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Amazon.com

Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

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Amazon.com Inc

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>) Google filed an <a target="_blank" href="https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/inside-google-cloud/filing-eu-complaint-against-microsoft-licensing/" rel="noreferrer noopener">antitrust complaint against</a>&nbsp;Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with the European Union&#8217;s top antitrust regulator Tuesday for allegedly abusing its influence to lock customers into Microsoft&#8217;s cloud platform Azure.
Google Cloud Vice President Amit Zavery said that Microsoft customers had to pay a 400% mark-up to keep running Windows Server on rival cloud computing operators.
For nearly twenty years, Google became a target of EU antitrust action, partly stemming from&nbsp;complaints supported&nbsp;by Microsoft, the Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/google-files-eu-antitrust-complaint-against-microsoft-cfcd99bb?mod=tech_lead_story" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/25092147/newplot-21.png" alt="" class="wp-image-565512" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/25092147/newplot-21.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/25092147/newplot-21-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Google has long trailed Microsoft and&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services in the cloud business.
Google&#8217;s complaint comes after Microsoft&#8217;s settlement of a complaint from a trade group representing European cloud services providers.
Google argues that Windows Server customers are unfairly penalized if they want to use competing cloud services.
Google has also made similar arguments to those of the U.K.&#8217;s competition regulator.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40986921/microsofts-ai-lead-shrinks-analyst-downgrades-stock-as-amazon-and-google-close-the-" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earlier this week</a>, DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria&nbsp;noted Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud are gaining traction in cloud and code generation businesses at the cost of Microsoft Azure.
Big Tech companies have been drawing global regulatory scrutiny for their alleged anticompetitive practices, which have boosted their toplines and bottomlines. The companies allegedly created &#8220;walled gardens&#8221; under their products and services, preventing users from resorting to rival services.
Google drew flak for paying companies like Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40190328/google-antitrust-challenge-puts-billions-in-search-revenue-at-stake-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener"> keep its search engine</a> as the default for its devices. Apple also drew scrutiny for preventing users from using <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40943746/after-lightning-port-eu-targets-apples-iphone-and-ipad-systems-demands-greater-access-for-third-part" rel="noreferrer noopener">rival operating systems</a> for its devices.
Reports claimed Amazon&#8217;s alleged antitrust practices of preferential treatment to its products on its platforms could lead to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34917805/ftc-and-states-take-on-amazon-in-antitrust-battle-1" rel="noreferrer noopener">company&#8217;s breakup</a>. Google also faced similar concerns. However, Wedbush&#8217;s Dan Ives&nbsp;snubbed worries over the breakup of Big Techs for alleged <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40366001/big-tech-breakup-highly-unlikely-despite-googles-doj-antitrust-setback-says-wedbush" rel="noreferrer noopener">violation of antitrust norms</a>.
Price Actions: MSFT stock is up 0.55% at $431.54 at the last check on Wednesday.
Photo via Shutterstock

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Google Challenges Microsoft's Cloud Dominance, Files Antitrust Complaint in Europe: Report

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>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$71.0K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>56.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$37.8K</td>
<td>32.6K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$169.6K</td>
<td>9.3K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOEV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.00</td>
<td>$209.1K</td>
<td>250</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$219.0K</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CPRI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>38.5K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$40.8K</td>
<td>10.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DUOL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$342.5K</td>
<td>307</td>
<td>853</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$43.5K</td>
<td>33.8K</td>
<td>440</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on September 27, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $255.00 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 $71.0K, with a price of $355.0 per contract. There were 4407 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 56513 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.8K, with a price of $378.0 per contract. There were 32617 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3098 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 361 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $169.6K, with a price of $470.0 per contract. There were 9334 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3038 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GOEV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOEV#NASDAQ">GOEV</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1884 contract(s) at a $2.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $209.1K, with a price of $111.0 per contract. There were 250 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1884 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DKNG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 86 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 120 contract(s) at a $25.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $219.0K, with a price of $1825.0 per contract. There were 16 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1612 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CPRI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPRI#NYSE">CPRI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 114 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $50.00 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 $30.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 38561 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1257 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 86 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.8K, with a price of $1020.0 per contract. There were 10718 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1155 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 9 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 37 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.5K, with a price of $72.0 per contract. There were 1085 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1050 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DUOL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 221 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $342.5K, with a price of $1550.0 per contract. There were 307 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 853 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 204 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 250 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.5K, with a price of $174.0 per contract. There were 33862 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 440 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.

Options

BABA

CPRI

CVNA

DKNG

DUOL

GOEV

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in AMZN usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 137 extraordinary options activities for Amazon.com. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 51% leaning bullish and 27% bearish. Among these notable options, 36 are puts, totaling $2,321,116, and 101 are calls, amounting to $5,987,553.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $65.0 to $230.0 for Amazon.com during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Amazon.com's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Amazon.com's significant trades, within a strike price range of $65.0 to $230.0, over the past month.
<h3>Amazon.com Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727285443_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$0.65</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$280.2K</td>
<td>21.8K</td>
<td>24.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$99.6</td>
<td>$97.55</td>
<td>$99.6</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$79.6K</td>
<td>949</td>
<td>412</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$100.45</td>
<td>$98.5</td>
<td>$99.55</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$79.6K</td>
<td>949</td>
<td>364</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$99.55</td>
<td>$98.5</td>
<td>$99.55</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$79.6K</td>
<td>949</td>
<td>348</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$99.5</td>
<td>$97.75</td>
<td>$99.5</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$79.6K</td>
<td>949</td>
<td>476</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Amazon.com</h3>
Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
In light of the recent options history for Amazon.com, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Amazon.com</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 12,205,398, the AMZN's price is down by -0.68%, now at $192.64. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 29 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Amazon.com</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $239.0.
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;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JMP Securities persists with their Market Outperform rating on Amazon.com, maintaining a target price of $265. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $230. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $230. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Amazon.com with a target price of $240. 
&#x2A; An analyst from BMO Capital has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Amazon.com, which currently sits at a price target of $230. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Amazon.com, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Markets

