JPMorgan analysts have downgraded Coinbase shares from Neutral to Underweight, causing a 5% drop in the stock’s value during premarket trading on Tuesday.
The analysts have also established a price target of $80 per share, indicating a significant downside risk of over 37% from the current share price.
The decision to downgrade Coinbase stems from concerns about the company’s prospects in 2024 and skepticism regarding the potential impact of recently approved Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to a CNBC report.
The downgrade by JPMorgan comes at a time when market participants are evaluating the effects of the newly launched Bitcoin ETFs on the overall cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Analysts at JPMorgan worry that the anticipated catalyst provided by the Bitcoin ETFs may disappoint market participants, potentially deflating enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies even further.
“Cryptocurrency prices are already under pressure; with Bitcoin falling below $40k as of the writing of this note, we see greater potential for cryptocurrency ETF enthusiasm to further deflate.”
The waning enthusiasm surrounding cryptocurrencies is expected to have a negative impact on token prices, trading volume, and ancillary revenue opportunities for companies like Coinbase.
Despite the impressive performance of Coinbase’s stock in 2023, outperforming the broader US stock market, JPMorgan analyst Kenneth B. Worthington predicts a more challenging year for the cryptocurrency exchange in 2024.
Worthington acknowledges Coinbase’s progress in various initiatives, such as the development of derivatives and the Layer-2 Base, but still anticipates difficulties ahead.
JPMorgan analysts value Coinbase stock at $80 per share based on normalized earnings power,
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