Barclays upgrades Coinbase and Robinhood ratings, citing mature business models

According to CoinDesk, British banking giant Barclays has raised the ratings of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN) and online brokerage Robinhood (HOOD) from "underweight" to "neutral", citing that the two companies have better business models. Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish believes that both companies have "significantly matured", particularly due to their product expansion and more positive financial outlook.

Barclays' report points out that, given the increasingly friendly stance of both US presidential candidates towards the digital asset industry and the approval of multiple cryptocurrency spot exchange traded funds (ETFs), Coinbase can particularly benefit from a more favorable regulatory environment. The analyst wrote:

Although we still see risks facing Coinbase, we believe that the improved environment, profit and loss situation, gradual and sustained diversification, clear industry leadership position in the United States, and recent stock price performance all point to a more balanced risk/reward, so we have adjusted it to 'neutral'

The report points out that although the cryptocurrency industry has experienced many challenges in the past two years, Coinbase has continued to demonstrate resilience. Budish praised the company for effectively maintaining low costs, especially those related to employees, despite the growth in activities in 2024. He also mentioned the diversification of Coinbase's revenue sources, although most of the revenue still relies mainly on transaction fees and interest income, the exchange has begun to see other areas of business becoming meaningful sources of contribution, including in memory blockchain rewards, custody income, and other transaction fees.

However, analysts warn that although many things about Coinbase seem to be moving in the right direction, there is still uncertainty in the field, including a broader macroeconomic environment and unclear regulation, involving whether several assets belong to securities, and the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) unresolved lawsuit against Coinbase.

The analyst also believes that there is a similar positive development in Robinhood's business model, which may bring about future upside potential. The main factors for his positive stance include new products, Robinhood's expansion in the UK and Europe, and the acquisition of new potential customers from Bitstamp.

Barclays said, "The factors that prompted us to make a downgrade rating are gradually improving, and we now believe that the risk/return ratio of these two stocks is more balanced