Latest news for CMGE Technology Group (OTC:CMGEF) Stock

CMGE, a mobile game developer and publisher based in China, derived approximately 8% of its 2023 revenue from its self-developed games. The majority, 82%, came from publishing games developed by other companies with the remaining 10% generated through licensing agreements. The company reported an average of 17 million monthly active users in 2023. We estimate that CMGE holds about 1% of the market share in China's online gaming industry.

Asia

Gaming

Markets

Tech

General

CMGEF

Key Takeaways:


	CMGE Technology announced it was buying the international rights to the game “The Legend of Sword and Fairy” from Taiwan’s Softstar Entertainment
	The Chinese gaming company looks to be speeding up an overseas push to offset intense competition in its home market


By Fai Pui

CMGE Makes A Global Play With Chinese-Themed Video Games

Penny Stocks

Small Cap

HUYA

NTES

Key Takeaways:


	CMGE said it has formed a partnership with Guangzhou Chaojing Investment aimed at tapping the latter’s strong position in e-sports
	CMGE’s shares rose 3.2% on the news and have rallied 30% in the past week on renewed investors interest in the gaming sector after a prolonged crackdown that is now easing




CMGE Turns Its Game To e-Sports With New Tie-Up

CMGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP by CMGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP.

CMGE Technology Group Ltd

Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDAY#NASDAQ">WDAY</a>) stock is moving lower on Wednesday after the company reported 2025 fiscal-year third quarter earnings on Tuesday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42202858">after the bell</a>.
The Details: Workday shares fell approximately 10% after the company released earnings on Tuesday and shares continue to fall headed into Wednesday. The company reported earnings, including adjusted earnings per share of $1.89, beating analyst estimates of $1.76.
Furthermore, the company reported sales of $2.16 billion, beating analyst estimates of $2.12 billion.
The company reported other key pieces of financial data as well. Workday reported 12-month subscription revenue backlog of $6.98 billion and total subscription revenue backlog of $22.19 billion. It reported free cash flows of $359 million and operating cash flows of $406 million.
Workday issued guidance for the 2025 fiscal-year fourth quarter. It anticipates subscription revenue of $2.02 billion. Additionally, the company revised its 2025 fiscal-year subscription revenue outlook, reducing it from between $7.70 billion to $7.72 billion to $7.703 billion.
&#8220;Workday&#8217;s solid performance in&nbsp;Q3&nbsp;reflects the trust our customers place in us across industries, the global momentum around our AI-driven innovations, and the strength of our partner ecosystem,&#8221; said&nbsp;Carl Eschenbach, CEO, Workday. 
&#8220;Organizations are increasingly consolidating on the Workday platform to reduce total cost of ownership, simplify their operations, and to unlock the power of our best-in-class AI solutions. Workday gives them the ultimate advantage – and that positions our business for long-term success.&#8221;
Analyst Changes: Following the earnings report, multiple analysts issued price target changes.
<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin downgraded Workday from an Overweight rating to a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from&nbsp;$285&nbsp;to&nbsp;$270.</li>
<li>Needham analyst Scott Berg reiterated a Buy rating on Workday and maintained a $300&nbsp;price target.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Brad Sills maintained a Buy rating on Workday and lowered the price target from&nbsp;$310&nbsp;to&nbsp;$285.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow maintained an Overweight rating on Workday and lowered the price target from $314 to $305.</li>
<li>Loop Capital analyst Yun Kim maintained a Hold rating on Workday and lowered the price target from&nbsp;$270&nbsp;to&nbsp;$242.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss maintained an Overweight rating on Workday and raised the price target from $315 to $330.</li>
</ul>
Related Link:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/24/11/42217775/intel-unusual-options-activity"> Intel Unusual Options Activity</a>
WDAY Price Action: At the time of publication, Workday stock is trading 4.97% lower at $256.74, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Courtesy of Workday

News

Movers

WDAY

What's Going On With Workday Shares Wednesday?

<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/021539s019lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/021539s019lbl.pdf</a>
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GdaTBB4aIAEjN3e?format=jpg&amp;name=small" alt="Image" />

Biotech

CPIX

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Gets FDA Approval Of Acetadote, An Antidote To Prevent Or Lessen Hepatic Injury From Acetaminophen Overdose, For Pediatric Patients

HP Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>) stock traded lower Wednesday after the company reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/42203410/hp-stock-drops-after-q4-results-weak-forward-guidance-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiscal fourth-quarter</a> financial results and issued fiscal first-quarter adjusted EPS guidance below estimates.
On Tuesday, HP reported revenue of $14.05 billion (versus $13.82 billion a year ago), which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $13.99 billion. The EPS of $0.93 was in line with the analyst consensus estimate.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42209622/apple-faces-modest-growth-as-idc-forecasts-smartphone-market-rebound" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Faces Modest Growth As IDC Forecasts Smartphone Market Rebound</a>
HP expects first-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.70 &#8211; $0.76, versus the $0.85 estimate, and fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $3.45 &#8211; $3.75, versus the $3.60 estimate.
Multiple Wall Street analysts rerated the stock after the quarterly print.
JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained an Overweight rating on HP with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HPQ/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target of $40, down from $41</a>.
Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng reiterated a Neutral rating on HP with a price target of $38, up from $35.
JP Morgan: Analyst Chatterjee highlights HP&#8217;s near-term challenges and opportunities in the personal systems (PS) and print segments. Despite known headwinds in the PC market, HP faces additional pressure from competitive pricing as it tries to offset higher memory costs. The company remains optimistic about a mid-single-digit recovery in PC units and increased adoption of AI PCs by enterprise customers in fiscal year 2025, supported by pent-up demand and Windows 11 refresh cycles.
The print segment performed well, generating $4.5 billion, surpassing expectations, while PS revenue came in at $9.6 billion, slightly below consensus. Operating margins were 8.5%, impacted by higher commodity costs and strategic investments.
For fiscal 2025, HP projects full-year revenue growth driven by mid-single-digit increases in PC units and seasonal recovery. However, first-quarter EPS guidance of $0.70 &#8211; $0.76 falls below consensus, reflecting margin pressures and the need for a significant recovery in PC volumes to meet annual targets.
HP&#8217;s print margins improved to 19.6% in the fourth quarter, exceeding internal and external forecasts. Due to cost discipline, the company anticipates print operating margins will remain at the higher end of the 16% &#8211; 19% range in fiscal 2025. Meanwhile, PS margins are expected to climb to the upper half of 5% &#8211; 7%, aided by improved pricing strategies and volume leverage.
Enterprise PC replacement cycles, supported by Windows 10&#8217;s end-of-life in 2025, and increased AI PC adoption are long-term growth drivers. HP&#8217;s supply chain resilience positions it to navigate potential tariff escalations better than peers, ensuring smoother operations.
Chatterjee maintains an Overweight rating on HP, emphasizing medium-term positioning in PS as a key growth driver. Stabilizing gross margins and operating efficiencies are expected to mitigate some margin pressures. The analyst slightly lowered the December 2025 price target, valuing fiscal 2026 EPS at 10x P/E, aligning with historical averages.
HP&#8217;s ability to recover in the PC market and capitalize on enterprise adoption of AI PCs remains critical to achieving long-term targets. While near-term pressures exist, structural improvements in the print and PS segments are expected to provide resilience.
Chatterjee projects first-quarter revenue of $13.47 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.75.
Goldman Sachs: HP delivered fiscal fourth-quarter 2024 EPS of $0.93, aligning with Goldman Sachs (GS) and consensus estimates. Print segment performance offset a modest miss in the Personal Systems (PS) division. Print revenue grew for the first time since fiscal fourth-quarter 2021, increasing 1% to $4.5 billion, surpassing GS and consensus projections of $4.3 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively. This growth stemmed from solid supplies and industrial graphics sales, although pricing pressures persisted.
Print margins reached 19.6%, exceeding guidance and analyst expectations ((GS: 18.5%, XHKG:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/18#XHKG">18</a>), reflecting a favorable business mix and cost efficiencies. HP expects Print revenue to decline to low single digits (LSD%) in fiscal 2025, aligning with broader market trends, while supply revenue is projected to drop LSD to mid-single digits (MSD%).
In contrast, PS revenue fell to $9.6 billion, missing GS and consensus estimates of $9.8 billion. While consumer PS revenue declined 4%, commercial PS revenue grew 5%, with unit volumes increasing 4%. HP anticipates mid-single-digit (MSD%) growth in the PS segment for fiscal 2025, driven by factors such as Windows 10 end-of-life, a refreshed PC installed base, and the rise of AI PCs, which are expected to comprise 20% of shipments.
HP anticipates more robust performance in the second half of fiscal 2025 as PC demand accelerates, supported by the commercial segment, premium consumer systems, and AI PCs. Commodity cost pressures impacting PS margins are expected to subside in the latter half of the fiscal year, aided by cost reductions and pricing strategies.
Ng remains neutral on HP, raising the 12-month price target based on a 10x P/E multiple. The revised valuation reflects HP&#8217;s market share gains in commercial and premium PC segments. Ng projects first-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.75.
Price Action: HPQ stock is down 12.5% at $34.22 at last check Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42213634/symbotic-stock-plummets-26-after-delayed-filing-and-revenue-errors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robotics Company Symbotic Stock Plummets Over 30% After Delayed Filing And Revenue Errors &#8211; What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

