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Pacific North of South EM Equity Active ETF

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) plans to invest about $100 billion in artificial intelligence initiatives this year, placing it ahead of its competitors.
What Happened: On Thursday, during Amazon's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43545590/amazoncom-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-most-successful-holiday-shopping-season-in-company-history">fourth-quarter earnings</a> call, CEO Andy Jassy said the company's $26.3 billion spending in the last quarter of 2024 reflects its planned quarterly investments for 2025.
This amount covers all business areas, including retail. Most of the funds will go to Amazon Web Services, which runs data centers and provides software tools.
He praised DeepSeek&#8217;s emergence as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43258810/ross-gerber-slams-deepseeks-privacy-policy-as-the-chinese-ai-models-rise-triggers-market-chaos-i-dont-trust-a-thing-china-does">lower-cost competitor</a> outperforming models from companies like OpenAI and predicted that lower costs and greater efficiency would drive increased customer spending.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43425734/apple-watch-faces-are-a-mess-series-10s-biggest-feature-is-limited-to-just-four-faces-frustrating-users" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Watch Faces Are A Mess — Series 10's Biggest Feature Is Limited To Just Four Faces, Frustrating Users</a>
He said some assume that lowering the cost of a technology component, specifically inference in this case, would reduce overall spending. However, this has never been the case.
&#8220;Companies will spend a lot less per unit of infrastructure, and that is very, very useful for their businesses," Jassy stated, adding, &#8220;But then they get excited about what else they could build . . . they usually end up spending a lot more in total.&#8221;
&#8220;I believe the cost of inference will meaningfully come down,&#8221; he stated, adding that this will make it easier for companies to integrate inference and generative AI into their applications.
Why It Matters: Amazon&#8217;s fourth-quarter revenues increased by 10% year-on-year to $187.8 billion, slightly exceeding estimates. However, the company anticipates lower net sales for the current quarter.
Amazon&#8217;s aggressive AI investments align with rivals like Alphabet ($75 billion) and Microsoft ($80 billion), all vying for industry dominance.
Last month, China&#8217;s DeepSeek-R1 was made <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/01/43381133/chinas-deepseek-r1-lands-on-microsoft-azure-and-awsthe-same-model-that-shook-silicon-valley">available to access</a> on platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS.
Price Action: Amazon&#8217;s stock dropped 4.05% in after-hours trading, settling at $229.16. Earlier on Thursday, it had closed at $238.83, marking a 1.13% gain, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43517468/google-joins-meta-amazon-in-winding-up-dei-hiring-memo-reveals-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Joins Meta, Amazon In Winding Up DEI Hiring — Memo Reveals Details</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Markets

Tech

AMZN

Amazon To Pour Nearly $100 Billion Into AI In 2025, Surpassing Microsoft And Alphabet—Andy Jassy Says 'Cost Of Inference Will Meaningfully Come Down' Amid DeepSeek Worries

