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The author is not an investment advisor and offers no advice here, He shares his own analysis solely for the interest of readers.
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds investors there is a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) between May 20, 2025 through August 18, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). James Hardie provides exterior home and outdoor living solutions. For more information, submit a form, email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm i.

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa., Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genesis Healthcare, Inc. (Genesis) today announced that multiple of its affiliated skilled nursing facilities have earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek for 2026, reinforcing the organization’s continued commitment to quality, compassionate care and operational excellence as validated by independent, third-party assessments.

Across the two respected rankings, Genesis-affiliated centers were recognized for performance in both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation, based on evaluations of clinical outcomes, staffing, patient and resident experience, safety measures, and overall quality indicators.

“These recognitions are meaningful because they are grounded in objective data and independent analysis,” said Lauren Murray, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis. “They reflect the real, day-to-day work happening inside our centers, with caregivers showing up with professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering focus on doing what is right for the people we serve.”

Eleven Genesis-affiliated facilities were recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Best Nursing Homes for 2026, while four centers were named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes for 2026 list, developed in partnership with global data firm Statista. Both rankings are highly selective, identifying only a small percentage of nursing homes nationwide that meet or exceed established benchmarks for care quality and outcomes.

The following Genesis-affiliated facilities earned national recognition for 2026 from U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.

U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes for 2026:

Franklin Woods Center, Rossville, MD (Short-Term Rehabilitation)Hackett Hill Center, Manchester, NH (Long-Term Care)Holly Manor Center, Mendham, NJ (Short-Term Rehabilitation)Kent Regency, Warwick, RI (Short-Term Rehabilitation)Laconia Rehabilitation Center, Laconia, NH (Long-Term Care)Laurel Center, West Hamburg, PA (Short-Term Rehabilitation)Lofland Park Center, Seaford, DE (Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation)Maple Glen Center, Fair Lawn, NJ (Long-Term Care)Marshwood Center, Lewiston, ME (Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation)Millville Center, Millville, NJ (Short-Term Rehabilitation)Pine Point Center, Scarborough, ME (Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation) Newsweek America’s Best Nursing Homes for 2026:

Abbeyville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lancaster, PAJersey Shore Center, Eatontown, NJLaurel Center, Hamburg, PAMaple Glen Center, Fair Lawn, NJ Recognition Rooted in Performance and Quality

The Newsweek and U.S. News evaluations assess key indicators of quality, including staffing, clinical outcomes, health inspections, accreditation, and patient and resident experience. These recognitions align with Genesis’ strong 2025 performance, reflecting sustained operational improvement and high satisfaction across its affiliated centers.

“Independent recognition like this does not happen by chance,” said Murray. “It reflects focused investment in leadership and clinical excellence, supported by a culture that consistently puts patients and residents first.” National recognition from trusted third-party organizations validates the quality of care being delivered at the center level and reinforces Genesis’ continued commitment to excellence.

“These honors affirm the dedication of our teams and the strong foundation they are building for the future,” Murray added.

ABOUT GENESIS HEALTHCARE, INC.
Genesis Healthcare, Inc. is a holding company with affiliates that operate skilled nursing facilities and assisted/senior living communities. Its subsidiaries also specialize in contract rehabilitation therapy, respiratory therapy, physician services, and accountable care, collectively referred to as Genesis HealthCare. To learn more, visit www.genesishcc.com.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

ABOUT STATISTA
Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

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

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December 19, 2025

Solana-based AI token Ava, known by its ticker AVA, has plunged more than 96% from its peak after new on-chain analysis raised questions about how the token’s supply was distributed at launch and whether insiders coordinated early purchases.

The latest findings come from blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps, which published an analysis on X showing that around 40% of AVA’s total supply was accumulated at launch by a cluster of wallets linked to the token’s deployer.

Wallet Clustering Points to AVA Token Sniping at LaunchAccording to Bubblemaps, the wallets were funded shortly before launch, showed no prior on-chain activity, and bought large amounts of AVA as soon as the token became available.

AVA launched on Nov. 13, 2024, on Pump.fun, a Solana-based memecoin launch platform that promotes fair and decentralized token launches.

The project gained early attention as one of the first 3D AI agent tokens, backed by Holoworld AI, a Polychain Capital portfolio company.

By January 2025, AVA had reached a fully diluted valuation of roughly $300 million, driven by a surge of interest in AI-themed crypto projects.

Bubblemaps said its analysis identified 23 wallets, including the deployer, that were funded within tight time windows through centralized exchanges such as Binance and Bitget.

Source: BubblemapsThe wallets received similar amounts of SOL and then used automated trading strategies to buy AVA at launch.

The firm added that additional wallets connected to this initial cluster followed similar funding and timing patterns, which it said strongly suggests coordination rather than independent participation.

In crypto markets, this practice is commonly referred to as sniping, where bots are used to purchase new tokens the moment they become tradable, often securing large allocations before retail participants can react.

While sniping itself is not illegal, a heavy concentration of supply among early wallets can increase the risk of sharp sell-offs if those holders decide to exit.

The firm said the analysis shows that despite AVA’s public positioning as a community-driven launch, a single coordinated entity ended up controlling a large share of the supply.

AVA’s Market Reality Sets In as Token Sheds 96% From All-Time HighMore than a year after launch, the impact is visible in the token’s market performance.

AVA is down over 79% from its launch price and more than 96% from its all-time high of about $0.33, reached on Jan. 15, 2025, according to CoinGecko data.

Source: CoinGeckoThe token now trades near $0.01, erasing most of its early gains.

This decline has occurred despite continued development by the team behind Holoworld AI. The project describes Ava as the first AI agent virtual image token, designed to power audiovisual AI agents capable of interaction and emotional expression.

Holoworld claims to have created more than 10,000 3D virtual characters, partnered with over 25 IP and NFT brands, and attracted more than 1 million users.

Even so, those developments have not prevented a steep drop in AVA’s market value. AVA has a fixed total supply of 1 billion tokens, with 50 million released at launch as part of a 5% public sale.

The broader token distribution includes long-term allocations for community incentives, the team, private investors, liquidity, and ecosystem development, many of which are subject to vesting schedules.

The episode adds to a growing list of cases where Bubblemaps has flagged concentrated token ownership shortly after launch.

