Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways HIG shares gained 27% in a year, beating both the industry and the S&P 500.HIG's 2025 EPS is estimated to rise 20.8%, supported by steady estimate revisions.HIG boosted returns with buybacks and dividends, though leverage remains a watch point.
Shares of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) have delivered an impressive 27% return over the past year, comfortably outperforming the industry’s 9.7% gain and the S&P 500’s 19.5% rise. The rally has been fueled by solid operating execution, steady growth in earned premiums and a supportive investment income backdrop.

Price Performance – HIG vs. Industry & S&P 500 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Based in Hartford, CT, the company provides a broad suite of insurance and financial services across domestic and international markets. With a market capitalization of $38.6 billion, HIG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The key question now is whether the stock can sustain its momentum and deliver incremental upside from current levels.

Let’s take a closer look.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS stands at $12.44, implying a strong 20.8% year-over-year increase, followed by 4.5% growth in 2026 to $13. It has witnessed one upward estimate revision in the past month, against no downward movement. HIG has also established a consistent earnings beat record, surpassing estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average surprise of 14.3%.

For the top line, 2025 estimates are pegged at $19.9 billion, implying 9.1% growth from the prior year. Revenues are expected to remain on an upward trajectory in 2026, with the consensus estimate projecting a 7.6% year-over-year increase.

Strategically, Hartford Insurance has sharpened its focus on core businesses, disciplined underwriting and profitability enhancement. The divestiture of legacy run-off portfolios and non-core operations has streamlined the business, strengthened its risk profile and improved financial flexibility. At the same time, ongoing investments in digital tools and data science are enhancing platform capabilities and supporting customer acquisition and retention.

These efforts are clearly reflected in profitability metrics. HIG’s trailing 12-month return on equity stands at 21.07%, more than double the industry average of 8.02%, underscoring the company’s efficient capital deployment.

Operational restructuring initiatives, most notably Hartford Next, are also beginning to bear fruit. In the first nine months of 2025, the Employee Benefits segment posted a 10-basis-point improvement in core earnings margin, while the Business Insurance combined ratio improved by 70 basis points, signaling better underwriting discipline.

Capital returns remain another key pillar of the investment case. HIG has consistently rewarded shareholders through aggressive buybacks and steady dividends. The company repurchased $1.5 billion of shares in 2024, followed by $1.2 billion during the first nine months of 2025. As of Sept. 30, 2025, $1.95 billion remained under its current repurchase authorization. Additionally, Hartford returned $446 million in dividends over the first three quarters, supporting a dividend yield of 1.7%, well above the industry average of 0.3%.

Risks to MonitorDespite the positives, a few challenges warrant attention. Near-term improvements in the Personal Insurance segment are yet to translate into sustainable margin recovery, with cost pressure still elevated. The segment reported a combined ratio of 96.2% for the first nine months of 2025.

Balance sheet leverage is another consideration. As of the end of the third quarter, long-term debt totaled $4.4 billion, significantly exceeding the company’s cash balance of $150 million. Long-term debt represents 24.1% of total equity, well above the industry average.

That said, Hartford’s disciplined execution, strategic efforts and capital management strategy position it well for sustainable long-term growth, even as near-term risks remain in focus.

Key Picks in FinanceMeanwhile, investors interested in the broader finance space can look at companies like CNA Financial Corporation (CNA - Free Report) , Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) and HCI Group, Inc. (HCI - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNA Financial’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $4.86 per share. The consensus mark witnessed two upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days. Also, the consensus mark for CNA’s 2025 revenues of $13.53 billion suggests 6.2% year-over-year growth.

The consensus mark for Cincinnati Financial’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $7.21 per share. The estimate witnessed one upward estimate revision over the past month. The company beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters with an average of 52.4%. The consensus mark for Cincinnati Financial’s current year revenues is pegged at $11.19 billion, implying a 12.5% increase from a year ago.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCI Group’s 2025 earnings indicates 173.8% year-over-year surge. Over the past 60 days, it has witnessed three upward revisions against none in the opposite direction. HCI Group’s current-year revenue estimates indicate an 18.9% increase from a year ago.

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.

Key Takeaways Amgen completed MARITIME-1 and -2 enrollment, testing MariTide in 5,000 obesity patients.MariTide aims for monthly or less frequent dosing, showing sustained weight loss in studies.NVO won FDA approval for an oral Wegovy pill, raising competition as oral GLP-1s enter weight management.
Amgen (AMGN - Free Report) is one of the few companies with a late-stage obesity candidate in its pipeline. The company is developing MariTide, an investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, as part of its comprehensive MARITIME phase III program in obesity. With this drug, Amgen intends to take on Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) and Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) , which currently dominate this space with their respective injectable GLP-1 therapies.

A key differentiator for MariTide is its long-acting profile. Unlike currently marketed GLP-1 drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which require weekly injections, MariTide is designed for monthly or potentially even less frequent dosing. Amgen has reported predictable and sustained weight loss, with clinically meaningful improvements in cardiometabolic parameters, in earlier studies, positioning MariTide as a potentially more convenient long-term treatment option in a market increasingly focused on adherence and durability.

