Throughout 2024, certain small-cap gems in<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/russell-2000"> the Russell 2000</a> soared past expectations and gained over 1,000% year-to-date.



Using a methodology focused on high-trading-volume tech stocks with &#8220;buy&#8221; ratings or better, Benzinga identified three winners.



Analysts still see room to run — here's why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Rigetti Computing: YTD Gain — 1,578%</h2>



Quantum computing isn't just a buzzword — it's becoming big business. Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) is leading the charge, with its Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) platform and innovative quantum processors.



Why the surge? Rigetti's picks-and-shovels business model positions it as the backbone of quantum computing. Its cloud platform integrates seamlessly with traditional hardware, making quantum power more accessible. Analysts liken Rigetti to an early-stage Nvidia, and with its strong cash position, the company seems primed for further innovation.



Caveat: Revenue is still modest ($2.4 million in the third quarter of 2024) and losses remain steep. But if Rigetti can crack the code on scaling quantum tech, the potential payoff could be massive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. D-Wave Quantum: YTD Gain — 1,107%</h2>



D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) is redefining problem-solving with its Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) model. Its annealing quantum computers, capable of solving logistical and financial optimization problems, have captured investor interest.



The appeal lies in D-Wave's focus on real-world applications, from supply chain optimization to drug discovery. Its cloud-based tools make quantum computing accessible, while collaborations with major industries hint at a bright future.



Challenges? Like its peers, D-Wave's revenue ($9.4 million) pales compared to its operating losses ($74 million). Yet, the stock's meteoric rise reflects growing confidence in the transformative potential of its tech.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42672335/whats-going-on-with-soundhound-ai-stock-9">What&#8217;s Going On With SoundHound AI Stock?</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. SoundHound AI: YTD Gain — 1,064%</h2>



SoundHound AI Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>) is riding the AI wave, with a 89% revenue increase in the third quarter of 2024. Its secret sauce? Partnerships like one with Apivia Courtage, where its AI tools have revolutionized customer interactions by reducing direct inquiries by 20%.



The company is expanding into healthcare, retail, and finance, aiming to cement its role in conversational AI. With analysts setting ambitious price targets, SoundHound is proving there's plenty of room left in the AI market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks To Watch</h2>



From quantum computing to conversational AI, these three stocks have delivered jaw-dropping returns in 2024. While risks abound in these nascent industries, their explosive potential makes them ones to watch. 



Whether you're a tech enthusiast or an investor seeking the next big thing, the future of these companies — and their stock prices — could be truly transformative.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42638753/quantum-computing-the-new-ai-a-look-at-the-rapidly-expanding-market-and-top-stocks-for-2025">Quantum Computing: The New AI? A Look at the Rapidly Expanding Market and Top Stocks For 2025</a></li>
</ul>



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3 Russell 2000 Tech Stocks That Skyrocketed 1,000% Or More In 2024: Analysts Say They're Just Getting Started

Goldman Sachs analyst Elsie Peng projects that the incoming Trump administration will sharply increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">tariffs on Chinese imports</a>. 



Average rates will likely rise by 20 percentage points, with larger hikes of up to 60 percentage points on non-consumer goods, Peng says. 



These changes could send ripple effects across the U.S. economy, from consumer prices to industrial production.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/futures/24/12/42699993/us-stocks-to-open-lower-as-index-future-decline-analysts-remain-upbeat-about-santa-rally">US Stocks To Open Lower As Index Future Decline: Analysts Remain Upbeat About Santa Rally</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Consumer Prices: How Much Will They Rise?</h3>



"We expect the second Trump administration to increase tariff rates on imports from China by around 20pp on average," said Peng. "Tariffs will likely rise more sharply on non-consumer goods than on consumer goods."



Tariff increases will likely translate into price hikes on goods where the U.S. remains heavily reliant on Chinese producers. Today, China accounts for 11% of total U.S. imports — a drop from 18% before Trump's first term — but for certain categories, the dependence is much greater.



Durable household items such as appliances, along with consumer electronics and footwear, are among the most exposed. Chinese imports make up 24% of the U.S. market for appliances and as much as 39% for consumer electronics like telephones. Footwear and clothing also remain heavily reliant on China, with import shares ranging between 10% and 30%.



Goldman Sachs estimates that fully passing the cost of higher tariffs to consumers could raise the prices of Chinese-origin goods by 2%-10%.



&#8220;The US still relies heavily on China for many consumer products,&#8221; Peng said. 



The investment bank predicts the average consumer prices for these items, regardless of origin, could rise by 1% to 2%.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thin Margins Could Mean Big Trouble For US Producers</h3>



On the production side, manufacturers will likely face increased costs due to tariffs on Chinese-origin inputs. While most industries are only modestly exposed — Chinese inputs account for less than 3% of total inputs in most sectors — certain industries could feel the pinch.



For machine tools, auto bodies, furniture and textiles, tariff-related cost increases could represent 10%-30% of operating surplus. Even industries with relatively small tariff-related cost increases, such as a 0.5%-0.7% bump in final output costs, could find their margins squeezed.



Some sectors face an even bigger challenge: over 70% of the U.S.'s imports of rare earths, natural graphite and antimony oxides are sourced from China. These materials are critical for the production of batteries, magnets, semiconductors and other components used in the auto, electronics and defense industries. Peng warned that finding alternatives will be difficult in the near term, leaving these industries vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.



"Export restrictions by China could limit U.S. producers' access to critical raw materials," Peng said. "Some materials cannot be easily substituted or sourced elsewhere in sufficient size."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Retaliation Risk For US Exporters</h3>



China is likely to respond to higher tariffs with retaliatory measures, which could spell trouble for U.S. exporters. Agricultural products are particularly exposed.



"More than 80% of U.S. wood, cereals, and animal product exports go to China, as do more than 50% of soybeans — the U.S.'s largest export to China — and nearly 20% of autos," Peng said.



China could impose retaliatory tariffs or reduce imports from the U.S. As a result, agricultural producers and automakers could face declining demand and increased competition in global markets.



This could exacerbate existing pressures in industries that have already dealt with years of volatility.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line: US Consumers, Businesses Brace For Higher Costs</h3>



For U.S. businesses, this means shifting production to other countries or suppliers won't happen overnight. For consumers, it means price increases on Chinese goods will be difficult to avoid.



For businesses, navigating higher costs and potential supply chain disruptions will be key to maintaining profitability. For consumers, expect the next phone, appliance or pair of sneakers to come with a slightly higher price tag.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42699729/ark-invests-cathie-wood-urges-trumps-incoming-administration-to-implement-retroactive-tax-cuts-for-economic-boost-from-january-1">Ark Invest&#8217;s Cathie Wood Urges Trump&#8217;s Incoming Administration To Implement Retroactive Tax Cuts For Economic Boost From January 1</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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Made In China, Paid In America: What Trump's New Tariffs Mean For The US Economy

U.S. equity markets could be headed for a correction due to a confluence of factors like the growing divergence from "Magnificent 7" stocks and President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, according to market expert Jay Woods.



What Happened: In an interview with <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/12/27/market-is-at-the-beginning-of-a-10-percent-correction-says-freedom-capitals-jay-woods.html">CNBC</a>, Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, cautioned about the possibility of a market correction in the near term.



According to Woods, we could be at the beginning of a 10% correction in the equity markets. Woods noted that these corrections happen roughly once every 18 months.



"We've had a tremendous run, 10% correction is due to happen every 18 months… What we're seeing is just horrible market breadth," Woods said.



Woods added that while the "Magnificent 7" stocks — Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) — have done well, the divergence in their performance and that of the overall market is "getting a little bit too rich" for him.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42696614/cathie-wood-takes-profit-on-hot-ai-stock-palantir-again-continues-to-sell-block-shares-amid-bitcoin-buzz">Cathie Wood Takes Profit On Hot AI Stock Palantir Again, Continues To Sell Block Shares Amid Bitcoin Buzz</a>



"Once we get to the new quarter, we're going to have some headwinds to deal with. We may see some of those Mag 7 names give back a little bit. I don't think the rotation will keep us from having a 10% correction."



