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If any investor has stood the test of time, it is Warren Buffett. For years, the so-called Oracle of Omaha has had a rock-star-like presence in the investing world, and his annual Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-B) shareholders meeting draws thousands of loyal investors. This past year’s meeting ended with a thud as Buffett announced he would step down as CEO at the end of 2025, and he has officially done so. He assured the public he would still be going into the office, and you can bet his advice on any big portfolio ideas will be heeded and appreciated.

In 2025, Berkshire Hathaway continued its streak as a net seller of equities. Through the first nine months of 2025, Buffett and his team sold over $24 billion worth of stock. This follows an even more aggressive selling spree in 2024, during which Berkshire unloaded $143 billion in stock. As a result of these massive sales, Berkshire’s cash pile has reached an unprecedented $354 billion as of the end of the third quarter of 2025.

While Buffett has been a net seller for 12 straight quarters, he has made some targeted purchases this year, most notably a new $4.3 billion investment in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL). One thing is for sure: he would not have accrued a mountain of cash because he feels 2026 and beyond will all be smooth sailing. As he has said himself, once every decade or so, some very dark clouds can hit the economy and the stock market, and investors have to be ready for such times.

We screened Berkshire Hathaway’s end-of-year holdings to identify the safest dividend stocks. Four look like total return home runs for 2026 and beyond. All are rated Buy at the top Wall Street firms we cover here at 24/7 Wall St.

Why do we cover Warren Buffett’s stocks?

There are few investors with the results and reputation that Buffett has garnered over the past 50 years. While investing has evolved over the past half-century, buying good companies with products and services recognized worldwide and paying dividends will always remain a timeless approach.

Chevron This American multinational energy company is primarily focused on oil and gas, and it is a safer option for investors looking to position themselves in the energy sector. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) pays a substantial 4.58% dividend, which was raised by 5% earlier this year. Chevron operates integrated energy and chemicals businesses worldwide and offers investors excellent credit ratings (AA), diversified operations, strong margins, and a long history of paying and raising dividends yearly. The company operates in two segments.

The Upstream segment is involved in the following:

Exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas Processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas Transportation of crude oil through pipelines, and transportation, storage Marketing of natural gas, as well as operating a gas-to-liquids plant The Downstream segment engages in:

Refining crude oil into petroleum products Marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants Manufacturing and marketing renewable fuels Transporting crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car Manufacturing and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives It also involves cash management, debt financing, insurance operations, real estate, and technology businesses.

Chevron announced in late 2023 that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Hess to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Hess in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 billion. The Federal Trade Commission approved the deal, and it closed last July, providing a solid boost to Chevron’s third-quarter earnings, which exceeded analysts’ expectations. The company reported earnings of $1.85 per share, which exceeded the consensus estimate of $1.73, and revenue of $49.73 billion, surpassing the forecast of $49.50 billion.

Mizuho has an Outperform rating with a huge $206 target price.

Coca-Cola This American multinational corporation, founded in 1892, remains a top long-time holding of Buffett, who owns a massive 400 million shares. Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) pays a dependable 2.86% dividend, and it is the world’s largest beverage company, offering consumers more than 500 sparkling and still brands.

Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, the company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, including:

Diet Coke Coca-Cola Light Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine-free Diet Coke Cherry Coke Fanta Orange Fanta Zero Orange Fanta Zero Sugar Fanta Apple Sprite Sprite Zero Sugar Simply Orange Simply Apple Simply Grapefruit Fresca Schweppes Dasani Fuze Tea Glacéau Smartwater Glacéau Vitaminwater Gold Peak Ice Dew Powerade Topo Chico Minute Maid Globally, it is the top provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, juices, and juice drinks. Through the world’s most extensive beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the company’s beverages at a rate of more than 1.9 billion servings a day. And note that the company owns 16.7% of Monster Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: MNST), which continues to deliver big numbers.

Bank of America has a Buy rating with an $80 target price.

Kraft Heinz Kraft Heinz Co. (NYSE: KHC) is North America’s third-largest food and beverage company and fifth-largest globally. Even in difficult times, everybody needs to eat, and this company consistently benefits while paying a substantial 6.63% dividend. It was formed via the merger of H.J. Heinz and Kraft Foods, and it manufactures and markets food and beverage products worldwide through its eight consumer-driven product platforms:

Taste Elevation Easy Ready Meals Hydration Meats Cheeses Substantial Snacking Desserts Coffee and other grocery products The company has two reportable segments defined by geographic region: North America and International Developed Markets. Its other segments, West and East Emerging Markets and Asia Emerging Markets, are combined and reported as Emerging Markets.

Kraft Heinz brands include:

Kraft Oscar Mayer Heinz Philadelphia Lunchables Velveeta Ore-Ida Capri Sun Maxwell House Kool-Aid Jell-O Golden Circle Wattie’s Plasmon ABC Master Quero Pudliszki The company’s products are sold through its sales organizations and independent brokers, agents, and distributors.

Kraft Heinz announced in September 2025 that it is splitting into two independent, publicly traded companies: Global Taste Elevation (sauces, spreads like Heinz, Philadelphia) and North American Grocery (staples like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, Lunchables) to unlock value and drive growth, with the separation expected in the second half of 2026. Many on Wall Street believe this could be a significant positive for shareholders, citing past spin-offs at General Electric and AT&T.

DZ Bank has a Strong Buy rating with a $31 target price.

Kroger This grocery chain giant is a consistently solid and conservative investment with a 2.15% dividend. Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is an American retail company that operates supermarkets and multi-department stores throughout the United States. It operates combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price-impact warehouses.

Its combination of food and drug stores offers:

Natural food and organic sections Pharmacies General Merchandise Pet centers Fresh seafood and organic produce Multi-department stores offer:

Apparel Home fashion and furnishings Outdoor living Electronics Automotive products Toys The company’s marketplace stores offer:

Full-service grocery, pharmacy, health, and beauty care Perishable goods, as well as general merchandise, including apparel, home goods, and toys Price-impact warehouse stores sell groceries, health and beauty care products, meat, dairy, baked goods, and fresh produce The company also manufactures and processes food products in its supermarkets and online; it sells fuel through 1,613 fuel centers.

