse," establishing a theatrical presence increases awareness of the brand, stirs up fresh excitement from existing fans and spurs new opportunities for products in the retail market.

"Gabby's Dollhouse," created by "Blue's Clues" veterans Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey, launched on Netflix in 2021. It's already run for 11 seasons, and a 12th is on due out in November. Each season has six to 10 episodes, about 25 minutes each.

It's been the most-viewed streaming original series for kids this year, according to Nielsen.

Each episode begins with a live-action Gabby, played by Laila Lockhart Kraner, as she unboxes a miniature package that sparks an adventure in her magical dollhouse. She dons her cat-ear headband, shrinks down to become an animated character and joins her cat friends, called Gabby's cats. Like a lot of preschool shows, Gabby pauses to ask the audience questions and invite them to play along.

Those elements all appear in the full-length feature film, which arrived in theaters Friday. It melds animation and live-action, but at a bigger scale.

Cohn said the goal was to create a theatrical experience, akin to a "'Rocky Horror Picture Show' for little kids.' Invite them to sing, dance, clap."

"Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" debuts at a time when the movie calendar has limited family-friendly options. The most recent major releases in this genre were Disney's "Freakier Friday" and Universal's "The Bad Guys 2," both of which were released in early August.

While there has been a steady stream of family-friendly fare in recent years, it comes after a considerable dry spell caused by the pandemic and dual Hollywood labor strikes shutting down production. At the same time, consumers' habits shifted as streaming services grew in popularity and studios shortened the time it took for movies released in cinemas to reach the home market.

But younger viewers are some of the most engaged, and a primary driver to get families out to the theater.

Kids are some of the most fervent streaming users, too, as they tend to watch the same content over and over again, leading to high engagement. That's why kid-friendly shows have offer a unique value proposition for studios even as traditional linear television and the theatrical landscape has become less reliable.

Presenting their favorite characters in more places can mean spreading the wealth and ultimately fueling their appetites for more.

"One need only look at the big screen-small screen synergies that were created by 'KPop Demon Hunters' to see how 'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie' could similarly make the leap from a small screen 2021 series into a big screen cinematic event in 2025," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

Heading to the big screenA global theatrical release not only serves the strong domestic market, but extends the reach of "Gabby's Dollhouse" internationally. Cohn noted that Europe is one region where the show is gaining traction.

"As a relatively new franchise with notable reach into the marketing world aimed at today's youngest generations, this is a film that should capture the interest of that audience and continue showcasing its strengths as a fresh brand," said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory.

And it can be a relatively affordable way to extend a franchise's reach.

"Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" had a production budget of just over $30 million, a small investment for the likes of Universal and DreamWorks Animation compared to other theatrical kids films. For example, franchise films from Disney's Pixar and Universal's other animation arm, Illumination, can cost upwards of $200 million to create.

"At DreamWorks, we know how to make a budget fit," Cohn said. "We make some really big, high-budget, all-audience animated films. But then we also do smaller films like 'Captain Underpants' or the most recent one with 'Dog Man.' We know how to make high-quality movies for a lower price point."

Paramount's two Paw Patrol films had similarly small budgets, according to media reports. "Paw Patrol: The Movie," released in 2021, generated $40 million domestically and more than $145 million globally, according to data from Comscore. Meanwhile, 2023's "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" collected $65 million domestically and $200 globally.

Box office analysts estimated "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" would collect between $15 million and $25 million during its opening weekend.

More than just a movieWhile theatrical revenues are important, bringing "Gabby's Dollhouse" to the big screen is part of a wider strategy. The content is part of an interconnected ecosystem that includes toys, books, merchandise and live events.

"I came from Nickelodeon," Cohn said. "We studied the audience a lot, and we knew that they liked to watch a show, but then they wanted to play it, iterate on it, and experience the characters and ideas in their own way, in their own form. And so we developed the Gabby franchise to let them do just that."

DreamWorks partnered with toy company Spin Master to manufacture a line of toys tied to "Gabby's Dollhouse." The range of products includes playsets, figures, plush toys, games and puzzles. Since launching the line, Spin Master has sold nearly 3 million dollhouses tied to the show.

Cohn said DreamWorks Animation "nurtured and brewed success" for "Gabby's Dollhouse" with through the Spin Master partnership as well as through the production of YouTube shorts, grassroots marketing and a traveling live show presented by Walmart.

"The series just grew and grew and grew," Cohn said. "And then it gets to a certain point you're able to deliver on bigger strategic franchise expansion with live entertainment and shows in museums and presence in the parks and music, you know, all that comes when you have a property that kids respond to."

"Gabby's Dollhouse" has been a top five preschool toy property for five of the last eight quarters, according to data from Circana. It has been a top 10 property for 10 straight quarters.

In addition to toys, "Gabby's Dollhouse" has merchandise collections with Walmart, Target and Amazon, that include apparel, home goods, games and even toothbrushes. As the film heads to theaters, audiences will be able to buy themed popcorn buckets, drink tumblers and other specialty items.

The franchise has also become part of Universal's theme parks, with character meet-and-greets with Gabby and retail areas where guests can buy headbands, plush and apparel.

And Universal isn't stopping there. "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" sets up a bigger future for Gabby and a potential spin-off series. As the film credits roll, Gabby puts the finishing touches on a new dollhouse — a dog dollhouse that she says her little sister will love.

When asked about what "Gabby Dollhouse" fans can expect following the reveal, Cohn teased, "You're gonna have to wait and see."

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of Fandango and NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would become the new parent company of Fandango and CNBC upon Comcast's planned spinoff of Versant.

Jessie A Ellis
Sep 28, 2025 10:26

OM price trades at $0.17 with 0.97% daily gains, but technical indicators reveal oversold conditions as MANTRA tests critical support levels around $0.15.