"It's not going to be fun," he quipped.



Woods also pointed to uncertainty due to Trump's tariff plans as a possible headwind that could have an impact on the markets.



Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy-led Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) plans to cut down federal spending could also result in an uptick in unemployment, said Woods.



Why It Matters: The potential for a market correction has been echoed by other financial experts.



Brian Arcese&nbsp;from&nbsp;Foord Asset Management&nbsp;has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42133820/potential-healthy-correction-for-an-expensive-market-looms-as-us-economic-growth-and-earnings-slow-says-asset-manager-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-trade-lower-in-premarket">raised concerns</a> about the slowing U.S. economic growth and corporate earnings, which could trigger a correction if they continue to decelerate. Arcese pointed out that the S&amp;P 500 has been &#8220;expensive for quite a while,&#8221; with a price-to-earnings ratio exceeding 27.



Additionally,&nbsp;Jeremy Siegel, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, described a recent stock market downturn as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42570219/whartons-jeremy-siegel-calls-stock-sell-off-a-healthy-reality-check-market-was-overly-optimistic">&#8220;healthy&#8221; reaction</a> to the Federal Reserve&#8217;s cautious approach to future interest rate cuts.



The Fed&#8217;s decision to lower interest rates by a quarter percentage point led to declines across major Wall Street indexes, as investors had anticipated more aggressive rate reductions.



Billionaire investor&nbsp;David Einhorn <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42087680/billionaire-investor-david-einhorn-calls-it-most-expensive-market-of-all-time-as-sp-500-gains-4-since-trumps-win-really-really-pricey">characterized the market as &#8220;really, really, really pricey,&#8221;</a> noting that the Shiller cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio is at one of the highest levels in a century.



Despite these high valuations, Einhorn clarified that this does not make him bearish, as asset prices can remain mispriced for extended periods.



Price Action: According to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>, as of Friday&#8217;s pre-market session, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which mirrors the S&amp;P 500, has gained 1.68% over the past five days. Similarly, the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, has risen by 1.65% during the same period.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42682230/tech-bull-predicts-26-upside-for-apple-stock-sees-golden-era-of-growth-for-cupertino-due-to-multi-year-ai-driven-iphone-upgrade-cycle">Tech Bull Predicts 26% Upside For Apple Stock, Sees &#8216;Golden Era Of Growth&#8217; For Cupertino Due To Multi-Year AI-Driven iPhone Upgrade Cycle</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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US Stocks Likely Headed For 10% Correction, Says Top Strategist, Points Out 'Horrible Market Breadth:' Trump's Tariff Plans, Musk Co-Led DOGE Could Be Partially To Blame For Decline

Shares of&nbsp;GameStop Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) saw a decline of 2.09% during pre-market hours following an initial surge driven by social media activity as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro.</a>



The stock&#8217;s initial rise was triggered by a post from&nbsp;Keith Gill, also known as &#8220;Roaring Kitty,&#8221; who shared a mysterious image on X, formerly known as Twitter. This post, made on Dec. 25, featured a wrapped ‘Christmas Present' and sparked speculation among retail investors, leading to a 7.68% increase&nbsp;in after-hours trading on Robinhood,&nbsp;with shares reaching a peak of $33.50. However, the stock later declined as investors took profits.



Meme stocks like GameStop often gain momentum&nbsp;through viral popularity and speculative&nbsp;trading, which are heavily influenced by social media and active retail communities. While these stocks can offer significant gains, they are also known for their high volatility and the risk of substantial losses.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42638957/warren-buffetts-timeless-advice-if-youre-gonna-do-dumb-things-because-your-stock-goes-down-you-shouldnt-own-a-stock-at-all?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Timeless Advice For Investing $10,000: &#8216;If You're Gonna Do Dumb Things Because Your Stock At All&#8217;</a>



Despite the recent surge in activity, GameStop&#8217;s stock holds&nbsp;a consensus price target of&nbsp;$10 from analysts, with&nbsp;Wedbush&nbsp;maintaining this target since Sep. 11. The&nbsp;average price target of $9.33&nbsp;suggests a potential downside of 71.10% from current levels, according to the latest analyst ratings.



The recent social media-driven surge in GameStop shares is reminiscent of the 2021 meme stock phenomenon, where retail investors, fueled by platforms like Reddit, drove up the prices of certain stocks, including GameStop. 



Meme stocks gain their fame through viral popularity and speculative trading, fueled primarily by social media buzz and active retail investor communities. While they can deliver quick, substantial gains, they also carry extreme volatility and the potential for heavy losses.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/24/12/42671143/smart-money-is-betting-big-in-smci-options?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart Money Is Betting Big In SMCI Options</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

General

GameStop Shares Dip In Friday's Premarket After Surging Nearly 6% In Last Session, Fueled By Roaring Kitty's 'Christmas Present'

U.S. stock futures tumbled on Friday in premarket hours after a mixed Thursday. All four index futures slipped in trade.



While the S&amp;P 500 index is on its way to registering a robust 20% plus return for the second consecutive year in 2024 it ended lower on the second day of the Santa rally after advancing 1.1% on Christmas Eve. Analysts say that the full &#8216;Santa Claus Rally&#8217; has never been lower.



The 10-year and two-year Treasury notes yielded 4.61% and 4.33%, respectively. The probability of having no change in the interest rates for the upcoming Jan. 31, 2025 decision was at 89.3%, down from 91.4% a week ago, according <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">to</a> CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch tool.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.42%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.43%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.41%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.43%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



In premarket trading on Friday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.04% to $601.34 and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) fell 0.36% to $527.70, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Cues From The Last Session



U.S. stock markets closed mixed on Thursday, following a Christmas break. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42697989/dow-edges-higher-in-thin-holiday-trading-fear-declines-among-us-investors-but-fear-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">higher</a>, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dipped slightly.



Month-to-date performance varied across indices. The Nasdaq significantly outperformed, driven by strong gains in Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), while the Dow Jones experienced a decline of around 3.5%. The S&amp;P 500 saw a modest gain of 0.1%.



Economic data released on Thursday showed a slight decrease in initial jobless claims, coming in below market expectations. This suggests a continued strong labor market.



Sector performance was mixed. Healthcare, financial, and real estate sectors led gains, while consumer discretionary and communication services sectors underperformed.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>-0.05%</td><td>20,020.36</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.04%</td><td>6,037.59 </td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.07%</td><td>43,325.80 </td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.90%</td><td>2,280.19 </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



According to the chief market strategist at Carson Research, Ryan Detrick, the final six days of the &#8216;Santa Claus Rally&#8217; has been higher five out of seven, with two small losses. But even these six days have been higher by 1.7% on average.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The S&amp;P 500 gained more than 1% on the first day of the Santa Claus Rally (SCR). Now what? Full SCR period has never been lower, up 7 out of 7. Final 6 days? Higher 5 of 7, with two small losses and up 1.7% on avg. &#x1f385;&#x1f4aa; <a href="https://t.co/dwCKraVxAA">pic.twitter.com/dwCKraVxAA</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1872323859334238441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Mapping the data from 1950, Detrick summarized that the S&amp;P 500 has had a 20% plus return 22 times and a negative return annual return or 21 times in total.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We are about to have more years, since 1950, that saw stocks gain 20% (22) than had a negative year (21). Impress your friends at the New Year&#39;s Eve party with that stat. <a href="https://t.co/LDn0m6uBf6">pic.twitter.com/LDn0m6uBf6</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1872422872427470946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to Charlie Bilello, the chief market strategist at Creative Planning the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s 57 all-time highs in 2024 was the fifth highest in its history.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The S&amp;P 500 has hit 57 all-time highs so far in 2024, the 5th most of any year in history. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPX</a> Video: <a href="https://t.co/a2jVufnOfZ">https://t.co/a2jVufnOfZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/3xe6W8ub5b">pic.twitter.com/3xe6W8ub5b</a>&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1872330869236539691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates in his daily market commentary said, &#8220;The Fed may be turning its attention to inflation, according to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's comments, but if continuing unemployment claims continue to rise, it will likely get the Fed's attention and encourage more key interest rate cuts.&#8221;



&#8220;Continuing unemployment claims rose to 1.91 million in the latest week, which represents the highest level in more than three years. New unemployment claims came in at 219,000, which was a bit lower than the four-week moving average of 226,500,&#8221; he added.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How To Trade Futures</a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Only a few data points remain to be released in this truncated week that will help investors determine the future course of action.