In recent months, the firm has published similar analyses involving PEPE, the $WET presale on Solana, MYX Finance’s airdrop, and other high-profile tokens, often pointing to coordinated wallet behavior and heavy early sell pressure.

While not all cases resulted in enforcement action or project failures, they have intensified scrutiny around fair-launch claims and insider transparency.

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On-chain data shows Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) remains the blockchain with the fastest wallet growth, followed by XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC).

Ethereum Leads Adoption While Bitcoin Ranks SecondAccording to data shared by Santiment, Ethereum ranks first among cryptocurrency networks with 167.96 million non-empty wallets, giving it a wide lead in address activity. 

Bitcoin follows in second place with 57.62 million wallets, reflecting a more concentrated holding structure.

Ethereum's dominance in wallet counts reflects its role as the primary settlement layer for decentralized finance, stablecoins, NFTs, and smart contract applications.

Many Ethereum addresses hold small balances tied to protocols, bots, and applications, which significantly boosts wallet totals.

Bitcoin's lower wallet count points to a different usage pattern. 

Rather than transactional density, Bitcoin's on-chain profile aligns more closely with its role as a store of value, where balances tend to be more concentrated and held for longer periods.

XRP Wallet Growth Continues Despite Price Weakness

XRP Holder Data by Santiment

Santiment data shows XRP Ledger participation continuing to rise even as XRP price has sharply underperformed since its July peak. 

When XRP topped out near $3.66 in mid-July, the network had about 6.7 million non-empty wallets.

That figure has since climbed to 7.41 million, marking an increase of nearly 11% in active accounts. 

The growth contrasts with price action, as XRP has fallen close to 50% from its July highs, suggesting rising participation even as market sentiment weakened.

Behind Ethereum, Bitcoin, and XRP, Tether (CRYPTO: USDT) ranks third with 9.63 million non-empty wallets, followed by Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) at 8.13 million. 

Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) holds about 4.54 million wallets, narrowly ahead of USD Coin (CRYPTO: USDC) at 4.39 million, while Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK) trails the group with roughly 819,000 wallets.

Where Bitcoin, Ethereum And XRP Face Their Next Technical TestFor XRP the $2.17–$2.20 area continues to cap recoveries, reinforced by Supertrend resistance and prior reaction highs. 

A failure to hold the $1.80 base would confirm continuation toward the next demand zone near $1.60, while only a clean break and hold above $2.20 would begin to disrupt the current bearish framework.

For Bitcoin the $90,900–$91,000 zone is the first level that must be reclaimed, aligning with the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement and the falling 20-day EMA. 

As long as price remains below that area, upside attempts lack confirmation.

On the downside, failure to hold $87,000 keeps pressure on the rising base near $84,000, which remains the key support before structural damage deepens.

Ethereum continues to respect a downward-sloping resistance line from the October high, with recent rebounds stalling into the clustered 20-day and 50-day EMAs near $3,050–$3,200. 

The $3,340 region stands out as a more meaningful pivot, coinciding with prior breakdown support and the upper Bollinger Band. 

Below current levels, the $2,750–$2,800 zone remains critical, as it marks the lower band and the last area preventing a deeper retracement toward $2,500.

Read Next:

Bitcoin To Hit $1.4 Million By 2035 Due To Three-Pillar ‘Asymmetric Risk Profile’
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XRP seems to be favored by both ChatGPT and Grok.

Pi Network’s PI, Ripple’s XRP, and Cardano’s ADA are three of the most trending cryptocurrencies, which have millions of holders worldwide.

They all had their glory moments earlier this year, but their recent performance has been quite the opposite. We decided to check whether these digital assets can deliver substantial gains in 2026 and which one is best positioned to outperform. For additional insight, we consulted four of the most popular AI-powered chatbots.

PI is the ‘Wildcard’
ChatGPT estimated that XRP has the “cleanest setup” and has the best chance for “sustained, risk-adjusted gains” throughout 2026. It claimed that institutional interest towards the asset has been growing, while the regulatory clarity has improved following Ripple’s victory in the legal battle against the US SEC.

The chatbot described Cardano’s native token as a “strong contender.” It highlighted the “methodical” development of its ecosystem and devoted community and predicted that it can quickly catch up in case the broader crypto market heads north.

Pi Network’s PI is seen as a “wildcard.” ChatGPT argued that the token poses the highest risk and uncertainty, forecasting that its potential rally next year will depend heavily on real utility, increased adoption, and clear tokenomics.

“If those pieces fall into place, PI could massively outperform – but if not, expectations may deflate quickly.”

Grok, the chatbot integrated within X, also claimed that XRP has the strongest potential among that pack. It went even further, envisioning a new all-time high for Ripple’s native token in 2026, driven by its real-world utility in cross-border payments and favorable regulatory tailwinds.

According to Grok, ADA could post steady growth through tech upgrades, whereas PI (“being new and more speculative”) might deliver volatile pumps but faces a higher risk of a further decline.

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Ripple (XRP) Whales Step Up as Taker Demand Flips Bullish

Bitcoin (BTC) Stops at $90K After the FOMC Meeting, Cardano (ADA) Plunges by 10%: Market Watch

More in Favor of XRP
Perplexity agreed with the thesis of the aforementioned AI-powered chatbots. It claimed that Ripple’s cross-border token has the strongest potential and could explode to a new record above $8.60 next year.

It was more conservative regarding Cardano’s cryptocurrency, stating that its potential rally would hinge on the launch of a spot ADA ETF in the USA. PI is seen as the underdog since its price is limited by supply pressure and the lack of support coming from leading exchanges like Binance.

Google’s Gemini estimated that all cryptocurrencies in question have great potential. It claimed that XRP could flip Ethereum (ETH) next year if institutional adoption picks up, whereas ADA might jump to uncharted territory if the ecosystem continues to evolve.

Gemini was surprisingly bullish for PI, too, calling it the asset with “the highest moonshot” upside. At the same time, it warned that it has the highest risk of crashing to virtually zero sometime in 2026.

Tags:

Ethereum continues to struggle with price recovery as it repeatedly fails to close above the $3,000 level. ETH has shown brief upside attempts, only to retreat under selling pressure. 

While price action remains frustrating for holders, underlying network data points to strengthening fundamentals that may support future recovery.

