Semler Scientific, Inc.

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) advanced 565% and 410%, respectively, in the last three years. But certain Wall Street analysts expect the cryptocurrencies to climb even higher in the next few years:
Geoffrey Kendrick at Standard Chartered says XRP will top Ethereum by 2028. At current prices, XRP must climb 140% to $5.10 to surpass Ethereum's market value of $302 billion.
David Puell at Ark Invest expects Bitcoin to hit $710,000 by 2030. That implies about 580% upside from its current price of $104,000.
Here's what investors should know about XRP and Bitcoin.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »
XRP: 140% implied upside
The investment thesis for XRP centers on its ability to facilitate fast and cheap cross-border transactions. It is the native digital asset on the XRP Ledger, a blockchain created by fintech company Ripple to disrupt SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications), the system banks generally use to send money internationally.
XRP transactions settle in seconds and cost a fraction of a cent, but SWIFT transactions may not settle for days and often incur larger fees. Yet, very few financial institutions have adopted XRP as a bridge currency to facilitate cross-border payments. I doubt that will change in the future, because cryptocurrency prices are volatile. Why send money as XRP when its price could plunge in a very short period?
However, fast and inexpensive transactions mean that the XRP Ledger is also ideal for tokenized assets, a market that will hit $19 trillion by 2030, according to Ripple. Tokenized assets are real-world assets represented as digital tokens on a blockchain. For instance, Guggenheim Treasury Service recently tapped the XRP Ledger to issue digital commercial paper, a fixed-income security.
Greater adoption of the XRP Ledger increases demand for the native cryptocurrency, XRP, which could make the token more valuable over time. However, I see a bigger catalyst in the pending approval of several spot XRP ETFs. Bitcoin has gained 125% since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024, and XRP could see similar price appreciation.
Bitcoin: 580% implied upside
The investment thesis for Bitcoin centers on its status as digital gold. Investors see the cryptocurrency as a hedge against inflation and the devaluation of fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar. In fact, the U.S. Dollar Index has declined 10% year to date, but Bitcoin has advanced 13%. That trend is likely to continue in the years ahead because, unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin supply is limited.
Importantly, institutional investors are increasingly comfortable owning Bitcoin. Forms 13F filed for the first quarter indicate that the number of large asset managers (with $100+ million in securities) with positions in the two most popular spot Bitcoin ETFs -- the iShares Bitcoin Trust and the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund -- more than tripled in the past year.
Meanwhile, many companies are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has essentially turned itself into a Bitcoin investment vehicle. It owns 582,000 BTC, purchased at an average price of $70,086, and it plans to invest another $56 billion through 2027. Other companies are following the same playbook, including Mara and Semler Scientific.
Here's the bottom line: XRP and Bitcoin could be worth much more in the future due to the catalysts outlined above, But neither is a wise investment for anyone uncomfortable with extreme volatility, and investors should never anchor to price targets set by Wall Street.
Finally, between the two, I would choose Bitcoin in a heartbeat because it has the distinct advantage of being the largest, most liquid, and best known cryptocurrency. Additionally, spot Bitcoin ETFs make it easy to get Bitcoin exposure. The same cannot be said (yet) about XRP.
Should you invest $1,000 in XRP right now?
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Trevor Jennewine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Semler Scientific, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Standard Chartered Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

2 Cryptocurrencies to Buy Now Before They Soar 140% and 580%, According to a Wall Street Analyst

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Small-Cap Growth Investor model based on the published strategy of Motley Fool. This strategy looks for small cap growth stocks with solid fundamentals and strong price performance.
