Marathon Digital Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NASDAQ:MARA)

Key Points

• Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. saw a significant increase in options trading activity, with 563,755 call options purchased, marking a 74% rise compared to its average volume.
• Insider transactions included CEO Frederick G. Thiel selling 27,505 shares, while CFO Salman Hassan Khan sold 34,733 shares, decreasing their ownership stakes in the company.
• Several institutional investors have recently adjusted their stakes in Marathon Digital, with notable new investments and increases in holdings indicating growing interest in the company.

Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA - Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Friday. Stock traders bought 563,755 call options on the company. Thisrepresentsanincreaseof74% compared to the average volume of 323,770 call options.

Insider Transactions at Marathon Digital

In other Marathon Digital news, CEO Frederick G. Thiel sold 27,505 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.28, for a total value of $420,276.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 3,810,799 shares in the company, valued at $58,229,008.72. The trade was a 0.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Salman Hassan Khan sold 34,733 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.85, for a total transaction of $550,518.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 1,413,298 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,400,773.30. This trade represents a 2.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 189,712 shares of company stock worth $3,186,128. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Marathon Digital

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MARA. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Marathon Digital in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,408,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Marathon Digital by 358.3% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,824 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,426 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Marathon Digital in the fourth quarter valued at about $311,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Marathon Digital by 28.9% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,640 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in Marathon Digital in the fourth quarter valued at about $4,209,000. 44.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Marathon Digital Price Performance

Shares of MARA stock opened at $16.29 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $16.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $6.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.68 and a beta of 6.24. Marathon Digital has a 12 month low of $9.81 and a 12 month high of $30.28.

Marathon Digital (NASDAQ:MARA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The business services provider reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.29) by $2.13. The firm had revenue of $238.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $212.25 million. Marathon Digital had a negative return on equity of 2.11% and a net margin of 85.02%.The company's revenue was up 64.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.72) earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Marathon Digital will post -1.04 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on shares of Marathon Digital from $34.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Digital from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Macquarie increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Digital from $19.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Marathon Digital from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reissued a "buy" rating and set a $20.00 price objective on shares of Marathon Digital in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Marathon Digital currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $24.22.

About Marathon Digital

MARA Holdings, Inc operates as a digital asset technology company that mines digital assets with a focus on the bitcoin ecosystem in United States. The company was formerly known as Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc and changed its name to MARA Holdings, Inc in August 2024. MARA Holdings, Inc was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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