We recently compiled a list of the 15 Best Strong Buy Tech Stocks to Invest In. Core Scientific, Inc. is one of the best Strong Buy stocks on our list. TheFly reported on January 26 that Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target on CORZ to $25 from $19 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The firm updated its model ahead of the Q4 report, noting CORZ’s transition from bitcoin mining to high-performance computing leasing, and highlighted an attractive setup for the shares ahead of expected pipelin ...

Core Scientific Overview - Core Scientific is a leading provider of blockchain infrastructure and digital asset mining services, operating at scale across North America, combining proprietary software, high-capacity datacenter operations, and a dual-revenue model focused on self-mining and hosting for third-party clients [6] - The company targets institutional clients and enterprise-scale miners seeking secure, high-performance blockchain processing and hosting capabilities [9] Recent Financial Performance - In the third quarter, revenue fell to $81.1 million from $95.4 million a year earlier, driven by a 55% year-over-year drop in Bitcoin mined, partially offset by higher prices, while hosted mining revenue was cut nearly in half [10] - Colocation revenue rose to $15.0 million from $10.3 million as new capacity came online, indicating a positive trend in this segment [10] - Capital expenditures reached $244.5 million during the quarter, largely tied to infrastructure buildouts, while adjusted EBITDA slipped to a $2.4 million loss [11] - Liquidity remains substantial at roughly $695 million between cash and Bitcoin holdings, but net losses were still $146.7 million for the quarter [11] Market Position and Stock Performance - As of February 6, shares of Core Scientific were priced at $14.82, up 17% over the past year, slightly outperforming the S&P 500's roughly 13% gain over the same period [3] - The market capitalization of Core Scientific is $4.59 billion, with a revenue of $334.18 million and a net income of ($768.31 million) for the trailing twelve months [4] Strategic Shift - Core Scientific is in the middle of a pivot away from volatile self-mining toward high-density colocation, which is showing up clearly in the numbers [7] - The exit of Pier Capital from its holdings in Core Scientific indicates a risk reduction strategy rather than a timing call, emphasizing the company's need to execute a capital-intensive transformation [12]

Core Sentiment Shift - Core Scientific Inc. has experienced a significant shift in market sentiment, with its momentum score increasing from 78.59 to 87.83 [1] Bullish Momentum And Price Trends - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target for Core Scientific from $19 to $25, indicating a positive outlook [2] - The 'Outperform' rating reflects the company's strategic shift from Bitcoin mining to high-performance computing (HPC) leasing [2] - Core Scientific's momentum is ranked favorably against other stocks, showing an upward trend across short, medium, and long-term timeframes [3] Strategic Pivot To AI Infrastructure - The company is transitioning its power infrastructure from cryptocurrency mining to AI-focused HPC hosting, aligning with fundamental market shifts [4] - Analysts anticipate an attractive setup for the company ahead of expected pipeline updates and new colocation deals [4] Analyst Upgrades - BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis upgraded Core Scientific to "Buy," suggesting the company is well-positioned following a rejected merger with CoreWeave [5] Stock Performance - Shares of Core Scientific have risen 12.51% in 2026, with a 31.79% increase over the last six months and a 45.90% rise over the past year [6] - The stock closed at $17.99, down 4.51% on Friday, and saw a premarket decline of 2.95% on Monday [6]

Core View - Core Scientific Inc. (NASDAQ:CORZ) is recognized as one of the best performing new tech stocks to buy, with a price target raised to $25 from $19 by Keefe Bruyette, reflecting a positive outlook ahead of the Q4 2025 report [1] - The company is transitioning from bitcoin mining to high-performance computing (HPC) leasing, although its shares are still largely valued based on existing CoreWeave leases [1] Analyst Upgrades - BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis upgraded Core Scientific from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $23, following the rejection of its merger with CoreWeave [2] - Lewis noted that Core Scientific has been one of the worst-performing stocks among those with contracts to convert power infrastructure from crypto mining to HPC, but expects the company to secure additional HPC colocation contracts by 2026 [3] Company Operations - Core Scientific provides digital asset mining services in the US, operating through three segments: Digital Asset Self-Mining, Digital Asset Hosted Mining, and HPC Hosting [4]

