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CV Holdings Inc is a specialty finance company with ownership in finance platforms across multiple businesses, including small-ticket equipment financing and commercial real estate bridge lending.

CV Holdings Inc

Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNE#NASDAQ">NNE</a>) shares are trading lower on Monday after the company announced a $60 million private placement with three<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/g42163610/nano-nuclear-energy-announces-60-million-private-placement-with-three-accredited-institutional-inv" rel="noreferrer noopener"> accredited institutional investors</a>.
As part of the private placement, NANO Nuclear will issue 2.50 million shares of common stock and five-year warrants covering an additional 2.50 million shares, providing 100% warrant coverage.
Investors will pay $24.00 per share and associated warrant, with the warrants exercisable at $26.00 per share.
The financing boosts NANO Nuclear&#8217;s cash reserves to over $120 million, enabling the company to advance its microreactor technology, support auxiliary businesses, pursue strategic acquisitions, and drive growth toward initial revenue generation.
NANO Nuclear executed a definitive securities purchase agreement on November 24, with the private placement expected to close on November 27, pending customary conditions.
The Benchmark Company, LLC serves as the sole placement agent for the transaction.
NANO Nuclear has committed to file a registration statement with the SEC by January 15, 2025, to cover the resale of both the common stock shares and the shares underlying the warrants issued in the private placement.
Last week, Nano Nuclear Energy announced that John Vonglis, former CFO of the U.S. Department of Energy, has taken an active corporate role at NANO Nuclear as executive<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/11/42118886/nano-nuclear-energy-shares-are-on-the-rise-today-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener"> director of Global Government Affairs</a>.
His responsibilities include managing relationships with government agencies and aligning the company&#8217;s nuclear energy projects with public funding opportunities and policy initiatives.
Price Action: NNE shares are down 23.4% at $25.75 at the last check Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/11/41915547/trumps-fossil-fuel-push-may-satisfy-ais-soaring-energy-demand-but-what-about-nuclear" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s Fossil Fuel Push May Satisfy AI&#8217;s Soaring Energy Demand — But What About Nuclear?</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Pixabay.

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Nano Nuclear Stock Plunges After $60 Million Private Placement Offering: Details

TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTE#NYSE">TTE</a>) shares are trading lower on Monday. The company stated that it has learned of U.S. authorities indicting certain executives of Adani Group&#8216;s Indian renewable energy segment. 
The indictment does not target Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL) or its related entities. TotalEnergies is not implicated in the allegations, either. 
TotalEnergies owns a 19.75% stake in AGEL and is a 50% joint-venture partner in AGEL projects established between 2020 and 2024.
Pending clarification of the accusations and their implications, TotalEnergies will halt new financial contributions to Adani group investments.
TotalEnergies states its investments in AGEL, made in compliance with laws and due diligence processes, were based on representations from the sellers, with no prior knowledge of any investigations.
Apart from this, TotalEnergies is partnering with Air Liquide to produce renewable hydrogen at its La Mède biorefinery in southeast France, supporting its <a target="_blank" href="https://totalenergies.com/news/press-releases/hydrogen-totalenergies-accelerates-decarbonization-its-platform-la-mede" rel="noreferrer noopener">2030 </a>goal to decarbonize hydrogen use in European refineries.
This initiative complements the Masshylia green hydrogen project, developed with ENGIE. Together, these projects aim to cut La Mède&#8217;s annual CO2 emissions by 130,000 tons.
Apart from this, TotalEnergies and ENGIE are advancing the Masshylia project to <a target="_blank" href="https://totalenergies.com/news/press-releases/hydrogen-totalenergies-accelerates-decarbonization-its-platform-la-mede" rel="noreferrer noopener">produce </a>10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually through water electrolysis.
This will help decarbonize the La Mède biorefinery and serve local customers in the Fos-Berre industrial-port zone. The first 20 MW electrolyzer is targeted for startup in 2029, pending European and French subsidies and public authorizations.
Last week, the company inked a Cooperation Agreement with Oil India Limited (OIL) to use TotalEnergies' AUSEA technology for methane emissions detection and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/24/11/42068616/totalenergies-expands-decarbonization-efforts-through-partnership-with-oil-india-limited" rel="noreferrer noopener">measurement at OIL sites in India</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV FT Energy Income Partners Strategy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIPX#NYSE">EIPX</a>) and&nbsp;Octane All-Cap Value Energy ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OCTA#NASDAQ">OCTA</a>).
Price Action: TotalEnergies shares are down 1.42% at $58.81 at the last check Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42164661" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EQT Secures $3.5 Billion Boost: Blackstone JV To Power Midstream Expansion</a></li>
</ul>

Large Cap

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OCTA

TotalEnergies Suspends Financial Ties With Adani Group Amid US Investigation

WIIM

CVS Health shares are trading higher after Cowen maintained its Buy rating and raised its price target from $73 to $80. Piper Sandler also maintained its Overweight rating, but lowered its price target from $72 to $64.

TD Cowen maintains MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $392 to $525.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

MSTR

TD Cowen Maintains Buy on MicroStrategy, Raises Price Target to $525

Jones Lang LaSalle shares are trading higher after Wolfe Research upgraded the stock from Peer Perform to Outperform and announced a $353 price target.

