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Securing prime real estate for cannabis operations is a nuanced endeavor, requiring expertise and a keen understanding of local regulations. Meilad Rafiei, CEO of<a href="https://www.wecannca.com/"> WeCann</a>, a cannabis entitlements, licensing&nbsp;and property brokerage firm, shares insights into this intricate process.
<h2>Priorities In Real Estate For Cannabis</h2>
Rafiei explained that finding the best cannabis property starts with thorough research and a feasibility study to identify cannabis-friendly municipalities.
Digital mapping tools like ArcGIS help highlight viable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39323795/cannabis-property-funds-control-over-4-5b-are-investors-missing-out-on-high-dividen">properties</a> and create a detailed property database. The next steps involve conducting inspections and negotiating terms with landlords while ensuring compliance with all local regulations.
Thus, finding the right location for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis">cannabis operations</a>, whether retail or cultivation, involves thorough research and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/11/35662129/are-traditional-cannabis-licensing-models-obsolete-how-reverse-licensing-can-help">strategic planning</a>. &quot;Identifying as many properties as you can that qualify is crucial,&quot; says Rafiei.
For retail, key factors include good frontage, ample parking, and proximity to reputable retail neighbors. &quot;Retailers want good signage and shouldn&#39;t be tucked away in industrial areas,&quot; he adds.
For cultivation, the priorities shift. Being off the beaten path and ensuring robust security measures are essential. However, both retail and cultivation face challenges related to construction costs and timelines.
<h3>The Role Of Digital Tools And Data</h3>
&quot;We create maps that highlight all viable properties within a municipality,&quot; Rafiei explains.
These maps are available via a subscription service, enabling clients to use them independently or with WeCann&#39;s assistance. The maps help identify optimal locations based on zoning, demographics, and the presence of complementary businesses.
Understanding local regulations is another critical aspect. WeCann develops feasibility <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39390325/up-to-the-minute-market-data-drives-profits-for-cannabis-retailers-investors-heres-how-to-get-in">reports</a> that break down tax implications, operational costs, and timelines for different municipalities.
These reports also include economic factors like demographics and complementary businesses. &quot;If a client wants to be near a 7-Eleven, we can customize the map to highlight those specific businesses,&quot; Rafiei noted.
<h3>Filing Successful Lottery Applications</h3>
Winning a lottery for a cannabis license involves more than just luck. Rafiei stresses the importance of thorough preparation and understanding of the local political agenda.
&quot;We&#39;ve submitted about 200 licensing applications across nearly 60 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/03/37546590/city-owned-cannabis-dispensaries-minnesota-says-yes-may-soon-open-first-government-run-weed-shop">municipalities</a>. We&#39;ve experienced a little bit of everything when it comes to politics and regulations,&quot; he noted.
&quot;You need a strong business plan and an operational work plan,&quot; he advises. Community benefit plans that genuinely address local needs can also significantly enhance an application&#39;s chances of success.
Once a company secures a property and state approval, navigating municipal requirements becomes the next hurdle.
&quot;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/06/39368184/too-many-cannabis-shops-too-small-profit-how-to-play-the-municipal-game-in-the-legal-weed-era">Municipalities often demand </a>a detailed business plan, including operational workflows,&quot; explained Rafiei. Additionally, municipalities frequently request a community benefit plan, especially in competitive licensing scenarios.
Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39866180/this-cannabis-lender-is-sitting-on-a-stack-of-capital-100-dividends-meet-equity-lik">This Cannabis Lender Is Sitting On A Stack Of Capital: 100% Dividends Meet Equity-Like Returns</a>
<h3>Check For Good Bones</h3>
Converting properties for cannabis use presents unique challenges. &quot;It&#39;s usually better to find existing<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39564006/holding-onto-outdated-growing-methods-commercial-growers-explains-what-it-takes-to-outpace-the-marke"> buildings </a>rather than starting from scratch,&quot; Rafiei says, citing post-COVID construction delays and increased costs.
Yet, properties with deferred maintenance can be problematic, underscoring the need for detailed inspections. For example, securing adequate power is a significant challenge in cannabis real estate.
&quot;Property owners might claim they have 12000 amps, but you can&#39;t just take their word for it,&quot; Rafiei explained. Misjudgments can take up to 18 months. &quot;It&#39;s crucial to double-check how power is split and delivered to avoid unforeseen issues,&quot; he added.
<h3>All About The Legwork</h3>
Securing cannabis real estate involves significant legwork, starting with cold-calling property owners who may know little about the cannabis industry. &quot;Winning them over is part of the game,&quot; Rafiei explains.
Building credibility often begins with educating property owners about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38114174/how-to-secure-dividends-and-returns-in-marijuana-real-estate-analysis-reveals-stock">market trends</a>.
Understanding local dynamics is also crucial. Rather than delving into the historical context of cannabis, Rafiei focuses on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/07/39946113/gop-attor-ney-gen-er-al-in-texas-loses-legal-battle-against-towns-with-decriminalized-cannabis-i">current events and regulations</a> in the property owner&#39;s city and state. &quot;Once they realize their city council and mayor support cannabis businesses, it eases their concerns,&quot; he notes.
These markets require navigating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/01/36880346/new-zoning-regulations-floridas-cannabis-donors">evolving regulations</a> and building local relationships. Establishing a connection through relevant, localized information helps build trust. Financial discussions are also inevitable in this process. Rafiei stresses the importance of clear communication about potential<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38585616/this-real-estate-company-just-poured-8-5m-into-a-new-york-based-cannabis-operation"> earnings and risks</a>.
&quot;Property owners take on additional risks with cannabis tenants due to federal laws,&quot; he says. Addressing these concerns, while highlighting the financial benefits such as increased foot traffic for surrounding businesses, is essential. &quot;Cannabis tenants can positively impact nearby retailers,&quot; he adds, underscoring the broader economic advantages of retail cannabis.
<h3>The Full-Time Job Of Finding Cannabis Properties</h3>
Rafiei highlights that finding the right property for cannabis operations is a full-time job.
&quot;You can&#39;t just do this part-time; it requires dedicated effort,&quot; he asserts. Engaging a firm like WeCann, with specialized knowledge and resources, can be costly upfront but saves significant time and money in the long run.
As Rafiei sums it up, &quot;Time kills deals. Having the right team can make all the difference.&quot;
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39392754/brick-and-mortar-investments-build-cash-flow-and-11-price-uptick-for-this-cannabis-">Brick-And-Mortar Investments Build Cash Flow And 11% Price Uptick For This Cannabis Stock</a>
These issues will be among the hot topics at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago this Oct. 8-9. Join us to get more insight into what the wave of weed legalization means for the future of investing in the&nbsp;industry. Hear directly from top executives, investors, advocates, and policymakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Get your tickets now</a>&nbsp;before prices go up by following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">this link</a>.
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Ultimate Guide To Winning The Cannabis Lottery: Real Estate Secrets For Finding The Perfect Property

