Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $390 Calls Sweep (5) near the Bid: 70 vs 3033 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $390 Calls Sweep (5) near the Bid: 70 @ $85.8 vs 3033 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$475.2

Microsoft Option Alert: Aug 15 $460 Calls Sweep (8) near the Ask: 200 vs 4236 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Aug 15 $460 Calls Sweep (8) near the Ask: 200 @ $25.973 vs 4236 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$470.07

Microsoft Option Alert: Oct 17 $470 Calls Sweep (16) near the Ask: 276 vs 3532 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Oct 17 $470 Calls Sweep (16) near the Ask: 276 @ $27.65 vs 3532 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$470.36

Microsoft Option Alert: Sep 19 $490 Puts Sweep (37) near the Bid: 200 vs 33 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Sep 19 $490 Puts Sweep (37) near the Bid: 200 @ $28.909 vs 33 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$470.445

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec, 2027 $180 Calls at the Bid: 17 vs 71 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec, 2027 $180 Calls at the Bid: 17 @ $304.0 vs 71 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$470.27

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec 19 $440 Puts at the Ask: 300 vs 952 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec 19 $440 Puts at the Ask: 300 @ $16.9 vs 952 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$470.225

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec, 2027 $180 Calls at the Bid: 51 vs 71 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Dec, 2027 $180 Calls at the Bid: 51 @ $303.4 vs 71 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$469.904

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $355 Calls at the Bid: 1500 vs 899 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $355 Calls at the Bid: 1500 @ $117.15 vs 899 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$471.645

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $410 Calls at the Ask: 100 vs 5639 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $410 Calls at the Ask: 100 @ $62.45 vs 5639 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$471.09

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $450 Calls at the Bid: 1275 vs 10898 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Jun 20 $450 Calls at the Bid: 1275 @ $20.2 vs 10898 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$467.79

Microsoft Option Alert: Sep 19 $430 Calls Sweep (3) near the Ask: 139 vs 3785 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] 

Microsoft Option Alert: Sep 19 $430 Calls Sweep (3) near the Ask: 139 @ $49.1 vs 3785 OI; Earnings 7/29 After Close [est] Ref=$465.04

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Bolsa

MICROSOFT CORP

Microsoft

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

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Wedbush sube el precio objetivo de Microsoft a 600 dólares por fuerte adopción de Azure impulsada por la inteligencia artificial.

Microsoft (MSFT): Wedbush eleva precio objetivo a 600$ impulsado por la ola de IA

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Microsoft planea más despidos en ventas para reestructurar y reforzar su apuesta por la inteligencia artificial, según Bloomberg.

Microsoft prepara nuevos despidos para impulsar su estrategia en inteligencia artificial

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Alexandr Wang pospone la paternidad hasta que Neuralink sea común en los niños

Microsoft Corp

On Wednesday, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) scored a legal victory as a federal judge ruled that the company&#8217;s use of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/07/33158772/sarah-silverman-and-other-authors-allege-openai-meta-wield-ai-tech-to-steal-info">copyrighted books</a> to train its AI models is protected under the fair use doctrine.
What Happened: A lawsuit filed by 13 authors, including Sarah Silverman, claimed Meta illegally used their copyrighted works to train AI models.
However, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria sided with Meta, granting summary judgment and stating that the company's actions fell under fair use, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/25/federal-judge-sides-with-meta-in-lawsuit-over-training-ai-models-on-copyrighted-books/">reported</a> TechCrunch.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988600/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-dangled-100-million-signing-bonuses-to-openai-team-members-says-sam-altman-happy-none-of-our-best-people-took-them" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Dangled ‘$100 Million Signing Bonuses&#8217; To OpenAI Team Members, Says Sam Altman: Happy ‘None&#8217; Of Our Best People Took Them</a>
&#8220;The plaintiffs presented no meaningful evidence on market dilution at all,&#8221; Judge Chhabria said. He went on to say that while the case was narrowly focused, AI model training can be deemed transformative, meaning Meta's models didn't simply replicate the authors' works.
Judge Chhabria added that this decision doesn't make all AI model training legal, but pointed out that the plaintiffs failed to make sufficient arguments about market harm.
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 decision follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46088008/elon-musk-agrees-google-had-all-the-tools-but-still-lost-the-ai-race-to-openai-echoes-social-media-post-having-the-pieces-isnt-the-same-as-playing-the-game">similar ruling in favor</a> of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) backed Anthropic, another AI company.&nbsp;
However, multiple other lawsuits are ongoing against tech firms accused of using different types of copyrighted content for AI training.
This includes The New York Times's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37121678/openai-lawsuit-judge-calls-sarah-silverman-other-authors-copyright-infringement-claim-insufficient">case against</a> OpenAI and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) over the use of its news articles, while Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) and Comcast Corp's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) Universal Studios have taken legal action against Midjourney for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/06/45895643/disney-universal-studios-sue-ai-image-generator-midjourney-for-copyright-infringement">allegedly training AI models</a> on movies and television content.
Price Action: Meta shares declined by 0.49% in Wednesday's regular trading and edged up by 0.017% in after-hours trading, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show a steady upward trajectory for META over short, medium and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">Additional performance insights can be found here</a>.
<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 decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25225004/Screenshot-2025-06-26-at-8.18.07%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-962394" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Skorzewiak 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:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45396297/cathie-wood-dumps-palantir-as-stock-touches-peak-prices-bails-on-soaring-flying-taxi-maker-archer-aviation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Dumps Palantir As Stock Touches Peak Prices, Bails On Soaring Flying-Taxi Maker Archer Aviation</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

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CMCSA

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Beats Lawsuit Over AI Training On Books, Judge Finds 'No Meaningful Evidence On Market Dilution'

