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

GP Solutions (OTC:GWPD) Stock, Option Chain

GP Solutions Inc is engaged in the development of Indoor Farming Technologies. It is improving the agriculture space by utilizing cloud-based technologies and real-time data to control and monitor all aspects of indoor farming which maintains optimum conditions for fruits and vegetables to thrive while reducing negative impacts on the environment. The company's products include prolific living soil, prolific hydro and GP Solutions Tool Belt.

AgriFORCE Signs MoU With The Government Of Barbados To Conduct Feasibility Study And Deploy Proprietary Agricultural Facilities In The Caribbean

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Powell Says Policy Is Well Positioned To Deal With Risks; Says Downside Risks To Labor Market Remain Diminished But Still cooling, Says Don't Think We Need Further Cooling In Labor Market To Get Inflation To 2%

Powell Says Powell: Policy Stance Is Now Significantly Less Restrictive And We Can Be More Cautious Going Forward, More Cautious In Reducing Rate, Says Can Dial Back Policy Restraint More Slowly If Inflation Not Moving Sustainably Toward 2%

The list of companies that have market capitalizations greater than $1 trillion continues to grow with Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) recently joining the club after its quarterly financial results sparked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42488220/broadcom-hits-1-trillion-milestone-the-next-magnificent-tech-giant">a rally in shares.</a>
A Benzinga poll asks readers which company could be next to join the elusive club.
What Happened: Less than two years ago, investors could count on one hand the number of companies that were valued at more than $1 trillion. That changed in May 2023 when NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) became the sixth company in the club and ninth public company in history to be valued at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32630114/nvidia-becomes-ninth-company-to-hit-1-trillion-market-cap-who-could-be-next-to-join-elusive-club">more than $1 trillion.</a>
Fast forward to December 2024 and there are now 10 companies valued at $1 trillion or more. Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) crossed the milestone earlier this year and currently hovers near it again, with a market capitalization of $983 billion.
Here is the current list of members in the $1 trillion market capitalization club, according to <a href="https://companiesmarketcap.com/">Companiesmarketcap.com</a>:
<ul>
<li>Apple: $3.82 trillion</li>
<li>Microsoft: $3.35 trillion</li>
<li>Nvidia: $3.30 trillion</li>
<li>Amazon.com: $2.43 trillion</li>
<li>Alphabet: $2.39 trillion</li>
<li>Saudi Aramco: $1.83 trillion</li>
<li>Meta Platforms: $1.57 trillion</li>
<li>Tesla: $1.52 trillion</li>
<li>Broadcom: $1.10 trillion</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor: $1.06 trillion</li>
</ul>
Benzinga recently asked who will be the next company to join the club for the first time with Berkshire Hathaway left out due to its close proximity and the fact it had already been in the club.
"Following Broadcom, which company will join the $1 trillion club next?" Benzinga asked.
The results were as follows along with the market caps at the time the poll was conducted:
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), $759 billion: 53%</li>
<li>Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), $757 billion: 24%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), $675 billion: 13%</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), $619 billion: 9%</li>
</ul>
Over half of readers polled said they believe Walmart will be the next company to join the $1 trillion club for the first time, followed by Eli Lilly at around one fourth of readers.
Here's a look at the current year-to-date and five-year returns of the four stocks featured in the poll:
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="765" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-1024x765.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698436" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-1024x765.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-300x224.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output-768x574.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18143238/output.png 1446w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Chart created using ChatGPT.
The chart above shows that while Walmart is the top gainer year-to-date, it is Eli Lilly that has the better five-year stock growth.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/24/07/39618512/nancy-pelosi-loads-up-on-more-nvidia-shares-sells-tesla-she-always-reports-right-before-a-hol">Nancy Pelosi Loads Up On More Nvidia Shares, Buys Broadcom Options </a>
Why It's Important: Broadcom stock is up 28% over the last five days and up over 113% year-to-date. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/12/42472970/broadcom-reports-mixed-q4-results-eps-beat-revenues-miss-q1-guidance-in-line-with-estimates">beat fourth-quarter</a> analyst earnings per share, missed revenue estimates and provided guidance that was in-line. The guidance and positive outlook was enough to send shares higher and provide entry into the club.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), which was previously a member of the club, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/24/11/41856784/elon-musks-wealth-tops-300-billion-as-teslas-market-cap-soars-above-1-trillion">rejoined the $1 trillion club</a> thanks to impressive gains for the electric vehicle stock since Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is another company that was previously in the $1 trillion club years ago and rejoined the club earlier this year.
In August, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40604676/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-breaks-1-trillion-poll-points-to-big-pharma-not-tech-as-next-cont">Benzinga polled readers </a>to ask which company they thought would hit the $1 trillion valuation next after Berkshire Hathaway joined.
The results were:
<ul>
<li>Eli Lilly: 43%</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor: 25%</li>
<li>Tesla: 19%</li>
<li>Broadcom: 11%</li>
<li>Walmart: 3%</li>
</ul>
That poll was conducted when Eli Lilly and Taiwan Semiconductor both traded with market capitalizations of around $800 billion. Readers ended up being wrong with Eli Lilly still out of the club, while Taiwan Semiconductor, Tesla and Broadcom have all joined in recent months.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42121665/could-another-magnificent-7-stock-beat-nvidia-in-2025-poll-says-not-likely-27-pick-this-potential-winner">Could Another Magnificent 7 Stock Beat Nvidia In 2025? Poll Says Not Likely, 27% Pick This Potential Winner</a></li>
</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga from Dec. 16 through Dec. 17, 2024, and 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 128 adults.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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NVDA

