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

Maple Leaf Green World (OTC:MGWFF) Stock, Option Chain

Maple Leaf Green World Inc is focused on the health and wellness industry in North America and China. It has a hemp project in Southern California and an essential oil project in China. With over 10 years of extensive greenhouse management experience, the company applies its eco-agriculture knowledge and cultivation technology to produce contaminant-free hemp products. Maple Leaf's long-term objective is to produce hemp and essential oils for North America and international markets.

Cannabis

News

Penny Stocks

Markets

MGWFF

CSE:MGW

Maple Leaf Green World Inc. (OTCQB: MGWFF) (CSE:MGW) provided a corporate update.

Cayman Island REIT Project

Maple Leaf Green World Downsizing Its Cultivation, Focusing On Herbal Supplement And Essential Oil Project

Entrepreneurship

Movers & Shakers

INLB

As Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is returning in a live format this coming week (Oct. 14-15)  in New York City, gathering top CEOs, investors, and leaders in the cannabis industry, let’s scroll through the latest leadership changes within the space.

Cannabis Movers &amp; Shakers: Tommy Chong, Maple Leaf Green World, Item 9, CaniBrands

Retail Sales

Cannabis and hemp company Maple Leaf Green World Inc. (NEO: MGW) (OTCQB: MGWFF) received the California Department of Food &amp; Agriculture&#39;s approval for THC testing.

Maple Leaf Green World Approved To Sell CBG Hemp Products

MAPLE LEAF GREEN WRLD INC by Maple Leaf Green World, Inc.

Maple Leaf Green World Inc

Buybacks

CVBF

CVB Financial Corp. Authorizes 10M Share Repurchase Plan

Donald Trump's election stoked anticipation of a looser regulatory landscape, benefiting the crypto ecosystem. 
Companies like MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), long synonymous with its audacious Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) strategy, is emerging as a key player in this evolving market. 
The company, which owns more than 150,000 Bitcoin, effectively operates as a leveraged bet on the cryptocurrency. Its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/39045022/microstrategys-big-move-from-bitcoin-bet-to-russell-1000-inclusion">inclusion in equity indices</a> has quietly exposed countless institutional and retail investors to Bitcoin's wild price swings, even if they never intended to dabble in crypto.
As Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42107053/mstr-climbs-over-8-in-thursday-pre-market-as-bitcoin-approaches-98000-michael-saylors-company-has-more-than-doubled-the-investors-wealth-since-trumps-victory">rallied post-election</a> on optimism about regulatory clarity, MicroStrategy shares surged, highlighting the close correlation. 
Meanwhile, the broader crypto industry is buzzing with new ventures from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crypto Initiatives Gain Traction</h2>
JPMorgan Chase is currently <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/payments/payment-trends/introducing-kinexys">rebranding</a> its blockchain platform from Onyx to Kinexys, and aims to transform foreign exchange markets, according to Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, an analyst with the firm. 
Goldman Sachs is also carving out its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42047066/goldman-sachs-to-spin-out-digital-assets-platform-amid-blockchain-push">digital asset division</a> to expand private blockchain services. And BlackRock is doubling down with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39863203/blackrocks-buidl-tokenization-fund-hits-500m-in-assets-under-management">tokenized money market fund</a> on diverse blockchains, signaling a strategic shift.
These developments underline the growing institutional appetite for blockchain, from tokenized treasuries in El Salvador to cutting-edge trade finance solutions in Brazil.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/24/11/42012198/a-new-era-how-tokenization-could-reduce-frictions-and-potentially-costs-in-finance">A New Era? How Tokenization Could &#8216;Reduce Frictions And Potentially Costs&#8217; In Finance</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MicroStrategy's Big Bet: A Tailwind Or A Trap?</h2>
MicroStrategy's role as a Bitcoin proxy has drawn mixed reactions. Some view it as a savvy way to capitalize on crypto's growth; others worry about overexposure to Bitcoin's volatility. Yet, as the Leveraged MicroStrategy ETF (Defiance Daily Target 2x Long MSTR ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mstx#NASDAQ">MSTX</a>) <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/12/2979763/0/en/MSTX-The-First-Leveraged-MicroStrategy-ETF-Surpasses-1-Billion.html">gains inflows</a> and demand for Bitcoin ETFs surges, the company's strategy looks increasingly prescient.
Panigirtzoglou, in a Thursday analyst report, highlighted a burgeoning trend: corporate treasuries are dipping their toes into Bitcoin as a reserve asset. If this is the start of a trend, MicroStrategy is ahead of the curve.
With Bitcoin at the heart of a post-election crypto surge, MicroStrategy's bold approach positions it as both a leader and a litmus test for the future of corporate crypto adoption. Whether it rides this wave to unprecedented highs or succumbs to volatility will depend as much on regulatory clarity as on the trajectory of Bitcoin itself.
In a rapidly transforming market, one thing is clear: MicroStrategy's &#8220;leveraged bet on Bitcoin&#8221; makes it a stock to watch in this new crypto-driven era.
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Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

MSTR

MSTX

Bitcoin Boom 2.0? MicroStrategy Gains Traction As A 'Leveraged Bet' On Crypto Growth

Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) is up 20% to $258.55 over the past week, driven by broader crypto market strength. Bitcoin's rally past $98,000 and the speculation that it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42120005/bitcoin-close-to-100000-could-it-happen-today">could cross $100,000</a> have lifted sentiment for the entire crypto sector, with Solana standing out as a high-performance blockchain platform.
What To Know: Solana is known as a go-to platform for developers, surpassing several competitors in scalability and transaction efficiency. Its growth has been supported by partnerships and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-buy-solana">ecosystem developments</a>, including new DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces launching on the network.
Additionally, Solana's improved resilience, following earlier network outages, is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/solana-price-prediction">rebuilding investor confidence</a>. The network's upgrades, such as validator optimizations, have enhanced its reliability.
The broader crypto market also plays a significant role in Solana's rally. Institutional activity, such as the $1.84 billion inflow into Bitcoin ETFs, has highlighted increasing demand for digital assets of late. Solana, often viewed as an alternative to Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), is benefiting from the bullish outlook across major cryptocurrencies.
With speculation that Solana could break $275 this month, as suggested by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42114012/bitcoin-price-hitting-100000-in-november-polymarket-traders-speculate-it-might-go-even-higher">Polymarket bettors</a>, the blockchain's combination of speed, utility and ecosystem growth is catching eyes during the broader crypto rally.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42121049/small-caps-rally-alphabet-plummets-bitcoin-flirts-with-100000-whats-driving-markets-thursday">Small Caps Rally, Alphabet Plummets, Bitcoin Flirts With $100,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Thursday?</a>

$ETH

$SOL

Why Solana Is Up 20% Over The Past Week

Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>) has surged 8.9% to $89.59 over the past week, benefiting from a wave of positive sentiment sweeping the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto">cryptocurrency</a> market. 
This uptick comes as Bitcoin approaches the $100,000 milestone, which has significantly boosted investor confidence across the digital asset landscape.
What To Know: Polymarket bettors are closely watching Bitcoin's trajectory this November, with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42114012/bitcoin-price-hitting-100000-in-november-polymarket-traders-speculate-it-might-go-even-higher">79% probability of surpassing $100,000</a>. This bullish outlook on Bitcoin has a cascading effect on altcoins like Litecoin, which often mirrors Bitcoin's market movements. 
The anticipation of Bitcoin reaching new heights has attracted substantial institutional interest, further enhancing market optimism.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42116978/why-bitcoin-cash-is-up-15-this-week">Why Bitcoin Cash Is Up 15% This Week</a>
Additionally, the recent influx of $1.84 billion into U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs over the past three days underscores growing institutional trust in cryptocurrencies. This surge in ETF inflows not only supports Bitcoin but also provides liquidity that benefits the broader crypto ecosystem, including Litecoin.
As investors seek diversification within the crypto space, Litecoin's reputation as an alternative to Bitcoin may make it an attractive option.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42120005/bitcoin-close-to-100000-could-it-happen-today">Bitcoin Close To $100,000 — Could It Happen Today?</a>

$LTC

Why Litecoin Is Moving

Global-E Online Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLBE#NASDAQ">GLBE</a>) reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLBE/earnings">raised its FY24 outlook on Wednesday.</a>
Sales grew 32% year over year to $176 million, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $169.16 million.
Adjusted EBITDA rose to $31.1 million from $22.1 million a year ago. The company's operating loss narrowed to $21.0 million from $35.6 million. Loss per share was 13 cents, beating the consensus loss of 15 cents.
For the fourth quarter, Global-e Online projects GMV of $1.615 billion – $1.685 billion and revenue of $243 million and $255 million vs. $246.27 million estimate. The company raised its FY24 revenue guidance to $732.9 million&nbsp; – $744.9 million (from $710 million – $750 million), vs. the consensus of $730.72 million.
Founder and CEO Amir Schlachet said, "We report today the results of another very strong quarter, with growth of GMV accelerating to 35% year over year and many new merchants going live ahead of the holiday season, including the iconic luxury department store Harrods."
Global-E Online shares gained 4% to trade at $49.78 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Global-E Online following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin reiterated Global E Online with an Overweight and raised the price target from $44 to $63.</li>
<li>JMP Securities analyst Patrick Walravens maintained the stock with a Market Outperform and raised the price target from $46 to $64.</li>
<li>Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $45 to $60.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Andrew Bauch maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $45 to $60.</li>
<li>Raymond James analyst Brian Peterson maintained Global E Online with an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $41 to $55.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying GLBE stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="540" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21143119/image-231-1024x540.png" alt="" class="wp-image-659669" style="width:615px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21143119/image-231-1024x540.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21143119/image-231-300x158.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21143119/image-231-768x405.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21143119/image-231.png 1237w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

GLBE

These Analysts Raise Their Forecasts On Global-E Online Following Better-Than-Expected Results

