Bank of America Option Alert: Jul 18 $42 Puts at the Bid: 2500 vs 4235 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: Jul 18 $42 Puts at the Bid: 2500 @ $2.89 vs 4235 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$41.095

Bank of America Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $55 Calls at the Bid: 3532 vs 17140 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open 

Bank of America Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $55 Calls at the Bid: 3532 @ $2.28 vs 17140 OI; Earnings 4/15 Before Open Ref=$43.225

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Bolsa

BANK OF AMERICA CORP

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.2 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.

Puig

Puig cae ante la corrección del sector lujo. Descubre las razones detrás de la bajada y el impacto de las previsiones de Bank of America.

Acciones de Puig caen más del 3%: ¿Oportunidad de compra o señal de alerta?

fed ai8

Econ #s

Federal Reserve

Bank of America advierte que la Fed no debe apresurarse a recortar tasas. Descubre su análisis sobre la economía y gasto del consumidor.

CEO de Bank of America: La Fed debe ser cautelosa con los recortes de tasas

ai-generated-8477673

News

Las acciones de Bank of America caen debido a las tensiones comerciales y una posible recesión. Además, enfrenta una violación de datos.

Acciones de Bank of America (BAC) enfrentan caídas en medio de tensiones económicas y comerciales

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

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Bank of America.
Looking at options history for Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) we detected 12 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 58% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 41% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $291,902 and 8, calls, for a total amount of $369,802.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $37.0 and $45.0 for Bank of America, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. 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 trades within a strike price range from $37.0 to $45.0 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/2025/1743604316_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>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$141.3K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$84.9K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td>153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$81.0K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$0.26</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$54.0K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>10.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>10.2K</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 $3.2 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.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Bank of America, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 5,170,891, the price of BAC is down by -0.14%, reaching $41.43.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 13 days from now.</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 $51.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Bank of America, maintaining a target price of $48. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $50. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $56. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Baird has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $50. 
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://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

Bank of America Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

With U.S. markets in turmoil, the Oracle of Omaha is once again turning his gaze eastward, with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) planning a new round of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41266529/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-reportedly-raises-1-9b-through-largest-samurai-bond-sale-in-5-yea">Yen-denominated bonds</a>, which it plans to invest primarily in five Japanese trading companies, in which it already maintains a sizable position.
What Happened: Berkshire Hathaway made new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, announcing its intent to issue another round of Yen-denominated bonds, after naming Bank of America Securities (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Mizuho Americas as the lead managers of the issue.
The company&#8217;s filings neither mention the size of the issue nor the coupon rates just yet, and there is no clarity on how it plans to use the proceeds either, but there have been indications that Berkshire might use this to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44353719/warren-buffets-berkshire-hathaway-boosts-stake-in-japans-top-trading-firms">increase its holdings in Japan&#8217;s top 5 trading houses</a>. 
This includes Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui &amp; Co, Marubeni, Itochu, and Sumitomo Corp, adding to its $24 billion position in these companies.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601400/nvidia-rival-amd-completes-4-9b-acquisition-of-zt-systems-to-strengthen-ai-and-data-center-dominance">Nvidia Rival AMD Completes $4.9B Acquisition Of ZT Systems To Strengthen AI And Data Center Dominance</a>
Berkshire first tapped into Japanese debt markets in 2019, attracted by the low interest rates, followed by several rounds each year since then. Its last issuance was in October 2024, when the company sold multitranch bonds worth $1.9 billion, and now this one marks its 10th Samurai (Yen) Bond issuance overall. 
Berkshire has two Yen-denominated bonds maturing in April and August this year, so part of the proceeds might go towards refinancing them as well.
Why It Matters: The issue adds to Berkshire&#8217;s massive $130 billion debt pile, even as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43904932/warren-buffett-favors-5-treasury-bills-over-buybacks-as-berkshire-hathaways-cash-pile-surges-the-rate-of-change-thats-most-telling-says-lawrence-mcdonald">hoards cash worth $330 billion</a>, but the way it is structured makes a great deal of sense. 
To start with, the 5 trading companies that Berkshire is interested in each have remarkably high dividend yields, significantly higher than the coupon rates on the bonds it has issued. Moreover, given that the Japanese Yen is constantly declining against the US dollar, issuing Yen-denominated bonds acts as a hedge.
Warren Buffett has long been an admirer of Japanese companies and their work culture, but strictly from a valuation perspective, the Japanese stock market is <a href="https://www.hennessyfunds.com/insights/investment-idea-japan-valuations">a lot more attractive currently</a>, trading at 13.6 times earnings, compared to 25.3 times earnings in US stocks.
Berkshire has a momentum rating of 87% and a value rating of 71%, and is favorable for the short, medium, and long term. For more such insights, consider signing up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="168" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-1024x168.png" alt="" class="wp-image-852718" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-1024x168.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-300x49.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM-768x126.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02040544/Screenshot-2025-04-02-at-1.31.37-PM.png 1418w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44601019/as-uncle-sam-tightens-purse-strings-palantir-is-feeling-the-squeeze">Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE, Tightening Purse Strings Spell Trouble For Palantir: Here&#8217;s Why The AI Darling Is Facing The Heat</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bonds

Global

Warren Buffett Doubles Down On Japan: Another Yen Bond Blitz Amid Growing US Market Volatility

Evercore ISI Group analyst Glenn Schorr maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $51 to $48.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Bank of America, Lowers Price Target to $48

Bank of America's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) short percent of float has risen 12.62% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 87.76 million shares sold short, which is 1.16% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.65 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Bank of America Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743512425_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Bank of America has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Bank of America's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Bank of America's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.23%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About Bank of America?

