Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $500 Calls at the Ask: 200 vs 174 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] 

Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $500 Calls at the Ask: 200 @ $37.4 vs 174 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] Ref=$442.195

Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Sep 19 $485 Calls at the Bid: 340 vs 172 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] 

Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Sep 19 $485 Calls at the Bid: 340 @ $17.0 vs 172 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] Ref=$449.07

Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Jan 16 $530 Calls at the Bid: 419 vs 1009 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] 

Lockheed Martin Option Alert: Jan 16 $530 Calls at the Bid: 419 @ $13.7 vs 1009 OI; Earnings 4/22 Before Open [est] Ref=$449.19

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Bolsa

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Aeronautics is Lockheed's largest segment, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.

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Las acciones de Nokia repuntan tras anunciar una colaboración con Lockheed Martin y Verizon para integrar soluciones 5G en redes militares.

Acciones de Nokia (NOK) suben tras alianza estratégica con Lockheed Martin y Verizon

Lockheed Martin Corp

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Lockheed Martin shares are trading lower. The company announced management changes for its CFO and senior VP roles.

Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) announced on Thursday that it has named Evan Scott its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n44862734/lockheed-martin-announces-chief-financial-officer-transition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFO, effective immediately</a>.
Scott succeeds Jesus &#8220;Jay&#8221; Malave, who advised the company that he was pursuing other opportunities.
Scott, a 26-year Lockheed Martin finance executive, has served as the company&#8217;s Treasurer and the CFO of two business areas.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43313600/lockheed-martin-to-face-near-term-challenges-say-analysts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lockheed Martin Sentiment Hit By Charges And Headwinds, But Analysts Remain Bullish On F-35 Ramp Up</a>
The company will hold its first quarter 2025 earnings results webcast on&nbsp;April 22.&nbsp;
James Taiclet&nbsp;and&nbsp;Maria Ricciardone, vice president, Treasurer, and Investor Relations, will reaffirm the company&#8217;s previously issued 2025 guidance, exclusive of the evolving impacts of tariffs and the recent Next Generation Air Dominance announcement. They will also provide updates on other key topics and answer questions.
Lockheed Martin <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43271143/lockheed-martin-q4-earnings-sales-miss-margin-squeeze-but-backlog-boosts-2025-prospects" rel="noreferrer noopener">expects fiscal 2025</a> net sales of $73.75 billion-$74.75 billion versus the consensus of $74.28 billion. It projects EPS for the fiscal of ~$27-$27.30&nbsp;versus the consensus of $27.24.
In March, BofA Securities analyst&nbsp;Ronald J. Epstein&nbsp;downgraded Lockheed Martin <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/03/44462549/lockheed-martin-stock-dips-as-bofa-analyst-lowers-eps-estimates-forecast-after-air-force-contract-setback" rel="noreferrer noopener">from Buy to Neutral</a> and cut its&nbsp;price forecast from $685 to $485. The White House and U.S. Air Force (USAF) selected Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) over the company as the winner of the $20 billion contract for the Next&nbsp;Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, replacing&nbsp;Lockheed Martin&#8217;s F-22 Raptor.&nbsp;While defense budgets will likely increase, concerns remain regarding Lockheed Martin&#8217;s recent earnings quality, the loss of all six next-generation manned tactical aircraft programs, and the absence of near-term company-specific catalysts, adds the analyst.
LMT&nbsp;Price Action: Lockheed Martin shares are down 4.83% at $454.89 at last check Thursday.
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Management

Lockheed Martin Confirms New CFO, Evan Scott Takes Over For Jesus 'Jay' Malave

Lockheed Martin Appoints Evan Scott As Senior Vice President And CFO; Effective Immediately

