Benchmark Upgrades Strive (NASDAQ:ASST) to Strong-Buy
Benchmark upgraded Strive (ASST) to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $32.00 price target, implying 117.1% upside, according to MarketBeat. Other analysts cited include TD Cowen ($30), B. Riley ($20), and Maxim ($20). Strive shares opened at $14.74. In its May 14 quarter, it reported EPS of -$5.19 and revenue of $2.76M.
How this was made

The 30-second read
Why it matters
A Strong-Buy upgrade with a large upside target can attract incremental buyers and options interest, but the company’s recent earnings profile (large EPS miss, very small revenue) increases the chance that price action mean-reverts if additional estimate cuts/weak guidance emerge.
Market read
This is a single-name analyst catalyst (upgrade/target) layered on top of weak recent earnings fundamentals, suggesting a momentum-driven but fragile setup.
What to watch
The article highlights very high beta and extreme loss metrics; traders may need to watch for follow-on revisions to estimates rather than rely on a single target price.
Background
Strive is a specialty finance company focused on asset-backed loans/receivables; the article centers on a fresh sell-side rating change plus recent earnings and investor positioning.
Ticker impact
Benchmark upgraded Strive (ASST) to Strong-Buy and set a $32 price objective, implying ~117% upside from the current price.
Bullish bias for the next few sessions, with elevated volatility risk if the market focuses on the prior quarter’s severe losses.
The article provides a fresh analyst upgrade/target (actionable catalyst) but also reiterates a major earnings miss and highly negative profitability metrics, which can cap follow-through.
Market effects
Limited direct read-across; analyst sentiment toward specialty finance can modestly influence peer sentiment but no sector-wide catalyst is cited.
Primarily US small/mid-cap sentiment; no specific regional macro driver mentioned.
No global linkage beyond general risk appetite for credit/financials.
Counterpoint
The upgrade may be more about valuation/forward expectations than near-term earnings power; the prior quarter’s EPS miss and extreme negative margins could reassert downside risk.
Key entities
- analyst_firmBenchmark
Upgraded ASST to Strong-Buy and set a $32 price objective.
- companyStrive (Asset Entities, Inc.)
Subject of the upgrade; reported a large EPS miss on May 14.




