$AAPL - $AAPL

Apple Option Alert: Apr 17 $230 Puts Sweep (62) near the Ask: 1000 vs 17824 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] 

Apple Option Alert: Apr 17 $230 Puts Sweep (62) near the Ask: 1000 @ $6.4 vs 17824 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] Ref=$235.4201

Apple Option Alert: Aug 15 $210 Puts Sweep (3) near the Ask: 1691 vs 23182 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] 

Apple Option Alert: Aug 15 $210 Puts Sweep (3) near the Ask: 1691 @ $7.21 vs 23182 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] Ref=$234.99

Apple Option Alert: Jun 20 $245 Calls at the Bid: 1600 vs 17200 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] 

Apple Option Alert: Jun 20 $245 Calls at the Bid: 1600 @ $11.64 vs 17200 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] Ref=$238.4

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $280 Calls Sweep (6) near the Ask: 299 vs 5827 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] 

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $280 Calls Sweep (6) near the Ask: 299 @ $22.901 vs 5827 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] Ref=$237.05

Apple Option Alert: Sep 19 $50 Calls Sweep (3) near the midpoint: 52 vs 1122 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] 

Apple Option Alert: Sep 19 $50 Calls Sweep (3) near the midpoint: 52 @ $192.19 vs 1122 OI; Earnings 5/1 After Close [est] Ref=$241.18

Apple Option Alert: Fri $250 Puts at the Ask: 500 vs 10886 OI

Apple Option Alert: Fri $250 Puts at the Ask: 500 @ $13.65 vs 10886 OI; Ref=$236.295

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $245 Puts at the Bid: 980 vs 12765 OI

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $245 Puts at the Bid: 980 @ $12.55 vs 12765 OI; Ref=$240.21

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $245 Puts Sweep (18) near the Bid: 938 vs 12765 OI

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $245 Puts Sweep (18) near the Bid: 938 @ $12.579 vs 12765 OI; Ref=$240.43

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Bolsa

APPLE INC

Apple

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

High-Salary Employee Among Those Dismissed

Gaming

News

Tech

General

AAPL

GOOG

Meta (META) invierte millones en talento VR: ¿Cómo afecta a su estrategia y acciones?

US China Taiwan Photo by Andy.LIU Shutterstock

Markets

Media

INTC

NVDA

La reubicación tecnológica de TSMC hacia EE. UU. plantea tensiones económicas, políticas y estratégicas difíciles de ignorar.

TSMC impulsa expansión en EE. UU. y podría redefinir el rol estratégico de Taiwán

Zara, propiedad de Inditex

Zara se posiciona como una de las más innovadoras de España. La sostenibilidad, la digitalización y el uso de Big Data impulsan su éxito.

Zara, de Inditex (ITX), se destaca como líder en innovación en España: la clave de su éxito

Apple Inc

Last week, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates lamented the growing divide between the U.S. and China, saying it's blocking access to critical climate and technology innovations.
What Happened: In a wide-ranging interview during an Express Adda event, Gates praised China's leadership in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and battery technology, while expressing concern that geopolitical tensions are hindering global collaboration on major challenges like climate change.
"China has been absolutely a pioneer," Gates said, noting its dominance in solar panel manufacturing, battery innovation, and AI research. "It's a real shame for the world that the U.S.-China tension means that the willingness to access those goods is quite limited."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44506409/steve-jobs-warned-34-years-ago-about-america-being-hollowed-out-by-foreign-manufacturing-a-concern-trump-now-echoes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steve Jobs Warned 34 Years Ago About America Being ‘Hollowed Out' By Foreign Manufacturing — A Concern Trump Now Echoes</a>
Gates underscored the scale of China's contributions, calling the country "out in front" on critical green technologies and saying its research institutions have achieved "deep" scientific capabilities.
He pointed to electric vehicles as an area where American tariffs are impeding progress, noting, "There just won't be many Chinese EVs sold in the United States" due to high import barriers.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: Gates' comments come as the U.S. and China remain locked in strategic and economic competition, particularly around semiconductors, clean energy, and AI.
Earlier this week, the U.S. added over <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44494896/us-adds-50-chinese-entities-to-export-restriction-list-curtailing-access-to-nvidia-amd-chips">50 Chinese entities to an</a> export restriction list, aiming to curb China&#8217;s advancements in AI and semiconductor technology. This move is part of a broader strategy to limit China&#8217;s access to cutting-edge technology from companies like NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>).
Meanwhile, China has been <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44451449/china-courts-apple-pfizer-eli-lilly-amid-us-pressure-vice-premier-says-beijing-will-continue-to-improve-the-business-environment">actively courting multinational companies</a>, including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), to improve its business environment amidst these pressures.
China is reportedly considering <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44448798/china-ponders-export-limitations-to-quell-trumps-trade-onslaught">export restrictions</a> in response to U.S. economic actions.
Additionally, talks are ongoing about a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44235317/trump-xi-discuss-potential-birthday-summit-amid-rising-trade-tensions-report">possible &#8220;birthday summit&#8221; between</a> Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in June.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Bill Gates Exclusive Interview on Future of Tech, AI &amp; Global Impact &#x7C; Bill Gates Latest Interview" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Iq1yfTbrWyw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44487688/signal-touts-gold-standard-encryption-as-trump-administration-leak-spotlight-intensifies-our-code-is-regularly-scrutinized" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Signal Touts ‘Gold Standard' Encryption As Trump Administration Leak Spotlight Intensifies: ‘Our Code Is Regularly Scrutinized'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

MSFT

Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates Praises China As A Pioneer In Solar, Batteries, And AI: Warns Tensions Are Stifling Global Innovation