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</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 KO, 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 10 uncommon options trades for Coca-Cola.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 20% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $318,061, and 5 are calls, for a total amount of $168,302.
<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 $52.5 to $70.0 for Coca-Cola over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Coca-Cola's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Coca-Cola's significant trades, within a strike price range of $52.5 to $70.0, over the past month.
<h3>Coca-Cola Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722024954_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>$1.99</td>
<td>$2.19</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
<td>$109.5K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$65.9K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$2.11</td>
<td>$2.01</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
<td>$62.4K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$44.2K</td>
<td>10.0K</td>
<td>285</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$2.14</td>
<td>$2.05</td>
<td>$2.07</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Coca-Cola</h3>
Founded in 1886, Atlanta-headquartered Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company, with a strong portfolio of 200 brands covering key categories including carbonated soft drinks, water, sports, energy, juice, and coffee. Together with bottlers and distribution partners, the company sells finished beverage products bearing Coca-Cola and licensed brands through retailers and food-service locations in more than 200 countries and regions globally. Coca-Cola generates around two thirds of its total revenue overseas, with a significant portion from emerging economies in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Coca-Cola, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Coca-Cola's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 13,317,693, the KO's price is up by 1.48%, now at $67.05. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 88 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Coca-Cola</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $72.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Coca-Cola, which currently sits at a price target of $72. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Buy rating for Coca-Cola, targeting a price of $75. </li>
<li>An analyst from Barclays persists with their Overweight rating on Coca-Cola, maintaining a target price of $70. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Coca-Cola, which currently sits at a price target of $73. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from TD Cowen continues to hold a Hold rating for Coca-Cola, targeting a price of $70. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Coca-Cola with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With Coca-Cola

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Morgan Stanley.
Looking at options history for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) we detected 19 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 36% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 47% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $509,400 and 15, calls, for a total amount of $1,000,027.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $55.0 to $110.0 for Morgan Stanley over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Morgan Stanley's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Morgan Stanley's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $55.0 to $110.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Morgan Stanley Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722024949_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$6.15</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$320.8K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">649</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.15</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$267.5K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$144.9K</td>
<td>603</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">253</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$132.0K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$4.45</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$70.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">162</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Morgan Stanley</h3>
Morgan Stanley is a global investment bank whose history, through its legacy firms, can be traced back to 1924. The company has institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management segments with approximately 45% of net revenue from its institutional securities business, 45% from wealth management, and 10% from investment management. About 30% of its total revenue is from outside the Americas. The company had over $5 trillion of client assets as well as around 80,000 employees at the end of 2023.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Morgan Stanley, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Morgan Stanley</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 5,900,307, with MS's price up by 0.61%, positioned at $104.19.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 82 days.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Morgan Stanley with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Morgan Stanley Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</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 ABT, 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 15 uncommon options trades for Abbott Laboratories.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 40% bullish and 46%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $275,511, and 9 are calls, for a total amount of $475,413.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $85.0 to $130.0 for Abbott Laboratories over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</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 Abbott Laboratories'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 Abbott Laboratories's whale activity within a strike price range from $85.0 to $130.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Abbott Laboratories 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722024944_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 style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$6.4</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$6.25</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$124.9K</td>
<td>479</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">204</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$8.6</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$88.1K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/02/24</td>
<td>$1.39</td>
<td>$1.38</td>
<td>$1.38</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>371</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">532</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$18.9</td>
<td>$16.65</td>
<td>$18.53</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$24.15</td>
<td>$23.7</td>
<td>$23.78</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">85</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Abbott Laboratories</h3>
Abbott manufactures and markets cardiovascular and diabetes devices, adult and pediatric nutritional products, diagnostic equipment and testing kits, and branded generic drugs. Products include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neuromodulation devices, coronary stents, catheters, infant formula, nutritional liquids for adults, continuous glucose monitors, and immunoassays and point-of-care diagnostic equipment. Abbott derives approximately 60% of sales outside the United States.
In light of the recent options history for Abbott Laboratories, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Abbott Laboratories</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,720,670, the ABT's price is down by -0.67%, now at $105.25. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 82 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Abbott Laboratories</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $120.0.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group continues to hold a Outperform rating for Abbott Laboratories, targeting a price of $120. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Abbott Laboratories with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Abbott Laboratories's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

