KraneShares MSCI China Clean Technology Index ETF (ARCA: KGRN)

KraneShares MSCI China Clean Technology Index ETF (ARCA:KGRN), Top Holdings

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Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in components of the underlying index, depositary receipts. The underlying index is a modified, free float adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to track the equity market performance of Chinese companies that derive at least a majority of their revenues from environmentally beneficial products and services, as determined by MSCI Inc. It is non-diversified.

Byd Company Limited 'H'

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. Class A

KraneShares MSCI China Clean Technology Index ETF

Nio Photo by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock

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NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO) shares are trading lower on Wednesday. Eric, Onvo&#39;s Vice President of Product Experience, who chose not to disclose his last name, reportedly posted an image on the Onvo App today highlighting details of the L60&#39;s door handles and stereo.

What&#39;s Going On With NIO Stock Today?

NIO&#39;s recent developments include a Hellobike partnership for charging access and new vehicle assembly plants.

A supplier statement reportedly suggested that NIO is constructing two new vehicle assembly plants, named F3 and F4. Stock fell  72% over the past year.

What&#39;s Going On With NIO Shares Today?

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VERV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$121.2K</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GSK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>913</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CLOV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.00</td>
<td>$46.2K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRBP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$39.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>183</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$900.00</td>
<td>$56.1K</td>
<td>784</td>
<td>142</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADMA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$17.50</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>117</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TNDM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$26.4K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$32.0K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$61.5K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ELV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$550.00</td>
<td>$26.4K</td>
<td>184</td>
<td>26</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding VERV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VERV#NASDAQ">VERV</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 186 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $121.2K, with a price of $120.0 per contract. There were 22 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1005 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GSK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $41.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 1865 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 913 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CLOV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLOV#NASDAQ">CLOV</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 151 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 350 contract(s) at a $2.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.2K, with a price of $132.0 per contract. There were 7304 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 550 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CRBP (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRBP#NASDAQ">CRBP</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 60 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 38 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.1K, with a price of $1030.0 per contract. There were 1500 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 183 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $900.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.1K, with a price of $5617.0 per contract. There were 784 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 142 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ADMA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADMA#NASDAQ">ADMA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 151 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $17.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $280.0 per contract. There were 3492 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 117 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TNDM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TNDM#NASDAQ">TNDM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 98 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.4K, with a price of $270.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.0K, with a price of $640.0 per contract. There were 1099 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 52 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 214 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 42 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.5K, with a price of $1465.0 per contract. There were 8 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 46 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ELV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $550.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.4K, with a price of $1320.0 per contract. There were 184 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 26 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

ADMA

CLOV

CRBP

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

TNDM

VERV

10 Health Care Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$222.50</td>
<td>$29.7K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>48.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$31.3K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABNB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$1.1 million</td>
<td>406</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$230.3K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>532</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>$50.2K</td>
<td>7.0K</td>
<td>511</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$35.2K</td>
<td>690</td>
<td>473</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CAVA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$110.2K</td>
<td>899</td>
<td>452</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$375.00</td>
<td>$85.4K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>345</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$315.9K</td>
<td>253</td>
<td>304</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HELE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$84.6K</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. This event was a transfer of 66 contract(s) at a $222.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.7K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 3140 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 48518 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. Parties traded 202 contract(s) at a $93.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.3K, with a price of $155.0 per contract. There were 3751 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9169 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ABNB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 975 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.1 million, with a price of $1215.0 per contract. There were 406 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1192 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 123 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 349 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $230.3K, with a price of $660.0 per contract. There were 3969 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 532 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 515 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 250 contract(s) at a $3.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.2K, with a price of $201.0 per contract. There were 7094 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 511 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 88 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 35 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.2K, with a price of $1010.0 per contract. There were 690 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 473 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CAVA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 106 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $110.2K, with a price of $1040.0 per contract. There were 899 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 452 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 267 contract(s) at a $375.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $85.4K, with a price of $320.0 per contract. There were 1490 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 345 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DKS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $315.9K, with a price of $1053.0 per contract. There were 253 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 304 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HELE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HELE#NASDAQ">HELE</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 60 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $84.6K, with a price of $423.0 per contract. There were 7 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ABNB

