Constellation Energy Option Alert: Nov 21 $300 Calls at the Bid: 100 vs 287 OI; Earnings 8/5 Before Open [est] 

Constellation Energy Option Alert: Nov 21 $300 Calls at the Bid: 100 @ $50.5 vs 287 OI; Earnings 8/5 Before Open [est] Ref=$313.96

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CONSTELLATION ENERGY

Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy Corp producer of carbon-free energy and a supplier of energy products and services. The company offers generating capacity that includes nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, and hydroelectric assets. It sells electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related products and sustainable solutions to various types of customers, including distribution utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, and commercial, industrial, public sector, and residential customers in markets across multiple geographic regions. Its operating segments and reporting units are Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New York, ERCOT, and Other Power Regions.

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A Reddit thread on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1lk9z3j/people_who_make_3050k_a_year_and_live_comfortably/">r/NoStupidQuestions</a> recently prompted a wide range of replies after someone asked how low-income earners feel about people who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44614059/someone-asked-why-75k-is-seen-as-a-low-salary-on-reddit-the-responses-actually-make-more-sense-than-youd-expect">make $75,000</a> to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46044025/earning-more-than-100000-feels-like-a-dream-to-many-but-when-you-look-closer-some-of-these-jobs-arent-as-difficult-as-youd-think">$115,000 or more</a> but &#8220;still say it's not enough.&#8221;&nbsp;
The original poster, who said they were once in the $30,000 to $50,000 income range and now earn above six figures, noted their lifestyle hasn't changed much despite the pay bump. They found it surprising that higher earners often still claim they're struggling financially.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Raise Doesn&#8217;t Always Mean Relief</h2>
The replies poured in, offering everything from understanding to exasperation. Many pointed out that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45685741/the-cost-of-living-crisis-hits-hard-in-these-8-cities-where-you-need-to-earn-at-least-100k-to-live-c">cost of living varies wildly by location</a>. &#8220;I'm making over in 100K in NYC but sometimes that feels like barely enough after retirement savings, emergency funds, student loans, rent etc.,&#8221; one person wrote. Others noted that if you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41975094/can-you-raise-a-family-here-heres-what-it-takes-to-live-comfortably-in-americas-costliest-states">live in a high-cost area</a> like San Francisco or Boston, even six figures can feel tight.
Another major theme was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/06/46024255/7-silent-wealth-drains-that-are-sabotaging-your-future">lifestyle creep</a>. &#8220;As you make more money, you start buying nicer stuff, eating at fancier places, or upgrading things you didn't need to upgrade,&#8221; one person said. All of this can quietly inflate your monthly budget.
Still, others highlighted hidden expenses that don't show up in salary figures. Some higher earners support family members or face high health care and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44999168/reason-people-dont-have-kids-earlier-is-theyre-expensive-says-kevin-oleary-however-time-is-the-one-thing-money-cant-buy">childcare costs</a>. &#8220;I make $90K and feel broke because half my paycheck goes to daycare,&#8221; one parent commented.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some Weren't Buying It</h2>
Not all replies were empathetic. Some users were openly dismissive of people earning over $75,000 who said they couldn't make ends meet. One wrote, &#8220;Many people have literally no idea how to save money or no self control to do it. All my coworkers get DoorDash multiple times a week, go to the bar every weekend, have $800 car payments, and complain they are broke. If they got a 50k raise they&#8217;d still be broke.&#8221;
Others blamed poor decision-making. "Yeah, there are two types of broke people. Those who are broke because of bad luck and the system against them, and those who are broke because of how they act. The former can be helped by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46041988/a-henry-redditor-asks-if-she-should-take-a-job-with-higher-pay-or-a-better-title-is-this-a-no-brainer">getting a better-paying job</a>, but the latter will always find a way to spend more than they make," one person said.
In the end, the thread revealed just how complex the conversation around money can be. Income alone doesn't tell the full story. Context, cost of living, spending habits, and financial literacy all play major roles. While some commenters showed compassion for high earners feeling the squeeze, others found it hard to sympathize when they're scraping by on far less.
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Low-Income Earners Were Asked About People Making $75K-115K+ Who 'Still Say It's Not Enough.' The Reactions Spanned From Empathy To Eye-Rolls

Microsoft Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is now encouraging&nbsp;managers to evaluate employees based&nbsp;on their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. 
What Happened: Julia Liuson, who heads the division of Microsoft responsible for developer tools like GitHub Copilot, has directed managers to consider the&nbsp;use of internal AI tools&nbsp;as a key factor in assessing employee performance. 
In her email, Liuson emphasized the importance of AI in the company&#8217;s operations, stating,&nbsp;&#8220;AI is now a fundamental&nbsp;part of how we work. Using&nbsp;AI is no longer optional&nbsp;— it&#8217;s core to every&nbsp;role and every level.&#8221;
Performance expectations at Microsoft vary across teams, and some are considering incorporating a formal metric related to the&nbsp;use of internal AI tools&nbsp;in performance evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year, as disclosed by an anonymous insider.
&#8220;AI is now a fundamental part of how we work. Just like collaboration, data-driven thinking, and effective communication, using AI is no longer optional — it&#8217;s core to every role and every level,&#8221; Liuson wrote in the email. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40541641/leaked-data-huge-pay-gap-in-favor-of-ai-engineers-at-microsoft">Leaked Data: Huge Pay Gap In Favor Of AI Engineers At Microsoft</a>
This initiative is part of Microsoft&#8217;s strategy to address what it sees as a slow&nbsp;internal adoption of its Copilot&nbsp;AI services. 
The tech giant&#8217;s goal is to increase usage across the board and ensure that those developing these products have a thorough understanding of the tools.
The decision comes at a time when competition in the AI coding services market is intensifying. Cursor recently overtook GitHub Copilot in a significant segment of the developer market, as noted by Barclays. This competitive landscape is also influencing Microsoft&#8217;s renegotiation of its vital partnership with OpenAI.
Why It Matters: Microsoft&#8217;s new mandate underscores the growing importance of AI in the tech industry. By making AI usage a performance metric, the company is not only promoting the adoption of its own AI tools but also preparing its workforce for an increasingly AI-driven future. 
This move could potentially give Microsoft an edge in the competitive AI coding services market.
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Image: Shutterstock

Microsoft Urges Employees to Embrace In-House AI — Performance Reviews May Reflect Usage