When Andy Williams released the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" on his first 1963 Christmas album, the S&amp;P 500 was singing a bullish tune of its own. The index had just hit a record high of 74 points, shaking off the scars of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets"> the 1962 bear market. </a>
Fast-forward 61 years, and history looks ready to rhyme: the U.S. stock market is again trading at all-time highs as the holiday season ushers in what has historically been a joyful period for investors.
If history is any guide, the next five weeks could be a strong, if not the best, time of the year for U.S. equities.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">December: A Tradition Of Holiday Cheer On Wall Street</h1>
Since 1928, the S&amp;P 500 index — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — has averaged a 1.25% gain during the month, making it the second-best performer of the year, behind only July.
But here's the kicker: when you include the final week of November, the stock market truly enters its most wonderful time of the year for investors. 
&#8220;I think that U.S. equities will rally starting next week into the end of the year, with the S&amp;P 500 hitting 6,200,&#8221; Goldman Sachs analyst Scott Rubner said last Friday. 
&#8220;We are entering the best seasonal period of the year for U.S. equities,&#8221; he added. 
Both the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to record highs on Monday, driven by investor optimism following reports of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that eased geopolitical concerns<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42166676/israel-reaches-groundbreaking-ceasefire-deal-with-lebanon-gold-oil-tumble-sp-500-dow-jointly-hit-record-highs"> in the Middle East.</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Thanksgiving Week&#8217;s Effect</h3>
Thanksgiving week itself has a solid track record of lifting the S&amp;P 500. 
According to Stephen Suttmeier, a Bank of America analyst and market technician, the index has risen 60% of the time during Thanksgiving week since 1928, delivering an average return of 0.28%, or 0.46% median.
In a note shared to clients on Monday, Suttmeier highlighted that in the period from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, the S&amp;P 500 has climbed 71% of the time, with an average return of 1.46%, or 1.70% median.
&#8220;Thanksgiving into year-end SPX seasonality is strong for all years and in Presidential election years,&#8221; Suttmeier wrote.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Indicator</th>
<th>Thanksgiving week</th>
<th>Thanksgiving through Dec. 31</th>
<th>Thanksgiving week (Presidential election years)</th>
<th>Thanksgiving through Dec. 31 (Presidential election years)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>0.28%</td>
<td>1.46%</td>
<td>0.88%</td>
<td>1.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Median</td>
<td>0.46%</td>
<td>1.70%</td>
<td>1.08%</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>% Time positive</td>
<td>60.42%</td>
<td>70.83%</td>
<td>75%</td>
<td>75%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Bank of America</figcaption></figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Election Years Also Show Solid Year-End S&amp;P 500 Returns</h1>
Since 1928, the S&amp;P 500 has posted gains in 75% of election-year Thanksgiving weeks, with an average return of 0.88% or 1.08% median. 
The post-Thanksgiving to year-end period has also delivered the goods, with the index rising 75% of the time, delivering an average return of 1.38%, or 1.6% median.
As investors dig into their turkey this Thanksgiving, they might also consider digging into some U.S. equities. 
After all, history suggests that the combination of optimism, holiday spending and year-end portfolio adjustments could be the season of giving — at least on Wall Street.
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42165391/vanguards-sp-500-etf-hits-100-billion-inflows-in-2024-is-spys-crown-at-risk">Vanguard&#8217;s S&amp;P 500 ETF Hits $100 Billion Inflows In 2024: Is SPY&#8217;s Crown At Risk?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Unsplash

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Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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'It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year' For The Stock Market, History Says

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) shares are moving higher after the company completed a $100 million at-the-market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42162628">equity offering</a>.
The Details: The funds generated from this offering will be used for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. This includes focusing on strengthening its leadership in superconducting quantum computing, improving the fidelity of its quantum operations and developing systems with higher qubit counts for enhanced computational power.
&#8220;We are pleased to see the enthusiasm for the quantum computing sector and our company. We are seeing a great deal of interest from national labs and academic institutions for on-premises quantum computers to pursue hands-on R&amp;D. As the technology continues to improve and more quantum applications are developed we expect to see increasingly more interest from industry and the private sector,&#8221; says Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti CEO.
How To Buy Rigetti Shares
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for Rigetti Computing &#8211; be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy ‘fractional shares,' which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. For example, some stock, like Berkshire Hathaway, can cost thousands of dollars to own just one share. However, if you only want to invest a fraction of that, brokerages will allow you to do so.
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to ‘go short' a share of stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading &#8211; either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42152684/musk-tweet-sparks-dogecoin-surge-fuels-speculation-on-x-payments">Musk Tweet Sparks Dogecoin Surge, Fuels Speculation On X Payments</a>
RGTI Price Action: At the time of writing, Rigetti shares are trading 62.6% higher at $2.83, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Image via Pixabay

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What's Going On With Rigetti Computing Shares?