Ethereum Holders Are StayingEthereum leads all major cryptocurrencies in non-empty wallet count. The network hosts more than 167.9 million active addresses holding balances. Bitcoin, by comparison, has about 57.62 million. Other top-cap assets trail significantly behind both networks.

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This dominance highlights Ethereum’s broad user base and diverse use cases. Decentralized finance, NFTs, and smart contract activity continue to drive engagement. Strong participation reflects confidence, which plays a critical role in sustaining demand.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Ethereum Holders Data. Source: SantimentMacro indicators further support a constructive outlook. Ethereum balances on centralized exchanges have declined steadily. Since the start of the month, roughly 397,495 ETH have been withdrawn from exchanges, reducing immediate sell-side supply.

These outflows suggest accumulation at current price levels. The withdrawn ETH is valued at over $1.17 billion, signaling confidence among long-term investors. Lower exchange balances often precede reduced selling pressure, which can support price recovery when demand strengthens.

Ethereum Balance on Exchanges. Source: GlassnodeETH Price Could Breach The Critical BarrierEthereum trades near $2,946 at the time of writing, remaining below the psychological $3,000 level. The asset has consistently bounced off the $2,762 support zone over recent weeks. This behavior indicates buyers are defending lower levels despite broader uncertainty.

If supportive trends continue, ETH could attempt another breakout above $3,000. A successful move may open the path toward $3,131. Continued momentum could extend gains toward $3,287, signaling improving confidence among both retail and institutional participants.

ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewRisks persist if selling pressure intensifies. A breakdown below $2,762 would weaken the recovery narrative. Losing this support could send Ethereum toward the $2,681 level, marking a four-week low and invalidating the bullish thesis outlined by improving on-chain metrics.

19h05 ▪
5
min read ▪ by
Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

While the crypto sector anticipates a prolonged bullish cycle, supported by the arrival of institutional investors and a maturing regulatory framework, a major voice disrupts this consensus. Jurrien Timmer, Director of Macro Research at Fidelity, speaks of a break in momentum. According to him, Bitcoin could pause in 2026, not at a peak, but around a technical pullback. A projection that challenges the prevailing euphoria and invites reconsideration of the medium-term market trajectory.

In brief

Fidelity questions the scenario of a prolonged Bitcoin bull cycle, despite the market’s prevailing optimism.
Jurrien Timmer, Macro Director at Fidelity, believes Bitcoin probably reached its peak in October 2025 at $126,000.
He forecasts a stagnating 2026, with a potential return to a support level between $65,000 and $75,000.
2026 could mark a pause, a reversal, or a fresh start for Bitcoin, depending on the envisaged scenarios.

Fidelity’s macroeconomic reading
In an analysis published on December 12 on the X network, Jurrien Timmer, Director of Macro Research at Fidelity Investments, suggested that Bitcoin may have already reached the peak of its current cycle with a peak at $126,000 last October.

According to him, this would mark the end of the traditional four-year cycle driven by the halvings. “It may well be that Bitcoin has already completed a new four-year halving cycle phase,” he wrote, while emphasizing : “Bitcoin winters have generally lasted about a year, so I have the feeling that 2026 could be a drought year for crypto. The support is between $65,000 and $75,000.” He forecasts a period of stagnation or even decline for 2026, rather than continued upward momentum.

This reading is based on macroeconomic models that Timmer regularly uses to interpret BTC’s evolution, notably :

The demand curve, used to analyze Bitcoin’s large-scale adoption as a technology asset with exponential growth ;

The S-curve, which suggests a maturity phase after the initial explosion, marking a transition to a more stable but less dynamic market ;

The historical analysis of cycles: previous “crypto winters” lasted about a year, reinforcing his hypothesis of a sustained slowdown after this year ;

A mean reversion estimated between $65,000 and $75,000, identified as a potential technical and psychological support zone.

By offering this framework, Timmer challenges a currently dominant market view : that of a prolonged super-cycle fueled by favorable regulations and institutional adoption. His position encourages seeing 2026 not as a delayed peak but as a consolidation plateau.

What if the bull market isn’t over ?
Contrary to this cautious reading, several leading analysts foresee an acceleration of the bull cycle beyond 2025, driven by post-crisis normalization and structurally positive fundamentals.

Tom Shaughnessy, co-founder of Delphi Digital, sees in the liquidity shock of last October 10, which he describes as an exceptional event, a temporary bottom heralding a new bull cycle.

“We are going through an exceptional extreme liquidation event, a real 10 out of 10, which deeply destabilized the market,” he explained on X, adding that BTC prices could reach new highs in 2026. For him, institutional adoption, regulatory progress, and asset tokenization should catalyze a sustained market rally.

This outlook is supported by trends observed at players like OKX, which multiplies initiatives to integrate traditional finance within crypto-native infrastructures. According to Hong Fang, platform president, “the convergence between crypto and traditional finance is no longer a mere hypothesis. It is happening here and now.”

The rise of regulated products, the legislative implementation on stablecoins, and net long positions on Ether (475 million dollars, against short positions on BTC amounting to 123 million) illustrate a profound market reorganization around new catalysts. In this perspective, the pause envisaged by Fidelity may not occur, or at least could be quickly reversed by a return of confidence and capital.

While Fidelity anticipates a declining 2026, a massive inflow into Bitcoin ETFs revives hopes for a rebound. Between institutional caution and emerging bullish signals, the market trajectory remains open, driven by opposing forces.

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

DISCLAIMER

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

TLDR

Mangoceuticals launches a subsidiary dedicated to managing up to $100 million in SOL tokens.
The company targets annual yields between 8% and 20% through staking and DeFi.
The agreement with The Cube Group provides technical pedigree from core Solana developers.

Friday’s trading session brought a surprise to the financial market as Mangoceuticals, the men’s health and wellness company, announced an aggressive diversification into the blockchain sector. Through its subsidiary Mango DAT, LLC, the company confirmed that Mangoceuticals adopts Solana treasury strategy with an ambitious plan of up to $100 million.

This aggressive maneuver seeks to transform the firm’s corporate balance sheet, using the SOL token as the primary reserve asset under the framework known as “MULTI-DAT.”

To ensure institutional-grade execution, the company formed an alliance with The Cube Group, a team with a proven track record in the development of the Solana ecosystem.

