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28 minutes ago
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Strategy Falls 15% in a Month: Hold or Fold the MSTR Stock?
Strategy MSTR shares have declined 14.7% in the past month, underperforming the Zacks Computer - Software industry and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's returns of 0.3% and 3%, is the world's largest bitcoin treasury company, holding 628,791 bitcoins as of July 29, 3% of all bitcoin in existence. MARA Holdings MARA, Riot Platform RIOT and Tesla TSLA are other well-known companies that hold bitcoins in their respective balance sheets. As of June 30, MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms and Tesla had 49,951, 19,273 and 11,509 bitcoins, shares have underperformed MARA Holdings, Riot Platform and Tesla over the past month. While Tesla has climbed 2.1%, MARA Holdings and Riot Platform shares have dropped 14.5% and 12.3% over the same time frame. MSTR Stock's Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Can Growing Bitcoin Holding Aid MSTR's Prospects? Strategy benefits from the Trump administration's announcement of the establishment of a strategic bitcoin reserve. Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, has been soaring due to increasing acceptance as a non-sovereign asset, as well as higher institutional and corporate adoption. President Trump recently issued an executive order directing the Labor Department to explore allowing 401(k) retirement plans to hold cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets, which is expected to drive retail adoption of now expects to achieve a bitcoin yield of 30% and $20 billion in gains, assuming the bitcoin price hits $150,000 at the end of the year. Bitcoin yield has hit 25% year to date and was 19.7% at the end of the second quarter of 2025. In dollar terms, bitcoin gain was $9.5 billion at the end of the second quarter and $13.2 billion year to 2025, Strategy expects operating income of $34 billion, net income of $24 billion and earnings of $80 per share, based on a bitcoin price outlook of $150,000 at the end of the year. The company's estimated 2025 net income of $24 billion is better than Riot Platforms' and Mara Holdings' net loss of $0.5 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively. Disciplined Capital Raising Bodes Well for MSTR The company's disciplined approach to capital raising through preferred equity offerings — Strike (STRK), Strife (STRF), STRD (Stride) and STRC (Stretch) — is a key catalyst. STRK offers an 8% dividend coupon plus MSTR exposure through conversion rights, and has an effective yield of 7.5% as of July 29. STRF offers a 10% cash dividend coupon with enhanced payment protection features and has had an effective yield of 8.7% as of July 29. Stride offers a 10% cash dividend coupon with strong collateral coverage and has an effective yield of 11.9%. Stretch offers a variable monthly cash dividend with an effective yield of 9.5% as of July has issued $10.7 billion in equities and $7.6 billion in fixed income securities year to date. Among fixed income securities, the company raised $2 billion, $0.94 billion, $2.52 billion, $1.13 billion and $1.02 billion through convertible notes, STRF, STRC, STRK and STRD, respectively. Earnings Estimates Revision Trend Steady for MSTR For third-quarter 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSTR's loss has been unchanged at 11 cents per share over the past 30 days. The company reported a loss of $1.56 in the year-ago quarter. MicroStrategy Incorporated Price and Consensus MicroStrategy Incorporated price-consensus-chart | MicroStrategy Incorporated Quote For 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSTR's loss has been unchanged at $15.73 per share over the past 30 days. The company reported a loss of $6.72 per share in 2024. Here's Why You Should Avoid MSTR Stock Now Strategy shares are overvalued, as suggested by the Value Score of F. In terms of Price/Book, Strategy is trading at 2.15X compared with Mara Holdings' 1.24X and Riot Platforms' 1.38X, suggesting a premium valuation. MSTR vs. MARA Valuation Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MSTR vs. RIOT Valuation Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The MSTR stock is currently trading below the 50-day moving average, indicating a bearish trend. MSTR Stock Trades Below 50-Day SMA Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Strategy benefits from its growing bitcoin holdings and increasing subscription revenues. However, challenging macroeconomic conditions and uncertainty about tariffs increase volatility in bitcoin trading. Stretched valuation is another currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), which implies that investors should avoid the stock right can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report MicroStrategy Incorporated (MSTR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
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IPO & M&A Market Rebound: What it Means for Goldman's IB Business