<ul>
<li>On Friday, November&#8217;s data for the advanced U.S. trade balance in goods, advanced retail inventories, and advanced wholesale inventories will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Viracta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIRX#NASDAQ">VIRX</a>) was down 21.90% in premarket after it said that the company board has initiated a process to explore a broad range of strategic alternatives to close its ongoing pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of Nana-val in Relapsed/Refractory EBV + Lymphomas.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Evaxion Biotech A/S (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVAX#NASDAQ">EVAX</a>) was up 67.85% as it applied for a patent for vaccines targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Grid Dynamics Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDYN#NASDAQ">GDYN</a>) was up 7.31% as it will replace Revelyst Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEAR#NYSE">GEAR</a>) in the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 effective before the opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 2.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sealsq Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAES#NASDAQ">LAES</a>) was up 6.28% in premarket after it regained compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement, securing its position on the stock market.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) was up 8.16% in premarket after a 36% jump on Thursday. It launched its 84-qubit Ankaa-3 system, a quantum computer featuring an extensive hardware redesign that enables superior performance on Dec. 23 and the stock has been up by 543.33% month-to-date.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Rezolve AI Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RZLV#NASDAQ">RZLV</a>) was up 10.61% in premarket and it has surged by 109.05% over the last month. The company announced the pricing of its $15 million registered offering last week.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were higher in the early New York session by 0.46% to hover around $69.94 per barrel.



The gold spot index was down by 0.48% to $2,641.11 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.01% to 108.138 level.



Asian markets were mixed on Friday, as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, China&#8217;s CSI 300, and South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index declined. Whereas, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225, Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, and India&#8217;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex index rose. Most European markets traded higher.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42678014/top-7-blue-chip-stocks-with-the-best-return-potential-going-into-2025">S&amp;P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq&#8217;s Surge</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Futures

Federal Reserve

EVAX

GDYN

GEAR

LAES

RZLV

TSX:RSLV

VIRX

US Stocks To Open Lower As Index Future Decline: Analysts Remain Upbeat About Santa Rally

Cathie Wood, a well-known U.S. technology investor, is calling for clear tax policies from&nbsp;Donald Trump&#8216;s incoming administration.



What Happened: Wood proposes that tax cuts be retroactively applied from Jan. 1, to boost economic growth and provide policy certainty, Reuters reported on Friday.



&#8220;I see them saying, okay, we&#8217;re going to cut taxes but we will make them retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. That would be very helpful, I think, in terms of providing certainty for the markets,&#8221; Wood said.



&#8220;If they don&#8217;t, you&#8217;re going to get companies and individuals perhaps holding back. &#8230; I&#8217;m trying to communicate that pretty regularly to anyone who will listen.&#8221;



Wood&#8217;s primary fund, ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), has experienced a 17% increase following Trump&#8217;s electoral win, which is expected to bring about advantageous policy shifts. Stocks such as Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), which are in Wood&#8217;s flagship fund, have already seen notable gains since Nov. 6.



Wood has voiced her support for Trump&#8217;s economic strategies, which include fostering innovation in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, streamlining regulations, and reducing government expenses. She stresses the importance of retroactive tax cuts to ensure market stability, cautioning that without them, businesses and individuals may be reluctant to invest.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42638957/warren-buffetts-timeless-advice-if-youre-gonna-do-dumb-things-because-your-stock-goes-down-you-shouldnt-own-a-stock-at-all?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Timeless Advice For Investing $10,000: &#8216;If You're Gonna Do Dumb Things Because Your Stock At All&#8217;</a>



While Wood typically opposes tariffs, she perceives Trump&#8217;s tariff threats as a strategic negotiation tool. Analysts predict that tax reform will be a focal point for the new Republican-majority Congress, with Trump expected to implement key policies through executive orders after his January 20 inauguration.



Wood, who&nbsp;did not financially back Trump&nbsp;in the 2024 election, maintains communication with&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R &#8211; Wyo.) both of whom are influential in shaping Trump&#8217;s policies. Despite some market fluctuations, Wood remains hopeful about the ongoing influence of the &#8216;Trump bump&#8217; on innovation-driven industries.



Why It Matters: Wood&nbsp;has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42262916/ark-invests-cathie-wood-says-stock-market-will-broaden-out-under-trump-but-growth-wont-be-linear-nothing-goes-up-in-a-straight-line">previously expressed optimism </a>about the stock market&#8217;s potential under Trump&#8217;s leadership. In early December, she shared her belief that the market was beginning to anticipate a shift, noting a broadening out from a concentration on a few stocks. 



This aligns with Trump&#8217;s own positive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42466189/trump-talks-stocks-bitcoin-ai-economy-with-jim-cramer-youre-going-to-see-some-very-good-days-ahead">outlook on the economy</a>, as he mentioned during a conversation with CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer, predicting &#8220;very good days ahead&#8221; for stocks, Bitcoin, and AI. 



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42678673/michael-jordan-sells-his-massive-luxury-mansion-for-9-5-million-but-it-took-12-years-to-find-a-buyer-and-he-spent-50-million-building-it?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Jordan Sells His Massive Luxury Mansion For $9.5 Million – But It Took 12 Years To Find A Buyer And He Spent $50 Million Building It</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Benzinga YouTube and Unsplash

ARKK

COIN

Ark Invest's Cathie Wood Urges Trump's Incoming Administration To Implement Retroactive Tax Cuts For Economic Boost From January 1

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) could emerge as &#8220;the next Oracle&#8221; in the artificial intelligence revolution, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, who dubbed the data analytics firm &#8220;the Messi of AI&#8221; despite its stock already surging 395.42% in 2024.



What Happened: The company&#8217;s stock, trading at $82.14, has become the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s top performer this year, pushing its market capitalization to $183.23 billion. This remarkable run has positioned Palantir well above Wedbush&#8217;s $75 price target, though Ives maintains strong conviction in the company&#8217;s growth trajectory.



&#8220;Looking ahead to the next 5-10 years, I believe it&#8217;s all about Palantir. In the context of the AI revolution, this is just the beginning,&#8221; Ives emphasized <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcTK53LhP2w">on</a> CNBC&#8217;s Closing Bell Overtime. He describes Palantir as a &#8220;table-pounder&#8221; stock that investors should consider adding to their portfolios, despite its current price-to-earnings ratio of 411.90.



Former Palantir employee Alex Fishman, now with Empros Capital, provided additional insight into the company&#8217;s potential: &#8220;When I look at Palantir, it&#8217;s one of the few companies where I can easily envision it becoming 10 or 20 times its current size.&#8221; 



Fishman highlighted Palantir&#8217;s crucial role in defense and commercial sectors, describing it as &#8220;the glue that ties everything together&#8221; in coordinating critical technological efforts.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/12/42692036/billionaire-investors-michael-burry-david-tepper-could-benefit-from-chinas-stimulus-measures">Billionaire Investors Michael Burry, David Tepper Could Benefit From China&#8217;s Stimulus Measures</a>



Why It Matters: Wall Street&#8217;s broader consensus remains more conservative, with an average price target of $35.58 based on 20 analyst ratings. However, recent updates suggest growing optimism. UBS issued an $80 price target on December 19, while Mizuho and Baird released positive outlooks, though their average target of $64.67 still implies a potential downside.



The company&#8217;s technical indicators suggest room for continued growth, with an RSI reading of 62 indicating the stock isn&#8217;t yet in overbought territory despite its dramatic rise. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range of $15.66 to $84.80 reflects its volatile but upward trajectory.



