ILEARNINGENGINES INC by iLearningEngines, Inc. Stock (OTC: AILEQ)

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ILEARNINGENGINES INC by iLearningEngines, Inc.

JP Morgan analyst Marcelo Santos upgrades Telecom Argentina (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEO#NYSE">TEO</a>) from Underweight to Neutral and raises the price target from $10 to $13.

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Upgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom S.A.

JP Morgan Upgrades Telecom Argentina to Neutral, Raises Price Target to $13

Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)&#8217;s $500 billion investment plan in the U.S. has been met with skepticism by UBS analyst David Vogt, who has cited several reasons for his doubt.
What Happened: Vogt expressed his concerns in a note to investors. He highlighted that only a mere 10% of Apple&#8217;s supply chain is U.S.-based, with the majority spread across Asian countries such as Taiwan and China. He also pointed out that it took Apple nearly a decade to achieve this 10%, reported <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/02/24/apple-500-billion-investment-donald-trump-analysts-react-tim-cook/">Fortune</a> on Monday.
"While the headline figure on the surface is a large number, we believe it lacks substance at this juncture based on history," wrote Vogt.
Vogt further questioned the financial feasibility of the plan, estimating that hiring 20,000 employees would result in an added $5 billion in operating expenses each year. He also noted that Apple&#8217;s current annual data center expenditure is around $10 billion, generating approximately $100 billion in free cash flow, with $90 billion allocated for share buybacks.
Considering these figures, Vogt expressed skepticism about the source of the additional funding for the $125 billion annual investment required by Apple&#8217;s new plan. He stated that reducing share buybacks seems unlikely and termed the $500 billion investment over four years &#8220;completely unrealistic mechanically.&#8221;
"it's unclear where the cash flow comes [from] to try to even remotely attempt this," Vogt told the publication.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43923219/did-you-know-that-ashton-kutcher-held-4-million-in-xrp-in-2018-heres-what-he-did-with-it">Did You Know That Ashton Kutcher Held $4 Million In XRP In 2018? Here&#8217;s What He Did With It</a>
Why It Matters: Notably, Apple has previously announced similar investments, including&nbsp;a $350 billion contribution to&nbsp;the U.S. economy in 2018&nbsp;followed by a higher investment of $430 billion in 2021. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, described the announcement as a &#8220;strategic move&#8221; to expand the company&#8217;s manufacturing footprint while also aligning with President Donald Trump&#8216;s emphasis on U.S. investments. 
Besides David Vogt, short-seller James Chanos also called Apple&#8217;s $500 billion investment "unrealistic" considering the iPhone maker&#8217;s current capital base which is below $160 billion.
Meanwhile, Deepwater Management&#8217;s Gene Munster believes Apple is set to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43933072/apple-could-save-11-billion-annually-by-avoiding-tariffs-as-tim-cooks-tech-giant-pledges-500-billion-us-investment-says-top-analyst">increase its annual U.S. investments </a>by $39 billion, a 45% increase from the 2021 run rate. However, Munster suggests the actual incremental investment is closer to $20 billion annually. He also stated that avoidance of tariffs could help the iPhone maker to save nearly $11 billion annually.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43903423/mrbeast-calls-his-amazon-deal-for-beast-games-a-financial-mistake-this-is-the-price-you-have-to-pay">Mr Beast Calls His Amazon Deal for &#8216;Beast Games&#8217; a Financial Mistake: &#8216;This Is the Price You Have to Pay&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

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Tech

General

AAPL

Apple's $500 Billion Investment 'Completely Unrealistic Mechanically', Says UBS Analyst

Jefferies analyst Roger Song initiates coverage on WAVE Life Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WVE#NASDAQ">WVE</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $26.

