First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETF (NASDAQ: EKG)

Latest news for First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETF (NASDAQ:EKG)

Healthcare

Consumer Defensive

The First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETF (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Funds fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Nasdaq Lux Health Tech Index (the Index)

Intuitive Surgical Inc

Resmed Inc.

Dexcom Inc.

Iqvia Holdings Inc.

Veeva Systems Inc

Natera Inc

Insulet Corp

Hologic Inc.

Qiagen NV

Globus Medical Inc

First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETF

xr:d:DAFtIH2hvIo:2,j:6080260959458384669,t:23083116

Earnings

Equities

News

Guidance

Movers

VEEV

Veeva Systems&#39; Q1 FY25 results beat expectations with 24% revenue growth and $1.50 EPS, but lowered outlook for revenue.

Why Veeva Systems Shares Are Diving Friday

YPSILANTI, MI--(Marketwire - August 13, 2009) -  When Frank Fedel joined Eastern Michigan
University&#39;s orthotics and prosthetics master&#39;s degree program in 2003, he
was surprised by the lack of hard data that could show whether a prosthetic
worked the way it was meant to.

&#34;I wanted to see something that said, &#39;OK, we&#39;re making a difference,&#39;&#34;
said Fedel, an exercise science lecturer at EMU. &#34;I come from a medical
background (cardiac rehabilitation) where we needed to document that we had
an outcome at the end of it -- an EKG score that was more normal, a lower
heart rate...

Eastern Michigan University, College Park Industries Develop New Technology to Shed Light on How Forces Affect Amputees, Prosthetics

CARDIOCOM SLTNS INC by CardioCom Solutions, Inc.

CardioComm Solutions Inc

Barclays analyst Andrew Mok maintains HCA Healthcare (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCA#NYSE">HCA</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $376 to $396.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Barclays Maintains Overweight on HCA Healthcare, Raises Price Target to $396

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintains NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $275 to $271.

NXPI

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on NXP Semiconductors, Lowers Price Target to $271

RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra reiterates MSCI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSCI#NYSE">MSCI</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $638 price target.

Reiteration

MSCI

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on MSCI, Maintains $638 Price Target

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Datadog (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in DDOG usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 12 extraordinary options activities for Datadog. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 75% leaning bullish and 16% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $611,720, and 9 are calls, amounting to $433,844.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $100.0 to $130.0 for Datadog during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Datadog's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Datadog's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $100.0 to $130.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Datadog Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721837788_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$1.56</td>
<td>$1.13</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$522.0K</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$13.15</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$97.6K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/02/24</td>
<td>$1.13</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$74.0K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>710</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/02/24</td>
<td>$4.2</td>
<td>$4.15</td>
<td>$4.15</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$52.7K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>168</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/02/24</td>
<td>$2.47</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$50.4K</td>
<td>251</td>
<td>227</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Datadog</h3>
Datadog is a cloud-native company that focuses on analyzing machine data. The firm's product portfolio, delivered via software as a service, allows a client to monitor and analyze its entire IT infrastructure. Datadog's platform can ingest and analyze large amounts of machine-generated data in real time, allowing clients to utilize it for a variety of applications throughout their businesses.
In light of the recent options history for Datadog, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Datadog Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,671,422, the price of DDOG is down -3.81% at $118.51. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 15 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Datadog</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 $157.0.
<ul>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Wedbush lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $155.</li>
<li>An analyst from Evercore ISI Group downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $150. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Buy rating on Datadog with a target price of $160. </li>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from Needham downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $165. </li>
<li>In a positive move, an analyst from Mizuho has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $155. </li>
</ul>
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 Datadog options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Markets