Taiwan's largest company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) overseas unit, Taiwan Semiconductor Global, is facing a currency risk &#8211; the Taiwanese dollar is strengthening against the now volatile and weakening U.S. dollar.
TSMC Global Ltd. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tsmc" rel="noreferrer noopener">is preparing</a> to raise $10 billion by issuing new shares to manage currency volatility and maintain capital flexibility.
TSMC is the primary chip supplier for tech giants like Nvidia Inc. (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>) and Microsoft Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45859582/nvidia-supplier-taiwan-semiconductor-posts-40-topline-growth-in-may-stock-surges" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Posts 40% Topline Growth In May, Stock Surges</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Happened</h2>
The share issuance plan was first reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-25/tsmc-unit-to-issue-10-billion-of-stock-to-counter-forex-swings?taid=685bd6ec8217380001328131&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">to Bloomberg</a>. TSMC Global Ltd., the offshore unit of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., will issue the stock to support foreign exchange hedging operations.
This marks the third such equity move since 2024, and it is the largest to date. The timing coincides with the recent appreciation of the Taiwan dollar.
The central bank has warned against speculation after the currency's sharp rise in May, which marked its largest single-day gain since the 1980s.
Analyst Philip McNicholas from Robeco told Bloomberg that the rising volatility may be prompting banks to reassess margin requirements, making capital injections from share issuances a useful tool for companies.
TSMC's CEO C. C. Wei informed shareholders this month that the stronger currency has reduced the firm's operating margin by several percentage points.
Taiwan Semiconductor stock surged 28% in the last 12 months. The chipmaker has also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45953943/taiwan-semiconductor-eyes-rollout-of-2nm-advanced-tech-chips-this-year" rel="noreferrer noopener">explored commercializing its</a> advanced 2-nanometer process&nbsp;using gate-all-around (GAA) technology in the second half of 2025. It plans to start 2-nm production simultaneously at its Baoshan and Kaohsiung facilities within Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park.
In April, Taiwan Semiconductor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44857887/taiwan-semiconductor-q1-surges-41-in-sales-boosted-by-ai-chip-demand-expanded-margins" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported&nbsp;first-quarter</a> net sales&nbsp;of $25.53 billion, up 41.6% year-over-year, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $23.92 billion. However, net sales declined&nbsp;3.4% quarter over quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor&nbsp;guided second-quarter&nbsp;2025 revenue of $28.4 billion-$29.2 billion, versus the $26.79&nbsp;billion analyst estimate.&nbsp;
Price Action: TSM stock gained by 1.20% to $222.74 on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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Photo by Jack Hong via Shutterstock

Asia

Offerings

AAPL

SSNLF

Nvidia Supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Wants To Raise $10 Billion For This Risk It Cannot Control

General

Microsoft, In Collaboration With The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, The University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee And TitletownTech Announces The Opening Of An AI Co-Innovation Lab On The UWM campus

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Morgan Stanley raised TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNX#NYSE">SNX</a>) price target from $145 to $155. Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring maintained an Overweight rating. TD SYNNEX shares closed at $136.88 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SNX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Citigroup cut the price target for FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) from $267 to $259. Citigroup analyst Ariel Rosa maintained a Buy rating. FedEx shares closed at $229.51 on Tuesday. See how other analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FDX/analyst-ratings">view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Loop Capital raised NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) price target from $175 to $250. Loop Capital analyst Ananda Barush maintained a Buy rating. Nvidia shares closed at $147.90 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>JP Morgan boosted the price target for Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWRE#NYSE">GWRE</a>) from $271 to $288. JP Morgan analyst Alexei Gogolev maintained an Overweight rating. Guidewire Software shares closed at $237.45 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GWRE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>TD Cowen raised the price target for General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) from $290 to $300. TD Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna maintained a Buy rating. General Dynamics shares closed at $281.05 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>DA Davidson cut Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>) price target from $600 to $500. DA Davidson analyst Wyatt Swanson maintained a Buy rating. Duolingo shares settled at $422.79 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/duol/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel raised Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) price target from $33 to $34. Stifel analyst Steven Wieczynski maintained a Buy rating. Carnival shares closed at $25.70 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ccl/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Wedbush increased Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) price target from $515 to $600. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives maintained an Outperform rating. Microsoft shares closed at $490.11 on Tuesday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>UBS cut the price target for Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>) from $205 to $195. UBS analyst Peter Grom maintained a Buy rating. Constellation shares settled at $164.49 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STZ/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>RBC Capital increased Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) price target from $205 to $213. RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams maintained an Outperform rating. Biogen shares closed at $126.31 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BIIB/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying NVDA stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="571" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25130709/image-388-1024x571.png" alt="" class="wp-image-961994" style="width:642px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25130709/image-388-1024x571.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25130709/image-388-300x167.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25130709/image-388-768x428.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25130709/image-388.png 1130w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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Photo via Shutterstock

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Intraday Update

Markets

Analyst Ratings

BIIB

DUOL

GWRE

Nvidia To Rally Around 69%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday

