Circle Drops 39.5% from $299 Peak as Analysts Split

- Stock plummets from $299 to $181 in one week, sparking divided analyst views. - Optimistic projections clash with concerns over valuation and macroeconomic risk. On June 30, 2025, Reuters, Crypto News, and The Motley Fool reported that Circle Internet Financial’s stock price plunged 39.5%, falling from a monthly high of $299 to $181. The steep decline triggered mixed reactions from analysts, revealing different outlooks on the company’s long-term potential and current valuation. The stock initially skyrocketed from its $31 IPO price in early June to a peak of $299, a surge driven by bullish sentiment tied to Circle's pivotal role in the fintech and stablecoin ecosystem. However, the steep drop has since led analysts to question whether its valuation aligns with industry realities. Despite the downturn, several analysts remain optimistic. Needham initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating and a $250 price target, praising USDC’s transformative role in global finance. Bernstein followed with an "Outperform" rating and a $230 target, emphasizing Circle's strong regulatory compliance and strategic partnerships. In addition, Barclays issued an "Overweight" rating with a $215 target, describing Circle as crucial to blockchain-powered financial systems. Citi and Canaccord Genuity also shared bullish views, projecting target prices of $243 and $247, respectively, as both firms cited Circle’s potential to lead in the adoption of digital payments. On the other hand, valuation concerns sparked skepticism among other leading firms. JPMorgan gave Circle an "Underweight" rating with a starkly low $80 target, signaling a potential 56% downside. Goldman Sachs issued a "Neutral" rating and an $83 target, flagging the company's high price-to-earnings ratio and its vulnerability to macroeconomic shifts like interest rate adjustments. Pointing to earnings volatility in the stablecoin market, Deutsche Bank presented a "Hold" rating with a $155 target, while Oppenheimer assigned a "Perform" rating without a specific target but acknowledged risks despite Circle’s disruptive potential in traditional finance. Meanwhile, according to available market data, USDC remained stable at $1.00 as of June 30 at 21:17 UTC, a price reflecting a 0.005% change in 24-hour volume.