Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $195 Puts Sweep (8) near the Ask: 165 vs 185 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $195 Puts Sweep (8) near the Ask: 165 @ $45.25 vs 185 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$156.2388

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Calls Sweep (24) near the Ask: 438 vs 13959 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Calls Sweep (24) near the Ask: 438 @ $24.5 vs 13959 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$157.54

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $190 Calls at the Bid: 750 vs 7968 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $190 Calls at the Bid: 750 @ $7.76 vs 7968 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$157.5399

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1900 vs 14286 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1900 @ $12.3 vs 14286 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$157.52

Alphabet Option Alert: Mar, 2026 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1200 vs 4272 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Mar, 2026 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1200 @ $15.11 vs 4272 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$153.54

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $25 Calls at the Bid: 50 vs 664 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $25 Calls at the Bid: 50 @ $127.1 vs 664 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$151.79

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Puts at the Bid: 2000 vs 12170 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Puts at the Bid: 2000 @ $13.2 vs 12170 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$155.26

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $155 Puts Sweep (63) near the Bid: 754 vs 9950 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $155 Puts Sweep (63) near the Bid: 754 @ $9.201 vs 9950 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$155.3

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Calls at the Ask: 207 vs 13648 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $150 Calls at the Ask: 207 @ $26.55 vs 13648 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$160.82

Alphabet Option Alert: Apr 17 $185 Puts at the Ask: 350 vs 5574 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Apr 17 $185 Puts at the Ask: 350 @ $21.7 vs 5574 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$163.305

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $170 Calls Sweep (7) near the Bid: 429 vs 5371 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $170 Calls Sweep (7) near the Bid: 429 @ $20.1 vs 5371 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$170.19

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Bolsa

Alphabet

Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.

Kitchener-waterloo,,On,,Canada,-,October,10,,2024:,Google,Sign,On

Equities

News

Markets

General

AAPL

GOOG

GOOGL

Google enfrenta demanda que podría costarle miles de millones por dominar búsquedas online

Fremont,,Ca,,Usa,-,Feb,21,,2024:,Tesla,Superchargers,At

Long Ideas

Tech

Trading Ideas

AMZN

MSFT

NVDA

TSLA

Tesla es la única del grupo Magnificent Seven que sube en abril, pese a una caída anual del 33 %. ¿Qué explica su repunte?

Acciones de Tesla (TSLA) resisten la tormenta y lideran en abril entre las Siete Magníficas

Bitcoin

Personal Finance

$ADA

$BTC

Hasta ahora, 2025 no ha sido el año que la mayoría de los participantes del mercado de criptomonedas esperaba.

Bitcoin (BTC) alcanzará 250.000$ si estos 3 factores que predice Hoskinson se cumplen

Alphabet Inc

Italy has joined the U.S. in opposing taxes on digital services, signaling a shift in its stance on a tax levied against major tech companies, including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, and Facebook-parent Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
What Happened: On Friday, Italy and the U.S. issued a joint statement condemning &#8220;discriminatory&#8221; digital taxes, reported Reuters.
In a statement following Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's meeting with President Joe Biden, the two nations agreed that a non-discriminatory environment for digital service taxation was essential for fostering investment from innovative tech companies.
"We agreed that a non-discriminatory environment in terms of digital services taxation is necessary to enable investments from cutting-edge tech companies," said the statement released after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the White House on Thursday.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44882049/peter-thiels-palantir-bags-30-million-order-from-ice-for-immigrant-tracking-system" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Thiel&#8217;s Palantir Bags $30 Million Order From ICE For Immigrant Tracking System</a>
European taxes targeting major U.S. tech firms like Alphabet&#8217;s Google, Meta&#8217;s Facebook, Apple, and Amazon have long been a point of contention for U.S. administrations, including during Donald Trump&#8217;s presidency.
Italy currently imposes a 3% tax on revenue from online transactions for digital companies with global sales of at least 750 million euros ($853.35 million), though the measure generates less than 500 million euros annually for the Italian government.
Although the tax brings in a relatively modest amount of revenue in a country with total budget spending exceeding 800 billion euros, Italy's digital levy remains a politically sensitive issue for Meloni.
While the joint statement did not specify whether Italy would completely scrap its 3% tax on digital revenue, it marked a significant shift in Italy's approach. It also said that Trump will be visiting Italy in the future, the report noted.
Why It&#8217;s Important: The joint statement between Italy and the U.S. comes amid a backdrop of ongoing trade tensions between the EU and the U.S.
The EU has been considering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44784857/eu-threatens-additional-taxes-on-us-tech-giants-amid-ongoing-tariff-war-we-are-developing-retaliatory-measures-says-von-der-leyen">additional taxes on U.S. tech giants</a> if tariff negotiations with the Trump administration do not resolve. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the EU is prepared to expand the trade war to include services, potentially taxing digital advertising revenues.
Kevin O&#8217;Leary, known for his role on "Shark Tank," previously argued that the EU's "zero-for-zero" tariff proposal on industrial goods presented a major chance for President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44706557/kevin-oleary-calls-eu-tariff-proposal-a-huge-opportunity-for-trump-to-find-an-off-ramp-amid-global-market-volatility">Trump to ease trade tensions</a>.
Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44756940/europe-china-eye-ev-price-pact-to-avert-trump-tariff-escalation-after-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-pushes-for-zero-eu-tariffs-amid-declining-sales">EU and China agreed to explore</a> setting minimum prices for Chinese-made electric vehicles as an alternative to the tariffs introduced last year.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44859945/whistleblower-alleges-doge-involved-in-major-cybersecurity-breach-at-us-labor-agency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whistleblower Says DOGE May Have Caused Major Cybersecurity Breach At US Labor Agency</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