The world&#8217;s biggest hedge funds are making some eyebrow-raising moves and they&#8217;re laser-obsessed with one thing: Big Tech. Based on the most recent 13F filings, institutional investors and hedge funds poured billions into big <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/technology-stocks">tech stocks</a> such as 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>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) during the last quarter. Even <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs themselves</a>, like the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>), experienced big inflows of more than $21 billion.
So what does it all mean for average investors? Two things:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The pros remain highly optimistic about tech.</li>
<li>By investing in the right ETFs, individual investors can achieve similar exposure without the hedge fund-sized balance sheet.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Follow The Smart Money</h2>
While the headlines tend to flow to the likes of BlackRock, Vanguard or Millennium Management, individual investors have access to the same mega-cap tech surge through ETFs. 
Here&#8217;s a rundown of some of those top stocks against recent fund inflows:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stock</th>
<th>Top Hedge Fund Buyers</th>
<th>Total Value Bought</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>Geode, Vanguard, BlackRock</td>
<td>$23.49B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon </td>
<td>BlackRock, Vanguard, Arrowstreet</td>
<td>$17.75B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple </td>
<td>BlackRock, Geode, Vanguard</td>
<td>$15.77B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia </td>
<td>Vanguard, Geode, BlackRock</td>
<td>$14.91B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet </td>
<td>Vanguard, BlackRock, Geode</td>
<td>$12.97B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms </td>
<td>BlackRock, Viking Global</td>
<td>$12.17B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla</td>
<td>Capstone Investment, Vanguard, BlackRock</td>
<td>$10.12B</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: HedgeFollow</figcaption></figure>
 In the meantime, IVV, an S&amp;P 500 exchange-traded fund, was one of the largest, gaining more than $21.36 billion with Capula Management and Millennium taking the lead.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETFs That Follow The Hedge Fund Tech Bounce</h2>
Here are a few ETFs individual investors can look to access the same themes:
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">IVV, VOO, SPY – Timeless S&amp;P 500 Exposure</h3>
Apart from IVV, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) are filled with the same big-name tech stocks that hedge funds adore. Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) comprise the heaviest weightings. Notably, VOO has garnered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/46060843/vanguard-etfs-lead-2025-with-150-billion-inflows-challenging-wall-streets-old-guard">$82 billion in inflows this year</a> as of May 18, indicating strong demand.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">QQQ, QQQM – Growth-Oriented &amp; Technology-Laden</h3>
Following the Nasdaq-100, Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQM#NASDAQ">QQQM</a>) provide leveraged exposure to the largest names in tech, including the leaders of the AI revolution.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">XLK, VGT &#8211; Technology-Sector Focused </h3>
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGT#NYSE">VGT</a>). These sector-specific ETFs are best for those seeking a cleaner play in the space. XLK, for example, has more than 40% of its assets in MSFT and AAPL combined.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why The Sprint?</h2>
A number of tailwinds are driving this hedge fund tech wave:
AI Arms Race: Hedge funds are wagering big that the AI revolution is only just beginning.
Earnings Resilience: Big Tech has shown remarkable stability and earnings growth amid rate hikes.
Cloud &amp; Infrastructure Demand: Enterprise spending is ramping back up in areas dominated by Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet.
Even ETFs like IVV, typically seen as broad-market plays, are riding this trend thanks to their tech-heavy weightings.
Hedge funds weren&#8217;t hoarding Big Tech with deep pockets, so retail investors don&#8217;t have to watch from the sidelines. One can create a diversified, tech-heavy portfolio with a few clicks using ETFs, and a lot less cash.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46081799/3-cybersecurity-etfs-go-malware-free-china-gets-bolder">3 Cybersecurity ETFs To Gain Ground As Threats Go Malware-Free, China Gets Bolder</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

ETFs

QQQM

TSLA

Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla Among Tech Stocks Hedge Funds Are Piling Into — Here's How ETFs Like IVV, SPY, VOO Are Riding The Wave

Another analyst is staying on the sidelines of CoreWeave Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWV#NASDAQ">CRWV</a>) after the rally in shares <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/ipos/25/03/44520808/nvidia-backed-coreweave-ipo-5-things-investors-need-to-know-before-buying-shares">since the March IPO.</a>
The CoreWeave Analyst: H.C. Wainwright analyst Kevin Dede initiates coverage on CoreWeave with a Neutral rating with no price target.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/downgrades/25/06/45955639/coreweaves-290-rally-raises-valuation-fears-analyst-says-upside-has-been-priced-in">CoreWeave&#8217;s 290% Rally Raises Valuation Fears, Analyst Says &#8216;Upside Has Been Priced In&#8217;</a>
The Analyst Takeaways: CoreWeave is taking the AI sector by storm with both speed and excellence, Dede said in a new investor note.
"A tangled web, carefully woven, delivers compute efficiency and speed to market," Dede said.
The analyst said the company is helping to improve and support high-performance compute for AI applications.
Dede said part of the bullish sentiment for CoreWeave stock and its surging price comes from its proven model and its customer list. More bullish sentiment for the stock could come from further growth in the AI sector.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is named in the report as a key customer, making up 64% of CoreWeave's revenue in the last fiscal year. Other customers include Meta Platforms, Google, and OpenAI. Dede also predicts that some three-letter government agencies could be unnamed CoreWeave customers.
Dede calls CoreWeave's customer list "both flashy and well-recognized," as it includes leading hyperscalers and large names in high-performance compute and AI.
"We see the company as an ultimate benefactor in the surge of artificial intelligence use."
While Dede is bullish on the outlook for the AI sector and CoreWeave's model, the sharp run-up in the share price has the analyst on the sidelines.
"Despite the positive arguments, we initiate coverage with a Neutral rating as the stock may need a minute to breathe after a five-fold breakout versus a period-comp 25% Nasdaq rise."
The analyst said the IPO priced at $40 offered a "fantastic entry point" and shares are now "perhaps a little overheated."
Another concern for the analyst is potential dilution with more capital needed to support growth.
"We are not here saying it is impossible, but caution against unknown, unforeseen headline risks."
CRWV Price Action: CoreWeave stock trades at $167.09 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $33.52 to $187.00. Shares opened at around $39 and closed at around $40 on their first day of trading before rallying days later.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Photo: PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Initiation

CRWV

CoreWeave IPO Was 'Fantastic Entry Point,' But Stock Now 'A Little Overheated'