Initiation

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On WAVE Life Sciences with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $26

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNS#NYSE">BNS</a>) reported quarterly earnings of C$1.76 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of C$1.65 by 6.67 percent. This is a 4.14 percent increase over earnings of C$1.69 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of C$9.37 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of C$8.86 billion by 5.81 percent. This is a 11.13 percent increase over sales of C$8.43 billion the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Bank of Nova Scotia Q1 2025 Adj EPS C$1.76 Beats C$1.65 Estimate, Sales C$9.37B Beat C$8.86B Estimate

Guidance

TILE

Interface Sees Q1 Net Sales Of $290M-$300M Vs. $305.3M Consensus; FY25 Net Sales Of $1.315B-$1.365B Vs. Cons. of $1.368B

DA Davidson analyst Alex Platt initiates coverage on Nebius Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NBIS#NASDAQ">NBIS</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $50.

NBIS

DA Davidson Initiates Coverage On Nebius Group with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $50

Interface (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TILE#NASDAQ">TILE</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.34 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.29 by 17.24 percent. This is a 17.07 percent decrease over earnings of $0.41 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $335.00 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $340.38 million by 1.58 percent. This is a 3.04 percent increase over sales of $325.12 million the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

Interface Q4 2024 Adj EPS $0.34 Beats $0.29 Estimate, Sales $335.00M Miss $340.38M Estimate

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/thermo-fisher-nears-deal-for-solventum-filtration-unit-e0bb5519?mod=Searchresults_pos2&amp;page=1" title="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/thermo-fisher-nears-deal-for-solventum-filtration-unit-e0bb5519?mod=Searchresults_pos2&amp;page=1">https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/thermo-fisher-nears-deal-for-solventum-filtration-unit-e0bb5519?mod=Searchresults_pos2&amp;page=1</a>

Wall Street Journal Reported Monday, Thermo Fisher Scientific Nears Deal For Solventum's Purification And Filtration Business; Deal Could Be Announced This Week

<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=HzoGcmAtjWa51a0Fmbj4-lmgP_QCCeaW-TOKMKAMnZaupZhi293MzssAacny3anAKKcfuDX0Spq8QH3YhKFPQQ==">Allot Ltd</a>. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLT#NASDAQ">ALLT</a>) (TASE: ALLT), a leading global provider of innovative security-as-a-service (SECaaS) and network intelligence solutions for communication service providers and enterprises, announced today that Allot's NetworkSecure offering is helping support the expansion of Verizon Business' cybersecurity capabilities to boost protection for customers against a broad range of mobile cyber threats.

ALLT

Allot's NetworkSecure Boosts Verizon Business Cybersecurity, Protects Against Mobile Threats

Fortuna Mining Says A Fatal Accident Occurred Yesterday At The Séguéla Mine

Elon Musk&#8216;s rocket manufacturing company SpaceX said on Monday that it made several hardware and operational changes to its Starship launch vehicle after the mishap in January and ahead of its upcoming flight test expected on Friday.
What Happened: For the upcoming test flight on Friday, SpaceX is eyeing Starship&#8217;s first payload deployment and experiments aimed at returning the upper stage of the two-stage vehicle to the launch site for catch. The company will also attempt to return and catch the vehicle&#8217;s Super Heavy booster, failing which it will have a soft splashdown in the Gulf of America.
SpaceX will attempt to deploy four Starlink simulators on its next flight, similar in size to the next generation of Starlink satellites.
SpaceX last launched Starship on Jan. 16.&nbsp;The spacecraft lifted off from Starbase in Texas at 4:37 p.m. CT, and the vehicle booster landed back at the launch site after separation from its first stage.
The spacecraft, however,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43046722/starship-explodes-during-flight-test-elon-musk-says-success-is-uncertain-but-entertainment-is-guaranteed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disintegrated in space during the flight test owing to a propellant leak.</a>&nbsp;The spacecraft was carrying 10 Starlink simulators, which were similar in size and weight to the company&#8217;s next-generation Starlink satellites,&nbsp;as payload. The FAA subsequently ordered an investigation into the incident following reports of public property damage in Turks and Caicos. 
Why It Matters: SpaceX on Monday said that it immediately reached out to the government of Turks and Caicos and worked with them and the United Kingdom to coordinate recovery and cleanup efforts after the mishap in January. 
The company is working with the FAA to either close the mishap investigation or get a green light for its next Starship flight, it said. Provided regulatory approval, the company is looking to launch the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43905539/elon-musk-led-spacex-to-undertake-starships-8th-test-flight-on-friday">vehicle again on Friday</a>. 
The upcoming test flight would be Starship&#8217;s eighth to date and second this year. SpaceX started testing Starship in April 2023.
The Starship vehicle is part of big dreams. While NASA is looking forward to landing humans back on the surface of the Moon after a gap of over 50 years with the help of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42108681/spacex-shows-off-conceptual-version-of-starship-which-will-help-humans-land-back-on-moon-in-over-50-yrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">custom version of Starship</a>, Musk is dreaming of taking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40770222/elon-musk-sets-2026-for-starships-first-uncrewed-mars-mission-targeting-successful-landing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans to the planet Mars</a>&nbsp;aboard Starship. However, the vehicle is currently in the testing and development phase.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43909679/tesla-cybercab-will-have-no-stainless-steel-panels-and-will-not-be-painted-either-says-senior-company-exec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla&#8217;s Cybercab To Ditch Stainless Steel And Paint, Says Senior Company Exec: Here&#8217;s How It Will Get Its Signature Gold Look</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: SpaceX