Amazon.com Unusual Options Activity

The Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates could positively impact stocks, consumers, and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/09/40928301/interest-rates-in-free-fall-what-it-means-for-mortgages-credit-cards-and-your-wallet-a"> several key sectors.</a>
Benzinga readers were recently asked to pick which Magnificent Seven stocks could benefit the most from the interest rate cut.
What Happened: The Federal Reserve's decision to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40926026/federal-reserve-delivers-bold-0-5-rate-cut-signals-further-easing-ahead"> cut interest rates</a> could benefit small-cap stocks the most, with loans cheaper for companies that need capital to continue growing.
Interest rate cuts could also benefit consumers as mortgage rates decline, auto loans get cheaper and credit card fees get lowered as a trickle-down impact from the Federal Reserve's decision.
Along with small cap stocks, the overall stock market could benefit including the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven stocks </a>that are among the most valuable and most-followed stocks in the U.S.
"Which Magnificent 7 stock will perform the best during the rate-cutting cycle," Benzinga recently asked readers.
Here are the results:
<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): 24%</li>
<li>NVIDA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): 21%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): 19%</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): 13%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): 8%</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): 8%</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>): 8%</li>
</ul>
Tesla won the poll as the stock that will perform the best during the rate-cutting cycle with nearly a quarter of the vote. The stock could be popular given auto loans could come down in price and consumers having less concerns about higher prices all around could mean new auto purchases become more of a possibility.
Investors may also have picked Tesla in the poll as it is the Magnificent Seven stock with the worst year-to-date and one-year performance.
Here are the current performances of the Magnificent Seven stocks:
<ul>
<li>Tesla: Year-to-Date +2.5%, 1-Year +3.1%</li>
<li>Nvidia: Year-to-Date +157.6%, 1-Year +193.9%</li>
<li>Amazon: Year-to-Date +28.6%, 1-Year +46.9%</li>
<li>Apple: Year-to-Date +21.4%, 1-Year +28.0%</li>
<li>Microsoft: Year-to-Date +16.5%, 1-Year +36.0%</li>
<li>Meta: Year-to-Date +64.7%, 1-Year +89.6%</li>
<li>Alphabet: Year-to-Date +17.6%, 1-Year +23.9%</li>
</ul>
The Magnificent 7 stocks have mostly outperformed 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 Index. The SPY is up 20.8% year-to-date and has climbed 32.1% over the last year, beating three Magnificent 7 stocks year-to-date and three stocks over the previous year.
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent092524">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
What's Next: With less than three months left in 2024, investment appetite for Magnificent Seven stocks could change, with investors looking for small-cap winners or stocks that could perform well after the 2024 election.
Benzinga readers recently voted Nvidia as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40602271/ready-to-retire-on-a-single-magnificent-7-stock-poll-reveals-top-pick-and-its-not-apple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their top Magnificent 7 stock </a>to retire on, with 33% of the vote. Apple and Microsoft ranked second and third, with 21% and 17%, respectively.
In August, Benzinga readers said the Magnificent Seven stock they were most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/exclusives/24/08/40403222/exclusive-which-magnificent-7-stock-would-investors-put-1-000-in-today-44-of-benzinga-readers-pick-t">likely to invest $1,000</a> in was Nvidia at 44% of the vote, followed by Apple (13%) and Amazon (11%).
The different polls show varying interest in the Magnificent Seven stocks depending on the investment angle. Tesla did not rank in the top three of recent polls until investors were asked about the investment angle of rate cuts.
For investors looking to get exposure to all the Magnificent Seven stocks, there is also the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#NASDAQ">MAGS</a>), which holds the seven companies. The ETF is up 45% year-to-date and up over 57% in the past year.
The study was conducted by Benzinga Sept. 19 through Sept. 20, 2024, and 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 210 adults.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/09/41025936/musk-zuckerberg-cook-cuban-or-thiel-whos-the-most-influential-tech-leader-in-2024-election-benzi">Musk, Zuckerberg, Cook, Cuban Or Thiel: Who&#8217;s The Most Influential Tech Leader In 2024 Election? Benzinga Readers Respond, And It&#8217;s Not Even Close</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: gguy/Shutterstock.com

Education

MAGS

After Fed Rate Cuts, Is Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, Or Amazon The Best Investment? Poll Reveals Top Magnificent 7 Stock

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-25_08h49_58.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Key To The AI Trade</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-market-micron-earnings-china-rate-cut-mu-mc-09252024">click here</a> for a chart of Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock.&nbsp; The chart of MU stock is being used to illustrate the point.</li>
<li>Micron is one of the three largest semiconductor memory makers in the world.</li>
<li>The demand for high bandwidth memory for AI applications is rapidly increasing.</li>
<li>The chart shows Micron's last two earnings and the market reaction.</li>
<li>The chart shows that MU stock peaked with a bearish engulfing candle. A bearish engulfing candle is a negative pattern.</li>
<li>The chart shows when the Arora signal was given to take partial profits.</li>
<li>As full disclosure, MU is long from $21.77 in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy portfolio that surrounds the Core Model Portfolio.</li>
<li>The chart shows a very substantial drop in the stock.&nbsp; There are two reasons for the drop:
<ul>
<li>From a fundamental perspective, the demand for memory in smartphones has been soft.</li>
<li>At its peak, MU had become a crowded trade, and Wall Street positioning had become extremely positive. These are the two factors that often lead to big drops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Going into earnings, here are the key points:
<ul>
<li>Whisper numbers are below the consensus numbers.&nbsp; This is an oddity among AI stocks.&nbsp; Among AI stocks, whisper numbers have consistently been higher than consensus numbers.</li>
<li>Wall Street positioning is negative.</li>
<li>The chart shows that MU stock has bounced off of the support zone.</li>
<li>Historically, when the foregoing factors are combined, the stock goes up after earnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Micron earnings and the stock reaction will be an important key to the AI trade.</li>
<li>Some of Micron's business is a commodity business and therefore does not have the same moat as Nvidia (NVDA).&nbsp; Nonetheless, investors should be cognizant that many AI stocks have become crowded trades and Wall Street positioning is extremely positive.&nbsp; This is the fifth stage of a change.&nbsp; Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/ppp-long-trade-ppp">click here</a> to see the five stages of a long trade.&nbsp; &nbsp; Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/five-stages-of-a-short-trade-ppp">click here</a> for five stages of a short trade.</li>
<li>As an actionable item, investors should pay attention to the protection band as well as posts calling for hedging AI stocks.</li>
<li>We have seen sharing with you the stimulus measures the Chinese government has been taking and the resulting rally that is taking place in the Chinese stock market.&nbsp; The latest is that China has now cut the one year policy rate by the largest amount ever, from 2.3% to 2%.</li>
<li>The Arora Report has followed China continuously for the last 17 years.  The two ETFs of interest are Mainland China ETF Xtrackers Hvst CSI 300 China A Shs ETF Class A (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASHR#NYSE">ASHR</a>) and Hong Kong ETF iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>). </li>
<li>What happens in China has a major impact on all markets around the globe,including the U.S. stock market.&nbsp; The world is interconnected.&nbsp; Even investors who do not invest outside of the U.S. need to pay attention to what is happening in the rest of the world.
<ul>
<li>The Arora Report has continuously followed economic indicators in 23 countries over the last 17 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Consumer confidence came at 98.7 vs. 102.9 consensus.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, this data went against the soft landing and no landing scenarios.&nbsp; However, for the time being, the stock market celebrated lower consumer confidence on the hope that falling consumer confidence would lead the Fed to another 50 bps cut in interest rates.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
Footer:The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