NBA Hall-of-Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson beat a lot of top competition on his way to winning five NBA championships. With that in mind, it may surprise you that despite staring down fellow greats like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, Johnson doesn't consider either of them his toughest opponent. Johnson said that distinction belongs to the board for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/46053495/starbucks-green-apron-expansion-to-boost-service-but-squeeze-earnings-through-2027"> Starbucks</a> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SBUX"> SBUX</a>).
Johnson's post-NBA career exploits as a businessman are well-known, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and he faced numerous challenges on the way to becoming a real estate and business mogul. One of his earliest deals was to open a Starbucks coffee store in South Los Angeles. At the time, there were very few, if any, Starbucks serving urban neighborhoods and Johnson wanted to change that. There was just one problem.
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Starbucks is a chain, but it's not a franchise, meaning the corporation owns and operates all its outlets. When Johnson approached Starbucks founder<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/06/46042023/bill-gates-sr-helped-howard-schultz-buy-starbucks-in-1987-by-towering-over-a-rival-investor-this-kid-is-going-to-realize-his-dream"> Howard Schultz</a> about opening his location, Schultz told Johnson about the company's policy of owning all its locations. That meant Johnson would have to convince Starbucks' biggest stockholders to get on board with the idea.
The stakes were incredibly high, but for different reasons than you might imagine. Sure, Johnson stood to make a lot of money if he could get the deal done. However, his motives went beyond personal gain. Johnson wanted to open his Starbucks in South Los Angeles, which was still rebuilding from the Rodney King riots. Despite being born in Michigan, Johnson had adopted Los Angeles as his home, and the city saw him as a native son.
His popularity was incredibly high in South Los Angeles, and Johnson had already taken the lead in helping to rebuild the community. His first major endeavor, a partnership with movie theater chain AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMC"> AMC</a>) to open a first-class movie theater in South LA, was already a smashing success. That gave him a measure of credibility, but Johnson still had a massive challenge in selling Starbucks' biggest stockholders on his idea.
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Like any group of investors, their motives were much more bottom-line oriented. Johnson's vision of revitalizing South Los Angeles was admirable, but it wasn't enough to get the green light. There was only one way that was going to happen: convince Starbucks shareholders that urban locations could be money makers. Then there was the secondary challenge of getting the board to approve his private ownership of the proposed Starbucks outlet.
&nbsp;"The hardest thing I thought I was gonna' do was play against Larry Bird and Michael Jordan," Johnson said to Bloomberg's "<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-06-11/the-deal-magic-johnson-podcast">The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly</a>." "The hardest thing was to go before the [Starbucks] board and then go into a movie theater packed with good shareholders and try to convince them this is a great move for Starbucks." Fortunately for Johnson, his track record, vision, and charm won the day.
Johnson opened his first Starbucks on Crenshaw Boulevard, and much like his theaters, it was a success. He went on to open 125 Starbucks locations in urban areas throughout the country. After many years of successful stewardship, Johnson sold his 125 locations back to Starbucks in 2010. That deal helped Johnson "make his bones" as a businessman and heralded even greater success.
"I became the first person to ever own Starbucks outside of Starbucks," Johnson told "The Deal." "We built 125 in 40 different markets across America. They all did extremely well. And that really gave me, first of all, the stamp of approval. It gave me the track record that I needed of success so I can move on to something else."
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Magic Johnson's Toughest Opponent Wasn't Larry Bird Or Michael Jordan—It Was The Starbucks Board

Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA&#8217;s Dallas Mavericks, expressed his dismay upon learning that some of his employees were reliant on government aid programs.
What Happened: Cuban was surprised to discover that a number of his arena staff were on public assistance. 
&#8220;When I found out I had employees at our arena on public assistance, I immediately gave raises to every hourly employee and their managers,&#8221; Cuban stated, expressing his embarrassment over the situation.
As per the report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-embarassed-staff-assistance-cut-medicaid-employees-taxpayers-companies-2025-6">by </a>Insider, Cuban, who has owned the majority stake in the Mavericks since 2000, chastised large employers for paying their full-time employees so little that they qualify for Medicaid. 
He proposed that the most effective way to reduce Medicaid costs is to publicly expose such employers.
This revelation comes amidst President Donald Trump&#8216;s push for his &#8220;Big Beautiful Bill&#8221; to be passed by July 4. The proposed legislation would impose significant restrictions on Medicaid, a healthcare program relied upon by over 70 million Americans.
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Cuban, a known critic of Trump, contended that Medicaid reductions should come from employers, not legislation. He suggested that CEOs could afford to lift&nbsp;their employees off Medicaid by&nbsp;accepting less profit and asking&nbsp;shareholders to increase the price-to-earnings&nbsp;ratio they receive.
Why It Matters: Cuban&#8217;s actions highlight a growing concern about wage disparity and the reliance of full-time workers on government aid. His decision to increase wages for his employees not only addresses the immediate issue but also calls attention to the broader problem. 
By advocating for CEOs to accept less profit and increase the price-to-earnings ratio for shareholders, Cuban is challenging the status quo and prompting a discussion about corporate responsibility and fair wages. 
This could potentially influence other employers to reconsider their wage policies and reduce the burden on government aid programs.
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Mark Cuban Raises Employee Wages After Learning Of Government Aid Dependence

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has voiced his apprehension regarding the mounting U.S. debt, comparing it to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43901059/ray-dalios-holy-grail-investment-strategy-why-10-15-diversified-investments-could-make-you-a-fortune">an imminent &#8220;financial heart attack.&#8221;</a>
What Happened: Dalio, the founder of&nbsp;Bridgewater Associates, cautioned about the unmanageable deficits at a recent New York event. He drew a parallel between the debt service situation and a plaque buildup in arteries, which could potentially hamper other consumption.
Dalio pointed out that the US is estimated to yield revenues of approximately $5 trillion this year, while spending is anticipated to hit $7 trillion. This would contribute&nbsp;$2 trillion to the national&nbsp;deficit, with an extra $1 trillion needed for interest payments on the debt.
As per the report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ray-dalio-national-debt-crisis-investing-strategy-inflation-gold-bitcoin-2025-6">by</a> Insider, the investor proposed that the US needs to decrease&nbsp;its budget deficit from 6.5%&nbsp;to 3% of GDP through&nbsp;a blend of spending cuts, augmented tax revenue, and reduced interest rates. However, he conceded that executing these solutions could be difficult and contentious.
&#8220;We have to, in the next, year sell about $12 trillion. We have $1 trillion that we can pay in interest. We have $9 trillion in debt service in terms of principle, and then we have to sell another $2 trillion because we had a deficit,&#8221; Dalio said.
Dalio also cautioned that the debt crisis could exacerbate in the event of a recession, as government borrowing typically surges during economic downturns.
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To shield their portfolios from the adverse effects of escalating national debt and deficits, Dalio advised investors to hedge against inflation and diversify their holdings. 
&#8220;The safest investment that you can get right now is an inflation-indexed&nbsp;bond. You&#8217;ll get a bit over 2% of real return above inflation,&#8221; he said. 
He advocated for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), gold, and a modest amount of Bitcoin as wise investment options.
Talking about government initiative Dalio said, &#8220;When faced with the choice, they print money,&#8221; 
Why It Matters: Dalio&#8217;s warning comes at a time when the US debt is at an all-time high, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting the federal debt to reach 202% of GDP by 2051 if current laws remain unchanged. The potential impact of this on the economy and investment landscape is significant. 
Dalio&#8217;s suggested strategies aim to provide investors with a roadmap to navigate this uncertain terrain, emphasizing the importance of diversification and hedging against inflation. 
His endorsement of bitcoin also highlights the growing acceptance of digital assets as a part of a balanced investment portfolio.
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US Faces 'Financial Heart Attack,' Ray Dalio Warns — Shares Investment Strategies: 'The Safest Investment That You Can Get Right Now Is An Inflation-Indexed Bond'

