Riot Platforms Rated Favorably by Piper Sandler with $26 Price Target
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy RIOT?
Source: Benzinga
Riot Platforms Inc (RIOT) shares are up 8.33% in pre-market trading, reaching a 20-day high, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of its earnings report.
Piper Sandler has rated Riot as a 'sleeping giant' with a price target of $26, indicating a potential 55% upside from its previous closing price. This strong analyst outlook is bolstered by Riot's significant power capacity advantage, controlling 1.7 gigawatts across Texas, which positions the company favorably for future AI and HPC deals. Investors are optimistic about Riot's upcoming fourth-quarter earnings report, despite analysts forecasting a loss of 14 cents per share.
The favorable rating from Piper Sandler and the anticipation of significant announcements related to AI and HPC are likely to drive investor interest in Riot Platforms, suggesting a positive outlook for the company's growth potential.
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Analyst Views on RIOT
Wall Street analysts forecast RIOT stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 16.690
Low
20.00
Averages
27.00
High
42.00
Current: 16.690
Low
20.00
Averages
27.00
High
42.00
About RIOT
Riot Platforms, Inc. is a Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company. The Company has Bitcoin mining operations in central Texas and Kentucky, and electrical engineering and fabrication operations in Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. It operates a Bitcoin-driven infrastructure platform. Its segments include Bitcoin Mining and Engineering. The Bitcoin Mining segment is engaged in Bitcoin mining activities. The Engineering segment designs and manufacturers power distribution equipment and custom engineered electrical products. This segment also provides electricity distribution product design, manufacturing, and installation services primarily focused on large-scale commercial and governmental customers and serves clients across a range of markets including data center, power generation, utility, water, industrial, and alternative energy. It is also focused on developing a portion of its power capacity for artificial intelligence (AI)/ high-performance computing (HPC) uses.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Riot Platforms Stock Analysis Amid Iran Ceasefire Rally
- Market Reaction: Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) saw its share price increase by over 38% since the episode aired, indicating market recognition of the company's potential, although Jim Cramer suggested that investors simplify their strategy by directly purchasing Bitcoin instead.
- Investment Advice: During the show, Cramer expressed caution regarding RIOT's investment outlook, deeming it too risky and recommending that investors consider direct Bitcoin investments, reflecting concerns over market volatility and complexity in stock selection.
- Company Background: Riot Platforms is a Bitcoin mining and infrastructure company that also designs and manufactures specialized power distribution equipment, providing electrical products and installation services for data centers and industrial utility customers, showcasing its diversified positioning in the cryptocurrency sector.
- AI Stock Comparison: While RIOT is viewed as having investment potential, analysts noted that certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk, prompting investors to carefully evaluate market trends and industry prospects when selecting investment targets.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Sentiment Rebound: Global stock markets surged on Wednesday as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the S&P 500 rising 2.51%, the Dow Jones up 2.85%, and the Nasdaq 100 increasing by 2.90%, reflecting a positive market response to easing geopolitical tensions.
- Crude Oil Price Plunge: The ceasefire news led to a more than 15% drop in crude oil prices to a 1.5-week low, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets, with the German 10-year Bund yield falling to a 3-week low, indicating a more optimistic outlook for the economy.
- Fed Policy Expectations: Although the market discounts only a 1% chance of a 25 bp rate hike at the upcoming April 28-29 FOMC meeting, the minutes from the March FOMC indicated heightened concerns among participants regarding upside risks to inflation and downside risks to employment, suggesting a more cautious approach to future monetary policy.
- Strong Tech Stock Performance: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks saw significant gains on Wednesday, with Intel rising over 11%, driving the Nasdaq 100's increase, highlighting the tech sector's crucial role in the market recovery and further boosting investor confidence in technology stocks.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Sentiment Rebounds: Global stock markets surged as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the S&P 500 rising 2.04%, the Dow Jones up 2.25%, and the Nasdaq 100 increasing by 2.52%, indicating a renewed investor confidence in risk assets.
- Crude Oil Price Plunge: The ceasefire news led to a more than 15% drop in crude oil prices to a 1.5-week low, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets, with the German 10-year Bund yield falling to a 3-week low, reflecting market expectations of a potential economic slowdown.
- US Treasury Yields Decline: The 10-year US Treasury yield fell to 4.228%, a 3-week low, as concerns over inflation eased, indicating increased demand for safe-haven assets, while also supporting the upcoming $39 billion auction of 10-year notes.
