Electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is expected to provide an update on demand and the performance of its robotaxi tests when the company reports its second-quarter financial results after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market close on Wednesday.</a>



Here are the earnings estimates, what analysts are saying and key items to watch.



Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Tesla to report second-quarter revenue of $22.79 billion, down from $25.50 billion in last year's second quarter, according to data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0722">from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company has missed analyst estimates for revenue in three straight quarters and missed estimates in six of the last seven quarters overall.



Analysts expect Tesla to report second-quarter earnings per share of 42 cents per share, down from 52 cents per share in last year's second quarter. The company has missed analyst estimates for earnings per share in two straight quarters and missed estimates in six of the last seven quarters overall.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/restaurants/25/07/46553838/tesla-musk-jump-into-make-america-healthy-again-with-beef-tallow-fries-at-diner">Tesla, Musk Jump Into Make America Healthy Again With Beef Tallow Fries At Diner</a>



What Analysts Are Saying: Tesla analysts are mixed ahead of the second-quarter report, with several Neutral ratings and downgrades expected in July.



One analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46553680/tesla-stock-is-trending-tuesday-whats-going-on">who remains bullish </a>on Tesla is Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, a frequent Tesla bull. Ives maintained an Outperform rating and $500 price target on Tesla ahead of the earnings report.



Ives said the Street will focus on demand stabilization and robotaxi expansion. The analyst also highlighted the differences between Tesla&#8217;s performance in July and April.



"On the April earnings call the big focus was Musk officially leaving the Trump Administration and pressure to refocus on being CEO on Tesla…now investors are seeing more of a ‘wartime CEO' as Elon is laser focused on the Robotaxi expansion in Austin," Ives said.



Ives said more cities are coming for the Robotaxi expansion, calling it a "key autonomous initiative for the company."



"Front and center for investors are the AI initiatives happening under the hood of Tesla with the Street listening carefully for any more direction around a Tesla investment into xAI which will require a shareholder vote later this year."



Ives said Tesla is a clear future leader in artificial intelligence and robotics and that could be highlighted during the financial results and conference call.



"We believe the autonomous valuation is worth $1 trillion alone to the Tesla story over the next few years."



The analyst said Tesla had weakness in China in prior quarters, but the region could be rebounding based on June sales, which were up year-over-year for the first time in eight months.



"If Musk continues to lead and remain in the driver's seat at this pace, we believe Tesla is on a path to an accelerated growth path over the coming years."



Ives said Tesla is at a "positive crossroads" in its story with Musk focused as the CEO, robotaxi expansion beginning, demand stabilization coming and the company ready to embark on aggressive AI growth.



Bank of America analysts maintained a Neutral rating on Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46536517/bank-of-america-sees-11-upside-for-tesla-stock-despite-ev-credit-phase-out-tariff-risks-promise-to-deliver-unsupervised-fsd">ahead of the report</a>, while raising the price target from $305 to $341.



The analysts raised the price target due to optimism for robotaxis and the promise to have unsupervised FSD in place by the end of 2025. Bank of America remained cautious about the pressures on the EV industry overall due to the elimination of federal tax credits.



"Tesla is the most challenged among the three OEMs given disappointing deliveries, IRA incentives phasing out, and tariffs," the analysts said.



Here are other recent<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings"> analyst ratings on Tesla</a> and their price targets:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Goldman Sachs: Maintained Neutral rating, lowered price target from $315 to $285</li>



<li>Mizuho: Maintained Outperform rating, lowered price target from $390 to $375</li>



<li>Guggenheim: Reiterated Sell rating with $175 price target</li>



<li>William Blair: Downgraded from Outperform to Market Perform rating with no price target</li>
</ul>



Key Items to Watch: Investors and analysts will be watching many items in Tesla's financial results and conference call including robotaxis, tariffs, Tesla Diner, Cybertruck demand, EV tax credits, Trump administration impact, China, Europe and a vote on xAI ownership.



Tesla already reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46221375/tesla-stock-jumps-on-strong-q2-deliveries">second-quarter deliveries</a> of 384,122, which were down from 443,956 in last year's second quarter. Production of 410,244 units in the quarter was down slightly from 410,831 in last year's second quarter.



Among the items closely watched in demand is the Cybertruck. While Tesla doesn't break out the newer vehicle individually, reports suggest that the Cybertruck <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46475391/tesla-cybertruck-bet-not-paying-off-ford-gm-outsell-ev-giant">has fallen behind</a> the F-150 Lightning and Hummer EV for third place among electric pickup trucks.



Original production plans called for capacity to make 250,000 Cybertrucks annually, but the vehicle is selling less than 50,000 per year. Tesla could comment on the future of the vehicle.



Tesla probably won't comment on or take action regarding its Bitcoin (CRYPTO). Still, it could become a future catalyst with the elimination of corporate tax credits for EV companies acquired by other automakers.



Tesla CEO Elon Musk will likely be asked multiple questions about the current White House administration and President Donald Trump. After a close friendship, the two had a falling out that could spill over to Tesla.



Trump threatened to look into the subsidies that Musk-related companies receive. Trump has also nominated a head of NHTSA who is opposed to autonomous vehicles, a potential roadblock to Tesla's robotaxi growth.



After not giving much color on full-year guidance after first-quarter results, investors and analysts will want to hear more. Tesla said its 2025 guidance would be revisited in the second-quarter update, which will be released on Wednesday.



Timelines from the company will be closely watched with the first-quarter update, which is expected to confirm that the company remains on track to start production of more affordable models in the first half of 2025 and for the Cybercab to begin volume production in 2026.



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock was up 1.1% to $332.11 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $182.00 to $488.54. Tesla stock is down 12.4% year-to-date in 2025.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/05/45680115/tesla-the-best-elon-musk-company-84-say-no-these-3-rank-higher">Tesla The Best Elon Musk Company? 84% Say No — These 3 Rank Higher</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Trygve Finkelsen on Shutterstock.com

Analyst Color

Price Target

Previews

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

TSLA

Tesla Q2 Earnings Preview: Will Robotaxis, AI & 'Wartime CEO' Elon Musk Deliver?

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) could show investors and analysts growth in several areas, such as YouTube, cloud and AI when the company reports second-quarter financial results<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> after market close Wednesday.</a>



Here are the earnings estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report and key items to watch.



Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Alphabet to report second-quarter revenue of $93.72 billion, up from $84.74 billion in last year's second quarter, according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0722"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>



Alphabet has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in 10 straight quarters.



Analysts expect Alphabet to report second-quarter earnings per share of $2.17, up from $1.89 in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine straight quarters.



What Experts Are Saying: Freedom Capital Markets Chief Global Strategist Jay Woods says that Magnificent 7 member Alphabet has "been anything but" magnificent.



"The company has been facing continual headwinds due to antitrust and litigation risk, AI competition disrupting search and a massive CapEx spend," Woods said in a weekly <a href="https://jaywoods.substack.com/">newsletter</a>.



Woods said Alphabet stock is down year-to-date and 11% off of all-time highs. With shares "stuck in neutral," Woods said the company could see the stock trade higher after the financial results.



"If the company can address these concerns and focus on the positives out of its YouTube and Waymo divisions, it could be back on the upswing."



Woods said technically the stock is in a key consolidation area when looking at 50- and 200-day moving averages.



"The good news is that overall momentum continues to favor the upside."



The market expert said a potential run to $200 could happen from a nice pop on earnings and shares could hit all-time highs.



Raymond James analyst Josh Beck maintained an Outperform rating and $185 price target on Alphabet ahead of the earnings report.



The analyst said search resilience and cloud momentum could be positive surprises in the quarter.



Beck also said the U.S. Department of Justice trial overhang remains, but closing comments were positive and the company might not need to divest its Chrome business.



"Bigger picture, we see the narrative potential shifting from AI Laggard to AI Leader and recommend long positions into GOOG and believe a few insightful comments from the management team," Beck said.



The analyst is looking for management to indicate that it has accelerating AI search momentum, manageable DOJ headwinds and relative AI cost inflation resilience.



Beck highlighted that Alphabet's forward (2026) price-to-earnings ratio of 17.8x trades at a discount to the average of peers like Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45548615/alphabet-well-positioned-for-google-search-dominance-analyst-says-can-navigate-the-shift-to-ai-search">Alphabet &#8216;Well Positioned&#8217; For Google Search Dominance: Analyst Says Can &#8216;Navigate The Shift To AI Search&#8217;</a>



Key Items to Watch: Most eyes will be on AI and cloud when Alphabet reports second-quarter financial results and tries to continue its streak of revenue and earnings per share beats to consensus estimates.