When Drew Bledsoe left Washington State University, he joined one of the highest elections in sports: number one overall <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nfl?page=11">NFL draft pick</a>. 
A few years later, Bledsoe found himself in a position he never thought he'd be in as a backup to Tom Brady. Bledsoe shared his journey and rollercoaster experience in the NFL with Benzinga founder Jason Raznick in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2gzfyNvhBQ&amp;t=11s">recent episode of The Raz Report podcast</a>. Bledsoe, who now owns and operates three wineries in his home state of Washington, spoke candidly about the challenges he overcame as a football player and how that has shaped the rest of his life and now business career. 
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Quoted: "It's life, right?" Bledsoe said. "In life shit's going to come your way, positive or negative, you can't control what's coming at you, you can control what you do with it. That's the deal with me, I tried to handle it the right way at each juncture to the best that I could and because of that I ended up with a great relationship with all of the cities I played in and great relationships with all these teammates." Bledsoe was the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots for eight seasons before an injury sidelined him, leaving the door open for Brady to take over. Before the 2001 season, Bledsoe signed a then-record $103 million contract for 10 years with the Patriots. Set Backs: But, just two games into the season, Bledsoe was injured on a hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis that sheared a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest, causing a hemothorax that led to rapid blood internal blood loss. If the trainers hadn't caught the injury soon after the conclusion of the game, Bledsoe's life could have been in danger. Brady stepped in for Bledsoe and ended up taking the Patriots to the playoffs where the team would eventually win the Super Bowl. Bledsoe, who stepped in for an injured Brady during the AFC Championship game, spoke about the difficulties of being sidelined for the Super Bowl. "To have a chance to come in and play in that game [AFC Championship] was great," Bledsoe said. "The thing that really sucked about it though, was I came in and played, we won, then we're going to the Super Bowl then Tommy's back in for the Super Bowl. I was like man this is bullshit, it's like you're giving a starving man a snack. You get to go play a little bit, then you get to the ultimate game and no dice." Second Chances: After that season, the Patriots traded Bledsoe to their division rival the Buffalo Bills, giving Bledsoe a chance to rebuild his career following the injury-shortened season. Bledsoe threw for more than 4,000 yards in the 2002 season and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl, the NFL's All-Star Game. Bledsoe went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 2006. Since then, Bledsoe moved back to Walla Walla, Washington, his hometown and began a new career that comes with a significantly reduced likelihood of serious injury: winemaking. Bledsoe teamed up with Josh McDaniels (not the NFL coach), who is also from Walla Walla, and has founded three wineries in the region: Bledsoe McDaniels Winery, Doubleback and the Bledsoe Family Winery. Bledsoe realized while playing football that his small hometown of Walla Walla was producing some of his favorite wines, which led to his passion for winemaking. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2gzfyNvhBQ&amp;t=11s">Watch the full interview with Bledsoe here. </a>

From Number One Draft Pick To Benched: Drew Bledsoe On Overcoming Adversity, Roasting Tom Brady And More