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed notable trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), Reddit Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>), and Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>). These trades came amidst significant developments in each company, drawing considerable attention from investors and analysts.
The Palantir Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to sell shares of Palantir. comes as the stock reached <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43543416/palantir-stock-hits-new-all-time-highs-whats-going-on">new all-time highs</a>. The surge followed the company&#8217;s impressive fourth-quarter financial results, which exceeded analyst expectations. Palantir reported revenue of $827.52 million, surpassing estimates of $775.91 million, and adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share, beating the forecast of 11 cents per share. The stock rallied over 20% on Tuesday and continued its upward momentum, testing support around $100 before reaching new highs on Thursday. 
ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) sold 91,785 shares of Palantir, valued at approximately $10.02 million based on the latest closing price of $111.28. Notably, a day earlier, Ark had offloaded Palantir stock worth $556,973.
The Robinhood Trade
Ark Invest also reduced its position in Robinhood selling 339,757 shares through its ARKK, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>), and Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>). This move was valued at roughly $18.06 million, calculated from the closing price of $53.17. 
The sale occurred as part of a longer-selling spree, with Ark Invest <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43517403/cathie-wood-sells-palantir-shares-as-rally-cools-down-ark-invest-also-dumps-nearly-7-million-worth-of-robinhood-stock">divesting</a> nearly $7 million worth of Robinhood stock a day earlier.
The Reddit Trade
Despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43528716/reddits-stock-soars-even-as-musk-related-tensions-rise">ongoing tensions</a> involving Elon Musk, Reddit. has seen its stock price soar. The company has experienced a remarkable 338.46% increase over the past year, with a 33.30% rise year-to-date and a 23.22% gain over the past month. These gains come as Reddit prepares to release its fourth-quarter earnings in six days. Ark Invest&#8217;s engagement with Reddit reflects the stock&#8217;s strong performance and potential for future growth.
On Thursday, Ark sold 21,016 shares of Reddit via ARKW and ARKF. The trade was valued at $4.55 million. For the day Reddit shares ended 2.1% lower at $216.51.
The Qualcomm Trade
Qualcomm Inc. recently reported record <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43509115/qualcomm-q1-earnings-highlights-record-revenue-eps-beat-estimates">first-quarter revenue</a> of $11.7 billion, marking a 17% year-over-year increase and surpassing the Street consensus estimate of $10.93 billion. The company&#8217;s earnings per share also beat estimates, highlighting growth across its diversification initiatives.
On the same day, Ark purchased 54,371 Qualcomm shares through ARKQ and ARKW funds. This trade was valued at $9.2 million. Qualcomm shares closed 3.7% lower at $169.32 on Thursday in the regular trading session. 
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): Purchased 153 shares via ARKF.</li>
<li>Rocket Lab Usa Inc (RKLB): Sold 182,393 shares through ARKK.</li>
<li>Roblox Corp (RBLX): Purchased 368,676 shares across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF. </li>
<li>Uipath Inc (PATH): Sold 9,326 shares via ARKK and ARKW.</li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43550204/palantir-amazon-affirm-pinterest-and-tesla-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today">Palantir, Amazon, Affirm, Pinterest, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors&#8217; Radars Today</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Equities

ETFs

ARKF

ARKK

ARKW

HOOD

PLTR

QCOM

RDDT

Cathie Wood Dumps $10 Million Palantir Shares At Peak, Sells Robinhood And Reddit — Ark Invest Loads Up On Qualcomm Stock

The stock market experienced a mixed session as major indices struggled to find a clear direction. Investors were cautious ahead of a crucial jobs report set for release on Friday morning. The S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 both saw a modest increase of 0.4% and 0.5% respectively, while the Dow Jones slipped slightly by 0.3% to 44,747.63.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day.
Palantir Technologies Inc.
Palantir Technologies saw its shares jump 9.79% to close at $111.28, reaching an intraday high of $111.55 and a low of $100.26. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $111.55. The stock gained another 1.4% in the after-hours trading. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43543416/palantir-stock-hits-new-all-time-highs-whats-going-on">surge in the stock</a> follows the company&#8217;s strong fourth-quarter financial results, which exceeded analyst expectations. Palantir reported revenue of $827.52 million, surpassing estimates of $775.91 million, and adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share, beating the forecast of 11 cents. The company also provided robust revenue guidance, further boosting investor confidence.
Amazon.com Inc.
Amazon&#8217;s stock rose by 1.13%, closing at $238.83, with an intraday high of $239.66 and a low of $236.01. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $151.61 to $242.52. This increase came after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/earnings/25/02/43545391/amazon-com-q4-earnings-summary-key-takeaways">fourth-quarter earnings</a> that beat estimates by 26%, with an EPS of $1.86 compared to the expected $1.48.
Affirm Holdings Inc.
Affirm Holdings&#8217; shares fell 1.67% to $61.75, with a high of $63.36 and a low of $60.56. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $22.25 to $73.34. Despite the decline, Affirm reported a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/earnings/25/02/43545819/affirm-holdings-earnings-report-q2-overview">significant earnings beat</a> for the second quarter, with an EPS of $0.23 against an expected loss of $0.23.
Pinterest Inc.
Pinterest&#8217;s stock increased by 0.87%, closing at $33.59, with a high of $33.90 and a low of $33.08. The 52-week range is $27 to $45.19. The rise follows the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43546168/pinterest-q4-earnings-revenue-crosses-1b-maus-up-11-cap-off-banner-year-for-the-company-shares-soar">fourth-quarter financial results</a>, which showed revenue in the $1 billion range and an 11% increase in monthly active users. Despite missing earnings per share estimates, the revenue growth and user engagement were positive highlights.
Tesla Inc.
Tesla&#8217;s shares declined by 1.02% to $374.32, with an intraday high of $375.40 and a low of $363.18. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $138.80 to $488.54. The decline comes amid reports of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43534797/tesla-sales-drop-60-in-germany-are-elon-musks-politics-getting-in-the-way-of-ev-growth">60% drop in sales</a> in Germany, potentially linked to CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s political activities. This trend has raised concerns about the company&#8217;s market share in key regions. 
Image via Shutterstock
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43542288/block-poised-for-growth-in-2025-analyst-predicts-outperformance-and-possible-sp-500-spot">Block In The S&amp;P500? BofA Analyst Says Company Meets All Criteria</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

