El interés en corto de Bank of America da a los inversores una idea del grado en que los inversores apuestan por la caída de las acciones de Bank of America. Los datos de interés en corto se actualizan cada dos semanas.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Bolsa, Informe de interés en corto

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.

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Los insiders de Dell, Alphabet, NVIDIA y Bank of America realizan ventas significativas. ¿Qué implicaciones tiene para las acciones?

Nvidia, Alphabet y otras 2 acciones que los insiders están vendiendo

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Bank of America sube su salario mínimo a 24$ por hora, acercándose a un objetivo de 25$ para 2025. Acciones de BAC al alza.

¿Qué está pasando con las acciones del Bank of America (BAC) el martes?

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El Nasdaq 100 cerró ligeramente al alza durante la sesión del jueves. Mientras tanto, los inversores se centraron en algunas operaciones importantes realizadas por directivos de las empresas.

Microsoft, Bank of America y otras 2 acciones que los directivos están vendiendo

Bank of America Corp

BERENSON ACQUISITION CORP I CL A

Berenson Acquisition Corp I Warrants (01/08/2026)

BANK OF CHINA LTD ORD by Bank of China, Ltd.

Bank Of China Ltd

BANK OF CHINA UNSP/ADR by Bank of China, Ltd.

IMAC Holdings Inc

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I - Class A Ordinary Shares

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp I

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I - Right

BANK OF AMERICA 7.00B PFD by Bank of America Corp.

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series GG

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Sh repstg 1/1000th Perp Pfd Ser E

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.875% Non- Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series HH

Bank of America Corporation Non Cumulative Perpetual Conv Pfd Ser L

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series KK

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.000% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series LL

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series NN

Bank of America Corporation Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series PP

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.250% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series QQ

Bank of America Corporation Depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.750% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series SS

The global fund managers increased their allocation to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42527883/top-3-financial-stocks-which-could-rescue-your-portfolio-for-december">financial stocks</a>, which include both banks and insurance companies, to an all-time high in December.
What Happened: According to the Bank of America&#8217;s Global Fund Manager Survey, as reported <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/investors-allocation-to-us-stocks-hits-record-high-amid-super-bullish-sentiment-bofa-survey-164349535.html">by</a> Yahoo Finance, investors&#8217; allocation to banks increased by 23% points in December compared to the previous month. This resulted in global fund managers being 41% overweight on banking stocks in December, which is the highest since January 2022.
Similarly, the allocation to insurance companies surged by 15% points month-on-month. This represented an overweight position of 20% within the sectors by the global fund managers. It is the highest since February 2014.
Furthermore, the investor positioning relative to their historical long-term positions increased within the financial universe, followed by the U.S. stocks and utilities, according to the BofA survey.
The investors were underweight with respect to their exposure to cash, Eurozone stocks, staples, and bonds.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42531373/financial-stocks-near-record-year-could-trump-deregulation-fuel-bigger-gains-in-2025">Financial Stocks Near Record Year: Could Trump Deregulation Fuel Bigger Gains In 2025?</a>
What Are The Analysts Saying
Mario Georgiou, executive director, head of investments at InCred Global Wealth U.K., in an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42158682/donald-trumps-win-positive-for-financials-energy-sector-as-pro-growth-effects-will-outweigh-inflationary-pressures-says-analyst">exclusive conversation with Benzinga</a>, described tax cuts and deregulation as tailwinds to the markets. He considers inflationary policies such as tariffs and immigration impacts as headwinds, leading to a steepening yield curve, and higher term premiums.
"Financials offer an attractive risk-reward and that this recent post-election rally has room to run," added Georgiou. According to him "Financials are not only well positioned to capture the benefits of the above-mentioned Trump tailwinds, but are also less impacted / would even benefit from the Trump headwinds."
Bank of America's global economics team recently summarized the sentiment, stating, "Pro-growth policies like deregulation of financial services and energy, as well as lower taxes, are boosting market sentiment and asset prices."
According to Goldman Sachs analyst Richard Ramsden, large-cap banks remain optimistic about the economy. &#8220;Healthy consumer spending trends and strong corporate balance sheets have supported a constructive outlook,&#8221; Ramsden said in a recent note.
The top-performing financial stocks of 2024 include Robinhood Markets, Interactive Brokers Group, Coinbase Global, KKR &amp; Co, and Wells Fargo.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>)</td>
<td>236.54%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>)</td>
<td>111.59%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>)</td>
<td>98.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KKR &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>)</td>
<td>85.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>)</td>
<td>43.54%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</td>
<td>42.75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>41.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>38.52%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</td>
<td>36.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>)</td>
<td>34.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>32.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>29.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>)</td>
<td>26.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AJG#NYSE">AJG</a>)</td>
<td>25.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HSBC Holdings Plc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSBC#NYSE">HSBC</a>)</td>
<td>21.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRU#NYSE">PRU</a>)</td>
<td>13.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American International Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>)</td>
<td>3.46%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Note: Data as of market close on Dec. 17, 2024</figcaption></figure>
The iShares U.S. Financial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYF#NYSE">IYF</a>) has risen 31.35% year-to-date.
Similarly, other financial-focused ETFs have seen strong gains. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) surged 30.3%, while the Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFH#NYSE">VFH</a>) climbed 30.89%.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42546991/dows-rare-nine-day-decline-falls-behind-267-single-day-crashes-since-1900">Dow&#8217;s Rare Nine-Day Decline Falls Behind 267 Single-Day Crashes Since 1900: Is Tech Shift To Blame?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Market Summary

