Option chain shows key data for FTAC Emerald's stock options at various strike prices and expiration dates. Traders use this information to analyze potential trades and assess market sentiment for FTAC Emerald.

FTAC Emerald (NASDAQ:FLDDW) Stock, Option Chain

FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, with one or more businesses or assets.

FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp

Trading Ideas

NVNI

Nvni Group Shares Resume Trading

Shares of Winnebago Industries Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WGO#NYSE">WGO</a>) remained under pressure on Monday, after the company reported a higher-than-expected loss <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42615254/winnebago-industries-stock-falls-after-q1-earnings-miss-amid-challenging-marine-operating-environment">for the first quarter</a>.
Here are some key analyst takeaways.
<ul>
<li>Roth Capital Partners <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58fe05b90bd9910001595372/scott-stember">analyst Scott Stember</a> reiterated a Neutral rating and price target of $56.</li>
<li>BMO Capital Partners <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6531555b0d10db0001eaba63/tristan-thomas-martin">analyst Tristan Thomas-Martin</a> maintained an Outperform rating and price target of $70.</li>
<li>Truist Securities <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58ee65320bd9910001ca9bef/michael-swartz">analyst Michael Swartz</a> reaffirmed a Buy rating and price target of $64.</li>
<li>Benchmark <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/62ab115992747d0001c9ab9f/michael-albanese">analyst Michael Albanese</a> reiterated a Buy rating and price target of $70.</li>
</ul>
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Roth Capital Partners: Winnebago reiterated the midpoint of its fiscal 2025 earnings guidance, Stember said in a note. The company indicated prospects of the RV (recreational vehicle) environment becoming brighter, with monthly improvements in trend from October into November and the first two weeks of December showing year-on-year growth, he added.
"While encouraging, we note that December tends to be among the lowest selling volume months of the year, so one should be careful in drawing conclusions at this time," the analyst wrote. Although Winnebago would likely be "among the first OEMs to come out of the RV recession," there are limited signs of a sustained retail recovery, he further stated.
BMO Capital Partners: The company reported an adjusted loss of 3 cents per share. That&#8217;s below Street expectations of 20 cents, and a contraction from the year-ago quarter's 95 cents. Management indicated there were several "green shoots" heading into 2025, "with improving consumer confidence and an expectation of more interest rate cuts in 2025," Thomas-Martin said.
Management added that post-election retail trends had been positive, which could support a turnaround in the second half of fiscal 2025, the analyst stated. "For Q2, management expects sales to be in line with Q1 with a modest improvement to profitability," he further wrote.
Truist Securities: Although Winnebago missed its first-quarter results and announced a muted guidance for the second quarter, conversations with management suggest that "the tide may finally be turning," Swartz said in a note. The company's own internal registrations strengthened on a year-on-year basis in November) and the trend has carried into mid-December, he added.
"In addition to WGO&#8217;s greater production constraint (it undershipped the RV industry considerably in FY1Q), mngts&#8217; upbeat retail commentary, evidenced market share gains and (hopefully) a bottoming of Motorized RV profitability in FY1Q is suggestive of a relatively stronger recovery curve over the coming 12-18 months," the analyst further wrote.
Benchmark: The shortfall on the company's bottom-line was driven by a decline in sales and margin contraction, Albanese said. This resulted from factors such as "the GD Motor startup, increased warranty expense and absorption de-leverage," he added.
Management suggested that consumer confidence had improved. Retail sales had inflected positively for the first time in 40 months. Also, inventory was close to the one-to-one ratio, which "should relieve some pricing pressures," the analyst stated. "WGO likes what it is seeing in its internal data through the end of the year," he further wrote.
Price Action: Shares of Winnebago had declined by 1% to $49.47 at the time of publication on Monday.
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41914981/bitcoin-miners-hive-digital-hut-8-bitfarms-to-report-earnings-as-future-of-crypto-has-never-been-brighter">Bitcoin Miners Hive Digital, Hut 8, Bitfarms To Report Earnings As Future Of Crypto &#8216;Has Never Been Brighter&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Courtesy of Winnebago

Analyst Color

Earnings Beats

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Movers

Is Winnebago Steering Toward A Turnaround? Analysts Are Split

Nvni Group Shares Halted On Circuit Breaker To The Upside, Stock Now Down -9.79%

Nvni Group Shares Resume Trade

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Amit Dayal reiterates REE Automotive (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REE#NASDAQ">REE</a>) with a Buy and maintains $15 price target.