Amgen is evaluating MariTide across a broad range of cardiometabolic indications, with obesity at the center of its development strategy. Enrollment has been completed in two pivotal late-stage studies — MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 — which are evaluating the drug in patients with obesity, with and without type II diabetes, respectively. Roughly 5,000 patients were enrolled across these studies in a relatively short time frame, underscoring strong investigator and patient interest in the program.

Apart from obesity, MariTide is also being studied in phase III studies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure, as well as in obstructive sleep apnea. These indications could significantly expand the drug’s commercial potential if weight loss translates into downstream cardiometabolic and cardiovascular benefits, as suggested by earlier-stage data.

Market Leaders Continue to Raise the BarDespite MariTide’s differentiated dosing profile, the obesity treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. Recently, Novo Nordisk secured FDA approval for the pill version of Wegovy, marking approval for the first GLP-1 RA approved in an oral form for weight management. Compared with injectable formulations, the pill offers a far more convenient administration option, significantly lowering treatment burden and potentially improving patient adherence. Novo Nordisk expects to launch the Wegovy pill in early next month and has priced the drug at $149 per month for patients without insurance.

Eli Lilly is also moving quickly in this direction. Earlier this month, LLY submitted a regulatory filing seeking approval for its oral obesity candidate, orforglipron, setting the stage for a potential launch next year. The arrival of effective oral GLP-1 therapies raises the bar for differentiation and could reshape patient and physician preferences across the obesity market.

That said, this push for oral pills does not signal a retreat from injectables for either market leader. Eli Lilly continues to invest aggressively across next-generation obesity therapies with diverse mechanisms of action. Its pipeline includes orforglipron, a once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1, as well as retatrutide, a triple-hormone (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon) agonist being developed as a next-generation injectable.

Novo Nordisk is similarly expanding its next wave of obesity treatments. It is advancing a next-generation therapy called amycretin, both as an injectable and an oral formulation. NVO plans to initiate a phase III program for amycretin in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its strategy of maintaining leadership across multiple modalities rather than relying on a single product class.

AMGN’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Amgen have outperformed the industry year to date, as seen in the chart below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Amgen is trading at a discount to the industry. Based on the price/earnings (P/E) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 15.20 times forward earnings compared to the industry's average of 17.56. The stock is trading above its five-year mean of 13.76.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have risen in the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Amgen currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Metaplanet added 4,279 bitcoin during the fourth quarter of this year, spending about $451 million and lifting its total holdings to 35,102 BTC, the company said Tuesday.

The purchase reinforces the Tokyo-listed firm’s position as one of the largest corporate bitcoin holders in Asia and the fourth largest among publicly traded companies globally.

The bitcoin was acquired at an average price of $105,412 per coin, according to the company. Metaplanet has now spent roughly $3.78 billion accumulating bitcoin at an average cost of about $107,600. 

The firm has set an ambitious target of owning 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027, a goal that implies continued reliance on capital markets and credit facilities to fund future purchases.

Metaplanet’s shares ended the year up about 8% at 405 yen, though they remain far below the peak reached in June, when the stock traded near all-time highs. 

The gap reflects both the volatility of bitcoin prices and investor unease around balance sheets that are tightly linked to a single asset. For shareholders, the strategy offers leverage to bitcoin’s upside while exposing the company to drawdowns that can move faster than operating income.

Metaplanet’s bitcoin accumulation via consistent revenue  Unlike some bitcoin treasury firms, Metaplanet has paired accumulation with a separate income generation business built around derivatives. The unit aims to produce recurring revenue while supporting long-term bitcoin holdings. 

The company expects this business to generate around $55 million in revenue in the coming fiscal year, a figure that helps frame its strategy as more than passive holding.

During the quarter, Metaplanet reported a BTC Yield of 11.9%, a metric it uses to measure bitcoin accretion on a per-share basis. 

Year to date, the company reported BTC Yield of more than 500%, helped by rising bitcoin prices and the pace of purchases. 

The fourth-quarter buying spree followed a pause that began in late September, the longest break in Metaplanet’s acquisition program since it adopted a bitcoin treasury strategy. 

Funding for recent purchases has included bitcoin-backed credit facilities totaling about $280 million and the issuance of Class B preferred shares convertible into common stock. 

The company said proceeds from the preferred share sale will be used largely to buy more bitcoin, with a portion set aside for yield strategies and bond redemptions.

Bitcoin currently trades at $88,590, up 1% on the day, with $36 billion in volume and a $1.76 trillion market cap as it hovers near recent weekly highs.

Micah Zimmerman

Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.

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Cover image via U.Today

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Cardano (ADA) may soon overtake Bitcoin Cash (BCH) as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. On the daily chart, BCH has experienced an uptrend as the ADA price stalls amid mixed sentiment on the broader crypto market.

