 (OTC:LASMS) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju maintains Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVXL#NASDAQ">AVXL</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $40 to $42.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

AVXL

HC Wainwright & Co. Maintains Buy on Anavex Life Sciences, Raises Price Target to $42

Chinese EV startup Nio Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) launched its new lower-priced EV brand Onvo in May this year. The brand started selling its first vehicle- the Onvo L60- in late September and since then, Nio sales have been on the rise.
What Happened: The Onvo L60 is a mid-size electric SUV that starts at 206,900 yuan ($28,347) with the battery pack included, much lower than Tesla&#8217;s affordable models Model 3 or Model Y in China.
In September, Nio delivered 832 Onvo L60s despite having only a few selling days. In October, the first full month of sales, Onvo deliveries rose to 4,319. In November, L60 deliveries rose to 5,082, implying demand for the vehicle. 
In August, the month before Onvo deliveries commenced, Nio delivered 20,176 vehicles, marking a growth of just 4.4% year-on-year.
In September, the first month of Onvo L60 deliveries, Nio&#8217;s total deliveries jumped 35.4% as compared to the corresponding period last year. In October and November, deliveries <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42260165/li-auto-xpeng-nio-heres-how-november-deliveries-of-chinese-ev-startups-stack-up">marked an increase of 30.5% and 29%</a>, respectively.
Why It Matters: Nio identifies itself as a premium EV brand. Its ET9, for instance, starts at 788,000 yuan, including the battery. 
The low-cost EV from the company&#8217;s Onvo brand has helped it move to the low-cost EV segment which has significant demand.
Earlier this month, Nio also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42550944/whats-going-on-with-nio-stock-today">launched a new brand called Firefly</a>, touted as a rival to Mercedes&#8217; Smart and BMW&#8217;s Mini. The brand&#8217;s first vehicle shares its name and pre-sales started at a price of 148,800 yuan. It is expected to be launched in April 2025.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42668333/tesla-model-x-lucid-gravity-or-rivian-r1s-which-three-row-electric-suv-is-a-better-buy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Model X, Lucid Gravity Or Rivian R1S: Which Three-Row Electric SUV Is A Better Buy?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Nio

Tech

Nio's Onvo Brand Helps Spur Delivery Growth With Cheaper Offering

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju maintains PolyPid (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPD#NASDAQ">PYPD</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $14 to $11.

PYPD

HC Wainwright & Co. Maintains Buy on PolyPid, Lowers Price Target to $11

Raymond James analyst C. Gregory Peters maintains Kemper (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMPR#NYSE">KMPR</a>) with a Strong Buy and raises the price target from $75 to $82.

KMPR

Raymond James Maintains Strong Buy on Kemper, Raises Price Target to $82

Earnings

NVNI

Nvni Group Reported FY23 Revenue Growth Of 36% YoY

SATS

Microelectronics Technology Enters Strategic Partnership With EchoStar To Advance Development Of Energy-Efficient Open RAN Macro Radios With NTIA Grant

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju upgrades RAPT Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAPT#NASDAQ">RAPT</a>) from Neutral to Buy and maintains the price target from $10 to $10.

Upgrades

RAPT

HC Wainwright & Co. Upgrades RAPT Therapeutics to Buy, Maintains Price Target to $10