ETFs

COIN

FITB

HSBC

IBKR

iShares Dow Jones US Financial Sector Index Fund

Fund Managers Increase Allocation To Banking And Insurance Stocks In December: Here Are The Best Performing Financial Stocks In 2024

Guidance

Bank Of America CEO Moynihan Says Real Rate Structures Have To Come Down A Little Bit To Have More Normalcy In The System; We Don't Expect Medium Term Rates Structure To Move Down A Lot

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42273932/tech-stocks-rise-apple-tops-record-highs-dollar-surges-bitcoin-falls-to-95000-whats-driving-markets-monday">Stock market prices </a>are rising as 2024 ends and some people are worried about a possible downturn. But UBS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBS#NYSE">UBS</a>) analysts say there's no need to stress. They think prices will keep going up in 2025 because of economic changes and how businesses operate.
In their report, &#8220;22x and Beyond: The Case for Higher Valuations or How to Worry Less and Love the Market,&#8221; UBS analysts argue that today's elevated stock prices are both sustainable and logical in the current economic environment. They point to several key factors underpinning this trend.
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<li>It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a></li>
<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Last Chance to get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
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One reason is that, instead of accounting for just 10% of the S&amp;P 500 index&#8217;s total value thirty years ago, tech businesses now account for 40%. These companies grow faster and make bigger profits than others and, as the report says, &#8220;The result – not surprisingly – is an upward shift in valuations for the market broadly.&#8221;
Another critical factor is the robust cash flow generated by large corporations, which need less money to run their operations. This allows them to give more back to their investors, which raises their stock prices.
Additionally, borrowing costs are still affordable even if Treasury yields are rising. According to UBS, tight credit spreads maintain a low cost of capital, which strengthens the stability of high stock prices.
Finally, UBS says the economy is stable and stock prices tend to rise when that happens. They don't expect a recession soon, so they believe prices will continue to grow in 2025.
See Also: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.</a>
Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42276232/bank-of-america-eyes-sp-500-at-6666-in-2025-we-are-expecting-another-good-year-for-equities">analysts agree with this bullish outlook</a> and predict the S&amp;P 500 will reach 6,666 by the end of 2025, a 10% increase from now. They credit this to strong earnings, better productivity and shifts in which sectors perform well.
They think industries like finance, energy and consumer goods will lead the way and they see value in large-cap stocks that can handle inflation and higher interest rates. BoA also expects economic growth driven by improved productivity and believes Federal Reserve rate cuts will help the market.
While some <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/11/42246831/morgan-stanley-sounds-alarm-for-markets-in-2025-sp-500-is-extremely-expensive">investors like Morgan Stanley</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) are cautious about the elevated price-to-earnings ratios and sound alarms about U.S. equity markets heading into 2025, UBS analysts urge them to focus on the fundamentals driving the market forward, saying, &#8220;The current premium is less about the potential of AI. Rather, it is a response to superior fundamentals, namely rapid sales growth and sustainably high EBIT margins.&#8221;
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<li>If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?</li>
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'Worry Less And Love The Market' – UBS Analysts Predict A Bullish 2025, Saying Prices Are Justified

Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) are reportedly planning to contribute to President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s inaugural committees. 
What Happened: Both the U.S.&#8217;s second-largest lender and the investment bank are yet to decide on the amount they intend to contribute, Reuters reported on Friday, citing spokespeople for both banks. 
Bank of America contributed $1 million to Trump&#8217;s 2017 inauguration. JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. then donated $500,000. The latter did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>&#8216;s request for comment on whether it intends to contribute this year. 
BofA also contributed a million dollars to President Joe Biden&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/04/20727582/corporate-america-helped-pour-61m-into-biden-inaugural-committee-here-are-the-companies-that-donated">inaugural fund in 2021</a>.
Why It Matters: An inaugural committee is appointed by the President-elect to be in charge of the presidential inaugural ceremony and activities connected with the ceremony.
It needs to disclose the donations it received to the Federal Election Commission no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the 90th day following the date of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/17/01/8899048/does-the-stock-market-respond-to-presidential-inaugurations">presidential inaugural ceremony. </a>
The inaugural committee will plan and finance events excluding the swearing-in ceremony such as opening ceremonies and parades. 
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Photo courtesy: Flickr

Politics

BofA, Goldman Sachs To Contribute To Trump's Inaugural Committees: 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. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials 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>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$68.0K</td>
<td>780</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$32.8K</td>
<td>156</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$55.3K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>546</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TIGR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$27.5K</td>
<td>8.2K</td>
<td>507</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>422</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$27.8K</td>
<td>35.0K</td>
<td>328</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$46.9K</td>
<td>445</td>
<td>311</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>8.2K</td>
<td>104</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$106.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 4000 contract(s) at a $73.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.0K, with a price of $17.0 per contract. There were 780 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4320 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 90 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.8K, with a price of $365.0 per contract. There were 156 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1222 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 98 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $55.3K, with a price of $2765.0 per contract. There were 2724 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 546 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TIGR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TIGR#NASDAQ">TIGR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 125 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $10.00 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 $27.5K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 8254 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 507 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 399 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 47 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $727.0 per contract. There were 3301 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 422 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 399 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 125 contract(s) at a $40.00 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 $27.8K, with a price of $223.0 per contract. There were 35086 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 328 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 280 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 53 contract(s) at a $215.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.9K, with a price of $885.0 per contract. There were 445 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 311 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 98 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.0K, with a price of $441.0 per contract. There were 8254 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 104 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $106.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $1251.0 per contract. There were 8 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