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent 7 stocks</a> are among those having a rough start to 2025 with all seven leading technology stocks down and the majority underperforming against the S&amp;P 500.
Benzinga readers picked their favorite Mag 7 stock to outperform the others over the next three months.
What Happened: Concerns over tariffs and macroeconomic issues have put a damper on the stock market and sent the prices of many leading stocks and indexes down in the first<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44149681/magnificent-seven-leadership-questioned-mags-etf-stumbles-ai-trade-losing-steam"> three months of the year.</a>
While many of the Magnificent 7 stocks have outperformed the S&amp;P 500 over the last five years, they could struggle to maintain that outperformance over the next year if current trends continue.
Here's a look at how Benzinga readers feel about the key seven technology stocks right now.
"The Magnificent 7 stocks have recently rebounded. Which one do you believe will outperform the others over the next 3 months?" Benzinga asked.
Here are the results:
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): 23%</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): 19%</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): 18%</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): 13%</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): 12%</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc (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>): 11%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): 5%</li>
</ul>
The poll found Amazon to be the winner predicted to outperform the other Mag 7 stocks over the next three months. Nvidia ranked second in the poll, narrowly beating Tesla.
Amazon may be the winner given its role in the retail sector and being less impacted by tariff and macroeconomic concerns as shoppers look for value and convenience.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/44057422/bitcoin-magnificent-7-lose-safe-haven-status-in-2025-as-china-etfs-dow-stocks-outperform">Bitcoin, Magnificent 7 Lose Safe-Haven Status In 2025 As China ETFs, Dow Stocks Outperform</a>
Why It's Important: Here are the current year-to-date and one-year performances of the Mag 7 stocks:
<ul>
<li>Amazon: -11.6% year-to-date, +7.9% one-year</li>
<li>Nvidia: -20.6% year-to-date, +21.7% one-year</li>
<li>Tesla: -29.7% year-to-date, +51.7% one-year</li>
<li>Meta: -2.3% year-to-date, +20.6% one-year</li>
<li>Apple: -9.9% year-to-date, +28.2% one-year</li>
<li>Alphabet: -17.2% year-to-date, +4.0% one-year</li>
<li>Microsoft: -8.7% year-to-date, -9.2% one-year</li>
</ul>
The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#BATS">MAGS</a>), which tracks the seven stocks, is down 14.1% year-to-date and is up 18.8% over the last year.
For comparison, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500, is down 4.4% year-to-date in 2025 and up 6.8% over the last year.
Meta is currently the only Mag 7 stock outperforming the SPY year-to-date in 2025. Amazon trails the S&amp;P 500 year-to-date in 2025 and is slightly higher over the last year.
For comparison, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42121665/could-another-magnificent-7-stock-beat-nvidia-in-2025-poll-says-not-likely-27-pick-this-potential-winner">November Benzinga reader poll</a> asked if any Mag 7 stock would outperform Nvidia in 2025. Here were those results:
<ul>
<li>None – Nvidia will dominate: 48%</li>
<li>Tesla: 27%</li>
<li>Amazon: 8%</li>
<li>Meta: 7%</li>
<li>Alphabet: 6%</li>
<li>Microsoft: 3%</li>
<li>Apple: 2%</li>
</ul>
The poll found the near-majority predicting Nvidia will have the strongest growth in 2025 and dominate the Magnificent 7 stocks once again.
Coming in second place, and the stock that could have the best chance to pass Nvidia according to readers, was Tesla at 27%.
Amazon ranked third in that poll, which could show that sentiment has shifted away from Nvidia and Tesla being the top Mag 7 stocks and instead investors are looking to Amazon as the leader for 2025.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/01/43041374/exclusive-how-high-will-sp-500-go-under-donald-trump-in-2025-readers-are-optimistic-26-say-this">EXCLUSIVE: How High Will S&amp;P 500 Go Under Donald Trump In 2025? Readers Are Optimistic, 26% Say This…</a></li>
</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga from March 25, 2025 through March 28, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 104 adults.
Photo gguy via Shutterstock

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

AMZN

GOOGL

MAGS

TSLA

EXCLUSIVE: Which Magnificent 7 Stock Will Perform Best In The Next 3 Months? New Poll Shows A Favorite (And It's Not Nvidia)

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$222.50</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>10.1K</td>
<td>12.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$33.0K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CORZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$562.1K</td>
<td>14.0K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$69.7K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$113.00</td>
<td>$54.8K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$31.5K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MARA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>19.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$90.0K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$33.8K</td>
<td>8.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$33.50</td>
<td>$68.7K</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>727</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 7 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $222.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.5K, with a price of $190.0 per contract. There were 10184 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12246 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 29 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.0K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 3556 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8601 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CORZ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 175 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1519 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $562.1K, with a price of $370.0 per contract. There were 14074 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5002 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 20 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 684 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.7K, with a price of $102.0 per contract. There were 5342 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3194 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 14 day(s) on April 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $113.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.8K, with a price of $274.0 per contract. There were 3490 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3155 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 14 day(s) on April 11, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $88.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.5K, with a price of $630.0 per contract. There were 1166 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2475 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MARA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 294 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $215.0 per contract. There were 19506 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1998 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NN#NASDAQ">NN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 658 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 150 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 30 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $90.0K, with a price of $600.0 per contract. There were 5125 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1471 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 20 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 65 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.8K, with a price of $520.0 per contract. There were 8797 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1256 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 290 contract(s) at a $33.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.7K, with a price of $237.0 per contract. There were 37 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 727 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

MARA

MSTR

PLTR

SMCI

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Amidst the fast-paced and highly competitive business environment of today, conducting comprehensive company analysis is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will delve into an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By analyzing critical financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>35.53</td>
<td>50.37</td>
<td>8.65</td>
<td>58.74%</td>
<td>$45.91</td>
<td>$58.27</td>
<td>3.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>7.66</td>
<td>0.83</td>
<td>0.69</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>16.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>15.10</td>
<td>3.30</td>
<td>1.06</td>
<td>5.29%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>54.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>16.87</td>
<td>18.89</td>
<td>2.95</td>
<td>31.69%</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>2.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>156.26</td>
<td>12.10</td>
<td>5.24</td>
<td>3.12%</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>$0.58</td>
<td>5.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>12.11</td>
<td>1.20</td>
<td>0.92</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>41.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>7.22</td>
<td>0.82</td>
<td>0.58</td>
<td>2.46%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-3.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>18.68</td>
<td>2.41</td>
<td>0.81</td>
<td>18.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>46.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AstroNova Inc</td>
<td>18.22</td>
<td>0.76</td>
<td>0.46</td>
<td>0.26%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>7.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>31.52</td>
<td>5.04</td>
<td>1.59</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>21.47%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By conducting a comprehensive analysis of Apple, the following trends become evident: 
<ul>
<li>
The current Price to Earnings ratio of 35.53 is 1.13x higher than the industry average, indicating the stock is priced at a premium level according to the market sentiment.
</li>
<li>
It could be trading at a premium in relation to its book value, as indicated by its Price to Book ratio of 50.37 which exceeds the industry average by 9.99x.
</li>
<li>
The stock's relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 8.65, surpassing the industry average by 5.44x, may indicate an aspect of overvaluation in terms of sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 58.74% is 50.21% above the industry average, highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
With higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $45.91 Billion, which is 117.72x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The gross profit of $58.27 Billion is 73.76x above that of its industry, highlighting stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
With a revenue growth of 3.95%, which is much lower than the industry average of 21.47%, the company is experiencing a notable slowdown in sales expansion.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743174052_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio gauges the extent to which a company has financed its operations through debt relative to equity.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Apple can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:
<ul>
<li>
In terms of the debt-to-equity ratio, Apple is positioned in the middle among its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
This suggests a relatively balanced financial structure, where the company maintains a moderate level of debt while also utilizing equity financing with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers, indicating that the stock may be overvalued. On the other hand, Apple's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest strong profitability and operational efficiency relative to industry competitors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Assessing Apple's Performance Against Competitors In Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals Industry

