EXCLUSIVE: AdvisorShares Portfolio Manager Says Market 'Nervous' In 2025, Encourages Investors To Have 'Long-Term Focus'
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 27 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF Performance: The AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF, managed by Eddy Elfenbein, is outperforming the market in 2025 with a five-star Morningstar rating, primarily due to its conservative stock holdings and low turnover strategy.
Investor Advice During Market Volatility: Elfenbein advises investors to maintain a long-term focus and not panic during market fluctuations, emphasizing the importance of holding quality stocks that can endure volatility.
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Analyst Views on ICE
Wall Street analysts forecast ICE stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 166.290
Low
174.00
Averages
191.60
High
223.00
Current: 166.290
Low
174.00
Averages
191.60
High
223.00
About ICE
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. provides financial technology and data services across major asset classes, helping its customers access workflow tools that increase transparency and efficiency. Its Exchanges segment operates regulated marketplace technology for the listing, trading and clearing of an array of derivatives contracts and financial securities as well as data and connectivity services related to its exchanges and clearing houses. Its Fixed Income and Data Services segment provides fixed income pricing, reference data, indices, analytics and execution services as well as global credit default swaps (CDS), clearing and multi-asset class data delivery technology. Its Mortgage Technology segment provides a technology platform that offers customers comprehensive, digital workflow tools that aim to address inefficiencies and mitigate risks that exist in the United States residential mortgage market life cycle, from application through closing, servicing and the secondary market.
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.
ICE Takes Stake in OKX, Secures Board Seat Amid $25 Billion Valuation
- Investment Scale and Valuation: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has invested in crypto exchange OKX at a $25 billion valuation, securing a board seat, which reflects its ongoing confidence and strategic positioning in the crypto market.
- User Access to New Markets: OKX's approximately 120 million users will gain access to ICE's U.S. futures and tokenized equities markets, with a rollout expected in the second half of 2026, providing users with more investment options and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Compliance Risks and Market Opportunities: Despite OKX's over $500 million penalty for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, ICE's investment indicates a calculated assessment of regulatory risks and a focus on the tokenized asset market, which could yield significant returns in the future.
- Crypto Market Expansion Strategy: This marks ICE's third major crypto investment in under six months, highlighting its pursuit of a leading position in the rapidly evolving crypto market, especially as traditional exchanges transition towards tokenized securities infrastructure.
See More
2026 Cashtag Awards to Celebrate Innovations in Trading and Investing
- Event Date and Venue: The 2026 Cashtag Awards will take place on May 4 at the New York Stock Exchange, aiming to honor individuals, products, and platforms shaping the future of digital finance and trading, with an expected attendance of over 1,000 participants, enhancing industry visibility.
- Community Voting Participation: Award winners will be selected by the Stocktwits community of over 10 million registered users, with voting opening in March and running through April, reflecting the community's vital role in financial innovation and enhancing user engagement and sense of belonging.
- Industry Leader Judging: Industry leaders will serve as tiebreakers during the selection process, ensuring that the choice of winners is authoritative and fair, further elevating the Cashtag Awards' industry recognition and impact.
- Entertainment Arrangements: The awards ceremony will feature a performance by acclaimed comedian Nathan Macintosh, adding entertainment value and appeal to the event, aiming to attract a broader audience through diverse activities and enhance brand image.
See More
2026 Cashtag Awards to Celebrate Innovations in Trading and Investing
- Event Date and Venue: The 2026 Cashtag Awards will take place on May 4 at the New York Stock Exchange, aiming to honor influential individuals and products in digital finance and trading, with an expected attendance of over 1,000 participants, thereby enhancing industry visibility.
- Community-Driven Selection: Award winners will be chosen through votes from Stocktwits' community of over 10 million registered users, with voting opening in March and running through April, highlighting the community's vital role in financial innovation.
- Sponsor Support: The event is backed by several prominent companies, including Tradr ETFs and ZenaTech, with Tradr managing over $2.5 billion in single-stock ETFs, indicating strong market demand for innovative financial products.
- Diverse Award Categories: The 2026 Cashtag Awards feature multiple categories such as “Cashtag of the Year” and “Best Market Innovation,” aimed at inspiring and recognizing creators and companies driving digital finance forward, further promoting market transparency and efficiency.