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Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

HP Faces Margin Pressure But Analysts See AI PCs Driving Growth In 2025

Interactive Strength's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRNR#NYSE">TRNR</a>) short percent of float has fallen 18.73% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 76 thousand shares sold short, which is 12.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.0 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>Interactive Strength Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732732221_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Interactive Strength 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 Interactive Strength'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>, Interactive Strength's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.48%, 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.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

TRNR

Looking Into Interactive Strength's Recent Short Interest

Delta Air Lines's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.36% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 35.19 million shares sold short, which is 6.16% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.21 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>Delta Air Lines Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732732216_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Delta Air Lines 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 Delta Air Lines'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>, Delta Air Lines's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.02%, 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.

How Is The Market Feeling About Delta Air Lines?

Kratos Defense &amp; Security's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NYSE">KTOS</a>) short percent of float has risen 22.58% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.93 million shares sold short, which is 2.66% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.8 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>Kratos Defense &amp; Security Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732732211_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Kratos Defense &amp; Security 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 Kratos Defense &amp; Security'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>, Kratos Defense &amp; Security'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.

KTOS

(KTOS) - Analyzing Kratos Defense & Security's Short Interest

Last week, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) issued its third quarter results, topping both&nbsp;sales and earnings&nbsp;estimates as well as posting a better-than-expected current quarter guidance as its end-customers, including Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Open AI and&nbsp;Oracle Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/orcl#NYSE">ORCL</a>), have started receiving its next-generation AI chip, the mighty Blackwell, that is now in full production.
<h3>Third Quarter Highlights</h3>
For the quarter ended on October 27th, Nvidia reported its revenue surged 94% YoY&nbsp;&nbsp;to&nbsp;$35.08 billion, surpassing LSEG&rsquo;s estimate of&nbsp;$33.16 billion. But, this is a quarterly slowdown as sales rose 122%, 262%, and 265% during previous quarters respectively. The date center business that is at the heart of the AI hype brought in $30.8 billion with sales rising 112%&nbsp;YoY and surpassing StreetAccount&rsquo;s estimate of $28.82 billion. But not all of that revenue is made of chips that power AI development as&nbsp;$3.1 billion&nbsp;of that sales figure was brought in by networking parts. Gaming business brought $3.28 billion&nbsp;to the revenue table. While automotive and professional visualization businesses&nbsp;remain much smaller, automotive sales grew 72% YoY to $449 million while the later reported 17% YoY growth, bringing in sales of $486 million.
Net income more than doubled from last year&rsquo;s comparable quarter as it amounted to $19.3 billion. While net income jumped from last year&rsquo;s&nbsp;37 cents&nbsp;per share to 70 cents per share,&nbsp;adjusted earnings per share amounted to 81 cents, also topping LSEG&rsquo;s estimate of 75 cents. Due to selling more chips, gross margin expanded to 73.5%.
<h3>Fourth Quarter Outlook</h3>
Nvidia guided for current quarter sales of about $37.5 billion plus or minus 2%. Outlook implies YoY growth of about 70%, which is a&nbsp;slowdown from last year&rsquo;s comparable quarter when growth amounted to 265%.
Nvidia&rsquo;s AI dominance remains intact.
It&rsquo;s a well-known fact that Nvidia is a&nbsp;primary beneficiary of the ongoing AI hype, with shares nearly tripling year to date. Blackwell shipments are in for a ramp up next year, but already in the current quarter, Nvidia is in &ldquo;several billion dollars&rdquo; of Blackwell revenue. Demand for Blackwell is expected to exceed supply for several quarters in the next fiscal year. Now for how long can Nvidia&rsquo;s AI dominance continue to soar is a different question only time is able to answer.&nbsp;
DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

MSFT

NVDA

ORCL

Nvidia's Latest Record Quarter Show Its AI Dominance Remains Intact

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering Paul Atkins, a seasoned financial regulator and advocate for digital assets, to lead the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42131449/with-gary-gensler-preparing-to-quit-in-2025-secs-crypto-cases-likely-to-quietly-go-away-amid-trumps-pro-bitcoin-stance-says-pantera-capitals-katrina-paglia">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a>.
What Happened: Atkins, a Republican SEC commissioner during the George W. Bush administration, is among the top contenders to replace outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-27/trump-team-eyes-atkins-ex-sec-commissioner-to-succeed-gensler?utm_content=crypto&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;embedded-checkout=true">reported</a>.
Trump's decision on the appointment is expected in the coming days.
Atkins' background positions him as a strong candidate to reshape the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42131449/with-gary-gensler-preparing-to-quit-in-2025-secs-crypto-cases-likely-to-quietly-go-away-amid-trumps-pro-bitcoin-stance-says-pantera-capitals-katrina-paglia">SEC's approach to regulation</a>, particularly regarding cryptocurrency and financial technology.
Since leaving the SEC, he founded Patomak Global Partners, a consultancy advising major financial firms, and has testified before Congress on streamlining regulatory processes and reducing unnecessary burdens on the financial industry. 
An advocate for digital assets, Atkins has pushed for clear and balanced rules to foster innovation while maintaining market integrity.
Other candidates reportedly under consideration include current SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, former CFTC Chair Heath Tarbert, and Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr &amp; Gallagher LLP. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42220218/ripple-to-invest-in-rebranded-xrp-exchange-traded-product-by-bitwise">Ripple To Invest In Rebranded XRP Exchange-Traded Product By Bitwise</a>
A spokesperson for Trump's transition team, Karoline Leavitt, praised the president-elect's swift decisions in assembling his administration, stating, "Remaining decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made."
Atkins' potential appointment signals a departure from the regulatory approach under Gensler, who led the SEC with an aggressive stance on crypto enforcement following high-profile failures like the collapse of FTX. 
Gensler's tenure drew criticism from the industry for creating uncertainty by regulating through enforcement rather than providing clear guidelines. 
Trump, during his campaign, vowed to end what he described as the SEC's "anti-crypto crusade" and promised to appoint <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41883348/donald-trump-cant-fire-gary-gensler-but-pro-crypto-policies-means-industry-is-on-the-verge-of-a-golden-era">crypto-friendly regulators.</a>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42220158/donald-trump-to-establish-a-national-bitcoin-reserve-pros-vs-cons-compared">Donald Trump To Establish A National Bitcoin Reserve? Pros Vs Cons Compared</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

Donald Trump Eyes Former SEC Comissioner Paul Atkins As Gary Gensler's Successor

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/URBN#NASDAQ">URBN</a>) reported earnings results for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/URBN/earnings">third quarter on Tuesday</a>.
The company said quarterly net sales rose 6.3% to a record $1.36 billion and earnings came in at $1.10 per share.
&#8220;We are pleased to announce record third quarter sales and earnings, both of which exceeded our expectations. These results were driven by outperformance across all three business segments – Retail, Subscription and Wholesale,&#8221; said Richard A. Hayne, Chief Executive Officer. &#8220;Additionally, we&#8217;re optimistic about the outlook for Holiday demand and believe total comparable sales could be similar to our third quarter results.&#8221;
Urban Outfitters shares gained 16.9% to trade at $46.91 on Wednesday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Urban Outfitters following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez upgraded Urban Outfitters from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $42 to $59.</li>
<li>Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintained the stock with a Market Perform and raised the price target from $44 to $46.</li>
<li>Baird analyst Mark Altschwager maintained the stock with a Neutral and increased the price target from $47 to $49.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Lorraine Hutchinson maintained Urban Outfitters with a Buy and raised the price target from $46 to $53.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih maintained the stock with an Overweight and raised the price target from $43 to $51.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Alex Straton maintained Urban Outfitters with an Equal-Weight and raised the price target from $38 to $41.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight and boosted the price target from $40 to $48</li>
</ul>
Considering buying URBN stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="599" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27132434/image-297-1024x599.png" alt="" class="wp-image-668011" style="width:626px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27132434/image-297-1024x599.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27132434/image-297-300x175.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27132434/image-297-768x449.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/27132434/image-297.png 1112w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42213467/urban-outfitters-to-rally-around-47-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-wednesday">Urban Outfitters To Rally Around 47%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