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>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$45.7K</td>
<td>12.9K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$41.50</td>
<td>$268.1K</td>
<td>869</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/25/25</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$86.5K</td>
<td>97</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$669.6K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$119.00</td>
<td>$54.1K</td>
<td>285</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$9.20</td>
<td>$107.9K</td>
<td>346</td>
<td>576</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$332.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>160</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AIG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td>177</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PGR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$115.0K</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KKR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$59.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>46</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 109 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 129 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.7K, with a price of $355.0 per contract. There were 12921 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6536 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 bearish, expiring in 17 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1887 contract(s) at a $41.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 33 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $268.1K, with a price of $142.0 per contract. There were 869 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1998 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 25 day(s) on April 25, 2025. Parties traded 206 contract(s) at a $44.00 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 $86.5K, with a price of $420.0 per contract. There were 97 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1932 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 655 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 992 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $669.6K, with a price of $675.0 per contract. There were 3944 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1050 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 741 contract(s) at a $119.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.1K, with a price of $73.0 per contract. There were 285 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1034 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RKT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 655 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 254 contract(s) at a $9.20 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 $107.9K, with a price of $425.0 per contract. There were 346 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 576 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 bullish sentiment. It expires in 291 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $332.0K, with a price of $16601.0 per contract. There were 2839 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 160 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AIG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 172 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 24 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.0K, with a price of $1420.0 per contract. There were 177 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PGR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 4 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $115.0K, with a price of $2300.0 per contract. There were 25 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 172 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $59.2K, with a price of $1480.0 per contract. There were 1050 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 46 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

COIN

HOOD

10 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

WIIM

ALLY

ARES

BBDO

BBVA

BSBR

CNCK

CRBG

ENVA

GDOT

HBAN

HSBC

IBKR

INTR

ITUB

JFIN

LMND

LPLA

MUFG

PMAX

QFIN

ROOT

SMFG

SOFI

TIGR

Shares of banks and financial services stocks are trading lower following greater-than-expected inflation data measured through the PCE price index for February, while personal spending missed estimates. Additionally, recent tariff announcements may be weighing on equities.

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. 
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>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$305.1K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$106.8K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$342.1K</td>
<td>12.4K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AIG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$55.0K</td>
<td>55</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$29.2K</td>
<td>32.5K</td>
<td>581</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/25/25</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$40.9K</td>
<td>338</td>
<td>207</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$33.4K</td>
<td>8.5K</td>
<td>183</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XYZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$59.00</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td>47</td>
<td>116</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$174.5K</td>
<td>327</td>
<td>103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/02/25</td>
<td>$78.00</td>
<td>$40.5K</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 113 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1518 contract(s) at a $44.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $305.1K, with a price of $201.0 per contract. There were 1254 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4906 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 113 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 449 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $106.8K, with a price of $238.0 per contract. There were 2523 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2001 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 put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 85 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 1100 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $342.1K, with a price of $311.0 per contract. There were 12434 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AIG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $82.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $55.0K, with a price of $55.0 per contract. There were 55 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 295 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 21 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.2K, with a price of $146.0 per contract. There were 32501 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 581 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 call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 29 day(s) on April 25, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.9K, with a price of $410.0 per contract. There were 338 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 207 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 295 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 41 contract(s) at a $400.00 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 $33.4K, with a price of $815.0 per contract. There were 8521 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 183 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For XYZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 21 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $59.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.0K, with a price of $340.0 per contract. There were 47 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 116 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 call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 21 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 103 contract(s) at a $30.00 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 $174.5K, with a price of $1695.0 per contract. There were 327 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 103 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 36 day(s) on May 2, 2025. Parties traded 471 contract(s) at a $78.00 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 $40.5K, with a price of $86.0 per contract. There were 36 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17 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.

PYPL

UPST

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Xtrackers ETFs offer exposure to some of the hottest themes in the market including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44465542/ai-investments-set-to-power-chip-revenue-boom-adoption-rises-among-large-companies-goldman-sachs">artificial intelligence (AI)</a>.
What Happened: Xtrackers by DWS is a global provider of passive investing solutions. The company offers numerous building blocks for traditional investment strategies as well as innovative products on thematic investments and growth trends.
Xtrackers focuses on a combination of innovation, access and value, but the innovation pillar has become really important to the business, Aram Babikian, head of sales for U.S. wealth, said last week in a Benzinga interview at the Future Proof Citywide event.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve come out with a lot of very interesting products, some of them first-of-its-kind,&#8221; Babikian said.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="509" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26122006/Screen-Shot-2025-03-26-at-11.16.42-AM-1024x509.png" alt="" class="wp-image-843044" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26122006/Screen-Shot-2025-03-26-at-11.16.42-AM-1024x509.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26122006/Screen-Shot-2025-03-26-at-11.16.42-AM-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26122006/Screen-Shot-2025-03-26-at-11.16.42-AM-768x382.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/26122006/Screen-Shot-2025-03-26-at-11.16.42-AM.png 1191w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The three big themes that are emerging right now are AI, positioning for geopolitical risks and international diversification.
Demand for investing in AI continues to accelerate, he said, adding that it feels like &#8220;the internet era times two.&#8221; The uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical landscape has also created investing opportunities, especially in international investments, he said. 
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/03/44495583/these-4-sp-500-sectors-could-outperform-the-market-in-april-if-history-has-a-say">These 4 S&amp;P 500 Sectors Could Outperform The Market In April, If History Has A Say</a>
Xtrackers has about 300 ETFs available in Europe and about 40 ETFs available to U.S. investors. One of the firm&#8217;s hottest investment vehicles right now is the Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence And Big Data ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAIX#NASDAQ">XAIX</a>).
Babikian told Benzinga that the ETF utilizes AI to build its basket of stocks by sifting through patent filings and determining the best-positioned companies in the space. Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) is actually one of the largest holders of AI patents, but most people probably aren&#8217;t aware, he said.
Simon Klein, managing director and head of coverage for Xtrackers, noted the company uses a blanket approach in Europe, offering ETFs that cover everything, but the U.S. is more targeted.
Xtrackers has about $350 billion under management globally, making it a top 10 ETF provider.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/03/44496057/jack-dorsey-says-block-not-replacing-folks-with-ai-in-letter-explaining-900-job-cuts">Jack Dorsey Says Block Not &#8216;Replacing Folks With AI&#8217; In Letter Explaining 900+ Job Cuts</a></li>
</ul>
Photos: Shutterstock; Inserted: Courtesy Benzinga

