Yum China Holdings (NYSE:YUMC) Bolsa

Yum China Holdings

With more than 16,000 units and almost USD 12 billion in systemwide sales in 2024, Yum China is the largest restaurant operator in China. It generates revenue through its own restaurants and franchise fees. Key concepts include KFC (11,648 units) and Pizza Hut (3,724), but the company's portfolio also includes other brands such as Little Sheep, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, and Lavazza (collectively representing more than 1,000 units). Yum China is a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, paying 3% of total systemwide sales to the company it separated from in October 2016.

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Descubre las recientes compras de insiders en AnaptysBio, Forum Energy y Yum China, indicando posibles oportunidades de inversión.

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Yum China Holdings Inc

Retail pharmacy giant Rite Aid has agreed to pay $6.8 million to its customers following a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41305389/major-banks-suffer-data-breaches-how-safe-is-your-information"> significant data breach.</a>
What Happened: Hackers from the RansomHub group&nbsp;impersonated a Rite Aid employee&nbsp;and gained access to the company&#8217;s systems. 
This breach, which took place over the summer, exposed personal data of approximately 2.2 million customers. The compromised data includes names, addresses, birth dates, and purchase-related IDs from June 2017 to July 2018.
A federal judge has given preliminary <a href="https://dd80b675424c132b90b3-e48385e382d2e5d17821a5e1d8e4c86b.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/external/rite-aid-settlement-agreement-02feb2025.pdf">approval </a>to the $6.8 million settlement. Customers affected by the breach&nbsp;can claim up to $10,000&nbsp;for documented losses. 
Rite Aid,&nbsp;which came out of bankruptcy in September 2024, has stated that it is upgrading its digital security and will notify individuals impacted by the breach.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44089929/t-mobile-to-shell-out-350-million-to-customers-in-wake-of-massive-data-breach">T-Mobile to Shell Out $350 Million to Customers in Wake of Massive Data Breach</a>
More information about the settlement will be available on RiteAidDataSettlement.com in the upcoming weeks, although the site was not operational at the time of the report.
Why It Matters: This settlement comes as a significant development for Rite Aid, which is still recovering from its bankruptcy. The data breach had further tarnished the company&#8217;s reputation, affecting customer trust and loyalty. 
The settlement is a step towards rectifying the damage and restoring faith in the company&#8217;s commitment to data security. 
Furthermore, it serves as a reminder for other companies about the importance of robust digital security systems to protect customer data.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43759346/massive-data-breach-exposes-americans-financial-details-names-card-numbers-pins-and-more-at-risk">Massive Data Breach Exposes Americans&#8217; Financial Details — Names, Card Numbers, PINs and More at Risk</a>

Tech

Hackers Expose Customer Data—Retail Pharmacy Giant Paying $6.8M in Compensation

Basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal's impact goes beyond basketball, with his larger-than-life personality and smart investments. Yet, one of his most unforgettable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/11/41866639/shaq-buys-out-delivery-teams-van-and-car-leaving-them-to-catch-an-uber">moments happened at Walmart.</a>
What Happened: O&#8217;Neal, who is known for his extravagant spending, made this record-breaking purchase back in 2008. The shopping spree occurred after he was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns and found himself in a bare apartment. 
&#8220;I have the biggest purchase in Walmart history, $70,000,&#8221; he said during an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W3A2hQhdg4">interview</a>. &#8220;I got traded from Miami to Phoenix, and I&#8217;m the type of guy I have no patience. When I get to Phoenix, they have an apartment for me; nothing is in it.&#8221;
The basketball legend&#8217;s shopping list was extensive, including multiple TVs, laptops, appliances, sheets, towels, underwear, and T-shirts. However, his credit card was initially declined due to the large amount. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/11/42026306/nba-legend-shaqs-daughter-breaks-silence-on-dads-career-defying-family-expectations-its-a-no-go-for-me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Legend Shaq's Daughter Breaks Silence On Dad's Career, Defying Family Expectations: ‘It's A No Go For Me'</a>
&#8220;So two to three in the morning I got to get four-five TVs; I got to get printers, laptops, appliances, sheets, towels, underwear, and T-shirts. So at the end, it was $70,000, so I put my card in it, and it declined. Then, pulled it out, put it again, and it declined again,&#8221; he said. 
&#8220;So I told them I&#8217;d be back, so the American Express security guard called me, &#8216;Hey man, somebody stole your credit card and spent $70,000 at Walmart,&#8217; and I said no, that was me,&#8221; O&#8217;Neal added.
Why It Matters: Despite his past indulgences, O&#8217;Neal has since become a financial advisor of sorts for younger players. He has been recognized for his charitable contributions and is now known for his financial wisdom. 
This story serves as a reminder of his past spending habits, but also highlights his growth and transformation in the realm of financial management.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42500103/shaquille-oneals-250k-accidental-investment-turns-into-a-fortune-after-business-booms">Shaquille O&#8217;Neal&#8217;s $250K &#8216;Accidental&#8217; Investment Turns Into A Fortune After Business Booms</a>

Sports

NBA Legend Shaq's Walmart Shopping Spree Ends In Credit Card Decline—Here's How Much He Tried To Spend

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, is reportedly set to meet with top executives from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43832950/oreo-maker-mondelez-faces-rising-costs-due-to-new-us-health-policies" rel="noreferrer noopener">several major food brands on Monday.</a>
This gathering marks the first direct encounter between Kennedy and the companies he&#8217;s publicly accused of contributing to Americans&#8217; health issues, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/08/rfk-jr-food-industry-meeting-00219631" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports </a>POLITICO, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
Among the expected attendees are senior leaders from General Mills, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) and PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>).
The discussion comes at the request of the White House, which has encouraged Cabinet officials to engage with industries they oversee. Kennedy, a vocal critic of the food industry, has long blamed major food conglomerates for fueling the rise of chronic illnesses in children, the report adds.
Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44209030/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-broadcom-chargepoint-bigbear-ai-and-tariff-whiplash-confounds-markets" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Broadcom, ChargePoint, BigBear.ai — And Tariff Whiplash Confounds Markets</a>
His &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; movement advocates for significant changes to food practices, such as reducing food dyes and banning certain chemicals.
The meeting, which could be a pivotal moment for both the industry and Kennedy&#8217;s agenda, will address concerns such as eliminating seed oils, banning additives, and the FDA&#8217;s new plans for nutrition labels, POLITICO further notes.
Food companies have expressed alarm over Kennedy&#8217;s proposals, particularly his stance on ultra-processed foods and his push for stricter regulations on additives.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture are expected to finalize the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans, providing another opportunity for the food industry to sway key decisions on nutrition and public health.
The meeting&#8217;s agenda remains uncertain, with some industry players expressing concerns about potential conflicts over the direction of the discussions.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44209579/unprecedented-slide-tesla-sales-plummet-45-in-europe-as-musks-net-worth-dives-5-2b-in-a-week" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Unprecedented Slide&#8217;: Tesla Sales Plummet 45% In Europe As Musk&#8217;s Net Worth Dives $5.2B In A Week</a></li>
</ul>