URBN

These Analysts Increase Their Forecasts On Urban Outfitters After Q3 Results

Good Morning Traders! In today&#39;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.
Our proprietary formula, exclusive to Market Clubhouse, dictates these price levels. This dynamic equation takes into account price, volume, and options flow. These levels are updated every day and shared with all Clubhouse Members, prior to the opening of the market.
We recommend closely monitoring these stocks, and be prepared to leverage potential breakouts or reversals. As always, stay alert and ready to adjust your tactics based on the market&#39;s pulse to optimize your trading gains. Now, let&#39;s dive into the stock analysis:
<h3>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust</h3>
SPY&nbsp;(ARCA: SPY) is currently trading near the 599.24 level, which serves as a key area for bullish interest. If buyers manage to defend this level, the next objective will be a climb toward 600.51. A sustained push above this could lead to testing 602.48 as a critical support level. Further momentum may pave the way for a move toward 604.45, with a high bullish target set at 607.55 if the rally gains significant strength.
On the downside, failure to maintain support at 599.24 may trigger selling pressure toward 598.04. Should sellers maintain control below this level, the next focus would be on 596.57. If bears continue to dominate, we could see a deeper pullback to the strong support level at 593.73. In an aggressive selloff, the low target for SPY would be 592.00.
<h3>Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1</h3>
The QQQ (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) is trading near the pivotal 508.22 level, and bulls will aim to hold this as a foundation for further gains. If successful, buyers could push prices toward 509.87, with further strength targeting 511.53. If the bullish momentum persists, 513.64 comes into play, with the high bull target for the day at 515.00.
However, if 508.22 fails to hold as support, the bears could drag the price down to 506.68. Breaking below this may lead to a test of 504.44, and if sellers remain in control, the next support at 502.65 could be tested. Persistent selling pressure might drive the price down to the low bear target of 501.07.
<h3>Apple Inc.</h3>
Apple&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is hovering around 234.20, where bulls aim to establish a base for upward movement. If this level is defended, a push toward 234.97 could follow. Strong buying momentum may propel the price to 235.74, with the ultimate bullish target for the day at 236.69 if the rally holds steady.
Conversely, a failure to hold 234.20 could invite bears to test support at 233.28. Sustained downside action may lead to a retest of 231.76, with continued selling likely driving the price to 230.25. If bearish pressure accelerates, the low target for AAPL could reach 229.03.
<h3>Microsoft Corp. </h3>
Microsoft&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is trading near 426.00, where bulls aim to secure a foothold for higher prices. Holding this level could see a rally toward 427.36, with further gains bringing 428.48 into focus. If buying interest persists, the high bull target at 429.25 may be achievable.
If 426.00 fails to hold, bears may seek to challenge 425.16. A break below this level could lead to further selling pressure toward 423.81. Continued weakness might push the price down to 422.84, with the low bear target for MSFT at 421.62.
<h3>NVIDIA Corporation</h3>
NVIDIA&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is trading near the key level of 135.64, where bulls are trying to establish control. If this level is defended, a move toward 136.98 could be the next target. Strong buying momentum may see the price test 137.94, with a high bull target of 139.42 in sight if the rally holds.
If 135.64 breaks, bears may push the price lower toward 134.56. Should selling intensify, the next focus will be on 133.31. Continued weakness could lead to a test of 132.19, with the low bear target for the day at 131.42.
<h3>Alphabet Inc Class A</h3>
Alphabet&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) is trading around 169.34, a key level for bulls to hold. A successful defense could lead to a rally toward 171.14, with further buying momentum targeting 172.28. Strong market participation could solidify gains at this high bull target.
If 169.34 fails to act as support, bears may drive the price down to 167.04. A breakdown at this level could see the price test 165.41, with further downside momentum pushing the auction to the low bear target of 163.79.
<h3>Meta Platforms Inc</h3>
Meta&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>) is near the critical level of 573.25, which bulls will aim to hold as a launching point for higher prices. If successful, we could see a rally to 580.17, followed by a test of 585.73. Sustained buying interest might bring the high bull target at 591.29 into play.
On the other hand, a break below 573.25 could lead to selling pressure driving the price to 565.53. Persistent weakness may push the price lower to 559.29, with the low bear target for Meta at 553.05 if the selloff intensifies.
<h3>Tesla Inc. </h3>
Tesla&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is trading near 340.97, a critical level for the bulls. If buyers maintain control, a move toward 346.64 could follow, with 350.87 acting as the next major resistance. A strong rally may extend gains toward 356.80, with the high bull target set at 363.84.
Failure to hold 340.97 as support could result in a pullback toward 333.93. If selling pressure persists, the next target would be 327.59. A continued selloff may bring Tesla down to the low bear target of 322.52.
Final Word:&nbsp; Today&rsquo;s market session is set to be a pivotal one with a heavy lineup of economic data releases starting at 8:30 AM ET. Key reports include the weekly Initial and Continuing Jobless Claims, the Core PCE Price Index for October, and October&#39;s Personal Income and Spending data. These indicators will provide critical insights into inflation and consumer health.
At 10:00 AM ET, Pending Home Sales data for October will shed light on the housing market, followed by the 7-Year Treasury Note Auction at 11:30 AM ET. This packed schedule comes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, potentially amplifying market volatility due to thinner liquidity. Traders should stay alert, manage their positions with caution, and adjust to the dynamic market environment. Wishing you a successful trading session and a Happy Thanksgiving!
The Morning Memo is curated by RIPS, a pro trader with years of experience in equities, options, and futures trading. RIPS is at the heart of the exclusive Market Clubhouse community, offering his insights, expertise, and real-time mentorship.
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For a limited time during our special promotion, you can join RIPS and get a full access pass to Market Clubhouse for 7 full days for just $7. Check it out at <a href="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/" title="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/">https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/</a> where you can trade live with him and tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience. You can also catch Rips on his live day trading streams every Monday-Friday at 8 am EST on the Market Clubhouse YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse" title="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse">https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse</a>.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

AAPL

GOOGL

TSLA

Market Clubhouse Morning Memo - November 27th, 2024 (Trade Strategy For SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META And TSLA)

On Tuesday, Axsome Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXSM#NASDAQ">AXSM</a>) said AXS-12 statistically significantly reduced the frequency of cataplexy attacks compared to placebo (p=0.017, primary endpoint) in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/g42185380/axsome-therapeutics-announces-axs-12-achieves-primary-endpoint-in-encore-long-term-phase-3-trial-i" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phase 3 ENCORE trial</a>.
AXS-12 was also well tolerated with long-term dosing, and its safety profile was consistent with that observed in previously completed trials.
The primary endpoint was achieved with patients randomized to switch to placebo experiencing a mean increase of 10.29 cataplexy attacks per week compared to a mean increase of 1.32 attacks per week for patients randomized to continue AXS-12 treatment at 3 weeks (p=0.017).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39891953/axsome-therapeutics-cns-portfolio-poised-for-major-growth-analyst-predicts-strong-f" rel="noreferrer noopener">Axsome Therapeutics&#8217; CNS Portfolio Poised for Major Growth &#8211; Analyst Predicts Strong Future</a>
AXS-12 resulted in statistically significant benefit in cognition compared to placebo.
A higher number of patients who switched to placebo experienced worsening on the NSAQ Ability to Concentrate item compared to those continuing on AXS-12 (52.6% versus 14.3%) at 3 weeks (p=0.011).
A statistically significant improvement in narcolepsy overall was observed compared to placebo.
More patients randomized to switch to placebo reported worsening of their narcolepsy compared to those continuing on AXS-12 (52.6% versus 16.7%) at 3 weeks (p=0.024).
During the long-term open-label treatment portion of the trial, patients experienced substantial and sustained improvement of cataplexy with AXS-12 treatment.
Patients experienced a 71% reduction from baseline in mean weekly cataplexy attacks at 1 month with AXS-12 treatment, which was sustained with long-term treatment, resulting in a 77% reduction at 6 months.
Long-term open-label treatment with AXS-12 resulted in substantial improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness. Mean scores were reduced by 5.6 points at 1 month, with this improvement maintained with long-term treatment, resulting in a mean reduction of 7.3 points at 6 months.
William Blair views the safety profile of AXS-12 as a key differentiator from Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JAZZ#NASDAQ">JAZZ</a>) Xyrem. The analyst reiterates the Outperform rating on Axsome.
&#8220;Ultimately, we believe AXS-12 is both an approvable and effective therapy, with the data released today building on both the efficacy and long-term safety of the product,&#8221; the analyst writes.
William Blair conservatively models $440 million in peak AXS-12 sales, relative to growing Wakix sales of $582 million in 2023, and says the asset is undervalued with investor focus on data for AXS-05 in Alzheimer's disease agitation expected before year-end.
Price Action: AXSM stock is up 2.5% at $99.46 at last check Wednesday.
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Image via Pixabay.