TSLA

Who's Next To Join Tesla, Broadcom In $1 Trillion Club? Over 50% Say The World's Biggest Retailer

Powell Says Core PCE Prices Probably Rose 2.8% In Nov, Says Inflation Expectations Remain Well Anchored

In one of my daily comments last week, I highlighted how the SMH semiconductor ETF was testing a key support level. Well, it bounced off that level a bit on Friday. Whether that bounce continues or fails should be extremely important for this consequential leadership group. Now we have Nvidia testing a critical level as well.
This is something all investors need to watch next week!
As I have shown many times in the past, semiconductor stocks have either been a leading indicator for the broad stock market, or a coincident indicator, for many decades. They have not been a lagging indicator. Therefore, the odds that the recent divergence that has developed between the SMH and the S&amp;P 500 will be resolved with a significant bounce back in the SMH are quite low. Instead, the odds are quite high that it will be resolved with a decline in the S&amp;P at some point, and given what took place in 2018, this might begin quite soon.&nbsp;
That's right, the divergence that exists today between the SMH and the S&amp;P 500 is very reminiscent of what took place in 2018. Back then, they both made nice new highs in the spring, but they began to diverge at that point. As the S&amp;P made a new high over the summer, the SMH did not.
In fact, it slid lower, and then continued to underperform the S&amp;P over the next six months. This year, the SMH and S&amp;P made new highs during the summer. The S&amp;P was able to push back to a new high a few months later, but the SMH has not. It slid quite a bit lower during the late-summer months, and has underperformed the S&amp;P 500 ever since.
Now, it's almost six months since this divergence began to develop, just like it was in 2018, when the situation began to resolve itself. Back then, the SMH went from merely "underperforming" to actually declining in a meaningful way. When that took place, the rest of the stock market followed the chip stocks lower, and the result was a 19% decline in the S&amp;P 500.
Of course, just because it's almost six months later this time around, does not mean that the same thing is going to happen after six months. We're going to have to see actual evidence that the SMH is starting to break down in a meaningful way before we can focus on these similarities. However, if the SMH falls much further from where it is trading right now, that will indeed raise concerns that the chip stocks are beginning a significant path lower. 
<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/checkout/benzinga-pro-essential-2024/?t=be16bespmirebz36&amp;utm_source=WebRD-1218">[Get Your 30-Minute Trading Advantage, Free for 2 Weeks]</a>
As you can see from the first chart below, the SMH tested its 200-DMA right last week:
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="476" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142723/image003-1-1024x476.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698424" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142723/image003-1-1024x476.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142723/image003-1-300x140.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142723/image003-1-768x357.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142723/image003-1.png 1139w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
(I have highlighted how this ETF has been flirting with this number recently, but now it&#8217;s actually testing that level.) Thankfully, it was able to bounce off that line on Friday, but it needs to see some more upside follow-through to confirm that the 200-DMA is indeed going to provide strong support, just like it has several times over the past few months. (I'd also note that the 200-DMA is also the trend-line from the August lows, so that's another reason to worry about a break below that line.)
In other words, if it rolls back over quickly, and takes out that 200-DMA in any meaningful way, it's going to be a very bearish development for this key leadership group. So, the SMH still stands at a key technical juncture.
The one stock that will very likely tell us what happens in the chip group going forward is Nvidia (NVDA). (It was great that Broadcom (AVGO) was able to give the group a nice lift on Friday, but NVDA actually closed lower on the day.) Therefore, the next significant move in NVDA should be extremely important, given that it's more than 21% of the SMH.
The reason I&#8217;m highlighting this situation for NVDA is that it stands at a critical juncture on a technical basis. The stock has formed a "head and shoulders" pattern over the past three months and it broke slightly below the "neckline" of that pattern on Friday:
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="476" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142715/image002-3-1024x476.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698423" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142715/image002-3-1024x476.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142715/image002-3-300x140.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142715/image002-3-768x357.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18142715/image002-3.png 1139w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
So, if it falls further next week, and breaks more meaningfully below that neckline, it's going to be very bearish for this key stock, because "head and shoulders" patterns are one of the most bearish ones in technical analysis.&nbsp;
However, I also need to point out that one of the most bullish items we can see in technical analysis is a "failed head and shoulders" pattern. Therefore, if NVDA can bounce back sharply and quickly next week, it should be something that adds to Friday's bounce in the SMH. That would likely lead to more the upside momentum in the overall tech sector, and the broad stock market as well.
In other words, even though NVDA was not overly important for the stock market last week, it should return to its standing as the most important stock in the market next week, and I'll be watching its movements extremely closely.
Benzinga Pro alerts have led to major gains, like 270% on BLPH and 147% on CRBP. Access this market-shaping news before anyone else with Benzinga Pro's free two-week trial. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/checkout/benzinga-pro-essential-2024/?t=be16bespmirebz36&amp;utm_source=WebRD-1218">Click here to start now.</a>
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Opinion