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS is capitalizing on the ongoing rebound in global deal-making activities. The Global Banking & Markets division, which houses its investment banking (IB) business, remains the key growth engine. The division revenues accounted for 69.4% of the total net revenues as of June 30, 2025. Although 2025 began with optimism, market sentiment briefly dipped following Trump's tariff plans announced on 'Liberation Day' In April. Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have since regained momentum, and Goldman's IB fees rose 8% year over year in the first half of 2025. Specifically, advisory revenues rose 16% year over year, while debt underwriting revenues were up 2% and equity underwriting revenues grew nearly 1% in the first half of 2025. Additionally, Goldman, one of the largest and well-known investment banks, maintained its leading position in announced and completed M&As, reinforcing its strength in Global Banking & Markets. M&As are expected to remain robust in the second half of 2025, driven by stronger stock valuations, pent-up demand, and corporates' pursuit of greater scale and competitiveness. This outlook is further supported by regulatory shifts under the Trump administration, with the Federal Reserve moving to loosen 'well-managed' requirements and streamline approval processes, creating more conducive conditions for consolidation. These shifts should further bolster Goldman's advisory revenues, wherein it already holds a commanding lead. At the same time, the IPO market is showing renewed vitality. Investor demand for new issues is improving, particularly in technology and crypto-related offerings, aided by stronger equity markets, mainstream adoption of digital assets, favorable regulations, and a surge in Bitcoin prices. Importantly, the IPO pipeline is expected to remain solid through the end of 2025, signaling continued strength in equity underwriting. With rising M&A deals and IPO pipelines, Goldman's decent IB backlog and leadership position will continue to support its IB performance. Here's How GS Competes With MS & JPM in IB Business Morgan Stanley's MS IB business has been subdued this year, with the metric inching up 1% from the prior-year quarter. Its fixed income underwriting fees decreased 2%, while equity underwriting income rose 5% year over year. Morgan Stanley's advisory fees rose 2% year over year in the first half of 2025. Morgan Stanley remains cautiously optimistic about the performance of the IB business, supported by a stable and diversified M&A pipeline. JPMorgan's JPM total IB fees (in the Commercial & Investment Bank segment) grew 9% year over year in the first half of 2025. Specifically, JPMorgan's advisory and debt underwriting fees rose 11% and 14% year over year, respectively. On the contrary, equity underwriting fees fell 7%. Given its leading market share, diversified capabilities, and global reach, JPMorgan is well-positioned to witness a solid performance in the upcoming period. Goldman's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates GS shares have gained 27.7% year to date compared with the industry's growth of 23.2%. Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, Goldman trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.64X, above the industry's average of 14.47X. Price-to-Earnings F12M Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GS's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year rallies of 12.6% and 14.9%, respectively. Likewise, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GS's 2025 and 2026 sales implies year-over-year increases of 6.3% and 6.5%, respectively. The estimates for both years have been revised upward over the past 30 days. Estimates Revision Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Goldman currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) : Free Stock Analysis Report JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Morgan Stanley (MS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
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1 Top Cryptocurrency That Can Overtake Ethereum by 2028, According to Standard Chartered Analyst Geoff Kendrick
Key Points XRP is a token on the Ripple payments network that lets banks and corporations settle transactions quickly and at a low cost. While Ethereum remains a central component of decentralized finance, it faces fierce competition from other blockchain networks. XRP's narrow scope is a plus in terms of its value as an investment compared to Ethereum, but I see challenges to the bullish forecasts. 