Coinbase Shares Plunge as Weak Earnings Prompt Near-Term Caution

Wall Street analysts lowered share-price targets for the crypto exchange after its first quarter earnings report.

AccessTimeIconMay 11, 2022 at 1:22 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 4:14 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) tumbled more than 26% on Wednesday to less than $54 after the crypto exchange reported first quarter revenue below estimates and weaker trading volumes. The stock has lost more than 70% this year.

While several Wall Street analysts see Coinbase as a leader across the broader crypto industry, they say headwinds remain in place, and many lowered their price targets early Wednesday. And Goldman Sachs downgraded Coinbase to neutral from buy, reducing its price target from $240 to $80. Goldman analyst Will Nance said Coinbase is still the “blue chip way” to gain crypto exposure for investors, but doesn’t expect the company to return to recent levels of profitability in the near term without a spike in crypto prices or more volatility.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan told clients "we continue to recommend Coinbase as we see it as a leader in the crypto-ecosystem, but we acknowledge that crypto is in need of a catalyst and the risk in owning Coinbase stock continues to rise with positive earnings getting pushed further to the future." JPMorgan analyst Kenneth Worthington cut the bank's price target on Coinbase to $171 from $258, maintaining an overweight recommendation on shares.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong nevertheless suggested in a tweet on Wednesday that his company's shares may now be undervalued.


Coinbase said in an earnings release after the market closed on Tuesday that it expects the second quarter to be weaker than the first with respect to monthly transacting users and overall trading volumes.

Some analysts see an opportunity in the battered shares of the crypto exchange, indicating potential for long-term growth.

Coinbase is trading as though it will “burn through all of its cash and then become insolvent,” Mark Palmer, BTIG’s equity research analyst said in a note. Eventually, investors will recognize an opportunity in the shares, he said, calling the stock drop “greatly overblown.” BTIG maintained a buy recommendation and lowered the price target to $380 from $500.

The company said it remains focused on investments, while acknowledging the choppy market conditions.

“We believe these market conditions are not permanent and we remain focused on the long-term,” the company said in the earnings release. “In fact, our investment in our business now is especially critical – these periods of low volatility can provide the opportunity to focus more intently on product development (as opposed to peak periods, when we are more focused on meeting high demand). We approach the opportunities ahead with confidence and steady hands.”

UPDATE (May 11, 13:35 UTC): Updates stock price movement.

UPDATE (May 11, 15:09 UTC): Updates with Goldman Sachs rating downgrade.

UPDATE (May 11, 20:07 UTC): Adds Brian Armstrong's tweet.


Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

Author placeholder image

Michael Bellusci is CoinDesk's crypto reporter focused on public companies and digital asset firms.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.