Elon Musk's SpaceX and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) could play a crucial role in building U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system.
What Happened: In a report published by Reuters on Thursday, the news agency cites six people who are familiar with the matter saying the bid by Musk's SpaceX, Palantir, as well as drone manufacturing startup Anduril, emerged as ‘frontrunners' for the project.
However, the report also suggests that despite the ‘positive signals' to SpaceX, the decision process was still at a nascent stage. The companies met with officials in the Trump administration in the past few weeks to discuss the bid.
In the meetings, the companies have shared their plans for building anywhere between 400 to 1000 satellites, which will track global missile movements. There would also be a separate fleet of 200 ‘attack' satellites, the report said.
Sources cited in the report also suggest that SpaceX has offered its role in the operations as a subscription service, rather than the government owning the technology outright, though officials remain skeptical about the same.
According to the report, SpaceX is eyeing the ‘custody layer' of the operation, which involves satellites tracking missiles. Sources say SpaceX suggests it could cost anywhere between $6 billion to $10 billion to develop these satellites.
Musk's team isn't the only party involved, as there are many players eyeing up the contract. Officials in the report suggest the Pentagon has received interest from over 180 companies. The likes of Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), and more are also expected to be a part of the process. Some experts anticipate that the system could cost hundreds of billions of dollars. 
Why It Matters: The news comes in as Palantir has experienced a surge in value after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44792590/palantir-stock-jumps-9-after-nato-adopts-ai-system-for-military-ops">successfully closed a deal</a> with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for its AI-driven software, which finds applications in key military operations.
Elsewhere, Musk's SpaceX continues to lead the private space exploration sector after it completed the Falcon 9 rocket's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/04/44806935/spacex-launches-27th-falcon-9-rocket-from-florida-adds-27-starlink-satellites-to-orbit">27th launch and landing </a>operation from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Musk&#8217;s company has received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655959/elon-musks-spacex-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-and-boeing-lockheeds-ula-bag-13-5-billion-pentagon-launch-contracts">over $5.9 billion worth</a> of contracts from the U.S. Space Force
The company also deployed 27 additional Starlink satellites to its constellation, bringing the total number of low Earth orbit satellites to well over 7,000. Starlink is now available in over 100 countries across the globe.
However, Musk's DOGE finds itself amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44859945/whistleblower-alleges-doge-involved-in-major-cybersecurity-breach-at-us-labor-agency">a new controversy </a>as a whistleblower alleges that the department was given wide-ranging access to the sensitive data of the U.S. government's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Price Action: PLTR is currently trading for $92.71 on the NASDAQ, having experienced a 23.30% YTD increase in value, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
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SpaceX, Palantir 'Frontrunners' In Bid To Build Donald Trump's Golden Dome: Report

U.S. major indices traded lower at midday Wednesday, pressured by sharp declines in tech and semiconductor stocks after Washington tightened chip <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">export restrictions to China.</a>
The U.S. government has barred Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) from selling its H20 chips to China — a move that could wipe out an estimated $5.5 billion from the company's projected quarterly revenue. Nvidia shares slid nearly 7%.
Other chipmakers also felt the heat. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) dropped 6% as its MI308 chips fall under the new licensing requirements.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) sank 3.4%, extending the sector&#8217;s losses. Adding to the drag, Dutch chip equipment giant ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) missed quarterly revenue estimates, sending its shares down 5%.
On the macro front, March retail sales surprised to the upside, rising 1.4% month-over-month — topping forecasts of 1.3% and marking the strongest monthly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44837237/march-retail-sales-post-highest-surge-in-over-two-years-as-us-consumers-anticipate-tariff-jitters">gain since January 2023.</a>
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar saw renewed selling pressure, with the dollar index dipping back below 100. Treasury yields were little changed, with the 10-year yield holding steady near 4.33%.
Gold continued its stellar run, surging 2.5% to a fresh record high of $3,320 per ounce as demand for safe-haven assets remains robust.
In commodities, oil prices rebounded sharply, with WTI crude climbing 2% to $62 a barrel. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) also edged up 1.3% to around $84,500.
All eyes are now on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who is set to speak at the Economic Club of Chicago later this afternoon.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,318.86</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,872.38</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,340.12</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>18,501.22</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.9% to $532.68.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) eased 0.1% to $403.09.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;tanked 1.7% to $450.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.5% to $185.84.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 2.2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers On Wednesday</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>5.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</td>
<td>4.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>)</td>
<td>4.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>)</td>
<td>3.92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Mosaic Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOS#NYSE">MOS</a>)</td>
<td>3.84%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Worst 5 Losers On Wednesday</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>)</td>
<td>-8.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation </td>
<td>-6.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.</td>
<td>-5.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>)</td>
<td>-4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>)</td>
<td>-4.71%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
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Macro Economic Events

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Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Nvidia Drags Wall Street Down, Gold Defies Gravity Ahead Of Powell Remarks: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 1.71% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.11%. Currently, Lockheed Martin has a market capitalization of $112.17 billion. 
Buying $1000 In LMT: If an investor had bought $1000 of LMT stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $5,579.48 today based on a price of $478.19 for LMT at the time of writing.
<h3>Lockheed Martin's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744819214_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