See More
ICE Makes Strategic Investment in OKX Valued at $25B
- Investment Valuation: ICE's strategic investment in blockchain firm OKX, based in San Jose, California, is valued at $25 billion, although specific financial terms remain undisclosed, significantly enhancing ICE's influence in the cryptocurrency market.
- Market Access Expansion: The strategic relationship with OKX will broaden global retail access to ICE's regulated markets, as ICE aims to accelerate the provision of on-chain infrastructure and tokenized assets to U.S. investors, thereby strengthening its competitive position.
- Board Seat Acquisition: ICE will secure a board seat on OKX's board of directors, indicating ICE's commitment to OKX and facilitating extensive strategic collaboration in blockchain infrastructure and market technology between the two firms.
- Financial Connectivity Innovation: The partnership will connect NYSE and ICE markets with OKX's customer base, ushering in a new phase for both financial ecosystems and driving innovation and integration in financial services.
See More
U.S. Senators Propose Ban on Prediction Market Trading for Officials
- Legislative Proposal: Senators Jeff Merkley and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a bill that would prohibit the President, Vice President, and members of Congress from participating in prediction market trading, aiming to prevent financial gains from insider information, which could significantly impact the legitimacy of prediction markets.
- Enhanced Market Regulation: The proposed legislation will restrict prediction market activities for senior executive officials and impose fines starting at $10,000 for violators, reflecting lawmakers' growing concern over prediction markets, especially following the recent Iran conflict.
- Insider Trading Concerns: Merkley highlighted that activities in prediction markets could lead to corruption and conflicts of interest, particularly after an anonymous user profited over $400,000 by predicting the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, underscoring the need for market transparency and integrity.
- Political Response: Although the bill is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress, it may lay the groundwork for future regulation of prediction markets, indicating increasing apprehension among Democrats regarding market behaviors and potentially prompting broader policy discussions.
See More
Intercontinental Exchange Reports Significant Trading Volume Growth for February 2026
- Significant Volume Growth: In February 2026, Intercontinental Exchange reported a 17% year-over-year increase in average daily volume (ADV), indicating heightened market activity and enhancing the company's competitive edge in global capital markets.
- Strong Energy Market Performance: The ADV for energy products rose by 12%, with open interest (OI) increasing by 4%, including a record high of 68.4 million lots on February 23, demonstrating sustained demand for energy products in the market.
- Active Financial Products Trading: Financial products saw a 24% increase in ADV and a 47% rise in OI, particularly with a record of 48.7 million lots on February 27, reflecting growing investor confidence in the financial markets.
- Record Highs in Agriculture and Metals: The ADV for agriculture and metals products increased by 25% year-over-year, with OI up 19%, notably cocoa's ADV surged by 77%, indicating strong demand and investment interest in these commodities.
See More
ICE Takes Stake in OKX, Secures Board Seat Amid $25 Billion Valuation
- Investment Scale and Valuation: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has invested in crypto exchange OKX at a $25 billion valuation, securing a board seat, which reflects its ongoing confidence and strategic positioning in the crypto market.
- User Access to New Markets: OKX's approximately 120 million users will gain access to ICE's U.S. futures and tokenized equities markets, with a rollout expected in the second half of 2026, providing users with more investment options and enhancing market competitiveness.
- Compliance Risks and Market Opportunities: Despite OKX's over $500 million penalty for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, ICE's investment indicates a calculated assessment of regulatory risks and a focus on the tokenized asset market, which could yield significant returns in the future.
- Crypto Market Expansion Strategy: This marks ICE's third major crypto investment in under six months, highlighting its pursuit of a leading position in the rapidly evolving crypto market, especially as traditional exchanges transition towards tokenized securities infrastructure.
See More
2026 Cashtag Awards to Celebrate Innovations in Trading and Investing
- Event Date and Venue: The 2026 Cashtag Awards will take place on May 4 at the New York Stock Exchange, aiming to honor individuals, products, and platforms shaping the future of digital finance and trading, with an expected attendance of over 1,000 participants, enhancing industry visibility.
- Community Voting Participation: Award winners will be selected by the Stocktwits community of over 10 million registered users, with voting opening in March and running through April, reflecting the community's vital role in financial innovation and enhancing user engagement and sense of belonging.