AFRM

PINS

TSLA

Palantir, Amazon, Affirm, Pinterest, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

The Department of Government Efficiency staff member, Marko Elez, resigned following revelations of his involvement with a racist social media account. This news comes in the wake of a legal dispute involving Elez&#8217;s access to sensitive Treasury Department data.
What Happened: Elez, a former SpaceX employee and a Rutgers University graduate, resigned from his position at DOGE after his connection to a racist social media account was exposed, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/doge-staffer-resigns-over-racist-posts-d9f11a93?mod=hp_lead_pos3">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal.
The account, now deleted, was known for promoting racism and eugenics, with posts such as &#8220;Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool,&#8221; and &#8220;Normalize Indian hate,&#8221; referring to the significant presence of Indian professionals in Silicon Valley.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed Elez&#8217;s resignation after The Wall Street Journal questioned the White House about his connection to the account. Elez, who had access to the Treasury Department&#8217;s central-payments system, had been in the midst of a legal dispute over access to sensitive taxpayer information and systems used by the Treasury Department to process trillions of dollars in payments annually.
Earlier on Thursday, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that Elez could retain access to the department's payment systems but imposed restrictions on data sharing. Elez resigned later that day.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43548786/bill-gates-harvard-professor-i-wasnt-surprised-when-he-dropped-out-but-i-wish-id-invested-in-him-100-could-be-650000-today">Bill Gates&#8217; Harvard Professor: &#8216;I Wasn&#8217;t Surprised When He Dropped Out—But I Wish I&#8217;d Invested in Him&#8217;—$100 Could Be $650,000 Today</a>
Why It Matters: Elez&#8217;s resignation comes amidst concerns about his access to sensitive Treasury Department data. A federal judge had <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/02/43539572/musk-allies-face-treasury-data-limits-as-judge-steps-in">restricted the handling</a> of sensitive Department of Treasury data amid concerns over access granted to allies of Musk leading a government review. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by labor unions arguing that DOGE, led by Musk appointees, could compromise financial records.
Earlier, it was reported that Elez, a 25-year-old engineer, had been granted extensive access to critical U.S. Treasury Department payment systems, <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43497170/ex-spacex-engineer-with-musk-ties-granted-high-level-treasury-access-lawmakers-raise-red-flags">raising alarm</a> among government officials and cybersecurity experts.
The recent events surrounding Elez&#8217;s resignation and his access to sensitive data highlight the ongoing concerns about the influence and access of Musk&#8217;s appointees within the federal government.
Musk, an avid supporter of Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), now heads the Department of Government Efficiency, which shares its acronym with the cryptocurrency.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Dogecoin traded nearly 2.9% lower at $0.25, according to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: iQoncept via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43549057/deadly-bird-flu-strain-hits-dairy-cows-could-make-covid-seem-like-a-walk-in-the-park-expert-says">Deadly Bird Flu Strain Hits Dairy Cows: &#8216;Could Make COVID Seem Like A Walk In The Park,&#8217; Expert Says</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

