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Elon Musk is no stranger to controversy, but his recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37923084/elon-musk-used-to-email-ex-google-ceo-larry-page-when-he-was-kind-of-homeless-and-ask-can-i-come">remarks about homelessness</a> have sparked a particularly intense reaction. On Dec. 10, Musk took to X – his own platform, no less – to declare, "In most cases, the word ‘homeless' is a lie. It's usually a propaganda word for violent drug addicts with severe mental illness."
The statement came in response to Jeremy Kauffman's post, which painted a grim picture of housing programs in San Francisco. Kauffman listed incidents of squalor, violence, drug overdoses and evictions, suggesting that simply giving unhoused individuals a roof doesn't fix the root of the problem. Musk agreed.
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This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42531924/elon-musk-had-a-food-budget-of-30-a-month-his-diet-was-mostly-hot-dogs-and-oranges-in-america-its-pretty-easy-to-keep-yourself-alive">isn't new territory for him</a>. Back in October, during an interview with Tucker Carlson, Musk doubled down on his view of homelessness as a far graver and more complex issue than it's often presented.&nbsp;
According to The Independent, Musk stated in the interview, "Homeless is a misnomer. It implies that someone got a little bit behind on their mortgage and if you just gave them a job, they'd be back on their feet," he said. "What you actually see are violent drug zombies with dead eyes, needles everywhere and human feces on the streets."&nbsp;
But Musk didn't stop there. He argued that pouring more money into homelessness programs only makes things worse. In his view, there's a dark financial incentive at play. He took to X again, writing: "The ‘save the homeless' NGOs are often paid based on how many homeless people are on the streets, thus creating a strong financial incentive for them to maximize the number of homeless people and never actually solve the problem!"
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The "save the homeless" NGOs are often paid according to how many homeless people are on the streets, thus creating a strong financial incentive for them to maximize the number of homeless people and never actually solve the problem! Incentives explain outcomes. <a href="https://t.co/ujxryf8z6d">https://t.co/ujxryf8z6d</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1866365811977511176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>
Critics have called Musk's comments tone-deaf, accusatory and just flat-out wrong. Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center stated, "People are really struggling to afford basic needs in this country, like rent and food. But I don't expect Musk or the other billionaires to know anything about that."&nbsp;
Others argue that someone with Musk's fortune – over $300 billion – could personally solve the housing crisis in the U.S. but chooses to throw verbal grenades instead.
The irony isn't lost on people, either. Musk, who had reportedly funneled over $250 million into <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42417117/jeff-bezos-shrugs-off-worries-about-musks-influence-on-the-trump-administration-if-that-turns-out-to-be-naive-well-well-see">Donald Trump's presidential campaign</a>, has become increasingly vocal about slashing federal programs. Programs, mind you, that directly assist the very people he's labeling as "violent drug addicts."
Trending: Unlock the hidden potential of commercial real estate —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/marcus-millichap-backed-platform-makes-it-easy-to-invest-in-real-estate"> This platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a>
So, where does the truth lie? Advocates say Musk's views ignore decades of research that paint a far more nuanced picture of homelessness. According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 650,000 Americans experience homelessness on any given night – and nearly 17% of them are children. The vast majority are not violent, nor are they drug users. Many work full-time but still can't afford rent due to skyrocketing housing costs and stagnant wages.
Even more sobering: unhoused people are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes than perpetrators. The idea of "violent drug zombies" may grab attention, but experts say it's a gross oversimplification that fuels stigma.
For Musk, though, this isn't just rhetoric – it's a rallying cry. He's urging lawmakers and the White House to impose drastic cuts to federal programs, all in the name of "efficiency."&nbsp;
Critics, however, argue that weaponizing homelessness as a talking point – while ignoring the systemic issues that cause it – is not only harmful but wildly irresponsible.
The world's richest man has every platform and resource at his disposal, yet his commentary seems heavy on finger-pointing and light on solutions. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: when Musk talks, people listen. Whether or not they agree? That's another story.
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Real Estate

Elon Musk Says Term 'Homeless' Is A Lie And Misleading – Argues The Programs Claiming To Fix It Are Only Making It Worse For Financial Gain

ESAB's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESAB#NYSE">ESAB</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.77% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 616 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.47% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>ESAB Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735146922_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for ESAB has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing ESAB's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, ESAB's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.08%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

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ESAB

How Is The Market Feeling About ESAB?