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with AAPL, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Apple.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 55% bullish and 44%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $237,734, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $137,239.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $215.0 to $230.0 for Apple over the recent three months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Apple's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Apple's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $215.0 to $230.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Apple Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743169530_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$76.8K</td>
<td>14.8K</td>
<td>227</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$222.50</td>
<td>$44.3K</td>
<td>927</td>
<td>326</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$0.6</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$42.4K</td>
<td>15.5K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>183</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$2.35</td>
<td>$2.32</td>
<td>$2.35</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$40.1K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Apple</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<h3>Apple's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 911,170, the price of AAPL is down -0.72% at $222.23. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 34 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Apple</h3>
Over the past month, 4 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $294.25.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Wedbush lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $325. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wedbush has revised its rating downward to Outperform, adjusting the price target to $325. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Apple with a target price of $275. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Apple, which currently sits at a price target of $252. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Apple options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Apple's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Every parent wants to give their child a head start in life, especially if they grew up without <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37878498/new-fidelity-study-reveals-58-of-women-aim-for-financial-security-as-their-ultimate-goal">financial security</a> themselves.
The desire to break such a generational curse is powerful, but so is the fear of making the wrong move, since a bad <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44335110/stupid-20-year-investment-plan-investor-questions-200000-dividend-strategy-is-it-stupid-to-put-in-that-much-into-schd">investment</a> could derail years of careful planning. This is exactly what a Reddit user is faced with now.
The investor, a dad of a 2-year-old, has asked for advice on building a $1 million portfolio for his son with the goal of having him live comfortably off dividend income by age 34. The poster is determined to set his son up for financial freedom, so he&#8217;s already started a &#8220;mini portfolio&#8221; with a combo of dividend-oriented ETFs and speculative stocks: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), Astra Space (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTR#NASDAQ">ASTR</a>), Virgin Galactic Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPCE#NYSE">SPCE</a>), and Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNO#NYSE">VNO</a>).
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<li>Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $100.</a></li>
</ul>
&#8220;We are looking for blueprints or instructions on proper investing for our children. How to create wealth is more important than wealth itself. We really would like to make sure he is financially responsible beforehand,&#8221; the dad wrote.
His concerns involve picking the right investments to balance growth and dividends in the next 30-plus years, avoiding costly mistakes, and ensuring his son is financially responsible. The responses to the investor&#8217;s post were a mix of encouragement and caution, with many Redditors coming up with suggestions of assets.
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">$1 Million Portfolio for a 2-Year-Old&#8211;Reddit Advises Dad on Allocations</h2>
ETFs are Safe for the Long Run
Many commenters suggested individual stocks are too risky for a 30-year investment horizon, and recommended low-cost ETFs instead.
&#8220;Not an expert at all, but I&#8217;m thinking safe ETFs with high quality companies. Time will take care of everything. Thinking simple: SCHD, [SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>)],&#8221; a comment reads.
A Redditor suggested a mix between dividend-focused and tech assets, which provide both growth and regular payments.
&#8220;[Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vym#NYSE">VYM</a>)], [Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vig#NYSE">VIG</a>)], [Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)]. This is dividend + tech. That&#8217;s what I would bet on for 30 years. Dividend low-fee ETF + some growth inform of tech. I personally would pick stocks for the QQQ portion of the fund [(Apple (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)] + [Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)] + [Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL, GOOG)] + [Amazon&nbsp; (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)]).&#8221;
&#8220;I remember someone showing the Top 30 or 20 companies by market cap in 1980/1990 and then the new list in 2020 and every one of them had changed/dropped off, bar 1. Might be a good argument for an ETF if you're thinking for the kid,&#8221; a Redditor advocated.
This user also advised the investor to choose ETFs instead of individual stocks because in such a long period, companies can change a lot.
&#8220;I would avoid single stocks and go with a few ETFs because you talking 16 years before they turn 18 and have that last many years, a lot can change with an individual company,&#8221; he said.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Set Up a Trust
Several Redditors warned the poster that giving a young adult sudden wealth can backfire, so he should consider setting up a structured trust with gradual payouts.
&#8220;OP could set up a trust for their kid where a percentage is released at 18, another at 30, 100% at 50, or however he sees fit. It doesn't stop the kid from possibly becoming a d&#8211;k, but it would minimize the risk of them blowing everything before they're fully matured. He could even add in a clause that allows additional access to money at an earlier age for things such as education or buying a house,&#8221; a commenter wrote.
A Reddit user said he won&#8217;t tell his children about the money he set up for each of them until they&#8217;re 30.
&#8220;I'm not telling my kids about anything I'm putting aside for them until they're 30. Everyone I know that inherited large sums of money before 30 pissed it all up the wall,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Be very careful what you tell him or her. There is a difference between being a wage slave but also learning the importance of hard work. Tell a kid that they got money coming mid-30s? I would have screwed around in my 20s and felt entitled to that money,&#8221; another comment reads.
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<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

ASTR

SCHD

SPCE

Dad With 'Mini Portfolio' And $1M Investment Plan Wants Son 'Living Off Of Dividend Income Comfortably' – Reddit Debates Best Stocks To Buy

The European Union (EU) is reportedly set to impose minor penalties on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), the parent company of Facebook, under its Digital Markets Act (DMA).
What Happened: To avoid escalating tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, the EU has reportedly decided to limit fines on Apple and Meta. Apple is expected to face a fine and be ordered to modify its App Store rules after the investigation examined whether these rules restrict app developers from guiding consumers to external offers. Regulators will close another investigation into Apple&#8217;s web browser choice screen design without imposing any sanctions, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c3933e2f-787e-453b-82eb-a981ddd48a31">reported</a> the Financial Times.
Similarly, Meta may face fines and be required to change its &#8220;pay or consent&#8221; model, which forces users to choose between accepting data tracking or paying for an ad-free experience.
As per the DMA, companies can&nbsp;be penalized&nbsp;up to 10%&nbsp;of their global turnover, potentially resulting in billions of dollars in fines for both companies. However, the European Commission plans to impose lower fines than the maximum allowed, as the DMA is new and decisions may face legal challenges.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44533305/elon-musk-says-were-going-to-go-after-people-behind-tesla-vandalism-the-presidents-made-it-clear">Elon Musk Says &#8216;We&#8217;re Going To Go After&#8217; People Behind Tesla Vandalism: &#8216;The President&#8217;s Made It Clear&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The EU is enforcing the DMA to curb tech giants&#8217; dominance while avoiding direct conflict with Washington. The new commission, which assumed office in December, is more concerned with Big Tech companies&#8217; compliance with the law than imposing high fines.
The EU&#8217;s decision to impose fines on Apple and Meta also comes amid a potential return of Trump to the White House. In January, Brussels revisited <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42967007/eu-reconsiders-apple-meta-and-google-investigations-ahead-of-trumps-potential-white-house-return-its-going-to-be-a-whole-new-ballgame">its scrutiny</a> of major tech firms like Apple and Meta, as U.S. companies were likely to urge Trump to address what they see as overzealous EU enforcement. 
Meanwhile, Trump has always expressed disapproval of the E.U.&#8217;s &#8216;troubling&#8217; and &#8216;taxing&#8217; the U.S. tech companies. The Trump administration called it &#8216;Overseas Extortion&#8217;&nbsp;or &#8216;Unfair Fines and Penalties.&#8217;
A source told FT, &#8220;Further targeting US tech firms will heighten transatlantic tensions and provoke retaliatory actions and, ultimately, it's Member States and European businesses that will bear the cost."
Apple stock rose 1.05% to close at $223.85 on Thursday, meanwhile Meta dropped 1.37% to close at $602.58.
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

EU To Issue Minimal Fines To Apple And Meta To Avoid Retaliation From Trump Administration: Report