"God, please give us legislators who care about economic development and not just taxing our industry to pay for other things that we care about, as well." Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)&nbsp; President Brad Smith <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B92HIOR_P1k">said</a> during the Technology Alliance's State of Technology luncheon, according to GeekWire.&nbsp;
He warned that Washington state's tech-powered prosperity could falter if lawmakers continue treating the industry "like an endless cash machine.
Smith's remarks on May 20 came as new tax proposals threaten to slow innovation, even as artificial intelligence reshapes the state's job market and investment priorities.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Growth Engine Or Gravy Train?</h2>
According to Smith, <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/we-better-wake-up-microsofts-brad-smith-sounds-alarm-as-state-moves-ahead-with-tax-plan/">tech accounts </a>for 9.4% of all jobs and 22.1% of total compensation paid in Washington — the highest share of any state.
Smith also pointed to concerns from the<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/545b1745e4b0a4696b7278fd/t/682e721132ca06284bca2b09/1747874351717/2025+Benchmarking+Report"> 2025 Benchmarking Report</a> by the Technology Alliance, including slipping K–12 math scores, fewer university spinouts, and a shrinking pipeline of venture-backed exits — signs, he warned, that Washington's momentum is fading as rival regions ramp up innovation.
Hours after Smith's remarks, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5813&amp;Initiative=false&amp;Year=2025">Senate Bill 5813</a> which increases the capital gains rate to 9.9% up from 7% on Washington gains over $1 million and <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2081&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2081</a> which imposes a temporary 0.5% B&amp;O tax surcharge on companies with more than $250 million in annual Washington taxable income.
In April 17, Ferguson <a href="https://governor.wa.gov/news/2025/governor-bob-ferguson-comment-proposed-12b-taxes">described</a> raising $12 billion in new taxes as "unsustainable, too risky" and emphasized the need for both revenue and spending reforms to close the projected. Ferguson also acknowledged potential unintended consequences and said the business community will be consulted during implementation.
Meanwhile, rival states are rolling out red carpets. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed $20 million for strategic innovation centers in the <a href="https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/publications/budget/governors-budget/2026/tre_analysis_2026.pdf">fiscal 2026</a> budget. The state has allocated $126.5 million to these centers since fiscal 2022. Smith applauded the investment approach as evidence that targeted incentives continue to shape tech talent clusters.
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Microsoft marked its 50th anniversary with a celebratory <a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/04/04/celebrating-microsofts-50-years/">blog post</a>, highlighting AI's pivotal role in its ongoing evolution. At the Technology Alliance's State of Technology luncheon, Smith noted that growth follows investment. However, the milestone also coincided with the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/microsoft-is-cutting-3percent-of-workers-across-the-software-company.html">elimination</a> of roughly 6,000 jobs—about 3% of the workforce—part of cost-cutting aimed at reducing management layers and reallocating resources toward AI.
The luncheon program in May closed with Technology Alliance CEO Laura Ruderman urging attendees to tell a stronger innovation story. Many voters still question the value of an invention-driven economy, she said. Washington State Commerce Director Joe Nguyen —a former Microsoft executive— echoed the concern, arguing that Washington wraps big ideas in tight red tape, urging a pivot toward speed and accountability.
Smith pointed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44066026/satya-nadella-says-ai-agents-will-replace-knowledge-work-but-theres-one-role-humans-will-always-need-to-play">Microsoft's</a> sprawling Redmond, Washington, campus as proof that research labs become paychecks and tax revenue when public and private sectors pull in the same direction. Each new building on that campus—whether a redone lab, a fresh office space, or an innovation center— marks a moment when lawmakers chose growth over short-term patchwork.
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'God, Please Give Us Legislators Who Care,' Says Microsoft President As He Warns Washington Is 'Taking Tech For Granted'

Electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has been around for decades and the company we know today can trace its roots back to a meeting and idea made during a lunch conversation, similar to the creation of NVIDIA.
Some Tesla fans may know the story of how a lunch date led to the formation of the company as we know it today.
For others, the story, which was reshared by Tesla co-founders&nbsp;JB Straubel&nbsp;and&nbsp;Elon Musk,&nbsp;may be new.
What Happened:&nbsp;Speaking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/05/27090485/elon-musk-and-jb-straubel-reuniting-for-panel-this-week-heres-how-and-when-you-can-see-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">together&nbsp;</a>at the Financial Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfyrQVhfGZc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"Future of the Car" event</a>&nbsp;in 2022, Straubel and Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/05/12/the-lunch-with-elon-musk-that-led-to-tesla/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recalled&nbsp;</a>their lunch date that led to the creation of Tesla and the groundwork for the Tesla Roadster.
Musk said he received a call from Strabuel out of the blue to discuss items like space and hydrogen airplanes. Musk agreed to the lunch, and ultimately the conversation shifted to lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles.
Musk shared with Straubel that he thought electric vehicles were the future. Straubel invited Musk to test drive the tzero prototype from&nbsp;AC Propulsion.
"I got a test drive in the tzero and I tried to convince them to commercialize the T-O," Musk said. "I tried very hard, actually, to commercialize the tzero electric sports car."
The AC Propulsion team was not interested in commercializing the vehicle, which led to Musk asking about his potential with the vehicle.
"Well do you mind if I do that? Do you mind if I create a commercial electric sports car?"
Musk said the group said yeah, and he began the mission of creating&nbsp;a company to commercialize the tzero along with Straubel.
Tom Gage&nbsp;from AC Propulsion introduced Musk to a trio that was interested in commercializing the vehicle, that was&nbsp;Marc Tarpenning, Martin Eberhard&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ian Wright.
"It was really just three guys and JB and me. We just decided to team up and create a commercial version of the tzero electric sports car."
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Why It's Important:&nbsp;The creation of Tesla as a company remains a controversial topic to this day, as the three co-founders outside of Musk and Straubel have claimed they had a company prior to ever meeting Musk, something the world's richest man disagrees with.
Musk and Straubel also shared details of the early struggles of the company during their speaking event at the "Future of the Car" event.
Straubel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/19/07/14134371/tesla-co-founder-jb-straubel-is-the-latest-executive-to-depart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">left&nbsp;</a>Tesla in 2019 and is now the CEO of Redwood Materials.&nbsp;
The resharing of the famous lunch meeting could be an important lesson for entrepreneurs that even when the original topic of a lunch meeting isn't something you want to discuss, it could be a meeting that could lead to one of the most important business decisions of all time.
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This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Education

Elon Musk Reveals The Lunch That Launched Tesla: 'Do You Mind If I Do That?'