$BTC

ASHR

Micron Earnings Ahead - Key To AI Trade; Biggest One Year Rate Cut In China

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>) Google has rehired artificial intelligence pioneer Noam Shazeer.
Shazeer, known for his work on the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), left Google in October 2021 to launch the chatbot startup Character.AI, which gained backing from Shazeer-founded firm a16z, TechCrunch <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/02/character-ai-ceo-noam-shazeer-returns-to-google/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGMwNP0d29iH4N4O9V9w0esYYd1Shyu99Y0yCM4TYh7lByMLeL4FQa_1F2C8zoXD4S9RrtU0Ww4tsJPuBVhps0R9xzAsXKSxuLAVRAK-aRDOpno3ORqLaYHz_YuihlbBepxLT11fdU-du5rEzcsKyIq9iKqhWGDaKQ2GqovGDbq_" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> in August.
His return is part of a broader collaboration, as Google signed a non-exclusive agreement with Character.AI to leverage its technology.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40190328/google-antitrust-challenge-puts-billions-in-search-revenue-at-stake-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Antitrust Challenge Puts Billions In Search Revenue At Stake: Analyst</a>
Shazeer and several key employees from Character.AI will take on leading roles at DeepMind. Character.AI&#8217;s general counsel, Dominic Perella, will temporarily step in as interim CEO of Character.AI.
To regain Shazeer&#8217;s talent, Google reportedly paid around $2.7 billion to license Character.AI&#8217;s technology and bring Shazeer back to lead its AI efforts. Google acquired stakes from Character investors and employees, with Shazeer receiving a substantial payout, the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/noam-shazeer-google-ai-deal-d3605697?mod=business_lead_story" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Character.AI, despite boasting over 20 million monthly active users, the startup faced challenges monetizing its services and controlling user behavior.
According to reports, Shazeer is now one of three leaders steering Google&#8217;s development of its latest AI project, Gemini.
Needham&nbsp;analyst Laura Martin expects Google&#8217;s proprietary large language models (LLMs) to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40443852/google-parent-alphabet-is-a-top-large-cap-pick-for-2024-by-this-analyst-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">drive significant upside</a> over the next 3-5 years. The analyst hailed &nbsp;Google and&nbsp;Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)&nbsp;as the most likely beneficiaries of the current arms race to build GenAI tools and capabilities.
GOOGL stock has risen 24% in the last 12 months as it integrates AI technology into its Search and other businesses.
Price Action: GOOGL stock is up 0.27% at $162.73 at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41005053/apple-iphone-to-fuel-96-of-2025-revenue-analyst-says-a-safer-bet-than-ai-heavy-amazon-alphabet-micro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple iPhone To Fuel 96% Of 2025 Revenue, Analyst Says: A Safer Bet Than AI-Heavy Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta?</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

Google Rehired Noam Shazeer With Major Payout, Assigns Leadership In AI Development: Report

Google by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) has lodged a complaint with the European Commission on Wednesday, alleging Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) of anti-competitive practices in its cloud services.
What Happened: Google claims Microsoft is leveraging its dominant Windows Server operating system to lock customers into its Azure cloud platform, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Amit Zavery, Google Cloud Vice President, stated that Microsoft imposes a 400% markup for customers running Windows Server on competing cloud services, which does not apply to Azure users.
According to Zavery, customers using rival cloud systems receive delayed and limited security updates. Google referenced a 2023 study by CISPE, indicating European businesses and public sector bodies incur up to 1 billion euros annually in Microsoft licensing penalties.
In July, Microsoft settled a 20-million-euro antitrust complaint with CISPE, avoiding an EU investigation. However, the settlement excluded Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, drawing criticism from both companies.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40974511/iphone-15-pro-models-and-iphone-13-discontinued-by-apple-heres-why?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iPhone 15 Pro Models and iPhone 13 Discontinued By Apple: Here&#8217;s Why</a>
Microsoft responded, stating it had resolved similar concerns with European cloud providers and suggested Google would not succeed in persuading the European Commission. Google argues that regulatory action is necessary to end Microsoft&#8217;s &#8220;vendor lock&#8221; and ensure a competitive cloud market.
Why It Matters: Google&#8217;s complaint is the latest in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36040134/google-reportedly-calls-for-uk-antitrust-measures-against-microsofts-cloud-computing-dominance">series of antitrust challenges</a> against Microsoft's cloud practices. In December 2023, Google urged the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate Microsoft for allegedly using licensing practices that discourage consumers from using other services, even as secondary providers to its Azure platform. This followed concerns raised by Ofcom about Microsoft and Amazon Inc. dominating the cloud computing industry.
Earlier in February, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/02/36987709/microsoft-negotiates-with-european-cloud-providers-to-avert-eu-antitrust-action">Microsoft was actively negotiating</a> with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) to address a complaint lodged with the European Union. This move aimed to preempt a potential in-depth EU investigation, which could result in fines and a mandate for Microsoft to alter its business operations. CISPE, comprising Amazon and 26 smaller cloud providers across the EU, accused Microsoft of implementing contractual terms that detrimentally impact the European cloud computing environment. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40998105/marques-brownlee-reviews-apples-iphone-16-and-launches-new-app-this-is-the-most-unfinished-ive-ever?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marques Brownlee Reviews Apple&#8217;s iPhone 16 And Launches New App: &#8216;This Is The Most Unfinished I&#8217;ve Ever Seen A New iPhone Launch&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

General

Google Files EU Complaint Against Microsoft Over Cloud Practices

Consumers remained a pillar of support for the economy despite the high interest-rate environment that has prevailed since early 2022. With the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40965372/fed-delivers-large-interest-rate-cut-in-bid-to-sustain-labor-market-stocks-gold-set-new-record-h">Federal Reserve implementing a substantial 50 basis-point</a> rate cut, the benefits of which are expected to trickle down to them, consumers are forecasted to splurge on purchases this holiday season, according to early forecasts provided by Adobe on Wednesday.
Vibrant Spending: Consumer E-commerce spending will likely reach a record $240.8 billion from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, Adobe said. This included spending online, discounting, &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later,&#8217; mobile shopping and more, it said. The forecast would mean an 8.4% year-over-year increase from the $221.8 billion spent in 2023, which saw a more modest 4.9% growth.
Electronics, apparel and furniture/home goods will account for the bulk of the spending. The firm&#8217;s analytics show spending on Black Friday &#8211; the Friday that follows the Thanksgiving Thursday, and Thanksgiving day will grow 9.9% and 8.7%, respectively. Cyber Monday online spending is expected to be up a more modest 6.1%.
Adobe expects discounts to peak at 30% this season, and drive over $2 billion in incremental online spending for retailers. The firm also said consumers will likely trade up to more expensive goods this season as opposed to the trend seen in recent months. Expensive goods will likely make up 19% of the share of the total online spending. In electronics, the share will likely be a steeper 58%.
Mobile shopping could make up 53.2% of total online spending and spending through BNPL could see another record this time. BNPL sales are expected to rise 11.4% to $18.5 billion, over 75% of this driven by mobile purchases.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-retail-stocks">Best Retail Stocks</a>
Best Time To Buy: This time around, discounts would be more spread out, with deals starting in October itself, Adobe said, adding that goods could trade up to 16% off the listed price in October. The discount could go up to 18% in November before the Cyber Week.
Hot Sellers: Among the most sought-after items are:
<ul>
<li> Bluey Ultimate Lights</li>
<li> Sounds Playhouse​</li>
<li> Slime Kits</li>
<li>Sony Group Corp.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNE#NYSE">SNE</a>) PlayStation 5</li>
<li>Madden NFL 25</li>
<li>Apple, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40971882/as-apples-iphone-16-goes-on-sale-analyst-says-demand-off-to-strong-start-keeping-cu">iPhone 16</a></li>
<li> ice cream maker Ninja Creami</li>
</ul>
Stock Implications: With most spending likely happening online, those retailers having a strong online presence could be the ones to benefit the most. Pureplay electronics retailers such as Best Buy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NASDAQ">BBY</a>), Apple and Sony, e-commerce giant Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and retailers such as Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NYSE">COST</a>) could also be preferred destination for buying consumer electronics goods. 
Madden NFL 25 is an American football video game developed by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) Orlando and published by EA Sports. It could be bought on EA&#8217;s website, Amazon, or any other video game retailer.
BNPL stocks such as Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and PayPal, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) could reap the benefit of rising interest in purchases via the BNPL route.
The Commerce Department&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40897882/retail-sales-rise-0-1-in-august-more-than-expected-boosting-odds-of-larger-fed-ra">retail sales report for August </a>released earlier this month showed an unexpected increase as weak auto &amp; auto parts sales were more than offset by strength in online sales, underlining the underlying strength. 
The SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>) ended Tuesday&#8217;s session up 0.80% at $77.13 but it has lost about 0.8% for the year even as the broader market hovers at a record high. The Fed rate cuts &#8211; the one announced and the two more anticipated before the year-end, and the seasonally strong holiday season could bring these stocks back to favor in the near term.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/40984858/dont-miss-these-3-retail-stocks-for-fall-gains">Don&#8217;t Miss These 3 Retail Stocks for Fall Gains</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Unsplash