BCH competes with ADA for dominanceAccording to CoinMarketCap data, ADA is currently trading for $0.35, down 3.4% over the past 24 hours. Despite the daily price decline, ADA remains the 10th-biggest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of $12.66 billion.

Trailing behind ADA on the market cap hierarchy is Bitcoin Cash. With a market cap of $12.07 billion, BCH is currently the 11th-largest cryptocurrency. 

As the BCH market cap climbs, it breaches the gap with ADA by only about $66 million. This puts Cardano's top 10 spot at risk of being overtaken by BCH.

Meanwhile, within the past 24 hours, the BCH price increased by 0.6%, setting the coin at $601.6. This daily spike pushed BCH higher by 4% on the weekly time frame.

It is also worth noting that BCH has shown a remarkable performance over the past few months. In late November, BCH outperformed Bitcoin (BTC) in a day by jumping 8%. The positive outlook for BCH was a response to anticipations of a broader market reversal. 

With the BCH momentum rising, it could easily displace ADA, unless the latter sees a strong catalyst.

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Will Cardano relinquish position to Bitcoin Cash?Although BCH is close behind, Cardano (ADA) remains a top contender on the crypto market. Accordingly, ADA may fight harder to remain on top, supported by some strong ecosystem developments.

For instance, a broader market rebound, progress in Midnight sidechain or DeFi growth could spur an ADA rally. Already, Midnight's native token, NIGHT, is eyeing the $0.10 mark. If NIGHT successfully hits this milestone, it could force a fast rank jump across major crypto market tops.

Additionally, year-end profit-taking on BCH could reverse the pressure on Cardano. Also note that ADA recently outperformed the rest of the major cryptocurrencies after its price surged by 7%.

Therefore, thin liquidity and position resetting into the Cardano have amplified moves around obvious technical levels. ADA investors now anticipate an end-of-year breakout.

Furthermore, Cardano's research-driven upgrades could regain traction in 2026, positioning ADA for higher prices.

Journalist

Posted: December 30, 2025

The cut-throat competition in the perpetual decentralized exchanges, popularly known as Perp DEXes, has stalled the market leader, Hyperliquid. 

Rivals such as Binance-backed Aster saw significant traction in H2 2025. But most analysts considered Lighter the real threat to Hyperliquid, citing several features, including privacy.  

However, ahead of the Lighter [LIT] token debut and airdrop for early users, Messari research analyst Sam has downplayed its threat.

In fact, Sam projected that HYPE could outperform LIT in the mid-term, adding that, 

“HYPE will reprice back to the ‘endgame perp DEX.’ HYPE investors won’t have to worry about fee compression for the foreseeable future.”

For Sam, Lighter’s perp volume was ‘falling off a cliff’ because the initial farming period that attracted most traders from Hyperliquid is almost over. 

Source: DeFiLlama

Will Hyperliquid revenue recover?
In H2, Hyperliquid’s perpetual volume dropped significantly amid rising competition and lower trading activity in Q4 2025. It fell from $396 billion to $165 billion — That’s about 60% decline in traction.  

Source: DeFiLlama

The cool-off also compressed the generated fees and revenues used to drive HYPE buybacks.

In fact, average weekly revenue dropped from $20 million in Q3 to as low as $7 million in late December -A whopping 65% revenue shortfall. 

With ongoing monthly unlocks alongside the low pace of token buybacks, bears had a field day with HYPE. However, Sam believes a reversal could be likely if Lighter farmers return to Hyperliquid. 

HYPE vs. LIT price action
Meanwhile, Lighter officially announced the LIT token, noting that 25% of the total supply of 1 billion tokens will be immediately airdropped to early users.

The rest of the tokenomics mirrored HYPE, including a 1-year vesting period for teams and utilizing revenue for buybacks. 

“Revenues from our core DEX product will be allocated between growth and buybacks depending on market conditions.” 

The token’s TGE listing price was $3.3, but it has dropped to $2.7, representing a 21% decline in the past seven days of trading. It experienced a 16% decline over the past 24 hours. 

On the other hand, HYPE was up over 2% in the 24 hours and could flip short-term bullish if it clears the recent peak at $26.4. The next roadblock and overheat resistance would be $27. 

Source: HYPE/USDT, TradingView

Final Thoughts 

Lighter perp volume has dropped following the end of airdrop farming, and the LIT price also declined. 
HYPE experienced a short-term bounce, but it was unclear whether the recovery would extend.  

Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. has further expanded its Zcash holdings, pushing its corporate treasury to over 290,000 ZEC. The company shared the announcement on December 30, 2025. According to details, the fresh Zcash buy highlights the company's ongoing commitment to accumulating the privacy coin. It comes as institutional interest in financial anonymity tools takes root.