Demand for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence-enabled</a> smartphones could serve as a buffer for parts of the semiconductor industry against a potential slowdown in data center investments, Financial Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/54c3d188-9c5d-4664-94c4-366207ef9aad" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> Doug Lefever, CEO of Advantest, a Japanese supplier of chip testing equipment for Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
Lefever expressed concern over possible dips in spending by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41066968/microsoft-google-meta-pave-path-to-ai-expansion-nvidia-and-broadcom-set-to-reap-benefits" rel="noreferrer noopener">major U.S. tech companies</a>, such as Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which have been driving the construction of advanced data centers.
Lefever told the FT that while fluctuations in data center spending may not last long, any decline could significantly disrupt the semiconductor supply chain due to its reliance on hyperscalers.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42675098/netflix-takes-vmware-to-court-over-patent-infringement-claims" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broadcom and Netflix Clash Over Patent Disputes Ahead of 2025 Trial</a>
He added that the industry&#8217;s cyclical nature could lead to what he described as &#8220;vicious&#8221; downturns. However, he remained optimistic about the potential growth of AI smartphones, suggesting that a breakthrough application could rapidly drive consumer demand and spark a wave of handset replacements.
Advantest, headquartered in Tokyo, holds over 50% of the semiconductor testing market and has benefited from the rising complexity and cost of chips.
Lefever highlighted the growing complexity of chip testing, with Nvidia&#8217;s latest Blackwell products requiring three to four times longer to test than previous generations, as a key driver of sustained demand for Advantest&#8217;s solutions.
The company&#8217;s success extends to high-end testing equipment, which costs $1 million per unit and boasts a market share exceeding 60% in specific categories. Despite geopolitical challenges, such as U.S. restrictions on China, Lefever told the FT that increased demand elsewhere quickly offset lost sales in China. He emphasized that Advantest remains well-positioned globally, with operations in 18 countries and a diversified customer base.
Apple began introducing its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41526650/apples-ai-powered-future-iphone-growth-surge-by-2026-with-new-iphone-17-ai-integration-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Intelligence features</a> on October 28 with the launch of iOS 18.1, offering initial AI functionalities.
The rollout will continue with iOS 18.2, including ChatGPT integration and advanced tools like Visual Intelligence and Genmoji, aiming to boost future sales.
Needham&nbsp;analyst Laura Martin expects Apple iPhone to account for up to 96% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41005053/apple-iphone-to-fuel-96-of-2025-revenue-analyst-says-a-safer-bet-than-ai-heavy-amazon-alphabet-micro" rel="noreferrer noopener">company&#8217;s 2025 revenue</a>.
International Data Corporation (IDC) had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40600289/apples-market-share-poised-to-gain-genai-and-iphone-16-lead-the-way-idc" rel="noreferrer noopener">reignited confidence in</a> smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, with a new market forecast projecting a 5.8% rise in global smartphone shipments to 1.23 billion units in 2024, recovering after two tough years.
The report highlighted increased demand for budget Android smartphones in China and emerging markets and strong adoption of generative AI smartphones in premium markets as key growth drivers.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42672262/hive-digital-boosts-ai-ambitions-with-30-million-nvidia-gpu-deployment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HIVE Digital Boosts AI Ambitions With $30 Million Nvidia GPU Deployment</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Media

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

AI Smartphones To Cushion Semiconductor Industry Amid Data Center Uncertainty: Report

This appointment not only introduces strong leadership to Color Star but also strengthens the company's ties with the Middle East, particularly the UAE.

Management

Reported Earlier, Color Star Technology Says Shaikh Humaid Abdulla Rashed Ahmed Almualla, A Prominent Member Of The UAE Royal Family, Has Joined As An Independent Director

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Andrew Fein initiates coverage on Palvella Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PVLA#NASDAQ">PVLA</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $38.

Initiation

PVLA

HC Wainwright & Co. Initiates Coverage On Palvella Therapeutics with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $38

Raymond James analyst C. Gregory Peters downgrades Hagerty (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HGTY#NYSE">HGTY</a>) from Market Perform to Underperform.

Downgrades

HGTY

Raymond James Downgrades Hagerty to Underperform

Needham analyst Chris Pierce maintains ACV Auctions (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACVA#NASDAQ">ACVA</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $26 to $28.

ACVA

Needham Maintains Buy on ACV Auctions, Raises Price Target to $28

Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler upgrades EverQuote (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVER#NASDAQ">EVER</a>) from Outperform to Strong Buy and maintains the price target from $35 to $35.

EVER

Raymond James Upgrades EverQuote to Strong Buy, Maintains Price Target to $35

Raymond James analyst C. Gregory Peters upgrades Progressive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and announces $305 price target.

Raymond James Upgrades Progressive to Outperform, Announces $305 Price Target

Reported Earlier, Nippon Steel Extends Estimated Time To Close US Steel Merger Agreement To Q1 Of Calendar Year 2025 From Previously Expected Q3 Or Q4 Of Calendar Year 2024

Over the next three years, the GDTC plans to continue its expansion, focusing on advancing AI/ML capabilities and developing innovative digital solutions to boost operational efficiency and customer engagement.&nbsp;

Kimberly-Clark Increases Its Commitment To India Through Its Global Digital Technology Center In Bengaluru

