Starboard Value LP targeted Riot Platforms, Inc. for value creation opportunities, but RIOT stock fell significantly.

From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-19 12:02:00

Jeff Smith’s Top 10 Activist Targets and Their Returns Compared to the S&P 500 analyzes Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) against other activist targets. Starboard Value LP, founded by Smith, has targeted hundreds of companies, doubling assets under management to $5.5 billion. The hedge fund has pushed for strategic changes to unlock shareholder value, targeting IT giants and consumer cyclical stocks.

In 2024, Starboard Value LP returned less than 5%, underperforming its peers. Activist funds saw an average return of 11.5% that year. ValueAct Capital Management had a 21% increase while Sachem Head Capital Management delivered roughly 22% by capitalizing on the AI-driven market run. Amid the underperformance, Smith’s hedge fund remains one of the most successful activist funds.

Riot Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT), a Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company, saw a -43.67% stock return from December 2024 to April 2025, compared to the S&P 500’s -10.32%. Starboard Value LP acquired a stake in RIOT in December 2024, anticipating operational and value-creation opportunities amid Bitcoin’s rise and AI boom expectations.

RIOT ranks 1st on Jeff Smith’s top activist targets list. While RIOT shows potential, AI stocks are believed to offer higher returns in a shorter time frame. An AI stock that gained since 2025 is highlighted for promising returns. RIOT is urged to follow Core Scientific in converting bitcoin mining facilities for AI operations.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: Among Jeff Smith’s Top Activist Targets