Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Bolsa

Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.108 trillion in total asset under management, including $820.5 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of September 2024. The company has four core business segments: private equity (25% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (35% and 39%), credit and insurance (31% and 24%), and multi-asset investing (9% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).

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Blackstone Inc

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BROOKFIELD CORP PREF A 13 by BROOKFIELD CORP.

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Bexil Corp

BEXIMCO PHARMS LTD S/GDR by Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Common Stock

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc

Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund

BXN - United States Dollar

BOX INC PFD CONV SER A 3% by Box, Inc.

Bang Holdings Corp

BLOCKCHAIN INST OF TECH by BLOCKCHAIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INC.

Blockchain Institute Of Technology Inc

BXP Inc

BOTANIX PHARMACEUTICALS by Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

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AUSTRALIAN SILICA QUARTZ by AUSTRALIAN SILICA QUARTZ GROUP LTD.

Australian Silica Quartz Group Ltd

BOXER RETAIL LTD U/ADR by Boxer Retail Limited

Baudax Bio Inc Ordinary Shares

Baudax Bio Inc

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund

Bexil Investment Trust

ExGen Resources Inc

Natural Resource Holdings Inc Ordinary Shares

In the current market session, Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) stock price is at $135.50, after a 1.04% drop. However, over the past month, the company's stock went up by 3.18%, and in the past year, by 12.30%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is not performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1748037624_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Blackstone P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Blackstone has a better P/E ratio of 41.49 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 32.05 of the Capital Markets industry. Ideally, one might believe that Blackstone Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1748037624_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

P/E Ratio Insights for Blackstone

15 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">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">3</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $154.8, along with a high estimate of $207.00 and a low estimate of $129.00. This current average represents a 13.52% decrease from the previous average price target of $179.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1748023259_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Blackstone. 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>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$153.00</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian McKenna</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brennan Hawken</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benjamin Budish</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$136.00</td>
<td>$129.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Cyprys</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$222.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$147.00</td>
<td>$233.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Allen</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devin Ryan</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Crispin Love</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$182.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benjamin Budish</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$129.00</td>
<td>$186.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Craig Siegenthaler</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$207.00</td>
<td>$219.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brennan Hawken</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$180.00</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 Blackstone. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Blackstone compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts provide insights into price targets, offering estimates for the future value of Blackstone's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Blackstone's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BX/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Blackstone analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Blackstone</h2>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.108 trillion in total asset under management, including $820.5 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of September 2024. The company has four core business segments: private equity (25% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (35% and 39%), credit and insurance (31% and 24%), and multi-asset investing (9% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
<h3>Breaking Down Blackstone's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Challenges: Blackstone's revenue growth over 3M faced difficulties. As of 31 March, 2025, the company experienced a decline of approximately -7.28%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Blackstone's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 21.75%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Blackstone's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 7.6% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 1.39%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: Blackstone's debt-to-equity ratio stands notably higher than the industry average, reaching 1.68. This indicates a heavier reliance on borrowed funds, raising concerns about financial leverage.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
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.

Blackstone Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (15 Ratings)

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $139 to $153.

Price Target

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $153

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Blackstone.
Looking at options history for Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) we detected 15 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 20% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 13 are puts, for a total amount of $610,896 and 2, calls, for a total amount of $96,550.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $120.0 to $165.0 for Blackstone over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Blackstone's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Blackstone's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $120.0 to $165.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Blackstone 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747854162_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 align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.35</td>
<td>$27.45</td>
<td>$28.55</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$102.7K</td>
<td align="right">605</td>
<td align="right">153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$29.95</td>
<td>$26.5</td>
<td>$28.5</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$74.1K</td>
<td align="right">605</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.25</td>
<td>$27.5</td>
<td>$28.5</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$71.2K</td>
<td align="right">605</td>
<td align="right">178</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$28.25</td>
<td>$23.7</td>
<td>$26.0</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$52.0K</td>
<td align="right">91</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.45</td>
<td>$28.05</td>
<td>$28.6</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$45.7K</td>
<td align="right">605</td>
<td align="right">194</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Blackstone</h3>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.108 trillion in total asset under management, including $820.5 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of September 2024. The company has four core business segments: private equity (25% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (35% and 39%), credit and insurance (31% and 24%), and multi-asset investing (9% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Blackstone, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Blackstone Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,313,086, with BX's price down by -4.03%, positioned at $138.39.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 57 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Blackstone</h3>
A total of 3 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $159.67.
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 Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods has decided to maintain their Market Perform rating on Blackstone, which currently sits at a price target of $139. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Buy rating on Blackstone with a target price of $175. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from JMP Securities downgraded its rating to Market Outperform, setting a price target of $165. 
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 Blackstone, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