News

Price Target

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on REE Automotive, Maintains $15 Price Target

Nvni Group Shares Halted On Circuit Breaker To The Upside, Stock Now Down -20.4%

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Amit Dayal reiterates Aemetis (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMTX#NASDAQ">AMTX</a>) with a Buy and maintains $28 price target.

AMTX

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Aemetis, Maintains $28 Price Target

Lululemon Athletica's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NYSE">LULU</a>) short percent of float has fallen 14.2% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.50 million shares sold short, which is 5.56% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.55 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>Lululemon Athletica Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734973224_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Lululemon Athletica 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 Lululemon Athletica'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>, Lululemon Athletica's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.62%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

LULU

Peering Into Lululemon Athletica's Recent Short Interest

Curtiss-Wright's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CW#NYSE">CW</a>) short percent of float has risen 36.78% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 400 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.19% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.64 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>Curtiss-Wright Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734973218_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Curtiss-Wright 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 Curtiss-Wright'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>, Curtiss-Wright's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.99%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Curtiss-Wright?

For generations, owning a home has been celebrated as a cornerstone of the American dream. If you believe the financial advice echoed by countless experts, it's where you put down roots, raise your family and invest in your biggest asset.
But <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42599186/a-trillion-seconds-was-31688-years-ago-robert-kiyosaki-runs-the-numbers-to-show-magnitude-of-the-nations-massive-mounting-debt">Robert Kiyosaki</a>, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has a blunt message: Your house is not your asset. In fact, you don't even truly own it.
As Kiyosaki said in a 2021 Facebook post:
"Your house is not your asset. You never own your house; the government does. You'll be paying them property tax forever."
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>Unlock the hidden potential of commercial real estate —<a href="https://equitymultiple.com/benzinga?invite=benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=product-promotion-earn&amp;utm_source=yahooFinance&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_content=unlockboost-yahoo"> This platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a></li>
<li>This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to <a href="https://arrivedhomes.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=15&amp;aff_id=1006&amp;aff_sub=yahoo&amp;aff_sub2=byerscta100">become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100 for properties like the Byer House from Stranger Things.</a></li>
</ul>
It's a provocative claim, but Kiyosaki's reasoning is this: If something consistently costs you rather than putting money in your pocket, it's not an asset.
He points to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/05/38620303/grant-cardone-exposes-housing-cost-surge-under-biden-mortgages-have-doubled-to-the-highest-level-in">ongoing expenses of homeownership – </a>mortgage payments, repairs, maintenance, utilities and, most notably, property taxes. Even when you've paid off your mortgage and hold the title to your home, you're not off the hook. Property taxes don't go away.
Property taxes are levied by local governments and are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/11/42010931/florida-just-introduced-a-property-tax-cola-for-retirees-how-this-boost-could-ease-housing-costs-for-thousands">calculated based on the assessed value</a> of your home. These taxes fund schools, infrastructure and emergency services but are a perpetual expense. If you fail to pay them, the consequences can be severe. The government can place a lien on your property and in extreme cases, your house could even be seized and sold to recover the debt.
See Also: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-y2"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>
This is where Kiyosaki's argument hits hardest. Even though you may technically own your home, the reality is that the government retains a financial claim on it forever. For many, that's a sobering realization.
To be fair, there are exceptions. Some states offer tax breaks or exemptions for seniors, veterans or disabled homeowners. Others have homestead protections to limit how much property taxes can rise each year. But for most homeowners, these taxes remain a significant, lifelong expense.
Trending: Wondering if your investments can get you to a $5,000,000 nest egg? Speak to a financial advisor today.<a href="https://smartasset.com/retirement/find-a-financial-planner?utm_source=benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=ben&amp;utm_content=y2_5MilNestEgg"> SmartAsset&#8217;s free tool matches you up with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost</a> to decide which one is right for you.
Kiyosaki doesn't dismiss real estate altogether – far from it. He makes a sharp distinction between primary residences and investment properties. Unlike your home, investment properties can generate income through rent while appreciating, making them true assets in his eyes.
This perspective challenges the traditional narrative that homeownership is the ultimate financial milestone. Many people buy homes believing they're securing their future, but Kiyosaki argues that unless your home actively puts money in your pocket, it's not an investment – it's a liability.
So, what does this mean for the way people see homeownership? Does it change how you view your biggest purchase or reinforce the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/05/38874948/have-american-renters-given-up-on-the-dream-of-homeownership">value of owning a home despite the costs</a>?
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and<a href="https://equitymultiple.com/benzinga?invite=benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=product-promotion-earn&amp;utm_source=yahooFinance&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_content=stockmarket-yahoo"> this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a></li>
<li>Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://arrivedhomes.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=15&amp;aff_id=1006&amp;aff_sub=yahoo&amp;aff_sub2=jeffbezos100"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $100.</a></li>
</ul>