Media

Italy Joins US To Oppose 'Discriminatory' Digital Taxes On Big Tech Giants Like Apple, Amazon, Google, And Meta

A report on April 17, 2025 shows that Representative Dwight Evans from Pennsylvania sale stock in AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), valued between $8,008 and $120,000. According to the April filing, the transaction occurred on April 17, 2025.
At the time of writing, AbbVie shares are trading up 1.47% at $174.2.
<h3>Representative's Recent Trading Activity</h3>
Over the previous three years, Dwight Evans conducted 33 trades, totaling more than $47 thousand. The largest of these were in Amazon.com and Raytheon Technologies stock. Some of the most notable transactions the Rep. has executed recently include: 
<ul>
<li>AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Purchase</li>
<li>Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Purchase</li>
<li>Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Purchase</li>
</ul>
Here's a summary of Dwight Evans's most recent trades:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Stock Type</th>
<th>Amount</th>
<th>Transaction Type</th>
<th>Transaction Date</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AbbVie</td>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S (Partial)</td>
<td>2025-04-03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet</td>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-04-03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com</td>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-04-03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Tower</td>
<td>AMT</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S (Partial)</td>
<td>2025-04-03</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intel</td>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-04-03</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
To stay updated on Dwight Evans's trades and other congressional trades, try our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/dwight-evans">government trades tool</a> for live updates!
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
A congressional transaction is when any representative or senator either buys or sells an individual stock.
Anyone working in Congress must file a Periodic Transaction Report to inform the public of their recent transaction within 30 days of being notified of the transaction and within 45 days of the transaction date.
In April 2012, Former President Barack Obama signed the STOCK Act into law. The act prohibits members of Congress from using private information given to them by their position for personal gain such as buying or selling a stock. The act also expanded disclosure requirements for members of Congress by requiring them to file a monthly disclosure.
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
Congressional transactions shouldn't be the primary reason for an investing decision, but they can be an important factor for an investor to consider.
When a senator or representative makes a new purchase, it could be an indication they expect the stock to rise.
A sale, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean the seller thinks the stock will go down.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Government

Politics

ABBV

A Congress Member Sold Up To $120K In AbbVie Stock: Here's What You Need To Know

On Wednesday, Sam Altman-led OpenAI launched Codex CLI, a new open-source coding agent, along with two AI reasoning models.
What Happened: The newly launched open-source coding agent is OpenAI's most notable open-source release since 2019.
The AI startup also unveiled the full-scale version of its "o3" model—described as its most advanced AI system to date—and a more compact, efficient variant known as "o4-mini."
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Altman said, "o3 and o4-mini are super good at coding, so we are releasing a new product, Codex CLI, to make them easier to use. This is a coding agent that runs on your computer. It is fully open source and available today; we expect it to rapidly improve."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44566020/arm-aims-for-50-data-center-cpu-market-share-by-2025-challenging-intel-and-amd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arm Aims for 50% Data Center CPU Market Share by 2025, Challenging Intel and AMD</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">o3 and o4-mini are super good at coding, so we are releasing a new product, Codex CLI, to make them easier to use. this is a coding agent that runs on your computer. it is fully open source and available today; we expect it to rapidly improve.
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1912558495997784441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Codex CLI is built to operate directly on a user's machine while connecting to the cloud to leverage the reasoning capabilities of its o3 and o4-mini models. Beyond generating code snippets, it can independently determine which tools to use locally to carry out tasks.
The company also noted that Codex CLI will soon support features from its recently released GPT-4.1 model.
To drive adoption, OpenAI has launched a $1 million grant program, offering selected developers $25,000 in API credits to build innovative projects using Codex CLI.
Moreover, according to OpenAI, training the o3 model required roughly ten times more computational resources than its earlier o1 model, previously considered its top performer in reasoning.
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: This launch comes at a time when OpenAI faces mounting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/03/44474850/chinas-deepseek-ups-the-heat-in-openai-rivalry-upgrades-v3-model-improving-coding-and-reasoning-capability">pressure from competitors</a> such as China's DeepSeek, which in January launched its R1 model, an open-source AI, reportedly capable of mimicking OpenAI's advanced reasoning abilities.&nbsp;
In February, Anthropic also introduced a model capable of delivering both rapid, instinctive responses and more deliberate, step-by-step reasoning when necessary—a level of adaptive flexibility that OpenAI's models have yet to fully replicate.
Last month, Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google released its Gemini 2.5 Pro, a reasoning-focused model that outperformed OpenAI's o3-mini <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44487389/sundar-pichai-shows-off-googles-most-intelligent-ai-ever-with-a-dinosaur-video-game-that-even-you-could-make-with-a-simple-prompt">across several benchmark tests</a>.
OpenAI has also completed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44580172/openai-finalizes-historic-40-billion-funding-round-valuing-company-at-300-billion-with-backing-from-softbank-and-microsoft">historic $40 billion funding round</a>, raising its valuation to $300 billion. Major contributors to the round include SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
This reportedly marks the largest funding round ever recorded and nearly doubles OpenAI's earlier valuation of $157 billion.
Photo Courtesy: Meir Chaimowitz on Shutterstock.com
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://benzinga.com/25/03/44554189/openai-and-microsoft-back-mcp-standard-in-major-shift-toward-interoperable-ai-agents-that-can-think-click-and-navigate-the-web-but-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-appears-to-be-mulling-over-it-in-shakespearean-fashion-to-mcp-or-not-to-mcp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google&#8217;s Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