What the Options Market Tells Us About Blackstone

In the latest episode of &#8220;The Rest Is Politics US&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qINvMgehuNI">podcast</a>, Anthony Scaramucci shared his unfiltered view of Donald Trump's recent diplomatic push in the Middle East.&nbsp;
According to the former White House communications director, Trump's foreign policy tour may look like a renaissance of American engagement, but it's also riddled with self-interest and personal blind spots.
One of those blind spots? Age.
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"Trump is an aegist," Scaramucci said flatly. "He respects people that are his age. He doesn't respect people that are not his age." He continued, "If you&#8217;re 40, talking to Trump, he actually looks at you like he doesn&#8217;t give a sh&#x2A;t. If you&#8217;re 60, talking to Trump, he rolls his eyes. If [Blackstone Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bx#NYSE">BX</a>) Chairman and CEO] <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45221263/blackstone-cofounder-calls-recognizing-opportunity-pattern-recognition-focus-on-what-doesnt-make-sense">Steve Schwarzman, age 80</a>, calls Donald Trump, he picks up the phone."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MBS Knew Exactly How to Flatter Trump</h2>
Scaramucci said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, took advantage of that tendency. "He's got an elderly father that's the king. You want to be feted and treated like a king? I'm half your age, I am going to glitz you up in a way that you're going to leave here very, very happy."
Trump, now 78, was met with extraordinary hospitality in Saudi Arabia this week—lavender carpets, horses, fighter jet escorts. Scaramucci believes MBS's deference wasn't just cultural, it was calculated. "That's exactly what he did," Scaramucci said.
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Throughout the episode, host Katty Kay and Scaramucci dissected Trump's whirlwind week of diplomacy, which included stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump delivered speeches, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45390422/trump-unveils-historic-and-transformative-600-billion-saudi-deal-predicts-markets-will-go-a-lot-higher">pushed economic deals</a> and attempted to reshape America's foreign policy stance.
And while critics often describe Trump as isolationist, Scaramucci pointed out that this approach was much more interventionist than expected. "He talked about re-engineering the way America thinks about the Middle East and trying to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45395894/trump-makes-peace-gesture-at-iran-amid-middle-east-optimism-willing-to-end-past-conflicts-and-forge-new-partnerships">foment peace</a> and prosperity," Scaramucci said, adding that even former CIA officials praised Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia during the U.S.-Saudi investment forum.
Still, he warned there's another side to Trump's diplomacy. "There's one angel on his shoulder saying you could really be a great president if you just calm the f&#x2A;&#x2A;&#x2A; down," he said. "Then he's got the devil on the other side saying, &#8216;Hey, I want to make $200 billion for my family before I blow out of this presidency.&#8217;"
Scaramucci, who briefly worked as the White House Communications Director in the first Trump administration, said this split is what defines Trump on the world stage. "He&#8217;s our two-faced president," he said, referencing the Batman villain.
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Kay noted that while Trump's focus on economic deals might yield some success in the Gulf region, the same strategy hasn't worked in places like Ukraine or Gaza, where cultural and existential issues override financial incentives. "In some countries the sort of mercantilist theory of foreign policy might work," Kay said. "But [Trump's] theory doesn't take into account historical or cultural or ethnic forces."
Despite these flaws, Scaramucci admitted the president has unusual stamina. "For a 79-year-old, he has tremendous energy."
Yet, that energy may be going to more than just foreign policy. The episode also dove into Trump's possible financial gains from these diplomatic ventures, including controversies around a lavish <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45404708/trumps-boeing-jet-gift-from-qatar-could-cost-taxpayers-1-billion-and-he-still-may-not-be-able-to-use-it-this-term-say-experts">Qatari jetliner</a> some are calling "Qatar Force One."
Scaramucci brushed it off as a distraction. "Let me shoot out the $400 million plane over here as a bauble to distract everybody while I&#8217;m working on a few billion dollars somewhere, either in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world for myself and my family," he said.
As foreign governments roll out the red carpet, Scaramucci warns that Trump's priorities may be more about profit than policy. "This is the globalism of greed," Kay said, quoting an unnamed economist.
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'Trump Is An Ageist,' Says Anthony Scaramucci. He Claims Saudi Prince MBS Used Trump's Disregard For Younger People To Play Him

