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U.S. Treasury to Auction Citi, Boston Private, Wintrust Warrants

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Amazon.com.
Looking at options history for Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) we detected 114 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 29% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 49% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 39 are puts, for a total amount of $2,463,739 and 75, calls, for a total amount of $5,679,600.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $100.0 to $270.0 for Amazon.com over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</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 Amazon.com's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Amazon.com's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $100.0 to $270.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Amazon.com Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736533831_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>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$124.8</td>
<td>$123.55</td>
<td>$124.23</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$310.5K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td align="right">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$124.85</td>
<td>$123.05</td>
<td>$123.93</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$309.8K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td align="right">225</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$123.55</td>
<td>$122.3</td>
<td>$122.82</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$307.0K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td align="right">125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$123.45</td>
<td>$121.9</td>
<td>$122.56</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$306.4K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td align="right">150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$87.4</td>
<td>$87.05</td>
<td>$87.17</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$244.0K</td>
<td>13.7K</td>
<td align="right">49</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Amazon.com</h3>
Amazon is the leading online retailer and marketplace for third party sellers. Retail related revenue represents approximately 75% of total, followed by Amazon Web Services' cloud computing, storage, database, and other offerings (15%), advertising services (5% to 10%), and other the remainder. International segments constitute 25% to 30% of Amazon's non-AWS sales, led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Amazon.com, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Amazon.com</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 18,442,885, with AMZN's price down by -1.31%, positioned at $219.23.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 20 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Amazon.com</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $273.0.
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 Wedbush persists with their Outperform rating on Amazon.com, maintaining a target price of $260. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JMP Securities has revised its rating downward to Market Outperform, adjusting the price target to $285. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Tigress Financial persists with their Buy rating on Amazon.com, maintaining a target price of $290. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wolfe Research keeps a Outperform rating on Amazon.com with a target price of $270. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Baird continues to hold a Outperform rating for Amazon.com, targeting a price of $260. 
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 Amazon.com, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

AMZN

What the Options Market Tells Us About Amazon.com

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Celsius Holdings. Our analysis of options history for Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELH#NASDAQ">CELH</a>) revealed 13 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 38% of traders were bullish, while 46% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 6 were puts, with a value of $332,959, and 7 were calls, valued at $354,345.
<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 $20.0 to $50.0 for Celsius Holdings over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Celsius Holdings's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Celsius Holdings's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $20.0 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Celsius Holdings 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736533825_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>CELH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$7.25</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.15</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$128.7K</td>
<td>6.0K</td>
<td align="right">209</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CELH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$10.8</td>
<td>$10.75</td>
<td>$10.8</td>
<td>$33.33</td>
<td>$108.0K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CELH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$27.50</td>
<td>$69.0K</td>
<td>943</td>
<td align="right">235</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CELH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/31/25</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$1.02</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$61.2K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td align="right">600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CELH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$46.8K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">143</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Celsius Holdings</h3>
Celsius Holdings plays in the energy drink subsegment of the global nonalcoholic beverage market, with 96% of revenue concentrated in North America. Celsius' products contain natural ingredients and a metabolism-enhancing formulation, appealing to fitness and active lifestyle enthusiasts. The firm's portfolio includes its namesake Celsius Originals beverages, Celsius Essentials line (containing aminos), and Celsius On-the-Go powder packets. Celsius dedicates its efforts to branding and innovation, while it utilizes third parties for the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of its products. In 2022, Celsius forged a 20-year distribution agreement with PepsiCo, which holds an 8.5% stake in the business.
<h3>Celsius Holdings's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,163,219, the CELH's price is down by -6.57%, now at $27.11. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 48 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Celsius Holdings</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 $37.4.
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; In a cautious move, an analyst from Needham downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $38. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Deutsche Bank downgraded its action to Hold with a price target of $32. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Celsius Holdings, targeting a price of $42. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Roth MKM persists with their Buy rating on Celsius Holdings, maintaining a target price of $38. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from JP Morgan downgraded its rating to Overweight, setting a price target of $37. 
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 Celsius Holdings with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

