Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (ARCA: PFFA)

Latest news for Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (ARCA:PFFA)

Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF

Real Estate

Financial Services

Industrials

Energy

Other

Utilities

Communication Services

Consumer Cyclical

Healthcare

Technology

Consumer Defensive

Basic Materials

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXSt2PzWYbY
</div></figure>

Infrastructure Capital Advisors

Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest not less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. preferred stock, and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such investments. The Sub-Adviser actively manages the fund's assets pursuant to a variety of quantitative, qualitative and relative valuation factors. The fund is non-diversified.

Sce Trust Iii

SLM Corp Pb Pref

Nextera Energy Inc

Global Net Lease Inc

Energy Transfer Lp

Ftai Aviation Ltd

Rlj Lodging Trust

Nustar Energy Lp

New York Mortgage Trust IncPref

Earnings

Financial Advisors

Mid Cap

News

Sector ETFs

Dividends

Markets

Personal Finance

ETFs

PFFA

A high-yield dividend-paying exchange-traded fund (ETF) could be a valuable tool for investors seeking to build a solid portfolio that generates dividends. These ETFs offer a steady income stream, providing a cushion for living expenses and the potential for capital appreciation.

Two High-Yield ETF Cash Machines for Your Retirement Portfolio


A high-yield dividend-paying exchange-traded fund (ETF) could be a valuable tool for investors seeking to build a solid portfolio that generates dividends. These ETFs offer a steady income stream, providing a

Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, suggested that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) might soon be available at a reduced price. 
What Happened:&nbsp;Bukele&#8217;s comment came after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">a federal judge allowed the U.S. government</a> to sell 69,370 Bitcoins, valued at $6.5 billion, seized from the Silk Road case. 
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) received approval to liquidate the Bitcoin due to concerns about price volatility. The Silk Road, a notorious darknet marketplace, was shut down in 2013, and Bitcoins were seized as part of the investigation. The DOJ&#8217;s decision to sell the assets comes amid ongoing discussions about the cryptocurrency&#8217;s market stability and regulatory measures.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Maybe we'll all get the chance to buy Bitcoin at a discount! <a href="https://t.co/d16TnQ9SAl">https://t.co/d16TnQ9SAl</a>
&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1877188308301763013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: For Bukele, who has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, the potential market impact of this sale is noteworthy. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/21/06/21486534/el-salvador-becomes-first-country-in-the-world-to-adopt-bitcoin-as-legal-tender">El Salvador became the first country</a> to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, and Bukele&#8217;s interest in the cryptocurrency market remains strong. The sale could present an opportunity for investors to acquire Bitcoin at a lower price, aligning with Bukele&#8217;s optimistic outlook on the cryptocurrency&#8217;s future.
The U.S. government&#8217;s move to sell Bitcoin has been a topic of debate, with figures like Donald Trump expressing opposition. In August, Trump stated that the government <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40176950/trump-says-government-shouldnt-be-selling-bitcoin-crypto-is-like-ai-if-we-dont-build-it-ch">should not be selling Bitcoin</a>, comparing the importance of cryptocurrency to that of artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to embrace and build upon these modern currencies. 
Furthermore, Trump has reportedly considered an executive order to establish a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42505162/trump-reportedly-considering-executive-order-to-establish-strategic-bitcoin-reserve">Strategic Bitcoin Reserve</a>, indicating a potential shift in U.S. economic policy to position Bitcoin as a core national asset. This move could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency market and the U.S. economy.
Read Also: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

General

$BTC

El Salvador's Nayib Bukele Says 'Maybe We'll All Get The Chance To Buy Bitcoin At A Discount' After DOJ Clears Sale Of Over 69K BTC

KKR Further Extends Second Tender Offer For FUJI SOFT From January 9, 2025 To January 24, 2025; Says Will Not Withdraw Its Second Tender Offer