Events

ETFs

XAIX

Xtrackers ETFs Offer Unique Exposure To Hottest Themes In Market: 'The Internet Era Times Two'

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Bank of America.
Looking at options history for Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 25% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 75% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $204,249 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $342,920.
<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 $38.0 to $52.5 for Bank of America during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Bank of America options trades today is 4662.25 with a total volume of 698.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Bank of America's big money trades within a strike price range of $38.0 to $52.5 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Bank of America Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742911301_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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$9.95</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$9.95</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$143.2K</td>
<td>219</td>
<td align="right">144</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$7.9</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$38.00</td>
<td>$139.2K</td>
<td>847</td>
<td align="right">174</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$6.45</td>
<td>$6.3</td>
<td>$6.4</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$101.1K</td>
<td>19.5K</td>
<td align="right">158</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$4.75</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$47.0K</td>
<td>172</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$2.9</td>
<td>$2.87</td>
<td>$2.9</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$35.3K</td>
<td>11.9K</td>
<td align="right">122</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 $3.2 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.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Bank of America, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 1,869,767, the price of BAC is up by 0.41%, reaching $43.24.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 21 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $50.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Buy rating on Bank of America with a target price of $50. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Baird upgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $50. 
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://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Bank of America Unusual Options Activity For March 25

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 11 analysts have published ratings on Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) in the last three months.
In the table below, you'll find a summary of their recent ratings, revealing the shifting sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the previous 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">4</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</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">0</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">3</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Bank of America, presenting an average target of $52.82, a high estimate of $58.00, and a low estimate of $49.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 0.72% from the previous average price target of $52.44.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742842877_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Bank of America. The following summary 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>Keith Horowitz</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David George</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Siefers</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Betsy Graseck</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kotowski</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John McDonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Glenn Schorr</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Erika Najarian</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John McDonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Goldberg</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kotowski</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction 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: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Bank of America compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Bank of America's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Bank of America's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BAC/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Bank of America analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into Bank of America's Background</h2>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.2 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: Exceeding industry standards, the company's market capitalization places it above industry average in size relative to peers. This emphasizes its significant scale and robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Bank of America's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has been noteworthy. As of 31 December, 2024, the company achieved a revenue growth rate of approximately 15.43%. This indicates a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Bank of America's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 25.25%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Bank of America's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 2.35%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Bank of America's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.19%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Debt Management: Bank of America's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 1.2, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of 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.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

11 Analysts Assess Bank of America: What You Need To Know

Citigroup analyst Keith Horowitz maintains Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $54 to $50.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Bank of America, Lowers Price Target to $50

Wall Street is buzzing with increasing speculation about a recession, as economists identify several indicators suggesting an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44448437/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-tesla-nvidia-fedex-and-the-market-digests-the-feds-rate-decision">impending economic downturn</a>.
What Happened: According to a report, Goldman Sachs&nbsp;has raised its likelihood of a recession in&nbsp;the next 12 months from&nbsp;15% to 20%. A March survey by&nbsp;Bank of America&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) showed that 55% of fund managers perceive&nbsp;a global recession triggered by&nbsp;a trade war as the&nbsp;primary&nbsp;tail risk for the market.
Consumer expectations of a recession in the upcoming year have also risen to a nine-month peak, according to the latest Consumer Confidence Survey by the Conference Board, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recession-2025-warning-economy-outlook-growth-slowdown-debt-stocks-rates-2025-3">reports</a> Insider.
Economist David Rosenberg foresees a downturn in the next few months, highlighting several warning signs of a faltering economy.
Rosenberg points out several alarming signs including US households battling to keep up with inflation, an increased debt load, struggling small- and mid-cap stocks, and declining corporate earnings guidance. 
Rosenberg stated, &#8220;If the past is prescient, the recession which nobody believes will rear its ugly head will materialize as early as July.&#8221;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44211421/us-economy-teetering-recession-may-be-looming-as-bond-market-reacts-to-trump-policies">US Economy Teetering? Recession May Be Looming As Bond Market Reacts To Trump Policies</a>
Households are increasingly unable to handle emergency expenses, with&nbsp;the latest Survey of Consumer&nbsp;Expectations from the New York&nbsp;Fed indicating that only 63% of US households could manage a sudden $2,000 bill. 
This is the lowest percentage since Q4 2015, as per an analysis by&nbsp;Apollo Global Management&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>). Moreover, total household debt increased by $93 billion in Q4, hitting a record $18 trillion. 
Small- and mid-cap stocks are also struggling, with the iShares S&amp;P Small-cap 600 Value ETF down 16% from its November peak and the S&amp;P MidCap 400 down 13% from its November high.
Companies like&nbsp;Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>),&nbsp;Target&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), and&nbsp;FedEx&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) have reduced their guidance for the year, with approximately 70% of companies attributing potential negative outlooks this year to&nbsp;uncertainty around new policies and&nbsp;tariffs.
Finally, bond investors are factoring in a higher risk of companies defaulting&nbsp;in the coming years. Credit&nbsp;spreads have significantly increased in the past month, indicating investors&#8217; anticipation of a higher risk of corporate borrowers struggling to repay debt.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43756824/market-instability-looms-in-trumps-second-term-warns-paul-tudor-jones-theres-no-room-for-mistakes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Market Instability Looms in Trump's Second Term, Warns Paul Tudor Jones: ‘There's No Room for Mistakes'</a>