SFTBF

SFTBY

Facing Heat From China's DeepSeek And US Rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Launches Codex CLI: 'A Coding Agent That Runs On Your Computer'

The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/department-of-justice" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Justice</a> has won its antitrust case against Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google for operating a monopoly in advertising technology.&nbsp;
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25900111-google-ad-antitrust-ruling/" rel="noreferrer noopener">concluded that</a> Google has engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising.
For over ten years, Google has bundled its publisher ad server and ad exchange to help it maintain monopoly power in these two markets.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44497080/qualcomm-accuses-arm-of-antitrust-violations-across-us-eu-and-korea-over-chip-access" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qualcomm Accuses Arm Of Antitrust Violations Across US, EU, And Korea Over Chip Access</a>
However, Judge Brinkema dismissed allegations against Google for monopolizing ad networks. In August, U.S. District Judge&nbsp;Amit Mehta ruled that&nbsp;Google&#8217;s dominant search engine is an unlawful monopoly.
Judge Brinkema, like Judge Mehta, warned Google for failing to preserve internal communications, citing an internal messaging app that deleted records of chats between employees.
Google VP Lee-Anne Mulholland told&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/650665/google-loses-ad-tech-antitrust-monopoly-lawsuit" rel="noreferrer noopener">the</a> Verge that Google has won half of this case and will appeal the other half. The Court found that Google&#8217;s advertiser tools and acquisitions, like DoubleClick, did not breach antitrust rules. Google disagreed with the Court&#8217;s decision regarding its publisher tools.
The U.S. Big Tech giants have drawn global regulatory attention for alleged antitrust violations.
Google is facing a £5 billion ($6.6 billion) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44857710/google-faces-a-mammoth-66-billion-lawsuit-in-the-uk-over-suspected-market-dominance-abuse" rel="noreferrer noopener">class action lawsuit</a> in the U.K. for allegedly exploiting&nbsp;its dominant market position in&nbsp;the online search industry.
In January, Google&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43274659/google-fights-record-eu-android-fine-claims-users-choose-its-services-over-rivals" rel="noreferrer noopener">contested the&nbsp;European Commission</a> in Luxembourg against the record European Union antitrust fine over its Android operating system. The European Union regulator penalized Google by 4.34 billion euros ($4.55 billion) in 2018 for allegedly exploiting its influence to drive traffic from Android devices to Google&#8217;s search engine.
Reportedly, the Justice Department has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/03/44208199/googles-monopoly-fight-just-got-more-intense-justice-department-reaffirms-plan-to-split-up-the-tech-giant-in-historic-antitrust-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">doubled down on</a> its demand to break up&nbsp;Google, pushing for the sale of&nbsp;Chrome&nbsp;and&nbsp;restrictions on its search&nbsp;business. As per a court filing in March, the Justice Department reaffirmed its call for Google to divest Chrome and end its exclusive search engine deals with&nbsp;Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>),&nbsp;Mozilla, and smartphone manufacturers.
Google held $95.66 billion in cash and equivalents as of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1652044/000165204425000010/googexhibit991q42024.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">December 31, 2024</a>.
Separately, the Federal Trade Commission is preparing to take&nbsp;Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) for allegedly stifling competition with acquisitions&nbsp;of&nbsp;Instagram&nbsp;and&nbsp;WhatsApp. It is also alleged Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is&nbsp;illegally maintaining its dominance&nbsp;in online retail.
Price Action: GOOGL stock is down 1.40% at $151.22 at last check Thursday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/downgrades/25/04/44874447/microsoft-analyst-lowers-rating-flags-slower-growth-flat-valuation-outlook">Microsoft Analyst Lowers Rating, Flags Slower Growth, Flat Valuation Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: JHVEPhoto On Shutterstock.com

Legal

Google Scores Partial Win In Antitrust Case But Faces Setback On Publisher Tools

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/judge-rules-google-operates-illegal-ad-monopoly-1d955ed4">https://www.wsj.com/business/media/judge-rules-google-operates-illegal-ad-monopoly-1d955ed4</a>

Judge Rules Google Operates Illegal Ad Monopoly- WSJ

<ul>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>UNH</li>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>TSM</li>
<li>HTZ</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>NFLX</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

BULL

NFLX

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of April 17, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