Health Care

AXSM

JAZZ

Axsome Therapeutics' AXS-12 Data For Sleeping Disorder Boosts Confidence In Approval And Market Potential, Analyst Says

NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) founder and CEO Jensen Huang has an interesting way of learning from AI that involves tormenting chatbots with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34737955/to-make-a-real-connection-asking-how-are-you-doesnt-work-heres-what-does">follow-up questions</a>.
What To Know: In an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuTZNgrLBJk">interview</a> over the weekend at the Hong Kong University Of Science &amp; Technology, Huang suggested that students adopt AI as a tutor and then push the technology to become a valuable teacher through intense training, per <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/questions-nvidias-ceo-asks-his-ai-to-learn-more-2024-11">Business Insider</a>.
&#8220;I torture my AI to teach me,&#8221; Huang said.
Huang was referring to the rigorous follow-up questions he asks an AI chatbot after he gives it a prompt. When AI provides an answer, the Nvidia CEO always asks it why. He then follows that question up by asking the chatbot to provide reasoning on a step-by-step basis.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/42160203/nvidias-growth-is-deeply-rooted-in-chinas-tech-ecosystem-says-ceo-jensen-huang">Jensen Huang Credits China&#8217;s &#8216;Amazing&#8217; Tech Ecosystem For Helping Shape AI Giant Nvidia</a>
Once he gets the breakdown, Huang asks the chatbot to provide alternative explanations for its reasoning. He then asks the AI to apply the reasoning to a different situation. Lastly, Huang requests analogies for further clarification.
&#8220;You can ask an AI today, &#8216;Reason with me, tell me why did you suggest that, tell me step by step how you arrived at that answer.&#8217; Through that probing process, AI is more transparent today, AI is more explainable today,&#8221; Huang said.
&#8220;Your set of questions could be like professors probe their students to understand their thinking process.&#8221;
Huang explained that confidence and certainty are two separate ideas. Leaders must have a great deal of confidence in what they are doing, but they don&#8217;t have to be certain, he noted.
It&#8217;s possible to be completely confident in pursuing a direction and still allow room for uncertainty. That room for uncertainty gives you the opportunity to continue to learn, Huang said.
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Photo: Shutterstock.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Likes To 'Torture' AI

Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>) is back above $1 after rallying over 200% over the past 30 days, significantly outperforming Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) in the process. 
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>24-Hour Trend</td>
<td>7-Day Trend</td>
<td>30-Day Trend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cardano </td>
<td>$1.02</td>
<td>$35.6 Billion</td>
<td>+8.8%</td>
<td>+23.5%</td>
<td>+203.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin</td>
<td>$96,015.13</td>
<td>$1.9 Trillion</td>
<td>+2.4%</td>
<td>+2.2%</td>
<td>+39.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum</td>
<td>$3,560.54</td>
<td>$428.8 Billion</td>
<td>+7%</td>
<td>+15.9%</td>
<td>+42%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Trader Notes: Crypto trader Dan Gambardello <a href="https://x.com/cryptorecruitr/status/1861778936381772110">highlights</a> a wave of optimism surrounding ADA, noting that many holders used this level to take profits, while others see the current consolidation as a setup for further gains.
He sees current consolidation and redistribution phase as a healthy step, paving the way for potential future growth toward $5 and $10.
Statistics: IntoTheBlock data shows large transactions volume and daily active addresses dropped by 12.2% and 10.7%, respectively. 
Transactions greater than $100,000 decreased from 1,914 to 1,335 in a single day. Around 70% of ADA holders are in profit.
Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez reported that Cardano whales purchased over $130 million worth of ADA during its recent price dip, suggesting strong institutional interest.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cardano?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cardano</a> whales bought over 130 million <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ADA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ADA</a> during the recent price dip! <a href="https://t.co/VHg93o3WP5">pic.twitter.com/VHg93o3WP5</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1861696777155494347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Community News: Charles Hoskinson, Cardano's co-founder, likened the blockchain's development to Bitcoin&#8217;s early vision, praising its alignment with decentralization and innovation in a <a href="https://x.com/IOHK_Charles/status/1861286232241906047">post</a> on X on Tuesday.
He also highlighted the potential of Cardano in building a DeFi-enabled Bitcoin ecosystem with technologies like Babel fees.
Hoskinson aims to build a hybrid app ecosystem powered by DeFi-enabled Bitcoin, ensuring it remains free of greed and distractions, and they commend Bitcoin developers for advancements like Taproot.
In another notable milestone, Cardano deployed its first zero-knowledge (ZK) smart contract, Halo2, on its mainnet. This advancement <a href="https://x.com/InputOutputHK/status/1861422105004233052?t=x_DXeatR-RwILZ6mhjBE2g&amp;s=19">aims</a> to reduce costs and improve proof generation and verification speeds, expanding the network's real-world applications.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

$ADA

$BTC

$ETH

Cardano Price Surges Above One Dollar On 200% 30-Day Rally: What Is Going On With ADA?

<a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/microsoft-denies-training-ai-on-customer-data-following-uproar">https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/microsoft-denies-training-ai-on-customer-data-following-uproar</a>
Microsoft Corp. rejected claims that it uses customer data from Microsoft 365 consumer and commercial applications, such as Word and Excel, to train large language models, after user worries spread on social media.
Allegations emerged a few days ago after some users noticed they were automatically opted into Microsoft 365's Connected Experiences, a 2019 setting that allows product features to be connected to the internet and the cloud.
The claims spread quickly among Microsoft users over what they perceived as a "sneaky" update to the provider's terms of use, which they said could allow the company to scrape Microsoft Office documents to train AI models.
The setting in question didn't specifically refer to AI training.
"These claims are untrue," a Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg Law Wednesday, noting that some customers may consent to their data being used in "certain instances," such as for custom model development when it is "explicitly requested."
The Connected Experiences setting being referenced has "no connection to how Microsoft trains foundational large language models," the spokesperson said. This setting enables cloud-backed features such as real-time co-authoring, cloud storage, and tools like Editor in Word that provide spelling and grammar suggestions, they said.
Users of online platforms have grown increasingly worried of their data—whether it be social media post, contracts, or pictures—being used to train organizations' latest AI models.
This summer, Adobe Systems Inc. faced <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/adobe-responds-to-ai-fears-with-plans-for-updated-legal-terms">similar uproar</a> when it updated its terms of use, which users claimed allowed Adobe to seize their intellectual property and use their data to feed AI models. The Photoshop and Illustrator maker issued updated terms of use days later, in which it specifically stated the company doesn't train its Firefly AI models on its cloud content.