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) marks its 15th anniversary of its initial public offering (IPO) with a staggering 300-fold surge in its stock value.
Tesla&#8217;s IPO occurred 15 years ago, on June 29 2010, with the company generating around $150 million in revenue, primarily from the Roadster, its two-seat electric sports car. The Model S sedan, targeting the premium vehicle market, was still two years away from launch.
The IPO was a gamble on CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&#8216;s ability to create a range of mass-market electric vehicles and build an automaker far&nbsp;from the Detroit auto hub,&nbsp;centered instead on Silicon Valley.
An investor who put $10,000&nbsp;in Tesla&#8217;s stock at the IPO and held onto the shares would now have a stake worth nearly $3 million. Tesla is currently&nbsp;the eighth most-valuable publicly traded&nbsp;U.S. company, boasting&nbsp;a market cap of over&nbsp;$1 trillion.
Tesla&#8217;s&nbsp;financial success over the past&nbsp;decade has been shaped by the&nbsp;top-selling Model Y SUV and&nbsp;Model 3 sedan, along with&nbsp;sales of environmental regulatory credits.
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Musk, now the world&#8217;s richest person, has told investors that the reason to buy and own Tesla stock from here has almost nothing to do with selling cars to consumers. 
"If somebody doesn't believe Tesla's going to solve autonomy, I think they should not be an investor in the company," Musk <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/24/elon-musk-is-keeping-investors-dreams-of-a-tesla-robotaxi-alive.html">said</a>, and as reported by CNBC, on an earnings call last year. 
Instead, he sees the potential in Tesla&#8217;s Optimus humanoid robots and the company&#8217;s autonomous driving technology.
While Tesla continues to enjoy a loyal fan base and support from a number of bullish analysts, Wall Street remains cautious about Elon Musk's ambitious projections—many viewing them as already priced into the stock. 
Tesla&#8217;s stock is down about 20% this year, underperforming major U.S. indexes and lagging behind all of its megacap tech peers. Only Apple, with a year-to-date decline of 19.7%, comes close.
Earlier in June, Tesla&#8217;s vice president of Optimus robotics, Milan Kovac, announced his departure from the company after a nine-year tenure.
Despite these challenges,&nbsp;Tesla investors have learned that&nbsp;volatility is a big part&nbsp;of the company&#8217;s story, with the stock experiencing significant gains or losses on&nbsp;more than 40 occasions in&nbsp;the past 15 years.
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On This Day 15 Years Ago, Elon Musk's Tesla Took A Risk On The Public Markets — Now It's Paid Off Nearly 300 Times Over

Steve Jobs once spent two weeks debating which washing machine to buy, a decision that turned into a dinner-table saga, illustrating the Apple co-founder's belief that every choice, no matter how mundane, deserved the same rigor he applied to the Macintosh and iPhone.
What Happened: Jobs <a href="https://www.wired.com/1996/02/jobs-2/">told</a> Wired in 1996 that "Americans make washers and dryers all wrong," praising European models that "wash them with about a quarter as much water" and leave clothes "much cleaner, much softer and they last a lot longer."
Night after night, he and his family weighed trade-offs. "Did we care most about getting our wash done in an hour versus an hour and a half? Or did we care about our clothes feeling really soft and lasting longer?" he recalled.
The conversations finally produced a winner — a German-made Miele set. "I got more thrill out of them than I have out of any piece of high tech in years," Jobs said.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46047458/steve-jobs-believed-teamwork-required-bumping-up-each-other-like-old-ugly-rocks-heres-what-he-meant">Steve Jobs Believed Teamwork Required &#8216;Bumping Up&#8217; Each Other Like &#8216;Old Ugly Rocks&#8217; — Here&#8217;s What He Meant</a> Why It Matters: Colleagues later recognized the same deliberative streak inside Apple's design studio, where the billionaire spent "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38403093/steve-jobs-spent-hour-after-hour-on-product-design-he-cared-about-god-being-in-the-details-says-walt">hour after hour</a>" scrutinizing every pixel because he believed "God [was] in the details," biographer Walter Isaacson noted. According to an <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/17/how-steve-jobs-changed">account</a> by The New Yorker, that obsession led him to ban a cooling fan in the original Macintosh because it sounded "noisy and clumsy," forcing engineers to redesign the motherboard simply so it looked elegant.
Yet the slow, reflective Jobs could also demand lightning-fast fixes. Former Googler Vic Gundotra has recalled a Sunday call in which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/02/37163807/steve-jobs-once-called-google-on-a-sunday-to-complain-about-logos-appearance-on-his-iphone-im-not-ha">Jobs barked</a>, "The second ‘o' in Google doesn't have the right yellow gradient on my iPhone. I'm not happy." Fast Company <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/1665324/reading-steve-jobs-the-upside-of-unreasonable-demands">chronicled</a> similar outbursts, saying his "impatience with those who made compromises" routinely sent teams back to the drawing board.
Design historians <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-steve-jobs-love-of-simplicity-fueled-a-design-revolution-23868877/">argue</a> that this blend of patience for deliberation and zero tolerance for mediocrity powered Apple's minimalist revolution. "It takes a lot of hard work to make something simple," Jobs once said of the company's hallmark aesthetic.
Photo Courtesy: Kemarrravv13 on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46132977/microsoft-windows-blue-screen-of-death-is-retiring-after-40-years-heres-what-will-replace-it">Microsoft Windows Blue Screen Of Death Is Retiring After 40 Years, Here&#8217;s What Will Replace It</a>

Steve Jobs Once Spent Two Weeks Choosing A Washing Machine For His Palo Alto Home And He Got More 'Thrill' Out Of It Than Any Piece Of High Tech In Ages

Data centers have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the real estate sector, generating strong returns for real estate investment trust investors for the last several years. The massive facilities are mission-critical pieces of AI infrastructure, which explains why many of the world's biggest tech companies have multi-billion-dollar data center investments. However, Lux Capital partner Josh Wolfe is concerned that the data center sector is showing signs of a bubble ready to pop.
Data center spending is on pace to exceed $405 billion in 2025, which is a 23% increase over 2024, according to<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/314596/total-data-center-systems-worldwide-spending-forecast/"> Statista.com</a>. This sector used to be dominated by data center REITs like Equinix (NASDAQ:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EQIX"> EQIX</a>) and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45762780/if-you-invested-10k-in-digital-realty-trust-stock-10-years-ago-how-much-would-you-have-now"> Digital Realty Trust</a> (NYSE:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DLR"> DLR</a>). However, they now face competition from tech titans like Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT"> MSFT</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN"> AMZN</a>), and Meta (NASDAQ:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META"> META</a>), who would rather own and operate facilities than rent them in perpetuity.
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Runaway data center construction drives AI's ever-expanding capabilities, but Wolfe also believes it may be creating "irrational" demand. In May, he told the<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/04/data-center-bubble-lux-wolfe"> Axios AI summit</a> that he sees parallels to tech booms of the past. Cloud computing and fiber optic network investments created lots of millionaires in the 1990s and early 2000s. Wolfe remembers that many of those investors were left holding the bag when production outpaced demand.
&#8220;I think that you&#8217;re going to have the same phenomenon now,&#8221; said Wolfe. He noted the potential danger of groupthink in the tech sector, where building data centers seems prudent for individual companies. However, he fears that multiple companies building hyperscale data centers simultaneously, &#8220;collectively becomes irrational.&#8221; &#8220;It will not necessarily persist,&#8221; he warned.
Wolfe also said thinks the potential fallout from the bubble popping extends to other sectors. Data centers consume incredible amounts of power, which has driven rapid growth in the nuclear energy sector. &#8220;One take that is related to that is the demands for energy, which is presumed that, because you need all these data centers," Wolfe said. "Then you need small modular reactors, and so you&#8217;re getting speculative capital that&#8217;s going into the energy provision therein.&#8221;
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Wolfe's warning is reminiscent of then- Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan's worry over "irrational exuberance" in the marketplace. It's a cycle that has played itself out for almost as long as people have been investing.&nbsp;
A sector gets hot, which causes more investor capital to flow in until suddenly, the sector is oversaturated. During these hot cycles, money continues flowing in long after the best deals have been snapped up. When overheated markets correct, what looked like a "can't miss" investment a few months ago suddenly becomes a white elephant.&nbsp;
This causes a massive outflow of capital as all the investors head for the exit door at the same time. Wolfe has seen these cycles come and go throughout his career. "I think that that whole (data center) thing is going to end in disaster, mostly because, as clichéd as it is, history doesn&#8217;t repeat. It rhymes,&#8221; he said at the Axios AI Summit.
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Could The Data Center Bubble Be About To Pop--Lux Capital Heavyweight Sees Warning Signs