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TWLO

Live On CNBC; Joe Terranova Buys More Twilio

Matt Gaetz is now selling personalized videos for followers and fans after stepping down from Congress and withdrawing his name from consideration as the country's<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42119848/matt-gaetz-withdraws-name-from-ag-nomination-calls-sex-trafficking-controversy-a-distraction"> next Attorney General.</a>
What Happened: As a member of Congress, Matt Gaetz had an annual salary of $174,000. The Florida Republican was in line for a pay raise as Donald Trump's first pick to be<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/41956594/matt-gaetz-is-trumps-attorney-general-pick-would-be-top-cop-is-under-house-ethics-investigation"> the next attorney general</a>, a position that pays $221,400 annually, but he withdrew his name due to concerns he would not win a congressional vote.
As Gaetz contemplates <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/42078192/trumps-attorney-general-pick-matt-gaetz-resigned-from-congress-ethics-committee-to-decide-if-report-will-be-released">his next move</a>, which could include running for Governor of Florida, he is now collecting hundreds of dollars from fans and followers by making personalized videos on the Cameo <a href="https://www.cameo.com/mattgaetz?utm_source=talent_copy_url&amp;utm_medium=talent_unknown&amp;utm_content=talent_settings_share_link&amp;utm_campaign=profile_share&amp;%24web_only=true&amp;_branch_match_id=1055826855495802779&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXL9NLTsxNzddLzs%2FVT9XPcPd2LvZPjfLyT7KvK0pNSy0qysxLj08qyi8vTi2ydc4oys9NBQAbUYqDOwAAAA%3D%3D">platform</a>.
Following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/23/12/36083226/george-santos-got-a-new-job-and-you-can-buy-his-video-for-a-price">a move made famous</a> by former Congressman George Santos, Gaetz has made his services available on Cameo where he offers personalized video messages for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, pep talks, roasts and as gifts to others.
"You'll have the chance to customize your request for Matt Gaetz, like asking them to mention inside jokes, share words of wisdom, or work in their signature catchphrases. Don't be afraid to get creative with your request, especially for celebrations like weddings, retirements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties that call for a good laugh," the description on Cameo reads.
Gaetz is currently charging $500 for the Cameos with an average length of 1 minute and 27 seconds per video. Gaetz has a 5-star rating from 12 reviews, and videos are delivered within 24 hours of payment.
For comparison, Santos initially priced his Cameos at $75, later increasing the fee to $200 before ultimately raising it to $500.
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent112524">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: Many close to President-elect Trump had high hopes for Gaetz potentially serving as attorney general.
Tesla CEO and co-lead of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk had high praise for the former Congressman.
"Matt Gaetz has three critical assets that are needed for the AG role: a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind. He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison. Gaetz will be our Hammer of Justice," Musk previously <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1858766986508927479">tweeted</a>.
Some on social media were quick to call out Musk being wrong on Gaetz as he is now unemployed and not the hammer of justice Trump and the Tesla CEO may have hoped for.
Several videos shared publicly by Cameo users feature Gaetz discussing his past consideration as an attorney general hopeful.
"And so I can't – like – order Predator strikes on my enemies, as much as I would like to. For now. But I can order you to have as much fun as possible," Gaetz said in one video, later clarifying that an attorney general can't order strikes on their enemies, as <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/24/us-news/matt-gaetz-takes-page-from-george-santos-fires-up-cameo-and-heres-what-hes-charging/">reported </a>by the New York Post.
Another Cameo video sees Gaetz telling a fan "I know you were bummed out when the news broke that I wouldn't be the next Attorney General."
While Republicans won a majority in Congress in the 2024 election, several GOP members appeared hesitant to support Gaetz for the position of attorney general.
Gaetz previously faced a Justice Department inquiry about alleged sex trafficking, drug activities and sex with minors. The House Ethics Committee was investigating Gaetz over similar activities, but after the Congressman resigned they no longer had any power over him.
Cameo videos could serve as a short-term stopgap for Gaetz as he contemplates his next move. They could also serve as an income source for the newly unemployed politician. Santos <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/23/12/36227088/george-santos-makes-more-money-with-cameo-than-congressional-salary-demands-20k-from-jimmy-kimme">previously said </a>he made more in his first seven days doing Cameo videos than his annual $174,000 Congressional salary.
"I'm still going to be in the fight, but it's going to be from a new perch," Gaetz recently said, stating he would not return to Congress after withdrawing his name for attorney general.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/11/42077496/donald-trumps-personnel-picks-new-poll-finds-elon-musk-with-highest-approval-by-voters-matt-gaetz-with-highest-disapproval">Donald Trump&#8217;s Personnel Picks: New Poll Finds Elon Musk With Highest Approval By Voters, Matt Gaetz With Highest Disapproval</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Aaron of L.A. Photography/Shutterstock.com

Politics

Elon Musk Said Matt Gaetz Would Be 'Hammer Of Justice' As Attorney General: Former Congressman Now Unemployed, Sells Cameos For $500

Deere and Company shares are trading higher after Morgan Stanley maintained its Overweight rating and raised its prices target from $401 to $450 on the stock.

Instagram recently suspended the account of Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis, a group advocating for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/military-veterans">military veterans</a> in the cannabis industry, according to co-founder Osbert Orduna. As New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/24/us-news/pro-marijuana-veterans-group-claims-it-was-suspended-from-instagram-in-act-of-censorship/">reported</a>, the suspension occurred on November 21, 2024, without prior notice or explanation, despite the group&#8217;s adherence to Instagram's terms of service and community guidelines.
The group's name, which includes the word "cannabis," and its logo, featuring a marijuana leaf, are suspected by Orduna to have triggered the suspension. However, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/instagram">Instagram</a> has not provided clarity. "We have diligently adhered to Instagram's terms of service and community guidelines, and we believe this suspension to be unjustified," Orduna said in a statement to The NY Post. The Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) platform informed the group they have 180 days to appeal the decision, stating, "If we find your account does follow our community standards, you'll be able to use Instagram again. If not, it will be permanently disabled."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42167296/did-elon-musk-really-use-a-meme-of-pablo-escobar-smoking-weed-to-celebrate-trumps-reelection-what-does-it-even-mean">Did Elon Musk Really Use A Meme Of Pablo Escobar Smoking Weed To Celebrate Trump&#8217;s Election Victory? What Does It Even Mean?</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Free Speech Debate in Social Media</h3>
The suspension has reignited discussions about censorship on social media, particularly for cannabis-related content. Cannabis advocates argue that platforms like Instagram apply their content moderation policies inconsistently, impacting organizations focused on advocacy and education.
Meanwhile, the group has maintained its presence on X, with Orduna praising the platform's owner, Elon Musk, for a "rational position on cannabis." On X, the group criticized Instagram's actions, stating, "Where are the class action lawyers? Who else is tired of @Meta @instagram censorship of the word ‘CANNABIS'?"
Orduna also expressed frustration over Instagram's handling of the matter, accusing the platform of acting as "judge, jury, and executioner."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Broader Implications For Cannabis Industry</h3>
This incident highlights the ongoing struggles faced by cannabis organizations operating within the confines of major tech platforms. Despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40121092/medical-cannabis-patients-increased-sixfold-in-six-years-declined-in-states-where-recreational-u">widespread legalization</a> and growing societal acceptance, cannabis-related groups frequently encounter hurdles due to outdated or overly cautious content policies.
Meta has yet to comment on this specific suspension, leaving industry professionals and advocates to question whether such actions are part of a broader trend of suppressing cannabis-related content or an isolated misstep.
While Meta declined to comment on the issue, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis">cannabis industry</a> continues to grow, and the question remains: Can advocacy groups rely on mainstream social media platforms to amplify their message, or must they seek alternative spaces that accommodate the realities of a legal but still controversial market?
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42074616/expert-tips-to-create-effective-cannabis-content-on-instagram-tiktok-and-more-focus-on-the-content-not-the-packaging">Expert Tips To Create Effective Cannabis Content On Instagram, TikTok And More: Focus On Content, Not Packaging</a></li>
</ul>
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Cannabis

