Market Signal Briefing

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Initially, Bitcoin began the last month of 2025 with significant bearish momentum, with the price structure taking on a clear bearish direction. However, this downside momentum soon weakened after the flagship cryptocurrency encountered its $85,000 support. Since then, Bitcoin traded mostly within a consolidatory range, struggling to break out of either end of the chart convincingly. Interestingly, an on-chain analysis has been released that examines the dynamics that may have influenced BTC’s December performance.

Binance Inflows See Rapid Monthly Decline From $24.7B To $16.54B
In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, market expert CryptoOnchain shares findings on evaluating inflows into Binance in the name of Bitcoin. The indicator involved in this analysis is the Binance Monthly Inflow By UTXO Age metric, which determines how much Bitcoin (in USD or BTC terms) flows into Binance each month, broken down by the age of the UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs) being deposited.

CryptoOnchain highlights that this downturn in money inflows was influenced by young UTXOs (transactions less than a day old). From its November high of approximately $24.7 billion, the metric quickly dropped to $16.54 billion in December, marking an $8.16 billion inflow gap. Typically, young UTXOs are a means through which short-term speculative behavior can be tracked, seeing as they are representative of recently transferred coins. Hence, the significant drop in Binance inflow indicates a growing unwillingness among short-term holders to sell their coins. 

Source: CryptoQuant
It is worth noting that heightened inflows from this investor group point to a growing inclination to sell. This translates to the Bitcoin price as elevated bearish pressure, which leads to short-term price corrections. The inflows decline in December is therefore an inversion. It reveals a “cooling of speculative activity,” which in turn translates on the charts as a significant loss of selling pressure. 

The crypto pundit further highlights possible reasons for this exodus of speculative activity. Structurally, the analyst conjectures that the inflow decline could be due to fading price momentum, characteristic of the final days of the year. Short-term holders might have exited the market due to caution, to observe what the new year brings, without getting caught in the mix. 

This action then causes a “handover of supply control” to Bitcoin’s mid-term and long-term investors. Historically, such transitions have been associated with consolidation phases and periods of lower volatility, where no significant amount of directional momentum is seen. Hence, if history is anything to go by, the Bitcoin price could be gearing up for sustainable cycles in the coming months.

Bitcoin Price Overview
At press time, Bitcoin holds a valuation of about $89,533, with CoinMarketCap data showing a daily growth of 0.85%. 

BTC trading at $89,533 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Pexels, chart from Tradingview

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Semilore Faleti works as a crypto-journalist at Bitconist, providing the latest updates on blockchain developments, crypto regulations, and the DeFi ecosystem. He is a strong crypto enthusiast passionate about covering the growing footprint of blockchain technology in the financial world.

Sat, 3/01/2026 - 16:36

Shiba Inu is set to welcome new changes in 2026, with eyes on Shiba Inu's lead ambassador, Shytoshi Kusama, to break his silence on X.

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

After brief activity on X in December, Shiba Inu lead ambassador Shytoshi Kusama continues his quiet streak on social media.

On Dec. 7 to 8, 2025, Shytoshi Kusama interacted with a few Shiba Inu-related posts on X; since then, the Shiba Inu lead ambassador has continued his silence on X.

It is three days already into 2026, unlike aforetime when Kusama posted new year messages to the Shiba Inu community, nothing has been heard from him instead, stirring speculation on whether his quiet streak on social media might end soon.

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In a year-end letter at 2025's close, SHIB developer Kaal Dhairya spoke of some changes coming to Shiba Inu in the new year.

Dhairya wrote that the year 2026 will not be about hype, rather "it will be about repair, focus, and building something that can actually last."

The Shiba Inu developer also spoke about pausing and sunsetting projects, systems and processes that are not generating revenue or not hitting break-even, saying, "If it's not contributing to making users whole or keeping the core infrastructure running, it's not a priority right now."

Shiba Inu rings in 2026 with first green weekly candleShiba Inu posted its first green weekly candle in 2026 as meme coins saw a surge at the year's start.

Traders are speculating on meme coins as opportunities in the market despite uneven liquidity and a lack of clear macroeconomic catalysts.

Shiba Inu joined a sharp meme coin rally in the markets on Friday, even as traders leaned into "meme season" talk as 2026 gets underway. Shiba Inu sharply rose on Friday to reach a high of $0.00000831 while extending a significant increase on Thursday.

At the time of writing, SHIB was up 2.41% in the last 24 hours to $0.00000792 and up 9.84% weekly. Shiba Inu's price is confronting crucial resistance at $0.000008; a decisive break above here will see Shiba Inu target $0.000011 and $0.0000148 next.

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Long-term Bitcoin holders’ behavior has changed, and analysts interpret this as a constructive signal for the months ahead.

According to chart data shared by Ted Pillows, long-term holders have stopped selling Bitcoin for the first time since July 2025, raising expectations for a potential relief rally as distribution pressure fades.

Additional on-chain analysis shows that this group is not only pausing distribution but is beginning to accumulate again. The long-term holder accumulation metric has returned to positive territory, suggesting that confidence is slowly returning at current price levels.

However, analysts caution that this signal does not imply an immediate price rebound. Historically, long-term holder accumulation rarely aligns with exact market bottoms. Instead, it tends to appear when panic subsides, selling pressure eases, and price action becomes sluggish and frustrating for short-term participants.

Moreso, there are limitations to the signal. Earlier this year, wallet reshuffling and exchange-related movements distorted long-term holder classifications, meaning the indicator should not be viewed in isolation. Even so, the broader implication is noteworthy.

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When investors with the longest time horizons stop distributing and begin adding exposure, it often reflects growing comfort with valuation rather than speculative optimism.

If this behavior persists into the new year, it would align with historical patterns in which Bitcoin rebuilds a base before larger directional moves emerge.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin rose 0.87% over the past 24 hours to trade near $90,124, outperforming its seven-day trend while still reflecting a 4.23% decline over the past month. Its price continues to hover within a narrow range of $87,000 to $90,000 as traders weigh macroeconomic uncertainty, ETF outflows, and institutional hedging activity.

Despite near-term constraints, structural drivers such as the halving cycle, institutional adoption, and the ongoing development of Layer-2 solutions like GOAT Rollup remain intact.

A continued decline in metrics such as 30-day coin days destroyed, now near 1.35 million BTC from July highs, would also reinforce the bullish view among long-term holders.

In brief
The amount of documented wrench attacks has increased in 2025 amid Bitcoin's price rise.
At least 65 have been tracked in a public database, with many more expected to be unreported.
Some of the most grisly crimes include murder, severed fingers, and sexual assaults.
Crypto’s growing mainstream presence has not been all good news for investors. 

Alongside Bitcoin's price rise, a growing list of wrench attacks—that is, physical attacks meant to coerce a victim to hand over access to their crypto holdings—have taken place over the course of 2025. 