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that the company will provide free Starlink terminals to areas affected by wildfires in Los Angeles. 
What Happened: &#8220;SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning,&#8221; Musk said on his social media platform X, without elaborating on numbers. The billionaire CEO was responding to footage from Fox 11 where the on-ground reporter said that they are using Starlink to broadcast their live coverage of the wildfires due to the lack of cell service.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in LA tomorrow morning <a href="https://t.co/hm4k3hAmq2">https://t.co/hm4k3hAmq2</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1877219652050313671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
South California has been battling multiple wildfires over the last few days. Since the start of the new year, there have over over 55 wildfires in the region, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The Palisades fire, which started on Tuesday, is spread across over 17,000 acres in Los Angeles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f525; CAL FIRE is battling multiple wildfires across Southern California. Just eight days into 2025, there have been more than 55 wildfires. Here is a summary of the major fires burning in Southern California, including the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PalisadesFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PalisadesFire</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EatonFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EatonFire</a> <a href="https://t.co/JmOlMHKOIw">pic.twitter.com/JmOlMHKOIw</a>
&mdash; CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/status/1877092836333568048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Over 7500 personnel, 1162 fire engines, 6 air tankers, and multiple helicopters have been deployed to fight the wildfires, California Governor Gavin Newsom said. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Latest deployment count via local, state, and federal partners in the fight against the Los Angeles wildfires: &#x1f9d1;&#x200d;&#x1f692; 7,500+ Personnel &#x1f692; 1,162 Fire Engines &#x1f4a7; 23 Water Tenders &#x2708;&#xFE0F; 6 Air Tankers &#x1f681; 31 Helicopters &#x1f69c; 53 Dozers
&mdash; Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1877217310726815923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
As per a recent report from Forbes, the death toll due to the fires has <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/08/california-wildfire-live-updates-officials-say-5-dead-as-another-fire-breaks-out-in-hollywood-hills/">increased to five</a>.
Why It Matters: This is not the first time that Starlink has offered a helping hand in times of crisis.
In October, SpaceX <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41301754/elon-musks-spacex-to-offer-starlink-service-for-free-to-hurricane-helene-and-hurricane-milton-victim">offered free Starlink service</a> for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Hurricane Milton until the end of the year. Starlink and T-Mobile US Inc.&nbsp;then also activated their Direct-to-Cell coverage to provide emergency alerts for all phones and telecommunications carriers in areas affected by the hurricanes. 
The satellite internet segment of SpaceX achieved a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35583773/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-says-starlink-business-has-achieved-breakeven-cash-flow-is-an-ipo-on-the-cards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breakeven cash flow</a> in November 2023 and continues to be a money-making segment for SpaceX. Earlier this month, the company said that Starlink now has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42761808/spacex-says-starlink-now-has-over-4-6-million-customers-1-6-million-new-users-added-in-7-months">over 4.6 million customers</a> in over 118 countries, territories, and other markets.
&#8220;We are going to make some money on Starlink this year. But ultimately I think Starship (the company's new rocket under development) will be the thing that takes us over the top as one of the most valuable companies,&#8221; SpaceX COO&nbsp;Gwynne Shotwell&nbsp;said at a conference hosted by Baron Capital in November. However, Shotwell refused to divulge more of the private company&#8217;s financials.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42891397/non-foundation-series-cheaper-cybertrucks-join-tesla-inventory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla's Inventory Now Includes Non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock

SPACE

Tech

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Offers Free Starlink Terminals To Los Angeles Areas Affected By Wildfires