Evercore ISI has an Outperform rating with a $77 target price.

Warren Buffett Departs With 64% of Berkshire Hathaway in Five Stocks to Hold Forever.

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Journalist

Posted: January 8, 2026

The Optimism Foundation has proposed a plan that would more closely tie the OP token to the performance of the Superchain. The move marks a structural shift in how layer-2 tokens attempt to capture value. 

The plan would dedicate 50% of incoming Superchain sequencer revenue to monthly OP buybacks for an initial 12-month period beginning in February, subject to a governance vote scheduled for 22 January.

Source: Optimism/X

If approved, the proposal would move OP beyond its current role as a governance token toward an asset whose demand is tied to aggregate network activity across the Superchain.

The ecosystem of OP Stack chains includes Base, Unichain, World Chain, OP Mainnet and others.

Optimism to go from governance token to revenue-aligned experiment Under the proposal, Optimism would convert half of monthly sequencer revenue into OP via an OTC provider, with purchased tokens held in the Collective treasury. 

The remaining ETH would be actively managed by the Optimism Foundation under predefined parameters, with governance retaining oversight of capital allocation.

Optimism reported collecting 5,868 ETH in Superchain revenue over the past 12 months. Had the proposed allocation been in place, roughly half of that amount would have been directed to buybacks. 

This is an estimated $8m in OP at prevailing prices. The programme is designed as a pilot, to be reassessed after one year.

The shift matters because most L2 tokens today subsidise growth through incentives or governance rights, with limited, recurring links to real protocol revenue. 

Optimism’s proposal explicitly tests whether routing sequencer cash flows back to the token can create a durable alignment between usage and token economics.

Why Superchain aggregation matters Data from DefiLlama underscores why Optimism is framing the initiative at the Superchain level rather than around a single chain.

Data shows that the OP Mainnet TVL is currently at $309 million, with chain revenue at $459 in the last 24 hours.

Source: DefiLlama

OP Mainnet currently operates as a low-fee environment by design, with modest chain and application revenue relative to historical TVL. 

By aggregating sequencer revenue across multiple OP Stack chains, Optimism is betting that scale, rather than per-chain fees, can generate a meaningful revenue base over time. 

In that context, buybacks are positioned less as a yield mechanism and more as an alignment tool.

Market context: structure over price OP’s price has traded lower over recent months, and the buyback proposal has not prompted an immediate repricing. OP was trading at $0.32 with an increase of over 3% in the last 24 hours.

Source: TradingView

That is consistent with the design of the programme: conversions are capped by realised revenue and executed monthly, without regard to spot price. 

Any impact on supply dynamics would therefore depend on sustained Superchain growth rather than announcement effects.

In this sense, the proposal is best understood as a governance-led redesign of token economics, rather than a short-term market catalyst.

A test case for L2 value capture The vote on 22 January will determine whether Optimism proceeds with the experiment. If approved, the buyback programme begins in February and runs for 12 months, after which governance will reassess its effectiveness.

Beyond OP, the outcome will be watched closely by the broader rollup ecosystem. 

If aggregating sequencer revenue proves sufficient to anchor token demand without undermining decentralisation, it could inform how other L2s approach value capture in low-fee environments. 

If not, it will reinforce the challenge of translating scale into sustainable token economics.

Final Thoughts Optimism’s proposal tests whether aggregating sequencer revenue across multiple OP Stack chains can create a durable economic link between network usage and the OP token. With capped, revenue-based buybacks and no price targeting, the initiative is less about near-term market impact and more about redesigning L2 value capture in a low-fee environment.

BlackRock’s fresh round of Bitcoin (BTC) buying takes place alongside a sharp slowdown in long-term selling, a combination that points to cooling downside pressure after the recent market pullback in  Q4. 

Key takeaways:

BlackRock added nearly $900 million worth of Bitcoin in the first week of January, rebuilding exposure after an end-of-2025 drawdown.

Long-term Bitcoin holders are selling at their lowest rate since 2017, despite elevated prices.

Onchain data pointed to a possible accumulation phase among certain wallet cohorts.

Data from Lookonchain indicated BlackRock has accumulated Bitcoin for the past three days, adding 9,619 BTC valued at roughly $878 million. The asset management company currently holds about 780,400 BTC, worth $70 billion.

BlackRock’s BTC holdings. Source: Arkham IntelligenceBlackRock’s BTC holdings peaked on Nov. 30 at around 804,000 BTC. At the time, that position was valued at roughly $96.5 billion. Although holdings fell to 771,000 BTC by Jan. 1, BlackRock has swiftly added close to 9,000 BTC during the first week of January.

The institutional buying coincided with a notable shift among long-term holders. Bitcoin’s Exchange Inflow Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) metric on Binance has fallen to its lowest level since 2017, signaling that older coins are barely moving onto exchanges. 

Bitcoin exchange inflow CDD on Binance. Source: CryptoQuantFor context, long-term holder supply dropped from over 15 million in July 2025 to 13.6 million in November 2025. Over the past couple of months, the long-term supply has not decreased further. 

Signs of BTC accumulation as recent sellers step asideOnchain data from CryptoQuant helps explain this shift. The SOPR Ratio, which broadly compares whether recent buyers and long-term holders are selling at a profit or loss, has dropped to levels associated with market resets. Newer participants are selling at losses, while long-term holders remain profitable and largely inactive.

Bitcoin SOPR LTH-STH dynamics. Source: CryptoQuantThis pattern reflects a clean-up phase after sharp rallies, where speculative positions unwind, and coins change hands at lower prices. With Bitcoin down roughly 20% to 25% from its highs, this dynamic can mark the early stages of accumulation, provided selling pressure from recent buyers continues to drop.

Bitcoin’s unrealized profit/loss data points to a resetBitcoin’s Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) added another layer of context. The metric currently sits near the 0.3 level, a zone that has historically marked transitions from recovery into more constructive market conditions. Holders, on average, are back in moderate profit, but the market remains far from the excess seen near major cycle tops.