CELH

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Celsius Holdings

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Root.
Looking at options history for Root (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROOT#NASDAQ">ROOT</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 37% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 62% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $172,500 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $205,315.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $40.0 and $90.0 for Root, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Root options trades today is 87.5 with a total volume of 1,234.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Root's big money trades within a strike price range of $40.0 to $90.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Root Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736533820_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ROOT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$26.4</td>
<td>$24.3</td>
<td>$24.3</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$121.5K</td>
<td align="right">144</td>
<td align="right">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$7.9</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$70.8K</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right">212</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$7.3</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$7.3</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$37.0K</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right">62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$7.4</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$35.7K</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right">276</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$8.1</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td align="right">41</td>
<td align="right">112</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Root</h3>
Root Inc develops and launches a direct-to-consumer personal automobile insurance and mobile technology company. The company is a direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance, renters insurance and mobile technology company. It generates revenue from the sale of auto insurance policies within the United States.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Root, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Root's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 194,659, the ROOT's price is down by -4.02%, now at $74.31. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 40 days.</li>
</ul>
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>.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Root options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

ROOT

A Closer Look at Root's Options Market Dynamics

As the new year kicks off, all eyes are on Washington, where discussions about Social Security and Medicare are making waves. With talks swirling about changes to Social Security and Medicare, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42728529/suze-orman-warns-medicare-doesnt-cover-everything-why-you-need-2000-for-drugs-and-1676-for-hospital-costs-in-2025">Suze Orman</a> is urging calm. "We. Don't. Know," she said in her Jan. 2 blog post, pointing out that hasty financial decisions based on speculation are rarely a good idea.
According to the Social Security Administration, nearly 40% of retirees rely on Social Security for most of their income. That makes any talk of benefit cuts particularly nerve-wracking.&nbsp;
However, Orman reminds readers that Social Security is a popular program across party lines, making drastic changes less likely. &#8220;Floating is not policy,&#8221; she says, encouraging everyone to wait for solid facts before making decisions.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/planning-your-retirement-new-changes-to-social-security-in-2025-could-affect-you">Planning Your Retirement? New Changes To Social Security In 2025 Could Affect You</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/suze-orman-retirement-bucket">&#8216;Which Bucket Do I Draw From First?&#8217; Suze Orman Explains To 67-Year-Old The Best Order For Tapping Into Her Retirement Accounts</a></li>
</ul>
While Washington debates, Orman suggests focusing on what can be controlled. According to Investors, the U.S. stock market soared 23.3% in 2024, culminating in a two-year gain of 53.2%, the highest since 1997-1998.
This could mean your portfolio is more stock-heavy than you realize, potentially exposing you to unwanted risk. For example, a 60% allocation to stocks might now be closer to 70% or more. Orman advises rebalancing to match your risk tolerance and long-term goals.
Recurring expenses are another area to tackle. A study by C+R Research revealed that the average household spends $219 monthly on subscriptions, often for services they don't use. Cutting back can free up cash for other priorities.&nbsp;
For those carrying credit card debt, Orman recommends calling your issuer to negotiate a lower interest rate. According to a study by LendingTree, 76% of consumers who requested a lower credit card APR (Annual Percentage Rate) were successful, potentially saving hundreds of dollars a year.
See Also: With 100+ historic trademarks including some of the high grossing characters in history, like Cinderella, Snow White and Peter Pan, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-1">this company is transforming the $2 trillion entertainment market with patented AR, VR, and AI tech. — For a short window, investors are able to claim $2/share ($980 min).</a>
On the policy front, the SECURE 2.0 Act will bring significant changes to retirement planning in 2025. According to Investopedia, workers aged 60 to 63 can now make catch-up contributions of up to $11,250 annually to 401(k) or 403(b) plans, compared to $7,500 for others aged 50 and older.&nbsp;
Employers must also automatically enroll employees in workplace retirement plans at 3% to 10% savings, helping more people build their retirement funds. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/11/41722059/trumps-deportation-plan-faces-criticism-as-taxpayers-shoulder-the-billions-while-big-business-stands">Taxpayers </a>should also prepare for updates.&nbsp;
The IRS has adjusted standard deductions and tax brackets for inflation, which could mean slightly more breathing room in 2025.&nbsp;
However, the real question mark is what happens when individual provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire at the end of this year. According to the Tax Policy Center, Congress is weighing whether to extend or modify these rules and the outcome could reshape tax bills.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a></li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