BABA

CAVA

HELE

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

SBUX

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$46.5K</td>
<td>68.8K</td>
<td>146.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
<td>16.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$420.00</td>
<td>$26.9K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
<td>15.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$33.9K</td>
<td>7.5K</td>
<td>7.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$625.00</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PANW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$71.5K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$29.7K</td>
<td>7.7K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BTDR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$7.50</td>
<td>$84.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GTLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$38.0K</td>
<td>264</td>
<td>706</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MARA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>16.5K</td>
<td>624</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $125.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.5K, with a price of $465.0 per contract. There were 68832 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 146912 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $225.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $252.0 per contract. There were 6499 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 16709 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. This event was a transfer of 91 contract(s) at a $420.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.9K, with a price of $296.0 per contract. There were 6372 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15448 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 11 day(s) on August 30, 2024. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.9K, with a price of $679.0 per contract. There were 7533 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7088 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. Parties traded 13 contract(s) at a $625.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $2170.0 per contract. There were 1151 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3745 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PANW (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on August 23, 2024. Parties traded 44 contract(s) at a $340.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $71.5K, with a price of $1628.0 per contract. There were 1073 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3617 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PLTR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 11 day(s) on August 30, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $32.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.7K, with a price of $119.0 per contract. There were 7758 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3027 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BTDR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTDR#NASDAQ">BTDR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 214 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 600 contract(s) at a $7.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $84.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 2166 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1370 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GTLB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GTLB#NASDAQ">GTLB</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 88 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 97 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.0K, with a price of $379.0 per contract. There were 264 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 706 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MARA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 151 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $282.0 per contract. There were 16588 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 624 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AAPL

BTDR

GTLB

MARA

MSFT

NVDA

PANW

PLTR

SMCI

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

BTIG analyst Julian Harrison maintains Liquidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LQDA#NASDAQ">LQDA</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $29 to $25.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

LQDA

BTIG Maintains Buy on Liquidia, Lowers Price Target to $25

Texas Instruments's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NYSE">TXN</a>) short percent of float has risen 3.24% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 20.32 million shares sold short, which is 2.23% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.24 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Texas Instruments Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724088621_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Texas Instruments has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Texas Instruments's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Texas Instruments's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.21%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Looking Into Texas Instruments's Recent Short Interest

- Reuters Citing Two Security Sources

Macro Economic Events

Global

Economics

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

ISRA

Israeli Strike Targets Hezbollah Arms Depot In Lebanon's Bekaa Valley

ARS Pharmaceuticals's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPRY#NYSE">SPRY</a>) short percent of float has risen 13.47% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 9.93 million shares sold short, which is 19.29% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 16.89 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>ARS Pharmaceuticals Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724088616_0_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for ARS Pharmaceuticals has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing ARS Pharmaceuticals's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, ARS Pharmaceuticals's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 11.82%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

SPRY

Looking Into ARS Pharmaceuticals's Recent Short Interest

Intuit (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 12.3% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 23.07%. Currently, Intuit has a market capitalization of $184.16 billion. 
Buying $100 In INTU: If an investor had bought $100 of INTU stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $794.66 today based on a price of $658.77 for INTU at the time of writing.
<h3>Intuit's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724088616_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.