Equities

Politics

General

RFK Jr. Takes On Food Giants: Calls Meeting With PepsiCo And General Mills

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is said to be maintaining a clandestine &#8216;do not rehire&#8217; list of its former employees, who are barred from rejoining the company, irrespective of a vice president&#8217;s endorsement.
What Happened: A recent report has revealed that a former engineer at Meta found themselves deemed "ineligible for rehire" after submitting nearly 20 applications. The engineer was among the 10,000 employees who lost their jobs during the company's 2022 downsizing.
The engineer had been associated with the company for more than four years and had consistently exceeded expectations in performance ratings. 
They had also been promoted to a senior technical position the previous year. However, after applying for multiple positions, they noticed a worrying trend. Initial conversations with hiring managers would suddenly cease once the recruitment screening phase was reached, reports <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-secret-block-lists-bar-rehiring-some-former-employees-2025-2?insiderId=79c06dc4-15de-41c4-a938-2ca835542ee0">the </a>Insider. 
Five ex-employees, including two managers, confirmed to Business Insider that Meta maintains internal lists that bar certain former employees from being rehired. Employment experts suggest that while such lists are not illegal, they are not common practice. Even high-performing employees can find themselves on these lists without a clear reason.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40969847/mark-zuckerberg-flaunts-watches-valued-at-a-cybertrucks-price">Mark Zuckerberg Flaunts Watches Valued at a Cybertruck&#8217;s Price</a>
Meta reportedly uses several tracking systems to enforce these restrictions, including a "non-regrettable attrition" designation and a "do not rehire" flag. 
The company asserts that these designations are applied fairly, and rehire eligibility is determined at the time of departure, based on factors such as policy violations and performance metrics.
Meanwhile, former Google HR chief Laszlo Bock has shared his thoughts about Meta&#8217;s internal &#8220;block&#8221; lists, which can prevent certain former employees from being rehired.
In a LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/laszlobock_meta-keeps-block-lists-of-ex-employees-activity-7303157715369897984-rL6E?utm_source=social_share_send&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web&amp;rcm=ACoAAAP-gw4B6ptW5YHEGD_6Aq-YEJO11zkExL8">post </a>he wrote, &#8220;I&#8217;ve never heard of anything like this. I&#8217;ve sometimes heard an exec say, &#8216;don&#8217;t ever re-hire this person&#8217;, but never seen a large scale, systematic approach like this. Have folks seen this elsewhere?&#8221;
Why It Matters: This revelation could potentially raise questions about Meta&#8217;s hiring practices and treatment of its employees. The alleged &#8216;do not rehire&#8217; list, if proven true, could impact the company&#8217;s reputation and its ability to attract and retain talent. 
It also raises concerns about the transparency of the company&#8217;s policies towards its employees. The impact of this development on Meta&#8217;s stock performance remains to be seen.
Read Next: 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40867264/big-techs-security-spending-spree-zuckerberg-leads-in-lavish-security-measures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Tech's Security Spending Spree: Zuckerberg Leads In Lavish Security Measures</a>

Meta Secretly Keeps 'Block' Lists of Ex-Employee, Former Google HR Chief Calls It 'Unheard Of'

Justine Musk, the first wife of billionaire Elon Musk, once shared her unique insights on the journey to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/05/27458121/heres-elon-musks-piece-of-advice-for-ex-girlfriend-amber-heard"> becoming a billionaire.</a>
What Happened: In 2015, Justine Musk responded to a Quora thread questioning whether determination and hard work alone lead to a billion-dollar fortune. As Elon Musk's first wife, she firmly answered, &#8220;No.&#8221;
She suggested that the question was misguided, emphasizing that determination alone falls short of the mark. To become a billionaire, one must be ready to tackle extreme challenges head-on.
She <a href="https://www.quora.com/Will-I-become-a-billionaire-if-I-am-determined-to-be-one-and-put-in-all-the-necessary-work-required">wrote</a>, &#8220;You&#8217;re determined. So what? You haven&#8217;t been racing naked through shark-infested waters yet,&#8221; underlining the high level of risk and resilience required to accumulate such wealth.
&#8220;Will you be just as determined when you wash up on some deserted island, disoriented and bloody and ragged and beaten and staring into the horizon with no sign of rescue?&#8221; she further wrote in the post.
&#8220;Shift your focus away from what you want a billion dollars and get deeply, intensely curious about what the world wants and needs. Ask yourself what you have the potential to offer that is so unique and compelling and helpful that no computer could replace you, no one could outsource you, no one could steal your product and make it better and then club you into oblivion (not literally). Then develop that potential. Choose one thing and become a master of it. Choose a second thing and become a master of that,&#8221; she continued. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/35016865/elon-musks-father-open-to-more-children-despite-age-if-shes-under-35-i-wouldnt-think-twice-about-hav" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk's Father Open To More Children Despite Age: "If She's Under 35, I Wouldn't Think Twice About Having Another Child"</a>
Justine Musk&#8217;s insights are based on her personal experience being married to Elon Musk, who has an estimated net worth of $12.1 billion. 
&#8220;The world doesn&#8217;t throw a billion dollars at a person because the person wants it or works so hard they feel they deserve it. The world does not care what you want or deserve. The world gives you money in exchange for something it perceives to be of equal or greater value: something that transforms an aspect of the culture, reworks a familiar story or introduces a new one, alters the way people think about the category and make use of it in daily life. There is no roadmap, no blueprint for this; a lot of people will give you a lot of advice, and most of it will be bad, and a lot of it will be good and sound but you&#8217;ll have to figure out how it doesn&#8217;t apply to you because you&#8217;re coming from an unexpected angle,&#8221; she wrote in the post. 
Elon Musk is renowned for his roles in founding PayPal and leading innovative companies like Tesla and SpaceX.
Why It Matters: Justine Musk&#8217;s comments provide a rare glimpse into the mindset and challenges of those who have achieved billionaire status. Her unique perspective, shaped by her close relationship with one of the world&#8217;s most successful entrepreneurs, offers valuable insights for those aspiring to similar levels of success. 
Her emphasis on the need for resilience and a willingness to face extreme challenges echoes the experiences of many successful entrepreneurs. 
This serves as a reminder that the path to significant wealth is often fraught with risk and requires more than just determination and hard work.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/39657381/elon-musks-mother-recounts-time-her-children-used-to-ask-for-food-she-couldnt-afford-after-">Elon Musk&#8217;s Mother Recounts Time Her Children Used To Ask For Food She Couldn&#8217;t Afford After Her Divorce: &#8216;If They Complained, I Didn&#8217;t Listen&#8217;</a>

Social Media

TSLA

Elon Musk's Ex-Wife Spills The Truth About What It Really Takes To Be A Billionaire: 'There Is No Roadmap, No Blueprint For This'

Reddit Inc (NYSE: RDDT) has been identified as the social media platform with the fastest growing ad revenue.
What Happened: According to the EMARKETER&#8217;s research, Reddit&#8217;s ad revenue will see a year-over-year increase of more than 30% this year. TikTok and Instagram trail behind Reddit, with their ad revenues growing at 25% and 15% respectively.
Reddit&#8217;s CEO,&nbsp;Steve Huffman, has previously emphasized the platform&#8217;s unique capacity to encourage community-based discussions. EMARKETER analysts believe that Reddit&#8217;s user base growth can be partially attributed to its unique social ambiance.
The report <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-ad-revenue-grows-fastest-among-social-media-platforms-2025-3">by </a>Insider, however, also points out that Reddit&#8217;s social nature could present obstacles for advertisers attempting to seamlessly integrate into the platform&#8217;s discussions. 
To address this, Reddit offers tools like Reddit Pro to advertisers, enabling them to establish a natural presence on the site.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/25/03/44192897/smart-money-is-betting-big-in-rddt-options">Smart Money Is Betting Big In RDDT Options</a>
Reddit&#8217;s COO,&nbsp;Jen Wong, acknowledged the platform&#8217;s &#8220;broad growth&#8221; across various advertising verticals during a recent earnings call. She noted substantial growth in sectors such as&nbsp;finance, retail, auto, pharma, gaming,&nbsp;and tech.
Why It Matters: Reddit&#8217;s significant growth in ad revenue underscores the platform&#8217;s increasing appeal to advertisers. The unique social environment that Reddit offers allows brands to engage with audiences in a more personal and community-driven manner. 
However, the challenge for advertisers is to authentically integrate into these conversations without disrupting the user experience. Reddit&#8217;s solution, Reddit Pro, is an attempt to address this issue, providing a tool for advertisers to organically blend into the platform&#8217;s discussions. 
The success of this approach could set a precedent for other social media platforms grappling with similar challenges.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/02/43694329/reddit-stock-is-trading-lower-thursday-whats-going-on">Reddit Stock Is Trading Lower Thursday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>

