J.P. Morgan forecasts 45% upside for Riot through 2026

Core Viewpoint - J.P. Morgan has issued an overweight rating for Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) with a price target of $20, indicating a potential 45% increase from its current price of $13.71 [1] Group 1: Company Transition and Strategy - Riot Platforms is transitioning from bitcoin mining to becoming an AI infrastructure provider, similar to trends observed in other bitcoin mining companies [2] - The investment bank anticipates that Riot will secure an AI hosting deal at its 600 MW Corsicana site by the end of 2026 [2] Group 2: Market Position and Opportunities - Riot operates 1.7 GW across its Corsicana and Rockdale sites in Texas, which are being evaluated for AI workloads [2] - The sites are located in tier-1 markets, which is considered rare for bitcoin miners, as most mining operations are situated in rural areas [3] - There is strong interest from potential neocloud and hyperscaler tenants for Riot's facilities [3] Group 3: Potential Impact of Partnerships - Signing an AI deal with a well-capitalized tenant could lead to additional agreements for Riot [4] - Fidelity Investments disclosed an 8% stake in Riot, managing approximately $6.4 trillion in assets as of June 2025 [4]