Quick Take
• OM currently trading at $0.17 (+0.97% in 24h)
• MANTRA's RSI at 34.26 indicates oversold conditions with potential reversal signals
• No significant news events in past week, price action driven by technical factors

What's Driving MANTRA Price Today?
The OM price movement today appears primarily driven by technical factors rather than fundamental catalysts, with no significant news events reported in the past seven days. This absence of major announcements has left MANTRA's price action to be dictated by chart patterns and technical indicators.

The modest 0.97% gain in the past 24 hours represents a slight recovery attempt, but the broader context reveals MANTRA remains under significant pressure. Trading within a range of $0.16 to $0.19 over the past day, OM has struggled to break above key resistance levels while maintaining support near current levels.

Volume data from Binance spot market shows $17.7 million in daily trading activity, indicating moderate interest despite the lack of fundamental catalysts. This volume suggests traders are positioning based on technical levels rather than reacting to news flow.

OM Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals with Oversold Momentum
MANTRA technical analysis reveals a complex picture with several conflicting signals that traders need to carefully evaluate. The most prominent indicator is OM RSI at 34.26, placing MANTRA firmly in oversold territory. This RSI reading typically suggests selling pressure may be exhausted and a potential bounce could materialize.

However, MANTRA's moving averages paint a different story. The OM price currently sits below all major moving averages, with the SMA 20 at $0.20 and SMA 50 at $0.22 acting as immediate resistance levels. Most concerning is the vast gap to the SMA 200 at $1.26, highlighting the significant distance from longer-term bullish territory.

The MACD indicator for MANTRA shows bearish momentum with a reading of -0.0150, while the MACD histogram at -0.0032 confirms the negative trend continues. OM's Stochastic indicators (%K at 18.01, %D at 22.11) also reflect oversold conditions, aligning with the RSI signal.

MANTRA's Bollinger Bands provide additional context, with OM trading near the lower band at $0.15. The %B position of 0.1315 indicates MANTRA is approaching the lower boundary of its recent trading range, often a level where technical bounces occur.

MANTRA Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
The current OM price structure reveals critical levels that will determine MANTRA's near-term direction. MANTRA support levels appear concentrated around the $0.15 zone, which aligns with both the immediate and strong support levels identified in the technical analysis.

This $0.15 level represents a crucial test for OM, as it coincides with the 52-week low and the lower Bollinger Band. A break below this MANTRA support could trigger additional selling pressure and potentially drive OM toward new lows.

On the resistance side, OM faces immediate challenges at $0.23, followed by the stronger resistance at $0.30. The $0.23 level roughly aligns with the SMA 20, making it a significant hurdle for any recovery attempt. Breaking above this level would need to be accompanied by increased volume to signal a meaningful shift in sentiment.

The pivot point at $0.17 serves as the current equilibrium level, with OM price action likely to remain volatile around this zone until a clear directional break occurs.

Should You Buy OM Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
Based on Binance spot market data, the risk-reward profile for MANTRA presents both opportunities and significant hazards that vary depending on trading approach and risk tolerance.

For aggressive traders, the oversold conditions reflected in OM RSI readings could present a short-term bounce opportunity. The proximity to strong support at $0.15 offers a relatively tight stop-loss level, potentially creating an attractive risk-reward ratio for those betting on a technical reversal.

Conservative investors should exercise caution given MANTRA's position below all major moving averages and the overall weak bullish trend classification. The distance to meaningful resistance levels suggests any recovery could be limited and face multiple overhead barriers.

Swing traders might consider waiting for a clear break above the $0.20 level (SMA 20) before establishing positions, as this would signal MANTRA has reclaimed its short-term moving average support. Conversely, a break below $0.15 would likely trigger stop-losses and create additional downside pressure.

The high volatility indicated by the Daily ATR of $0.02 suggests position sizing should account for potential rapid price movements in either direction.

Conclusion
MANTRA's current position at $0.17 represents a critical juncture where oversold technical indicators clash with bearish trend structure. While OM RSI suggests potential for a bounce, the broader technical picture remains challenging with resistance levels clustered above current prices. Traders should monitor the $0.15 support level closely, as a break below could accelerate selling pressure, while a hold above this level combined with improving momentum indicators could signal a short-term reversal opportunity. The next 24-48 hours will likely determine whether MANTRA can stabilize and attempt a recovery or succumb to further downside pressure.

Image source: Shutterstock

om price analysis
om price prediction

The Polkadot community is advancing a proposal to launch pUSD, a fully collateralized stablecoin backed exclusively by DOT.The stablecoin would allow users to borrow against their holdings, integrate with the Treasury, and potentially replace DOT inflation.The proposal has gained 75.4% support, reflecting strong community backing for a stablecoin viewed as crucial to Polkadot’s DeFi liquidity.The Polkadot community is moving toward launching a native stablecoin, pUSD, backed entirely by its DOT token.

The proposal calls for deploying the DOT-collateralized stablecoin on the Polkadot Asset Hub using the Honzon protocol stack. This is the same framework that previously powered Acala’s failed aUSD stablecoin.

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Polkadot Community Backs pUSD to Reduce Reliance on USDT and USDC
According to the proposal, pUSD is structured as an over-collateralized debt token, allowing users to borrow against their DOT holdings without liquidating them.

PUSD aims to address past shortcomings and provide the network with a fully collateralized, decentralized stablecoin by focusing solely on DOT as collateral.

If approved, it could reduce reliance on external stablecoins like USDT and USDC, while streamlining the OpenGov DOT-USDC/USDT conversion mechanism.

“This would be expected to be the NATIVE stablecoin for Polkadot Asset Hub, reduce/replace dependence on USDT/USDC including OpenGov DOT-USDC/USDT stablecoin conversion process,” the proposal stated.