I got into the investment business on a steady diet of Graham and Whitman. But that was the 1980s and early 1990s – the golden age of dealmakers and junk bonds, leveraged buyouts and greenmail. 
Long before the players became gentlemanly private equity titans and activist investors, they were raiders, vultures, and even, in one famous book about the RJR deal, barbarians.
Legendary fortunes were made, reputations created and shattered.
All of these high-return, high-flying strategies shared a common thread. Leveraged buyouts, distressed investing and risk arb were all just variations on the value investing theme.
The private equity giants of today are still doing this. Thanks to their quarterly filings, you can copy their investment approach—a strategy that has beaten the markets 4-to-1 since 2001.
Even the creation of the junk bond market was based on Michael Milken&#8217;s studies on the returns from buying undervalued lower-rated bonds, a strategy founded on basic value investing principles.
The big winners in all these strategies took value investing and added debt.
It was like adding nitro to the tank of a stock car. If you could control the vehicle at high speed through the corners, there was no race you couldn&#8217;t win.
Although the golden age of risk arb and the smaller investors&#8217; ability to compete in distressed debt are all behind us, we can still use the combination of debt and value investing to beat the index by a wide margin.
When the 13F filings come out every quarter, most of the short-attention-spans in the market today head for the same filings at the same time.
Warren, Cathie, Stanley, Tepper and Seth still get all the attention.
I may get around to those at some point, but one of the first places I turn is to the leading private equity firms.
Firms like Apollo Global Management (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>), Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) and KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) still use basic principles of value investing along with a healthy dose of debt to drive massive returns for themselves and their investors.
What most people do not realize is that these firms also have large public securities portfolios, and stealing their ideas has created some massive market-beating opportunities.
If you had bought shares of Mr. Cooper (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NASDAQ">COOP</a>) when it first appeared in KKR&#8217;s public portfolio in 2018, you could have made almost ten times your money.
Buying shares of AppLovin (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) when KKR first revealed its position would have resulted in gains of almost seven times your initial cost.
DoorDash (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) would have delivered gains of 3x in just a few years.
Owning the firm&#8217;s top ten holdings since 2001 would have beaten the market by a 4-to-1 margin.
I do not care what the media darling investors bought last quarter. Tell me what the profit pirates at KKR own, and I can create an opportunity to score massive gains.
The current top ten holdings for KKR are:
BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTSG#NASDAQ">BTSG</a>) provides home and community-based health services to complex patients, positioning itself in a niche with long-term demographic tailwinds. The company is newly public and pursuing scale through both organic growth and targeted acquisitions in behavioral and specialty pharmacy segments.
Henry Schein (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>) is a global distributor of dental and medical supplies primarily serving small- and mid-sized practices. The company generates stable cash flow and has a long history of disciplined capital deployment, though growth is modest and sensitive to procedure volume trends.
BrightView (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BV#NYSE">BV</a>) is the largest commercial landscaping services provider in the U.S., with recurring maintenance revenue making up the majority of its business. Under new leadership, the firm is undergoing a restructuring push to improve margins and reduce debt after years of underperformance.
KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KREF#NYSE">KREF</a>) is a commercial mortgage REIT focused on senior loans backed by institutional-grade real estate, primarily in urban markets. It offers a high dividend yield but remains exposed to office market weakness and refinancing risk in a higher-rate environment.
Madison Square Garden Sports (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSGS#NYSE">MSGS</a>) owns marquee sports franchises, including the New York Knicks and Rangers, offering investors a rare asset-backed play on professional sports. Valuation is driven more by franchise appreciation than earnings power, making it a long-duration, event-driven asset.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) is a leading cruise operator with a strong focus on premium and upscale offerings across its brand portfolio. The company is rebounding from pandemic-era disruptions, though it still carries significant leverage and remains sensitive to fuel and labor costs.
Bausch Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHC#NYSE">BHC</a>) is a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company with exposure to eye health, dermatology, and branded generics. However, the company is still burdened by high legacy debt. While it&#8217;s pursuing a turnaround strategy and asset divestitures, legal overhangs and weak cash flow remain headwinds.
FS KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSK#NYSE">FSK</a>) is one of the largest business development companies, focused on senior secured lending to middle-market companies with an emphasis on downside protection. It offers a double-digit yield and strong sponsor backing, though credit quality and NAV stability require close monitoring.
Crescent Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGY#NYSE">CSGY</a>) is a cash-generating E&amp;P company with a private equity-backed structure and a focus on acquiring and optimizing mature, low-decline assets. The firm maintains a disciplined capital return framework and hedging strategy, making it a defensive upstream play with yield upside.
BridgeBio Pharma (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBIO#NASDAQ">BBIO</a>) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for genetic diseases and cancers with clear genetic drivers. Its lead drug, Attruby (acoramidis), approved in late 2024 for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, significantly outperformed sales expectations in its first full quarter, positioning the company as a strong competitor in the cardiomyopathy treatment market.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Turn Market Mayhem Into Profit Signals This Memorial Day</h2>
Get real-time portfolio alerts, daily stock ideas, and a suite of pro-grade tools — all in one elite membership. For a limited time, you can access Benzinga Edge at 60% off. Secure Your 60% Memorial Day Discount <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-memorial-day-special/?utm_campaign=mdw-sale&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD052025/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_medium=newsletter">HERE</a>.
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 nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.
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Opinion

