Expert Predicts MSTR Stock Rally To $180 Even as Strategy’s Short Interest Surges

MSTR stock price is up today, recording modest gains alongside Bitcoin, which rose as high as $71,000. Experts now point to possible upside for MSTR stock despite rising bearish bets, driven by rising Strategy short interest. 

Analyst Predictions on MSTR Stock Price

According to expert Yimin, MSTR stock is currently facing resistance near its 50-day moving average. However, Yimin noted that the near-term trend still points upward. He added that MSTR stock could break past the 50-day level and test $180.

This prediction comes after CoinGape reported a possible MSTR stock surge above $150 in the near term. Another market voice, Ryan Hogue, compared the current setup to earlier price cycles. 

According to Hogue, buying MSTR stock in the $130 range today feels a lot like buying it at $15 in 2022. He said the price pattern shows a similar range and market skepticism. That comparison indicates how some analysts view the present price as a setup for a surge. 

At press time, MSTR stock traded at $138.74, rising by 0.20% or $0.28 on the day. The MSTR stock’s previous close is at $138.46, with a session range between $135.14 and $142.67. It has a market cap of $43.86 billion and an average daily trading volume of 24.42 million shares. The crypto stock has traded between $104.17 and $457.22 over the past year.

Source: Yahoo Finance

As CoinGape reported, MSTR stock is one of the crypto stocks to watch this week, even as volatile oil prices continue to impact the crypto market. The stock rose as high as $148 earlier this month, as Bitcoin continues to hold steady despite rising oil prices due to the U.S.-Iran war.

Strategy’s Rising Short Interest

Despite the bullish projections, short interest in Strategy has increased. Short interest refers to investors borrowing shares and selling them, expecting the price to fall. The surge indicates bearish sentiment tied to Strategy’s heavy exposure to Bitcoin. 

Critics argue that the company’s performance closely depends on Bitcoin price movements. Several financial pressures also contribute to bearish positioning. Short sellers point to dilution risks. Strategy expanded authorized Class A shares from 330 million to 10.33 billion last year. Additionally, preferred share programs exceeded $29 billion in available issuance by early February 2026. 

Preferred dividends now carry an annualized yield of 11.5%. These payments take priority over returns for common shareholders. However, short interest can also lead to the opposite effect. 

If prices rise quickly, short sellers may rush to buy shares and close positions. Despite all this skepticism, such moves can create a short squeeze, leading to upward price movement.

Strategy’s Bitcoin Buying Continues

Meanwhile, Strategy continues expanding its Bitcoin holdings. The company uses the STRC structure as a major funding source. According to Strategy’s Chaitanya Jain, STRC will serve as the main vehicle to raise cash for Bitcoin purchases. 

He explained that Strategy’s common stock would primarily support dividend payments. Jain also outlined the financial threshold required to sustain those payments. According to him, Bitcoin must appreciate by about 1.84% annually to maintain dividends indefinitely. In addition to this week’s purchase that led to the MSTR stock price surge, the buying program continues to be active. 

Estimates show Strategy may have purchased more than 1,000 Bitcoin today. The company may have also bought over 2,000 Bitcoin yesterday through the STRC structure. These acquisitions continue to expand Strategy’s already large Bitcoin position.

Source: STRC.live