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

G Medical Innovations (OTC:GMVDF) Stock, Option Chain

G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd is a mobile health (mHealth), telemedicine solutions, and monitoring service platforms. It develops and markets clinical and consumer medical-grade health monitoring solutions and offers end-to-end support for e-health projects. The company offers a suite of both consumer and clinical grade products and platforms which are positioned to reduce inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, improve access, reduce costs, increase the quality of care, and make healthcare more personalized and precise. Its operating segment includes Products, Patient Services, and Covid-19 testing. The company generates maximum revenue from the Patient Services segment.

G MED INNOVATIONS HLD LTD by G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd

G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd

Bloomberg Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas showcased a PR pitch he received on mail, revealing the 20 best-performing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/top-meme-coins">meme coins of 2024</a>.
What Happened: Balchunas highlighted a list of the top-performing meme coins of 2024, compiled by Kryptocasinos. 
The ranking showcases meme coins that have demonstrated remarkable market activity and popularity, driven by social media influence and strong community support. 
he top five meme coins for 2024 include: Just a chill guy (CRYPTO: CHILLGUY), Andy (CRYPTO: ANDY), Degen (CRYPTO: DEGEN), Neiro (CRYPTO: NEIRO) and Turbo (CRYPTO: TURBO).
Other notable entries include Popcat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">POPCAT</a>), Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>), Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>), and Peanut the Squirrel (CRYPTO: PNUT).
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">INBOX: The top 20 best performing meme coins of 2024 <a href="https://t.co/IIpPPixYqc">pic.twitter.com/IIpPPixYqc</a>
&mdash; Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricBalchunas/status/1869868087203565739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Trader Notes:
Traders commented on several of the well-performing meme coins and their future outlook.
<ul>
<li>MaxBecauseBTC, a prominent crypto trader, <a href="https://x.com/MaxBecauseBTC/status/1870135242004279751">announced</a> purchasing more Andy, expressing confidence in the project, saying, &#8220;Believe in something.&#8221; Meanwhile, MyCoinChange has <a href="https://x.com/mycoinchange_co/status/1869998847545717072">listed</a> Andy, signaling its shift from meme to mainstream.</li>
<li>TraderSZ <a href="https://x.com/trader1sz/status/1869912699200582026">advises</a> waiting for to stabilize before focusing on altcoins. Once BTC finds a range, Neiro could become a priority investment, according to him.</li>
<li>Crypto trader Murad <a href="https://x.com/MustStopMurad/status/1869788373097046500">described</a> Popcat's chart as unique, maintaining a $5 short-term target for the coin.</li>
<li>More Crypto Online <a href="https://x.com/Morecryptoonl/status/1870149662511919280">noted</a> that Pepe is at the 50% retracement level, and a sustained breakout above $0.x191412 might confirm a potential low. However, the trader anticipates another dip before stabilization.</li>
</ul>
What's Next: Despite being leaders in the meme coin space, Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) have been outperformed by newer or more specialized coins in 2024.
With Bitcoin recently dropping below key levels, uncertainty surrounding the broader market outlook for 2025 has grown, potentially impacting altcoins and meme coins alike.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42411112/shiba-inu-pepe-or-bonk-ranking-reddits-most-popular-meme-coins">Shiba Inu, Pepe Or Bonk? Ranking Reddit&#8217;s Most Popular Meme Coins</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

News

$BTC

$DOGE

$PEPE

$POPCAT

$SHIB

$TURBO

$WIF

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Absent From 2024's Top-Performing Meme Coins: Here's Who Made The Cut

WIIM

United States Steel shares are trading lower after the company issued Q4 adjusted EPS guidance below analyst estimates.