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BTSG

COOP

CSGY

DASH

HSIC

KREF

MSGS

NCLH

The Smart Money Is Buying These 10 Stocks

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been actively buying stocks in 2025 and is back with more than a dozen more trades less than two weeks after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45272436/marjorie-taylor-greene-goes-stock-shopping-again-here-are-50-stocks-the-congresswoman-bought">her last disclosure.</a>
Here's the latest transactions made by the congresswoman in May.
What Happened: Greene ranks 24th among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42860759/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2024-where-do-nancy-pelosi-pete-sessions-susan-collins-marjorie-taylor-greene-rank">best-performing members</a> of Congress based on their trades in 2024. The Congresswoman gained 30.2% for the year, outperforming the S&amp;P 500 gain of 24.9%.
Greene recently disclosed over 50 new stock trades in early May, which came on top of some potentially perfectly timed trades that happened before President Donald Trump&#8217;s pause of tariffs, which sent the market soaring.
Here are Greene&#8217;s most recent trades made on May 14, per the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Government Trades page</a>. All purchases made were listed as between $1,001 to $15,000 unless otherwise indicated.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): $15,000 to $50,000</li>
<li>Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)</li>
<li>Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>)</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</li>
<li>Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</li>
<li>Cardinal Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAH#NYSE">CAH</a>)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
<li>Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</li>
<li>Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>)</li>
<li>Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</li>
<li>Impinj Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PI#NASDAQ">PI</a>)</li>
<li>MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>): $15,000 to $50,000</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</li>
<li>Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>ServiceNow (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</li>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
</ul>
Greene also disclosed buying an additional $1,000 to $15,000 in UnitedHealth stock on May 16. The Congresswoman also disclosed buying $100,000 to $250,000 in US Treasury Bills on May 16.
Greene has bought $2.82 million in stocks in 2025 according to <a href="https://www.quiverquant.com/congresstrading/politician/Marjorie%20Taylor%20Greene-G000596">data </a>from Quiver Quantitative with only $75,000 in stock sales. The Congresswoman bought $3.89 million in stocks in 2024 with $65,000 in sales.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45449720/speaker-johnson-backs-congressional-stock-trading-ban-ruined-by-a-few-bad-actors">Speaker Johnson Backs Congressional Stock Trading Ban: Ruined By &#8216;A Few Bad Actors&#8217;</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks as long as they properly disclose the transaction.
The process has drawn scrutiny from the public and retail investors as members of Congress could have inside information and time their trades accordingly. Committee assignments in particular, often draw red flags from investors.
Greene serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Homeland Security with several subcommittee appointments. The congresswoman&#8217;s past trade in technology and cybersecurity stocks has drawn attention with her role within Homeland Security.
Greene's past trades of Palantir Technologies and a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44255172/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-more-bitcoin-etf-shares-ahead-of-trumps-strategic-reserve-executive-order" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Bitcoin ETF&nbsp;</a>have drawn criticism along with the timing of her trades, as she is a close ally to President&nbsp;Donald Trump.
When asked previously about buying stocks earlier this year that soared days later after Trump announced a pause to tariffs, Greene<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;brushed aside the criticism.</a>
"I think that criticism is laughable. President Trump has been talking about tariffs for decades," Greene told reporters when asked about the trades at a recent town hall event in Georgia in a clip&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1912456434081480777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared&nbsp;</a>by Unusual Whales. The congresswoman used the opportunity to boast about her stock performance, which ranked her as one of the top trading members of Congress in 2024.
"I don't place my buys and sells,&#8221; Greene said, citing an agreement she has with her portfolio manager, who handles all the buying and selling of stocks. "He did a great job. Guess what he did. He bought the dip. And that's what anybody that has financial sense does.&#8221;
Greene also said her portfolio manager did not have inside information, everything was public and a potential tariff pause wasn't a secret.
Sen.&nbsp;Josh Hawley&nbsp;(R-Mo.) has reintroduced legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks.
The bill is known as the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act, or PELOSI Act based on the first letter of each of the main words. The name takes aim at the congresswoman and former Speaker of the House&nbsp;Nancy Pelosi&nbsp;(D-Calif.). &nbsp;
"Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve — not day trading at the expense of their constituents," Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-reintroduces-pelosi-act-to-ban-congress-from-trading-stocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. "Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public."
Hawley said the bill will help "restore Americans' trust in our nation's legislative body."
Hawley's bill is being reintroduced as President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7280114/donald-trump-2025-interview-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said&nbsp;</a>he would support such a ban.
"Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send it to me, I would do it," Trump told TIME.
Trump said he would sign the ban if the bill passes Congress.
While Pelosi makes headlines for her trades, it's important to remember that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;it is both Republican</a>&nbsp;and Democratic members of Congress who are profiting from buying and selling stocks and options while in office, with some trades coming with questionable timing or having a connection to committees they serve on.
In 2024, a list of the top-performing traders in Congress included six Republicans and four Democrats.
Did You Know?
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent052025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent052025"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="330" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-1024x330.png" alt="" class="wp-image-921773" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-1024x330.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-300x97.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-768x248.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5.png 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Image: Shutterstock