$1000 Invested In This Stock 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Thousands of Boeing Co.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) planes are facing repairs after the FAA received a report of a passenger getting stuck in the onboard bathroom during a flight.
What Happened: The FAA issued a notice to Boeing and proposed an airworthiness report, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-bathroom-doors-passenger-stuck-flight-diverted-faa-2025-4?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmaXJzdF9uYW1lIjoiQmFkYXIiLCJsYXN0X25hbWUiOiJTaGFpa2giLCJtZW1iZXJfaWQiOiJiYTk5MjhhNi1kMDcxLTQ0NmItYTczYS1hNjc3N2JlZjUzYjAiLCJlbWFpbCI6ImJhZGFyc2hhaWtoQGJlbnppbmdhLmNvbSIsInN1YiI6ImJhOTkyOGE2LWQwNzEtNDQ2Yi1hNzNhLWE2Nzc3YmVmNTNiMCIsImlhdCI6MTc0NDcxNTk4NSwiZXhwIjoxNzUyNDkxOTg1LCJhdWQiOiJCNnNJWEtMaWluIiwiaXNzIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbSIsImp0aSI6IjU1ZWUyMTJmLTY0MDUtNGRlYS04NGZjLTFkOGJjZDNlMjYzNSJ9.l6QDrj0qGmiSJ7EHvUtBK0kQX1xjNnyv4YB7dVGoFJo&amp;accountCreated=true&amp;type=social">reported</a> Business Insider. The modifications involve 2,612 Boeing planes from the 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737 Max 8, and 737 Max 9 series in the U.S.
The FAA has identified door latches with four different part numbers that need replacement. The agency said that the crew couldn't get the door to open during the flight, which forced the plane to make an unscheduled landing.
The FAA noted that if a passenger is stuck in the lavatory, they could be at risk in an ‘otherwise survivable emergency event' such as severe turbulence or a medical emergency. The modifications could cost Boeing over $3.4 million.
Why it matters: The news comes in when Boeing has been on a recovery run after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/esg/25/04/44729849/boeing-gets-a-boost-as-vietjet-secures-300-million-financing-considers-787-purchase-and-expands-24-billion-max-order-report">Vietjet secured $300 million</a> in financing, which would help the airlines expand its fleet with Boeing aircrafts.
Boeing has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44580705/boeing-charting-a-quiet-comeback-aircraft-maker-bags-five-major-contracts-in-last-10-days-heres-what-its-chart-shows?_gl=1&#x2A;1ohrr47&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MTAyNDAzNDc2Ni4xNzQ0NjkyMDU5&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDcxNzcwOS42LjEuMTc0NDcxNzc2Mi43LjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NDcxNzcyNS42LjEuMTc0NDcxNzc4OS4wLjAuMA..">secured other contracts</a> with various entities as it tries to come out of a difficult period that was marred by safety concerns, halts in production, and labor disputes, among other problems.
Elsewhere, Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) ULA (United Launch Alliance) has secured over $5.3 billion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655959/elon-musks-spacex-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-and-boeing-lockheeds-ula-bag-13-5-billion-pentagon-launch-contracts">U.S. government contracts </a>to conduct 19 missions.
However, the aircraft manufacturer may not be out of troubled waters yet as the company faces fresh problems with the Trump administration's import tariffs on Chinese goods prompting China to halt all imports of Boeing aircrafts within the country, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/china-tells-airlines-stop-taking-boeing-jets-as-trump-tariffs-expand-trade-war">notes</a>.
Price action: BA stock has declined 7.38% YTD and currently trades for $159.28, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
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</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

General

Faulty Bathroom Latches Could Cost Boeing $3.4 Million Following FAA Directive

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives reiterated confidence in Palantir Technologies Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) growth prospects after the software firm disclosed a deal with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization amid its growing &#8220;federal and commercial&#8221; portfolio.
What Happened: Ives said in a X post that Palantir remains one of Wedbush's "top names,&#8221; and the firm&#8217;s deal with NATO presents an opportunity for the software maker to &#8220;capitalize on.&#8221;
He highlighted that the deal was "another validation sign" for the PLTR as it continues "to generate unprecedented traction for its entire portfolio across both federal and commercial."
<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">Palantir remains one of our top names to own and this NATO deal represents another major win and opportunity for PLTR to capitalize on..while continuing to generate unprecedented traction for its entire portfolio across both federal and commercial. Another validation sign &#x1f3c6;&#x1f402;
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1912058120664129718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, Tom Nash, the co-founder of Stock MVP, said in a post, "People who still bet against $PLTR in 2025, should not be investing."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">People who still bet against <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PLTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PLTR</a> in 2025, should not be investing
&mdash; Tom Nash (@iamtomnash) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamtomnash/status/1911834664589017553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Ives reshared Shay Boloor's post, a podcast host at Stockwits, who pointed out that the defense sector was "evolving" after the NATO and PLTR deal, which also uplifted all the defense stocks. However, the stocks were lower in premarket on Tuesday.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Another clear sign that defense is evolving &#8212; not around jets, tanks, or missiles, but software. And not just any software. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PLTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PLTR</a> software. In just 6 months, NATO went from outlining a need to deploying a fully OS. Great to see Europe take ownership of their defense.
&mdash; Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) <a href="https://twitter.com/StockSavvyShay/status/1912065104776204577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>U.S. Defense Stocks</td>
<td>Tuesday&#8217;s Premarket</td>
<td>Monday&#8217;s Performance</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>1.18%</td>
<td>4.60%</td>
<td>23.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td>
<td>0.44%</td>
<td>0.77%</td>
<td>6.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td>-0.01%</td>
<td>0.34%</td>
<td>14.49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td>-0.07%</td>
<td>0.09%</td>
<td>-1.43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td>
<td>-3.13%</td>
<td>1.56%</td>
<td>-7.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td>-0.18%</td>
<td>0.69%</td>
<td>11.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.54%</td>
<td>2.38%</td>
<td>10.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TransDigm Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>)</td>
<td>-0.23%</td>
<td>1.83%</td>
<td>6.62%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>-1.93%</td>
<td>1.42%</td>
<td>15.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>-0.32%</td>
<td>1.21%</td>
<td>-3.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td>
<td>-0.42%</td>
<td>0.30%</td>
<td>7.39%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44807265/cathie-wood-says-shock-therapy-from-trumps-trade-moves-may-end-prolonged-economic-slump">Cathie Wood Says &#8216;Shock Therapy&#8217; From Trump&#8217;s Trade Moves May End Prolonged Economic Slump</a>
Why It Matters: On Monday, NATO and Palantir announced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44792590/palantir-stock-jumps-9-after-nato-adopts-ai-system-for-military-ops">completion of NATO&#8217;s acquisition</a> of the Palantir Maven Smart System NATO (MSS NATO) for deployment within Allied Command Operations (ACO). The deal was made on March 25. However, the financial terms were not disclosed.
MSS NATO equips military commanders and warfighters with a secure artificial intelligence-powered platform for core operations. It enhances intelligence fusion, targeting, battlespace awareness, and planning, enabling faster decision-making through diverse AI applications.
The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) intends to leverage MSS NATO to accelerate the adoption of other advanced technologies developed across NATO, signifying a strong North American and European tech partnership.
The U.S. military already utilizes Palantir&#8217;s Maven technology, a system that was further supported by a $99.8 million five-year contract awarded last September.
Price Action: PLTR rose 1.18% in premarket to $93.71 apiece, whereas Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), the exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was up 0.16% to $458.22.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate that PLTR has a weaker price trend over the short term, while it has stayed strong over the medium and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid at the 99.25th percentile, whereas its growth and value rankings were mixed; more details on the fundamentals are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/PLTR"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="987" height="142" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15073959/PLTR-EDGE-E.png" alt="" class="wp-image-872006" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15073959/PLTR-EDGE-E.png 987w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15073959/PLTR-EDGE-E-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15073959/PLTR-EDGE-E-768x110.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">Benzinga&#8217;s analysis of 25 analysts</a> shows a consensus &#8220;sell&#8221; rating for the stock, with an average price target of $69.98, ranging from $7.5 to $125. Recent ratings from DA Davidson, Loop Capital, and William Blair average $103, suggesting a 10.2% potential upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15074017/PLTR-new-new-april-15-anr-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-872008" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15074017/PLTR-new-new-april-15-anr-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15074017/PLTR-new-new-april-15-anr-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15074017/PLTR-new-new-april-15-anr-768x297.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/15074017/PLTR-new-new-april-15-anr.png 1137w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Analyst Color