Personal finance advisor and investment guru Dave Ramsey has suggested a unique strategy for Americans grappling with the challenge of saving for a home down payment amidst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42027218/could-trumps-housing-plans-reshape-the-real-estate-market">escalating inflation and living costs.</a>
What Happened: Ramsey has proposed that prospective homebuyers could temporarily halt their retirement savings to expedite their down payment savings. This suggestion comes at a time when many young Americans are finding it difficult to juggle rent payments, student loan repayments, retirement plan contributions, and general living expenses.
According to the report <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/real-estate/dave-ramsey-has-controversial-advice-for-americans-buying-a-home-now">by </a>Street, while most financial advisors advocate for setting aside 15% of annual income, inclusive of employer match, towards retirement plans, Ramsey&#8217;s view is that a temporary cessation of contributions to 401(k), IRA, or 403(b) plans could assist buyers in achieving their down payment target more quickly.
&#8220;If&nbsp;you're planning to buy a&nbsp;house in the near future,&nbsp;it's okay to hold off&nbsp;on your retirement savings and&nbsp;put that money toward your&nbsp;down payment,&#8221; Ramsey stated. He stressed that this should be a short-term pause, and contributions should recommence once the home is bought.
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However, Ramsey also issued a warning against premature withdrawals from retirement accounts to fund a home, as this could result in taxes, penalties, and long-term financial instability. 
&#8220;Don't borrow from or cash out your retirement accounts to speed up your down payment savings. Not only will you get hit with taxes and early withdrawal penalties, but you'll also tank the long-term growth of your retirement savings — costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars at retirement,&#8221; Ramsey advised. 
Why It Matters: Ramsey&#8217;s advice is unconventional and may not suit everyone&#8217;s financial situation. It is crucial for potential homebuyers to consider their long-term financial goals and consult with a financial advisor before making significant changes to their savings strategies. 
While accelerating the home buying process might seem appealing, it&#8217;s essential to weigh the potential risks and benefits.
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Real Estate

Dave Ramsey Suggests Pausing Retirement Savings To Speed Up Home Down Payment, Warns 'Don't Borrow From or Cash Out Your Retirement Accounts To Speed Up Your Down Payment Savings'

A 23-year-old caller on a recent episode of &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r52-Wj24q0">The Ramsey Show</a>&#8221; had a tough question: How do you get on the same page financially with your girlfriend?
She has a steady job and brings in her own income, but he was covering rent, groceries and other essentials. On top of that, he had given her a card linked to his account for expenses. But lately, those expenses had started piling up.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Charges, Bigger Red Flags</h2>
&#8220;At the end of this past month there was $1,900 in between Target and shopping,&#8221; the caller said. He clarified that the purchases weren't <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45555404/at-some-point-you-have-to-be-financially-responsible-says-luxury-watch-buyer-as-market-loses-50-million-shoppers">luxury splurges</a> like designer bags, but home decor and similar household items. Still, the total was putting pressure on his finances. When he tried to talk to her about it, it always ended in a fight.
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Dave Ramsey went straight to the point.
&#8220;You&#8217;re the kind of guy that normally would have just said, &#8216;Wait a minute, just give me the card back. This doesn&#8217;t work.&#8217; Why haven&#8217;t you done that?&#8221; Ramsey asked.
Co-host Rachel Cruze agreed. The core problem, they said, is the couple is acting like they're married when they're not.
&#8220;You gave your roommate a credit card and your roommate has a spending problem,&#8221; Ramsey said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not Marriage Material Yet</h2>
The caller said he sees marriage potential in his girlfriend and has been trying to overlook the financial tension. But Ramsey and Cruze warned that ignoring these issues can result in bigger problems down the line.
&#8220;Money is always in that top three&#8221; when it comes to reasons for divorce, Cruze said and pushed back, emphasizing that brushing off the issue was risky and pointing out that this kind of financial conflict is a major red flag when it comes to long-term compatibility.
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Both advised the caller to stop sharing money and start fresh. &#8220;Give me my card back,&#8221; Ramsey suggested he say to his girlfriend. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43792861/have-your-own-individual-credit-cards-and-checking-accounts-suze-ormans-advice-on-keeping-finances-separate-in-marriage">separate our money</a> again because this is complicating our relationship; it&#8217;s not helping it. We&#8217;ve got to separate the stuff so that we can come back to sanity and start a fresh discussion like two grown-ups.&#8221;
He also recommended ending the shared household arrangement unless the couple has serious plans to get married.
Ramsey pointed to research showing that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42399132/can-you-guess-the-average-net-worth-of-the-above-average-married-couple">married couples</a> are healthier, wealthier and more stable than couples who live together without being married.
&#8220;The wealth is 15 times higher for a married 35-year-old couple than a single female,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Married men live six to nine years longer than unmarried men&#8230; and make 26% higher incomes at 37.&#8221;
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Image: Shutterstock

A Caller Told Dave Ramsey His Girlfriend Was Overspending On His Credit Card. Ramsey's Response? 'You Gave Your Roommate A Credit Card!'