DeFi Yields and Direct Exposure for NASDAQ Investors
At the core of this initiative—beyond asset accumulation—is the generation of non-dilutive yields. The strategy targets a base staking yield of between 7% and 8%, with the potential to reach annualized returns of up to 20% through active management in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

Jacob Cohen, CEO of the firm, noted that the fact that Mangoceuticals adopts Solana treasury strategy allows NASDAQ investors to gain unique and productive exposure to one of the most scalable networks in the world.

Unlike the MicroStrategy model, which focuses on Bitcoin as a static store of value, Mangoceuticals focuses on the interest-generating properties of Solana. However, the funding of the plan through “at-the-market” (ATM) stock offering programs has sparked some caution.

While this movement generated technological optimism, MGRX shares experienced high volatility, trading at $1.05 with a drop of nearly 20% following the announcement. This behavior reflects the market’s duality regarding small-cap companies seeking cash flow efficiency through crypto assets.

With this decision, it is clear that Mangoceuticals adopts Solana treasury strategy not just as an investment, but as a paradigm shift in its corporate structure facing the new digital economy.

Journalist

Posted: December 19, 2025

XRP ETFs have crossed $1 billion in assets under management and have yet to record a single day of net outflows since launch. 

Under normal market conditions, sustained ETF inflows of this magnitude would help stabilize price or even fuel a recovery. Instead, XRP continues to post lower highs and lower lows — and new on-chain data shows why.

Analysis from CryptoQuant indicates that whales are sending large volumes of XRP to Binance, creating persistent sell-side pressure that has outweighed the ETF bid throughout December.

XRP whales dominate exchange inflows — not retail
The XRP Ledger inflow-value band chart shows that almost all recent inflows to Binance originate from the 100K–1M XRP and 1M+ XRP cohorts. 

These are not retail wallets; they are whales and high-net-worth entities preparing liquidity for selling.

Each time these value bands spike, price reacts the same way:

a lower high forms
followed by a lower low
confirming that excess supply continues to overwhelm the market

Whales are not dumping aggressively in a single event, but the steady drip of supply has been enough to keep XRP sliding. Without a new influx of spot buyers, the market has struggled to absorb this activity.

ETF inflows show strength — but they are not offsetting whale supply
Data from SoSoValue shows that XRP spot ETFs have now accumulated over $1.14 billion in assets and registered zero days of outflows since launch. 

Cumulative inflows remain firmly positive, and daily inflow behavior has been stable, even during market drawdowns.

This presents a contradiction: ETF demand is rising, yet price is falling.

The most plausible explanation aligns with CryptoQuant’s analysis. Whales accumulated XRP ahead of the ETF approval, expecting a speculative rally, then sold the narrative back to retail once the approval event arrived. 

This created a pocket of persistent supply that ETF inflows alone could not counter.

Every attempt by XRP to reclaim the $1.95 zone has been rejected by renewed whale-led inflows to exchanges.

Key support levels to watch
Based on inflow intensity and the XRP price structure:

$1.82–$1.87 → first major support
$1.50–$1.66 → deeper support range if inflows continue rising

Price briefly stabilized near $1.82 in early December, but subsequent whale inflows forced another leg down.

Until on-chain data shows a decline in large inflows, the odds of a sustained rally remain limited.

XRP ETF momentum is real — but the market needs spot buyers
XRP ETFs offer a clear indication of institutional interest, and the absence of outflows suggests that investors are not withdrawing capital from the product. 

However, ETF demand alone cannot reverse a market where large holders continually increase their active supply.

The market will need:

A reduction in whale exchange inflows
A shift in value bands toward accumulation
A stronger bid from new spot buyers

Until then, XRP remains vulnerable to further downside despite the strong ETF momentum.

Final Thoughts

ETF inflows remain strong, but whale-driven supply continues to push XRP lower.
A bullish reversal requires declining large inflows, not just ETF demand.

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is increasingly being treated as a monetary asset rather than a speculative trade, as institutional capital concentrates in BTC and leaves most altcoins struggling to keep up.

Bitcoin Separates From The Rest Of CryptoMessari's 2026 outlook frames 2025 as a turning point where Bitcoin decisively broke from the broader crypto market. 

While earlier cycles saw capital rotate from BTC into higher-risk tokens, the opposite trend now dominates. 

Bitcoin's market share has climbed above 57%, up from roughly 37% three years ago, even as many large-cap altcoins remain deeply below prior highs.

From December 2022 through late 2025, Bitcoin rose more than 400%, while most major tokens lagged. 

Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) gained about 135% over the same period, while several Layer-1 assets posted negative returns. 

Messari argues this divergence reflects a repricing of Bitcoin as crypto money rather than another high-beta digital asset.

ETFs And Treasuries Drive Persistent DemandA major force behind Bitcoin's resilience has been institutional demand through spot ETFs and corporate treasuries. 

According to Messari, spot Bitcoin ETFs now hold more than 1.3 million BTC, representing over 6% of the asset's total supply. 

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT) has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ETFs in history, reinforcing Bitcoin's role as a regulated monetary vehicle.

Beyond ETFs, nearly 200 companies now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets. 

Public firms alone control roughly 1.06 million BTC, with Strategy accounting for the largest share. 

Messari notes that these digital asset treasuries have reshaped Bitcoin's liquidity profile, allowing large transactions to occur without the market impact seen in prior cycles.

Why Bitcoin Underperformed Gold In 2025Despite its long-term outperformance, Bitcoin lagged gold and equities in late 2025. 

Gold rose more than 60% year-to-date, while Bitcoin slipped into negative territory. 

Messari attributes this divergence largely to selling pressure from early, large-balance holders who gained new exit liquidity through regulated markets.

Onchain data cited in the report shows that wallets holding between 1,000 and 100,000 BTC were net sellers throughout 2025. 

This distribution coincided with a slowdown in ETF and treasury inflows during the second half of the year, creating a temporary supply-demand imbalance.

Messari does not view this as a structural breakdown. 

Instead, the firm describes it as a short-term digestion phase following years of aggressive accumulation.

Altcoins Face A Valuation ResetWhile Bitcoin consolidates its monetary role, Messari warns that most altcoins face deteriorating fundamentals. 