U.S. stocks traded higher toward the end of trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining by more than 500 points on Thursday.
The Dow traded up 1.24% to 43,945.57 while the NASDAQ rose 0.09% to 18,982.36. The S&amp;P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.62% to 5,953.83.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42086207/jim-cramer-likes-devon-energy-but-says-this-energy-stock-is-far-superior-to-devon">Jim Cramer Likes Devon Energy, But Calls Another Stock &#8216;Far Superior</a>&#8216;
Leading and Lagging Sectors Energy shares rose by 1.6% on Thursday.
In trading on Thursday, communication services shares fell by 2.3%.
Top Headline
Shares of Baidu, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIDU#NASDAQ">BIDU</a>) fell more than 5% on Thursday after the company reported results for its fiscal third quarter.
The company posted quarterly revenue of $4.78 billion, down 3% year-on-year, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $4.69 billion. Baidu's adjusted earnings per ADS of $2.37 beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.35.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) shares shot up 29% to $4.75. Quantum Computing announced it received another purchase order for its photonic chip foundry.</li>
<li>Shares of Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) got a boost, surging 32% to $170.79 after the company reported stronger-than-expected results for its third quarter. Snowflake expects fourth-quarter product revenue in the range of $906 million to $911 million, up approximately 23% year-over-year. The company also raised its full-year product revenue guidance from $3.356 billion to $3.43 billion, representing 29% year-over-year growth.</li>
<li>Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTI#NYSE">UTI</a>) shares were also up, gaining 19% to $23.71 after the company posted upbeat quarterly earnings.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Cool Company Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLCO#NYSE">CLCO</a>) shares dropped 13% to $9.27 following third-quarter results.</li>
<li>Shares of Pyxis Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYXS#NASDAQ">PYXS</a>) were down 44% to $2.14 after the company announced PYX-201 clinical Phase 1 part 1 data.</li>
<li>Kura Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURA#NASDAQ">KURA</a>) was down, falling 34% to $10.46. Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kirin disclosed a global strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize Ziftomenib in Acute Leukemias.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 1.7% to $70.06 while gold traded up 0.8% at $2,673.60.
Silver traded down 0.3% to $30.920 on Thursday, while copper fell 0.9% to $4.1170.
Euro zone
European shares closed higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 rose 0.41%, Germany's DAX gained 0.74% and France's CAC 40 rose 0.21%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.19%, while London's FTSE 100 gained 0.79%.
Consumer confidence in the Eurozone fell by 1.2 points to a reading of -13.7 in November.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mostly lower on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling 0.85%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index falling 0.53%, China's Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.07% and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.54%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>U.S. existing home sales gained by 3.5% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 3.96 million in October.</li>
<li>The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index fell to -5.5 in November from 10.3 in the previous month, and compared to market estimates of 8.</li>
<li>U.S. initial jobless claims declined by 6,000 from the previous week to 213,000 in the week ending Nov. 16.</li>
</ul>
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Eurozone

Commodities

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CLCO

KURA

PYXS

QUBT

SNOW

Nasdaq Edges Higher; Baidu Shares Fall After Q3 Results

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on SoFi Techs. Our analysis of options history for SoFi Techs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>) revealed 33 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 54% of traders were bullish, while 39% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 3 were puts, with a value of $184,500, and 30 were calls, valued at $4,348,485.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $5.0 to $27.0 for SoFi Techs over the last 3 months. 
<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 SoFi Techs's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to SoFi Techs's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $5.0 to $27.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>SoFi Techs Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732217688_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$1.3M</td>
<td>39.6K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.75</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.64</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$469.4K</td>
<td>48.2K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$2.32</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$2.32</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$464.0K</td>
<td>22.5K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.56</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$412.4K</td>
<td>48.2K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.75</td>
<td>$8.25</td>
<td>$8.75</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$168.8K</td>
<td>43.8K</td>
<td>694</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About SoFi Techs</h3>
SoFi is a financial-services company that was founded in 2011 and is based in San Francisco. Initially known for its student loan refinancing business, the company has expanded its product offerings to include personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, investment accounts, banking services, and financial planning. The company intends to be a one-stop shop for its clients' finances and operates solely through its mobile app and website. Through its acquisition of Galileo in 2020, the company also offers payment and account services for debit cards and digital banking.
Having examined the options trading patterns of SoFi Techs, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of SoFi Techs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 41,387,484, the SOFI's price is up by 4.98%, now at $15.4. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 67 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for SoFi Techs</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $11.9.
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; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Needham keeps a Buy rating on SoFi Techs with a target price of $13. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Goldman Sachs has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on SoFi Techs, which currently sits at a price target of $8. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on SoFi Techs, which currently sits at a price target of $16. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for SoFi Techs, targeting a price of $9. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Jefferies continues to hold a Buy rating for SoFi Techs, targeting a price of $13. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for SoFi Techs with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