According to a publicly available database of wrench attacks from Jameson Lopp, CTO of security firm Casa, at least 65 wrench attacks have been documented this year, with the expectation that many others go publicly unreported. 

Below we’ll walk through some of the most gruesome, high-profile wrench attacks that grabbed headlines this year, 

Ledger co-founder kidnappedLedger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped from his home and held for ransom in a wrench attack that took place in France in January. 

Balland and his wife were taken from their home to a nearby town and held for around 24 hours before they were freed by French authorities. 

At the time, French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the assailants severed one of Ballard’s fingers and sent it to his associates as a way to try and lure ransom payments. 

In June, French police arrested a French-Moroccon national alleged as the ringleader for Balland’s kidnapping scheme, as well as other May kidnapping plots in France. 

Waterboarding, sexual assault in CanadaA family in British Columbia, Canada were victims to a gruesome wrench attack that took place in 2024, but prompted headlines upon sentencing of a perpetrator in November.

Two attackers gained entry to the house under the guise of postal workers before providing access to another two assailants. Once inside, the crew waterboarded the husband and wife and threatened to cut off the husband’s genitals while attempting to gain access to their crypto accounts. 

Their daughter was sexually assaulted and forced to record videos, in which she exposed her genitalia and was forced to recite explicit phrases. The men made off with around $1.6 million in crypto, nearly draining the victim’s accounts. 

In November, one of the four men was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Abducted, drugged in fake UberA U.S. resident visiting London was lured into the wrong vehicle when waiting for an Uber outside a nightclub, and ultimately fell victim to the theft of his cryptocurrency. 

Jacob Irwin-Cline from Portland, Oregon was then tricked into smoking a cigarette believed to have been laced with scopolamine, a sedative that can cause blackouts while keeping victims conscious and suggestible.

While under the influence, Irwin-Cline inadvertently provided access to his crypto accounts, leading to the loss of around $72,000 in XRP and $50,000 in Bitcoin. After the attackers gained access to his accounts, he was abandoned in an unfamiliar part of London. 

Kidnapped, tortured in NYCTwo New York men were charged in a crypto case in which they allegedly lured an Italian businessman into a residence under false pretenses. 

Once there, the man was allegedly bound, beaten, and drugged in an attempt to retrieve his password to accounts containing cryptocurrency. 

The attackers are said to have employed medieval-style torture methods, including electric shocks, alongside threats to murder the victim's relatives, in an affair that lasted multiple weeks. 

However, in a twist, lawyers for the defense presented video footage that claims the alleged victim was enjoying himself voluntarily. 

The two men—John Woeltz and William Duplessie—were arrested, but ultimately pleaded not guilty. The pair were released on $1 million bail in July as the proceedings unfold. 

Vienna man tortured, set on fireIn one of the most gruesome attacks of the year, a 21-year old student in Vienna was beaten and burned beyond recognition in November.

Danylo K., son of the deputy mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, was ambushed by two men in a hotel garage and forced to drive his car to a different location. 

He was then beaten badly enough that his teeth fell out, and was left to suffocate in the backseat as they doused him in gasoline and set him on fire. 

Though a motive was not immediately clear, withdrawals from his crypto wallets were later detected. The assailants, two Ukrainian nationals, were apprehended and arrested in Ukraine after they fled across the border following the crime.

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The Hut 8 Bitcoin (BTC) mining company expanded its credit facility with crypto exchange company Coinbase to $200 million, building on momentum from 2025 and strong stock performance, setting it apart among players in the struggling mining industry.

Hut 8 will use the funds for “general corporate purposes,” according to an amended filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The credit expansion follows Hut 8’s $7 billion agreement with AI cloud platform Fluidstack in December to deliver 245 megawatts (MW) of energy for an AI data center over a 15-year term.

The agreement is one of the biggest deals of its kind between a crypto-native company and an AI infrastructure provider.

Hut 8’s stock gained over 134% over the last year and is trading at about $51.27 at the time of this writing, according to Yahoo Finance.

The company had a momentous year marked by diversification into AI, high-performance computing, and expanding its Bitcoin mining operations through majority ownership in American Bitcoin, a mining and crypto treasury company, while the broader mining industry faced operational and economic headwinds.

The stock performance of Hut 8 over a 1-year period. Source: Yahoo FinanceMining firms struggle, but Hut 8 and American Bitcoin continue accumulating BTCBitcoin miners experienced one of the harshest profit margin environments in history during 2025 due to the reduced block subsidy after the April 2024 halving, which slashed it from 6.25 BTC per block to 3.125 BTC, rising energy costs, and macroeconomic pressures.

Miners also felt the squeeze from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which impacted hardware prices and created fears of equipment shortages due to supply chain issues from geopolitical tensions between the US and China.

China is one of the biggest manufacturers of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), the machines used to mine Bitcoin and other proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin treasury companies ranked by BTC holdings. Source: BitcoinTreasuriesHut 8 is ranked as number 9 out of the top 100 Bitcoin treasury companies, with 13,696 BTC in its corporate treasury, valued at over $1.2 billion at the time of this writing, according to BitcoinTreasuries.Net.

American Bitcoin is ranked as number 20 and has 5,098 BTC, valued at about $458 million, data from BitcoinTreasuries shows. 

Magazine: Bitcoin mining industry ‘going to be dead in 2 years’: Bit Digital CEO

XRP exchange-traded funds are becoming one of the most important factors shaping the token’s future price.

In less than two months, XRP ETFs have already attracted more than $1 billion in inflows. This demand has locked up around 746 million XRP, equal to just over 1% of the circulating supply. Since launch, there has been only one day of net outflows, showing steady interest from the market.

Why ETF Demand Is Changing XRP’s SupplyAccording to experts, at the current pace, XRP ETF assets could reach $5 billion by mid-2026. If that happens, nearly 2.6 billion XRP could be taken out of active circulation, representing close to 4% of total supply.

This shift is important because XRP is already becoming harder to find on exchanges. Data shows exchange balances fell by 58 percent in 2025. When coins move off exchanges, it usually signals long-term holding rather than selling. This reduces sell pressure and can support higher prices over time.

XRP Price Has Lagged Despite Strong InterestEven with rising ETF inflows, XRP struggled during the second half of 2025. The price dropped below $2 and spent months failing to reclaim that level and $2 became a tough level to break.

Recent price action shows early signs of improvement. Analysts say XRP has moved back above the macro support level near $1.88, which is viewed as a positive start to the year if it continues to hold.

What the Market Is Watching NextXRP may revisit the $1.88 area to confirm it as support. If that level holds, price could move toward the next resistance zone near $2.30.