The company's search business continues to see pressure from AI and some analysts and experts point to the growth of AI and chatbots hurting Alphabet's key Google Search unit. Look for Alphabet to share ways it&#8217;s working with AI and making search better.



YouTube could be a positive in the quarter and one of the company's key growth units.



The company said it saw &#8220;robust momentum&#8221; across its business lines, highlighting strength in Google Search, YouTube, subscriptions and Google Cloud in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44995955/alphabet-q1-earnings-highlights-google-search-youtube-cloud-show-robust-momentum">the first quarter. </a>



A strong report with growth in cloud, search and YouTube could help send shares higher and lower fears of headwinds against the company.



The company could also highlight<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46460860/made-by-google-2025-confirmed-for-august-20-pixel-10-lineup-ai-powered-android-16-and-pixel-watch-4-set-to-headline"> its upcoming</a> Made By Google 2025 event confirmed for Aug. 20. Alphabet is set to highlight new Pixel devices, the Pixel Watch 4 and AI-powered software upgrades, according to reports.



GOOG Price Action: Alphabet stock closed up 0.50% to $192.11 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $142.66 to $208.70. Alphabet stock is up 0.8% year-to-date, marking the third-worst performance by a Magnificent 7 stock with Apple and Tesla negative year-to-date.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45973429/trump-wants-babies-to-get-1000-to-invest-at-birth-this-maginicent-7-stock-tops-poll-for-18-year-growth">Trump Wants Babies To Get $1,000 To Invest At Birth: This Magnificent 7 Stock Tops Poll For 18-Year Growth</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shuttestock

Earnings

Tech

GOOG

GOOGL

Alphabet (Google) Q2 Earnings Preview: Market Expert Says Mag 7 Stock 'Has Been Anything But' Magnificent

President Donald Trump&#8216;s America First agenda has supercharged investor flows and returns in a sector quietly dominating Wall Street in 2025—and it's not artificial intelligence <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">or the Magnificent Seven.</a>



Industrial stocks are stealing the show. Through July 22, the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) is up 15% year to date, nearly doubling the S&amp;P 500's 8% return and even edging past the red-hot tech sector—a rare feat. 



Excluding 2022, industrials had underperformed tech in six of the last seven years. But this year, it's different. And the catalyst might be more political than technical.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Defense Stocks Are Exploding</h3>



The spark came from Capitol Hill. On July 4, Trump signed the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping $156.2 billion boost to defense spending—the most significant one-year increase in over a decade—at the expense of Medicaid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45506863/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-advances-heres-who-wins-and-loses">and food assistance programs</a>.



That flood of Pentagon cash has ignited shares of defense companies, making them the biggest force<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46453684/defense-stocks-earnings-q2-2025-preview"> behind industrial sector outperformance.</a>



The iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) has surged 33% so far in 2025, on pace for its best year since 2017.



Top industrial names like Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NASDAQ">HWM</a>) and GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) have more than doubled the S&amp;P 500's return this year. General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>) have all logged gains north of 35%.



Here&#8217;s how the year-to-date top industrial performers look:



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>YTD Return</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td><td>68.8%</td></tr><tr><td>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>)</td><td>68.3%</td></tr><tr><td>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td><td>56.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>)</td><td>52.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Johnson Controls Intl. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JCI#NYSE">JCI</a>)</td><td>38.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>)</td><td>36.9%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Investors Are Flooding In</h3>



According to a note by Bank of America strategist Jill Carey Hall, industrial stocks have become a magnet for new capital.



"Rolling two-week inflows into Industrials were the second largest in our data history—only topped in March 2015—and are now in the 97th percentile when adjusted for sector size," Hall wrote Tuesday.



Financials also saw solid flows, but the momentum is clearly with industrials. The trade war may have sparked fear in 2024, but 2025 is becoming a banner year for companies tied to manufacturing, logistics and defense.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Skeptics Warn This Boom May Fade</h3>



Despite the rally, not everyone is convinced the industrial renaissance will last.



Oxford Economics economist Nico Palesch said the idea of a manufacturing "resurgence" driven by Trump's tariffs is more myth than material shift.



"We do not see broad-based reindustrialization on the horizon," Palesch said. His team expects U.S. industrial production to grow just 0.9% in 2025 and shrink by 0.8% in 2026—well below the pre-election forecasts.



Among the headwinds cited: higher costs for materials and machinery due to tariffs, uncertainty deterring investment, and stricter immigration policies exacerbating labor shortages in the industrial sector.



Still, some of Trump's policies—such as immediate expensing of factory investments and a weaker dollar—could help mitigate the downside.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line: A Politically Supercharged Trade</h3>



Industrials may not be as hyped as AI, but they've become 2025's stealth outperformers.



Fueled by defense spending, tariff reshuffling, and a surge of investor inflows, the sector is booming—and it has the Trump administration's fingerprints all over it.



Now Read



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46533114/china-stocks-outperform-sp500-trump-tariffs-economy-xiaomi">Trump Wanted To Break China—Now It&#8217;s Crushing The US At Its Own Game </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Equities

Government

Large Cap

Regulations

Sector ETFs

ETFs

UBER

Trump's Sledgehammer Policies Have Ignited Wall Street's Hottest Trade—And It's Not AI

Cryptocurrency markets are trading sideways on Tuesdayas Bitcoin attempts to reclaim the $120,000 mark.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Ticker</td><td>Price</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$119,799.44</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$3,711.00</td></tr><tr><td>Solana</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$201.99</td></tr><tr><td>XRP</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$3.56</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.2662</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00001529</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows Bitcoin large transaction volume and daily active addresses increased by 121.9% and 14.7% respectively. Transactions greater than $100,000 are up from 7,583 to 10,609 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are up by 225.7%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data shows 150,038 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $540.70 million.</li>



<li>The top losers in the past 24 hours include Conflux (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/cfx/usd">CFX</a>), Pump.fun (CRYPTO: PUMP) and Ethena (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ENA</a>).</li>



<li>Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart <a href="https://x.com/jseyff/status/1947700906033553734?s=46">stated</a> on X that five different Bitcoin and Ethereum funds on CBOE filed amendments with the SEC for obtaining the ability to do in-kind creation and redemption.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46543876/jamie-dimon-once-called-bitcoin-a-fraud-now-jpmorgan-might-lend-against-it">Jamie Dimon Once Called Bitcoin A &#8216;Fraud&#8217;—Now JPMorgan Might Lend Against It</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46548652/telegram-bots-reshape-avalanche-trading-but-are-they-the-future-of-defi-ux-or-just-a-shortcut">Telegram Bots Reshape Avalanche Trading, But Are They The Future Of DeFi UX Or Just A Shortcut?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46537968/chamath-palihapitiya-excited-about-coinbases-upcoming-crypto-credit-card-that-promises-bitcoin-rewards">Chamath Palihapitiya &#8216;Excited&#8217; About Coinbase&#8217;s Upcoming Crypto Credit Card That Promises Bitcoin Rewards</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46547291/what-western-unions-sudden-interest-in-stablecoins-means-for-your-money-transfers">What Western Union&#8217;s Sudden Interest In Stablecoins Means For Your Money Transfers</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46549894/justice-department-drops-case-against-kraken-founder-jesse-powell">Justice Department Drops Case Against Kraken Founder Jesse Powell</a></li>
</ul>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader CJ <a href="https://x.com/CJ900X/status/1947728730690097195">outlined</a> two potential bullish scenarios:



Scenario 1: Price dips into a 4-hour demand zone (visible on Coinbase but not all exchanges), triggers a sweep of recent highs, possibly signaling either a clue or a price anomaly. 



Scenario 2: Current range is viewed as accumulation. A manipulation move below the range low into the daily fair value gap (FVG) could precede a strong rally. This would lead to distribution above current highs, potentially pushing Bitcoin to new all-time highs and extending towards ~$128,000.



Bitcoin Munger <a href="https://x.com/bitcoinmunger/status/1947733705889313114">believes</a> $150,000 is the next pit stop for Bitcoin on its way to $400,000.



Crypto Chase sees Bitcoin&#8217;s price action is progressing well. 