SPACE

Starship Yet To Get Regulatory Clearance For Upcoming Flight But Elon Musk's SpaceX Hopeful For Friday Launch

Health Care

Fresenius Medical Care Expects Revenue 2025 Growth To Be Positive To A Low-Single-Digit Percent Rate Compared To Prior Year, With Operating Income To Grow By A High-Teens To High-Twenties Percent Rate

Delta Air Lines, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) has put forth a &#8220;no strings attached&#8221; offer of $30,000 to each passenger of a flight that crash-landed in Toronto. Legal advisors weigh in if passengers should accept this proposal.
What Happened: Delta Air Lines has proposed a $30,000 payment to each of the 76 passengers and 4 crew members aboard Flight 4819, from Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43771116/delta-air-lines-jet-overturns-at-toronto-pearson-airport-amid-snowstorm-18-injured-3-critical">crash-landed in Toronto </a>last week. All passengers survived the crash, but 21 suffered physical injuries. According to Delta, all the passengers have been released from the hospital.
Delta emphasized that it doesn&#8217;t infringe on the passengers&#8217; rights and comes with no conditions. Lawyers have termed this as an &#8220;advance payment,&#8221; which doesn&#8217;t bar passengers from seeking legal action in the future. The payment doesn&#8217;t constitute an admission of liability by the airline.
As per&nbsp;the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions,&nbsp;in the event of death or injury on international flights, the airline is liable to pay compensation to the passengers. 
Robert Hedrick, an attorney at Aviation Law Group PS, urged passengers to accept the offer, clarifying that it &#8220;should not be a full and final settlement and release the airlines from any claims&#8221;, reported <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/delta-crash-passengers-should-take-the-30-000-payment-their-lawyers-say-heres-why-a49e77c2">MarketWatch.</a> Meanwhile, Vincent Genova, head of Rochon Genova's Aviation Litigation Group told MarketWatch "There's no reason why they should not take it as long as they are not signing away their rights, which they are not being asked to do."
On the flipside, John Carpenter, personal injury attorney and cofounder of Carpenter &amp; Zuckerman law firm told <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/02/21/delta-plane-crash-toronto-30000-payment-no-strings-attached-legal-experts/">Fortune </a>that the payment process is unlikely to be as straightforward as sending a check, and passengers should carefully review the fine print of any agreement they sign.
Aviation attorney Timothy A. Loranger of &nbsp;Wisner Baum law firm told Fortune, "For those with significant injuries, $30,000 may be grossly inadequate and far from full compensation."&nbsp;
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43880898/im-in-awe-bill-gates-says-elon-musk-is-brilliant-rich-and-influential-but-admits-hes-been-mean-to-me-at-times">&#8216;I&#8217;m In Awe&#8217; — Bill Gates Says Elon Musk Is Brilliant, Rich, And Influential, But Admits He&#8217;s Been &#8216;Mean To Me At Times&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: This incident comes on the heels of a&nbsp;previous report of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43836720/two-dead-after-planes-collide-near-arizonas-marana-regional-airport">recent mid-air collision</a>&nbsp;of two small planes, the &nbsp;Cessna 172S&nbsp;and Lancair 360 MK II near Arizona&#8217;s Marana Regional Airport that led to two fatalities, underscores the importance of passenger safety and airline liability in the aviation industry.
While Delta&#8217;s gesture to offer &#8216;no strings attached&#8217; compensation is largely being seen as a positive and strategic move to prioritize goodwill and avoid getting embroiled in litigation, legal experts advise passengers to exercise caution. 
Meanwhile, Kare11, a Minneapolis-based news channel, contacted a few survivors of the crash who confirmed that Delta&#8217;s offer is accompanied by a lengthy &#8220;Terms and Conditions&#8221; section and they are consulting legal experts. 
Price Action: Delta Air Lines declined 4.95% over the past five days. Over the last year, the stock soared more than 47% as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43929332/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-has-new-book-out-about-silicon-valley-a-moment-of-reckoning-has-arrived-for-the-west">Palantir CEO Alex Karp Has New Book Out About Silicon Valley: &#8216;A Moment Of Reckoning Has Arrived For The West&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Should Passengers Accept Delta Air Lines' $30,000 'No Strings Attached' Compensation Offer? Lawyers Weigh In