Retail Sales

AFRM

COST

PYPL

Top 10 Stock Picks For The Holiday Boom: Adobe Forecasts Unprecedented E-Commerce Sales This Season

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Chair and Chief Satya Nadella reaffirmed the company&#8217;s commitment to Mexico during his keynote at the <a target="_blank" href="https://news.microsoft.com/es-xl/microsoft-announces-1-3-billion-usd-investment-in-cloud-and-ai-infrastructure-supporting-inclusive-growth-through-technology-and-skilling-programs-in-mexico/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft AI Tour 2024</a>.
Nadella announced a fresh investment of $1.3 billion over the next three years to drive AI infrastructure and initiatives aimed at digital marketing and AI skills. This initiative seeks to democratize access to AI skills and reach 5 million people.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41012804/salesforces-free-cash-flow-could-double-by-2029-amid-ai-push-analyst-says-while-upgrading-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce&#8217;s Free Cash Flow Could Double by 2029 Amid AI Push, Analyst Says While Upgrading Stock</a>
The investment will also work on improving connectivity and encouraging AI adoption by small and medium-sized businesses.
Recently, DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40986921/microsofts-ai-lead-shrinks-analyst-downgrades-stock-as-amazon-and-google-close-the-" rel="noreferrer noopener">downgraded the rating</a> on&nbsp;Microsoft to Neutral from Buy as it lost its premium valuation to the AI competition.
Microsoft&#8217;s lead is now diminished in both the cloud and code generation businesses versus &nbsp;Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Service, and&nbsp;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>) Google Cloud.
The AI ambitions of hyperscalers, including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), have been instrumental in driving the AI frenzy, leading to higher demand for Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) AI chips.
Microsoft&nbsp;stock is up over 35% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to Microsoft through SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>).
Price Action: MSFT stock is trading higher by 0.08% to $429.52 premarket at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41008834/ansys-taiwan-semiconductor-microsoft-team-up-to-supercharge-next-gen-chip-simulations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANSYS, Taiwan Semiconductor, Microsoft Team Up To Supercharge Next-Gen Chip Simulations</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Microsoft Invests $1.3B to Boost AI Skills and Infrastructure in Mexico

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan has raised concerns about the potential misuse of AI by airlines to charge <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/40697540/oasis-fans-furious-as-dynamic-pricing-pushes-ticket-prices-sky-high-its-just-not-fair-says-">higher prices for passengers attending funerals</a>.
What Happened: Speaking at the 2024 Fast Company Innovation Festival, Khan highlighted the risks AI poses in enabling fraud and price discrimination. She emphasized that AI tools are accelerating scams and allowing personalized pricing based on consumer data, Business Insider <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ftc-chair-lina-khan-warns-that-airlines-might-one-day-use-ai-to-find-out-youre-attending-a-funeral-and-charge-more/articleshow/113608485.cms">reported</a> on Wednesday.
Khan explained that AI is already automating traditional online scams like phishing and introducing new frauds such as voice cloning. She also warned about retailers using AI-driven surveillance technology to adjust prices for specific shoppers.
The FTC is investigating AI&#8217;s role in price discrimination, which differs from dynamic pricing which adjusts prices based on market conditions. Khan noted that AI could lead to varied prices based on personal data collected by digital companies.
She provided examples, such as people with nut allergies being charged more for granola bars or restaurants using QR codes for personalized menus. 
&#8220;Or somebody being charged more for an airplane ticket because the company knows that they just had a death in the family and need to fly across the country,&#8221; Khan said.
In July, the FTC issued a market inquiry to eight companies to provide information on &#8220;surveillance pricing products and services&#8221; that use consumer data. Khan stressed the importance of examining this practice to determine its impact on consumers.
Khan concluded by questioning whether society wants to accept such targeted pricing or implement regulations to prevent it. She also noted that dynamic pricing in areas like ride-sharing has made people more accustomed to variable pricing.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40971831/putin-ally-who-unveiled-tesla-cybertruck-with-machine-gun-last-month-now-says-elon-musk-remotely-dis?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Putin Ally Who Unveiled Tesla Cybertruck With Machine Gun Last Month Now Says Elon Musk &#8216;Remotely Disabled&#8217; The Militarized EV</a>
Why It Matters: The concerns raised by Khan about AI-driven price discrimination come amid broader scrutiny of tech companies&#8217; data practices. 
Last week, the FTC criticized major tech firms like Amazon.com Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. for their extensive data collection and monetization practices, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40946073/no-privacy-for-profits-sake-ftc-calls-out-amazon-meta-big-tech-for-exposing-users-to-host-of-harms">pose significant privacy risks to consumers</a>.
Moreover, in December CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money&#8221; host Jim Cramer criticized Khan&#8217;s policies, arguing that her <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36295790/jim-cramer-slams-ftc-chair-lina-khans-policies-for-hampering-investor-returns-one-w">stance on mergers and acquisitions</a> is negatively impacting investor returns. Cramer referred to her as a &#8220;one-woman wrecking crew&#8221; for stock portfolios, highlighting the tension between regulatory oversight and market performance.
Additionally, in July 2023, Elon Musk accused Khan of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/07/33218387/twitters-elon-musk-accuses-ftcs-lina-khan-of-bias-and-overreach-seeks-to-end-privacy-investigation">bias and overreach in the FTC&#8217;s privacy investigation</a> into Twitter (Now known as X). Musk&#8217;s allegations underscore the contentious relationship between the FTC and tech giants, as they navigate the complex landscape of data privacy and consumer protection.
In April, Apple Inc. was called out by Jon Stewart for allegedly blocking an interview with Khan on his podcast. This incident highlights the ongoing antitrust investigations into Apple&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38062028/please-dont-talk-to-her-apple-called-out-by-jon-stewart-for-blocking-ftc-chair-lina-khans-interview">business practices and market dominance</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40950674/data-scientist-who-called-2020-election-correctly-says-its-gone-from-drastic-landslide-in-trumps-dir?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data Scientist Who Called 2020 Election Correctly Says Its Gone From &#8216;Drastic Landslide In Trump&#8217;s Direction To A Drastic Landslide For Harris&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

FTC Chair Lina Khan Warns Airlines May Exploit AI For Price Discrimination, Raising Concerns Over Targeting Vulnerable Travelers

Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin upgraded Salesforce Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) from Neutral to Overweight and raised the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRM/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target from&nbsp;$268&nbsp;to&nbsp;$325</a>.
The re-rating reflects a favorable risk-reward given the potential for free cash flow per share to double to $20+ by fiscal 2029 (calendar 2028) from $9.65 in fiscal 2024 (calendar 2023), even if top-line growth remains at subdued levels of 8%-9%.
Bracelin flagged that Salesforce also has the lowest valuation multiple relative to large-cap software peers on an Enterprise Value-to-Sales, Enterprise Value-to-Free Cash Flow, and Price-to-Earnings basis.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40910569/nvidia-salesforce-announce-strategic-ai-collaboration-what-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">NVIDIA, Salesforce Announce Strategic AI Collaboration: What To Know</a>
Discussions last week with the leadership team, partners, and customers gave the analyst confidence that new pricing and packaging could broaden multi-cloud adoption.
The promise of Agentforce powered by the Atlas Reasoning Engine paired with Data Cloud could help stabilize demand and drive a recovery entering calendar 2026 (fiscal 2027).
Bracelin raised estimates using a target EV/FCF of 23x (versus 22x prior) and a 14% discount rate (16% prior).
Bracelin noted that the combination of free multi-cloud options via the new Foundations suite for existing Sales or Service cloud customers and the 52% ARPU uplift to Einstein 1 versus Unlimited could be crucial in sparking a growth recovery from calendar 2025 (fiscal 2026) to calendar 2026 (fiscal 2027).
The analyst flagged that Salesforce has historically provided new platform updates three times per year. However, the pace of AI has changed this cadence, most notably within Data Cloud, where new platform updates are released monthly.
Salesforce chief Marc Benioff and team are operating in &#8220;founder mode&#8221; with the accelerated pace of internal product execution, supported by veteran boomerangs and new management add that bring strong backgrounds from Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Service, 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>) Google, Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and more Bracelin highlighted.
Years of manual Trailblazer developer work building Flows and Apex Actions have turned into a strategic advantage, according to the analyst. He added that these can be repurposed to provide critical guard rails to power agents via the Atlas Reasoning Engine paired with Data Cloud.
Further margin leverage and buybacks could sustain low double-digit free cash flow growth per share for the next 3-5 years. CRM shares could benefit from earnings and multiple expansions, as per Bracelin.
Bracelin projects third-quarter revenue of $9.34 billion and EPS of $2.43.
Price Action: CRM stock is up 1.35% at $267.67 at the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40901921/salesforce-unveils-new-agentforce-partner-network-partners-with-google-cloud" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Unveils New Agentforce Partner Network, Partners With Google Cloud</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Upgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Salesforce's Free Cash Flow Could Double by 2029 Amid AI Push, Analyst Says While Upgrading Stock

The ongoing threat of labor<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40906726/us-port-strike-in-october-could-lead-to-major-supply-chain-disruptions-says-container-trade-expert"> strikes at U.S. ports</a>, typhoons in China and China&#8217;s upcoming seven-day National Golden Week holiday are set to disrupt the flow of containerized goods from China to the U.S., according to a container trade expert.
&#8220;Our regular surveys indicate that demand for U.S.-bound shipments from China remains strong, especially with Golden Week looming,&#8221; said Christian Roeloffs, CEO of Hamburg-based online container market platform Container xChange.
&#8220;Golden Week, starting Oct. 1, traditionally causes a temporary slowdown in logistics activities across China, with a noticeable dip lasting between seven and 10 days.&#8221;
&#8220;With these events in combination — the U.S. labor strikes, upcoming Golden Week, and port suspensions — the China-to-U.S. shipping route is set to be volatile and uncertain over the next 20 days,&#8221; Roeloffs added.
Chinese factories shut down during National Day Golden Week as its citizens celebrate the founding of the People&#8217;s Republic of China.
He noted that an anticipated strike by the International Longshoremen&#8217;s Association, which represents 85,000 dockworkers at 12 ports along the East and Gulf coasts, is prompting traders to accelerate their order schedules to avoid disruptions before the strike on Oct. 1.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40713418/retailers-plea-for-deal-us-ports-union-start-two-day-talk-in-effort-to-prevent-disruptive-strike">Retailers Plea For Deal: US Ports, Union Start Two-Day Talk In Effort To Prevent Disruptive Strike</a>
Last week, China faced its worst typhoon in 75 years, which made landfall on the east coast. According to container liner Hapag-Lloyd, the storm has caused delays of up to 60 hours at ports in Shanghai and up to 48 hours at ports in Ningbo. Another typhoon is also headed toward the region.
&#8220;This bottleneck is expected to worsen as Typhoon Pulasan approaches, potentially exacerbating the already strained situation,&#8221; Roeloffs said. &#8220;Several ports in Ningbo and Shanghai have announced the suspension of container operations.&#8221;
He added that these adverse conditions have not caused port congestion at Chinese ports due to trade volume declining in a tougher economic environment.
&#8220;At present, securing containers is not an issue, though this may change as market conditions evolve,&#8221; he said.
Price Action: A disruption of China&#8217;s exports to the U.S. will impact numerous sectors in the U.S. because they rely heavily on China for the products they need.
Retail, automotive, and semiconductor companies saw gains and losses in Tuesday&#8217;s early-afternoon trading.
Retail
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) rose 0.35% to $80.61.</li>
<li>Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) declined 0.58% to $192.76.</li>
<li>Loews Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) slipped 0.32% to $78.42.</li>
</ul>
Automotive
<ul>
<li>Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) fell 0.37% to $10.87.</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) declined 0.42% to $47.84.</li>
<li>Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) rose 0.55% to $15.53.</li>
</ul>
Semiconductors
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. NYSE: TSM)  went up 3.42% to $180.74.</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) rose 0.91% to $174.51.</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) rose 1.14% to $167.85.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/08/40497103/strikes-at-us-ports-canadas-railways-may-cause-container-freight-rate-volatility">Strikes At US Ports, Canada&#8217;s Railways May Cause Container Freight Rate Volatility</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: ambient_pix/Shutterstock.com

Asia

Global

AVGO

QCOM

STLA

China's Exports At Risk From Anticipated US Port Strikes, Typhoons, Golden Week, Warns Container Trade Expert

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 Consumer Discretionary 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>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$26.0K</td>
<td>52.8K</td>
<td>55.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GRPN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$10.50</td>
<td>$130.0K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$33.6K</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$307.4K</td>
<td>93</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$46.7K</td>
<td>43.9K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PTON</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$39.6K</td>
<td>346</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MBLY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$14.00</td>
<td>$55.0K</td>
<td>542</td>
<td>933</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$29.6K</td>
<td>4.7K</td>
<td>721</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APTV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$29.4K</td>
<td>131</td>
<td>632</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>436</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on September 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.0K, with a price of $650.0 per contract. There were 52839 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 55545 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GRPN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRPN#NASDAQ">GRPN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 17 day(s) on October 11, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2000 contract(s) at a $10.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 37 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $130.0K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 5092 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DKS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $215.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.6K, with a price of $565.0 per contract. There were 67 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1827 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 269 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $307.4K, with a price of $205.0 per contract. There were 93 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1509 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 115 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 320 contract(s) at a $5.00 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 $46.7K, with a price of $146.0 per contract. There were 43952 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1427 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PTON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTON#NASDAQ">PTON</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 205 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 1200 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.6K, with a price of $33.0 per contract. There were 346 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1222 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MBLY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NASDAQ">MBLY</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 407 contract(s) at a $14.00 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 $55.0K, with a price of $135.0 per contract. There were 542 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 933 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 87 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 43 contract(s) at a $185.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.6K, with a price of $690.0 per contract. There were 4726 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 721 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding APTV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APTV#NYSE">APTV</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 111 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.4K, with a price of $265.0 per contract. There were 131 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 632 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 87 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $255.0 per contract. There were 1213 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 436 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.