Analyst Ratings

AXON

Top Analyst Sees 'Unprecedented Traction' For PLTR Stock After NATO Agreement: 'Another Validation Sign'

Pop star Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez will be on board Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/02/44019974/katy-perry-gayle-king-lauren-sanchez-headline-next-blue-origin-space-flight-how-jeff-bezos-fiancee-crew-will-make-history">it blasts off into space</a> at 8:30 AM local time from the West Texas launch site on April 14. The crew also features CBS presenter Gayle King.
What happened: The mission, which will be the first of its kind, will take the six-woman crew to the internationally recognized boundary at a distance of 62 miles above the Earth.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The NS-31 crew is certified ‘ready to fly to space' by CrewMember 7 Sarah Knights. The launch window opens tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC. You can watch the live webcast here tomorrow at 7 a.m. CDT, hosted by Charissa Thompson, Kristin Fisher, and Ariane Cornell. <a href="https://t.co/auKPJvtSl3">pic.twitter.com/auKPJvtSl3</a>
&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1911576887240835518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The crew will then experience weightlessness for a few minutes before the capsule begins its descent into the atmosphere. The crew also includes former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, filmmaker Kerianne Flynn and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyễn.
Why it matters: The mission is the first all-women crew since 1963's launch, which saw Russian engineer Valentina Tereshkova fly solo into space. This is also Blue Origin's 11th human flight into space. Previous flights have included noted actor William Shatner as part of the crew.
However, some have cast their doubts over the flight's purpose, with actor Olivia Munn questioning the purpose of the expedition. The flight has been touted as a landmark moment in the representation of women.
Interestingly, Blue Origin, joined by Elon Musk's SpaceX, as well as the Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) joint venture ULA, have been on the receiving end of federal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655959/elon-musks-spacex-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-and-boeing-lockheeds-ula-bag-13-5-billion-pentagon-launch-contracts">contracts worth over $13.5 billion</a> from the U.S. Space Force. Blue Origin has received $2.3 billion in funding and is expected to manage seven missions in the future.
Bezos has taken a more active role at Blue Origin and introduced a number of changes at the company, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/03/44159724/jeff-bezos-brings-amazons-hard-charging-culture-50-hour-workweek-to-blue-origin-ceo-says-growth-led-to-more-bureaucracy-less-focus">50-hour work weeks</a> and laying off over 10% of its workforce. The company is still playing catch-up with Musk's SpaceX, which has significantly more experience in the sector.
Elsewhere, Blue Origin has partnered with Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44730384/amazons-kuiper-satellite-launch-scrubbed-due-to-bad-weather-ula-says-a-new-launch-date-will-be-announced">Project Kuiper</a> to launch low Earth orbit satellites on its New Glenn rocket, which will help Bezos' former company compete against SpaceX and Starlink.
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Image via Shutterstock