$DOGE

Elon Musk-Led DOGE's Marko Elez, Who Had Treasury Payment Access, Resigns Over Racist Social Media Posts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that six dairy herds in Nevada have tested positive for a strain of bird flu associated with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/02/43511263/high-egg-prices-drive-waffle-house-to-add-50-cent-surcharge">man's death in January.</a>
The Details: The infected Nevada cows mark the first time the D1.1 variant of the H5N1 bird flu has been detected in cattle which means the cows contracted the virus from birds and not another herd of cattle.&nbsp;
This is the second time a type of bird flu has been introduced into cattle herds by wild birds, according to a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/health/bird-flu-cattle-nevada/index.html">report</a>. If wild birds are spreading the disease to cattle, it could become endemic, or continuously circulating.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43535256/palantir-adds-elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-to-aip">Palantir Adds Elon Musk&#8217;s AI Chatbot Grok To AIP</a>
"In my opinion, it is now endemic, and it should be classified as an endemic virus," Dr. Louise Moncla, a pathobiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told CNN.&nbsp;
The D1.1 variant is the strain associated with a Louisiana man's death in January and a severe case contracted by a teenager in British Columbia who was hospitalized in critical condition last fall.&nbsp;
Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who has studied the H5N1 virus in cattle, <a href="https://fortune.com/well/2025/02/06/new-bird-flu-spread-cows-nebraska-expert-warns-could-worse-covid/">told</a> Fortune that the virus has the potential to "make COVID seem like a walk in the park" and federal officials should quickly share information in order to stop the spread.&nbsp;
That may be hard to do, considering the Trump administration in late January <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43194764/trump-administration-halts-all-communications-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-as-bird-flu-spreads">ordered all</a> communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop. The pause in communications includes the CDC&#8217;s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a scientific publication on health information and recommendations.
Stocks To Watch: According <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock">to the USDA</a>, H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in 957 herds in 16 states. Companies exposed to the dairy industry are on watch due to the uncertainty surrounding bird flu in cattle herds.&nbsp;
Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COKE#NASDAQ">COKE</a>) has over 80 dairy products under 15 brands including Fairlife milk and Core Power protein shakes and would likely be sensitive to dairy price increases or shortages.&nbsp;
Chocolate makers like Hershey Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) and Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>) are also heavily exposed to the dairy industry as milk is one of their top ingredients.&nbsp;
General Mills Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>), maker of Häagen-Dazs ice cream, Yoplait and Oui French-style yogurt, should also be monitored as the bird flu situation develops.&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43512137/ford-shares-skid-after-q4-report-details">Ford Shares Skid After Q4 Report: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Labellepatine via Shutterstock

Government

Large Cap

Health Care

COKE

MDLZ

Deadly Bird Flu Strain Hits Dairy Cows: 'Could Make COVID Seem Like A Walk In The Park,' Expert Says

Citigroup analyst Kyle Menges maintains CNH Industrial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNH#NYSE">CNH</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $13 to $15.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Citigroup Maintains Buy on CNH Industrial, Raises Price Target to $15

Citigroup analyst Eric Lau maintains Stanley Black &amp; Decker (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWK#NYSE">SWK</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $135 to $118.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Stanley Black & Decker, Lowers Price Target to $118

Maxim Group analyst Michael Diana maintains Enova International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENVA#NYSE">ENVA</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $108 to $138.

ENVA

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on Enova International, Raises Price Target to $138

Maxim Group analyst Matthew Galinko maintains MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $480 to $500.

MSTR

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on MicroStrategy, Raises Price Target to $500