Oracle's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.88% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 20.46 million shares sold short, which is 1.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.71 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Oracle Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735146917_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Oracle has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Oracle's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Oracle's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.02%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ORCL

Peering Into Oracle's Recent Short Interest

Edison Intl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIX#NYSE">EIX</a>) short percent of float has risen 3.35% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.75 million shares sold short, which is 1.85% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.98 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Edison Intl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735146912_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Edison Intl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Edison Intl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Edison Intl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.14%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Edison Intl's Recent Short Interest

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41549835/michael-jordan-the-nbas-first-billionaire-once-bet-100-000-on-a-game-of-rock-paper-scissors-i-enjoy">Michael Jordan's</a> legendary Chicago-area mansion has been on the real estate equivalent of a never-ending shot clock. After sitting unsold for over a decade, the property has finally found a buyer.&nbsp;
Public records confirm the deal has closed, with the home selling for $9.5 million – a far cry from the $29 million it was originally listed for in 2012. In the world of luxury real estate, that's what you call a serious markdown.&nbsp;
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By 2015, the asking price had already dropped to $14.855 million – a number with a quirky twist. Why so specific? The digits add to Jordan's iconic #23, a nod to the jersey number that adorns the mansion's front gates.
This isn't just any house. Known as Legend Point, the 56,000-square-foot Highland Park estate is a shrine to Jordan's career and unmistakable style.&nbsp;
According to the Zillow listing, the property is "equipped with every conceivable luxury amenity." The home sits on seven acres and boasts features as unique as its owner, including doors salvaged from the original Playboy Mansion. The property has nine bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a putting green, a tennis court, a cigar lounge and – you guessed it – a regulation-size basketball court.
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The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/10/41168132/nba-legend-shaq-only-used-2-rooms-in-his-76-000-sq-ft-mansion-the-kitchen-because-i-like-to-eat-and">real estate listing</a> didn't hold back on the superlatives, calling the estate "as legendary as His Airness himself." It's practically a museum of MJ, designed to showcase his larger-than-life legacy. But therein lies the challenge: owning this home feels a bit like stepping into Jordan's shoes – literally. Perhaps that's why it sat unsold for so long. How do you make a home with that much Jordan energy feel like yours?
Whoever the mystery buyer is, they've got a big project ahead of them. Transforming Legend Point into something less … Michael Jordan will be no small task. After all, Jordan built the estate from scratch in 1991 during his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40488456/nba-legend-charles-barkley-never-wants-to-go-broke-like-80-of-retired-athletes-when-youre-55-how">Chicago Bulls prime</a>, pouring an estimated $50 million into its construction.
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According to Business Insider, listing agent Katherine Malkin told The Wall Street Journal that Jordan bought the property as a vacant lot in 1991, during his Chicago Bulls prime and invested about $50 million to bring his vision to life.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, MJ hasn't exactly been sweating the slow sale. He's long since relocated to sunny Florida, where he picked up a $16.5 million mansion in a gated community in Jupiter earlier this year. It's his second home in the neighborhood. When you're Michael Jordan, you can afford to wait (and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bezos-landlord-100-dollars">diversify your real estate portfolio</a>).
So, while the sale price might be a slam dunk for the buyer, it's a buzzer-beater of sorts for Jordan. After 12 long years on the market, Legend Point has a new owner. But let's be honest: this mansion will always be Michael Jordan's house – playboy doors and all.
Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://arrivedhomes.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=15&amp;aff_id=1006&amp;aff_sub=yahoo&amp;aff_sub2=jeffbezos100"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $100.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking For Higher-Yield Opportunities In A Shifting Market?</h2>
The changing interest rate environment has created an incredible opportunity for income-seeking investors to earn massive yields, but not through dividend stocks… Certain private market real estate investments are giving retail investors the opportunity to capitalize on these high-yield opportunities and Benzinga has identified <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/benzingas-favorite-high-yield-investments">some of the most attractive options for you to consider</a>.&nbsp;
For instance, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/equitymultiple-yf">Ascent Income Fund</a> from EquityMultiple targets stable income from senior commercial real estate debt positions and has a historical distribution yield of 12.1% backed by real assets. With payment priority and flexible liquidity options, the Ascent Income Fund is a cornerstone investment vehicle for income-focused investors. First-time investors with EquityMultiple can now invest in the Ascent Income Fund with a reduced minimum of just $5,000. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/equitymultiple-yf">Benzinga Readers: Earn a 1% return boost on your first EquityMultiple investment when you sign up here (accredited investors only)</a>.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of high-yield investments while rates are high. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/benzingas-favorite-high-yield-investments">Check out Benzinga's favorite high-yield offerings.</a>&nbsp;

Markets

Michael Jordan Sells His Massive Luxury Mansion For $9.5 Million – But It Took 12 Years To Find A Buyer And He Spent $50 Million Building It

Cintas's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTAS#NYSE">CTAS</a>) short percent of float has risen 8.24% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.94 million shares sold short, which is 1.97% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.43 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Cintas Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735144220_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Cintas has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Cintas's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Cintas's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.39%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

CTAS

How Is The Market Feeling About Cintas?