Here's Why Reddit's Ad Revenue Growth Is Outpacing Other Social Media Giants

President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;has strongly criticized the U.K. government&#8217;s demand for&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to&nbsp;create a backdoor&nbsp;into its encrypted cloud storage, comparing the move to authoritarian surveillance <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44069785/trump-blasts-uks-apple-encryption-order-warns-against-grave-privacy-violations-thats-something-you-hear-about-with-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">tactics used in China</a>.
First Lady&nbsp;Melania Trump&nbsp;used her first major public appearance to call for stronger protections against online abuse, advocating for legislation&nbsp;targeting deepfake&nbsp;and revenge pornography while criticizing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44100458/melania-trump-attacks-democrats-for-skipping-key-discussion-on-deepfakes-first-lady-wants-tougher-safeguards-for-children" rel="noreferrer noopener">Democrats for their absence at the discussion</a>.
Smartphones
Honor&nbsp;has ramped up its AI ambitions with a $10 billion investment over the next five years, alongside a deeper<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44068933/google-and-chinas-honor-deepen-ai-partnership-as-huawei-spin-off-takes-on-apple-and-samsung-with-10-billion-investment" rel="noreferrer noopener"> partnership with&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44068933/google-and-chinas-honor-deepen-ai-partnership-as-huawei-spin-off-takes-on-apple-and-samsung-with-10-billion-investment" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;Google</a>.
Technology
Major tech firms, including&nbsp;Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>),&nbsp;ByteDance-owned&nbsp;TikTok, and&nbsp;Snapchat, are urging Australia to reconsider the exemption of&nbsp;YouTube, an online video sharing platform owned by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google, from its&nbsp;ban on social media<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44132618/meta-tiktok-and-snapchat-push-back-against-youtubes-exemption-from-australias-social-media-ban-for-children-under-16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> access&nbsp;for users under 16</a>.
Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) launched <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44143576/apples-latest-macbook-air-with-m4-chip-is-twice-as-fast-as-its-predecessor-with-lower-price" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its newest MacBook Air</a> with equipped with the advanced M4 chip for improved speed, longer battery life, and a 12MP camera. The base version costs as low as $999.
Google has begun disabling uBlock Origin and other extensions that rely on its outdated Manifest V2 framework, leaving millions of Chrome users scrambling for alternatives as the company fully transitions <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44135027/googles-chrome-changes-disable-ublock-origin-for-even-more-users-can-you-still-block-ads" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">to its new extension standard, </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44135027/googles-chrome-changes-disable-ublock-origin-for-even-more-users-can-you-still-block-ads" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manifest V3</a>.
Ransomware operators have found a way to exploit a Windows-signed driver from&nbsp;Paragon Partition Manager, posing a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44105518/microsoft-adds-paragon-partition-manager-driver-to-blocklist-as-ransomware-hackers-exploit-windows-signed-driver-for-attacks" rel="noreferrer noopener">threat to system security</a>.
Discord, the popular&nbsp;social chat app&nbsp;favored by gamers, is reportedly in early discussions with investment bankers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44157952/discord-reportedly-exploring-ipo-in-2025heres-what-we-know-about-the-gaming-chat-titans-plans" rel="noreferrer noopener">about a potential initial public offering in 2025.</a>
Former&nbsp;Intel Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) CEO&nbsp;Craig Barrett&nbsp;has strongly criticized calls to divide Intel&#8217;s business, arguing that the company should focus on its recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44070969/former-intel-ceo-craig-barrett-warns-that-splitting-the-company-would-be-a-costly-mistake-a-far-better-move-might-be-to-fire-the-intel-board-and-rehire-pat-gelsinger" rel="noreferrer noopener">chipmaking breakthroughs instead</a>.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44070785/top-analyst-shuts-down-nvidia-cowos-order-cut-rumors-confirms-tsmcs-2025-expansion-is-steady-at-70000-wafers-per-month" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ming-Chi Kuo Dismisses Nvidia Order Cut Speculation Amid Intact AI Demand, Confirms TSMC Expansion On Track</a>
Reddit Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) co-founder and venture capitalist&nbsp;Alexis Ohanian&nbsp;has joined&nbsp;Frank McCourt&#8217;s&nbsp;bid to acquire&nbsp;TikTok&#8217;s&nbsp;U.S. operations, as competition intensifies with rival groups that include&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;star&nbsp;Jimmy Donalson, aka&nbsp;MrBeast, tech entrepreneur&nbsp;Jesse Tinsley, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/03/44100560/reddit-co-founder-alexis-ohanian-joins-frank-mccourts-tiktok-bid-amid-competition-from-mrbeast-jesse-tinsley-and-reid-rasner" rel="noreferrer noopener">and&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/03/44100560/reddit-co-founder-alexis-ohanian-joins-frank-mccourts-tiktok-bid-amid-competition-from-mrbeast-jesse-tinsley-and-reid-rasner" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wyoming</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/03/44100560/reddit-co-founder-alexis-ohanian-joins-frank-mccourts-tiktok-bid-amid-competition-from-mrbeast-jesse-tinsley-and-reid-rasner" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;investor&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/03/44100560/reddit-co-founder-alexis-ohanian-joins-frank-mccourts-tiktok-bid-amid-competition-from-mrbeast-jesse-tinsley-and-reid-rasner" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reid Rasner</a>.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Tencent Holdings&#8217; (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) Yuanbao AI&nbsp;chatbot has surpassed&nbsp;DeepSeek&nbsp;as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44101621/deepseek-loses-top-spot-as-tencents-yuanbao-ai-becomes-no-1-iphone-app-amid-intensifying-ai-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">most downloaded&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44101621/deepseek-loses-top-spot-as-tencents-yuanbao-ai-becomes-no-1-iphone-app-amid-intensifying-ai-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">iPhone</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44101621/deepseek-loses-top-spot-as-tencents-yuanbao-ai-becomes-no-1-iphone-app-amid-intensifying-ai-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;app in China</a>.
Chinese AI startup&nbsp;DeepSeek&nbsp;revealed cost and revenue estimates for its popular&nbsp;V3&nbsp;and&nbsp;R1&nbsp;models, showing a theoretical cost-profit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44069178/chinas-deepseek-report-545-theoretical-daily-profit-margin-once-again-raising-questions-about-openai-and-other-us-ai-firms-billion-dollar-chip-investments" rel="noreferrer noopener">ratio of up to 545% per day</a>.
Anthropic&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Dario Amodei&nbsp;has called for stronger U.S. AI safeguards, warning that autocratic regimes like China and Russia could use artificial intelligence to enhance their<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44069535/jeff-bezos-backed-anthropic-pushes-for-stronger-us-ai-safeguards-saying-autocracies-like-china-russia-could-use-ai-to-expand-their-power-some-very-dark-possbilities" rel="noreferrer noopener"> control and military capabilities</a>.
Anthropic and&nbsp;Google has raised $3.5 billion in a Series E funding round,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44099466/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-nosedive-as-trumps-tariff-moves-wipe-out-crypto-reserve-fueled-gains-analyst-says-breaking-through-this-barrier-will-help-btc-touch-new-highs" rel="noreferrer noopener"> bringing its valuation to $61.5 billion</a>.