In a sea of red across Big Tech, Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is the rare green beacon. While the rest of the Enormous Eight flounder under the weight of a broad tech correction, Netflix has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFLX/news">quietly notched gains</a> across every major timeframe — up 1.22% over the past month, 8.45% year-to-date and a solid 56.70% over the past year.
That's no small feat. Consider this: Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has cratered over 36% YTD, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has shed over 20%, and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) is down more than 19%. Even Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), the market&#8217;s AI darling, is off about 25% YTD. Yet Netflix? Still climbing.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44856564/former-cable-exec-says-netflixs-1-trillion-goal-is-very-realistic-heres-why-its-not-far-fetched">Netflix&#8217;s $1 Trillion Goal &#8216;Very Realistic&#8217;, Says Former Cable Executive: &#8216;It&#8217;s Not That Hard To Get There&#8217;</a>
The Enormous Eight — comprising Apple, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Alphabet, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Nvidia, Tesla, and Netflix &#8211; have been the backbone of the S&amp;P 500 for years. But so far in 2025, they&#8217;ve turned into an anchor. All but one (Netflix) are flashing red across the board, weighed down by valuation resets, softening demand and, in some cases, brutal earnings.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="489" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17083626/Screenshot-2025-04-17-at-6.06.07-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-876599" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17083626/Screenshot-2025-04-17-at-6.06.07-PM.png 627w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17083626/Screenshot-2025-04-17-at-6.06.07-PM-300x234.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0417">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
The technical chart above indicates that Netflix's bullish momentum has staying power. The stock is above its eight, 20, 50 and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating bullish momentum. Oscillators are also bullish, with the MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) indicator at 0.12 and the RSI (relative strength index) at 54.39, implying that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. So, the broader trend remains strongly bullish.
For context, the S&amp;P 500 itself is down 10% YTD and over 7% for the month. So when a heavyweight like Netflix manages to deliver green in a market this unforgiving, it sends a message.
Whether the rally has legs remains to be seen, but for now, Netflix has flipped the script — from streaming wars to stock market standout.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44857684/nasdaq-dips-3-amid-plunge-in-nvidia-amd-shares-fear-among-us-investors-increases-fear-greed-index-remains-in-extreme-fear-zone">Nasdaq Dips 3% Amid Plunge In Nvidia, AMD: Greed Index Remains In &#8216;Extreme Fear&#8217; Zone</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Technicals

Netflix Vs. The Enormous Eight: One Stock's Bull Run Amid Big Tech Blues

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $210 to $185.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Alphabet, Lowers Price Target to $185

Rumors

Alphabet Shares Move Lower; Hearing Judge Rules Against Google In Illegal Monopolies In Online Advertising Technology Case

BMO Capital analyst Brian Pitz reiterates Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $230 to $200.

Reiteration

BMO Capital Reiterates Outperform on Alphabet, Lowers Price Target to $200

Midi Health, a rising player in women&#8217;s healthcare, just closed a $63 million Series B funding round with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42962518/meghan-markle-netflix-delay-launch-of-cooking-reality-show-after-california-fires-focus-on-the-needs-of-those-impacted">Meghan Markle</a> joining a star-powered list of <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44374276/reddit-explodes-over-dividend-math-how-much-would-the-annual-dividend-be-for-a-280k-investment-investors-debate-schds-future-growth">investors</a>. The virtual healthcare startup, focused on menopause and midlife health support, also gained backing from names like comedian Amy Schumer, &#8220;White Lotus&#8221; star Connie Britton, and fashion icon Tory Burch.
The investment marks another strategic move for Markle, who has spent the past five years quietly building a portfolio focused on purpose-driven companies with female leadership at the forefront. According to<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/10/meghan-markle-has-made-another-angel-investment/"> TechCrunch</a>, other investors in this latest round include Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective and G9 Ventures. Other major figures from companies like OpenAI, Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>, GOOG)), Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)​, and Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) have also invested in Midi Health.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
<li>Invest in the future of digital engagement: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vatom-adv">Own a piece of the $100 billion Metaverse for just $500</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Meghan Markle Is Quietly Redefining Women's Entrepreneurship</h2>
Midi Health offers digital clinical care for women aged 35 and over, addressing menopause symptoms and other midlife health concerns. The company aims to close the major gap in healthcare options for this demographic. About 40% of Midi's team identifies as people of color, reinforcing the company&#8217;s commitment to providing culturally responsive care.
Speaking to<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/04/08/duchess-meghan-founder-confessions-podcast-launch-as-ever-consumer-products/"> Fortune</a>, Markle encouraged women to engage more openly with finance. "Women need to see that they can build," she said. "Women don't need to be afraid to talk about finance. And I think the more financial literacy we have, the stronger we're going to be."
The Series B round saw 80 investors contributing between $10,000 and $500,000 each, with a clear focus on aligning with Midi Health's mission to empower women. In a<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/women-leaders-across-tech-entertainment-sports-media-and-fashion-come-together-to-invest-in-midi-health-302253241.html"> statement</a>, Midi Health highlighted that the group of investors included women leaders from industries spanning entertainment, professional sports, media, technology, and business.
Trending: With shares starting at $1.52, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-a-10k-bet-on-health-care-originals-could-have-skyrocketed-your-portfolio">this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meghan Markle's Investment Map</h2>
Markle's growing angel investment portfolio now spans over ten companies, with a strong emphasis on brands led by women and those prioritizing wellness, health, and education. Previous investments include wellness-focused companies like Clevr, a beverage brand she's supported since 2020, and Highbrow Hippie.
Midi Health's service model is structured for both insured and self-paying patients. The startup&#8217;s virtual care system is designed to make expert menopause support more accessible to women across the U.S., offering personalized treatment plans through a team of specialized clinicians.
Markle's partnership with Midi Health comes at a time when women's health startups are gaining more attention from both investors and the public. According to a Silicon Valley Bank<a href="https://www.svb.com/trends-insights/reports/womens-health-report/"> report</a>, women's health investment hit $2.6 billion last year, surpassing 2023's total by nearly $1 billion. The startup's strategic growth aligns with broader market trends pushing for better healthcare solutions tailored to women's specific needs.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Building A New Empire Across The Atlantic</h2>
Since relocating to the U.S. and stepping away from royal duties, Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have been steadily building a business presence, investing significant sums into various American startups. Their portfolio reflects a vision of supporting companies that drive social impact and champion underrepresented communities.
Midi Health&#8217;s latest funding round secures the company&#8217;s future growth and also signals a larger shift in the healthcare landscape. With names like Markle leading the way, the conversation around women&#8217;s midlife health is finally taking center stage.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a></li>
<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Meghan Markle Invests In $63M Midi Health Round As Top Women From OpenAI, Google, Meta, And Hollywood Rally Behind Menopause Care