Bitcoin net unrealized profit/loss. Source: CryptoQuantThis positioning suggests a cautious transition phase rather than a clear breakout. Confidence appears to be rebuilding, but broader confirmation on both onchain and market structure would be needed before a stronger move. 

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Zcash (ZEC) suffered the steepest decline among top-tier digital assets on Jan. 8, plunging approximately 20% amid a collision of governance turmoil and a leverage-driven market flush.

According to CryptoSlate data, Zcash fell to a month-low of $382, making it the day’s biggest loser on the Top 100 leaderboard.

This price performance decoupled violently from the broader crypto markets, where digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum had registered muted losses during the reporting period.

The catalyst for the rout was the abrupt exit of the entire Electric Coin Company (ECC) team, the group historically responsible for Zcash’s core development, following a breakdown in negotiations with the protocol’s overseeing nonprofit board.

The Zcash governance disputeThe selloff began in earnest after Josh Swihart, the former CEO of Electric Coin Company, announced the team’s collective departure on the social media platform X.

Swihart stated the team had been “constructively discharged” by the Bootstrap board, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support Zcash by governing ECC.

Swihart specifically named board members Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai, collectively referred to as “ZCAM,” alleging they had moved into “clear misalignment” with the project’s mission.

According to him:

“The terms of our employment were changed in ways that made it impossible for us to perform our duties effectively and with integrity.”

He added that the team intends to found a new company to continue their work, asserting that the move was necessary to protect their efforts from “malicious governance actions.”

However, the Bootstrap board issued a rebuttal framing the conflict not as a malicious purge, but as a necessary defense of nonprofit fiduciary standards.

In a statement, the board expressed sadness at the team’s departure but clarified that the dispute centered on a proposal to privatize “Zashi,” a product within the ecosystem.

Bootstrap noted that, while it explored external investment to privatize Zashi, it was bound by strict legal obligations governing the transfer of charitable assets and intellectual property.

The board drew a direct parallel to the corporate governance struggles at OpenAI, warning that restructuring a nonprofit’s assets for private benefit invites regulatory peril.

They stated:

“OpenAI's restructuring drew intense scrutiny from attorneys general, former employees, and public interest groups over concerns about conflicts of interest and fair valuation of charitable assets.”

The board argued that the proposed transaction, in its final state, introduced vulnerabilities for politically motivated attacks on Zcash.

“Any of its donors could sue. The transaction could be unwound,” the board stated, adding that “good intentions do not satisfy legal requirements, and urgency does not excuse a flawed process.”

Despite the friction, Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn attempted to calm market fears regarding the protocol's safety. He said:

“The Zcash network is open source, permissionless, secure, and private, and nothing that happens in this conflict can change that.”

He also vouched for the integrity of the board members involved, noting he had worked with Fairless, Manian, and Garman for over a decade.

The leverage flushWhile the governance news provided the spark, market data suggests the depth of the crash was exacerbated by an overheated derivatives market.

According to CoinGlass data, the market was primed for a squeeze. Zcash saw roughly $4.4 billion in futures volume over 24 hours compared to just over $1.1 billion in spot volume. With open interest close to $900 million and approximately $23 million in liquidations, the market entered a mechanical feedback loop.

As prices dropped amid governance headlines, leveraged positions were liquidated, forcing market sellers into a spot book that lacked the depth to absorb them.

This dynamic widened spreads and pushed prices through key support levels, resulting in an “air pocket” drop rather than a gradual repricing.

The move was further complicated by a “narrative whiplash” regarding Zcash’s supply dynamics.

Throughout 2025, a bullish thesis had formed around the “scarcity-by-shielding” narrative, as shielded holdings grew to approximately 4.9 million ZEC, or 30% of supply, according to Grayscale.

However, reporting earlier this week indicated a reversal of that trend.

Data showed that in the first week of January, more than 200,000 ZEC, roughly 1.2% of the circulating supply, was withdrawn from shielded pools.

Markets often interpret such “unshielding” as a precursor to selling, since most exchange-based trading is transparent. This pre-existing supply anxiety made the market highly sensitive to the governance shock.

What's next for ZEC?Market participants are now weighing whether this rupture represents a temporary reset or a permanent impairment of the project's credibility.

Some prominent voices in the community remain aggressively bullish. Mert Mumtaz, a well-known crypto commentator, described the ECC team's exit as a positive unlocking of value.

“Extremely bullish Zcash's most competent… now unburdened by the crippling inefficiencies of foundation politics,” Mumtaz said, reaffirming a long-term price target of $10,000 and adding, “The money is actually gonna be encrypted.”

Sean Bowe, a developer within the Zcash ecosystem, also shared this bullishness, saying:

“I'm really excited that the legendary team at ECC is regrouping under a new structure, so that they can continue to build for Zcash without the shackles of Bootstrap's broken and misaligned nonprofit corporate structure. The potential unlock here is enormous.”

These individuals' position aligns with the privacy meta that has gripped the crypto market in recent times.

Notably, venture capital firm a16z, in its projections for the new year, has argued that privacy will be the most important moat in crypto.

This view is also shared by asset management firm Grayscale, which stated that:

“If public blockchains are going to be more deeply integrated into the financial system, they will need much more robust privacy infrastructure — and this is becoming obvious now that regulation is facilitating that integration (via market structure legislation).”

Mentioned in this article

Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin said that Ethereum’s Layer 1 is more like BitTorrent and Linux. Open-source and decentralized scalability are its strengths. Buterin also reiterated the mission behind Ethereum to ensure autonomy and trustless infrastructure. In the context of the blockchain’s Layer 1 networks, the design philosophy of the Ethereum blockchain has been described by a co-founder of the project, Vitalik Buterin, using two successful decentralized systems: BitTorrent and Linux.

In a post shared on X, the peer-to-peer approach of the decentralized torrent system BitTorrent exemplifies the scalability of a decentralized network to millions of users. Conversely, the Linux network encompasses the same goal to be free for all.