'Microsoft Denies Training AI on Customer Data Following Uproar' - Bloomberg Law

Most people dream of financial freedom, but the path to becoming a millionaire often seems complicated. For <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42044634/653125">Dave Ramsey</a>, a well-known personal finance guru, reaching $3.6 million by age 65 is achievable for anyone willing to follow a consistent plan. In a recent tweet, Ramsey outlined a straightforward investment strategy that—while simple—requires discipline and patience.
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<li>The number of ‘401(k)' Millionaires is up 43% from last year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/401k-millionaires"> Here are three ways to join the club.</a></li>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
<li>Many are using this retirement income calculator to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The average household income in the United States of America is $77,000. 15% of that invested in good growth-stock mutual funds at a 10% return from age 30 to age 65 is $3.6 million. It really is that simple—but it's not easy. If it was easy, everyone would be millionaires. <a href="https://t.co/aV0y1814ic">pic.twitter.com/aV0y1814ic</a>
&mdash; Dave Ramsey (@DaveRamsey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveRamsey/status/1801651482250367238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According to Ramsey, if you invest 15% of the average U.S. household income ($77,000) into growth-stock mutual funds, you can reach $3.6 million by the time you hit retirement age by investing at a 10% annual return rate, starting at age 30 and continuing until you're 65. As Ramsey puts it, "It really is that simple—but it's not easy. If it was easy, everyone would be millionaires."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Power of Consistent Investing</h2>
Ramsey&#8217;s advice is most effective when combined with a consistent investment strategy. Saving 15% of your income each year may seem like a lot, especially with bills and other commitments but Ramsey's approach focuses on the long game—gradual accumulation that pays off big time by the time you retire. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42026823/this-is-how-you-get-wealthy-dave-ramsey-details-how-one-move-could-make-you-5-million-by-retirement">Compound interest is the real magic</a> here: the earlier you start, the more your money has time to grow.
Making small, regular contributions to growth-stock mutual funds can lead to big returns over time. This idea isn't new, but people often forget it because they think they need a high income to build wealth. What you really need is a plan to keep investing regularly, not a huge paycheck.
Trending: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.26/share!</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Simple, But Not Easy</h2>
As Ramsey notes, while the strategy itself is simple, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40583428/you-cant-earn-your-way-out-of-stupidity-dave-ramsey-on-why-60k-earning-teachers-often-become-mil">it's not necessarily easy</a>. Most people struggle to commit to a plan that spans decades. As life gets in the way—emergencies, lifestyle upgrades, unexpected expenses, sticking to the 15% rule requires financial discipline, a budget, and oftentimes some really tough choices.
But according to Ramsey, those who are willing to make these sacrifices will be the ones who retire with millions in their accounts, while others rely on social security and hope for the best.
One important thing to keep in mind is how easy it is for money to slip away without you noticing. Think of your checking account like a sieve—if you don't pay attention, money leaks out just like water. Small, unnecessary expenses add up over time and can stop you from reaching your financial goals.&nbsp;
By making a budget and cutting out unnecessary spending, you can find extra money each month to invest. The key is to be intentional about where it goes, instead of letting it slip away without a plan.
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<li>Studies show 50% of consumers think Financial Advisors cost much more than they do —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/money-pickle"> to debunk this, this company provides matching for free and a complimentary first call with the matched advisor.</a></li>
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Personal Finance

Here's How To Reach $3.6 Million By Age 65, According To Dave Ramsey—'It Really Is That Simple'

Reddit Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) is accelerating its global expansion, focusing on international markets such as India and Brazil to drive user growth and unlock advertising opportunities. The platform, traditionally known as an English-language hub, is making strides in broadening its reach with new features <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/reddit">and targeted strategies.</a>
In an <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/27/reddit-targets-international-users-for-ad-growth-teases-search-feature.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a> with CNBC, Reddit COO Jen Wong highlighted the potential for international user growth, noting that approximately half of the platform&#8217;s current users are outside the U.S.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42118134/reddit-resolves-another-outage-after-morning-disruptions-impact-72000-users" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reddit Suffers Second Disruption In Two Days</a>
This contrasts with other platforms, where 80-90% of users are international, CNBC reports.
To cater to global audiences, Reddit launched an AI-powered translation feature that automatically translates the site into various languages. By year-end, the platform aims to support 20-30 languages, enabling localized engagement. Wong emphasized the growth potential in countries like India, where topics such as cricket and Bollywood resonate strongly with users.
In fast-growing markets like the U.K., Philippines, India, and Brazil, Reddit has started meeting with moderators (&#8220;mods&#8221;) to enhance local community content. This aligns with its strategy to build a strong presence in regions with a large, engaged internet population.
Despite having 50% of its user base outside the U.S., international markets account for just 17% of Reddit&#8217;s revenue, highlighting a significant opportunity for growth. Wong told CNBC that Reddit begins its advertising efforts with cross-border campaigns, such as European brands targeting U.S. audiences. Once Reddit reaches about 10% of a country&#8217;s internet users, the platform can focus on local ad campaigns, which it sees as a significant growth driver.
India, a key market, offers immense potential due to its English-speaking user base and interest in community-driven topics. Reddit is monitoring its growth closely in emerging markets to build localized advertising solutions.
Reddit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41612293/reddit-stock-soars-after-strong-q3-results-q4-guidance-above-estimates-dauqs-grow-17-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported third-quarter</a> revenue of $348.4 million, topping the consensus estimate of $311.42 million. EPS of 16 cents per share surpassed the analyst consensus estimate for losses of 8 cents. Daily Active Uniques (DAUq) increased by 47% to 97.2 million. Reddit expects fourth-quarter revenue of $385 million—$400 million versus the $356.716 million estimate.&nbsp;
Jim Cramer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/11/42212745/jim-cramer-reddit-is-fabulous-dow-is-a-tough-one" rel="noreferrer noopener">expressed optimism about</a> Reddit during CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; emphasizing confidence in the company&#8217;s potential.
Price Action: RDDT stock traded higher by 1.17% to $137.02 at the last check on Wednesday. Reddit stock surged 172% year-to-date.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41210911/reddit-stock-faces-caution-from-jp-morgan-strong-fundamentals-but-valuation-concern" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reddit Stock Faces Caution from JP Morgan: Strong Fundamentals, But Valuation Concerns Persist</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Social Media

Global

Media

RDDT

Reddit Targets India, Brazil To Boost Global User Growth, Revenue

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Affirm Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in AFRM often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 12 options trades for Affirm Holdings. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 25% bullish and 66% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $31,680, and 11 calls, totaling $540,849.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $45.0 to $80.0 for Affirm Holdings during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Affirm Holdings's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Affirm Holdings's whale activity within a strike price range from $45.0 to $80.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Affirm Holdings Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732731338_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$24.95</td>
<td>$24.55</td>
<td>$24.9</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$74.7K</td>
<td>969</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/29/24</td>
<td>$22.05</td>
<td>$22.0</td>
<td>$22.0</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$63.8K</td>
<td>557</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$4.15</td>
<td>$4.24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$63.6K</td>
<td>9.9K</td>
<td align="right">219</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$18.25</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$56.1K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td align="right">44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$21.4</td>
<td>$21.2</td>
<td>$21.32</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$53.1K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Affirm Holdings</h3>
Affirm Holdings Inc offers a platform for digital and mobile-first commerce. It comprises a point-of-sale payment solution for consumers, merchant commerce solutions, and a consumer-focused app. The firm generates its revenue from merchant networks, and through virtual card networks among others. Geographically, it generates a majority share of its revenue from the United States.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Affirm Holdings, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Affirm Holdings</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 3,085,236, the price of AFRM is up by 1.14%, reaching $67.03.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 71 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Affirm Holdings</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $67.6.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JP Morgan persists with their Overweight rating on Affirm Holdings, maintaining a target price of $56. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Affirm Holdings, which currently sits at a price target of $69. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on Affirm Holdings with a target price of $64. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on Affirm Holdings with a target price of $75. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Affirm Holdings, which currently sits at a price target of $74. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Affirm Holdings, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

AFRM

Looking At Affirm Holdings's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Sea (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SE#NYSE">SE</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SE, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for Sea.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 37% bullish and 62%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $103,500, and 7, calls, for a total amount of $342,595.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $80.0 to $175.0 for Sea over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Sea's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Sea's significant trades, within a strike price range of $80.0 to $175.0, over the past month.
<h3>Sea Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732731333_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.65</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$103.5K</td>
<td>122</td>
<td align="right">300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$45.0</td>
<td>$44.35</td>
<td>$45.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$90.0K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$56.4K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td align="right">126</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$44.9</td>
<td>$43.65</td>
<td>$44.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$44.0</td>
<td>$43.9</td>
<td>$43.9</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$43.9K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Sea</h3>
Sea operates Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce company, Shopee, in terms of gross merchandise value and number of transactions. Sea started as a gaming business, Garena, but in 2015 expanded into e-commerce, which is now the main growth driver. Shopee is a hybrid C2C and B2C marketplace platform operating in eight core markets. Indonesia accounts for 35% of GMV, with the rest split mainly among Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. For Garena, Free Fire was the most downloaded game in January 2022 and accounted for 74% of gaming revenue in 2021. Sea's third business, SeaMoney, provides lending and we foresee it becoming a larger part of the entire business in the long term as its loan book has grown to $3.5 billion in 2024.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Sea, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Sea's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,170,058, with SE's price up by 0.39%, positioned at $114.38.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 96 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Sea</h3>
4 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $115.25.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Sea, which currently sits at a price target of $131. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Phillip Securities has revised its rating downward to Reduce, adjusting the price target to $100. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Benchmark continues to hold a Buy rating for Sea, targeting a price of $130. 
&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen has decided to maintain their Hold rating on Sea, which currently sits at a price target of $100. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Sea options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With Sea