A special administrative region in Bhutan announced on Wednesday that it will hold Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), and BNB Coin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>) as part of its strategic reserve.
What happened: Gelephu Mindfulness City, situated in the south-central part of the Himalayan nation, said in a <a href="https://gmc.bt/digitalassets/">statement </a>that they opted for cryptocurrencies with large capitalizations to ensure ease of trading and to avoid liquidity risks.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB were placed first, second, and fifth among the most valuable cryptocurrencies, respectively.
The endeavor was meant to strengthen the region&#8217;s economic resilience and expand its existing capabilities in the Bitcoin mining sector.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">US Government Silk Road Bitcoin Holdings Drop To 0 Amid Report DOJ Approved To Sell $6.5 Billion Worth Of Crypto</a>
Reacting to the development, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said that this was the first time a multi-asset cryptocurrency reserve had been set up in any jurisdiction.
"This signals that Bhutan is open-minded and open to other cryptocurrencies," Zhao noted.
Note that El Salvador has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37763988/pro-bitcoin-president-nayib-bukele-says-el-salvador-will-purchase-btc-daily-until-king-cry">strategic Bitcoin treasury reserve</a> in place, and it was the first to enact such a fiscal policy measure.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">A few more points about Bhutan GMC making a crypto Strategic Reserve. 1. It&#39;s not just a bitcoin reserve but a crypto one, including ETH and BNB. I believe this is a first, and it sure won&#39;t be the last. This signals that Bhutan is open-minded and open to other cryptocurrencies,… <a href="https://t.co/Wvw7ejVTh8">https://t.co/Wvw7ejVTh8</a>
&mdash; CZ &#x1f536; BNB (@cz_binance) <a href="https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1876989878946451639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
A dream project of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Gelephu Mindfulness City is a planned economic hub with separate rules and laws, providing enterprises with legal freedom and executive autonomy.
Why It Matters: Bhutan has attracted eyeballs for its rapidly growing Bitcoin holdings, with <a href="https://intel.arkm.com/explorer/entity/druk-holding-investments">on-chain data</a> indicating a stash of 11.688K BTC, worth over $1 billion.&nbsp;
This made it the fifth-largest government holder of the apex digital currency behind the U.S., China, the UK, Ukraine, and surprisingly, above El Salvador, <a href="https://bitcointreasuries.net/">according </a>to bitcointreasuries.net.
Interestingly, Bhutan&#8217;s Bitcoin reserves were not derived from law enforcement seizures but rather from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40996451/max-keiser-says-el-salvador-needs-to-step-it-up-as-bhutans-bitcoin-adoption-astonishes-cry">indigenous mining capabilities</a> backed by its substantial hydropower resources.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $93,165.38, down 3.30% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Ethereum traded at $3,308.62 after a fall of 1.45%, while BNB was up 0.60% to $694.15.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BNB

$ETH

Bhutan's Special Administrative Region Announces Strategic Reserve Consisting Of Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Coin: Bhutan Is Open To Other Cryptos, Says Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao

Zoomcar's financial turnaround has been remarkable over the past year. Key highlights include:
<ul>
<li>In the first fiscal quarter 2024-25 report, Zoomcar reported a contribution profit of $0.46 million (20%), a substantial improvement in contribution margin from a loss of $1.2 million (-45%) in the first fiscal quarter 2023-24.</li>
<li>Similarly, Zoomcar shared a record quarterly contribution profit of $1.21 million (54% of revenue) in the second fiscal quarter 2024-25, up from a loss of $0.12 million (-5%) in the second fiscal quarter 2023-24.</li>
<li>December 2024's unaudited and unreviewed monthly contribution profit continues this positive trajectory, following a streak of four consecutive quarters of contribution profit improvement filed by the company.</li>
</ul>

ZCAR

Zoomcar Record $494K Contribution Profit In December 2024 With 17% YoY Growth In Bookings And Cost Coverage

The U.S. financial markets will observe an extraordinary trading pause on Thursday, to honor former President Jimmy Carter&#8216;s state funeral, marking only the fourth such closure for a presidential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers-shakers/24/12/42716329/jimmy-carter-the-39th-us-president-who-championed-human-rights-and-peace-in-the-middle-east-had-died">remembrance in modern market history</a>. 
What Happened: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will suspend all trading operations, while the bond market will see a shortened session closing at 2 p.m. ET, as recommended by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. 
This follows President Joe Biden&#8216;s executive order declaring Jan. 9 a national day of mourning for Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at age 100.
While U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42725647/markets-will-close-for-president-jimmy-carters-state-funeral-what-you-need-to-know">financial markets and post offices will close</a>, most banks will maintain regular operations as the day is not designated as a federal holiday. 
The market closure has sparked debate within the financial community. Notably, Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42737155/bill-ackman-questions-stock-market-closure-to-honor-jimmy-carter-calls-it-shutting-down-commerce">questioned the practice</a>, arguing on social media platform X that &#8220;closing the market is synonymous with shutting down commerce.&#8221; However, NYSE Group President Lynn Martin defended the decision, emphasizing Carter&#8217;s public service legacy.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42865028/jim-cramer-predicts-palantir-buying-surge-tonight-after-morgan-stanleys-underweight-rating-unless-an">Jim Cramer Predicts Palantir Buying Surge Tonight After Morgan Stanley&#8217;s Underweight Rating: &#8216;Unless Another Analyst Starts With A Sell&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Carter&#8217;s presidential tenure (1977-1981) was marked by significant economic challenges, including peak inflation of 13.5%. His appointment of Paul Volcker as Federal Reserve chairman proved pivotal in establishing monetary policies that would later tame inflation, though these measures <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/12/42734155/jimmy-carters-complex-economic-legacy-high-inflation-but-effective-hawkish-fed-under-volcker">contributed to his re-election defeat</a>.
For modern investors, Carter&#8217;s economic legacy includes the successful $1.5 billion government-backed rescue of Chrysler Corporation in 1980, which established a precedent for major corporate interventions. The automaker, now part of Stellantis N.V., ultimately repaid $12.5 billion in government loans.
The temporary market closure follows similar observances for former Presidents George H.W. Bush in 2018 and Gerald R. Ford in 2007.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836870/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-subsidiary-sued-over-unaffordable-loans-2008-style-predatory-loan-approval-tactics">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway Subsidiary Sued Over Unaffordable Loans, 2008-Style Predatory Loan Approval Tactics</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Is Stock Market Open Today? A Quick Guide To Markets, Banking Hours And Closures For Jimmy Carter's Funeral On Jan. 9

Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FC#NYSE">FC</a>) fell 7.93% in after-hours on Wednesday as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/earnings/25/01/42886380/earnings-breakdown-franklin-covey-q1">missed</a> the first-quarter estimates, but the management highlighted that the combined impact of its focused initiatives will boost future earnings, reaffirming its guidance for the current fiscal.
What Happened: Paul Walker, the president, CEO, and director of Franklin Covey highlighted two key areas of focus in 2025, including client penetration and onboarding new customers, also called, logo-hunting.
Talking about client penetration, he said that the previous fiscal&#8217;s revenue per client expanded 218% to $85,000 from $39,000. Walker explained that this expansion occurs when organizations who have been utilizing one or more of its solutions renew and expand their subscription.
&#8220;Since our conversion to subscription, we&#8217;ve won thousands of new logos,&#8221; Walker added during the call. Pegging this as Project Land, the company&#8217;s focus in this area helped them get one of the five largest banks in America as a client. The coaching company, providing training and assessment services in the areas of leadership, individual effectiveness, and business execution partnered with this bank in the development of 2,000 of their leaders.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42871340/regional-banks-can-thrive-despite-big-bank-dominance-truist-securities-highlights-three-key-paths-for-thriving-regional-banks">Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks</a>
Why It Matters: CFO Steve Young reaffirmed the guidance provided at year-end, expecting revenue in the range of $295 million to $305 million in constant currency terms and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $40 million to $44 million. &#8220;We&#8217;ll need to achieve accelerated revenue growth in the back half of the year, and we expect this to happen,&#8221; Young said.
In the first quarter of the current fiscal its consolidated revenue increased to $69.1 million compared with $68.4 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. It missed Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/earnings">estimate </a>by 1.52%, which was pegged at $70.15 million.
The company earnings per share came in at $0.09, missing Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/earnings">estimate </a>by 59.1% of $0.22 per share. However, its liquidity remained strong at over $115 million, with $53.3 million of cash and no drawdowns on the company's $62.5 million credit facility.
Price Action: Franklin Covey shares have fallen by 7.93% over the last six months, underperforming the NYSE Composite Index, which rose by 6.61% in the same period.
According to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>, FC has a consensus price target of $63.33 per share, with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating based on the ratings of three <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/analyst-ratings">analysts</a>. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $95 issued by Northland Capital Markets as of March 28, 2024. The lowest target price is $45 per share issued by Barrington Research on Nov. 7, 2024.
The average price target between the recent ratings by Barrington Research and Roth MKM implies a 32.2% upside for Franklin Covey.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FC/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="945" height="355" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR.png" alt="" class="wp-image-725446" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR.png 945w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09025530/FC-ANR-768x289.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings Misses

Market Summary

Analyst Ratings

Franklin Covey Shares Fall Nearly 8% After Q1 Miss, Management Reaffirms Optimistic Guidance