SOFI

SoFi Techs Unusual Options Activity

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</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 DIS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 15 extraordinary options activities for Walt Disney. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 60% leaning bullish and 20% bearish. Among these notable options, 6 are puts, totaling $240,736, and 9 are calls, amounting to $439,043.
<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 $95.0 to $125.0 for Walt Disney during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Walt Disney's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Walt Disney's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $95.0 to $125.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Walt Disney Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732217683_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$76.3K</td>
<td>26.8K</td>
<td align="right">440</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/06/24</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$64.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td align="right">426</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.45</td>
<td>$15.05</td>
<td>$15.22</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$60.8K</td>
<td>17.0K</td>
<td align="right">40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$7.55</td>
<td>$7.4</td>
<td>$7.52</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td align="right">442</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>26.8K</td>
<td align="right">518</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walt Disney</h3>
Disney operates in three global business segments: entertainment, sports, and experiences. Entertainment and experiences both benefit from the firm's ownership of iconic franchises and characters. Entertainment includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services. Within the segment, Disney also engages in movie and television production and distribution, with content licensed to movie theaters, other content providers, or, increasingly, kept in-house for use on Disney's own streaming platform and television networks. The sports segment houses ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences contains Disney's theme parks and vacation destinations, and also benefits from merchandise licensing.
<h3>Current Position of Walt Disney</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 6,075,759, the price of DIS is up 0.99% at $115.39. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 76 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Walt Disney</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $129.0.
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 Deutsche Bank persists with their Buy rating on Walt Disney, maintaining a target price of $131. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Walt Disney, which currently sits at a price target of $140. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Walt Disney, which currently sits at a price target of $134. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Needham lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $130. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Needham downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $110. 
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 Walt Disney, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Behind the Scenes of Walt Disney's Latest Options Trends

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Futu Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</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 FUTU usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Futu Hldgs. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 27% leaning bullish and 63% bearish. Among these notable options, 7 are puts, totaling $521,498, and 4 are calls, amounting to $389,812.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $80.0 to $120.0 for Futu Hldgs over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</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 Futu Hldgs'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 Futu Hldgs's whale activity within a strike price range from $80.0 to $120.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Futu Hldgs 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732217677_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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>FUTU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/22/24</td>
<td>$10.7</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$10.75</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$199.9K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>388</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$0.94</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$166.9K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$3.35</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$155.0K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td>613</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$16.0</td>
<td>$15.9</td>
<td>$16.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td>134</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/22/24</td>
<td>$10.7</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$10.7</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$77.0K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>460</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Futu Hldgs</h3>
Futu Holdings Ltd is an online broker providing one-stop online investing services. The company provides its services through its digital platform Futu NiuNiu, which includes market data, trading service, and news feed of Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, and United States equity markets. It generates its revenue in the form of brokerage commission and handling charge services.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Futu Hldgs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,164,151, the FUTU's price is down by -1.99%, now at $87.22. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 112 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Futu Hldgs</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $95.0.
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; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Citigroup lowers its rating to Neutral with a new price target of $95.
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Futu Hldgs with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

FUTU

Futu Hldgs Unusual Options Activity

The explosive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">growth of ETFs</a> is reshaping the financial landscape, with assets under management now nearing the $15 trillion mark. 
In a recent analysis, JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou delves into the implications of this seismic shift, spotlighting how ETFs are redefining investor behavior, liquidity patterns, and even market risks. Here are his top 10 takeaways that every investor should know.
1. Retail Sentiment Is Driving Volatility Panigirtzoglou notes that the growing dominance of ETFs has made retail investors more influential in driving market sentiment. Unlike institutional investors, retail traders tend to have shorter time horizons, leading to sudden, amplified shifts in market trends when sentiment swings.
2. Longer Rallies, Sharper Corrections The analyst highlights how ETFs encourage momentum-driven markets, fueling prolonged rallies during bullish periods. However, during market reversals, the absence of active management safeguards can result in sharper corrections and increased volatility.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42097545/feds-bowman-warns-on-inflation-risks-signals-neutral-rate-may-be-closer">Fed&#8217;s Bowman Warns On Inflation, Says Neutral Interest Rates May Be Closer &#8216;Than We Currently Think&#8217;</a>
3. Big Money Flows Into Large-Caps Most ETFs are market-cap-weighted, which means they funnel disproportionate capital into large-cap stocks. Panigirtzoglou warns this trend could inflate valuations for mega-caps while crowding out smaller companies, risking capital misallocation.
Companies such as Nvidia Corp, Apple Inc, and Microsoft Corp each currently command over $3 trillion in market cap on the U.S. stock markets.
4. Liquidity Rushes to the Closing Bell As ETFs rebalance towards the end of trading sessions, liquidity has increasingly clustered during these periods. Around one-third of S&amp;P 500 trades now occur in the final 10 minutes of the day, Panigirtzoglou points out, creating a feedback loop of concentrated activity.
5. Concentrated Risks in a Few ETFs The rise of giant ETFs like the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) has introduced systemic risks. Panigirtzoglou argues that their scale and importance rival those of equity futures, making the market vulnerable to large, single-product flows.
6. Algorithmic Traders Are Thriving Bond ETFs, in particular, have bolstered electronic and algorithmic trading, says Panigirtzoglou. Non-bank market makers now dominate liquidity provision in fixed-income markets, capitalizing on high-volume, low-margin trades.
Popular bond ETFs, such as the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGG#NYSE">AGG</a>) and the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BND#NYSE">BND</a>), are among the largest and most liquid bond market ETFs traded in the U.S.
7. Index Changes Have Outsized Effects Panigirtzoglou emphasizes how ETF-driven flows have magnified the impact of index rebalancing. Stocks entering major indices see outsized gains, while those removed face steeper declines than fundamentals might justify.
8. Corporate Governance Takes a Hit With passive funds dominating, Panigirtzoglou sees a decline in corporate activism. Unlike active managers, passive funds have little incentive to push for governance changes, which could diminish oversight.
9. Market Efficiency Is Declining The shift toward passive investing reduces opportunities for arbitrage, Panigirtzoglou argues, leading to more persistent mispricings. While this could lure active managers back, their ability to extract alpha has waned.
10. Passive Investing's Limit May Be Near Panigirtzoglou suggests there may be a natural ceiling for passive investing. If market inefficiencies grow too large, active managers could stage a comeback, attracting capital back from ETFs to actively managed funds.
The ETF revolution has undoubtedly democratized investing, but Panigirtzoglou warns that its rapid rise comes with unintended consequences. 
From concentrated liquidity to increased systemic risks, the landscape is evolving in ways that demand vigilance. 
As ETFs near the $15 trillion milestone, will passive dominance plateau, or is its impact just beginning?
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42107863/us-futures-head-lower-as-nvidia-reports-slowdown-in-quarterly-revenue-growth-expert-says-market-weakness-is-perfectly-normal-but-late-november-is-still-possible">US Futures Head Lower As Nvidia Earnings Fail To Impress Investors: Expert Says Market Weakness Is &#8216;Perfectly Normal,&#8217; But Late November Rally Is Still Possible</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Analyst Color

