MARA Stock Gains 2.3%, Lags Mining Sector with Bitcoin Below $78,000

MARA gained 2.35% on Wednesday, though the increase trailed behind three leading rivals in bitcoin mining. Trading volume reached approximately 29.95 million shares, Yahoo Finance data showed.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, September 3, 2026, 06:00 EDT —

  • MARA Holdings, Inc. NASDAQ:MARA finished Wednesday at $10.47, a rise of 2.35%. The stock last changed hands at $10.46 as of 05:54:58 EDT on Thursday.
  • At 05:54:45 EDT, Bitcoin was priced at $77,609.98, putting the estimated value of MARA’s June bitcoin holdings at $2.76 billion.
  • Revenue in the second quarter declined by 27%, and the cost of purchased energy per bitcoin increased 14.7% to $38,690.

MARA gained 2.35% on Wednesday, though the increase trailed behind three leading rivals in bitcoin mining. Trading volume reached approximately 29.95 million shares, Yahoo Finance data showed.

The difference is significant. MARA provides substantial bitcoin exposure, but investors also face risks related to power, debt and execution.

At 05:54:45 EDT, Bitcoin gained 0.39% from its previous close. The price stayed under $78,000 while traders considered risks related to regulation and interest rates. CoinDesk reported $236 million in outflows from spot bitcoin ETFs.

MARA’s seven-session price path
U.S. dollars; closing prices through September 2, then Thursday premarket
$12$11$10 Aug 25Aug 27Aug 31Sep 2Pre $10.46
As of . Source: Yahoo Finance. The final point is premarket, not a closing price.

The stock stayed 11.5% lower than its August 25 closing price. On Wednesday, trading volume reached only 53.5% of MARA’s 10-day average.

Riot Platforms, Inc. NASDAQ:RIOT rose 4.75%. CleanSpark, Inc. NASDAQ:CLSK increased 2.44%. IREN Limited NASDAQ:IREN surged 7.55%.

Bitcoin-miner share moves
September 2 regular-session change
MARA+2.35% Riot+4.75% CleanSpark+2.44% IREN+7.55%
Closing changes as of September 2, 2026, 16:00 EDT. Source: Yahoo Finance.

MARA’s operating leverage has a dual effect. Revenue for the second quarter declined 27% to $174.9 million. Despite this, bitcoin production rose 3% to 2,422 coins, the company reported.

Owned facilities paid $0.04 for each kilowatt-hour. However, the company’s purchased energy cost per bitcoin increased by 14.7% to $38,690. Despite MARA expanding its fleet, greater network difficulty and weather conditions counterbalanced the gains.

Based on Thursday’s bitcoin price, that energy amount resulted in approximately $38,920 per coin. This calculation does not include hosting, labor, depreciation, administrative, or financing expenses.

As of June 30, MARA’s bitcoin holdings totaled 35,577. At a value of $77,609.98 per bitcoin, the estimated worth of this holding reaches approximately $2.76 billion, accounting for 68.3% of MARA’s equity value, which stands at $4.04 billion. The number of bitcoins held may have varied after quarter-end.

Balance-sheet exposure against equity value
Each bar is scaled to MARA’s $4.04 billion market capitalization
Equity value
$4.04bn
Bitcoin estimate
$2.76bn
June cash
$0.42bn
June gross debt
$2.45bn
Bitcoin estimate uses 35,577 coins reported at June 30 and $77,609.98 at . Cash and debt are June figures. Sources: MARA 10-Q and Yahoo Finance.

As of June 30, cash increased by $421.3 million. Gross debt totaled $2.45 billion, based on MARA’s quarterly filing. That level of liabilities rules out using the bitcoin balance to cover equity.

Following the end of the quarter, MARA secured $600 million in bitcoin-backed loans at a weighted average interest rate of 7.56%. The company also refinanced a $150 million credit line. This additional debt supports funding for Long Ridge and increases focus on execution.

Chairman and CEO Fred Thiel presented the challenge directly. He told shareholders to assess MARA “not by our vision, but by our execution,” he wrote in the second-quarter letter.

Analysts are divided. On August 31, an S&P Global survey of 13 analysts showed a consensus rating of Buy. The average price target was $17.99, with estimates spanning from $6 to $30.

Analyst recommendation split
Thirteen analysts; August 31, 2026
5Strong Buy
3Buy
4Hold
0Sell
1Strong Sell
$6Low target
$17.99Average target
$30High target
Consensus and targets from S&P Global Market Intelligence, presented by StockAnalysis.com; last updated August 31, 2026.

Risks: Bitcoin’s price volatility can swiftly impact MARA’s assets and earnings. Shifts in network difficulty, fluctuations in power costs, dilution, collateral requirements, and construction setbacks may intensify these effects.

The upcoming major macroeconomic update is set for Friday. According to the Labor Department calendar, the U.S. August jobs report will be released at 08:30 EDT. A shift in rate expectations could rapidly impact bitcoin and MARA.

Michał Rogucki

Michał Rogucki is a senior markets reporter at TS2.tech. His coverage ranges from stocks and technology to economic developments affecting global markets. He graduated from Humboldt University of Berlin and worked in investment research and market analysis before becoming a financial journalist.

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