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

 (IMBBF) Stock, Option Chain

Imperial Brands

Imperial Brands is the world's fourth-largest international tobacco company (excluding China National Tobacco), with total fiscal 2023 volume of 198 billion cigarettes sold in more than 120 countries. Its largest markets are the UK, Germany, France, and the US (where it sits as the third-largest manufacturer, following its acquisition of the Winston and Blu brands). The firm also holds a leading global position in the fine-cut tobacco and hand-rolling paper categories. It has a logistics platform in Western Europe, Altadis.

Cannabis

Penny Stocks

Small Cap

Markets

AVCNF

BAYRY

CRON

IMBBF

JAZZ

MDLZ

TEVA

TLRY

This article was originally published on The Bluntness, and appears here with permission. 

As more big business movers and shakers appear to be ratcheting up their incursions into the cannabis industry, industry advocates are stepping up their defense. 

Corporate Cannabis Takeover? Assessing 5 Big Industries Already At The Table

Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

CANNABIS WHEATON INCOME by Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp.

CBWTF

CNBS

THCX

YOLO

Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (OTCQX: CBWTF) has been &#34;flying under the radar,&#34; according to a recent anal

Auxly Analyst: Cannabis Stock Is &#39;Flying Under The Radar&#39;

News

Intraday Update

Movers

Trading Ideas

AAEEF

AAVMY

ABEV

ABGSF

ABMD

ABTX

ACCFF

ACCYY

ACHV

ACNB

ACRFF

ACRGF

ACSAY

ACST

ACTG

ADMA

ADTN

ADVZF

AERI

AFLYY

AGCO

AGEEF

AGESY

AGLXY

AHFD

AHKSY

AHOTF

AICAF

AINV

AIPUY

AIRG

AIRYY

AISSF

AKO-A

AKZOY

ALDX

ALEAFIA HEALTH INC ORD by Aleafia Health Inc.

ALEAF

ALEX

Allianz Ag Muenchen Namen-Akt Vinkuliert Shares

ALIZF

ALLY

ALOT

ALSN

ALTM

ALXEF

ALXN

AMCR

AMHPF

AMKBF

AMKBY

AMNB

AMPH

AMRN

AMSLF

ANAT

ANGO

ANIP

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited

ANZBY

ANZFF

APELY

APEX

APHA

APTS

ARCB

ARCC

ARGGY

ARGO

ARLP

ARNA

ARNGF

AROC

ARREF

ARRRF

Stocks That Hit 52-Week Lows On Friday

IMPERIAL BRANDS PLC ORD by Imperial Brands PLC

Imperial Brands PLC

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) shares are trading higher Wednesday following the announcement that its North American division received $4.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy&#8217;s ARPA-E program. Here&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42559696/toyota-secures-funding-for-sustainable-battery-lifecycle-management-details">what you need to know.</a>
What To Know: The funding supports a project to develop technology aimed at improving the circular supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The project, managed by Toyota's Research Institute of North America, focuses on automating battery disassembly, improving the classification of battery components and extending battery life through recycling and reuse.
Toyota is collaborating with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Baker Hughes' Waygate Technologies to achieve these goals. The project aims to establish processes for efficient reuse and recycling of EV batteries, reducing waste and emissions.
The project aligns with Toyota's sustainability efforts and the broader industry shift toward cleaner energy. The innovations may enhance the economic and environmental efficiency of EV battery production and recycling.
&#8220;This collaboration represents a significant step forward in developing sustainable solutions for the battery lifecycle&#8221;, said&nbsp;Sarah Kennedy, BLS manager who is leading the technology to market deployment. &#8220;By applying the innovations established from this project, we aim to create a framework that not only reduces battery waste but also enhances the circularity of our battery supply chain, supporting Toyota&#8217;s commitment to sustainability and mobility.&#8221;
TM Price Action: Toyota Motor Corporation shares were up 0.78% at $174.63 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://benzinga.slack.com/archives/D072651PB4K/p1733167806337199"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="541" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18150053/TM-1024x541.png" alt="" class="wp-image-698472" style="width:476px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18150053/TM-1024x541.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18150053/TM-300x158.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18150053/TM-768x406.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18150053/TM.png 1456w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42562051/pudgy-penguins-pengu-token-extends-rally-outperforms-dogecoin-shiba-inu-on-wednesday">Pudgy Penguins PENGU Token Extends Rally, Outperforms Dogecoin, Shiba Inu On Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Toyota Inc.