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

10 Ways ETFs Are Reshaping US Markets As They Near $15 Trillion

Accenture (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) has acquired <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.awardsolutions.com%2Fportal%2F&amp;esheet=54156487&amp;newsitemid=20241121330816&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Award+Solutions&amp;index=1&amp;md5=ee80c80bea3cf769a6836c8c2dc6854b">Award Solutions</a>, a provider of training and consulting services in advanced wireless and network technologies, including 5G, internet of things, and cloud-based solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Established in 1997, Award Solutions is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and has employees based in Las Cruces, New Mexico; Branson, Missouri; San Diego, California; and Bangalore, India. The company offers specialized in-person, virtual, and self-paced training skills development programs to global telecom and technology providers, enabling them to leverage the latest technologies, such as 5G, artificial intelligence, automation, data visualization, machine learning, and network virtualization for the telecom industry. Award Solutions integrates the latest standards and technologies in its approach and has a proven track record of agile development to deliver customized, job relevant, network specific, real-world training that accelerates learning and skills acquisition which directly impact job performance. Through expert-led mentoring, Award Solutions equips its clients with the necessary skills to optimize their tech investments and enhance network performance.

Accenture Acquires Award Solutions To Expand Advanced Wireless Technologies Skills Training Content And Capabilities Of Accenture LearnVantage; Terms Of The Transaction Were Not Disclosed

Over half of the Magnificent 7 stocks have outperformed the S&amp;P 500 in 2024 and all seven have produced higher five-year returns. Benzinga readers pick which Magnificent 7 stock could have the best 2025 and if anyone can catch Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which continues to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/42099904/nvidia-beats-q3-revenue-eps-estimates-supply-constraints-ding-stock-huang-says-age-of-ai-is-in-full-steam"> beat analyst estimates.</a>
What Happened: Nvidia stock is up 199% year-to-date in 2024 and could have more upside ahead according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42119226/nvidia-analysts-see-stock-best-positioned-in-ai-not-worried-about-guidance-all-systems-go-for-blackwell-ramp">analyst price targets </a>after the company's third-quarter beat and raised guidance.
Benzinga recently asked readers if any of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent 7 stocks</a> could post stronger stock growth than Nvidia in the next year.
"In 2025, which Magnificent 7 stock could outpace Nvidia in growth?" Benzinga asked.
The results were:
<ul>
<li>None – Nvidia will dominate: 48%</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): 27%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): 8%</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): 7%</li>
<li>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>): 6%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): 3%</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): 2%</li>
</ul>
The poll found the near-majority predicting Nvidia will have the strongest growth in 2025 and dominate the Magnificent 7 stocks once again.
Coming in second place, and the stock that could have the best chance to pass Nvidia according to readers, was Tesla at 27%. This might not be a huge surprise given Tesla's five-year return is the next closest to Nvidia's when looking at the Magnificent 7 stocks.
Here are the current year-to-date and five-year returns of the Magnificent 7 stocks:
<ul>
<li>NVDA: YTD +199.1%, 5-Year +2,634.2%</li>
<li>TSLA: YTD +38.2%, 5-Year +1,446.2%</li>
<li>AMZN: YTD +31.3%, 5-Year +125.5%</li>
<li>META: YTD +61.3%, 5-Year +181.0%</li>
<li>GOOG: YTD +19.7%, 5-Year +158.0%</li>
<li>MSFT: YTD +11.4%, 5-Year +176.2%</li>
<li>AAPL: YTD +23.3%, 5-Year +249.7%</li>
</ul>
Perhaps most surprising in the poll was Apple finishing last despite having the third-best stock performance over the last five years.
Compare the returns above to the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500, which is up 25.3% year-to-date and up 90.4% over the last five years.
Meanwhile, the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#NASDAQ">MAGS</a>), which invests in the Magnificent Seven stocks, is up 55.7% year-to-date. The ETF has not been around for five years to track that performance. 
Are you buying when the CEOs of the Magnificent 7 are selling?
<ul>
<li>Stay in the know with our Insider Trades page — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">see when leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang are offloading their own shares.</a></li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42093025/will-nvidia-deliver-a-blowout-beat-in-q3-poll-says-maybe-not-but-over-half-see-stock-clearing-150">recent Benzinga poll</a> asked readers to predict if Nvidia would beat, miss or meet earnings estimates in the third quarter.
The results were:
<ul>
<li>Meets expectations: 45%</li>
<li>Blowout Beat: 42%</li>
<li>Misses expectations: 13%</li>
</ul>
The majority of Benzinga readers expected the company to meet or beat the estimates from analysts. While more readers expected the company to meet estimates, 42% believed the company would beat estimates Wednesday.
Benzinga readers also predicted what an earnings beat could mean for Nvidia stock going forward.
&#8220;If Nvidia shatters expectations, how high could its stock go by the end of 2024?&#8221; Benzinga asked.
The results were:
<ul>
<li>$150 to $180: 55%</li>
<li>$180 to $200: 26%</li>
<li>Above $200: 18%</li>
</ul>
Nvidia shares traded down in after-hours Wednesday before reversing to the green in early Thursday trading. The stock is down 0.5% to $145.20 Thursday at the time of writing.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40602271/ready-to-retire-on-a-single-magnificent-7-stock-poll-reveals-top-pick-and-its-not-apple" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ready To Retire On A Single Magnificent 7 Stock? Poll Reveals Top Pick —And It's Not Apple</a></li>
</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga from Nov. 19 through Nov. 20, 2024, and included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 128 adults.
Image: Unsplash