TIGR

UPST

9 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Tyrone Ross Jr. sat down with Benzinga's Chief Content Officer Brad Olesen in a multipart interview series to discuss how his financial planning firm, 401 Financial, is educating clients about cryptocurrency and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and avoiding some of the pitfalls of the traditional financial advisory industry. He also made it clear where he stands when it comes to advising clients on how they<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-build-a-stock-portfolio"> should build a portfolio.</a>
"What we really try to do is one, stop them from over-trading," Ross says with regards to how he advises clients in constructing how their assets are managed.
He invoked an anecdote in which there was one client he came across who had performed over 14,000 transactions. The "beauty" of 401's model, he said, i that it gives advice, and ultimately clients can make their own decisions. 401 doesn't benefit if you trade more or less &#8211; it's just advice that comes monthly compared to some advisors who could meet with clients as little as once or twice.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42469414/xrp-poised-for-brief-correction-but-heres-why-it-could-go-to-4">XRP Poised For &#8216;Brief Correction,&#8217; But Here&#8217;s Why It Could Go To $4</a>
401 Financial's name is borne from a former track coach who advised running 401 yards through the line — not just the 400. The origin story began following Tyrone's years at Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)-owned Merrill Lynch where he witnessed incredible success stories. The failings, specifically in accounting for crypto-related exposure, served to light the fire.
"I did realize there, though, when I was shown Bitcoin for the first time, I couldn&#8217;t unsee it." Despite those shortcomings, what left an indelible mark on Tyrone during his time at Merrill through 2016 was the "value" of financial planning. "That team did financial planning like I&#8217;ve never seen it to this day," Ross says.
But it's not all crypto, all the time for this financial advisor — despite the fact that he calls himself the "biggest crypto hippie you'll ever meet." While he considers traditional assets and stocks "dinosaur" bones, he adds, "if&nbsp;you want it (stocks), we give you exposure."
Among the assets he usually advises clients to pursue are some larger, broad market ETFs like the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and a bit of emerging markets depending on age and where they are in their lives.
He says the beauty of his advice-only model is that "we&#8217;re not trying to acquire your assets" or "sell you anything" so 401 can get you into the "lowest cost ever." Ultimately, clients often know what they're going to get with Ross given his open stance on cryptocurrency and specifically Bitcoin, he says. 
Tyrone and his team want to educate as much as anything else, whether it's around dollar cost averaging or learning how to gain direct access to Bitcoin instead of buying into Bitcoin ETFs, trusts and derivatives like iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>), ProShares Bitcoin ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITO#NYSE">BITO</a>), Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBTC#BATS">FBTC</a>) or similar funds. "I don&#8217;t like the (crypto) ETFs, because, again, I think it&#8217;s a way to siphon fees on top of buying crypto." 401 has a message for those looking to start their financial journey: "We want to work with folks that have never worked with an advisor before. We don't have any minimums … and if you can't afford it, we'll take you on anyway until you can afford it. "
As Bitcoin<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42461870/michael-saylor-lauds-bitcoins-100000-milestone-it-will-be-embraced-by-the-worlds-wealthy-and-powerful"> crosses the $100,000 mark,</a> and the crypto industry&#8217;s market value nears $4 trillion, it&#8217;s only more likely that those in the market for advisory services will require someone who speaks blockchain in its native tongue.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42457605/exclusive-experts-share-their-top-crypto-predictions-for-2025">EXCLUSIVE: Experts Share Their Top Crypto Predictions For 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of 401 Financial.

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Financial Advisors

Exclusives

Personal Finance

Interview

BITO

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

FBTC

IBIT

Financial Advisor Calls Stocks 'Dinosaur Bones' — But Likes Some ETFs

Morgan Stanley analyst Betsey Graseck is Overweight on big banks following Donald Trump's win and the Republican<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42382786/morgan-stanley-narrows-down-winning-and-losing-bets-in-the-first-100-days-of-trump-administration"> sweep of the 2024 election. </a>
Expert Ideas: On Monday, Graseck listed three main factors for Morgan Stanley's positive outlook on large-cap banks heading into 2025. She sees capital markets rebounding, the end of quantitative tightening and a stabilizing regulatory environment as beneficial to the industry.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42440681/markets-have-the-green-light-to-rally-after-novembers-yawner-inflation-report-experts-say">&#8216;Markets Have The Green Light To Rally&#8217; After November&#8217;s &#8216;Yawner&#8217; Inflation Report, Experts Say</a>
"We're really looking for stabilization in large cap bank regulation, and that's a positive, because elimination of a negative is a good thing," Graseck told CNBC's Squawk Box on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Upgrades: Morgan Stanley upgraded all of the trust banks within its coverage and pointed to the end of quantitative tightening as the driver behind the upgrades. The firm sees deposit growth of between 3% and 7% which would benefit the trust banks as they skew to large institutional asset manager clients.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Graseck upgraded Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised the price target from $82 to $94.</li>
<li>The firm upgraded Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>) from Underweight to Equal-Weight and raised its price target from $103 to $127.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley also upgraded State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised the price target from $102 to $139.</li>
</ul>
Downgrades: The analyst sees a more balanced risk-reward for Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) in the coming financial and political environment in which the firm prefers money centers with a higher skew to capital markets. 
<ul>
<li>Morgan Stanley downgraded Bank of America from Overweight to Equal-Weight, but raised its price target from $48 to $55.</li>
<li>Graseck also downgraded Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $28 to $32.</li>
</ul>
Graseck said the firm is reducing its exposure to credit risk amid the possibility of a recession in 2025. Accordingly, Morgan Stanley downgraded Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight due to its outsized exposure to Commercial and Industrial (C&amp;I) lending.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42460609/european-central-bank-lowers-interest-rates-fourth-cut-in-2024">European Central Bank Lowers Interest Rates, Fourth Cut In 2024</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Upgrades