Toyota Shares Are On The Rise: What's Going On?

WIIM

HSAI

LCID

MBLY

TSLA

WKSP

Shares of several companies in the auto and auto-related space are trading lower amid overall market weakness following the Fed's rate decision to cut rates by 25 basis points

DENN

NCLH

PLAY

TXRH

Shares of several companies in the hotels, restaurants & leisure space are trading lower amid overall market weakness following the Fed's rate decision to cut rates by 25 basis points.

Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) shares are volatile Wednesday following reports the company has resumed production across its wide-body airplane programs. Here&#8217;s<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42546755/boeing-resumes-production-of-767-and-777-aircraft-after-seven-weeks-long-machinists-strike-comes-to-an-end"> what you need to know.</a>
What To Know: Boeing announced the resumption of wide-body airplane production at its Everett, Washington facility this week, according to Reuters. 
The production restart comes after the company restarted production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, about a month after the conclusion of a seven-week strike of 33,000 factory workers.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope reportedly confirmed the production restart in a social media post on Tuesday and highlighted steps the company has taken to ensure employees are up to date on training and certifications. 
&#8220;We have taken time to ensure all manufacturing teammates are current on training and certifications, while positioning inventory at the optimal levels for smooth production,&#8221; Pope said.
In November, Boeing delivered 13 commercial jets, a significant drop compared to the 56 deliveries in November, 2023. Deliveries were also lower than October's total of 14 jets, reflecting the impacts of production halts.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has placed a production cap on Boeing's 737 MAX program at 38 planes per month following safety concerns earlier in the year. The FAA has committed to heightened oversight as production resumes and is expected to meet with Boeing to discuss production in January.
&#8220;As we move forward, we will closely track our production health performance indicators and focus on delivering safe, high-quality airplanes on time to our customers,&#8221; Pope added.
BA Price Action: Boeing shares were up 0.51% at $174.03 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/12/42560723/micron-earnings-will-ai-growth-outweigh-choppy-memory-market">Micron Earnings: Will AI Growth Outweigh &#8216;Choppy&#8217; Memory Market?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: courtesy of Boeing.

What's Going On With Boeing Shares Wednesday?

