TD Cowen initiated coverage of Ethereum-focused firm Sharplink with a “buy” rating and a $16 price target, while maintaining its “buy” rating for Bitcoin giant Strategy but cutting Strategy’s price target to $350. Analysts noted Sharplink’s staking revenue could cover all operating costs even if Ethereum’s price remains low, and that Strategy’s new target reflects lower expectations for Bitcoin’s future price.
TD Cowen analysts initiated coverage of Sharplink with a “buy” rating on Thursday, while reducing the investment bank’s price target for Bitcoin-buying Strategy. The analysts, led by Lance Vitanza, set a $16 price target for Sharplink shares, which traded around $6.42 in after-hours trading according to Yahoo Finance.
Sharplink sets itself apart by growing its digital assets through Ethereum staking. TD analysts posited the firm will generate a comparatively “superior staking yield” to new Ethereum ETFs due to ETF fees and liquidity constraints.
The ability to increase Ethereum per share should lead Sharplink to outperform staking Ethereum ETFs in a favorable price environment. Should Ethereum’s price stay depressed, staking revenue should fully cover operating costs according to the analysts.
Last month, Sharplink reported staking revenue jumped 50% quarter-over-quarter to $15.3 million. The company disclosed a full-year loss of $734 million, driven by a decrease in the value of its Ethereum holdings.
Consensys CEO and Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, Sharplink’s Chairman, said the firm is positioned to serve as a bridge between traditional public markets and Ethereum. (Disclosure: Consensys is one of 22 investors in an editorially independent media outlet.)
Meanwhile, TD analysts trimmed their price target for Strategy, which holds over $55 billion in Bitcoin, to $350 while reiterating its “buy” rating. On Thursday, Strategy’s stock price edged up to nearly $129 according to Yahoo Finance.
The updated price target reflects a lower multiple on Strategy’s projected “BTC $ gain,” a key performance indicator. It also reflects lower expectations of future Bitcoin prices, the analysts wrote.