Polkadot Treasury could also integrate the stablecoin, enabling users to make payments in pUSD instead of DOT. This would eliminate the need for the Treasury to manage separate stablecoin reserves.

Additionally, it could also pave the way for using pUSD for staking rewards, gradually replacing DOT inflation over time.

Meanwhile, Polkadot’s push for a native stablecoin comes at a critical juncture in the development of the blockchain network.

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According to DeFi Llama data, the network hosts less than $100 million in stablecoin assets, a fraction of the liquidity available on Ethereum and Solana.

Polkadot Stablecoin Market Cap. Source: DeFiLlama
This shortage has constrained decentralized finance activity and limited developer experimentation on Polkadot.

Considering this, Gavin Wood, Polkadot’s co-founder, stressed that a fully collateralized decentralized stablecoin is “strategically essential.” He added that it needs to be deployed as soon as possible to unlock the network’s financial potential.

“Polkadot Hub should have a native DOT backed stable coin because people need it and otherwise we will haemorrhage benefits, liquidity and/or security,” Wood said.

Notably, the proposal has already gained significant traction within the community. The governance vote currently shows 75.4% support, inching toward the 85.6% threshold required for approval.

Meanwhile, the push for pUSD also aligns with a broader industry trend of projects launching native stablecoins to enhance liquidity and drive ecosystem growth.

The stablecoin industry, currently dominated by Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC, is projected to reach $4 trillion by 2030.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Jump Trading's Firedancer team proposed eliminating Solana's fixed compute unit block limits through SIMD-0370, allowing validators to dynamically scale transaction capacity based on hardware performance rather than arbitrary protocol restrictions to create market-driven incentives where block producers continuously upgrade equipment for higher revenues.

The cryptocurrency market came under pressure this week as a wave of selling dragged down major assets. The total global crypto market capitalization fell 2.76% over the past 24 hours, settling at $3.75 trillion.

Key NotesEthereum bulls need to hold above $4,000 for a potential ETH price recovery to the upside.Market experts, including Lark Davis and Michael van de Poppe, highlight that historical trends favor a strong Q4 and Q1 for ETH.Despite volatility, Ethereum whales accumulated 431,018 ETH worth $1.73 billion from major exchanges in the past three days.
Over the past week, Ethereum price has corrected another 10.35%, slipping under the crucial support of $4,000. Big market players and ETH whale entities see this correction as an opportunity to accumulate more. Crypto market experts also believe that the ETH bottom formation could be near, and so a reversal to the upside could follow soon.

Ethereum Price Reversal Ahead As RSI Slips Into Oversold Region
Popular crypto analyst Lark Davis recently noted that Ethereum price has fallen 20% over the past two weeks, pushing its Relative Strength Index (RSI) into the most oversold territory since April. The last time ETH reached such levels, it went on to rally 134% within two months.

The second-largest cryptocurrency has bounced from the $3,800–$3,900 range. Davis noted that this is a key support level that ETH price must hold to maintain a bullish outlook. Market watchers suggest that if broader crypto sentiment improves in the fourth quarter, this oversold signal could pave the way for Ethereum to target the $7,000–$8,000 range.

ETH RSI in oversold territory | Source: TradingView

Furthermore, popular crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe stated that September has been a historically weak month for ETH and the crypto market. However, he still expects a good Q4 ahead, followed by a strong Q1 2026. In a message on X, Poppe wrote:

“The markets always have a correction in September / October. Historically, Q4 and Q1 are a great period for altcoins. September is a terrible month, and that’s what we’ve seen with $ETH, it’s down nearly 10%. Q4 is almost always positive, Q1 is the best quarter in the history”.

As of now, ETH is trading at $4,006. Failing to hold this crucial support could trigger a downside further to $3,600. The MVRV price bands indicate that an ETH price drop to $ 2,750 cannot be ruled out.

ETH Whales Accumulate Over $1.7B from Major Exchanges
Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that large Ethereum whales have accumulated 431,018 ETH, valued at approximately $1.73 billion, over the past three days.

Whales keep accumulating $ETH!

16 wallets have received 431,018 $ETH($1.73B) from #Kraken, #GalaxyDigital, #BitGo, #FalconX and #OKX in the past 3 days.https://t.co/0DPxgZMGN7 https://t.co/xtPLBKo9LZ pic.twitter.com/oEXZKIErmr

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) September 27, 2025

The inflows were distributed across 16 wallets from major platforms, including Kraken, Galaxy Digital, BitGo, FalconX, and OKX. This signals continued accumulation by whales despite recent market volatility.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, Ethereum News, News

Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.

Bhushan Akolkar on X

Sun, 28/09/2025 - 10:34

Binance founder CZ has ended rumors about his role in Aster after DEX token surged 8,000% in week and was hailed as 'next BNB'

Cover image via U.Today

Aster's launch has been one of the most jaw-dropping crypto stories of the year. The decentralized exchange built on BNB Chain has seen daily trading volumes go above $20.8 billion, leaving Hyperliquid behind on $9.7 billion.

Its token, ASTER, shot up by more than 8,000% in just a week since its debut, peaking at $2.30 and pushing its market capitalization past $3.7 billion.

The speed of that move makes it look like Binance founder CZ might have had a hand in it. People are still wondering about the launch, the financing ties through YZi Labs and the sudden appearance of Trust Wallet partnerships. Aster was being called "the next BNB," and some posts even said Changpeng "CZ" Zhao was part of the core team.

HOT Stories

Is Binance and CZ behind Aster?That rumor died down pretty quickly though as Zhao himself made it clear that he isn't running Aster, he is just advising its builders. 

But this didn't really change things much. As long as Binance was involved in some way, even if it was a small part, that was enough to keep the project in the eye of the public.