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FMS#NYSE">FMS</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.91 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.86 by 5.81 percent. This is a 75 percent increase over earnings of $0.52 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $5.08 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $4.75 billion by 7.12 percent. This is a 1.94 percent increase over sales of $4.99 billion the same period last year.

Fresenius Medical Care Q4 2024 Adj EPS €0.91 Beats €0.86 Estimate, Sales €5.08B Beat €4.75B Estimate

The South Dakota legislature delayed a vote on a bill on Monday that could have allowed the state to adopt Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) as a strategic reserve asset.&nbsp;
What happened: The majority of lawmakers at a meeting of the state&#8217;s House Commerce and Energy Committee voted to defer the bill to the 41st day of South Dakota&#8217;s legislative session.
Since the session lasts for 40 days, deferring a bill to the 41st day means it is no longer considered.
The House Bill 1202 bill aimed to allocate 10% of the state's public funds to Bitcoin. Rep. Logan Manhart, who introduced the bill last month, said the bill was rejected over "concerns of volatility."&nbsp;
He did, however, say that he would reintroduce the legislation next year.
<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">My bill to allow South Dakota to invest in Bitcoin died 9-3 in committee this morning. We will be back next year.
&mdash; Logan Manhart (@ManhartLogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManhartLogan/status/1894089957301453186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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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/25/02/43931332/peter-schiff-questions-michael-saylor-led-strategys-leverage-bitcoin-play-amid-share-price-decline-massive-dilution-has-destroyed-shareholder-value">Peter Schiff Questions Michael Saylor-Led Strategy&#8217;s Leverage Bitcoin Play Amid MSTR Decline: &#8216;Massive Dilution Has Destroyed Shareholder Value&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: South Dakota's move comes shortly after Montana's House of Representatives rejected a similar piece of legislation that proposed investing public funds into Bitcoin.&nbsp;
According to Bitcoin Laws, a <a href="https://bitcoinlaws.io/">platform</a> that tracks the progress of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bills in the U.S., Utah was leading the race, while Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wyoming have failed to push them forward.
The failures threw doubts on a potential national Bitcoin stockpile for the U.S., as promised by President Donald Trump during his election campaign.
Notably, after assuming office, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43177482/trump-signs-executive-order-on-crypto-bitcoin-reserve-to-be-evaluated">signed an executive order</a> to evaluate the creation of a &#8220;strategic national digital assets stockpile" and not just a Bitcoin stockpile
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $89,517.16, down 6.27% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43931639/riot-platforms-ceo-reaffirms-plan-to-boost-bitcoin-yield-but-not-looking-too-closely-at-strategys-maneuvers">Riot Platforms CEO Reaffirms Plan To Boost Bitcoin Yield But &#8216;Not Looking Too Closely&#8217; At Michael Saylor-Led Strategy&#8217;s Maneuvers</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