Politics

AMGN

GOOG

MELI

NFLX

Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Shopping For Tesla, Netflix, UnitedHealth And More: 19 Stocks The Congresswoman Bought

Blackstone's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) short percent of float has risen 10.46% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 12.38 million shares sold short, which is 1.69% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.45 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>Blackstone Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747242041_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Blackstone 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 Blackstone'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>, Blackstone's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.92%, 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

What Does the Market Think About Blackstone?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Blackstone. Our analysis of options history for Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) revealed 8 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 37% of traders were bullish, while 50% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $120,475, and 6 were calls, valued at $481,765.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $135.0 to $170.0 for Blackstone during the past quarter. 
<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 Blackstone'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 Blackstone's whale trades within a strike price range from $135.0 to $170.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Blackstone Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747166519_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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$180.0K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$9.1</td>
<td>$8.75</td>
<td>$9.1</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$90.0K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td align="right">304</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$16.2</td>
<td>$14.6</td>
<td>$15.27</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$83.8K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td align="right">264</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$2.96</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.6</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$74.1K</td>
<td>111</td>
<td align="right">285</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$12.55</td>
<td>$12.5</td>
<td>$12.5</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td>681</td>
<td align="right">91</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Blackstone</h3>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.108 trillion in total asset under management, including $820.5 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of September 2024. The company has four core business segments: private equity (25% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (35% and 39%), credit and insurance (31% and 24%), and multi-asset investing (9% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Blackstone, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Blackstone</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,656,510, the price of BX is up by 0.31%, reaching $149.46.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 65 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Blackstone</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $153.0.
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; An analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods has decided to maintain their Market Perform rating on Blackstone, which currently sits at a price target of $139. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from JMP Securities downgraded its rating to Market Outperform, setting a price target of $165. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Blackstone, which currently sits at a price target of $150. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Blackstone, maintaining a target price of $136. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Buy rating on Blackstone with a target price of $175. 
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 Blackstone with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Behind the Scenes of Blackstone's Latest Options Trends

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/blackstone-seeks-5-6-billion-to-back-other-private-equity-firms?embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/blackstone-seeks-5-6-billion-to-back-other-private-equity-firms?embedded-checkout=true</a>

General

'Blackstone Seeks $5.6B to Back Other Private Equity Firms'- Bloomberg

WIIM

ALLY

ARES

FITB

HBAN

NTRS

SCHW

SPGI

TROW

Shares of banks and financial services stocks are higher after the US and China agreed to a temporary reduction in most tariffs on each other's goods. A reduction in tariffs could alleviate macro uncertainty in the lending and deal environment.

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-12/blackstone-is-in-talks-for-new-mexico-utility-owner-txnm" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-12/blackstone-is-in-talks-for-new-mexico-utility-owner-txnm">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-12/blackstone-is-in-talks-for-new-mexico-utility-owner-txnm</a>

'Blackstone Is in Talks For New Mexico Utility Owner TXNM' - Bloomberg News

TaskUs Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TASK#NASDAQ">TASK</a>) surged on Friday after announcing strong first-quarter results and a $16.50-per-share all-cash buyout by Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) and its co-founders.
The company has entered into an agreement to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45316012/taskus-inc-to-be-taken-private-by-co-founders-and-blackstone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acquired and taken private</a> in an all-cash deal led by an affiliate of Blackstone, alongside TaskUs co-founders Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir.
The transaction values each share at $16.50, reflecting a 26% premium over TaskUs&#8217; 30-day volume-weighted average price. The buyout group plans to acquire all outstanding Class A shares it does not currently own, effectively taking TaskUs off public exchanges.
This strategic move, unanimously approved by the TaskUs board following recommendations from its special committee of independent directors, is designed to strengthen the company&#8217;s long-term strategy.
CEO Bryce Maddock emphasized that the acquisition will help TaskUs navigate rapid shifts driven by artificial intelligence and allow for long-term investments to support both the company and its clients. Jaspar Weir will continue serving as president after the deal closes, ensuring leadership continuity during the company&#8217;s next phase of growth.
Maddock noted, &#8220;This strategic transaction will deliver immediate value to stockholders, while enabling TaskUs to make long-term investments to better support both our own business and our clients as we scale and adapt in the AI age.&#8221;
Amit Dixit, head of Asia Private Equity at Blackstone, underscored the firm&#8217;s confidence in TaskUs&#8217; ability to thrive in the fast-changing AI landscape, saying the transaction will provide the company with greater flexibility and resources to strengthen its value proposition.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
In addition to the buyout news, TaskUs reported strong <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45316168/taskus-announces-fiscal-first-quarter-2025-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter 2025</a> earnings. Revenue reached $277.8 million, up 22.1% year-over-year and surpassing the $271.06 million estimate by $6.7 million.
The company reported net income of $21.1 million (7.6% margin), adjusted net income of $35.9 million (12.9% margin), and diluted EPS of 23 cents. Notably, adjusted EPS came in at 38 cents, beating the 32 cents estimate.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $59.3 million, exceeding guidance by 130 basis points. TaskUs also generated $36.3 million in operating cash flow, $21.8 million in free cash flow, and achieved a 36.8% adjusted EBITDA-to-free cash flow conversion.
Price Action: TASK shares are trading higher by 14.53% at $16.47, and BX is up 0.97% at $141.07 on Friday&#8217;s last check.
Image: Shutterstock