TLDR:

Aave controls 59% of DeFi lending market and generates more revenue than next five competitors
Protocol generated $885 million in fees during 2025 from real economic activity, not emissions
Aave App offers 5%+ yields with fiat deposits, mimicking neobank experience for retail users
Survey data reveals 74% of institutional investors planning DeFi entry within two-year timeframe

Aave controls 59% of the decentralized finance lending market and processes 61% of all active loans.The protocol generated $885 million in fees during 2025 alone. Industry observers point to these metrics as evidence of Aave’s readiness for mainstream financial services. 

The platform now produces more revenue than its next five competitors combined. This market position sets the stage for what crypto analyst Jonaso calls “bankification” of DeFi protocols.

Market Dominance and Revenue Generation
Aave commands the largest share of total value locked among DeFi lending platforms. The protocol processes the majority of active lending transactions across the ecosystem. This concentration of activity creates deeper liquidity pools than competing platforms can match.

Revenue data from 2025 places Aave ahead of established competitors by a considerable margin. The protocol captured 52% of all lending protocol fees generated this year. 

These figures represent actual user payments rather than token emissions or inflationary rewards.

The scale of operations now mirrors traditional financial institutions in key metrics. According to analyst Jonaso on social platform X, this positioning makes Aave the natural candidate to bridge DeFi and conventional banking. 

Aave is the DeFi Protocol with the highest level of bankification

If you look at key numbers like TVL, active loans, and revenue, @aave clearly dominates the DeFi lending market.

– 59% of the DeFi lending market
– 61% of all active loans
– $885M in fees generated this year
-… https://t.co/9Xi1tOTUKi pic.twitter.com/asALXg6f2m

— Jonaso (@Jonasoeth) December 30, 2025

Traditional finance metrics suggest the platform operates at bank-level transaction volumes. This capacity enables the next phase of product development.

Aave App and the Bankification Strategy
DeFi markets are shifting away from yield farming based on token emissions. Protocols now focus on generating sustainable revenue from real economic activity. 

Real-world assets and stablecoin infrastructure dominate development roadmaps for 2025 and 2026. Survey data indicates 74% of institutional investors plan to enter DeFi within two years.

The Aave App represents a departure from complex protocol interfaces. Users can access savings accounts offering over 5% annual yields through mobile devices. 

Fiat currency deposits integrate directly with the application. The design mimics neobank experiences familiar to mainstream consumers.

This strategy creates a self-reinforcing cycle of growth and stability. User deposits increase liquidity depth, which reduces borrowing costs for institutional clients. 

Lower costs attract more institutional demand, stabilizing yields for retail savers. Jonaso describes the application as a “Trojan horse for DeFi adoption” that could trigger a new market cycle. Early DeFi protocols like Uniswap and Lido established the foundation. 

Newer platforms including Ethena, Pendle, and Altura now join Aave in pushing toward mainstream acceptance. The focus centers on passive savings products and sustainable yield generation.

When a decentralized exchange launches a native token, the real story is not the ticker or the opening price. It’s how incentives are structured and who actually benefits over time. With the launch of its Lighter Infrastructure Token, LIT, Lighter is making a deliberate statement about long term alignment, transparency, and control.

What Is the LIT Token Meant to Do?According to the team, LIT token is designed to align incentives across users, builders, and infrastructure participants. It is not positioned as a speculative add on but as the core economic layer that underpins everything built on Lighter’s infrastructure.

All value generated by Lighter’s current products and any future services is intended to accrue directly to LIT holders. Revenues from the decentralized exchange and upcoming infrastructure offerings will be fully transparent and trackable onchain, with funds directed toward growth initiatives and token buybacks. In short, usage drives value, and value flows back to the token.

Token Allocation Puts the Ecosystem FirstLighter’s tokenomics lean heavily toward community and ecosystem development. Half of the total LIT token supply is allocated to the ecosystem, signaling a long term commitment rather than a short term liquidity play.

Out of this 50 percent allocation, 25 percent of the fully diluted value will be distributed immediately through an airdrop to participants from the first two points seasons of 2025. The remaining ecosystem allocation is reserved for future incentive programs and strategic partnerships, ensuring sustained engagement and expansion over time.

The remaining supply is split between the team and investors. The team will receive 26 percent, while investors are allocated 24 percent. Both allocations are subject to a one year lock followed by a three year linear vesting schedule, a structure that reduces early sell pressure and reinforces long term alignment.

Staking, Infrastructure, and Progressive DecentralizationBeyond simple ownership, LIT plays a functional role in how Lighter’s infrastructure operates. The platform’s systems for financial transactions and fairness verification will be tiered based on LIT token staking. Higher staking levels unlock deeper infrastructure access, while decentralization of these functions will increase progressively over time.

Notably, Lighter emphasized that it is building in the United States and that the token is issued directly from its C Corp entity, which will continue to operate the protocol at cost. This hybrid structure aims to combine regulatory clarity with onchain transparency, a balance many crypto projects still struggle to achieve.

Market Debut and Early Price ActionLighter launched the LIT USDC trading pair early Tuesday morning. As of writing, LIT token was trading around $2.72 on Lighter, down from a pre market price of roughly $3.25. While the initial pullback reflects typical post launch volatility, liquidity and participation remained strong during the early trading window.