DDOG

What the Options Market Tells Us About Datadog

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Synopsys (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNPS#NASDAQ">SNPS</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in SNPS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 8 extraordinary options activities for Synopsys. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 25% leaning bullish and 62% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $90,620, and 5 are calls, amounting to $311,354.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $550.0 to $700.0 for Synopsys over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Synopsys's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Synopsys's significant trades, within a strike price range of $550.0 to $700.0, over the past month.
<h3>Synopsys Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721837783_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 style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$13.8</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$620.00</td>
<td>$132.8K</td>
<td>266</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">181</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$13.6</td>
<td>$13.6</td>
<td>$620.00</td>
<td>$77.5K</td>
<td>266</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$14.8</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$700.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">71</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$34.3</td>
<td>$31.6</td>
<td>$32.97</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$32.9K</td>
<td>218</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNPS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$14.6</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$700.00</td>
<td>$32.3K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Synopsys</h3>
Synopsys is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and software integrity products. EDA software automates the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. The firm's growing SI business allows customers to continuously manage and test the code base for security and quality. Synopsys' comprehensive portfolio is benefiting from a mutual convergence of semiconductor companies moving up-stack toward systems-like companies, and systems companies moving down-stack toward in-house chip design. The resulting expansion in EDA customers alongside secular digitalization of various end markets benefits EDA vendors like Synopsys.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Synopsys, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Synopsys</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 335,446, the price of SNPS is down by -4.39%, reaching $562.52.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 28 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Synopsys</h3>
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $679.3333333333334.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Synopsys, which currently sits at a price target of $687. </li>
<li>An analyst from Keybanc persists with their Overweight rating on Synopsys, maintaining a target price of $690. </li>
<li>An analyst from Baird has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Synopsys, which currently sits at a price target of $661. </li>
</ul>
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 Synopsys, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

SNPS

Decoding Synopsys's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Quest Diagnostics&#39; (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dgx#NYSE">DGX</a>) subsidiary, Haystack Oncology, and Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lsta#NASDAQ">LSTA</a>) recently announced a research collaboration for using the Haystack MRD (minimal residual disease) technology. Under the partnership, Lisata will deploy the highly sensitive technology to detect the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in a clinical study evaluating certepetide plus chemotherapy as an investigational treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
DGX completed the validation of the Haystack MRD test in March 2024. The Haystack MRD Early Experience Program has been oversubscribed, with nearly 20 leading cancer institutions as participants, paving the way for a nationwide launch of the clinical test later this year.
<h3>More on Lisata Therapeutics</h3>
As a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Lisata focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and other major diseases. The company&#39;s lead product candidate, certepetide, is an investigational drug designed to activate a novel uptake pathway that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively.
Building on its CendR Platform Technology, Lisata has forged noteworthy commercial and R&amp;D partnerships. The company expects to announce several clinical studies and business achievements over the next two years and projects that its available capital will fund operations into early 2026.
<h3>News in Detail</h3>
The FORTIFIDE study investigates the safety, tolerability and efficacy of certepetide when given as a four-hour continuous infusion in combination with standard-of-care treatment in subjects with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who have progressed on FOLFIRINOX, a treatment for pancreatic cancer. According to the estimates of the American Cancer Society, more than 66,000 individuals nationwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024, with mPDAC accounting for more than 90% of these cases. Known for its highly aggressive form, the disease mainly advances to this stage due to a lack of early diagnosis or limited patient response to treatments.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/2a/72285.jpg?v=65284551" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The research will use Haystack&#39;s MRD technology to measure serum ctDNA levels at multiple time points in patients throughout the study as an exploratory endpoint for analyzing the early therapeutic effect of certepetide. According to a Haystack Oncology representative, the collaboration underscores the value of the Haystack MRD technology in helping drive forward the development of novel treatments for solid tumor cancers.
Designed to detect ctDNA with exceptional sensitivity, Haystack&#39;s technology aims to provide crucial insights into ctDNA kinetics via serial measurements as an important and early indication of therapeutic response.
Industry Prospects
Per a Markets And Markets research report, the global MRD testing market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 14% by 2027. The market continues to be driven by the rising incidence and prevalence of cancer and hematological malignancies.
<h3>Notable Partnerships Involving MRD Technology</h3>
Earlier, in January 2024, Haystack Oncology announced a research collaboration with TriSalus Life Sciences to evaluate the therapeutic response and provide molecular insights in connection with the clinical development of TriSalus&#39; SD-101, an investigational class C toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) agonist.
Additionally, Quest Diagnostics partnered with Ultima Genomics, involving the latter&#39;s next-generation sequencing&nbsp;technology in oncology and other clinical areas. DGX aims to deploy the Ultima technology for the possible development of lab-developed tests involving its Haystack solid-tumor MRD technology for future clinical and biopharmaceutical MRD applications, supplementing its current whole exome sequencing approach, as well as for certain future whole genome testing applications, such as rare disease detection in pediatric patients.
<h3>Price Performance</h3>
In the past year, shares of DGX have declined 2.8% against the industry&#39;s rise of 11%.
<h3>Zacks Rank and Other Key Picks</h3>
Quest Diagnostics currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gmed#NYSE">GMED</a>) and Hims &amp; Hers Health (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hims#NYSE">HIMS</a>). While Globus Medical sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Hims &amp; Hers Health carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Globus Medical shares have risen 20% in the past year. Estimates for the company&#39;s earnings have remained constant at $2.82 in 2024 and at $3.32 in 2025 in the past 30 days.
GMED&#39;s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 10.8%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 30.9%.
Estimates for Hims &amp; Hers Health&#39;s 2024 earnings per share have moved upward 5.3% to 20 cents in the past 30 days. Shares of the company have surged 173% in the past year against the industry&#39;s 22.2% fall.
HIMS&#39; earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 79.2%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of a staggering 150%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2307520/quest-diagnostics-dgx-haystack-oncology-forges-new-mrd-deal?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_medical_sector-2307520">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Biotech