Super Bowl LIX features a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, with the Chiefs attempting to be the first NFL team to win <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43480342/chiefs-chase-historic-super-bowl-three-peat-and-nba-legend-stands-to-gain">three straight Super Bowls.</a>
A Benzinga poll finds whether people are most excited to watch the game, the commercials, the halftime performance or sightings of Taylor Swift.
What Happened: Super Bowl LIX is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII from 2023 when the Chiefs won 38-35. Like that Super Bowl, this Chiefs and Eagles match <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/43324031/super-bowl-lix-commercials-hit-record-8-million-how-fox-corporation-can-win-from-nfl-championship">will also air on FOX</a>, a unit of Fox Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>).
Viewers will tune in to see the matchup between the two giants, who came into the playoffs as the number one seed in the AFC (Chiefs) and number two seed in the NFC (Eagles).
Kendrick Lamar&nbsp;could also attract viewers to the big game, with Super Bowls sometimes seeing their peak or a spike in viewership during the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/09/40776084/kendrick-lamar-to-perform-super-bowl-lix-halftime-could-apple-fox-and-universal-music-get-a">halftime music performance.</a>
Many viewers will also tune into the Super Bowl for the commercials in between. To date, brands have shelled out $7 million to $8 million for a 30-second spot in this year&#8217;s big game. Fox was even able to get more than $8 million for some of its last-minute inventory of Super Bowl commercials.
Another item that could attract viewers this year and could lead to record viewership is the presence of music superstar Taylor Swift, who is involved in a romantic relationship with Chiefs&#8217; tight end Travis Kelce.
Benzinga recently polled its followers to see what aspect of the Super Bowl they were most excited about.
"What's the biggest reason you'll be watching Super Bowl LIX?" Benzinga asked.
<ul>
<li>The Game (Chiefs vs. Eagles): 63%</li>
<li>The Commercials: 19%</li>
<li>The Halftime Show (Kendrick Lamar): 11%</li>
<li>Taylor Swift Sightings: 8%</li>
</ul>
The NFL championship game was the top response by a majority of voters. Ranking second was the commercials, followed by the halftime show and Taylor Swift sightings.
For comparison, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/02/37054043/super-bowl-lviii-could-break-viewership-records-are-viewers-more-excited-about-football-ush">same question asked by Benzinga</a> on social media last year saw users on X say the following:
<ul>
<li>The Game: 54%</li>
<li>Halftime Show (Usher): 6.9%</li>
<li>Super Bowl Commercials: 15.3%</li>
<li>Taylor Swift: 23.8%</li>
</ul>
Based on this year's poll results, more people are excited about the game and the commercials with fewer excited about the halftime performance and seeing Swift.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/02/37076429/super-bowl-commercials-2024-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lviii-ads-and-companies-behind-them">Super Bowl Commercials 2024: Complete List Of Super Bowl LVIII Ads And Companies Behind Them</a>
Why It's Important: Last year's Super Bowl<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/02/37085784/123m-viewers-make-super-bowl-2024-most-watched-tv-event-ever-paramount-revels-in-streaming-"> set a record </a>with an average of 123 million viewers, with 202.4 million people watching at least a portion of the game.
This year's Super Bowl could set records again or continue the trend of having average viewership of over 100 million people and setting new streaming records.
During the 2024 NFL season, the Chiefs were the most-watched team, helping several media companies set records for viewership.
Lamar recently won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Not Like Us." The musician was previously part of the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige.
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) signed a deal with the NFL in 2022 for the sponsorship of the halftime show and could continue its wins in recent years with huge viewership for halftime shows featuring Rihanna and Usher in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
&#8220;Apple is thrilled to bring the show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music&#8217;s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality along with tons of exclusive videos, interviews, playlists and so much more across Apple Music,&#8221; Apple&#8217;s Vice President of Apple Music&nbsp;Oliver Schusser&nbsp;said when Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl LIX performer.
With another globally recognized artist, Apple could score big with cross-promotions of its music features and the ability to launch exclusive content for Apple subscribers.
Another potential winner is&nbsp;Universal Music Group&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNVGY#OTC">UNVGY</a>)(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMGNF#OTC">UMGNF</a>), which has had a hand in five of Lamar's six studios albums. Super Bowl Halftime performers often see a substantial spike in songs and albums around the big game.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/02/37109382/super-bowl-lviii-sets-modern-day-viewership-record-how-did-nfl-championship-compare-to-apollo-11-mo">Super Bowl LVIII Sets Modern-Day Viewership Record: How Did NFL Championship Compare To Apollo 11 Moon Landing?</a></li>
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The study was conducted by Benzinga from Feb. 4, 2025, through Feb. 6, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 107 adults.
Photo: Courtesy of Super Bowl LIX Host Committee

Entertainment

Sports

AAPL

FOXA

UMGNF

UNVGY

EXCLUSIVE: Super Bowl LIX Viewers More Excited About NFL Game, Kendrick Lamar, Commercials Or Taylor Swift? 63% Say…

Maxim Group analyst Tate Sullivan downgrades Tetra Tech (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTEK#NASDAQ">TTEK</a>) from Buy to Hold.

Downgrades

TTEK

Maxim Group Downgrades Tetra Tech to Hold

Maxim Group analyst Jason McCarthy initiates coverage on Kazia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KZIA#NASDAQ">KZIA</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $3.

Initiation

KZIA

Maxim Group Initiates Coverage On Kazia Therapeutics with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $3

Lake Street analyst Jaeson Schmidt maintains Kimball Electronics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KE#NASDAQ">KE</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $23 to $21.

Lake Street Maintains Buy on Kimball Electronics, Lowers Price Target to $21

Lake Street analyst Eric Martinuzzi maintains Universal Technical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTI#NYSE">UTI</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $22 to $31.

Lake Street Maintains Buy on Universal Technical, Raises Price Target to $31

Barclays analyst Matthew Bouley maintains Champion Homes (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKY#NYSE">SKY</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $90 to $106.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Champion Homes, Raises Price Target to $106

Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 29.66% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 38.05%. Currently, Netflix has a market capitalization of $434.77 billion. 
Buying $100 In NFLX: If an investor had bought $100 of NFLX stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $63,707.53 today based on a price of $1016.40 for NFLX at the time of writing.
<h3>Netflix's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738884619_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