Cryptocurrency markets are trading lower on Wednesday despite the Federal Reserve announcing a 0.25% rate cut in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/12/42561549/fed-slashes-interest-rates-by-0-25-as-predicted-december-dot-plot-flags-only-2-potential-cuts-in-2025">its latest FOMC meet</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$102,173.74</td>
<td>-3.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$3,714.81</td>
<td>-5.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$210.29</td>
<td>-7.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$2.36</td>
<td>-9.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$0.3654</td>
<td>-8.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$0.00002458</td>
<td>-8.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Notable Statistics:
<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume decreasing by 3.4% and daily active addresses falling by 12.8%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are down from 16,509 to 14,557 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are up by 94%.</li>
<li>Coinglass data reports 148,690 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $367.69 million.</li>
<li>Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez noted that in last three FOMC meetings, BTC dominance dropped and altcoins rebounded. He is <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1869423378710614085">curious</a> to see what happens now.</li>
</ul>
Notable Developments:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42560364/hong-kong-approves-four-new-crypto-exchanges-positioning-itself-as-a-key-hub-expert-says">Hong Kong Approves Four New Crypto Exchanges, &#8216;Positioning Itself As A Key Hub,&#8217; Expert Says</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42553390/token-based-ma-deals-face-growing-hurdles-as-crypto-firms-seek-survival-options">Token-Based M&amp;A Deals Face Growing Hurdles As Crypto Firms Seek Survival Options</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42560698/microstrategys-aggressive-bitcoin-strategy-raises-eyebrows-in-crypto-community">MicroStrategy&#8217;s Aggressive Bitcoin Strategy Raises Eyebrows In Crypto Community</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42547663/bybit-suspends-crypto-operations-in-france-amid-rising-regulatory-tensions">Bybit Suspends Crypto Operations In France Amid Rising Regulatory Tensions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42558246/cleanspark-is-outpacing-bitcoin-mining-peers-wednesday-whats-going-on">CleanSpark Is Outpacing Bitcoin Mining Peers Wednesday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>
Top Gainers:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pudgy Penguins (CRYPTO: PENGU)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$0.03542</td>
<td>+14.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitget Token (CRYPTO: BGB)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$4.17</td>
<td>6.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Virtuals Protocol (CRYPTO: VIRTUAL)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$2.67</td>
<td>+2.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Trader Notes: With Bitcoin prices continuing to drop after the Federal Reserve's 0.25% interest rate cut, crypto trader Jelle <a href="https://x.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1869460166263120005">notes</a> that Bitcoin is still holding key support levels, stating, "Time to let the post-event dust settle, and then we can get this show on the road; price discovery."
Trader Scient highlighted Bitcoin&#8217;s rejection at the channel top near $108,000, an expected move. However, he remains optimistic about the bullish trend within the uptrend channel, adding, "These tend to break to the upside."
Scient <a href="https://x.com/Crypto_Scient/status/1869452559846351087">suggests</a> bidding around the $99,000-$100,000 range if a breakdown occurs. For a breakout, he is targeting $118,000 and $130,000 as potential local tops by January 2025.
Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez outlined three correction phases leading to a potential bull market peak at $220,000, drawing parallels to Bitcoin&#8217;s patterns from 2017 and 2020.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> behaves like in 2017 and 2020, then there will be a brief correction after reaching $110,000, a steep correction after hitting $125,000, a big correction at $150,000, and the end of the bull market at $220,000! <a href="https://t.co/zcWG75SYvL">pic.twitter.com/zcWG75SYvL</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1869268608746233896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
In another tweet, Martinez <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1869473939065647518">identified</a> $105,400 $105,400 as a critical level for invalidating the bearish outlook, noting that Bitcoin has already "broken out of a head-and-shoulders pattern, projecting a target of $99,000."
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42551036/coinbases-2025-market-outlook-highlights-5-major-trends-to-come">Coinbase&#8217;s 2025 Market Outlook Highlights 5 Major Trends To Come</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

$SHIB

$SOL

$XRP

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Plummet Despite Anticipated 25 Basis Point Rate Cut

ARES

Bakkt Holdings, Inc. Class A Common Stock

BKKT

CMTG

DAVE

ERIE

HLNE

HOOD

KNSL

KSPI

LMND

QFIN

SCHW

SEIC

SOFI

STEP

TIGR

TRUP

UPST

Shares of financial companies are trading lower amid overall market weakness following the Fed's rate decision to cut rates by 25 basis points.

Brazil&#8217;s currency, the real, has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/brazil">continued its plunge</a> as investors grow skeptical of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva&#8216;s budgetary plans.
The real, the worst-performing currency over the past four market sessions, has fallen over 3% against the US dollar in the past week. Its plunge against American currency is over 21% in the past year.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad told reporters that Brazil&#8217;s currency could be the victim of a &#8220;speculative attack,&#8221; Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-18/brazil-finance-chief-says-real-may-be-under-speculative-attack">reports</a>.
"There may be speculative attacks, but I don't want to make a judgment about that, because the Finance Ministry works with fundamentals," Haddad reportedly said. The currency fell even further following the minister&#8217;s remarks.
Investors are skeptical of Lula da Silva&#8217;s budget deficit reduction plan. A series of cost-cutting measures designed to cut 70 billion reais ($11.3 billion) from the country&#8217;s budget was marked up and approved by the lower house of the Brazilian legislature on Tuesday.
The plan, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-30/brazil-president-lula-set-to-unveil-unpopular-budget">unveiled</a> over the summer, did not find supporters from within Lula da Silva&#8217;s leftist political party nor from the financial markets.
Lula da Silva, who entered office in 2023, does not have broad support; <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/09/23/brazilians-views-of-lula-and-bolsonaro/">according</a> to Pew Research, 48% of Brazilians have a favorable view of the 79-year-old politician.
Brazilian equities, as tracked by the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWZ#NYSE">EWZ</a>), fell by 6% on Wednesday. The benchmark is trading down over 34% in 2024.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/12/42561549/fed-slashes-interest-rates-by-0-25-as-predicted-december-dot-plot-flags-only-2-potential-cuts-in-2025">Fed Slashes Interest Rates By 0.25% As Predicted: December Dot Plot Flags Only 2 Potential Cuts In 2025</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Latin America

Forex

Global

ETFs

Brazilian Real Plunges As Investors Doubt President Lula's Budget Initiatives

BANR

BBAR

CVBF

EWBC

FITB

GGAL

HBAN

INTR

Shares of banking companies are trading lower amid overall market sympathy following the Fed's rate decision to cut rates by 25 basis points.