Psychedelics

Instagram Suspends Pro-Cannabis Veterans Group Without Explanation, Raising Censorship Concerns

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-25_08h01_16-scaled.jpg" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bessent Trade</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-shift-away-from-nvidia-bessent-trade-mstr-nvda-mc-11252024">click here</a> for a chart comparing NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>).&nbsp;
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows Microstrategy (MSTR) is up over 70% since Trump's re-election.</li>
<li>The chart shows Nvidia (NVDA) on the other hand is down about 2.5% since Trump's re-election.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>There is a sharp difference between Nvidia and Microstrategy.
<ul>
<li>Nvidia has developed world changing chips for artificial intelligence.</li>
<li>Microstrategy buys bitcoin and is a leveraged way to play bitcoin. At one time, MSTR market cap rose to over 300% of the value of the bitcoin it owned.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Traders have shifted from NVDA being their favorite stock to MSTR being their favorite stock. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Here is how Microstrategy's business model works:
<ul>
<li>Microstrategy raises money by selling stocks and bonds.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Microstrategy uses the proceeds to buy bitcoin.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Microstrategy highly publicizes its plans to buy bitcoin.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Microstrategy buying runs up bitcoin.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The run up in bitcoin prompts traders to super aggressively buy more MSTR stock.</li>
<li>The super aggressive buying runs up MSTR stock.</li>
<li>Microstrategy takes advantage of the run up in its stock to buy more bitcoin.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Microstrategy continues to repeat the process, and traders continue to buy more MSTR stock, running it up higher.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Nvidia's business model is to continuously innovate and progressively produce more powerful chips and software to advance AI.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>72.5% outperformance shown on the chart of MSTR over NVDA is a great indicator for prudent investors of the sentiment in this market.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Investors are buying stocks and cryptos with total abandon.&nbsp; If it was not for the positive seasonality and year end chase, this kind of reckless buying would have resulted in increasing the protection band because extreme positive sentiment is historically a sell signal. &nbsp;However, The Arora Report call remains to buy the dips because the year end chase is likely to trump all other factors.&nbsp; In year end chase, even bearish money managers aggressively buy stocks to keep up with their benchmarks.</li>
<li>Trump has picked Scott Bessent as the next Treasury Secretary.&nbsp; Bessent is a Wall Street insider.&nbsp; Elon Musk had previously tweeted that the selection of Bessent would mean business as usual.&nbsp; Wall Street is celebrating Bessent's selection by starting to shift from the Trump trade to the Bessent trade. &nbsp;In The Arora Report analysis, the Bessent trade and the Trump trade have some common elements, but they also have some opposing elements. &nbsp;Here is a summary of the Bessent trade:
<ul>
<li>Buy stocks, especially financial stocks and highly speculative stocks.</li>
<li>Buy bonds.&nbsp; Yields are falling across the board.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Sell the dollar.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Sell gold and silver.</li>
<li>Sell oil.</li>
<li>Moderating manic buying in cryptos, including bitcoin.&nbsp; There are always crosscurrents.&nbsp; Michael Saylor, CEO of Microstrategy, is indicating that Microstrategy will be buying bitcoin today from the $3B raised from a bond sale. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Consumer confidence data will be released at 10am ET.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, consumer confidence has risen after Trump's re-election.&nbsp; The consensus is 113.&nbsp; Expect the stock market to react positively to the number irrespective of what it comes at because of the extreme positive sentiment.&nbsp; When market sentiment is at an extreme positive, the stock market goes up even on bad news. &nbsp;</li>
<li>FOMC minutes will be released at 2pm ET.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, the minutes are not likely to show any surprise, and as such, the market reaction may be muted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in NVDA.
In the early trade, money flows are positive in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.&nbsp;
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Market Summary

Markets

General

$BTC

AAPL

AMZN

GOOG

MSFT

NVDA

TSLA

Shift From Nvidia To This Stock As The Favorite, Traders Moving From Trump Trade To Bessent Trade

Target shares are trading higher after Oppenheimer reiterated its Outperform rating and maintained its $165 price target on the stock.