INTU

$100 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth $800 Today

Mastercard's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) short percent of float has risen 16.67% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.18 million shares sold short, which is 0.63% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.9 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Mastercard Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724088611_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Mastercard has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Mastercard's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Mastercard's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.78%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

(MA) - Analyzing Mastercard's Short Interest

Watsco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSO#NYSE">WSO</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 6.86% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 17.63%. Currently, Watsco has a market capitalization of $19.11 billion. 
Buying $100 In WSO: If an investor had bought $100 of WSO stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $505.76 today based on a price of $474.20 for WSO at the time of writing.
<h3>Watsco's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724088611_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 Watsco 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-08-19_08h24_48.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Market At Resistance</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-market-rebounds-amd-competes-nvda-spy-mc-08192024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which represents the benchmark stock market index S&amp;P 500 (SPX).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market touched the low band of the support zone during the carry trade related drop.</li>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market has aggressively rebounded after touching the low band of the support zone.</li>
<li>The chart shows that the stock market is now touching the low band of the resistance zone.</li>
<li>The momo crowd appears to be oblivious to the resistance zone and aggressively buying. However, smart money's pattern is to trim when the stock market is in the resistance zone.</li>
<li>RSI on the chart shows that the stock market is overbought. In spite of aggressive momo crowd buying, overbought markets tend to be vulnerable to a pullback.</li>
<li>The most important event this week is Fed Chair Powell's speech at Jackson Hole on Friday.</li>
<li>Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee is cautious against inflation arguments from both Trump and Harris.
<ul>
<li>Trump plans to increase tariffs. However, Goolsbee said that while tariffs increase inflation such increase is not prolonged.</li>
<li>Harris proposes to ban price gouging in food and grocery.&nbsp; Goolsbee said that high prices are not due solely to price gouging.&nbsp; In an interview, Goolsbee is careful not to take sides.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stock has been the leader driving the AI frenzy. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) has been trying to catch up but is far behind.  To strengthen its AI strategy, AMD is acquiring ZT Systems for $4.9B.  ZT Systems designs and optimizes cloud computing solutions. ZT Systems will help AMD deploy AMD powered infrastructure at scale.
<ul>
<li>The media headlines about AMD competing with NVDA are highly misleading.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, AMD buying ZT Systems is only a very small step and will not meaningfully impact Nvidia's market share.</li>
<li>Without a deep understanding, the momo crowd is aggressively buying AMD stock on the news.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Layoffs in IT continue to expand. General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) is planning to cut 1,000 software jobs.  Last week, Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), the networking giant, announced 4,000 job cuts.</li>
<li>There has been a lot of concern about Mpox. Mpox is now spreading beyond Africa. The latest expert analysis is that Mpox will not have a severe impact in the U.S. However, prudent investors should keep a close eye on the spread of Mpox.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in NVDA, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPY and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ. Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>). The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>). The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is below $60,000. There is a disappointment that bitcoin whales did not take advantage of low liquidity during the weekend to run up bitcoin.
Normally, buying in bitcoin and buying in speculative stocks go together. However, recently a disconnect developed between the two.  The disconnect continues to persist in the early trade.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges. The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive. If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less. Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Tech

$BTC

AMZN

CSCO

GOOG

Stock Market Rebounds To Resistance Zone, AMD's AI Strategy To Compete With Nvidia

