Despite the price of Bitcoin dipping below $100,000, the cryptocurrency has risen over +120% in 2024. Notably, this has led to an awe-inspiring price performance for Coinbase Global COIN which has seen its stock soar +80% year to date.
As the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, investors may be eyeing Coinbase’s stock as a buy-the-dip target with COIN down -9% in Monday's trading session.
Coinbase’s Improved Financial Performance
Attributed to Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency rally, Coinbase has seen improved financial metrics. Most recently reporting Q3 results in late October, Coinbase’s quarterly sales climbed 100% to $1.2 billion versus $674.15 million in the comparative quarter.
Most importantly, Coinbase’s Q3 EPS soared to $0.62 on net income of $75 million compared to a loss of $2 million a year ago or -$0.01 per share. This also marked Coinbase’s fourth consecutive quarter of positive net income.
Furthermore, Coinbase has now reached or exceeded the Zacks EPS Consensus for seven straight quarters with a very impressive average earnings surprise of 341.36% in its last four quarterly reports.
Revenue Growth & EPS Revisions
As stated by co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong, Coinbase’s number one priority has been to drive revenue. Shifting away from more volatile transaction fee revenue, Coinbase has focused on subscription and services revenue.
Optimistically, Coinbase’s total sales are now projected at $5.61 billion in fiscal 2024 which would be an 80% increase from $3.11 billion last year. Following a tougher to-compete-against year, FY25 sales are expected to dip -2% to $5.48 billion.
On the bottom line, annual earnings are expected to skyrocket to $5.39 per share this year compared to EPS of $0.37 in 2023. While Coinbase’s EPS is expected to contract to $3.15 in FY25, it's noteworthy that earnings estimate revisions have soared over the last two months with estimates at $1.87 per share 60 days ago. Plus, FY24 EPS estimates are up 4% during this period.
Diversification & Regulation
Outside of revenue growth, Coinbase’s main priorities have been on driving the utility (usage) and regulatory clarity of cryptocurrency. In regards to utility and regulation, Coinbase wants to keep increasing the economic freedom crypto offers to innovate the financial system and people’s daily lives.
Digital/Smart wallets along with payment solutions that make crypto more accessible have been at the forefront of Coinbase’s initiatives. The rally in Coinbase’s stock and Bitcoin, in particular, has been enhanced by the notion that President-elect Donald Trump is viewed as more supportive of cryptocurrency. Deeming himself as the pro-crypto candidate, Trump pledged to create a friendly regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies which should assist Coinbase’s initiatives.
Balance Sheet & Valuation
At 67.3X forward earnings, Coinbase stock trades at a noticeable premium to the benchmark S&P 500 although this is near fellow crypto broker Robinhood Financials’ (HOOD ) 54.4X. Even better, positive earnings estimate revisions are helping to justify Coinbase’s P/E premium along with its strengthening balance sheet.
To that point, Coinbase’s cash & equivalents ballooned to $8.62 billion at the end of Q3 2024 from $5.52 billion in the prior-year quarter. Coinbase currently has $290.55 billion in total assets which is above its total liabilities of $281.83 billion.
Bottom Line
Coinbase appears to be taking advantage of the growing optimism and support for Bitcoin among other cryptocurrencies. This could certainly make Coinbase’s stock an ideal buy-the-dip candidate, as COIN was added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list today and is shaping up to be a viable investment for 2024 and beyond.
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