Layer-1 revenues declined year-over-year, even as valuations remain elevated. 

In many cases, prices appear supported by a perceived "monetary premium" rather than cash flow or usage growth.

The report expects most layer-1 assets to underperform Bitcoin unless they can clearly establish themselves as cryptomoney or deliver sustained economic value. 

A small number of exceptions may exist, but Messari argues the era of broad-based altcoin outperformance has ended.

Bitcoin Enters 2026 In Correction As Key Support Turns Into Supply

BTC Price Action (Source: TradingView)

Bitcoin is near the end of 2025 with its structure weakened, but not broken, after a decisive loss of the $96,000–$98,000 range, which previously acted as higher-timeframe support. 

That breakdown marked a clear shift from trend continuation into a corrective regime.

On the daily chart, price remains below major EMAs, all of which are sloping lower and clustered between $94,000 and $100,000. 

This zone has developed into a firm supply band, reinforced by repeated rejection attempts and prior breakdown structure. 

As long as recoveries stall below this cluster, upside momentum remains structurally capped.

Downside risk is defined first by the $83,000–$84,000 region, which marks the most recent reaction low and prior range base. 

A sustained break below that level would open the door to the broader $74,000–$76,000 demand zone.

For any medium-term recovery to take hold, Bitcoin would need to reclaim $96,000 and then establish acceptance above $102,000, where the 200-day EMA currently sits. 

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Bitcoin and ether ETFs both moved deeper into negative territory as investor caution resurfaced, while solana and XRP continued to attract steady inflows. The session reflected a market still rotating selectively rather than exiting crypto exposure altogether.

Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin white paper envisioned a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system,” but Bitcoin’s biggest proponent seems to have an entirely different view of its purpose.

Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor, whose company has been buying Bitcoin aggressively for nearly five years since adopting a Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, presented what many described as plans for a “Bitcoin central bank” during his keynote speech at Bitcoin MENA.

Economist Saifedean Ammous, well-known in Bitcoin circles for penning The Bitcoin Standard, was also a notable figure attending the conference in Abu Dhabi. Ammous and Saylor are understood to converse regularly, with Saylor having written the foreword of Ammous’ most famous book.

Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction show, Ammous acknowledged that Saylor does not view Bitcoin as money through the same lens as other Bitcoin proponents. 

Source: Gareth Jenkinson
“I don’t think he sees Bitcoin as money. He’s been very clear about that. He sees Bitcoin more as an asset. One of the great metaphors he uses is that Bitcoin is like crude oil in that it is a hard asset,” Ammous said.

“Just like Standard Oil refined crude oil into standard forms of consumer oil like kerosene or gasoline, he sees Strategy’s role as refining crude Bitcoin into different forms of financial assets that allow people access to them."Saylor has used various existing corporate finance mechanisms to allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

The company’s Class A Common Stock (MSTR) allows investors to buy shares in Strategy, which acts as a leveraged play on the price of Bitcoin, as the company’s primary strategy is to accumulate BTC. 

Strategy has also raised billions of dollars through offerings of convertible senior notes, a type of debt that can be converted into equity at a future date, to buy more Bitcoin. His most recent innovations saw the issuance of several classes of perpetual preferred stock (STRK, STRF, STRD, STRC) to institutional investors.

As of Dec. 15, Strategy had accumulated 671,268 Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is still moneyWhile Saylor has gone on record to unpack his thesis on why Bitcoin is a hard asset that can serve as the basis for various financial products, Saifedean says Strategy's Bitcoin playbook doesn’t alter Bitcoin's monetary properties. 

“I can see the logic behind it. Ultimately, it’s an academic issue. It doesn’t have much of real-world relevance,” Saifedean said.

“In theory, I think of Bitcoin itself as the money. I think of it as being the asset itself. And I think people just need to hold Bitcoin. And I think in the long run, people are going to hold Bitcoin. Now, as long as the fiat money printer exists, there will be all kinds of fiat games that can and will be played.”

Saifedean said that global monetary supply increases by 7%-15% annually and that the system incentivizes the use of debt. 

“There’s an enormous world that is used to getting into financial debt for all kinds of purposes. You’re going to see that increase. As Bitcoin grows, you’re going to be seeing these kinds of financial fiat tools and products being deployed on Bitcoin.”

What does that actually mean? Well, in short, businesses and individuals will need to acquire Bitcoin as pristine capital to access affordable debt.

“Ultimately, all of that has to be built on a foundation of buying Bitcoin. One way or the other, that just means more and more people buy Bitcoin and the size of cash balances in Bitcoin increases. And in my mind, that inevitably means that Bitcoin becomes the money itself.”

Ammous featured on Chain Reaction after Africa Bitcoin Corporation (ABC) announced that the economist would be advising the company.

ABC’s president, Stafford Masie, said Ammous’ primary motivation for advising ABC was the widespread adoption of Bitcoin across retail stores and the unique circular economies in South Africa.

TL;DR

Zcash rebounded from range lows with a 10.15% gain in the last 24 hours, trading near $431.49.
The technical structure suggests stabilization after weeks of consolidation, supporting the idea of a potential higher-timeframe base rather than a short-lived bounce.
The move came with strong participation, as 24-hour volume reached $703 million and market capitalization stood near $7.09 billions, underlining sustained interest in privacy-focused crypto assets.

Zcash has returned to focus after a decisive rebound from recent lows. The latest price action combines short-term momentum with broader structural signals that point toward a possible base formation following an extended corrective phase.

$ZEC looks pretty good overall, I think you just saw a high time frame bottom get put in. If so, this goes to $500+ as long as BTC is stable pic.twitter.com/X6s5vgj2C1

— Altcoin Sherpa (@AltcoinSherpa) December 19, 2025

Zcash Recovers From Range Lows As Structure Improves
Zcash currently trades at $431.49, up 10.15% in the last 24 hours. The recovery followed a prolonged period of sideways movement, during which ZEC rotated within a broad range and gradually absorbed selling pressure. Rather than a sudden reversal, the move reflects a steady loss of downside control, as buyers began defending lower levels more consistently.

From a technical standpoint, price reclaimed zones that previously acted as resistance, shifting attention from further downside risk toward validation of the rebound. Volume recorded $703 million traded in a single day, signaling broad market participation rather than thin liquidity. This contrasts with earlier sessions marked by choppy price action and limited follow-through.