Price aside, the launch marked an important milestone in Lighter’s broader growth trajectory, shifting the platform from pure product expansion to a fully tokenized ecosystem model.

Lighter’s Rapid Rise in the Perps MarketLighter is not launching LIT token from a position of weakness. Since going live on public mainnet in October, the exchange has emerged as one of the largest players in the decentralized perpetuals space.

In November alone, Lighter recorded $292.5 billion in trading volume, outpacing Aster at $259.2 billion and Hyperliquid at $243.6 million, based on data from The Block. That level of volume places Lighter firmly among the top tier of onchain derivatives venues.

Momentum has carried into funding and product expansion as well. In November, Lighter raised $68 million at a $1.5 billion valuation in a round led by Founders Fund and Ribbit Capital. In early December, the platform expanded beyond perpetuals with the rollout of spot trading, broadening its appeal and revenue base.

What this really means is that LIT is not just a governance token or a reward mechanism. It is the economic backbone of a rapidly scaling exchange and infrastructure stack. With half the supply committed to ecosystem growth, strict vesting for insiders, transparent revenue flows, and a clear staking utility, Lighter is positioning LIT as a long term asset tied directly to platform usage.

As the decentralized derivatives market continues to mature, Lighter’s approach suggests a focus on durability over hype. Whether LIT ultimately succeeds will depend on continued volume growth, effective incentive design, and execution, but structurally, the foundation is now firmly in place.

Grayscale seeks to convert its Bittensor Trust into an ETF, just weeks after the network's native token underwent its first halving event.

A widely followed crypto analyst and trader says Bitcoin (BTC) is officially in a bear market.

With BTC currently trading for $87,138, down 4% in the last month, crypto trader Benjamin Cowen tells his 970,000 YouTube subscribers that BTC is likely to fall further in 2026.

“What I think makes the most amount of sense is for Bitcoin to drop into the in sort of like early 2026, rally back up to the bull market support band and then back down to the 200 week moving average and then consolidate there. Maybe you go a little bit lower in October because a lot of the bare markets do last about a year and then hopefully we can get back on track. That’s what I think makes the most amount of sense right now.

You can see that even back then Bitcoin did have a breakout after about 6 months. Yes, we had the pandemic induced recession, but I mean we we came right out of it as well. That’s where I am with the markets.”

According to the analyst, BTC currently has similar market conditions to major bear markets of the past. However, Cowen advises against panic.

“When I look at this market cycle, when I look at the current market conditions, do I say it’s a bear market like 2022, 2018, 2014? Technically, if the foyer cycle remains intact, we can’t ignore it. But because we topped on apathy rather than euphoria, I have to defer to the 2019 bear because this is the only current bare market that we’re actually below, right? I mean, if you look at all the others, we’re still well above them. And there was no major panic, right? No major panic.”

Generated Image: Midjourney

Tue, 30/12/2025 - 15:41

Haseeb Qureshi, seasoned crypto VC and managing partner of Dragonfly Capital, shares his bold predictions for 2026.

Cover image via u.today

Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency, will rally by 67% and hit the $150,000 milestone in 2026. The stablecoin segment will also be rocketing together with the prediction markets scene, while AI usage outside tech will remain limited — that is how the top VC investor sees 2026 in Web3.

Bitcoin (BTC) price to surpass $150,000 in 2026, Haseeb Qureshi saysBitcoin (BTC), the biggest cryptocurrency asset, has all the chances to blast past $150,000 by the end of 2026 despite its dominance shrinking. Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) will expand its dominance in the segment of smart contract platforms for dApps while minor chains — even stablecoin-centric ones — will underperform, Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner in Web3 VC firm Dragonfly Capital, shares on X.

It’s that time again—as 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to drop 2026 predictions.

I think 2026 is going to surprise, both to the upside and to the downside. Organized by category:

Macro / Chains
* $BTC is > $150K by year-end, but BTC dominance decreases in 2026.
* Despite the…

— Haseeb ＞|＜ (@hosseeb) December 29, 2025 Also, we should expect more tech companies, including Fortune Top 100 heavyweights, to be releasing their own blockchain ventures. The segment will become concentrated, with a number of top-tier banks dominating here. In terms of infrastructure, more chains will leverage DoubleZero architecture.

In the segment of on-chain perps trading, maximum three venues will be dominating; the same will work for decentralized prediction markets. Almost all liquidity will be routed to Polymarket, Kalshi and Robinhood front-ends.

HOT Stories

The sphere of stablecoins will also grow at an impressive pace. The stablecoin supply will expand by 60% YoY, with USD-pegged stablecoins still controlling 99%+ of the market. USDT dominance will drop to 55%.

Changes in the political landscape in the U.S. might affect the audience of PolitFi meme coins and WLFI/USD1 ecosystems.