Former President Donald Trump is on track to earn more passive income from cryptocurrency, particularly Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), than he does from his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39229035/former-apprentice-contestant-alleges-trump-made-inappropriate-and-racist-comments-on-show-report">famous reality show, The Apprentice</a>.
What Happened: Trump&#8217;s foray into the crypto world has proven to be a lucrative venture, according to recent financial disclosures and blockchain data.
His Ethereum and Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/matic/usd">MATIC</a>) wallets are generating substantial passive income, thanks to secondary NFT sales and token taxes from unofficial meme coins, Blockworks <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/donald-trump-nft-royalties-memecoin-taxes">reported</a>.
This income stream, which requires no ongoing effort from Trump or his team, is poised to outpace the royalties he has earned from The Apprentice in recent years.
Trump's NFT ventures have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/04/31745750/donald-trumps-nft-prices-soar-after-indictment">particularly profitable.</a>
The official Trump Digital Trading Card collections, launched on the Polygon network, brought in up to 1,237 ETH in their initial sales, equivalent to approximately $2.14 million at the time. 
The value of these sales would be nearly $3.2 million today. 
Additionally, Trump earns a 10% royalty fee on secondary sales of these NFTs, which has netted his wallet an additional 782.32 ETH, or $2 million, since January 2023.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/ "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/29155259/905735A6-57D3-4874-9AA1-75D037842DB3-2.gif" alt="Benzinga Future of Digital Assets conference" class="wp-image-270548" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40444364/bitcoin-looking-bearish-while-equities-are-at-all-time-highs-what-gives">Bitcoin Looking Bearish While Equities Are At All-Time Highs: What Gives?</a>
However, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/12/30119908/if-you-invested-1-000-in-donald-trump-nfts-heres-how-much-youd-have-now">NFT sales</a> begin to dwindle, Trump&#8217;s Ethereum wallet has found a new source of revenue from a variety of illegitimate meme coins.
These tokens, such as Save America and Trump Bucks, automatically pay a 2% tax to Trump's wallet on every transaction. Over the past four months, these token taxes have accumulated 137.3 ETH, nearly $480,000 at the time of transaction.
In contrast, Trump's NFT royalties have earned only 4.5 ETH, or $11,600, during the same period. 
When annualized, the combined earnings from these sources amount to over 425 ETH, or approximately $1.09 million at current prices. 
This figure significantly surpasses Trump&#8217;s pension from the Screen Actors Guild and his reported royalties from The Apprentice over the past year.
As Trump continues to explore and benefit from the digital asset space, his passive crypto income could serve as a significant financial cushion, potentially outpacing traditional income streams he has relied on in the past.
What&#8217;s Next: The upcoming Benzinga <a href="http://The upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event on November 19 will provide a timely platform for industry leaders, investors, and enthusiasts to explore the evolving landscape of digital assets.">Future of Digital Assets</a> event on Nov. 19 will provide a timely platform for industry leaders, investors, and enthusiasts to explore the evolving landscape of digital assets.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40440967/institutional-bitcoin-etf-investors-display-diamond-hands-despite-market-volatility-says-b">Institutional Bitcoin ETF Investors Display Diamond Hands Despite Market Volatility, Says Bitwise CIO</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$ETH