It's not all about Binance ties as Aster's got market participants hooked with a fresh product feature — hidden orders that let traders make bids and offers without showing them on-chain.

That feature, along with the fee discounts and how well it works with BNB's ecosystem, gave it the kind of reputation that most new DEXes miss out on.

Skeptics say the exchange is washing its volume because it's got a few big wallets holding a lot of the supply. But supporters say that the fact that BNB Chain is backing it, CZ is on the advisory board and it's getting a lot of traction shows why people already think of Aster as the next big thing.

Related articles

“I think we're on the tail end of gradually, and we're at the beginning phases of suddenly,” Mow told host Danny Knowles.

Ted Hisokawa
Sep 28, 2025 09:28

ONDO trades at $0.87, down 1.07% in 24 hours, as technical indicators signal oversold conditions with RSI at 37.50 and price approaching lower Bollinger Band support.

Quick Take
• ONDO currently trading at $0.87 (-1.07% in 24h)
• ONDO RSI at 37.50 suggests oversold conditions approaching
• Price testing critical support near $0.86 with bearish MACD momentum

What's Driving Ondo Price Today?
The ONDO price action today reflects broader market uncertainty, with no significant news events emerging in the past week to provide clear directional catalysts. This absence of major announcements has left ONDO vulnerable to technical trading patterns and broader cryptocurrency market sentiment.

The current price decline of 1.07% places ONDO within its 24-hour trading range of $0.87 to $0.89, suggesting consolidation rather than panic selling. Trading volume on Binance spot market reached $9.84 million over the past 24 hours, indicating moderate but not exceptional interest in the ONDO/USDT pair.

Without fresh fundamental catalysts, traders are focusing primarily on technical levels and momentum indicators to guide their ONDO positioning decisions.

ONDO Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals With Oversold Momentum
Ondo technical analysis reveals a complex picture with both bearish momentum and potential oversold bounce conditions. ONDO's RSI currently sits at 37.50, approaching the traditional oversold threshold of 30, which often signals potential reversal opportunities for contrarian traders.

The MACD indicator presents a more concerning picture for ONDO bulls, with the main line at -0.0240 and signal line at -0.0053, creating a bearish histogram reading of -0.0187. This bearish momentum suggests that selling pressure remains intact despite the approaching oversold conditions.

Ondo's Stochastic oscillator shows extreme readings with %K at 6.44 and %D at 10.91, both well below the 20 level that typically indicates oversold conditions. These readings suggest ONDO could be due for a technical bounce, though the timing remains uncertain.

The moving average structure tells a tale of weakening momentum, with ONDO price at $0.87 trading below all major moving averages. Ondo's SMA 7 at $0.90, SMA 20 at $0.99, and SMA 50 at $0.97 all present resistance levels that bulls must reclaim to shift the technical narrative.

Ondo Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on Binance spot market data, Ondo support levels are critically important at current price levels. The immediate ONDO support sits at $0.86, which aligns closely with the strong support level and represents a crucial floor for the token.

ONDO's position within the Bollinger Bands provides additional context, with the current price near the lower band at $0.84. The %B position of 0.1062 indicates ONDO is trading in the lower 10% of its recent range, suggesting either oversold conditions or the beginning of a more significant downtrend.

Ondo resistance levels present significant challenges for any recovery attempt. The immediate and strong resistance both converge at $1.14, which also represents ONDO's 52-week high. This level represents a 31% upside from current prices but would require substantial momentum to reach.

The middle Bollinger Band at $0.99 serves as an intermediate resistance target, coinciding with Ondo's SMA 20. A move above this level would suggest the current bearish momentum is losing steam.

Should You Buy ONDO Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
For aggressive traders, the current ONDO price presents an interesting risk-reward setup. The proximity to support at $0.86 provides a relatively tight stop-loss level, limiting downside risk to approximately 1.1% from current levels. However, the bearish MACD momentum suggests patience may be rewarded with better entry opportunities.

Conservative investors should wait for confirmation of support holding and preferably see ONDO's RSI begin to turn higher from current levels around 37.50. A break below the $0.86 support could trigger further selling toward the 52-week low of $0.67, representing a potential 23% decline.

Swing traders might consider a scaled approach, buying small positions near current levels while reserving additional capital for potential lower prices. The daily ATR of $0.05 suggests ONDO typically moves about 5.7% daily, providing opportunities for active traders.

The overall bullish trend designation suggests that any weakness could represent a buying opportunity for long-term holders, though timing remains crucial given the current technical setup.

Conclusion
ONDO price faces a critical juncture at $0.87, with technical indicators presenting mixed signals that require careful navigation. While ONDO RSI suggests oversold conditions may lead to a bounce, the bearish MACD momentum warns against premature optimism. Traders should watch the $0.86 support level closely over the next 24-48 hours, as a break could accelerate selling pressure. Conversely, a hold above support combined with improving momentum indicators could set up ONDO for a test of resistance near $0.99.

Image source: Shutterstock

ondo price analysis
ondo price prediction

Timothy Morano
Sep 28, 2025 09:34

CAKE price retreats to $2.55 (-1.16%) as profit-taking follows recent surge driven by PancakeSwap's record $58.7B trading volume and supply reduction proposal.

Quick Take
• CAKE currently trading at $2.55 (-1.16% in 24h)
• PancakeSwap's RSI sits at 46.58, indicating neutral momentum with bearish MACD divergence
• Record $58.7 billion trading volume milestone drove recent 8% rally before current pullback

What's Driving PancakeSwap Price Today?
The current CAKE price decline represents a natural consolidation following significant gains earlier this month. PancakeSwap experienced a remarkable surge on September 20th when CAKE price broke above $2.75, reaching $2.79 after the platform announced record-breaking trading volumes.