AMZN

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez Among Blue Origin's All-Women NS-31 Crew Set To Take Flight In West Texas

President Donald Trump's tariffs against America's trading partners and the subsequent retaliatory measures from China and Europe resulted in major losses for investors across the globe, with no end to volatility in sight. Trade tensions may ease amid expected deals between key countries, but prudent investors are rethinking their long-term strategies.
Dividend stocks have gained significance in this period of market turbulence because of their strong history. A March <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/research/research-sp500-dividend-aristocrats.pdf">report</a> from S&amp;P Global showed that dividends have accounted for about 31% of the total S&amp;P 500 returns since 1926.
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A few weeks ago, a dividend investor<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dividends/comments/1jic07f/retired_in_2021/"> shared</a> his income report and portfolio details on r/Dividends — a Reddit community with over 700,000 followers. The portfolio screenshots shared by the investor showed he was making about $9,250 per month, or $111,100 annually, in dividends. His total portfolio yield was about 2.3%.&nbsp;
"Dividends and interest cover 60% of expenses. Decent growth without huge volatility," he said.
The investor, 58, said he was a software engineer in Silicon Valley and retired in 2021. He said his goal is to cover his expenses of $15,000 per month with dividends by 2030.&nbsp;
"YOLO'd tech stocks in my IRA," the investor said, referring to the social media slang for taking a bold, high-risk approach.
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Let's take a look at some of the key holdings in the investor's portfolio.
iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF&nbsp;
The iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHV#NASDAQ">SHV</a>) gives investors exposure to US Treasury bonds with remaining maturities of one year or less. SHV is suitable for investors looking for low-risk funds to preserve capital and earn income.&nbsp; The investor said SHV accounted for about 5% of his total portfolio.
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGG#NYSE">AGG</a>) was another key bond ETF in the investor's portfolio.&nbsp; The fund tracks an index composed of investment-grade US bonds.
See Also: 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>
&nbsp;Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
The investor earning about $9,000 in monthly dividends had Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) in his portfolio. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index and provides exposure to some of the top dividend stocks trading in the U.S., including Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) and Chevron (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>).&nbsp;
iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF
The investor making $9,000 a month in dividends said about 60% of his portfolio was allocated to the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>). The fund tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index and yields about 1.2%. It provides investors exposure to some of the biggest companies in the world, including Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, GOOGL)), among others.
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Personal Finance

AAPL

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MSFT

SCHD

Software Engineer Making $9,000 a Month in Dividends Shares Portfolio, Says He 'YOLO'd Tech Stocks in IRA'

Aetherflux, the space-based solar energy startup founded by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44599184/cathie-woods-tuesday-bet-ark-loads-up-on-more-robinhood-stock-amid-platform-expansion">Robinhood</a> billionaire Baiju Bhatt, has secured $50 million in a Series A funding round to push forward its vision of transmitting power from orbit to Earth, writes<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/02/space-solar-startup-aetherflux-raises-50m-to-launch-first-space-demo-in-2026/"> TechCrunch</a>. The raise comes as the company prepares to launch its first satellite demonstration mission in 2026.
The new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44630762/mark-cuban-says-black-women-entrepreneurs-should-stop-looking-for-funding-heres-the-surprising-reason-why">funding</a> brings Aetherflux's total capital to $60 million, bolstered by Bhatt's own $10 million contribution. Leading the round are Index Ventures and Interlagos, with notable backing from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and a few high-profile individuals, including actor Jared Leto.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Investors and the Road Ahead for Aetherflux</h2>
The company, based in San Carlos, California, came out of stealth mode in late 2023 and is working to build satellites that will generate solar power in orbit and beam it back down to ground stations using electricity-powered laser technology. It's a science fiction-inspired futuristic pitch, specifically from Isaac Asimov's 1941 short story Reason, but one Bhatt is determined to make real.
Speaking with TechCrunch, Bhatt said they want to &#8220;demonstrate that we have made this transformative progress of going from humans not having power from space to, for the very first time, there being power from space for humans.&#8221;
The first step is placing an operational satellite into low Earth orbit, which is built on a bus platform based on Apex Space's Aries design. The payload riding on top will harness energy captured by solar panels and convert it to a laser beam that can deliver about one kilowatt of energy back to the surface of the Earth.
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On the ground, special photovoltaic arrays will receive and store that energy. These so-called "ground stations" are still in development, with Aetherflux determined to consider military sites as possible locations because of the controlled airspace in these areas. Ultimately, the company intends to miniaturize the stations into mobile units that can deliver electricity to remote or energy-insecure areas.
Bhatt emphasized the importance of providing "end-to-end power linking" in the upcoming demo, saying the plan is to light up an installation or run simple electronics on the ground using energy transmitted from space.
The company's team includes engineers from NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Anduril and the U.S. Navy, showcasing the technical strength behind this bold initiative.
So far, very few have managed to transfer solar energy from space wirelessly. According to TechCrunch, Caltech's 2023 microwave beaming experiment is still the most famous example but Aetherflux is aiming higher with a scalable system.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Aetherflux's Push for Groundbreaking Innovation</h2>
The new round of funding will help Aetherflux recruit more engineers and deepen its investment in satellite payload, laser systems, and receiving infrastructure.
Aetherflux's momentum has also been recognized by the U.S. government. In a post on <a href="https://x.com/BaijuBhatt/status/1894188569553522894">X</a>, Bhatt said that the Department of Defense awarded the company with funds from its Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund to aid solar power innovation for military applications.
With an ambitious mission, elite support, and a founder with a track record of shaking up established systems, Aetherflux is positioning itself to lead the next frontier in clean energy by harvesting the sun's power where it shines brightest: in space.
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Robinhood Co-Founder Baiju Bhatt Launches $50M Space Solar Bet To Beam Energy From Orbit, Eyes 2026 Demo In Sci-Fi Comeback

