NewsStocksCircle (CRCL) Faces Earnings Test as USDC Supply Declines and Analysts Cut Targets

Circle (CRCL) Faces Earnings Test as USDC Supply Declines and Analysts Cut Targets

Author: The Market Periodical·

Key Takeaways

  • Circle Internet Group is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings this week, with analysts anticipating approximately $713 million in revenue and earnings per share of 16 cents.
  • USDC supply has declined from a record high of nearly $80 billion to $71.8 billion, its lowest level since February, while Tether's USDT has continued to expand its circulating supply.
  • Multiple Wall Street firms have lowered their price targets for Circle, including Mizuho reducing its target from $50 to $45 and Goldman Sachs cutting from $111 to $96.
  • Technical analysis patterns such as a double-top formation and a bearish flag suggest the stock may decline toward the $50 level, representing approximately a 14% drop from current prices.
  • The options market is pricing in elevated volatility for Circle stock, with implied volatility at 130% and put/call volume ratios indicating traders are positioning for a potential price decline.
Circle (CRCL) Faces Earnings Test as USDC Supply Declines and Analysts Cut Targets

Key Insights

  • Circle stock has formed a bearish flag pattern on the daily chart.
  • The company is scheduled to publish its earnings report this week.
  • USDC supply has continued to decline this month.
  • Circle stock has traded sideways since late June, remaining within a support range of $58 and a resistance level of $73.

This consolidation phase could face a critical test on Wednesday when the company releases its financial results.

Circle Internet to Report Earnings Amid Mounting Challenges

CRCL stock will draw significant attention this week as Circle Internet Group prepares to publish its financial results. The earnings arrive against the backdrop of a prolonged crypto winter that has weighed on Bitcoin and most altcoins.

The report also comes at a time when the stablecoin sector has largely stagnated. While USD Coin (USDC) supply rose from $64.5 billion on August 1 of last year to its current $71.8 billion, the supply has been declining sharply in recent months. It has fallen from a record high of nearly $80 billion to the current $71.8 billion — its lowest level since February. Over the same period, Tether's USDT has continued to expand its circulating supply, widening the market-share gap between the two largest stablecoins.

This decline presents a significant challenge for Circle given the structure of its business model. Circle operates similarly to a bank, allowing users to purchase USDC and redeem it at any time. The key difference is that traditional banks can lend their cash reserves to companies and individuals, whereas Circle is legally mandated to invest in short-term government bonds.

Circle's revenue benefits when USDC supply is expanding and short-term bond yields are rising. Current data shows that bond yields are indeed trending upward, with one-month notes yielding 3.6% and the ten-year yield rising to 4.68%.

The problem is that USDC supply is no longer growing, which is expected to impact both revenue and profitability. Stablecoin issuance is widely tracked as a proxy for capital flowing into crypto markets, so a sustained contraction in USDC supply may also signal broader investor caution.

According to Yahoo Finance data, analysts anticipate second-quarter revenue of approximately $713 million, representing year-over-year growth of just 8.45%. That growth rate may underwhelm investors for a technology company operating in a sector widely projected to expand rapidly.

Circle's margins are also expected to remain under pressure as the company continues its spending. Earnings per share are projected at 16 cents.

Options Market Signals High Volatility

Circle Internet Group stock is expected to experience elevated volatility this week. The options market reflects an implied volatility of 130%, well above the historical volatility of 91.7%.

Volume data shows a put/call ratio of 0.54, with puts at 10,860 and calls at 20,158. Based on open interest, the put/call ratio stands at 0.93. These figures indicate a higher volume of puts relative to calls, suggesting that options traders are positioning for a potential price decline.

Wall Street analysts have also grown more cautious. Mizuho recently lowered its price target from $50 to $45, representing an approximately 30% downside from current levels. Robert Baird reduced its target from $138 to $100, while Goldman Sachs cut its target from $111 to $96.

Technical Analysis Points to Downward Pressure

On the daily chart, CRCL formed a double-top pattern at $136 with a neckline at $83 — its lowest point in April. This pattern is typically associated with further downside over time.

The stock has remained below the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), indicating that bearish momentum persists. Most notably, the stock has formed a bearish flag pattern, characterized by a vertical drop followed by a horizontal consolidation channel.

These technical patterns suggest the stock may continue to decline, potentially toward the psychological level of $50, which would represent a 14% drop from current levels.