Earnings Beats

Penny Stocks

Trading Ideas

General

GMED

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

LSTA

Quest Diagnostics' Haystack Oncology Forges New MRD Deal

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Roper Techs.
Looking at options history for Roper Techs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROP#NASDAQ">ROP</a>) we detected 9 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 66% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 11% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $144,940 and 4, calls, for a total amount of $257,923.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $270.0 to $560.0 for Roper Techs over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Roper Techs options trades today is 102.0 with a total volume of 742.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Roper Techs's big money trades within a strike price range of $270.0 to $560.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Roper Techs 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721837778_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</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 style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ROP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$16.8</td>
<td>$11.3</td>
<td>$14.67</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$117.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">88</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$185.8</td>
<td>$176.0</td>
<td>$181.0</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$72.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">26</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$13.5</td>
<td>$13.96</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$41.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">16</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">216</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$28.0</td>
<td>$21.9</td>
<td>$24.2</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$31.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">366</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">88</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$22.8</td>
<td>$18.2</td>
<td>$18.6</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$29.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">366</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">201</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Roper Techs</h3>
Roper Technologies is a diversified technology company that operates three segments: application software, network software, and technology enabled products. Roper acquires asset light, cash generative businesses and deploys excess cash to acquire further portfolio companies. The firm operates a highly decentralized model with portfolio company management holding autonomy and accountability for key operational decisions, and a small, centralized team overseeing capital deployment and providing executive coaching and reviewing strategic goals.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Roper Techs</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 827,804, the price of ROP is down by 0.0%, reaching $574.27.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 0 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Roper Techs</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $625.0.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on Roper Techs with a target price of $625. </li>
</ul>
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 Roper Techs with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on ROP Options

Barclays analyst Brendan Lynch maintains Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLR#NYSE">DLR</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $123 to $130.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Digital Realty Trust, Raises Price Target to $130

Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia maintains Spotify Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $370 to $400.

SPOT

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Spotify Technology, Raises Price Target to $400

RBC Capital analyst Ashish Sabadra maintains Moody's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCO#NYSE">MCO</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $450 to $475.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Moody's, Raises Price Target to $475