Mid Cap

Recession Fears Escalate as Economists Identify Warning Signs: 'Will Materialize as Early as July'

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett">Warren Buffett</a> ended 2024 hoarding cash. Yet a longer look at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/berkshire-hathaway">Berkshire Hathaway</a>'s portfolio suggests that, as usual, Buffett isn't tipping his hand over his portfolio management strategy going forward. 
According to the firm&#8217;s 13-F regulatory filings, while top Berkshire holdings like American Express (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NASDAQ">AXP</a>) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) remain steady, Buffett is simultaneously curbing big positions in portfolio stalwarts.
Here&#8217;s what Buffett is selling and what he&#8217;s preparing for.
"Warren Buffett's been selling for a reason, and it's not because he's lost confidence in investing," said Steven Kibbel, a certified financial planner and an advisor at Prop Firm App, a website dedicated to proprietary trading and investment strategies. "He's sitting on a record cash pile that tells you everything. He's not just taking money off the table for the sake of it; he's waiting for better opportunities."
It&#8217;s no secret that the stock market has been pricey in recent years, and Buffett has never been one to chase high valuations. "He's also said before that when the market cap of U.S. stocks surpasses GDP by too much, it's a warning sign," Kibbel said. "Right now, that's exactly where we are."
Altogether, Berkshire Hathaway was a seller in 2024, exiting out of equity positions worth $143 billion, which boosted the company's ample cash stack to $334 billion. While Buffett wasn't crystal clear about his pivot to cash in his 2024 annual letter to shareholders, he left some clues for investors.
"Despite what some commentators currently view as an extraordinary cash position at Berkshire, the great majority of your money remains in equities. That preference won't change," Buffett wrote.
"Berkshire shareholders can rest assured that we will forever deploy a substantial majority of their money in equities – mostly American equities, although many of these will have international operations of significance," he added. "Berkshire will never prefer ownership of cash-equivalent assets over the ownership of good businesses, whether controlled or only partially owned."
In an ironic sidebar, Buffett also noted how far Berkshire has come in the past six decades, using taxes as a metric.
"In 1965, the company did not pay a dime of income tax, an embarrassment that had generally prevailed at the company for a decade. Fast forward 60 years and imagine the surprise at the Treasury when that same company – still operating under the name of Berkshire Hathaway – paid far more in corporate income tax than the U.S. government had ever received from any company – even the American tech titans that commanded market values in the trillions."
Buffett noted that the company's $26.8 billion tax comprised about 5% of all U.S. corporate taxes paid in 2024.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Where Buffett Is Selling</h2>
2024, especially the last quarter of the year, saw Berkshire exiting large positions in the financial sector.
"Bank stocks are a big part of Buffett's sell-off," Kibbel noted. "Look at what's happening with interest rates. Higher rates hurt banks' lending businesses, and with economic uncertainty, it's harder to predict how well these companies will perform."
Here's a closer look at three of the big stocks Berkshire Hathaway has been cutting, with a view on what comes next for the Buffett portfolio.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Apple</h3>
Team Buffett sold about 67% of its stake in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in 2024, selling most of it in the first three quarters of the year. The portfolio still holds $75.1 billion in AAPL shares. Apple shares are down -14.8% in 2025, so Buffett's AAPL haircut has largely paid off as the tech giant's share price dwindled downward.
Some market watchers say Buffett's Apple sale is about risk exposure.
"When a single stock makes up close to half of your portfolio, even a legend like Buffett knows it's time to trim," said John Beck, a founding partner at Beck &amp; Beck Missouri Lawyers who regularly consults with clients on money matters. "Apple's reliance on China, increased regulatory scrutiny, and supply chain vulnerabilities make it a long-term concern."
Other market experts advise not reading too much into Buffett pulling back on his AAPL exposure.
"Investors selling Apple because Buffett has pared down his position may be misreading his actions," said Robert R. Johnson, professor of Finance Heider College of Business at Creighton University. "Apple currently represents over 22% of Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s $280-million-dollar marketable securities portfolio. To me, that signals that he has high confidence in the firm.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bank of America</h3>
After its 2024 selloff, Berkshire owns less than the 700 million Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) shares it initially purchased in 2017.
"Bank stocks are a big part of the Buffett sell-off," Kibbel said. "Look at what's happening with interest rates. Higher rates hurt banks' lending businesses, and with economic uncertainty, it's harder to predict how well these companies will perform."
Buffett's been trimming his position in Bank of America for a while, not all at once. To Kibble, "That suggests he's being careful about it.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Citigroup</h3>
Berkshire Hathaway is in sell mode for a few reasons beyond a pricey market landscape.
"First, interest rates have fundamentally changed the game," Beck noted. "When money was cheap, financial stocks like Bank of America and Citigroup made sense. With higher rates, profit margins shrink, and banks face regulatory uncertainty. Buffett isn't just reacting to today—he's positioning for the next five to ten years."
It&#8217;s the same issue with Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), as Buffett dumped over 70% of that stake in a single quarter. "If one of the best financial minds in the world is reducing exposure to major banks, that says something," Kibbel said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Takeaway On Buffett And His Growing Cash Position</h2>
It's hard to say what Buffett thinks as the first quarter of 2025 draws to a close. Yet, as the adage goes, the past is prologue, and Buffett may be planning something more significant than shaving down the size of some of his portfolio favorites.
"Warren Buffett has sold a large percentage of his holdings in Apple because he likely thinks it is fully valued," said David I. Kass, a finance professor at the University of Maryland. "However, Apple remains Berkshire&#8217;s largest equity holding. Similarly, he has reduced his stake in Bank of America and Citigroup."
Kass noted that Buffett is also raising cash in preparation for Greg Abel to succeed him as CEO in the near future, enabling Abel to start with a relatively clean slate. "The sales of other stocks, like Ulta Beauty and Nu Holdings, were most likely those of his portfolio managers, Todd Combs or Ted Weschler, since those stakes were relatively small."
Lastly, Buffett is not selling because he thinks these companies are bad; he&#8217;s doing so because he wants to be liquid.
"Take Apple, for example," said David Capablanca, a short-selling equity trading specialist and host of the Friendly Bear Podcast. "He's been trimming his position in Apple, his largest holding, for three quarters now. That tells me he's concerned about valuations, especially in a high-interest-rate environment where tech stocks tend to struggle."
Investors may want to keep in mind that Buffett is not selling out of fear—he's selling to be aggressive when he buys.
"That's the key difference," Capablanca said. "When markets drop, he'll be sitting on a massive pile of cash, ready to scoop up bargains."
So, should the average investor track Berkshire's move into cash? It depends, Capablanca said.
"If you're thinking long-term like Buffett, then yes, studying his moves can give you some insight," he noted. "But blindly copying him isn't the way—he has a different strategy, time horizon, and level of patience than most retail investors. The important thing is understanding why he's doing what he's doing, not just mirroring his trades," he concluded.
Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