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on MongoDB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MDB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 21 uncommon options trades for MongoDB.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 33% bullish and 52%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 10 are puts, for a total amount of $933,121, and 11 are calls, for a total amount of $619,401.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $160.0 and $420.0 for MongoDB, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for MongoDB's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of MongoDB's whale activity within a strike price range from $160.0 to $420.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>MongoDB Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734720349_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 align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$63.7</td>
<td>$63.35</td>
<td>$63.7</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$316.9K</td>
<td align="right">184</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$23.0</td>
<td>$20.6</td>
<td>$21.88</td>
<td>$265.00</td>
<td>$217.9K</td>
<td align="right">188</td>
<td align="right">101</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$31.6</td>
<td>$30.35</td>
<td>$31.13</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$109.0K</td>
<td align="right">31</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$26.95</td>
<td>$25.4</td>
<td>$27.0</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$97.2K</td>
<td align="right">502</td>
<td align="right">34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$89.7K</td>
<td align="right">10</td>
<td align="right">130</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About MongoDB</h3>
Founded in 2007, MongoDB is a document-oriented database. MongoDB provides both licenses as well as subscriptions as a service for its NoSQL database. MongoDB's database is compatible with all major programming languages and is capable of being deployed for a variety of use cases.
<h3>Present Market Standing of MongoDB</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,506,743, the price of MDB is down -0.49% at $243.8. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 76 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for MongoDB</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $381.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on MongoDB, maintaining a target price of $425. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Baird persists with their Outperform rating on MongoDB, maintaining a target price of $390. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Goldman Sachs keeps a Buy rating on MongoDB with a target price of $390. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on MongoDB, which currently sits at a price target of $350. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Rosenblatt lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $350.
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 MongoDB with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Markets

Looking At MongoDB's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Visa. Our analysis of options history for Visa (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) revealed 24 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 45% of traders were bullish, while 37% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 6 were puts, with a value of $880,462, and 18 were calls, valued at $1,310,893.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $270.0 and $345.0 for Visa, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Visa stands at 1350.17, with a total volume reaching 13,904.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Visa, situated within the strike price corridor from $270.0 to $345.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Visa Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734720345_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>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$22.2</td>
<td>$21.55</td>
<td>$22.15</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$469.6K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td>224</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$19.6</td>
<td>$19.55</td>
<td>$19.6</td>
<td>$345.00</td>
<td>$407.0K</td>
<td>251</td>
<td>218</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$21.4</td>
<td>$21.25</td>
<td>$21.4</td>
<td>$310.00</td>
<td>$275.2K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$42.9</td>
<td>$40.2</td>
<td>$41.68</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$117.2K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$40.25</td>
<td>$38.7</td>
<td>$39.02</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$117.0K</td>
<td>277</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Visa</h3>
Visa is the largest payment processor in the world. In fiscal 2023, it processed almost $15 trillion in total volume. Visa operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 160 currencies. Its systems are capable of processing over 65,000 transactions per second.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Visa, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Visa's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,740,524, with V's price up by 1.18%, positioned at $318.6.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 34 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Visa</h3>
Over the past month, 4 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $370.25.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Susquehanna keeps a Positive rating on Visa with a target price of $375. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Overweight rating on Visa with a target price of $371. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Oppenheimer keeps a Outperform rating on Visa with a target price of $375. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Visa, which currently sits at a price target of $360. 
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 Visa options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on Visa Options

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Goldman Sachs Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with GS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 31 uncommon options trades for Goldman Sachs Gr.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 29% bullish and 41%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $346,176, and 22 are calls, for a total amount of $2,010,598.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $250.0 to $630.0 for Goldman Sachs Gr over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Goldman Sachs Gr's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Goldman Sachs Gr's whale trades within a strike price range from $250.0 to $630.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Goldman Sachs Gr Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734720340_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>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$30.2</td>
<td>$29.15</td>
<td>$30.25</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$605.0K</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.32</td>
<td>$2.41</td>
<td>$630.00</td>
<td>$385.6K</td>
<td>716</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.35</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$630.00</td>
<td>$200.0K</td>
<td>716</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$6.35</td>
<td>$580.00</td>
<td>$104.7K</td>
<td>684</td>
<td>175</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$93.8K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>185</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Goldman Sachs Gr</h3>
Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and asset management firm. Approximately 20% of its revenue comes from investment banking, 45% from trading, 20% from asset management and 15% from wealth management and retail financial services. Around 60% of the company's net revenue is generated in the Americas, 15% in Asia, and 25% in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Goldman Sachs Gr, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Goldman Sachs Gr's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,608,873, the GS's price is down by -0.05%, now at $553.71. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 26 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Goldman Sachs Gr</h3>
A total of 4 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $607.25.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Goldman Sachs Gr, which currently sits at a price target of $686. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Neutral rating for Goldman Sachs Gr, targeting a price of $585. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Goldman Sachs Gr, targeting a price of $550. 
&#x2A; An analyst from HSBC downgraded its action to Hold with a price target of $608. 
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 Goldman Sachs Gr, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With Goldman Sachs Gr

VRSN

VeriSign shares are trading higher after an SEC filing disclosed that Warren Buffett increased his stake in the company by purchasing 234,312 shares at an average price of $193.77 per share.