One metaphor for Ethereum is BitTorrent, and how that p2p network combines decentralization and mass scale. Ethereum's goal is to do the same thing but with consensus.

Another metaphor for Ethereum is Linux.

* Linux is free and open source software, and does not compromise on…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 8, 2026 Buterin’s comparison with BitTorrent highlights the scalability of distributed systems. In contrast to BitTorrent’s decentralized file sharing with no single point of failure, the consensus algorithm of the Ethereum network ensures all nodes are in agreement over the same state of the blockchain. This makes it possible for financial transactions, smart contracts, and other applications to run with integrity.

While discussing the differences between Ethereum and Linux, Buterin emphasizes the importance of trust based on open-source and the adoption by enterprises. Linux operating systems are widely adopted in governments, companies, and educational institutions due to the fact that they are open-source software. According to him, the Layer 1 network, based on similar principles, could be trust-based too, without undermining the values.

L1 As A Foundation For Trustless Infrastructure  Buterin’s argument for Ethereum L1 was to make it a base layer for not only DeFi but also identity, governance, and social applications with a focus on autonomy and censorship resistance. This requirement sees the Ethereum network not merely acting as a settlement layer but offering a whole spectrum of applications for which minimizing trust and providing direct access to network functionalities are necessary. Such metaphors view Ethereum’s L1 as a public utility for decentralized computation that enables interaction for users and organizations in a decentralized manner. 

The interest in and applications of decentralized networks by enterprise and government sectors via peer-to-peer applications for the distribution of data reaffirm the contention that open systems and reliability/compliance are not necessarily incompatible. Buterin’s comments imply that it is possible to extend the principles of decentralization to larger scales beyond small-scale subcultures.

Buterin’s analogy between Ethereum’s Layer 1 and BitTorrent and Linux represents an even larger ideological or technical narrative. Technologies such as BitTorrent and Linux not only represent decentralization, but they have also achieved scalability while still offering trustless services. Buterin uses this when discussing Ethereum because he wants to convey how Ethereum is a platform technology that is able to support any type or scale of applications without having to go through any centralized third parties. 

Highlighted Crypto News:

Zcash Developers Quit ECC After Board Dispute, ZEC Price Drops

Trump-linked World Liberty Financial is seeking a national trust bank charter to consolidate issuance, custody, and conversion of its fast-growing USD1 stablecoin under federal supervision, targeting rising institutional demand for compliant digital dollar infrastructure. World Liberty Financial Moves to Expand USD1 Under Federal Oversight TWorld Liberty Financial announced Jan.

TL;DR

Stablecoin supply on Solana increased by $900M, reflecting capital movement and real usage for financial instruments. Solana leads in tokenized equities ($800M) and RWA growth (+17%), showing adoption beyond speculation. The network’s daily active addresses jumped 55% YTD, outpacing Ethereum, with SOL price up 8% in 2026. The market no longer treats stablecoins as a simple safety net. Flows now map how capital positions across chains. Within that map, Solana (SOL) stands out: on-chain data shows a US$900 million increase in stablecoin supply on Solana, a gain that outpaces other L1 networks and arrives alongside evidence of real usage rather than idle balances.

First, tokenized equities on Solana now hold a combined value near US$800 million, the highest tally among major networks. Second, real-world assets (RWA) on a 30-day view advance by 17%, leading the top three chains. Together, those trends point to on-chain demand tied to financial instruments that require low friction and reliable settlement.

Daily Active Addresses—with emphasis on new wallets—jump 55% year-to-date, while Ethereum (ETH) shows roughly 0.3% over the same period. In price terms, SOL gains 8% so far in 2026, roughly double ETH. The weekly chart still flags a hurdle: US$145 concentrates sell orders and calls for confirmation with sustained volume before any durable advance.

Stable liquidity, adoption, and an operational driver Fresh liquidity lands next to events that matter for market plumbing. Jupiter introduces an on-chain stablecoin integrated with DCA orders, swaps, and trading rails. In parallel, Morgan Stanley files for a spot SOL ETF in the United States. The first development deepens dollar-based activity inside Solana; the second strengthens access for institutions seeking price exposure through regulated wrappers.

Desks read the overlap as a capital pulse: stablecoin inflow, product rollout, and RWA usage moving in tandem. The operational thesis remains straightforward. When stablecoin supply funds live markets and applications with measurable usage, liquidity pushes the order book upward once offers thin out near known levels.

US$145 acts as immediate resistance. Buyers aim for a daily close above that area with follow-through in volume to avoid failed breakouts. Below that band, prior ranges continue to provide support, while traders watch order-book depth and slippage during bursts of demand.

Portfolio managers keep rules simple Define invalidation just under nearby supports. Avoid chasing elongated candles without visible depth. Scale out into strength near labeled supply zones, then recycle risk only after fresh confirmation appears. For monitoring, flows into RWA, tokenized equities, and payment activity around Jupiter serve as practical gauges of usage rather than narrative.

Zcash Split Deepens: Bootstrap Blames Nonprofit Rules as ZEC Plunges 16%

Hassan Shittu

Journalist

Hassan Shittu

Part of the Team Since

Jun 2023

About Author

Hassan, a Cryptonews.com journalist with 6+ years of experience in Web3 journalism, brings deep knowledge across Crypto, Web3 Gaming, NFTs, and Play-to-Earn sectors. His work has appeared in...

Has Also Written

Last updated: 

15 minutes ago

The divide within the Zcash ecosystem increased this week as the nonprofit organization that manages the Electric Coin Company, Bootstrap, openly resolved the governance conflict that already shook markets and sent ZEC plummeting.

The conflict has been fought in boardrooms, developer teams, and token charts, revealing long-term tensions around nonprofit limitations, control, and the way projects that focus on privacy ought to be funded by crypto.

Bootstrap Says Nonprofit Law Drove Zashi FalloutIn a statement shared Thursday by Bootstrap board member Zaki Manian, the nonprofit said the fallout stemmed from its legal and fiduciary duties as a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization, not from any disagreement over Zcash’s mission.

Bootstrap said it had engaged in weeks of discussions around external investment and potential restructuring tied to Zashi, the mobile wallet developed by Electric Coin Company and launched in early 2024.