So far, the price structure does not show strong bearish signals. While short-term pullbacks remain possible, the broader setup stays constructive as long as XRP holds above key support levels.

What Happens If ETFs Reach $5 BillionIf XRP ETFs reach $5 billion in assets, the impact could be significant. ETFs typically hold tokens for longer periods, which reduces available supply in the open market. When demand continues to rise while supply tightens, prices often move higher.

Some predictions say XRP could reach $8 in 2026 if ETF inflows remain strong and institutional adoption expands. Standard Chartered has forecast a 330% increase for XRP, citing growing access for large investors and improving market structure.

However, price outcomes will depend on measurable data rather than speculation. ETF flows, supply trends, and overall market conditions will play a decisive role.

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A phishing campaign is targeting Cardano users through fake emails promoting a fraudulent Eternl Desktop application download.

The attack leverages professionally crafted messages referencing NIGHT and ATMA token rewards through the Diffusion Staking Basket program to establish credibility.

Threat hunter Anurag identified a malicious installer distributed through a newly registered domain, download.eternldesktop.network.

The 23.3 megabyte Eternl.msi file contains a hidden LogMeIn Resolve remote management tool that establishes unauthorized access to victim systems without user awareness.

Fake installer bundles remote access trojan
The malicious MSI installer carries a specific and drops an executable called unattended-updater.exe with the original filename. During runtime, the executable creates a folder structure under the system’s Program Files directory.

The installer writes multiple configuration files including unattended.json, logger.json, mandatory.json, and pc.json.

The unattended.json configuration enables remote access functionality without requiring user interaction.

Network analysis reveals the malware connects to GoTo Resolve infrastructure. The executable transmits system event information in JSON format to remote servers using hardcoded API credentials.

Security researchers classify the behavior as critical. Remote management tools provide threat actors with capabilities for long-term persistence, remote command execution, and credential harvesting once installed on victim systems.

The phishing emails maintain a polished, professional tone with proper grammar and no spelling errors.

The fraudulent announcement creates a nearly identical replica of the official Eternl Desktop release, complete with messaging about hardware wallet compatibility, local key management, and advanced delegation controls.

Campaign targets Cardano users
The attackers weaponize cryptocurrency governance narratives and ecosystem-specific references to distribute covert access tools.

References to NIGHT and ATMA token rewards through the Diffusion Staking Basket program lend false legitimacy to the malicious campaign.

Cardano users seeking to participate in staking or governance features face high risk from social engineering tactics that mimic legitimate ecosystem developments.

The newly registered domain distributes the installer without official verification or digital signature validation.

Users should verify software authenticity exclusively through official channels before downloading wallet applications.

Anurag’s malware analysis revealed the supply-chain abuse attempt aimed at establishing persistent unauthorized access.

The GoTo Resolve tool provides attackers with remote control capabilities that compromise wallet security and private key access.

Users should avoid downloading wallet applications from unverified sources or newly registered domains regardless of email polish or professional appearance.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 10: President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores hold hands and pose for photos after the swear-in ceremony at Palacio Federal Legislativo on January 10, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. The two were taken into custody by U.S. military personnel in the early hours of January 3, 2025 and flown to the U.S. to stand trial. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

Getty Images

As readers are no doubt aware by now, President Donald Trump ordered a surgical U.S. military incursion into Venezuela overnight on January 3 to take the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody. Maduro and Flores are reportedly on their way the United States aboard a U.S. military ship, where they will stand trial.

Within hours of the operation’s conclusion, Attorney General Pam Bondi, posting on her X account, said Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York, and would face numerous charges including “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices.”

Will Maduro’s Arrest Send Oil Prices Soaring?Where energy is concerned, the immediate question which arises in the wake of this operation is how it might impact oil prices when markets open on Monday?

Based on what we know at the moment, the likely answer is “not much.” Simply put, the fear premium in crude oil prices has all but disappeared in recent years, as we saw in real time last June, when the U.S. launched a massive stealth bombing run in an attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. Had that operation taken place twenty or even ten years ago, oil prices would have almost certainly spiked due to the uncertainty that would have ruled in the markets. Instead, because of the immediacy of information flow thanks to modern technologies and other factors, that strike created a tiny blip on the screen.

Short of the kickoff of a kinetic third world war, there is only one foreseeable geopolitical event which would cause a big immediate rise in oil prices: A shutdown on shipping traffic out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Because somewhere between 20-25% of global crude supply sails through that key Strait every day, any shutdown which promises to last for more than a few days would send oil prices soaring, perhaps to record levels, as traders scrambled to secure supplies needed to fill their contractual obligations.

Maduro Has Ruled Over Venezuelan Oil Exports DeclineNo such possibility is remotely in play related to Venezuela, even though the country is at least theoretically home to the largest crude reserves on earth. There was a time when Venezuela was a power player on the global market for crude oil, but that time ended more than 20 years ago during the rule of the socialist president Hugo Chavez. Maduro’s own reign has only served to further collapse the country’s domestic oil industry, rendering it not exactly a rounding error in terms of global supply, but certainly an afterthought.

Though its domestic production has recovered somewhat since it reached a low of barely half a million barrels per day in 2020, Venezuela today produces barely 1 million barrels each day, much of which is consumed for its own needs. Its total exports represent a fraction of 1% of a global market that is today in excess of 100 million bpd.

Bottom line: Don’t expect any significant impact on crude prices due to the arrest of Maduro in the coming days. Venezuela is no longer an influential enough global player to cause that to happen.

Kinder Morgan has lots of growth coming down the pipeline.

I already own some shares of natural gas giant EQT Corp (EQT 0.33%). I think it's in a strong position to capitalize on growing demand for gas in the future from AI data centers and other catalysts. That's why I'd consider adding to my position this year.

However, there's one natural gas stock I'd buy before EQT in 2026: Kinder Morgan (KMI +0.76%). The gas pipeline company has considerably less direct exposure to commodity prices, making it a much lower-risk way to invest in the expected surge in gas demand in the coming years.

Image source: Getty Images.

Significant free cash flow growth potential
EQT Corp is a premier natural gas company. It controls a vast gas resource position in the Appalachian basin. Additionally, it owns extensive natural gas infrastructure, including gas gathering lines, gas storage capacity, and long-haul transmission pipelines. The company's vertical integration makes it one of the lowest-cost gas producers in the country, with a breakeven level of around $2 per MMBtu.

The gas producer's low operating costs, expanding pipeline capacity, and strategic agreements to export gas from liquefied natural gas terminals position it to generate robust and growing free cash flow in the coming years. EQT estimates that it can produce between $10 billion to over $25 billion of cumulative free cash flow through 2029 at an average gas price between $2.75 and $5.00 per MMBtu. That will provide the funds to repay debt, repurchase shares, and increase its 1.2%-yielding dividend.