BofA Securities analyst Ken Hoexter reiterated a Buy rating on FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>), raising <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FDX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the price forecast to $348 from $325.</a>
Yesterday, the company reported adjusted earnings of $4.05 per share, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42605034/fedex-stock-rallies-on-better-than-expected-q2-eps-freight-spin-off-announcement" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the $3.91 consensus estimate</a>. Quarterly revenue came in at $22 billion, missing the $22.11 billion analyst consensus estimate.
FedEx now expects approximately flat revenue year-over-year, versus its prior forecast of a low single-digit percentage increase.
The analyst mentions that CEO Raj Subramaniam highlighted the potential for significant value creation through improved strategic, operational, and financial execution for FedEx.
Hoexter writes that the sum-of-the-parts valuation suggests a potential value of $348 per share.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42623343/exclusive-weight-loss-market-experts-scoop-up-novo-nordisk-stock-after-worst-drop-since-2002-following-drug-trial-miss" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: Weight-Loss Market Experts Scoop Up Novo Nordisk Stock After Worst Drop Since 2002 Following Drug Trial Miss</a>
This apart, according to the analyst, FedEx Freight will retain its name, collaborate with FedEx, expand its dedicated sales force by about 300, launch a new pricing and invoicing system for Less-than-truckload, and reduce vendor spending through increased automation.
The analyst writes the separation will unlock value, positioning the company as the largest pure-play public North American less-than-truckload carrier.
Hoexter increased EPS estimates for FY25 and FY26 by 2%, raising them to $19.45 and $23.15, respectively, from $19.15 and $22.80.
Overall, the analyst notes that FedEx benefits from cross-border trade growth and demonstrates structural pricing gains as carriers work to improve investment returns.
Price Action: FDX shares are trading higher by 0.97% to $278.56 at last check Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

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Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

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General

FedEx Positioned As Largest Pure-Play North American LTL Carrier Post-Separation: Analyst

Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHL#NASDAQ">SCHL</a>) stock is trading lower on Friday after the company reported worse-than-expected 2025 fiscal-year second-quarter earnings on Thursday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42605651">after the bell</a>.
The Details: Scholastic reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.82, missing analysts estimate of $2.30. In addition, the company reported sales of $554.60 million, missing analysts&#8217; estimates of $553.97 million and representing a 3% year-over-year decrease.
The company said the decrease in revenue reflects timing factors in the Children&#8217;s Book Publishing and Distribution segment, and lower sales in Education Solutions but was partially offset by the contribution of 9 Story Media Group in the Entertainment segment.
The company reported other key pieces of financial data, including adjusted EBITDA of $108.7 million. Scholastic also reported operating income of $74.7 million, a 26% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Throughout the quarter, the company repurchased 185,378 shares of its common stock for $5.0 million. Additionally, the company reaffirmed its guidance for the 2025 fiscal year.
Peter Warwick, President and CEO, said, &#8220;Scholastic&#8217;s trusted brand, bestselling IP, global scale and differentiated business models offer multiple opportunities to drive long-term profitable growth in our core markets while expanding beyond with new models, channels and products. With a strong balance sheet, including a recently upsized,&nbsp;$400 million&nbsp;revolving credit facility, and a history of robust free cash conversion, we remain committed to continuing to invest in these growth opportunities, while returning excess cash to shareholders.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/24/12/42623841/a-closer-look-at-american-expresss-options-market-dynamics">A Closer Look at American Express&#8217;s Options Market Dynamics</a>
SCHL Price Action: At the time of writing, Scholastic stock is trading 16.2% lower at $20.82, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image: Image: Pexels/ Tima Miroshnichenko

SCHL

What's Going On With Scholastic Stock Friday?