- Strong Performance in Tech Stocks: Amid the positive market sentiment, technology stocks performed strongly, with Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet all rising over 3%, showcasing sustained investor confidence in the tech sector, which may drive future investment inflows.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose by 2.35%, the Dow Jones by 2.78%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 2.89%, all reaching four-week highs, reflecting optimistic market sentiment following the easing of geopolitical tensions.
- Crude Oil Plunge: Crude oil prices fell over 17% to a 1.5-week low after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets.
- Declining Bond Yields: The 10-year US Treasury yield dropped to a three-week low of 4.228%, as easing inflation worries are expected to influence future monetary policy, particularly ahead of the upcoming FOMC meeting.
- Airline Stocks Surge: With lower fuel costs, Alaska Air Group surged over 16% and Carnival Cruises rose over 13%, indicating a positive impact of falling oil prices on the airline and cruise industries, potentially enhancing overall profitability.
See More
US Stocks Decline as Oil Prices Surge Amid Iran Tensions
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.63%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.66%, and the Nasdaq 100 index decreased by 0.78%, reflecting investor concerns over geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalating situation in Iran that could impact market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: Crude oil prices rose over 2% to a four-week high, with the market closely watching diplomatic efforts ahead of President Trump's deadline, as failure to reach a ceasefire could lead to escalated conflict and further inflationary pressures.
- Supportive Economic Data: February's non-defense capital goods new orders increased by 0.6% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.5%, indicating a rebound in capital spending, although overall market sentiment remains influenced by oil prices and geopolitical factors.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike by the Fed at the April meeting, reflecting cautious investor sentiment regarding economic outlook, especially in light of rising oil prices potentially driving inflation.
See More
Marathon and Riot Accelerate Bitcoin Sales Amid Market Trends
- Accelerated Bitcoin Sales: Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms ramped up Bitcoin sales on Tuesday, with Marathon moving approximately 200 BTC to a historically selling wallet, while Riot sold another $34.8 million worth of Bitcoin, bringing its total sales for April to about $102 million, reflecting the pressure on miners to maintain balance sheets amid falling prices.
- Ongoing Accumulation Strategy: Despite reporting an unrealized loss of around $14.5 billion in Q1 2026, Michael Saylor's strategy continues to accumulate Bitcoin, adding 4,871 BTC worth over $330 million, raising market questions about whether this aggressive accumulation can reverse diminishing technical signals.
- Shifts in Market Sentiment: MARA's stock was down over 1% in pre-market trading, with retail sentiment on Stocktwits remaining neutral; in contrast, RIOT's stock fell over 2%, but its retail sentiment turned bullish, indicating a renewed confidence in its future performance.
- HODL Waves Analysis: Analysts noted that Bitcoin's HODL Waves indicate a rise in high-conviction holders, with long-term investors largely choosing to hold rather than sell aggressively, contrasting with miners' selling behavior, while Bitcoin ETFs also saw inflows for the second consecutive week, totaling $471.32 million.
See More
Riot Platforms Stock Analysis Amid Iran Ceasefire Rally
- Market Reaction: Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) saw its share price increase by over 38% since the episode aired, indicating market recognition of the company's potential, although Jim Cramer suggested that investors simplify their strategy by directly purchasing Bitcoin instead.
- Investment Advice: During the show, Cramer expressed caution regarding RIOT's investment outlook, deeming it too risky and recommending that investors consider direct Bitcoin investments, reflecting concerns over market volatility and complexity in stock selection.
- Company Background: Riot Platforms is a Bitcoin mining and infrastructure company that also designs and manufactures specialized power distribution equipment, providing electrical products and installation services for data centers and industrial utility customers, showcasing its diversified positioning in the cryptocurrency sector.
- AI Stock Comparison: While RIOT is viewed as having investment potential, analysts noted that certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk, prompting investors to carefully evaluate market trends and industry prospects when selecting investment targets.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Sentiment Rebound: Global stock markets surged on Wednesday as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the S&P 500 rising 2.51%, the Dow Jones up 2.85%, and the Nasdaq 100 increasing by 2.90%, reflecting a positive market response to easing geopolitical tensions.
- Crude Oil Price Plunge: The ceasefire news led to a more than 15% drop in crude oil prices to a 1.5-week low, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets, with the German 10-year Bund yield falling to a 3-week low, indicating a more optimistic outlook for the economy.
