Core Insights - MARA Holdings has reported significant financial growth, with a 92% year-over-year revenue increase to $252.4 million and a net income of $123.1 million in Q3 2025, compared to a net loss of $124.8 million in Q3 2024 [1][2]. Financial Performance - The revenue increase was primarily driven by an 88% rise in the average Bitcoin price, contributing $113.3 million to the revenue [4]. - MARA holds 53,250 BTC, valued at approximately $4.7 billion as of December 25 [4]. - Despite the positive financial results, MARA's share price has decreased by 49% over the last year, while Bitcoin has lost 12% [6]. Business Model and Strategy - MARA is heavily reliant on Bitcoin mining, which is a competitive and volatile industry, making it challenging to maintain profits [4]. - To diversify its revenue streams, MARA plans to leverage its data center infrastructure for potential sales to AI companies, although no deals have been secured yet [5].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly focusing on heavily shorted stocks, either to capitalize on further declines in value or to benefit from potential short squeezes [1][3]. Group 1: Characteristics of Heavily Shorted Stocks - A stock is considered "heavily shorted" when a significant number of traders and institutional investors believe it is fundamentally overvalued, leading to expectations of a price decline [2]. - High short interest often indicates a strong conviction among professional traders that the company faces serious risks, while retail traders may see it as an opportunity for rapid gains through a short squeeze [3]. Group 2: Short Squeeze Dynamics - A short squeeze occurs when a stock's price unexpectedly rises, forcing short sellers to buy back shares to cover their positions, which creates a spike in demand and further drives up the price [4]. - The volatility associated with a short squeeze can result in returns that significantly exceed typical stock movements within a short time frame [4]. Group 3: Most Heavily Shorted Stocks - As of December 29, the following stocks are the most heavily shorted, with market caps above $2 billion and free floats above 5 million: - Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) - 54.51% - Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) - 50.20% - Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR) - 48.80% - Revolve Group, Inc. (NYSE:RVLV) - 43.14% - Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) - 37.13% - MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA) - 36.23% - Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS) - 35.22% - TransMedics Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TMDX) - 35.11% - Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS) - 34.27% - Northern Oil & Gas, Inc. (NYSE:NOG) - 33.27% [5][6].

Group 1 - MARA Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) is considered one of the best bitcoin mining stocks to buy, receiving a Buy rating from Rosenblatt Securities analyst Chris Brendler, who revised the price target from $22 to $15, indicating an anticipated upside of almost 51% from the current level [1] - As of December 24, consensus ratings for MARA Holdings remain bullish, with 12 analysts covering the stock; seven assigned Buy ratings and five assigned Hold calls, resulting in a 1-year average price target of $22.11, which offers an attractive 122.4% upside from the current level [2] - Mining-related stocks, including MARA Holdings, have faced pressure amid broader crypto-led pullbacks, but the strong intrinsic links between MARA and bitcoin present both risks and opportunities for investors following the recent share price dip [3] Group 2 - MARA Holdings is one of the largest publicly listed bitcoin-mining companies, operating large-scale facilities for its mining operations and holding a significant portion of its treasury assets in digital form, while also utilizing stranded energy sources for bitcoin mining [4]

Core Insights - Mara Holdings Inc. is experiencing significant analyst attention, with price target adjustments reflecting market conditions and company performance [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Mara Holdings reported a 92% revenue increase to $252.4 million, up from $131.6 million in the same period last year [2] - The company achieved a net income of $123.1 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $124.8 million in Q3 2024 [2] Bitcoin Metrics - The company's hash rate increased by 64% year-over-year to 60.4 exahash per second (EH/s) [3] - Mara Holdings mined 2,144 Bitcoin during the quarter, with total holdings growing by 98% to nearly 53,000 Bitcoin [3] - The average cost of energy per Bitcoin mined was $39,235, with a 15% reduction in daily cost per petahash year-over-year [3] Company Overview - Mara Holdings operates as a digital asset technology company in the US and Europe, providing technology solutions for data center operations [4]

Group 1 - Bitcoin-related stocks declined on Friday, with Coinbase (COIN.US) down over 2.7% [1] - Strategy (MSTR.US) fell more than 2.3%, while Circle (CRCL.US) dropped over 3% [1] - Iren Ltd (IREN.US) and Mara Holdings (MARA.US) both experienced declines exceeding 4% [1] Group 2 - Bitcoin's price fell below $87,000 in the short term [1]

Core Viewpoint - MARA Holdings, Inc. (MARA) is positioned for a potential rally as it approaches a historical support level, indicating a possible shift in market dynamics from oversupply to increased demand [1][2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - When a stock trends lower, it indicates an imbalance in the market with more supply than demand, leading to sellers reducing prices to attract buyers [1]. - A stock reaching a support level often sees increased buying interest, halting the selloff as demand matches supply [2]. - Historical data shows that MARA has found support around the $9.85 level, where previous declines ended in April and November [2]. Group 2: Buyer Behavior - Stocks often rally after hitting support levels due to buyer impatience, as traders anticipate that sellers will seek the highest price for their shares [3]. - This behavior can lead to a bidding war or a snowball effect, driving prices higher, as seen with MARA in previous instances [4].