Today's Change

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More predictable and visible earnings growth
EQT Corp is an upstream gas producer with integrated midstream operations. As a result, it still has significant exposure to volatile commodity prices, which it aims to partially mitigate through hedging contracts for a portion of its volumes. Kinder Morgan, on the other hand, is a midstream company with some upstream operations (primarily enhanced oil recovery). It produces much more predictable cash flow. Roughly 69% of its earnings come from take-or-pay and hedging contracts, which eliminate commodity price and volume risk, while another 26% are fee-based and carry minimal volume risk.

In addition to producing much steadier cash flow, Kinder Morgan has more predictable growth. It currently has $9.3 billion of organic expansion projects in its backlog, which it expects to complete through the middle of 2030. Notable projects include three large-scale gas pipelines that should enter service in the 2027 through 2029 time frame. Additionally, the company is pursuing another $10 billion of natural gas project opportunities that it could approve in the coming months.

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Kinder Morgan's stable cash flow enables it to pay a higher-yielding and steadily rising dividend. The gas pipeline giant's payout currently yields 4.3% and it expects to deliver its ninth consecutive annual increase in 2026.

A lower-risk way to cash in on the gas boom
Catalysts such as AI data centers and new LNG export terminals should fuel robust demand for gas in the coming years. However, while volumes will rise, gas pricing could be volatile, which may impact EQT's ability to fully capitalize on the opportunity. That's why I'd buy shares of the more predictable Kinder Morgan to cash in on the gas boom before adding to my EQT position.

Focused on next-generation vaccines for bacterial diseases, this biotech just reported a notable insider sale amid a challenging year.

Focused on next-generation vaccines for bacterial diseases, this biotech just reported a notable insider sale amid a challenging year.

Harpreet S. Dhaliwal, Chief Technical Ops Officer of Vaxcyte (PCVX +0.69%), disposed of 9,743 shares in an open-market sale valued at approximately $454,891 according to the SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (direct)9,743Transaction value~$454,890.93Post-transaction shares (direct)23,928Post-transaction value (direct ownership)~$1,111,694.88Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($46.69); post-transaction value based on Jan. 2 market close ($46.46).

Key questionsHow significant was this sale in relation to Dhaliwal's prior holdings?
The transaction reduced direct ownership by 28.9%, shifting Dhaliwal's stake from 33,671 shares to 23,928 shares, with no remaining indirect exposure.Were any derivative, trust, or administrative mechanisms involved?
This was a straightforward open-market sale of common stock with no derivative exercise, trust, or administrative withholdings reported in the filing.Company overviewMetricValuePrice (as of market close Jan. 2, 2026)$46.46Market capitalization$6.08 billionNet income (TTM)-$657.20 million1-year price change-44.20%* 1-year performance calculated using Jan. 2 as the reference date.

Company snapshotVaxcyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of next-generation protein vaccines to address unmet medical needs in bacterial infectious disease prevention. With a pipeline led by VAX-24, the company leverages advanced conjugation and protein engineering technologies to expand vaccine coverage and address antibiotic resistance. The strategy centers on innovation in vaccine design and a focus on diseases with significant global health impact, positioning it as a differentiated player in the vaccine development landscape.

Develops clinical-stage vaccines, including VAX-24 for pneumococcal disease, VAX-XP for emerging strains, VAX-A1 for Group A Strep, and VAX-PG for periodontitis.Operates a biotechnology business model focused on research, development, and eventual commercialization of novel protein-based vaccines targeting bacterial infectious diseases.Targets healthcare providers, hospitals, and public health agencies seeking advanced vaccine solutions for infectious disease prevention.What this transaction means for investorsHarpreet Dhaliwal sold a significant portion of his holdings on Dec. 31. The 9,743 share sale represented 28.9% of his holdings.

The transaction comes after a challenging year. The stock price sagged 44.2% over the last year through Jan. 2, while the S&P 500 index returned 18.4% during this period.

Notably, Vaxcyte's shares experienced a sharp drop in late March and early April before modestly recovering. Dhaliwal's transaction could indicate a lack of confidence that the stock price will sustain this momentum.

Vaxcyte doesn't have any approved products in the market, and hence, doesn't produce any revenue. The company lost $520.1 million during the first nine months of 2025.

Monitoring the progress in the approval process will provide a key indicator of the company's success. While you're doing that, following insider transactions can provide clues into directors' and officers' confidence in gaining product approvals.

GlossaryOpen-market sale: The sale of securities on a public exchange at prevailing market prices, not through private arrangements.
SEC Form 4: A required filing disclosing insider transactions in a public company’s securities.
Direct holdings: Shares owned personally by an individual, not through trusts or other entities.
Indirect exposure: Ownership or economic interest in shares held via trusts, family members, or other entities.
Derivative activity: Transactions involving financial contracts whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as options or warrants.
Trust attribution: Assigning ownership of shares to an individual through a trust or similar legal arrangement.
Weighted average purchase price: The average price paid per share, calculated by weighting each purchase price by the number of shares bought or sold.
Clinical-stage: Refers to a company or product currently undergoing human clinical trials but not yet approved for commercial sale.
Conjugation: A vaccine technology that links a protein to a polysaccharide to enhance immune response.
Antibiotic resistance: The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
Total return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

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This leading beverage stock has significantly underperformed the S&P 500 since late 2020.

Coca-Cola (KO 1.19%) is a powerful consumer brand with a competitive edge that is difficult to overstate. The business has a presence in over 200 countries and territories. And 2.2 billion servings of its drinks are consumed every single day. Very few companies have found such adoption.

In the past five years, this leading beverage stock has produced a total return of 51% (as of Dec. 30). Where will Coca-Cola be five years from now?

Image source: Getty Images.

The business won't change anytime soon
Coca-Cola has been around for a very long time, and over the decades, its operations haven't really changed much. Over a five-year time horizon, investors can expect things to stay the same.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. The company dominates its industry, and it should continue leading the market for the foreseeable future. That's a positive attribute, as it means the business won't be affected by technological disruption or new entrants competing on its turf.

The revenue gains won't be impressive, though. Consensus analyst estimates call for sales to rise at a compound annual rate of just 3.9% between 2024 and 2027. I believe this pace will probably keep up even after this forecast period. The company's products are already ubiquitous, so there is less of an opportunity to expand.

Today's Change

(

-1.19

%) $

-0.83

Current Price

$

69.08

Its earnings power shouldn't go unnoticed. The brand strength affords the business a certain level of pricing power, and this flows to the bottom line. In the past five years, the company posted an average quarterly operating margin of 26.3%. It's hard to argue with this kind of earnings performance.

Those huge profits help support its dividend, which currently yields 2.91%. In 2026, the board of directors should hike the quarterly payout. If this happens, which I view as a virtual certainty, it will mark the 64th straight year that they approved a dividend increase.