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, conducting a thorough analysis of companies is crucial for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will perform an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) in relation to its major competitors in the Software industry. By closely examining crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Microsoft Background</h3>
Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp</td>
<td>37.88</td>
<td>11.32</td>
<td>13.56</td>
<td>8.27%</td>
<td>$40.71</td>
<td>$48.15</td>
<td>13.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oracle Corp</td>
<td>49.60</td>
<td>29.57</td>
<td>10.75</td>
<td>18.43%</td>
<td>$6.83</td>
<td>$11.16</td>
<td>11.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ServiceNow Inc</td>
<td>135.19</td>
<td>20.36</td>
<td>18.14</td>
<td>4.66%</td>
<td>$0.72</td>
<td>$2.44</td>
<td>18.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palo Alto Networks Inc</td>
<td>115.91</td>
<td>18.60</td>
<td>16.10</td>
<td>3.85%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
<td>15.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fortinet Inc</td>
<td>42.97</td>
<td>40.72</td>
<td>13.15</td>
<td>25.08%</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>13.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gen Digital Inc</td>
<td>28.51</td>
<td>8.03</td>
<td>4.66</td>
<td>6.43%</td>
<td>$0.53</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monday.Com Ltd</td>
<td>300.33</td>
<td>13.85</td>
<td>15.25</td>
<td>2.57%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>30.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CommVault Systems Inc</td>
<td>101.49</td>
<td>23.14</td>
<td>7.74</td>
<td>10.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>23.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dolby Laboratories Inc</td>
<td>28.09</td>
<td>2.77</td>
<td>5.47</td>
<td>3.61%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>1.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Qualys Inc</td>
<td>28.63</td>
<td>10.21</td>
<td>8.36</td>
<td>9.75%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>9.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Progress Software Corp</td>
<td>50.83</td>
<td>6.43</td>
<td>3.56</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>28.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Teradata Corp</td>
<td>15.48</td>
<td>13.20</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>30.24%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>-10.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rapid7 Inc</td>
<td>57.07</td>
<td>28.51</td>
<td>1.74</td>
<td>5.98%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>N-able Inc</td>
<td>96</td>
<td>1.87</td>
<td>3.08</td>
<td>-0.93%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>3.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>80.78</td>
<td>16.71</td>
<td>8.4</td>
<td>9.41%</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$1.46</td>
<td>11.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
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 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By carefully studying Microsoft, we can deduce the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
The stock's Price to Earnings ratio of 37.88 is lower than the industry average by 0.47x, suggesting potential value in the eyes of market participants.
</li>
<li>
With a Price to Book ratio of 11.32, significantly falling below the industry average by 0.68x, it suggests undervaluation and the possibility of untapped growth prospects.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 13.56, which is 1.61x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a lower Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.27%, which is 1.14% below the industry average. This indicates potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits, which could be attributed to various factors.
</li>
<li>
The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $40.71 Billion, which is 55.77x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $48.15 Billion, which indicates 32.98x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of 13.27% exceeds the industry average of 11.8%, indicating strong sales performance and market outperformance.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750863617_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio gauges the extent to which a company has financed its operations through debt relative to equity.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By evaluating Microsoft against its top 4 peers in terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following observations arise:
<ul>
<li>
Microsoft demonstrates a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers in the sector.
</li>
<li>
With a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, the company relies less on debt financing and maintains a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Microsoft in the Software industry, the PE and PB ratios suggest that the stock is undervalued compared to its peers. However, the high PS ratio indicates that the stock may be overvalued based on revenue. In terms of ROE, Microsoft is performing below average, while its high EBITDA and gross profit margins indicate strong operational efficiency. Additionally, the high revenue growth rate suggests potential for future expansion and market dominance.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insights Into Microsoft's Performance Versus Peers In Software Sector

Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives maintains Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $515 to $600.

Wedbush Maintains Outperform on Microsoft, Raises Price Target to $600

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Turrin maintains Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $565 to $585.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Microsoft, Raises Price Target to $585

Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) just flashed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/golden-cross">a Golden Cross</a>, and it's not just a technical footnote &#8211; it's a bullish billboard.
<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=0625"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="486" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25082252/Screenshot-2025-06-25-at-12.58.33-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-961528" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25082252/Screenshot-2025-06-25-at-12.58.33-PM.png 627w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25082252/Screenshot-2025-06-25-at-12.58.33-PM-300x233.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=0625">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Golden Cross Confirms The Breakout</h2>
A Golden Cross occurs when the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) crosses above the 200-day SMA, a widely watched indicator that often signals the start of a longer-term uptrend. And in QQQ's case, that signal is now backed by price strength and a powerful tech-heavy backbone.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46074385/nasdaq-seasonality-summer-record-highs">Nasdaq 100&#8217;s Summer Sweet Spot Is Here &#8211; And It Rarely Disappoints</a>
The ETF, which closed Tuesday at $539.78, is now trading above all key simple moving averages (SMA) &#8211; eight, 20, 50 and 200-day. The eight-day SMA sits at $531.40, the 20-day at $528.09, and the 50-day at $501.48 &#8211; each confirming strong upward momentum. 
Even the MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) sits at 7.87, adding to the bullish case. With an RSI (Relative Strength Index) of 66.09, QQQ isn't yet overbought, but it's clearly heating up.
And the fuel? 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Netflix, Meta, Microsoft Lead The Charge</h2>
Among the holdings, Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) are up 44.25%, 18.85% and 17.09% YTD &#8211; the top performers among QQQ's top 10 holdings in 2025.
While Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) 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>) are dragging, the market-cap heavyweights are still pulling weight &#8211; Meta riding AI monetization, Netflix cashing in on content strategy and ad tiers, and Microsoft powering ahead with cloud and enterprise strength.
The 52-week high of $540.81, set back in February, is now within whispering distance. If that level is cleared, QQQ may start attracting even more momentum chasers.
Investors looking for a growth barometer beyond individual stocks often use QQQ as a sentiment proxy for the Nasdaq 100. With a technical breakout now confirmed and tech bellwethers doing the heavy lifting, the question isn't whether QQQ is rallying &#8211; it's whether you&#8217;re already in.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Technicals

NFLX

Netflix, Meta, Microsoft Power QQQ's Golden Cross – Is The Rally Just Beginning?