APTV

GRPN

MBLY

PTON

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/intc#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) shareholders had to bear painful losses throughout this year as the company struggled to make a breakthrough in its stumbling foundry business. However, Intel&#39;s foundry spin-off move, a deal with Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and a probable QUALCOMM Incorporated&nbsp;takeover boosted its share prices last week.&nbsp;
Does this mean the INTC stock has room to run soon, or is it just a temporary uptick? Is it time to buy the INTC stock, or is it prudent to wait for an opportune moment? Let&#39;s see &ndash;&nbsp;
<h2>Intel Stock Bounces Back</h2>
It&#39;s been a tough year for Intel, with its shares down 57%, in sharp contrast to the Semiconductor - General industry&#39;s gain of 93.3%. Intel has been dealing with costly technological advancements that have led to various cash concerns and compelled the company to suspend dividend payments and cut jobs.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/44/78754.jpg?v=1322943280" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Intel&#39;s failure to take advantage of the booming artificial intelligence&nbsp;revolution has also taken a toll on the stock. However, a trifecta of events helped the Intel stock to rebound last week, with the company&#39;s shares soaring more than 11%, its best weekly performance since November.&nbsp;
<h2>What Led to the Rise in Intel Share Prices?</h2>
As per a Wall Street Journal report, Qualcomm has approached Intel for a probable takeover, which should bode well for both companies. Intel manufactures personal computers and server chips, whereas Qualcomm makes mobile products. So, a deal should help both companies to make the most of the other&#39;s strengths and improve market share.
Moreover, Intel has a manufacturing hub that makes its chips. Thus, a potential deal will allow Qualcomm to have its manufacturing facility and not pay for outsourcing, eventually boosting margins.
Intel, meanwhile, has declared a new partnership with Amazon, where Amazon Web Service (AWS) will use Intel&#39;s custom chip designs. Amazon is partnering with Intel for chip design since NVIDIA Corporation&nbsp;has increased its pricing for the e-commerce giant.&nbsp;
The Intel-Amazon deal will help the semiconductor company to regain market share from NVIDIA, which is becoming a worldwide leader in AI.
Lastly, Intel declared it would convert its foundry business into a subsidiary. This is positive news for Intel investors since they were concerned about the company handing over chip designs to industry rivals.&nbsp;
The spin-off would help the struggling foundry business secure funding since this segment hasn&#39;t performed well recently compared to Intel&#39;s design arm. Intel&#39;s foundry business faced stiff competition from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, or TSMC, and reported operating losses in the first half of 2024.
Nevertheless, separating the foundry business would improve Intel&#39;s return on capital deployed. Intel also intends to spend heavily on its foundry business to lure U.S. chipmakers to rely more on domestic manufacturers than foreign companies like TSMC.
<h2>Does Intel&#39;s Strong Week Justify a Buy Decision Today?</h2>
Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger is banking on the tech deals and separation of the foundry business to improve the bottom line and drive share prices higher. Prominent brokers have also increased the average short-term price target of INTC by 36.1% from the stock&#39;s last closing price of $21.14. Analysts have set the highest price target at $66, an upside of 212.2%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/eb/78755.jpg?v=183965" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arm#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) has disrupted Intel&#39;s server and networking space. At the same time, Intel has lost ground over its competitor Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amd#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) which has progressed in manufacturing high-performance processing machinery.
Intel&#39;s current expensive valuation also doesn&#39;t justify its struggles. Per the price/earnings, the INTC stock presently trades at 81.3X forward earnings. However, the industry&#39;s forward earnings multiple is 47.7X.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/64/78756.jpg?v=413786596" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Hence, investors should be cautious before buying the INTC stock since it&#39;s still a risky bet. Those invested in the INTC stock should stick to it since the company has a huge upside once it becomes the American version of TSMC, and the recent deals pay off.
The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340103/3-reasons-why-intel-stock-sealed-a-strong-week-time-to-buy?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|investment_ideas-2340103">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Dividends

INTC

3 Reasons Why Intel Stock Sealed a Strong Week: Time to Buy?

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-24_08h10_11.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">AI Exuberance</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-market-ai-exuberance-copper-oil-rise-pwr-mc-09242024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of Quanta Services Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PWR#NYSE">PWR</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock.&nbsp; The chart of PWR stock is being used to illustrate the point.</li>
<li>Artificial intelligence data centers are power hungry.&nbsp; In the stock market, exuberance for stocks that help power AI data centers has reached a fever pitch.</li>
<li>The chart shows PWR stock has broken out.&nbsp; Quanta Services is a major contractor for utilities.</li>
<li>Volume on the chart shows that the volume on the breakout was higher than the recent volume, but not as high as it should have been to generate high conviction in the breakout.</li>
<li>RSI on the chart shows that PWR stock is very overbought.</li>
<li>The technical breakout is bringing in aggressive buying in PWR stock from investors who trade only on technicals.</li>
<li>The momo crowd is aggressively buying PWR stock.</li>
<li>As full disclosure, PWR stock is in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio.&nbsp; The Arora Report is long from $37.&nbsp;</li>
<li>From a valuation perspective, PWR stock is now expensive.&nbsp; It is trading at a trailing PE of 56 and a forward PE of 29.</li>
<li>Yesterday, we shared with readers about China:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">Central Bank Governor Pan Gongsheng will hold a conference tomorrow.
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>China is making a big move.
<ul>
<li>People's Bank of China (PBC) is lowering its reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points.</li>
<li>The bank has lowered its seven day repurchase rate by 20 basis points.</li>
<li>The bank may soon lower its prime rate.</li>
<li>The down payment requirement for second homes has been lowered to 15% from 25%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Chinese stocks are jumping.&nbsp; Stocks in Hong Kong jumped 4.1% and 4.2% in Shanghai.</li>
<li>Investors in the U.S. should not underestimate the impact of these moves in China. &nbsp;The moves are generating position sentiment.</li>
<li>Copper, steel, oil, and other commodities are moving up on the China moves.</li>
<li>As full disclosure, Copper stock Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>) is in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio.  The Arora Report also has a short term trade on oil ETF United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).</li>
<li>The Conference Board's consumer confidence data will be released at 10am ET and may be market moving.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.&nbsp; Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.&nbsp; The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for oil is USO.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Commodities

Power For AI Exuberance Reaches Fever Pitch – Quanta Breaks Out; Copper And Oil Rise On Chinese Move