This segment set to rocket by 1,000%Qureshi indicated the segment that still can rally by over 10x from its current state — it is stablecoin-based cards. They will cement themselves as the main driver for retail stablecoin adoption, with Rain being an influential player.

The synergy between AI and Web3 will still remain controversial. While we are set to see more and more ultra-small teams (with less than 10 employees) delivering popular products, the full-scale agentic payments adoption will not happen next year.

Also, as security remains in focus for teams of all sizes, the number of big crypto hacks will drop compared to 2026, the VC veteran concluded.

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Metaplanet's total Bitcoin holdings reached 35,102 BTC (~$3B) after acquiring 4,279 BTC worth $451 million, while revenue from its BTC income generation surged to a record ¥8.58 billion (~$54 million) in 2025.

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Crypto pundit SMQKE has shared a document highlighting why XRP’s utility will drive price appreciation in the new year. This follows a debate sparked by another pundit, Lewis Jackson, who argued that the altcoin’s payment utility doesn’t translate to higher prices. 

In an X post, SMQKE shared a document that highlighted XRP’s utility through Ripple’s payment system. In line with this, he noted that this is further evidence that the token’s utility will drive future price appreciation. The pundit further remarked that XRP is designed to operate within the global payment infrastructure, a move that could widely boost its adoption. 

SMQKE also noted that Ripple integrates with existing systems to improve speed, cost, and settlement efficiency. As such, as financial institutions adopt the XRP Ledger (XRPL), the pundit stated that XRP will be used directly in payment flows. He then alluded to the document, which, from a payments perspective, he said, demonstrates how institutional settlement activity creates sustained demand for XRP. The pundit added that price appreciation is supported through real transaction flow. 

Source: Chart from SMQKE on X
The document noted that when Ripple processes a transaction, 0.00001 XRP is removed from circulation. As such, they expect the altcoin’s circulating supply to decline over time and its price to rise in the process due to a potential supply shock. On the other hand, Lewis Jackson claims that XRP is simply recycled whenever institutions use Ripple’s payment system for cross-border transactions. 

He declared that XRP’s utility is unlikely to drive higher prices, as these institutions, including banks, do not need to hold a significant amount of XRP to process transactions on Ripple’s payment system. This has sparked debate in the XRP community with another pundit, Apex Crypto, describing these statements as “dangerous junk” that could mislead people, especially new community members.

XRP Still At Risk Of Dropping Below $1
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez has warned that the XRP price is still at risk of dropping to as low as $0.80 amid debate over how the token’s utility will drive price appreciation. He outlined reasons why this massive price decline is a possibility, including that the XRP Ledger’s activity has cooled significantly. Martinez noted that daily active addresses have fallen to around 38,500, indicating fading participation and interest. 

Furthermore, the analyst stated that XRP whales have turned into sellers, offloading over 40 million coins in recent days. He added that if the selling pressure continues, the altcoin risks losing the $1.77 support level, with a breakdown opening the door to the next major support near $0.80. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.85, down over 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

XRP trading at $1.87 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

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17h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Ifeoluwa O.

Summarize this article with:

Despite broad market caution and a sharp slowdown in trading, derivatives data indicates that investor confidence held firm in December. Overall market activity dropped roughly 40%, yet total derivatives open interest still grew by about $2 billion, with Bitcoin and Ethereum futures accounting for a notable portion. This pushed combined exposure in these two cryptocurrencies from $35 billion to $38 billion and reflected a moderate increase in leverage. The trend suggests that, rather than panic selling, experienced traders continued building positions, likely anticipating a market rebound or increased volatility.

In brief

Open interest rose $2.8B in December, with Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contributing a significant portion.
Bitcoin futures positions grew from $22B to $23B, while Ethereum futures climbed from $13B to $15B.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Futures See Notable Gains
A contributor at on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant reported that Bitcoin futures positions grew from $22 billion to $23 billion, increasing by $1 billion, while Ethereum futures rose from $13 billion to $15 billion, gaining around $1.4 billion. These changes occurred as Bitcoin’s price hovered near $88,000 and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index remained at 27, reflecting ongoing market caution. Since then, the index has dropped further to 23, a level classified as extreme fear, highlighting the gap between growing derivatives exposure and negative market sentiment.

Bitcoin Open Interest 24H Change on Binance & Bybit (Nov–Dec)
Over the past week, roughly $450 million in new leveraged positions were added, reflecting strong engagement in the derivatives market. This surge in activity occurred even as Bitcoin briefly climbed back to $90,000 yesterday before dropping about $4,000 within six hours, which triggered roughly $100 million in liquidated long positions. Despite this short-term volatility, total Bitcoin positions still rose about 2% week-on-week, suggesting that traders used the pullback as an opportunity to open new positions rather than exit the market.

Here are some other key factors from December that show how traders responded despite market caution:

Centralized exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and OKX steadily added positions throughout December, with Gate.io showing the largest accumulation, reflecting continued market engagement.
Rather than cutting back, exchanges either held or increased their exposure, a move that differs from the usual pattern where leverage declines during market bottoms.
This sustained growth in open interest, even as fear levels reached extremes, suggests traders remained cautiously optimistic, taking on risk while the broader market sentiment stayed negative.