In the same discussion, Ives also raised Apple Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) price target to $325, citing AI initiatives, though he emphasized Palantir&#8217;s unique position in the enterprise AI space. As companies increasingly adopt AI solutions, Ives believes Palantir&#8217;s commercial expansion and defense sector dominance position it for continued growth into 2025.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42696614/cathie-wood-takes-profit-on-hot-ai-stock-palantir-again-continues-to-sell-block-shares-amid-bitcoin-buzz">Cathie Wood Takes Profit On Hot AI Stock Palantir Again, Continues To Sell Block Shares Amid Bitcoin Buzz</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Pixabay



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

PLTR

Palantir Touted As 'Next Oracle' By Dan Ives: Here Is Why The Wedbush Analyst Called The Company A 'Table Pounder'

Leading cryptocurrencies fell Thursday after a festive surge on Christmas gave way to profit-taking.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-3.69%</td><td>$95,658.87</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-4.37%</td><td>$3,338.32</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-6.97%</td><td>$0.3116</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: After teasing the $100,000 mark on Christmas, Bitcoin witnessed a steep decline, falling to an intraday low of $95,170.



Ethereum dropped to the $3,300 region following the to-and-from movement between $3,440 and $3,510.



Trading volumes for both currencies rose, indicating that traders returned from their Christmas break to book profits.



Over $270 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $200 million.



Bitcoin's Open Interest increased by 0.97% in the last 24 hours. The majority of them were short positions, as evidenced by a drop in the Long/Short Ratio.



That said, nearly $760 million in short positions risked liquidation if Bitcoin rebounds to $100,000.



The market sentiment was "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitget Token (BGB)</td><td>+29.39%</td><td>$7.48</td></tr><tr><td>FTX Token (FTT)</td><td>+3.98%</td><td>$5.77</td></tr><tr><td>Hyperliquid (HYPE)</td><td>+3.43%</td><td>$27.35</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.31 trillion, following a contraction of 3.88% in the last 24 hours.



Trading resumed on Wall Street after the Christmas holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average squeezed out a narrow gain of 0.07% to close at 43,325.80. The S&amp;P 500 slid 0.04%, ending at 6,037.59, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite closed down 0.05% at 20,020.36.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/12/42686302/nasdaq-dips-over-100-points-us-initial-jobless-claims-fall">U.S. jobless claims</a> for the week ending Dec. 21 came at 219,000, lower than analyst estimates of 224,000.



The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield remained broadly unchanged at 4.587% after pushing beyond 4.6% early morning.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Influential cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez called attention to Bitcoin dipping below its "most significant" support level at $97,300.



"So, for the bearish outlook to be invalidated, BTC must reclaim this critical area of support and, more importantly, sustain a daily close above $100,000," Martinez stated.



As it turned out, the leading cryptocurrency failed to reach these predictions, remaining stuck in the $95,000 range.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> recently broke below one of its most significant support zones at $97,300. So, for the bearish outlook to be invalidated,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> must reclaim this critical area of support and, more importantly, sustain a daily close above $100,000!<a href="https://t.co/oaE6S8cP0Q">https://t.co/oaE6S8cP0Q</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1872271711414219129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Bitcoin's Christmas rally and subsequent retrace made it one of the top trending tokens on social media, according to on-chain analytics firm Santiment.



Discussions about its upcoming price moves, such as a climb to $100,000 or a drop to $90,000, dominated social media.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f5e3;&#xFE0F; As crypto markets look to recover after the Christmas $100K BTC tease and immediate drop thereafter, the top trending tokens across social media are: &#x1fa99; Bitcoin <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a>: Discussions about investment strategies, its role as a store of value, and its adoption for international… <a href="https://t.co/3KkPBzan7I">pic.twitter.com/3KkPBzan7I</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1872376820311437684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Image via Shutterstock



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42690488/are-donald-trumps-ambitious-bitcoin-goals-feasible">Are Donald Trump&#8217;s Ambitious Bitcoin Goals Feasible?</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

Movers

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Pull Back After Christmas Rally: Top Analyst Reveals What Happens Next After BTC Fails To Record Daily Close Above $100K

On Thursday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>). and Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>). Notably, the firm had sold shares of both these companies ahead of Christmas as well.



The Palantir Trade



Ark Invest decided to sell 103,410 shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. through its ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>). The sale, valued at approximately $8.5 million based on Palantir&#8217;s closing price of $82.14, aligns with Ark&#8217;s recent trend of reducing its position in Palantir. 



Palantir&#8217;s stock has seen a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42673408/palantir-stock-is-trading-at-all-time-highs-whats-going-on">remarkable surge</a>, climbing over 380% since the beginning of the year, largely due to its strong positioning in the AI sector. This rally gained momentum in November following the company&#8217;s impressive quarterly results, which highlighted robust demand for AI solutions.



The Block Trade



In another strategic move, Ark Invest sold 15,342 shares of Block Inc. from ARKK. This transaction was valued at approximately $1.4 million, calculated from Block&#8217;s closing price of $91.48. Block, previously known as Square, has been a key player in the digital payments space and has a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) focus. Bitcoin has been in focus as the leading cryptocurrency has been consistently hitting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42334991/as-bitcoin-hits-100k-for-the-first-time-ark-invests-cathie-wood-calls-it-a-much-bigger-idea-than-gold-and-that-it-is-still-is-in-early-innings">new all-time highs</a> this year. For more insights into Ark&#8217;s recent trading activities, visit this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42676432/cathie-woods-pre-christmas-sale-ark-invest-dumps-even-more-tesla-palantir-stock">Benzinga report</a>.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42679707/bitcoin-ethereum-gain-dogecoin-slips-as-sentiment-turns-positive-on-christmas-analyst-throws-reality-check-for-overexcited-participants?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum Rise, Dogecoin Slides Amid Positive Christmas Sentiment: Analyst Cautions $110K Target For BTC Possible Only When&#8230;</a>



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>GitLab Inc: Ark Invest purchased 219,606 shares through the ARKK.</li>



<li>CRISPR Therapeutics AG: A buy of 57,889 shares was made by Ark through the ARKK.</li>



<li>Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp: Ark sold 75,957 shares from the ARKG.</li>
</ul>



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42649292/mark-cubans-surprising-purchase-of-a-whole-town-near-dallas-was-a-favor-for-a-friend-and-he-wanted-to-rename-it-to-dinosaur-texas?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban&#8217;s Surprising Purchase Of A Whole Town Near Dallas Was A Favor For A Friend – And He Wanted To Rename It To Dinosaur, Texas</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Cathie Wood Takes Profit On Hot AI Stock Palantir Again, Continues To Sell Block Shares Amid Bitcoin Buzz

Foot traffic at retailers soared on Dec. 21, the Saturday before Christmas. Here's a look at the potential winners from the last week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42273676/walmart-target-bath-body-works-stand-out-as-black-friday-winners-analysts">of holiday shopping.</a>



What Happened: Foot traffic at retailers was up an average of 58% compared to daily averages in 2024, a trend that could see retail stocks benefit for the 2024 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42247997/walmart-shoppers-shun-electronics-for-black-friday-deals-on-eggs-bread-slippers">holiday shopping season.</a>



The 58% gain to the daily average, <a href="https://www.placer.ai/blog/super-saturday-2024-recap">reported </a>by Placer.ai, is higher than the 51.1% gain over the daily average seen on Black Friday. Sunday, Dec. 22, also saw retail foot traffic up 38.2% to the daily average.



While foot traffic was up compared to the daily average for the year, the 58% gain was smaller than last year's Super Saturday, which saw a 74.4% increase from the daily average. The caveat with last year's data is that Super Saturday was Dec. 23, one of the last remaining shopping days before Christmas.



Among the potential biggest winners for this year's Christmas shopping season could be department stores, based on the report.



Overall foot traffic to department stores was up 128.7% compared to the Saturday 2024 daily average, surpassing last year&#8217;s 119.4% increase over the 2023 Saturday average.