Truist Securities analyst Youssef Squali maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $220 to $200.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Alphabet, Lowers Price Target to $200

Comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan has praised Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology for its accuracy as the podcaster shared an instance of using the tech on his drive home.
What Happened: On Tuesday, X user Mario Nawful posted a video that showcased their Model S navigating a tight spot on the road while using FSD.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">TESLA FSD IS CRAZY GOOD It even auto-folds the mirrors when you go through tight gaps. <a href="https://t.co/Sq9Bqt3spp">https://t.co/Sq9Bqt3spp</a> <a href="https://t.co/5TpvMBoATG">pic.twitter.com/5TpvMBoATG</a>
&mdash; Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1912038133782151194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Rogan quoted the post and shared his own experience with the company's FSD tech, calling it ‘bananas.'
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I had my Tesla model S drive me home the other day with FSD, and it's fucking wild. Changes lanes to avoid slow traffic, stops at red lights and stop signs, hits the blinkers and turns for you. It's bananas. <a href="https://t.co/Ir8dU9Zopg">https://t.co/Ir8dU9Zopg</a>
&mdash; Joe Rogan (@joerogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/joerogan/status/1912144763307901394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The podcaster praised the technology and said that it ‘changes lanes to avoid slow traffic, ' ‘hits the blinkers and turns for you,' and ‘stops at red lights and stop signs.'
Why It Matters: Rogan's praise for Tesla's FSD comes as the company is showcasing the development of the technology. The company had recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44787364/tesla-deploys-unsupervised-fsd-at-giga-texas-to-move-cars-from-factory-to-lot">released a video </a>that showcased a Tesla Model Y as well as a Cybertruck navigating a 1.4-mile and 0.6-mile course via FSD, respectively.
Elon Musk had recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44834045/tesla-touts-fsd-capabilities-elon-says-predicts-cars-will-soon-drive-itself-right-to-your-house">predicted Tesla cars </a>would be able to drive themselves to people's houses ‘this year,&#8217; sharing his optimism for the company's self-driving technology.
However, Musk's company still lags behind competitors like Alphabet Inc.'s (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>) Waymo, which has logged in well over 20 million autonomous driving miles.
Waymo, which is a competitor to Musk's planned Cybercab ride-hailing services, has also logged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44349240/googles-waymo-leads-robotaxi-race-with-2-millon-paid-rides-zoox-challenges-tesla-for-second-spot-as-unsupervised-autonomy-becomes-table-stakes-says-gary-black">2 million autonomous</a> paid rides, leading the segment by a healthy margin.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44831960/dan-ives-says-tesla-best-positioned-to-deal-with-tariffs-it-will-ultimately-be-finished-cars-vs-auto-parts">Dan Ives Says Tesla &#8216;Best Positioned&#8217; To Deal With Tariffs: &#8216;It Will Ultimately Be Finished Cars Vs Auto Parts&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Rokas Tenys/Shutterstock

Joe Rogan Hails Tesla's FSD As He Uses It To Drive Home: Calls It 'F***ing Wild'