Investor Outflows Signal Lingering Sentiment Pressure
While derivatives show conviction, broader investment products highlight ongoing caution. CoinShares’ weekly report indicates Bitcoin outflows of $443 million in the past week, while digital asset products overall recorded withdrawals of $446 million. Since the October 10 price drop, cumulative outflows total around $3.2 billion, signaling that investor sentiment has yet to fully recover.

As the year closes, Bitcoin is down 6.51% year-to-date. For the past two weeks, the cryptocurrency has traded in a tight range between $86,700 and $89,900, with small candlesticks pointing to low volatility. To finish the year in positive territory, Bitcoin needs a 6.8% rally from its current $87,240 level. This requires breaking above immediate resistance at $88,000 and pushing past the upper Bollinger Band near $91,000, signaling stronger bullish momentum. 

Bitcoin Price Analysis with Bollinger Bands & RSI
The RSI, around 43, must climb above 50 to confirm upward pressure, supported by consistent buying. Maintaining support near $85,000 is also crucial to avoid further downside. A steady rally with rising momentum and solid support is essential for Bitcoin to close the year in the green.

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Ifeoluwa O.

Ifeoluwa specializes in Web3 writing and marketing, with over 5 years of experience creating insightful and strategic content. Beyond this, he trades crypto and is skilled at conducting technical, fundamental, and on-chain analyses.

DISCLAIMER

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

Enphase Energy (ENPH - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this solar technology company have returned +15.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. During this period, the Zacks Solar industry, which Enphase Energy falls in, has lost 0.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Enphase Energy is expected to post earnings of $0.52 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -44.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.77 points to a change of +16.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.05 indicates a change of -26.2% from what Enphase Energy is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.9%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Enphase Energy is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Enphase Energy, the consensus sales estimate of $331.97 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -13.3%. The $1.46 billion and $1.22 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +9.7% and -16.3%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryEnphase Energy reported revenues of $410.43 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.8%. EPS of $0.9 for the same period compares with $0.65 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $361.79 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +13.44%. The EPS surprise was +45.16%.

Over the last four quarters, Enphase Energy surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Enphase Energy is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Enphase Energy. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Brinker International (EAT - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this operator of restaurant chains Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy have returned -5.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, to which Brinker International belongs, has lost 0.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Brinker International is expected to post earnings of $2.51 per share, indicating a change of -10.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.6% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.23 points to a change of +14.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $11.74 indicates a change of +14.8% from what Brinker International is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.3%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Brinker International is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Brinker International, the consensus sales estimate of $1.4 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +3.1%. The $5.73 billion and $6.02 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +6.5% and +5.1%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBrinker International reported revenues of $1.35 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +18.5%. EPS of $1.93 for the same period compares with $0.95 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.21%. The EPS surprise was +9.66%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Brinker International is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Brinker International. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

Monday.com (MNDY - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this project management software developer have returned -3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks Internet - Software industry, to which Monday.com belongs, has gained 2.2% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Monday.com is expected to post earnings of $0.91 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -15.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.28 points to a change of +22.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.96 indicates a change of +16% from what Monday.com is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Monday.com.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Monday.com, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $328.99 million indicates a year-over-year change of +22.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $1.23 billion and $1.49 billion estimates indicate +26.2% and +21.4% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMonday.com reported revenues of $316.86 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +26.2%. EPS of $1.16 for the same period compares with $0.85 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $312.02 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.55%. The EPS surprise was +30.34%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Monday.com is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Monday.com. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this teen clothing retailer have returned +26.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, to which American Eagle belongs, has gained 8.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

American Eagle is expected to post earnings of $0.66 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +22.2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +19.1%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.33 points to a change of -23.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +18.2%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.58 indicates a change of +18.8% from what American Eagle is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +15.3%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for American Eagle.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For American Eagle, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.72 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +7.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $5.46 billion and $5.6 billion estimates indicate +2.4% and +2.6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAmerican Eagle reported revenues of $1.36 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.7%. EPS of $0.53 for the same period compares with $0.48 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.31%. The EPS surprise was +23.26%.

Over the last four quarters, American Eagle surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

American Eagle is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about American Eagle. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

ON Semiconductor Corp. (ON - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this semiconductor components maker have returned +7.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry, to which ON Semiconductor Corp. belongs, has gained 6.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, ON Semiconductor Corp. is expected to post earnings of $0.62 per share, indicating a change of -34.7% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.36 points to a change of -40.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.9 indicates a change of +23.1% from what ON Semiconductor Corp. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, ON Semiconductor Corp. is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of ON Semiconductor Corp., the consensus sales estimate of $1.53 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -11%. The $5.99 billion and $6.3 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -15.4% and +5%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryON Semiconductor Corp. reported revenues of $1.55 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -12%. EPS of $0.63 for the same period compares with $0.99 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.36%. The EPS surprise was +5%.