Among the department stores tracked by Placer.ai, these were the year-over-year visit growth:



<ul>
<li>Nordstrom (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JWN#NYSE">JWN</a>): +8.8%</li>



<li>Bloomingdale's, a unit of Macy's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/M#NYSE">M</a>): +4.7%</li>



<li>JCPenney: +1.3%</li>
</ul>



The report also found that recreational and sporting goods stores, beauty and self-care stores and other specialty categories saw strong traffic gains. Here's a look at some of the retailers tracked and the foot traffic gains on a year-over-year basis to last year's Super Saturday:



<ul>
<li>Ollie's Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OLLI#NASDAQ">OLLI</a>): +7.3%</li>



<li>T.J. Maxx, a unit of TJX Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>): +4.6%</li>



<li>Five Below (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>): +4.2%</li>
</ul>



The report found that superstores, grocery stores, and discount retailers saw lower year-over-year growth due to last year's timing of Super Saturday being so close to Christmas.



Indoor shopping malls like those owned by Simon Property Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPG#NYSE">SPG</a>) may have also benefitted from Super Saturday. Placer.ai data shows that foot traffic to indoor malls was up 177.1% on Super Saturday compared to the 2024 daily average.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42678116/if-you-gifted-your-family-100-in-bitcoin-dogecoin-and-ethereum-last-christmas-heres-how-much-they-would-have-this-christmas-2">If You Gifted Your Family $100 In Bitcoin, Dogecoin And Ethereum Last Christmas, Here&#8217;s How Much They Would Have This Christmas</a>



Why It's Important: Ahead of Super Saturday, the National Retail Foundation <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/157-million-consumers-to-shop-on-super-saturday">estimated </a>that 157.2 million consumers would shop on the shopping holiday based on an annual survey.



The figure comes in higher than the 141.9 million Super Saturday shoppers in 2024 and is the second highest figure over the last nine years, trailing only 158.5 million in 2022.



"Super Saturday is one of the last opportunities during the holiday season for consumers to get the remaining items on their shopping list," NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said.



Cullen cited the shortened holiday shopping season, due to Thanksgiving falling late in November, boosting the odds of last-minute shoppers.



The survey found that 69.5 million people plan to shop both in-store and online, up from 58.3 million in 2023. The amount of people exclusively shopping in-store was down in the survey from 37% to 31%, while the percentage of people who said they would shop exclusively online increased from 22% to 24%.



Similar to the results above, the NRF survey highlighted department stores as potential winners on Super Saturday, with 37% of shoppers saying they planned to finish their holiday shopping there.



Finishing shopping online was the most popular response at 49%, with discount stores named by 27% of consumers and clothing and accessory stores named by 25% of consumers.



The NRF survey found the most popular gift purchases were clothing and accessories (50%), toys (32%), gift cards (26%) and books, video games and other media (24%).



The shortened holiday shopping season could have been good for retailers with more foot traffic each day and especially on the weekends. The key will be if the daily increase is enough to offset the lower number of total shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.



The post-Christmas shopping time could also see a boost, with 71% of consumers in the survey saying they planned to shop after Christmas, similar to last year's survey.



NRF estimates that the entire holiday shopping season of Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 is expected to be up 2.5% to 3% from 2024, hitting a record range of $979.5 billion to $989 billion.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42658677/better-christmas-gift-gamestop-stock-or-latest-video-game">Better Christmas Gift: GameStop Stock Or Latest Video Game?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

FIVE

OLLI

Super Saturday Foot Traffic Surges, Sales Hit $157 Million: Potential Winners Emerge

Streaming giant Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) aired its first NFL games on Christmas Day with two games featuring four of the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42354185/nfl-games-set-thanksgiving-day-records-why-this-is-good-and-bad-news-for-streaming-giant-netflix"> top teams in the league.</a>



Here's a look at what happened and a poll that shows the holiday may have hurt viewership.



What Happened: Netflix <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42512587/netflix-analyst-say-its-only-investable-media-stock-projects-150-million-nfl-christmas-day-boost">spent an estimated</a> $150 million on the rights to two 2024 NFL games on Christmas Day. Strong advertising demand may help the streaming giant recoup the fees and turn the events into free marketing plays.



The big question will be how many viewers tuned in to the NFL games as they were Netflix exclusives and also competed against NBA games, which have traditionally been a staple on Christmas. Family gatherings and events also likely took top billing on Christmas, leaving investors and analysts to eagerly await official viewership data.



Using Benzinga's own methods of polling, the data doesn't suggest that viewership will be as strong for the NFL games as some may be expecting.



"Did you watch Netflix football games?" Benzinga asked during its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgZkTiF6WnU">morning YouTube show </a>"Benzinga's Market Edge Live."



The results from the show&#8217;s YouTube viewership were:



<ul>
<li>Yes: 27%</li>



<li>No: 72%</li>
</ul>



Benzinga also<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653325/exclusive-netflix-to-have-merry-christmas-with-nfl-games-will-viewers-tune-in-60-say"> recently polled readers</a> and asked if they would be watching ahead of the Christmas Day games.



&#8220;Will you watch Christmas NFL games on Netflix?&#8221; Benzinga asked.



Here were the results:



<ul>
<li>Yes, I already have Netflix: 39%</li>



<li>No, I don&#8217;t have Netflix and won&#8217;t watch: 30%</li>



<li>No, even though I have Netflix: 30%</li>



<li>Yes, I plan to subscribe to Netflix to watch: 1%</li>
</ul>



The largest percentage of readers said they are subscribers and will be watching, getting 39% of the vote. Thirty percent of Netflix subscribers said they won&#8217;t be watching despite being able to watch the games for free with their subscription. Thirty percent said they do not have Netflix and won&#8217;t subscribe just to gain access to the NFL games.



In total, the poll found that 60% of readers don&#8217;t plan on watching the NFL games on Christmas Day.



Why It's Important: NFL viewership has been strong during the 2024 season, with the Chiefs being one of the most popular teams. The official Netflix viewership figure could show what the appetite is like for more holiday NFL games and more streaming exclusives.



In the first Christmas Day game this year, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 to take their record to 15-1 on the season. The Steelers dropped to 10-6 on the season, with both teams already having NFL Playoffs spots clinched.



Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce led the way with eight catches for 84 yards and a receiving touchdown, which set the record for the most receiving touchdowns by a Chiefs player all time with 76.



In the second Christmas Day game on Netflix, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 31-2 to improve their record to 11-5. The Texans fell to 9-7 on the season. Both these teams have also clinched spots in the 2024 NFL Playoffs.



In the Ravens dominant win, quarterback Lamar Jackson rushed for 87 yards and a rushing touchdown. Jackson now has 6,110 career rushing yards, breaking a record previously held by Michael Vick.



With the win and dominant performance, Jackson remains a favorite to win a second-straight NFL MVP. Jackson, who won MVPs for the 2019 and 2023 seasons, ranks second in the betting odds at sportsbook DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>) with odds of +170. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the current favorite at -225.



Here are the current Super Bowl LIX betting odds from DraftKings:



<ul>
<li>Kansas City Chiefs: +360</li>



<li>Detroit Lions: +390</li>



<li>Buffalo Bills: +600</li>



<li>Philadelphia Eagles: +650</li>



<li>Baltimore Ravens: +650</li>



<li>Minnesota Vikings: +1,100</li>



<li>Green Bay Packers: +1,300</li>



<li>Los Angeles Rams: +3,000</li>



<li>Washington Commanders: +5,000</li>



<li>Pittsburgh Steelers: +5,000</li>



<li>Los Angeles Chargers: +5,000</li>



<li>Houston Texans: +5,000</li>



<li>Denver Broncos: +5,000</li>
</ul>



The Chiefs are back to being the betting favorite as they try to win three straight Super Bowls, which would be a first for any NFL team.



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</ul>



Photo courtesy of Netflix.