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INTC

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TCEHY

Consumer Tech News (Mar 3-Mar 7): Discord May Initiate IPO, Apple's New MacBook Air With M4 Chip, Tencent' Yuanbao AI Surpassed DeepSeek As Most Downloaded & More

Billionaire Peter Thiel, who has no formal position in the Trump Administration, has multiple affiliations with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44197287/us-to-conduct-full-audit-of-bitcoin-holdings-following-strategic-reserve-executive-order" rel="noreferrer noopener">organizations that aim to reform the government.</a>
Thiel&#8217;s connections, which include multiple old and new employees of his companies, have been included in the Trump administration, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-peter-thiel-trump-administration-connections/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports </a>Bloomberg.
Thiel, who has invested in several of Elon Musk&#8217;s companies, including Boring Co., SpaceX, and Neuralink, has built a diverse empire spanning from the software company Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)
to investment firms with stakes in leading Silicon Valley startups.
Meanwhile, Musk is a key player in the Trump administration, leading a new advisory body established by US President Donald Trump, responsible for reducing US government jobs and cutting other expenditures, Bloomberg adds.
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The department works under the banner of the&nbsp;Department of Government Efficiency.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>,&nbsp;Palantir&#8217;s stock has soared more than 90% since Trump was elected.
Anduril Industries, one of Thiel&#8217;s defense-tech companies, has landed a $20 billion contract from Trump. In fact, the startup&#8217;s valuation can reportedly double with a $2.5 billion funding round that Founders Fund leads. 
This week, Scale AI, another company in the Founders Fund portfolio with its managing director now serving in the Trump administration, revealed a new deal with the Department of Defense.
Although ties between industry and government have always been present, the current situation is &#8220;unprecedented in the modern era,&#8221; Quinn Slobodian, a professor of international history at Boston University, told Bloomberg.
Thiel supported Trump in 2016 but later criticized him. Before the 2024 election, Thiel said he wouldn&#8217;t donate to any candidates. However, he stated he would vote for Trump. Trump selected Thiel ally JD Vance as his vice president.
Peter Thiel and Elon Musk&#8217;s behind-the-scenes influence on the Trump administration is reshaping the very fabric of American governance. With vast investments spanning defense, technology, and government reform, these Silicon Valley titans are wielding power in ways that have never been seen before.
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How Peter Thiel And Elon Musk Are Shaping Trump Administration

Iron Mountain (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRM#NYSE">IRM</a>) is a global leader in information management services. The company's offerings include digital transformation, data centers, secure records storage,
information management, asset lifecycle management, secure destruction and art storage and logistics.
It is set to report its Q1 2025 earnings on May 1. Wall Street analysts expect the company to post EPS of $0.43, unchanged from the figure in the year-ago period. According to Benzinga Pro, quarterly revenue is expected to reach $1.62 billion, up from $1.48 billion a year earlier.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Bought Iron Mountain Stock 10 Years Ago</h2>
The company's stock traded at approximately $36.28 per share 10 years ago. If you had invested $10,000, you could have bought roughly 276 shares. Currently, shares trade at $88.31, meaning your investment's value could have grown to $24,341 from stock price appreciation alone. However, Iron Mountain also paid dividends during these 10 years.&nbsp;
Iron Mountain's dividend yield is currently 3.56%. Over the last 10 years, it has paid about $24.45 in dividends per share, which means you could have made $6,739 from dividends alone.&nbsp;
Summing up $24,341 and $6,739, we end up with the final value of your investment, which is $31,080. This is how much you could have made if you had invested $10,000 in Iron Mountain stock 10 years ago. This means a total return of 210.8%. However, this figure is still less than the S&amp;P 500 total return for the same period, which was 219.91%.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Could The Next 10 Years Bring?&nbsp;</h2>
Iron Mountain has a consensus rating of "Overweight" and a price target of $109.5 based on the ratings of eight analysts. The price target implies a nearly 24% potential upside from the current stock price.
On Feb. 13, the company announced its Q4 2024 earnings, posting revenues of $1.58 billion, slightly missing the street view of $1.60 billion, as reported by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43691982/iron-mountain-q4-earnings-storage-and-data-center-revenue-growth-dividend-climbs-10-strong-2025-outlook">Benzinga.</a>&nbsp;
Total reported revenues (excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange) increased 11.4% compared to the prior year. This was driven by an 8.8% increase in storage rental revenue and a 17.2% increase in service revenue.
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Iron Mountain expects full-year 2025 revenues in the range of $6.65 billion to $6.80 billion, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.77 billion.
Given the expected upside potential of 24%, growth-focused investors may find Iron Mountain stock attractive. Furthermore, they can benefit from the company's solid dividend yield of 3.56%.
Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/03/44142250/how-trinity-industries-sempra-and-rexford-industrial-realty-can-put-cash-in-your-pocket">article by Benzinga</a> for three more stocks offering high dividend yields.&nbsp;
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Personal Finance

If You Invested $10K In Iron Mountain Stock 10 Years Ago, How Much Would You Have Now?

More than 80 Afghan women who fled the Taliban to pursue higher education in Oman with the help of USAID-funded scholarships now <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43781034/bill-gates-hopes-elon-musk-will-rethink-slashing-usaid-their-work-is-something-every-taxpayer-would-be-proud-of" rel="noreferrer noopener">face imminent deportation back to Afghanistan.</a>
These women, enrolled in the Women&#8217;s Scholarship Endowment program, were studying STEM subjects—fields banned by the Taliban for women, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4k25wlw21o" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports </a>BBC.
However, the Trump administration&#8217;s freeze on foreign aid, enacted when he returned to office in January, abruptly ended their scholarships, the report adds.
USAID, the world&#8217;s largest aid donor with most of its budget directed toward global health programs and two-thirds of its 10,000 employees stationed overseas, had already placed some staff on administrative leave, with thousands more scheduled to join them.
Trump&#8217;s administration has been pushing to dismantle USAID, arguing that its overseas spending is not a valuable use of taxpayer money.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44186261/doge-staffers-reportedly-draw-hefty-salaries-funded-by-taxpayers-while-musk-pushes-for-wasteful-spending-cuts" rel="noreferrer noopener">DOGE Staffers Reportedly Draw Hefty Salaries Funded By Taxpayers While Elon Musk Pushes For &#8216;Wasteful&#8217; Spending Cuts</a>
The Afghan students were informed that their scholarships had been discontinued and they would be sent back within two weeks.
Many of them fear the dire consequences they will face upon returning to Afghanistan, where women are barred from universities and subjected to severe restrictions.
Some worry they may be forced into marriage or face personal danger due to their activism and educational pursuits.
These women, who fled to Pakistan and then to Oman, have appealed to the international community for urgent intervention, seeking protection, financial aid, and resettlement in a safe country where they can continue their education, BBC further notes.
Once full of hope, their futures are now uncertain, with the looming threat of returning to a country where their basic rights are systematically denied.
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The Heart-Breaking Story Of Afghan Women Facing Deportation After Trump's USAID Aid Cuts