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) SuperFluid cooling tech could be useful for Nvidia Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) Blackwell Ultra GB300 chips, which were launched during its GTC conference.
What Happened: Team Blue&#8217;s SuperFluid, launched in 2023, is positioned to capture a significant share of the burgeoning cooling market for Nvidia&#8217;s upcoming AI servers.
According to Beth Kindig, a tech analyst at I/O Fund, Intel&#8217;s SuperFluid liquid cooling technology has reportedly undergone verification testing demonstrating its ability to manage thermal dissipation of up to 1,500 watts.
This performance benchmark suggests that SuperFluid could be a viable cooling solution for Nvidia&#8217;s GB300 AI processor, which is anticipated to consume up to 1,400 watts of power.
<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">Intel's <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24INTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$INTC</a> SuperFluid cooling tech is said to have been verified to address thermal challenges of up to 1,500W in AI chips, making the tech possibly suitable for Nvidia's <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a> GB300, which consumes up to 1,400W. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AMD&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AMD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DELL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DELL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SMCI&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SMCI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VRT&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VRT</a>
&mdash; Beth Kindig (@Beth_Kindig) <a href="https://twitter.com/Beth_Kindig/status/1905344543198675163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
At its GTC conference on March 18th, Nvidia unveiled its next-generation AI GPUs, outlining a timeline for their release: the Blackwell Ultra GB300, scheduled for the second half of this year; the Vera Rubin, expected in the latter half of next year; and the Rubin Ultra, targeted for the second half of 2027.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44511612/gamestop-follows-mstrs-footsteps-why-will-investors-buy-convertible-notes-with-no-interest">GameStop Follows MSTR&#8217;s Footsteps: Why Will Investors Buy Convertible Notes With No Interest?</a>
Why It Matters: Apart from its SuperFluid cooling tech, Intel is also reportedly undertaking a strategic overhaul of its chip design and expanding its foundry services, aiming to attract Nvidia and Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) as clients.
UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44469986/intel-targets-major-foundry-clients-in-new-strategy-to-revitalize-chip-design-says-ubs">predicts Intel&#8217;s</a> new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, will focus on design and foundry, with Intel potentially securing Nvidia as a foundry client for gaming chips, despite power concerns. 
Arcuri also reports Intel is advancing its 18A process and aiming to challenge Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) with packaging innovations.
Intel&#8217;s partnership with United Microelectronics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMC#NYSE">UMC</a>), targeting late 2026 production, could position them as a second high-voltage FinFET supplier after TSMC, potentially attracting Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
Price Action: INTC rose 0.85% on Thursday, and it was down 0.38% in premarket on Friday. The stock has risen 16.82% on a year-to-date basis, whereas it is 46.52% lower over the year.
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was down 0.21% at $480.62 in premarket trade.
Benzinga's Edge Rankings indicate a poor price trend in the short and medium term. While the stock's value ranking is strong, ranking in the 71.24th percentile, it had weak growth and momentum rankings, the details for which are<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/INTC"> available here.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/INTC"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="799" height="136" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061554/INTC-Edge.png" alt="" class="wp-image-846571" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061554/INTC-Edge.png 799w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061554/INTC-Edge-300x51.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061554/INTC-Edge-768x131.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px" /></a></figure>
Its consensus price target was $26.12, with a ‘sell' rating, based on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/INTC/analyst-ratings">32 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a>. The price targets ranged from a low of $20 to a high of $40. The latest ratings from BofA Securities, Cantor Fitzgerald, and JP Morgan averaged $25.67, implying a 9.13% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/INTC/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="386" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061531/INTC-ANR-1024x386.png" alt="" class="wp-image-846570" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061531/INTC-ANR-1024x386.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061531/INTC-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061531/INTC-ANR-768x290.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/28061531/INTC-ANR.png 1060w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Market Summary

Analyst Ratings

AVGO

Intel's SuperFluid Cooling Tech 'Possibly Suitable For Nvidia's GB300' Chips, Says Expert Amid INTC's Efforts To Secure Commitments For Foundry Services

Investing can feel like walking a tightrope for some, especially if they are not enjoying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44402198/aggressive-trader-with-nearly-1m-in-play-bets-big-on-market-drop-what-if-we-dont-get-there-reddit-debates-his-high-risk-strategy">high-risk</a> bets. For many investors, the dream is to grow their money steadily and reliably so they won&#8217;t be kept at night worrying about market crashes.
That&#8217;s why so many risk-averse investors turn to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43897884/dividend-investor-making-5-000-per-month-with-632-000-reveals-portfolio-it-takes-time-but-its-doable">dividend</a> assets, be it stocks or ETFs. Dividend-focused holdings offer a tangible return while still providing possible growth in the long run. Still, even within this safer zone of investing, choices can be daunting.
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That is exactly what a Reddit user is faced with. The investor has done his homework, comparing two popular ETFs, Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), and found that their performance is 97% correlated.
&#8220;After carefully doing a correlation function against SCHD, the results were 97% correlation (same market directions) for the last 5 years. Buying SCHD will double my quarterly income by almost 2x more than VOO. But then again, 3+ years has a higher percentage gain for VOO over SCHD. I know the underlying assets are different between these ETFs and the fee is lower in favor of VOO. What would you do?&#8221; he wrote.
He aims to generate $1,000 per month in dividend income and he's also cautious about locking the funds away in tax-deferred accounts, preferring to have control over his investments. The investor is also holding Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QYLD#NASDAQ">QYLD</a>)​ but says it doesn&#8217;t have great growth, so he&#8217;s wondering which of the two ETFs he should go with.
Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?
The Reddit community has shared insights and advice in the comments, so let&#8217;s analyze them.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VOO Vs. SCHD: Where to Invest $50,000?</h2>
Why Not Both?
Many Redditors argued that since both ETFs are highly correlated but serve slightly different purposes, splitting the investment between the two makes sense.
&#8220;Split the total investment between both and just enjoy the gains and that you aren&#8217;t putting everything into just one ETF,&#8221; a Reddit user suggested.
A commenter pointed out that investing in both ETFs will secure the poster&#8217;s portfolio because, if one ETF goes down, he has the other as backup.
&#8220;If one sector of the market does poorly, you can rely on the other for growth. If done right, both would still pay in dividends, you&#8217;ll just have good growth overall. Plus, if for whatever reason you need to liquidate the asset in the poor-performing market sector, you&#8217;ll have the backup,&#8221; he said.
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
SCHD All The Way
Most commenters in the thread pushed for SCHD as the better choice, especially since the investor mentioned he's focused on generating dividend income.
&#8220;Just go with SCHD. There are YouTube videos out there that cover the long-term results of all these different funds and even compare them. SCHD blows the others away,&#8221; a user wrote.
&#8220;SCHD over VOO any day,&#8221; another suggestion reads.
A Redditor recommended the poster go with VOO if he&#8217;s looking at the total returns, but if he&#8217;s focused on dividends, he should choose SCHD.
&#8220;If the goal is total return, I&#8217;d go with VOO; if the goal is dividend income, I&#8217;d go with SCHD,&#8221; he said.
See Also: Dogecoin millionaires are increasing –<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dogecoin-millionaires"> investors with $1M+ in DOGE revealed!</a>
Consider Alternative Holdings
While most comments revolved around SCHD and VOO, several Redditors mentioned alternative assets, both high-yield plays and growth-oriented holdings.
&#8220;Have you considered [AG Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: MITT] or QYLD? Both these stocks have double-digit dividends,&#8221; a commenter asked.
&#8220;I'd do like 30/40 in VOO or SCHD and the rest in [Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vgt#NYSE">VGT</a>)] or [Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vug#NYSE">VUG</a>)],&#8221; a piece of advice reads.
A Redditor suggested selling covered calls rather than investing in VOO and SCHD.
&#8220;I am all in [Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)] and I have no problems with it. I sell MSFT calls monthly. You&#8217;d probably get better yield going all in on [SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>)] and writing calls there rather than splitting between VOO and SCHD,&#8221; he said.
Sharing his favorite assets to buy, this commenter highlighted the dividend income he receives from his holdings.
&#8220;I have $50,000 in QYLD. The monthly dividend is over $500 every single month. The bulk and rest of my s&#8211;t is in [​Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>)]. Then, I'm buying [Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/o#NYSE">O</a>)], [Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)], VUG, [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)], [iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mtum#NYSE">MTUM</a>)], [Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlf#NYSE">XLF</a>)], [Kinder Morgan (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kmi#NYSE">KMI</a>)] (since it dropped so much, how could I not?), [Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amd#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)], and [Apple (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)],&#8221; he wrote.
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JEPI

MTUM

QYLD

Reddit In Chaos As Investor With $50K Faces Huge ETF Dilemma – 'I Prefer A Nice Dividend With Overall Steady Growth,' But Is VOO The Answer?

