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Globe and Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Is Trump Media Stock a Buy After $2.5 Billion Bitcoin Treasury Deal?
Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) is no stranger to the spotlight, and this time, the company is making one of its boldest moves yet. They are putting $2.5 billion into a Bitcoin treasury, betting big on digital assets and new financial services. CEO Devin Nunes made it clear this is a strategic move for the company, calling Bitcoin (BTCUSD) a key tool for financial freedom and saying the treasury is meant to help protect Trump Media from what he sees as unfair treatment by banks. Following the announcement, DJT stock fell more than 10% on May 27. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has pulled back from its newly set all-time high of $111,946, with more companies than ever adding it to their war chests. Public companies added 16.1% more Bitcoin in early 2025, and now hold almost 688,000 BTC worth about $57 billion, as 12 new firms started holding Bitcoin for the first time. With all this in mind, investors must consider whether Trump Media's significant Bitcoin initiative will improve its struggling stock or merely increase risks while its core business remains unsteady. Let's find out. Dissecting DJT's Financial Health Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) operates Truth Social, the streaming platform Truth+, and the new fintech brand positioning itself at the intersection of media, technology, and digital finance. The stock shows a YTD performance of -37.33%, a 52-week decline of -57.2%, and trades at $21.33 as of May 30. On the valuation front, Trump Media commands a market capitalization of $4.59 billion and an enterprise value of $4.43 billion. Profitability metrics remain under pressure, with a return-on-equity of -14.17%, and return-on-assets of -13.76%. In 2024, the company reported negative net income of $400,000. The company's first-quarter results, filed with the SEC, reveal a mixed financial picture. Trump Media ended March with $759 million in cash and short-term investments, a strong liquidity position that management believes will support aggressive expansion, including further diversification into fintech and financial services, the launch of and potential mergers and acquisitions. CEO Nunes underscored the importance of this robust balance sheet, noting it 'fully enables us to pursue all our expansion plans.' Despite this cash cushion, the quarter was not without challenges. Operating cash outflow was $9.7 million, with combined interest income and revenues totaling $8.8 million. The company faced $10.9 million in legal fees, mostly tied to the lengthy SPAC merger completed in March 2024, alongside $19.6 million in non-cash expenses for stock-based compensation, depreciation, and amortization. These factors contributed to a GAAP net loss of $31.7 million and an operating loss of $39.5 million. The most recent earnings per share stood at -$0.14 for the quarter ended March 31, with revenue reaching just $820,000. Unpacking DJT's Growth Ambitions Trump Media & Technology Group is making a decisive leap from social media into the financial arena with its landmark $2.5 billion capital raise aimed at creating one of the largest Bitcoin treasuries held by a public company. The deal involves issuing $1.5 billion in common stock and $1 billion in zero-coupon convertible senior secured notes to roughly 50 institutional investors. This infusion of capital is intended to build a substantial Bitcoin reserve, marking a strategic pivot for Trump Media as it seeks to evolve into a holding company focused on acquiring 'crown jewel' assets aligned with America First principles, per management. Custody for this Bitcoin treasury will be managed by and Anchorage Digital, two leading names in crypto security and custody. This move follows a significant corporate change: on May 1, Trump Media reincorporated from Delaware to Florida, a shift praised by Nunes for Florida's 'pro-business orientation and respect for the rule of law.' The company's board has also greenlit a broader financial services and fintech strategy, centered around the launch of a new brand designed to offer a range of investment products. To diversify its cash reserves, which stood at over $700 million as of December 31, 2024, Trump Media plans to invest up to $250 million in separately managed accounts, customized ETFs, and crypto-related securities custodied by Charles Schwab (SCHW). Further expanding its fintech footprint, Trump Media has partnered with and Yorkville America Digital to launch a series of ETFs and exchange-traded products (ETPs) under the brand. These funds will focus on digital assets and 'Made in America' securities spanning industries like energy. Subject to regulatory approval, the ETFs are expected to launch later this year and be accessible internationally, including in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, via broker-dealer, Foris Capital US LLC. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is advising on the product development. Analyst Caution on DJT's Crypto Ambitions Analyst opinion on DJT's crypto ambitions is limited and generally cautious, with little to no bullish coverage or new 'Buy' recommendations following the Bitcoin treasury announcement. From a Wall Street pro, it's clear that Trump Media is widely viewed as a high-risk, high-volatility stock, more appealing to traders than to traditional investors. The absence of strong analyst backing is notable; even after the company's bold pivot, there's no evidence of a significant shift toward positive sentiment. Trump Media's own statements acknowledge inherent risks, noting that 'we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans.' That cautious language, combined with the lack of analyst enthusiasm, suggests that while the move is ambitious, it hasn't yet convinced the market that DJT is a solid buy. Conclusion So, is Trump Media stock a buy after its $2.5 billion Bitcoin treasury deal? Right now, it's a high-stakes gamble, not a sure winner. The company's big moves are impressive, but analysts and the market aren't convinced it's ready for mainstream investment. Personally, I think shares are likely to stay volatile, maybe with some wild swings higher, but just as likely to drop if things don't pan out.
Gizmodo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Trump's New Streaming Service Truth+ Is a Conspiracy Theorist's Dream Come True
No one would fault you for not knowing that Donald Trump's 'technology' company, Trump Media and Technology Group, has a streaming service. But now that you do know that, aren't you curious what is on it? Lucky for you, a recent report from Talking Points Memo dug into the content over on Truth+ and it is every bit as batshit as you were probably imaging. Truth+ appears to be big on two things: religion and conspiracy theories. That seems like it is right in line with the MAGA crowd's hobbies, but these conspiracies seem to be less of the 'Trump had the election stolen from him' variety and more of the 'Jesus Christ was a secret alien' kind. No, really. Per TPM, one of the films on the platform is called 'Conspiracy Chronicles,' and it throws some incredible claims out there, including the possibility that Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna were all from a different planet. It also apparently claims that the Moon is 'hollowed out' and serves as a base for aliens. Are they the same aliens sending us our most revered religious figures? Hard to say. What is clear, per the film, is that the US government has been covering all of this up. Luckily, the guy who runs the streaming service spewing these theories now has the power to debrief all that information! Surely he will, right? It's only one of many films on the platform that are all in on out-there claims. Another, titled 'Lizard People: Rulers of Time and Space,' claims that there is a race of lizard-like aliens who created humans and developed religious systems to control them. Frankly, it's kinda wild how close these things get to acknowledging some form of reality (organized religion being used as a means of control, for instance) only to swerve and blame it on aliens instead of like, people who desire power and wealth. There are actual explanations for these things, but the only way for them to be digestible to a certain crowd is for those explanations to have some sort of otherworldiness sprinkled on top. Now, it would be fair to say that every streaming service has its fair share of bonkers titles that end up available through wide-reaching rights deals, and no one is actually watching them. And there are likely very few people watching Truth+ in general. But those who do are apparently eating up these conspiracies. TPM reported that the 'Lizard People' movie was in the top 10 on the platform this week. That programming doesn't exactly seem in line with the 'news, Christian content, and family-friendly programming that is uncancellable by Big Tech' that Trump's company promised when it launched the streaming platform last year. But maybe the Bible had more to say about serpents than just that snake in the Garden of Eden.