Markets

'You'll Never Own Your House. The Government Does' – Robert Kiyosaki Argues Your Home Is Never An Asset Because Property Taxes Are 'Forever'

SLM's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLM#NYSE">SLM</a>) short percent of float has risen 4.85% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.05 million shares sold short, which is 4.54% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.56 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>SLM Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734973213_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for SLM 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 SLM'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>, SLM's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.38%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into SLM's Recent Short Interest

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Edward White reiterates 60 Degrees (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SXTP#NASDAQ">SXTP</a>) from Neutral to Neutral.

SXTP

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Neutral on 60 Degreesto Neutral

WIIM

LAES

QBTS

QUBT

Shares of quantum computing companies are trading higher. The sector has recently seen increased interest.

B of A Securities analyst Justin Post maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Buy and maintains $210 price target.

GOOGL

B of A Securities Maintains Buy on Alphabet, Maintains $210 Price Target

Could 2025 mark a sluggish year for the S&amp;P 500? Historical data suggests that investors may need to tread cautiously, especially given the patterns tied to the first year of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">a U.S. presidential term.</a> 
An analysis of market performance dating back to 1928 shows that the S&amp;P 500's average returns during the inaugural year of a presidency have lagged behind its typical performance—particularly under Republican administrations.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Historical Data Highlights First Year Struggles</h3>
The first year of a U.S. presidential term has historically been marked by volatility in the S&amp;P 500 – 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>) – with performance oscillating between striking gains and painful losses. 
Data from Seasonax reveals that while the median return for the index in these years stands at 8.44%, the probability of positive performance—captured by a 58.33% winning ratio—barely tips the scales in favor of gains.
For comparison, in an average year since 1928, the S&amp;P 500 has delivered a median return of 11%, with 67.37% of those years ending in positive territory.
&#8220;In year 1 of a US presidential cycle, the average SPX trend has tended to struggle from mid-January through April, rallied into the summer, and declined into year-end,&#8221; wrote Bank of America analyst Paul Ciana in a note published Monday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42647650/palantir-vs-lockheed-a-tech-fueled-showdown-in-the-850-billion-defense-market">Palantir Vs. Lockheed: A Tech-Fueled Showdown In The $850 Billion Defense Market</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Republican And Q1 Effects</h3>
The median return during Republican first years is -10.11%, and the winning ratio drops to 36.36%, highlighting the increased likelihood of losses.
The early months of a presidential year have also been tough for markets. From inauguration in late January to the end of March, the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s median return is -0.09%, with gains recorded only 50% of the time.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump 2017: An Exception to the Rule</h3>
President-elect Donald Trump's first year in 2017 bucked these historical trends, delivering exceptional market performance.
From his inauguration to the end of March, the S&amp;P 500 gained 4.2%, outperforming historical averages for both first presidential years and Republican presidencies. By year-end, the index had surged 19.40%, marking a robust first-year performance.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Normal Year (1928-2023)</th>
<th>First Presidential Year</th>
<th>First Republican Presidential Year</th>
<th>Trump 2017</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Median Annual Return</td>
<td>+11.00%</td>
<td>+8.44%</td>
<td>-10.11%</td>
<td>+19.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Winning Annual Trades (%)</td>
<td>67.37%</td>
<td>58.33%</td>
<td>36.36%</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Max Annual Gain</td>
<td>+48.02%</td>
<td>+48.02%</td>
<td>+30.65%</td>
<td>+19.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Max Annual Loss</td>
<td>-48.77%</td>
<td>-37.68%</td>
<td>-18.09%</td>
<td>0.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Median Return (Inauguration-end Q1)</td>
<td>+1.68%</td>
<td>-4.99%</td>
<td>+0.08%</td>
<td>+4.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Winning trades (Inauguration-end Q1)</td>
<td>63.54%</td>
<td>50%</td>
<td>54.55%</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data: Seasonax</figcaption></figure>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42649864/tariffs-or-more-energy-analyst-warns-of-high-costs-limited-capacity-if-europe-bows-to-trumps-lng-push">Tariffs Or More Energy: Analyst Warns Of High Costs, Limited Capacity If Europe Bows To Trump&#8217;s LNG Push</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