BRIDGEWATER BANCSHARES INC (BWB) is a small-cap value stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 73% to 80% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company with one wholly owned subsidiary, Bridgewater Bank (the Bank). The Bank focuses primarily on commercial lending, consisting of loans secured by nonfarm, nonresidential properties, loans secured by multifamily residential properties, nonowner occupied single family residential properties, construction loans, land development loans and commercial and industrial loans. The Bank offers loan and deposit products primarily for commercial clients. The Bank also offers consumers traditional retail deposit products through its branch network, along with online, mobile, and direct banking channels. The Bank has developed a suite of deposit products targeted at commercial clients, including a variety of remote deposit and cash management products, along with commercial transaction accounts. The Bank has nine full-service offices located in Bloomington, Greenwood, Minneapolis (two), St. Louis Park, Orono, and St. Paul, Minnesota.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
PASS
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
FAIL
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
FAIL
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
PASS
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of BRIDGEWATER BANCSHARES INC
BWB Guru Analysis
BWB Fundamental Analysis
HCI GROUP INC (HCI) is a small-cap value stock in the Insurance (Prop. & Casualty) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 83% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: HCI Group, Inc. is a holding company engaged in property and casualty insurance, information technology services, insurance management, real estate and reinsurance. It operates through two operating units. The first unit includes four insurance companies, a captive reinsurance company, and operations in claims management and real estate. The second unit, called Exzeo Group, Inc., is engaged in insurance technology that utilizes advanced underwriting algorithms and data analytics. Exzeo helps property and casualty insurers to transform underwriting outcomes. Its insurance business includes property and casualty insurance division and reinsurance operations, excluding the insurance operations under reciprocal exchange operations. The reciprocal exchange business includes insurance operations of CORE and Tailrow, consolidated VIEs. The real estate operations business includes companies engaged in operating commercial properties for investment purposes or for use in its own operations.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of HCI GROUP INC
HCI Guru Analysis
HCI Fundamental Analysis
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC (SMLR) is a small-cap value stock in the Medical Equipment & Supplies industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 83% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Semler Scientific, Inc. is engaged in developing and marketing technology products and services to healthcare providers to combat chronic diseases. The Company's flagship product, QuantaFlo, which is patented and cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a rapid point-of-care test that measures arterial blood flow in the extremities. The QuantaFlo test aids in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and the Company is seeking a new 510(k) clearance for expanded-indications. QuantaFlo is used by healthcare providers to evaluate their patient's risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). QuantaFlo features a sensor clamp that is placed on the toe or finger. A blood flow waveform is instantaneously constructed by its software algorithm. The Company delivers QuantaFlo directly to its customers. The Company also invests in bitcoin and has adopted Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
INVENTORY TO SALES:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
LONG TERM DEBT/EQUITY RATIO:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
PASS
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC
SMLR Guru Analysis
SMLR Fundamental Analysis
Motley Fool Portfolio
About Motley Fool: Brothers David and Tom Gardner often wear funny hats in public appearances, but they're hardly fools -- at least not the kind whose advice you should readily dismiss. The Gardners are the founders of the popular Motley Fool web site, which offers frank and often irreverent commentary on investing, the stock market, and personal finance. The Gardners' "Fool" really is a multi-media endeavor, offering not only its web content but also several books written by the brothers, a weekly syndicated newspaper column, and subscription newsletter services.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Motley Fool Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 4/26/2025

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Small-Cap Growth Investor model based on the published strategy of Motley Fool. This strategy looks for small cap growth stocks with solid fundamentals and strong price performance.
