Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) saw its shares rise more than 3% on Wednesday following the release of robust July operating metrics and a notable upgrade from Deutsche Bank.
The fintech firm reported a steady increase in key performance indicators, including a 3% month-over-month rise in assets under custody (AUC) to $144.5 billion and a 21% jump in equity notional trading volumes, which reached $104.4 billion.
The company also noted significant year-over-year growth in options contracts traded and crypto trading volumes, both up 51% and 56%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank upgraded Robinhood from Hold to Buy, raising its price target from $21 to $24, citing the company's improving earnings power and business diversification.
The bank highlighted Robinhood's robust growth in customer acquisition, with funded customers increasing by 70,000 in July, bringing the total to 24.2 million—a year-over-year increase of over one million.
Deutsche Bank also praised Robinhood's focus on cost control, noting that the company has cut adjusted expenses by nearly 25% over the past two years. This cost discipline is expected to enable positive operating leverage and EBITDA margin expansion, potentially reaching the 50% level in the near future.
While acknowledging the speculative nature of Robinhood's stock, Deutsche Bank expressed confidence in the company's long-term growth initiatives, stating, "We see momentum building nicely for long-term earnings power at Robinhood."
Despite its recent stock volatility, Robinhood remains the best performer year-to-date in Deutsche Bank's capital markets coverage, with shares up 46%.
Robinhood's promising metrics and strategic moves have bolstered investor confidence, leading to a rise in its stock price.