10 stocks we like better than XRP › When it comes to cryptocurrency investing, Bitcoin's market value of $2.3 trillion handily makes it the undisputed leader. But as with any leader, challengers are constantly vying to narrow the gap. In terms of market capitalization, decentralized finance (DeFi) powerhouse Ethereum holds a firm -- though distant -- second place behind Bitcoin. Closing in, however, is XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), the native token of the Ripple payments network. And according to Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick, the gap between Ethereum and XRP is steadily tightening. Let's explore what makes XRP stand out in a crowded field of crypto disrupters and unpack Kendrick's bold prediction that XRP could surpass Ethereum in the years ahead. Is now the time to buy XRP? Read on to find out. What is XRP and why is it important? At its core, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency designed as an alternative to fiat currencies, while Ethereum's blockchain serves as a foundation for building DeFi ecosystems. XRP is different. Offered through Ripple, it is a digital asset whose primary function is to enable faster and cheaper cross-border payments. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP's value isn't really driven by speculation. While it shares Ethereum's emphasis on real-world utility, its focus is much narrower: positioning itself as crucial infrastructure for the evolving global payments landscape. Today, much of the cross-border transaction market relies on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network. It has global reach, but it is often viewed as outdated and cumbersome. Payments can take days to settle, moving through a series of intermediary banks, each charging fees for processing and foreign currency conversion. To prevent delays, businesses must maintain pre-funded accounts at these intermediaries, theoretically tying up capital that could be deployed for better purposes. XRP offers a more streamlined approach. Rather than funds passing through a string of banks, a corporation could convert its currency into XRP, transfer it across the crypto's ledger instantly, and have the receiving bank convert the tokens into a local currency. By acting as a bridge currency, XRP helps eliminate intermediaries, reducing the friction of transaction fees and foreign exchange costs, and dramatically speeding up the settlement process. How could XRP surpass Ethereum's market value? A key driver of Kendrick's bullish outlook on XRP is an expectation for broader adoption of Ripple's payments network, fueled in part by fading legal uncertainties and less pressure from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These shifts could pave the way for the accelerated launch of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), making the asset more accessible to both large financial institutions and retail investors. Kendrick also sees some challenges for Ethereum's scalability. It's a backbone for many DeFi applications, but it faces intense competition from faster and lower-cost blockchains Solana and Cardano. XRP, by contrast, has a tightly focused value proposition: cost-efficient, high-liquidity cross-border transactions. This specialization could make it a go-to solution for banks and payments processors, offering a defensible niche within a huge, economically significant market that remains inefficient and ripe for disruption. Is XRP a buy right now? Although Kendrick's forecast adds excitement to XRP's outlook, his model comes with important caveats. First, broader adoption of Ripple does not automatically translate into greater use of XRP. Banks can use Ripple's infrastructure without settling transactions in XRP. Second, despite Ripple's recent wins in the regulatory landscape, competition remains tough. The growing popularity of stablecoins issued by private corporations, along with potential rollouts of central bank digital currencies (CBDC), offer alternative solutions that could diminish XRP's perceived value. As of this writing (Aug. 18), XRP's market cap stood at roughly $181 billion, larger than PayPal or Square individually, and about equal to the combined value of Coinbase and Robinhood Markets. This underscores both its scale and the challenge ahead: For XRP to flip Ethereum in market value in the coming years, multiple favorable developments need to align almost perfectly and in a relatively short time frame. Given these uncertainties, XRP may be better suited as an opportunity to monitor right now rather than one to buy hand over fist at current prices. In my eyes, XRP is priced to perfection and has a long road ahead before it witnesses more valuation expansion. Should you invest $1,000 in XRP right now? Before you buy stock in XRP, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and XRP wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $668,155!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,106,071!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,070% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025 Adam Spatacco has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Block, Ethereum, PayPal, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Coinbase Global and Standard Chartered Plc and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short September 2025 $77.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Top Cryptocurrency That Can Overtake Ethereum by 2028, According to Standard Chartered Analyst Geoff Kendrick was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data