Fyre Festival is back—at least, that's what Billy McFarland wants people to believe. The infamous festival that collapsed in 2017 and sent McFarland to prison for fraud has a sequel planned for May 30 to June 2, on Isla Mujeres, Mexico. But local officials say they know nothing about it.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Officials Say No One Has Contacted Them</h2>
When tickets for Fyre Festival 2 went on sale, Isla Mujeres' tourism director Edgar Gasca was caught off guard. "We have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any person or company about it," he told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/feb/27/fyre-festival-2-mexico">The Guardian</a>.
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Gasca added that neither the Quintana Roo state tourism minister nor the hotels listed on Fyre's website had been contacted about hosting the festival. Even Impression Isla Mujeres, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/hotel-reits">luxury hotel</a> where the event supposedly had accommodations, confirmed it had not received "any approach or inquiry with regards to the event."
"The organizers didn't even bother to approach the authorities," Gasca said. "I think they thought they would just announce it and see if it got traction, then ask for the permits halfway down the path. It's a bit of a naive way to think."
The local government has since <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=659148126627163&amp;set=pcb.658746110000698&amp;locale=es_LA">issued</a> a public denial, making it clear that no permits have been requested. And when Gasca entered the festival's coordinates into Google Maps? "It takes you to the ocean—between Cancún and Isla Mujeres," he said, laughing.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">McFarland Pushes Forward With Refundable Tickets</h2>
Despite the skepticism, McFarland insists that this time, things are different. Austin-based ticketing platform SoldOut.com <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soldoutcom-announces-exclusive-ticketing-partnership-with-fyre-festival-2-302383028.html">announced</a> they had partnered with McFarland and are guaranteeing refunds if the festival is canceled. "All proceeds from Fyre Festival ticket sales on SoldOut.com are held securely and will not be settled with Fyre until after the event has successfully taken place," SoldOut.com President Andrew Hentrich told <a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/fyre-fest-2-dates-location-ticketing-partner-announced/">Billboard</a>.
Tickets range from $1,400 to $25,000, and for those looking for a VIP experience, a $1 million package for eight people includes luxury villas, a private yacht marina, and a private jet to and from Cancún.
McFarland is selling the event as a chance for redemption. "Fyre Festival 2 is about the adventure into the unknown, curating elite, once-in-a-lifetime experiences," he said in a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soldoutcom-announces-exclusive-ticketing-partnership-with-fyre-festival-2-302383028.html">statement</a>.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No Talent, No Logistics, No Problem?</h2>
One of the biggest concerns is the lack of details. There has been no announcement of musical acts, and Billboard reported that two of the largest booking agencies in the industry have not been contacted by Fyre organizers or their logistics partner, LostNights.
McFarland, who was sentenced to six years in prison but was later released after less than four years, claims he is no longer in charge of the festival's details, saying in an <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/fyre-festival-2-dates-location-tickets-rcna193328">interview</a> with NBC's "Today," "It's not really about me. It's about taking the vision, which is strong,"&nbsp;
But with no confirmed lineup, no venue approvals, and no local backing, many are wondering if Fyre Festival 2 will turn out to be as real as the gourmet meals promised at the first event—where guests were instead handed cheese sandwiches in styrofoam containers.
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8 Years After The First Disaster Landed Organizer Behind Bars, Fyre Festival 2 Is Raising Eyebrows. Officials Claim It 'Does Not Exist'

Millennium Management LLC&nbsp;has reportedly suffered a loss of approximately $900 million this year. The loss is attributed to the ongoing volatility in the global stock market, which has adversely impacted its index rebalancing strategy.
What Happened: The losses were sustained by two teams within Millennium, both of which focus on index rebalancing. The larger team, known as SRBL, is led by Glen Scheinberg, while the other team operates under the leadership of Dubai-based Pratik Madhvani.
Index rebalancing is a strategy that involves wagering on companies that are either entering or exiting various stock indexes. 
While this approach can yield substantial profits for large multimanager hedge funds like Millennium, it can also result in significant losses, particularly in times of market instability and overcrowded trades.
Jeremy Ma, a senior portfolio manager based in Hong Kong who specializes in index-rebalancing trades, has reportedly parted ways with Millennium, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-08/millennium-loses-900-million-on-strategy-roiled-by-market-chaos?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">reports </a>Bloomberg. 
Despite the losses, the firm, which manages around $75 billion, was down less than 1% this year through February.
Why It Matters: Index rebalancing has a history of generating disappointing returns, as was the case in 2022. Over the years, the number of firms implementing this strategy has grown. 
However, the deteriorating returns have led some traders to abandon this approach. 
The recent losses incurred by Millennium Management highlight the risks associated with index rebalancing, particularly during periods of market volatility.

Millennium Management Faces $900M Loss Amid Market Volatility—What Investors Should Know

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/44031641/elon-musk-blasts-delaware-court-after-100b-pay-package-rejected-sparks-corporate-exodus-threat">Elon Musk'</a>s net worth has taken a hit this year—down by about $52 billion—but he still tops the list as the world's richest person, with a current estimate of $336 billion, according to the<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/"> Bloomberg Billionaires Index</a>. Despite this headline-grabbing fall in personal wealth, the challenges facing Tesla are proving even more dramatic.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Riding Through Turbulence</h2>
Tesla's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares have experienced a sharp decline recently. Earlier this week, the stock <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/tesla-stock-slides-tuesday-as-tariffs-take-effect-bofa-drops-price-target-11690344">dropped over 4% by market close</a>, and has lost about a third since the start of the year. This downward trend has pushed the company's market capitalization below the $1 trillion mark for the first time since Nov.
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At the same time, Tesla's vehicle sales have experienced a significant setback. In Europe, where the overall electric vehicle market grew by 37% in January, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-25/tesla-sales-fall-45-in-europe-as-rivals-ev-registrations-soar?embedded-checkout=true">Tesla's sales plunged by 45% during the same period.</a>&nbsp;
According to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/27/nx-s1-5311609/tesla-sales-europe">National Public Radio</a>, the slump in sales isn't just a reflection of softer consumer demand—it's also driven by intense competition from Chinese automakers and a slowdown in the U.S.&nbsp;
Much of the criticism these days centers on Musk's political activities. His close association with&nbsp; President Donald Trump and his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency have stirred considerable controversy.&nbsp;
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<a href="https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/teslas-future-may-be-more-gm-than-omg-2025-03-04/">Reuters</a> notes that such distractions could undermine Tesla's focus on its core business. While these political maneuvers have dampened investor sentiment, analyst Adam Jonas, reinstated Tesla as his firm&#8217;s &#8220;top pick&#8221; in U.S. autos on Sunday. According to<a href="https://www.investors.com/news/tesla-stock-this-is-why-top-pick-status-is-back/"> Investor&#8217;s Business Daily</a>, Jonas emphasized Tesla&#8217;s competitive advantage in embodied AI and maintained a price target of $430, with a bull case of $800.
This points to Tesla's ambitious plans in autonomous driving and robotics, suggesting that once these projects gain traction, the company could bounce back.
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Back when investors were riding high on the expectation that Musk's ties to the Trump administration would bring deregulation-friendly policies, his net worth surged to a record <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-22/elon-musk-s-net-worth-hits-348-billion-setting-new-wealth-record?embedded-checkout=true">$347.8 billion</a> right after the election, Bloomberg reported.&nbsp;
But recent developments—ranging from contentious job cuts to provocative public statements—appear to be causing a shift in sentiment.
Even with the volatility, there are some stable numbers amid the chaos. Over the past week, Musk's net worth dropped by $5.2 billion yet still maintains a comfortable lead of roughly $110 billion over Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43995252/meta-boosts-executive-bonuses-to-200-as-it-slashes-5-of-workforce-laid-off-employees-call-it-unfair">Mark Zuckerberg</a>, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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'Unprecedented Slide': Tesla Sales Plummet 45% In Europe As Musk's Net Worth Dives $5.2B In A Week