Exclusives

Tech

AAPL

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

MAGS

MSFT

NVDA

TSLA

Could Another Magnificent 7 Stock Beat Nvidia In 2025? Poll Says Not Likely, 27% Pick This Potential Winner

Offerings

PALI

Palisade Bio Offers Up To 2.06M Common Stock Shares At $2.43 Per Share

Spire Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SR#NYSE">SR</a>) reported a loss for the fourth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SR/earnings">quarter on Wednesday</a>.
The company reported a quarterly loss of 54 cents per share, compared to market estimates of a loss of 52 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $293.800 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $382.540 million.
&#8220;During fiscal 2024, despite the impacts of warm winter weather and rising interest expense, our team delivered solid financial and operating performance while providing affordable, reliable and safe energy to our customers,&#8221; said Steve Lindsey, president and chief executive officer of Spire. &#8220;Significant infrastructure investments and improved operational efficiency drove growth in our gas utilities during the year. In addition, Gas Marketing and Midstream continued to deliver solid results. We remain focused on continued execution of our strategy committed to capital-driven growth and operational excellence.&#8221;
Spire reaffirmed long-term adjusted EPS growth target of 5% to 7% and launched fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.40 to $4.60.
Spire shares gained 2.9% to trade at $70.35 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Spire following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5891df6243eaaa0001d69c76/sarah-akers">Wells Fargo analyst Sarah Akers</a> maintained Spire with an Equal-Weight and raised the price target from $73 to $75.</li>
<li>UBS analyst William Appicelli maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $75 to $80.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying SR stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="552" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21142223/image-230-1024x552.png" alt="" class="wp-image-659656" style="width:657px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21142223/image-230-1024x552.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21142223/image-230-300x162.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21142223/image-230-768x414.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21142223/image-230.png 1202w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42117130/this-palo-alto-networks-analyst-turns-bullish-here-are-top-5-upgrades-for-thursday">This Palo Alto Networks Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Thursday</a></li>
</ul>