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC (SMLR) is a small-cap value stock in the Medical Equipment & Supplies industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 83% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Semler Scientific, Inc. is engaged in developing and marketing technology products and services to healthcare providers to combat chronic diseases. The Company's flagship product, QuantaFlo, which is patented and cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a rapid point-of-care test that measures arterial blood flow in the extremities. The QuantaFlo test aids in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and the Company is seeking a new 510(k) clearance for expanded-indications. QuantaFlo is used by healthcare providers to evaluate their patient's risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). QuantaFlo features a sensor clamp that is placed on the toe or finger. A blood flow waveform is instantaneously constructed by its software algorithm. The Company delivers QuantaFlo directly to its customers. The Company also invests in bitcoin and has adopted Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
INVENTORY TO SALES:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
LONG TERM DEBT/EQUITY RATIO:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
PASS
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC
SMLR Guru Analysis
SMLR Fundamental Analysis
SKYWARD SPECIALTY INSURANCE GROUP INC (SKWD) is a mid-cap growth stock in the Insurance (Miscellaneous) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 76% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. is a specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted (E&S) and admitted basis. The Company operates through eight underwriting divisions: Accident & Health, Captives, Global Property & Agriculture, Industry Solutions, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S. Its A&H underwriting division provides medical stop-loss to employers who self-insure their employee benefits, as well as covering group and single-employer captives. Its Captives underwriting division provides group captive solutions by drawing on its underwriting and claims expertise from other underwriting divisions to create group captives for companies seeking to self-insure. Its Industry Solutions underwriting division includes three underwriting units that each provide multiple coverages to the businesses they serve: construction, energy and inland marine.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
PASS
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
FAIL
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
FAIL
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of SKYWARD SPECIALTY INSURANCE GROUP INC
SKWD Guru Analysis
SKWD Fundamental Analysis
SEI INVESTMENTS CO (SEIC) is a mid-cap growth stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 45% to 72% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: SEI Investments Company is a global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services within the financial services industry. Its segments include Private Banks, Investment Advisors, Institutional Investors, Investment Managers, and Investments in New Businesses. Its Investment Managers segment provides an outsourced investment management operating platform to alternative and traditional asset managers, fund companies, and sovereign wealth funds. The Institutional Investors segment provides outsourced chief investment officer solutions, including investment management and administrative outsourcing platforms, to retirement plan sponsors, healthcare systems, higher education and other not-for-profit organizations worldwide. The Investment Advisors segment provides investment management and investment processing platforms to affluent investors through a network of independent registered investment advisors and other investment professionals in the United States.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
INVENTORY TO SALES:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
FAIL
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
FAIL
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of SEI INVESTMENTS CO
SEIC Guru Analysis
SEIC Fundamental Analysis
HCI GROUP INC (HCI) is a small-cap value stock in the Insurance (Prop. & Casualty) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 83% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: HCI Group, Inc. is a holding company engaged in property and casualty insurance, information technology services, insurance management, real estate and reinsurance. It operates through two operating units. The first unit includes four insurance companies, a captive reinsurance company, and operations in claims management and real estate. The second unit, called Exzeo Group, Inc., is engaged in insurance technology that utilizes advanced underwriting algorithms and data analytics. Exzeo helps property and casualty insurers to transform underwriting outcomes. Its insurance business includes property and casualty insurance division and reinsurance operations, excluding the insurance operations under reciprocal exchange operations. The reciprocal exchange business includes insurance operations of CORE and Tailrow, consolidated VIEs. The real estate operations business includes companies engaged in operating commercial properties for investment purposes or for use in its own operations.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of HCI GROUP INC
HCI Guru Analysis
HCI Fundamental Analysis
Motley Fool Portfolio
About Motley Fool: Brothers David and Tom Gardner often wear funny hats in public appearances, but they're hardly fools -- at least not the kind whose advice you should readily dismiss. The Gardners are the founders of the popular Motley Fool web site, which offers frank and often irreverent commentary on investing, the stock market, and personal finance. The Gardners' "Fool" really is a multi-media endeavor, offering not only its web content but also several books written by the brothers, a weekly syndicated newspaper column, and subscription newsletter services.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Motley Fool Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 4/11/2025

Q2 Bitcoin Outlook
Since it’s inception, Bitcoin is the best performing asset class worldwide. However, recent market turmoil and a risk off environment have led to a 30+% pullback from the all-time high of $109k achieved in 2024. Nevertheless, investors should be looking to buy the dip at these levels. Below are five reasons why:
Bitcoin Technical Analysis
Typically, in the study of technical analysis, the more signals a technician observes, the higher the probabilities of being correct. On Wall Street, we call multiple signals that align a confluence. Currently Bitcoin and iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) have a confluence of four distinct signals:
· Retest of Previous Breakout Zone: IBIT is currently retesting its breakout zone from November from a seven-month base structure. A previous breakout area can act as an area of support, especially with so much “price discovery.”