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>20.0K</td>
<td>89.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$325.00</td>
<td>$91.4K</td>
<td>6.6K</td>
<td>9.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$29.2K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td>8.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$135.0K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRVL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$31.5K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IREN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$9.00</td>
<td>$91.6K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$113.7K</td>
<td>9.9K</td>
<td>960</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$30.2K</td>
<td>7.4K</td>
<td>662</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$26.0K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td>493</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on March 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 273 contract(s) at a $112.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 21 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.0K, with a price of $144.0 per contract. There were 20001 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 89614 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on March 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $325.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $91.4K, with a price of $451.0 per contract. There were 6624 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9877 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $170.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.2K, with a price of $390.0 per contract. There were 3595 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8360 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 15 day(s) on April 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.5K, with a price of $95.0 per contract. There were 2317 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3671 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 21 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $36.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $135.0K, with a price of $270.0 per contract. There were 3045 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2034 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRVL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 85 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 65 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.5K, with a price of $485.0 per contract. There were 8482 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1626 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding IREN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 141 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 1500 contract(s) at a $9.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $91.6K, with a price of $61.0 per contract. There were 1899 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1550 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 50 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 391 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $113.7K, with a price of $291.0 per contract. There were 9921 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 960 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 50 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 33 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.2K, with a price of $918.0 per contract. There were 7409 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 662 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 21 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.0K, with a price of $260.0 per contract. There were 3548 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 493 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

IREN

MRVL

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

In today's rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) against its key competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>35.16</td>
<td>49.85</td>
<td>8.57</td>
<td>58.74%</td>
<td>$45.91</td>
<td>$58.27</td>
<td>3.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>16.10</td>
<td>3.52</td>
<td>1.13</td>
<td>5.29%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>54.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>7.73</td>
<td>0.84</td>
<td>0.70</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>16.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>17.18</td>
<td>19.24</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>31.69%</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>2.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>163.35</td>
<td>12.65</td>
<td>5.48</td>
<td>3.12%</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>$0.58</td>
<td>5.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>12.32</td>
<td>1.22</td>
<td>0.94</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>41.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>7.06</td>
<td>0.80</td>
<td>0.56</td>
<td>2.46%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-3.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>18.56</td>
<td>2.40</td>
<td>0.81</td>
<td>18.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>46.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AstroNova Inc</td>
<td>16.86</td>
<td>0.70</td>
<td>0.43</td>
<td>0.26%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>7.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>32.4</td>
<td>5.17</td>
<td>1.63</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>21.47%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
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 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
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 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
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 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
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 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
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 }
 </style>Through a thorough examination of Apple, we can discern the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
At 35.16, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio significantly exceeds the industry average by 1.09x, suggesting a premium valuation relative to industry peers.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 49.85 relative to the industry average by 9.64x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 8.57, which is 5.26x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 58.74% is 50.21% above the industry average, highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $45.91 Billion, which is 117.72x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $58.27 Billion, which indicates 73.76x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of 3.95% is significantly below the industry average of 21.47%. This suggests a potential struggle in generating increased sales volume.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743087654_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a measure that indicates the level of debt a company has taken on relative to the value of its assets net of liabilities.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
When comparing Apple with its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be observed:
<ul>
<li>
Among its top 4 peers, Apple is placed in the middle with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.
</li>
<li>
This implies a balanced financial structure, with a reasonable proportion of debt and equity.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers, indicating that the stock may be overvalued. On the other hand, Apple's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest strong profitability and operational efficiency relative to its industry competitors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Competitor Analysis: Evaluating Apple And Competitors In Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals Industry

No one stumbles upon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42301100/most-americans-dont-see-wealth-as-the-key-to-financial-success-heres-what-matters-more-to-59-of-them">financial success</a> by accident. Wealth is built through discipline, learning from mistakes, and sticking to an approach even when the market seems to go awry. Few investing strategies showcase this better than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44374276/reddit-explodes-over-dividend-math-how-much-would-the-annual-dividend-be-for-a-280k-investment-investors-debate-schds-future-growth">dividend</a> investing.
Dividend investing is the slow-and-steady journey of the financial world, paying consistently while also providing growth in the background, making it perfect for retirees, long-term investors, and anyone who wants passive income.
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<li>If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?</li>
</ul>
Still, this approach can also be risky for some if they pick the wrong stocks. One military veteran and Reddit user recently shared his investing journey that started with him making costly mistakes to now earning him $10,000 in dividends per year.
With 13 years of investing experience, the poster, an enlisted service member, had to learn what works through trial and error. He says he tried to be smarter than the market early on, leading to him selling big winners too soon and holding onto losers for too long.
&#8220;I bought [General Electric] in my Roth at what I thought was a great price point of $14.50 or something. Had to [dollar-cost average] over several years to bring the cost basis down and missed out on having that money in better spots in the biggest bull market year I have been a part of,&#8221; he shared.
The 36-year-old mentioned that he&#8217;s gradually shifted his strategy to dividend shares now and his $296,570 portfolio already generates over $10,000 annually in dividends. Let&#8217;s see what dividend shares and ETFs the investor holds.
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Fatal Mistakes to $10,000/Year in Dividend Income—Reddit Investor Shares Top 10 Stocks and ETFs in His Portfolio</h2>
Abbott Laboratories
Healthcare company, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>) specializes in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and nutritional products. With a 1.89% dividend yield per year, ABT is known for its diversified product portfolio and steady payments.
AbbVie
Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) focuses on the research and development of therapies for various health conditions. Investors love ABBV because it has a strong yield, generating around 3.28% in dividends per year, and a stable pipeline of drugs.
ConocoPhillips
Energy giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. COP pays investors approximately 3.05% in annual dividends.
Duke Energy Corporation
Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>) is one of the largest electric power companies in the U.S. and is known for its stable revenue and consistent dividends. DUK generates around 3.62% in annual dividend yield.
Apple
Technology giant Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has a modest dividend yield but a strong growth potential, and that&#8217;s why both growth and income-focused investors are attracted to this stock. APPL pays investors around 0.47% in dividends per year.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Mastercard
Electronic payments company Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) benefits from the ongoing shift toward cashless transactions. This, and the growth potential it offers makes MA a go-to stock for many investors. The company generates around 0.56% in annual dividends.
Verizon
Telecom Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) provides wireless and wireline services. With a dividend yield of approximately 6.25% annually, VZ has a stable cash flow, making it a favorite among individual stock investors.
Altria Group
Tobacco giant Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) is mainly known for the Marlboro brand. MO offers a high dividend yield of 7.21% per year, appealing to those seeking higher passive income.
Global X SuperDividend ETF
Tracking the performance of the Indxx SuperDividend U.S. Low Volatility Index, Global X SuperDividend ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIV#NYSE">DIV</a>) focuses on high dividend yields and is known to retain low volatility. DIV generates around 11.37% in dividend yield per year.
Invesco Preferred ETF
Invesco Preferred ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGX#NYSE">PGX</a>) invests mainly in preferred stocks, which are hybrid securities offering features of both stocks and bonds.​ Paying investors around 5.85% in annual dividends, PGX is a favorite for those who seek higher income.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a></li>
<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
</ul>

ABBV

From Rookie Mistakes To $10K/Year In Dividends – Military Veteran Who 'Made A Few Great Plays' Shares His 10 Biggest Bets