The $118,400 S/R flip setup occurred when the traders missed it. 



Now the key is continuation: if this is indeed the leg, bulls want to see momentum build from here rather than more retests around $118,000. The trader is watching for sustained strength from this point onward.



<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"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> update So far so good. Unfortunately I slept through the 118.4K S/R flip setup, but sleep is very important so it is what it is. I&#39;ll see how things shape up from here. If this is the &quot;leg&quot;, bulls want to see this keep going rather than keep retesting 118~, so we&#39;ll see. <a href="https://t.co/ZHbEoW9lhi">https://t.co/ZHbEoW9lhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZKAmwzFM5W">pic.twitter.com/ZKAmwzFM5W</a>&mdash; Crypto Chase (@Crypto_Chase) <a href="https://twitter.com/Crypto_Chase/status/1947694431949513099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46551458/id-rather-have-an-iphone-than-a-landline-says-ether-machine-ceo-about-why-he-doesnt-own-bitcoin">&#8216;I&#8217;d Rather Have An iPhone Than A Landline&#8217;, Says Ether Machine CEO About Why He Doesn&#8217;t Own Bitcoin</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

News

$BTC

$CFX

$DOGE

$ENA

$ETH

$SHIB

$SOL

$XRP

Bitcoin Eyes $120,000 As Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Weaken

Escalating political attacks on the Federal Reserve have prompted economist Mohamed El-Erian to say Fed Chair Jerome Powell should resign—not for missteps, but to actually protect <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">the central bank's independence.</a>



"If Chair Powell's objective is to safeguard the Fed's operational autonomy (which I deem vital), then he should resign," El-Erian wrote on X.



El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz and a closely followed market voice, indicated that this isn't the consensus view, as many believe Powell should remain until his term ends in May 2026.



The economist warned that the longer Powell stays, the more damaging the political fallout could be—not just for Powell himself, but for the Fed's long-standing autonomy.



According to El-Erian, resigning now would be "better than what is playing out"—a rise in threats to Fed independence that will likely escalate if Powell stays.



<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">This morning, US government criticism of both Federal Reserve Chair Powell and the institution itself has broadened to include &quot;mission creep&quot; and the effectiveness of other officials. The developments of the last few days reinforce my view: If Chair Powell&#39;s objective is to…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1947612351462625724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">From Renovations To Resignations: The Political Pressure Mounts</h3>



The calls for Powell's resignation have become part of the official government narrative.



On July 9, 2025, President Donald Trump demanded Powell's immediate resignation, calling him "ineffective" in managing monetary policy. That came just one day after reports surfaced of White House frustration over Powell's alleged misrepresentation of the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation project.



A week later, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that a "formal process" to replace Powell was underway and added that Powell should step down from the Fed board once his term as chair ends in 2026.



Then came the legal escalation.



On July 21, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna filed a referral to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting a Department of Justice criminal investigation into whether Powell made false statements under oath about the renovation&#8217;s costs. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Markets Assign Above 20% Chance On Powell&#8217;s Exit</h3>



Investors aren't ignoring the noise.



On Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated event prediction platform, the odds that Powell will leave his role by December 31, 2025, are not negligible. 



A $100 bet on Powell's early exit now pays $412, reflecting a 22% probability he doesn't make it to year-end.



That's down from earlier in July when Trump's attacks first escalated, but still notable given the Fed's traditionally apolitical role.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/LEAVEPOWELL-25/markets/LEAVEPOWELL-25-DEC31?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>



The upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on July 29-30 now reflects just a 4.7% chance of a rate cut, according to futures markets.



Still, some Fed officials—including Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller—have recently signaled openness to a cut, setting the stage for what could be one of the most contentious and politically charged Fed meetings in years.



Waller is also seen as a potential successor to Powell, alongside Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett, Scott Bessent, and Judy Shelton.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Markets Rush To Hedge With Gold</h3>



"As to market reaction," El-Erian added, "most of the frequently mentioned candidates to replace Chair Powell would be able to calm any potential market jitters."



That suggests one of the Fed's key roles—maintaining investor confidence—is at risk of being compromised. 



While El-Erian downplays the risk of a sharp market reaction if Powell steps down, investors appear to be positioning for a shake up.



Mounting uncertainty over Powell's future and the Fed's independence has reignited a flight to gold.



The yellow metal—tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>)—has climbed nearly 3% over the past two sessions, putting it on track for its best week since early June.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46491573/waller-fed-chair-trump-rate-cut-july">Trump&#8217;s Fed Pick? He&#8217;s Cutting First, And Cutting Powell Out </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Commodities

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

El-Erian Says Powell Should Resign—To Save The Fed Itself

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46516891/the-ether-machine-raises-1-5-billion-for-eth-investments#:~:text=Infrastructure%20services%20for%20Ethereum%2Dnative,to%20regulatory%20and%20shareholder%20approvals.">Ether Machine CEO</a> Andrew Keys on Monday discussed Ethereum's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) appeal and its strength in comparison to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).



What Happened: In a July 21 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vCKzRw8lAU">interview</a> with CNBC's Squawk Box, Andrew Keys, CEO of Ether Machine, emphasized his strong preference for Ethereum over Bitcoin. 



Keys, who has personally contributed over $600 million worth of ETH to Ether Machine, drew a sharp comparison between the two blockchains, calling Ethereum the "iPhone" to Bitcoin's "landline."



"If you had bought Ethereum 10 years ago, you'd be 50 times wealthier than someone who held Bitcoin," Keys said.



He attributes this outperformance to Ethereum's real-world productivity, highlighting features like staking and tokenization of assets, which give it more utility than Bitcoin.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46529190/trader-who-called-bitcoin-ethereum-solana-bottom-in-april-now-warns-local-top-likely-in-august">Trader Who Called Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana Bottom In April Now Warns Local Top Likely In August</a>



Why It Matters: Keys believes Ethereum is the dominant substrate for the decentralized global economy. He sees ETH as the biggest beneficiary of the Genius Act, with most stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets operating on the Ethereum network.



He also dismissed competition from other smart contract platforms, comparing Ethereum's lead to Google's dominance in search—describing its position as a "power law" winner in the blockchain space.



Ether Machine is set to go public through a SPAC merger with Dynamix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DYNX#NASDAQ">DYNX</a>), aiming to build an institutional Ethereum platform. 



The firm plans to manage one of the largest ETH balance sheets, signalling a high-conviction bet on Ethereum's long-term value proposition.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46467272/eth-surges-7-to-crack-3400-when-will-the-4000-mark-fall">ETH Surges 7% To Crack $3,400: When Will The $4,000 Mark Fall?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

DYNX

'I'd Rather Have An iPhone Than A Landline', Says Ether Machine CEO About Why He Doesn't Own Bitcoin

It was a quiet Tuesday on Wall Street, as major indexes edged lower with investors pausing ahead of a critical <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">wave of tech earnings.</a>



By midday trading in New York, the S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.1% and the Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.5%, pulling back after hitting fresh all-time highs on Monday. The Russell 2000 outperformed, rising 0.6%.



Weak corporate results weighed on sentiment. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>) plunged 9.5% after missing revenue forecasts. Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) dropped more than 8% on a double miss, and General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) lost 5.5% after warning of a steeper-than-expected tariff hit in the second half of 2025.



Health care led sector gains, while tech stocks lagged, as attention turns to earnings from Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) which are slated to report earnings on Wednesday. 



On the macro front, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will meet with Chinese officials next week to continue trade negotiations. That raised hopes for an extension to the August 12 China tariff deadline.



In the bond market, the 10-year Treasury yield fell for a fifth straight session to 4.33%, its lowest level in over a week. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index dropped 0.4%, extending its slide for a third day.



Gold climbed 0.9% to $3,420 per ounce, the highest since June 16, as uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's independence and Chair Jerome Powell's future fueled safe-haven demand.



In crypto, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rose 1.4% to $119,000, extending its rebound alongside broader market hedging flows.