The recent announcement that&nbsp;President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 election campaign has stirred significant reactions across various sectors, including cannabis. Pablo Zuanic, senior analyst at Zuanic &amp; Associates, outlines the implications for the cannabis industry in his recent report.
<h3>Market Reaction And Political Context</h3>
Zuanic notes that the news of Biden stepping down has been perceived <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39895214/cannabis-stocks-react-to-biden-announcement-mondays-closing-market-moves">positively for&nbsp;cannabis stocks</a>. With Vice President Kamala Harris now more likely to face Donald Trump in the election, the market has responded optimistically.
Notable movements include Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cgc#NASDAQ">CGC</a>) increasing by 17%, several large producers (LPs) rising by 9%, and the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arca#NYSE">ARCA</a>) gaining 5.7%.
According to Zuanic, Harris has a better chance than Biden of defeating Trump in November, which could drive higher turnout for Democrats and reduce the likelihood of a Republican sweep. &quot;A Harris vs. Trump election will likely bring cannabis more to the forefront of the overall<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39344068/not-dc-but-the-states-tim-seymour-discusses-how-red-states-could-catalyze-cannabis-"> political debate</a>,&quot; Zuanic says.
He cautions that this heightened focus could make cannabis a more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39781066/libertarians-back-florida-cannabis-legalization-5m-from-hemp-execs-to-gop-green-waves-in-red-sta">partisan issue</a>, increasing risks if Trump were to win.
&ldquo;Those who only wish for Trump to say &#39;leave it to the states&#39;&nbsp;forget that would only mean status quo but no rescheduling,&rdquo; Zuanic notes.
<h3>Rescheduling And Regulatory Implications</h3>
Zuanic emphasizes the narrowing path to cannabis rescheduling despite these developments.
He outlines several potential scenarios, from the Department of Justice (DOJ) deciding hearings are unnecessary and publishing the final rule soon, to prolonged delays due to administrative law judge (ALJ) reports and DEA involvement. &quot;Yes, a final rule published before 12/21/24 is possible, but the roadblocks are mounting.&quot;&nbsp;
Zuanic suggests that the Biden administration will prioritize completing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39561566/will-bidens-shaky-debate-performance-affect-cannabis-reform-how-a-trump-return-could-reshape-mar">rescheduling process before Inauguration Day</a>. However, he raises concerns about the DEA potentially delaying the process. &quot;We believe the DOJ and White House will have some decisions to make, with the DEA&#39;s response to public comments being a significant factor.&quot;&nbsp;
The Congressional Review Act could reverse the ruling if Trump secures a majority in both chambers. If not, Zuanic says he would need to start a new rescheduling process &ldquo;from 3 to 1,&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;which could take at least two years.
<h3>Future Scenarios And Market Sentiment</h3>
In the event of a Trump victory, Zuanic outlines possible actions, such as reversing rescheduling through the Congressional Review Act or initiating a new process to revert cannabis scheduling. &quot;If the final rule has not been implemented before 1/20/25, we are doubtful his administration would continue the process,&quot; Zuanic adds.
Zuanic concludes that for cannabis stocks, a Harris victory is crucial. &quot;In our view, Trump voters owning cannabis stocks are in denial. Harris would at least finish rescheduling and likely push forward other reform initiatives around cannabis,&quot; he said.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39369432/what-is-the-trump-factor-justice-depts-impact-on-cannabis-rescheduling-stocks-and-i">What Is The Trump Factor? Justice Dept&#39;s Impact On Cannabis Rescheduling, Stocks And Investments</a>
These issues will be among the hot topics at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago this Oct. 8-9. Join us to get more insight into what the wave of weed legalization means for the future of investing in the&nbsp;industry. Hear directly from top executives, investors, advocates, and policymakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Get your tickets now</a>&nbsp;before prices go up by following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">this link</a>.
Photo:&nbsp;U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. By Gage Skidmore via WikiCommons - CC.&nbsp;

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ARCA

Harris Vs. Trump: Will Cannabis Rescheduling Survive Biden's Exit? Analyst On Potential GOP Victory

Barclays analyst Luke Sergott maintains Danaher (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $270 to $285.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Danaher, Raises Price Target to $285

Morgan Stanley analyst Vincent Andrews maintains Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHW#NYSE">SHW</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $338 to $375.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Sherwin-Williams, Raises Price Target to $375