Several Nasdaq-listed companies have delivered remarkable returns in 2024, with one standout performer making investors significantly wealthier. 
What Happened: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, several Nasdaq-listed companies have delivered impressive returns in 2024. Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) tops the list with a staggering 1,756.12% increase. It recently signed a significant contract with NASA&#8217;s Goddard Space Flight Center for advanced imaging and data processing. Despite this surge, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QUBT/analyst-ratings">analysts from Ascendiant Capital </a>have set a price target of $8.5, suggesting a potential downside of 51.02%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24055505/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-4.24.59%E2%80%AFPM-1024x369.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705774" /></figure>
MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) saw a 450.14% rise, driven by its strategic Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) acquisitions, which have significantly increased its asset-backed value. According to bitcointreasuries.net, the company now holds 444,262 BTCs, valued at over $41.74 billion. Analysts from Bernstein, TD Cowen, and Barclays have set an average price target of $546.67, indicating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR/analyst-ratings">a 64.51% potential upside.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24055438/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-4.24.32%E2%80%AFPM-1024x381.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705773" /></figure>
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Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) achieved a 356.39% gain, bolstered by strong government revenue and a substantial contract extension with the U.S. Army, potentially worth $618.9 million over four years. However, the average analyst price target of $64.67<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings"> implies a 19.20% downside.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24055409/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-4.24.03%E2%80%AFPM-1024x373.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705772" /></figure>
NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) experienced a 183.42% increase, fueled by robust growth in its AI and data center sectors. The company&#8217;s commitment to expanding production capacity underscores confidence in continued revenue growth. Analysts from DA Davidson, Phillip Securities, and Truist Securities suggest a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings">10.53% upside</a> with an average price target of $154.67.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24055342/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-4.23.36%E2%80%AFPM-1024x392.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705769" /></figure>
Powell Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWL#NASDAQ">POWL</a>) reported a 162.45% rise, supported by favorable analyst ratings and a consensus price target of $312, reflecting optimism in its market performance. The most recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POWL/analyst-ratings">analyst rating </a>for Powell Industries came from Roth MKM on December 11, setting a price target of $312, which implies a 33.6% upside potential for the stock.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24055319/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-4.23.11%E2%80%AFPM-1024x364.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705768" /></figure>
Multibagger stocks are equities that yield exceptional returns, often doubling or more in value within a year. These stocks are prized by investors for their potential to significantly grow wealth over a relatively short period. The term was first coined by Peter Lynch in his book &#8220;One Up on Wall Street.&#8221;
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Disclaimer: 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.
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Check Out These 5 Nasdaq-Listed Multibaggers — One Made Investors 17.56x Richer This Year: Here's What To Expect In 2025

EVgo's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVGO#NYSE">EVGO</a>) short percent of float has fallen 18.16% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 36.12 million shares sold short, which is 28.98% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.97 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>EVgo Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735144215_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for EVgo has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing EVgo's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, EVgo's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 8.72%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

EVGO

Peering Into EVgo's Recent Short Interest

Loews's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.0% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.62 million shares sold short, which is 0.92% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.25 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Loews Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735144210_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Loews has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Loews's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Loews's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.03%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Loews's Recent Short Interest

In the current market session, Sanmina Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANM#NASDAQ">SANM</a>) share price is at $77.70, after a 0.58% increase. Moreover, over the past month, the stock decreased by 1.23%, but in the past year, spiked by 48.82%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735143308_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>How Does Sanmina P/E Compare to Other Companies?</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 146.08 in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments &amp; Components industry, Sanmina Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 19.76. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735143308_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