South Dakota Shoots Down Bitcoin Reserve Bill Over Volatility Concerns, Follows Wyoming And Montana's Lead As BTC Falls Below $90,000

When Warren Buffett first met Pete Liegl, the founder of Forest River, in 2005, he was prepared to negotiate. But Liegl's surprising salary request left Buffett momentarily speechless.
Nearly two decades later, that deal has proven to be one of Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) most lucrative acquisitions.
What Happened: In his latest annual <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions">shareholder letter released</a> on Saturday, Buffett reflected on Liegl's impact, calling him "one of a kind" and praising his leadership for contributing "many billions" to Berkshire shareholders.
The "Oracle of Omaha" recounted how he was introduced to Forest River through a letter from an intermediary on June 21, 2005. He liked the company's fundamentals and quickly set up a meeting with Liegl, his wife Sharon, and his daughter Lisa in Omaha.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42377455/warren-buffett-once-said-hiring-someone-to-change-them-is-just-as-crazy-as-marrying-someone-to-change-them-the-reason-that-berkshire-has-been-successful">Warren Buffett Once Said Hiring Someone To Change Them Is &#8216;Just As Crazy&#8217; As Marrying Someone To Change Them: &#8216;The Reason That Berkshire Has Been Successful…&#8217;</a>
During negotiations, Buffett asked Liegl how much he wanted to be paid. His response was shocking: "Well, I looked at Berkshire's proxy statement and I wouldn't want to make more than my boss, so pay me $100,000 per year."
Buffett was floored but agreed. Liegl added one more request — a 10% bonus on earnings above what the company was already delivering. Buffett accepted the terms, and over the next 19 years, Liegl "shot the lights out" with no competitor coming close to his performance.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Forest River remains a multibillion-dollar enterprise under Berkshire Hathaway. Despite economic challenges, it has consistently contributed to Berkshire's consumer products group.
In 2024, Forest River's revenues grew 6.4%, with a 7.9% increase in unit sales, partially driven by recent acquisitions, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/02/24/warren-buffett-forest-river-pete-liegl-wage-negotiation/">reported</a> Fortune.
Even in a tough 2023, the company's resilience was evident, and in 2022, Forest River's performance helped boost Berkshire's consumer products revenue by $481 million.
Berkshire Hathaway reported a sharp rise in <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43918506/berkshire-hathaway-stock-hits-new-all-time-highs-passes-tesla-analyst-sees-more-upside-ahead">fourth-quarter earnings</a>, driven by strong insurance performance. Operating profit jumped 71% to $14.53 billion, with insurance underwriting soaring 302% to $3.41 billion and investment income rising 50% to $4.09 billion. Full-year operating earnings grew 27% to $47.44 billion.
In the letter, Buffett acknowledged that not every business acquisition works out, but leaders like Liegl, who built an empire through talent rather than elite education, prove that a single winning decision can "make a breathtaking difference over time."
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42476879/warren-buffett-said-an-unusual-amount-of-people-look-at-berkshire-stock-as-a-savings-account-here-is-what-the-oracle-of-omaha-recommends-investing-novices-do">Warren Buffett Said An Unusual Amount Of People Look At Berkshire Stock As A Savings Account, Here Is What The Oracle Of Omaha Recommends Investing Novices Do</a></li>
</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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