Why the S&P Could Plunge 19%

Fed Chair Powell Says Inflation Much Closer To 2% Goal; Says Consumer Spending Resilient, Investment In Equipment Has Strengthened And Housing Activity Has Been Weak

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/despite-revamped-proposals-nippon-steel-deal-track-be-blocked-letter-says-2024-12-18/">https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/despite-revamped-proposals-nippon-steel-deal-track-be-blocked-letter-says-2024-12-18/</a>
&nbsp;
Despite a steady stream of meetings and calls with U.S. officials, and three revamped proposals to assuage national security concerns, Nippon Steel <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/5401.T">(5401.T), opens new tab</a> has failed to garner approval from a powerful panel reviewing its $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/X.N">(X.N), opens new tab</a>, a letter seen by Reuters shows.
The letter, sent Saturday, sets the stage for U.S. President Joe Biden, who has long opposed the deal, to block it. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews deals for <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-worries-about-steel-supply-infrastructure-after-nippon-us-steel-deal-2024-09-05/">national security risks</a>, has a Dec. 23 deadline to approve the deal, extend the review, or recommend Biden scuttle it.
If the agencies that make up the panel remain at loggerheads, as the letter states, they will refer the matter to Biden to take action.
The history of outreach since early September, including four in-person meetings with CFIUS, three phone calls, including one on Friday with the Treasury and Commerce department secretaries, as well as the three proposed mitigation agreements is contained in a letter dated Saturday sent to Nippon Steel by CFIUS that has not been previously reported.
It shows the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/nippon-steel-rebuts-cfiuss-case-against-its-bid-us-steel-letter-2024-09-09/">lengths the companies have gone to</a> try to win approval on the controversial merger, even as the letter signals the deal is likely doomed.
"The Committee has not yet reached consensus on whether the mitigation measures proposed by the Parties would be effective... or whether they would resolve the risk to U.S. national security arising from the Transaction," CFIUS writes in closing.
"The President may take such action for such time as the President considers appropriate to suspend or prohibit a covered transaction that threatens to impair the national security," it adds.
The White House, Nippon Steel, and the Commerce Department, which is co-leading the review of the deal at CFIUS, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Treasury, which leads CFIUS, declined to comment. U.S. Steel said in a statement that Nippon Steel provides, "by far, the brightest future for U.S. Steel," adding that no other party can make the billions in investments Nippon Steel has promised to make.
&nbsp;
"U.S. Steel will not-- and does not have the resources-- to do this on our own," it added.
<h2>HIGH-LEVEL OPPOSITION</h2>
The proposed tie-up has faced high-level opposition within the U.S. since it was announced a year ago, with both Biden and his incoming successor <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/">Donald Trump</a> taking aim at it as they sought to woo union voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where U.S. Steel is headquartered. The president of the United Steelworkers Union, opposes the tie-up.
The merger appeared fast-tracked to be blocked after the companies received an Aug. 31 letter from CFIUS, seen by Reuters, arguing the deal could hurt the supply of steel needed for critical transportation, construction and agriculture projects.
But Nippon Steel, countering that its investments, made by a company from an allied nation, would in fact shore up U.S. Steel's output, won a 90-day review extension. That gave CFIUS until after the November election to make a decision, fueling hope among supporters that the calmer political climate could win the deal's approval.
But CFIUS's 29-page letter Saturday, first referenced by the Financial Times and later seen by Reuters, shows the hopes were likely unfounded.

Legal

NPSCY

"Despite Revamped Proposals, Nippon Steel Deal On Track To Be Blocked, Letter Says" - Reuters News