CTSH

TASK

TaskUs Stock Soars As Blackstone Unveils Buyout As Earnings Smash Estimates

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/05/07/final-trades-shake-shack-wynn-resorts-spotify-and-the-iyf.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Bill Baruch, President of Blue Line Capital, said Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has been the dog of the Nasdaq and it is going to <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/04/45117886/microsoft-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-cloud-revenue-up-20">start outperforming</a>.
Supporting his view, Microsoft, on April 30, reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $70.07 billion, up 13% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $68.43 billion according to data from Benzinga Pro. Microsoft said it sees fourth-quarter sales of $73.150 billion to $74.250 billion, versus market estimates of $72.28 billion.
Stephen Weiss, Chief Investment Officer of Short Hills Capital Partners, said information technology company Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>) was the winner in that space.
Leidos Holdings, on May 6, reported first-quarter revenue growth of 7% year-over-year to $4.25 billion. It beat the analyst consensus estimate of $4.1 billion. The company&#8217;s adjusted EPS was $2.97, up 30% Y/Y, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.50.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Kari Firestone, Chair Emerita of Aureus Asset Management, named Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) as her final trade, saying the group is down roughly 30% and they are starting to move higher.
Lending support to her choice, Blackstone, on April 17, reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter financial results.
Joshua Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, picked JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) as his final trade.
On the earnings front, JPMorgan Chase, on April 11, reported better-than-expected first-quarter EPS and revenues.
Price Action:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Microsoft shares climbed 1.1% to close at $438.17 on Thursday.</li>
<li>Leidos shares slipped 0.01% to settle at $154.71 during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>Blackstone shares rose 2.7% to close at $139.81 on Thursday.</li>
<li>JPMorgan shares climbed 1.6% to settle at $253.47.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/05/45285413/top-3-financial-stocks-which-could-rescue-your-portfolio-this-month">Top 3 Financial Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio This Month</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

LDOS

Microsoft, Blackstone, Leidos And A Big US Bank: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 6.39% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 17.69%. Currently, Blackstone has a market capitalization of $108.96 billion. 
Buying $1000 In BX: If an investor had bought $1000 of BX stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $10,842.31 today based on a price of $140.95 for BX at the time of writing.
<h3>Blackstone's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746734514_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Blackstone Stock In The Last 15 Years

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the 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>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$35.5K</td>
<td>24.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SEZL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$40.1K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RELY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$37.2K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>805</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/30/25</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$33.1K</td>
<td>769</td>
<td>707</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$39.00</td>
<td>$36.4K</td>
<td>775</td>
<td>558</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HDB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$33.2K</td>
<td>528</td>
<td>317</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$41.6K</td>
<td>519</td>
<td>133</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/23/25</td>
<td>$567.50</td>
<td>$29.9K</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$35.4K</td>
<td>126</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td>147</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 134 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 237 contract(s) at a $60.00 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 $35.5K, with a price of $150.0 per contract. There were 24071 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2017 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SEZL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEZL#NASDAQ">SEZL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 9 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.1K, with a price of $4460.0 per contract. There were 4943 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1035 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RELY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RELY#NASDAQ">RELY</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 240 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.2K, with a price of $155.0 per contract. There were 1514 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 805 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 22 day(s) on May 30, 2025. This event was a transfer of 99 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.1K, with a price of $335.0 per contract. There were 769 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 707 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 71 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 350 contract(s) at a $39.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.4K, with a price of $104.0 per contract. There were 775 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 558 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HDB (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HDB#NYSE">HDB</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 43 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 151 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.2K, with a price of $220.0 per contract. There were 528 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 317 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 253 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 35 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.6K, with a price of $1190.0 per contract. There were 519 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 133 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on May 23, 2025. Parties traded 18 contract(s) at a $567.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.9K, with a price of $1665.0 per contract. There were 4 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 112 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 225 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $480.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.4K, with a price of $1180.0 per contract. There were 126 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 30 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding V (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 406 day(s) on June 18, 2026. Parties traded 10 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.5K, with a price of $4550.0 per contract. There were 147 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 16 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.