$MATIC

How Much Has Donald Trump Made From NFT Sales? It's More Than You Might Think

AXIL Brands, Inc.&#39;s&nbsp;(AMEX:AXIL) fiscal 2024 earnings results reflect the impacts of the complexities of rapid growth and rising costs. While the year showcased substantial revenue gains and notable improvements in earnings per share, the challenges of scaling (particularly through increased branding, marketing and operational expenses) have started to weigh on profitability. As AXIL continues to expand its market presence, investors are faced with a mixed outlook, wherein robust top-line growth is tempered by tightening margins and pressures on cash flow.
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<h3>AXIL Brands, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<img alt="AXIL Brands, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/0d/1724069374.png" style="height:265px; width:531px" title="" />
AXIL Brands, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AXIL Brands, Inc. Quote
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<h3>Fiscal 2024 Results</h3>
AXIL Brands reported fiscal 2024 earnings per share of 21 cents, increasing from 10 cents a year ago.
For fiscal 2024, AXIL Brands reported year-over-year net sales growth of 17%, reaching $27.5 million from $23.5 million in the prior year.
This growth was primarily driven by enhanced marketing and sales initiatives within the hearing protection and enhancement segment, which accounted for approximately 95% of total revenues.
<h3>Key Business Metrics</h3>
AXIL Brands&#39; fiscal 2024 financial results highlight its ongoing efforts to scale its operations, while grappling with rising expenses. The significant year-over-year increase in sales demonstrates the effectiveness of the company&#39;s strategic initiatives, particularly in expanding distribution and retail channels. However, sharp rises in the cost of sales and operating expenses compressed margins, signaling potential challenges ahead.
Consequently, gross profit increased year over year to $20.2 million from $17.7 million, though the gross margin narrowed slightly to 73.4% from 75.3% primarily due to expansion costs into new retail and distribution channels.
Despite these higher costs, AXIL Brands achieved a net income of $2 million, an improvement from $1.8 million a year earlier. The net income available to common shareholders was significantly bolstered to $3.3 million due to a gain on the redemption of preferred shares.
The company maintained a solid operating income of $1.5 million, though this was a decrease from $2 million in the prior year. The net profit margin stood at 7.3%, slightly lower than the 7.8% reported in the prior year.
Additionally, the return on equity was robust, supported by the increase in net income available to common shareholders, reflecting the company&#39;s strategic efforts to optimize its capital structure.
<h3>Costs</h3>
Despite impressive revenue growth, the cost of sales rose 26% to $7.3 million from $5.8 million in fiscal 2023. This escalation in costs was due to the increased expenses associated with branding and marketing efforts, which, while boosting sales, also heightened cost pressures.
The company&#39;s operating expenses increased 19% year over year to $18.7 million, reflecting higher marketing and selling expenses, increased compensation, and rising general and administrative costs.
<h3>Cash &amp; Debt</h3>
Cash flow also showed some strain, with net cash provided by operating activities dwindling to just $2,677 from the $2.9 million generated in the prior year. This decline in cash flow underscores the impacts of increased costs on the company&#39;s liquidity.
On the balance sheet, cash reserves decreased year over year to $3.25 million from $4.83 million, reflecting the company&#39;s ongoing investments and the repurchase of preferred stock.
AXIL&#39;s total liabilities also declined slightly to $3.28 million from $3.5 million in fiscal 2023, indicating some level of financial discipline amid rising expenses.
<h3>Management View</h3>