Volkswagen (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLKAF#OTC">VLKAF</a>) <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/volkswagen-gets-much-need-tech-rivian?r=3nmatg">has boosted its initial investment </a>in American electrical vehicle (EV) maker Rivian (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) to $5.8 billion, $800 million more than initially planned.
The German automaker decided to increase its initial investment, when the companies launched on November 13 the newly established company, Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC. The venture, announced in June, will be headquartered in Palo Alto, California, representing a cross-continent effort to advance EV technology.&nbsp;
"The collaboration with Rivian marks the next logical step in our software strategy," Volkswagen's CEO Oliver Blume <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/faster-leaner-more-efficient-rivian-and-volkswagen-group-announce-the-launch-of-their-joint-venture-18828">said</a> on November 12. "By leveraging our complementary strengths, we aim to deliver cutting-edge EV solutions at a competitive cost while enhancing the customer experience with state-of-the-art technology."&nbsp;
The announcement provided a brief surge in Rivian&#8217;s stock price, with shares spiking nearly 10% to $12.03 before retracing the entire gain. Following its IPO, Rivian was valued at nearly $88 billion, but it has lost 92% of its market cap owing to the 2022 market downturn, persisting production challenges, and financial losses.
"This collaboration is a critical enabler for accelerating EV adoption," Rivian's CEO RJ Scaringe said. "Seeing our technology integrated into vehicles beyond Rivian is a pivotal moment for us and a testament to our innovative capabilities."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Volkswagen, Rivian Partnership Offers Synergies</h3>
For Volkswagen, the partnership offers immediate access to Rivian&#8217;s advanced software and zonal electrical hardware.&nbsp;
This expertise would help the German firm adjust to external pressures, including <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/101424-chinas-ev-sales-output-hit-fresh-record-in-sep">growing Chinese competition</a> and weaker demand that prompted its rival, Ford, to <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.china.org.cn/business/2024-11/25/content_117566496.htm">cut 4,000 jobs</a> in Germany and the UK.
Blume said that although the initial focus will be on software development, the scope might expand to include hardware components like battery modules.&nbsp;
For Rivian, the deal brings a vital infusion of capital and manufacturing expertise. Volkswagen's scale and production capabilities—delivering as many vehicles weekly as Rivian produces annually—are expected to boost Rivian&#8217;s operational efficiency.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Venture's Structure And Objectives</h3>
The joint venture will pool expertise from both companies to develop software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and modular electrical architectures.&nbsp;
An initial $1 billion has already been allocated to the venture, with an additional $4.8 billion earmarked through 2027. Investments are tied to milestones, ensuring operational and technical feasibility according to <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/faster-leaner-more-efficient-rivian-and-volkswagen-group-announce-the-launch-of-their-joint-venture-18828">the deal's terms</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The funding will also support the launch of Rivian's R2, a compact SUV priced at approximately $45,000, expected to debut in 2026. Volkswagen plans to integrate Rivian&#8217;s electrical architecture into its vehicles by 2027, benefiting its global brands, including Audi and Scout.
"The deal mutually benefits both parties: Young Rivian needs capital to offset ongoing free cash burn (around $6 billion in each of the last two years)," Demian Flowers, Financial Markets, S&amp;P Global Mobility, <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.spglobal.com/mobility/en/research-analysis/rivian-volkswagen-production-forecast.html">wrote </a>in June when the initial deal was announced. "By contrast, VW needs technology."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Helping Rivian Overcome Branding Challenges</h3>
Consumer Reports recently listed Rivian as <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.teslarati.com/rivian-consumer-reports-2024-worst-brands/">one of the worst car brands</a> for 2024, citing reliability concerns despite strong performance in road tests for its R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Moreover, Rivian is losing approximately $33,000 per vehicle sold, with prices starting at around $70,000.&nbsp;
The company has struggled to meet production targets, revising its 2024 guidance from 57,000 vehicles to 47,000-49,000 due to supply chain disruptions.
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe627da68-2e6d-4021-84c8-49227efed321_836x471.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe627da68-2e6d-4021-84c8-49227efed321_836x471.jpeg" alt="" style="width:624px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rivian production by quarter, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stockdividendscreener.com/auto-manufacturers/rivian-vehicle-production-and-delivery-numbers/">Stockdividendscreener</a></figcaption></figure>