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) CEO Alan Baratz has criticized Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang for his comments regarding the timeline for achieving practical quantum computing, saying he is &#8220;dead wrong.&#8221;
What Happened: Huang&#8217;s remarks during Nvidia's analyst day, suggesting a 15 to 30-year wait for &#8220;very useful quantum computers,&#8221; have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867168/nvidias-jensen-huang-said-something-that-has-all-quantum-computing-stocks-tumbling-qubt-and-rgti-down-13-ionq-down-11">sparked a heated debate</a> in the tech community.
Baratz strongly disagreed with Huang&#8217;s timeline, stating that D-Wave&#8217;s quantum computers are already in commercial use by companies like Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) and Japan&#8217;s NTT Docomo, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/08/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-is-dead-wrong-about-quantum-d-wave-ceo.html">reported</a> CNBC.
"Not 30 years from now, not 20 years from now, not 15 years from now," he stated, adding, "But right now today."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42837406/amid-nvidias-ces-2025-buzz-investors-overlooked-apple-supplier-foxconns-strong-q4-says-jim-cramer">Amid Nvidia's CES 2025 Buzz, Investors Overlooked Apple Supplier Foxconn's Strong Q4, Says Jim Cramer</a>
Baratz stated that while Huang's remarks may hold some validity for gate model quantum computers, they are &#8220;100% off base&#8221; when it comes to annealing quantum computers.
He expressed willingness to meet with Huang to discuss the capabilities of D-Wave&#8217;s technology, highlighting that their systems can tackle problems beyond the reach of Nvidia&#8217;s fastest systems.
"I'll be happy to meet with Jensen any time, any place, to help fill in these gaps for him," the D-Wave CEO said.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: After Huang&#8217;s comments, quantum computing stocks experienced significant declines on Wednesday.
During regular trading hours, IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) dropped by 39%, while Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) saw a 43.34% decline.
D-Wave and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) also faced declines, with their stocks falling by 36.13% and 45.41%, respectively.
Price Action: D-Wave&#8217;s stock tumbled by 36.13% on Wednesday, but rebounded in after-hours trading with a 6.39% increase, reaching $6.49. Despite the decline, the company&#8217;s shares have skyrocketed by 600% over the past year, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Also:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42866458/jim-cramer-cites-nvidias-6-decline-to-too-much-hot-money-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-watch-this-data-to-buy-stock-much-lower">Jim Cramer Sees Buying Opportunity In Nvidia But Attributes 6% Fall To ‘Too Much Hot Money' After Jensen Huang's CES Keynote</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

IONQ

NVDA

QBTS

QUBT

RGTI

Jensen Huang Is 'Dead Wrong' About Quantum Computing, D-Wave CEO Fires Back At Nvidia Boss: 'Happy To Meet With Jensen Any Time, Any Place, To Help Fill In These Gaps'

NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42866458/jim-cramer-cites-nvidias-6-decline-to-too-much-hot-money-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-watch-this-data-to-buy-stock-much-lower">shares fell 6.22% on Tuesday</a> following CEO Jensen Huang&#8216;s CES 2025 keynote, prompting Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives to draw parallels with another transformative tech moment &#8211; Apple Inc.&#8216;s iPhone launch in 2007, which initially saw minimal market reaction before driving a 15.9% surge in the following month.
What Happened: &#8220;The only thing that could compare would maybe be the iPhone launch in 2007. I'm trying to give you an example of how different the energy was — there was something new, something transformational,&#8221; Ives <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvVjKxQjt_w">told</a> Yahoo Finance on Wednesday, suggesting the market response might similarly underestimate Nvidia&#8217;s long-term impact.
&#8220;None of this happens without Jensen and Nvidia. The bears who&#8217;ve missed every major tech transformation in the last 20 years are now hyper-focused on things like geopolitical risks and the 10-year at 5%.&#8221;
Huang&#8217;s comments about quantum computing&#8217;s practical implementation being 15-30 years away triggered a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867168/nvidias-jensen-huang-said-something-that-has-all-quantum-computing-stocks-tumbling-qubt-and-rgti-down-13-ionq-down-11">broader sector selloff</a>, with IonQ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) dropping 10.75% and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) falling 13% on Wednesday.
Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya maintained a Buy rating with a $190 price target, describing Nvidia as an &#8220;end-to-end AI shop,&#8221; while Benchmark analyst Cody Acree noted the presentation may have been &#8220;too technical&#8221; for investors seeking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42866458/jim-cramer-cites-nvidias-6-decline-to-too-much-hot-money-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-watch-this-data-to-buy-stock-much-lower">near-term guidance</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42891906/palantir-cto-shyam-sankar-challenges-automations-potential-as-selling-pressure-mounts-what-have-we-been-doing-for-20-years">Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar Challenges Automation&#8217;s Potential As Selling Pressure Mounts: &#8216;What Have We Been Doing For 20 Years?&#8217;</a>
What Happened: Ives dismissed concerns about the stock decline, pointing to similar patterns in other tech leaders. &#8220;Look at Apple—it sold off to $190 after WWDC, and then it shot back up to $250-260,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;The reality is, coming out of CES, we should actually be more bullish, given the market opportunities in robotics and autonomy.&#8221;
The analyst emphasized the growing enterprise demand for AI solutions, citing his observations across Asia and Europe. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to see a tidal wave of activity in terms of AI use cases,&#8221; Ives predicted, noting that IT buyers are ramping up investments not just in consumer applications but across the enterprise sector.
Nvidia&#8217;s stock has surged over 160% in the past year, pushing its market capitalization above $3.5 trillion. Despite near-term volatility driven by macroeconomic concerns including interest rates and inflation, Ives maintains his bullish stance on the company&#8217;s position in what he describes as a &#8220;once-in-40-year revolution with AI.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;re so far ahead of the game, it&#8217;s pretty insane,&#8221; Ives added, referencing skepticism in 2022 about Jensen&#8217;s heavy AI investments over gaming. &#8220;Jensen plays chess while others are playing checkers. Blackwell demand is insane.&#8221;
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">SoftBank-Owned Arm Eyes Acquisition Of Oracle-Backed Chip Designer Ampere Computing Amid Nvidia&#8217;s Dominance: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Nvidia's CES Setback Mirrors 2007 iPhone Launch, Says Dan Ives: 'Jensen Plays Chess While Others Are Playing Checkers'

Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)&nbsp;is making a significant move in the AI sector with a $300 million investment in&nbsp;DDN, a company known for its expertise in data storage and analysis. 
What Happened: The investment represents the first external funding for DDN, valuing the Chatsworth, California-based firm&nbsp;at $5 billion. Founded in&nbsp;1998 by computer scientists Alex&nbsp;Bouzari and Paul Bloch, DDN&nbsp;provides computing equipment and software essential for managing data during AI model training and deployment,&nbsp;The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/blackstone-to-make-300-million-investment-in-ai-data-company-03f9c4aa">reported</a>&nbsp;on Thursday.
Initially serving&nbsp;government agencies and research organizations,&nbsp;DDN has shifted its focus as businesses increasingly adopt AI technologies. CEO Bouzari stated that Blackstone&#8217;s investment will help expand DDN&#8217;s business-customer base, making AI more cost-effective.
DDN&#8217;s technology is integral to major AI infrastructure projects, including the Colossus supercomputer by Elon Musk&#8216;s xAI. The company is considered a strong competitor in the field and could potentially pursue an IPO in the coming years, sources suggest.
Blackstone&#8217;s investment strategy aligns with its broader AI focus, having previously acquired data-center operator QTS and engaged in significant deals with Digital Realty and AirTrunk. The firm has also supported CoreWeave in financing rounds backed by AI chips.
Why It Matters: The investment by Blackstone comes at a time when major tech companies are heavily investing in AI infrastructure. Recently, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801720/microsoft-to-invest-80-billion-in-ai-data-centers-for-fiscal-2025">allocate $80 billion </a>toward AI data centers for fiscal 2025. This move underscores the growing demand for computing power necessary for AI model training and deployment.
Furthermore, Blackstone&#8217;s strategic investments in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801720/microsoft-to-invest-80-billion-in-ai-data-centers-for-fiscal-2025">AI-related companies</a>, such as its acquisition of a stake in Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC, highlight its commitment to expanding its presence in the AI sector. These investments are part of a broader trend among private equity firms to fuel growth in technology and advisory services.
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">SoftBank-Owned Arm Eyes Acquisition Of Oracle-Backed Chip Designer Ampere Computing Amid Nvidia&#8217;s Dominance: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

MSFT

Blackstone Invests $300 Million In AI Data Firm That Powers Elon Musk's xAI Supercomputer