Management commentary suggests a continued focus on expanding global presence and strategic partnerships, with an emphasis on optimizing existing relationships and establishing new ones. The company&#39;s strategic initiatives are geared toward driving sustainable growth and maximizing potential in dynamic markets.
<h3>Other Developments</h3>
The most notable development in the year was the significant reduction in weighted average outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis, which dropped 49% to 8.3 million shares as of Aug 13, 2024. This reduction was largely caused by the redemption of preferred shares, which contributed to the increase in net income available to common shareholders.
AXIL Brands&#39; results in fiscal 2024 showcase a company in growth mode but facing the inevitable pressures of scaling. Investors should weigh the benefits of the company&#39;s revenue growth against the challenges posed by rising costs and margin compression. The reduction in share count and the focus on international expansion are positive signs, but the pressure on profitability is concerning as the company continues its aggressive growth strategy.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2323864/axil-brands-axil-earnings-sales-increase-y-y-in-fy24?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2323864">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Penny Stocks

Retail Sales

Small Cap

Management

AXIL

AXIL Brands Earnings & Sales Increase Y/Y in FY24

When it comes to short-term investing or trading, they say &quot;the trend is your friend.&quot; And there&#39;s no denying that this is the most profitable strategy. But making sure of the sustainability of a trend to profit from it is easier said than done.
The trend often reverses before exiting the trade, leading to a short-term capital loss for investors. So, for a profitable trade, one should confirm factors such as sound fundamentals, positive earnings estimate revisions, etc. that could keep the momentum in the stock alive.
Our &quot;Recent Price Strength&quot; screen, which is created on a unique short-term trading strategy, could be pretty useful in this regard. This predefined screen makes it really easy to shortlist the stocks that have enough fundamental strength to maintain their recent uptrend. Also, the screen passes only the stocks that are trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, which is usually an indicator of bullishness.
There are several stocks that passed through the screen:
<h2>StoneX Group Inc.</h2>
(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/snex#NASDAQ">SNEX</a>) is one of them. Here are the key reasons why this stock is a solid choice for &quot;trend&quot; investing.
A solid price increase over a period of 12 weeks reflects investors&#39; continued willingness to pay more for the potential upside in a stock. SNEX is quite a good fit in this regard, gaining 7.5% over this period.
However, it&#39;s not enough to look at the price change for around three months, as it doesn&#39;t reflect any trend reversal that might have happened in a shorter time frame. It&#39;s important for a potential winner to maintain the price trend. A price increase of 1.8% over the past four weeks ensures that the trend is still in place for the stock of this company.
Moreover, SNEX is currently trading at 85.8% of its 52-week High-Low Range, hinting that it can be on the verge of a breakout.
Looking at the fundamentals, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than the 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises -- the key factors that impact a stock&#39;s near-term price movements.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988.
Another factor that confirms the company&#39;s fundamental strength is its Average Broker Recommendation of #1 (Strong Buy). This indicates that the brokerage community is highly optimistic about the stock&#39;s near-term price performance.
So, the price trend in SNEX may not reverse anytime soon.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2323602/recent-price-trend-in-stonex-group-snex-is-your-friend-here-s-why?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|recent_price_strength_screen-2323602">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Mid Cap