Large Cap

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

History Suggests S&P 500 Could Struggle In 2025, But There's Reason For Optimism

B of A Securities analyst Ming Hsun Lee initiates coverage on Pony AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PONY#NASDAQ">PONY</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $18.

Initiation

PONY

B of A Securities Initiates Coverage On Pony AI with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $18

Good Morning Traders! In today&#8217;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.
Our proprietary formula, exclusive to Market Clubhouse, dictates these price levels. This dynamic equation takes into account price, volume, and options flow. These levels are updated every day and shared with all Clubhouse Members, prior to the opening of the market.
We recommend closely monitoring these stocks, and be prepared to leverage potential breakouts or reversals. As always, stay alert and ready to adjust your tactics based on the market&#8217;s pulse to optimize your trading gains. Now, let&#8217;s dive into the stock analysis:
SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)
SPY is currently trading near 589.71. For the bulls, a move above 592.00 is crucial. Holding above this level may lead to a push toward 593.73, with this area acting as a critical support zone during the session. If buyers maintain momentum above 593.73, further upside to 596.57 is possible, with the ultimate bull target for the day set at 598.04.
Should 589.71 fail to hold as support, bears will aim to test 587.31. A breakdown below this level could lead to further selling pressure toward 585.75. If weakness persists, SPY might drop to 584.68, with the low bear target for today positioned at 583.18.
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)
QQQ is hovering around 521.15, a key level for the day. Bulls need to establish support above this point for a move higher. A breakout could bring 522.57 into play as a strong support area. With sustained buying, we could see 523.91 tested, followed by a potential rally toward 525.19. The high bull target for QQQ is set at 527.03.
If 521.15 doesn&#8217;t hold, bears could press lower toward 519.87. Continued selling may lead to a test of 517.97, with 516.58 as the next significant support level. Should the selling persist, the bears might push QQQ down to its low target of 515.00.
Apple Inc. 
Apple is trading near 255.16, a pivotal level for the session. Bulls will aim to keep this level intact to drive prices toward 256.09. Sustained buying pressure could bring the price up to 257.32, with further strength likely pushing AAPL to its high bull target of 258.56.
If 255.16 is lost as support, sellers may target 253.90. A deeper sell-off could lead to a move down to 252.13, with continued pressure potentially bringing 250.39 into focus. The low bear target for AAPL today stands at 249.04.
Microsoft Corp. 
Microsoft is currently trading around 437.10, a critical level for bulls. Holding above this area could trigger a rally to 438.72, which would need to act as solid support. Sustained bullish action may then push prices toward 441.34, with the high bull target for the day set at 442.95.
If 437.10 cannot hold, bears are likely to test 435.79. A break below this level could lead to further selling toward 434.49, with continued downside pressure potentially targeting 432.49. The low bear target for Microsoft is 431.25.
NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA is auctioning near 135.64, a key level for today's session. Bulls need to clear 136.98 and turn it into support to see further upward momentum. A strong buy-side push could lead to a test of 137.94, with potential gains extending to 138.55. The high bull target for NVIDIA is 139.42.
If 135.64 is lost as support, bears could drive prices down to 134.56. A break of this level might lead to additional selling, testing 133.31. Continued bearish pressure could bring NVIDIA to 132.19, with the low target set at 131.42.
Alphabet Inc Class A 
Alphabet is trading near 193.14, an important level for the bulls to defend. Holding above this area could see prices push higher toward 194.34. Sustained buying may lead to a move up to the high bull target of 195.41.
If 193.14 fails to hold as support, bears could take control and test 192.19. Selling pressure might bring the price lower to 191.42, with heavy selling likely pushing GOOGL to its low target of 190.41.
Meta Platforms Inc
Meta is trading near 585.73, a key pivot for bulls. If this level is maintained as support, we could see a rally toward 591.29. Continued strength might bring 598.17 into play, with the high bull target at 604.50.
If 585.73 fails to hold, bears will likely push the price lower to 580.17. A break of this level may lead to further declines, testing 573.25. Persistent selling could bring Meta to its low bear target of 565.53.
Tesla Inc. 
Tesla is currently near 431.50, a critical area for the bulls to reclaim. A strong move above this level could see prices climbing toward 437.95. Continued momentum could push the price higher to 448.48, with an extended rally targeting the high bull level at 462.12.
If 431.50 does not hold, sellers may test 426.23. Weakness below this level could see further declines to 420.70, with persistent selling likely driving Tesla to its low target of 416.62.
Final Word: Today's trading session begins with critical economic releases, including Canada's October GDP and the Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November, both due at 8:30 AM ET. These reports provide insights into economic trends that could shape early market sentiment. At 10:00 AM ET, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence report for December will be released, a key indicator of consumer spending and economic optimism.
Later, the Treasury will hold a 52-week Bill Auction at 11:30 AM ET, followed by a 2-Year Note Auction at 1:00 PM ET. These auctions may influence bond yields and, subsequently, equity markets. As this is a holiday week, trading volumes are expected to be lighter than usual, which can lead to heightened volatility. Be prepared for sudden price swings and remain disciplined in your trading approach. Stay vigilant, manage your risk carefully, and make informed decisions. Good luck and trade safely!
The Morning Memo is curated by RIPS, a pro trader with years of experience in equities, options, and futures trading. RIPS is at the heart of the exclusive Market Clubhouse community, offering his insights, expertise, and real-time mentorship.
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Market Clubhouse Morning Memo - December 23rd, 2024 (Trade Strategy For SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META and TSLA)