In a recent interview, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, addressed the ongoing tensions with Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)and the recruitment efforts by Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
What Happened: On The Hard Fork, The New York Times&#8217; tech <a href="https://thenextweb.com/news/ai-openai-sam-altman-microsoft-antitrust-meta">podcast</a>, Altman confirmed that Microsoft, OpenAI&#8217;s largest investor, continues to back the AI company amid rumors of a strained relationship.
Altman disclosed that he had a &#8220;super nice call&#8221; with Microsoft&#8217;s CEO, Satya Nadella, where they discussed their future collaboration. He admitted to some points of tension but stressed that the partnership has been &#8220;really wonderfully good&#8221; for both parties.
Altman also addressed the recruitment efforts by Meta, led by CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg. Meta has reportedly extended nine-figure compensation packages to lure top technologists from OpenAI and other firms. &nbsp;When asked about Zuckerberg&#8217;s belief in Meta&#8217;s potential to develop &#8220;superintelligence,&#8221; Altman&#8217;s COO,&nbsp;Brad Lightcap, replied, &#8220;I think he believes he&#8217;s super intelligent.&#8221;
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/space/25/06/46090791/us-tests-radar-that-could-help-trumps-golden-dome-detect-missiles-over-1200-miles-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Tests Radar That Could Help Trump&#8217;s Golden Dome Detect Missiles Over 1,200 Miles: Report</a>
Why It Matters: The relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45966911/openai-vs-microsoft-inside-the-brewing-power-struggle-that-could-reportedly-explode-into-an-antitrust-showdown">under scrutiny</a> for some time. OpenAI was considering accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive practices, a move that could potentially strain their long-standing partnership.
Meanwhile, Meta&#8217;s aggressive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988600/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-dangled-100-million-signing-bonuses-to-openai-team-members-says-sam-altman-happy-none-of-our-best-people-took-them">recruitment tactics </a>have also been in the spotlight. Meta offered $100 million compensation packages to lure top OpenAI talent, but Altman stated that the company&#8217;s best people are staying put because they believe more in achieving AGI.
The developments in the relationships between OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta could have significant implications for the future of AI development and the tech industry as a whole.
On a year-to-date basis, shares of Microsoft soared 17.09%, while Meta surged 18.85%, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46076895/microsofts-layoffs-news-july-2025-ai-investment-80-billion">Microsoft&#8217;s AI Gets $80 Billion—While Pink Slips Print By The Thousand</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.

Sam Altman Crushes OpenAI-Microsoft Feud Rumors, Hails 'Really Wonderfully Good' Bond With Satya Nadella

As artificial intelligence (AI) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46089330/bernie-sanders-slams-job-cuts-says-ai-should-give-workers-more-time-off-instead-of-throwing-you-out-on-the-street">accelerates job displacement,</a> economist Craig Shapiro warns that the Federal Reserve's traditional tool of interest rate cuts is ill-equipped to address the looming labor crisis.
What Happened: In an X post and a detailed Substack essay published today, Shapiro argues that AI's structural impact on employment—particularly in white-collar sectors—renders monetary policy ineffective, urging a shift toward fiscal and regulatory solutions.
&#8220;AI-driven labor displacement, accelerating in 2025, poses a structural crisis that Federal Reserve rate cuts cannot fix,&#8221; he said.
Shapiro's analysis highlights a growing crisis, with tech giants like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) investing billions in AI, potentially automating 25% of the U.S. labor market by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
His X post cites Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michael Barr's 2025 warning that AI could raise the natural unemployment rate due to skill mismatches, a view echoed by a <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/08/research-technology-is-only-making-social-skills-more-important">Harvard study</a> estimating 47% of U.S. jobs at risk. 
<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">Hypothesis: Fed interest rate cutting cycle will do very little to save the labor market which has begun to deteriorate more rapidly due to the acceleration of developments from Artificial Intelligence. Why Federal Reserve Policy Tools Can't Alone Solve AI Displacement The…
&mdash; Craig Shapiro (@ces921) <a href="https://twitter.com/ces921/status/1937814880486142284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Rate cuts, designed for cyclical downturns, fail to counter this permanent shift and may even accelerate automation by lowering capital costs, as firms prioritize AI over human labor.
Shapiro also expands on the ripple effects, noting a 62% rise in white-collar workers' job automation fears per a 2025 Pew survey, driving a drop in consumer confidence to 98.2 and a 3.5% decline in luxury spending.
See Also: <a href="http://BlackRock Bets Big On Defense Companies Amid Escalating Geopolitical Tensions: Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Among Stocks In Focus">BlackRock Bets Big On Defense Companies Amid Escalating Geopolitical Tensions: Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Among Stocks In Focus</a>
Why It Matters: To counter the possible failure of monetary policy, Shapiro advocates for bold measures like universal basic income pilots, tested in Finland with €560 monthly payments, and federally funded reskilling initiatives.
"Monetary policy alone cannot absorb the labor shock of AI," he writes, calling for AI impact assessments and corporate transition taxes. As the job apocalypse unfolds, Shapiro's insights signal that only structural reforms can balance AI's promise with economic stability.
Price Action: Here are a few AI-linked exchange-traded funds that investors can consider amid the booming artificial intelligence demand.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ETF Name</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Technology ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYW#NYSE">IYW</a>)</td>
<td>5.68%</td>
<td>12.16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>)</td>
<td>3.78%</td>
<td>12.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDN#NYSE">FDN</a>)</td>
<td>7.14%</td>
<td>29.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGM#NYSE">IGM</a>)</td>
<td>6.83%</td>
<td>16.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Global Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXN#NYSE">IXN</a>)</td>
<td>6.37%</td>
<td>8.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Defiance Quantum ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QTUM#NASDAQ">QTUM</a>)</td>
<td>9.42%</td>
<td>43.88%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was up 0.21% at $608.06, while the QQQ rose 0.38% to $541.83, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund

FTEC

iShares Trust S&P Global Information Technology Sector Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones US Technology Sector Index Fund

QTUM

AI Will Disrupt 25% Of US Jobs By 2030—And The Fed Can't Save Them, Economist Warns