Coca-Cola has added new brands over time
There is one way that Coca-Cola might change, since it's a natural extension of its operations: its strategy of expanding its product portfolio. This is a smart move by management because it allows the business to serve the tastes of more consumers across the globe. And it adds diversification to the revenue base.

Coca-Cola has implemented this strategy historically via acquisitions. Most recently, it purchased Costa in 2018 for $5.1 billion. Before that, the company bought Topo Chico in 2017. There are now more than 200 different drinks under the Coca-Cola umbrella, and it wouldn't be surprising if another acquisition happens before the end of the decade.

Expect past trends to continue
Investors are familiar with the saying that past performance is not indicative of future results. This is something to always keep in mind when thinking about stocks and how they might do in the future. We can't simply extrapolate historical data, since companies are always evolving.

But with Coca-Cola, I believe it's reasonable to assume that past trends will continue. In the trailing-five-year period, the stock has dramatically underperformed the S&P 500, putting up a total return that's about half of the broader index's gain. There's no reason to believe it will be able to outperform the benchmark between now and the end of 2030. I expect it to lag the S&P 500.

That's because this is a mature company. Consequently, it won't suddenly report incredible revenue and profit growth. If this did happen, which I view as extremely unlikely, then there would be a high probability that the stock would do very well.

This muted outlook doesn't mean it's off-limits as a potential investment; it just depends on your goals. If you want outsize growth potential, then this stock should be avoided. However, if it's safety, stability, and predictability that you're after, Coca-Cola could be a worthwhile portfolio addition.

NEW YORK, Jan. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of agilon health, inc. (NYSE: AGL) between February 26, 2025 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 2, 2026 in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased agilon securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the agilon class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46039 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 2, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants recklessly issued guidance for 2025 that they knew or should have known was not going to be achieved, given material industry headwinds of which they were aware; (2) Defendants materially overstated the immediate positive financial impact from “strategic actions” taken by agilon to reduce risk; and (3) as a result, defendants’ statements about agilon’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the agilon class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46039 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

NEW YORK, Jan. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) between August 6, 2024 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important January 5, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Inspire Medical common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Inspire Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21452 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 5, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases.  Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants misrepresented and failed to disclose key facts about Inspire V, a sleep apnea device, including the actual market demand for the device and whether Inspire Medical had taken the steps necessary to launch it. Defendants issued a series of materially false and misleading statements that led investors to believe that demand for Inspire V was strong and that Inspire Medical had taken the necessary steps for a successful launch. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Inspire Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21452 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

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

© Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com

It’s been a difficult past year for the broad basket of restaurant stocks, thanks to swift shifts in consumer tastes and higher operating costs. Undoubtedly, it feels like there’s no reason to believe that the fortunes of the fallen restaurant darlings will turn in 2026. Despite the uncertain consumer environment, though, there appears to be plenty of value to be had as well as dividend yields that are starting to get on the attractive side.

In a low-rate environment, perhaps the yield could be as much of a draw as the lower price of admission. Either way, this piece will look into a pair of oversold names that might be overdue for relief in the new year, especially if the U.S. economy stays robust while food inflation looks to drop further. In any case, there’s a low bar in place for many of the restaurant plays, and that alone might be enough to justify doing a little bit of buying, especially if you’re on the hunt for deeper value.

Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) sports a 3.3% dividend yield after getting pummelled 25% from peak to trough last year. Now down close to 17% from all-time highs, the fallen restaurant play finally looks tempting to pick up, especially for those bullish on the consumer and their ability to trade up from fast food to fancier dine-in.

Recently, Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho gave the restaurant chain behind Olive Garden and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse a nice upgrade to Buy from Neutral. With a $225.00 price target on the stock, Cho sees a good amount of upside in the year ahead. Undoubtedly, the restaurant’s exposure to the middle-income consumer was a reason behind the upgrade.

Additionally, Cho is a fan of the progress at Olive Garden as well as Longhorn Steakhouse. She’s right to point out the positive changes and the potential of such chains to take share. All considered, Darden stock does stand out as a compelling way to play increased spending in the middle-income consumer in the new year.

The stock trades at just 19.6 times trailing price-to-earnings (P/E), which seems too cheap for a firm that’s operating well with potential tailwinds that could kick in by the second half of the year. In short, it’s a great place to eat, and I envision lines at Olive Garden and other chains going outside the door.

McDonald’s
For those with more of a taste for fast food, McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) and its 2.4% dividend yield might be worth picking up, especially now that shares are down over 5% from their highs. Undoubtedly, it’s been a tough year-end slump for the king of fast food, especially as the public criticized the firm harshly for its AI holiday ad, which was pulled quite quickly.

Though the AI ad might represent a fumble for the Golden Arches for some, I do think that it’s good news to hear that McDonald’s is listening to their customers. Whether that’s pulling the ad or taking steps to improve the value proposition, I think McDonald’s can keep winning in 2026 if it can listen and respond to customer feedback. It was tough to deliver value in 2025, given higher labor costs and all the sort.

With inflation easing and menu innovation taking a front-row seat, I find McDonald’s might have a far easier time delivering value in the new year. If McDonald’s can invest more in automation in the coming years, I find that the firm might transform into an industry innovator that just so happens to sell burgers and fries. Either way, I think innovation is key to delivering value in the AI era. If it can pull it off, it might just lead the restaurant stocks higher.

NEW YORK, Jan. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) issued in connection with Klarna’s September 2025 initial public offering (the “IPO”), of the important February 20, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Klarna securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that Klarna’s loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna’s buy now, pay later (“BNPL”) loans; and (2); as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Explore how differences in sector exposure and dividend focus shape the risk and income profiles of these two popular ETFs.

Both the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV +0.95%) and iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (ITOT +0.32%) aim to give investors diversified access to U.S. equities, but their approaches differ: VTV focuses on large-cap value stocks, while ITOT tracks nearly the entire U.S. stock market, spanning growth and value, large and small companies. Here’s how these two popular low-cost options stack up on the metrics that matter.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricVTVITOTIssuerVanguardiSharesExpense ratio0.04%0.03%1-yr return (as of Dec. 17, 2025)12.66%11.67%Dividend yield2%1.09%AUM$215.5 billion$80.39 billionThe 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

ITOT comes with a slightly lower expense ratio, making it marginally more affordable to hold, while VTV offers a higher dividend yield for those prioritizing income.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricVTVITOTMax drawdown (5 y)(53.7%)(27.57%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$1,606$1,707What's insideITOT holds 2,498 stocks and aims to mirror the full U.S. equity market, with technology companies accounting for 34% of assets, followed by financial services and consumer cyclicals. Its largest positions as of the latest data are Nvidia (NVDA +1.14%), Apple (AAPL 0.40%), and Microsoft (MSFT 2.28%), and the fund has been operating for over 21 years. This broad approach means exposure to both high-growth and cyclical sectors, as well as small- and mid-cap stocks.