Read also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46549915/el-erian-powell-trump-resign-fed-independence-scott-bessent"> El-Erian Says Powell Should Resign—To Save The Fed Itself</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance Of Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,243.42</td><td>0.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,378.27</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,300.18</td><td>-0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>23,073.22</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:00 p.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 class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) eased 0.2% to $557.08.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) flattened at $443.63.</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;eased 0.6% to $560.86.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.6% at $222.67.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) outperformed, up 1.3%; 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 0.7%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



Stocks reacting on earnings reports included: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), up 14.5%</li>



<li>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), up 8.4%</li>



<li>PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PCAR#NASDAQ">PCAR</a>), up 4.7%</li>



<li>MSCI Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSCI#NYSE">MSCI</a>), down 6.8%</li>



<li>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), down 2.5%</li>



<li>Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), down 1.0%</li>



<li>Danaher Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>), down 0.3%</li>



<li>Equifax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>), down 7.2%</li>



<li>IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IQV#NYSE">IQV</a>) up 18%, </li>



<li>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>) up 1.5%</li>



<li>PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>) up 9.4%</li>



<li>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>) up 1.6%</li>



<li>Quest Diagnostics Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>) up 6.3%</li>



<li>Halliburton Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) up 0.4%</li>



<li>Genuine Parts Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPC#NYSE">GPC</a>) up 5.5%</li>



<li>Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THC#NYSE">THC</a>) down 4.3%</li>



<li>Avery Dennison Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVY#NYSE">AVY</a>) up 0.3%</li>



<li>Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVZ#NYSE">IVZ</a>) up 4.1%</li>



<li>Mueller Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLI#NYSE">MLI</a>) up 0.5%</li>



<li>Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONB#NASDAQ">ONB</a>) down 1.2%</li>



<li>Valmont Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMI#NYSE">VMI</a>) up 5.1%</li>



<li>Badger Meter Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMI#NYSE">BMI</a>) down 13.8% </li>



<li>Medpace Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDP#NASDAQ">MEDP</a>), up 53.2%</li>
</ul>



Companies slated to report earnings after the close include Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISRG#NASDAQ">ISRG</a>), Texas Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>), Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), CoStar Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGP#NASDAQ">CSGP</a>), EQT Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>), Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) and East West Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWBC#NASDAQ">EWBC</a>). 



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46543934/formula-1-liberty-fwonk-stock-goldman-sachs-forecasts">Formula 1 Is Wall Street&#8217;s New Money Machine—With Horsepower </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

CSGP

ENPH

EWBC

ISRG

MEDP

MSCI

PCAR

Lockheed, General Motors Tumble, Gold Hits 1-Month Highs: What's Moving Markets Tuesday?

Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) red-hot energy storage business is suddenly staring down <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/macro-economic-events">a geopolitical cold front</a>—and President Donald Trump may be at the center of it. With second-quarter earnings set for Wednesday, Wall Street is watching closely to see whether Elon Musk's energy ambitions can withstand a fresh wave of tariff tensions that threaten to hit the battery segment harder than the EV business.



According to Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard, Tesla's previously sky-high growth expectations are likely due for a haircut as the company reassesses its FY25 outlook. The global trade climate, particularly around China, is weighing heavily, and Musk has already warned that energy storage will feel the brunt more than cars.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46493284/openai-tesla-playbook-big-revenue-zero-profit-all-vision">OpenAI&#8217;s Tesla Playbook: Big Revenue, Zero Profit, All Vision</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Growth Engine To Trade Casualty?</h2>



Tesla's energy storage business exploded by 113% year over year in 2024, driven by surging demand for its Megapack and Powerwall units. For 2025, the company had guided to "at least 50%" growth. But Sheppard now expects that guidance to be revised downward during Wednesday's earnings call, thanks to the ripple effects of shifting global trade policies and tariffs.



While specifics are still uncertain, Trump-era tariffs—or even stricter "reciprocal" measures—could increase costs on key battery components and deployment infrastructure. That would dent margins and potentially slow deployment, even as demand remains high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Robotaxis And Rate Hikes Won't Save The Day</h2>



To be fair, Tesla isn't just a battery story. The company is expected to provide updates on its robotaxi rollout in Austin—part of its broader push into autonomous mobility. But even that moonshot may not distract investors from what happens to Tesla's energy margins.



The bottom line? 



What once looked like Tesla's stealth growth engine is now facing external shocks that even Musk can't meme his way through. If Trump's trade policies return—or even loom—Tesla's battery boom may have to find a backup generator.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46374969/jpmorgan-just-hit-delete-on-tesla-and-rivian">JPMorgan Just Hit &#8216;Delete&#8217; On Tesla And Rivian</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: bluestork/Shutterstock

Tesla's Battery Boom Faces A Global Shockwave—Thanks To Trump

General Motors Company slumped in Tuesday&#8217;s premarket session after reporting a sharp drop in adjusted EBIT margins to 6.4% and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">whopping $1.1 billion tariff headwind</a>.



The auto behemoth registered second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.53, beating the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/n46539248/gm-releases-2025-second-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $2.40</a>. Quarterly sales of $47.12 billion outpaced the Street view of $45.57 billion.



Net sales in the Automotive segment totaled $42.869 billion, lower than $44.060 billion in the year-ago period.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="http://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46538669/us-stocks-likely-to-open-on-a-mixed-note-ahead-of-coca-cola-gm-lockheed-martin-earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Likely To Open On A Mixed Note Ahead Of Coca-Cola, GM, Lockheed Martin Earnings</a>



In the U.S. market, the company&#8217;s market share rose to 17.4% for the second quarter of 2025, a 0.7 percentage point increase year-over-year. For the first half of 2025, U.S. market share stood at 17.3%, growing at a rate that outpaced the overall industry, according to the company press release.



&#8220;In the United States, we continue to lead the industry in full-size trucks and SUVs, and the 10 all-new or redesigned crossover SUVs we have introduced like the Chevrolet Trax, Buick Envista, and GMC Acadia took huge leaps forward in design and technology, resulting in record demand and revenue growth, while reduced complexity contributed to stronger profitability,&#8221; said CEO Mary Barra in the company&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://investor.gm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/q2-2025-letter-shareholders" rel="noreferrer noopener">letter</a> to shareholders.



Adjusted EBIT margin contracted to 6.4% in the quarter under review from 9.3% in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBIT <a target="_blank" href="https://investor.gm.com/static-files/eaf4a73f-ef85-4134-8533-902e6a9a8177" rel="noreferrer noopener">decreased</a> to $3.037 billion from $4.438 billion primarily due to a net tariff impact of $1.1 billion, with minimal mitigation offsets. Net income margin contracted to 4% from 6.1%.



The firm expects the third quarter net tariff impact to exceed that of the second quarter, driven by the timing of indirect tariff costs. The heavier weighting of these costs in the third quarter will result in a higher overall net impact.



&#8220;In China, the performance of our new energy vehicles has been especially strong, and in the second quarter, we reported our second consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth,&#8221; Barra added. &#8220;We gained the most share among foreign OEMs, and we reported positive equity income.&#8221;



In June, the firm announced $4 billion of new investment in U.S. assembly plants to add 300,000 units of capacity for high-margin light-duty pickups, full-size SUVs, and crossovers.



The CEO highlighted that this development will &#8220;unmet customer demand, greatly reduce our tariff exposure, and capture upside opportunities as we launch new models.&#8221;



The capacity begins coming online in just 18 months, after which General Motors plans to build more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. each year.



The company exited the quarter with cash and equivalents worth $22.381 billion, higher than $19.872 billion as of December 31, 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outlook</h2>



General Motors affirms FY25 adjusted earnings per share&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of&nbsp;$8.25-$10.00&nbsp;versus&nbsp;$9.17&nbsp;analyst estimate.



General Motors is keeping its full‑year 2025 guidance unchanged while planning to offset at least 30% of the $4 billion–$5 billion gross tariff impact.



It will achieve this mitigation equally through manufacturing adjustments, targeted cost initiatives, and consistent pricing.



Price Action: GM shares are trading lower by 2.43% to $51.77&nbsp;premarket at last check Tuesday.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46513468/bitcoin-miner-iren-could-surge-1572-as-sotp-valuation-pegs-300-target-hedge-fund-manager-eric-jackson-says-were-cooking-with-gas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Miner IREN Could Surge 1,572% As SOTP Valuation Pegs $300 Target — Hedge Fund Manager Eric Jackson Says, &#8216;We&#8217;re Cooking With Gas&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Jonathan Weiss via Shutterstock

Guidance

Markets

Movers

General

General Motors Faces Tariffs Heat, Margins Shrink

Formula 1 is quietly becoming one of the most powerful profit engines in sports media and Goldman Sachs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/expert-ideas">is going full throttle.</a>



On Monday, Goldman Sachs analyst Stephen Laszczyk reinstated coverage of Liberty Formula One Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FWONK#NASDAQ">FWONK</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FWONA#NASDAQ">FWONA</a>) – owner of the Formula 1 and newly acquired MotoGP racing series – with a Buy rating and a 12-month price target of $120, suggesting a 17% total return potential.