Suze Orman's 2025 Advice: Don't Let Fear Drive Your Money Moves – Here's Why Patience With Social Security Is Key

On Thursday, Intellia Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTLA#NASDAQ">NTLA</a>) outlined its strategic priorities for 2025, emphasizing the acceleration of late-stage programs for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42902073/intellia-therapeutics-announces-anticipated-2025-milestones-and-strategic-reorganization-to-priori" rel="noreferrer noopener">NTLA-2002 and nex-z</a>.
These therapies target <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/10/41524915/why-is-gene-therapy-focused-intellia-therapeutics-stock-trading-lower-on-thursday" rel="noreferrer noopener">hereditary angioedema (HAE)</a> and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, respectively.
Intellia prioritized NTLA-2002 and nex-z while discontinuing the NTLA-3001 program and other early-stage initiatives.
The reorganization will result in a 27% workforce reduction and a projected $8 million restructuring charge in early 2025.
Intellia ended the fourth quarter of 2024 with approximately $862 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments.
Intellia ended 2024 with $862 million in cash and investments, projecting a cash runway through the first half of 2027, bolstered by anticipated cost savings from its reorganization.
Pipeline Progress and Financial Standing
<ul>
<li>NTLA-2002 is advancing in the pivotal Phase 3 HAELO study for HAE, following promising Phase 2 results demonstrating the potential to eliminate chronic treatments after a one-time infusion. Meanwhile, nex-z has shown robust results in the Phase 3 MAGNITUDE study for ATTR amyloidosis, with clinical evidence suggesting the therapy could halt or reverse disease progression.</li>
</ul>
2025 Milestones and Commercial Plans
<ul>
<li>Intellia plans to dose the first patients in pivotal Phase 3 trials for NTLA-2002 and nex-z in early 2025, with enrollment goals and clinical data updates scheduled for later in the year.</li>
<li>The company is also preparing for its evolution into a commercial-stage organization by 2026, building a commercial leadership team, expanding medical education efforts, and initiating pre-approval discussions with payers.</li>
</ul>
Price Action: NTLA stock is down 12.7% at $10.49 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42917603/salesforce-empowers-retailers-with-ai-to-boost-efficiency-and-sales" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Launches Retail Cloud And Agentforce Solutions: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Biotech

Equities

News

Health Care

Movers

Trading Ideas

General

NTLA

Why Is Intellia Therapeutics Stock Trading Lower On Friday?

Maxim Group analyst Tate Sullivan maintains BWX Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BWXT#NYSE">BWXT</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $138 to $140.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

BWXT

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on BWX Technologies, Raises Price Target to $140