HOOD

RELY

SEZL

UPST

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Microsoft Corporation, Leidos Holdings, Blackstone, JP Morgan Chase & Co

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been actively buying stocks in 2025, including transactions that may have been perfectly timed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip"> during a market dip.</a>
Here's the latest transactions made by the congresswoman in early May.
What Happened: Greene was ranked as the 24th best-performing member of Congress based on their trades in 2024. The Congresswoman gained 30.2% for the year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42860759/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2024-where-do-nancy-pelosi-pete-sessions-susan-collins-marjorie-taylor-greene-rank">outperforming the S&amp;P 500 </a>gain of 24.9%.
With new trades placed throughout the early months of 2025, Greene could see huge returns again during the year.
Here are her most recent trades made on May 5, as shown on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725">Benzinga Government Trades page</a>. All purchases made were listed as between $1,001 to $15,000 unless otherwise indicated.
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</li>
<li>AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</li>
<li>Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>)</li>
<li>Applied Materials (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>)</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</li>
<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</li>
<li>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</li>
<li>BHP Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHP#NYSE">BHP</a>)</li>
<li>BP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>)</li>
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</li>
<li>Blackstone Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</li>
<li>Cardinal Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAH#NYSE">CAH</a>)</li>
<li>Caterpillar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>)</li>
<li>Cummins Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
<li>Dell Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>)</li>
<li>Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLR#NYSE">DLR</a>)</li>
<li>Duke Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>)</li>
<li>Devon Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)</li>
<li>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>)</li>
<li>Frontline PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRO#NYSE">FRO</a>)</li>
<li>Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>)</li>
<li>Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>)</li>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
<li>Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</li>
<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>)</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</li>
<li>Kinder Morgan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMI#NYSE">KMI</a>)</li>
<li>Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</li>
<li>MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>Merck Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>
<li>NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>)</li>
<li>ServiceNow Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NASDAQ">NOW</a>)</li>
<li>Norfolk Southern (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>)</li>
<li>Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>)</li>
<li>Paychex Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>)</li>
<li>Impinj Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PI#NASDAQ">PI</a>)</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)</li>
<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)</li>
<li>Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</li>
<li>United Parcel Service (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>)</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</li>
<li>Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>)</li>
</ul>
In total, that's more than 50 different stocks bought and disclosed by Greene in the latest filing. Based on the purchase range of $1,001 to $15,000, this would make the transaction range over $50,000 and up to more than $800,000.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/45077654/bill-named-after-nancy-pelosi-could-ban-congress-members-from-trading-stocks-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-pelosi-act">Bill Named After Nancy Pelosi Could Ban Congress Members From Trading Stocks: What You Need To Know About The &#8216;PELOSI&#8217; Act</a>
Why It's Important: Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks as long as they properly disclose the transaction.
The process has drawn scrutiny from the public and retail investors as members of Congress could have inside information and time their trades accordingly. Committee assignments in particular, often draw red flags from investors.
Greene serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Homeland Security with several subcommittee appointments. The congresswoman's past trade in technology and cybersecurity stocks has drawn attention with her role within Homeland Security.
Greene&#8217;s past trades of Palantir Technologies and a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44255172/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-more-bitcoin-etf-shares-ahead-of-trumps-strategic-reserve-executive-order"> Bitcoin ETF </a>have drawn criticism along with the timing of her trades, as she is a close ally to President Donald Trump. 
When asked previously about buying stocks earlier this year that soared days later after Trump announced a pause to tariffs, Greene<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip"> brushed aside the criticism.</a>
&#8220;I think that criticism is laughable. President Trump has been talking about tariffs for decades,&#8221; Greene told reporters when asked about the trades at a recent town hall event in Georgia in a clip <a href="https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1912456434081480777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared </a>by Unusual Whales. The congresswoman used the opportunity to boast about her stock performance, which ranked her as one of the top trading members of Congress in 2024.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t place my buys and sells," Greene said, citing an agreement she has with her portfolio manager, who handles all the buying and selling of stocks. &#8220;He did a great job. Guess what he did. He bought the dip. And that&#8217;s what anybody that has financial sense does."
Greene also said her portfolio manager did not have inside information, everything was public and a potential tariff pause wasn&#8217;t a secret.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has reintroduced legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks.
The bill is known as the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act, or PELOSI Act based on the first letter of each of the main words. The name takes aim at the congresswoman and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).  
&#8220;Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve — not day trading at the expense of their constituents,&#8221; Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-reintroduces-pelosi-act-to-ban-congress-from-trading-stocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public.&#8221;
Hawley said the bill will help &#8220;restore Americans&#8217; trust in our nation&#8217;s legislative body.&#8221;
Hawley&#8217;s bill is being reintroduced as President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7280114/donald-trump-2025-interview-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said&nbsp;</a>he would support such a ban.
&#8220;Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send it to me, I would do it,&#8221; Trump told TIME.
Trump said he would sign the ban if the bill passes Congress.
While Pelosi makes headlines for her trades, it&#8217;s important to remember that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;it is both Republican</a>&nbsp;and Democratic members of Congress who are profiting from buying and selling stocks and options while in office, with some trades coming with questionable timing or having a connection to committees they serve on.
In 2024, a list of the top-performing traders in Congress included six Republicans and four Democrats.
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="330" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-1024x330.png" alt="" class="wp-image-906796" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-1024x330.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-300x97.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-768x248.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1.png 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