AAPL

3 Beloved Stocks Warren Buffett Is Dumping As Markets Fall

Live On CNBC, Steve Weiss Announces Bought More Bank Of America

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This old adage rings true in today&#8217;s volatile markets, as Warren Buffett&#8216;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) is on track for its strongest two-month performance relative to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/warren-buffett">S&amp;P 500 since 2010. </a>
The Omaha-based conglomerate surged 10.3% in February 2025, marking its best month since March 2022, and has gained another 2.5% in March. 
Meanwhile, 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 broader market, declined 1.3% in February and has plunged nearly 5% in March.
This performance has widened Berkshire's outperformance over the S&amp;P 500 to 20 percentage points since February, putting it on track for its best two-month run versus the index since February 2010.
In 2024, Berkshire Hathaway had only marginally outperformed the S&amp;P 500 by 1.8 percentage points. 
On Thursday, shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. New hit fresh record highs, closing at $528.73.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-834719" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185-1536x793.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20163601/image-185.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Buffett's Long-Term View Holds</h3>
The stock's momentum aligns with Buffett's long-standing investment philosophy, as outlined in Berkshire's latest annual letter to shareholders.
The 93-year-old billionaire emphasized the company's patient, long-term approach: &#8220;Over time, we think it highly likely that gains will prevail – why else would we buy these securities? – though the year-by-year numbers will swing wildly and unpredictably. Our horizon for such commitments is almost always far longer than a single year. In many, our thinking involves decades. These long-termers are the purchases that sometimes make the cash register ring like church bells.&#8221;
Buffett also highlighted Berkshire's role as a major taxpayer, noting that the company has paid more in corporate income tax than any other U.S. firm in history, including tech giants with trillion-dollar valuations. In 2024 alone, Berkshire made four payments to the IRS totaling $26.8 billion, accounting for about 5% of all corporate taxes paid in the U.S.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Berkshire's Top Holdings</h3>
According to Berkshire's latest 13F filing as of December 2024, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) remained its largest holding, representing 28.1% of the company's portfolio. This was followed by American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) at 16.8% and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) at 11.2%.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/25/03/44424486/casino-stocks-set-for-a-winning-streak-why-march-madness-spring-break-could-fuel-big-gains">Casino Stocks Set For A Winning Streak: Why March Madness, Spring Break Could Fuel Big Gains</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

Large Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Outpaces S&P 500 With Best 2-Month Run Since 2010