'Pay Me $100,000 Per Year': Warren Buffett Was Stunned By Pete Liegl's Modest Salary Request, But The Deal Made Berkshire Billions

Unilever today announced that Hein Schumacher is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer and as a Board Director on 1 March 2025 by mutual agreement, and will leave the company on 31 May 2025.
Fernando Fernandez, currently Unilever Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer effective from 1 March 2025. Prior to becoming CFO in January 2024, Fernando had a successful tenure as President of Beauty &amp; Wellbeing, one of Unilever's fastest growing businesses. In previous roles as President Latin America, CEO Brazil and CEO Philippines he led some of the company's best performing markets, delivering strong financial results while developing exceptional talent. A thorough internal and external search process is being initiated to appoint a permanent CFO. From 1 March 2025, Srinivas Phatak, currently Unilever's Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Group Controller, will become acting CFO. Srinivas has served in global and local senior finance, strategy and supply chain roles including a successful term as CFO of Hindustan Unilever Limited. Srinivas' leadership qualities and his broad experience will enable him to partner Fernando in successfully executing Unilever's strategy.

Management

Unilever Appoints Fernando Fernandez As New CEO Following Hein Schumacher's Departure; Srinivas Phatak Appointed Interim CFO

Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) declined on Monday and the Chinese technology giant's Hong Kong-listed shares continued to fall on Tuesday triggered by President Donald Trump's remarks to limit Chinese spending and investment.
What Happened: Jack Ma&#8217;s BABA which has gained 51.90% on a year-to-date basis and its HK counterpart 9988 which was up 60.39% during the same period fell after Trump's memo directed the Committee on Foreign Investment to take action.
The committee is a secretive panel that reviews foreign investments in companies or property for potential national security risks.
As reported <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-24/trump-targets-china-with-biggest-salvo-of-moves-of-second-term">by</a> Bloomberg, the panel was asked by the President to curb <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43924817/chinese-stocks-are-on-the-rise-today-whats-going-on">Chinese</a> spending on technology and other strategic U.S. sectors. Furthermore, to counter China&#8217;s dominance in shipbuilding, the U.S. proposed fees for the use of Chinese-made commercial ships.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43932776/mark-cuban-slams-fd-up-healthcare-system-blames-insurance-designed-deductibles-for-patient-bankruptcy">Mark Cuban Calls Deductibles &#8216;The Biggest Problem&#8217; in Healthcare: &#8216;System…Needs To Be Redesigned&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Alibaba's U.S.-listed American depository receipts have rallied 43.39% since the Jan. 25 weekend, when DeepSeek topped Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) App Store charts and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 17%.
<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/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-796866" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025732/BABA-since-DeepSeek.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
However, BABA sank 10.23% to $129.04 apiece on Monday and 9988 was trading 4.05% lower as of the publication of this article.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data indicated that the stock was still above its eight-day and 20-day average in the short term. Additionally, it was above the longer-term 50-day and 200-day averages displaying bullish trends.
Momentum indicators were also strong. The relative strength index fell below the overbought to neutral zone at 66.86 while it still had a positive MACD of 11.65, indicating the possibility of a further positive move.
<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/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-796864" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025630/BABA-Technical-chart.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BABA/analyst-ratings">Benzinga tracks 21 analysts</a> with an average price target of $135.1 for the stock, reflecting a &#8220;buy&#8221; rating. Estimates range widely from $85 to $190. Recent ratings from Morgan Stanley, Benchmark, and JP Morgan average $180, suggesting a potential 40.31% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="387" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025613/BABA-ANR-latest-1024x387.png" alt="" class="wp-image-796863" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025613/BABA-ANR-latest-1024x387.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025613/BABA-ANR-latest-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025613/BABA-ANR-latest-768x290.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25025613/BABA-ANR-latest.png 1066w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43906366/warren-buffetts-berkshire-boosts-bets-on-five-japanese-companies-admiration-has-consistently-grown-says-oracle-of-omaha-in-letter-to-shareholders" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Berkshire Boosts Bets On 5 Japanese Companies: Oracle Of Omaha Says Admiration ‘Has Consistently Grown'</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