Source: <a href="https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2024/07/19/critical-minerals-co-starts-fieldwork-at-montana-flagship-project.html?utm_medium=feed">Streetwise Reports 07/22/2024</a>
Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pgezf#OTC">PGEZF</a>) announced it has started 2024 field activities at its flagship Stillwater West project in Montana, including a property-wide airborne electromagnetic geophysical survey.
Expert Geophysics Ltd. will conduct a combined time-domain electromagnetic (EM) survey using their TargetEM26 system along with a magneto-telluric survey using their MobileMTm system at the nickel-platinum group element-copper-cobalt plus gold (Ni-PGE-Cu-Co plus Au) project.
The survey will utilize the newest technological advancements in airborne EM, building on the success of a first-generation DIGHEM airborne EM survey flown over the project in 2000. It will cover about 1,069 line-kilometers and provide higher-resolution and improved depth of investigation from the DIGHEM airborne EM survey, as well as VLF coverage.
It has been designed in collaboration with Glencore International Plc (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/glncy#OTC">GLNCY</a>), which holds a 15.4% position in Stillwater and has provided ongoing technical support to the company, to fine-tune priority conductive drill targets across the 12-kilometer main resource area, as well as to assist with prioritization and ranking of additional untested conductive targets across the broader 61-square-kilometer property.
This large-scale geophysical survey is part of a larger program that is expected to include an updated mineral resource estimate that will support the commencement of various studies relating to potential production scenarios&quot; Stillwater President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rowley said. &quot;These objectives will be important milestones in preparation for continued resource expansion drilling across the 12-kilometer deposit area, as well as in developing target areas.&quot;
<h2>Airborne Surveys to Give Important Info</h2>
Rowley said Stillwater is also pursuing a number of other studies and initiatives with strategic partners such as Cornell University and various U.S. government agencies.
The technical committee that includes Glencore is focusing on the expansion potential of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex, the company said. The addition of Glencore&#39;s vice president of business development to Stillwater&#39;s board of directors in June confirmed this focus on expansion potential.
Detailed geological and structural interpretive work during the past two years added significantly to Stillwater&#39;s understanding of the large Platreef-style mineralized system discovered within the footwall contact zone of the project complex, Vice President Exploration Dr. Danie Grobler said.
&quot;Our geological models now display strong geological control and continuity on mineralized zones&quot; Grobler said. &quot;The planned airborne surveys will provide important high-resolution data sets to refine targeting of high-grade nickel-copper-PGE sulphide-hosted mineralization within the multikilometer-scale geophysical anomalies that we see across the 32-kilometer-long mineralized system.&quot;
<h2>Parallels With Massive South Africa Complex</h2>
In June, the company reported the final drill results from resource expansion drilling at the project, including six holes totaling 2,310 meters that were focused on expanding resources at the west end of the current deposits, which span nine kilometers.
All six holes targeted and successfully intercepted magmatic nickel and copper sulfide mineralization with significant PGE mineralization, furthering known parallels with the Bushveld Igneous Complex, the largest layered igneous intrusion in the Earth&#39;s crust in South Africa.
&quot;Our drill campaigns have successfully leveraged a substantial historic database to arrive at a total of approximately 40,000 meters of drilling in 236 holes to date&quot; said Rowley at the time. &quot;That wealth of data, combined with Glencore&#39;s backing and in-house expertise from similar geology in South Africa&#39;s Bushveld Igneous Complex, has positioned us exceptionally well with the largest nickel resource in an active American mining district at a time when the U.S. is looking to onshore supply chains of nine of the commodities we have inventoried.&quot;
Stillwater noted that drilling also successfully intercepted N-series mineralization in structures that are not known in the Bushveld Igneous Complex but have now been modeled in a series of eight north-south trending structures at Stillwater West.
The company said those results demonstrated significant potential to expand the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the project. All deposits and mineralization remain open for expansion in planned follow-up drilling.
<h2>The Catalyst: Powering the Green Energy Transition</h2>
According to a report by CarbonCredits.com, a rapid expansion in Indonesia&#39;s nickel industry has led to oversupply, causing price declines from highs in 2022 and 2023. However, it noted the long-term outlook for the metal remained positive and that &quot;market analysts also share the same sentiment.&quot;
The nickel market is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 4.8% from 2024 to 2029, according to Mordor Intelligence. The market was valued at more than 2.1 million tons in 2021, analysts said.
The driving force over the medium term will be the demand for nickel in stainless steel alloys, Mordor noted, as well as for automobile batteries and energy storage systems in wind turbines or solar panels needed for the energy transition.
An article from Stockhead on May 13 noted how Sprott&#39;s Steve Schoffstall spoke highly about nickel potential.
&quot;In our view, nickel miners are poised to offer investment attractive opportunities to investors&quot; Schoffstall said. &quot;Although nickel prices declined in 2023 on the back of softer Chinese EV sales and a flood of supply from Indonesia, the metal has been rebounding thus far in 2024 and benefiting the prospects of mining companies.&quot;
Schoffstall added, &quot;The rise in nickel prices seems to be a combination of investor sentiment, potential supply constraints, and the underlying long-term demand for nickel in the clean energy transition.&quot;
Geopolitics are also important to consider, especially given Chinese dominance in nickel markets via the mines and processing operations in Indonesia, Rowley told Streetwise Reports, adding that BHP&#39;s recent decision to suspend production at their giant Nickel West operations in Western Australia is evidence that China&#39;s strategy to squeeze out western miners is working.
&quot;For this reason, Stillwater highlights the importance of having the largest nickel resource in an active U.S. mining district&quot; he said.
According to Straits Research, Platinum Group Metals (PGM) are utilized in various products, including oxygen sensors, fuel cells, auto catalysts, jewelry, electronic parts, and medical equipment, among other things.
The global market for PGE was US$15.7 million in 2021 and is projected to reach US$21.8 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.44% from 2022 to 2030, researchers said.
Copper and cobalt are also needed for the energy transition for use in wires and batteries and other important products.
<h2>Ownership and Share Structure</h2>
Management and insiders own approximately 20% of Stillwater, according to the company.
Executive Chairman and Director Gregory Shawn Johnson owns 2.86%, President and CEO Michael Victor Rowley owns 2.56%, Independent Director Gregor John Hamilton owns 1.65%, Independent Director Gordon L. Toll owns 0.44%, and Vice President of Exploration Daniel F. Grobler owns 0.23%, according to Reuters.
Institutions own approximately 25% of the company, high net-worth investors own about 37%, and Glencore Canada Corp. owns 15.4%. About 18% of the company&#39;s shares are in retail, Stillwater said.
There are about 227 million shares outstanding with 174.5 million free float traded shares, while the company has a market cap of CA$36.33 million and trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.13 and CA$0.22.
Important Disclosures:
<ol>
<li>Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.</li>
<li>As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Stillwater Critical Minerals Corp.</li>
<li>Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.</li>
<li>This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports&#39; terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.</li>
</ol>