The primary catalyst behind the recent rally was PancakeSwap's announcement of achieving $58.7 billion in trading volume during August 2025, marking a historic milestone for the decentralized exchange. This achievement initially sparked an 8% price increase as investors recognized the platform's growing market dominance in the DEX space.

Adding fuel to the bullish sentiment, the PancakeSwap community proposed reducing the total CAKE token supply to 450 million tokens, a deflationary measure that typically supports long-term price appreciation. However, today's 1.16% decline suggests traders are taking profits after the recent gains, with CAKE price now testing crucial support levels.

CAKE Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Emerge
PancakeSwap technical analysis reveals a complex picture with both bullish and bearish indicators present. CAKE's RSI currently reads 46.58, positioning the token in neutral territory rather than oversold or overbought conditions. This suggests that while selling pressure exists, CAKE hasn't reached deeply oversold levels that might attract aggressive buying.

The MACD indicator presents a more concerning signal for short-term traders. PancakeSwap's MACD histogram shows -0.0159, indicating bearish momentum is building despite the overall bullish trend. The MACD line at 0.0196 remains below the signal line at 0.0355, suggesting that downward pressure may continue in the near term.

Moving averages paint a mixed picture for CAKE price action. The token trades below its 7-day SMA at $2.65 and 20-day SMA at $2.64, indicating short-term weakness. However, PancakeSwap remains well above its 200-day SMA at $2.37, confirming the longer-term bullish structure remains intact.

The Bollinger Bands analysis shows CAKE trading in the lower portion of the bands, with a %B position of 0.3524. This suggests PancakeSwap has room to move higher toward the upper band at $2.94 if buying pressure returns.

PancakeSwap Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Critical PancakeSwap support levels emerge at $2.40 for immediate support and $2.33 for strong support. The current CAKE price at $2.55 sits precariously between these levels and the pivot point at $2.58. A break below $2.40 could trigger additional selling toward the strong support zone.

On the upside, CAKE resistance appears formidable at $3.15, which represents both immediate and strong resistance levels. This confluence suggests that any meaningful recovery attempt will face significant selling pressure near these levels. The 52-week high of $3.09 reinforces this resistance zone's importance.

For CAKE/USDT traders, the daily ATR of $0.15 indicates moderate volatility, providing opportunities for both swing and day trading strategies. The 24-hour trading range between $2.55 and $2.64 demonstrates the current consolidation pattern.

Should You Buy CAKE Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
Based on Binance spot market data, different trading approaches suit various risk tolerances. Conservative investors might wait for CAKE price to find clear support above $2.40 before considering entries, as this would indicate the recent selling pressure has stabilized.

Aggressive traders could consider the current levels attractive, given PancakeSwap's strong fundamental backdrop with record trading volumes. However, risk management becomes crucial with stop-losses placed below $2.33 to limit potential downside.

The risk-reward profile appears favorable for longer-term holders, as PancakeSwap's growing market share and potential supply reduction create positive fundamental drivers. Short-term traders should monitor the CAKE RSI for oversold readings below 30, which could signal tactical buying opportunities.

Swing traders might focus on the gap between current levels and the Bollinger Band upper limit at $2.94, representing approximately 15% upside potential if bullish momentum returns.

Conclusion
CAKE price faces a critical juncture at $2.55 as the token digests recent gains from the record trading volume announcement. While PancakeSwap technical analysis shows mixed signals, the fundamental strength from achieving $58.7 billion in monthly volume provides underlying support. Traders should monitor the $2.40 support level closely over the next 24-48 hours, as a decisive break could trigger further selling toward $2.33. Conversely, a bounce from current levels with improving RSI momentum could target the $2.94 resistance zone.

Image source: Shutterstock

cake price analysis
cake price prediction

Darius Baruo
Sep 28, 2025 09:40

ICP price drops to $4.15 (-0.72%) with bearish momentum building. Critical support at $4.00 now being tested as technical indicators flash warning signs.

Quick Take
• ICP currently trading at $4.15 (-0.72% in 24h)
• Internet Computer's RSI at 33 signals oversold conditions approaching
• No major news catalysts driving current price action
• Bears testing critical $4.00 support level

What's Driving Internet Computer Price Today?
The ICP price movement today appears to be driven primarily by technical factors rather than fundamental news, as no significant developments have emerged in the past week. This lack of positive catalysts has allowed bearish sentiment to persist, with sellers continuing to pressure Internet Computer below key moving averages.

The absence of fresh bullish news has left ICP vulnerable to broader market sentiment and technical selling pressure. Trading volume of $5.22 million on Binance spot markets suggests moderate interest, but not enough buying pressure to reverse the current downtrend.

ICP Technical Analysis: Bearish Signals Emerge
Internet Computer technical analysis reveals concerning signals across multiple timeframes. The ICP RSI reading of 33 indicates the asset is approaching oversold territory, though it hasn't yet reached the extreme oversold level of 30 that often signals a potential bounce.

Internet Computer's MACD indicator shows bearish momentum with a reading of -0.2179, while the MACD histogram at -0.0483 confirms that selling pressure remains intact. The Stochastic oscillator provides additional confirmation of bearish conditions, with the %K at 15.49 sitting well below the 20 level.

Moving averages paint a clear picture of Internet Computer's weakness. The ICP price currently trades below all major moving averages, including the 7-day SMA at $4.23, 20-day SMA at $4.63, and the critical 200-day SMA at $5.19. This configuration typically indicates a strong bearish trend.

The Bollinger Bands analysis shows ICP positioned at just 0.1176 of the band width, placing it very close to the lower band at $4.00. This proximity to the lower band suggests Internet Computer is experiencing significant selling pressure.

Internet Computer Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance
Based on Binance spot market data, Internet Computer support levels are critically important right now. The immediate support at $4.00 aligns perfectly with both the Bollinger Band lower boundary and the strong support level, making this a crucial zone for ICP bulls to defend.