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-12-23_08h02_56.png" alt="" /></figure>
To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Profiting From Stock Market Hopium</h4>
An enlarged chart of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&amp;P 500 (SPX).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows Friday was an outside day.&nbsp; It is a bullish technical signal.</li>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market hit the breakout line before bouncing.</li>
<li>The chart shows that RSI is close to oversold.</li>
<li>The set up shown on the chart is a good setup for a Santa Claus rally.</li>
<li>The chart shows the higher volume on Friday.&nbsp; This indicates conviction.</li>
<li>In the early trade, initially there was strong buying.&nbsp; As of this writing in the premarket, selling is coming in.</li>
<li>Momo gurus have a new narrative – after lower PCE data, the Fed will continue cutting rates.&nbsp; Momo gurus are urging their followers to ignore everything the FOMC said and everything Powell said in his press conference.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, in spite of bullish technical signals and bullish seasonality, investors should not ignore negative macro signals that arose from the FOMC decision and many investors in the stock market finally coming to the realization that the data does not support aggressive rate cuts.</li>
<li>Right now, the stock market is running up on hopium.&nbsp; Once Trump is inaugurated, the stock market will have to meet reality.</li>
<li>The Arora Report call is to consider taking partial profits on tactical positions between Christmas and New Years.&nbsp; Investors should be prepared to take more profits on tactical positions between New Year and Trump's inauguration.&nbsp; Open new tactical positions on dips and on new signals.</li>
<li>The Arora Report call is to continue to hold good strategic positions.</li>
<li>There is no change in the protection band.&nbsp; Please see details in the "Protection Band And What To Do Now" section below.&nbsp; For investors who are underinvested relative to the protection band and are aggressive, consider scaling in on strategic positions when they fall in the buy zones.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the ideal time to buy will be if there is a 6% &#8211; 10% correction.</li>
<li>Since Trump's election, across all services from The Arora Report, there have been 84 profit taking signals.&nbsp; This illustrates the power of combining tactical positions with taking partial profits on some strategic positions. Please see the Trade Management Guidelines for how to properly take partial profits.</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h4>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Alphabet Inc Class C, Meta Platforms Inc, NVIDIA Corp, and Tesla Inc.
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Amazon.com, Inc., Microsoft Corp and Apple Inc.
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h4>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.&nbsp; Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.&nbsp; The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (ASCA:USO).
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h4>
Bitcoin is range bound.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h4>
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.
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.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h4>
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>.

Bullish Technical Signal, Santa Claus Rally, Taking Advantage Of Hopium

Baird analyst Jonathan Komp maintains Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $110 to $105.

Baird Maintains Outperform on Nike, Lowers Price Target to $105

Embedded finance is reshaping how people interact with financial services, offering solutions integrated into everyday applications. During a panel discussion on embedded finance at the Benzinga Fintech Deal Day &amp; Awards event, Rob Nardelli of DailyPay shared an example of how real-time earned wage access redefines financial accessibility.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Challenges with Traditional Banking Systems</h3>
Nardelli explained the concept: "Earned wage access simply means giving workers the ability to access their wages as they earn them in real-time without waiting until their regularly scheduled payday." He highlighted how DailyPay uses tools such as real-time payments and Visa Direct for instant transactions, providing financial flexibility to users.
One illustrative story involved a DailyPay user who needed funds for gas during a first date. He accessed his earned wages instantly through the app with no other options. "There is a happy ending to this story," Nardelli added. "That couple… are now married happily."
Diksha Gera, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, provided a contrasting perspective by recounting her experience with traditional banking. After moving to the U.S., she found opening a bank account cumbersome, especially when faced with unfamiliar systems like paper checks. "Nobody wants to go and make banking another task in the day," she remarked.
This frustration highlights the significance of integrating banking services into non-financial platforms, enabling users to access solutions without the inefficiencies of legacy systems.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Role of Real-Time Payments</h3>
Real-time payments are a critical driver of embedded finance, offering immediate transactions and reducing delays associated with traditional banking. According to Gera, countries like India and Brazil are leading the charge, with widespread adoption of real-time payment systems accelerating financial inclusion.
However, the adoption rate in the U.S. remains slower. Gera pointed out that the country&#8217;s entrenched reliance on credit cards challenges faster integration. Despite these hurdles, advancements such as the FedNow system and private partnerships indicate progress.
Nardelli echoed these sentiments, noting that real-time payments are central to DailyPay's success. He highlighted their role in reducing financial stress for users and emphasized the importance of robust pre-payment due diligence to mitigate risks such as fraud.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">FinTech and Banking Partnerships Are Crucial</h3>
Collaboration between fintech firms and traditional banks emerged as another focal point of the discussion. Sarah Biller, co-founder of FinTech Sandbox, described these partnerships as vital for scaling embedded finance solutions. "We have to treat [fintech partners] like a digital branch," she said, underscoring the need for collaboration while adhering to rigorous compliance standards.
The panelists agreed that regulatory clarity and robust infrastructure are essential to fostering effective collaborations. As banks and fintechs continue to align, the evolution of embedded finance is poised to address longstanding gaps in accessibility and convenience.
This growing integration, bolstered by technology and strategic partnerships, is paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient financial future.
Photo by Corynn Egreczky

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