In the report, Laszczyk calls Liberty Formula One Group a "high quality, execution-based growth story with potential for outsized capital returns", making it one of the firm&#8217;s top picks in the global sports media space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Four Reasons Why FWONK Stock Is In Pole Position</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. F1 Is Firing On All Cylinders</h3>



Goldman expects Formula 1 revenue to grow at 8% annually through 2028, driven by gains in race promotion, media rights, and sponsorships. Adjusted operating income is projected to expand at 15% per year, with margins getting a boost from a new Concorde Agreement kicking off in 2026.



This will be driven by gains across its three core verticals: Race Promotion, Media Rights, and Sponsorship. 



Laszczyk highlights that Formula 1 is capitalizing on the increasingly favorable supply-demand dynamic for hosting Grand Prix events, particularly in legacy European venues and emerging growth markets like the U.S.



The Las Vegas Grand Prix, in particular, is expected to rebound from a weak second year. 



On the media rights side, Goldman sees upside from step-ups in upcoming renewals in the U.S., Australia, and Latin America, and notes that around 40% of F1's media rights revenue is up for renegotiation by the end of 2026. 



Goldman analysts expect U.S. rights alone to jump from $85 million/year to $130 million/year, helped by rising engagement and reported interest from streamers like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).



Sponsorship revenue is projected to rise at a 10% CAGR, aided by high-profile additions like LVMH&#8211;Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (OTCPK: LVMHF), PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>), and Nestlé S.A. (OTCPK: NSRGY), plus new advertising partners in untapped verticals.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. MotoGP: A High-Potential Growth Engine</h3>



Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP is seen as a long-term win. With a business model echoing F1's, MotoGP is gearing up for global expansion and expects to grow profits by 13% CAGR through 2028—even with short-term repositioning.



&#8220;MotoGP has the opportunity to globalize its calendar,&#8221; Laszczyk notes, with 64% of races currently concentrated in Europe and roughly one-third of contracts up for renewal over the next two years. 



The firm also sees a pathway to expanding from 22 races per year to 24 over time.



"We see meaningful opportunity for MotoGP… to benefit under the stewardship of Liberty Media as it navigates further expansion into the global marketplace for sports media, sponsorship and event promotion," Laszczyk wrote.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Massive Buyback Potential As Leverage Falls</h3>



Liberty Formula One's capital-light model and rising profitability should unlock massive free cash flow. 



"This deleveraging will afford Liberty Formula One the option to return significant capital to shareholders in the coming years," he said.



"At 2.5x net leverage, we estimate that Liberty Formula One could return over $6B of capital to shareholders by 2030, or about 25% of current market capitalization."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Premium Valuation Backed By Premium Assets</h3>



At 23.5x EBITDA and nearly 29x free cash flow, Liberty Formula One doesn't look like a bargain. 



But Goldman says the price is right for a unique asset.



"We believe the stock's premium multiple is justified," Laszczyk wrote, highlighting the company's exposure to global sports rights, execution capabilities, and strong free cash flow conversion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line</h2>



Formula 1 is no longer just racing—it&#8217;s an expanding media juggernaut with real pricing power and global brand momentum. With MotoGP now under its wing, Liberty Formula One is assembling a high-margin, capital-light sports empire poised for explosive cash returns. 



Goldman Sachs sees FWONK as one of the clearest plays on the future of live entertainment—and it's still early in the race.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46533114/china-stocks-outperform-sp500-trump-tariffs-economy-xiaomi">Trump Wanted To Break China—Now It&#8217;s Crushing The US At Its Own Game</a><span class="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246/0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ;"></li>
</ul>



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Formula 1 Is Wall Street's New Money Machine—With Horsepower

Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) reported second-quarter financial results ahead of the market open on Tuesday. Here&#8217;s a look at the key metrics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/g46539738/northrop-grumman-releases-second-quarter-2025-financial-results">from the quarter</a>.



Q2 Earnings: Defense contractor Northrop Grumman reported second-quarter revenue of $10.35 billion, beating analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NOC/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;of $10.11 billion, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $7.11 per share, beating analyst estimates of $6.76 per share.



Total sales were up 1% on a year-over-year basis and 9% sequentially in the second quarter. Here&#8217;s a breakdown of revenue by category:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Aeronautics Systems: $3.11 billion, up 2% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Defense Systems: $1.99 billion, up 7% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Mission Systems: $3.16 billion, up 14% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Space Systems: $2.65 billion, down 12% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



Northrop Grumman said operating cash flows decreased $567 million year-over-year and free cash flow declined $468 million, or 42%. The company reported total net awards of $7.4 billion in the quarter. Northrop Grumman ended the period with a total backlog of $89.7 billion. 



"We are working with our customers to accelerate capability delivery to enable their vision of peace through strength. We continue to see growing demand globally for our broad range of product offerings, which resulted in 18% international sales growth in the quarter,&#8221; said Kathy Warden, chair, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman.



Outlook: Northrop Grumman narrowed its 2025 revenue guidance from a range of $42 billion to $42.5 billion to a new range of $42.05 billion to $42.25 billion. The company also raised its 2025 adjusted earnings guidance from a range of $24.95 to $25.35 per share to a new range of $25 to $25.40 per share. Analysts are forecasting full-year revenue of $42.11 billion and earnings of $25.21 per share, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a> estimates. 



Northrop Grumman&#8217;s management team will further discuss the quarter on a call with investors and analysts at 9:30 a.m. ET.



NOC Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/NOC">Northrop Grumman shares</a> were up 3.44% at $531.01 at the time of publication Tuesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46538453/boeing-737-787-jets-get-green-light-as-air-india-closes-fuel-lock-probe-with-no-issues">Boeing 737, 787 Jets Get Green Light As Air India Closes Fuel Lock Probe With &#8216;No Issues&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/matthew+Munsell">Matthew Munsell</a>/Shutterstock.com

Northrop Grumman Q2 Earnings: Revenue, EPS Top Estimates As Global Demand Increases

Air India has completed mandatory inspections of fuel control switch locking mechanisms across its entire Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) 737 and 787 fleet, finding no issues with the critical safety components, the carrier announced Tuesday.



What Happened: The inspections covered all Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India&#8217;s mainline fleet and Boeing 737 jets operated by Air India Express, its low-cost subsidiary. The directive followed orders from India&#8217;s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued July 14.



&#8220;No issues were found with the said locking mechanism,&#8221; Air India stated. The airline completed voluntary inspections starting July 12, finishing within the DGCA&#8217;s prescribed timeframe and communicating results to regulators.



The probe stems from a June 12 Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46380354/fuel-supply-was-cut-moments-before-air-india-crash-as-per-preliminary-report">crash that killed 260 people</a>, where preliminary findings by India&#8217;s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau indicated both engines lost power when fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one second apart.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46537910/palantir-veterans-set-to-launch-founders-films-with-pro-america-ai-powered-slate-9-11-rescue-story-in-pipeline-report">Palantir Veterans Set To Launch Founders Films With Pro-America, AI-Powered Slate — 9/11 Rescue Story In Pipeline: Report</a>



Why It Matters: Cockpit voice recordings revealed confusion between pilots about who activated the switches. The Federal Aviation Administration had issued a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46380354/fuel-supply-was-cut-moments-before-air-india-crash-as-per-preliminary-report">regarding potential fuel control switch</a> locking feature disengagement on Boeing 737 aircraft, though it was advisory rather than mandatory.



The aerospace giant has faced intensified scrutiny following multiple safety incidents, including the 737 MAX crashes that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/07/46436452/air-india-crash-brings-spotlight-to-pilot-sabotage-and-errors-now-chamath-palihapitiya-says-more-automation-is-needed-to-protect-passengers-in-modern-era">killed 346 people in 2018-19</a>.



The completion of inspections provides operational clarity for Air India as it works to enhance safety protocols under Tata Group ownership. The airline operates significant Boeing 787 and 737 capacity across domestic and international routes, making fleet availability crucial for operations.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46537078/la-times-going-public-patrick-soon-shiong-plans-green-bay-style-ownership-to-democratize-143-year-old-paper" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LA Times Going Public? Patrick Soon-Shiong Plans Green Bay-Style Ownership To ‘Democratize' 143-Year-Old Paper</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo: JHVEPhoto via Shutterstock

Boeing 737, 787 Jets Get Green Light As Air India Closes Fuel Lock Probe With 'No Issues'

U.S. stock futures were fluctuating on Tuesday after ending on a mixed note on Monday. Futures of major benchmark indices were mixed.



