10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Monday, August 24, 2026

Robinhood Markets rocketed 13.7% today as investors bet a friendlier regulatory landscape—particularly Trump's CLARITY Act and crypto-friendly stance—will unlock new revenue streams like tokenized stocks. CEO Vlad Tenev's push for Washington approval has already added $12 billion in market value. Options markets are singing along: a 6.85 call-to-put ratio signals aggressive bullish positioning, with heavy August and September call buying at $110 and $115 strikes. Watch $115 as the next technical target; any Fed headwinds at Jackson Hole could derail momentum.

Moderna rocketed 8.86% today, extending a explosive week fueled by positive Phase 3 data for its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine combined with Merck's Keytruda in high-risk melanoma patients. The biotech sector rally lifted the entire mRNA complex, with options markets revealing bifurcated positioning: heavy put volume at $90–$100 strikes suggests investors hedging downside, while $200 call open interest signals conviction in sustained upside. Watch the $150 level—a critical technical resistance now within striking distance of 2026 call spreads.

Coinbase surged past $186 today as President Trump doubled down on crypto leadership commitments and the White House cryptocurrency summit energized the sector. CEO Brian Armstrong flagged an incoming bull market while the firm's Abu Dhabi tokenization hub garnered regulatory approval, potentially unlocking 25% upside. Options traders are hedging convictions with mixed positioning—heavy call volume at $200 (Aug 2026) suggests upside conviction, but substantial put interest near $180 signals caution ahead of potential consolidation.

MicroStrategy climbed 6.1% to $119.25 as Bitcoin approached $77,000, erasing underwater positions from July's selloff. The company's $13 billion Bitcoin treasury is now in the black, validating CEO Phong Le's contentious capital-allocation strategy despite near-term shareholder dilution concerns. Options markets are decidedly constructive: call-to-put ratio stands at 3.17, with heaviest concentration in $130 calls expiring August 2026—suggesting traders see meaningful upside if Bitcoin sustains current momentum. Watch $120 as near-term support.

MARA Holdings rallied 5.6% Friday as Bitcoin climbed above $77K, snapping through resistance levels that had capped the crypto complex for months. President Trump's renewed push for digital asset regulation fueled risk appetite across the sector, though intra-miner divergence—CleanSpark sank 6% same day—signals uneven conviction. Options markets are decidedly bullish: call-to-put ratio sits at 3.32 with heavy concentration in August $11–$12.50 strikes, suggesting traders are positioning for a test of the 50-day moving average near $12 and key support anchored at $10.

AST SpaceMobile surged 5.52% today as the company's sovereign satellite strategy continues winning multi-year contracts, bolstering its $3.7B liquidity position and 13-satellite fleet. Options markets flash aggressive bullish conviction: call-to-put ratio of 2.55 with heavy concentration in $75 and $80 strikes expiring August 2026, suggesting traders are pricing in sustained upside through summer. Watch the $75 level as near-term resistance; a breach could unlock further satellite-sector tailwinds amid Goldman's $1.8T space-economy forecast by 2035.

Riot Platforms surged 5.4% Thursday as Bitcoin crossed $72,000, buoyed by President Trump's push for crypto-friendly legislation and high-profile investor Dan Loeb's fresh stake in the bitcoin miner. Options markets are flashing aggressive conviction: call-to-put ratio sits at 7.05 with 4,439 contracts trading on the $25 strike (Sept 2026), suggesting traders are betting on sustained upside. Watch the $22 level as near-term support and $25 as a key resistance target.

Tesla climbed 5.14% to $362.86 today, buoyed by JPMorgan's optimism on Cybercab scaling and FSD V15's capabilities—offsetting a massive 3-million-vehicle recall in China. Options traders are heavily long, with call volume 1.99x put volume and concentrated bets stacked in the $360–$370 band through August 2026. Watch $365 as near-term resistance; a close above unlocks $370 targets as institutional positioning reflects confidence in Tesla's autonomous and energy businesses despite near-term headwinds.

BioNTech rallied 5.12% Wednesday, riding tailwinds from Merck and Moderna's positive personalized cancer vaccine data that validates the mRNA immunotherapy thesis. Options markets are aggressively bullish: call-to-put ratio sits at 2.99 with 887 contracts stacked at the $120 September 2026 strike, signaling conviction above current levels. Watch the $124 resistance (52-week high) and September IASLC lung cancer data presentation as near-term catalysts.

Target jumped 4.28% to $159 today, extending a 63% year-to-date rally as the retailer's second consecutive solid quarter under new leadership validates its turnaround narrative. The company's dividend increase and pledge to cut prices underscore management confidence in sustained margin recovery. Options markets remain split—heavy call volume stacks near $165 (Sep expiry) against modest put hedges at $162.50—suggesting investors buying strength rather than betting on a pullback. Watch the $161.98 52-week high; a break above signals renewed conviction.