Pinterest Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>) stock climbed in early trading Tuesday after Cathie Wood&#8216;s Ark Invest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40994536/cathie-woods-ark-invest-buys-4-5m-of-paypal-and-3-5m-of-pinterest-shares-sells-own-bitcoin-etf-a">purchased shares</a>.
The company offers strong returns on investment to advertisers, according to Oppenheimer. Third-party integrations are also driving improvements to auction density and pricing.
Openheimer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5846f34dee7bf6000154d139/jason-helfstein">analyst Jason Helfstein</a> initiated coverage of Pinterest with an Outperform rating and a price target of $45.
The Pinterest Thesis: As users come to Pinterest to search for products and inspiration, they welcome relevant ads, Helfstein said.
This can drive increased engagement and, therefore, more advertisers and higher ad pricing, 
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Pinterest's 2024 ARPU (average revenue per user) estimate stands at $6.75, significantly below that of YouTube, Facebook and TikTok, indicating that the company "has room to continue growing monetization on ad product improvements, higher engagement, better data and targeting and higher pricing," the analyst stated.
Pinterest's third-party integration via Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) in the US and Canada and via Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) in the rest of the world are in the early stages and offer "plenty of opportunity to improve auction density as data integrations drive more effective targeting," he added.
Pinterest is the fastest-growing digital ad platform outside of Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
PINS Price Action: Shares of Pinterest had risen by 0.72% to $30.68 at the time of publication on Tuesday.
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/09/40819256/x-gains-ground-as-facebook-slips-musk-closes-in-on-zuckerberg-in-social-media-face-off">X Gains Ground As Facebook Slips: Musk Closes In On Zuckerberg In Social Media Face-Off</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Social Media

Initiation

Movers

PINS

Pinterest Has Room To Monetize, Says Bullish Analyst

On Monday, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) bagged the government&#8217;s approval for an additional $7.5 billion infusion into Taiwan Semiconductor Arizona unit, the Taipei Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2024/09/24/2003824242" rel="noreferrer noopener">cited</a> the Department of Investment Review statement.
The capital injection follows a $5 billion investment for Taiwan Semiconductor Arizona approval in June.
Recently, the contract chipmaker denied reports claiming that its plans for&nbsp;new foreign investments&nbsp;were backed by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40981096/taiwan-semiconductor-denies-uae-investment-rumors-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">subsidies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40986921/microsofts-ai-lead-shrinks-analyst-downgrades-stock-as-amazon-and-google-close-the-" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s AI Lead Shrinks: Analyst Downgrades Stock As Amazon And Google Close The Gap</a>
Taiwan Semiconductor remains focused <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40981096/taiwan-semiconductor-denies-uae-investment-rumors-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">on its U.S. ambitions</a>, bagging smartphone chip deals from 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>) Google, and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) as per recent reports.
Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s first Arizona fab will likely begin mass production using 4 nm process technology in the first half of next year, while the second fab is to start using 3nm and 2nm process technology in 2028.
Taiwan Semiconductor is eyeing a third fab using the 2nm process or more, with overall investments above $65 billion in Arizona.
The chipmaker also launched a fab in Kumamoto, Japan, in February and plans a second involving a $20 billion investment.
In Europe, it broke ground on a 12-inch wafer fab in Dresden, Germany, in August.
Taiwan Semiconductor stock has risen 103% in the last 12 months as the key supplier of Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) artificial intelligence chips, which are instrumental in helping hyperscalers like Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Google, and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) accomplish their AI ambitions.
Price Action:&nbsp;TSM stock is trading higher by 1.97% to $178.20 at the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40980388/amd-chief-predicts-custom-chips-will-outperform-gpus-sees-shift-in-ai-chip-demand-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMD Chief Predicts Custom Chips Will Outperform GPUs, Sees Shift in AI Chip Demand: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Jack Hong via Shutterstock

Taiwan Semi Secures $7.5B Boost for Arizona Expansion, Aims for Advanced Chip Production: Report

Needham analyst Laura Martin reiterated a buy rating on Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$260 price target</a>.
The price target is based on a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) where Martin used a cash tax rate of 15%, a weighted average cost of capital&nbsp;(WACC) of 8.8%, and a long-term nominal GDP growth rate of 2%.
Martin projects that Apple&#8217;s up-selling of devices, including wearables, accessories, iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro, will represent about $97 billion of revenue in fiscal 2025.
Assuming 50%- 80% churn out implies that an additional 50%- 80% of $97 billion of revenue is dependent on the iPhone, which would add an incremental 12% %- 19%. In total, these numbers imply that 89%- 96% of Apple&#8217;s fiscal 2025 revenue depends on the iPhone — a single product.
Apple&#8217;s valuation should be partly based on its growth outlook, Martin says. 
The analyst also flagged investor concerns over paying a 30 times fiscal 2025 price-to-earnings multiple (P/E) for Apple. The Cupertino, California-based company&#8217;s revenue grew 2% in fiscal 2024 and shrank by 3% in fiscal 2023.
The re-rating reflects investors&#8217; need for a safer liquid stock during 2025. Four big tech companies are splurging in large language models (LLMs) and other GenAI infrastructure. They include:
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ GOOGL)</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and </li>
<li>Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).</li>
</ul>
The problem is there&#8217;s no visible revenue upside, Martin adds.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Apple 2025 Revenue Is Reliant On The iPhone</h3>
Apple is shrinking its equity base by buying shares. The iPhone maker is also driving 11% EPS growth in fiscal 2025 and 12% in fiscal 2026. Apple has committed to achieving &#8220;net cash zero&#8221; from about $50 billion of net cash on its balance sheet on June 30.
Apple reported an operating cash flow of about $91 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2024. This implies accelerating share repurchases, the analyst added.
The best way to think about Apple&#8217;s valuation and pricing power is to consider its installed base: more than 1.25 billion of the wealthiest consumers in the world using over 2.2 billion active devices (as of Dec. 31, 2023) an average of about five hours per day.
The analyst noted that Apple aims to grow LTV (lifetime value) by increasing the average revenue per user and lowering churn levels by upselling its users on additional devices and services.
Over time, Apple has added new products and services that drive stickiness and ecosystem lock-in.
Of Apple&#8217;s fiscal 2025 revenue of $420 billion, she projects that iPhone revenue will be $215 billion, or 51%. Apple says it has about 2.2 billion active devices and about 1.3 billion unique users, suggesting an average of about 1.7 iOS devices per user. 
But the iPhone is the &#8220;anchor&#8221; product and millions of consumers own only an iPhone, as per the analyst.
Martin noted that 100% of services revenue of $108 billion in fiscal 2025 (i.e., 26% of total revenue) is dependent on owning an iPhone. Together, these two buckets imply that 77% of Apple&#8217;s fiscal 2025 revenue is reliant on the iPhone.
Price Action: AAPL stock is up 0.71% at $228.08 premarket at last check Tuesday.
Now Read: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41001128/this-bp-analyst-is-no-longer-bullish-here-are-top-5-downgrades-for-tuesday">This BP Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Downgrades For Tuesday</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Unsplash

Reiteration

Apple iPhone To Fuel 96% Of 2025 Revenue, Analyst Says: A Safer Bet Than AI-Heavy Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta?