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) experienced a setback in the company's space-based internet service ambitions as the launch of its first batch of Kuiper Satellites was scrubbed.
What happened: 27 Kuiper satellites were set to be launched into orbit on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on April 9. ULA is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 1 mission for the Amazon's Project Kuiper was scrubbed today due to inclement weather. A new launch date will be announced when approved on the range.<a href="https://t.co/Q1UeJK8FKl">https://t.co/Q1UeJK8FKl</a>
&mdash; ULA (@ulalaunch) <a href="https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1910134788926620062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The launch, which was scheduled to take place at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was interrupted and ultimately delayed, as the crew experienced some technical glitches as well as unfavorable weather conditions in the form of persistent clouds around the launch site.
"It is confirmed that we will not continue with the Amazon Project Kuiper 1 launch activities today,&#8221; ULA launch commentator Caleb Weiss said. The company will now look at alternate dates to carry out the satellites&#8217; launch into low Earth orbit.&nbsp;
Why it matters: Amazon's Kuiper is the e-commerce giant's answer to Elon Musk and SpaceX's Starlink constellation of space-based internet satellites. The company says that Project Kuiper aims to set up a constellation of more than 3,000 broadband satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet services to areas with poor access to broadband internet.
<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">We are working with <a href="https://twitter.com/Airbus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Airbus</a> to make Kuiper's services available on passenger aircraft around the world. Learn more about how Kuiper can help deliver richer onboard passenger experiences and optimize flight operations: <a href="https://t.co/d4p61kKw6Y">https://t.co/d4p61kKw6Y</a> <a href="https://t.co/qljC21Tww5">pic.twitter.com/qljC21Tww5</a>
&mdash; Project Kuiper (@ProjectKuiper) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProjectKuiper/status/1909593339592126517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Musk's Starlink is an already-established player in the segment, with a 7,000-strong low Earth orbit satellite constellation already in place by the company.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="967" height="148" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10062145/Amazon.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-865627" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10062145/Amazon.jpg 967w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10062145/Amazon-300x46.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10062145/Amazon-768x118.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px" /></a></figure>
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Rankings highlight strong momentum and growth rankings for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/amzn">Amazon</a> in the 64th and 94th percentiles, respectively. Curious how other stocks stack up? <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> to uncover growth and momentum scores for top stocks.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Amazon's 1st Kuiper Satellite Launch Scrubbed Due to Tech Glitch, Bad Weather

Wells Fargo analyst Matthew Akers maintains Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $476 to $432.

Price Target

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Lockheed Martin, Lowers Price Target to $432

Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX, Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, and Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)&nbsp;United Launch Alliance&nbsp;(ULA) have been awarded contracts by the U.S. Space Force.
These contracts, valued at $13.5 billion, are intended for launching critical satellites into orbit by 2029.
What Happened: These contracts are part of the Space Force&#8217;s National Security Space Launch program, which will allocate approximately 54 missions through incremental task orders.
SpaceX will handle 28 missions, securing $5.9 billion, while ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, will conduct 19 missions for $5.3 billion.
Blue Origin&nbsp;will manage seven missions, valued at $2.3 billion, with launches planned for later years.
The program recognizes these companies as leading U.S. rocket providers, despite&nbsp;Blue Origin&#8217;s&nbsp;limited launch experience compared to&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;and&nbsp;ULA.
SpaceX&nbsp;plans to utilize its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets&nbsp;for the Phase 3 missions.
ULA&#8217;s&nbsp;Vulcan rocket, recently certified for national security missions, will also be used.&nbsp;The awards are part of&nbsp;the Phase 3 program&#8217;s &#8220;Lane 2&#8221; track, which involves the Pentagon&#8217;s most challenging and costly missions.
SpaceX&nbsp;is expected to receive the majority of the missions in the program&#8217;s first year, reflecting its high launch rate.
Elon Musk quipped that despite ULA bagging 40% of the Phase 3 missions, they cannot deliver on them yet.
"I hope they succeed, but they aren't there yet."
<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">Winning 60% of the missions may sound generous, but the reality is that all SpaceX competitors combined cannot currently deliver the other 40%! I hope they succeed, but they aren't there yet.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1908278741794455908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: This latest award highlights&nbsp;SpaceX&#8217;s&nbsp;growing influence in securing federal contracts, a trend that has been building over recent years.
In March, it was reported that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44452231/elon-musks-spacex-on-track-to-secure-billions-in-federal-contracts-under-trump-report">SpaceX</a>&nbsp;was on track to secure billions in federal contracts under the Trump administration, with backing for its rocket technology for military cargo transportation.
Meanwhile, international competition is heating up, as Chinese startups, with support from President Xi Jinping, aim to challenge&nbsp;SpaceX&#8217;s dominance by 2030. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44451622/chinas-private-space-founder-says-they-can-beat-elon-musks-spacex-by-2030-as-president-xi-jinping-bets-big-on-reusable-rockets-to-break-free-from-us-tech-dependence">China&#8217;s private space sector</a>&nbsp;is making strides with reusable rockets.
Additionally,&nbsp;SpaceX&#8217;s recent success in safely returning NASA astronauts from the International Space Station further underscores its reliability and capability in space missions.
This was demonstrated in March when astronauts returned to Earth in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/03/44391875/sunita-williams-butch-wilmore-return-to-earth-on-spacex-dragon-capsule-after-286-days-in-space-nasa-astronauts-to-undergo-health-checks">SpaceX Dragon capsule</a>&nbsp;after an extended mission.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: SpaceX

Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, And Boeing-Lockheed's ULA Bag $13.5 Billion Pentagon Launch Contracts

SpaceX, United Launch Alliance Expected To Win U.S. Space Force Launch Contracts Worth Billions Of Dollars On Friday Under Key National Security Space Launch Program

Shares of defense and aerospace stocks are trading lower amid overall market weakness on tariff concerns, which has weighed on stocks across sectors.

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Lockheed Martin.
Looking at options history for Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 62% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 25% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $174,200 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $418,405.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $400.0 to $480.0 for Lockheed Martin over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Lockheed Martin's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Lockheed Martin's significant trades, within a strike price range of $400.0 to $480.0, over the past month.
<h3>Lockheed Martin Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743695260_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$62.0</td>
<td>$61.5</td>
<td>$62.0</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$124.0K</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$13.1</td>
<td>$7.8</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$103.0K</td>
<td align="right">371</td>
<td align="right">144</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$29.6</td>
<td>$26.7</td>
<td>$29.2</td>
<td>$440.00</td>
<td>$87.6K</td>
<td align="right">255</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$43.3</td>
<td>$41.6</td>
<td>$43.3</td>
<td>$440.00</td>
<td>$86.6K</td>
<td align="right">53</td>
<td align="right">21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$7.1</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td align="right">371</td>
<td align="right">248</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Lockheed Martin</h3>
Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since it won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. Aeronautics is Lockheed's largest segment, which derives upward of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, mainly encompassing the Sikorsky helicopter business; missiles and fire control, which creates missiles and missile defense systems; and space systems, which produces satellites and receives equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture.
In light of the recent options history for Lockheed Martin, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Lockheed Martin's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 718,606, with LMT's price down by -1.1%, positioned at $447.88.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 19 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Lockheed Martin</h3>
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $480.33.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has revised its rating downward to Neutral, adjusting the price target to $485. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Wells Fargo continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Lockheed Martin, targeting a price of $476. 
&#x2A; An analyst from RBC Capital has revised its rating downward to Sector Perform, adjusting the price target to $480. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Lockheed Martin, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Smart Money Is Betting Big In LMT Options

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) has introduced an upgraded selection of space-qualified radio frequency (RF) communication systems, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44625399/a-new-frontier-in-radios-rocket-lab-announces-expanded-radio-products-for-reliable-command-and-con" rel="noreferrer noopener">broadening its Frontier radio series.</a>
These software-defined, flight-tested radios are designed to support telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&amp;C), delivering dependable and secure communication across diverse orbital conditions.
Built upon the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory&#8217;s Frontier Lite radio, the radio systems have more than 13 years of in-flight experience.
Now offered in L-, S-, C-, X-, and Ka-band variants, they deliver enhanced functionality, including ranging waveforms for precise radiometric navigation.
The Frontier radios feature a lightweight and compact design, enabling integration with a wide range of satellite platforms.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44624263/netflix-expands-language-options-for-tv-viewers" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Rolls Out Enhanced Subtitle &amp; Dubbing Options On TV</a>
&#8220;While much of the industry struggles with supply chain challenges, Rocket Lab continues to demonstrate that it is the right partner for merchant component supply to the most demanding missions,&#8221; said Vice President of Rocket Lab Space Systems, Brad Clevenger.
Engineered from scratch for durability in space environments, they are designed to work with major global ground station networks, such as NASA&#8217;s Deep Space Network, Near Earth Network, Air Force Satellite Control Network, KSAT, SSC, and Viasat.
This latest RF communications suite broadens Rocket Lab&#8217;s space components portfolio, which already includes reaction wheels, star trackers, solar power systems, flight software, and separation systems.
Frontier radios have already demonstrated success on a range of missions, including Rocket Lab&#8217;s Photon Pathstone, three Rocket Lab Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries, NASA&#8217;s CAPSTONE, NASA&#8217;s Europa Clipper, NASA&#8217;s Solar Probe Plus, the Emirates Mars Mission, and the Van Allen Probes.
Additionally, the Frontier L-band radio will be utilized in Viasat&#8217;s hybrid space communications demonstrations for NASA&#8217;s Communications Services Project.
Price Action: RKLB shares traded lower by 7.14% at $17.96 at last check Thursday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