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Palo Alto Networks.
Looking at options history for Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>) we detected 24 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 45% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 29% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 10 are puts, for a total amount of $1,409,024 and 14, calls, for a total amount of $947,868.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $125.0 to $235.0 for Palo Alto Networks during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Palo Alto Networks'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 Palo Alto Networks's whale activity within a strike price range from $125.0 to $235.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Palo Alto Networks 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734553838_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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$9.25</td>
<td>$9.45</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$897.7K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td align="right">988</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$72.35</td>
<td>$70.45</td>
<td>$71.49</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$228.7K</td>
<td>236</td>
<td align="right">64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$72.85</td>
<td>$72.2</td>
<td>$72.2</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$158.8K</td>
<td>236</td>
<td align="right">32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$19.95</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$103.1K</td>
<td>353</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$19.1</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$16.75</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$92.1K</td>
<td>268</td>
<td align="right">55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Palo Alto Networks</h3>
Palo Alto Networks is a platform-based cybersecurity vendor with product offerings covering network security, cloud security, and security operations. The California-based firm has more than 80,000 enterprise customers across the world, including more than three fourths of the Global 2000.
In light of the recent options history for Palo Alto Networks, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Palo Alto Networks's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 3,426,594, the price of PANW is down -0.12% at $201.0. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 62 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Palo Alto Networks</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $446.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Palo Alto Networks, which currently sits at a price target of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks, which currently sits at a price target of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Neutral rating on Palo Alto Networks, maintaining a target price of $430. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from RBC Capital lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $450. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Needham has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Palo Alto Networks, which currently sits at a price target of $450. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Palo Alto Networks, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

PANW

Decoding Palo Alto Networks's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Carnival (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in CCL usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 13 extraordinary options activities for Carnival. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 38% leaning bullish and 53% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $198,537, and 8 are calls, amounting to $284,855.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $20.0 to $37.0 for Carnival during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</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 Carnival's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Carnival's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $20.0 to $37.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Carnival 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734553832_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>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$0.83</td>
<td>$0.8</td>
<td>$0.8</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
<td>$56.0K</td>
<td>980</td>
<td>755</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$1.03</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$53.1K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>645</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$39.4K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>228</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Carnival</h3>
Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 92 ships in service at the end of fiscal 2023. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America; P&amp;O Cruises and Cunard Line in the United Kingdom; Aida in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe. It's currently folding its P&amp;O Australia brand into Carnival. The firm also owns Holland America Princess Alaska Tours in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Carnival's brands attracted nearly 13 million guests in 2019, prior to covid-19, a level it reached again in 2023.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Carnival, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Carnival</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 12,844,711, the CCL's price is up by 1.36%, now at $26.07. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 2 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Carnival</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $30.2.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Goldman Sachs persists with their Buy rating on Carnival, maintaining a target price of $32. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Truist Securities persists with their Hold rating on Carnival, maintaining a target price of $29. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on Carnival, maintaining a target price of $32. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Bernstein lowers its rating to Market Perform with a new price target of $26. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Outperform rating on Carnival with a target price of $32. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Carnival options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Carnival