Entertainment

Sports Betting

Sports

Exclusives

DKNG

NFLX

Netflix NFL Games Show Off Super Bowl Contenders, MVP Frontrunner: Benzinga Poll Says 27% Watched

China revealed additional economic stimulus measures on Tuesday in an effort to revive its struggling economy. Some hedge fund managers anticipated the move and have been buying up shares of Chinese tech companies that could benefit as Beijing unleashes more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42671739/chinese-stocks-surge-on-stimulus-plans-to-counter-us-tariff-risks">fiscal support.&nbsp;</a>



The Details: China's Ministry of Finance on Tuesday pledged to boost domestic demand, increase government spending through pension and medical insurance subsidies and support a consumer goods trade-in program.&nbsp;



Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42687945/zelle-became-a-gold-mine-for-fraudsters-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-lawsuit"> &#8216;Zelle Became A Gold Mine For Fraudsters&#8217;: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Lawsuit</a>



According to a Reuters report, Beijing is also planning to increase special government bond issuance to 3 trillion yuan in 2025, up from 1 trillion yuan in 2024, to spur growth.&nbsp;



The People's Bank of China held rates steady this week, but investors anticipate more rate cuts next year, possibly in response to U.S. tariffs which may come with the Trump administration. 



Expert Traders: Hedge funds led by seasoned investors Michael Burry and John Tepper made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/11/42000692/david-teppers-appaloosa-trims-alibaba-stake-by-476-in-q3-2024-doubles-down-on-pdd-holdings-and-jd.com">significant investments</a> in Chinese stocks that may react to China's ongoing economic stimulus efforts.&nbsp;



‘Big Short': Burry's Scion Asset Management fund is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/42002224/big-short-investor-michael-burry-doubles-down-on-chinese-tech-stocks-while-adding-protective-hedges">heavily invested</a> in Chinese companies and added to its sizable positions in the third quarter, according to the latest 13F filing. 



Scion holds 200,000 shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), representing its top holding and 16.36% of the fund's total investments. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) is the firm's second-largest holding, with 500,000 shares, representing 15.41% of its portfolio. 



John Tepper: Appaloosa Management's Tepper <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/09/41050711/stocks-rise-as-china-signals-more-stimulus-billionaire-david-tepper-bets-big-on-everythi">recently told</a> CNBC that he was bullish on "everything" China-related due to the government's stimulus efforts and the firm's most recent SEC filings shows the investor put his money where his mouth is. 



"I didn't know that they were going to bring out the big guns," Tepper <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/03/hedge-funds-pile-into-chinese-stocks-as-stimulus-sparks-enthusiasm-.html">said</a> on CNBC's Squawk Box. "They kind of blew away expectations on the fiscal stimulus &#8230; And I think there's a whole shift."



Alibaba and PDD Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) are the top holdings in Appaloosa's fund, which also holds smaller positions in JD.com, Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>), and the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>). 



Read Next:&nbsp;



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</ul>



Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

BABA

BIDU

KWEB

Billionaire Investors Michael Burry, David Tepper Could Benefit From China's Stimulus Measures

GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) shares are trading higher Thursday following a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42679610/roaring-kittys-christmas-post-has-gamestop-rallying-7-in-overnight-trading-memecoin-connected-to-trader-also-surge">social media post by Keith Gill</a>, known as &#8220;Roaring Kitty,&#8221; a prominent figure in the 2021 GameStop short squeeze.



What To Know: On Dec. 25, Gill shared an image of a wrapped gift on X, formerly Twitter. The post sparked speculation among retail traders, driving increased interest in GameStop shares during overnight trading. Shares rose 7.68% in after-hours trading on Robinhood, reaching $33.50 at one point.



Cryptocurrencies tied to Gill's online persona also reacted. The meme coin GmeStop (GME) rose 5%, with its market capitalization reaching $31.26 million, while Kitty Inu (KITTY) surged by 17.96%.



The movement in GameStop's stock could reflect continued volatility driven by retail trader enthusiasm rather than changes in the company's fundamentals. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Should You Buy GME?</h3>



An investor can make a few decisions when deciding whether a stock is a good buy. In addition to valuation metrics and price action which you can find on Benzinga's quote pages &#8211; like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GME">GameStop</a>&#8216;s page for example &#8211; there are factors like whether or not a company pays a dividend or buys a large portion of its stock each quarter.



These are known as capital allocation programs. GameStop (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) does pay a dividend, which yields 10.93% per year as of the closing price on Dec. 26, 2024. Feel free to search Benzinga's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/dividends">dividend calendar</a> for the next company that is due to pay a dividend and determine what kind of yield you can earn for holding a share of the company.



For example, if you're looking to earn an annualized return of 17.75%, you'll need to buy a share of PermRock Royalty Trust by the Dec. 31, 2024. Once done, you can expect to receive a nominal payout of $0.05 on Jan. 15, 2025.



Buyback programs are obviously different and highly variable. A company can approve a buyback program and purchase shares as it sees fit over the course of time in which the buyback was authorized. Looking through the latest news on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GME">GameStop</a> will often yield whether or not the company has approved a buyback program recently. Buyback programs usually serve as a support for share prices, serving as a backstop for demand.



GME Price Action: GameStop shares were up 5.43% at $32.82 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="526" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43-1024x526.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707802" style="width:541px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43-1024x526.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43-768x394.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43-1536x789.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26101721/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-10.16.43.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



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Image via Shutterstock.

GameStop Shares Are On The Rise Today: What's Going On?

Fans of global superstar Beyoncé who missed her Christmas Day NFL halftime performance, or want to relive the moment, are in for a treat. Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is set to feature one of the standout moments from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42512587/netflix-analyst-say-its-only-investable-media-stock-projects-150-million-nfl-christmas-day-boost">debut NFL game streams.</a>



What Happened: For the first time ever, Netflix <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653325/exclusive-netflix-to-have-merry-christmas-with-nfl-games-will-viewers-tune-in-60-say">streamed two live</a> NFL games on Christmas Day. The games, which are part of a three-year deal, saw Netflix as the exclusive home of the Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans matchups on Wednesday.



Beyoncé <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/beyonce-delivers-epic-gift-of-a-halftime-performance-beyonce-bowl-is-coming">performed </a>a 12-minute set during halftime of the Ravens and Texans game, which took place in her hometown of Houston.



Being labeled the "Beyoncé Bowl" by Netflix, the halftime performance featured the first-ever live performances of songs from the singer's "Cowboy Carter" album.



The performance featured guest appearances by Shaboozey, Post Malone and Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy Carter.



Netflix announced that "Beyoncé Bowl" will be released as a standalone special on the streaming platform later this week.



The streaming company did not provide an exact date or additional details on whether the special would just be the halftime performance or include behind-the-scenes or additional footage.



Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42563662/streamers-max-paramount-won-november-heres-why-analyst-expects-netflix-amazon-to-win-december"> Streamers Max, Paramount+ Won November: Here&#8217;s Why Analyst Expects Netflix, Amazon To Win December</a>



Why It's Important: Netflix appears poised to leverage the star power of one of the world's most popular singers, featured during halftime of its inaugural Christmas Day NFL games.



Beyoncé previously performed at halftime of Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, a performance that featured her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and in 2016 with Coldplay and Bruno Mars at Super Bowl 50. Both halftime performances rank among the most watched in NFL history. &nbsp;



The singer teased that there is more coming from her next month. An Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEBPJl1yvvp/">post </a>featured Beyoncé on a horse with an American flag and ends with the screen showing the date of Jan. 14, 2025.



While the teaser post may not be in relation to Netflix, the streaming company has more coming from Beyoncé.



The singer and streamer signed a $60 million <a href="https://variety.com/2019/music/news/beyonce-netflix-deal-1203193729/">deal </a>in 2019, which included "Homecoming," a documentary concert film about the singer's 2018 Coachella performance.



Several reports suggest that the NFL Christmas Day performance and subsequent "Beyoncé Bowl" release are the second of the three projects, leaving one more Netflix special coming from the global superstar.



