Analyst Ratings February 13, 2026

H.C. Wainwright Sticks with Buy on Coinbase Despite Disappointing Q4 Results

Analyst holds $350 target as exchange reports earnings and revenue shortfalls, while management points to regulatory catalyst

By Marcus Reed COIN
H.C. Wainwright Sticks with Buy on Coinbase Despite Disappointing Q4 Results
COIN

H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and $350 price target on Coinbase Global Inc., even after the cryptocurrency exchange posted weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter results. The firm points to a strong trailing twelve months EBITDA, an attractive valuation gap versus current trading levels, and the potential passage of the CLARITY Act as reasons to retain a positive outlook despite recent earnings misses and near-term share weakness.

Key Points

  • H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed a Buy rating on Coinbase and held a $350 price target, implying significant upside from current trading levels.
  • Coinbase reported Q4 EPS of $0.66 and revenue of $1.78 billion, both below analyst expectations; the firm has generated $2.4 billion in EBITDA over the trailing twelve months.
  • The firm cites potential passage of the CLARITY Act as a near-term positive catalyst and notes the stock is trading at lows not seen since September 2024.

H.C. Wainwright has maintained a Buy rating on Coinbase Global Inc. and kept a $350.00 price target, the firm said in its latest research note following Coinbase’s fourth-quarter results. That target implies material upside from prevailing market levels; InvestingPro data cited in the note shows Coinbase shares trading at $141.09, a figure the research firm treats as below its Fair Value assessment.

According to H.C. Wainwright analyst Mike Colonnese, Coinbase reported lower-than-expected net revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2025. The company released the earnings after the market closed on Tuesday. Despite the shortfall in the quarter, the note highlights that Coinbase has delivered $2.4 billion in EBITDA over the trailing twelve months.

H.C. Wainwright’s research team held fast to its positive stance even as Coinbase suffered share weakness prior to the earnings release. Shares had declined about 8% heading into the announcement, outpacing a roughly 2% drop in the Nasdaq, the firm observed. The research brief also noted that Coinbase shares are trading at their lowest levels since September 2024, before the presidential election, which the firm interprets as indicating "limited downside risk" from current prices.

The firm pointed to a possible regulatory upside in the near term: management at Coinbase expects the U.S. Senate may pass the CLARITY Act within the next few months, a development H.C. Wainwright calls a "major near-term positive catalyst." The research note also referenced InvestingPro Tips indicating that the stock is currently in oversold territory.

From a fundamentals perspective, H.C. Wainwright emphasized that Coinbase retains liquid assets that exceed its short-term obligations and has reported profitability over the last twelve months—factors the firm cited in support of its Buy recommendation. Additional research materials, including a Pro Research Report covering Coinbase and more than 1,400 other stocks, were referenced as sources for deeper analysis.


More granular results from Coinbase’s fourth-quarter report show the company missed analyst expectations on both EPS and revenue. Reported earnings per share came in at $0.66 versus an expected $1.05, a 37.14% negative surprise. Revenue for the quarter was $1.78 billion, below the anticipated $1.85 billion. These metrics underscore the gap between the company’s reported performance and consensus estimates for the period.

The report included no announcements regarding mergers or acquisitions, and H.C. Wainwright’s release noted there were no analyst upgrades or downgrades immediately following the results. The absence of M&A activity and analyst rating changes leaves the firm’s maintained Buy call and elevated price target as the principal analyst response captured in the note.

Investors weighing Coinbase’s near-term outlook will likely balance the recent operational and earnings misses against the firm’s trailing EBITDA, liquidity position, and the potential regulatory catalyst cited by management and H.C. Wainwright. At present, the research firm is signaling that, despite the Q4 setbacks, the stock’s valuation and a possible legislative event support a constructive view.

Risks

  • Near-term financial performance risk: Coinbase’s Q4 EPS and revenue missed expectations, which could sustain investor scrutiny and pressure technology and financial sectors tied to crypto exposure.
  • Regulatory timing uncertainty: Although management expects the CLARITY Act to pass in the coming months, any delay or failure in legislative action would remove the cited near-term catalyst affecting investors and market sentiment.
  • Market valuation and sentiment risk: Shares have fallen and are described as oversold; continued negative earnings surprises or broader market weakness could further impact crypto-related equities and the Nasdaq.

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