Over the last four quarters, ON Semiconductor Corp. surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

ON Semiconductor Corp. is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about ON Semiconductor Corp.. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Medical Properties (MPW - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this health care real estate investment trust have returned -9.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry, to which Medical Properties belongs, has lost 3.5% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Medical Properties is expected to post earnings of $0.15 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -16.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -3.3%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.55 points to a change of -31.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.4%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.66 indicates a change of +20% from what Medical Properties is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -2.9%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Medical Properties.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Medical Properties, the consensus sales estimate of $242.96 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +4.8%. The $944.64 million and $1.03 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -5.1% and +9.4%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMedical Properties reported revenues of $237.52 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.2%. EPS of -$0.13 for the same period compares with -$1.34 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $237.84 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.13%. The EPS surprise was -18.75%.

Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Medical Properties is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Medical Properties. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Builders FirstSource (BLDR - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this construction supply company have returned -8.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. During this period, the Zacks Building Products - Retail industry, which Builders FirstSource falls in, has gained 17.8%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Builders FirstSource is expected to post earnings of $1.31 per share, indicating a change of -43.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $7.07 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -38.8%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.19 indicates a change of -12.5% from what Builders FirstSource is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Builders FirstSource is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Builders FirstSource, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $3.44 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -9.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $15.27 billion and $14.98 billion estimates indicate -6.9% and -1.9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBuilders FirstSource reported revenues of $3.94 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -6.9%. EPS of $1.88 for the same period compares with $3.07 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.8 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.76%. The EPS surprise was +11.24%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Builders FirstSource is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Builders FirstSource. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Apple (AAPL - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this maker of iPhones, iPads and other products have returned -3.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The Zacks Computer - Micro Computers industry, to which Apple belongs, has lost 1.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Apple is expected to post earnings of $2.65 per share, indicating a change of +10.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $8.11 points to a change of +8.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -0.1%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $9.12 indicates a change of +12.4% from what Apple is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.4%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Apple.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Apple, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $137.51 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +10.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $451.74 billion and $489.78 billion estimates indicate +8.5% and +8.4% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryApple reported revenues of $102.47 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.9%. EPS of $1.85 for the same period compares with $1.64 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $101.2 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.25%. The EPS surprise was +6.94%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Apple is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Apple. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways LEU starts centrifuge manufacturing at its Piketon, OH, site to support commercial low-enriched uranium.LEU plans to expand Piketon with potential DOE funding and private capital.LEU has $2.3B in contingent contracts and raised $1.2B via convertibles, plus a $1B at-the-market offering.
Centrus Energy LEU has officially begun industrial-scale centrifuge manufacturing to support commercial Low-Enriched Uranium enrichment activities at its Piketon, OH, facility. This marks a pivotal milestone in the American nuclear fuel supply chain, which has lacked domestically owned large-scale enrichment capability for more than a decade.

The last U.S.-owned, large-scale uranium enrichment plant was constructed in the 1950s but shut down in 2013, leaving the United States heavily reliant on foreign, state-owned enterprises that dominate global enrichment capacity. With imports of Russian enriched uranium banned starting in 2028, Centrus Energy’s endeavors address the urgent and growing need for secure, U.S.-owned enrichment capacity.

Centrus Energy is strategically moving ahead to expand its uranium enrichment plant in Piketon to support the production of both Low-Enriched Uranium and High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU). The company is already a leading contender for funding from the Department of Energy, with potential task orders indicated at approximately $900 million each.

Centrus Energy raised $1.2 billion via convertible note transactions in November 2024 and August 2025 and recently launched a $1 billion at-the-market offering.  The company also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (“KHNP”) and POSCO International, a subsidiary of POSCO (PKX - Free Report) , attracting foreign investment. 

Beyond capital support, the collaboration with KHNP and POSCO creates strategic opportunities, such as additional supply agreements for Low-Enriched Uranium and HALEU. Notably, POSCO International is also advancing a next-generation High-Temperature Gas Reactor powered by HALEU.
Centrus Energy already has $2.3 billion in contracts in place from both domestic and international customers to support new U.S. uranium enrichment capacity.  These agreements are, however, contingent upon it achieving key milestones toward building the new capacity. 

LEU’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesCentrus Energy shares have soared 272.9% in a year compared with the industry’s 49% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Meanwhile, peer Energy Fuels (UUUU - Free Report) has gained 195% in a year. Lakewood, CO-based Energy Fuels owns and operates several conventional and in-situ uranium projects in the western US, as well as the White Mesa Mill, which is the only operating conventional uranium mill in the United States. 

LEU is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 9.25X, a significant premium to the industry’s 4.11X. Energy Fuels is trading higher at 40.01X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centrus Energy’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $4.66 per share, indicating 4.25% year-over-year growth. The same for 2026 is $3.85, indicating a decline of 17.2%. Here is how the EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have been revised over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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