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Here's How Much $100 Invested In Netflix 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43303778/bill-gates-says-this-book-on-ai-will-change-every-industry-predicts-millions-of-jobs-will-vanish-by-2030">Bill Gates</a> didn't stick around Harvard for long—he dropped out after three semesters to start Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) in 1975. But he was there just long enough to leave a lasting impression.&nbsp;
One of Gates' former professors, applied mathematics expert Harry Lewis, remembers him as inquisitive and "mature" beyond his years. According to Lewis, Gates had a habit of questioning authority and tackling tough problems.&nbsp;
"He always wanted a challenge," Lewis, who has been teaching at Harvard since the 1970s, told The Times of London recently. "I wasn't surprised when he dropped out—I just wish I'd invested in him."&nbsp;
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Gates left Harvard to launch Microsoft at a time when software was still an emerging industry. The move paid off—he became a billionaire by 31. Today, Microsoft is worth nearly $3.2 trillion, and Gates has an estimated net worth of $108.7 billion, according to Forbes.&nbsp;
If Lewis had put just $100 into Microsoft when it went public in 1986, that investment would be worth about $650,000 today, based on price appreciation and dividends, reflecting the monumental impact of his contributions to the technology sector.&nbsp;
As a student, Gates quickly realized he wasn't always the smartest person in the room. He told The Times that being surrounded by students with stronger math skills was a wake-up call. Determined to keep up, he overloaded his schedule with extra classes while spending hundreds of hours writing software in Harvard's computer lab.&nbsp;
Trending: 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"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>
"It was, ‘Oh s&#8212;, there may be people better than me at math,'" he recalled. His memoir, Source Code, which covers his early years before Microsoft, was just released.&nbsp;
Despite his self-doubt, Gates clearly had a talent for problem-solving. According to Lewis, he could have pursued a career in mathematics "if he wanted to." One moment that stood out was when Lewis introduced his class to the "pancake problem," a complex sorting puzzle. Just two days later, Gates returned with a better solution.&nbsp;
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That solution was later published in a 1979 academic paper and remained the standard for nearly 30 years. It wasn't until 2008 that researchers finally improved on his method. Ironically, they were only able to do so with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42676127/he-started-a-side-hustle-on-facebook-at-15-now-its-a-1-6m-nonprofit-changing-thousands-of-lives-the-margins-were-insane">computers</a>—an industry Gates helped build.&nbsp;
"They never could have actually done the case analysis were it not for the computer industry that Bill Gates built in the intervening 30 years," Lewis told NPR.
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Bill Gates' Harvard Professor: 'I Wasn't Surprised When He Dropped Out—But I Wish I'd Invested in Him'—$100 Could Be $650,000 Today

Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn and former COO of PayPal, isn&#8217;t a fan of Elon Musk&#8216;s actions in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Trump White House</a>. The billionaire implied that much of his former PayPal colleague&#8217;s decision-making has been reckless.
What Happened: Hoffman <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbM7WJOxGU&amp;ab_channel=BloombergTelevision">appeared</a> on Bloomberg TV in an interview covering artificial intelligence and politics and was asked about Musk&#8217;s rapid cutting of government programs on behalf of his Department of Government Efficiency.
&#8220;In government, the &#8216;move fast and break things&#8217; [approach] should maybe be a little more compassionate and judicious.&#8221;
Since Trump&#8217;s inauguration just over two weeks ago, Musk has rapidly initiated downsizing of federal agencies and cutbacks of programs such as USAID.
Hoffman was one of the largest financial backers of former Vice President Kamala Harris&#8216; campaign against Trump. While the Princeton alum has largely supported the Democratic Party in recent years, he criticized the Biden Adminsistration&#8216;s antitrust enforcement under FTC Chair Lina Khan.
&#8220;There&#8217;s a reason the government doesn&#8217;t work like companies even though there&#8217;s an efficiency that&#8217;s really good, and we need to respect those reasons too.&#8221;
When asked if he fears pushback from the Trump Administration due to his political contributions, Hoffman reiterated his continued interest in the well-being of the country.
&#8220;What we most want as American citizens is for our government, to succeed for our industry and succeed for our citizens. That&#8217;s what I most want,&#8221; Hoffman said.
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Photo: iQoncept via Shutterstock

Reid Hoffman Rebuffs Elon Musk's DOGE: There's 'A Reason The Government Doesn't Work Like Companies'

Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih maintains Ralph Lauren (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RL#NYSE">RL</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $257 to $310.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Ralph Lauren, Raises Price Target to $310

Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella initiates coverage on Hawaiian Electric Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>) with a Equal-Weight rating and announces Price Target of $10.

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