If the $4.00 level fails to hold, Internet Computer could face a deeper correction toward the 52-week low of $4.09, which sits dangerously close to current levels. This proximity to annual lows adds extra significance to the current support test.

On the upside, ICP resistance begins at the immediate level of $5.16, followed by stronger resistance at $6.08. However, given the current bearish momentum, these levels appear distant targets for any near-term recovery attempt.

The Internet Computer pivot point at $4.17 sits just above current levels, suggesting that any bounce would need to reclaim this area to shift the short-term bias from bearish to neutral.

Should You Buy ICP Now? Risk-Reward Analysis
For aggressive traders, the approaching oversold conditions in Internet Computer's RSI could present a short-term bounce opportunity, particularly if the $4.00 support holds. However, the risk-reward ratio heavily favors waiting for clearer signs of a reversal.

Conservative investors should avoid Internet Computer until it can reclaim key moving averages, particularly the 20-day SMA at $4.63. The overall weak bullish trend classification doesn't provide sufficient confidence for long-term positioning at current levels.

Day traders might consider the ICP/USDT pair for potential bounces off the $4.00 support, but should maintain tight stop-losses given the proximity to 52-week lows. The daily ATR of $0.21 provides guidance for position sizing and stop-loss placement.

Swing traders should monitor whether Internet Computer can hold above $4.00 and begin to show signs of accumulation. A break below this level would likely trigger additional selling pressure and extend the correction.

Conclusion
The ICP price faces a critical juncture at $4.00 support, with bearish technical indicators suggesting further downside risk if this level fails. While the approaching oversold conditions in Internet Computer's RSI might attract some buying interest, the overall technical picture remains challenging for bulls. Traders should watch closely for any signs of stabilization above $4.00 over the next 24-48 hours, as a break below could accelerate selling toward new lows.

Image source: Shutterstock

icp price analysis
icp price prediction

Historically, Bitcoin has performed best in the final quarter of the year.

For the year, Bitcoin (BTC 0.21%) is only up 20%. However, Bitcoin historically performs best in the final quarter of the year.

In 3 of the past 12 years, Bitcoin has more than doubled in value in Q4. And that means Bitcoin -- currently trading around the $112,000 mark -- legitimately has a chance of breaking through the $200,000 price level in 2025.

Obviously, a lot has to go right for Bitcoin for this to happen. But several key catalysts are starting to appear that could send Bitcoin higher. So can Bitcoin do it again, and finish the year with a flourish?

Image source: Getty Images.

The historical evidence
Taking a big picture view of Bitcoin's quarterly performance in the period from 2013 to 2025, the final quarter of the year is when Bitcoin typically posts its best performance. Over the past 12 years, Bitcoin has delivered an average return of 85% in Q4.

No, that's not a typo. Bitcoin has the potential to almost double in value in a span of just three months. That could be why Tom Lee of Fundstrat is still calling for Bitcoin to hit a price of $200,000 by the end of the year. And why online prediction markets are still giving Bitcoin a 5% chance of hitting $200,000 in 2025, despite a lackluster Q3.

The historical evidence from Bitcoin is too good to ignore. In 2024, Bitcoin soared by 48% and in 2023, Bitcoin soared by 57% in the final quarter of the year. In both cases, Bitcoin went on to post triple-digit returns and become the top-performing asset in the world.

And wait, it gets even better. In 2020, Bitcoin soared by 168% in the final quarter of the year. In 2017, Bitcoin skyrocketed by 215% in Q4. And in 2013, Bitcoin went absolutely parabolic, soaring by 480%.

Of course, the standard caveat applies here: past performance is no guarantee of future performance. And that's doubly true for a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, given its historic volatility. That being said, there's certainly enough evidence in the historical record to give Bitcoin maximalists confidence heading into the final months of 2025.

Potential catalysts
The good news is that two new catalysts are starting to appear on the horizon for Bitcoin. One of these is monetary easing from the Federal Reserve. Historically, rate cuts have been good for crypto, and especially for Bitcoin. These rate cuts encourage investors to move into riskier and more volatile assets, and that definitely includes Bitcoin.

It remains to be seen, however, how long and steep the rate cuts are going to be. The Fed has a dual mandate to keep the economy growing while simultaneously keeping inflation in check. So that might limit how deep these rate cuts are really going to be.

In fact, in the week after the first Fed rate cut in September, Bitcoin actually lost value. That's not a good sign.

Another potential catalyst is ramped up buying of Bitcoin by sovereign governments around the world. The United States, by announcing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve back in March, has now paved the way for other nations to embrace Bitcoin. The thinking is that sustained buying of Bitcoin by sovereign governments could give a major lift to its price.

In August, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted that new buying of Bitcoin for the strategic reserve will not occur until 2026 at the earliest. But that doesn't prevent other nations from launching Strategic Bitcoin Reserves of their own. As of September 2025, a handful of nations have either officially announced the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve or have unveiled public plans to buy and hold Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

Can Bitcoin turn in a repeat performance?
Admittedly, there's no good reason why Bitcoin should perform so well in the final quarter of the year. In other words, this seasonality factor could simply be an artifact of the data. And it's not like Bitcoin always performs well in the final quarter of the year. In 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2022, Bitcoin turned in double-digit losses.

That being said, the level of interest being shown in Bitcoin by sovereign nations right now is simply unprecedented. If they decide to go on a Bitcoin buying spree by the end of the year, it could be off to the races for the world's most popular cryptocurrency once again.

Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

TLDR:

Ethereum has dropped 20% in two weeks, testing the $3,800–$3,900 support zone.
ETH RSI is at its lowest since April, when it rallied 134% within two months.
Over 2.1M ETH are queued for withdrawal with a 37-day average wait time.
198k ETH remain in line to stake, suggesting ongoing network participation despite low yields.