Most of the time, we ignore insider selling. Insiders can sell for a host of reasons, such as estate planning, life changes, and liquidity needs.
At younger, fast-growing companies, insiders are much more likely to be sellers, as insiders cash in returns on their initial investments in the company.
A stock sale by a corporate VP who needs a few hundred grand to pay his kid&#8217;s Harvard tuition bill has little to do with the company&#8217;s future expectations.
Academic research and practical experience demonstrate that insider or open market purchases are more important than insider selling.
There is, of course, an exception to the rule. When we see a group of insiders selling stocks near 52-week lows, there is valuable information to be gained. It is highly unlikely that they all needed cash for tuition or a dream home at the same time.
Unless several insiders had an emergency need for cash simultaneously that was so dire they would sell a stock at a low price, an insider selling cluster near the lows tells us something important.
In the immortal words of Sherlock Holmes, &#8220;The game is afoot!&#8221;
Something is happening at the company that has several insiders of the opinion that they need to sell now, as a higher price is unlikely to be in the cards for the foreseeable future. Something has gone wrong, or the company&#8217;s product is falling out of favor.
You and I may not be able to determine precisely what is bad, but the combination of weak price action and insider selling clearly indicates that something is amiss.
That appears to be the case at Constellation Brands (Ticker: STZ). While its core products rarely go out of demand, shares of the beer, wine, and spirits company have been extraordinarily weak over the past year. Insiders have been selling as the stock price declined.
Did insiders know or suspect the Surgeon General would announce the need for a cancer warning on alcohol bottles?
&nbsp;Is there some shift in the public&#8217;s desire for intoxicating beverages? We do not know. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that insiders announce transactions.
They do not require them to provide their reasoning.
We do know that sales growth has been slowing, earnings are falling, and Wall Street analysts have been lowering their estimates for the next year. If insiders saw some light at the end of the tunnel, we would expect to see some buying.
We have not.
&nbsp;Instead, we have seen a steady stream of sales from the company&#8217;s top executives, including the CEO.
The stock could reverse course and go higher. That would not be the smart play until insiders express their belief in the future with their cash.
We are also seeing a cluster of insider selling in stocks that have dropped close to the 52-week lows in the same industry.
The odds of executives and directors at several companies in the same industries all having immediate cash needs are so small that this grabs my attention.
We know that there is a shortage of houses in the United States. With a 4% average rate for people with a mortgage and more than half of all homes owned by folks over 55, a massive shortage of existing home inventory has developed. It is not going to change anytime soon.
That should spell boom times ahead for builders, but that has not developed yet. While we may see more activity in 2025 than in 2024, it will still be well below the historic average of building activity.
As we start the year, there is a lot of uncertainty about the economy and interest rates. Mortgage rates are highly unlikely to return to 2021 levels, and there is a whole generation of buyers that are struggling to wrap their heads around the new normal.
Some builders may be talking about great earnings for the year, but we are seeing many insiders quietly selling stock to tuck some cash away for a rainy day. They are selling despite recent price weakness.
&nbsp;Dream Finders (Ticker: DFH), Hovnanian (Ticker: HOV), and Landsea Homes (Ticker: LSEA) have seen clusters of selling near the 52-week lows in the last few months.
I am a big believer in the eventual boom cycle for homebuilders.
Either that or we become a nation of renters like we were before the GI Bill and 30-year mortgage created the modern American dream of the house with two cars in the garage, a white picket fence, and a homeowners association that would make Stalin blush with envy.
Right now, industry fundamentals are uneven, and insiders are less than enthusiastic. When we see a cluster of insiders buying at several homebuilders, it will be time to be enthusiastic buyers. That time is not now.

Opinion

LSEA

C-Suite Buy of the Week: Discover What Insider Selling Patterns Mean for Your Investments

XPEV

XPeng Option Alert: Mar 21 $24 Calls Sweep (21) near the Ask: 2421 @ $0.141 vs 5044 OI; Ref=$12.263

Maxim Group analyst Michael Okunewitch maintains Lineage Cell Therapeutics (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCTX#AMEX">LCTX</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $5 to $3.

LCTX

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Lowers Price Target to $3

Bernstein analyst Eve Burstein maintains Natera (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRA#NASDAQ">NTRA</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $160 to $200.