With markets in an uproar lately, I&#8217;ve been thinking about the lessons we can learn from those rare individuals who don&#8217;t just survive bear markets &#8211; they thrive in them.
Today, let's take a look at the extraordinary wealth created by a special breed of investor who sees opportunity where others see only disaster.
Because make no mistake, friends &#8211; bull markets are nice, but bear markets are where generational wealth is created.
The greatest transfer of assets in financial history happens not when markets are soaring, but when they&#8217;re plummeting and fear grips even the steadiest hands.
Just look at the historical returns from major market bottoms:
<ul>
<li>1932 (Great Depression): +372% over the next five years</li>
<li>1974 (Oil Crisis): +76% over the next three years</li>
<li>1987 (Black Monday): +62% over the next three years</li>
<li>2002 (Dot-Com Bust): +101% over the next five years</li>
<li>2009 (Financial Crisis): +400% over the next decade</li>
</ul>
Those aren&#8217;t typos, folks. That&#8217;s the power of buying quality assets when they&#8217;re on fire sale.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MASTERS OF DISTRESS: THREE CONTRARIAN LEGENDS</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Warren Buffett: America&#8217;s Bargain Hunter</h3>
When the 2008 financial crisis hit, most investors couldn&#8217;t sell fast enough. But Warren Buffett? He was buying &#8211; and not just nibbling.
In September 2008, right as Lehman Brothers collapsed, Buffett invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs preferred stock with warrants that eventually netted Buffett's company Berkshire about $3 billion in profit. He followed this with a $3 billion investment in General Electric on similar terms.
But Buffett wasn&#8217;t done. In the fall of 2008, he wrote his now-famous &#8220;Buy American. I Am&#8221; op-ed, telling the world he was personally buying U.S. stocks for his non-Berkshire portfolio. One specific example? Wells Fargo. Buffett increased Berkshire&#8217;s stake dramatically during the crisis, buying shares at prices as low as $8-20 (split-adjusted), compared to pre-crisis prices around $30-35.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Richard Rainwater: The Ultimate Catastrophe Capitalist</h3>
The late Richard Rainwater made billions by investing in distressed assets when nobody wanted them.
During the Texas real estate collapse of the early 1990s, Rainwater and partner John Goff formed Crescent Real Estate and scooped up prime properties at 20 cents on the dollar. They later took the company public and sold it to Morgan Stanley in 2007 for $6.5 billion &#8211; impeccable timing before the next crash!
After the dot-com bubble burst, Rainwater made another contrarian bet. While tech stocks were still smoldering in 2001-2002, he began accumulating shares in beaten-down energy companies like Ensco International. He recognized the coming commodity super-cycle long before it became obvious to the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Andrew Beal: The Banking Billionaire with Infinite Patience</h3>
Andrew Beal&#8217;s approach to bear markets might be the most instructive for individual investors.
During the mid-2000s housing boom, while other banks were partying like there was no tomorrow, Beal Bank was doing something radical: nothing. Beal actually reduced his loan portfolio by 42% from 2004 to 2007, stockpiling cash and waiting.
When the 2008 crisis hit and banks were desperate to unload assets, Beal emerged with his war chest. In early 2009, he purchased $3.5 billion in loan portfolios from the FDIC for around 40% of face value. His bank&#8217;s assets reportedly doubled in a matter of months.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SPECIFIC STOCK EXAMPLES FROM PAST BEARS</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Internet Bubble Bargains (2000-2002)</h3>
When the tech bubble burst, even solid companies with real earnings were thrown out with the bathwater. Here are some examples of stocks that savvy contrarians scooped up:
<ul>
<li>Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): Believe it or not, Apple traded as low as $7 (split-adjusted) in 2003 after the dot-com collapse. Investors who bought then and held would have seen their investment grow by over 35,000% by today.</li>
<li>Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): After topping $100 in 1999, Amazon crashed to around $6 by late 2001. That&#8217;s a 94% decline! Contrarians who saw the long-term potential in e-commerce and bought near those lows have enjoyed returns exceeding 50,000%.</li>
<li>Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT): Even mighty Microsoft fell from $60 to around $20 during the dot-com bust. Those who bought near those lows would have done very well, especially if they held through the past decade.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Financial Crisis Gems (2008-2009)</h3>
The 2008-2009 financial crisis created even more dramatic opportunities:
<ul>
<li>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>): Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway increased its American Express position during the crisis when shares dropped below $10 (from highs of $60+). The stock has since returned to over $200.</li>
<li>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>): In 2011, when European debt concerns were creating a second wave of financial stress, Buffett invested $5 billion in Bank of America preferred stock with warrants. That investment has since grown to be worth over $30 billion.</li>
<li>Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS): In late 2008, Las Vegas Sands teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, with shares falling from over $140 to under $2. But contrarians who saw value in the company&#8217;s Macau operations were rewarded as the stock rebounded to over $80 within a few years.</li>
<li>Ford (NYSE: F): While General Motors and Chrysler needed government bailouts, Ford managed to avoid bankruptcy. Its shares still collapsed to below $1 in 2008. Investors who bought then saw the stock rise above $18 within a few years &#8211; a return of more than 1,700%.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE CONTRARIAN MINDSET: HOW TO THINK LIKE A BEAR MARKET BILLIONAIRE</h2>
What separates these investors from the herd isn&#8217;t just analytical skill &#8211; it&#8217;s psychological fortitude. They&#8217;ve trained themselves to:
<ol start="1">
<li>Be patient: They build cash reserves during good times and wait for fat pitches.</li>
<li>Think independently: They ignore CNBC and focus on business fundamentals.</li>
<li>Have conviction: Once they determine a company is undervalued, they buy aggressively.</li>
<li>Take the long view: They aren&#8217;t concerned with timing the exact bottom &#8211; they focus on value.</li>
</ol>
I don&#8217;t know when the next bear market will arrive &#8211; nobody does.
Maybe this is it. But I do know this: It will come, and it will create extraordinary opportunities for those prepared to act.
Here&#8217;s my advice:
<ol start="1">
<li>Start building a &#8220;bear market shopping list&#8221; of quality companies you&#8217;d love to own at the right price.</li>
<li>Determine your &#8220;dream prices&#8221; &#8211; the levels at which these stocks would be absolute steals.</li>
<li>Set aside capital specifically designated for bear market opportunities.</li>
<li>When the time comes, remember these bear market billionaires and act with conviction.</li>
</ol>
As Richard Rainwater once told Fortune magazine: &#8220;Money is made when things are going from terrible to only bad.&#8221;
That&#8217;s exactly what I intend to do when the next bear comes growling
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trade Alongside a Wall Street Insider for Free</h2>
Follow the same strategy that turned $250 positions into $9,659 in potential profits this January. Get <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/7-day-free-trial-matt-maley-inner-circle/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0320&amp;utm_campaign=7daytrial">instant alerts</a> and exact instructions for every trade.
Editorial content from our Expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly or impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.
Photo: Shutterstock