Downgrades

Analyst Ratings

NTRS

Big Banks Will Get Bigger Under Trump In 2025: Analyst

Editor&#8217;s Note: The story has been updated with additional bank executives in paragraph 5
The New York Police Department has issued a warning about escalating threats to healthcare executives, according to a report on Wednesday. This follows the murder of UnitedHealth Group Inc&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) insurance unit UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The NYPD&#8217;s bulletin highlights the circulation of online posts listing the names and salaries of several health insurance executives, raising security concerns.
What Happened: The NYPD&#8217;s bulletin, as <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/executive-hit-lists-wanted-posters-nypd-warns-threats/story?id=116662519">reported</a> by&nbsp;ABC News, reveals that &#8220;Wanted&#8221;&nbsp;signs featuring corporate executives have&nbsp;appeared across Manhattan. Social media users have been celebrating Thompson&#8217;s death, and the suspect, Luigi Mangione, is being viewed by some as a &#8220;martyr&#8221; who could inspire extremist actions.
The bulletin warns that Mangione&#8217;s actions could incite violence from extremist groups. Companies are urged to enhance security measures for their executives. Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania on&nbsp;Monday and faces charges in&nbsp;New York, including second-degree murder.
Additionally, some online users have&nbsp;reacted positively to the killing,&nbsp;encouraged further&nbsp;targeting of similar executives, and&nbsp;spread conspiracy theories about the incident. Viral posts have emphasized a &#8220;hitlist&#8221; of health insurance CEOs, suggesting they should be fearful.
Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-11/cops-investigate-wanted-posters-of-executives-around-nyc">noted</a> that the posters in New York featured the images of insurance executives including the image of the Thompson, and several financial executives from American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and JP Morgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>). Thompson&#8217;s posters were marked with a red X.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42404540/whats-going-on-with-dogecoin-rival-shiba-inu-shib-2?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Dogecoin Rival Shiba Inu (SHIB)?</a>
Why It Matters: The murder of&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;CEO Thompson last week, outside the New York Hilton Midtown, has sent shockwaves through the healthcare industry. The targeted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">attack occurred</a> during an investor day event, raising questions about the safety of corporate executives.&nbsp;
Details about the suspect, Mangione, reveal a complex background, including chronic pain and a fascination with the Unabomber. This has added layers to the investigation.&nbsp;Mangione was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42418763/unitedhealthcare-ceo-murder-suspect-chronic-pain-unabomber-fascination-isolation-details-emerge">arrested</a> in Pennsylvania&nbsp;with a ghost gun and silencer, matching the suspect&#8217;s description.&nbsp;
The incident has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42365853/unitedhealthcare-faces-tough-questions-following-insurance-business-ceos-tragic-death">intensified scrutiny</a> on&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;and the broader insurance industry. Bullet casings found at the crime scene bore inscriptions like &#8220;deny&#8221; and &#8220;delay,&#8221; terms often associated with insurance claim practices. 
Price Action: On Wednesday UnitedHealth Group shares ended the day 5.6% lower at $533.53 and fell another 0.1% in the after-hours trading, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42405504/dogecoin-can-touch-18-if-things-go-wild-says-influential-crypto-trader-thankful-for-the-dip-and-will-buy-more?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin Can Touch $18 If Things &#8216;Go Wild,&#8217; Says Influential Crypto Trader: &#8216;Thankful For The Dip And Will Buy More&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Health Care