Even as indices were mixed on Monday, the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq marked fresh records. Despite Aug. 1 as the &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46512424/howard-lutnick-says-trumps-august-1-tariff-hard-deadline-is-final-smaller-nations-face-10-base-rate">hard deadline</a>&#8221; for tariffs, U.S. trade deals are pending with several countries; however, the administration is willing to negotiate even after that date.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.39% and the two-year bond was at 3.86%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 97.4% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its July meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.02%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.12%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.28%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.15%</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, were lower in premarket on Tuesday. The SPY was down 0.12% at $628.01, while the QQQ declined 0.27% to $562.63, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



On Monday, communication services, materials, and consumer discretionary sectors recorded the biggest gains, contributing to U.S. stocks settling mostly higher.



Conversely, energy and health care stocks closed lower, bucking the overall market trend.



This broadly positive performance was driven by strong corporate earnings, reinforcing investor confidence despite lingering trade tensions.



Domino's Pizza Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) shares saw a slight decline following its second-quarter 2025 earnings report, while Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) posted better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and subsequently raised its guidance.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.38%</td><td>20,974.17</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.14%</td><td>6,305.60</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.043%</td><td>44,323.07</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.40%</td><td>2,231.13</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Ryan Detrick from Carson Research highlighted in an X post that the S&amp;P 500 index broke a rare streak of closing above the 20-day moving average for 60 days in a row. This was its longest run since 1998.



He underscored that going back 50 years, this has happened four other times, and the index has been up a year later between 20% and 26% and never lower after three months of such an instance.



<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">The S&amp;P 500 just closed above the 20-day MA for 60 days in a row, the longest streak since &#39;98. Going back 50 yrs, this has happened 4 other times. Up a yr later between 20% and 26%. Never lower 3 months later. It is what it is, yet another clue this bull market has legs. <a href="https://t.co/niLZU38gi1">pic.twitter.com/niLZU38gi1</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1947495974957621410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Meanwhile, economist Jeremy Siegel stated in his weekly commentary that Jerome Powell's continued presence at the Fed poses more downside risk than upside benefit.



"By stepping down voluntarily, Powell could preserve the Fed's credibility, disarm political hostility, and force Trump to fully ‘own' the economic outcome, whether good or bad," he said.



"If the economy weakens, it will be Trump's Fed Chair in place—there's no one else to blame. If the economy holds steady or improves, little would change in terms of perception, and the Fed's independence would remain intact," he added.



He explained that this is not a decision based on principle alone, but on expected value—the probabilities and outcomes suggest resignation strengthens the Fed's position over time.



Siegel adds, "Some will argue that resignation under political pressure would undermine the central bank's autonomy. I believe the opposite. A graceful, voluntary exit now could shield the institution from greater political intervention later."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Tuesday:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Fed Chair Powell will give his opening remarks at the banking conference at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) was 0.88% up in premarket on Tuesday as analysts expect it to report earnings of 83 cents per share on revenue of $12.54 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) was 0.96% down as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts estimate earnings of $2.40 per share on revenue of $45.57 billion.</li>



<li>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) was 0.40% higher as analysts expect it to report earnings of $6.63 per share on revenue of $18.63 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Farmer Bros Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FARM#NASDAQ">FARM</a>) jumped 16.91% after announcing plans to explore strategic alternative review to enhance shareholder value.</li>



<li>Medpace Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDP#NASDAQ">MEDP</a>) surged 44.07% after reporting strong financial results for the second quarter and raising its full-year guidance. It expects 2025 revenue to be in the range of $2.42 billion to $2.52 billion, up from prior guidance of $2.14 billion to $2.24 billion</li>



<li>Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPEN#NASDAQ">OPEN</a>) gained 12.77% as a part of a broader trend of retail investor interest driving up share prices.</li>



<li>Globavend Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GVH#NASDAQ">GVH</a>) advanced 14.80% following the company's recent announcement of a 1-for-200 reverse stock split.</li>



<li>BloomZ Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLMZ#NASDAQ">BLMZ</a>) zoomed 57.11% after the company announced its plans for a strategic business partnership and subsidiary acquisition with Idealize Co. Ltd.</li>



<li>Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFLI#NASDAQ">DFLI</a>) rose 59.70% following the company's decision to eliminate its Series A preferred stock.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.97% to hover around $65.31 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar fell 0.33% to hover around $3,385.95 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.02% at the 97.8300 level.



Asian markets ended on a mixed note on Tuesday as Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi indices fell. While Hong Kong's Hang Seng, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300, and Australia's ASX 200 indices rose. European markets were mostly lower in early trade.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46513468/bitcoin-miner-iren-could-surge-1572-as-sotp-valuation-pegs-300-target-hedge-fund-manager-eric-jackson-says-were-cooking-with-gas">Bitcoin Miner IREN Could Surge 1,572% As SOTP Valuation Pegs $300 Target — Hedge Fund Manager Eric Jackson Says, &#8216;We&#8217;re Cooking With Gas&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

BLMZ

DFLI

FARM

OPEN

US Stocks Likely To Open On A Mixed Note Ahead Of Coca-Cola, GM, Lockheed Martin Earnings

PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) announced it plans to introduce a prebiotic cola under its flagship soda brand, a move aimed at reversing the declining sales of its beverages in the U.S.



What Happened:  The new product, Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, is expected to hit the market this fall. This development comes shortly after Pepsi acquires Poppi, a rising star in the prebiotic soda space, for $1.95 billion in May.



Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/PEP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PEP stock here</a>.



This move is part of PepsiCo's effort to attract health-conscious consumers amid weakening demand for its drinks in North America, where beverage volume fell 2% in the second quarter.



Poppi and other emerging brands like&nbsp;Olipop&nbsp;have been successful in attracting health-conscious consumers with their gut-health claims, despite a general decline in soda consumption in the U.S.&nbsp;spanning the past two decades.&nbsp;



Pepsi's launch of a prebiotic soda reflects its broader strategy to capitalize on health-focused trends like protein and fiber, aiming to retain customers amid declining domestic demand for its beverages.



The new Pepsi Prebiotic Cola will contain&nbsp;three grams of prebiotic fiber, one gram more than Poppi&#8217;s soda, but significantly less than Olipop&#8217;s fiber content. It will also contain five grams of cane sugar, a departure from the corn syrup used to sweeten classic Pepsi in the U.S.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46511576/jamie-dimon-reveals-a-coffee-table-chat-with-jeff-bezos-in-1999-that-almost-made-him-never-wear-a-su" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jamie Dimon Reveals A Coffee Table Chat With Jeff Bezos In 1999 That Almost Made Him &#8216;Never Wear A Suit Again&#8230;Live On A Houseboat&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The introduction of the prebiotic cola is part of Pepsi&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46486021/pepsicos-2-billion-healthy-snacks-portfolio-thrives-no-sugar-and-energy-drinks-gain-ahead-of-protein-beverage-launch">broader strategy </a>to adapt to changing consumer preferences. The company has been focusing on health-conscious products, evident in its $2 billion permissible snack portfolio, which has been performing well.



Despite the declining sales of its beverages in the U.S., Pepsi&#8217;s stock price has been showing signs of recovery. After a significant sell-off, the stock price hit historical lows, offering a buying opportunity. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46510074/pepsico-bottomed-out-time-to-chugalug-this-blue-chip-buy">recent developments</a>, including the introduction of the prebiotic cola, could further boost investor confidence in Pepsi&#8217;s future performance.



Meanwhile, President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;recently announced that&nbsp;Coca-Cola Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) has agreed to use <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46457941/trump-says-coca-cola-has-agreed-to-use-real-cane-sugar-in-their-us-sodas-its-just-better">real cane sugar</a> in its U.S. products, a move that could potentially impact Pepsi&#8217;s strategy in the mainstream soda market.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="772" height="120" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22050129/image-294.png" alt="" class="wp-image-994969" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22050129/image-294.png 772w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22050129/image-294-300x47.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22050129/image-294-768x119.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 772px) 100vw, 772px" /></figure>



Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that Pepsi had a stronger price trend over the short and medium term but a weaker trend over the long term as per&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's Proprietary Edge Rankings.&nbsp;</a>



READ MORE:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46501332/lays-tostitos-comeback-set-to-ignite-q4-but-can-pepsico-fend-off-q3-earnings-dip">Lay&#8217;s, Tostitos Comeback Set To Ignite Q4, But Can PepsiCo Fend Off Q3 Earnings Dip?</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.