Core Insights - The investment by Nvidia in CoreWeave highlights the increasing demand for high-performance computing in AI applications, while also presenting challenges for independent bitcoin miners transitioning to AI infrastructure [1][3] - Shares of bitcoin miners like Cipher Mining, CleanSpark, IREN, and TeraWulf fell between 5% and 9% due to concerns that CoreWeave's dominance in the AI infrastructure market could limit growth opportunities for other miners [2] - CoreWeave's market capitalization of $53 billion is already half of the peak valuation of the entire bitcoin-AI mining sector, indicating significant competitive pressure on smaller players [3] Market Reactions - The decline in shares of bitcoin miners signals a commitment between Nvidia and CoreWeave, with GPU resources increasingly allocated to this partnership, potentially reducing funding opportunities for independent miners [3] - CleanSpark's shares dropped about 9% due to perceived outage risks related to its Tennessee operations and governance concerns stemming from a substantial CEO pay package [5] - Core Scientific and Hut 8 are exceptions, with Core Scientific's shares rising nearly 2% and Hut 8's shares increasing by 0.2%, as both companies have diversified into AI hosting and high-performance computing [6][7] Industry Trends - The shift towards AI by bitcoin miners is not new, as they have been repurposing their data centers for more profitable workloads amid shrinking mining rewards and rising power costs [8] - Nvidia's recent actions suggest that resources may increasingly be directed towards larger, more integrated players like CoreWeave, compelling smaller firms to adapt or consolidate [8] - The industry is showing signs of inevitable consolidation as it matures, indicating a potential shift in competitive dynamics [4]

Core Viewpoint - Core Scientific Inc. (NASDAQ:CORZ) is recognized as a promising investment in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector, with recent upgrades indicating strong growth potential and undervaluation concerns [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Valuation - BTIG upgraded Core Scientific from Neutral to Buy, maintaining a price target of $23, citing the stock's underperformance compared to peers in artificial intelligence computing contracts [1][2]. - The stock has declined approximately 30% over the past two months, trading at a valuation of $4 million per megawatt, significantly lower than the $7 million per megawatt of competitors with high-performance computing contracts [2]. Group 2: Future Growth Prospects - BTIG anticipates that Core Scientific will secure additional high-performance computing colocation contracts by 2026, supported by increasing demand for computing power infrastructure [3]. - Citizens previously upgraded the stock to Market Outperform with a $30 price target, highlighting the company's strong growth prospects and solid power pipeline for future high-performance computing agreements [4]. Group 3: Business Focus - Core Scientific operates large-scale data centers, initially focused on Bitcoin mining but is now transitioning to provide high-density infrastructure for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads, along with power, cooling, and specialized hosting services for third-party clients [5].

Core View - Core Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:CORZ) is recognized as one of the software stocks with significant upside potential, with growing investor confidence in its growth outlook [1] - The company is expected to deliver 400 MW of data center capacity to new clients by 2026, indicating strong future growth prospects [1] Investment Commentary - Trip Miller, a key investor, believes that CoreWeave's $9 billion acquisition undervalued Core Scientific and anticipates announcements of over 100 MW of new deals within the next 90 days, suggesting untapped value [2] - The acquisition attempt by CoreWeave failed to gain sufficient shareholder support, leading to upgrades from multiple investment firms [2] Stock Upgrade - KeyBanc upgraded Core Scientific's stock to a Buy with a target price of $23, representing a potential upside of 41.63% from current levels [3] Company Overview - Core Scientific operates as a digital asset mining services provider in the United States, with segments including Digital Asset Hosted Mining, Digital Asset Self-Mining, and HPC Hosting, offering software solutions and digital infrastructure [4]

Core Insights - The U.S. equity market is perceived as fully priced, particularly in mega-cap tech, leading to a focus on international markets and smaller caps for investment opportunities [5][7] - Two stocks of interest are Willis Lease (WLFC) and FTAI Aviation (FTAI), with the former having a market cap of approximately $1 billion and the latter around $24-25 billion [11][13] - California First Leasing (CFNB) is highlighted as a misunderstood company trading at a significant NAV discount, with a current price of $27-28 per share compared to an NAV of $33-34 [25][26] Company Analysis - **Willis Lease (WLFC)**: - An aerospace leasing company primarily focused on leasing jet engines, with a valuable portfolio and a market cap of about $1 billion [10][11] - The company has benefited from a tight supply of engines, leading to high net asset value (NAV) [12] - Potential for significant growth through new joint ventures that could transform its business model and increase earnings [14][15] - The stock has seen a decline of approximately 20% over the past year, which may present a buying opportunity [17][18] - **FTAI Aviation (FTAI)**: - A larger player in the aerospace leasing market with a market cap of $24-25 billion, well-regarded and understood by the market [13][18] - The company has experienced substantial growth, with a stock increase of around 43-44% in the past year [18] - **California First Leasing (CFNB)**: - A company that owns a large-cap U.S. equity portfolio and has been trading at a significant NAV discount [22][25] - Management plans to conduct a self-tender offer to buy out small shareholders, which may not be shareholder-friendly [24][26] - The stock is currently undervalued, with potential for a price increase if the management's plan fails [26][27] Investment Themes - Interest in the gambling sector is noted, with concerns about the gamification of investing and its implications for long-term investment perspectives [28] - Activist investing is a focus, with recent engagements in companies like Core Scientific (CORZ) and Golden Entertainment (GDEN), where management decisions are being challenged [30][32] - The potential for significant mispricing in deals, particularly in the gaming sector, is highlighted, with a call for shareholders to be vigilant [36][38] Sector Trends - The healthcare and AI sectors are of interest, with a focus on how AI can impact various industries, including biotech [81][84] - The discussion includes the potential for AI to revolutionize business operations, particularly in data centers, as seen with Core Scientific's transition from crypto mining to AI [82][83]