SANM

Price Over Earnings Overview: Sanmina

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) saw a 6.2% <a href="https://global.toyota/en/company/profile/production-sales-figures/202411.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drop</a> in global production in November, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42321484/fords-mustang-mach-e-sales-skyrocket-383-in-november-amid-growing-ev-momentum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a total of 869,230 vehicles manufactured</a>.
Production within Japan fell by 9.3% year-over-year, amounting to 285,761 units. Outside of Japan, Toyota's production saw a smaller decline of 4.6%, reaching 583,469 units.
The company's U.S. output was particularly hard-hit, dropping 11.8%, though recovery is underway. Production of the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX SUV models resumed in late October after a four-month pause, Reuters reports.
See Also:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42676790/mega-millions-jackpot-hits-1-billion-on-christmas-eve-amid-year-of-rare-wins" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas Eve Mega Millions: Jackpot Soars To Record $1 Billion In Year Of Rare Wins</a>
In China, production fell by 1.6%, a slight improvement compared to the 9% drop in the previous month. Toyota saw stronger sales of its Granvia and Sienna minivans, as well as the electric sedan bZ3, developed in partnership with BYD Co., Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDF#OTC">BYDDF</a>).
In other news, Toyota recently made headlines for a reported $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/24/toyota-trump-inauguration-donation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The news came a day after Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) announced similar donations. Both of these U.S. automakers also pledged to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42562982/toyota-shares-are-on-the-rise-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">provide vehicles for the inauguration</a>.
Additionally, Toyota's North American division received $4.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E program. This funding supports a project aimed at enhancing the circular supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
In partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Baker Hughes' Waygate Technologies, Toyota is working on improving battery disassembly, component classification, and recycling to reduce waste and emissions.
Price Action: TM shares closed 0.54% higher to $181.43 on Tuesday, shares fell 0.24% afterhours.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42677225/is-the-stock-market-open-or-closed-on-christmas-day-2024-here-is-what-you-can-trade-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is Stock Market Open Or Closed On Christmas Day 2024? Here Is What You Can Trade Today</a></li>
</ul>

BYDDF

BYDDY

Toyota's Global Output Slips 6.2%, While Company Donates $1 Million to Trump's Inaugural Fund

Nu Holdings's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.21% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 142.99 million shares sold short, which is 3.87% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.41 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Nu Holdings Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735141522_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Nu Holdings has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Nu Holdings's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Nu Holdings's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 0.93%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Nu Holdings?

Tradeweb Markets's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TW#NYSE">TW</a>) short percent of float has fallen 19.71% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.27 million shares sold short, which is 1.1% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.32 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Tradeweb Markets Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735141517_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Tradeweb Markets has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Tradeweb Markets's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Tradeweb Markets's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.05%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Tradeweb Markets?

CACI International's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CACI#NYSE">CACI</a>) short percent of float has risen 18.55% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 586 thousand shares sold short, which is 2.94% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>CACI International Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735141512_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for CACI International has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing CACI International's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, CACI International's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.56%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