NYSEMKT: ITOTiShares Trust - iShares Core S&P Total U.s. Stock Market ETF

Today's Change

(

0.32

%) $

0.47

Current Price

$

149.16

In contrast, VTV concentrates on established value stocks, with heavier weightings in financial services (22%), industrials (16%), and healthcare (15%). Its top holdings include JPMorgan Chase (JPM +0.81%), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B 1.15%), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ +0.19%). This tilt may appeal to investors seeking steadier, income-oriented blue chips with less sensitivity to growth-driven market swings.

Today's Change

(

0.95

%) $

1.82

Current Price

$

192.81

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investorsWith ultra-low expense ratios, both the iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and the Vanguard Value ETF are affordable options for investors looking to hold a large basket of stocks. ITOT's broader exposure means you're buying into the entire U.S. equities market, which has historically been a winning bet over a long enough time period. Its breadth also means you have instant portfolio diversification and its market-cap-weighting structure means buying now grants you increased concentration in the red-hot tech sector.

On the other hand, VTV's focus on established value stocks may provide a stronger hedge against economic and stock market volatility and also generates a slightly higher dividend yield, which may appeal to income investors or those who want to reinvest those gains for further upside.

Both ITOT and VTV are considered excellent foundational ETFs for most investors, and their low expense ratios and broad coverage mean you can buy into the market without committing yourself to closely following the fluctuations in specific sectors or companies.

GlossaryETF: Exchange-traded fund; a basket of securities traded on an exchange like a stock.
Expense ratio: The annual fee, as a percentage of assets, that a fund charges its investors.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a fund or stock divided by its current price, shown as a percentage.
Beta: A measure of an investment's volatility compared to the overall market, typically the S&P 500.
AUM: Assets under management; the total market value of assets a fund manages.
Max drawdown: The largest percentage drop from a fund's peak value to its lowest point over a specific period.
Large-cap: Refers to companies with a large market capitalization, generally over $10 billion.
Value stocks: Shares of companies considered undervalued compared to their fundamentals, often with lower growth expectations.
Growth stocks: Shares of companies expected to grow earnings or revenue faster than the market average.
Blue chips: Well-established, financially sound companies with a history of reliable performance.
Cyclical sectors: Industries whose performance tends to follow the overall economy's ups and downs.

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sarah Sidlow has positions in Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard Index Funds - Vanguard Value ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and 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 a beneficial long position in the shares of EPD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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

Hyundai achieves "5 for 5 in 2025" with fifth consecutive year of record annual retail sales; third straight year of record total sales
Hybrid and electric models set all-time annual total and retail sales records
Best-ever total and retail December sales; total sales increase 1%; retail climbs 3%

, /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America concluded 2025 with outstanding results, achieving its fifth consecutive year of record annual retail sales and third straight year of record total sales. Hyundai reported total December sales of 78,930 units, a 1% increase from December 2024 and the best-ever December results.

"Hyundai closed 2025 on a high note, achieving our fifth straight year of record retail sales, what we called our '5 for 5 in 2025' mission, along with delivering best-ever December totals and retail sales," said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. "This success reflects the dedication of our dealer partners and the trust our customers place in Hyundai. Our diverse lineup, spanning advanced electrified vehicles and award-winning SUVs, continues to set the standard for innovation, efficiency, and value. We're energized to build on this momentum and deliver even more exciting products and technologies for our customers in 2026."

December 2025 Sales Highlights
Hybrid total sales jumped 71% in December, setting a new all-time monthly record, with Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tucson and Palisade HEVs leading the way. Hyundai's award-winning core SUV lineup of Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade continued to drive double-digit growth, with retail sales up 8% and total sales up 10% combined. The all-new Palisade also earned several industry honors.

Q4 2025 Sales Highlights
Despite a slight 1% dip in Q4 sales, Hyundai showed strong momentum and resilience, driven by record Q4 total sales for Santa Fe, Tucson and Palisade. The HEV category saw record growth, with total sales up 52% on the quarter, reflecting strong consumer demand for hybrid powertrains.  

2025 Year-End Sales
For the year, Hyundai achieved its best-ever annual retail sales for the fifth consecutive year with 772,712 vehicles sold. Total sales hit 901,686 vehicles, establishing a record for the third straight year, led by annual sales records for Elantra, Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade, IONIQ 5 and Venue. Electrified vehicles accounted for 30% of the retail mix, with HEVs jumping 36% and EVs increasing 7% year-over-year.

December Total Sales Summary

Dec-25

Dec-24

%
Chg

Q4
2025

Q4
2024

%
Chg

2025
YTD

2024
YTD

%
Chg

Hyundai

78,930

78,498

+1 %

223,337

226,308

-1 %

901,686

836,802

+8 %

December Product and Corporate Activities

Hyundai Motor Company Named One of 'World's Best Companies 2025' in Annual TIME Rankings: Hyundai Motor Company was named as one of the World's Best Companies, ranking 33rd out of 1,000 organizations in TIME and Statista's 'World's Best Companies 2025' list.
Hyundai Motor Company Drives Hyundai Motor Group to 21 IIHS Top Safety Awards, Including 10 for Hyundai Models: Hyundai Motor Company, as part of Hyundai Motor Group, has reaffirmed its leadership in automotive safety by contributing to the Group's industry-leading total of 21 TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) and TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) awards in the 2025 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations, the highest among all automotive groups for the second consecutive year. Within this achievement, Hyundai stands out with 10 TSP/TSP+ ratings (eight TSP+ and two TSP), including the 2026 Palisade earning a 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK designation.
Palisade Hybrid Wins Prestigious Car and Driver 10Best Trucks and SUVs Award: Hyundai's all-new Palisade Hybrid has been named to Car and Driver's prestigious 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for 2026. Car and Driver's annual 10Best list 10Best recognizes the industry's best trucks and SUVs for the year.
Palisade Named Best Midsize Three-Row SUV for 2026 by Car Confections: Hyundai's all-new Palisade has been named Car Confections' Best Midsize Three-Row SUV for 2026. The popular new-car review outlet and YouTube channel tests and ranks the top three-row SUVs annually, and the new Palisade rose to the top amongst formidable competition this year.
Palisade Named Best Midsize SUV in Good Housekeeping's 2026 Family Car Awards: The all-new Hyundai Palisade has been named Best Midsize SUV in Good Housekeeping's 2026 Family Car Awards. The winners were selected based on input from the Good Housekeeping Institute experts, Car and Driver editors, and real-world families.
IONIQ 9 Sets New Standard for Value in Electric Family SUV: Hyundai's IONIQ 9 was named Vehicle of the Year in the Autofocus Awards 2025, presented by Marques Brownlee and Miles Somerville, for delivering unmatched value in the three-row EV segment.
Hyundai Motor Debuts ELANTRA N TCR in Gran Turismo 7: Hyundai Motor Company announced the debut of the Hyundai ELANTRA N TCR in the globally renowned racing simulation game, Gran Turismo 7.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Team Members Donate Bicycles, Toys, and Funds to Marine Corps Toys for Tots: For the 21st consecutive year, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama team members held a toy, bicycle, and fund drive for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.
Hyundai Motor Kicks Off Global Youth Campaign for FIFA World Cup 26™: Hyundai Motor Company announced the return of its FIFA World Cup fan engagement program, 'Be There With Hyundai', introducing an exciting new initiative for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™.
Hyundai and Healthy Seas Celebrate Five Years of Global Ocean Conservation and Education Leadership: Hyundai Motor Company is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its partnership with the Healthy Seas, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to removing marine litter and restoring ocean ecosystems.
Hyundai Motor Group to Unveil AI Robotics Strategy at CES 2026: Hyundai Motor Group will unveil its Group-level AI Robotics Strategy under the theme, 'Partnering Human Progress' at CES 2026 during a press conference from 1:00–1:45 p.m. PST, on January 5, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The presentation will be live-streamed on the Group's global YouTube channel.

