Dear Reader,

If you’re a digital asset investor with over $50k on Coinbase, let me show you something that might ruin your day…

Every time you buy Bitcoin, Coinbase takes a cut.

Every time you sell, Coinbase takes a cut.

When you panic sell at the bottom, Coinbase takes a cut.

When you FOMO buy at the top, Coinbase takes a cut.

They don’t care if digital assets go to the moon or to zero. They collect fees either way.

So instead of paying fees to Coinbase, what if you could become the middleman?

Visa made $36 billion last year being a middleman.

Mastercard made $28 billion.

PayPal made $30 billion.

That’s almost $100 billion from three companies that don’t produce anything. They just sit between two parties who want to transact and take a cut of everything.

The middleman always wins.

And there’s now a way for you to become one.

I’m Tan Gera, CFA Charterholder and ex-Wall Street investment banker.

I spent years on the wrong side of this equation.

Every trade I made, Coinbase collected. Every wire transfer, my bank collected.

I was making them rich while trying to make myself rich.

In 2018, the market crashed and I lost almost a million dollars.

You know who didn’t lose anything?

The exchanges. The middlemen.

They made money when I bought and when I panic sold.

That’s when I built the ABN System… a three-phase wealth generating system inspired by BlackRock that over 4,000 investors are now using.

At the core of it is fee generation.

Up market, down market, sideways.

You collect regardless.

Click here to watch the free presentation now →

If you took one thing from this email, let it be this: the middleman always wins.

To your wealth,

Tan Gera, CFA
Decentralized Masters

P.S. Stop being the customer. Become the infrastructure. Watch how to become your own Visa, Amazon, or Coinbase →

---

Special Report

2 Actively Managed Defense ETFs That Can Pivot as the War Evolves

Reported by Nathan Reiff. Posted: 4/1/2026. 

Key Points

• Two prominent actively managed ETFs holding defense stocks have surged in recent months even as the broader market has faltered.
• IDEF has wide latitude in seeking out global defense names, giving it excellent room to pivot in light of new information related to geopolitical conflicts.
• ARKX is a space-focused fund that has considerable overlap with defense industry names as well.
• Special Report: Elon Musk’s $1 Quadrillion AI IPO

With actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) growing increasingly popular relative to traditional passive funds, investors may find these vehicles advantageous for timely investment themes, such as the ongoing conflict involving Iran. A key benefit of active funds is that managers can adjust portfolios in real time to reflect market developments, whereas many passive funds track indices that are only rebalanced periodically.

Active management typically carries higher annual fees, but it can be worth the cost if managers can generate stronger performance in a fast-moving environment. The situation in and around Iran is exactly that type of scenario: with frequent updates on U.S. objectives and strategy, and continued disruption in energy markets, defense stockinvestors need to be nimble. The active defense ETFs below may be a good starting point for those who prefer to outsource timely portfolio moves.

A Broad International Defense and Security Fund, but With Minimal Performance History

Iran War Shakes Up Wall Street, Here’s How to Profit… (Ad)

Since 2009, the Dividend Machine has posted a total return of 7,056.47% – turning a $10,000 stake into more than $700,000 while the broader market struggled through multiple downturns.

With a 93% win rate since launch, this dividend-focused strategy has kept investors cashing steady checks through every crash. Bill Spetrino has released a free report outlining how to position for income no matter what the market does next.Claim your free report and see how the Dividend Machine works

The iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (NASDAQ: IDEF) has a broad mandate focused on companies that could benefit from increased global defense and security spending. It can hold aerospace, defense, infrastructure, and cybersecurity firms worldwide, although roughly 60% of the basket is made up of U.S.-based stocks. Other notable country exposures include South Korea, the United Kingdom and Japan.

IDEF’s holdings tend to be companies that could gain from higher government defense budgets driven by geopolitical turmoil—making it particularly responsive to conflicts such as those in Iran and Ukraine.

The fund holds about 111 stocks, with the largest 10 accounting for more than 42% of the portfolio. Those top holdings include major U.S. defense names like RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), alongside international firms such as Rheinmetall (OTCMKTS: RNMBY) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (OTCMKTS: MHVYF) (see the fund’s top holdings).

Despite relatively large weightings in a handful of big names, IDEF is still one of the more diversified defense ETFs available. It is also relatively inexpensive for an active fund, with an expense ratio of 0.55%. What it lacks is a long track record: IDEF launched in May 2025 and does not yet have a full year of performance history. Since launch it has returned more than 25%, despite a roughly 15% selloff in the last month amid broader market weakness.

A Space-Focused Fund With a Defense Angle

The ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (BATS: ARKX) approaches defense exposure through a space-technology lens. There is significant overlap between space technology and defense—companies working on intelligent devices, autonomous mobility, reusable rockets and related innovations can find opportunities in both commercial space and defense markets.

ARKX holds fewer than three dozen positions, so it is relatively concentrated. Its expense ratio is higher than IDEF’s at 0.75% annualized.

Investors should note that ARKX is not a pure-play defense fund; it also includes broader technology and industrial companies such as Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), although these appear at smaller weights compared with its core space and defense-related holdings (see the fund’s portfolio).

ARKX has a longer performance history than IDEF; it launched five years ago and posted a one-year total return of nearly 60%. Like IDEF, it has pulled back recently—by roughly 13% in recent weeks.