CACI

Peering Into CACI International's Recent Short Interest

The year of milestones, 2024, has seen an unperturbed rise in the current bull market, which is nearly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">26 months</a> old. It is higher by more than 70% from the mid-October 2022 lows. As we wrap up the year with the possibility of a &#8216;Santa Rally,&#8217; let&#8217;s recap 2024&#8217;s landmark junctures.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Major U.S. Benchmarks Scale Fresh Records</h3>
The S&amp;P 500 Index has made 57 new all-time highs this year, hitting the last one on Dec. 6, 2024. Also, &#8220;2024 would go down as the best election year return ever,&#8221; said Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research in a note.
&#8220;Going back 50 years, we found five other bull markets that had lasted at least this long and the shortest any of them lasted was five total years. Think of it like a cruise ship — once it gets moving, it can be quite hard to stop,&#8221; added Detrick
While the S&amp;P 500 index was up 25.96% on a year-to-date basis as of Dec. 23 close, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose by 25.82% in the same period.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index, on the other hand, hit a record eight 1,000-point milestones this year. It started the year around the 37,000 level and breached the 45,000 level at the beginning of December. It took only seven trading days for the index to go from 44,000 to 45,000, the second fastest 1,000-point milestone ever. Following that the index also saw one of its longest 10-day losing streak, the first ever since 1974.
Dow was up 13.77% year-to-date as of the Dec. 23 close, whereas the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) gained 13.74% in the same period.
The Nasdaq 100 index which includes all the &#8216;magnificent seven&#8217; stocks, unlike Dow, rose 29.98% year-to-date as Dec. 23 close. The ETF tracking the index, Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONEQ#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) rose by 33.85% in the same period. Whereas, the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose by 29.88% in 2024.
The smallcap index Russell 2000 was up 11.16% over the year, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) was up 10.97% in the same period as of the Dec. 23 close.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705432" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021350/CHARt-1-INDICES.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">Is The 26-Month Bull Market Over? Here Is What Carson Research&#8217;s 50-Year Old Study Tells Us</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Market Trumps The World</h3>
Among the developed economies, the S&amp;P 500 remains the best index with a 25.96% gain on a year-to-date basis, outperforming all the other developed market indices.
While the <a href="https://x.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871317802306707882">first </a>year of a new president&#8217;s term has usually been strong since 1897, the returns during year one of a second term haven&#8217;t been very good overall, said Detrick.
<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">Returns during year one of a second term haven&#39;t been very good overall, but way better lately. Down 5 in a row, but now up 4 in a row. &#x1f914; <a href="https://t.co/aUrCbf22Gw">pic.twitter.com/aUrCbf22Gw</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1871320275129967103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Developed Markets</td>
<td>Indices</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United States</td>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>25.96%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>DAX</td>
<td>18.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Japan</td>
<td>Nikkei 225</td>
<td>17.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hong Kong</td>
<td>Hang Seng</td>
<td>19.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spain</td>
<td>IBEX 35</td>
<td>12.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Kingdom</td>
<td>FTSE 100</td>
<td>4.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Switzerland</td>
<td>Swiss Market</td>
<td>2.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td>CAC 40</td>
<td>-3.43%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communication, Consumer Discretionary, And Technology Lead Gains In 2024</h3>
Tracking the exchange-traded funds that track the major sectors in the U.S. market, communication services emerged as the top sector for the year, followed by consumer discretionary and technology. The information technology sector has the highest weight of 31.3% in the S&amp;P 500, followed by financials a t13.9%.
BlackRock said that they see technology companies&#8217; earnings performing well in 2025. &#8220;We are overweight as the AI theme and earnings growth broaden. Valuations for AI beneficiaries are supported by tech companies delivering on earnings.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cyclical Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Communication Services</td>
<td>Communication Services Select SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)</td>
<td>35.97%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VCR#NYSE">VCR</a>)</td>
<td>27.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Technology</td>
<td>Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>27.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Financials</td>
<td>Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Financial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPF#NYSE">RSPF</a>)</td>
<td>23.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Industrials</td>
<td>Vanguard Industrials ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIS#NYSE">VIS</a>)</td>
<td>17.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Real Estate</td>
<td>Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>)</td>
<td>0.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Materials</td>
<td>Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARC: XLB)</td>
<td>-0.37%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705439" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24021831/Chart-2.1-cyclical-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42383725/trump-administrations-deregulation-efforts-to-lift-energy-oil-and-gas-sectors-ai-frenzy-to-aid-faang-stocks-and-nvidia-says-fintech-insider">Trump&#8217;s Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider</a>
Among the defensive sectors, utilities emerged as a winner, whereas energy was an underperformer. Consumer staples, energy, and utilities take up 5.7%, 3.4%, and 2.5% weight, respectively in the S&amp;P 500 index.
As per Morgan Stanley, the energy sector faces a divided future. Trump's deregulation could benefit traditional energy, but the outlook for oil is uncertain due to potential oversupply and weak global demand, especially from China. In contrast, natural gas may see growth from strong European demand and increased domestic use for electrification and AI-powered data centers. The clean energy sector could face challenges, if Trump rollbacks Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. However, a full repeal seems unlikely due to the benefits for Republican states.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Defensive Sectors</td>
<td>ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utilities</td>
<td>Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VPU#NYSE">VPU</a>)</td>
<td>18.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Consumer Staples</td>
<td>Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VDC#NYSE">VDC</a>)</td>
<td>10.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Healthcare</td>
<td>Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</td>
<td>0.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Energy</td>
<td>The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.96%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705442" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022041/Chart-2.2-defensive-sectors.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top S&amp;P 500 Performers In 2024</h3>
Palantir was the top performer within the S&amp;P 500 index this year, as it zoomed 386.67% year-to-date, as of Dec. 23 close. Vistra and Nvidia followed Palantir to advance 269.82% and 189.95% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>386.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vistra Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>)</td>
<td>269.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>189.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>)</td>
<td>162.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td>
<td>148.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</td>
<td>144.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</td>
<td>114.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas Pacific Land Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>)</td>
<td>113.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRGP#NYSE">TRGP</a>)</td>
<td>106.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td>
<td>105.73%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(As Of Dec. 23 Close)</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705446" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022228/Chart-3-top-performers-of-SPY.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Dollar Surges Over 6% In 2024</h3>
The Dollar index was up 6.72% year-to-date with a 52-week range of 100.1570 to 108.5410 per unit. If the Greenback can hold on to these gains, the currency would leave behind the second-best year since 2015.
The UDS&#8217;s demand has been rising due to the &#8220;Uncertainties arising from expected Trump's policies and hawkish comments from the Fed towards rate cycle,&#8221; said Kunal Sodhani, vice president of the global trading center at Shinhan Bank.
According to Franklin Templeton, &#8220;The Fed easing cycle will be a dominant factor for the USD. The two main comparisons we draw against the Fed cyclically, interest-rate-wise, are emerging markets, and Japan.&#8221;
WisdomTree Bloomberg US Dollar Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USDU#NYSE">USDU</a>) was up 13.24% on a year-to-date basis, as of Dec. 23 close, where as Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) advanced by 7.21% in the same period.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-705448" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24022447/Chart-4-Dollar-ETFs.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642834/market-breadth-turns-positive-after-a-rare-14-day-negative-streak-history-suggests-gains-ahead">Market Breadth Rebounds As Risk Appetite Makes A Comeback: This Analyst Predicts Gains Ahead After S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Record Negative Streak</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