Model Total Sales

Vehicles

Dec-25

Dec-24

% Chg

Q4
2025

Q4
2024

%
Chg

2025
YTD

2024
YTD

%
Chg

Elantra

11,375

11,585

-2 %

31,988

35,080

-9 %

148,200

136,698

+8 %

Ioniq 5

2,279

4,595

-50 %

5,948

14,082

-58 %

47,039

44,400

+6 %

Ioniq 6

459

1,209

-62 %

1,346

3,167

-57 %

10,478

12,264

-15 %

Ioniq 9

380

0

-

1,012

0

-

5,189

0

-

Kona

6,784

5,846

+16 %

17,536

17,664

-1 %

74,814

82,172

-9 %

Nexo

0

1

-100 %

2

5

-60 %

5

94

-95 %

Palisade

11,692

10,298

+14 %

31,147

28,263

+10 %

123,929

110,055

+13 %

Santa Cruz

1,610

2,042

-21 %

4,866

6,862

-29 %

25,499

32,033

-20 %

Santa Fe

14,440

13,309

+8 %

40,244

35,329

+14 %

142,404

119,010

+20 %

Sonata

5,856

7,642

-23 %

14,180

20,913

-32 %

60,094

69,343

-13 %

Tucson

22,193

20,172

+10 %

68,991

60,179

+15 %

234,230

206,126

+14 %

Venue

1,862

1,799

+4 %

6,077

4,764

+28 %

29,805

24,607

+21 %

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, several cutting-edge R&D facilities and more than 855 independent dealers. These operations are part of Hyundai Motor Group, which is investing $26 billion in the U.S. from 2025 to 2028. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

Partner Reed Kathrein Scrutinizing Alleged Misstatements on Prostate Cancer Drug TLX591 Progress and Third-Party Manufacturing Deficiencies (Form 483)

, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman is issuing a reminder to investors in Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: TLX) that the deadline to move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff in the pending securities class action lawsuit is January 9, 2026.

The lawsuit follows a series of regulatory setbacks—including an SEC subpoena and a devastating Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA—that led to a sharp stock decline, with the final news triggering a 21% drop.

The complaint alleges that Telix and its executives materially overstated the developmental progress of its therapeutic candidates and misrepresented the reliability and regulatory compliance of its third-party supply chain and manufacturing partners.

"The Telix complaint alleges a dual regulatory failure: first the SEC apparently questioning the development disclosures, and then the FDA alleged to have rejected a BLA based on fundamental CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) and Form 483 deficiencies at the third-party manufacturers," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation. "The complaint alleges these documented failures were material and allegedly concealed, making the company's claims of 'great progress' and 'truly global manufacturing capability' materially false."

The firm urges Telix investors who suffered substantial losses to contact the firm now to discuss their rights.

Alleged Misstatements, Concealment of CMC Deficiencies, and Investor Losses

The complaint alleges two distinct regulatory events that purportedly corrected the market's misperception of Telix's business and prospects:

SEC Investigation into Drug Progress: Telix received an SEC Subpoena related to its disclosures on the development of its prostate cancer therapeutic candidates (TLX591/TLX592), suggesting misleading statements about the drugs' advancement.
FDA Complete Response Letter (CRL): The FDA rejected the Zircaix application, citing severe deficiencies in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) and issuing Form 483 notices to two third-party supply chain partners. This allegedly revealed foundational weaknesses the company the complaint claims were concealed.
Investor Damages: The cumulative effect of these disclosures allegedly caused Telix ADSs to fall sharply, including a 21% drop following the final regulatory news, leading to damages for investors who purchased TLX ADSs during the Class Period (Feb. 21, 2025 – Aug. 28, 2025)

Next Steps: Contact Partner Reed Kathrein Today

Hagens Berman is one of the nation's top plaintiff litigation firms, securing substantial recoveries for investors.

Mr. Kathrein and the firm's investor fraud attorneys are actively advising investors who purchased TLX ADSs during the Class Period and suffered substantial losses due to the undisclosed supply chain and therapeutic progress flaws.

The Lead Plaintiff Deadline is January 9, 2026.

TO SUBMIT YOUR TELIX (TLX) LOSSES NOW, PLEASE USE THE SECURE FORM BELOW:

Submit Your Telix (TLX) Class Period Investment Losses Now

If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Telix case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Telix should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Partner Reed Kathrein Urges Investors to Contact Firm Before January 5, 2026 Lead Plaintiff Deadline

, /PRNewswire/ -- National investor rights law firm Hagens Berman alerts INSP investors to the pending securities class action lawsuit against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP). The firm is urging INSP investors who suffered substantial losses to contact its attorneys before the January 5, 2026, Lead Plaintiff Deadline. The lawsuit, which is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleges that Inspire Medical and its executives misled investors by concealing critical operational failures surrounding the launch of its next-generation device, the Inspire V for obstructive sleep apnea.

Class Period: Investors who purchased Inspire Medical (INSP) securities between August 6, 2024, and August 4, 2025.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: January 5, 2026

Submit Your INSP Losses Now: If you suffered a substantial loss on your INSP investment, you are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman Partner Reed Kathrein to discuss your legal rights:

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/insp Email: [email protected] Call: 844-916-0895

The Heart of the Inspire Medical Systems (INSP) Fraud Allegations

The securities class action complaint details how Inspire Medical allegedly assured investors of its "operational readiness" for the Inspire V launch, claiming it was ready "to throw the switch" for full commercial rollout. These assurances, the lawsuit contends, concealed fundamental failures that made a successful launch impossible, leading to a catastrophic guidance cut and stock crash.