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>) shares are trading <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">relatively flat on Friday.</a>
Yesterday, the company reported that the second quarter adjusted earnings per share was&nbsp;$2.03, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42585797" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the street view of $2.02.</a>
Looking ahead, Darden Restaurants said it now sees FY25 total sales of approximately $12.1 billion (prior outlook $11.8&nbsp;billion – $11.9 billion). It reiterated diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations of&nbsp;$9.40&nbsp;to&nbsp;$9.60.
Following the results, here are the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DRI/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst takes on the stock</a>:
<ul>
<li>BofA Securities analyst Sara Senatore reiterated the Buy rating on the stock, raising the price forecast to $211 from $195.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Christine Cho maintained the Neutral rating on Darden Restaurants, raising the price objective to $193 from $183.</li>
<li>Stephens analyst Jim Salera reiterated the Equal-Weight rating on the company, increasing the price forecast to $175 from $164.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett reiterated the Buy rating on Darden Restaurants, raising the price forecast to $200 from $195.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner maintained the Outperform rating on the stock, raising the price forecast to $200 from $182.</li>
<li>Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan reiterated the Outperform rating on Darden Restaurants, increasing the price forecast to $220 from $200.</li>
<li>KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Eric Gonzalez maintained the Overweight rating on the company, raising the price forecast to $200 from $194.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42619788/market-volatility-halts-on-soft-inflation-data-yet-traders-remain-wary-of-fighting-the-fed-10-etfs-moving-friday" rel="noreferrer noopener">Market Volatility Halts On Soft Inflation Data, Yet Traders Remain Wary Of Fighting The Fed: 10 ETFs Moving Friday</a>
BofA Securities: According to the analyst, Olive Garden&#8217;s comps will stay positive in the second half of 2025, thanks to increased marketing efforts and potential growth from new channels like the upcoming Uber Technologies, Inc. rollout. The initial 100-store test shows that delivery order sizes are higher.
While Fine Dining continues to face challenges with a 3.8% decline in comparable sales (excluding timing shifts and weather factors), the analyst thinks this performance aligns with a return to previous trends for households with incomes under $150k, Senatore writes.
Goldman Sachs: The analyst projects Darden Restaurants to continue benefiting from its scale, the strength of the LongHorn brand, and subsegment diversification, but uncertainties remain around Olive Garden and Fine Dining traffic.
The Uber partnership is anticipated to bring increased advertising dollars to Darden Restaurants, though management has indicated they will not promote the delivery option until the full rollout in Olive Garden stores, expected by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 or the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
Stephens: Following the quarterly results, the analyst notes that the adjusted earnings per share estimate for fiscal year 2025 has been revised from $9.38 to $9.40, while EBITDA is adjusted from $1.939 billion to $1.962 billion.
For fiscal year 2026, the adjusted EPS estimate increases from $10.30 to $10.35, and EBITDA moves from $2.102 billion to $2.111 billion.
Truist Securities: The analyst notes that stronger-than-expected same-store sales at Olive Garden have increased confidence in both restaurant demand and the brand&#8217;s ability to gain market share through disciplined promotions.
These promotions will continue in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 and through the new national delivery partnership, which has tested well. With operating cost inflation decreasing and solid same-store sales performance, Darden Restaurants appears to be focusing on development, which is expected to accelerate in fiscal year 2026, supporting its valuation, Bartlett writes.
Oppenheimer: The analyst notes that they have increased their earnings per share estimates for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to $9.50 and $10.68, respectively, up from previous estimates of $9.46 and $10.61.
These new estimates are higher than the street&#8217;s consensus of $9.43 and $10.58. Bittner also sees potential for further positive revisions as sales levers are implemented.
Wedbush: Per the analyst, Darden Restaurants will continue gaining category share despite an uncertain consumer environment, which increases confidence in its ability to achieve long-term annual return targets.
The analyst writes that the FY25 EPS estimate has been raised to $9.55 from $9.50, and the FY26 EPS estimate has been increased to $10.64 from $10.32.
KeyBanc Capital Markets: The analyst writes that the Fine Dining segment remains a concern due to lower-to-middle-income consumers cutting back on aspirational purchases. However, Darden Restaurants&#8217; diversified portfolio helps offset these challenges.
Darden Restaurants now expects an earlier rollout of its third-party delivery partnership with Uber and sees an additional $2 million in synergies from its Chuy&#8217;s acquisition, the analyst notes.
Price Action: DRI shares are trading higher by 1.92% to $186.96 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42606037/etf-market-hits-records-in-2024-inflows-reach-16-trillion-7-funds-top-ranking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETF Market Sets Records In 2024 As Inflows Reach $1.6 Trillion: 7 Funds Leading Charge</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Sundry Photography via Shutterstock.