President Donald Trump has reportedly limited the authority of his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, to dismiss federal employees. This development has stirred skepticism among the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44067298/what-did-you-do-last-week-part-ii-musks-doge-issues-second-email-mandate-for-executive-branch-employees"> workforce and political circles.</a>
What Happened: According to a report, Trump privately communicated to his Cabinet that they have the power over their departments, not Musk. This potential shift could mark a significant change in the Trump-Musk alliance. 
However, the federal workforce remains uncertain due to weeks of inconsistent and contradictory directives, reports <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/07/musk-trump-federal-workers-firing-00218733">the </a>Politico. 
David Casserly, an employee at&nbsp;the Department of Labor, voiced his skepticism, saying, &#8220;I&#8217;ll&nbsp;believe it when I see&nbsp;it.&#8221; The news of the Cabinet meeting has spurred widespread speculation about Trump&#8217;s real intentions, particularly in the face of increasing legal and political scrutiny.
Some have interpreted Trump&#8217;s comments as an attempt at &#8220;damage control&#8221; after he announced that Musk is the &#8220;head&#8221; of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during his joint address to Congress. 
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This statement could potentially lead to legal complications, as the White House had previously argued in court that Musk was not the DOGE leader and had no authority to make distinct policy decisions, reports the outlet. 
Despite the skepticism, Trump&#8217;s comments have ignited hope among Democratic lawmakers, who are eager to see Musk&#8217;s influence curtailed and the drastic cuts to the federal workforce reversed.
A State Department official told the outlet. "I don't think it's real. The ‘if they don't cut, Elon will' comments show who's really in charge."
Why It Matters: The recent development is a stark contrast to the earlier alliance between Trump and Musk. The move to limit Musk&#8217;s authority over federal employees could potentially alter the dynamics within the Trump administration. 
The skepticism among the workforce and political circles underscores the uncertainty surrounding this decision. The potential legal implications of Trump&#8217;s previous statements about Musk&#8217;s role in the DOGE further complicate the situation. 
As the story unfolds, the impact of this decision on the federal workforce and the political landscape remains to be seen.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44065757/mark-cuban-warns-elon-musk-is-making-trumps-job-1000-times-harder">Mark Cuban Warns Elon Musk Is Making Trump&#8217;s Job &#8216;1,000 Times Harder&#8217;</a>

Trump vs Musk? Federal Workers Unconvinced He'll Take Action: 'If They Don't Cut, Elon will, Comments Show Who's Really In Charge'

Jamie Dimon serves as the CEO of JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), one of the largest banks in the world. Dimon has served in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/01/42994008/jamie-dimon-oversees-major-leadership-shake-up-at-jpmorgan-chase-as-president-daniel-pinto-prepares-to-step-down">role since 2006.</a>
Here's a look at how much investors could have made investing in the bank during his tenure.
What Happened: Dimon became the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, a move that came two years after the bank's merger with Bank One Corporation. Dimon also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/23/12/36052929/if-jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-was-in-the-white-house-his-first-100-days-would-look-like-this">added the title</a> Chairman of the Board to his resume one year later in 2007.
Dimon joined Bank One as Chairman and CEO in 2000 and later joined JPMorgan when the banks merged. He will likely remain CEO of the banking giant until his retirement.
In recent years, reports of Dimon's potential political aspirations and retirement have led to speculation about a potential succession plan at JPMorgan Chase.
Dimon is one of the most respected names in the financial world and has helped JPMorgan grow into the largest U.S. bank by assets and one of the 15 most valuable companies by market capitalization worldwide.
Here's a look back at an investment in JPMorgan Chase when Dimon became CEO.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38149277/jamie-dimon-equates-ai-to-printing-press-steam-engine-consequences-will-be-extraordinary">Jamie Dimon Equates AI To Printing Press, Steam Engine: &#8216;Consequences Will Be Extraordinary&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: Dimon officially became CEO of the banking giant on Jan. 1, 2006, a day the stock market was closed.
Investors who believed in the bank's future with Dimon at the helm could have bought shares of the stock days later.
A $1,000 investment in JPMorgan on Jan. 3, 2006 could have bought 24.78 shares based on a price of $40.36 at the time.
Today, the $1,000 investment would be worth $6,003.70 based on a price of $242.28 at the time of writing. This represents a potential gain of 500.4% over the last 19 years.
For comparison, the same $1,000 invested in the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index, would be worth less.
The $1,000 invested in the SPY on Jan. 3, 2006 would be worth $4,532.49 today, up 353.2% over the same time period.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41002453/if-you-invested-1-000-in-bitcoin-when-jamie-dimon-said-he-would-fire-employees-in-a-second">If You Invested $1,000 In Bitcoin When Jamie Dimon Said He Would Fire Employees &#8216;In A Second&#8217; For Holding BTC, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a></li>
</ul>

Education

If You Invested $1,000 In JPMorgan Chase Stock When Jamie Dimon Became The CEO, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

YouTube sensation MrBeast—Jimmy Donaldson—has been quietly discussing a major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44109824/apples-500b-u-s-investment-analyst-calls-it-completely-unrealistic-questions-where-the-money-will-come-from">funding</a> round that could peg his holding company at roughly $5 billion. According to<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/youtube-star-mrbeast-is-raising-money-at-a-5-billion-valuation"> Bloomberg</a>, his various ventures, including Feastables, Lunchly, and his video production outfit, generated over $400 million in sales last year.&nbsp;
With his channel boasting over 368 million subscribers and YouTube pulling in roughly <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/289658/youtube-global-net-advertising-revenues/#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20YouTube's%20global%20advertising,in%20the%20preceding%20fiscal%20period.">$31.5 billion in ad revenue in 2024</a>, the scale is hard to ignore.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bold Moves and Balancing Risks</h2>
MrBeast's reputation rests on creating high-impact content—from massive giveaways to jaw-dropping challenges—that continues to capture audiences worldwide.
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His ability to consistently drive hundreds of millions of views per video has propelled him to the forefront of digital media. However, as his business model grows, concerns arise about whether such broad appeal can translate into long-term profitability.
Venture capitalist Sam Lessin <a href="https://x.com/lessin/status/1833545048543375856">posted on X </a>that MrBeast's growth pattern resembles that of BuzzFeed (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BZFD#NASDAQ">BZFD</a>). Lessin pointed out that while viral content can skyrocket an audience, it doesn't always convert into a sustainable revenue stream.&nbsp;
He cautioned that if MrBeast's viewership remains too diffuse, the $5 billion figure might overstate the future earnings potential—a reminder of the pitfalls that once hit BuzzFeed.
Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/overplay">Mark Cuban Backs This Innovative Startup That Turns Videos into Games&nbsp; &#8212; Claim Your Share Now</a>
On another note, liquidity is a sticking point. Despite Forbes reporting that MrBeast raked in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2024/10/28/top-creators-2024-the-influencers-turning-buzz-into-billions/">$85 million in 2024</a>, he mentioned on the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjrJ2DJN_pA">Diary of a CEO podcast</a>" that his available cash is under $1 million.
Dr. James Mohs, a money and accounting professor at the University of New Haven, told <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mrbeast-claims-to-be-a-billionaire-who-has-less-than-1-million-in-cash-is-that-normal-for-the-rich-1a68eae7">MarketWatch</a> that for someone of his stature, a cash reserve of about 10% of total wealth is ideal. This revelation raises eyebrows about whether his strategy of funneling nearly all profits back into his ventures might leave little room to maneuver if market conditions sour.
Not one to rest on his laurels, MrBeast recently branched into traditional television with his show &#8220;Beast Games&#8221; on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/44049133/last-week-jeff-bezos-lost-3-9-billion-in-a-day-woke-up-3-9-billion-richer-now-its-gone">Amazon</a> Prime Video. The project, which reportedly cost him "tens of millions of dollars," marks a significant shift from online content to a more mainstream medium.&nbsp;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/startengine-own">The $1.3 Billion Startup Investment Boom: How This Company's Explosive Growth Is Opening Doors For Everyday Investors With A New $500 Minimum</a>
Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) backed the first season with a $100 million investment. Still,<a href="https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/mrbeast-buzz-risks-being-new-medias-old-story-2025-02-28/"> Reuters</a> reports that such massive outlays come with risks, especially if the digital-first media market experiences unexpected changes.
Another point of concern is the "key man" risk in an empire so closely tied to Donaldson&#8217;s personal brand. While he has successfully raised funds in previous rounds and explored investment opportunities, including potential bids for TikTok stakes, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of a model built on broad, viral content.
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AMZN