Ethereum has had one of its toughest two-week stretches this quarter. Its price slid 20%, wiping out weeks of slow gains. Yet some traders see this as a window rather than a warning. 

The oversold RSI level is flashing a setup not seen since April. Staking withdrawals are also piling up, raising questions about ETH supply. The next few weeks could decide whether Ethereum holds its $3,800 line or breaks lower.

Ethereum Price and RSI Signal
Crypto analyst Lark Davis pointed out Ethereum’s RSI has dropped into oversold territory, its lowest level since April. Back then, ETH rallied more than 100% in the following two months. Traders now watch for a repeat if the market turns bullish into Q4.

Ethereum has dropped 20% in two weeks$ETH RSI is in its most oversold territory since the April lows.

The last time $ETH was this oversold, it rallied 134% in two months.

It has bounced nicely off the $3,800-$3,900 level, which if it wants to remain bullish, must hold this… pic.twitter.com/1L3AAjBZGm

— Lark Davis (@TheCryptoLark) September 27, 2025

CoinGecko data shows ETH trading at $4,005, up 0.33% in the last 24 hours but still down over 10% in a week. The $3,800 to $3,900 range has acted as a key support zone over recent sessions. Holding this level is seen as critical for any recovery attempt.

RSI readings this low often attract buyers looking for discounted entries. The timing aligns with growing speculation that crypto markets may see a shift in sentiment later this year.

Staking Queue Hits 2.1 Million ETH
On-chain data shows a mounting queue of ETH waiting to exit staking. MartyParty highlighted that 2.15 million ETH are currently lined up to withdraw. He also warned of low yields on older staking protocols and the risk of long wait times.

Ethereum staking queue. Remember to unstake Ethereum requires waiting in a queue for months. Here is the queue today. 2.15m $ETH waiting to exit 198k waiting to enter. See for yourselves->https://t.co/yk8vFmexTh

Beware of staking on older protocols like Ethereum and Cardano,… pic.twitter.com/I1w40AnXLY

— MartyParty (@martypartymusic) September 27, 2025

Crypto Patel updated that the average wait to unstake is now 37 days. This backlog locks up billions in ETH that will eventually hit the market once processed. Some traders believe this temporary supply restriction could ease sell pressure in the near term.

At the same time, nearly 198,000 ETH still wait to enter staking, reflecting continued participation despite low rewards. The balance between staking inflows and withdrawals could influence ETH liquidity heading into Q4.

Crypto investors are hoping that XRP can regain its mojo in the final months of 2025.

XRP (XRP 0.43%) has already displayed its explosive upside potential during the past 12 months. In the period from November 2024 to January 2025, XRP -- the crypto token created by Ripple Labs back in 2012 -- skyrocketed by a head-spinning 580%. Then, this summer, it nearly doubled in value, from $2 to $3.65, in a span of mere weeks.

But here's the problem: Ripple (XRP) is once again languishing under the $3 mark, and is now in the red during the past 30 days. Can the world's fourth-largest cryptocurrency regain its mojo in 2025, or is it time to look elsewhere for other high-octane alternatives?

Image source: Getty Images.

Hype vs. reality for Ripple (XRP)
From my perspective, the biggest problem with XRP is that it has failed to live up to its advance billing. Nearly every quarter, there's some amazing new catalyst that is supposed to send the price of XRP soaring to the moon.

This year, for example, there has been considerable discussion about the XRP-powered blockchain (known as the XRP Ledger) eventually replacing or integrating with the incumbent SWIFT payment network for cross-border bank transfers. According to this line of thinking, SWIFT is running on 50-year-old technology that's slow, clunky, and badly in need of a replacement. In contrast, XRP offers near real-time settlement of payments, and is considerably cheaper.

In theory, if the XRP Ledger captures even a tiny fraction of the cross-border payment market, it could result in the value of XRP soaring. After all, the SWIFT network sees nearly $150 trillion in transaction volume each year. Earlier this year, Ripple executives suggested that the XRP Ledger might capture as much as 14% of this market within the next five years, or roughly $21 trillion in transaction volume.

That's the hype. The reality is that stablecoins are arguably much better and much more efficient than XRP at accomplishing the same task. After all, XRP is really just a bridge currency. It's a currency that banking institutions use to convert from one currency to another. So there's always a certain amount of exchange risk when using XRP, given that its value can swing wildly. Banks don't have the same problem with stablecoins, which are pegged 1-to-1 to the U.S. dollar, and are designed to preserve their value.

What is XRP's true upside potential?
Unfortunately, all the hype and buzz surrounding XRP makes it difficult to forecast its true upside potential. It's not uncommon to see price estimates for XRP that project it becoming a $10 token within the next few years.

For example, earlier this year, Standard Chartered unveiled its three-year price forecast for XRP. The bank sees XRP rising to $12.50 by the end of 2028. However, if you dig deep into the numbers, it's easy to spot a few flaws.

Most importantly, Standard Chartered thinks XRP is going to hit a price of $5.50 by the end of this year. Given its current price of about $2.80, that implies a near-doubling in value within a period of three months. Moreover, it assumes that XRP will trade higher than $4 -- something that it has never done in its 13-year history.

Don't ignore XRP's coin supply
Keep in mind, too, that XRP's enormous coin supply is driving much of its current market cap. The current circulating supply of XRP is 60 billion coins. Thus, even if the price of XRP fell to $0.50 (which is where it was trading back in November 2024), it would still rank among the top 10 cryptocurrencies, with a market cap of $30 billion.

Simply put, XRP's coin supply of 60 billion leads to a vastly inflated market cap that could be misleading for investors. By way of comparison, the total lifetime supply of Bitcoin (BTC 0.20%) is capped at just 21 million coins, and the current supply of Ethereum (ETH 0.40%) is just 120 million.

