Happy Tuesday! Tom Lee just issued a bold prediction for Bitcoin. Read on to see why this is turning heads on Wall Street and the reasons that could propel the cryptocurrency to new heights.

Also, are you feeling priced out of gold after its meteoric rise? You’re not alone — but don’t walk away from precious metals just yet, as a trio of overlooked metals is heating up and on the verge of breaking out.

Plus, if you’re interested in small-cap stocks that are poised for growth in AI, freight and fintech, check out today’s sponsor. 

In today's edition

• MARKET RECAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

• ONE FOR THE ROAD

Tom Lee Predicts Bitcoin To Hit $250,000 By End Of 2025, $3M Long Term

Amid a wave of bold market calls shaking up Wall Street lately, Tom Lee — Managing Partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors and one of the Street’s most closely watched voices — has added fuel to the fire with his latest crypto outlook.

As one of the most notable analysts on Wall Street, Lee’s updated forecast has crypto bulls buzzing as the veteran strategist believes Bitcoin could hit $250,000 by the end of the year — more than doubling from its current price.

Lee’s outlook isn’t built on hype or a quick headline grab, as it’s grounded in what he sees as a brewing supply and demand storm. While nearly all Bitcoin has already been mined, he argues that the majority of the world still hasn’t tapped into it. This imbalance, combined with growing institutional interest and a shifting macroeconomic landscape, could set the stage for a run that redefines how investors view digital assets.

Whether you’re a long-time HODLer or a cautious observer, dive into the details as to why Bitcoin may not just be a portfolio diversifier, but to some experts, it can be a generational wealth engine too.

Savvy investors know the biggest opportunities emerge when everyone else is looking the other way.

LikeFolio says its consumer demand data has identified five small-cap stocks that it believes could be about to breakout:

• A data engineering firm helping fuel the AI boom with structured training sets.

• The freight innovator deploying fully driverless trucks on U.S. highways.

• The digital insurer scaling with AI and dominating Gen Z engagement.

• The quantum computing company now backed by $200M in strategic investment.

• The AI chipmaker riding demand back to profitability and growth.

These companies are gaining traction — but there is some market fear around such firms, due to their size.

LikeFolio believes a small-cap rebound is underway. Don’t miss some of the leaders.

Click now to access LikeFolio’s Top 5 Small-Cap Stock Picks.

Yesterday: U.S. indexes kicked the month off on a high note as the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all saw gains on Monday. All indexes were looking at losses when trading began due to rising tensions between China and the U.S., with Beijing countering President Donald Trump’s accusations that it had violated a temporary trade agreement. Yet despite weaker-than-expected manufacturing data, combined with the European Union criticizing Trump’s intention to double steel tariffs to 50%, stocks still managed to climb into positive territory and keep the remarkable run going from May. In addition, Treasury yields ticked higher to 4.46% and oil prices rallied after OPEC+ decided not to accelerate plans to hike output like the market was expecting.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be monitoring U.S. factory orders and job openings data — due later today — for signals on manufacturing activity and the health of the labor market. On the earnings front, Crowdstrike (CRWD) will report earnings after the bell today, with shares currently up 40% on the year so far.

New Highs: Shares of Zscaler hit a 52-week high after smashing earnings estimates and raising full-year guidance, fueled by strong demand for its Zero Trust platform and AI-driven security solutions. Don’t miss out on what analysts are calling a cybersecurity breakout.

Surging Ahead: Shares of Credo surged after hours as the company not only smashed analyst estimates but raised its guidance as well. Read on for all the details and how the company continues to become a market darling.

Making Moves: Ark Invest made some significant moves. Discover the securities Cathie Wood loaded up on, and which ones got trimmed or dropped.

Xponential Growth: Elon Musk is fueling up for liftoff with xAI’s $300 million share sale, giving the company a stratospheric $113 billion valuation. Discover all the details and how this bold move could reshape the future of AI dominance.

Micro Cuts: After announcing one of its largest rounds of layoffs in years just a couple of weeks ago, Microsoft is trimming hundreds more as it doubles down on AI. Read on to see if these layoffs signal a major shift in tech priorities and what it means going forward.

The market is flashing major warning signs — tech is cracking, small caps are diverging and rate pressure is building fast. Volatility is rising, and a sharp move could hit any day.

Join 42-year Wall Street veteran Matt Maley as he breaks down the signals he’s watching, the stocks he’s targeting for short-term trades and how he’s positioning for the next major move — whether the market rips higher or breaks down next.

On This Day In 2024…

A technical failure on the New York Stock Exchange led to price drops of 99% of several notable stocks, including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares. The glitch was attributed to issues related to the U.S. transition from T+2 to T+1 settlement cycles, as well as disruptions stemming from incorrect price bands published by the Consolidated Tape Association (CTA), which coordinates real-time stock quotes for major exchanges. The issue impacted 40 stocks; however, by 11:45 a.m. ET, the NYSE announced that the issue had been resolved and that they would be canceling the erroneous trades in several securities, including Berkshire Hathaway’s A-shares. Both share classes (BRK/A, BRK/B) ended higher on the day.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The most dangerous thing is to buy something at the peak of its popularity.”

— Howard Marks

3 Gold Alternatives Set To Soar Next

With gold prices now $1,000 higher than just a year ago, many investors are feeling priced out of the world’s most iconic safe-haven asset.

But while gold continues to dominate headlines, a trio of alternative metals is quietly positioning itself for the next big breakout. What’s driving this gold rush is no mystery —rampant inflation, geopolitical instability and shifting central bank policies have created a textbook setup for precious metals. But for savvy investors, the real story might lie just beyond the golden glow.

Silver, often called gold’s “little brother,” is gaining serious attention thanks to its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal. Experts are pointing to a tightening supply, growing demand from tech and clean energy sectors and a history of shadowing gold's rallies — all suggesting silver may be on the verge of a major move.

But silver isn’t the only alternative that is gaining attention. There are two other metals that experts say could deliver even bigger upside — and they’re still flying under the radar.

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