Because ARKX focuses narrowly on space-related firms, managers may be more likely to adjust portfolio weightings than to change the fund’s underlying investment universe in response to breaking news. Still, shifts in allocations can materially affect returns in a rapidly changing market.

---

Special Report

Compass Diversified’s $292M Sale Ignites Stock

Reported by Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Posted: 4/7/2026. 

Key Points

• Compass Diversified’s recent divestiture provides the company with substantial capital to significantly reduce its debt and improve its overall financial flexibility.
• This successful transaction serves as powerful proof of management’s ability to create shareholder value through its unique business strategy.
• A new activist investor has endorsed the move with a major stake, signaling strong external confidence in Compass Diversified’s future direction.
• Special Report: Elon Musk’s $1 Quadrillion AI IPO

Shareholders of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI)saw a meaningful portfolio boost on March 30, 2026, when the company’s stock jumped more than 15% in a single trading day.

That sharp move was not speculation-driven but a direct market response to a major strategic announcement: Compass Diversified disclosed a definitive agreement to sell the Sterno foodservice business, a deal that will generate substantial cash proceeds.

Iran War Shakes Up Wall Street, Here’s How to Profit… (Ad)

Since 2009, the Dividend Machine has posted a total return of 7,056.47% – turning a $10,000 stake into more than $700,000 while the broader market struggled through multiple downturns.

With a 93% win rate since launch, this dividend-focused strategy has kept investors cashing steady checks through every crash. Bill Spetrino has released a free report outlining how to position for income no matter what the market does next.Claim your free report and see how the Dividend Machine works

The transaction marks a pivotal moment for Compass Diversified, materially improving its financial profile and validating management’s strategic plan.

The sale not only supports the company’s long-term vision but has also drawn the attention of influential new investors. Together, these developments have materially altered the investment case for Compass Diversified.

The $292.5 Million Balance Sheet Overhaul

Investor enthusiasm centers on both the size of the Sterno transaction and the planned use of proceeds. Compass Diversified agreed to sell the foodservice portion of its Sterno brand to Archer Foodservice Partners, a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital.

The key deal facts:

• Asset Sold: The Sterno foodservice business, a leader in portable heating solutions for catering, foodservice, and the restaurant sector.
• Enterprise Value: Approximately $292.5 million, which reflects the total business value, including debt.

Importantly, this is a partial divestiture. Compass Diversified will retain Sterno’s home fragrance business, which will be rebranded as Rimports and continue generating revenue. That preserves an ongoing consumer revenue stream while unlocking significant cash from the sale.

Management has said the proceeds will be used aggressively to reduce debt. After the transaction, Compass Diversified expects its senior secured net leverage ratio to fall below 1.0x — a materially stronger position that should lower interest expense, free up cash flow, and provide greater flexibility to fund operations and pursue growth.

Strategy Vindicated, Confidence Endorsed

The Sterno sale supports the bull case on two fronts: it validates Compass Diversified’s business model and it attracted a high-profile investor stake.

Compass Diversified operates like a publicly traded private equity firm: it acquires controlling interests in established middle-market companies, applies capital and operational expertise to drive growth, and eventually monetizes investments through sales. The Sterno divestiture is a clear example of that strategy working — a successful exit that delivers cash and demonstrable returns for public shareholders. The market’s immediate, double-digit reaction underscores investor recognition of that execution.

Shortly after the announcement, ADW Capital Partners filed a Schedule 13D disclosing a 9.9% beneficial stake in Compass Diversified. A 13D filing typically signals an activist position and an intent to influence strategy. The timing implies ADW views the Sterno sale as a meaningful value-unlocking catalyst. ADW’s position also includes call options, an explicitly bullish instrument that amplifies its positive view on the company’s prospects.

From Defense to Offense: Reloaded for Growth

With Sterno proceeds and a strengthened balance sheet, Compass Diversified can shift from defense to offense. Reduced leverage and improved liquidity will make the company a more opportunistic buyer in the middle market, better positioned to pursue platform acquisitions that drive long-term growth.

Analysts are starting to reflect this improved outlook. While the consensus rating remains a Hold — often a cautious stance while the market digests major news — the average 12-month analyst price target of $11.50 suggests there may still be upside from current levels. That view frames the Sterno sale as both a remedy for prior balance-sheet concerns and the launching pad for future value creation.

The Next Chapter for Compass Diversified

The divestiture of Sterno’s foodservice unit is a transformative event for Compass Diversified. It meaningfully de-risks the company’s financial profile while reinforcing its buy-build-sell strategy.

Combined with a strengthened balance sheet and the endorsement of an activist investor, Compass Diversified has reset its financial narrative and positioned itself for a new phase of growth. For investors and the broader market, the company’s recent moves make it a compelling story worth renewed attention.

This email is a paid advertisement for Decentralized Masters, a third-party advertiser of MarketBeat. Why did I get this email message?. 

If you need assistance with your account, please email MarketBeat’s U.S. based support team at contact@marketbeat.com.

If you would no longer like to receive promotional emails from MarketBeat advertisers, you can unsubscribe or manage your mailing preferences here.

© 2006-2026 MarketBeat Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
345 N Reid Place #620, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103-7078. United States..

Today’s Featured Link: Elon and Apple just made waves for US #1 software company(From Mode Mobile)