ABBV

ADBE

AMAT

AMZN

DELL

GILD

INTC

ODFL

PANW

PAYX

QCOM

SBUX

Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Stock Shopping Again: Here Are 50+ Stocks The Congresswoman Bought

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/05/02/final-trades-blackstone-delta-airlines-tjx-companies-and-meta.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Stephanie Link of Hightower Advisors named Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BX/earnings">her final trade</a>.
Meta, on April 30, reported first-quarter revenue of $42.31 billion, beating analyst estimates of $41.39 billion. The company reported first-quarter earnings of $6.43 per share, easily beating analyst estimates of $5.21 per share.
 Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Rob Sechan, CEO of NewEdge Wealth, picked Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) as his final trade.
Supporting his view, Blackstone, on April 17, reported first-quarter fiscal year segment revenues of $2.763 billion, up 8% year over year (Y/Y), beating the consensus of $2.689 billion. Distributable earnings (DE) rose 11% Y/Y to $1.41 billion. Fee-related earnings increased 9% Y/Y to $1.26 billion.
Sarat Sethi, Managing Partner at DCLA, said Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) just announced a $1 billion stock buyback plan, and it has a huge amount of free cash flow.
On the earnings front, Delta Air Lines, on April 9, posted better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.
Kevin Simpson, Capital Wealth Planning CIO, said The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>) is going to benefit from tariffs.
Supporting his view, Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez upgraded TJX Companies from Neutral to Buy on April 3 and raised the price target from $128 to $140.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Blackstone shares climbed 3% to close at $137.42 on Friday.</li>
<li>Delta Air Lines gained 6.5% to close at $44.20 during Friday's session.</li>
<li>TJX shares gained 1.2% to close at $129.21 on Friday.</li>
<li>Meta Platforms shares rose 4.3% to settle at $597.02.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45164497/jim-cramer-this-financial-stock-is-a-buy-likes-exlservice-holdings"> </a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45164497/jim-cramer-this-financial-stock-is-a-buy-likes-exlservice-holdings">Jim Cramer: Sunrun Had &#8216;Bad Couple Of Quarters,&#8217; ExlService Holdings Is &#8216;Solid&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

Meta, Delta Air Lines, TJX And A Financial Stock On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

On Friday, President Donald Trump said he would consider pushing back the June 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations if <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44613084/amazon-makes-surprise-bid-for-tiktok-amid-us-ban-threat-report">a deal is not finalized </a>in time. This marks the third time he's granted a reprieve to the short video app used by over 170 million Americans.
What Happened: In an interview with NBC News&#8217; Meet the Press, Trump said, "I'd like to see it done."
"Perhaps I shouldn&#8217;t say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTok," he stated, adding, "TikTok is, it&#8217;s very interesting, but it&#8217;ll be protected. It will be very strongly protected, but if it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension. It might not need it."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45187070/warren-buffett-retires-after-decades-of-dominancefrom-tim-cook-to-mark-cuban-worlds-top-business-leaders-react-to-the-investment-icons-exit">&#8216;Curtain Call For The Captain:&#8217; Tim Cook, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban And Other Top Business Leaders React As Warren Buffett Bows Out</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="President Trump says he'll build and self-fund a ‘world-class' ballroom in the White House" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RJ1iYPlMO-U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: The law, passed under his second administration, required China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by Jan. 19 or face a nationwide ban.
Trump, who returned to office on Jan. 20, <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44345433/tiktok-ban-deadline-looms-but-vice-president-jd-vance-confirms-high-level-us-ownership-deal-is-nearly-done">opted not to enforce it</a> and instead issued extensions — first to April, then again to June 19. During his first term, Trump wanted to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns over its ownership by China-based ByteDance.
A deal had been underway to spin off TikTok's U.S. operations into a company controlled by American investors, but those efforts stalled after China signaled it would not approve the arrangement.
The freeze followed Trump's announcement of sweeping <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655624/trumps-tariff-hike-pushes-back-tiktok-us-deal-as-china-opposes-the-sale-extending-the-deadline-for-bytedances-divestment">145% tariffs on some Chinese goods</a>, which further complicated U.S.-China negotiations.
In April, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) unexpectedly submitted a last-minute bid to acquire all of TikTok. Meanwhile, other major players like Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) are actively exploring alternative strategies to restructure TikTok's U.S. operations.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42758430/tiktok-fined-10-million-in-venezuela-as-supreme-court-blames-platform-for-failing-to-prevent-deadly-viral-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok Fined $10 Million In Venezuela, Funds To Be Used To Compensate Victims Of Deadly Viral Challenges</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com

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