According to the board, those talks ran into hard limits imposed by nonprofit law, which governs how charitable assets, intellectual property, and transactions must be handled.

Bootstrap warned that privatizing Zashi could expose the organization to donor lawsuits or regulatory scrutiny or even force transactions to be unwound, potentially requiring assets to be transferred back to ECC.

The board said those risks could extend beyond the immediate parties and threaten the broader Zcash ecosystem.

Source: Weareallzashi.orgWhile acknowledging that for-profit structures can attract capital and accelerate development, Bootstrap said urgency and good intentions were not enough to override nonprofit obligations.

The statement followed a dramatic break earlier in the day, when the core development team behind Zcash severed ties with Electric Coin Company.

ECC CEO Joshua Swihart said the relocation was a result of weeks of growing tension with most of the Bootstrap board, which he claimed had changed the terms of employment in such a manner that it became impossible to carry on with their work.

Swihart called it a constructive discharge, as the rest of the ECC team had resigned on January 7 and intended to start a new independent company to keep on with the work of creating privacy-safe digital money.

Zcash Dispute Weighs on Price, as Whales Buy the DipSwihart stressed that the split was about governance, not abandoning Zcash. The protocol’s codebase remains open source and permissionless, meaning the network continues to function regardless of disputes among its supporting organizations.

Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox also sought to reassure users, saying the conflict does not affect network security or privacy guarantees, and noting that no criminal conduct has been alleged by either side.

Markets reacted quickly as the governance crisis became public, as ZEC fell as much as 16% at its lows before recovering some ground amid heavy trading.

The token is currently trading around $422, down roughly 12.4% over the past 24 hours, with trading volume surging more than 200% to about $1.43 billion.

Source: CoinGeckoBlockchain data shows mixed positioning during the selloff, as Nansen data points to large holders increasing exposure, with whale wallets buying roughly $914,000 worth of ZEC, while newly created wallets accumulated about $1.74 million over the same period.

The dispute has drawn attention back to Zcash’s unusual governance structure, as it was born out of academic research into zero-knowledge cryptography. The project has long tried to balance decentralization with organized development.

ECC was formed in 2015 to build the protocol, the Zcash Foundation followed in 2017, and ECC later became a nonprofit subsidiary under Bootstrap in 2020.

That structure was designed to distribute power, but disagreements over funding, control, and strategy have persisted, particularly as the current development fund approaches its 2025 expiration.

Dogecoin (DOGE) is rebounding strongly alongside the broader meme coin market, which has experienced a notable uptick in Q1 2026. As sentiment surrounding meme coins continues to improve, a crypto analyst suggests that Dogecoin could be positioning for more gains. The analyst notes that Dogecoin’s rapid accumulation signals the potential for a sharp upward sweep in the near term.

Dogecoin Accumulation Signals Upward Sweep Crypto market expert Bitguru recently shared a fresh technical outlook on Dogecoin, highlighting how its price structure has consistently changed after months of corrective movement. According to him, a completed liquidity sweep followed by an extended consolidation phase suggests that the market has reset and may be setting up for a bullish continuation. 

Related Reading: Catalysts That Suggests The Dogecoin Price Rally Could Continue

Bitguru explained that Dogecoin’s chart shows price stability after clearing sell-side liquidity between November and December 2025, which pushed out weak holders and created a base for accumulation. The consolidation that continued into 2026 shows lower volatility and steady base building, two conditions the analyst believes are needed before Dogecoin’s next major price move. 

Source: Chart from Bitguru on X The chart also illustrates bullish patterns, such as a rounded H cup formation and a continuation phase in the middle of 2025, which helped establish higher price levels before the broader market pullback. Bitguru added that Dogecoin’s recent move back above the key support near $0.14 suggests accumulation is likely completed, as price now starts to tighten and move upward from its base level. 

He noted that as long as Dogecoin stays above this reclaimed support, the chances of an upward sweep toward higher supply zones increase. The chart also points to potential gains reaching the highlighted green target area between $0.188 and $0.194, which lines up with past resistance levels that have previously limited price movement during the decline. 

Area That Could Invalidate Upward Sweep Bitguru’s chart also shows the possibility of a price decline despite the rapid increase in accumulation. The red zone on the chart represents a stop-loss or risk area. If Dogecoin falls below the support area around $0.148, it could initiate a drop toward new lows within this risk zone. 

If the meme coin’s price dips below the consolidation zone between $0.146 and $0.148, then the analyst’s bullish setup and potential upward sweep could be invalidated. The chart projects a potential decline to the $0.13-$0.11 range, reflecting a decrease of more than 9% from current levels. 

At the time of writing, the Dogecoin price is trading at $0.143, up more than 18% this week, according to CoinMarketCap data. Although the meme coin is showing clear signs of a recovery from former downtrends, its trading volume is still down by more than 30%. Moreover, DOGE’s price has been unexpectedly volatile recently, dropping by 5% over the past 24 hours.  

DOGE trading at $0.14 on the 1D chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

In brief A newly proposed bill in Florida would enact the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, if passed. HB 1039 differs from previous attempts and would exist outside the state treasury with management from its CFO. Only three states thus far have passed legislation for crypto reserves, though at least 17 have pending legislation according to Bitcoin Reserve Monitor. Less than a year after Florida’s attempts at a state Bitcoin reserve faded, a new bill in the state seeks once more to establish a strategic crypto reserve. 

Filed on Tuesday, HB 1039 from Rep. John Snyder follows two withdrawn attempts—HB 487 and SB 550—that sought to allocate up to 10% of the state’s funds into Bitcoin last year. 

Unlike those bills, Snyder’s would see the creation of the fund exist outside the state treasury, with management placed in the hands of the state’s chief financial officer.

“The Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve is established as a special fund outside the State Treasury. The Chief Financial Officer has custody of and shall administer and manage the reserve,” the bill text reads. 

“To administer and manage the reserve, the Chief Financial Officer may acquire, exchange, sell, supervise, manage, or retain any kind of investments that a prudent investor exercising reasonable care, skill, and caution would,” it continues.