This week told a familiar story with fresh twists—inflation isn't backing down, and global tensions are once <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/macro-economic-events#more-news" rel="noreferrer noopener">again steering the market mood</a>.
The latest data showed that the Personal Consumption Expenditures, or PCE price index, rose 2.3% in May from a year earlier, slightly up from April&#8217;s 2.2%, snapping <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46137796/inflation-is-heating-up-again-are-tariffs-to-blame" rel="noreferrer noopener">a two-month cooling trend</a>.
While the monthly increase stayed steady at 0.1%, concerns grew that rising tariffs on foreign goods could soon hit U.S. consumers harder.
The economic unease was only amplified on Friday, when President Donald Trump abruptly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46150909/trump-canada-tariffs-dollar-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">called off all trade talks with Canada</a>.
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His move came in response to Canada&#8217;s newly introduced Digital Services Tax, which he slammed as a direct attack on American tech companies. Declaring retaliation was imminent, Trump promised to announce new tariffs on Canadian goods within a week—sending markets tumbling and investors rushing for cover.
Amid the macroeconomic jitters and geopolitical headlines, several companies delivered key corporate updates and earnings results that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets" rel="noreferrer noopener">kept investors tuned in</a>.
Earnings Results
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDS#NYSE">FDS</a>) reported quarterly sales of $585.52 million, surpassing&nbsp;analyst expectations&nbsp;of $580.50 million and representing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/06/46053063/factset-reports-q3-revenue-beat-client-growth-leadership-shift-with-jpmorgan-hire" rel="noreferrer noopener">5.9% year-over-year gain.</a>
FactSet announced that&nbsp;Phil Snow will retire as CEO and a member of the Board, effective early September 2025.&nbsp;
Technology
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) &nbsp;leaped over Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to become the most valuable company in the world on Thursday, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46151686/nvidia-just-became-the-worlds-most-valuable-stock-is-it-time-for-a-semiconductor-etf-rethink" rel="noreferrer noopener">market capitalization crossing $3.7 trillion. </a>But as the chipmaker solidifies its position as the foundation of the AI era, one segment of Wall Street is somewhat lagging behind —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs" rel="noreferrer noopener">semiconductor ETFs</a>.
Microsoft postponed the commercialization of its in-house next-gen&nbsp;artificial intelligence chip, Maia (code-named Braga), by at least six months from 2025 to 2026 due to unexpected changes to its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46149318/microsofts-next-gen-ai-chip-still-lags-nvidias-blackwell-postpones-launch" rel="noreferrer noopener">design and staffing constraints.</a>
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) has been dealt a legal blow in Japan as a court has ruled that the company infringed on patents held by&nbsp;Pantech, resulting in a ban on the sale of its&nbsp;Pixel 7&nbsp;series smartphones.
Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;has appointed&nbsp;Kobi Bar-Nathan&nbsp;as the new finance chief for its rapidly expanding&nbsp;Google Cloud division. He commenced his role in June 2025, bringing&nbsp;extensive experience&nbsp;from key finance leadership positions at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134725/google-cloud-hires-former-oracle-cfo-as-ai-race-heats-up" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Cloud and Microsoft Cloud.</a>
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)&nbsp;is making a return to high-budget theatrical releases with the opening of its racing drama &#8220;F1&#8221;&nbsp;on Friday. The film&#8217;s reported $300 million budget highlights both the company&#8217;s determination to make a mark in Hollywood and the persistent financial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/46142591/apples-f1-movie-burns-300-million-still-waiting-on-a-profit" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenges it&nbsp;faces in this arena.&nbsp;</a>
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Softbank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO&nbsp;Masayoshi Son&nbsp;said that he plans to position the company as the&nbsp;leading platform provider&nbsp;in the artificial super intelligence (ASI) sector within the next decade, aiming to rival major tech firms like&nbsp;Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46134697/softbanks-masayoshi-son-sets-sights-on-artificial-super-intelligence-domination-with-bets-on-openai-and-ampere-im-all-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">.</a>
Apple&#8217;s Siri&nbsp;is far behind&nbsp;OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT, according to a comparison conducted by&nbsp;Deepwater Asset Management, receiving an &#8220;F&#8221; while ChatGPT<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46156830/siri-gets-f-while-openais-chatgpt-scores-an-a-gene-munster-says-heres-what-apple-needs-to-fix-before-2026-launch-to-stay-relevant-in-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener"> has scored an &#8220;A.&#8221;</a>
Automobiles
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has revealed that it pumped nearly $10 billion into its U.S. operations&nbsp;during the last fiscal year and plans to allocate<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46046720/tesla-doubles-down-on-us-elon-musk-plans-another-8-billion-investment-after-spending-nearly-10-billion-in-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener"> an additional $8 billion this year.</a>
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>):&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Jim Farley&nbsp;voiced skepticism about&nbsp;Tesla&#8217;s autonomous driving strategy, underscoring the necessity of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46156654/ford-ceo-jim-farley-believes-waymos-approach-makes-more-sense-than-elon-musk-led-teslas-when-you-have-a-brand-like-ford-you-have-to-be-really-careful" rel="noreferrer noopener">consumer trust and prudence</a>.
Xiaomi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>)&nbsp;unveiled the company&#8217;s first all-electric SUV, the YU7, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/06/46132552/telsla-model-y-rival-xiaomi-yu7-suv-receives-nearly-300000-orders-in-1-hour-in-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">as a rival to&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/06/46132552/telsla-model-y-rival-xiaomi-yu7-suv-receives-nearly-300000-orders-in-1-hour-in-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla.</a>
General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) has issued a recall for over 62,468 vehicles in the U.S. over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46111407/general-motors-recalls-over-62000-vehicles-for-brake-issue-that-could-potentially-result-in-a-fire-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">a brake pressure sensor issue.</a>
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Consumer Tech News (June 23–June 27): Inflation Stirs, Trade Tensions Flare, And Big Tech Makes Big Moves

In a bold move that defies traditional investment advice, an everyday investor named Etienne Breton has built a $2 million portfolio by investing exclusively in software firm&nbsp;Palantir&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>).
What Happened: Breton began buying Palantir shares shortly after the company&#8217;s public debut in late 2020. Despite the stock&#8217;s initial struggles, he persisted in expanding his position. His investment in Palantir now stands at nearly $2.5 million, comprising 17,800 shares and an additional 2,000 on margin.
Palantir, which has experienced an 80% surge in 2025, is the only stock in Breton&#8217;s portfolio. &#8220;I tried to identify very extraordinary companies. I didn&#8217;t want to diversify,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/palantir-millionaire-single-stock-bet-investing-options-strategy-retail-trader-2025-6">told</a> Insider. His strategy proved successful, especially after the launch of Palantir&#8217;s Artificial Intelligence Platform in 2023.
Breton also employed various&nbsp;options strategies to generate income&nbsp;on his underlying shares and&nbsp;continue purchasing Palantir. 
He sold covered calls,&nbsp;borrowed money to buy more&nbsp;shares, and&nbsp;sold call options on them, creating a steady income stream. He continues to gradually add to his Palantir position using&nbsp;the premiums he receives on&nbsp;his covered calls.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/46044073/small-investment-bank-tied-to-trumps-sons-facilitated-120-million-trading-windfall">Small Investment Bank Tied to Trump&#8217;s Sons Facilitated $120 Million Trading Windfall</a>
Despite the risk of having a significant portion&nbsp;of his net worth tied&nbsp;up in Palantir, Breton is&nbsp;also buying Long-Term Equity Anticipation&nbsp;Securities (LEAPs), which allow him to earn&nbsp;income on his underlying shares&nbsp;while still benefiting from potential upside.
&#8220;I&#8217;m now planning my retirement,&nbsp;which is approaching much sooner&nbsp;than I ever expected,&#8221; Breton&nbsp;added, indicating that he might explore some business projects in the future.
Why It Matters: Breton&#8217;s success story underscores the potential rewards of a focused investment strategy, albeit with high risks. 
His experience with Palantir also highlights the company&#8217;s strong performance, which has been bolstered by the launch of its AI platform. 
However, his strategy of tying up a large portion of his net worth in a single stock is not typically recommended due to the associated risks.
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Image: Shutterstock/Spyro the Dragon