NTRA

Bernstein Maintains Outperform on Natera, Raises Price Target to $200

Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLDI#NASDAQ">CLDI</a>) shares are trading lower by 32% to 92 cents during Friday&#8217;s session after the company priced its public offering of 5 million shares of common stock at $0.85 per share, aiming to raise approximately $4.25 million in gross proceeds. 
The offering is set to close on January 10, pending customary closing conditions. Ladenburg Thalmann &amp; Co. Inc. is the exclusive placement agent for the transaction. 
Calidi says the company plans to use the proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42917321/consumer-inflation-worries-highest-since-2008-u-of-m-survey-says-wall-street-tumbles-to-2-month-lows">Consumer Inflation Worries Highest Since 2008, U Of M Survey Says: Wall Street Tumbles To 2-Month Lows</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Should I Sell My CLDI Stock?</h2>
Whether to sell or hold a stock largely depends on an investor's strategy and risk tolerance. Swing traders may sell an outperforming stock to lock in a capital gain, while long-term investors might ride out the turbulence in anticipation of further share price growth.
Similarly, traders willing to minimize losses may sell a stock that falls a certain percentage, while long-term investors may see this as an opportunity to buy more shares at a discounted price.
Shares of Calidi Biotherapeutics (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLDI#AMEX">CLDI</a>) have lost 92.85% year to date. This compares to the average annual return of -76.04%, meaning the stock has underperformed its historical averages. Investors can compare a stock's movement to its historical performance to gauge whether this is a normal movement or a potential trading opportunity. 
Investors may also consider market dynamics. The Relative Strength Index can be used to indicate whether a stock is overbought or oversold. Calidi Biotherapeutics stock currently has an RSI of 55.44, indicating neutral conditions.
For analysis tools, charting data and access to exclusive stock news, check out <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga PRO. Try it for free.</a> 
CLDI has a 52-week high of $16.80 and a 52-week low of $0.73.

CLDI

Why Calidi Biotherapeutics (CLDI) Stock Is Down 30%

WIIM

Calidi Biotherapeutics shares are trading lower after the company announced the pricing of a 5 million share offering at $0.85 per share.

BTIG analyst Justin Zelin initiates coverage on ImmunityBio (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBRX#NASDAQ">IBRX</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $6.

Initiation

IBRX

BTIG Initiates Coverage On ImmunityBio with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $6

<a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/paysafe-stock-price-acquisition-967df3be?mod=hp_latestnews" title="https://www.barrons.com/articles/paysafe-stock-price-acquisition-967df3be?mod=hp_latestnews">https://www.barrons.com/articles/paysafe-stock-price-acquisition-967df3be?mod=hp_latestnews</a>

PSFE

Watching Paysafe; Traders Circulate Barron's Article Titled "Paysafe Stock Could More Than Double. The Case for an Acquisition"; Shares See A Pop In Volume

TMDX

TransMedics shares are trading lower following a report by Scorpion Capital assigning the company a $0 price target.

Oil prices are heating up, and so are the stocks of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/energy">major energy companies</a>. 
Shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) were trading in the green at the last check on Friday. The rally follows a Reuters report suggesting the U.S. is preparing its most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/42919047/oil-nears-80-as-us-prepares-new-russia-sanctions">stringent sanctions yet</a> against Russian oil.
These sanctions, expected to target 180 vessels, major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/oil?_gl=1&#x2A;1aeuuae&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MTQ3Nzg4MTMxMi4xNzM1NTczMTA3&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTczNjUyMjc2NC4xLjEuMTczNjUyMjg4Ni4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTczNjUyMDk1NC40Ni4xLjE3MzY1MjY3NDYuMC4wLjA.">oil </a>companies, and top executives, have already pushed oil prices to $80 per barrel — a level not seen since October 2024. 
Traders are responding to the anticipated disruption in global oil supply, and some ETFs with oil and energy exposure stand to reap the benefits.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What This Means For ETFs</h3>
<ul>
<li>The United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) was trading 3.73% higher as of 12.13 P.M. EST</li>
<li>The Invesco DB Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBO#NYSE">DBO</a>) rose about 3.84%. </li>
<li>The United States 12 Month Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USL#NYSE">USL</a>) posted a 2.21% gain.</li>
<li>The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOP#NYSE">XOP</a>), with an expense ratio of 0.09% and a 91.26% exposure to the Oil, Gas &amp; Consumable Fuels make it a good bet for investors of oil-focused ETFs. The portfolio includes Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.</li>
<li>Vanguard Energy ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VDE#NYSE">VDE</a>) has an expense ratio of 0.10% and like XOP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips enjoys significant weightage in the fund.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Geopolitics and Market Dynamics</h3>
Sanctions on Russia — one of the world's largest oil producers — are expected to tighten supply. Prices are expected to go higher. Ongoing reduction in U.S. crude stockpiles, particularly at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub, as reported by Reuters, adds to the pressure.
While tighter supplies drive prices upward, concerns about demand persist. China&#8217;s fuel oil imports are likely to fall early 2025 thanks to a hike in oil import tax from Jan. 1. 
Weaker demand from China, one of the biggest crude oil importers, could weigh on prices in the longer term. 
See Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42340255/opec-extends-oil-output-cuts-to-late-2026-what-it-means-for-markets">OPEC+ Extends Oil Output Cuts To Late 2026: What It Means For Markets</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