The undisclosed operational issues that allegedly rendered the Company's statements materially false and misleading include:

Alleged Concealment

The Truth Allegedly Revealed on Aug. 4, 2025

Impact on Business/Stock

Medicare & Billing Readiness

The necessary software updates for Medicare claims processing did not take effect until July 1, 2025, meaning implanting centers could not bill for procedures, stalling early adoption.

Delayed Inspire V rollout and bottlenecked revenue generation.

Excess Inventory (Channel Glut)

Customers and treatment centers held a significant surplus of the older Inspire IV device, impacting demand for the new Inspire V product and requiring an inventory "burn down."

The allegedly flawed Inspire V launch led Inspire to slash its 2025 EPS guidance by over 80%.

Training & Onboarding

"Many centers" had not completed the essential training, contracting, and onboarding required to implant the new device.

$42.04 per share drop and 32.4% decline in value.

Hagens Berman's Investigation of the Alleged Claims

"Our focus remains on the alleged concealment of two critical points: the Medicare claims software failure and the inventory glut of the prior Inspire IV device," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation. "The suit alleges that Inspire's stock collapse was the result of management allegedly prioritizing a narrative of seamless transition over operational reality."

What You Can Do?: If you purchased Inspire Medical (INSP) securities during the Class Period, you may have legal options. If you wish to discuss your rights or have information that may assist our investigation, please contact Hagens Berman

Submit Your Inspire Medical (INSP) Stock Losses Now
Contact: Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]

If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Inspire case and our investigation, visit Hagens Berman's INSP dedicated case page: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/insp »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Inspire should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

The semiconductor giant sees wider AI adoption as a necessity.

The artificial intelligence (AI) sector has expanded rapidly since ChatGPT creator OpenAI unleashed its AI chatbot near the end of 2022. But after several years of phenomenal growth, some onlookers have grown concerned that the entire AI sector, and the stocks of the businesses dependent on the tech, could be in a bubble.

What might be in store for the AI industry in 2026? One way to gauge its outlook would be to examine semiconductor chip leader Nvidia (NVDA +1.14%).

Image source: Nvidia.

A look at Nvidia's Q4 forecast
Nvidia is predicting that in its current quarter -- fiscal 2026 Q4 -- its revenue will hit $65 billion. But what are the implications of that forecast for the AI space more broadly?

First, a bit of context. Nvidia demonstrated once again why it's a leader in the AI sector when it released its fiscal Q3 results. For the period, which ended Oct. 26, it booked record revenues of $57 billion, a 62% year-over-year increase.

With that for context, its forecast for $65 billion in fiscal Q4 sales shows its revenue growth is accelerating: It's guiding for a massive 65% jump from the prior-year period's revenue of $39.3 billion, which was a record at the time.

Nvidia's anticipated Q4 sales growth demonstrates that the stupendous demand for its data center solutions is not slowing down. "Demand for AI infrastructure continues to exceed our expectations," said CFO Colette Kress on the earnings call.

In fact, Nvidia's AI chip platforms, Blackwell and its successor, Vera Rubin (which is set to launch in the second half of 2026), are experiencing strong customer orders.

"We currently have visibility to half a trillion dollars in Blackwell and Rubin revenue from the start of this year through the end of calendar year 2026," Kress also said on the call.

Today's Change

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1.14

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2.13

Current Price

$

188.63

Nvidia's rebuttal to the idea of an AI bubble
Given Nvidia's outsized success, it's no wonder the company's stock rose by about 39% in 2025. But that kind of speedy share price growth has contributed to the concerns about the valuations in the AI market.

CEO Jensen Huang directly addressed these concerns on the fiscal Q3 call, stating: "There's been a lot of talk about an AI bubble. From our vantage point, we see something very different."

He went on to explain how AI is enabling three major platform shifts that will power industry growth for years to come. The first shift is that legacy technology is no longer sufficient and requires an upgrade. The computing sector was built largely around CPUs, but much of this older architecture must transition to accelerated computing to deliver the parallel processing horsepower needed in the AI age.

Next is the transition to the generative AI era ushered in by ChatGPT. Governments and businesses are pursuing this breakthrough technology, and figuring out how best to employ it.

Finally, the emergence of agentic AI alongside real-world applications -- dubbed physical AI, and encompassing robots and self-driving vehicles -- is just getting started. This level of AI usage, according to Huang, "will be revolutionary, giving rise to new applications, companies, products and services."

Are Nvidia and AI destined for multiyear prosperity?
Huang's viewpoint is backed up by the performance of other AI businesses. For instance, OpenAI's weekly user base has grown to 800 million in 2025. That's an incredible increase from the 300 million users it had at the end of 2024.

News reports note that AI company Anthropic is projecting an annualized revenue run rate of $9 billion for 2025, up from $1 billion at the start of the year. And it is said to be expecting its run rate to skyrocket to as much as $26 billion in 2026.

These examples explain why AI industry forecasts predict years of spectacular growth. According to a report from United Nations Trade and Development, the global AI market could expand by a whopping 25-fold within a decade, from $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033. That kind of forecast underscores Huang's perspective and supports the idea that the AI boom is poised to continue.

Not all businesses touting AI capabilities are going to succeed over the long term. But in Nvidia's case, it has positioned itself to be a central player in the AI industry, with strategic investments in the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic, in addition to ongoing advances in its AI offerings, as illustrated by its upcoming Vera Rubin processors.

Consequently, Nvidia is one of the businesses likely to enjoy sustained prosperity as technology inexorably moves toward an AI-powered world.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryI upgrade AMD to a strong buy ahead of CES 2026.CES needs broad Tier-1 laptop design wins with 2026 shipping windows. With client at 31% and client+gaming 42% of TTM revenue, that’s my core near term catalyst.I see Gorgon Point (Ryzen AI 400) as an NPU step-up, alongside Gartner’s AI-PC share moving from 31% to 55% in 2026.On data center, the key is Helios rack-scale schedule confidence (MI400 + EPYC Venice) and any CES reaffirmation of Oracle’s 50,000-GPU deployment starting in Q3 2026.In my view, automotive/physical AI could help the struggling embedded segment. Design wins with program timelines could lead the Street to upgrade its revenue projections. DeSid/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

With CES 2026 right around the corner (January 6-9), I considered revising my bull case on Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) after my cautious buy rating after the Q3 beat.

Since then, the stock has

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

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

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.

The analysis is provided exclusively for informational purposes and should not be considered professional investment advice. Before investing, please conduct personal in-depth research and utmost due diligence, as there are many risks associated with the trade, including capital loss.

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.

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.