Reflecting the surging tide of artificial intelligence, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has raised his price target for Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to $600, up from an earlier estimate of $425, citing a &#8220;massive adoption wave&#8221; of AI-driven Azure services.
What Happened: The announcement, made via X, underscores Ives&#8217; confidence in Microsoft's pivotal role in the AI revolution, dubbing it the company's &#8220;shining moment.&#8221;
The new target implies a 23% upside for Microsoft investors based on Tuesday's closing price.
Ives, a veteran tech bull on Wall Street, bases his bullish outlook on recent field checks revealing robust AI customer adoption.
Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, enhanced by innovations like Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45510847/jensen-huang-satya-nadella-tout-40x-speed-up-in-azure-powered-ai-as-microsoft-nvidia-deepen-supercomputing-alliance">Hopper GPUs and custom-built silicon</a>, is at the forefront, with monetization strategies outlined in the Azure API Management framework driving significant growth. 
The new target, approximately 25% premium over the current Wall Street consensus of $517.85, reflects Ives' belief that AI infrastructure is propelling Microsoft ahead of competitors.
<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">Raising our price target on Microsoft to $600 reflecting incrementally bullish recent AI customer checks in the field with a massive adoption wave of AI driven Azure monetization now on the doorstep for MSFT. We strongly view this as Microsoft&#39;s &quot;shining moment&quot; with AI &#x1f3c6;&#x1f402;&#x1f525;&#x1f37f;
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1937820305348837882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46068345/blackrock-bets-big-on-defense-companies-amid-escalating-geopolitical-tensions-palantir-lockheed-martin-northrop-grumman-among-stocks-in-focus">BlackRock Bets Big On Defense Companies Amid Escalating Geopolitical Tensions: Palantir, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Among Stocks In Focus</a>
Why It Matters: Currently, based on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">29 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a>, MSFT has a consensus target price of $517.85 apiece, with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating.
The targets range from $475 to $605. Recent price targets from Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and RBC Capital imply a 15.07% upside for Microsoft Corp.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="385" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065238/MSFT-ANR-new-1024x385.png" alt="" class="wp-image-961398" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065238/MSFT-ANR-new-1024x385.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065238/MSFT-ANR-new-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065238/MSFT-ANR-new-768x289.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065238/MSFT-ANR-new.png 1072w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
MSFT shares were up 0.22% in premarket on Wednesday and ended 0.85% higher at $490.11 apiece on Tuesday. It has risen by 17.09% on a year-to-date basis and 8.68% over the past year. 
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that MSFT had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid; however, its value ranking was poor at the 13.32nd percentile. The details of other metrics are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="865" height="130" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065151/MSFT-EDGE.png" alt="" class="wp-image-961395" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065151/MSFT-EDGE.png 865w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065151/MSFT-EDGE-300x45.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25065151/MSFT-EDGE-768x115.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /></a></figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was down 0.054% at $607.11, while the QQQ rose 0.16% to $540.66, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/46089173/michael-saylor-offers-btc-credit-model-as-bill-pulte-pushes-crypto-for-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-could-bitcoin-soon-count-toward-mortgage-qualification">Michael Saylor Offers BTC Credit Model As Bill Pulte Pushes Crypto For Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac: Could Bitcoin Soon Count Toward Mortgage Qualification?</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. 
Image via Shutterstock

Microsoft Stock Poised For 23% Rally As AI Monetization Gains Steam, Dan Ives Says

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is advocating for a 32-hour workweek, citing the potential for advancements in artificial intelligence and automation to provide workers with more personal time.
What Happened: Sanders, in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, outlined his vision for a future where AI and automation drive increased productivity and efficiency, leading to reduced working hours for employees. &#8220;Instead of throwing you out on the street, I&#8217;m going to reduce your workweek to 32 hours,&#8221; Sanders stated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Joe Rogan Experience #2341 - Bernie Sanders" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYVzme2fybU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
The Vermont senator underscored the potential benefits of technology for workers, suggesting it could offer more time for family, friends and education. 
Sanders introduced the &#8220;Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act&#8221; last year, which mandates overtime pay for any work beyond 32 hours in a week. The proposed change would be gradually implemented over a four-year period.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/legal/25/06/46087760/trumps-move-to-gut-financial-protection-agency-could-cost-consumers-15-billion-a-year-say-advocacy-gro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Move To Gut Financial Protection Agency Could Cost Consumers $15 Billion A Year, Say Advocacy Groups</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;&nbsp;The proposal comes at a time when the impact of AI and automation on the workforce is a hot topic. Just days before Sanders&#8217; podcast appearance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46083721/microsoft-stock-holds-steady-as-ai-drives-workforce-shift">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) announced its third round of layoffs for 2025, primarily targeting the sales team and other customer-facing roles. This move was attributed to AI-driven workforce shifts.
Similarly,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45990634/amazon-ceo-andy-jassys-ai-led-job-cuts-warning-sparks-backlash-as-employee-reportedly-says-its-clearly-part-of-the-plan">Amazon</a>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO Andy Jassy recently warned that AI would reduce the company's corporate workforce due to efficiency gains, sparking backlash from employees. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO Jamie Dimon admitted that U.S. companies are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/06/46067954/jamie-dimon-says-these-are-the-3-skills-businesses-seek-admits-we-are-short-on-labor">short on workers </a>who can code software, secure networks and run complex projects.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46042198/bernie-sanders-says-working-class-americans-die-10-years-earlier-than-the-rich-blames-enormous-stress-of-living-paycheck-to-paycheck">Bernie Sanders Says Working-Class Americans Die 10 Years Earlier Than the Rich — Blames &#8216;Enormous Stress of Living Paycheck to Paycheck&#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.

Bernie Sanders Slams Job Cuts, Says AI Should Give Workers More Time Off: 'Instead Of Throwing You Out On The Street...'