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on DraftKings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with DKNG, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for DraftKings.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 62% bullish and 37%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $101,742, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $212,853.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $35.0 and $50.0 for DraftKings, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for DraftKings's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of DraftKings's whale activity within a strike price range from $35.0 to $50.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>DraftKings 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732731328_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$16.05</td>
<td>$16.4</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$70.5K</td>
<td>104</td>
<td align="right">43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$68.9K</td>
<td>327</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/29/24</td>
<td>$10.1</td>
<td>$7.45</td>
<td>$8.64</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>68</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.2</td>
<td>$4.2</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$32.7K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$0.77</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$0.77</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>11.1K</td>
<td align="right">725</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About DraftKings</h3>
DraftKings got its start in 2012 as an innovator in daily fantasy sports. Then, following a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that allowed states to legalize online sports wagering, the company expanded into online sports and casino gambling, where it generally holds the number two or three revenue share position across states in which it competes. DraftKings is now live with online or retail sports betting in about 30 states and iGaming in seven states, with both products available to around 40% of Canada's population. The company also operates a non-fungible token commissioned-based marketplace and develops and licenses online gaming products.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding DraftKings, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of DraftKings</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 3,724,875, with DKNG's price down by -0.3%, positioned at $42.93.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 78 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On DraftKings</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $55.2.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Buy rating on DraftKings, maintaining a target price of $55. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Macquarie has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on DraftKings, which currently sits at a price target of $51. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Needham lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $60. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Overweight rating on DraftKings, maintaining a target price of $50. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Needham downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $60. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for DraftKings with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

DKNG

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on DKNG Options

<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-wont-remove-agency-from-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-but-raises-concerns-about-alleged-unlawful-contact-with-prohibitionists/">https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-wont-remove-agency-from-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-but-raises-concerns-about-alleged-unlawful-contact-with-prohibitionists/</a>
A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge has denied a motion to remove the agency from its role in an upcoming marijuana rescheduling hearing—though he sharply criticized responses from DEA and a prohibitionist group over an allegation that they unlawfully communicated during the cannabis rulemaking process.
With <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-posts-details-on-next-weeks-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-including-live-stream-and-documents-portal/">the initial rescheduling hearing set for next week</a>, DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John Mulrooney has been addressing multiple motions from interested parties, largely centering around witness participation in the proceedings.
But one motion from two designated participants—Hemp for Victory and Village Farms International—made an especially bold assertion: It alleged DEA effectively conspired with Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an anti-cannabis group that was selected to serve as a witness. And that alleged ex parte communication, coupled with DEA's apparent indecision over the proposed rule, should be grounds to remove the agency as the designated "proponent" of the rescheduling rule.
Mulrooney had already indicated that it's statutorily beyond ALJ authority to take that action, and he formally denied the motion on Wednesday.
"There is no question that the allegations raised by the [ex parte motion (EPM)] are distasteful and arguably unhelpful to the public's perception that the proceedings will be transparent," the order says. "That said, this tribunal is without authority to grant the supplementation and removal relief sought (the only relief sought) by the Movants."
But the judge also took the opportunity to more substantively address the allegations of unlawful communications between DEA and SAM, rebuking both parties' <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-says-it-didnt-conspire-with-anti-marijuana-group-dismissing-allegedly-illegal-talks-as-gossip/">response briefs that categorically denied the claims of misconduct</a>.
He said that, "in view of the nature of the allegations, the denial of the EPM does not finish the job."
After describing ex parte statutes in the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Mulrooney challenged DEA's "bold declarations" that it was innocent of violating the rules. He wrote that "these seemingly courageous proclamations are quickly all but eviscerated by the Government's surprising qualification that this proclamation of innocence extends only to the ‘DEA counsel of record.'"
That is, DEA denied the improper contacts, but only for its counsel of record in the hearing, whereas the motion that raised the allegations were not limited to only those officials.
"Thus, the Government defended against an allegation that was never actually leveled, and never dealt with the true gravamen of the factual allegations of the EPM," the order says. "Stated differently, the Government responded to an allegation that it created, not the one that was in issue."
"As discussed, supra, the applicable APA provisions are not so slender or lacking in common sense as to limit their applicability to a Government trial team who was never alleged to have made the communication in the first place. In its peculiar, semi-blanket denial, the Government did not happen to address staff members who actually may have made the purported communication, or those who may have been advising the Administrator at the time she was making decisions about whether there would be a rescheduling action, and who (if anyone) would sign the [notice of proposed rulemaking]."
The judge also noted that there's "no indication in its [DEA's response] that the Government has made even the mildest attempt to ascertain the truth and disclose it to the public and this tribunal."
Mulrooney further took SAM to task over its separate response to the allegations. The prohibitionist group maintained, for example, that any ex parte communications would have had to occur after the notice of proposed rulemaking was published, signaling that SAM President Kevin Sabet's talks with confidential sources at DEA that he posted about on social media ahead of the notice would not qualify as unlawful under the statute.
"This argument misleadingly omits from its analysis that portion of the relevant APA section that incorporates the critical qualifier ‘unless the person responsible for the communication has knowledge that it will be noticed, in which case the prohibitions shall apply beginning at the time of his acquisition of such knowledge,'" the order says.
The judge said "it would defy reason to suggest that Dr. Sabet and whoever in the DEA he may have spoken to were not aware that decisions in this matter were imminent."
"Such decisions would include not only whether the DEA Administrator intended to sign and support the goal of the NPRM, but also, who would be ultimately identified as a Designated Participant (or at least, what criteria would be used in reaching that determination)," he said.
"By SAM's reckoning even if a prospective party to a rulemaking proceeding were to spend hours advocating its position to the decider on the day before publication in the Federal Register, that public servant (who would clearly have had knowledge of the publication) would have no obligation to reveal that to a soul; not to the public, not to the parties who were not invited, not to the administrative record, and certainly not to any reviewing courts. This indeed would be a very restrictive view of the ethical obligations of a public servant, and perhaps less transparency than the public might expect from its government."
SAM also contended that there's no evidence that the alleged communications with DEA concerned the merits of the rescheduling proposal, so they could not therefore be considered ex parte.
Mulrooney agreed that merit is a key component of the statute at play, but "as is often the case with secret communications, by design the act of shielding the contents from others inhibits the ability to discover their contents."
"There is no context as to the conversation surrounding Dr. Sabet's social media announcements regarding his ‘two confidential sources inside [the] DEA,' or why those sources would be close enough to the Administrator to render their obvious violations of her confidence to be deemed reliable," he said.
"It is also challenging to interpret the comments Dr. Sabet allegedly posted as a status check. Likewise requiring some level of creativity is reconciling SAM's argument that rescheduling proceedings had not commenced with its current position that Dr. Sabet was performing a status check. Stated differently, if there were no proceedings yet in existence, what would Dr. Sabet have been checking the status of?"
"SAM dismisses the allegation essentially on the basis that others (including some who publicly favor the NPRM) were equally loquacious on social media," the order says. "An inescapable point here is that (unlike SAM) none of those others are DPs in this case, and based on the motion practice to date, many of those not selected to participate do not seem to have an understanding as to why that is true."
In light of all this, the ALJ said his job was then to determine whether the allegation of illegal communications justified an order to have the government and SAM prove their ex parte innocence.
"As unappetizing as this whole misadventure appears, the remedy test for improper ex parte communications is whether the communication materially affected or will affect the way a given case is or has yet been decided," he said.
"Dr. Sabet (for whatever his reasons were) elected to alert the world through social media that he was receiving privileged information from those close to Agency leadership. When he told the world, he also told the Movants. The Movants knew about Dr. Sabet's online bragging before these proceedings began. At this juncture, this question hinges on ‘whether, as a result of improper ex parte communications, the agency's decisionmaking process [has been or would be] irrevocably tainted so as to make the ultimate judgment of the agency unfair, either to an innocent party or to the public interest that the agency [is] obligated to protect.'"
"Here, because I have concluded that, at least based on the papers I have, there is insufficient basis to support such a conclusion, even if every fact alleged in the EPM were assumed arguendo to be accurate, no order to show cause will issue," he said.
That is, without an "ultimate judgment" being rendered in the rescheduling proceedings at this stage, the judge said he could not order DEA or SAM to further establish that they didn't engage in the alleged conduct.
Meanwhile, in a prehearing statement submitted to Mulrooney on Tuesday, <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-health-officials-rejected-deas-request-to-testify-at-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-agency-tells-judge/">DEA previewed the testimony its own witnesses plan to provide</a>&nbsp;at the upcoming hearing—without clarifying where it stands on the rescheduling proposal.
The agency also said that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—which carried out a scientific review that informed the proposal to move cannabis to Schedule III—"rejected" its request to provide witnesses.
While the initial preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 2, the merit-based proceedings were delayed until at least early 2025 after Mulrooney notified DEA that it provided insufficient information about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-issues-order-approving-and-denying-witnesses-for-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-and-laying-out-next-steps/">the 25 selected witnesses that DEA Administrator Ann Milgram submitted</a>.
Separately, the judge last week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/researcher-asks-dea-judge-to-postpone-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing-until-after-trump-takes-over/">denied a request from a cannabis and psychedelics researcher</a>&nbsp;to postpone the upcoming rescheduling hearing over the agency's alleged "improper blocking" of witnesses, while arguing that the process should be halted at least until President-elect Donald Trump's administration comes into power so it can review the rulemaking.
Mulrooney also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dea-judge-rejects-veterans-groups-petition-to-participate-in-marijuana-rescheduling-hearing/">rejected a veterans group's petition to participate in the rescheduling hearing</a>, which the organization called a "travesty of justice" that excludes key voices that would be affected by the potential policy change.
For what it's worth, Vice President Kamala Harris said recently that part of the reason for the delay in the administration's marijuana rescheduling effort is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/kamala-harris-blames-marijuana-rescheduling-delay-on-dea-bureaucracy-while-defending-her-own-prosecutorial-record/">federal bureaucracy that "slows things down," including at DEA.</a>
In March, Harris also expressed some frustration with the bureaucratic process of rescheduling marijuana, prior to DOJ's formal recommendation,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/watch-live-vp-harris-talks-marijuana-ahead-of-white-house-meeting-with-cannabis-pardon-recipients/">calling on DEA to expediently finish the job</a>.
While the Biden–Harris administration facilitated the review that led to the DOJ rescheduling proposal, Trump has also voiced support for the reform.
In Congress, numerous lawmakers have shared their own perspectives on the proposed reform with DEA and DOJ since the Schedule III announcement was made.
In August, for example, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-senator-demands-answers-on-rush-to-reschedule-marijuana-from-top-biden-administration-officials/">raised concerns about the Biden administration's justification</a>&nbsp;for recommending marijuana rescheduling, demanding answers to questions from federal agencies about how they arrived at that decision in what he described as a rushed and unconventional administrative process.
A week earlier, top Democratic senators—including&nbsp; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—sent a separate letter to DOJ's Garland and DEA's Milgram urging the agencies to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/schumer-booker-and-other-senators-push-dea-to-promptly-finalize-marijuana-rescheduling/">"promptly finalize" the rule to reschedule marijuana</a>.
While rescheduling would remove certain research barriers and free up state-licensed cannabis business to take federal tax deductions under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code known as 280E, it would not federally legalize marijuana, as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-businesses-could-advertise-in-newspapers-and-magazines-if-rescheduling-is-approved-congressional-researchers-say/">Congressional Research Service (CRS) has made known in multiple recent reports</a>.
Meanwhile, two additional congressional lawmakers have joined the ranks of GOP members who are challenging what they say is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-lawmakers-demand-answers-from-biden-administration-about-unusual-marijuana-review-process-behind-rescheduling-push/">the "unusual" process that led the Biden administration to propose rescheduling marijuana</a>, expressing concern about how the review was carried out and demanding answers.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congressman-says-marijuana-rescheduling-and-banking-reform-would-prop-up-an-immoral-industry/">condemned the Biden administration's push to reclassify marijuana</a>, as well as legislative efforts to enact bipartisan cannabis banking reform, because he says the policy changes would "prop up this immoral industry" and give a "green light to the evil that comes from drug use."
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also blasted the Biden administration over what he described as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-senator-condemns-lack-of-transparency-in-marijuana-rescheduling-process/">repeated refusals from federal agencies to brief Congress</a>&nbsp;on its plans and justification for rescheduling marijuana, which he argues fuels speculation that the proposed policy change is politically motivated.
Similarly, 25 GOP congressional lawmakers sent a public comment letter in July opposing the administration's planned rescheduling of marijuana, specifically alleging&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-lawmakers-push-justice-department-to-reverse-course-on-marijuana-rescheduling/">the government's recommendation was based on politics rather than science</a>.