Core Insights - Rosenblatt Securities has lowered price targets and financial estimates for several bitcoin mining companies due to a significant decline in mining profitability, emphasizing the increasing importance of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) revenue [1] Company-Specific Summaries - Cipher Mining's price target was reduced to $25 from $33, but it remains a "Top Pick" due to its ability to transition power capacity to higher-margin AI tenants [5] - TeraWulf's price target was cut to $20, with the company being favored for its diversification into AI and computing power [2][5] - Marathon Digital's price target was lowered to $15 from previous levels, with a significant reduction in its 2026 adjusted EBITDA estimate from $281 million to $99 million, highlighting its sensitivity to Bitcoin price changes [4] - Hive Digital's price target was reduced to $6.50 from $10, with its financial results heavily influenced by its mining expansion in Paraguay despite its HPC business growth [6] Industry Trends - The broader mining sector is facing challenges, with Bitcoin prices dropping approximately 30% since early October and Bitcoin's hashprice falling 26% to near all-time lows of $38/PH/day [3] - A shift in industry transparency is noted, as several companies, including Cipher Mining and Marathon Digital, have ceased publishing monthly mining production reports, while Hive Digital continues to provide operational updates [7] - Bitcoin's global hashrate has decreased by 7% since mid-October, although it remains up 34% year-to-date, with expectations that hashrate growth will moderate until Bitcoin prices recover [8]

Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in Bitcoin's price has led to a significant drop in MARA Holdings' stock, prompting investors to consider whether to invest in MARA instead of Bitcoin due to its current lower valuation [1][2]. Group 1: Bitcoin Market Overview - Bitcoin peaked at $124,774 on October 7, 2025, but has since fallen 31% to $86,413 as of December 16, 2025 [1]. - The market capitalization of Bitcoin is currently $1.7 trillion, with a trading volume of $50 billion [14]. Group 2: MARA Holdings Performance - MARA Holdings has seen a 53% decline in stock price since mid-October, with a current price of $9.93 and a market cap of $3.8 billion [2]. - The stock has a gross margin of -2663.89%, indicating significant financial challenges [2]. Group 3: Company Evolution and Strategy - MARA Holdings, originally known as Marathon Patent Group, transitioned to a cryptocurrency mining specialist in early 2021, investing $150 million in Bitcoin and mining equipment [3]. - The company has shifted its business model to include selling electric energy and data center space, capitalizing on the AI boom while still maintaining its Bitcoin mining operations [12][14]. Group 4: Mining Operations and Economic Factors - The correlation between MARA's stock and Bitcoin's price has weakened since spring 2024, with MARA's production of Bitcoin decreasing from 28.8 per day in March 2024 to 24.5 per day 18 months later [9]. - Despite a 37% increase in quarterly crypto-mining revenue due to rising Bitcoin prices, the cost of production surged by 82% [9][11]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - MARA is entering a competitive market for AI computing, facing challenges from larger companies and other former Bitcoin mining specialists [15]. - The company is still primarily focused on Bitcoin-related activities, and its future success may depend on balancing its operations between AI and Bitcoin mining [14][17].

TIM: THE S&P 500 CLOSING IN ON A RECORD EARLIER THIS MONTH. BITCOIN STRUGGLED TO FIND FOOTING. MERRILL HOLDINGS KNOWS ALL TOO WELL, DOWN 36% THIS YEAR.WITH MORE WE HAD TO PARIS. GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. THE DECLINE IN ASSET PRICE THIS YEAR, $126,000 WAS A MAJOR HIGH EARLIER THIS YEAR, A BIG MOMENT FOR THE CRYPTOCURRENCY.DOWN MORE THAN 30%, HOW MUCH LOWER DOES BITCOIN GO. FRED: BITCOIN AT THIS LEVEL IS FINDING SUPPORT AT THE HUNDRED 84,000 RANGE. JUST ABOUT WHERE THE BREAKEVEN POINT IS ON MOST ETF PU ...

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin is experiencing its fourth annual decline, currently down about 7% for the year, with a notable drop of 5.2% recently, indicating a bear market and low trading volumes [1] Market Performance - Bitcoin has decoupled from traditional stocks, as evidenced by the S&P 500 reaching a record high and increasing by 16% for the year, while Bitcoin struggles to gain traction [1] Investor Sentiment - Investors are currently retreating from Bitcoin ETFs, reflecting a cautious approach in the market [1] Future Outlook - Despite the current market conditions, MARA Chairman & CEO Fred Thiel anticipates a strong performance for Bitcoin in the upcoming year, suggesting a potential recovery after a 'healthy retracement' [1]