Phoebe Gates says she and co-founder Sophia Kianni leaned on ChatGPT and spreadsheet sleuthing, rather than a big ad budget, to push their fashion-tech startup Phia onto social feeds.
What Happened: &#8220;We'll make an Excel sheet … then we'll reverse-engineer how to make that video,&#8221; Gates told The Burnouts podcast, adding she uses AI &#8220;almost every single day&#8221; to supercharge work.
Gates said the pair scoured Instagram and TikTok for high-performing reels, logged them in Excel and broke down "the hook … the middle … and how they ended it." Kianni then fed transcripts of two runaway-viral founder videos into ChatGPT to "reverse engineer how to make that video … and asked, ‘Can you turn this script into one that works for Phia?'"
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Marketing Hacks That Got Us 200K Downloads and Kris Jenner's Investment" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pWtCTIgOU2M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
The model's pattern-spotting, she added, proves "you should not be starting anything from scratch. The internet exists for a reason."
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46070157/meta-reportedly-tried-to-buy-ai-video-startup-runway-before-14-billion-scale-ai-bet-report">Meta Reportedly Tried To Buy AI Video Startup Runway Before $14 Billion Scale AI Bet: Report</a>
The former Stanford roommates launched Phia in April after raising about $850,000, including checks from Kris Jenner and Desiree Gruber. The browser extension compares prices across 40,000 retail sites to surface the best clothing deals. Gates says her father, Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) co-founder Bill Gates, "wouldn't let me drop out" the way he did and declined to bankroll the venture.
Why It Matters: Gates said Phia will continue to mine AI for insights as it develops personalized styling tools. There are patterns behind why things go viral and understanding them is crucial, Kianni tells listeners of The Burnouts podcast.
The founders' playbook mirrors a broader rush to embed generative AI in marketing. Big brands such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/23/10/35145790/the-first-email-blast-went-out-45-years-ago-how-startup-appmail-uses-chatgpt-powered-ai-and-automati">AppMail</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/23/03/31450981/this-startup-built-the-worlds-first-ai-marketing-platform-that-can-understand-emotion-and-some-of-th">AI-ad firm RAD AI</a> already rely on ChatGPT variants to craft A/B-tested copy and predict emotional resonance.
Wall Street banks have likewise <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44878856/bank-of-america-bets-big-on-ai-with-4-billion-investment-and-its-already-paying-off">rolled out chatbots</a> to jump-start pitch decks and compliance reviews, as part of a wider adoption wave.
Photo Courtesy: Ron Adar on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46068948/barack-obama-warns-ai-revolution-is-not-hype-says-youre-going-to-start-seeing-shifts">Barack Obama Warns AI Revolution Is &#8216;Not Hype,&#8217; Says &#8216;You&#8217;re Going To Start Seeing Shifts&#8230;&#8217;</a>

Phoebe Gates Shares Clever ChatGPT Hack She Uses 'Almost Every Single Day' To Make Videos For Her Fashion-Tech Startup: 'The Internet Exists For A Reason'

On Tuesday, Elon Musk backed a social media post criticizing 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 for missing the generative AI moment, despite having all the right ingredients long before OpenAI surged ahead.
What Happened: On Monday, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Anthropic, the AI company backed by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), did not break copyright laws when it used books to train its AI model, Claude.
The judge said this was "fair use" because the AI doesn't simply copy or reproduce the books — it learns from them to generate new, original content.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45830549/pierre-ferragu-takes-apple-to-task-for-dismissing-the-ai-revolution-has-its-head-in-the-sand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pierre Ferragu Takes Apple To Task For Dismissing The AI Revolution: ‘Has Its Head In The Sand&#8217;</a> Following this development, a user took to X, formerly Twitter, and said that Google had all the resources to lead the AI race — such as the transformer model, data, Google Books and massive computing power — but still lost out to OpenAI
"Having the pieces isn&#8217;t the same as playing the game," the user said, to which the Tesla CEO replied, "True."
<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">True
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1937601264323575887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: Following the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022, Google <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/12/30170477/chatgpt-popularity-reportedly-leads-to-google-declaring-code-red-as-sundar-pichai-increases-involvem-1">reportedly issued a "Code Red"</a> as it came under fire for falling behind competitors like Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which swiftly integrated ChatGPT-style features into its offerings.
Since then, Google has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42641018/google-faced-intense-scrutiny-post-chatgpt-leading-up-to-declaring-code-red-but-gemini-20-and-quantum-chip-gives-investors-renewed-confidence">regained investor confidence</a> with major AI and tech advancements following intense scrutiny since ChatGPT's release, said AllianceBernstein's Tiffany Hsia last year.
Meanwhile, Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left the startup in 2018 over some dispute, has now started his own AI venture named xAI. Earlier this month, it was reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/06/45738963/elon-musks-xai-targets-113-billion-valuation-with-300-million-share-sale-report">xAI is planning a $300 million share sale</a> that would value the combined company at $113 billion.
This secondary offering enables current employees to sell their shares to new investors and reinforces the valuation set during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44549314/elon-musk-acquires-his-own-social-media-platform-x-through-xai-in-33-billion-deal-says-combined-entity-now-worth-80-billion">xAI's March acquisition</a> of the social media platform X.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings reveal a short-term upward trend for GOOG, but signal a downward trajectory over the medium and long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Additional performance details can be found here</a>.
<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 decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25013609/Screenshot-2025-06-25-at-11.03.04%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-960878" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO On Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Elon Musk Agrees Google Had All The Tools But Still Lost The AI Race To OpenAI, Echoes Social Media Post: 'Having The Pieces Isn't The Same As Playing The Game'