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'DEA Judge Won't Remove Agency From Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing, But Raises Concerns About Alleged Unlawful Contact With Prohibitionists' - Marijuana Moment

CMGE Technology Group

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>CMGE Technology announced it was buying the international rights to the game &ldquo;The Legend of Sword and Fairy&rdquo; from Taiwan&rsquo;s Softstar Entertainment</li>
	<li>The Chinese gaming company looks to be speeding up an overseas push to offset intense competition in its home market</li>
</ul>

By Fai Pui

It has been an action-packed year for the producer of the hit game &ldquo;Black Myth: Wukong&rdquo;, an adventure story featuring a legendary ape-like hero.

Since its release on Aug. 20, the title has injected new life into China&rsquo;s battered gaming market and has blazed a trail for more Chinese-themed blockbusters to find a receptive overseas audience.

Based on a mythological character from Chinese literature, the role-playing epic has earned its makers $960 million in revenue so far, according to industry data, becoming one of the fastest-selling games on record. The release helped boost total gaming revenue in August to 33.64 billion yuan ($4.77 billion), a year-on-year leap of 15%.

Less than a month after the launch, the game&rsquo;s maker,&nbsp;CMGE Technology Group Ltd.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMGEF#OTC">CMGEF</a>),&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0911/2024091101118.pdf">bought</a>&nbsp;the international rights to another hugely popular game, &ldquo;The Legend of Sword and Fairy&rdquo;, from Taiwan&rsquo;s Softstar Entertainment for 18.3 million yuan. In addition, Softstar was allotted 38 million new CGME shares at an issue price of HK$1.68 per share, a premium of 140% over the closing price on the day the deal was announced, giving it a 1.31% stake in the Chinese company.

&ldquo;The Legend of Sword and Fairy&rdquo; is an entertainment classic drawing on Chinese legends and fantasy stories, known to every avid gamer. Developed and distributed by Softstar, the game was released on the MS-DOS platform in 1995 before launching on Windows and Sega&rsquo;s Saturn console. The game was remade in 2001 to enhance the image quality and has scored a hit with many Chinese players born in the 1980s and 1990s. CMGE bought the Chinese mainland rights to the game in August 2021, gaining complete IP control with the deal announced in mid-September.

The game earned total revenue of HK$41.35 million ($5.3 million) in 2022, with a pre-tax profit of HK$25.65 million, according to data in the announcement. But last year the game&rsquo;s revenue plummeted to HK$11.19 million, generating a pre-tax loss of HK$5.22 million.

However, consolidating the rights to the game could release new revenue possibilities.

Independent stock analyst Ivan Chow said CMGE was probably aiming to link the computer version of the game and its mobile equivalent, enhancing the IP value amid a burst of enthusiasm for Chinese heritage themes in the wake of the &ldquo;Black Myth: Wukong&rdquo; sensation.

Over decades of careful cultivation, &ldquo;The Legend of Sword and Fairy&rdquo; has grown into a brand ecosystem spanning games, comics, literature, reality entertainment, film, television, animation, music, virtual idols and derivative products. In announcing the deal, CMGE signaled an intention to further develop the brand, vowing to deepen and spread the influence of Chinese stories and Chinese culture.

Like a thwarted action hero, China&rsquo;s gaming industry is in urgent need of a comeback, after battling through repeated regulatory crackdowns over recent years. As part of a sweeping campaign to rein in the Internet sector, the Chinese government sought to curb compulsive gaming, slapping limits on the permitted playing time for minors and on tips for hosts, while new game products were subjected to a drawn-out approvals process.

<h3>Loosening The Grip</h3>

However, the attitude is shifting as the authorities looks for ways to boost China&rsquo;s faltering economy. The success of &ldquo;Black Myth: Wukong&rdquo; underlines the sector&rsquo;s potential as a growth engine, bolstering the case for state support. In a clear sign of a shift, China&rsquo;s media watchdog approved 117 domestically developed video games last month, more than in any other month this year.