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</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 VRTX, 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 13 uncommon options trades for Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 46% bullish and 46%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $531,578, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $125,460.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $415.0 and $680.0 for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Vertex Pharmaceuticals stands at 665.64, with a total volume reaching 1,785.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, situated within the strike price corridor from $415.0 to $680.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Vertex Pharmaceuticals 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734553827_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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$16.2</td>
<td>$14.7</td>
<td>$16.2</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$111.7K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">425</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$16.1</td>
<td>$15.1</td>
<td>$16.1</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$111.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">356</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$23.1</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$460.00</td>
<td>$81.7K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td align="right">53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$25.6</td>
<td>$19.0</td>
<td>$27.0</td>
<td>$462.50</td>
<td>$53.9K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$18.0</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$18.0</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td align="right">667</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. Vertex has diversified its portfolio through Casgevy, a gene-editing therapy for beta thalassemia and sickle-cell disease. Additionally, Vertex is evaluating small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using nonopioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Vertex Pharmaceuticals Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 891,270, the VRTX's price is down by -3.75%, now at $451.64. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 47 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Vertex Pharmaceuticals</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $522.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Hold rating on Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which currently sits at a price target of $494. 
&#x2A; Showing optimism, an analyst from Jefferies upgrades its rating to Buy with a revised price target of $550. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Vertex Pharmaceuticals options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

VRTX

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With VRTX

Retirement sounds like a dream. No alarm clocks. No deadlines. Just endless days of relaxation. But here's the twist: That dream is becoming a nightmare for many retirees.&nbsp;
Take Russ Schmidt. At 12, his father told him, "You're not worth anything if you're not working," he recently recalled to Business Insider. Decades later, that stuck. By the time Russ retired at 66, he had spent years going above and beyond in his two careers as an administrator and nurse. "I see something that needs to be done, I do it," he said. But retirement hit him hard.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a></li>
<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>
Russ spent months bouncing between the bed and the couch, eating and watching Netflix. At first, he thought he needed the rest. Then it hit him: "This is settling into depression." Six months in, Russ got back to work. He landed a part-time gig at a sexual health clinic.
It's not just Russ. Research shows Americans are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42471086/can-you-guess-what-percent-of-people-retire-with-a-5-million-nest-egg-hint-its-way-less-than-1">doing retirement all wrong.</a> Sure, we imagine lounging poolside or hitting the golf course. However, according to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf">2023 American Time Use Survey, </a>retirees aged 65-74 spend seven hours a day on leisure. Four of those hours are glued to the TV. That might sound nice, but it's not good for your health or happiness.&nbsp;
See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partnered with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target announces the deadline to invest this year is 12/20. – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Last Chance to get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>
Here's the problem: We're living longer than ever. A hundred years ago, life expectancy was around 60. Today, it's 77. That means more years to fill in retirement. And most aren't spending those years well. Sedentary lifestyles are linked to earlier deaths. One-third of retirees struggle to transition into life without work.&nbsp;
This isn't how retirement was supposed to be. The concept dates back to 1889, when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck created a program for people who could no longer work. In the U.S., Social Security followed in 1935, with benefits kicking in at 65, even though most didn't live that long. Now, with longer life spans and benefits starting at 66 or 67, retirees face two big challenges: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41602038/new-report-reveals-62-of-u-s-retirees-leave-the-workforce-sooner-than-expected-and-people-are-no">how to fund their golden years</a> and how to spend them.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
The answer for many? Keep working. Nearly 19% of Americans over 65 – about 11 million – are still employed. That's expected to hit 15 million by 2032, according to Anqi Chen, a senior research economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, who spoke to Business Insider. Twenty years ago, it was under five million, she said.&nbsp;
Retirement isn't about stopping. It's about staying active both physically and socially. Otherwise, those extra 15 years might feel like a curse, not a gift.&nbsp;
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">The deadline to invest and receive your shares this year is 12/20. Join 30,000+ shareholders and invest at $0.26/share today.</a></li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

15 Extra Years, But At What Cost? How Retirees Are Learning Work-Free Living Is A Mistake

Modine Manufacturing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOD#NYSE">MOD</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 13.02% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 24.11%. Currently, Modine Manufacturing has a market capitalization of $6.23 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MOD: If an investor had bought $1000 of MOD stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $8,596.67 today based on a price of $118.72 for MOD at the time of writing.
<h3>Modine Manufacturing's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734553813_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

AutoZone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZO#NYSE">AZO</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 6.97% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.07%. Currently, AutoZone has a market capitalization of $56.11 billion. 
Buying $100 In AZO: If an investor had bought $100 of AZO stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $530.29 today based on a price of $3319.11 for AZO at the time of writing.
<h3>AutoZone's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734553813_0_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In AutoZone 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