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Critical Minerals Co. Starts Fieldwork at Montana Flagship Project

Morgan Stanley analyst Pamela Kaufman maintains Crown Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCK#NYSE">CCK</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $89 to $92.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Crown Holdings, Raises Price Target to $92

Barclays analyst Michael Leithead maintains Crown Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCK#NYSE">CCK</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $95 to $100.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Crown Holdings, Raises Price Target to $100

Rogers Communication, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCI#NYSE">RCI</a>) reported second-quarter revenues of C$5.093 billion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/g39927656/rogers-communications-reports-second-quarter-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">missing the consensus of C$5.105 billion</a>.
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA increased by 6% this quarter, and the adjusted EBITDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">margin increased by 230 basis points</a>.
Rogers&#8217; combined mobile phone and internet net additions totaled 188,000 in the second quarter and 275,000 for the year to date.
The company&#8217;s quarterly postpaid mobile phone net additions were 112,000, prepaid net additions were 50,000, and retail Internet net additions were 26,000.
Rogers said it has added 1.7 million mobile phone and Internet net additions over the past ten quarters.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39928846/us-stocks-could-open-sharply-lower-as-tesla-alphabet-earnings-offer-no-cheer-analyst-says-this-bode" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Could Open Sharply Lower As Tesla, Alphabet Earnings Offer No Cheer: Analyst Says This Bodes Well For Small-Caps, &#8216;Only Takes A Small Spark To Ignite A Powerful Move&#8217;</a>
As of June&nbsp;30, the firm had C$4.3 billion of available liquidity, consisting of C$0.45 billion in cash and cash equivalents and C$3.85 billion available under bank and other credit facilities.
Wireless service revenue increased by 4% this quarter, primarily as a result of the cumulative impact of growth in its mobile phone subscriber base over the past year.
Wireless equipment revenue decreased by 5%, primarily as a result of fewer device upgrades by existing customers.
Total Cable revenue and Cable service revenue decreased by 2% and 3%, respectively, this quarter as a result of continued competitive promotional activity and declines in Home Phone and Satellite subscriber bases. Media revenue increased by 7% this quarter.
The company reported adjusted earnings per share of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">C$1.16, in line with the street view.</a>
Rogers declared a dividend of C$0.50 per share. The declared quarterly dividend will be paid on October 3, 2024, to shareholders of record on September 9, 2024.
Outlook: Rogers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">reaffirmed the 2024 outlook</a>. The company sees total service revenue growth of 8% to 10%, adjusted EBITDA growth of 12% to 15%, capital expenditures of C$3.8 billion to C$4.0 billion, and free cash flow of C$2.9 billion to C$3.1 billion.
Price Action: RCI shares are trading lower by 0.25% to $37.49 at last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39929250/whats-going-on-with-chinese-ev-maker-nio-shares-on-wednesday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Chinese EV Maker NIO Shares On Wednesday?</a></li>
</ul>