Group 1 - Core Scientific Inc. has experienced a significant shift in market sentiment, indicated by bullish technical signals following an upgrade from BTIG [1] - The stock's momentum score surged from a bearish 16.34 to a bullish 81.98, reflecting a positive change in market perception after the uncertainty surrounding its rejected merger with CoreWeave Inc. cleared [2] - Momentum is defined as a measure of a stock's relative strength based on price movement patterns and volatility, with Core Scientific showing positive indicators across various time horizons [3] Group 2 - BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis upgraded Core Scientific from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $23, noting that the "dust settled" after the merger rejection [5] - The company is expected to capitalize on its strong power infrastructure for high-performance computing (HPC) as it secures additional colocation contracts, with expectations of strong performance starting in 2026 [6] - Core Scientific's shares have gained 26.40% in the last six months and 26.03% over the past year, closing at $17.14, with a slight decrease in premarket trading [7]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the **Crypto Industry** and its outlook for **2026**, highlighting a **tokenization supercycle** that includes the tokenization of stablecoins, capital markets, and prediction markets [1][2][3]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **2025 Performance**: Despite a weak Q4 in 2025, Bitcoin ended the year down 6%, while crypto equities had an average return of approximately **59%** [1]. 2. **Bitcoin Price Forecast**: The forecast for Bitcoin in 2026 is set at **$150K**, with a peak target of **$200K** in 2027, indicating a belief that the market has bottomed [1][8]. 3. **Stablecoin Growth**: Total stablecoin supply is expected to grow by **56% YoY** to **$420 billion** by 2026, driven by various factors including cross-border payments and fintech integration [2][47]. 4. **Tokenization of Real-World Assets**: The market for tokenized real-world assets is projected to increase from approximately **$37 billion** in 2025 to **$80 billion** in 2026, with equity tokenization expected to rise from **2%** to **16%** of total assets [3][47]. 5. **Prediction Markets**: The total volume for prediction markets is anticipated to double in 2026, reaching around **$70 billion**, with a significant portion of revenue expected from sports and political markets [4]. Company-Specific Insights Robinhood (HOOD) - **Management Strength**: HOOD is recognized for its effective management across equity, crypto, banking, and wealth management, with a strong distribution network of **14 million active traders** [12]. - **Prediction Markets Revenue**: Expected to contribute **9%** of total trading revenue by 2026, with HOOD building its own prediction markets exchange [15][77]. - **Tokenization Platform**: Plans to launch a full-scale equity tokenization platform, potentially impacting revenues significantly [15]. Coinbase (COIN) - **Business Transition**: COIN is transitioning to an 'everything exchange' model, expanding into tokenized stocks, prediction markets, and derivatives [16]. - **New Product Revenue**: New products are expected to drive **17%** of total trading revenues in 2026 [85]. - **Strategic Partnerships**: Partnerships with Circle are aimed at increasing USDC demand across various trading and payment platforms [16]. Circle (CRCL) - **Market Position**: Circle remains the largest regulated stablecoin provider in the U.S., with USDC growing by **73%** in 2025 to **$76 billion** [19][89]. - **Revenue Growth**: Despite concerns over interest rates, Circle's revenue and EBITDA have shown strong growth, maintaining pace with market demands [19]. Figure (FIGR) - **Loan Origination**: FIGR is expected to capture **5%** of U.S. HELOC origination by 2026, with strong momentum in tokenized consumer credit [26]. - **EBITDA Margin Expansion**: Projected EBITDA margins are expected to increase from **47%** in 2025 to **52%** in 2026 [26]. MicroStrategy (MSTR) - **Bitcoin Holdings**: MSTR holds approximately **674K BTC**, valued at around **$63 billion**, with a strong cash position to cover dividends [30]. - **Market Recovery**: MSTR is expected to benefit significantly from Bitcoin price appreciation, with a forecasted price of **$150K** in 2026 [31]. IREN - **AI Pivot**: IREN is focusing on building a vertically integrated AI business, with plans to set up **100K GPUs** over **350MW** of power [34]. - **Revenue Potential**: Expected to generate approximately **$2.5 billion** in annual recurring revenue by 2027 [39]. Important but Overlooked Content - **Regulatory Catalysts**: Key regulatory changes, such as the SEC crypto innovation exemption and the CLARITY Act, are expected to provide legitimacy to crypto trading platforms and could significantly impact market dynamics [10][11]. - **Market Risks**: The potential launch of crypto trading by legacy brokers and the competitive landscape with new entrants like Binance.US could pose risks to existing players [15][19]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and projections from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the crypto industry and key companies within it.