MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock delivered a sharp 16% upside into Friday's close, ending the session at $153 after a strong week of trading. The advance came alongside a 5% Bitcoin rally to $82,000, which helped trigger a broader market rally. Bitcoin's moves carry particular weight for MSTR holders: Strategy — the company formerly known as MicroStrategy — holds more Bitcoin than any other company in the world, and its shares have become one of the most widely used equity proxies for the asset. On the monthly chart, MSTR is already up 50%, and analysts expect the momentum to continue moving into the end of 2026.

The stock's gains have come despite MicroStrategy selling holdings and using the proceeds for STRC buybacks. The shares have also regularly traded more volume than Berkshire Hathaway, and the company's market capitalization has now reached $61.1 billion, placing it among the top-200 U.S. companies.

Analyst Sees $400–$450 Within 12–18 Months

Market analyst Peter Di Carlo said on X that MicroStrategy's MSTR shares have gained 75% since bouncing from what he described as a smart-money zone. The stock has continued to inch higher, crossing $150 for the first time since June 2026. Over the next 12–18 months, Di Carlo said the share price could reach $400–$450.

He cautioned, however, that the weekly structure remains bearish in the short term, forming lower highs. Di Carlo identified the $160–$175 range as a major institutional and smart-money sell zone and expects strong resistance there. In his view, MSTR would need to break through that zone and close above $200 over the next few months to shift its internal structure.

The analyst also expects MSTR to surge another 15–20% from current levels. He outlined a potential path toward $400 within 8–12 months if resistance is cleared. Even in the case of a pullback and price reset, he sees the timeline extended to 12–16 months.

Trading Volume Tops Berkshire Hathaway

Following the MSTR stock price collapse below $80 in June 2026, industry participants raised liquidation concerns. Many questioned Michael Saylor's decision to sell MSTR shareholding to fund STRC buybacks and increase the company's USD reserves.

The strategy has since turned out to be favourable for MSTR shareholders, as the stock is up 85% since June. Strategy has now spent more than $950 million on buybacks, while STRC — the company's perpetual preferred stock, which pays monthly dividends — has gained over 11.7% since the purchases began. The company still has more than 3.9 years of dividend coverage on its balance sheet.

MSTR now regularly trades more shares than Berkshire Hathaway, a crossover that first emerged in late December 2025 and has continued into 2026. The comparison carries weight: Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate long associated Warren Buffett, remains one of the largest U.S. companies by market value. Trading volume surged on several days in August, reaching 46 million to 49 million shares with turnover of up to $4.4 billion, placing MSTR among the 10 most actively traded U.S. stocks.

MicroStrategy Enters Top 200 U.S. Companies

Following the recent upside in MSTR shares, MicroStrategy's market capitalization has reached $61.1 billion, making it the 195th-largest U.S. company by market cap, according to Companies Market Cap data. MSTR climbed 31 positions in the ranking in a single day, moving ahead of truck maker Paccar while remaining below insurance brokerage Arthur J. Gallagher. For a company that began as an enterprise software maker before remaking itself around a Bitcoin treasury strategy, the milestone places MicroStrategy in the same ranking tier as established manufacturers and insurers.

Reassuring investors during a recent interview on Bitcoin Magazine, Strategy CEO Phong Le said the company plans to continue accumulating Bitcoin. “We're the largest holders of BTC in the world, and we're going to be long-term accumulators of BTC,” Le said. He added that Strategy's approach to Bitcoin accumulation is not expected to change. Between the $160–$175 resistance zone analysts are watching and management's stated commitment to continued accumulation, MSTR heads into the closing months of 2026 with clearly defined signposts on both the technical and corporate fronts.

This article is based on reporting originally published by The Market Periodical.