Many investors find the benefits of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44461718/high-income-earner-with-3000-monthly-to-invest-faces-big-decision-i-definitely-want-to-diversify-beyond-ai-and-dividends">dividends</a>, such as money working for you and steady payouts, incredibly appealing. In fact, for many, dividends are the closest thing to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/39914065/financial-freedom-or-bust-why-suze-orman-says-your-wallet-matters-more-than-your-flag">financial freedom</a>: they don&#8217;t need to sell assets, do not need to time the market, and get reliable income.
That&#8217;s why ETFs like Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) have become so popular. They offer investors a diversified blend of dividend-paying stocks, stable growth potential, and a tax-efficient income stream.
But is parking $1 million into SCHD only the best move? This is what a Redditor recently asked on the online discussion board, sparking a heated debate in the comments.
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<li>If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?</li>
</ul>
The investor has a portfolio already in place but is contemplating how to invest an unexpected $1 million windfall. His goal is to generate passive income to cover basic expenses like taxes and insurance without risking the principal, so he&#8217;s considering going all in SCHD.
Some in the r/Dividends community agreed wholeheartedly with the poster, while others suggested different strategies. Let&#8217;s see their insights.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">$1 Million Windfall in SCHD? Redditors Showed Mixed Feelings</h2>
SCHD Offers a Balanced Mix of Income and Growth
Many commenters agreed with the poster, saying that SCHD is a good choice and not only does it pay out dividends but it also provides capital appreciation, which makes it a great long-term hold.
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing wrong with that hypo. Great diversification, growth, and income. All while being conservative. There are alternatives that give the same if not better options, but for a basic answer, yes, it would be fine,&#8221; a Redditor said.
&#8220;In a taxable account, living off the SCHD-qualified dividends and then supplementing that with 401(k) distributions is the way to go in my opinion,&#8221; a commenter wrote.
Trending: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.
One Redditor mentioned a dividend reinvestment plan into SCHD is a good strategy, especially if the poster isn&#8217;t close to retirement.
&#8220;If you are still younger and pre-retirement, and the SCHD is in a retirement account, I say [dividend reinvestment plan] and forget it until closer to retirement,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;SCHD has a relatively high turnover rate, which means that the underlying holdings of the ETF are bought and sold more frequently than the average ETF,&#8221; a Redditor advocated.
Diversify Beyond SCHD
While most comments centered around SCHD, some Redditors suggested mixing in several other stocks or ETFs for higher income and/or better risk-adjusted returns.
&#8220;I like my [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)]/[JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NYSE">JEPQ</a>)]. Yields about $110,000 on $1 million and pays monthly,&#8221; a user said.
A commenter shared that he balances SCHD with broad-market growth, ensuring he doesn&#8217;t miss out on appreciation.
&#8220;That&#8217;s my plan. Except I do 70% SCHD, 30% [Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schb#NYSE">SCHB</a>)]. The SCHB is to participate in the S&amp;P 500 growth. In case my bet on SCHD isn&#8217;t as good as I hope, I can do a variation of stock sales that Bogleheads view as the answer to life.&#8221;
&#8220;My portfolio at age 50 will be about 75% SCHD, 25% [Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>)],&#8221; a commenter said.
See Also: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
One Redditor pointed out that the poster&#8217;s plan is his retirement plan also, but he&#8217;s balancing his portfolio with other assets as well.
&#8220;Nothing wrong with this. This is essentially my retirement plan. $2 million in [SPDR Portfolio S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/splg#NYSE">SPLG</a>)] + $2 million in SCHD + $500,000 in [Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)] = retirement,&#8221; he wrote.
Sharing a list of stocks he would invest in if he were in the poster&#8217;s situation, this Reddit investor splits them into buckets that either focus on dividends or growth.
&#8220;If you&#8217;re looking to create $38,000 from $1 million, you could also put ~$800,000 in Treasuries and $200,000 in pure-growth or dividend-growth stocks to get income and growth. Or you could do a high-low strategy that averages out to 3.8%; high for current income and low for growth. In the high bucket, you can include a combo of stocks like [Altria Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>)], [Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/et#NYSE">ET</a>)], [Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/o#NYSE">O</a>)], [Dow (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dow#NYSE">DOW</a>)], [Verizon Communications (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vz#NYSE">VZ</a>)]. In the dividend-growth bucket, you can include names like [Broadcom (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/avgo#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)], [Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)], [Apple (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)], [Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/txn#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)], and [Target (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tgt#NYSE">TGT</a>)],&#8221; he wrote.
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JEPQ

SCHB

SPLG

Investor With Surprise $1M Windfall Sparks Heated Debate: 'Why Not Park It All In SCHD For Dividend Income?' – Reddit Weighs In

The Competition Board (Board) concluded the preliminary inquiry conducted into the allegation that Apple Teknoloji ve Satış Limited Şirketi (APPLE), which is engaged in sale and distribution activities in Türkiye, including imports and exports of technologic devices such as computers, tablets, mobile phones, earphones, peripheral equipment and Apple or third-party brand accessories, violated Article 4 of the Act no 4054 on the Protection of Competition (Act no 4054) by intervening with the sale prices of resellers.
In line with the observations made during the on-site inspections conducted within the framework of the preliminary inquiry, the decision no 25-08/184-M(1) was taken in the Board meeting of 27.02.2025 to launch an investigation under Article 41 of the Act no 4054 on
<ul>
<li>APPLE,</li>
<li>Destek Bilişim Proje ve Servis Hizmetleri Sanayi Dış Ticaret Anonim Şirketi,</li>
<li>Easycep Bilişim ve Ticaret AŞ,</li>
<li>Getmobil Teknoloji AŞ, and</li>
<li>HB Bilişim Teknolojileri Sanayi Tic.&nbsp;AŞ</li>
</ul>
to determine whether 4 of the Act no 4054 was violated by means of APPLE fixing the resale prices and/or campaign conditions of Apple brand products and coordinating the buyback prices for Apple brand products offered by undertakings in the buyback market through the aforementioned undertakings.

iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund

Turkish Competition Board Concluded Preliminary Inquiry Into Apple Over Alleged Article 4 Violation For Fixing Reseller Sale Prices

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly making a change to its leadership structure by promoting Vanessa Trigub, signaling long-term succession planning for senior vice president Deirdre O'Brien.
What Happened: Apple has decided to introduce a new position — vice president of stores and retail operations — and name Trigub to the role, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-27/apple-names-dedicated-retail-stores-chief-in-latest-management-shift">a</a> report by Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Trigub, who has been with Apple since 2007 and currently oversees the retail operations in the Americas West region, will now manage global retail store operations and report directly to O'Brien.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44390868/apples-new-passwords-app-left-users-exposed-to-phishing-attacks-for-months-due-to-serious-http-flaw-researchers-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's New Passwords App Left Users Exposed To Phishing Attacks For Months Due To Serious HTTP Flaw</a>
While Apple has yet to confirm the leadership reshuffle publicly, sources familiar with the matter told the publication that Trigub is being groomed as a possible successor to O'Brien.
O'Brien has led Apple's retail and HR functions through several structural shifts since 2017.
Why It's Important: This marks the second <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44429160/apple-stock-down-over-12-this-year-now-tim-cook-is-reportedly-betting-on-vision-pros-mike-rockwell-to-fix-siri-after-losing-confidence-in-ai-boss-john-giannandrea">significant leadership shift</a> Apple has undergone in the past few weeks.
Previously, it was reported that Cupertino has finalized plans to transfer oversight of Siri from AI chief John Giannandrea to Mike Rockwell, the mastermind behind the Vision Pro.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
In January, Apple reported a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">first-quarter revenue</a> of $124.3 billion, surpassing analysts&#8217; expectations of $124.13 billion. The tech giant also reported adjusted earnings of $2.40 per share, exceeding projections of $2.36 per share.
Price Action: Apple shares ended Wednesday at $221.53, down 0.99% for the day. In pre-market trading on Thursday, the stock slipped another 0.28%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Rankings assign AAPL a 43.84% growth rating. Curious how it stacks up against other companies? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL">Click here for the full analysis</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27052815/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-2.58.10%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-844371" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