· Election Day Gap Fill: Because IBIT is an ETF, it has price gaps from overnight trade evident on the chart. Finally, Bitcoin is filling the November election day gap, an area that should act as support.
· 200-day Moving Average Tag: IBIT tagged its rising 200-day moving average for the first time in its history Monday. The first tag of a rising 200-day moving average is a zone where institutional investors tend to step up to support shares.
· 3 Corrective Waves: Elliot Wave Theory suggests that sellers may be fatigued when a stock has three corrective selling waves (with wave 3 being the deepest),
Bitcoin Adoption Among Public Companies
MicroStrategy (MSTR) founder Michael Saylor and his company received a plethora of flack when it added Bitcoin to its balance sheet and adopted a “Bitcoin Reserve Strategy.” That said, thus far the strategy has paid off – big time. MSTR shares are up more than 2,000% over the past five years, dwarfing the107.9% returns of the S&P 500 Index.
While MSTR still has its fair share of skeptics, it has not stopped other public companies like GameStop (GME), Semler Scientific (SMLR), and Rumble (RUM) from adopting a Bitcoin strategy of their own. GME and others which have just began accumulating BTC, are likely to accumulate more over time, helping to drive up the price.
Potential Rate Cuts on the Horizon?
Late last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell portrayed a “Hawkish” tone, signaling that he was not ready to cut interest rates and that he was concerned about the potential for tariff-induced inflation. Nevertheless, investors should not only rely on Fed speak but instead look at what the market is pricing in, because after all, it represents real-time, real money odds. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) FedWatch Tool, an indicator that tracks the latest odds of a FOMC rate move, suggests that there will be multiple interest rate cuts in 2025 – a bullish sign for risk-on assets like Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s Bullish Seasonality Period
Historical seasonality patterns have been extremely accurate for Bitcoin in recent years. The seasonality roadmap suggests that Bitcoin should rally into August before retreating.
Relative Price Strength
During bear markets, the best thing investors can do is look for relative price strength. While the major market indices and the vast majority of stocks are below their 200-day moving averages, Bitcoin remains above it – a subtle yet powerful sign of relative strength.
Bottom Line
Despite a pullback from its 2024 high, Bitcoin’s outlook for Q2 remains bright. Technical analysis indicates a confluence of buy signals, increasing adoption by public companies like GameStop suggests growing confidence, anticipated interest rate cuts provide a bullish macro backdrop, and historical seasonality is bullish.
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CME Group Inc. (CME) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Bitcoin Q2 2025: Bullish Signals Emerge After Pullback

Coinbase Company Overview
Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock Coinbase Global (COIN) operates the largest crypto exchange in the United States by trading volume. Coinbase benefits from global crypto adoption with its widespread sweet of unique crypto offerings.
After COIN debuted during the “crypto winter” of 2021, shares suffered amid falling crypto prices and the demise of its largest competitor, FTX. However, the company’s shares and fundamentals are rebounding rapidly amid widespread global crypto adoption, innovations, and a robust balance sheet. Below are some reasons why the momentum in Coinbase will continue.
Coinbase Inks Apple Pay Partnership
A significant roadblock in the crypto industry has been converting fiat currency into crypto seamlessly. Monday, Coinbase announced an initiative to smoothen the process. The Coinbase website wrote, “Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of Apple (AAPL) Pay for all fiat-to-crypto purchases via Coinbase Onramp, the easiest tool to build onramps into your existing products.”
Earlier this year, Coinbase also announced a strategic partnership with payment giant Stripe to “expand global adoption.” The Stripe and Apple deals represent a landmark moment for Coinbase, which appears to be the de facto choice for legacy payment giants. These deals put COIN in the poll position to take advantage of further global crypto adoptions.