BABA

NVDA

Alibaba Sinks 4% In Hong Kong After US-Listed ADRs Plunge 10% As Trump Limits Foreign Investments In Chinese Tech

The CEO of&nbsp;Nike Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), Elliott Hill, has earned the confidence of Jeffries analyst Randal Konik, who is optimistic about Hill&#8217;s strategic plans for the company.
What Happened: Konik, in his analyst note to clients, shared that Hill&#8217;s strategy to rejuvenate wholesale partnerships and launch new products will substantially enhance Nike&#8217;s profitability and market share in the athletic footwear industry in the foreseeable future, <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/buy-nikes-stock-aggressively-as-new-ceos-playbook-should-work-analyst-says-6981a18a">reported</a> Market Watch. As a result, Konik upgraded his rating on Nike&#8217;s stock from &#8216;Hold&#8217; to &#8216;Buy&#8217;, dubbing it his &#8220;new top pick.&#8221;
Konik also raised his stock price target for Nike to $115 from $75, suggesting a potential 43.2% upside from the closing price of $80.28 on Monday. He opines that the current valuation of Nike&#8217;s stock, regarding sales expectations for the upcoming year, is at its lowest in ten years, creating a &#8220;valuation floor.&#8221;
"With shares near a valuation trough, we believe now is the right time to aggressively buy shares," wrote Konik in the note.
Despite past missteps, including a reduced focus on product innovation and an excessive emphasis on Nike Digital and direct sales, Konik remains confident that Hill&#8217;s expertise and strategy will resolve these challenges. He also pointed out a notable rise in job postings for product roles, indicating a renewed focus on product innovation.
Konik anticipates a V-shaped recovery in margins by 2027, pushing earnings above current Wall Street expectations. A Jefferies survey found that more than half of U.S. consumers planning to purchase athletic footwear prefer Nike, reinforcing Konik&#8217;s optimistic outlook.
SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43920072/taiwan-semiconductor-poised-for-surge-goldman-sachs-predicts-rising-demand-for-taipei-traded-shares"> Taiwan Semiconductor Poised For Surge, Goldman Sachs Predicts Rising Demand For Taipei-Traded Stock: Report</a>
Why It Matters: Nike&#8217;s strategic moves under Hill&#8217;s leadership have already begun to bear fruit. The company recently announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43789704/kim-kardashians-skims-joins-forces-with-nike-to-redefine-fitness-fashion-stock-gains">the launch of NikeSKIMS</a>, a new brand developed in collaboration with SKIMS, an American shapewear and clothing brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian. 
Nike also returned to the Super Bowl advertisement arena after 27 long years. The brand hogged the limelight with its commercial putting a female athlete on centerstage. This ad aired at a time for Nike when it strives to revitalize its business following three consecutive quarters of declining revenue. In the quarter ending November, net revenue dropped 7.7% to $12.35 billion. The stock has plunged more than 23% over the last year.
The brand has been suffering since the COVID-19 pandemic after it spoiled relations with wholesalers in a bid to push direct-to-customer sales. However, investor confidence seems to have returned after the veteran CEO presented a turnaround plan in December.
Notably, Bill Ackman&#8216;s Pershing Square Holdings converted their <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43756694/bill-ackmans-pershing-square-adjusts-portfolio-trims-chipotle-and-boosts-nike">Nike equity position</a> into deep-in-the-money call options in early 2025 sensing a potential upside to the stock. In their investor presentation, Pershing Square stated, &#8220;Hill is the ideal person to return Nike to dominance and growth.&#8221;
Nike stock jumped 4.9% yesterday following the bullish note by the Jeffries analyst.
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<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43933016/jamie-dimon-slams-inefficient-us-government-backs-elon-musks-doge-initiative">Jamie Dimon Slams &#8216;Inefficient&#8217; US Government, Backs Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Initiative</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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