Media

NYPD Warns About 'Wanted' Posters Targeting Finance Executives, And Crossed-Out UnitedHealthcare CEO (UPDATED)

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) shares are trading lower by 0.43% to $45.64 in December but are higher by 34% on a year-to-date basis. The company has received a number of analyst rating updates in recent sessions and was named an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/n42299539/bank-of-america-builds-on-partnership-with-fifa-to-become-official-partner-of-fifa-club-world-cup-">official partner</a> for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 last week.
Bank of America on Tuesday also announced corporate clients are set to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/n42412842/bofas-cashpro-app-will-surpass-a-record-1-trillion-in-payment-approvals-for-the-year">surpass $1 trillion</a> in payment approvals on the CashPro App by the end of 2024, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. 
The app's rising adoption reflects its enhanced security, convenience and the value it provides in managing treasury operations, according to Tom Durkin, Global Head of CashPro at Bank of America. The company says the app has 550,000 users across 40,000 companies.
What's Happening: Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck downgraded Bank of America from Overweight to Equal-Weight and raised its price target from $48 to $55.
Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods last week raised the price target for Bank of America from $50 to $57, maintaining an Outperform rating. Piper Sandler also last week raised their price target from $44 to $50, keeping a Neutral rating.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/24/12/42420522/bank-of-america-unusual-options-activity">Bank of America Unusual Options Activity</a>
Last week, Bank of America was announced as an Official Partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, featuring 32 top football clubs. Matches will run from June 15 to July 13, 2025, across 11 U.S. cities, starting in Miami and ending in New York/New Jersey.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the partnership, emphasizing its alignment with FIFA's mission and potential benefits for host communities. Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan highlighted the value of associating with major sporting events to boost client relationships and global economic impact.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42440806/adobe-q4-earnings-preview-analyst-says-investors-may-be-missing-healthy-subscriber-growth">Adobe Q4 Earnings Preview: Analyst Says Investors May Be Missing Healthy Subscriber Growth</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy BAC Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.
For example, in Bank of America's case, it is in the Financials sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, BAC has a 52-week high of $48.08 and a 52-week low of $30.45.

What's Going On With Bank Of America (BAC) Shares

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</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 BAC usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 16 extraordinary options activities for Bank of America. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 43% leaning bullish and 50% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $321,865, and 10 are calls, amounting to $415,148.
<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 $23.0 to $49.0 for Bank of America during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Bank of America's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Bank of America's whale activity within a strike price range from $23.0 to $49.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Bank of America Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733853645_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/13/24</td>
<td>$0.29</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$46.50</td>
<td>$80.5K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>13.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$2.28</td>
<td>$2.24</td>
<td>$2.28</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$68.3K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>905</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$0.29</td>
<td>$0.26</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$67.5K</td>
<td>17.6K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$13.15</td>
<td>$13.05</td>
<td>$13.15</td>
<td>$33.00</td>
<td>$59.1K</td>
<td>925</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$2.26</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>$2.26</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$56.5K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>255</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
<h3>Bank of America's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 14,077,143, the price of BAC is down -0.22% at $45.81. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 37 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $54.5.
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 Piper Sandler persists with their Neutral rating on Bank of America, maintaining a target price of $50. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Wells Fargo continues to hold a Overweight rating for Bank of America, targeting a price of $56. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods continues to hold a Outperform rating for Bank of America, targeting a price of $57. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Morgan Stanley lowers its rating to Equal-Weight with a new price target of $55.
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 Bank of America, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Bank of America Unusual Options Activity

