Fed Holds Rates Steady, Nasdaq Slightly Up
The major averages finished the day mostly unchanged, with the Nasdaq marginally higher after the Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%, as was expected. In a statement on the move, the Fed cited unemployment stabilization as a reason to hold rates steady, noting that Fed governors Miran and Waller wanted to cut rates. Meanwhile, investors are positioning ahead of after-hours earnings releases from big tech names including Meta, Microsoft and Tesla, which could set the tone for risk appetite once those reports start rolling in.Looking to commodities, gold continued to surge to record highs, while oil was also on the rise.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Seagatereportedand provided guidance for Q3Texas Instrumentsreportedbut provided an upbeat outlook for Q1AT&Treportedand issued its outlook for 2026-2028Amazonannounced plans toamid "organizational changes"The Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate2. WALL STREET CALLS:Visato Buy from Neutral at Rothschild & Co RedburnKorro Bioto Overweight at Cantor Fitzgerald and to Outperform at OppenheimerCircle Internetto Neutral at Mizuho with Polymarket as a "looming catalyst"PayPalto Sell at Rothschild & Co RedburnBJ's Wholesaleto Hold at Jefferies3. AROUND THE WEB:Blackstoneis mulling a debt investment in Oracle'sdata center project in Michigan, Bloomberg reportsC3 AIis in talks to merge with startup Automation Anywhere, The Information saysTeslaCEO Elon Musk is targeting mid-June for the timing of SpaceX's initial public offering, IPO, FT reportsSoftBankis in talks to invest up to an additional $30B in OpenAI, WSJ saysDeutsche Bank'soffices in Frankfurt and Berlin have been raided by German authorities as part of a money laundering probe that is looking at past dealings by staff with firms linked to the now-sanctioned Roman Abramovich, Bloomberg reports4. MOVERS:Palladynehigher after being awarded a contract by theStrideincreases afterand providing guidance for Q3 and FY26Nextpowerrises afterand raising its guidance for FY26Regenxbiofalls after the FDA placed aRichtech Roboticslower after announcing a5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Starbucksreportedand provided guidance for FY26Corning, with EPS and revenue beating consensusExtreme Networksand provided guidance for Q3 and FY26Scotts Miracle-Gro, with EPS beating consensusBrinkerand raised its guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow rose 12.19, or 0.025%, to 49,015.60, the Nasdaq gained 40.35, or 0.17%, to 23,857.45, and the S&P 500 declined 0.57, or 0.0082%, to 6,978.03.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Circle Internet Group reported fourth-quarter revenue of $770.2 million for 2025, representing a 77% year-over-year increase and exceeding analyst expectations of $747.4 million, indicating strong market performance and growth potential.
- Dramatic Net Income Increase: The company's net income reached $133.4 million, soaring over 40 times from $3.1 million in the prior year, although part of this growth was bolstered by $85 million in other income, reflecting robust core business performance.
- Popularity of USDC Stablecoin: The circulation of Circle's USDC stablecoin surged by 72%, which not only contributed to revenue growth but also highlights its competitive position and user acceptance in the crypto market.
- Stock Price Volatility Risk: Despite the stock price rising from $61 to $96 recently, it remains down 20% over the past six months, prompting investors to be cautious of market volatility and the risks posed by new competitors.
- Impressive Earnings: Circle Internet Group reported fourth-quarter revenue of $770.2 million for 2025, marking a 77% year-over-year increase and surpassing analyst expectations of $747.4 million, indicating robust market performance and growth potential.
- Net Income Surge: The company achieved a net income of $133.4 million, over 40 times the $3.1 million from the previous year, with diluted earnings per share at $0.43, significantly exceeding Wall Street's forecast of $0.16, reflecting a remarkable improvement in profitability.
- Rising Stablecoin Demand: The circulation of Circle's USDC increased by 72%, demonstrating sustained market demand for its stablecoin, which further solidifies the company's position in the cryptocurrency sector despite competitive risks.
- Investment Risk Advisory: Although the stock surged by 15.66% recently, it remains down 20% over the past six months, prompting investors to be cautious of market volatility and the potential for new competitors to capture USDC's market share, suggesting that those with lower risk tolerance should invest carefully.

U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stock indexes closed mixed on Monday, with the S&P 500 rising by 0.36%.
Index Movements: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite experienced a decline of 0.15%.
- Company Performance: Bob’s Discount Furniture is experiencing significant growth, driven by consumer demand for affordable options amid rising inflation.
- Market Trends: The current economic climate has led many Americans to seek bargains, positively impacting the company's stock performance.
- Market Performance: Circle Internet Group went public last June at $31 per share and is now trading near $94, indicating strong market demand and investor confidence, although its high P/E ratio of 84 suggests significant investment risk.
- Revenue Sources: The majority of Circle's revenue comes from reserve interest income, with projections indicating a 25% CAGR in revenue growth by 2027, reflecting the ongoing rise in demand for its stablecoins, which could enhance the company's profitability.
- Technology Integration: Companies like Visa and Intuit have recently integrated USD Coin into their ecosystems, demonstrating the practical utility of Circle's stablecoin in accelerating financial transactions, further boosting its market acceptance and usage.
- Profit Expectations: Analysts expect Circle to turn profitable in 2023, with EPS projected to grow by 69% by 2027, providing long-term investment confidence for investors, although it may not turn a $10,000 investment into a millionaire's fortune in the short term.
- Market Rebound: Wall Street traded higher at midday on Monday, with the Nasdaq 100 gaining 0.3% to 25,025, indicating a recovery in investor sentiment as concerns over Middle East tensions eased.
- Tech Stocks Lead Gains: Palantir Technologies surged 6.5%, becoming the top performer in the S&P 500, suggesting a renewed confidence in tech stocks that could attract more investment into the sector.
- Energy Market Volatility: Oil prices rallied 5.1% to $70 per barrel, although they cooled after briefly hitting $75, with the energy sector rising 1.3% and Marathon Petroleum Corp. leading the group with a 4.5% gain.
- Rising Treasury Yields: The 10-year Treasury yield jumped 11 basis points to 4.07%, marking the largest one-day increase since April, reflecting heightened concerns about future economic prospects that may influence investor risk appetite.