SEC Changes Benefit Coinbase
Coinbase arguably benefits from the Donald Trump presidential victory more than any other stock on Wall Street. President-elect Trump announced during his campaign that he plans to fire Securities and Exchange head Gary Gensler on day one. Gensler has been enemy number one of COIN because he has failed to provide regulatory clarity to Coinbase on whether certain assets should be treated as securities or commodities.
Alt Coins Soar Amid Regulatory Clarity
Though Trump has yet to step foot back in the White House, investors are bidding up “alt coins” with vengeance in an effort to discount the future. For instance, Ripple (XRP), a crypto locked in legal battles for years, is up more than 300% since the election.
Image Source: TradingView
The robust price action and flurry of volume are major catalysts for Coinbase which charges hefty commissions, ranging between 0.5% to 4.5% depending on the coin.
Mass Crypto ETF Adoption
Thus far, the performance and flows into Bitcoin ETFs such as the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF (FBTC), and ARK 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) have been unprecedented. The company stands to benefit Because Coinbase acts as the custody servicer for most crypto ETFs. Meanwhile, COIN may benefit further as public companies like Semler Scientific (SMLR) and Rumble (RUM) look to mirror MicroStrategy’s (MSTR) wildly successful “Bitcoin Standard.”
Bull Flag Pattern & Bullish Call Flow
After breaking out on election day, COIN shares are coiling in a picture-perfect bull flag pattern. Meanwhile, heavy-handed, long-term-focused call option buyers continue to enter the market, providing conviction to the current chart pattern.
Image Source: TradingView
COIN Sports Strong Balance Sheet
Coinbase boasts a sparkling balance sheet and a growing cash hoard despite the crypto industry’s “Wild West” reputation.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bottom Line
Coinbase is the true market leader in the crypto industry. The stock should benefit from global crypto adoption, strategic partnerships, and a strong balance sheet.
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Coinbase (COIN): A Crypto Powerhouse

Michael Saylor, founder and executive chairman of MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), is arguably one of the biggest Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) bulls on the planet. Ever since his company started aggressively buying Bitcoin in August 2020, he has predicted that the price of Bitcoin has nowhere to go but up. He now thinks that Bitcoin could hit a price of $13 million by 2045.
At the end of October, he delivered more welcome news for Bitcoin investors: the launch of a spectacular $42 billion Bitcoin buying plan during the next three years. That's roughly equivalent to 3% of all Bitcoin in circulation, and it could set off a huge Bitcoin rally for years to come.
The plan to buy $42 billion worth of Bitcoin
In a call with analysts, MicroStrategy said the next step in what it calls the "21/21 Plan," is to raise $42 billion, then use it to buy more Bitcoin. Half of the funds, or $21 billion, would come from at-the-market offerings of new shares in the company. The other $21 billion would come from new fixed-income offerings, primarily in the form of convertible debt.
To put this plan into perspective, MicroStrategy already has 252,200 Bitcoins on its balance sheet, worth more than $21 billion at today's prices. So the plan is to double the company's current Bitcoin holdings. Already, MicroStrategy has the largest Bitcoin holdings of any company in the world. In fact, MicroStrategy currently holds more Bitcoin than either the U.S. or the Chinese governments.
To call a $42 billion buying spree aggressive is an understatement. As Saylor sees it, though, we're already in the midst of a decade-long Bitcoin "gold rush," and he's determined to transform his enterprise software company into something he's now calling a "Bitcoin Treasury Company," or BTC, as a way to capitalize on this.
Will other companies follow MicroStrategy's lead?
Already, a handful of companies have shown a willingness to follow MicroStrategy. For example, Semler Scientific (NASDAQ: SMLR) is now ratcheting up its Bitcoin buying plans as it increasingly transforms from a medical device company into a Bitcoin Treasury Company. And MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA), the world's largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining company, has said that it's about to add a lot more Bitcoin to its balance sheet.
Why are they doing this? The answer is simple: as long as the price of Bitcoin continues to rise, it makes sense from a purely financial and accounting perspective. In fact, MicroStrategy now uses a metric known as Bitcoin yield to guide its Bitcoin buying activity. Bitcoin yield is defined as the period-to-period percentage change of the ratio between the company's Bitcoin holdings and its assumed diluted shares outstanding.