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MSFT usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 27 extraordinary options activities for Microsoft. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 48% leaning bullish and 37% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $84,346, and 25 are calls, amounting to $1,579,119.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $200.0 to $487.5 for Microsoft during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Microsoft's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Microsoft's significant trades, within a strike price range of $200.0 to $487.5, over the past month.
<h3>Microsoft Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750788135_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>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$150.9</td>
<td>$149.75</td>
<td>$150.85</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$150.8K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>757</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$95.95</td>
<td>$95.45</td>
<td>$95.45</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$133.6K</td>
<td>12.3K</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$150.8</td>
<td>$149.75</td>
<td>$150.8</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$120.6K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$152.15</td>
<td>$150.85</td>
<td>$151.68</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$106.1K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>497</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$151.65</td>
<td>$150.9</td>
<td>$151.25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$90.7K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Microsoft</h3>
Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).
Having examined the options trading patterns of Microsoft, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Microsoft</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 11,056,768, the MSFT's price is up by 1.05%, now at $491.08. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 35 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Microsoft</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $585.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $605. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Microsoft with a target price of $565. 
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 Microsoft, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Spotlight on Microsoft: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/27/25</td>
<td>$205.00</td>
<td>$27.1K</td>
<td>38.4K</td>
<td>61.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/27/25</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$46.8K</td>
<td>22.7K</td>
<td>36.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/27/25</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
<td>$46.1K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>31.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>14.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/27/25</td>
<td>$485.00</td>
<td>$35.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/27/25</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$198.7K</td>
<td>27.1K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/17/27</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$748.0K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$52.8K</td>
<td>47</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$297.50</td>
<td>$159.5K</td>
<td>59</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on June 27, 2025. Parties traded 331 contract(s) at a $205.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.1K, with a price of $82.0 per contract. There were 38450 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 61020 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CRCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRCL#NYSE">CRCL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on June 27, 2025. Parties traded 71 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.8K, with a price of $660.0 per contract. There were 22766 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 36449 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on June 27, 2025. This event was a transfer of 179 contract(s) at a $137.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 29 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.1K, with a price of $258.0 per contract. There were 2993 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 31263 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on July 3, 2025. Parties traded 180 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.3K, with a price of $230.0 per contract. There were 1489 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14859 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on June 27, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $485.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.1K, with a price of $117.0 per contract. There were 1580 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8653 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on June 27, 2025. This event was a transfer of 116 contract(s) at a $370.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $241.0 per contract. There were 4239 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4548 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CSCO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 87 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 984 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $198.7K, with a price of $202.0 per contract. There were 27109 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3131 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 906 day(s) on December 17, 2027. This event was a transfer of 113 contract(s) at a $105.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $748.0K, with a price of $6620.0 per contract. There were 4072 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2896 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NN#NASDAQ">NN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 1505 contract(s) at a $13.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 35 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $52.8K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 47 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2716 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding IBM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on July 3, 2025. Parties traded 684 contract(s) at a $297.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $159.5K, with a price of $235.0 per contract. There were 59 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1109 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AVGO

CRCL

CSCO

MSTR

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

A recent report from Bank of America Securities (BofA) highlights a significant, yet currently underestimated, medium-term surge in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/software" rel="noreferrer noopener">software spending</a> driven by AI agents.
While the market has shown some caution due to an &#8220;underwhelming generative AI adoption or monetization cycle&#8221; so far, BofA believes that &#8220;agentic functionality&#8221; could be the key to unlocking substantial revenue.
BofA&#8217;s &#8220;deep dive&#8221; into agentic AI suggests that spending on this technology could reach a staggering $155 billion by 2030. This estimate is three times higher than most current industry analyst projections.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44523216/microsoft-plans-proprietary-ai-to-power-business-software-and-reduce-openai-dependence-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Plans Proprietary AI To Power Business Software And Reduce OpenAI Dependence: Report</a>
Agentic functionality could be the defining catalyst for AI monetization, as agents can potentially unlock sustainable, measurable, and material workforce productivity improvements, as per BofA.
The analyst leveraged a top-down approach to estimate the potential &#8220;services&#8221; Total Addressable Market (TAM) capture of agentic AI (with services representing human salaries or wages).
BofA estimated global knowledge worker wages across seven major occupation categories (sales, finance, and IT) are $18.6 trillion annually.
The analyst noted it is reasonable to assume that agents will perform 10% of workflows for this cohort of employees by 2030, representing $1.9 trillion in automation-driven value.
Assuming software vendors can capture roughly 8% of this value (representing 12 times customer ROI on agentic spending), this would equate to global agentic AI spending of $155 billion, as per BofA.
The analyst presented surveys summarizing the state of agentic AI adoption, general agentic investment posture, and job functions best suited for agents. Responses indicate that 64% of organizations expect to pursue agentic AI initiatives in 2025, per BofA.
However, the analyst noted that agentic AI initiatives remain in the early stages of deployment, with 53% in the exploration stage, 25% in the pilot stage, and only 6% of organizations in production (as of January 2025).
Unsurprisingly, surveys indicate that customer service, marketing, sales, and software development are likely to be the first significant job functions to adopt agentic technologies, BofA said.
Key AI beneficiaries in BofA coverage included Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) (with the Azure or OpenAI partnership and Microsoft 365 product cycles), Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) (Agentforce), ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>) (Now Assist), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>) (Intuit Assist for QuickBooks and TurboTax), HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBS#NYSE">HUBS</a>) (Breeze AI agents), GitLab Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GTLB#NASDAQ">GTLB</a>) (Duo) and OneStream, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OS#NASDAQ">OS</a>) (SensibleAI).
As per the analyst, these firms possess the key ingredients for AI success and monetization, notably large customer datasets, robust data management, or governance capabilities. BofA said these companies also have publicly or in beta agentic AI features or products available today. The analyst expects monetization to begin ramping in calendar 2026.
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Unusual Options Activity for

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BENZINGA GLOBAL

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
11:18 AMJun 11, 2025	CALL	$390.00	Jun 20, 2025	-7	70	70	2	3033	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:33 AMJun 11, 2025	CALL	$460.00	Aug 15, 2025	49	200	200	5	4236	SWEEP	BULLISH
09:33 AMJun 11, 2025	CALL	$470.00	Oct 17, 2025	112	1	276	0	3532	SWEEP	BULLISH
09:32 AMJun 11, 2025	PUT	$490.00	Sep 19, 2025	84	200	200	606	33	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:15 PMJun 10, 2025	CALL	$180.00	Dec 17, 2027	903	17	17	24	71	TRADE	NEUTRAL
10:51 AMJun 09, 2025	PUT	$440.00	Dec 19, 2025	175	300	300	32	952	TRADE	BEARISH
12:33 PMJun 06, 2025	CALL	$180.00	Dec 17, 2027	903	51	51	72	71	TRADE	NEUTRAL
10:48 AMJun 06, 2025	CALL	$355.00	Jun 20, 2025	-7	1505	1500	167	899	TRADE	BEARISH
09:43 AMJun 06, 2025	CALL	$410.00	Jun 20, 2025	-7	143	100	3	5639	TRADE	BULLISH
11:42 AMJun 05, 2025	CALL	$450.00	Jun 20, 2025	-7	1404	1275	13	10898	TRADE	NEUTRAL
11:27 AMJun 04, 2025	CALL	$430.00	Sep 19, 2025	84	245	139	6	3785	SWEEP	BULLISH