- Fed Policy Expectations: Although the market discounts only a 1% chance of a 25 bp rate hike at the upcoming April 28-29 FOMC meeting, the minutes from the March FOMC indicated heightened concerns among participants regarding upside risks to inflation and downside risks to employment, suggesting a more cautious approach to future monetary policy.
- Strong Tech Stock Performance: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks saw significant gains on Wednesday, with Intel rising over 11%, driving the Nasdaq 100's increase, highlighting the tech sector's crucial role in the market recovery and further boosting investor confidence in technology stocks.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Sentiment Rebounds: Global stock markets surged as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the S&P 500 rising 2.04%, the Dow Jones up 2.25%, and the Nasdaq 100 increasing by 2.52%, indicating a renewed investor confidence in risk assets.
- Crude Oil Price Plunge: The ceasefire news led to a more than 15% drop in crude oil prices to a 1.5-week low, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets, with the German 10-year Bund yield falling to a 3-week low, reflecting market expectations of a potential economic slowdown.
- US Treasury Yields Decline: The 10-year US Treasury yield fell to 4.228%, a 3-week low, as concerns over inflation eased, indicating increased demand for safe-haven assets, while also supporting the upcoming $39 billion auction of 10-year notes.
- Strong Performance in Tech Stocks: Amid the positive market sentiment, technology stocks performed strongly, with Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet all rising over 3%, showcasing sustained investor confidence in the tech sector, which may drive future investment inflows.
See More
Global Stock Markets Surge on Iran Ceasefire Agreement
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose by 2.35%, the Dow Jones by 2.78%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 2.89%, all reaching four-week highs, reflecting optimistic market sentiment following the easing of geopolitical tensions.
- Crude Oil Plunge: Crude oil prices fell over 17% to a 1.5-week low after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, alleviating inflation concerns and sparking a rally in global government bond markets.
- Declining Bond Yields: The 10-year US Treasury yield dropped to a three-week low of 4.228%, as easing inflation worries are expected to influence future monetary policy, particularly ahead of the upcoming FOMC meeting.
- Airline Stocks Surge: With lower fuel costs, Alaska Air Group surged over 16% and Carnival Cruises rose over 13%, indicating a positive impact of falling oil prices on the airline and cruise industries, potentially enhancing overall profitability.
See More
US Stocks Decline as Oil Prices Surge Amid Iran Tensions
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.63%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.66%, and the Nasdaq 100 index decreased by 0.78%, reflecting investor concerns over geopolitical tensions, particularly the escalating situation in Iran that could impact market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: Crude oil prices rose over 2% to a four-week high, with the market closely watching diplomatic efforts ahead of President Trump's deadline, as failure to reach a ceasefire could lead to escalated conflict and further inflationary pressures.
- Supportive Economic Data: February's non-defense capital goods new orders increased by 0.6% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.5%, indicating a rebound in capital spending, although overall market sentiment remains influenced by oil prices and geopolitical factors.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: The market is pricing in only a 3% chance of a 25 basis point rate hike by the Fed at the April meeting, reflecting cautious investor sentiment regarding economic outlook, especially in light of rising oil prices potentially driving inflation.
See More
Marathon and Riot Accelerate Bitcoin Sales Amid Market Trends
- Accelerated Bitcoin Sales: Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms ramped up Bitcoin sales on Tuesday, with Marathon moving approximately 200 BTC to a historically selling wallet, while Riot sold another $34.8 million worth of Bitcoin, bringing its total sales for April to about $102 million, reflecting the pressure on miners to maintain balance sheets amid falling prices.
- Ongoing Accumulation Strategy: Despite reporting an unrealized loss of around $14.5 billion in Q1 2026, Michael Saylor's strategy continues to accumulate Bitcoin, adding 4,871 BTC worth over $330 million, raising market questions about whether this aggressive accumulation can reverse diminishing technical signals.
- Shifts in Market Sentiment: MARA's stock was down over 1% in pre-market trading, with retail sentiment on Stocktwits remaining neutral; in contrast, RIOT's stock fell over 2%, but its retail sentiment turned bullish, indicating a renewed confidence in its future performance.
- HODL Waves Analysis: Analysts noted that Bitcoin's HODL Waves indicate a rise in high-conviction holders, with long-term investors largely choosing to hold rather than sell aggressively, contrasting with miners' selling behavior, while Bitcoin ETFs also saw inflows for the second consecutive week, totaling $471.32 million.
See More