Dreaming of a comfortable retirement is something most Americans share. But how much cash do you need to make those golden years truly golden? According to a recent survey by Northwestern Mutual, the average person <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/07/39892121/top-economist-debunks-myth-you-need-1-46-million-to-retire-argues-you-can-retire-comfortably-wit?comments_open=true">thinks they&#8217;ll need $1.46 million</a>. That&#8217;s a pretty hefty goal post! While a million bucks has long been the retirement savings target, the truth is that many people are starting from scratch. But what about those who&#8217;ve saved a substantial chunk of change? Let&#8217;s talk about the $500,000 club.
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Believe it or not, according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, only 9% of American households have saved half a million dollars or more for retirement. That&#8217;s right, less than one in 10 families has reached this milestone. It&#8217;s an impressive feat, but it also highlights the challenges many people face.
<ul>
<li>According to the survey results, 46% of households have some type of retirement savings. </li>
<li>26% reported having $100,000 or more in their nest eggs. </li>
</ul>
See Also: How much money will a $200,000 annuity pay out each month?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/200k-annuities-adv"> The numbers may shock you.</a>
Saving $500,000 might sound like a lot of money, but will it fund a comfortable retirement? The popular 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your savings annually without depleting your nest egg. For a $500,000 nest egg, that&#8217;s $20,000 a year. Sure, it might cover some expenses, but it&#8217;s unlikely to maintain your preretirement lifestyle for many people.
Luckily, there&#8217;s more to the retirement income picture than just savings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/38943129/social-security-fears-go-viral-should-you-claim-early-like-dave-ramsey-says">Social Security benefits</a> can provide a steady income stream, and part-time work or rental properties can supplement your retirement funds. The average Social Security benefit is around $1,827 per month, up to about $22,000 a year. Combine that with the $20,000 from your savings, and you&#8217;re looking at roughly $42,000 annually. This can help cover basic living expenses, but it might still be tight for some.
Trending: This billion-dollar fund has invested in the next big real estate boom,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/fundrise-flagship-fund"> here's how you can join for $10.</a>
Interestingly, according to a Go Banking Rates survey, nearly 40% of Americans think they can retire comfortably on $500,000 or less. While it&#8217;s possible for some, having a realistic retirement plan is important. If you aim<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/39069576/are-you-rich-heres-the-net-worth-you-need-to-be-poor-middle-class-and-wealthy"> for a more lavish lifestyle</a>, you&#8217;ll probably need to save more.
Whether you&#8217;re just starting your savings journey or well on your way to $500,000, every dollar counts. Contributing regularly to retirement accounts, taking advantage of employer matches, and exploring other investment options can make a big difference.
And for those who&#8217;ve already reached the half-million-dollar milestone, congratulations! You&#8217;re in elite company. But remember, retirement is a long haul. Keep saving, investing wisely, and planning for the future.
The bottom line? Saving for retirement takes time and discipline. Understanding your financial goals and taking proactive steps can increase your chances of enjoying a comfortable retirement.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.</li>
<li>Will the surge continue or decline on real estate prices?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/realbricks"> People are finding out about risk-free real estate investing that lets you cash out whenever you want.</a></li>
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Personal Finance

Can You Guess What Percent Of People Have $500,000 Saved For Retirement? Shockingly, It's Probably Less Than You Think

<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=XNyVZKk25f1gyNB7hzmTSdHaaHzJe0rJB-sZrPcXfoSZjxAPg_WzB1XwAy_4S60SNmRfxO90iLjgwroG9Y3NO76ivoXx0ZoElwrFswa77rI=">Cognition Therapeutics, Inc.</a> (the "Company" or "Cognition") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CGTX#NASDAQ">CGTX</a>), a clinical stage company developing drugs that treat neurodegenerative disorders will host an investor webcast on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 8:30a.m. ET to discuss the clinical efficacy, safety and biomarker findings from the Phase 2 COG0201 "SHINE" study. SHINE enrolled 153 adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease who were randomized to receive once-daily oral doses of CT1812 (100mg or 300mg) or placebo for six months. The only way to participate in the live webcast is to register online by <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=GDOb9ohcKurk8mNKJIYcLSKviZMpMLgjoixA9TjLwMqcqi1KDuCo_tA7OlIDpNt4bdhwGVuaegRq7bXzvIMVI-FXMzDUWFJfSOtV8F8Z1Qhv1CSFFlGZU5Vjkahv_k0A">clicking here</a>. The event will also be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Cognition website. &nbsp;
Clinical findings from the SHINE study, including safety and cognitive and functional endpoints will be described in a poster presentation on Monday, July 29 in person at the upcoming Alzheimer's Association's International Conference being held in Philadelphia, PA from July 28-August 1, 2024. Biomarker and proteomic analyses from SHINE participants who provided cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples will also be reported on Monday.
In addition, results of a meta-analysis of phosphoproteomics from the 23-patient SPARC study and the first 24 SHINE participants (SHINE-A) will be presented on Sunday, July 28. Results of proteomic analyses from this meta-analysis were recently accepted for publication in Alzheimer's &amp; Dementia, the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Biotech

CGTX

Cognition Therapeutics Hosts Investor Webcast To Discuss Results From Phase 2 SHINE Study Of CT1812 In Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease At 8:30am ET On Monday July 29, 2024

ZCAR

Zoomcar Holdings Got Notice From Nasdaq Notifying The Co Was Not In Compliance With Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(c)

Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon maintains Churchill Downs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHDN#NASDAQ">CHDN</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $154 to $162.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