In the current market session, Bank of America Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) stock price is at $46.24, after a 1.10% decrease. However, over the past month, the company's stock went up by 0.72%, and in the past year, by 50.26%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is not performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733767210_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Comparing Bank of America P/E Against Its Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Bank of America has a better P/E ratio of 16.94 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 12.98 of the Banks industry. Ideally, one might believe that Bank of America Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733767210_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

P/E Ratio Insights for Bank of America

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck downgraded the rating for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight but raised the price target from $48 to $55. Bank of America shares closed at $46.75 on Friday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Leerink Partners analyst Puneet Souda downgraded Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MYGN#NASDAQ">MYGN</a>) from Outperform to Market Perform and slashed the price target from $30 to $21. Myriad Genetics shares closed at $15.13 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MYGN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Michael Yee downgraded the rating for Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $250 to $180. Biogen shares closed at $157.78 on Friday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Vivek Arya downgraded Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $180 to $155. AMD shares closed at $138.59 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Sandeep Deshpande downgraded the rating for STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STM#NYSE">STM</a>) from Overweight to Neutral. STMicroelectronics shares closed at $26.43 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying AMD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="616" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09082137/image-64-1024x616.png" alt="" class="wp-image-683191" style="width:572px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09082137/image-64-1024x616.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09082137/image-64-300x180.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09082137/image-64-768x462.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/09082137/image-64.png 1093w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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BIIB

MYGN

This AMD Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Downgrades For Monday

Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck downgrades Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $48 to $55.

Price Target

Morgan Stanley Downgrades Bank of America to Equal-Weight, Raises Price Target to $55

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) shares are trading lower by 1.19% to $46.26 during Wednesday&#8217;s session, from their recent 52-week week high of $48.08.
What&#8217;s Happening: Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods on Tuesday raised the price target for Bank of America from $50 to $57 and maintained an Outperform rating. 
Piper Sandler on Tuesday also raised their price target for the stock from $44 to $50 and maintained a Neutral rating. 
Bank of America, on Tuesday, also was announced as an Official Partner for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, a landmark tournament featuring 32 of the world's top football clubs.
The competition, set to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025, will include matches across 11 U.S. cities, starting in Miami and culminating in New York/New Jersey.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the collaboration, highlighting the bank&#8217;s alignment with FIFA&#8217;s mission and its potential to create economic and social benefits for host communities.
Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan noted the strategic value of associating with iconic sporting events to strengthen client relationships and drive economic impact globally.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy BAC Stock</h2>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share &#8211; or fractional share &#8211; of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument. 
For example, in Bank of America&#8217;s case, it is in the Financials sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, BAC has a 52-week high of $48.08 and a 52-week low of $30.33.

Across the recent three months, 14 analysts have shared their insights on Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">12</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets assessed by analysts reveal further insights, featuring an average target of $50.36, a high estimate of $57.00, and a low estimate of $44.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 5.25% increase from the previous average price target of $47.85.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733259649_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
The standing of Bank of America among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Konrad</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whit Mayo</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Horowitz</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kotowski</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Glenn Thum</td>
<td>Phillip Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Accumulate</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Glenn Schorr</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Konrad</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$48.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kotowski</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Betsy Graseck</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$48.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gerard Cassidy</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kotowski</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
<td>$48.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Betsy Graseck</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Bank of America. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of Bank of America compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Bank of America's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Bank of America's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BAC/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Bank of America analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Bank of America Better</h2>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
<h3>Bank of America: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Bank of America's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 0.71% as of 30 September, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Bank of America's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 25.17%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Bank of America's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 2.37%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Bank of America's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.19%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Bank of America's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.23.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Analysts may enhance their evaluations by incorporating forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, delivering additional guidance to investors. It is vital to acknowledge that, although experts in stocks and sectors, analysts are human and express their opinions when providing insights.
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Analyst Expectations For Bank of America's Future

<ul>
<li>Global financial institution becomes the latest Official Partner of the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup&#x2122;</li>
<li>Expanded partnership between Bank of America and FIFA supports the pursuit of excellence and achievement in football through two iconic sporting events</li>
<li>Bank of America will engage with billions of passionate football fans around the world, in order to deepen client relationships, engage local communities, and help drive growth throughout the USA and the major markets hosting FIFA Club World Cup 2025&#x2122; and FIFA World Cup 26&#x2122; matches</li>
</ul>
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FIFA is proud to announce Bank of America as the latest Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025&#x2122;, the new tournament that will bring together 32 of the world's best clubs in the United States next year for the greatest global club competition in history.