NFLX Price Action: Netflix stock is down 1.2% to $920.78 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $461.86 to $941.75. Netflix stock is up 97% year-to-date in 2024.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42628116/netflix-adds-womens-world-cup-media-rights-from-football-to-futbol-streamer-all-in-on-live-sports">Netflix Adds Women&#8217;s World Cup Media Rights: From Football To Futbol, Streamer All-In On Live Sports</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Netflix To Release 'Beyoncé Bowl' NFL Halftime Performance As Standalone Special

The automotive industry could be one of the American sectors hit hardest by President-elect Donald Trump's announced tariff plans on<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42402629/trump-to-change-dollar-stores-for-good-dollar-tree-exec-says-prepared-to-act"> Canada and Mexico.</a>



What Happened: The incoming White House administration could significantly impact various industries and influence pricing for everyday goods and less frequently purchased items, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42247850/gm-other-us-automakers-brace-for-sharp-profit-squeeze-from-trump-tariffs-analysts-warn">such as automobiles.</a>



Several popular vehicles that sell for under $30,000 in the U.S. are currently built in Mexico. A proposed 25% tariff on automobiles imported into the U.S. from Mexico could take these vehicles over this pricing level quickly.



In fact, around one-third of all vehicles below $30,000 in the U.S. are currently built in Mexico, according to data from Edmunds, as <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/trump-tariff-plan-affordable-car-price-increase-1f3d4687?mod=hp_lead_pos2">reported </a>by the Wall Street Journal. This figure has risen from around one-fifth of all vehicles under the affordable auto price point around 10 years ago.



Popular models like the Ford Maverick from Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Nissan Sentra from Nissan were named in the report.



Ford recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42660866/trump-gets-ford-vehicles-1m-for-inauguration-will-musk-respond-or-could-he-ride-in-rival-vehicle">announced a $1 million </a>donation to Trump's inauguration and the donation of several fleet vehicles.



The Honda Civic from Honda Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) is made at several manufacturing plants, including one in Canada. Import tariffs on Canada could impact the price of this top-selling sedan model.



Kia is another automotive company that could be highly impacted by Trump's tariff plans. The company has several models, including the Forte and K4, which were made in Mexico before being imported into the United States.



The Forte and K4 sedans make up around 18% of Kia's U.S. sales according to the report.



"Everyone's got a pretty big case of anxiety here," Kia America Chief Operating Officer Steven Center said. "In two words: Please don't. Punch me in the arm. Smack me in the head. But please don't put a tariff on."



General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), which also donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration, has several assembly factories in Mexico. The automotive company sources approximately one-third of its U.S. vehicle sales from plants in Mexico.



Check This Out:



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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>



Why It's Important: Trump's current plan is for 25% tariffs on items imported from Mexico, which could change a free-trade negotiation the president-elect worked on during his previous White House term.



Mexico has often been a place for manufacturing American automobiles that are known for their cheaper price points to help offset some of the costs of production. Around four million vehicles are made in Mexico annually according to the report, with close to 70% imported to the United States.



The signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, also known as NAFTA, saw American companies turn to Mexico for cheaper labor rates for workers and ample land to build large manufacturing facilities.



Small sedans and SUVs, some of the most affordable options for consumers, are often manufactured in Mexico. The lower production costs help automotive companies turn a modest profit on these vehicles, which would likely result in losses if produced in the United States.



Tariffs on automobiles made in Mexico could change the sector, with auto companies deciding to move manufacturing to the United States or keep it in Mexico with the import tariffs. Either way, American consumers may face higher costs, whether from tariffs or increased expenses tied to U.S. manufacturing, potentially leading to the disappearance of many sub-$30,000 vehicle models.



A Wolfe Research estimate said $3,000 could be added to the cost of the average car sold in America, the report said.



This could be bad news for American consumers already facing higher costs on other items and comes after automotive prices soared during the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply shortages.



American consumers are paying an average of $700 monthly for loans on new automobiles, compared to an average of $500 back in 2016. Around 20% of American consumers are paying an average of $1,000 monthly for their auto loan payment, according to data from Edmunds.



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Photo: Shutterstock

Are Sub-$30,000 Cars Disappearing? Trump's Tariff Plans Could Reshape US Auto Market

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) could ride the artificial intelligence boom, with its crown jewel iPhone expected to witness a "multi-year" upgrade cycle, according to an analyst.



What Happened: Tech bull and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes that Apple's iPhone sales could witness a boost thanks to AI.



"Raising price target on Apple to $325 as a golden era of growth for Cupertino is now on the horizon into 2025," said Ives in a post on X.



Apple stock closed at $258.20 on Tuesday, up 1.2% for the day. Year-to-date, Apple shares have gained 39%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>. Ives&#8217; $325 price target implies a 26% upside.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26081608/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-6.46.00%E2%80%AFPM-1024x385.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707606"/></a></figure>



While Apple has been a little late to the AI game, having been beaten by its rivals Alphabet Inc.'s Google, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40780100/apple-intelligence-ready-iphone-16-with-faster-processor-dedicated-camera-button-announced-check-pri">the Cupertino-based company unveiled</a> the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features with the iPhone 16 series in September.



Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



Ives expects Apple to benefit significantly from the consumer AI revolution, positioning it for substantial growth through 2025.



"We believe Apple is heading into a multi-year AI driven iPhone upgrade cycle still being underestimated by the Street."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Raising price target on Apple to $325 as a golden era of growth for Cupertino is now on the horizon into 2025. We believe Apple is heading into a multi-year AI driven iPhone upgrade cycle still being underestimated by the Street. The consumer AI Revolution goes thru &#x1f34e; &#x1f525;&#x1f402;&#x1f34e;&#x1f34f;&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1872250576370913362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42641667/is-this-nancy-pelosis-stock-pick-set-to-overtake-nvidia-ai-chip-race-to-heat-up-by-2025-as-meta-and-microsoft-look-beyond-jensen-huangs-chip-maker-says-expert?itm_source=parsely-api">Is This Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s Stock Pick Set To Overtake Nvidia?</a>



Why It Matters: The recent price target hike aligns with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42664887/apples-near-term-success-will-be-driven-by-strong-holiday-season-iphone-16-says-dan-ives-analyst-sees-stock-hitting-300-cupertino-hitting-4-trillion-marketcap">Ives' previous predictions</a>, which foresees Apple reaching a $4 trillion market capitalization by early 2025. This projection is driven by strong iPhone sales and AI innovations.



Recent supply chain checks in Asia indicate robust iPhone 16 upgrade trends, particularly during the holiday season. Ives believes that the success of the iPhone 16 will serve as a launchpad for a renaissance of growth in Cupertino over the next 12 to 18 months.



Furthermore, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42477035/dan-ives-predicts-apple-to-ship-record-240-million-iphones-in-2025-sparking-multi-year-supercycle-as-ai-integration-drives-growth">Ives predicts</a> that Apple will ship a record 240 million iPhones in 2025, setting a new annual record as AI features in the iPhone 16 spark a &#8220;multi-year supercycle.&#8221; This projection underscores the significance of AI integration in consumer devices, with Apple Inc. leading the charge.



Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.



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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Pexels

Price Target

Tech Bull Predicts 26% Upside For Apple Stock, Sees 'Golden Era Of Growth' For Cupertino With AI-Driven iPhone Upgrade Cycle

A plane <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/kazakhstan">crash in Kazakhstan</a> has prompted Azerbaijan to mourn the loss of 38 lives on Thursday while questions swirl around the cause.



What Happened: The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, Russia, diverted due to adverse weather conditions and crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, approximately 3 kilometers from the airport on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. The AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-airliner-crash-aktau-kazakstan-embraer-872800d95273ee96e0950192a32e5228">reports </a>that speculation has risen about the circumstances leading to the crash, which injured all 29 survivors.



Initial reports indicate a bird strike forced the pilots to change course. Theories also emerged that the aircraft may have been unintentionally targeted by Russian air defense systems amid ongoing drone attacks in the North Caucasus.



Osprey Flight Solutions, a United Kingdom-based aviation security firm, suggested this incident could reflect broader risks tied to Russia's heightened military activity during its conflict with Ukraine, according to the AP. &#8220;It's painful to know that despite our efforts, lives were lost in a way that could have been avoided,&#8221; Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson wrote.