UBER

Darden Restaurants' Diversified Portfolio And Uber Delivery Partnership Offer Confidence In Overcoming Fine Dining Challenges: Analysts

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/20/openai-is-done-with-shipmas-faces-daunting-challenges-for-2025-.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/20/openai-is-done-with-shipmas-faces-daunting-challenges-for-2025-.html</a>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>OpenAI on Friday wrapped up "12 Days of Shipmas," a marketing blitz for new features, products and demos, including Sora, the video-generation AI tool.</li>
<li>It's all part of OpenAI's aggressive growth plan, as it battles startups and tech giants for a bigger piece of the generative AI market.</li>
<li>Heading into 2025, OpenAI faces a ton of challenges, none bigger than co-founder Elon Musk, who has a rival AI startup and is poised to assume major influence in the Trump administration.</li>
</ul>
OpenAI's "<a href="https://openai.com/12-days/">12 Days of Shipmas</a>," which wrapped up on Friday, brought a sense of levity to end the year. The marketing blitz served as a way for the high-profile and controversial AI startup to show it can release an extensive roster of new features and tools while also having some fun.
But when the calendar turns, the company faces some serious challenges. Most notably, there's co-founder <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/elon-musk/">Elon Musk</a>, who now runs rival startup xAI, and is in the midst of a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/13/openai-says-elon-musk-wanted-it-to-be-for-profit-in-2017.html">heated legal battle</a> with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that could have a big impact on the company's future.
&nbsp;
The threat Musk poses to OpenAI is even more significant considering the hefty amount of influence the world's richest person is poised to assume as part of the incoming Trump administration.
In recent months, Musk has sued <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/MSFT/">Microsoft</a>-backed OpenAI and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/30/elon-musk-asks-court-to-block-openai-from-converting-to-a-for-profit.html">asked a court</a> to stop the company from converting to a for-profit corporation from a nonprofit. In posts on X, he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1863117008319250754">described</a> that effort as a "total scam" and <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1841592690678317368">claimed</a> that "OpenAI is evil." At The New York Times' DealBook Summit earlier this month, Altman <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/04/openais-active-user-count-soars-to-300-million-people-per-week.html">said</a> he views xAI as a "fierce competitor."
The pressure on OpenAI is tied in large part to its $157 billion valuation, achieved in the two years since the company launched its viral chatbot, ChatGPT, and kicked off the boom in generative AI. OpenAI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/02/openai-raises-at-157-billion-valuation-microsoft-nvidia-join-round.html">closed its latest $6.6 billion round in October</a>, gearing up to aggressively compete with xAI as well as Microsoft, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/GOOGL/">Google</a>, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/AMZN/">Amazon</a> and Anthropic in a market that's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/insights/data/generative-ai-races-toward-1-3-trillion-in-revenue-by-2032/#:~:text=Generative%20AI%20is%20poised%20to,our%20proprietary%20market%2Dsizing%20model.">predicted to top $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;in revenue within a decade.
Alongside the drama swirling around OpenAI and Altman, the Shipmas shtick served as a way for the company to shift the focus to its technology and generate buzz for its products.
The most significant release over the 12 days was the public launch of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/09/openai-releases-sora-its-buzzy-ai-video-generation-tool.html">Sora</a>, OpenAI's much-hyped video-generation tool, on Dec. 9.
&nbsp;
Using Sora, which OpenAI first announced in February, is relatively simple: A user types out a desired scene, and the engine will return a high-definition video clip. Sora can also create clips inspired by still images and extend existing videos or fill in missing frames.&nbsp;While other AI video tools are available, Sora has been by far the most anticipated because of the power of OpenAI's large language models.
On Wednesday, OpenAI gave users a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/18/openai-makes-chatgpt-available-for-phone-chats.html">new way to talk to its viral chatbot</a>: 1-800-CHATGPT. Those in the U.S. can dial the number (1-800-242-8478) for 15 minutes free per month, OpenAI said, and WhatsApp users globally can message the chatbot at the same number.
Other announcements included the full release of OpenAI's new o1 AI model focused on reasoning, a demo of video and screen-sharing options in ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode, the ability to organize work into "Projects" within ChatGPT, a wider rollout of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/31/openai-launches-chatgpt-search-competing-with-google-and-perplexity.html">ChatGPT Search</a> and new developer tools. The company also used the marketing push to talk about its <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/11/apple-launches-its-chatgpt-integration-with-siri.html">integration with Apple</a> for the iPhone, iPad and macOS.
OpenAI closed out its 12-day run of releases on Friday by announcing its newest frontier model, o3, as well as o3 mini. On a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKBG1sqdyIU">livestream</a>, Altman said the company would not publicly launch the models Friday but would make them immediately available for public safety testing.
The company launched o1 in September, and in skipping straight to o3, Altman said he's continuing "the grand tradition of OpenAI being really, truly bad at names."
The campaign was celebrated in some corners for the company's ability to make a strong year-end push, and criticized by others as significantly more hype than substance. Either way, OpenAI is well aware that competition is heating up —&nbsp;and quickly.