PLTR

This Everyday Investor Built a $2 Million Portfolio From Just One Stock — Here's the Company

These ten large-cap stocks were the worst performers last week. Are they a part of your portfolio?
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRCL#NYSE">CRCL</a>) stock fell 24.91% amid a pullback after recent highs. The drop <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46056731" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">followed its announcement</a> of its partnership with Fiserv to integrate its stablecoin platform into Fiserv's banking and payment solutions.</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>) stock declined 23.06% amid reports that Novo Nordisk (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46067629" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">terminated its collaboration</a> with the company.</li>
<li>Vonage Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VG#NASDAQ">VG</a>) stock plunged 17.46% after BofA Securities maintained a Buy rating on Venture Global stock and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VG/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised its price forecast</a> to $18.5.</li>
<li>QXO, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QXO#NYSE">QXO</a>) stock fell 12.86% after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46087245" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">company priced its offering</a> of nearly 90 million shares at $22.25 per share.</li>
<li>CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWV#NASDAQ">CRWV</a>) stock dipped 12.85% amid profit-taking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46146598" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">after a recent surge</a>. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. initiated coverage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46102704" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a Neutral rating</a>.</li>
<li>Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>) stock dropped 12.79% after DA Davidson maintained a Buy rating but lowered its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DUOL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast to $500</a>.</li>
<li>Equinix, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>) stock declined 11.07% after several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EQIX/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cut their price forecasts</a>.</li>
<li>Equinor ASA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQNR#NYSE">EQNR</a>) stock plunged 9.58% amid easing geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel. President Trump's statement allowing China to buy Iranian oil and the company's North Sea project approval also added pressure.</li>
<li>CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CF#NYSE">CF</a>) stock fell 9.34% despite Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo raising their price forecasts while maintaining <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CF/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neutral or overweight ratings</a>.</li>
<li>Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EC#NYSE">EC</a>) stock decreased 9.25% after it extended its agreement to cut ADR conversion fees by 50%. The broader energy sector also declined following a mild Iranian attack that caused oil prices to slip.</li>
</ol>
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Photo by PJ McDonnell from Shutterstock

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Circle Internet, Hims & Hers Health And CoreWeave Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Losers Last Week (June 23-27): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

We all have a number in our heads — a salary that would make life feel easier. The bills would be paid, savings would grow, and maybe you'd splurge on something just because you can. But that number seems to be rising faster than most paychecks. And for a growing number of Americans, "comfortable" now means <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/salaries">earning six figures</a> — or more.
A new Bankrate <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/investing/financial-advisors/financial-freedom-survey/#tips">survey</a> asked Americans how they're feeling about their financial stability. The short answer: not great. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. adults say they aren't completely financially secure. That number has been creeping up over the past few years, even as inflation cools off. And it's not just a feeling — inflation has chipped away at purchasing power.
A $100,000 salary in 2020 would need to be $124,000 today to keep up. So if your paycheck hasn't grown since then, it feels like a $24,000 pay cut.
When asked what it would take to feel financially comfortable, more than one in four people said they'd need to earn at least $150,000 a year. That's nearly double the national average salary of $81,515. In fact, more than half of Americans say they'd need more than they currently make to feel stable.
For some, that number is $200K. For others, $500K. And 26% say they wouldn't feel rich until they hit $1 million a year.
Gen Xers are the least likely to feel financially secure, with 84% saying they don't feel stable right now. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/05/45338011/90-of-women-investors-say-theyre-on-track-to-meet-their-financial-goals-survey-finds">Women are also falling behind</a> — just 20% say they feel financially secure, compared to 26% of men. Lower earners are the most at risk: only 12% of those making under $50K say they feel secure.
Only 29% of Americans believe their version of the American Dream is still achievable. Gen Z is more hopeful, but overall, the idea of financial freedom is slipping further out of reach. What used to feel like "extra" — stability, breathing room, savings — now feels like the new minimum.
And for many, that starts at $150,000 a year.
Photo: Shutterstock

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Think $100K Is Enough? Most Americans Don't

These ten large-cap stocks were top performers last week. Are they a part of your portfolio?
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVAV#NASDAQ">AVAV</a>) stock gained 46.62% after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46083155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">better-than-expected</a> Q4 results. Shares of air mobility stocks also gained after the FAA discussed plans to integrate new aircraft into national airspace. Several analysts raised their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/avav/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecasts</a> on the stock.</li>
<li>Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEP#NYSE">KEP</a>) stock upped 32.09% after the company reportedly kept electricity rates frozen for Q3.</li>
<li>Mobileye (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NYSE">MBLY</a>) stock jumped 24.59%.</li>
<li>NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) stock jumped 20.49% after posting better-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46128469" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Q4 EPS and sales</a>. The upbeat earnings triggered multiple analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NKE/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raising their price forecast</a>.</li>
<li>Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) stock gained 17.78% after successfully <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46144080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">launching its 67th Electron rocket</a> on a mission for HawkEye 360.</li>
<li>DICK&#8217;S Sporting Goods, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>) stock upped 16.89% amid sympathy buying across footwear-related stocks following Nike&#8217;s strong Q4 results.</li>
<li>Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>) stock rose 15.23% after KeyBanc initiated coverage with an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ANET/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overweight rating</a> and a $115 price forecast.</li>
<li>James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JHX#NYSE">JHX</a>) stock gained 15.15% after William Blair initiated coverage on the company with an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JHX/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Outperform rating</a>.</li>
<li>Carnival Corporation &amp; plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) stock rose 14.68% after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46076919" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat Q2 EPS and revenue expectations</a>, prompting analysts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CCL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raise their forecasts</a>.</li>
<li>Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) stock jumped 14.61% after Oppenheimer reiterated its Outperform rating and boosted its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/46123211" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast</a> to $395. Several analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COIN/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised their forecasts</a> for the stock.</li>
</ol>
Photo via Shutterstock

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Nike, AeroVironment And Coinbase Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Gainers Last Week (June 23-27): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