ETFs

AVGO

AXON

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Fidelity NASDAQmposite Index Fund ETF-Tracking NASDAQmposite Index

ONEQ

RSPF

TRGP

USDU

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

XLRE

S&P 500 Hits 57 All-Time Highs In Record-Breaking 2024: Magnificent 7 Drive 30% Of Nasdaq's Surge

UBS Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBS#NYSE">UBS</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 6.1% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 19.42%. Currently, UBS Gr has a market capitalization of $97.32 billion. 
Buying $1000 In UBS: If an investor had bought $1000 of UBS stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,428.46 today based on a price of $30.55 for UBS at the time of writing.
<h3>UBS Gr's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735140609_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In UBS Gr 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Uber Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 2.4% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.72%. Currently, Uber Technologies has a market capitalization of $129.92 billion. 
Buying $100 In UBER: If an investor had bought $100 of UBER stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $207.50 today based on a price of $61.70 for UBER at the time of writing.
<h3>Uber Technologies's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735139747_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

UBER

$100 Invested In This Stock 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Broadline Retail industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Amazon.com Background</h3>
Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc</td>
<td>48.09</td>
<td>9.13</td>
<td>3.88</td>
<td>6.19%</td>
<td>$32.08</td>
<td>$31.0</td>
<td>11.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd</td>
<td>17.65</td>
<td>1.55</td>
<td>1.60</td>
<td>4.64%</td>
<td>$54.02</td>
<td>$92.47</td>
<td>5.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD Holdings Inc</td>
<td>9.98</td>
<td>3.66</td>
<td>2.90</td>
<td>9.38%</td>
<td>$29.18</td>
<td>$59.65</td>
<td>44.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MercadoLibre Inc</td>
<td>61.36</td>
<td>21.91</td>
<td>4.80</td>
<td>10.37%</td>
<td>$0.72</td>
<td>$2.44</td>
<td>35.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD.com Inc</td>
<td>11.76</td>
<td>1.68</td>
<td>0.37</td>
<td>5.22%</td>
<td>$15.92</td>
<td>$45.04</td>
<td>5.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Coupang Inc</td>
<td>40.08</td>
<td>9.79</td>
<td>1.42</td>
<td>1.74%</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$2.27</td>
<td>27.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>eBay Inc</td>
<td>16.03</td>
<td>5.62</td>
<td>3.16</td>
<td>11.59%</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$1.85</td>
<td>3.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MINISO Group Holding Ltd</td>
<td>24.47</td>
<td>5.78</td>
<td>3.99</td>
<td>6.68%</td>
<td>$0.88</td>
<td>$2.03</td>
<td>19.29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vipshop Holdings Ltd</td>
<td>6.54</td>
<td>1.36</td>
<td>0.49</td>
<td>2.76%</td>
<td>$1.47</td>
<td>$4.96</td>
<td>-9.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc</td>
<td>34.99</td>
<td>4.46</td>
<td>3.22</td>
<td>2.24%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.21</td>
<td>7.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dillard's Inc</td>
<td>11.45</td>
<td>3.60</td>
<td>1.07</td>
<td>6.37%</td>
<td>$0.21</td>
<td>$0.63</td>
<td>-3.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Macy's Inc</td>
<td>27.30</td>
<td>1.11</td>
<td>0.20</td>
<td>0.66%</td>
<td>$0.29</td>
<td>$2.04</td>
<td>-3.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nordstrom Inc</td>
<td>15.30</td>
<td>4.04</td>
<td>0.27</td>
<td>4.75%</td>
<td>$0.3</td>
<td>$1.31</td>
<td>4.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Savers Value Village Inc</td>
<td>22.70</td>
<td>3.86</td>
<td>1.15</td>
<td>5.09%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.22</td>
<td>0.53%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kohl's Corp</td>
<td>6.44</td>
<td>0.42</td>
<td>0.10</td>
<td>0.58%</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$1.57</td>
<td>-8.49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Groupon Inc</td>
<td>16.30</td>
<td>11.19</td>
<td>0.84</td>
<td>34.72%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.1</td>
<td>-9.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>21.49</td>
<td>5.34</td>
<td>1.71</td>
<td>7.12%</td>
<td>$6.98</td>
<td>$14.45</td>
<td>7.84%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