- Industry Leader Judging: Industry leaders will serve as tiebreakers during the selection process, ensuring that the choice of winners is authoritative and fair, further elevating the Cashtag Awards' industry recognition and impact.
- Entertainment Arrangements: The awards ceremony will feature a performance by acclaimed comedian Nathan Macintosh, adding entertainment value and appeal to the event, aiming to attract a broader audience through diverse activities and enhance brand image.
See More
2026 Cashtag Awards to Celebrate Innovations in Trading and Investing
- Event Date and Venue: The 2026 Cashtag Awards will take place on May 4 at the New York Stock Exchange, aiming to honor influential individuals and products in digital finance and trading, with an expected attendance of over 1,000 participants, thereby enhancing industry visibility.
- Community-Driven Selection: Award winners will be chosen through votes from Stocktwits' community of over 10 million registered users, with voting opening in March and running through April, highlighting the community's vital role in financial innovation.
- Sponsor Support: The event is backed by several prominent companies, including Tradr ETFs and ZenaTech, with Tradr managing over $2.5 billion in single-stock ETFs, indicating strong market demand for innovative financial products.
- Diverse Award Categories: The 2026 Cashtag Awards feature multiple categories such as “Cashtag of the Year” and “Best Market Innovation,” aimed at inspiring and recognizing creators and companies driving digital finance forward, further promoting market transparency and efficiency.
See More
ICE Makes Strategic Investment in OKX Valued at $25B
- Investment Valuation: ICE's strategic investment in blockchain firm OKX, based in San Jose, California, is valued at $25 billion, although specific financial terms remain undisclosed, significantly enhancing ICE's influence in the cryptocurrency market.
- Market Access Expansion: The strategic relationship with OKX will broaden global retail access to ICE's regulated markets, as ICE aims to accelerate the provision of on-chain infrastructure and tokenized assets to U.S. investors, thereby strengthening its competitive position.
- Board Seat Acquisition: ICE will secure a board seat on OKX's board of directors, indicating ICE's commitment to OKX and facilitating extensive strategic collaboration in blockchain infrastructure and market technology between the two firms.
- Financial Connectivity Innovation: The partnership will connect NYSE and ICE markets with OKX's customer base, ushering in a new phase for both financial ecosystems and driving innovation and integration in financial services.
See More
U.S. Senators Propose Ban on Prediction Market Trading for Officials
- Legislative Proposal: Senators Jeff Merkley and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a bill that would prohibit the President, Vice President, and members of Congress from participating in prediction market trading, aiming to prevent financial gains from insider information, which could significantly impact the legitimacy of prediction markets.
- Enhanced Market Regulation: The proposed legislation will restrict prediction market activities for senior executive officials and impose fines starting at $10,000 for violators, reflecting lawmakers' growing concern over prediction markets, especially following the recent Iran conflict.
- Insider Trading Concerns: Merkley highlighted that activities in prediction markets could lead to corruption and conflicts of interest, particularly after an anonymous user profited over $400,000 by predicting the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, underscoring the need for market transparency and integrity.
- Political Response: Although the bill is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress, it may lay the groundwork for future regulation of prediction markets, indicating increasing apprehension among Democrats regarding market behaviors and potentially prompting broader policy discussions.
See More
Intercontinental Exchange Reports Significant Trading Volume Growth for February 2026
- Significant Volume Growth: In February 2026, Intercontinental Exchange reported a 17% year-over-year increase in average daily volume (ADV), indicating heightened market activity and enhancing the company's competitive edge in global capital markets.
- Strong Energy Market Performance: The ADV for energy products rose by 12%, with open interest (OI) increasing by 4%, including a record high of 68.4 million lots on February 23, demonstrating sustained demand for energy products in the market.
- Active Financial Products Trading: Financial products saw a 24% increase in ADV and a 47% rise in OI, particularly with a record of 48.7 million lots on February 27, reflecting growing investor confidence in the financial markets.
- Record Highs in Agriculture and Metals: The ADV for agriculture and metals products increased by 25% year-over-year, with OI up 19%, notably cocoa's ADV surged by 77%, indicating strong demand and investment interest in these commodities.
See More