BZFD

MrBeast Raising $200M At $5B Valuation To Expand Empire—From Feastables To Viral Videos, His Business Is Booming

Each week, Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.
Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44124338/exclusive-februarys-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-palantir-alibaba-nvidia-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: February&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro – Where Do Tesla, Palantir, Alibaba, Nvidia Rank?</a>
Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending March 7:
Barrick Gold (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOLD#NYSE">GOLD</a>): The gold company saw increased interest from Benzinga readers during the week. The biggest reason for the increased attention was likely <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOLD/analyst-ratings">a UBS analyst</a> upgrade on the stock going from Neutral to Buy with a $22 price target. Benzinga recently shared that the company is getting closer to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43843615/barrick-nears-malian-resolution-completes-feasibility-studies-for-two-world-class-projects">resolving a dispute</a> in Mali, an item that has hurt the company's financials. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/gold">Gold stocks</a> could also be seeing increased attention from investors as a possible <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44119668/trump-tariffs-could-make-your-next-car-12000-more-expensive-expert-says-25-fees-will-have-a-sharp-negative-effect-on-auto-sales">hedge against tariffs </a>and growing macroeconomic concerns.
The stock was up 3% over the last week as shown on the <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below and shares are up 17% over the last year.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="508" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175020/Screenshot-345.png" alt="" class="wp-image-815195" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175020/Screenshot-345.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175020/Screenshot-345-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175020/Screenshot-345-768x391.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
Alamos Gold Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>): Another gold stock seeing increased attention from Benzinga readers during the week was Alamos Gold. The company recently reported a record 2024 performance and predicted that production growth will grow 24% annually through 2027 with continued expansion. The company's fourth-quarter earnings per share and revenue each beat Street consensus estimates. The company has now beaten earnings per share estimates in eight of the last 10 quarters and revenue estimates in seven of the last 10 quarters overall.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="496" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175033/Screenshot-346.png" alt="" class="wp-image-815196" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175033/Screenshot-346.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175033/Screenshot-346-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175033/Screenshot-346-768x382.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>): The real estate investment trust saw strong interest from readers during the week. The company recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/25/02/43943711/realty-incomes-affo-miss-and-fy25-outlook-sends-stock-lower-despite-solid-rent-recapture-2">reported fourth-quarter</a> financial results with adjusted funds from operations per share up 4% year-over-year to $1.05, falling shy of analyst estimates of $1.07. The company owns or holds interest in more than 15,000 properties and pays a monthly dividend, which could be a reason for the increased interest. Investors could be looking for investment income and high dividends to offset concerns from tariffs and macroeconomic concerns.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175053/Screenshot-347.png" alt="" class="wp-image-815197" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175053/Screenshot-347.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175053/Screenshot-347-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175053/Screenshot-347-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Honeywell International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>): The industrial company saw increased interest from Benzinga readers during the week, which could be related to recent financial results and an acquisition. Honeywell<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44109915/honeywell-acquires-sundyne-for-216-billion-expanding-energy-and-industrial-equipment-portfolio"> announced a $2.2 billion</a> deal to acquire Sundyne from Warburg Pincus. The acquisition will expand Honeywell's industrial equipment portfolio. Honeywell has now announced $9 billion in acquisitions since December 2023.
The company recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43526541/honeywell-q4-earnings-revenue-and-eps-beat-pursues-planned-split-into-3-public-companies-by-2026">announced it would</a> separate into three business units as part of a portfolio transformation. The move will include tax-free spinoffs for shareholders.
Honeywell's fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share beat analyst estimates. The company has beaten earnings per share estimates in more than 10 straight quarters. Honeywell's revenue has beaten analyst estimates in four of the last 10 quarters overall.
The stock traded flat on the week and shares are up around 6% over the last year.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="499" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175110/Screenshot-348.png" alt="" class="wp-image-815198" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175110/Screenshot-348.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175110/Screenshot-348-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175110/Screenshot-348-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Accenture Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>): The IT Services company saw strong interest from readers during the week, which comes after it announced acquisitions and ahead of quarterly financial results. The company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/25/03/44108259/accenture-ma-acquires-ai-firm-halfspace-altus-consulting-in-uk-to-expand-advanced-ai-solutions-in-europe"> announced the acquisition</a> of Denmark-based AI company Halfspace. The acquisition is expected to boost the company's presence in the Nordic and European regions and boost the company's overall AI capabilities. Halfspace, which was founded in 2015, develops AI solutions and products that can be used by companies. Accenture is also acquiring Altus Consulting, a company that provides advisory services. The acquisition is expected to add to Accenture's insurance division and boost its presence in the United Kingdom.
Accenture will report second-quarter financial results on March 20. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $16.63 billion, up from $15.80 billion in last year's second quarter and earnings per share of $2.82, up from $2.77 in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and seven of the last 10 quarters overall. The company has beaten earnings per share estimates in two straight quarters and nine of the last 10 quarters overall.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="506" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175127/Screenshot-349.png" alt="" class="wp-image-815199" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175127/Screenshot-349.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175127/Screenshot-349-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/07175127/Screenshot-349-768x390.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030625&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>
Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43578212/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-53" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">February 7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43900861/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-54" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">February 21</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/44053760/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-55">February 28</a></li>
</ul>
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</ul>