Zebra Technologies's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBRA#NYSE">ZBRA</a>) short percent of float has risen 11.71% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 561 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.67 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>Zebra Technologies Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734550224_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Zebra Technologies 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 Zebra Technologies'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>, Zebra Technologies's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.70%, 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

ZBRA

Looking Into Zebra Technologies's Recent Short Interest

Comfort Systems USA's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIX#NYSE">FIX</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.97% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 652 thousand shares sold short, which is 2.66% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.86 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>Comfort Systems USA Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734550218_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Comfort Systems USA 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 Comfort Systems USA'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>, Comfort Systems USA's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.99%, 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 Comfort Systems USA?

Pure Storage's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSTG#NYSE">PSTG</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.52% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.67 million shares sold short, which is 3.3% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.82 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>Pure Storage Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734550212_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Pure Storage 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 Pure Storage'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>, Pure Storage's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.36%, 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.

PSTG

(PSTG) - Analyzing Pure Storage's Short Interest

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>) and Sanofi SA&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>) Phase 2b RELIEVE UCCD study met its primary endpoints in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42531132/why-are-teva-and-sanofi-stocks-trading-higher-on-tuesday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crohn&#8217;s disease (CD)</a>.
In the RELIEVE UCCD study, 36.2% (low-dose) and 47.8% (high-dose) of patients with ulcerative colitis treated with duvakitug achieved clinical remission compared to 20.45% on placebo, placebo-adjusted rates were 15.7% (low dose) and 27.4% (high dose), at week 14.
BofA Securities raised the price target for Teva to $25 from $23 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TEVA/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a Buy rating</a>, reflecting a strong Phase 2 data update for duvakitug in inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD).
Based on the strength of the data and the emerging product prole, the analyst forecasts nominal peak sales of ~$2 billion (booked by partner), with Teva booking half the profits.
Given the anticipated impact on profits by 2030, BofA factors in the long-term strength of Teva&#8217;s innovative portfolio by applying a valuation multiple of 9.25x to 2025 estimated EV/EBITDA.
Partnership milestone payments provide reliable cash flow, and the analyst sees potential for the stock to gain value as the company shifts toward growth-focused execution.
The TL1a drug class has emerged over the last two years, led by Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) Prometheus&#8217; strong Phase 2 data, which was followed by similar data from Roche Holdings AG&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHHBY#OTC">RHHBY</a>) competitor asset.
BofA writes that TL1a was a class of drug that could offer a very good safety profile, on par with market-leading Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAK#NYSE">TAK</a>) Entyvio, plus a high rate of efficacy across all major patient subgroups.
Data update from Teva in around 240 patients in Phase 2 showed 16%-27% placebo-adjusted MAYO remission scores in the UC population, with the high dose compared favorably to competitors.
TEVA Price Action: Teva Pharmaceutical stock is up 3.23% at $21.56 at publication Wednesday.
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Photo: Courtey Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