&ldquo;Chinese games can act as an important medium for China to project its soft power around the world, and the success of &lsquo;Black Myth: Wukong&rsquo; serves as a powerful example,&rdquo; said analyst Chow. It would not be in the government&rsquo;s economic interests to keep applying regulatory pressure, which could deter investment, hurt player experiences and shrink the value of the gaming sector, he said.

CMGE appears to be sensing a policy pivot, stepping up collaborations this year to expand its reach. In April, it forged a strategic partnership with HashKey Group to jointly develop blockchain-based Web3 games and platforms. In the same month it tied up with an e-sports company, Guangzhou Chaojing Investment, seeking to tap into the potential for competitive gaming. The owner of CMGE&rsquo;s e-sports partner, Edward Zhu, has also been taking an equity stake to cement the relationship. In the latest purchase in July, Zhu bought 100 million CMGE shares at HK$1.68, an 87% premium over the market price. With a 9.68% stake, he now ranks as the company&rsquo;s third-biggest shareholder.

Since the tie-up, the partners have been working to build cross-channel links and develop a growing base of low-cost users for CMGE&rsquo;s proprietary games. Meanwhile, CMGE can piggyback on its partner&rsquo;s international channels to drive an overseas expansion, which was also a motivating factor in the rights deal with Softstar.

CMGE has been looking to diversify its gaming portfolio away from small, mobile games, which is a fiercely competitive segment of the industry, said analyst Chow. In that mobile arena, brand loyalty takes considerable time and a big marketing budget to develop, he said, but players can still be fickle and switch to other platforms.

The company&rsquo;s finances reflect the battle for players&rsquo; attention. In first-half&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0828/2024082802301.pdf">earnings</a>&nbsp;released in June, CMGE&rsquo;s &nbsp;revenue fell 19.7% to 1.23 billion yuan and its number of monthly paying users slipped 9.2% to 1.03 million, &nbsp;with average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) falling 11.5% to 200.2 yuan.

After the company bought out the rights to &ldquo;The Legend of Sword and Fairy&rdquo;, its stock rallied 7%. The firm now trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.81 times, slightly higher than the 0.71 times for&nbsp;NetDragon&nbsp;(0777.HK) and 0.75 times for&nbsp;IGG&nbsp;(0799.HK), but far below the multiple of 3.4 times for&nbsp;NetEase&nbsp;(9999.HK).

There could be more upside for CMGE, aside from the unwinding of regulations, if cuts in U.S. interest rates help fuel a broader rally on equity markets in mainland China and Hong Kong.

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>CMGE said it has formed a partnership with Guangzhou Chaojing Investment aimed at tapping the latter&rsquo;s strong position in e-sports</li>
	<li>CMGE&rsquo;s shares rose 3.2% on the news and have rallied 30% in the past week on renewed investors interest in the gaming sector after a prolonged crackdown that is now easing</li>
</ul>

By Doug Young

CMGE Technology Group Ltd.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMGEF#OTC">CMGEF</a>) is placing a big bet on e-sports, hoping a related new tie-up can bring some &ldquo;game&rdquo; back to its sagging stock.

Investors seemed to like the idea, with CMGE shares jumping 3.2% on Monday after the company, one of China&rsquo;s many mid-sized game operators,&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0428/2024042800057.pdf">announced</a>&nbsp;its new tie-up with e-sports specialist&nbsp;Guangzhou Chaojing Investment Co. Ltd.&nbsp;The gain extended a rally that has seen CMGE&rsquo;s stock jump 30% over the last week, riding a sudden broader rally that saw the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rise nearly 10% last week.

CMGE&rsquo;s story appears to be one of growing enthusiasm returning to China&rsquo;s battered gaming stocks after the group took a major beating over the last few years &ndash; part of a series of government crackdowns across China&rsquo;s internet sector.

Among other things, the group was subject to a series of suspensions, often lasting months and even more than a year, in regulatory approval of new games by China&rsquo;s regulator. It was also subject to new rules severely limiting the amount of time minors could spend gaming online, and also the money they could use to tip their favorite internet personalities.

But more recently, Beijing seems to be easing up the gaming sector. Part of that probably owes to its importance as an economic engine as China&rsquo;s economy slows. Another element is China&rsquo;s recent realization that its industries are becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, which is leading to renewed efforts to keep its cutting-edge sectors like gaming engaged in the global community.

Such factors are probably a factor leading companies like CMGE to start seeking new alliances, believing such tie-ups will be welcomed by Beijing as a way to boost the industry. Earlier this month we saw a similar major new tie-up when domestic giant&nbsp;NetEase&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTES#NASDAQ">NTES</a>) resumed a partnership with U.S. peer Blizzard after a one-year pause to bring titles like &ldquo;World of Warcraft&rdquo; and &ldquo;Diablo&rdquo; to China.

CMGE&rsquo;s tie-up isn&rsquo;t quite such a headline-grabber, but looks relatively significant nonetheless. The deal will see the pair cooperate in game development, operation and promotion, according to the Sunday announcement. The deal looks especially focused on e-sports, noting that Chaojing&rsquo;s deep resources in e-sports include its operation of related channels on popular local social media platforms like Douyin, Bilibili, Huya, Kuaishou and Xiaohongshu.

&ldquo;The group can make use of Chaojing Group&rsquo;s resources and experience in e-sports, media communication, fans management and other businesses to further improve the group&rsquo;s efficiency in respect of game research and development &hellip; and enhance the group&rsquo;s business competitiveness,&rdquo; CMGE said in the statement.

No financial terms were given, which indicates this is probably a cross-marketing agreement rather than a tie-up involving major investment by either party. But if the partnership proves fruitful, it&rsquo;s quite possible we could see the two sides extend the tie-up with the formation of a joint venture or cross investment in each other.

<h3>E-Sports potential</h3>

The tie-up takes direct aim at China&rsquo;s e-sports market, which is both full of potential but also sensitive due to its vulnerability to future crackdowns. In addition to spending extended time online competing and following their favorite gamers, e-sports enthusiasts also often tip those gamers as part of the culture &ndash; two areas that could come under more regulatory scrutiny in the future.

China&rsquo;s e-sports industry was worth 127 billion yuan ($17.5 billion) in 2021, roughly double the 60 billion yuan four years earlier in 2017, according to third-party data in a U.S. IPO prospectus submitted by smaller e-sports company&nbsp;NeoTV Group&nbsp;last year.

In addition to small companies like NeoTV, the industry has spawned larger players like Tencent-backed&nbsp;VSPO, which last year raised $265 million from Savvy Games Group, the gaming arm of Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s sovereign wealth fund.

CMGE&rsquo;s new tie-up also contains an international angle, noting the alliance is aimed at capturing a slice of the $10 billion global market for physical battle cards using Chaojing&rsquo;s international channels related to one of its games.

Like many Chinese gaming companies, CMGE has been trying to diversify its business into other markets, partly as a hedge against regulatory risk at home. Its efforts on that front backslid a bit last year, with international revenue dropping 37% to 227 million yuan in 2023 from 361 million yuan in 2022. That dropped the international portion of its revenue to 9% of the total last year from 13% in 2022, so perhaps the new tie-up can help to reverse that trend.

Like many in the sector, CMGE has struggled in recent years due to the regulator tightening. Its revenue declined 4% last year to 2.6 billion yuan from 2.7 billion yuan in 2022, though its loss over that period narrowed to 38 million yuan from a 217 million yuan loss in 2022. And importantly, the company returned to profitability on an adjusted basis last year, which typically excludes employee-based stock compensation. It reported a modest 5.4 million yuan adjusted profit for 2023, reversing a 196 million yuan loss on that basis in 2022.

Analysts are quite bullish on the company as all the recent regulatory noise fades into the background. Four polled by Yahoo Finance expect CMGE&rsquo;s revenue to jump 44% this year, and then to rise another 18% in 2025.

The analyst bullishness and recent rally in its stock have left CMGE&rsquo;s shares valued relatively strongly compared to other mid-sized gaming companies, though they&rsquo;re still well behind big names like NetEase. The stock now trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 1.25, behind NetEase&rsquo;s 4.4 but ahead of the 1 for&nbsp;Huya&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUYA#NYSE">HUYA</a>) and 0.7 for&nbsp;NetDragon&nbsp;(0777.HK).

At the end of the day, CMGE&rsquo;s new tie-up and China&rsquo;s loosening regulatory environment both look broadly positive for the company. And if the nascent rally for Chinese stocks continues, it&rsquo;s quite possible companies like CMGE could emerge as major beneficiaries.

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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