CHDN

Macquarie Maintains Outperform on Churchill Downs, Raises Price Target to $162

The tech earnings season started with disappointments for investors as shares of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven companies</a> all declined during the trading week.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) reported stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue, but missed analysts&#8217; targets on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39925881/alphabet-investors-fret-over-margin-impact-of-higher-ai-related-capex-but-fund-mana">YouTube advertising revenue</a>, leading to the worst week of the year for the Google parent company's stock.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) missed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39918390/tesla-q2-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-miss-robotaxi-update-2024-growth-rate-to-be-notably-l">quarterly earnings forecasts</a> due to thinner profit margins impacted by lower vehicle prices and restructuring charges. The electric-vehicle giant also postponed the announcement of the Robotaxi to October. Shares fell 12.3% in reaction to the earnings report on Wednesday, marking the worst one-day performance since September 2020.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index notched the second-straight week in the red for the first time since April.
Among mega-cap stocks, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) experienced the largest declines this week, followed by General Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) , <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39968735/gm-shares-fall-amid-earnings-report-and-sympathy-drop-with-ford">amid disappointing earnings reports</a>. The top performers among mega caps were 3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), buoyed by surprising results.
Small-cap stocks outperformed once again this week, with the Russell 2000 Index marking its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39992214/russell-2000-notches-third-week-of-gains-strongest-streak-since-august-2022-small-c">third straight week of gains</a>, supported by high expectations for upcoming interest rate cuts.
On the macroeconomic front, the U.S. economy grew at an annualized pace of 2.8% in the second quarter, accelerating from the first quarter and topping expectations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/07/39957034/us-economy-expands-2-8-in-q2-tops-estimates-weekly-jobless-claim-fall">of 2% growth</a>.
Chart Of The Week: US GDP Growth Doubled From Q1 To Q2 2024
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="458" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52-1024x458.png" alt="" class="wp-image-460108" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52-1024x458.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52-300x134.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52-768x344.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52-1536x687.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26134047/image-52.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Inflation Gauge Falls: An inflation measure followed by the Federal Reserve fell to 2.5% in June, hitting the lowest levels since February 2021 and cementing market expectations of a rate cut in September.
Yet the Fed is seeking a more &#8220;durable downward trend&#8221; before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/07/39987142/feds-favorite-inflation-gauge-keeps-falling-but-fed-wants-durable-downward-trend-economist-says">deciding to cut rates,</a> according to a Comerica Bank economist.
Alphabet Shares Drop: OpenAI plans to launch SearchGPT, a tool aimed at challenging Google&#8217;s search dominance, opening a 10,000-person waiting list to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39968522/alphabet-stock-falls-as-openai-plans-searchgpt-what-investors-need-to-know">test the new product.</a>
Mortgage Rates Ease: Mortgage rates have declined to the lowest levels since February, with the average 30-year fixed interest rate falling to 6.62%, driven by investor anticipation of future interest rate cuts. Despite this, demand <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/07/39931211/mortgage-rates-hit-lowest-point-since-february-as-investors-anticipate-fed-rate-cuts">among homebuyers remains weak</a>.
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Earnings

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Mid Cap

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Eurozone

Commodities

Small Cap

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

Tech

ETFs

GOOGL

TSLA

Tech Stocks Slide On Earnings, US Economy Flexes Muscles, Small-Cap Rally Continues: This Week In The Markets

Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>) (the "Company" or "Nasdaq") today announced a secondary public offering of 41,604,207 shares of its common stock currently held by Argus Seller, LP (the "Selling Stockholder"), an affiliate of certain funds managed by Thoma Bravo, L.P. Nasdaq is not selling any shares of its common stock and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the Selling Stockholder in the offering. &nbsp;
In addition, on July 25, 2024, Nasdaq entered into a share repurchase agreement with the Selling Stockholder conditioned on the secondary public offering, pursuant to which Nasdaq has agreed to purchase from the Selling Stockholder 1,200,000 shares of common stock, provided that the total amount of shares to be repurchased does not exceed $120 million (the "Concurrent Share Repurchase"). The Concurrent Share Repurchase is part of the Company's existing share repurchase program and offsets employee dilution. Nasdaq intends to fund the Concurrent Share Repurchase from existing cash on hand, together with borrowings under its commercial paper program. The underwriters will not receive any compensation for the shares being repurchased by Nasdaq.
At the completion of the offering and the Concurrent Share Repurchase, the Selling Stockholder is expected to hold 42,804,207 shares, representing approximately 7.4% of Nasdaq's outstanding shares, which remain subject to an existing contractual lock-up until May 1, 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

Offerings

Nasdaq Announces Launch Of Secondary Offering Of 41,604,207 Shares Of Its Common Stock Currently Held By Argus Seller, LP; In Addition, Entered Into A Share Repurchase Agreement With The Selling Stockholder Conditioned On The Secondary Public Offering, Pursuant To Which Nasdaq Has Agreed To Purchase From The Selling Stockholder 1.2M Shares Of Common Stock, Provided That The Total Amount Of Shares To Be Repurchased Does Not Exceed $120M

Rail Vision Ltd. (the "Company") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVSN#NASDAQ">RVSN</a>), a technology company at the forefront of revolutionizing railway safety and the data-related market, announced today that on July 22, 2024, the Company received a written notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") indicating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), as the Company's closing bid price for its Ordinary Shares was below $1.00 per share for the last 30 consecutive business days.