Despite these setbacks, the management remains optimistic about achieving gross profitability by Q4 2024. The company is banking on higher sales volumes, improved manufacturing efficiency, and regulatory credit sales to offset its losses.&nbsp;
Following the Q3 earnings miss, Wedbush's analyst Daniel Ives noted that supply challenges "should be well sorted over the next few quarters as the company is still on track in terms of timing the R2 production launch." He maintained an Outperform rating with a <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41848846/rivian-stock-long-term-winner-in-gas-to-electric-transition-analyst">$20 price target</a>.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Volkswagen Faces Atypical Automotive Slowdown</h3>
Meanwhile, Volkswagen's shares dropped 27% year-to-date, and the company announced the <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/volkswagen-considers-first-ever-closure">closure of multiple domestic factories</a> for the first time in company history.
Germany&#8217;s automotive sector, once a pillar of economic stability, has entered a paradoxical phase. The industry has recently shed approximately 60,000 jobs, yet profits have soared. While <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.car-newsdesk.net/artikel/detail/64035">vehicle production</a> in Germany has fallen dramatically, from 5.7 million units in 2016 to 4.1 million in 2023, the industry&#8217;s profit margins have climbed.
The shift toward luxury vehicles and SUVs, which yield higher returns per unit, has allowed Volkswagen to remain profitable despite selling fewer cars. In 2023 alone, the firm reported €22.5 billion in operating profits, up from €22.1 billion the previous year.
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7373893c-b513-4989-993e-2bd79096ab42_918x581.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7373893c-b513-4989-993e-2bd79096ab42_918x581.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Volkswagen's revenue, 2006- 2023, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/264349/sales-revenue-of-volkswagen-ag-since-2006/">Statista</a></figcaption></figure>
Since 2016, car demand in Europe, particularly Germany,&nbsp;has consistently declined. Geopolitical instability, tariffs, rising inflation, and the transition to electric vehicles have undermined confidence in <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/confidence-in-german-economy-plunges">the German economy</a>.&nbsp;
In 2023, global car sales fell by 2 million units compared to 2018, equivalent to the combined output of Audi and Peugeot globally. Volkswagen, despite its claims of resilience, has not been immune. Excess capacity across its factories, including a now-canceled "Trinity" luxury EV plant, highlights the company&#8217;s structural challenges.
An assembly line worker <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/52713/volkswagens-crisis-is-germanys-crisis">described</a> the growing tension: &#8220;We've made nothing but concessions over the years. The assembly lines are so regimented that you can't even blow your nose without getting behind schedule. All this for €27 an hour while executives rake in millions.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Volkswagen Is Too Big to Fail</h3>
Volkswagen's struggles are deeply intertwined with Germany's social and political fabric. In September, management scrapped key <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/10/volkswagen-vw-scraps-labor-agreements-as-standoff-with-unions-intensifies.html">collective bargaining agreements</a>, including those securing job stability and guaranteeing apprentice hiring. Although framed as cost-saving measures, these moves sparked outrage among workers and unions.
Union representative Daniela Cavallo <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/the-unusual-power-of-vws-union-boss-is-being-put-to-the-test-9e2703be">called out</a> the management. &#8220;Volkswagen doesn't just belong to its shareholders. It belongs to its staff, its history, and the regions it serves. This greed-driven &#8216;turbo capitalism&#8217; has no place here," she said.
Meanwhile, Union leader Carsten Büchling warned: &#8220;Operational layoffs and plant closures feed the far-right. If workers had more influence over production decisions, these crises could be mitigated.&#8221; Recent polls back his warning, showing <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://politpro.eu/en/germany/parties/afd">growing support for the far-right AfD</a> in car-manufacturing regions such as Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, where economic anxiety is high.
The state of Lower Saxony, Volkswagen's largest public shareholder, has urged management to present alternatives to mass layoffs. Yet executives, led by CEO Blume, have defended the cuts, citing declining demand in Europe and China as evidence of long-term structural issues.
As Germany looks toward the 2025 elections, the disgruntlement of workers at Volkswagen and other major employers could become a notable factor.
Disclaimer:
Any opinions expressed in this article are not to be considered investment advice and are solely those of the authors. European Capital Insights is not responsible for any financial decisions made based on the contents of this article. Readers may use this article for information and educational purposes only.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content&nbsp;or&nbsp;accuracy.

