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Robinhood Beats Profit Estimates as Post-Election Trading Surge Lifts Volumes

Robinhood (HOOD.O) exceeded expectations for fourth-quarter profit, driven by a sharp rise in equity, options, and cryptocurrency trading after Donald Trump returned to the White House. Following the announcement, Robinhood’s shares jumped more than 14% in after-hours trading.

The company’s transaction-based revenue soared 236% to $672 million compared to the same quarter a year ago, fueled by increased fees from options, equities, and crypto trades.

Crypto trading activity was a major growth driver, with revenue from that segment rising 700% during the quarter as bitcoin approached the $100,000 mark. Investors were optimistic about pro-crypto policies expected under the new Trump administration.

“It was no secret that Robinhood’s Q4 earnings were going to be great, driven primarily by a huge uptick in crypto-related revenues,” said John Wu, President of Ava Labs.

The surge in equity and crypto markets came after Trump’s election victory, as investors anticipated deregulation and pro-business policies that would favor U.S. corporations and the growing digital asset sector.

Robinhood reported an adjusted profit of $1.01 per share, well above analysts’ expectations of 44 cents, according to data from LSEG.

The company’s assets under custody increased by 88% to $193 billion during the quarter, and quarterly net interest revenue, driven largely by margin investing, rose 25% to $296 million.

“This was a big quarter for us, so we did over $1 billion in revenue for the first time in the history of the company, and that capped off what was a record-breaking year with over $3 billion in revenue for the whole year,” Robinhood co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev said on the company’s post-earnings call.

Emirati Billionaire Sajwani Foresees Increased Gulf Investments into U.S. Under Trump’s Second Term

Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, founder of DAMAC Properties, predicts a surge in Gulf investments into the U.S. as President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term. Sajwani, a long-time business partner of Trump, announced plans to invest $20 billion in data centers across eight U.S. states, speaking at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The real estate mogul highlighted the pro-business policies of the incoming administration, which he believes will attract more foreign investments, particularly in sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and technology.

Sajwani, whose firm owns the only Trump-branded golf course in the Middle East, stressed that Trump’s policies would foster a more favorable investment climate, aiding in future opportunities for growth in the U.S. Sajwani’s investments extend beyond real estate; he is also an investor in Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI. In December, Sajwani celebrated New Year’s with Trump and Musk, and he was invited to the presidential inauguration on January 20.

According to Forbes, Sajwani’s net worth stands at $5.1 billion. Trump’s business dealings with the Gulf are not limited to Sajwani; Trump-branded projects are also under construction in Saudi Arabia and Oman, and Gulf state-owned funds have investments in Jared Kushner’s firm.

As Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, ramp up investments in AI to become regional leaders, Sajwani’s DAMAC subsidiary EDGNEX plans to build and operate data centers with a 2,000-megawatt capacity across Texas, Arizona, Illinois, and five other states. Sajwani emphasized that favorable access to land, energy, and regulatory processes in the U.S. were key factors in the decision to focus on these locations. The data centers will be funded largely through debt, with DAMAC covering the remaining 30% from its balance sheet.

The proposed investment deal is expected to undergo scrutiny by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), although Sajwani expressed confidence that the incoming administration would streamline regulatory processes to expedite the approval.