Spire Analysts Boost Their Forecasts After Q4 Results

MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) has experienced an extraordinary 674% increase in its stock price year-to-date in 2024, a rally driven by its massive Bitcoin holdings and the cryptocurrency&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42079799/microstrategys-michael-saylor-to-advocate-for-bitcoin-investment-at-microsoft-board-meeting-offers-to-educate-rumble-ceo-with-the-strategy">record-breaking performance this year</a>.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42042019/bitcoin-buyer-spree-microstrategy-acquires-4-6b-in-btc-metaplanet-issues-11-4m-in-bonds-to-fund-purchases">company's Bitcoin strategy,</a> spearheaded by Chairman Michael Saylor, has not only boosted its stock but has also resulted in over $15 billion in unrealized profit from its Bitcoin holdings.
This surge has rippled across ETFs with significant MicroStrategy exposure, enhancing their returns in a bullish market.
MicroStrategy, one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, currently owns 331,000 BTC, with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42090657/microstrategy-upsizes-convertible-notes-offering-to-2-6-billion-for-bitcoin-purchases">cumulative acquisition cost of over $16 billion.</a>
With the recent surge in Bitcoin prices, these holdings have soared in value, providing a staggering profit that underscores the company's high-stakes bet on cryptocurrency. 
This performance has drawn increased attention to ETFs with notable stakes in MicroStrategy, as investors look to indirectly benefit from the company's gains.
The following ETFs have particularly benefited from MicroStrategy&#8217;s exceptional performance, reflecting both their weightings in MSTR and their year-to-date returns:
<ol>
<li>T-Rex 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTU#BATS">MSTU</a>):
<ul>
<li>MSTR Weighting: 90.14%</li>
<li>YTD Performance: 746%</li>
<li>Overview: MSTU is a leveraged ETF designed to deliver twice the daily performance of MicroStrategy's stock, giving investors amplified exposure to its monumental rally.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITQ#NASDAQ">BITQ</a>):
<ul>
<li>MSTR Weighting: 14.16%</li>
<li>YTD Performance: 79%</li>
<li>Overview: BITQ focuses on leading companies in the crypto sector, with MicroStrategy as a key holding, benefiting from the company's Bitcoin-driven surge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STCE#NYSE">STCE</a>):
<ul>
<li>MSTR Weighting: 11.83%</li>
<li>YTD Performance: 64.5%</li>
<li>Overview: STCE targets firms innovating in blockchain and cryptocurrency, and MicroStrategy&#8217;s gains have significantly boosted the ETF's overall performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAPP#NASDAQ">DAPP</a>):
<ul>
<li>MSTR Weighting: 11.03%</li>
<li>YTD Performance: 76.7%</li>
<li>Overview: DAPP invests in companies driving digital transformation through blockchain, with MicroStrategy playing a critical role in its success.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Siren Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCN#NASDAQ">BLCN</a>):
<ul>
<li>MSTR Weighting: 8.04%</li>
<li>YTD Performance: 17.4%</li>
<li>Overview: BLCN focuses on blockchain economy leaders, and MicroStrategy's rise has contributed strongly to the ETF's returns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42114012/bitcoin-price-hitting-100000-in-november-polymarket-traders-speculate-it-might-go-even-higher">Bitcoin Price Hitting $100,000 In November? Polymarket Traders Speculate It Might Go Even Higher</a>
MicroStrategy's Bitcoin-heavy strategy has propelled its market cap to $11.5 billion in U.S. ETFs, with approximately 22.03 million shares held across these funds. 
As a leader in Bitcoin adoption within corporate treasuries, MicroStrategy's performance has directly influenced the success of the ETFs holding it, offering exposure to Bitcoin via a regulated equity vehicle.
The company, earlier this week, announced an increase in its convertible senior notes offering to $2.6 billion from its initial $1.75 billion, signaling its continued <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42090138/microstrategy-stock-is-surging-wednesday-whats-going-on">aggressive stance on Bitcoin accumulation.</a>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42109267/bitcoin-hits-new-all-time-high-above-98000-as-spot-etfs-crack-100-billion-net-asset-value-milestone">Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High Above $98,000 As Spot ETFs Crack $100 Billion Net Asset Value Milestone</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

BITQ

BLCN

DAPP

ETF Opportunities Trust T-Rex 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF

MSTU

STCE

MicroStrategy Surges 674% In 2024: 5 ETFs That Benefit From MSTR's Bitcoin-Driven Growth