Eurozone

Tech

RIVN

VLKAF

Volkswagen Gets Much-Need Tech, Rivian A Cash Infusion With New JV

Casella Waste Sys's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWST#NYSE">CWST</a>) short percent of float has risen 11.72% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.00 million shares sold short, which is 3.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.2 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>Casella Waste Sys Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732554920_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Casella Waste Sys 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 Casella Waste Sys'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>, Casella Waste Sys's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.15%, 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

CWST

Looking Into Casella Waste Sys's Recent Short Interest

Masco's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAS#NYSE">MAS</a>) short percent of float has risen 12.5% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.25 million shares sold short, which is 1.71% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.79 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>Masco Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732554915_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Masco 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 Masco'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>, Masco's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.74%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Masco's Recent Short Interest

Northern Trust's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NYSE">NTRS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 43.96% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.78 million shares sold short, which is 1.02% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.22 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>Northern Trust Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732554910_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Northern Trust 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 Northern Trust'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>, Northern Trust's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.27%, 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.

NTRS

(NTRS) - Analyzing Northern Trust's Short Interest

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Joseph Pantginis maintains BioLine Rx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLRX#NASDAQ">BLRX</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $21 to $9.

BLRX

HC Wainwright & Co. Maintains Buy on BioLine Rx, Lowers Price Target to $9

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>NaaS Technology reported its first non-IFRS quarterly profit in the three months to September, as well as a record-high gross margin</li>
<li>As China&rsquo;s leading provider of services to EV charging station operators, NaaS has wound down its low margin offline business to focus on higher-margin platform-based management services</li>
</ul>
By Doug Young
For years Chinese companies operated on the view that bigger was better, no matter what the cost. Subsidies were a big part of that equation in the race for market share, and so was a focus on business that could generate big revenues, even if it meant selling at a loss.
That view is starting to shift as investors demand profits from companies &ndash; a new reality that was a primary driver leading EV charging services company&nbsp;NaaS Technology Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/naas#NASDAQ">NAAS</a>) to overhaul its business model to focus on its most profitable products and customers. That drive is yielding strong results this year, as NaaS last Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naas-technology-inc-reports-unaudited-2024-third-quarter-financial-results-302311139.html">reported</a>&nbsp;its first-ever non-IFRS quarterly profit and its lowest-ever IFRS net loss.
The latest results also included a record-high gross margin for the company as it shifted focus to its asset-light business of supplying management services to operators of electric vehicle (EV) chargers. That meant giving up its other main business of helping customers design new charging infrastructure, which generated much larger revenues from the sale of infrastructure design but came with very low profit margins.
Following that shift, NaaS&rsquo; gross margin shot up to an all-time high of 57% in the third quarter from 38% in the previous quarter and just 29% a year earlier. At the same time, the company reported a non-IFRS quarterly profit of 21.2 million yuan ($2.9 million), which excludes certain non-operational costs like stock-based employee compensation. NaaS, whose backers include Bain Capital, continued to lose money on a net basis. But even so, its 7.7 million yuan net loss for the quarter was down sharply from a 367 million yuan loss a year earlier.
&ldquo;We have been deliberately transitioning away from lower-margin, capital-intensive energy solutions projects to concentrate on our core charging services business, which offers higher growth potential and profitability,&rdquo; CFO Steven Sim said on the company&rsquo;s earnings call to discuss the results. &ldquo;As a result, there was a substantial improvement in our gross profit margin, which reached a historical high.&rdquo;
NaaS shares edged down 1.5% in Wednesday trade on Nasdaq after the results were published. The stock began trading on the Nasdaq in June 2022, following a reverse merger with an existing listed company that also counted Bain as a major shareholder. The stock rallied 17% in the week before the announcement, though it is still down for the year as it charts its new direction.
From the broadest perspective, NaaS is focusing on its charging services, which is an asset-light business that helps customers maximize performance of their charging stations and enables EV car owners hassle-free and convenient charging services. Its proprietary technology system is its NaaS Energy Fintech system, introduced last year, which uses advanced AI algorithms to &ldquo;intelligently manage site selection for charging stations, revenue assessments, operational scheduling, maintenance and more,&rdquo; according to the company.
<h3>Changing Revenue Mix</h3>
The shift has brought some growing pains to NaaS in terms of overall revenue as it put more focus on income that could actually generate the most profits. The company&rsquo;s total revenue fell to 44.4 million yuan during the third quarter from 98.9 million a year earlier. But the drop was solely due to its exit from the asset-heavy infrastructure business, whose contribution tumbled to just 600,000 yuan in the latest reporting period after it made up the lion&rsquo;s share of total revenue a year earlier.
The wind-down of the energy solutions business left NaaS with charging services as its main revenue stream. Revenue from that business actually rose 36% year-on-year to 42.4 million yuan, accounting for 95% of the company&rsquo;s total.
While revenue from that business was up, it&rsquo;s also notable that the charging volume and number of transactions handled over NaaS&rsquo; platform both dropped during the quarter from year-ago levels. That reflects another trend for the company, namely its phasing out of subsidies since that start of this year. Such subsidies could quickly boost a company&rsquo;s user count and transaction volumes, but at a high cost as they often contributed to massive losses.
Reflecting the progress in its drive to end subsidies, NaaS said its charging service orders with a positive net take rate (NTR), a measure of profitability, rose to 73% in the third quarter from 70% in the previous quarter. Its sales and marketing expenses, which include such subsidies, also fell 81% year-on-year to 29.7 million yuan in the latest quarter.
NaaS is increasingly turning to partnerships with major players to boost its network. On that front, it announced its recent signing of new partnerships with a regional EV charging station operator in Fujian as well as with FAW-Volkswagen and IM Motors, an electric vehicle (EV) joint venture whose partners include leading car maker SAIC and e-commerce giant Alibaba.
NaaS is still a work in progress, though much of its overhaul now appears to be in the past with its new foundation focused on charging services in a China market that now accounts for more than half of global new energy vehicle (NEV) sales. That transformation may explain the company&rsquo;s relatively low price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of just 0.28. By comparison,&nbsp;ChargePoint&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chpt#NYSE">CHPT</a>) and&nbsp;Blink Charging&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blnk#NASDAQ">BLNK</a>) trade at higher ratios of just over 1.
Whether NaaS can catch up with those rivals will largely depend on how quickly it can show that its latest path is the right one in a fast-evolving global NEV market. A return to accelerating revenue growth would be a good start, which looks possible next year as the company turns its attention to revving up its new business formula.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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NaaS Drives Into Third Quarter With First-Ever Quarterly Non-IFRS Profit