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TEVA

Teva Pharmaceutical Releases Impressive Phase 2 Candidate Data For Gastro-Related Diseases

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'Apple Halts Effort To Build iPhone Hardware Subscription Service; Much-Delayed Program Had Been In Development Since Around 2022; Company Also Shut Down Pay Later Offering Earlier This Year' - Bloomberg News

Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski maintains Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSM#NYSE">WSM</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $194 to $226.

Jefferies Maintains Buy on Williams-Sonoma, Raises Price Target to $226

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Benzinga Market Summary: Fed Cuts Rates By 25 bps, S&P Falls, Gold Drops

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Major indexes are lower following the Fed's rate decision.

TJX Companies's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>) short percent of float has risen 21.7% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 14.55 million shares sold short, which is 1.29% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.49 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>TJX Companies Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734549321_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for TJX Companies 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 TJX Companies'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>, TJX Companies's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 14.98%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into TJX Companies's Recent Short Interest

Exelixis's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXEL#NYSE">EXEL</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.91% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.36 million shares sold short, which is 3.94% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.73 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>Exelixis Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734549316_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Exelixis 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 Exelixis'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>, Exelixis's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.93%, 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.

EXEL

Peering Into Exelixis's Recent Short Interest

East West Bancorp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWBC#NYSE">EWBC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.0% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.03 million shares sold short, which is 3.29% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.89 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>East West Bancorp Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734549311_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for East West Bancorp 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 East West Bancorp'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>, East West Bancorp's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.66%, 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.

EWBC

Looking Into East West Bancorp's Recent Short Interest

MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) is doubling down on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42560698/microstrategys-aggressive-bitcoin-strategy-raises-eyebrows-in-crypto-community">its strategy to maximize shareholder value</a> through what Saylor calls &#8220;intelligent leverage.&#8221;
The software-turned-Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) proxy firm has become a major player in the cryptocurrency market, attracting significant investor attention due to its bold approach to Bitcoin accumulation.
"We have $7.2 billion in convertibles, with $4 billion effectively equity through the strike and call price. They are trading with a delta of nearly 100%, resembling equity," Saylor explained during a Bloomberg Television <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-18/microstrategy-s-saylor-wants-to-add-more-intelligent-leverage?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-tv&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=tv&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;embedded-checkout=true">interview</a> on Wednesday. "We aim to develop more intelligent leverage for the benefit of our common stock shareholders."
MicroStrategy has been at the forefront of an unconventional capital-raising campaign to acquire Bitcoin, announcing multibillion-dollar purchases of the cryptocurrency every Monday for the past six weeks. 
This aggressive strategy has catapulted the company's stock price by nearly 500% this year, significantly outpacing Bitcoin's 150% gains over the same period.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42556544/doge-meme-ip-owner-acquires-new-rights-as-fartcoin-continues-to-surge">Doge Meme IP Owner Acquires New Rights As Fartcoin Continues To Surge</a>
The company's market capitalization has surged to over $90 billion, paving the way for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42503221/microstrategy-shares-surge-nearly-7-amid-nasdaq-100-inclusion-and-bitcoins-new-record-high">inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 Index</a> by the end of trading Friday.
This inclusion is expected to trigger approximately $2 billion in purchases by funds that track the index, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
MicroStrategy's approach has also drawn interest from hedge funds engaging in convertible arbitrage strategies. 
These involve buying the company's fixed-income securities while shorting its shares, capitalizing on the stock's volatility. 
This demand has enabled MicroStrategy to issue <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42509614/microstrategy-expands-bitcoin-holdings-by-15350-btc-worth-15-billion-after-joining-nasdaq-100">$6.2 billion worth of convertible bonds</a> this year alone.
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Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