Bank Of America To Become Official Partner Of FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods raised the price target for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) from $50 to $57. Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst David Konrad maintained an Outperform rating. Bank of America shares closed at $47.04 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BAC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut the price target for Zscaler (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZS#NASDAQ">ZS</a>) from $215 to $205. Morgan Stanley analyst Hamza Fodderwala maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Kohl&#8217;s shares closed at $208.51 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler boosted Fastly, Inc. (NNY FSLY) price target from $8 to $10. Piper Sandler analyst James Fish maintained a Neutral rating. Fastly shares settled at $9.87 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FSLY/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank raised UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) price target from $595 to $625. Deutsche Bank analyst George Hill maintained a Buy rating. UnitedHealth shares closed at $608.52 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Citigroup cut Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) price target from $87 to $85. Citigroup analyst Asiya Merchant maintained a Buy rating. Western Digital shares closed at $73.43 on Monday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WDC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Barclays boosted PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTCT#NASDAQ">PTCT</a>) price target from $45 to $56. Barclays analyst Gena Wang maintained an Equal-Weight rating on the stock. PTC Therapeutics shares closed at $52.07 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>JP Morgan increased the price target for FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) from $350 to $366. JP Morgan analyst Brian Ossenbeck maintained an Overweight rating. FedEx shares settled at $296.69 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FDX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>DA Davidson boosted Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) price target from $250 to $300. DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria maintained a Neutral rating. Salesforce shares closed at $331.01 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo increased the price target for Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBS#NYSE">WBS</a>) from $60 to $70. Wells Fargo analyst Timur Braziler maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Webster Financial shares closed at $60.94 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WBS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies raised The Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>) price target from $54 to $73. Jefferies analyst Rob Dickerson upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Kroger shares closed at $60.15 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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PTCT

Bank of America To Rally More Than 21%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Tuesday

Piper Sandler analyst Scott Siefers maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $44 to $50.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Bank of America, Raises Price Target to $50

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst David Konrad maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $50 to $57.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Bank of America, Raises Price Target to $57

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 Financials 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>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$69.6K</td>
<td>15.2K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$31.1K</td>
<td>569</td>
<td>952</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$58.5K</td>
<td>8.0K</td>
<td>841</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>52.2K</td>
<td>749</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBKR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>353</td>
<td>424</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$31.6K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>227</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TRV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$66.6K</td>
<td>440</td>
<td>129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CME</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$26.6K</td>
<td>278</td>
<td>126</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMND</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$38.00</td>
<td>$38.4K</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>121</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$29.1K</td>
<td>383</td>
<td>96</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 49 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 162 contract(s) at a $44.00 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 $69.6K, with a price of $430.0 per contract. There were 15296 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1320 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 49 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 1 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.1K, with a price of $31187.0 per contract. There were 569 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 952 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 21 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $58.5K, with a price of $585.0 per contract. There were 8043 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 841 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 49 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 102 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $335.0 per contract. There were 52204 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 749 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IBKR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 21 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.8K, with a price of $344.0 per contract. There were 353 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 424 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ABR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABR#NYSE">ABR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 112 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 226 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.6K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 3648 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 227 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TRV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 21 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 36 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $66.6K, with a price of $1850.0 per contract. There were 440 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 129 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CME (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CME#NASDAQ">CME</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 112 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 70 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.6K, with a price of $380.0 per contract. There were 278 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 126 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LMND (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMND#NYSE">LMND</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 112 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 120 contract(s) at a $38.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.4K, with a price of $320.0 per contract. There were 39 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 121 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 21 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 60 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.1K, with a price of $485.0 per contract. There were 383 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 96 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.

AFRM

LMND

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