After Siri Leadership Change, Apple Makes Another Major Executive Move in Retail: Report

Foxconn Technology Group, also known as Hon Hai Precision (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HNHPF#OTC">HNHPF</a>), is poised to make significant strides in the electric vehicle market, announcing a strategic seminar in Japan on Apr. 9 to demonstrate its manufacturing capabilities and court <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43685566/apple-supplier-foxconn-considers-buying-nissan-shares-but-only-if-an-ev-deal-is-in-place">potential automotive partnerships</a>. 
What Happened: The Taiwan-based contract manufacturer, known for producing iPhones for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and AI servers for Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), is leveraging its newly hired Chief EV Strategy Officer Jun Seki, a former Nissan executive, to showcase its automotive ambitions, Reuters reported, citing sources. 
The upcoming seminar represents a critical moment in Foxconn&#8217;s five-year EV manufacturing journey.
A landmark deal with Mitsubishi Motors marks a significant breakthrough for Foxconn&#8217;s automotive strategy. The contract involves manufacturing electric vehicles for sale in Oceania markets, including Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. 
Foxconn did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44507834/short-seller-jim-chanos-flags-huge-red-flag-in-nvidias-reseller-buyout-attempt">Nvidia&#8217;s Reported Lepton AI Buyout A &#8216;Huge Red Flag,&#8217; Says Short Seller Jim Chanos, Warns Of Inventory Risk</a>
Why It Matters: This partnership comes at a crucial time when Japan&#8217;s automotive industry is facing increasing competition from agile Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>).
The company&#8217;s EV joint venture, Foxtron, established with Taiwan&#8217;s Yulon, currently counts Luxgen as its primary client. Meanwhile, Foxconn is exploring broader strategic opportunities, including potential share acquisitions in established automotive companies like Nissan, contingent upon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43685566/apple-supplier-foxconn-considers-buying-nissan-shares-but-only-if-an-ev-deal-is-in-place">securing robust EV manufacturing partnerships</a>.
Price Action: Hon Hai Precision is trading at 160.50 TWD ($4.85), down 3.31% on Thursday on the Taiwan Exchange as of 1.30 pm local time. 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44507360/alibaba-chairman-questions-future-of-humanoid-robots-after-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-predicts-factory-adoption-within-5-years-dont-need-machines-to-replace-humans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Chairman Questions Future Of Humanoid Robots After Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Predicts Factory Adoption Within 5 Years: ‘Don't Need Machines To Replace Humans'</a></li>
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asia

Short Sellers

BYDDY

HNHPF

Nvidia And Apple Supplier Foxconn To Present EV Plans At Japan Seminar Following Mitsubishi Deal: Report

More than three decades ago, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) co-founder Steve Jobs sounded the alarm about America&#8217;s growing reliance on foreign-made technology components—an issue that's back in the spotlight as President Donald Trump renews his criticism of U.S. dependence on overseas manufacturing.
What Happened: In a 1991 interview, Jobs stated his concerns about the American tech industry losing control over critical hardware components, even as final assembly remained in the U.S.
&nbsp;"Even though most of the computers are assembled here in the United States, a significantly large number of the dollars&#8230; flows overseas," he said.
Jobs pointed to three of the most expensive parts in computers at the time—displays, dynamic memory (DRAM), and hard disk drives—all of which were predominantly manufactured outside the U.S.&nbsp;
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"Almost all of those dollars flow to Japan," he said, particularly referencing display panels and memory chips. "It's essential that we don't continue to be hollowed out as an industry," Jobs added.
At the time, the Apple co-founder also dismissed the idea that Wall Street was to blame for the lack of domestic investment in manufacturing infrastructure. "Raising the capital is not the problem, and Wall Street is not the problem," he said.&nbsp;
"The problem is that in many cases, the management of our companies is not from an engineering or manufacturing background anymore and may not appreciate the dependence we have on these underlying technologies."
Jobs underscored the danger of U.S. tech companies outsourcing critical technologies and simply acting as "final packagers" of products. "Ultimately, the providers of those components don't need the final packager. They can go directly to the consumer."
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Steve Jobs expressing concern in 1991 that most of the components for PCs are manufactured overseas." width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XbHchPCSEUo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Trump has repeatedly vowed to restore American manufacturing and reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains, especially for semiconductors and critical tech.
Last month, Trump reportedly delivered a strong warning to pharmaceutical companies, urging them to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43906811/trump-reportedly-warns-big-pharma-move-manufacturing-to-us-or-face-tariffs">relocate their manufacturing</a> operations to the U.S. or risk being hit with tariffs.
On Wednesday, Trump announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44506345/trump-imposes-25-tariffs-on-auto-imports-says-this-will-continue-to-spur-growth-canada-eu-slam-the-move">25% tariff on auto imports</a> to boost domestic production. While the administration argues that U.S. automakers can adapt, companies relying on global supply chains may face higher costs and reduced sales.
China's Huawei Technologies has now <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44488569/chinas-huawei-reportedly-doubles-ai-chip-yields-to-40-now-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-warns-that-the-chinese-tech-giant-is-the-most-formidable-competitor-despite-us-sanctions">doubled AI chip yields</a> following U.S. sanctions, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) expansion in America has made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44486436/tsmcs-165-billion-bet-on-us-chip-manufacturing-raises-alarms-in-taiwan-amid-china-threat-experts-warn-taipei-must-plan-beyond-its-silicon-shield">Taipei concerned</a>.
Trump has previously criticized Taiwan for allegedly harming U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Reports also suggest Trump is considering scrapping the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which provides subsidies to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43727973/taiwan-semiconductor-eyes-us-expansion-amid-taiwans-push-for-bigger-investments-and-advanced-chip-production">boost domestic chip production</a> and benefits companies like TSMC.
Apple has also doubled its U.S. advanced <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43910982/apple-commits-500-billion-in-us-investment-for-ai-push-boost-us-manufacturing-tech">manufacturing fund</a> from $5 billion to $10 billion to boost technology production in the country. The company is working with partners to build a new manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, to produce servers that will power Apple Intelligence.
The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded for the <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44081294/tariffs-weigh-on-us-manufacturing-february-prices-grow-at-fastest-pace-since-2022">second consecutive month</a> in February 2025 but at a slower pace, with the Manufacturing PMI falling to 50.3% from 50.9% in January, missing market expectations.
Demand weakened as new orders and employment contracted, while production growth slowed sharply. Newly <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43439462/us-manufacturing-confidence-tops-forecasts">imposed tariffs drove</a> costs higher, pushing prices up at the fastest rate since June 2022, highlighting concerns over rising inflationary pressures in the industry.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Steve Jobs Warned 34 Years Ago About America Being 'Hollowed Out' By Foreign Manufacturing — A Concern Trump Now Echoes