Google, a part of&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), is confronted with a £5 billion ($6.6 billion) class action lawsuit in the U.K. The company is accused of exploiting&nbsp;its dominant market position in&nbsp;the online search industry.
What Happened: The lawsuit was lodged at the Competition Appeal Tribunal earlier this week. The claimants contend that Google&#8217;s practices allowed it to inflate the prices for advertisements displayed in search inquiries, beyond what a competitive market would allow, Reuters reported.
The lawsuit states that Google entered into agreements with phone manufacturers to have Google Search and the Chrome browser pre-installed on Android devices. It also states that Google paid&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to make Google&nbsp;the default search engine on&nbsp;iPhones, in a bid to suppress competition.
The claim, submitted by competition law expert Or Brook on behalf of thousands of businesses, asserts that Google gave its own advertising services an unfair advantage by equipping its search engine with superior functionality and additional features compared to those of its competitors.
Google has dismissed the lawsuit as &#8220;yet another speculative and opportunistic case,&#8221; pledging to &#8220;argue against it vigorously.&#8221; Brook, however, insists that businesses had little option but to use Google ads, labeling Google as a monopoly and emphasizing that securing a spot on Google&#8217;s top pages is crucial for visibility.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44830819/big-short-fame-steve-eisman-says-nvidias-best-days-are-not-behind-it-but-trump-is-the-wild-card-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Big Short&#8217; Fame Steve Eisman Says Nvidia&#8217;s &#8216;Best Days Are Not Behind It&#8217; But Trump Is The Wild Card In Current Market</a>
Why It Matters: In 2020, a market study conducted by the U.K.'s competition regulator revealed that Google earned 90% of the total revenue in the search advertising market.
This lawsuit follows a&nbsp;report from January 2025, which revealed that Google was under <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42983711/google-faces-uk-investigation-over-search-dominance">investigation </a>by UK officials over its search dominance. The Competition and Markets Authority expressed concerns about how Google&#8217;s dominant position in search could impact competition in the UK. 
Notably, the Sundar Pichai-led company is still appealing an antitrust penalty of €4.3 billion ($4.9 billion) fine imposed by the European Union for exploiting the dominance of its Android mobile operating system by requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Chrome and Search alongside its Play app store.
The current lawsuit seems to be a continuation of these concerns, with businesses now taking legal action against the tech giant&#8217;s alleged anti-competitive practices.
Google&#8217;s lawsuit comes at a time when another tech giant, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), is facing a landmark trial in court by the Federal Trade Commission, which could eventually compel the social media giant to divest its Instagram and WhatsApp platforms.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Rankings&nbsp;highlight strong quality and growth rankings for Alphabet in the 87th and 65th percentiles, respectively. Curious how other stocks stack up?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here</a>&nbsp;to uncover growth and momentum scores for top stocks.
<ul>
<li>Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44844540/peter-schiff-china-is-selling-dollars-and-treasuries-to-buy-euros-and-bunds-crashing-the-markets-not-part-of-a-ge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Schiff: &#8216;China Is Selling Dollars And Treasuries To Buy Euros And Bunds.&#8217; Crashing The Markets Not Part Of A &#8216;Genius Master Plan&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Google Faces A Mammoth $6.6 Billion UK Class Action Lawsuit Over Reported Ad Price Inflation, Market Abuse

On Wednesday, in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44780047/mark-zuckerbergs-empire-in-jeopardy-as-meta-faces-antitrust-battle-in-court">ongoing antitrust trial</a> against Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), former COO Sheryl Sandberg testified about the company's efforts to block advertisements from potential competitors like Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google Plus, KakaoTalk, and LINE.
What Happened: During the trial, Sandberg addressed internal communications from 2011 and 2012 that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claims show Meta's efforts to block competitors from advertising on its platform, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/16/meta-sheryl-sandberg-ftc/">reported</a> the Washington Post.
The FTC's lawyer, Susan Musser, questioned Sandberg about an email she sent to staff after Google launched Google Plus, in which she acknowledged that the new platform was Meta&#8217;s &#8220;real competition.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44778760/netflix-debuts-openai-backed-search-engine-that-lets-you-discover-movies-and-tv-shows-based-on-emotions-not-just-titles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Debuts OpenAI-Backed Search Engine That Lets You Discover Movies And TV Shows Based On Emotions, Not Just Titles</a>
Sandberg explained that her comments were intended to "rally the troops" in response to a much larger tech company launching a product strikingly similar to Facebook.
When questioned by Meta's lawyers, she added that she believed Meta faced other competitors both then and now, naming platforms like YouTube, Pinterest (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), and eventually TikTok.
Earlier in the day, Zuckerberg <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44807557/mark-zuckerberg-proposed-wiping-all-friends-connections-and-make-users-start-again-to-keep-facebook-culturally-relevant-antitrust-trial-reveals">returned to the witness stand</a> for the third time in as many days. He admitted that Meta's short-form video feature, Reels, is "pretty good," but quickly pointed out that TikTok still outpaces both Facebook and Instagram combined.
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&#8217;s Important: The trial also revealed confidential conversations between Sandberg and Zuckerberg during their deliberations over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38163559/if-you-invested-1000-in-meta-platforms-when-mark-zuckerberg-acquired-instagram-for-1b-in-2012-he">$1 billion purchase of Instagram</a>.
In a text message from spring 2012, Zuckerberg asked Sandberg if she believed the price was excessive, to which she replied, &#8220;Yes.&#8221;
When questioned by a Meta attorney about whether she still held that view, Sandberg said, "I think I was wrong. I think I was very wrong."
The FTC&#8217;s case against Meta is rooted in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44821791/meta-platforms-used-buy-or-bury-strategy-to-monopolize-social-media-ftc-says">allegations of a &#8220;buy or bury&#8221; strategy</a>.&nbsp;
The trial also revisited Meta&#8217;s past acquisition attempts, such as the $6 billion offer to acquire Snap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44832468/snapchat-rejection-resurfaces-as-mark-zuckerberg-defends-meta-in-ftc-trial-and-the-tech-mogul-still-thinks-he-couldve-done-it-better-we-would-have-accelerated-their-growth">which Zuckerberg defended</a>.
Price Action: On Wednesday, Meta shares dropped 3.68%, ending the trading day at $502.31, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
The company currently holds a momentum score of 55.37% and a growth score of 74.89%, based on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META">Benzinga's exclusive Edge Rankings</a>.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how Meta stacks up against</a> Snapchat, Alphabet, and other leading tech firms.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17012650/Screenshot-2025-04-17-at-10.56.44%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-875668" /></a></figure>
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don't Have The Balls To Do It,' Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In' With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Markus Wissmann on Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