RKLB

Rocket Lab Unveils Advanced Space-Grade Radios For Deep Space Missions

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$122.4K</td>
<td align="right">131</td>
<td align="right">348</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>URI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
<td>$83.0K</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">195</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$27.8K</td>
<td align="right">342</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CACI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$71.6K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding LMT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 153 contract(s) at a $450.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $122.4K, with a price of $800.0 per contract. There were 131 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 348 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding URI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/URI#NYSE">URI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 44 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $640.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $83.0K, with a price of $4150.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 195 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 79 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 9 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.8K, with a price of $3090.0 per contract. There were 342 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 23 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CACI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CACI#NYSE">CACI</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 44 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 8 contract(s) at a $490.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $71.6K, with a price of $8950.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

CACI

4 Industrials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) CEO Alex Karp emphasized artificial intelligence&#8217;s transformative potential for enterprise operations, suggesting the technology could make workers dramatically more efficient when properly deployed.
What Happened: &#8220;Can AI make one human five humans?&#8221; Karp asked during his AIG Investor Day address, focusing on AI&#8217;s capability to enhance technical roles. &#8220;Can the large language model combined with what we call ontology make one human 10X more valuable, meaning they have 5X output at half the time?&#8221;
Karp underscored the complexity of this challenge, noting AI must be strategically implemented across decision trees rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all solution.
<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">"Can AI make one human five humans? Can an LLM — combined with our Ontology — make a human 10x their output in half the time?" Palantir CEO Alex Karp at AIG Investor Day about the reality of AI, the Ontology, and LLMs on the modern enterprise. <a href="https://t.co/e4rBAUE5GV">pic.twitter.com/e4rBAUE5GV</a>
&mdash; Palantir (@PalantirTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/PalantirTech/status/1907056354113523733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
His comments come as Palantir <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44578811/should-defense-stocks-brace-for-impact-amid-musks-trillion-dollar-budget-slash">continues its meteoric rise</a>, with shares up over 12% year-to-date and 270% annually. The company&#8217;s market capitalization has swelled to $198 billion, exceeding traditional defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/ipos/25/04/44599457/waton-financial-soars-396-on-nasdaq-debut-but-wtf-rally-simmers-down-in-after-hours-trading">Waton Financial Soars 396% On Nasdaq Debut, But WTF Rally Simmers Down In After-Hours Trading</a>
Why It Matters: Palantir&#8217;s Chief Information Officer Jim Siders recently revealed how Palantir <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44509103/palantir-cio-on-cutting-it-team-by-60-abolish-the-it-organization-to-drive-agility-and-innovation">practices what it preaches internally</a>, cutting its IT workforce by 60% while maintaining operational efficiency through AI integration and organizational restructuring. This streamlining coincides with Palantir&#8217;s commercial revenue approaching $4 billion annually.
Meanwhile, Harvard economist Jason Furman critiqued Karp&#8217;s recently published book &#8220;The Technological Republic,&#8221; arguing it emphasizes cultural solutions over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44451697/palantir-ceo-alex-karps-technological-republic-vision-faces-harvard-economists-critique-contemptuous-of-markets">concrete policy recommendations</a>.
Defense and aerospace stocks, including Palantir, have outperformed amid broader market turbulence. The iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44578811/should-defense-stocks-brace-for-impact-amid-musks-trillion-dollar-budget-slash">has risen 5.7% year-to-date</a> while major indices have declined, highlighting investors&#8217; continued confidence in the sector despite potential budget pressures from Elon Musk&#8216;s Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
Palantir struggles on valuation metrics with a price-to-earnings ratio of 444 and faces negative short- and medium-term price trends. However, the data analytics firm maintains strong momentum, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up to learn more</a>.
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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
02:15 PMMar 27, 2025	CALL	$500.00	Jan 15, 2027	636	200	200	115	174	TRADE	BULLISH
11:38 AMMar 26, 2025	CALL	$485.00	Sep 19, 2025	153	342	340	199	172	TRADE	BEARISH
10:53 AMMar 26, 2025	CALL	$530.00	Jan 16, 2026	272	428	419	42	1009	TRADE	NEUTRAL