Rogers Communication Navigates Mixed Q2: Subscriber Additions Clash with Revenue Miss

The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) stock is trading lower Wednesday. The technology company, among other companies in the ad tech industry, may be reacting to Google&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) decision to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/07/39916932/google-backtracks-on-third-party-cookie-policy-sparks-gains-in-ad-tech-and-publisher-stocks">keep third-party cookies</a>.
What To Know: In 2020, Google initially stated it would stop using third-party cookies by early 2022, as soon as it could launch a new solution to address the needs of users and advertisers, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/22/google-cancels-plans-to-kill-off-cookies-for-advertisers.html">CNBC</a>.
In order to find a solution, Google launched the Privacy Sandbox initiative. A part of the Privacy Sandbox initiative was to place users into, &#8220;Federated Learning of Cohorts&#8221; which would group users based on browsing behavior. This would mean that only cohort IDs would be used to target them compared to individual user IDs.
Then, Google pushed back the timeline to cancel third-party cookies in 2021 and in 2022. <a href="https://privacysandbox.com/news/privacy-sandbox-update/">In a blog post</a> on Monday, Google announced its decision to keep third-party cookies after receiving feedback from a variety of agencies, advertisers and publishers.
&#8220;Early testing from ad tech companies, including Google, has indicated that the Privacy Sandbox APIs have the potential to achieve these outcomes. And we expect that overall performance using Privacy Sandbox APIs will improve over time as industry adoption increases,&#8221; said Anthony Chavez, vice president of the Privacy Sandbox at Google. 
&#8220;At the same time, we recognize this transition requires significant work by many participants and will have an impact on publishers, advertisers, and everyone involved in online advertising.&#8221;
The vice president then explained Google&#8217;s new approach to keep third-party cookies but allow users to, &#8220;make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing.&#8221;
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39935910/microsoft-lumen-collaborate-on-ai-driven-datacenter-expansion">Microsoft, Lumen Collaborate On AI-Driven Datacenter Expansion</a>
TTD Price Action: At the time of publication, The Trade Desk stock is down 8.49% at $92.33, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Song_about_summer/Shutterstock

GOOG

What's Going On With The Trade Desk Shares Wednesday?

RBC Capital analyst Walter Spracklin maintains Canadian National Railway (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNR#TSX">CNR</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from C$172 to C$169.

TSX:CNR

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Canadian National Railway, Lowers Price Target to C$169

Barclays analyst Brandon Oglenski maintains Canadian National Railway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNI#NYSE">CNI</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $128 to $120.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Canadian National Railway, Lowers Price Target to $120

Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEV#NYSE">VEEV</a>) shares are trading lower after it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/05/n39099111/veeva-announces-fiscal-2025-first-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported first-quarter FY25 results</a>.



Revenue rose 24% Y/Y to $650.3 million, beating the consensus of $642.02 million. Subscription services revenues increased 29% Y/Y to $534.0 million.



Adjusted operating income grew 66% Y/Y to $260.9 million in the quarter. Adjusted EPS of $1.50,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the consensus of $1.43</a>.



As of April-end, cash and equivalents stood at $1.20 billion and short-term investments of $3.6 billion.



Outlook: For the second quarter, Veeva Systems expects revenue of $666 million-$669 million vs. consensus of $675.29 million and adjusted EPS of $1.53-$1.54 vs.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $1.52</a>.



For FY25, the company reiterated adjusted EPS of $6.16 (vs. $6.15 estimate) and adjusted operating income of $1.070 billion.



However, Veeva Systems lowered its outlook for revenue to $2.7 billion-$2.71 billion (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/03/37420191/why-cloud-software-company-veeva-systems-shares-are-down-premarket-friday" rel="noreferrer noopener">from $2.725 billion-$2.740 billion</a>) vs. a $2.73 billion estimate.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/39108561/veeva-systems-analysts-lower-their-forecasts-following-q1-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">Veeva Systems Analysts Lower Their Forecasts Following Q1 Results</a>



Investors can gain exposure to the stock via First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EKG#NASDAQ">EKG</a>) and Sterling Capital Focus Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCG#NYSE">LCG</a>).