Planning for prosperity
With 2025 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to hit &ldquo;pause&rdquo; and take stock of your financial journey. Think about where your money went this year and how it aligned with your values and goals. Did your spending reflect what truly matters to you?
Maybe you tackled a home improvement project, splurged on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, or prioritized saving for your child&rsquo;s education. Were those choices part of the plan, or did they happen on the fly? Did you stick to your budget&mdash;or did it slip through your fingers?
This is also a moment to reflect on the big life changes that may have shifted your financial picture. A new baby, a career move, or retirement can reshape your priorities and demand a fresh look at your strategy.
If you don&rsquo;t have a plan yet, no worries&mdash;it&rsquo;s never too late to start. Whether you&rsquo;re stretching every dollar or enjoying a financial surplus, crafting a plan gives you clarity and control. It&rsquo;s about aligning your spending with your goals for the year ahead and your vision for the future.
Here&rsquo;s the thing: <a href="https://cosmodestefano.substack.com/p/true-financial-freedom-is-having">true financial freedom</a> isn&rsquo;t about chasing an ever-elusive number. It&rsquo;s about understanding and defining enough. And without clear goals and a thoughtful plan, figuring out what &ldquo;enough&rdquo; means for you is exponentially harder.
So, as the New Year approaches, why not take this opportunity to plan for your prosperity? The path to financial freedom starts with reflection, intention, and action. Just get started.
Check-in on your investments
&bull; Replenish your emergency fund
If you tapped into your emergency fund during the year, it is a good time to refill it, or if you don&rsquo;t have an emergency fund, start one. Having these funds at the ready can help you cover surprise expenses, such as car repairs or medical expenses, without relying on high-interest credit cards or selling long-term investments.
Is your cash working for you? Borrowing rates remain stubbornly high while savings rates have decreased slightly. But with today&rsquo;s money market funds and CDs still paying 4%+, your cash can provide not only an emergency cushion but a reasonable return as well.
&bull; Top off retirement contributions
If your financial situation allows, it may be a good idea to increase your contributions to your retirement account(s). This can be a good annual practice until you&rsquo;re contributing the maximum amount allowable to an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or their Roth counterparts.
For example, if you have access to a 401(k) through your employer, you&rsquo;ll have until the end of the year to contribute up to the $23,000 limit for 2024. People above the age of 50 can make additional catch-up contributions of up to $7,500 for a total of $30,500.
If you have a health savings account (HSA), consider maxing out that contribution as well--$4,150 for an individual ($5,150 if age 55 or older) and $8,300 for a family ($9,300 if age 55 or older).
Whether you use the HSA for long-term saving or near-term spending, it is triple tax-advantaged: Funding is tax deductible, growth isn&rsquo;t taxed, and withdrawals are tax-free if spent on qualified medical expenses.
[Pro-tip: If you are a prodigious accumulator of wealth, most HSA plans have investment alternatives, but research has found that only 12% of account holders invest in assets other than cash. Explore your options.]
Tax planning strategies for high-income earners
&bull; Consider a mega-backdoor Roth conversion&hellip;or its smaller cousin
This tax planning strategy potentially allows high-income earners to put away even more in a Roth account by sidestepping the income limits of a Roth IRA and the tax consequences of a regular Roth conversion. If permitted by your workplace retirement plan, you would first max out your normal 401(k) contributions then contribute after-tax dollars up to the 2024 overall account limit (including employer matches) of $69,000 ($76,500 if 50 or older). You&rsquo;ll want to rollover these funds (&ldquo;in-service distribution&rdquo;) as quickly as possible to a Roth 401(k) or to a Roth IRA to minimize any tax on investment returns.
If your employer-sponsored retirement plan doesn&rsquo;t allow both (a) after-tax contributions, and (b) &ldquo;in-service distributions&rdquo; for the mega-backdoor Roth, you could consider the smaller version, known simply as a backdoor Roth. With this strategy, you contribute after-tax dollars (up to $7,000; or $8,000 if age 50 or older) to your traditional IRA and then immediately convert it to a Roth IRA. (Caveat: if you have any traditional IRAs with a previous balance, this gets more complicated and could trigger a tax liability on the conversion.)
[Pro-tip: A little short of cash during the year-end holidays? Use the IRA extension. You can contribute to your IRA through the tax filing deadline next year and it will count towards the previous year. That is, up until April 15, 2025, you can designate an IRA contribution as counting against the limit for tax year 2024 or 2025.]
&bull; Tax-loss harvesting
As you are plotting year-end moves, you will inevitably hear about investors considering tax-loss harvesting in their taxable brokerage accounts. &ldquo;Harvesting&rdquo; refers to the selling of investments at a loss to offset capital gains from other investments. You then use the sale proceeds to buy a different investment so overall you stay invested in the market. The last point is critical&mdash;it&rsquo;s what distinguishes the harvesting strategy from market timing.
[Pro-tip: Harvesting can help minimize taxes but be mindful of something called a &ldquo;wash sale.&rdquo; The IRS is fine with you selling at a loss, but it doesn&rsquo;t like it when you sell at a loss and then quickly buy back the same investment (or a &lsquo;substantially identical&rsquo; investment). In fact, buying back the investment within 61-days (beginning 30 days before the sale and ending 30 days after the sale), can trigger a wash sale and defer the loss.]
It&rsquo;s also a good time to pause and reflect on the premise of this strategy. Harvesting implies you have losses to be harvested. With the markets once again approaching all-time highs, why do you have underwater investments in the first place?
Think about it. If you had been purchasing &ldquo;the market&rdquo; (e.g., an S&amp;P 500 ETF or similar broad-based index funds), then you would not have a significant loss on your fund shares since the market is approaching its highest level now!
This means that losses you do have are likely in your individual stock selections. This is just a friendly reminder that picking individual stock winners is difficult (even for professionals) and a humbling experience.
Charitable giving
&bull; Bunch your donations
If you plan to donate the same amount of money each year, consider &ldquo;bunching&rdquo; the donations into a single year. This could increase your potential itemized deduction for that year.
&bull; Donate appreciated assets
If you have large unrealized capital gains, rather than selling and donating the cash, consider donating the appreciated assets. If you itemize, you can deduct the full fair market value of the appreciated assets, and you won&rsquo;t need to report the gain as taxable income.
[Pro tip: For large gifts, consider using a donor-advised fund to spread out the giving while simultaneously taking advantage of &ldquo;bunching.&rdquo;]
Block out the noise
This month the &lsquo;news&rsquo; stories will start to appear touting the &ldquo;best-performing investments of 2024.&rdquo; Making portfolio decisions based on headlines is like buying a house based on the color of the front door.
Don&rsquo;t chase the hot hand, the hot stock, the hot story. Stay calm and remain cool. Have faith in your planning process.
Don&rsquo;t be too quick to jump into the high flyers or dump the underperforming ones. Twelve months seems like a long time but with investing, that&rsquo;s a short look. Often, today&rsquo;s shooting stars become tomorrow&rsquo;s laggards and vice versa. There are good reasons for changing between investments but chasing performance isn&rsquo;t one of them.
Some of the above strategies can be tricky, so consider speaking with a professional.
Above all, remember that investing is a tool, not a plan.
Review (or create) your financial plan, make any necessary adjustments, and then get back to living your best life now.
Want a Chance to Win Wealth Your Way? <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/398326-wealth-your-way-a-simple-path-to-financial-freedom">Click here to enter</a> the Goodreads Giveaway for a free Kindle copy of my book! Contest ends 11/30/24.
As always, invest often and wisely. Thank you for reading.
My book, Wealth Your Way is <a href="https://geni.us/wealthyourwaypb">available on Amazon</a>, and consider subscribing to <a href="https://cosmodestefano.substack.com/">my free newsletter</a>.
The content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. It is merely my own random thoughts.
<a href="https://geni.us/wealthyourwaypb"><img alt="wyw_cover_with_award.png" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1441852/wyw_cover_with_award.png" style="height:308px; width:200px" /></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.

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