PINS

SNAP

Sheryl Sandberg Testimony In Meta Antitrust Trial Touches On Efforts To Stifle Ads From Google Plus, KakaoTalk — Mark Zuckerberg Says TikTok Bigger Than Facebook, Instagram Combined

WIIM

AAOI

AEIS

AEVA

AIRE

ANET

ARBB

ASAN

BNZI

CDNS

CHKP

CRWD

DELL

DGLY

DGNX

FSLR

FTNT

IFBD

INFY

INTA

IPGP

IVDA

LOGI

MLGO

NTRP

OLED

ORCL

PONY

PSTG

QBTS

RBRK

RCAT

RMBS

SGMA

SMCI

SNPS

SOUN

TRMB

TWLO

VNET

XTKG

ZETA

Shares of companies within the broader tech sector are trading lower after Fed Chair Powell made remarks at the Economic Club. Also, the broader tech industry may be weighed down by NVIDIA after the United States informed the company that it may require a license to export chips to China

Over the next three to five years, Google&#8217;s primary upside valuation driver will be its proprietary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">large language models (LLMs)</a>. 
That&#8217;s according to Needham analyst Laura Martin, who reiterated Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Google&#8217;s parent company, with a Buy and a $178 price target on Wednesday.
She expects GenAI to aid Google&#8217;s internal operations and increase revenue growth. Martin adds that Google Cloud will generate revenue from both LLMs and the applications built upon them.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44765778/google-takes-on-microsoft-with-ai-powered-workspace-2-billion-savings-deal-for-us-agencies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Undercuts Microsoft With Massive Discount for Government, Expands AI-Powered Workspace Offerings</a>
GenAI&#8217;s LLMs must be fed millions of data points every day. Google&#8217;s search engine and YouTube platform give the Gemini LLM competitive advantages and a deep moat, she says. 
Ultimately, GenAI will disrupt content creation, user behavior, and business models.
What&#8217;s Next: On May 8, as part of the 20th annual Needham Internet &amp; Media conference, Martin will host a virtual Zoom panel entitled &#8220;The Impact of GenAI on Media &amp; Internet.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;
One panel is expected to discuss various stocks, including Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), GOOGL, Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), The Trade Desk, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>), Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), Reddit, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>), Roku, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>).
As for Google&#8217;s &#8220;Zero Click&#8221; strategy, it was GenAI&#8217;s most significant 2024 disruption, Martin says. She will focus on the key valuation dislocations, including:
<ul>
<li>The possibility of GenAI eroding the foundations of digital advertising</li>
<li>The positives of expanding margins from GenAI offset by falling barriers to entry for new competitors</li>
<li>And whether the proliferation of GenAI-related content is good for any incumbent.</li>
</ul>
As the internet is flooded with new cheap, low-value content, Martin seeks to know whether this will affect consumer trust, reduce session time, and hurt monetization for higher-quality online content.
As GenAI summaries in search results eliminate the need to click through to links, this is lowering ad monetization for publishers that have historically relied on traffic referrals. Therefore, the analyst seeks potential fixes from the aforementioned companies.
After all, media is built on IP, and GenAI increases the risks of copyright violations, hallucinations, and deepfakes. 
Price Action: GOOGL stock is down 1.03% at $154.77 at last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44768806/use-ai-responsibly-it-should-serve-humanity-not-replace-it-alibabas-jack-ma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Use AI Responsibly, It Should Serve Humanity, Not Replace It: Alibaba&#8217;s Jack Ma</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

RDDT

ROKU

Google GenAI, AI Cloud Services Drive Analyst Confidence In Long-Term Growth

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Deepak Mathivanan maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $200 to $159.

Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Neutral on Alphabet, Lowers Price Target to $159

Among the so-called <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven tech giants</a>, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) holds a rare and ironic distinction: it's been beaten the hardest so far this year, yet it's the only one still standing with gains for the month.
While 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>), Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) all sport negative month-to-date performances in 2025, Tesla is the lone green candle.
The electric vehicle giant is up 6.76% MTD, but that's after being down 33% so far this year.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44834045/tesla-touts-fsd-capabilities-elon-says-predicts-cars-will-soon-drive-itself-right-to-your-house">Tesla Touts FSD Capabilities, Elon Says Predicts Cars Will Soon &#8216;Drive Itself Right To Your House&#8217;</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Worst To (Sort Of) First</h2>
Tesla's YTD performance reads like a comeback arc written for a Wall Street soap opera. No other Magnificent Seven stock has come close to the rollercoaster volatility that CEO Elon Musk's empire has endured. Nvidia stock, for instance, is down 18.88% YTD. Meta stockholders have been slapped with a nearly 12.97% loss. And even Apple, the tech titan with the largest market cap on Earth, is nursing a 17.10% drop YTD.
However, despite Tesla's shaky fundamentals, sky-high valuation (forward P/E of 100), ongoing scrutiny over demand, pricing and Musk's Twitter antics, the market seems unwilling to count the company out.
On a month-to-date basis, it is the only Mag 7 stock that is up 6.76%. Apple stock is down 5.54% MTD, Meta stock is 13.78%, and Microsoft stock is 0.76%.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Musk's Mojo Vs. Market Malaise</h2>
What gives? Some of Tesla's rebound can be chalked up to short covering, speculative trading and renewed optimism over the company's AI and robotics ambitions.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Mag 7 are getting dragged down by tariff troubles.
In a month where every other Mag 7 member is nursing wounds, Tesla somehow managed to walk away bloodied &#8211; but technically victorious. 
It's not the kind of win investors dream of, but in this market, staying green might just be the new gold.
Disclaimer: Price information as of 9 AM ET, Wednesday
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44831960/dan-ives-says-tesla-best-positioned-to-deal-with-tariffs-it-will-ultimately-be-finished-cars-vs-auto-parts">Dan Ives Says Tesla &#8216;Best Positioned&#8217; To Deal With Tariffs: &#8216;It Will Ultimately Be Finished Cars Vs Auto Parts&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Tesla Is 2025's Biggest Mag 7 Bruise So Far, But Also The Only One Still In The Green