RVSN

Rail Vision Receives Nasdaq Notification Regarding Minimum Bid Requirements

Macquarie analyst Ross Compton maintains Maplebear (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $44 price target.

CART

Macquarie Maintains Outperform on Maplebear, Maintains $44 Price Target

RNAZ

TransCode Therapeutics 13G Filing Shows 3i, LP Reported A 9.9% Stake In The Co As Of July 23, 2024

REKR

Rekor Systems Files For Mixed Shelf Of Up To $350M

Hudson Acquisition I Corp. (the "Company" or "HUDA") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUDA#NASDAQ">HUDA</a>) today announced that it received a delisting notification letter (the "Notice") from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") on July 23, 2024. The Notice informs the Company of its noncompliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements. Unless this determination is successfully appealed, the Company's securities will be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market.

HUDA

Hudson Acquisition I Corp. Receives Nasdaq Delisting Notice From The Listing Qualifications Department Of The Nasdaq Stock Market

Al Michaels, one of the best-known sports broadcasters of all time, has covered nine <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/olympics">Olympic games in total</a>, the last one being the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
This year, Michaels will play a central role for Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) and its coverage of the Olympic Games once again, but as an artificial intelligence version of himself.
"It's a crazy thing," Michaels <a href="https://x.com/HalftimeReport/status/1806738783166988412">told</a> CNBC. 
The "daily Olympic recap" will offer a personalized experience for fans on streaming platform Peacock using the AI-generated version of Michaels
While he admits he&#8217;s not a techie, Michaels said he was willing to listen to NBC&#8217;s idea. "I was frightened and I was astonished at the same time, he adds, citing how AI is here whether people are ready or not.
"You can either resist it or you can embrace it and I've chosen the latter,&#8221; he said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/24/07/39940590/scottie-scheffler-gold-medalist-golfer-looks-to-turn-2024-pga-tour-success-into-a-2024-oly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottie Scheffler, Gold Medalist? Golfer Looks To Turn 2024 PGA Tour Success Into A 2024 Olympic Medal</a>
Google Gemini Powers Search: Technology giant Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) has teamed up with Team USA and Comcast. The company's Google is the official search AI partner for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics, marking the first partnership between Google and Team USA.
"This collaboration is more than just a sponsorship; it's a powerful alliance that brings together the best of technology and sports," U.S. Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/google-team-usa-and-nbcuniversal-strike-new-partnership-using-google-search-and-other-ai-powered-features-to-highlight-athlete-stories-and-enhance-nbcuniversals-coverage-of-olympic-and-paralympic-games-paris-2024">said</a>.
Google will add new ways that people can search for coverage of the Olympic Games. Comcast's NBCUniversal will also utilize Google's Search, Maps and <a href="https://benzinga.com/topic/google-gemini">Gemini for its content.</a>
NBCUniversal created "explain the games," a new overview using Google Search's AI to explain important Olympic items through the power of AI and search.
Google Gemini will also be featured during NBCUniversal's coverage with the AI assistant helping to come up with suggestions for topics.
The official sponsorship for Team USA for Google and its partnership with NBCUniversal could see the company's AI search features take center stage during coverage of the games in the USA. With several technology giants competing for dominance in the search and AI assistant spaces, the partnership could be all about brand recognition and hitting new potential users.
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Image: Shutterstock

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CMCSA

GOOG

Al Michaels Gets AI Makeover, Google Gemini Goes For Gold As 2024 Summer Olympics Turns High Tech