Zcash’s market capitalization near $7.09 billions places it among established digital assets despite recent volatility. Its size adds relevance to structural shifts, as larger-cap assets typically require sustained demand to alter trend behavior.

Network Context And Market Positioning
Beyond price action, Zcash continues to operate without protocol disruptions. The network remains defined by its use of zero-knowledge proofs, enabling transactions that preserve privacy while remaining verifiable. This characteristic keeps ZEC relevant as digital markets increasingly weigh user privacy alongside compliance and transparency.

In the broader market, Zcash’s rebound aligns with renewed risk appetite across several major cryptocurrencies. Traders are now monitoring whether ZEC can hold above reclaimed levels, a key condition for confirming that the move represents stabilization rather than a simple range rotation.

As price approaches the upper boundary of the prior range, activity has begun to moderate, hinting at near-term consolidation. Such pauses often accompany base-building processes, where balance forms before the market defines its next direction.

Zcash’s rebound from key range lows marks a shift from weakness toward market reassessment. With improved momentum, solid trading volume, and a technical structure favoring stabilization, attention now centers on price behavior around recovered levels.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2025) - National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PC announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) ("Stride" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased Stride securities during the period of October 22, 2024 through October 28, 2025 (the "Class Period").

Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased Stride securities during the Class Period may, no later than January 12, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE.

Stride is an education technology company based in Reston, Virginia, offering digital learning programs and instructional support to public and private schools.

According to the complaint, the Company misrepresented the performance and integrity of its products and services during the Class Period. The lawsuit claims Stride overstated enrollment figures, reduced staff costs beyond legal limits, failed to meet compliance standards, and lost key enrollments-all while assuring investors of its commitment to personalized learning. When the alleged issues became known, the Company's stock price declined, causing investor losses.

If you are a Stride investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at [email protected] or (267)764-4865.

About Berger Montague
Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.4 billion in 2025 post-trial judgments alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278718

Source: Berger Montague

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Key Takeaways PAYX delivered 2Q26 EPS of $1.26, beating estimates and rising 10.5% y/y.PAYX saw Management Solutions revenues jump 21% y/y to $1.2B, while PEO and Insurance rose 6% to $336.9M.PAYX reported a 36.7% operating margin and a 51% jump in client-fund interest.
Paychex, Inc. (PAYX - Free Report) has reported impressive second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

PAYX’s fiscal second-quarter earnings of $1.26 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.6% and increased 10.5% from the year-ago quarter. Total revenues of $1.6 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by a slight margin and rallied 18.3% from the year-ago quarter.

The company’s shares have declined 11.6% over the past three months compared with the 13.5% dip of the industry and against a 2% hike of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.

PAYX’s Quarterly PerformanceRevenues from the Management Solutions segment improved 21% year over year to $1.2 billion, meeting our estimate.

Professional employer organization (“PEO”) and Insurance Solutions’ revenues were $336.9 million, increasing 6% from the year-ago quarter. The figure missed our projected figure of $341.5 million.

Service revenues gained 17% year over year to $1.5 billion, meeting our estimated figure. Interest on funds held for clients rallied 51% from the year-ago quarter to $54.3 million, beating our projection of $46.1 million.

EBITDA of $681.3 million increased 18% from the year-ago quarter, missing our estimate of $728.5 million. Operating income rose 6% year over year to $571.9 million, missing our forecast of $653.8 million. The operating margin was 36.7%, down 420 basis points from the year-ago quarter. The reported figure missed our estimate of 42%.

Balance Sheet & Cash Flow of PaychexThe company exited the second quarter of fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $1.5 billion compared with $809 million in the preceding quarter. The long-term debt totaled $4.6 billion, flat with the preceding quarter.

Cash generated from operating activities amounted to $444.9 million, while the capital expenditure totaled $62.1 million.

PAYX’S FY26 GuidancePaychex expects revenues to grow 16.5-18.5%. Management expects interest on funds held for clients of $190-$200 million.

The company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.

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

Earnings SnapshotsFactSet (FDS - Free Report) reported impressive results for first-quarter fiscal 2026.

FDS’s earnings per share of $4.51 beat the consensus mark by 2.7% and increased 3.2% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues of $607.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4% and rose 6.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Accenture plc (ACN - Free Report) posted impressive first-quarter fiscal 2026 results.

ACN’s earnings were $3.94 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.6%. The metric increased 9.8% from the year-ago quarter. Total revenues of $18.7 billion beat the consensus estimate by 1% and rose 6% on a year-over-year basis.

While the gold market tends to dominate the precious metals discourse, it's silver that is currently consuming investors' attention at this hour. In early October, silver reached a historical threshold, climbing to $50 per ounce and smashing the previous record set in April 2011. At the time, enthusiasm centered on the Federal Reserve and rising wagers of a dovish monetary policy.

In some ways, the upside narrative featured a touch of cynicism. Mechanically, an interest rate cut implies a lower cost of borrowing, which would effectively reduce the purchasing power of the dollar. All other things being equal, that should raise the value of silver as it's a precious metal with a dualistic nature. Although most of the silver produced is used for industrial purposes, the commodity commands intrinsic value as a form of hard money.

Another factor to consider is the underlying motivation for rate cuts, which usually speak to macro uncertainty. By itself, outright economic collapse is not a positive outcome for any asset class. However, more mundane concerns can aid assets like silver, where precious metals have historically acted as safe havens.

Still, it must be noted that no sector is immune to occasional valuation shocks. Due to rising fears of a bubble brewing in artificial intelligence, the subsequent risk-off environment — which sparked volatility between late October and late November — imposed pressure on both gold and silver.

Interestingly, while gold has marched back to prior highs, silver has stormed to unprecedented levels. Today, silver is trading above $65, which means that an ounce of silver is now worth more than a barrel of oil. That's the first time such a label could be attached to the white metal in 45 years.

Based on supply side dynamics of the silver market, the bulls remain confident of robust performance. In particular, mining production has struggled to meaningfully accelerate, largely due to years of underinvestment following the last commodity downturn. Moreover, new projects face long lead times, regulatory hurdles and rising capital costs, limiting the mining industry's ability to respond quickly to higher prices.