While the text does not name Bitcoin as the cryptocurrency of choice for the proposed fund, the top crypto asset by market cap is the only asset that meets the bill’s market cap criteria. The bill requires that an asset maintain a market cap of at least $500 billion over the most recent two-year period. 

Bitcoin maintains a market cap of more than $1.8 trillion at its current prices. The next-largest asset, Ethereum, has a market cap of about $377 billion.

While many states floated legislation to create Bitcoin or crypto reserves last year, only New Hampshire, Arizona, and Texas ultimately passed legislation to create reserves. At least five rejected bills and numerous others maintain pending legislation, according to data from BitcoinReserveMonitor.com. 

Why does Florida want to join the fray? According to the bill, the creation of a reserve would enhance the state’s financial resilience, serve as a hedge against economic inflation and volatility, and provide enhanced financial security to Florida residents. 

Alongside the reserve, the bill would also see the creation of a cryptocurrency reserve advisory committee, led by the state CFO and filled out with four other members of their choosing—though at least three members must have experience in cryptocurrency investing. 

The bill calls for the act to become effective on July 1, 2026, should it become law. A representative for Rep. John Snyder’s office did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment. 

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

TL;DR

Spot XRP ETFs posted their first net outflow day since launch, ending a 36-day streak of steady inflows with roughly $41 million leaving the products. XRP’s price eased modestly but held near $2.15, pointing to a controlled pullback rather than broad selling pressure. Total assets held by XRP ETFs remain above $1.5 billion, reinforcing the presence of sustained institutional exposure to the token.
XRP pulls back after spot ETFs record first day of net outflows, interrupting a prolonged period of positive flows. The shift added short-term pressure to price action while leaving the broader demand structure largely intact.

U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded funds recorded net outflows of about $40.8 million, marking their first negative session since launching in November. The reversal followed 36 consecutive days of inflows, a period that positioned XRP ETFs among the most active crypto-linked products outside Bitcoin and Ether.

According to SoSoValue data, most of the withdrawals stemmed from a $47.25 million redemption at 21Shares’ TOXR fund. This was partially offset by inflows into other vehicles, including $2.32 million into Canary’s XRPC and $1.69 million into Grayscale’s GXRP. Even after the outflows, total assets held across spot XRP ETFs remain near $1.53 billion, equivalent to around 1.16% of XRP’s total market capitalization.

Price reaction stayed measured. XRP briefly traded below $2.10 before stabilizing and now changes hands at $2.15. The token shows a 1.64% decline over the last 24 hours, while its market capitalization stands at $130.77 billion. The limited downside suggests that ETF-related selling did not trigger widespread liquidation.

Wider Crypto ETF Trends And Market Signals The pullback in XRP ETFs aligned with broader shifts across crypto investment products. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $486 million in outflows in a single session, led by large redemptions from Fidelity and BlackRock funds. Spot Ether ETFs also turned negative, posting about $99 million in net outflows after several positive sessions earlier in the year.

Despite these movements, underlying market indicators remain constructive. On-chain data shows XRP exchange balances at relatively low levels, signaling continued movement toward self-custody by long-term holders. In parallel, improved regulatory clarity in the U.S. around XRP-related products has reduced uncertainty for asset managers and institutional participants.

The first outflow day for spot XRP ETFs appears to reflect short-term rebalancing rather than a structural shift. 

TLDR

Nexo launches Zero-interest Credit (ZiC), enabling 0% APR loans for Bitcoin and Ethereum holders. The product eliminates forced liquidation risk before maturity through a predefined minimum repayment price. The firm is also expanding its Web3 ecosystem with a $150 million investment fund. Nexo has radically changed digital asset-backed lending by introducing its newest product, Zero-Interest Credit (ZiC). With this launch, the company aims to capture the growing demand for liquidity in a market that reached $73.59 billion in crypto-backed loans during the third quarter of 2025.

In 2018, Nexo pioneered crypto-backed lending. Today, we’re redefining it once again.

Meet Zero-interest Credit – a new way to access liquidity at 0% interest, with no fees and no liquidation risk.

Peace of mind is real. And it’s here.

— Nexo (@Nexo) January 8, 2026 The Nexo zero-interest crypto credit proposal differs from traditional models, such as those offered by Aave or Coinbase,which rely on variable rates and fluctuating loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. Instead,

ZiC offers a fixed-term structure that guarantees users full visibility of their obligations from day one, eliminating financial surprises stemming from market volatility.

Lending Innovation: Volatility Protection and Web3 Expansion One of the standout features of the Nexo zero-interest crypto credit is that it eliminates the risk of forced liquidation before the loan expires. Each position includes a shielded “Minimum Repayment Price,” allowing investors to keep their assets even if the market suffers sudden drops.

Additionally, a “Maximum Repayment Price” allows borrowers to limit their exposure and lock in gains if prices move in their favor.

Nexo’s proposal also offers a renewal option, ideal for long-term investors looking to manage tax events or seize trading opportunities without selling their original positions.

Parallel to this launch, Nexo reinforced its presence in the sector by creating a $150 million investment fund through Nexo Ventures. 

This fund will finance DeFi, gaming, and NFT projects, integrating innovative solutions into the company’s global ecosystem. With this dual strategy, Nexo not only optimizes access to capital but also positions itself as a fundamental pillar in the mass adoption of Web3.

Polygon’s native token extended its rally for an eighth straight session, climbing to its highest level since Dec. 2 as network activity surged, alongside the company’s unveiling of the Open Money Stack — a modular, chain-neutral payments infrastructure aimed at enabling regulated, interoperable stablecoin payments and modernizing global money movement.

As part of the shift, Polygon is formally positioning itself as a payments company, with a rebrand expected in the coming weeks to reflect a fintech- and institution-focused strategy that remains compatible with existing financial rails and regulatory frameworks.

Summary

Polygon token price rose for eight consecutive days. The token has jumped by over 20% from its lowest point this year. The Supertrend indicator has turned positive for the first time since August. Polygon (POL), a top layer-2 network, jumped to $0.1300, up by over 20% from its lowest level this year. This rebound continued even as other top cryptocurrencies continued falling.