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

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

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

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

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By closely examining Amazon.com, we can identify the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
The current Price to Earnings ratio of 48.09 is 2.24x higher than the industry average, indicating the stock is priced at a premium level according to the market sentiment.
</li>
<li>
It could be trading at a premium in relation to its book value, as indicated by its Price to Book ratio of 9.13 which exceeds the industry average by 1.71x.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 3.88, which is 2.27x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 6.19% is 0.93% below the industry average, suggesting potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
With higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $32.08 Billion, which is 4.6x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $31.0 Billion, which indicates 2.15x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is experiencing remarkable revenue growth, with a rate of 11.04%, outperforming the industry average of 7.84%.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735138842_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is an important measure to assess the financial structure and risk profile of a company.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By analyzing Amazon.com in relation to its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be derived:
<ul>
<li>
When considering the debt-to-equity ratio, Amazon.com exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
This indicates that the company has a favorable balance between debt and equity, with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, which can be perceived as a positive aspect by investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For PE, PB, and PS ratios, Amazon.com is considered overvalued compared to its peers in the Broadline Retail industry. This is indicated by the high PE, PB, and PS ratios. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Amazon.com's performance is relatively weaker compared to its industry peers. The low ROE suggests lower profitability, while the high EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth indicate strong operational performance and growth potential.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

Insights Into Amazon.com's Performance Versus Peers In Broadline Retail Sector

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur, has sparked a debate about the cost of medical education in the United States. Cuban has proposed an ambitious idea: free medical school for all students. According to him, it's not just possible but could result in long-term benefits for students and the entire health care system.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Did Cuban Say?</h2>
<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">Dumb. Really dumb. "The only way to create a successful career at the NIH ". So now you think working for a government agency is the path of "the renaissance man" in medicine? And you think the Harvard path is the only way to success ? And what UCLA does means everyone does… <a href="https://t.co/lWlE8O96Z9">https://t.co/lWlE8O96Z9</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1796234834290872638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Last Chance to get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/red-ventures"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>
The conversation started in May when Dr. Anish Koka posted a video in which Vivek Ramaswamy talked about a perception that medicine no longer attracts the "best and brightest." In a <a href="https://x.com/mcuban/status/1796234834290872638">tweet</a>, Cuban challenged traditional notions about what it takes to succeed in the medical field. He proposed that the government could fund free medical education for under $2.5 billion a year. Cuban argues that math is straightforward, with fewer than 25,000 medical students in the U.S. and that the costs per student are generally under $100,000 annually.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Free Medical School?</h2>
Mark Cuban thinks the high cost of medical school keeps many people from applying. If medical school were free, more people from different backgrounds could become doctors and the overall quality of the field would improve. This would also help competent people who can't afford medical school or don't want to take on huge loans.
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Cuban also sees opportunities for private sector involvement. Since technology like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/health-care/24/04/38517052/3-trends-in-healthcare-guided-by-ai-and-the-companies-behind-the-innovation">AI is changing health care</a>, companies could pay for students' education if they agree to work for them after graduating. Cuban argues that this approach is more cost-effective than traditional recruitment and hiring practices.
Making medical school free could benefit everyone. More doctors would make getting medical care easier and reduce wait times. People could catch and treat illnesses sooner, improving overall health and making life better for many Americans.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Strategic Cost-Saving Move?</h2>
While $2.5 billion annually seems steep, Cuban frames this as an investment rather than an expense. By making medical education accessible, the health care system could attract top talent, reduce financial stress for aspiring doctors and deliver better societal outcomes. The long-term benefits, Cuban suggests, would outweigh the initial cost.
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His idea raises some important questions about health care. Could the government or private companies make free medical school happen? Even though there are challenges, his plan offers a new way of thinking about solving big problems in health care.
And lastly, Cuban's idea isn't just hypothetical. In February, Ruth Gottesman, the widow of Warren Buffett's colleague David Gottesman, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37348692/ruth-gottesman-donates-1b-to-medical-school-how-warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-factor-into-this-i">donated $1 billion</a> to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. This donation means medical students won't have to pay tuition anymore.
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Free Medical School For All? Mark Cuban Says It's Doable For Just $2.5 Billion A Year – Is It An Expense Or A Strategic Cost-Saving Move?