As such, the market has increasingly relied on above-ground inventories — a dynamic that has proven difficult to sustain. With silver playing an increasingly indispensable role in electronics, solar energy infrastructure and next-generation technologies, the supply side situation may become even more challenging in the years ahead.

The Sprott ETF: Although many investors are steadily recognizing the opportunity in silver, it can be an opaque and difficult sector to navigate for newcomers. That's where financial services provider and commodities expert Sprott Inc. (NYSE:SII) comes into view, delivering target and efficient exposure to the resource markets.

One of Sprott's more recent launches is the Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF (NASDAQ:SLVR). According to its prospectus, SLVR is the only exchange-traded fund designed to focus exclusively on silver miners alongside physical silver. The fund seeks to track the total return performance of the Nasdaq Sprott Silver Miners Index, before fees and expenses.

To achieve this objective, SLVR allocates at least 80% of its assets to index constituents, which include silver producers, developers, explorers and physical silver holdings. This structure is intended to provide diversified exposure across the silver value chain rather than relying solely on spot prices.

It's worth mentioning that silver mining equities often exhibit greater volatility than the underlying metal. Operational risks, cost pressures and jurisdictional factors can all influence miner performance independently of silver prices. However, broad exposure across multiple companies may help mitigate some of those idiosyncratic risks while preserving upside participation when conditions are favorable.

The SLVR ETF: Making its public debut in January of this year, the SLVR ETF has been a top performer, gaining 148%.

As one might expect, the price action stands firmly above the 50- and 200-day moving averages, along with the 20-day exponential moving average.
Recent performance has been quite explosive, with SLVR gaining 25% in the trailing month. To be fair, though, the trailing five sessions has incurred a roughly 9% loss.
Volume levels have noticeably become elevated in the fourth quarter, which would appear to add some support for the current record-breaking rally.

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Investors interested in Medical - Drugs stocks are likely familiar with Sandoz Group AG Sponsored ADR (SDZNY - Free Report) and Stevanato Group (STVN - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

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

Right now, Sandoz Group AG Sponsored ADR is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Stevanato Group has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that SDZNY has an improving earnings outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.

Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.

SDZNY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 22.38, while STVN has a forward P/E of 34.66. We also note that SDZNY has a PEG ratio of 1.20. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. STVN currently has a PEG ratio of 2.03.

Another notable valuation metric for SDZNY is its P/B ratio of 3.63. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, STVN has a P/B of 3.7.

Based on these metrics and many more, SDZNY holds a Value grade of B, while STVN has a Value grade of C.

SDZNY stands above STVN thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that SDZNY is the superior value option right now.

Investors looking for stocks in the Securities and Exchanges sector might want to consider either London Stock Exchange Group plc - Unsponsored ADR (LSEGY - Free Report) or CME Group (CME - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.

We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.

Currently, London Stock Exchange Group plc - Unsponsored ADR has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while CME Group has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that LSEGY has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

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

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

LSEGY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 21.99, while CME has a forward P/E of 23.90. We also note that LSEGY has a PEG ratio of 1.89. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. CME currently has a PEG ratio of 3.97.

Another notable valuation metric for LSEGY is its P/B ratio of 2.05. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, CME has a P/B of 3.4.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to LSEGY's Value grade of B and CME's Value grade of D.

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

Investors with an interest in Chemical - Specialty stocks have likely encountered both Symrise AG Unsponsored ADR (SYIEY) and Hawkins (HWKN). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?

Investors interested in Building Products - Heavy Construction stocks are likely familiar with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) and Dycom Industries (DY). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?

Key Takeaways AFL rolls out cancer insurance on Ethos' digital platform, expanding access to supplemental health products.Aflac policies pay cash benefits for medical and non-medical costs and include preventive screening benefits.Aflac gains a new digital channel to reach customers seeking fast, low-friction insurance purchases.
Aflac Incorporated (AFL - Free Report) recently took a strategic step toward modernizing insurance distribution by partnering with Ethos to provide its supplemental health products through a fully digital platform. The partnership debuts with Aflac’s cancer insurance, which is now offered alongside Ethos’ life insurance options, allowing consumers to secure extra financial protection in just minutes.

The partnership brings together Aflac’s deep-rooted knowledge in supplemental health insurance and Ethos’ innovative tech-driven distribution model. With Ethos’ platform, customers can easily access cancer coverage aimed at helping to ease the financial burden of out-of-pocket expenses related to diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

A key feature of these policies is that they provide cash benefits directly to policyholders, offering flexibility to cover both medical and non-medical expenses associated with treatment. Plus, the inclusion of preventive screening benefits further enhances the product’s appeal by offering value even before a diagnosis is made and continues to support individuals throughout their care journey.

For Aflac, this tie-up opens a new digital channel to reach customers who increasingly prefer fast, low-friction insurance purchases. Ethos’ digital-first approach allows AFL to push past traditional limits while maintaining product quality and straightforward claims. Plus, this collaboration aligns with Aflac’s ongoing “One Digital Aflac” initiative, which aims to leverage technology to improve customer experiences, streamline operations and boost sales productivity.

Strategically, the Ethos tie-up positions Aflac to accelerate product innovation and better cross-selling opportunities in both life and supplemental health markets. As digital platforms increasingly become a primary access point, Aflac's proactive and organized approach could lead to steady premium growth and a stronger competitive edge.

AFL’s Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, Aflac’s shares have risen 7.5% compared with the industry’s growth of 7.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AFL’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAFL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some top-ranked stocks in the broader finance space are LendingClub Corporation (LC - Free Report) , Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc. (HRTG - Free Report) and The Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LendingClub’s current-year earnings of $1.15 per share has witnessed four upward revisions in the past 60 days against none in the opposite direction. LendingClub beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and met once, with the average surprise being 38.3%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $994.5 million, implying 26.4% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heritage Insurance’s current-year earnings of $5.14 per share has witnessed two upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Heritage Insurance beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 100.1%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $844.6 million, calling for 3.4% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Allstate’s current-year earnings is pegged at $28.21 per share and has witnessed three upward revisions in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Allstate beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 47.3%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $69 billion, calling for 7.2% year-over-year growth.

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.

Ciena Corporation, a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has seen its shares surge this year as the company benefits from an accelerating transformation driven by artificial intelligence and explosive demand for networking solutions. Ciena is a global technology provider of hardware, software, and related services for network operators.