SNEX

Recent Price Trend in StoneX Group is Your Friend, Here's Why

CJS Securities analyst Daniel Moore downgrades Lazydays Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GORV#NASDAQ">GORV</a>) from Market Outperform to Market Perform.

Downgrades

GORV

CJS Securities Downgrades Lazydays Hldgs to Market Perform

WIIM

Planet Labs shares are trading higher after the company announced a contract with the NCIA to advance its surveillance from space program.

Home Depot (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hd#NYSE">HD</a>) released its second-quarter earnings report, presenting a mixed picture for investors to decipher. While the company beat Home Depot&#39;s analyst community&#39;s earnings estimates, its lowered comparable sales guidance for fiscal 2024 caused a drop in Home Depot&#39;s share price. After the announcement, Home Depot stock fell about 5% in pre-market trading but recovered some losses in early morning trading.&nbsp;
<h2>Unpacking Home Depot&#39;s Q2 Earnings</h2>
Home Depot&#39;s financial report for the second quarter of 2024 revealed total sales of $43.17 billion, exceeding analysts&#39; expectations. The company also reported net income of $4.56 billion, a number that also surpassed analysts&#39; forecasts. However, these figures were influenced by the acquisition of SRS Distribution, which closed during the quarter. The acquisition, costing $18.25 billion, contributed $1.3 billion in revenue from six weeks of SRS sales, boosting the company&#39;s top line. This highlights the importance of analyzing a company&#39;s earnings report with a focus on underlying business performance, which is often measured by comparable sales.
Comparable sales, which track sales at stores open for at least a year, provide a more accurate indication of a company&#39;s organic growth. Home Depot&#39;s comparable sales declined by 3.3% globally during the second quarter, signifying a slowdown in customer demand for home improvement and construction projects. This decrease shows the impact of macroeconomic factors on the company&#39;s performance.
<h2>Home Depot Stock Takes a Dip After Earnings Announcement</h2>
The market reacted negatively to Home Depot&#39;s lowered comparable sales guidance. Following the announcement, the company&#39;s share price dropped about 5% in pre-market trading. However, analysts advised buying the dip, which likely contributed to the stock&#39;s quick recovery of some losses. This indicates that some investors may see value in the company despite the near-term headwinds.
Industry analysts have been closely monitoring the situation. For example, JPMorgan analysts have stated that they &quot;would be buyers of any weakness&quot; in the stock. This also seems to suggest that some analysts believe Home Depot&#39;s stock is undervalued and presents a buying opportunity, even with the lowered guidance.
<h2>Home Depot&#39;s Growth Trajectory</h2>
Home Depot&#39;s guidance for fiscal 2024, which includes 53 weeks, revealed a significant shift in the company&#39;s outlook. While the company expects total revenue to rise between 2.5% and 3.5% from fiscal 2023, with SRS contributing approximately $6.4 billion in incremental sales, it also lowered its comparable sales guidance for the year.
The company now expects comparable sales to decline 3% to 4%, a downward revision from its previous guidance of a 1% decline. This adjustment signals a heightened level of caution regarding consumer discretionary demand for home improvement projects, particularly in light of the current macroeconomic environment. Home Depot&#39;s CEO Ted Decker attributed the lowered guidance to &quot;higher interest rates and greater macro-economic uncertainty,&quot; suggesting that consumers are increasingly hesitant to commit to large-scale home improvement projects.
This trend reflects a broader pattern within the home improvement industry. Home Depot&#39;s competitor, Lowe&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/low#NYSE">LOW</a>), has cited inflation and rising interest rates as factors pressuring sales in recent quarters. Consumers are focusing their spending on essentials and delaying larger purchases that require significant upfront costs. This trend may continue to impact the home improvement sector in the coming months, potentially putting pressure on both companies&#39; future performance.
<h2>Beyond the GAAP: Understanding Home Depot&#39;s Financial Reporting</h2>
Non-GAAP financial measures are metrics that are not required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Companies often use these measures to present a more focused view of their core performance, excluding certain non-recurring items that may distort the picture. However, it&#39;s essential for investors to use non-GAAP figures in conjunction with GAAP figures for a more comprehensive understanding of a company&#39;s performance.
In Home Depot&#39;s earnings report, the company presented adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) as non-GAAP measures. These metrics exclude the impact of amortization expense from acquired intangible assets, providing a more streamlined view of the company&#39;s core operating performance.
While non-GAAP figures can provide valuable insights, investors should always compare them to GAAP figures for a complete picture. Reconciling non-GAAP measures with their GAAP counterparts allows investors to understand the differences and make more informed comparisons. This practice is crucial for making investment decisions based on a complete understanding of a company&#39;s financial performance.
<h2>Home Depot&#39;s Path Ahead</h2>
Home Depot&#39;s second-quarter earnings report presented a mixed picture for investors. While the company beat earnings estimates, the lowered comparable sales guidance for 2024 raised concerns about the company&#39;s future performance. The company&#39;s CEO attributed the downward revision to macroeconomic uncertainty and higher interest rates, suggesting ongoing pressure on consumer spending.
The home improvement industry faces headwinds from inflation and rising interest rates, which may continue to impact the sector in the coming months. However, it&#39;s important to remember that Home Depot remains a strong company with a solid track record. While the stock may experience volatility in the short term due to the economic climate, investors should continue to monitor the company&#39;s performance and future guidance releases to make informed investment decisions.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/home-depot-stock-slides-guidance-despite-earnings-beat">Home Depot Stock Slides on Guidance Despite Earnings Beat</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Earnings Beats