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$46.8K</td>
<td>55.5K</td>
<td>88.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$27.3K</td>
<td>25.7K</td>
<td>64.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
<td>$32.5K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td>22.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$79.0K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$37.50</td>
<td>$31.0K</td>
<td>278</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$302.1K</td>
<td>281</td>
<td>649</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IREN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/25/25</td>
<td>$5.50</td>
<td>$30.2K</td>
<td>892</td>
<td>600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$36.4K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>520</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on March 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 156 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.8K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 55555 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 88124 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 2 day(s) on March 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $225.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.3K, with a price of $91.0 per contract. There were 25752 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 64791 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 28, 2025. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $112.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 42 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.5K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 4617 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22216 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 28, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.0K, with a price of $395.0 per contract. There were 4994 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3190 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 296 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 23 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $1345.0 per contract. There were 4650 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3134 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 28, 2025. Parties traded 301 contract(s) at a $37.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.0K, with a price of $103.0 per contract. There were 278 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1393 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 22 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 18 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $1550.0 per contract. There were 7323 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1232 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WK#NYSE">WK</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 268 day(s) on December 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 530 contract(s) at a $105.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 307 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $302.1K, with a price of $570.0 per contract. There were 281 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 649 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IREN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 30 day(s) on April 25, 2025. This event was a transfer of 199 contract(s) at a $5.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.2K, with a price of $152.0 per contract. There were 892 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 600 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ARM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 22 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 23 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.4K, with a price of $1585.0 per contract. There were 3943 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 520 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>) shares came under pressure in 2022 due to cost concerns after the company rebranded from Facebook and laid out a new vision for the future focused on the metaverse. The stock has regained momentum over the past couple of years, surging to new highs as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai">company leaned into AI.</a>
Although Meta&#8217;s metaverse ambitions are not currently in focus for the Street, Meta continues to develop virtual reality and augmented reality technologies needed to bring the metaverse idea to consumers. Meta reported operating losses for Reality Labs of approximately $5 billion last quarter. The company continues to attract VR employees with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31755746/amazons-pre-layoff-payroll-peek-a-boo-the-massive-salaries-of-engineers-data-scientists-managers-and">outrageous salaries</a>. 
What To Know:&nbsp;According to a Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/07/meta-developer-salary-metaverse-investment/">report</a>&nbsp;citing people familiar with the matter,&nbsp;Meta is paying programmers capable of creating&nbsp;virtual reality-related tech&nbsp;abnormally high&nbsp;amounts&nbsp;ranging from&nbsp;$600,000 to&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;$1 million annually.&nbsp;
Meta is paying &#8220;significantly more&#8221; than most other&nbsp;gaming companies, according to&nbsp;Patrick McAdams, CEO of&nbsp;Andiamo, a data-driven tech recruiting&nbsp;firm.
&#8220;It's not an exaggeration to say that their total compensation is double or more than double of what you'll get at a large gaming company,&#8221; McAdams said.
Meta spent approximately $10 billion on its metaverse build out in 2021, another <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/02/30763778/meta-attempts-to-expand-its-metaverses-user-coverage-to-attract-and-retain-users-versus-rivals">$15.9 billion </a>for its Reality Labs division in 2022, another $16 billion in 2023 and approximately $17.7 billion last year. 
Why It Matters:&nbsp;It appears a significant portion of its metaverse and VR&nbsp;spending is going toward offering eye-popping pay packages to programmers. The report indicates that Meta is willing to pay &#8220;unusually high salaries&#8221; in order to get the best developers to work for the company instead of for competitors.&nbsp;
A former recruiter for the&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg-led company told the Washington Post that&nbsp;there usually wasn&#8217;t much competition on the offers they made because they would &#8220;pay way above market rate&#8221; for several roles.&nbsp;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31802817/mark-zuckerberg-faces-backlash-over-plans-to-let-children-access-metaverse">Mark Zuckerberg Faces Backlash Over Plans To Let Children Access Metaverse</a>
Of all the VR developers that were offered jobs at Meta&nbsp;in recent years, the average compensation&nbsp;was nearly $540,000. For comparison,&nbsp;Apple Inc&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)&nbsp;highest pay packages for VR developers were a little below $500,000 and&nbsp;Alphabet Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) reportedly paid its top-tier developers approximately $440,000.&nbsp;
One executive from a smaller gaming company&nbsp;said he was unable to hire a senior developer last year because Meta had offered the candidate $800,000 per year with a performance bonus that could see&nbsp;total compensation rise to about $1 million.&nbsp;
&#8220;This candidate was a senior [developer who didn't have] super unique experience [or] skills.&nbsp;Facebook was doing pretty wild stuff a year ago,&#8221;&nbsp;the executive reportedly said.
META Price Action: Meta shares are up approximately 6.65% since the start of 2025, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Photo: Shutterstock / Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated.

Meta Is Paying 'Way Above Market Rate' For Reality Labs Developers As Metaverse Losses Mount

Amidst the fast-paced and highly competitive business environment of today, conducting comprehensive company analysis is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will delve into an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By analyzing critical financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>35.52</td>
<td>50.35</td>
<td>8.65</td>
<td>58.74%</td>
<td>$45.91</td>
<td>$58.27</td>
<td>3.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>17.67</td>
<td>3.87</td>
<td>1.24</td>
<td>5.29%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>54.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>7.94</td>
<td>0.86</td>
<td>0.72</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>16.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>17.48</td>
<td>19.58</td>
<td>3.06</td>
<td>31.69%</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>2.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>170.87</td>
<td>13.23</td>
<td>5.73</td>
<td>3.12%</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>$0.58</td>
<td>5.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>12.54</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>0.95</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>41.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>7.14</td>
<td>0.81</td>
<td>0.57</td>
<td>2.46%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-3.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>18.82</td>
<td>2.43</td>
<td>0.82</td>
<td>18.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>46.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AstroNova Inc</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>0.75</td>
<td>0.45</td>
<td>0.26%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>7.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>33.81</td>
<td>5.35</td>
<td>1.69</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>21.47%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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 font-size: 14px;
 }

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 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

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 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

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 background-color: #e1e4ea;
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 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
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 }
 </style>When closely examining Apple, the following trends emerge: 
<ul>
<li>
At 35.52, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio significantly exceeds the industry average by 1.05x, suggesting a premium valuation relative to industry peers.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 50.35 relative to the industry average by 9.41x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 8.65, which is 5.12x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 58.74%, which is 50.21% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $45.91 Billion, which is 117.72x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
With higher gross profit of $58.27 Billion, which indicates 73.76x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is witnessing a substantial decline in revenue growth, with a rate of 3.95% compared to the industry average of 21.47%, which indicates a challenging sales environment.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743001248_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is an important measure to assess the financial structure and risk profile of a company.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
When comparing Apple with its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be observed:
<ul>
<li>
Compared to its top 4 peers, Apple has a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, indicating a balanced financial structure.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company maintains a reasonable level of debt while also leveraging equity financing.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers, indicating that the stock may be overvalued. On the other hand, Apple's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest strong profitability and operational efficiency relative to its industry competitors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:56 PMMar 06, 2025	PUT	$230.00	Apr 17, 2025	18	3119	1000	17	17824	SWEEP	BEARISH
01:02 PMMar 06, 2025	PUT	$210.00	Aug 15, 2025	138	1737	1691	7	23182	SWEEP	BEARISH
02:45 PMMar 04, 2025	CALL	$245.00	Jun 20, 2025	82	3571	1600	21	17200	TRADE	BEARISH
09:59 AMMar 04, 2025	CALL	$280.00	Jan 15, 2027	656	53	299	1	5827	SWEEP	BULLISH
02:25 PMMar 03, 2025	CALL	$50.00	Sep 19, 2025	173	52	52	5	1122	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
01:19 PMFeb 28, 2025	PUT	$250.00	Feb 28, 2025	-30	5192	500	48	10886	TRADE	BEARISH
02:41 PMFeb 27, 2025	PUT	$245.00	May 16, 2025	47	3116	980	24	12765	TRADE	BULLISH
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