In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive business world, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully assess companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) against its key competitors in the Interactive Media &amp; Services industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Meta Platforms Background</h3>
Meta is the largest social media company in the world, boasting close to 4 billion monthly active users worldwide. The firm's "Family of Apps," its core business, consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. End users can leverage these applications for a variety of different purposes, from keeping in touch with friends to following celebrities and running digital businesses for free. Meta packages customer data, gleaned from its application ecosystem and sells ads to digital advertisers. While the firm has been investing heavily in its Reality Labs business, it remains a very small part of Meta's overall sales.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc</td>
<td>28.31</td>
<td>9.20</td>
<td>10.07</td>
<td>9.77%</td>
<td>$22.06</td>
<td>$33.21</td>
<td>18.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc</td>
<td>25.81</td>
<td>7.58</td>
<td>7.16</td>
<td>8.55%</td>
<td>$35.74</td>
<td>$51.79</td>
<td>15.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Baidu Inc</td>
<td>11.75</td>
<td>0.87</td>
<td>1.69</td>
<td>2.98%</td>
<td>$9.27</td>
<td>$17.16</td>
<td>-2.58%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pinterest Inc</td>
<td>92.09</td>
<td>6.88</td>
<td>5.90</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>$-0.0</td>
<td>$0.71</td>
<td>17.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kanzhun Ltd</td>
<td>31.14</td>
<td>2.97</td>
<td>6.42</td>
<td>3.18%</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>18.98%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ZoomInfo Technologies Inc</td>
<td>360.67</td>
<td>2.23</td>
<td>3.31</td>
<td>1.35%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.26</td>
<td>-3.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yelp Inc</td>
<td>23.49</td>
<td>3.43</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>5.21%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>4.41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JOYY Inc</td>
<td>12.72</td>
<td>0.43</td>
<td>1.17</td>
<td>1.17%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.21</td>
<td>-1.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Weibo Corp</td>
<td>6.78</td>
<td>0.67</td>
<td>1.46</td>
<td>3.78%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.37</td>
<td>5.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ziff Davis Inc</td>
<td>41.46</td>
<td>1.35</td>
<td>1.83</td>
<td>-2.68%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.3</td>
<td>3.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tripadvisor Inc</td>
<td>54.08</td>
<td>2.08</td>
<td>1.15</td>
<td>4.33%</td>
<td>$0.1</td>
<td>$0.48</td>
<td>-0.19%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hello Group Inc</td>
<td>7.88</td>
<td>0.83</td>
<td>0.94</td>
<td>4.03%</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>-12.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>60.72</td>
<td>2.67</td>
<td>3.0</td>
<td>2.99%</td>
<td>$4.21</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>4.12%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

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

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

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

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

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By thoroughly analyzing Meta Platforms, we can discern the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
With a Price to Earnings ratio of 28.31, which is 0.47x less than the industry average, the stock shows potential for growth at a reasonable price, making it an interesting consideration for market participants.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 9.2 relative to the industry average by 3.45x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 10.07, which is 3.36x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 9.77%, which is 6.78% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $22.06 Billion, which is 5.24x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $33.21 Billion, which indicates 4.92x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
With a revenue growth of 18.87%, which surpasses the industry average of 4.12%, the company is demonstrating robust sales expansion and gaining market share.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735138834_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio helps evaluate the capital structure and financial leverage of a company.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
When evaluating Meta Platforms alongside its top 4 peers in terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights arise:
<ul>
<li>
When comparing the debt-to-equity ratio, Meta Platforms is in a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a lower level of debt relative to its equity, indicating a more favorable balance between the two with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.3.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Meta Platforms, the PE ratio is low compared to peers, indicating potential undervaluation. The high PB and PS ratios suggest the market values the company's assets and sales highly. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Meta Platforms outperforms its industry peers, reflecting strong financial performance and growth potential.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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