<a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/18/congress/johnsons-spending-plan-b-00195169" title="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/18/congress/johnsons-spending-plan-b-00195169">https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/18/congress/johnsons-spending-plan-b-00195169</a>

Politics

General

POLITICO: 'Johnson weighs a spending plan B: Dropping current plan in favor of 'clean' bill'

YouTube sensation Jimmy Donaldson, better known by his creator name &#8220;MrBeast,&#8221; is taking his talents to Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) to launch a new game show this week. 
The show is likely to garner a lot of attention and could benefit Amazon shares, as well as billionaire David Tepper who counts Amazon as his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/11/42000692/david-teppers-appaloosa-trims-alibaba-stake-by-476-in-q3-2024-doubles-down-on-pdd-holdings-and-jd.com">largest U.S. holding</a>.
What To Know: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/11/42199235/amazon-prime-vs-netflix-mrbeast-game-show-arrives-dec-19-squid-game-season-2-drops-1-week-later">MrBeast&#8217;s &#8220;Beast Games&#8221;</a> is set to premiere exclusively on Amazon&#8217;s Prime Video platform on Thursday.
The show is based on Donaldson&#8217;s popular YouTube channel, which has 337 million subscribers at the time of writing. According to Amazon, the show will be a reality competition series with 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize over 10 episodes.
The show will launch its first two episodes a week before the highly-anticipated release of &#8220;Squid Games 2&#8221; on Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), underscoring the competitive pressure of the streaming space. The remaining episodes will be added in weekly installments.
Donaldson, who will serve as host and executive producer, previously said he chose Amazon over other streaming platforms because the company gave the streamer &#8220;the most creative control.&#8221;
&#8220;If you're a streamer/youtuber I want to see your reaction to my new show tomorrow!! I convinced Prime Video to let you guys react to episode 1 on stream and make reaction videos on it,&#8221; Donaldson said in a <a href="https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1869443030039814198">post</a> on X on Wednesday.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If you're a streamer/youtuber I want to see your reaction to my new show tomorrow!! I convinced Prime Video to let you guys react to episode 1 on stream and make reaction videos on it &#x1f600;
&mdash; MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1869443030039814198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/11/42199235/amazon-prime-vs-netflix-mrbeast-game-show-arrives-dec-19-squid-game-season-2-drops-1-week-later">Amazon Prime Vs. Netflix: MrBeast Game Show Arrives Dec. 19, &#8216;Squid Game&#8217; Season 2 Drops 1 Week Later</a>
Why It Matters: Amazon shares are up more than 50% year-to-date and have climbed nearly 15% over just the past month as the stock rallied to new highs. Given the popularity of MrBeast, &#8220;Beast Games&#8221; has the potential to make waves in the streaming world, which could further benefit Amazon shares.
Amazon is Tepper&#8217;s largest U.S. holding and represents the third largest position in Appaloosa&#8217;s portfolio behind Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and PDD Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>).
In the third quarter, Tepper trimmed his Amazon position by 8%, but it still remains his largest U.S.-based holding by a wide margin, representing 8.86% of the firm&#8217;s portfolio, versus a 6.2% weighting in his next-largest holding Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and a 5.31% weighting in his third-largest U.S. position Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>). It&#8217;s worth noting that Tepper trimmed Microsoft by about 18% and Meta by about 33% in the third quarter.
Appaloosa is already outpacing gains in the S&amp;P 500 this year with the firm up approximately 30% versus roughly a 27% gain in the S&amp;P 500. Appaloosa appears to be anticipating further price appreciation in Amazon shares. 
Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/amzn">Amazon shares</a> were down 1.17% at $228.41 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41018088/leaked-mrbeast-handbook-unveils-youtube-stars-secret-weapons-for-success-useful-guide-or-ignored-man">Leaked MrBeast Handbook Unveils YouTube Star&#8217;s &#8216;Secret Weapons&#8217; For Success: Useful Guide Or Ignored Manual?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Entertainment

Social Media

Hedge Funds

AMZN

BABA

MrBeast's New Game Show To Premiere On Amazon Prime Video Thursday: Why Billionaire David Tepper May Be Watching

Comments

(IMBBF) Options

No option chain data available. Please try again later

Popular Channels

Tools & Features

Partners & Contributors

About Benzinga