How The Smart Money Gets Rich When Markets Crash

According to Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) CEO Brian Moynihan, Federal Reserve policy should remain steady despite concerns about economic uncertainty. On Wednesday, he said the Fed should be &#8220;a little cautious about cutting,&#8221; citing economic growth of around 2% and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">ongoing tariff adjustments. </a>
&#8220;It would seem that maybe they'd want to hold on to the firepower that they've built up over the last year or so,&#8221; Moynihan told CNBC during a &#8220;Squawk Box&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/19/bank-of-americas-ceo-says-economic-growth-is-better-than-people-think-and-the-fed-should-stay-on-hold.html">interview</a>. He added, &#8220;They shouldn't be premature to try to boost the economy when it's growing at 2%.&#8221;
What Happened: Moynihan described the 2% GDP growth projection as &#8220;trend growth,&#8221; noting that such expansion aligns with economic targets following the financial crisis. 
He emphasized that despite rising concerns about inflation and slowing confidence levels, spending data indicates economic resilience. &#8220;We see the consumer continue to be solid, and that should bode well for the economy,&#8221; he said. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44396940/nvidias-ai-reign-extends-to-2028-jpmorgan-says-its-still-1-2-steps-ahead">Nvidia Extends AI Reign To 2028: JPMorgan Says It&#8217;s Still &#8216;1-2 Steps Ahead&#8217;</a>
On the broader economic picture, Moynihan acknowledged that President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs would likely reduce growth by about 0.4 percentage points in the near term, CNBC reports. Despite this, he remained confident that the economy will stabilize.
&#8220;Right now, we're not talking about what could happen,&#8221; Moynihan said. &#8220;We're talking about what is happening. The consumer continues to spend pretty strongly for the first part of this year.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Consumer behavior data from BofA Securities supports Moynihan&#8217;s optimism. A recent survey by BofA Securities showed an increase in home improvement spending expectations from 27% last year to 31% in March 2025, the highest since May 2024. Plans for family growth have also improved, with intentions to have a baby rising from 9% to 12%.
Meanwhile, The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell 7 points to 98.3 in February, its steepest decline since August 2021. Yet, consumer spending remains <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44383156/consumer-confidence-dips-but-spending-on-home-improvements-and-family-planning-sees-uptick-analyst-survey">consistent across various sectors.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/25/03/44396973/mortgage-applications-drop-as-rising-rates-squeeze-refinance-demand">Mortgage Applications Drop As Rising Rates Squeeze Refinance Demand</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Fed Must Be 'A Little Cautious' On Rate Cuts, Warns BofA CEO

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with BAC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for Bank of America.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 33% bullish and 66%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $442,339, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $135,492.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $41.5 and $55.0 for Bank of America, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Bank of America options trades today is 5106.2 with a total volume of 3,432.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Bank of America's big money trades within a strike price range of $41.5 to $55.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Bank of America 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742305537_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</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>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.59</td>
<td>$2.53</td>
<td>$2.59</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$103.6K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$3.85</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$100.7K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>755</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$3.85</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$98.7K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.56</td>
<td>$2.49</td>
<td>$2.56</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$88.0K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$2.56</td>
<td>$2.46</td>
<td>$2.56</td>
<td>$43.00</td>
<td>$51.2K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>200</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 $3.2 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.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Bank of America, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of Bank of America</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 618,247, the price of BAC is up 0.57% at $41.67. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 28 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Bank of America</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $50.0.
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;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a positive move, an analyst from Baird has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $50. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Bank of America with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Spotlight on Bank of America: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

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>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$27.0K</td>
<td>19.6K</td>
<td>12.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>10.4K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$25.6K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CME</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$104.4K</td>
<td>479</td>
<td>684</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$34.9K</td>
<td>123</td>
<td>603</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$73.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>445</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/11/25</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$28.5K</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>325</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XYZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$76.7K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>216</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>114</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td>54</td>
<td>86</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $40.00 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 $27.0K, with a price of $270.0 per contract. There were 19685 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12007 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $41.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $86.0 per contract. There were 10410 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3104 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 11 day(s) on March 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1600 contract(s) at a $11.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.6K, with a price of $16.0 per contract. There were 3974 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2660 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 put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 186 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 81 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $104.4K, with a price of $1290.0 per contract. There were 479 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 684 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on March 28, 2025. Parties traded 167 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.9K, with a price of $209.0 per contract. There were 123 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 603 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 trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 60 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $73.0K, with a price of $365.0 per contract. There were 1569 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 445 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 call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 25 day(s) on April 11, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.5K, with a price of $285.0 per contract. There were 128 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 325 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding XYZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 186 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 216 contract(s) at a $47.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $76.7K, with a price of $355.0 per contract. There were 1740 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 216 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 put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 33 contract(s) at a $550.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $770.0 per contract. There were 1167 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 114 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MCO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCO#NYSE">MCO</a>), we observe a put option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 31 contract(s) at a $450.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.0K, with a price of $1140.0 per contract. There were 54 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 86 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.