Price Action: VEEV shares are down 9.21% at $176.02&nbsp;at the last check Friday.

YPSILANTI, MI--(Marketwire - August 13, 2009) - When Frank Fedel joined Eastern Michigan
University's orthotics and prosthetics master's degree program in 2003, he
was surprised by the lack of hard data that could show whether a prosthetic
worked the way it was meant to.

"I wanted to see something that said, 'OK, we're making a difference,'"
said Fedel, an exercise science lecturer at EMU. "I come from a medical
background (cardiac rehabilitation) where we needed to document that we had
an outcome at the end of it -- an EKG score that was more normal, a lower
heart rate... I thought we (in O&P) needed to move toward a more objective,
outcomes-based performance model."

So Fedel joined forces with a team of engineers from College Park
Industries, a company in Fraser that makes prosthetic feet, to co-invent
and develop the Intelligent Prosthetic Endoskeletal Component System
(iPecs) -- a device that can shed new light on the forces of everyday life
on amputees and their prosthetics.

Initially, iPecs will be a research tool, Fedel said. But, ultimately, he'd
like to see it become as commonplace for amputees as heart rate monitors
are to cardiac patients or blood sugar monitors are to diabetics. It would
help those with prosthetics detect and head off potential problems as they
get back to normal activities.

Thus far, College Park has tested the device in university gait labs at
Northwestern and Georgia Tech. The company received a $165,000 grant from
the National Institutes for Health (NIH), through the Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development, to fund the
first phase of the project. Senior research and engineering officer Mike
Leydet said College Park hopes to have iPecs ready to release this fall.

"In the past, when people with an amputation walked around, you'd have a
person with experience in gait analysis look at someone with an amputation
as they walked around and they'd say, 'OK, you look like you're walking
normally,'" Fedel said. "Or, if not, they'd try to adjust the prosthesis.
But 'walking normally' is kind of a subjective thing."

To get more meaningful measurements, researchers and prostheticists use
gait labs that typically involve a lot of expensive equipment -- force
plates mounted in the floor, camera systems and computers to run complex
calculations.

The iPecs device, which is about the size of a Tim Horton's muffin, is
incorporated into the prosthetic system, where it measures the force being
transmitted from the ground into the person's leg. The device can monitor
the position of the foot and tell which way the toes are pointing. It can
reveal twisting, direction of force and other parameters that will help
clinicians and researchers refine the way a prosthetic limb fits and
performs. Fedel's biomechanics background helped steer iPecs' features and
functions.

The idea of attaching measurement devices to prosthetics goes back to the
late 1960s, Leydet said. What makes iPecs different is that it combines
standard strain gauges with cell phone technology so the device can provide
an accurate measurement without battery packs and wires. The device can be
set up to transmit data wirelessly to a nearby computer or record it on a
micro SD memory card to be downloaded later via a USB cable. Even the best
gait labs, with force plates in the floor and cameras and computerized
movement models, can't offer that on an everyday basis.

It's unobtrusive and, therefore, less likely to influence test results.

"iPecs provides data on every step," Leydet said. "A person can go outside
the lab and collect data in a real-world environment. It's taking gait
analysis beyond the lab."

The first crude version of the iPecs was cobbled together and tested in a
lab at EMU.

"We thought we could hammer it out pretty easily, but there was a lot of
error and drift," Leydet said. "We just didn't have a very robust design,
but it was a very pivotal moment in understanding the need for accuracy and
precision in measurements."

Subsequent versions have taken that accuracy and precision well beyond what
the human eye can detect. Not to knock humans, but Fedel points out that,
over the course of years, a small misalignment, undetectable to the human
eye, could mean the difference between mobility and arthritis in an
overcompensating "good" limb.

Though iPecs is being developed to use with prosthetic feet, Fedel said the
device has potential in other fields, too.

In sports, it could be used to gather information about what's happening
when a person tries to balance (i.e. gymnastics) or to measure the force of
impact (football, boxing). In industry, the device could provide a better
picture of what the body experiences during a car crash, or be combined
with robotics as a sensing system.

"One of the design criteria was to make it as flexible as possible," Fedel
said. "The road starts with research and now we can really see what's going
on all the time."

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