The markets certainly think MicroStrategy's Bitcoin buying strategy makes sense. Consider that Bitcoin has almost doubled this year this year (as on Nov. 11), while MicroStrategy is up more than 360%. And as Saylor likes to point out, his company has outperformed every single company in the S&P 500 ever since he started buying Bitcoin in August 2020.
Pushback to MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy
Of course, Saylor's plan to buy as much Bitcoin as possible, as quickly as possible, only makes sense if the price of Bitcoin heads ever higher. If Bitcoin really is on the path to $1 million, he's going to look like a genius for buying Bitcoin now, while it's still less than $100,000.
But what if the price of Bitcoin doesn't go parabolic? That might cause a serious deterioration in the value of MicroStrategy, which is risking everything to become a Bitcoin Treasury Company. The market value of MicroStrategy is now so closely tied to the price of Bitcoin that even a slight decline might prove disastrous.
Already, analysts have weighed in on MicroStrategy's plan, poking holes in some of its key assumptions. For example, MicroStrategy plans to raise $21 billion in low-interest debt. But what if there is no investor demand for that debt and the company is forced to issue high-interest debt to attract buyers? That might just blow up the Bitcoin yield, not to mention the strain it might place on the company's cash flow.
Where is Bitcoin headed in 2025?
The good news, of course, is that Donald Trump's election win appears to pave the way for a rally in Bitcoin in 2025. Trump has already promised to improve the regulatory environment for crypto and to put more government resources into supporting Bitcoin.
And, just like MicroStrategy, the U.S. government could go on a Bitcoin buying spree of its own next year. According to the latest vision for a strategic Bitcoin reserve, the U.S. could buy as many as 1 million Bitcoin in the near-term future. That would likely force other nations to follow suit to keep pace with the U.S.
Thus, while a Bitcoin price above $1 million within just a few years might seem unfathomable to most people, just consider what might happen if every sovereign nation goes on a Bitcoin buying spree. That might just result in the kind of Bitcoin gold rush that Saylor predicted.
Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $23,446!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024
Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Semler Scientific. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Billionaire Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy Just Delivered Incredible News for Bitcoin

Semler Scientific (NASDAQ: SMLR) shot up 24.5% in October, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The medical device company has started buying up Bitcoin with cash on its balance sheet, which is correlating its stock price to the popular cryptocurrency. Even after the price jump last month, the stock is still down 35.4% in the last five years as it saw slowing revenue and declining operating margins.
Here's why Semler Scientific stock jumped last month.
Adding Bitcoin to the balance sheet
The reason Semler Scientific stock jumped in October had nothing to do with its underlying business. In fact, the company had no material updates to give investors in the month. The only reason the stock rose is because management has decided to put most of the company's liquid assets in Bitcoin. In October, the price of Bitcoin rose to over $72,000, or close to an all-time high. In its recent quarterly update, Semler Scientific told investors that it now owns 1,058 Bitcoins, which equates to a value of $76 million at a Bitcoin price of $72,000.
This is a large portion of Semler Scientific's market value at the moment. As of this writing, the company has a market cap of $219 million, meaning 35% of its value is derived from its Bitcoin holdings. If the price of Bitcoin keeps going up, Semler's stock will keep going up. It's that simple.
How is the healthcare business doing?
Even though Semler Scientific seems to have fallen in love with Bitcoin, the company still operates a medical device segment with its QuantaFlo product, serving the peripheral artery disease (PAD) market. Revenue for the division over the last 12 months is $61.7 million and fell 17% year over year in the third quarter. Declining revenue is never a good thing, and this could be why Semler Scientific has pivoted to investing in Bitcoin.
However, the company is still posting positive operating income, and has been for the last five years. Last quarter, it had a positive operating income of $5.1 million and $22 million over the last 12 months.