Of even more concern, Ripple insiders control an estimated 40% of the coin supply. That's an extreme concentration of ownership for a digital asset that is supposed to be decentralized. Any selling by these insiders could tank XRP's price, as we saw earlier this summer, when a single Ripple insider dumped 50 million XRP.

Time to buy XRP?
For these reasons, I'm extremely hesitant to buy XRP right now. Instead, I'm looking elsewhere for high-potential alternatives. There are plenty of bargain-basement cryptos priced for less than $5, and some of them -- such as Sui (SUI -1.77%) -- arguably have even more upside potential than XRP right now.

Although XRP may have plenty of upside potential over the long haul, it's hard to see XRP going on another epic rally during the final three months of the year. As long as Bitcoin remains mired in a slump, making it unlikely the entire sector heads higher, the breakout potential of XRP probably is limited.

Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Sui, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Sui, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

11h10 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Luc Jose A.

As euphoria fades more and more in the crypto market, Pi Network, already controversial, has just brushed a new historic low. Officially, the global context is to blame. However, technical signals paint an even darker picture: absence of rebound, low volume, indicators in the red. Doubt is setting in. Is Pi Network losing control of its trajectory?

In brief

The PI token of Pi Network has just brushed a new historic low, increasing doubts about its market dynamic.
Several technical indicators (ATR, EMA 20) point to a possible break of support and a risk of further decline.
The analysis reveals a marked weakness in volatility and an absence of a clear bullish rebound.
The decline in trader participation and the absence of capital inflow worsen the situation.

A bearish dynamic confirmed by indicators
Since September 22, the PI token has stagnated after reaching a historic low at $0.1842, despite the launch of the V23 update. It now oscillates between support at $0.2565 and resistance at $0.2917, without managing to start any significant rebound.

This situation illustrates the market’s inability to generate rebound momentum, despite a historically low level.

Several technical indicators reinforce this bearish scenario :

The Average True Range (ATR) is falling : since September 23, this key volatility indicator has been continuously dropping, reaching 0.0234. This trend reflects a gradual weakening of momentum.

The PI crypto remains below its 20-day exponential moving average (EMA 20) : situated at $0.3185, this moving average acts as a technical resistance. This configuration confirms this bearish outlook.

No bullish recovery detected : the price’s inability to break through resistance suggests a takeover by sellers and raises fears of an imminent break of support at $0.2565.

These signals converge towards a scenario where the crypto price could break its current support and head again towards its historic floor. The market shows few positive signs, and technical analysis currently shows no clear bullish build-up.

A free-fall participation and absence of catalyst
Beyond the on-chain data related to the price, it is the behavioral indicators of market participants that add to the concern. Indeed, there is a notable decrease in trader participation on the spot market, reflecting growing disinterest.

This decline reveals the gradual disengagement of traders on the spot market and the absence of inflow of new capital into the token. It is therefore not only a temporary technical weakness but a clear withdrawal of liquidity and confidence in the asset.

This withdrawal is also expressed by the absence of a visible catalyst likely to reverse the trend. As long as Pi Network does not break the $0.2919 threshold, the probability of a reversal remains low.

A breakthrough of this level could mark the beginning of a recovery attempt, pushing the PI price above its 20-day moving average. However, in the absence of a resurgence of bullish sentiment, the most likely scenario remains a return of the price to the historic low, or even an extension of the decline if the current support gives way.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019.
Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

As Bitcoin adoption grows, more companies seek additional methods of raising funds to acquire the leading digital asset. Most have turned to Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) programs; however, these moves have backfired on their shares.

A report from the market analysis platform CryptoQuant revealed that the shares of most Bitcoin treasury entities that raised capital through PIPE programs have plummeted significantly. Worse still, others face the risk of further decline.

BTC Firms Turn to Private Fundraises
In PIPE offerings, publicly traded companies sell newly issued shares to a group of institutional or accredited investors. These programs are separate from their public offerings. They are characterized by features such as faster financing for the company and shares at a lower-than-market price for investors. PIPE investors also have the option to sell their shares after filing a resale registration.

Companies often offer PIPEs to quickly raise capital for buying BTC during bullish market conditions. Unlike public offerings and traditional financing methods, PIPEs are flexible and usually signal strategic intent to investors.

“Several Bitcoin Treasury Companies have opted to fund their Bitcoin purchases using a PIPE. Bitcoin Treasury Companies often need large blocks of capital quickly to front-run expected BTC rallies, announce large BTC purchases to rebrand their equity narrative or start their treasury strategy, and to continue to expand their total Bitcoin holdings,” CryptoQuant stated.

Although one of the few viable options for Bitcoin treasury firms, PIPEs can negatively impact a company’s stock performance. The offerings usually increase the number of shares in circulation, thereby diluting existing shareholders. In situations like these, selling pressure from PIPE investors creates a supply overhang that pulls down the stock price.

PIPE Shares Fall 97%
The share prices of most Bitcoin treasury companies that raised capital through PIPE have fallen toward their PIPE issuance levels. The declines range from 42% to 97%. Stocks still trading above their PIPE offering prices face declines of up to 50%.

Companies like Kindly MD (NAKA) have watched their stock plummet by 97% after their PIPE raise. NAKA declined over 50% in a single day after PIPE shares were unlocked for trading. Others, such as Empery Digital (EMPD) and Sequans Communications (SQNS), are already trading below their PIPE issuance price.

Additionally, entities like Strive (ASST) and Cantor Equity Partners (CEP) face downside risk, with their shares trading above their PIPE prices. They could still fall at least 50% before hitting the PIPE issuance levels.

CryptoQuant says only a sustained BTC rally will prevent the continuation of this trend.