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/skx#NYSE">SKX</a>) delivered second-quarter 2024 results, with the top and bottom lines lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Sales improved but earnings declined year over year. Challenges such as supply-chain disruptions, foreign currency headwinds, regulatory issues in India, and weakened consumer demand in China impacted the overall performance.
However, the company continued to focus on product innovation, emphasizing comfort technologies and strategic partnerships. Comprehensive marketing efforts, including new channels for football and basketball products, supported brand growth. Skechers remains committed to its goal of reaching $10 billion in annual sales by 2026.
Over the past year, shares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have gained 24.7% against the industry&#39;s 30.3% decline.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Skechers U.S.A., Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<h3><img alt="Skechers U.S.A., Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/32/1721993827.png" style="height:265px; width:577px" title="" /></h3>
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Skechers U.S.A., Inc. Quote
</div>
<h3>Q2 Highlights</h3>
Skechers posted second-quarter earnings of 91 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 94 cents. Also, the bottom line declined 7.1% from the year-earlier quarter.
SKX generated sales of $2,157.6 million, lagging the consensus estimate of $2,219 million. However, the top line grew 7.2% year over year, driven by a 6.9% rise in international sales and a 7.7% increase in domestic sales. Improvements in domestic and international sales were driven by robust DTC and Wholesale sales. On a constant-currency basis, total sales grew 8.7%. 
The company&#39;s wholesale sales increased 5.5% year over year to $1.13 billion, while DTC rose 9.2% to $1.03 billion. Our estimate for wholesale and DTC sales was pegged at $1.15 billion and $1.05 billion, respectively.
Wholesale sales increased 10.3% year over year in the Americas (&quot;AMER&quot;), and 3.9% in Europe, the Middle East &amp; Africa (EMEA), partially offset by a decrease of 2.6% in the Asia Pacific (&quot;APAC&quot;). Wholesale average selling price declined 0.8%, whereas the unit volume increased 6.4% year over year.
DTC sales growth included increases of 1.4% in domestic DTC sales and 15.2% in international DTC sales. The DTC unit volume rose 10.2% and the average selling price declined 1%. Also, growth of 4.1% in the AMER, 5.8% in the APAC and 40.6% in the EMEA aided the segment&#39;s performance.
Region-wise, sales increased 7.2% year over year to $1.10 billion in the AMER, 13.7% to $492.5 million in the EMEA and 2.2% to $564.2 million in the APAC. We expected sales from the AMER, EMEA and APAC regions to increase 8.9%, 7.5% and 11.6%, respectively, for the quarter under review.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/ba/72555.jpg?v=1186442497" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Margins &amp; Costs</h3>
Gross profit increased 11.7% year over year to $1.18 billion. Also, the gross margin expanded 220 basis points (bps) to 54.9%, primarily driven by lower costs per unit due to a decline in freight costs and a favorable mix of DTC volumes. We estimated the metric to expand 70 bps to 53.4% for the quarter under review.
Total operating expenses grew 16% year over year to $977.9 million. The metric, as a percentage of sales, increased 340 bps to 45.3%. We expected total operating expenses to rise 15.5% for the quarter.
Selling expenses grew 26.1% from the year-ago period to $235.9 million. Also, general and administrative expenses jumped 13.2% to $742 million. Increased costs resulted from higher brand demand creation expenditure, along with elevated labor and facility costs, such as rent and depreciation.
<h3>Other Financial Aspects</h3>
As of Jun 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.28 billion, whereas short-term investments amounted to $130.1 million.
Skechers ended the quarter with long-term borrowings of $45.7 million and shareholders&#39; equity of $4.22 billion, excluding non-controlling interests of $292.3 million. The company incurred a capital expenditure of $169.5 million in the quarter.
In the second quarter of 2024, management repurchased 0.9 million shares of its Class A common stock for $60 million. The company&#39;s board authorized a new $1-billion share repurchase program.
<h3>Store Update</h3>
As of Jun 30, 2024, SKX had 5,267 stores, including 576 domestic stores, 1,126 international locations, and 3,565 distributors, licensee and franchise stores.
In the second quarter, the company opened 25 domestic stores, 98 international stores, and 194 distributors, licensee and franchise stores. It closed 12 domestic stores, 57 international stores, and 149 distributor, licensee and franchise stores in the same period.
<h3>Outlook</h3>
For 2024, management targets sales between $8.88 billion and $8.98 billion compared with the previously mentioned $8.73 billion and $8.88 billion. It predicts earnings per share (&quot;EPS&quot;) between $4.08 and $4.18 compared with the previously stated $3.95 and $4.10. Management anticipates a capital expenditure of $325-$375 million for 2024.
For the third quarter of 2024, SKX is likely to achieve sales between $2.30 billion and $2.35 billion and EPS between $1.10 and $1.15.
<h3>Other Solid Picks</h3>
Some other top-ranked stocks in the retail space are The Gap, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gps#NYSE">GPS</a>), Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>)&nbsp;and Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sfix#NASDAQ">SFIX</a>).
Gap is a premier international specialty retailer, which offers a diverse range of clothing, accessories and personal care products. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Gap&#39;s fiscal 2024 earnings and sales indicates growth of 22.4% and 0.2%, respectively, from fiscal 2023 reported figures. GPS has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 202.7%.
Abercrombie is a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel. It flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. ANF delivered a 28.9% earnings surprise in the last reported quarter.
The consensus estimate for Abercrombie&#39;s fiscal 2024 earnings and sales indicates growth of 47.3% and 10.4%, respectively, from the fiscal 2023 reported levels. ANF has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 210.3%.
Stitch Fix is a leading online personal styling service. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stitch Fix&#39;s fiscal 2024 earnings indicates growth of 22.6% from the year-ago actuals. SFIX has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 14.5%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2310318/skechers-skx-q2-earnings-miss-estimates-sales-rise-y-y?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2310318">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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Skechers Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates, Sales Rise Y/Y