Investors funneled cash into U.S. equities at the third-highest pace in history last week, with Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett framing it as a &#8220;correction, not a bear market,&#8221; following four weeks of market turmoil.
What Happened: According to BofA Global Investment Strategy data highlighted by hedge fund consultant Seth Golden on Sunday, private client flows to equities reached approximately 2.5% of Assets Under Management in March, marking the &#8220;3rd largest weekly inflow to equities ever&#8221; from BofA clients.
&#8220;Markets stop panicking when policy makers start panicking,&#8221; Golden, chief market strategist at Finom Group, noted on X, encouraging followers to &#8220;follow the fund flows.&#8221;
The massive buying surge comes as U.S. stocks staged a sharp rebound on Friday when the S&amp;P 500 tracked by The SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE: SPY) jumped 1.9%, eyeing its strongest daily rally since November. Despite this recovery, major indices remain on track for a fourth consecutive weekly decline – the longest <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44338243/wall-street-bounces-back-as-shutdown-risks-fade-stocks-eye-strongest-day-in-4-months-whats-driving-markets-friday">losing streak since May 2022</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">BofA&#39;s Michael Hartnett &quot;3rd largest Buy-The-Dip reign in history last week! We say this is a correction, not a bear market in stocks. Markets stop panicking when policy makers start panicking&#8230;&quot; Follow the fund flows folks!<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ES_F&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ES_F</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPY&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VOO&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VOO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24QQQ&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$QQQ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NYA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NYA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AMZN&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AMZN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24IWM&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$IWM</a>… <a href="https://t.co/2JO61Nv2BH">pic.twitter.com/2JO61Nv2BH</a>
&mdash; Seth Golden (@SethCL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethCL/status/1901025515022282952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44349240/googles-waymo-leads-robotaxi-race-with-2-millon-paid-rides-zoox-challenges-tesla-for-second-spot-as-unsupervised-autonomy-becomes-table-stakes-says-gary-black">Google&#8217;s Waymo Leads Robotaxi Race With 2 Millon Paid Rides, Amazon&#8217;s Zoox Challenges Tesla For Second Spot As Autonomy Becomes &#8216;Table Stakes,&#8217; Says Gary Black</a>
Why It Matters: Recent market volatility has been driven by recession concerns, with betting markets tracked by CFTC-regulated Kalshi showing the probability of a 2025 U.S. recession climbing to 37%. The Atlanta Federal Reserve&#8217;s GDPNow model currently forecasts a 2.4% contraction in the first quarter, reversing from a 2.3% expansion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44327908/2025-recession-bets-are-on-fire-yet-traders-could-still-pocket-over-50-gains-if-us-economy-just-holds">the fourth quarter of 2024</a>.
Political factors may <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44327908/2025-recession-bets-are-on-fire-yet-traders-could-still-pocket-over-50-gains-if-us-economy-just-holds">influence economic outcomes</a>, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed the Atlanta Fed&#8217;s contraction forecast as &#8220;ridiculous.&#8221; Meanwhile, analysts like Chris Zaccarelli of Northlight Asset Management question whether the President Donald Trump administration&#8217;s economic policies will &#8220;lead to a recession or higher growth rates.&#8221;
If the economy avoids recession, Jeff Buchbinder at LPL Financial suggests upside potential &#8220;may be as much as double the downside risk&#8221; over the next 9-12 months.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44295318/marjorie-taylor-greene-demands-fbi-doj-probe-into-organized-attacks-on-teslaquestions-possible-d">Marjorie Taylor Greene Demands FBI Probe Into &#8216;Wave Of Organized Attacks&#8217; On Tesla —Questions Possible Democrat-NGO Ties</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Third-Largest 'Buy-The-Dip' In History — BofA's Sees 'Correction, Not A Bear Market' Amid Wall Street Rebound

Press Releases

Bank of America Names Maria Martinez to Board of Directors

Bank of America Announces Full Redemption of Its Series AA Preferred Stock and Related Depositary Shares

Fintech

BofA Receives Top Rankings in Digital, Corporate Banking and Cash Management from Crisil Coalition Greenwich

Bank of America Announces Redemption of CAD550,000,000 3.515% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due March 2026

Digital Interactions by BofA Clients Surge to Over 26 Billion, up 12% Year-Over-Year

BofA and Youth on Course Partner to Expand Access to the Sport for Youth Golfers Across America

Bank of America Announces Redemption of CAD400,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due March 2026

Dividends

Bank of America Declares Preferred Stock Dividends Payable in April and May 2025

BofA Names Jason Edelmann President of Fort Lauderdale

Bank of America Announces Redemptions of $500,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes and $3,000,000,000 3.384% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, Due April 2026

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares

Bank Bradesco

Banco Bradesco Sa American Depositary Shares (each representing one Common Share)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Common Stock

Barclays

Banco Santander Brasil SA American Depositary Shares, each representing one unit

Banco Santander

Citigroup

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

First Citizens BancShares

Fifth Third Bancorp

HDFC Bank

HSBC Holdings

ICICI Bank

ING Groep

Itau Unibanco Banco Holding SA American Depositary Shares (Each repstg 500 Preferred shares)

Itau Unibanco Holding

JPMorgan Chase

KB Financial Group

Lloyds Banking Group Plc American Depositary Shares

Lloyds Banking Group

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Sponosred ADR (Japan)

Mizuho Financial Gr

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock

Mitsubishi UFJ Finl Gr

Nu Holdings

NatWest Group plc American Depositary Shares, (each representing two (2) Ordinary Shares)

NatWest Group

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) Common Stock

PNC Financial Services Gr

Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR (Spain)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc Unsponsored American Depositary Shares (Japan)

Comments

Bank of America

Unusual Options Activity for

Noticias

SOCIO/CONTRIBUIDOR

BENZINGA GLOBAL

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
02:39 PMMar 28, 2025	PUT	$42.00	Jul 18, 2025	105	2836	2500	67	4235	TRADE	BULLISH
02:10 PMMar 25, 2025	CALL	$55.00	Jan 15, 2027	651	3551	3532	21	17140	TRADE	NEUTRAL