Data compiled by Nansen shows that the number of transactions on Polygon jumped by 20% in the last 30 days to over 178 million. Its active addresses rose by 28% to over 16 million, while the network fees jumped by 100% to $1.7 million. 

The soaring fees have helped to boost the POL burn rate, which jumped to over 5 million tokens this week. A token burn is designed to boost a cryptocurrency price by reducing the tokens in circulation.

Yesterday marked an all-time high for single-day fees generated and burned on the Polygon PoS chain.

3 MILLION POL (0.03% of POL's supply was burnt in a single day) pic.twitter.com/x038HlwQ0i

— Sandeep | CEO, Polygon Foundation (※,※) (@sandeepnailwal) January 6, 2026 Polygon has benefited from large partnerships that have boosted its activity. For example, it has a partnership with Polymarket, a top player in the prediction market that was recently valued at over $11 billion.

Polygon has also inked partnerships with fintech giants like Stripe, Shift4 Payments, and Revolut, a top player in the fintech industry currently valued at over $70 billion. These companies select it because it is one of the biggest layer-2 networks in the crypto industry.

Polygon price technical analysis  POL price chart | Source: crypto.news The daily timeframe chart shows that the POL price has rebounded in the past few days, moving from a low of $0.1020 to the current $0.1300.

It has moved above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), and most importantly, the Supertrend indicator has turned green for the first time since August last year. In most cases, the Supertrend indicator is one of the most common bullish signs in technical analysis.

The Relative Strength Index has continued to rise and is now approaching the important overbought level of 70. 

Therefore, the token will likely continue rising as bulls target the next key resistance level at $0.2000, up by 52% above the current level.

On the other hand, a drop below the support at $0.1020 will invalidate the bullish outlook and point to more downside.

Open Money Stack Set to launch later this year, the Open Money Stack combines onchain settlement, liquidity, orchestration, and compliance into a single system that fintechs and financial institutions can adopt modularly. The goal is to reduce complexity and time to market while enabling fast, low-cost, cross-border payments that shield users from blockchain frictions like bridging, swaps, or gas fees.

Polygon Labs argues the timing is critical as stablecoins emerge as a core settlement layer for global payments and regulators move toward compliant tokenized-money frameworks. Citi estimates stablecoin issuance could reach $1.9 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030, a scale that will require open, interoperable infrastructure rather than closed networks.

Polygon points to its existing footprint as proof of readiness: its onchain stablecoin supply hit $3.3 billion at the end of 2025, a three-year high, and the network already supports trillions of dollars in stablecoin transfers across real-world payment use cases. That production-level experience, the company says, underpins the design of the Open Money Stack and its ambition to move global money onchain.

Investors with an interest in Chemical - Specialty stocks have likely encountered both Symrise AG Unsponsored ADR (SYIEY - Free Report) and Givaudan SA (GVDNY - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.

Right now, Symrise AG Unsponsored ADR is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Givaudan SA has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell). This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that SYIEY is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

SYIEY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 15.84, while GVDNY has a forward P/E of 23.73. We also note that SYIEY has a PEG ratio of 1.06. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. GVDNY currently has a PEG ratio of 4.09.

Another notable valuation metric for SYIEY is its P/B ratio of 2.63. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, GVDNY has a P/B of 7.24.

These metrics, and several others, help SYIEY earn a Value grade of B, while GVDNY has been given a Value grade of D.

SYIEY is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that SYIEY is likely the superior value option right now.

Investors interested in Food - Miscellaneous stocks are likely familiar with US Foods (USFD) and Celsius Holdings Inc. (CELH). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Investors interested in Automotive - Original Equipment stocks are likely familiar with BorgWarner (BWA - Free Report) and Ferrari (RACE - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.

BorgWarner has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Ferrari has a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that BWA is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.

Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

BWA currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.44, while RACE has a forward P/E of 33.39. We also note that BWA has a PEG ratio of 0.93. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. RACE currently has a PEG ratio of 3.90.

Another notable valuation metric for BWA is its P/B ratio of 1.65. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, RACE has a P/B of 20.12.

Based on these metrics and many more, BWA holds a Value grade of A, while RACE has a Value grade of F.

BWA sticks out from RACE in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that BWA is the better option right now.

Investors looking for stocks in the Banks - Foreign sector might want to consider either Banco Santander-Chile (BSAC) or Banco De Chile (BCH). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?

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SummaryRTX Technologies remains a "Hold" as shares approach fair value after a strong run and premium valuation.Q3 results were robust: 13% organic sales growth, 19% profit growth, and $4 billion free cash flow, with management raising FY 2025 guidance.RTX trades near 30x forward earnings and 3x sales, with a long-term EPS growth outlook of around 10%.Technically, RTX is in a strong uptrend with bullish momentum, but the margin for error is slim at current levels. Getty Images

The volatility engines are roaring to start the year in the Aerospace & Defense industry. On Jan. 7, President Trump announced plans to limit the ability of aerospace companies to buy back shares, singling out RTX Technologies (RTX

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.

Q3: 2026-01-07 Earnings SummaryEPS of $3.06 beats by $0.43

 |

Revenue of

$2.22B

(-9.78% Y/Y)

beats by $66.63M

Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call January 8, 2026 10:30 AM EST

Company Participants

Blair Veenema - Vice President of Investor Relations
Garth Hankinson - Executive VP & CFO
William Newlands - President, CEO & Director

Conference Call Participants

Bonnie Herzog - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Nadine Sarwat - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Lauren Lieberman - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Robert Ottenstein - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Dara Mohsenian - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Drew Levine - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Gerald Pascarelli - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
Robert Moskow - TD Cowen, Research Division
Filippo Falorni - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Peter Galbo - BofA Securities, Research Division
William Kirk - ROTH Capital Partners, LLC, Research Division
Michael Lavery - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Greetings, and welcome to the Constellation Brands Q3 Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast.

[Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

It's now my pleasure to turn the call over to Blair Veenema, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, Blair.