The Zacks Electronics &ndash; Miscellaneous Products industry has been suffering from challenging macroeconomic conditions, high levels of inventories with distributors and steep interest rates. The global economic turmoil is expected to keep the semiconductor capex under check, which does not bode well for industry participants in the near term. However, players like KLA (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/klac#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Flex (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/flex#NASDAQ">FLEX</a>) and Daktronics (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dakt#NASDAQ">DAKT</a>) are benefiting from higher spending on advanced technologies, including augmented reality&nbsp;and virtual reality. Continuing investments in data centers, high-performance computing and 5G end markets are the key catalysts. Fab (foundry) expansion in the United States, South Korea, Taiwan and China, as well as higher spending on memory equipment, is expected to drive growth in 2024 and beyond.
Industry Description
The Zacks Electronics &ndash; Miscellaneous Products industry includes a number of original equipment manufacturers of air-conditioning systems, green energy solutions, remote-control systems, GPS navigation, home automation systems, healthcare devices, industry/factory automation, robotics, semiconductor and optical applications, and energy management solutions. The industry is evolving on digital transformation and the growing demand for silicon across multiple markets. The increasing cost of manufacturing bodes well for equipment suppliers, while the growing demand for silicon is a positive for semiconductor companies. Apart from the United States, companies in this industry are based in Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. These companies either have manufacturing operations in China and South-East Asia or generate significant revenues from these regions.
3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Industry
Solid Capital Spending Drives Prospects: Technology transitions are driving product complexities, which are raising the demand for solutions provided by industry participants. Increasing investment in expanding manufacturing capacity by semiconductor companies is a key catalyst in the long run (irrespective of the near-term hiccups due to the challenging macroeconomic conditions). Since semiconductor companies are the major customers of miscellaneous electronics product manufacturers, the trend bodes well for industry participants. In addition, rising spending on advanced nodes &mdash; 7 nm, 5 nm and 3 nm processes from logic and foundry customers &mdash; favors industry participants. Notably, logic and foundry spending is anticipated to be healthy this year.
Emerging Markets of Wearables, AR &amp; VR Drive Growth: Industry participants are riding on strong demand for wearables and AR and VR-supported display systems in defense, industrial, consumer applications and healthcare end markets. The adoption of AR and VR is increasing due to the growing proliferation of the metaverse.
Challenging Macroeconomic Condition is a Headwind: Industry participants are suffering from a challenging macroeconomic condition globally, with enterprises showing reluctance in committing to multi-year deals. Persistent inflation and unfavorable forex trends do not bode well for industry participants.
Zacks Industry Rank 
The Zacks Electronics &ndash; Miscellaneous Products industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #184, which places it in the bottom 26% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group&#39;s Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all member stocks, indicates dim near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.
The industry&#39;s positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are pessimistic about this group&#39;s earnings growth potential. Since Jul 31, 2023, earnings estimates for the industry for the current year have moved south by 25.5%.
Given the bearish prospects, there are only a few stocks worth watching in the industry. But before we present those stocks, let&#39;s take a look at the industry&#39;s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Lags S&amp;P 500, Broader Sector
The Zacks Electronics &ndash; Miscellaneous Products industry has underperformed the S&amp;P 500 and the broader Zacks Computer &amp; Technology sector in the past year.
The industry has returned 9.6% during this period compared with the S&amp;P 500 composite&#39;s growth of 19.3% and the broader sector&#39;s return of 27%.
<h3>One-Year Price Performance 
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/elcmpioperf_20240726.jpg" style="height:357px; width:620px" /></h3>
Industry&#39;s Current Valuation
On the basis of the forward 12-month P/E, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing Electronics-Miscellaneous products companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 21.32X compared with the S&amp;P 500&#39;s 21.03X and the sector&#39;s forward-12-month P/E of 25.88X.
Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 22.16X and as low as 17.89X, with the median being 18.12X, as the charts below show.
<h3>Forward 12-Month Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio</h3>
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/elecval_20240726.jpg" style="height:229px; width:620px" />
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/elecval2_20240726.jpg" style="height:225px; width:620px" />
Stocks to Buy Right Now
Daktronics: This Brookings, SD-based digital LED display technology and audio systems provider benefits from strong order growth.
This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company is riding on strong demand in Live Events and International business unit orders. Daktronics shares have gained 73.5% year to date.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate DAKT&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings has increased 34.5% to $1.13 per share over the past 30 days.
<h3>Price and Consensus: DAKT</h3>
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/dakt_20240726.jpg" style="height:359px; width:620px" />
KLA: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is benefiting from the strong performance of the wafer inspection business, owing to rising demand for advanced wafer inspection applications in leading-edge technology development.
This San Jose, CA-based company is benefiting from growing investments across multiple nodes and rising capital intensity in Foundry &amp; Logic.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 has increased by a couple of cents to $28.19 per share over the past 30 days. KLA shares have jumped 31.3% year to date.
<h3>Price and Consensus: KLAC</h3>
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/klac_20240726.jpg" style="height:358px; width:620px" />
Flex: This Zacks Rank #2 company is gaining momentum from strong demand for next-generation mobility, including EV onboard electronics and advanced computing platforms for the software-defined vehicle, which is powering the automotive unit. Health Solutions&#39; business is bolstered by top-tier digital health/ medical device demand. Solid traction in AI-driven cloud spending is a positive factor.
Flex shares have gained 1.6% in the year-to-date period. The consensus mark for FLEX&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings has been unchanged at $2.36 per share over the past 30 days.
<h3>Price and Consensus: FLEX 
<img alt="" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/zadmin_tuner_image/flex_20240726.jpg" style="height:358px; width:620px" /></h3>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2310123/3-electronics-stocks-to-buy-from-a-challenging-industry?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-industry_outlook-2310123">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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