President Donald Trump's tariffs have had several unintended effects on the economy, but the unease they have created in the bond market has surprised investors around the globe. The tariffs sparked a bond market sell-off, and there was a second selloff after Congress passed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45707795/how-trump-dinner-led-to-16-000-windfall-for-investors-in-an-inspired-but-unrelated-memecoin">Trump's</a> "big beautiful bill." Concerns over the U.S. budget deficit may have sparked the second sell-off, but a Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MS"> MS</a>) executive says the bond market panic is much ado about nothing.&nbsp;
Jim Caron, chief investment officer of Morgan Stanley's portfolio solutions group, thinks the current panic is overblown. He shared his opinions on U.S. Treasury b<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/05/45704089/jamie-dimon-warns-of-bond-market-crisis-caused-by-us-debt-binge-youre-going-to-panic">onds</a> with <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/bonds/bond-market-treasurys-panic-overhyped-morgan-stanley-jim-caron-2025-5">Business Insider </a>after yields hit 4.6% on 10-year bonds and 5.2% on 30-year bonds. That yield spike and accompanying market unease came on the heels of Moody's downgrading America's credit rating. Then the House of Representatives passed Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill,"&nbsp; which could add trillions of dollars to the budget deficit.
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Caron said that investors knew about the U.S. government's spiraling debt before Trump's bill passed the House. That's why he doesn't believe deficit concerns will ruin the general perception that U.S. bonds are low-risk investments. He also said that he views investors fretting over the safety of Treasury Bonds as "tourists in the market."
&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t say that there&#8217;s a straight line connection to some of the deficit and tax talk,&#8221; he told Business Insider. &#8220;And that&#8217;s kind of what everybody&#8217;s trying to conflate and put together. I think it would be refreshing to absolutely take a deeper look at that and just say, &#8216;look, the fiscal situation is not new news.'&#8221; Caron has enough experience to know investors tend to hit the panic button at the same time.
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Caron told Business Insider that the <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/datasets/FM">International Monetary Fund</a> is forecasting that the U.S. budget deficit will only account for 6.5% of the country's GDP this year. That would be an improvement on last year's 7.5%. Caron explained that this is not just a U.S. problem and noted that the U.K., Germany, and Japan also have rising bond yields. His opinion on the fretting about the U.S. deficit is clear. &#8220;The market is creating excess hysteria around it,&#8221; he said.
Still, there is a growing drumbeat of concern from financial observers that the "end is nigh," for the status of the U.S. as the global leader in business and finance. Caron dismissed those concerns out of hand. It's impossible to know if he's correct, because no one can see the future. However, he is correct in pointing out that some people have been predicting the sky would fall on the U.S. for decades, and it hasn't happened yet.
&#8220;I always find it to be a very novice explanation when people say, &#8216;Oh, I think the US is losing its status and the dollar is going to lose its reserve status,'&#8221; Caron told Business Insider. &#8220;If that were actually even 1% true, the markets would be selling off in a massive, massive way.&#8221;&nbsp;
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Amy Coney Barrett drew high praise from President Donald Trump during a surprise press conference on June 27, after authoring a Supreme Court decision that narrows the authority of lower federal courts to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46156417/supreme-court-hands-trump-a-monumental-victory-as-it-limits-judges-power-to-block-presidents-birthright-citizenship-order" rel="noreferrer noopener">issue nationwide injunctions.</a>
The ruling marked a significant legal win for Trump's administration, which has long criticized district judges for blocking its policies coast to coast.
USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/27/trump-news-conference-live-updates/84385884007/?tbref=hp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> that the Supreme Court ordered district judges to revisit broad rulings that temporarily blocked enforcement of federal policies, a move that Trump and his team celebrated as a return to constitutional order.
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Justice Barrett authored the 6-3 majority opinion.
Trump praised her work, calling the ruling &#8220;brilliantly written,&#8221; and also thanked Chief Justice John Roberts for supporting the decision. Attorney General Pam Bondi, present at the White House, criticized what she termed &#8220;imperial judges&#8221; who she claimed overstepped their authority by issuing nationwide blocks on Trump-era directives.
Bondi highlighted that judges in states like Maryland, California, and Washington were behind the bulk of injunctions against the administration.
The ruling, she said, puts power back into elected hands and gives Americans what they voted for.
Trump emphasized that the decision could help his administration win its legal battle against birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented or temporary immigrants.
While some Trump loyalists have previously criticized Barrett for ruling against the administration on foreign aid matters, her authorship of this opinion drew praise from the president.
Trump noted, &#8220;I have great respect for her, I always have.&#8221;
The president also discussed hurdles facing his tax and spending bill, acknowledging delays in the Senate.
He cited resistance from Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, but stopped short of backing efforts to remove her.
The House passed the bill, which includes provisions on border security and tax cuts, but its future in the Senate remains uncertain.
Trump also lashed out at Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who won New York&#8217;s mayoral primary, labeling him a &#8220;communist&#8221; and warning of dire consequences for the country.
On tariffs, Trump brushed off economists&#8217; recession fears, claiming critics should &#8220;go back to business school.&#8221;
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Are you making the right investments for your long-term goals? It's a question we should all ponder as we're loading up on stocks, saving for a down payment, and dabbling in crypto.&nbsp;
While these can be good investments, there is one investment that tops them all. Financial guru Mark Tilbury recently said in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@marktilbury/video/7517003763945639190?lang=en">TikTok video</a>.
"That one's priceless," he explained.
Tilbury is talking about investing in yourself. While you should still buy assets like stocks and real estate, regularly investing in yourself is the best path to wealth.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Growing Your Income Is More Important Than Growing Your Portfolio</h2>
Although it's nice to see your portfolio go up by 10% in one month, it's not much money if you only have a $1,000 portfolio. Regularly investing will grow your portfolio and eventually turn those 10% gains into something much larger.
However, the best way to grow your portfolio is by increasing your income. Your portfolio will grow much larger if you can invest $5,000 per month instead of only investing $1,000 per month. A 10% return on a $1 million portfolio will do more for your wealth than a 100% return on a $10,000 portfolio.
Investing in yourself is one of the best ways to grow your income. You can invest in developing new career skills, taking online courses with certifications, and learning how to run a business. Accumulating and implementing knowledge can do more for your net worth than taking your spare change and putting it into stocks.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investing In Yourself Creates More Possibilities</h2>
When you invest in yourself, you start to see new possibilities that aren't available if you don't invest in yourself. For instance, if you get a certification in a high-demand skill like cybersecurity, you can suddenly explore new career opportunities.
Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bezos-landlord-100-dollars"> become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100</a>.
Investing in yourself also means believing in yourself. Some people job hop after a few years of working at the same company to boost their earnings. While some people may get an annual 3% raise, you can likely get a much higher salary bump if you switch employers.&nbsp;
You don't have those possibilities if you remain content and avoid making investments in yourself. While stocks, crypto, and real estate can continue to appreciate, your ability to compound your earnings can lead to a much higher net worth in the long run.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investing In Yourself Doesn't Stop With Your Finances</h2>
Investing in yourself isn't all about developing career skills, working on side hustles, and maximizing your income. It's also about investing in experiences that make you a better person and enrich your life.
Volunteering for a good cause is an investment in yourself that allows you to help others. Going on a vacation is an investment in building up your experiences. You can also invest in yourself by learning a new language, which can increase your memory and problem-solving skills.
Embarking on goals that you have held on to for several years can be incredibly fulfilling, even if these goals aren't correlated with your career. However, the successes and momentum you build toward these types of goals can translate into career growth.
You have many ways to invest in yourself. Some of them directly translate into higher earnings, while others may have an indirect benefit on how much you earn.
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Mark Tilbury Says the Best Investment You Can Make Isn't in Stocks or Crypto—'That One's Priceless'

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