&quot;We&#39;re like an Amazon shipping center...so brands can focus on growing,&quot; Sean Arroyo, President of Nabis, told Benzinga Cannabis.
Nabis is reshaping cannabis logistics with an approach that rivals Amazon&#39;s operational scale, serving over 400 brands and ensuring thousands of daily deliveries <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis">across California and Nevada.&nbsp;</a>
The company&#39;s five large warehouses and a fleet of over 100 trucks enable seamless pick-and-pack operations, allowing cannabis brands to focus on growth rather than the complexities of distribution.&nbsp;
&quot;We are designed to remove the red tape and simplify the entire process for our clients,&quot; Sean Arroyo, President of Nabis told Benzinga Cannabis in an exclusive interview. By streamlining logistics, Nabis offers its partners the ability to reduce overhead, speed up delivery times, and navigate the regulatory maze, making it a vital player in the fragmented cannabis industry.
&quot;Cannabis logistics is the backbone of the industry, and Nabis&#39; focus is on making it simple for brands,&quot; Arroyo mentioned.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Get Benzinga&#39;s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://newsletteremail.benzinga.com/subscribe" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. You can&rsquo;t afford to miss out if you&#39;re serious about the business.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Like Amazon, But For Cannabis Brands&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
<a href="https://www.nabis.com/">Nabis</a> is often compared to Amazon for its logistics-first approach, seamlessly handling everything from pick-and-pack to same-day shipping through its expansive network.
Operating out of five massive warehouses&mdash;each designed to function like Amazon&#39;s fulfillment centers&mdash;Nabis coordinates the movement of cannabis products with precision.&nbsp;
<img alt="" class="wp-image-559786" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21172306/NABIS-warehouse-118-1024x683.jpg" style="height:683px; width:1024px" />
Courtesy of Nabis 
&quot;We&#39;re like an Amazon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39442869/2-9b-european-cannabis-market-a-strategic-blueprint-for-cross-border-transportation-logistics">shipping center</a>. You&#39;ll see rows of products being picked, packed, and shipped out daily,&quot; Arroyo explains. The scale is impressive, with over 100 trucks on the road, ensuring that cannabis products reach dispensaries in the shortest time possible.
Cannabis brands using the Nabis platform can track sales, manage inventory, and adjust shipments on the fly&mdash;giving them unparalleled control over their operations. &quot;Technology is key to scaling in this industry. Without it, you&#39;re left behind,&quot; Arroyo added.
Cannabis brands can drop off their shipments at Nabi&rsquo;s warehouses, where they are broken down into individual orders, re-boxed, and shipped to retailers with Amazon-like efficiency.&nbsp;
&quot;We handle the complexities so brands can focus on growing their business, not worrying about logistics,&quot; Arroyo says. By providing these seamless, tech-driven solutions, Nabis helps <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40743118/no-brand-no-problem-california-company-powers-top-weed-brands-behind-the-scenes-via-white-labelin">cannabis brands</a> reduce costs and focus on their core operations.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40941818/how-this-cheese-aging-tech-is-boosting-profits-for-cannabis-growers-stop-throwing-cheddar-out-the-do">How This Cheese-Aging Tech Is Boosting Profits For Cannabis Growers: Stop Throwing Cheddar Out The Door</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thin Margins</h3>
While logistics is the most visible part of the operation, managing costs is equally critical. &quot;Logistics, warehousing, gas, and personnel are major cost centers, but we aim to offer competitive pricing without compromising service quality,&quot; Arroyo noted.&nbsp;
<img alt="sean_arroyo_3_large_background_nabis_gold.jpeg" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u503488/sean_arroyo_3_large_background_nabis_gold.jpeg" style="height:729px; width:633px" />
Sean Arroyo &ndash; Nabis 
Nabis&#39; technology investments are substantial, but Arroyo sees this as necessary for long-term growth. He highlighted the company&#39;s focus on thin margins: &quot;Like Amazon, we operate with tight margins to ensure our partners get the best value. Our goal is not to charge excessive margins, but to enable brands to thrive.&quot;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cold Storage And Compliance Complexity</h3>
In addition to mastering logistics, Nabis faces <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40820581/want-organic-cannabis-operators-are-turning-to-this-tech-to-save-millions-and-get-certified">unique challenges</a> specific to cannabis products. Many require temperature-controlled environments, particularly sensitive items like edibles and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40754415/transforming-a-5-000-year-old-craft-how-weed-companies-use-data-to-make-hash-without-losing-its-a"> extracts</a>. &quot;A lot of this has to be temperature controlled,&quot; says Arroyo, pointing to the specialized infrastructure within Nabis&rsquo; warehouses designed to keep products fresh and safe during transit.
Another critical aspect of their operations is navigating the complex web of regulations that vary from state to state.
&ldquo;Cannabis logistics are highly fragmented due to differing state laws,&rdquo; Arroyo noted. Nabis ensures full compliance with local laws, managing everything from security protocols to background checks, and licensing requirements.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/33579692/cannabis-robots-meet-the-company-boosting-efficiency-and-margins-through-packaging-automation">Cannabis Robots: Meet The Company Boosting Efficiency And Margins Through Packaging Automation</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Data And AI: The Future Of Cannabis Distribution</h3>
Nabis is sitting on a wealth of data that has the potential to transform the industry. &quot;Data is a huge part of everything we do. We&#39;re currently investing in AI to provide real-time analytics to our brands and retailers,&quot; Arroyo said.&nbsp;
Nabis&#39; long-term goal is to make data accessible for brands to track their sales and plan for future demand. &quot;We believe in democratizing our data. The more our partners grow, the more we grow. It&#39;s a win-win.&quot;
<img alt="" class="wp-image-559789" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/21172454/NABIS-warehouse-42-1-1024x683.jpg" style="height:683px; width:1024px" />
Courtesy of Nabis 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Growth</h3>
California remains the most competitive market, with Nabis holding over 20% of the market share. &quot;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/california-cannabis">California is tough</a>, but we&#39;ve managed to thrive by offering best-in-class services,&quot; Arroyo said.&nbsp;
Looking ahead, Nabis is focused on East Coast markets like&nbsp;New York <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/florida-cannabis">and possibly Florida</a>, pending regulatory outcomes.&nbsp;
Nabis also strategically chooses markets based on various factors. &quot;We look at 50 different components when evaluating a new market, including regulations, purchasing power, and supplier ecosystem health. We are excited about New York&#39;s potential, but our expansion plans always depend on how the regulatory landscape evolves,&quot; he noted.&nbsp;
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40298228/think-you-can-do-it-all-20-000-reasons-why-automation-outperforms-a-broad-approach-in-cannabis">Think You Can Do It All? 20,000 Reasons Why Automation Outperforms A Broad Approach In Cannabis</a></li>
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Photo Courtesy of Nabis

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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 Consumer Discretionary 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>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$27.4K</td>
<td>7.1K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NWL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$116.2K</td>
<td>54</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$232.4K</td>
<td>9.3K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$26.8K</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td>302</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$106.3K</td>
<td>42.3K</td>
<td>998</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$50.7K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>923</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$34.2K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>778</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$42.3K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>487</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>445</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 1716 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 46 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.4K, with a price of $16.0 per contract. There were 7102 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3921 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NWL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWL#NASDAQ">NWL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2898 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 71 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $116.2K, with a price of $40.0 per contract. There were 54 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3020 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $232.4K, with a price of $2322.0 per contract. There were 9353 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2394 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 270 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 61 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 23 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.8K, with a price of $440.0 per contract. There were 5778 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1293 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.0K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 302 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1036 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $200.00 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 $106.3K, with a price of $1063.0 per contract. There were 42381 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 998 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FL#NYSE">FL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 922 contract(s) at a $32.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 39 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.7K, with a price of $55.0 per contract. There were 1296 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 923 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For F (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 179 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 311 contract(s) at a $11.00 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 $34.2K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 1552 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 778 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 94 contract(s) at a $95.00 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 $42.3K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 5434 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 487 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVS#NYSE">LVS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $80.0K, with a price of $400.0 per contract. There were 1491 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 445 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.

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