Blair Veenema
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you, Kevin. Good morning, all, and welcome to Constellation Brands' Q3 fiscal '26 conference call. I'm here this morning with Bill Newlands, our CEO; and Garth Hankinson, our CFO.

We trust you had the opportunity to review the news release, CEO and CFO commentary and accompanying quarterly slides made available in the Investors section of our company's website, www.cbrands.com.

On that note, as a reminder, reconciliations between the most directly comparable GAAP measure and any non-GAAP financial measures discussed on this call are included in the news release and website. And we encourage you to also refer to the news release and Constellation's SEC filings for risk factors that may impact forward-looking statements made on this call.

Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.

Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.

National Fuel Gas (NFG - Free Report) is headquartered in Williamsville, and is in the Oils-Energy sector. The stock has seen a price change of -1.69% since the start of the year. The energy company is paying out a dividend of $0.54 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.72% compared to the Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry's yield of 0.41% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.38%.

Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.14 is up 1.9% from last year. Over the last 5 years, National Fuel Gas has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 3.93%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. National Fuel Gas's current payout ratio is 31%, meaning it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.

NFG is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $8.09 per share, with earnings expected to increase 17.08% from the year ago period.

From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.

For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers its shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, NFG is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Key Takeaways CBT signs a multi-year supply agreement with PowerCo to provide advanced conductive carbons for EV batteries.CBT's materials are designed to boost conductivity with energy density, fast charging, and long battery life.Cabot is positioned as a key supplier to Europe's EV battery market and supports growth in battery materials. Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) has signed a multi-year supply pact with PowerCo SE, a leading European original equipment manufacturer in the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector, marking a significant step in Cabot’s strategic expansion within the battery materials market.

Cabot has agreed to supply advanced conductive carbons and conductive dispersions for EV battery electrodes to PowerCo. CBT’s high-performance materials are designed to enhance the conductivity and overall efficiency of batteries, enabling higher energy density, faster charging, and longer battery life, making it an advanced choice for next-gen EVs.

The partnership positions Cabot as a leading supplier of conductive materials to Europe’s EV battery market through the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the evolving demands of the electric vehicle market. This agreement reflects the strength of CBT’s technology and its ability to scale production to meet growing global demand.

Cabot’s conductive formulations, to be supplied under the deal, are part of its broader portfolio of conductive additives and dispersions that optimize battery performance across electric vehicles, energy storage systems and consumer electronics. The agreement is expected to contribute meaningfully to Cabot’s long-term growth in battery materials while reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in the global EV value chain. It also underscores the company’s commitment to transition towards clean energy.

CBT’s shares have declined 20.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s 19.9% dip.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CBT’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM - Free Report) , Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC - Free Report) and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY - Free Report) .

At present, AEM and KGC sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, while HMY carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $7.87 per share, indicating a rise of 86.05%. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.63%. AEM’s shares have gained 118.4% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KGC’s 2025 earnings is pinned at $1.68 per share, indicating a 147.06% year-over-year increase. Its shares have surged 194.2% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMY’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $2.68 per share, indicating a 111.02% year-over-year increase. HMY’s shares have gained 141% over the past year.

Canada's trade balance deteriorated slightly in October, swinging the country to an eighth deficit in the first 10 months of last year.

Key Takeaways WPC posted a record $2.1B investment volume in 2025, highlighting strong net-lease capital deployment.WPC funded growth via $1.5B in non-core asset sales, generating about a 150-basis-point spread.WPC focused on warehouses and industrial assets, with most 2025 investments in the U.S. and Europe. W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC - Free Report) kicked off 2026 with the news that it has achieved a record full-year investment volume of $2.1 billion for 2025, underscoring the REIT’s strong deployment of capital into net-lease real estate in a challenging yield environment. This reflects the company’s ability to capitalize on attractive property opportunities while effectively recycling capital from non-core asset sales.

The company’s strategy of selling non-core assets proved beneficial in funding these new investments. W. P. Carey disposed of 63 self-storage operating properties and other assets for $1.5 billion in gross proceeds, generating around 150 basis points of spread versus the cap rates at which it reinvested the proceeds. This disciplined capital recycling helped sustain returns and supported the firm’s strong investment activity.

A significant portion of the new investments targeted single-tenant warehouse and industrial properties, accounting for about 68% of the 2025 volume, while retail represented roughly 22 %. Geographic diversification was also achieved with nearly 69% of the 2025 investments in the United States and 26% in Europe, illustrating a balanced approach across markets. The fourth quarter alone saw $625 million in new investments, including a $322 million portfolio of 10 fitness facilities leased to Life Time Fitness in Eastern and Central United States.

Capital markets activity also played a key role, with the company selling 6.3 million shares under its ATM program subject to forward sale agreements in 2025 for gross proceeds of approximately $423 million available for settlement. Meanwhile, tenant credit losses were contained at around $6 million for the year, below prior expectations, suggesting resilient portfolio performance.

Wrapping Up on WPCW. P. Carey’s record investment volume in 2025 and strategic asset recycling position the company well for continued growth in 2026. By focusing on core industrial and warehouse net-lease properties and maintaining disciplined capital deployment, the REIT has fortified its income profile and diversification. With substantial equity available and further planned dispositions, W. P. Carey appears poised to sustain its investment momentum and potentially enhance shareholder returns in the coming year.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have gained 2% over the past month against the industry’s decline of 0.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader REIT sector are Prologis (PLD - Free Report) and First Industrial Realty Trust (FR - Free Report) . Both Prologis and First Industrial Realty Trust also carry a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Prologis’ 2025 FFO per share is pegged at $5.80, which indicates year-over-year growth of 4.32%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Industrial Realty Trust’s 2025 FFO per share stands at $2.96, which calls for an increase of 11.70% from the year-ago period.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

Shares of The Procter & Gamble Company PG hit a new 52-week low of $137.62 yesterday, before rising a notch higher to close at $138.04. The stock has been volatile in recent months, weighed down by soft category demand, intensifying promotional activity and a challenging macroeconomic environment across key markets.