The crash has left Azerbaijan and neighboring nations grieving. Flags across Azerbaijan were lowered, and a moment of silence was observed nationwide. Survivors included citizens of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, with nine Russian nationals flown to Moscow for medical treatment. 



Kazakhstan's parliamentary speaker cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42356227/spacexs-22488-satellite-expansion-challenged-over-elon-musks-russian-connections-and-environmental-risks">SpaceX&#8217;s Satellite Expansion Challenged: Ukrainian-Americans Allege Elon Musk&#8217;s Russian Ties And Environmental Risks In FCC Petition</a>



Why It Matters: The tragedy underscores the volatile environment surrounding Russia's military operations. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged restraint in speculation, recent drone attacks in the region have intensified scrutiny.



The AP reports that Ukrainian drone attacks in the North Caucasus and unverified claims of another on Wednesday have fueled speculation that Russian air defenses may have mistakenly targeted the plane.



In related geopolitical developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42575876/russian-president-says-hes-willing-to-meet-trump-at-any-time-for-dialogue">openness to dialogue</a> with President-elect Donald Trump, potentially setting the stage for discussions that might address broader regional instability. 



Trump, who assumes office in January, has expressed a desire to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-19/putin-says-he-s-ready-to-meet-trump-hasn-t-seen-syria-s-assad">reports </a>that Putin is prepared for talks "at any time" to resolve pressing issues.



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</ul>



Photo: EvrenKalinbacak/Shutterstock.com.

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Shares of&nbsp;MicroStrategy Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) dropped by 4.08% following the company&#8217;s announcement to issue more shares to finance additional Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) acquisitions. This move aligns with MicroStrategy&#8217;s ongoing strategy to bolster its Bitcoin reserves.



What Happened: MicroStrategy&#8217;s recent filing&nbsp;with the U.S. Securities and&nbsp;Exchange Commission (SEC) aims to expand&nbsp;the authorized number of Class&nbsp;A&nbsp;common stock from 330 million&nbsp;to 10.33 billion units and&nbsp;preferred stock from 5 million&nbsp;to over 1 billion units.&nbsp;This move underscores the company&#8217;s transition from a software enterprise&nbsp;to a major Bitcoin investor.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42664692/bitcoin-flat-ethereum-dogecoin-spike-ahead-of-christmas-analyst-says-decline-in-btc-dominance-leaves-room-for-altcoins-to-pick-up?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Flat, Ethereum, Dogecoin Spike Ahead Of Christmas: Analyst Says Decline In BTC Dominance Leaves &#8216;Room For Altcoins To Pick Up&#8217;</a>



The company recently acquired&nbsp;$561 million worth of Bitcoin,&nbsp;marking its seventh consecutive week&nbsp;of purchases, with total holdings now estimated at $40 billion. Despite Bitcoin&#8217;s 135% increase this year, market volatility is expected as $43 billion in&nbsp;Bitcoin and Ether derivatives are&nbsp;due to expire on Friday.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin Thursday during pre-market hours was trading at $95,621.41. The cryptocurrency briefly hit an intraday peak of $99,876.70. A broader cryptocurrency index, which includes tokens such as Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), also experienced a minor recovery, rising by 0.2%.



Why It Matters: MicroStrategy&#8217;s decision to issue more shares comes on the heels of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42660092/microstrategy-sinks-after-nasdaq-100-inclusion-bitcoin-bet-under-fire">recent inclusion in the Nasdaq 100</a>, which has not been without challenges. The company&#8217;s stock fell over 8.5% on its debut in the index, marking a difficult start to its tenure. Over the past month, MicroStrategy&#8217;s stock has plunged more than 37% from its all-time high, reflecting investor concerns over its aggressive Bitcoin strategy. The company&#8217;s recent sale of $561 million in common stock to purchase an additional 5,262 Bitcoins at an average price of $106,662 per coin has further intensified scrutiny.



The latest analyst ratings for MicroStrategy Inc were issued by Bernstein on Dec.12, and by both TD Cowen and Barclays on Nov. 25. These analysts, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR/analyst-ratings">tracked by Benzinga</a>, have set an average price target of $546.67, suggesting a potential upside of 58.01% for the stock.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/26062848/Screenshot-2024-12-26-at-4.58.41%E2%80%AFPM-1024x364.png" alt="" class="wp-image-707471"/></figure>



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</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

$SOL

MSTR

MicroStrategy Stock Tumbles Over 4% In Thursday Premarket: What's Going On?

In the face of global and national political upheavals, the U.S. economy is projected to maintain its exceptional performance, surpassing other major economies in 2025, as per economist Mohamed El Erian.



What Happened: El Erian attributes the strength of the U.S. economy to its significant foreign capital attraction and large-scale investment in future productivity drivers, competitiveness, and growth, according to a Project Syndicate report shared by the economist on X Wednesday.



The former PIMCO CEO said the U.S. economy is &#8220;likely to continue outperforming other major economies in 2025."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Given the amount of foreign capital the US is attracting, and the scale of its investment in the future drivers of productivity, competitiveness, and growth, it is likely to continue outperforming other major economies in 2025, predicts <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elerianm</a>. <a href="https://t.co/tDJsIUHvXS">https://t.co/tDJsIUHvXS</a>&mdash; Project Syndicate (@ProSyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProSyn/status/1871722539795505625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Despite political turmoil in many countries, including the collapse of governments in France and Germany and the political transition in the U.S. following Donald Trump&#8217;s victory, the economy has remained resilient. This resilience is also evident in the face of geopolitical challenges, such as the &#8220;axis of convenience&#8221; comprising China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, seeking to challenge the Western-dominated international order.



On the other hand, Europe and China are grappling with significant economic weaknesses, with Europe struggling&nbsp;with low growth and large&nbsp;budget deficits, and China facing the threat of &#8220;Japanification.&#8221;



Despite these challenges, the U.S. economy has not only remained stable but has also pulled further ahead. This trend is expected to continue in 2025, with the U.S. likely to continue outperforming other major economies.



However, El Erian warns that political and geopolitical upheaval poses a risk to the endurance of U.S. economic exceptionalism.



&#8220;My baseline scenario for the [U.S.] includes a somewhat lower immediate growth rate, even as the economy outperforms its peers, and sticky inflation,&#8221; wrote El Erian.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42635836/warren-buffetts-sons-90k-inheritance-would-be-worth-more-than-400-million-today-but-he-sold-his-berkshire-stock-47-years-ago-to-buy-something-infinitely-more-valuable?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Son&#8217;s $90K Inheritance Would Be Worth More Than $400 Million Today, But He Sold His Berk</a>



Why It Matters: The US economy&#8217;s performance in 2025 has been a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42137929/2025-us-economy-outlook-cloudier-than-normal-jpmorgan-says-boom-bust-scenarios">topic of discussion</a> among experts. JPMorgan&#8217;s chief economist, Michael Feroli, previously outlined a divided economic outlook for 2025, influenced by the 2024 elections and the early policy indications from the incoming Trump administration.



The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41461338/imf-upwardly-revises-us-economic-growth-but-warns-under-current-policies-the-us-public-debt-is-not-s">revised its forecast</a> for U.S. growth in 2025, projecting a 2.2% growth, which is 0.3 percentage point higher than previous estimates.



Moreover,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42024472/goldman-sachs-us-to-dominate-2025-growth-with-2-5-gdp-boost-euro-area-will-struggle">Goldman Sachs Research</a>&nbsp;predicts a strong year for global economic growth in 2025, with the US expected to lead the way, significantly surpassing the consensus of 1.9%.



However, El Erian&#8217;s prediction of the US economy outperforming other major economies aligns with his earlier warning about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/24/12/42677086/treasury-yields-could-hit-5-in-2025-mohamed-el-erian-warns-will-next-year-bring-head-winds-for-surging-markets">U.S. Treasury yields potentially hitting 5% in 2025</a>, as markets digest the Federal Reserve's revised rate outlook and end-of-year dynamics.



Photo by International Monetary Fund on Flickr



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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

El Erian Explains Why US Economy Is 'Likely To Continue Outperforming Other Major Economies In 2025'

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