PepsiCo To Launch Cane Sugar-Based Prebiotic Cola This Fall To Counter Declining Soda Consumption

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Monday.



U.S. stocks settled mostly higher on Monday, as strong earnings reinforced confidence in corporate America and investors continued to shrug off trade tensions.



Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) shares fell slightly on Monday after the company reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and raised guidance.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with communication services, materials and consumer discretionary stocks recording the biggest gains on Monday. However, energy and health care stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed lower by 19 points to 44,323.07 on Monday. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.14% to 6,305.60, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.38% at 20,974.17 during Monday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 73.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Monday, versus a prior reading of 74.5.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/07/46517205/top-2-financial-stocks-that-may-plunge-this-month">Top 2 Financial Stocks That May Plunge This Month</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

US Stocks Settle Mixed Amid Strong Earnings: Investor Sentiment Decreases, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Hunter Biden is on a media blitz, aiming at Democrats he blames for his father's political collapse exactly one year after former president Joe Biden ended his re‑election bid, an anniversary that fell Monday.



What Happened: In the debut <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqiWu1fLdg">episode</a> of "At Our Table," a new podcast hosted by former Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison, the younger Biden said the party "lost the last election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party," accusing Democrats of squandering the advantages of incumbency and "an incredibly successful administration."



He rejected talk of a health cover‑up, insisting the &#8220;ability to keep a secret in Washington is zero."



Days later, he unleashed a three‑hour, profanity‑laced tirade on YouTuber Andrew Callaghan's "Channel 5" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBbkt2vYC4M">program</a>, naming senior Biden adviser Anita Dunn, strategists David Axelrod and James Carville, CNN anchor Jake Tapper, the "Pod Save America" hosts and actor George Clooney among those who stepped on his father.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46535742/ex-trump-advisor-judy-shelton-slams-federal-reserves-900-billion-losses-says-violates-the-norms-to-have-a-fed-chair-who-cant-be-fired">Ex-Trump Advisor Judy Shelton Slams Federal Reserve&#8217;s $900 Billion Losses, Says &#8216;Violates The Norms&#8217; To Have A Fed Chair Who Can&#8217;t Be Fired</a>



He dismissed Clooney as "a brand" and Carville as someone who "hasn't run a race in 40 years," while claiming Axelrod's lone success was "because of Barack Obama."



Hunter also alleged campaign aides gave Biden the sleep aid Ambien before the disastrous June 2024 debate against Donald Trump, leaving the 81‑year‑old looking "like a deer in the headlights." Tapper, whose book on Biden's decline became a bestseller, was derided as having "the smallest audience on cable news."



Why It Matters: The outbursts come as some Democrats try to move past 2024's defeat. Party veterans note Biden's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39540268/trump-attacks-biden-defends-in-high-stakes-no-audience-debate-president-appears-to-freeze-and-fumble?">debate stumbles</a> , moderated by Tapper and Dana Bash, ignited calls for him to step aside, pressure that culminated in his July 21 withdrawal.



Biden later pardoned his son for tax and gun convictions, a move <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42330042/nancy-pelosi-stands-with-biden-on-hunter-pardon-i-support-the-president">defended by House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi</a> but criticized by activists who say similar clemency should <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42346107/critics-urge-biden-to-free-non-violent-pot-offenders-after-pardoning-son">extend to others</a>. Hunter Biden's scorched‑earth tour risks reopening those wounds.



Photo Courtesy: Andrew Leyden on Shutterstock.com



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</ul>

Politics

Hunter Biden Blames Father Joe's Re-Election Loss On Democrats That Chose Not To 'Remain Loyal,' Rejects Health Cover Up Suggestions

Piper Sandler analyst Alex Potter says President Donald Trump's new regulations over ZEV credits aren't "as bad as you think" for Elon Musk and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).



Check out the current price of <a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/tsla">TSLA stock here</a>



What Happened: In a new investor note released on Monday, Potter said the EV giant "received ~$3.5B in &#8216;free money&#8217; last year, representing roughly 100% of FY24 free cash flow," before adding that Trump's new ZEV regulation has people worried about possible threats to the Tesla revenue stream.



"In short, we think the answer is no, at least not in 2025," the analyst said. However, Potter did concede that the Trump administration's recent commitment to rescind EV incentives could have an impact in the future.



"Tesla will still book around $3B in credits this year, followed by $2.3B in 2026," the analyst said before reiterating a $400 Price Target for Tesla, an upside of over 20%.



The note also hailed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46511765/elon-musk-says-teslas-self-driving-tech-is-about-to-get-major-boost-from-austin-robotaxi-upgrades-step-change-improvement">Robotaxi operations</a> in Austin as well as the company's efforts to expand into other territories as a positive sign. "In our view, these favorable FSD-related developments are likely to overshadow any/all negative commentary arising from lower 2025/2026 estimates," the note said.



Why It Matters: The news comes as Trump's new regulations and the relaxation of CAFE or Corporate Average Fuel Economy norms <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46258669/tesla-made-2-76-billion-from-zev-credits-in-2024-in-us-but-trumps-tax-bill-just-killed-this-revenue-stream">could cast doubt</a> over the company's ZEV revenue.



Tesla isn't the only company that risks losing the lucrative ZEV credit revenue, as Rivian Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) could lose a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46385263/tesla-rival-rivian-could-lose-a-major-revenue-stream-due-to-a">$325 million stream of cash</a> influx into the company following Trump's new regulations.



The company also plans to expand the serviceable areas of its Robotaxi, with documents showing the EV giant's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46361254/elon-musks-robotaxi-push-expands-to-phoenix-as-tesla-seeks-arizona-approval">plans to enter Phoenix</a>, as well as Musk stating that the Robotaxi could be available in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46337340/elon-musk-says-tesla-will-expand-robotaxi-services-to-san-francisco-bay-area-in-a-month-or-two">San Francisco Bay Area</a> pending regulatory approval.



The administration has taken other steps to curb EV incentives, like axing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46289556/trumps-tax-bill-axes-the-7500-ev-credit-heres-how-you-can-still-claim-it">$7,500 EV credit</a>, which will end on September 30, 2025. Elsewhere, the president has also indicated that he could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45919154/trump-says-he-may-hike-auto-tariffs-again-to-boost-domestic-production-the-higher-you-go-they-build-a-plant-here">hike auto tariffs again</a> in a bid to boost domestic production.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="202" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025-1024x202.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-994521" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025-1024x202.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025-300x59.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025-768x151.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025-1536x303.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/21234721/TSLA-JUL-22-2025.jpg 1557w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Tesla offers Satisfactory Momentum and Quality, while scoring well on the Growth metric, but offering poor Value. For more such insights, sign up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> today!



Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46512836/elon-musks-tesla-announces-3-million-model-3-units-sold-worldwide">Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla Announces 3 Million Model 3 Units Sold Worldwide</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

RIVN

Trump's New ZEV Credit Regulations Aren't 'As Bad' For Elon Musk, Says Piper Sandler: 'Tesla Will Still Book Around $3 Billion…'

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story has been updated to include comments from an Anthropic spokesperson.



Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei reportedly told employees that the company would seek funding from Middle-Eastern states despite ethical concerns, arguing that staying competitive in the global AI race requires access to massive capital, even if it empowers authoritarian regimes.



What Happened: Amodei told staff via Slack that the artificial intelligence startup backed by Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;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 would pursue <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45462404/trump-unveils-over-200-billion-worth-of-deals-with-uae-including-major-etihad-airways-commitment">investment from the United Arab Emirates</a> and Qatar, reversing its previous stance against accepting funds from authoritarian nations, <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-dario-amodei-gulf-state-leaked-memo/">reported</a> Wired.



"Unfortunately, I think ‘No bad person should ever benefit from our success' is a pretty difficult principle to run a business on," Amodei wrote, acknowledging that such investments would likely enrich "dictators."



He admitted the move could appear hypocritical but framed it as necessary to remain on the AI frontier: "Without it, it is substantially harder to stay on the frontier."



Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46383701/apple-undergoing-major-management-overhaul-but-ceo-tim-cook-to-stay-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Undergoing Major Management Overhaul, But CEO Tim Cook To Stay On</a>



Amodei cited the scale of available capital in the Middle East—upwards of $100 billion—as a driving force behind the decision. He said Anthropic aims to pursue "narrowly scoped, purely financial investment" to avoid granting foreign investors leverage.



An Anthropic spokesperson told the publication, "We believe fundamentally in sharing the benefits of AI and serve the Middle East and regions around the world commercially, in line with our Usage Policy."



An Anthropic spokesperson told <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a> in an emailed statement, &#8220;We believe fundamentally in sharing the benefits of AI and serve the Middle East and regions around the world commercially, in line with our Usage Policy.&#8221; Why It's Important: Anthropic's decision mirrors moves by ChatGPT-parent OpenAI, which has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45612410/fact-check-no-openais-chatgpt-plus-isnt-free-for-all-uae-residents">partnered with a UAE state-backed firm</a> to build data infrastructure abroad.



In 2024, Anthropic had rejected Saudi funding over national security concerns.



In May earlier this year, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45496491/trumps-uae-deal-lands-4-billion-aluminum-hub-in-oklahoma">visited the United Arab Emirates</a> and Saudi Arabia during a four-day tour centered on boosting economic ties.



He was accompanied by a group of prominent tech figures — including Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang — for a meeting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince.



Notably, Anthropic's executives were not in attendance.



Earlier this year, Nvidia criticized AI startup <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45160136/nvidia-blasts-anthropic-for-backing-stricter-chip-bans-on-china-focus-on-innovation-than-tell-tall-tales">Anthropic for supporting</a> stricter U.S. export controls on AI chips to China. The clash followed Anthropic&#8217;s blog post describing bizarre smuggling attempts involving chips hidden in fake baby bumps and lobster shipments.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46487059/trump-white-house-to-crack-down-on-woke-ai-with-executive-order-targeting-political-bias-in-government-contracted-chatbots-and-models-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump White House To Crack Down On ‘Woke AI' With Executive Order Targeting Political Bias In Government-Contracted Chatbots And Models: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: gguy on Shutterstock.com



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AMZN

NVDA

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Not 'Thrilled' About It, But Admits Accepting Investment From Middle East Leaders Will Enrich 'Dictators' (UPDATED)

The Magnificent Seven stocks have driven Wall Street to all-time highs in 2025, recovering sharply from April's tariff-driven selloff. But a new earnings catalyst is emerging—and it's not <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">related to artificial intelligence.</a>



It's the U.S. dollar. 



According to Goldman Sachs, the recent weakness in the greenback is quietly powering a potential surge in profits for the market's biggest names—especially those with global reach. 



With the U.S. dollar index (DXY) down 10% year-to-date, its worst first-half performance since 1991, companies with large international footprints are poised for a major earnings boost.



That's particularly true for the Magnificent Seven, which generate 49% of their revenue overseas—well above the 28% average for the S&amp;P 500 and 20% for the small-cap Russell 2000.



As Goldman Sachs noted, every 10% drop in the dollar historically translates into a 2% to 3% earnings-per-share (EPS) boost for the S&amp;P 500. 



But for the Magnificent Seven—Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), — the tailwind from a weaker dollar could be far more potent.



As of July 21, the combined market capitalization of the seven tech giants has soared to a record high of $18.7 trillion.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Group/Index</th><th>% of Revenue from Outside US</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Magnificent Seven</td><td>49%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>45%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 493</td><td>25%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 400</td><td>24%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>20%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Goldman Sachs</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Which Sectors Win Most From Dollar Weakness?</h2>



The Magnificent Seven sit at the crossroads of tech and international sales—two key beneficiaries of currency trends. 



Among S&amp;P 500 sectors, Information Technology has the highest overseas exposure at 56%, followed by Materials (49%), Energy (37%), and Communication Services (31%).



That exposure is why Nasdaq-100 companies, which include all of the Mag 7, generate nearly 50% of revenue abroad, almost double the S&amp;P 500's 28%. The dollar's plunge is set to amplify profit margins just as earnings season heats up.



Goldman Sachs cautioned that dollar weakness is "a smaller factor than many investors assume" for the broader S&amp;P 500. But it acknowledged that the largest U.S. tech companies benefit most—while also facing elevated trade risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alphabet Could Lead The Charge </h2>



All eyes are now on Alphabet, which reports earnings Wednesday, July 23, after the bell. 



Bank of America analyst Justin Post expects foreign exchange gains to play a major role.



"We estimate a $1.3 billion FX benefit in Q2," Post said. 



A weaker dollar is positive for Alphabet&#8217;s revenue trajectory, according to the expert.



&#8220;Aided by FX, we expect Q2 Search and YouTube growth to accelerate to 11% year-over-year. Given a 2-point expected FX benefit to Search, our estimate could be conservative."



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Upcoming Earnings Releases</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>Next Earnings Date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alphabet Inc.</td><td>Wednesday, July 23, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Tesla Inc.</td><td>Wednesday, July 23, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Microsoft Corp.</td><td>Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Meta Platforms Inc.</td><td>Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Apple Inc.</td><td>Thursday, July 31, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Amazon.com Inc.</td><td>Thursday, July 31, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr><tr><td>Nvidia Corp.</td><td>Wednesday, August 27, 2025 (After-Market)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Surprise Tailwind Just In Time</h3>



As the Fed battles credibility issues and President Donald Trump ramps up public pressure to cut interest rates, the dollar continues to drift lower, fueling unexpected benefits for America's top firms.



That makes the next round of earnings critical. While Wall Street has obsessed over AI, this quarter's upside might come from a far more traditional source: currency weakness.



And with the Mag 7 already carrying the market on their backs, any extra tailwind—especially one worth billions—could send them even higher.



Read Next:



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</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Forex

MSFT

The Magnificent Seven Just Got A Secret Weapon—And It's Not AI

Three defense titans, three different flight paths — but only one may come out on top when Lockheed Martin (LMT), RTX Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), and Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) report earnings Tuesday before the bell. With investors closely tracking valuation, momentum, and technicals, this aerospace earnings face-off is about to get turbulent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RTX: Flying High, Valued Higher</h2>



RTX has been the surprise high-flyer. With a 47% gain over the past year and a 32% YTD rally, it's the clear momentum leader. Technically, it's flashing bullish signals across all moving averages, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RTX/earnings">second quarter expectations</a> sit at $1.45 EPS on $20.66 billion revenue.



But here's the catch — valuations are steep. RTX trades at a 44.4x trailing and 25.2x forward P/E, which is significantly above its peers. Investors will be watching if the company can deliver numbers to justify the altitude.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46521182/lockheed-martin-likely-to-report-lower-q2-earnings-these-most-accurate-analysts-revise-forecasts-ahead-of-earnings-call">Lockheed Martin Likely To Report Lower Q2 Earnings; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lockheed: Stalled On The Runway</h2>



Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, appears to be stuck. The stock is down 2.2% year-over-year and sits below all major moving averages — a full house of sell signals. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/earnings">Second quarter expectations</a> call for $6.63 EPS on $18.63 billion revenue, but weak price action suggests muted optimism.



Valuation-wise, LMT trades at a more grounded 17.2x forward P/E, with a 5% earnings yield — but unless it surprises to the upside, it risks falling further behind the pack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Northrop: The Stealth Challenger</h2>



Northrop Grumman has quietly climbed 19% in the past year and is technically the most consistent. It's trading above all key SMAs, and its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NOC/earnings">second-quarter forecast</a> of $6.76 EPS on $10.11 billion revenue gives it a solid footing.



Still, with a high PEG ratio of 3.2, growth expectations may already be priced in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who&#8217;s Cleared For Takeoff?</h2>



RTX is flying fastest, but with a lofty valuation and high expectations. Lockheed has the cheapest multiple but lacks momentum. Northrop offers a middle ground — steady gains, solid earnings, and bullish technicals.



Tuesday&#8217;s earnings may decide which name investors should be saluting.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46453684/defense-stocks-earnings-q2-2025-preview">Defense Stocks Head Into Earnings At Record Highs — Is The Boom Just Beginning?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Lockheed Vs. RTX Vs. Northrop: Defense Giants Go Head-To-Head Before Earnings Blastoff

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