One of its chief rivals, Amazon-backed Anthropic, was founded by early OpenAI researchers and has been attracting top talent. In May, OpenAI safety leader Jan Leike left OpenAI for Anthropic, and in August, OpenAI co-founder John Schulman announced he was <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/06/openai-co-founder-john-schulman-says-he-will-join-rival-anthropic.html">leaving</a> to join the rival startup. They were part of a wave of departures that culminated in September, when <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/25/openai-cto-mira-murati-announces-shes-leaving-the-company.html">three top leaders</a>, most notably technology chief Mira Murati, announced their exits on the same day.
<h2>Microsoft tension</h2>
A recent report by Anthropic investor Menlo Ventures found that OpenAI <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/20/business-spending-on-ai-surged-500percent-this-year-to-13point8-billion-says-menlo-ventures.html">ceded market share</a> this year in enterprise AI, declining from 50% to 34%, while Anthropic doubled its market share from 12% to 24%. The results came from a survey of 600 enterprise IT decision-makers from companies with 50 or more employees, according to the report.
One key area where the two companies appear poised to go head-to-head is in defense, as AI companies walk back earlier bans on military use of their products and enter into partnerships with big players in the industry and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The day before OpenAI's Shipmas event began, the company <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/04/openai-partners-with-defense-company-anduril.html">announced a partnership with Anduril</a>, allowing the defense tech provider to deploy advanced AI systems for "national security missions." Last month, Anthropic and defense software vendor <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/PLTR/">Palantir</a> announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services to "provide U.S. intelligence and defense agencies access" to Anthropic's AI systems.
The primary battle, though, is still for users. Altman <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/04/openais-active-user-count-soars-to-300-million-people-per-week.html">said publicly</a> earlier this month that OpenAI now has 300 million weekly active users. Over the next year, the company is reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/e91cb018-873c-4388-84c0-46e9f82146b4">targeting 1 billion</a>.
That level of growth will likely require a pricey marketing push and fast-tracked feature launches, as the company advances in its two-year timeline for transitioning from a nonprofit into a fully for-profit company. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced it had hired&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/03/openai-hires-first-marketing-chief-from-coinbase.html">its first chief marketing officer</a>, nabbing Kate Rouch from crypto company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/COIN/">Coinbase</a>.
Then there's the increasingly complicated relationship with Microsoft, OpenAI's lead investor and key cloud provider. While both companies continue to tout the value of their close partnership, there are increasing signs of tension.
&nbsp;
Following Altman's abrupt but short-lived ouster from OpenAI late last year, reports surfaced that Microsoft CEO <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/satya-nadella/">Satya Nadella</a> was not briefed beforehand. After Altman was quickly reinstated, OpenAI gave Microsoft a non-voting board seat. Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/11/microsoft-giving-up-openai-board-observer-seat-doesnt-settle-concerns.html">relinquished</a>&nbsp;the position in July.
In March, Nadella&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/19/microsoft-names-deepmind-co-founder-mustafa-suleyman-as-ceo-of-ai-unit.html">brought</a>&nbsp;on Mustafa Suleyman, who had co-founded AI research company DeepMind and sold it to Google in 2014. Suleyman, later co-founded and led startup Inflection AI, and was effectively acquihired by Microsoft.
In its annual report published in July, Microsoft named OpenAI as a competitor, adding the company to a roster that for years has included megacap peers&nbsp;Amazon,&nbsp;Apple,&nbsp;Google&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/META/">Meta</a>. And in October, OpenAI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/31/openai-launches-chatgpt-search-competing-with-google-and-perplexity.html">debuted a search feature within ChatGPT</a>&nbsp;that positions it to better compete with search engines like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/GOOGL/">Google</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/MSFT/">Microsoft</a>'s Bing.
But the thorniest issue heading into the new year likely involves Musk, who has been a fixture at President-elect <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/">Donald Trump's</a> Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida since the election.
Trump has said in the past that he would repeal President <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/joe-biden/">Joe Biden's</a> AI executive order, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/biden-unveils-us-governments-first-ever-ai-executive-order.html">issued</a> in October 2023, which introduced new safety assessments, equity and civil rights guidance and research on AI's impact on the labor market.
Musk is set to to lead the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is expected to function as an advisory office, alongside onetime Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. His new role could give Musk, who also runs <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/TSLA/">Tesla</a> and SpaceX and owns social media company X, influence over federal agencies' budgets, staffing and regulations in ways that favor his companies.
"Starting to feel like The @DOGE has real potential," Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1857667225852826080">posted</a> on X last month.
OpenAI did not provide a comment for the story, and Musk didn't respond to a request for comment.