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MSTR

MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor Eyes' Intelligent Leverage' With Bitcoin Purchases

The Federal Reserve closed out the year with a widely anticipated 25 basis-point interest rate cut Wednesday, lowering the federal funds rate to a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42556652/20-etfs-primed-for-unusually-big-swings-on-fed-meeting-days"> range of 4.25%-4.5%. </a>
This marks the lowest level since January 2023 and is the third consecutive reduction in borrowing costs, following a 50-basis-point cut in September and a 25 basis-point move in November.
The decision to lower interest rates was not unanimous, as Cleveland Fed President Beth M. Hammack voted to maintain the target range unchanged at 4.5%-4.75%.
The Fed's statement showed a meaningful language change, with the addition of the words &#8220;extent&#8221; and &#8220;timing&#8221; in reference to future policy adjustments. This shift signals a more cautious approach to further rate cuts in 2025.
&#8220;In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments, to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,&#8221; the December Federal Open Market Committee statement said. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Economic Projections Signal Fewer Rate Cuts, Higher Inflation</h3>
The Fed&#8217;s December dot plot, which illustrates each policymaker&#8217;s projected path for interest rates, indicates a median expectation for the federal funds rate to decrease to a midpoint of 3.9% by the end of 2025.
This projection suggests the potential of only two additional 0.25% rate cuts during next year, a meaningful revision from the full percentage point of cuts expected in September.
For 2026, the Fed projects the fed funds rate to fall to a midpoint of 3.4%, up from 2.9% in September.
The Fed materially raised its inflation expectations for 2025, projecting headline Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation at 2.5% compared to 2.1% in September. Core PCE inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is now forecast to reach 2.5% in 2025, up from the prior estimate of 2.2%.
The Fed reaffirmed that economic activity remains &#8220;solid&#8221; and said that, despite some easing in labor market conditions, the unemployment rate continues to be low.
Economic growth for 2025 was upwardly revised by 0.1 percentage points from September. 
Leading into the December Fed meeting, money markets priced in an 80% probability of a rate pause in January, followed by a 60% likelihood of a rate cut in March.
Overall, CME FedWatch data reflected a 70% probability of at least three rate cuts by the end of 2025.
In contrast, the CFTC-regulated betting platform Kalshi showed a more aggressive outlook, with a 98% chance of four rate reductions next year.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fed&#8217;s December Summary of Economic Projections</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Variable</th>
<th>2024</th>
<th>2025</th>
<th>2026</th>
<th>2027</th>
<th>Longer Run</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Change in real GDP</td>
<td>2.4</td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>1.9</td>
<td>1.8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sept. projection </td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td>1.8 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Unemployment rate</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>4.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sept. projection</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>4.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PCE inflation </td>
<td>2.4</td>
<td>2.5 </td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td>2.0 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sept. projection</td>
<td>2.3</td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>2.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Core PCE inflation </td>
<td>2.8 </td>
<td>2.5</td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td>2.0 </td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sept. projection</td>
<td>2.6</td>
<td>2.2</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Federal funds rate </td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>3.4</td>
<td>3.1 </td>
<td>3.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sept. projection</td>
<td>4.4</td>
<td>3.4</td>
<td>2.9</td>
<td>2.9</td>
<td>2.9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Federal Reserve </figcaption></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Markets Tumble After Fed </h3>
<ul>
<li>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>) – tumbled by 0.6% minutes following the decision, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 – tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 – suffered heavier losses, down by 0.7%. </li>
<li>The U.S. dollar index – as closely tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – jumped 0.7%, eyeing the highest close since November 2022. </li>
<li>Treasury yields rallied with the 10-year benchmark yield rising to 4.44%. </li>
<li>Gold prices tanked 0.9%, and silver fell even more, down 1.7%. </li>
<li>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) was 2% lower to $104,000. </li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42539116/fed-meetings-made-stock-traders-richer-in-2024-could-wednesday-bring-last-big-rally">Fed Meetings Made Stock Traders Richer In 2024: Could Wednesday Bring Last Big Rally?</a></li>
</ul>
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