Large Cap

Guidance

Home Depot Stock Slides on Guidance Despite Earnings Beat

Ubisoft Entertainment SA&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBSFF#OTC">UBSFF</a>) ongoing restructuring efforts have resulted in another round of layoffs, this time impacting staff across two of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/07/39973284/star-wars-outlaws-gameplay-over-13-minutes-leaks-online">U.S.-based studios. </a>
The French video game publisher, known for blockbuster franchises like Assassin&#8217;s Creed and Tom Clancy&#8217;s series, has dismissed a total of 45 employees from its San Francisco studio and Red Storm Entertainment in Cary, North Carolina. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/01/36647933/gaming-subscriptions-should-gamers-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-video-games-ubisoft-executive-">Gaming Subscriptions: Should Gamers Get &#8216;Comfortable&#8217; Not Owning Their Video Games? Ubisoft Executive Thinks So</a>
"Yesterday, Ubisoft San Francisco and Red Storm Entertainment informed their teams of a restructuring that resulted in 45 employees leaving Ubisoft,&#8221; Ubisoft spokesperson <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-cuts-45-jobs-in-its-us-offices">told </a>IGN. 
&#8220;This difficult yet necessary decision was made to align these studios&#8217; organizations with their future business and development objectives. We are committed to providing comprehensive support to those affected, including severance and career assistance, and we thank them for their many contributions to Ubisoft."
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">A Year Marked By Reductions</h1>
The layoffs at Ubisoft San Francisco and Red Storm Entertainment follow earlier cuts in May 2023 and November 2023.
In those instances, Ubisoft trimmed its VFX and IT teams, as well as its customer service department, with 60 employees affected in the latter case.
The publisher also eliminated 33 positions at its Toronto studio in July 2024 and dismissed another 45 employees from its global publishing and Asia-Pacific teams in April 2024.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Impact On Studio Operations</h1>
For Red Storm Entertainment, the latest cuts are particularly disheartening as they follow the cancellation of the mobile title Tom Clancy&#8217;s The Division: Heartland in May. 
This cancellation was announced alongside Ubisoft's financial results, which, despite the setbacks, showed record net bookings and an increase in net sales for 2023. 
Ubisoft's layoffs are part of a larger trend in the gaming industry, where companies are increasingly resorting to restructuring as they adapt to market changes and financial pressures. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/05/32368272/ubisofts-customer-service-team-hit-hard-in-recent-layoffs-60-employees-affected">Ubisoft&#8217;s Customer Service Team Hit Hard In Recent Layoffs, 60 Employees Affected</a></li>
</ul>

Gaming

UBSFF

Ubisoft Cuts 45 More Jobs In Latest Round Of US Studio Layoffs

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/clf#NYSE">CLF</a>) has stated that its employees, represented by the United Auto Workers (&quot;UAW&quot;) Local 600, approved a four-year labor deal for its Dearborn Works operations. The new deal is in effect until Jul 31, 2028, and will cover about 1,000 UAW-represented workers at Dearborn.
This equitable agreement at Dearborn is an example of the company&#39;s strong commitment to a collaborative relationship that benefits both employees and CLF as a whole. The company has strengthened its partnership with the UAW for another four years, CLF noted.
Cleveland-Cliffs&#39; adjusted earnings for the second quarter of 2024 were 11 cents per share, down from 69 cents in the prior year quarter. Revenues declined 14.9% to $5,092 million in the quarter. The company recorded steelmaking revenues of around $4.9 billion in the second quarter, a 15.4% decrease year on year.
The average net selling price per net ton of steel products was $1,125 in the second quarter, down around 10.3% year over year. External sales volumes for steel products were roughly 4 million net tons, down around 5.1% year over year.
Shares of Cleveland-Cliffs have lost 16% over the past year compared with a 0.2% decline of its industry.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/d6/74565.jpg?v=1080727600" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CLF, on its second-quarter call, lowered its projected capital expenditures for 2024 to $650-$700 million from $675-$725 million expected earlier. Furthermore, its goal of reducing steel unit costs by about $30 per net ton year over year is on track.
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<h3>Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Price and Consensus</h3>
<h3><img alt="Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/03/1724060551.png" style="height:265px; width:577px" title="" /></h3>
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. price-consensus-chart | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Quote
</div>
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Key Picks</h3>
CLF currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/crs#NYSE">CRS</a>), Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ego#NYSE">EGO</a>) and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aem#NYSE">AEM</a>).
Carpenter Technology currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). CRS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 15.9%. The company&#39;s shares have soared 153.7% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Eldorado&#39;s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.32 per share, indicating a year-over-year rise of 131.6%. EGO, a Zacks Rank #1 stock, beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 430.3%. The company&#39;s shares have rallied roughly 103.4% in the past year.
Agnico Eagle Mines currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). AEM beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with the average earnings surprise being 15.7%. The company&#39;s shares have soared 71.7% in the past year.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2323555/cleveland-cliffs-clf-announces-ratification-of-new-labor-deal?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2323555">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Commodities

Cleveland-Cliffs Announces Ratification of New Labor Deal

Stifel analyst Brad Reback maintains Snowflake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $200 to $168.

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