In a recent survey conducted by&nbsp;Zoomcar Holdings, Inc. ("Zoomcar" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZCAR#NASDAQ">ZCAR</a>), India's leading car-sharing marketplace, reported a remarkable 43% year-on-year growth in bookings for November, driven primarily by a surge in demand during the wedding season. This year's wedding season in India has been the strongest in recent years, emerging as one of the biggest contributors to this growth. With the assumption of a similar growth trend as the upcoming holiday season approaches, Zoomcar recognizes the importance of broadening and diversifying its booking channels to capture greater market potential and has revamped its website booking experience to provide a seamless and user-friendly booking experience, matching the convenience of its mobile app.
 &nbsp;

ZCAR

Zoomcar Reports 43% Booking Surge, Revamps Website Ahead of Holiday Rush

NIO Reveals Repurchase Right Notification For 0.50% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027

BYD Co Ltd&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYDDY#OTC">BYDDY</a>) contractor Jinjiang Group on Thursday said that the Brazilian authority&#8217;s portrayal of its employees working at the Chinese EV giant&#8217;s factory in Brazil as &#8220;enslaved&#8221; is &#8220;completely inconsistent with facts.&#8221;
What Happened: Jinjiang said that their workers were unjustly labeled as enslaved, making them feel insulted.
"Being unjustly labeled as ‘enslaved' has made our employees feel that their dignity has been insulted and their human rights violated, seriously hurting the dignity of the Chinese people. We have signed a joint letter to express our true feelings," Jinjiang said on Weibo, as translated by Reuters news agency.
Lin Yunfei, general manager of branding and public relations at BYD, also reposted the statement. Yunfei also alleged that the allegations are an attempt by &#8220;foreign forces&#8221; to smear Chinese brands and the country.
"In the matter of smearing Chinese brands, smearing China, and attempting to undermine the friendship between China and Brazil, we have seen how relevant foreign forces maliciously associate and deliberately smear," Yunfei said in a post on Weibo.
BYD did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
Why It Matters: Brazilian authorities said on Monday that they have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42667814/brazil-authorities-halt-work-at-byd-factory-site-after-workers-found-in-slavery-like-conditions">halted the construction of the plant that BYD&nbsp;is building in Salvador</a>, Bahia after finding workers living and working in conditions analogous to "slavery."
Authorities ordered that the construction of the factory in Bahia be stopped after rescuing 163 people working at the site, according to a statement by the Labor Prosecutor's Office (MPT).
The authorities shut down the workers' lodgings and communicated the same to both BYD and construction firm Jinjiang Construction Brazil Ltd, one of the contractors hired by the company to carry out the construction, it added.
The MPT also noted that the conditions constituted "forced labor." If a worker were to terminate their employment contract after six months, they would leave the country without any pay for their work since the company deducted their airfare to and from Brazil, in addition to other costs, the statement said.
BYD was planning to start production at the factory in Brazil in 2025. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42668333/tesla-model-x-lucid-gravity-or-rivian-r1s-which-three-row-electric-suv-is-a-better-buy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Model X, Lucid Gravity Or Rivian R1S: Which Three-Row Electric SUV Is A Better Buy?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Regulations

BYDDY

BYD Contractor Denies Allegations Of 'Slavery-Like' Working Conditions At Factory Site In Brazil

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a further easing in the fear level, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Tuesday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Tuesday, with the S&amp;P 500 jumping over 1% on Christmas Eve. Shares of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) gained more than 7%, while Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) edged higher by 0.4% during the session.
The New York Stock Exchange closed early Tuesday for Christmas Eve and was also shut on Wednesday for Christmas Day.
On the economic data front, the U.S. Redbook index increased 5.9% year-over-year in the latest week, following a prior reading of a 4.8% gain. The composite manufacturing index in the U.S. Fifth District increased to -10 in December compared to a reading of -14 in the previous month.
All sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer discretionary, financial, and information technology stocks recording the biggest gains on Tuesday.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 390 points to 43,297.03 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.10% to 6,040.04, while the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.35% at 20,031.13 during Tuesday's session.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 34, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 29.6.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42669200/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-utilities-stocks-with-over-4-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Utilities Stocks With Over 4% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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TSLA

S&P 500 Surges Over 1% As Santa Rally Kicks Off, Tesla, Nvidia Gain: Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Membership Int Ser - 1701 Summerwoods LN Shares of Beneficial Interest

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