On the whole, Semler Scientific has taken a big risk with its business. Investing in Bitcoin can be volatile as the price can move up or down in rapid succession, and it is not guaranteed the company will make money with its operations. For now, its medical device division is generating a profit, but the revenue declines should be a big concern for shareholders. There's no reason to invest in Semler Scientific after its pivot to Bitcoin.
Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $22,292!*
Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $42,169!*
Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $407,758!*
Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.
See 3 “Double Down” stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of November 4, 2024
Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Semler Scientific. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Shares of Semler Scientific Stock Jumped 24.5% Last Month

Validea Peter Lynch Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 8/6/2024

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Low PE Investor model based on the published strategy of John Neff. This strategy looks for firms with persistent earnings growth that trade at a discount relative to their earnings growth and dividend yield.
SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC (SMLR) is a small-cap value stock in the Medical Equipment & Supplies industry. The rating according to our strategy based on John Neff changed from 62% to 81% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Semler Scientific, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets products and services that assist in evaluating and treating chronic diseases. The Company provides technology solutions to healthcare providers. The Company's flagship product, QuantaFlo is a four-minute in-office blood flow test. Healthcare providers can use blood flow measurements as part of their examinations of a patient's vascular condition, including assessments of patients who have vascular disease. QuantaFlo features a sensor clamp that is placed on the toe or finger. Infrared light emitted from the clamp on the dorsal surface of the digit is scattered and reflected by the red blood cells coursing through the area of illumination. Returning light is sensed by the sensor. A blood flow waveform is instantaneously constructed by its proprietary software algorithm. Its customers for QuantaFlo include insurance plans, physician groups, risk assessment groups, hospitals and retailers.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
EPS GROWTH:
PASS
FUTURE EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
SALES GROWTH:
PASS
TOTAL RETURN/PE:
PASS
FREE CASH FLOW:
PASS
EPS PERSISTENCE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of SEMLER SCIENTIFIC INC
SMLR Guru Analysis
SMLR Fundamental Analysis
BAYCOM CORP (BCML) is a small-cap value stock in the Money Center Banks industry. The rating according to our strategy based on John Neff changed from 60% to 79% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: BayCom Corp is a bank holding company. The Company, through its wholly owned operating subsidiary, United Business Bank, offers a full range of loans, including United States Small Business Administration (SBA), California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CalCAP), FSA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guaranteed loans, and deposit products and services to businesses and its affiliates in California, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado. It offers a full range of lending products, including commercial and multifamily real estate loans (including owner-occupied and investor real estate loans), commercial and industrial loans, construction and land loans, agriculture-related loans and consumer loans. It also offers consumer loans predominantly as an accommodation to its commercial clients, which include installment loans, unsecured and secured personal lines of credit, and overdraft protection. The Company has a network of approximately 35 full-service branches.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
P/E RATIO:
PASS
EPS GROWTH:
PASS
FUTURE EPS GROWTH:
FAIL
SALES GROWTH:
PASS
TOTAL RETURN/PE:
PASS
FREE CASH FLOW:
PASS
EPS PERSISTENCE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of BAYCOM CORP
BCML Guru Analysis
BCML Fundamental Analysis
John Neff Portfolio
About John Neff: While known as the manager with whom many top managers entrusted their own money, Neff was far from the smooth-talking, high-profile Wall Streeter you might expect. He was mild-mannered and low-key, and the same might be said of the Windsor Fund that he managed for more than three decades. In fact, Neff himself described the fund as "relatively prosaic, dull, [and] conservative." There was nothing dull about his results, however. From 1964 to 1995, Neff guided Windsor to a 13.7 percent average annual return, easily outpacing the S&P 500's 10.6 percent return during that time. That 3.1 percentage point difference is huge over time -- a $10,000 investment in Windsor (with dividends reinvested) at the start of Neff's tenure would have ended up as more than $564,000 by the time he retired, more than twice what the same investment in the S&P would have yielded (about $233,000). Considering the length of his tenure, that track record may be the best ever for a manager of such a large fund.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Semler Scientific, Inc.

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