Exclusives

GOLD

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

Disgraced cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried weighed in on the future of digital assets under President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration, according to an interview from his prison released Thursday.
What Happened: In an interview with popular media personality&nbsp;Tucker Carlson, Bankman-Fried appeared hopeful about a better prospect under Trump.
&#8220;You look at what the Trump administration said going into office. There are a lot of good things. There are a lot of things that are very different from the stance that the Biden administration took,&#8221; the founder of the now bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange said.
Bankman-Fried added that what counts now is the fulfillment of those promises.
&#8220;Changing the guard helps. But financial regulators, they&#8217;re big giant bureaucracies in the federal government. They&#8217;re not used to changing overnight,&#8221; he emphasized. &#8220;So, I think the big question is when rubber meets the road.&#8221;
<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">Sam Bankman-Fried is doing 25 years behind bars, and is now sharing a cell block with Diddy. He joins us from prison for an update on his new life. (0:00) What Has Prison Been Like? (2:28) Was SBF Ever on Adderall? (4:42) SBF Meeting Diddy in Prison (7:01) How Prison Has Changed… <a href="https://t.co/mNSNktLibg">pic.twitter.com/mNSNktLibg</a>
&mdash; Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1897709140535132442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Bankman-Fried,&nbsp;who is serving a 25-year sentence for&nbsp;the&nbsp;FTX fraud, also reminisced about donating to Joe Biden&#8217;s 2020 campaign, adding that he used to lean toward the centre-left then. 
He said he became disillusioned after making several trips to Washington, D.C., and realized things weren&#8217;t moving in a &#8220;good direction.&#8221;
&#8220;By late 2022, I was giving to Republicans privately as much as Democrats, and that started becoming known right around after this collapse,&#8221; Bankman-Fried added.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44159088/microsoft-might-have-given-bitcoin-investments-a-miss-for-now-but-one-of-its-largest-investors-has-been-an-avid-advocate-of-cryptos-blockchains">Microsoft May Have Given Bitcoin Investments A Miss But A Large MSFT Stock Holder Is A Strong Crypto, Blockchain Advocate</a>
Why It Matters: Once known as the cryptocurrency white knight, Bankman-Fried's fortunes changed dramatically after his FTX empire came crashing down following accusations of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/10/35445270/the-true-cost-of-the-ftx-collapse-how-much-did-sam-bankman-fried-really-make" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">misappropriation of customer accounts</a>&nbsp;in November 2024. The event sparked a cryptocurrency bear market, sending coins like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) to new depths.
His parents, both Stanford Law professors, are seeking a presidential pardon from Trump
In the same <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44184693/sam-bankman-fried-says-prison-inmate-diddy-has-been-kind-to-him-its-a-position-no-one-wants-to-be-in">interview</a>, Bankman-Fried shared his prison experience, including interactions with fellow inmate Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs, whom he described as &#8220;kind.&#8221;
Photo via Shutterstock.
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

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Sam Bankman-Fried Says 'When Rubber Meets The Road' On Crypto's Fate Under Trump, Slams Biden's Policies

On Friday, Cathie Wood-led&nbsp;Ark Invest&nbsp;made some significant trades, with notable activity around stocks such as Roblox Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>), Roku Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), UiPath Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PATH#NYSE">PATH</a>), Ibotta Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBTA#NYSE">IBTA</a>), Personalis Inc. (NGM: PSNL), Absci Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABSI#NASDAQ">ABSI</a>), and Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>).
The RBLX Trade
Ark Invest sold shares of&nbsp;Roblox Corp&nbsp;across multiple ETFs. The ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>), ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) funds sold 1394, 1919, and 6558 shares respectively. This move came as Roblox&#8217;s stock closed at $57.17, down 2.39% on the day.
The total value of the sold shares, calculated from the latest closing price, amounts to approximately $568,000.
The ROKU Trade
Shares of&nbsp;Roku Inc&nbsp;were also sold across the ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW funds, totaling 3615, 6910, and 17704 shares respectively. Roku&#8217;s stock closed at $76.67, down 3.68% on the day.
The total value of the sold shares, calculated from the latest closing price, is approximately $2.3 million.
The PATH Trade
Shares of&nbsp;UiPath Inc&nbsp;were sold across the ARKK, ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>), and ARKW funds, totaling 237840, 11003, and 83559 shares respectively. UiPath&#8217;s stock closed at $12.31, up 4.77% on the day.
The total value of the sold shares, calculated from the latest closing price, is approximately $3.6 million.
The IBTA, PSNL, ABSI, and RXRX Trades
On the buying side, Ark Invest added shares of&nbsp;Ibotta Inc,&nbsp;Personalis Inc,&nbsp;Absci Corp, and&nbsp;Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc&nbsp;to its ARKF and ARKG funds. The total value of these purchases, calculated from the latest closing prices, is approximately $2.8 million.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44209136/trumps-crypto-czar-david-sacks-reveals-us-government-missed-out-on-gains-of-over-17-billion-by-selling-bitcoin-ea">Trump's Crypto Czar David Sacks Reveals US Government Missed Out On Gains Of Over $17 Billion By Selling Bitcoin Early</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

ETFs

ABSI

ARKF

ARKK

ARKQ

ARKW

IBTA

PATH

PSNL

RBLX

ROKU

RXRX

Cathie Wood-Led Ark Invest Roblox, Roku, UiPath As Markets Take A Dip

David Sacks, the White House&#8217;s &#8220;Crypto Czar,&#8221; highlighted a significant financial oversight by the U.S. government that cost it billions in gains.
What Happened: The&nbsp;Department of Justice&nbsp;(DOJ) could have secured over $17 billion had it retained its Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holdings instead of selling them prematurely, Sacks said.
The DOJ had&nbsp;sold approximately 195,000 Bitcoin for&nbsp;$366 million, a mere fraction of its current valuation.
"If the government had held the bitcoin, it would be worth over $17 billion today. That's how much it has cost American taxpayers not to have a long-term strategy," Sacks said.
Sacks, who previously served as&nbsp;PayPal&nbsp;COO and is a well-known venture capitalist, underscored the financial repercussions for taxpayers due to the absence of a long-term strategy.
Presently, the federal government possesses Bitcoin valued at $17.05 billion, as reported by blockchain analytics firm&nbsp;Arkham.
The responsibility for auctioning Bitcoin seized by the government falls to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Recently, President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;announced the formation of a &#8220;crypto strategic reserve&#8221; that will encompass&nbsp;Bitcoin, Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), Solana&nbsp;(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), and Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>).
Bitcoin&#8217;s current value stands at $87,104, having experienced a nearly 8% decline&nbsp;in the past 24 hours, although it has risen over&nbsp;6.5% in the past week.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Over the past decade, the federal government sold approximately 195,000 bitcoin for proceeds of $366 million. If the government had held the bitcoin, it would be worth over $17 billion today. That's how much it has cost American taxpayers not to have a long-term strategy.
&mdash; David Sacks (@davidsacks47) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidsacks47/status/1897640660338925938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: The establishment of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44183572/trump-establishes-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-funded-by-forfeited-assets-i-made-the-promise">Strategic Bitcoin Reserve</a>&nbsp;by President Trump marks a pivotal shift in the U.S. government&#8217;s approach to digital assets.
This reserve, funded by Bitcoin obtained through forfeiture proceedings, is valued at approximately $17 billion. The initiative aims to bolster the U.S. position in the global cryptocurrency landscape without burdening taxpayers.
At a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44208906/trump-declares-us-the-bitcoin-superpower-at-historic-white-house-crypto-summit-with-top-industry-executives">White House crypto summit</a>, President Trump declared his ambition to make the U.S. a leading force in Bitcoin and digital assets. This commitment to embracing the cryptocurrency industry is further evidenced by the creation of the reserve, which is expected to be managed by the Treasury Department.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44209114/trump-threatens-russia-with-sanctions-amid-ukraine-conflict-as-he-pushes-for-peace">Trump Threatens Russia With Sanctions Amid Ukraine Conflict As He Pushes For Peace</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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