The stock has broken out to a multi-decade high in 2025 on increasing volume. Shares continue to display relative strength as buying pressure accumulates in this market leader.

Ciena is part of the Zacks Communications - Components industry group, which currently ranks in the top 13% out of approximately 250 Zacks Ranked Industries. Because it is ranked in the top half of all Zacks Ranked Industries, we expect this group to outperform over the next 3 to 6 months, just as it has throughout the year:

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Take note of the favorable characteristics for this group below. Stocks in this industry are relatively undervalued based on traditional valuation metrics. They are also projected to experience above-average earnings growth, which signifies a powerful combination that should lead to higher prices in the future.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Historical research studies suggest that approximately half of a stock’s price appreciation is due to its industry grouping. In fact, the top 50% of Zacks Ranked Industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

It’s no secret that investing in stocks that are part of leading industry groups can give us a leg up relative to the market. By focusing on leading stocks within the top 50% of Zacks Ranked Industries, we can dramatically improve our stock-picking success.

Company DescriptionIn a year where artificial intelligence has reshaped the technology landscape, few companies have captured the momentum quite like Ciena. The networking specialist, a standout in the Zacks Communications - Components industry, has witnessed its shares surge more than 140% year-to-date, significantly outperforming both the broader market and its peers.

The catalyst for the bullish move? Explosive demand for high-speed optical networking solutions driven by AI infrastructure buildouts and cloud expansion. The company's innovations in coherent optics and photonic solutions position it at the heart of the multi-year AI networking cycle, where hyperscalers and service providers invest heavily to support data-intensive applications.

Its optical systems, software, and services power data transmission for telecom providers, cloud companies, and governments, with a primary focus on developing adaptive, AI-ready networks for massive bandwidth demands. Ciena specializes in high-speed connectivity, optical transport, routing, switching, and network automation, helping its clients manage data for 5G, broadband, and data centers.

Earnings Trends and Future Estimates What stands out is Ciena's consistent ability to deliver positive earnings surprises. Over the last twelve quarters, Ciena has missed the EPS mark just twice. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter average surprise of over 22%, reflecting strong execution in converting AI-driven demand into results. This track record aligns perfectly with the power of the Zacks Rank system, which prioritizes stocks showing upward earnings revisions.

Ciena's transformation has been remarkable. The company reported fiscal fourth-quarter results just last week that exceeded expectations, with adjusted EPS of $0.91 beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18%. Revenue of $1.35 billion topped forecasts by nearly 5% while growing 20% from the year-ago period. Management highlighted record orders, a $5 billion backlog, and market share gains in optical networking, particularly among cloud providers now representing a larger mix of sales.

The Maryland-based company has been the beneficiary of improving earnings estimate revisions as of late. Looking into the current quarter, analysts have raised their fiscal Q1 2026 EPS estimates by 39.47% in the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate now stands at $1.06 per share, reflecting better than 65% growth relative to the same period in the prior year. Revenues in the current quarter are projected to climb nearly 30% to $1.39 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Option EssentialsWhile there are many ways to take advantage of a bullish move in CIEN stock, options provide us with flexibility, enabling us to tailor our strategy to the current market environment.

When done correctly, trading options provides huge profit opportunities with limited risk making options one of the most versatile investment vehicles.

Before we analyze today’s trade, let’s review some option fundamentals as a refresher. There is no need to worry about complex mathematical formulas or equations. Over the years I’ve found that the more complicated a strategy is, the less likely it is to work over the long run.

Options are standardized contracts that give the buyer the right – but not the obligation – to buy or sell the underlying stock at a fixed price, which is known as the strike price. A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a particular security, while a put option gives the buyer the right to sell the same. The investor who purchases an option, whether a put or call, is the option buyer, while the investor who sells a put or call is the seller or writer.

These contracts are valid for a specific period of time which ends on expiration day. There are weekly options, monthly options, and even LEAPS options which are longer-term options that have an expiration date of greater than one year.

Option spreads can be an extremely effective strategy. Debit spreads are implemented by purchasing a call option and selling a related call option with a higher strike price. These types of trades are limited risk trades because the short option is ‘covered’ by the option purchase.

Below we’re going to explore a call option spread strategy.

The Power of Option SpreadsCiena (CIEN - Free Report) has been outperforming over the past year and currently meets our criteria for initiating a bullish call option spread position. The company is witnessing positive earnings estimate revisions, which our research has shown to be the most powerful force impacting stock prices.

Image Source: StockCharts

The table below displays the risk/reward profile for this trade. CIEN is trading at $210.71/share at the time of this writing. This trade involves purchasing the January 175-strike call at 38.9 points (yellow box), and selling the January 185-strike call at 31.2 points (orange box) for a total cost of 7.7 points. As option contracts represent 100 shares of the underlying security, this would translate to a total cost of just $770 per spread (brown box).

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The top (blue) row in the lower section shows the performance of CIEN stock based on different percentage scenarios at expiration. The last (purple) row shows the corresponding percentage return for our debit spread trade. We can see that regardless of whether CIEN increases in price, remains flat, or even loses 10% from our entry, our option spread trade will produce a 29.9% return.

Remember that the call option sold through this strategy profits as the price of the underlying stock declines, providing us with a cushion during market pullbacks.

Option spreads are a safe way to use the leverage inherent in options. Your risk is limited to the price paid for the spread. The call option spread strategy is an excellent way to take advantage of the bullish move in Ciena as the stock looks primed to continue its outperformance.

Bottom LineCurrently, Ciena carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), driven by favorable estimate momentum heading into fiscal 2026. Analysts project robust growth, with guidance implying mid-20% revenue expansion and continued margin improvement from scale and mix benefits.

Solid institutional buying should continue to provide a tailwind for the stock price. The Zacks Communications - Components industry itself ranks in the top tier, benefiting from structural tailwinds like fiber densification and data center interconnects. Ciena's leadership here, combined with its earnings beat streak and positive revisions, makes it a compelling choice for investors seeking exposure to AI's ongoing infrastructure boom.

As someone who has followed networking stocks through multiple cycles, it's encouraging to see Ciena not just riding the wave but helping build the foundation for tomorrow's connected world.