ETFs

Oil Stocks Rally On Anticipation Of Stricter Russian Sanctions: Here's How ETFs Are Reacting

United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) shares are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UPS/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading lower on Thursday.</a>
JP Morgan analyst Brian P. Ossenbeck <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UPS/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated the Neutral rating</a> on United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>).
The analyst notes that the contract between UPS and the United States Postal Service (USPS) for SurePost expired on December 31, 2024, and it seems the two companies did not reach a new agreement.
This is separate from the air cargo contract UPS secured with FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) in 2024.
Ossenbeck views the situation as a long-term positive for UPS and parcel pricing, but questions how well the company can handle the transition of SurePost volume immediately after peak season, given that FedEx estimated a similar transition would take about a year. The analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FDX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated the Overweight rating on FedEx</a>.
The analyst suggests that UPS may be following a similar strategy to FedEx, which in-sourced its SmartPost service to save on USPS delivery fees and improve cost efficiency.
The analyst expects UPS to discuss the strategic rationale and financial implications in the fourth-quarter earnings call on January 30.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42917321/consumer-inflation-worries-highest-since-2008-u-of-m-survey-says-wall-street-tumbles-to-2-month-lows" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consumer Inflation Worries Highest Since 2008, U Of M Survey Says: Wall Street Tumbles To 2-Month Lows</a>
At the time, FedEx was also aiming for a seven-day residential delivery network, which has since been scaled back.
Ossenbeck acknowledges UPS could handle the added volume under a new brand (possibly &#8220;Ground Saver&#8221;), eventually reducing service areas it cannot reach.
The analyst has previously emphasized that parcel carriers need to get &#8220;Better and Smaller,&#8221; and views this as a positive first step, though he doesn&#8217;t expect significant delivery density improvements, as even during the COVID-19 boom, those benefits were not realized.
Ossenbeck highlights potential execution risks for UPS, including package car capacity constraints and challenges in integrating SurePost during peak return periods.
There is also uncertainty about whether the recent Teamsters&#8217; contract limits SurePost deliveries, as drivers have previously focused on larger packages for redirection.
For FedEx, the analyst suggests that its Ground Economy service could benefit if United Parcel and USPS continue to raise rates for the most economical delivery services, thus increasing the price floor for deferred products.
Price Action: UPS shares are trading lower by 2.86% to $123.14 at last check Friday, while FDX shares are trading lower by 1.24% to $271.40.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42912208/delta-stock-jumps-after-record-q4-earnings-and-strong-2025-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta Takes Flight As Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations, Fueled By Premium Travel Demand And Efficiency Gains</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

Reiteration

UPS Faces Post-SurePost Challenges: Analyst Sees Long-Term Gain But Near-Term Hurdles

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Charles Nabhan downgrades Global Payments (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $125 to $120.

Downgrades

Stephens & Co. Downgrades Global Payments to Equal-Weight, Lowers Price Target to $120

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Charles Nabhan downgrades Paycor HCM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYCR#NASDAQ">PYCR</a>) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $20 to $22.5.

PYCR

Stephens & Co. Downgrades Paycor HCM to Equal-Weight, Raises Price Target to $22.5

Sweetgreen shares are trading higher after Citigroup upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $44 to $49.

Wintrust Financial Corporation - Common Stock

Barclays

DA Davidson

Raymond James

Citigroup

The U.S. Treasury will conduct a Dutch auction of its warrant positions in Citigroup, Boston Private Financial Holdings and Wintrust Financial.

Comments

Wintrust Finl

News

Latest news for Wintrust Finl (NASDAQ:WTFC) Stock

Friday, January 14, 2011

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