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Alphabet. Our analysis of options history for Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) revealed 29 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 48% of traders were bullish, while 44% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 10 were puts, with a value of $463,164, and 19 were calls, valued at $3,811,614.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</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 $300.0 for Alphabet over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Alphabet options trades today is 7949.65 with a total volume of 34,750.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Alphabet's big money trades within a strike price range of $120.0 to $300.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Alphabet 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744815695_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$22.2</td>
<td>$22.0</td>
<td>$22.0</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$1.6M</td>
<td>13.6K</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$22.4</td>
<td>$22.25</td>
<td>$22.25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$1.1M</td>
<td>13.6K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$273.6K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$15.05</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$117.0K</td>
<td>755</td>
<td>130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$89.0K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td>260</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Alphabet</h3>
Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.
In light of the recent options history for Alphabet, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Alphabet</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 5,394,391, the price of GOOGL is down by -1.0%, reaching $154.75.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 8 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Alphabet</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $190.4.
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 DA Davidson has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Alphabet, which currently sits at a price target of $160. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Piper Sandler keeps a Overweight rating on Alphabet with a target price of $185. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keybanc persists with their Overweight rating on Alphabet, maintaining a target price of $202. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho persists with their Outperform rating on Alphabet, maintaining a target price of $205. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Alphabet, maintaining a target price of $200. 
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 Alphabet with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

What the Options Market Tells Us About Alphabet

Entertainment

Press Releases

Artmarket.com: Q3 2024 revenue +13%. Study on AI search engines shows Artprice has the world's biggest, best and most useful art market database, thanks to its Intuitive Artmarket® AI

How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Influence on Nuclear Energy Industry is Providing Lucrative Opportunity

Comstock Welcomes Inova 360° Concierge Medicine to The Row at Reston Station

President Trump Unveils $500 Billion AI Infrastructure: Watch AI, PRSO, BBAI Among The Giants

Tech Giants Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Quantum Computing

Meta to Invest Up to $65 Billion in AI Projects in 2025

Coeptis (NASDAQ: COEP) Accelerates Growth with Strategic Partnerships and Innovation

Google Announces Agreement to Acquire Wiz

Small Cap

Opinion

Quantum Threats Are Accelerating -- These Companies Are Preparing for the Shift

Google's Parent Company Alphabet in Talks to Acquire Wiz for $30 Billion

AVGO

BBAI

BURU

CHCI

COEP

CSE:SCPE

ICFI

KULR

PANW

PATH

PLTR

PRSO

SCPCF

SPOT

WKEY

Autohome Inc. American Depositary Shares, each representing four class A ordinary shares.

Comments

Alphabet

Unusual Options Activity for

Noticias

SOCIO/CONTRIBUIDOR

BENZINGA GLOBAL

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
02:03 PMApr 01, 2025	PUT	$195.00	Dec 18, 2026	607	170	165	92	185	SWEEP	BEARISH
11:55 AMApr 01, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 16, 2026	271	633	438	5	13959	SWEEP	BULLISH
11:44 AMApr 01, 2025	CALL	$190.00	Jan 16, 2026	271	789	750	10	7968	TRADE	BEARISH
11:33 AMApr 01, 2025	PUT	$150.00	Jan 16, 2026	271	1927	1900	13	14286	TRADE	BEARISH
12:53 PMMar 31, 2025	PUT	$150.00	Mar 20, 2026	334	1230	1200	29	4272	TRADE	BULLISH
10:12 AMMar 31, 2025	CALL	$25.00	Jun 20, 2025	61	0	50	0	664	TRADE	BEARISH
02:18 PMMar 28, 2025	PUT	$150.00	Jan 16, 2026	271	2207	2000	18	12170	TRADE	NEUTRAL
02:14 PMMar 28, 2025	PUT	$155.00	Jun 20, 2025	61	2638	754	27	9950	SWEEP	BULLISH
09:30 AMMar 28, 2025	CALL	$150.00	Jan 16, 2026	271	1	207	0	13648	TRADE	BULLISH
01:05 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$185.00	Apr 17, 2025	-3	12	350	0	5574	TRADE	BEARISH
10:49 AMMar 25, 2025	CALL	$170.00	Dec 19, 2025	243	785	429	15	5371	SWEEP	BEARISH