MSFT

'OpenAI Is Done With Shipmas And Staring Down Daunting Challenges For 2025' - CNBC

ENPH

Enphase Energy shares are trading higher after OTR Global upgraded the stock from Negative to Mixed.

WASH

Washington Trust Announces Sale Transactions To Result In Net After-Tax Loss Of About $70M That Will Be Recognized In Q4; Expects To Pay Down About $352M Of Wholesale Funding Balances With Estimated Weighted Average Rate Of 4.50% In Q1 2025

Washington Trust Announces Balance Sheet Repositioning; Bank Sold ~$409M Of Available For Sale Debt Securities With A Weighted Average Yield Of 2.65%; Agreed To Sell About $345M In Residential Mortgage Loans With Weighted Average Rate Of 3.03%; Bank Has Reinvested About $378M Into Available For Sale Debt Securities With A Weighted Average Yield Of 5.30%

RGTI

Rigetti Computing shares are trading higher after Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $12.

QBTS

D-Wave Quantum shares are trading higher after Benchmark maintained a Buy rating on the stock and raised its price target from $3 to $8.

Kilroy Realty shares are trading higher after JP Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $45 to $49.

<a href="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15709802?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=29265&amp;sjid=6309344931480918869-NC" title="https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15709802?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=29265&amp;sjid=6309344931480918869-NC">https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15709802?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=29265&amp;sjid=6309344931480918869-NC</a>

Global

GOOG

GOOGL

Google Says Starting Jan 15, Advertisers Offering Cryptocurrency Exchanges Targeting UK May Advertise When They Meet Some Requirements, Certified By Co

RXST

RxSight shares are trading lower after Stifel downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and cut its price target from $65 to $40.

ARES

Ares Management shares are trading higher after Keefe, Bryette & Woods upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Outperform and raised its price target from $166 to $202.

Benchmark analyst David Williams maintains D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $3 to $8.

Benchmark Maintains Buy on D-Wave Quantum, Raises Price Target to $8

G Medical Innovations Announces First Half 2023 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

GMVDF

G Medical Innovations

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