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-industry-jockeys-seats-trumps-promised-council-2024-11-21/">https://www.reuters.com/technology/crypto-industry-jockeys-seats-trumps-promised-council-2024-11-21/</a>
Nov 21 (Reuters) - A slew of crypto companies including Ripple, Kraken and Circle are jostling for a seat on President-elect Donald Trump's promised crypto advisory council, seeking a say in his planned overhaul of U.S. policy, according to several digital asset industry executives.
Campaigning at <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/trump-cites-china-competition-vowing-create-bitcoin-stockpile-2024-07-27/">a July bitcoin conference</a> in Nashville, Trump promised a new council as part of a crypto-friendly administration. His transition team is discussing how to structure and staff it, and which companies should be included, the people said.
Several top U.S. crypto companies are clamoring for seats at the table. Among them are venture firm Paradigm, said one source, while venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz's crypto arm a16z is also expected to grab a spot.
"It's being fleshed out, but I anticipate the leading executives from America's bitcoin and crypto firms to be represented," said David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine who arranged for Trump to speak at the July conference and has spoken with the President-elect about bitcoin policy.
"People are eager to advise and give input," Bailey said.
A Kraken spokesperson declined to comment, while a spokesperson for a16z did not respond to requests for comment.
Coinbase <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/COIN.O">(COIN.O), opens new tab</a> CEO Brian Armstrong recently met with Trump, said a source familiar with the matter, confirming a Monday Wall Street Journal report. It was unclear what they discussed. The source added that Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, was also interested in being on the council.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire told the New York Times this month he wants to be on the council, a company spokesperson noted.
The crypto council would likely be housed under the White House's National Economic Council, which coordinates and implements the President's economic policies, or a separate White House apparatus, two of the people said.
It is expected to advise on digital asset policy, work with Congress on crypto legislation, establish Trump's promised bitcoin reserve and coordinate between agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Treasury, they and other executives said. The council may also include enforcement representatives and former policymakers, one of the sources said.
&nbsp;
Trump's transition team, which did not respond to a request for comment, is also discussing creating a crypto "tsar" role, two sources said. One added the tsar would likely lead the council. Trump's team is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-20/trump-team-mulls-creating-first-ever-white-house-crypto-role">vetting candidates, opens new tab</a> for that role, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
Former CFTC Chair Heath Tarbert, chief legal officer at Circle, and former Republican CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz, head of policy for a16z crypto, have been advising the Trump transition team on crypto policy, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-transition-team-considers-current-former-cftc-officials-agency-chair-2024-11-14/">Reuters previously reported</a>.
Excitement over a crypto-friendly Trump administration has helped push bitcoin to record highs and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/bitcoin-breaks-95000-first-time-optimism-over-trump-crypto-plans-2024-11-21/">closer to the long-awaited $100,000 milestone</a>.
Trump courted support and campaign donations from the sector with promises to be a "crypto president" and end President Joe Biden's crackdown on crypto companies that regulators accused of flouting securities and anti-money laundering laws.
The industry is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/crypto-industry-pushes-policy-sea-change-after-trump-victory-2024-11-14/">pushing for</a> executive orders guaranteeing crypto companies' access to banking services, an end to enforcement actions and other changes.
Some consumer groups have warned the crypto industry should not be able to write its own rules, and some of the sources said ethics considerations could slow personnel appointments. But others said it makes sense for industry experts to have a say in critical policy issues.
"It's absolutely the wise choice to put together a council of people who... understand how both the industry ought to be regulated and how to situate the industry to be a strategic asset," said Nathan McCauley, CEO of crypto platform Anchorage Digital, who has urged the Trump team to reverse Biden's stance on crypto.
While presidential advisory councils are not a new concept, there has never been one dedicated to cryptocurrencies, which did not exist until bitcoin's launch in 2009. Biden has multiple councils, including on Science and Technology which was established via executive order in first month he took office.
Kristin Smith, chief executive of crypto trade group the Blockchain Association said setting up the crypto council is something Trump "could do very quickly."
&nbsp;
 &nbsp;

Macro Economic Events

Economics

'Crypto Industry Jockeys For Seats At Trump's Promised Council; A Slew Of Crypto Companies Including Ripple, Kraken And Circle Are Jostling For A Seat On President-Elect Donald Trump's Promised Crypto Advisory Council, Seeking A Say In His Planned Overhaul Of U.S. Policy' - Reuters News

Wix.com Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WIX#NASDAQ">WIX</a>) reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter 2024 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42083431/wix-q3-earnings-revenue-hits-4447-million-innovation-fuels-revenue-margin-expansion-and-ai-momentum-fy24-guidance-raised">results on Wednesday</a>.
Revenue grew 13% year over year to $444.7 million, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $444.0 million. Adjusted EPS of $1.50 beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.43.
Wix.com expects fiscal 2024 revenue of $1.757 billion—$1.764 billion(prior $1.747 billion—$1.761 billion) vs. the consensus of $1.76 billion. Wix.com projects 2024 bookings of $1.822 billion—$1.832 billion(prior$1.802 billion—$1.822 billion).
The company expects to generate free cash flow, excluding headquarters costs, of $483 million—$488 million(prior view $460 million—$470 million). Wix.com expects fourth-quarter revenue of $457 million—$464 million versus consensus $457.08 million.
Wix.com shares gained 3.6% to trade at $217.76 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Wix.com following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Clarke Jeffries maintained Wix.com with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $200 to $249.</li>
<li>Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Deepak Mathivanan maintained the stock with an Overweight and raised the price target from $200 to $240.</li>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson maintained Wix.com with an Outperform and raised the price target from $190 to $245.</li>
<li>Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $225 to $250.</li>
<li>B. Riley Securities analyst Naved Khan maintained Wix.com with a Buy and raised the price target from $190 to $220.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying WIX stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="562" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21141521/image-229-1024x562.png" alt="" class="wp-image-659643" style="width:631px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21141521/image-229-1024x562.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21141521/image-229-300x165.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21141521/image-229-768x421.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/21141521/image-229.png 1190w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42117130/this-palo-alto-networks-analyst-turns-bullish-here-are-top-5-upgrades-for-thursday">This Palo Alto Networks Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Thursday</a></li>
</ul>

These Analysts Boost Their Forecasts On Wix.com After Upbeat Earnings

East West Bancorp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWBC#NYSE">EWBC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.76% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.47 million shares sold short, which is 3.65% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.61 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>East West Bancorp Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732216520_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for East West Bancorp has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing East West Bancorp's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, East West Bancorp's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.09%, 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.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

EWBC

Looking Into East West Bancorp's Recent Short Interest

Equifax's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>) short percent of float has risen 13.1% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.48 million shares sold short, which is 2.59% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.3 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>Equifax Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732216515_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Equifax 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 Equifax'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>, Equifax's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.94%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Equifax?

Yum Brands's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.34% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 6.51 million shares sold short, which is 2.33% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.55 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>Yum Brands Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732216510_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Yum Brands has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Yum Brands'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>, Yum Brands's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.20%, 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.

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