A &#8220;supermajority&#8221; of workers at BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote to form their union with the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union said on Wednesday.
What Happened: The petition was filed on Tuesday, UAW said, without clarifying the percentage of workers who supported it. BlueOval SK is a joint venture of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and South Korea&#8217;s SK On.
In November, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42104199/supermajority-of-workers-at-fords-jv-battery-plant-sign-union-authorization-cards-says-uaw">majority of workers at&nbsp;BlueOval SK signed cards</a> showcasing their support for UAW. However, the company hired anti-union consultants in a bid to stop the workers from organizing, UAW said. 
While companies can voluntarily recognize workers once a majority sign cards supporting unionization, in case they don&#8217;t, there is an election overseen by NLRB where workers must vote in the majority to form a union.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;In September, workers at Ultium's battery plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40724845/gm-lg-ultium-cells-jv-agrees-to-union-recognition-at-tennessee-battery-plant-says-uaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formed their union</a>. Ultium is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that makes batteries for the former's electric vehicles.
Workers at BlueOval SK held a town hall with UAW members from Ultium Cells in December to discuss the perks of organizing, the UAW said. 
Last year, UAW pledged<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37255447/can-40m-secure-unionization-from-tesla-to-toyota-uaw-pledges-big-to-help-non-union-auto-workers-orga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;$40 million to support the organizing efforts&nbsp;</a>of non-union autoworkers and battery workers in the U.S. under the banner of major manufacturers such as&nbsp;Mercedes-Benz Group,&nbsp;Tesla Inc,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Toyota&nbsp;Motor Corp, among others.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42891397/non-foundation-series-cheaper-cybertrucks-join-tesla-inventory">Tesla&#8217;s Inventory Now Includes Non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Workers At Ford JV In Kentucky Petition NLRB For Vote To Form Union

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Accolade (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.16 per share on revenue of $105.99 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ACCD

Earnings Scheduled For January 9, 2025

Multiple bets tied to the ongoing fire disaster in Los Angeles have surfaced on cryptocurrency-based prediction platform Polymarket, raising ethical concerns about such money-making opportunities.
What Happened: More than 30,000 people had to evacuate the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles as a catastrophic wildfire raged, endangering life and property.
In response, as many as 8 separate betting contracts came up on Polymarket, a Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">POL</a>)-based forecasting market that allows users to use cryptocurrencies to predict the outcome of events and make money.
One notable betting <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-palisades-fire-be-contained-by-friday">question</a> on the platform was, &#8220;Will&nbsp;the Palisades fire be contained&nbsp;by Friday?&#8221; on which about $87,000 has already been wagered. Bettors saw just a 2% possibility of this happening.
Another <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-palisades-fire-spread-to-santa-monica-by-sunday?tid=1736406268506">bet </a>was titled, &#8220;Will Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday?&#8221; About 66% odds were in favor as of this writing.
These gambles sparked strong reactions from the public. Jacob R. Adkins, an X user, asked, &#8220;It says a lot about a society when we've resorted to entertaining ourselves by betting on how much worse a natural disaster could get.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It says a lot about a society when we've resorted to entertaining ourselves by betting on how much worse a natural disaster could get.
&mdash; Jacob R. Adkins (@JacobRAdkins3) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRAdkins3/status/1877056992998555711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another user, going by the pseudonym corp_liberation, called the betting &#8220;immoral.&#8221;
&#8220;Why do you even have such a line?? These are people&#8217;s homes and lives. This is NOT a game!&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Betting on the spread of a fire is immoral. Why do you even have such a line?? These are people&#39;s homes and lives. This is NOT a game!
&mdash; corp_liberation (@corp_liberation) <a href="https://twitter.com/corp_liberation/status/1877135639860121700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">US Government Silk Road Bitcoin Holdings Drop To 0 Amid Report DOJ Approved To Sell $6.5 Billion Worth Of Crypto</a>
Polymarket has attached a disclaimer for all its wildfire-related bets, stating that the idea was to provide factual, real-time news to those impacted by the calamity.
Note that Polymarket is not available to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41838037/will-polymarket-return-to-the-us-after-getting-trump-victory-right-ceo-says-its-part-of-the-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> U.S. residents </a>due to regulatory hurdles. The federally regulated prediction platform Kalshi didn&#8217;t have any such <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/kxfema/states-that-declare-natural-disasters">bets </a>as yet.
Bettors <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/when-will-the-palisades-fire-be-fully-contained?tid=1736409008879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saw </a>a 65% possibility of the calamity getting fully contained by Jan. 31, according to the odds for the contract titled, "When will the Palisades wildfire be fully contained?""
Why It Matters: This isn&#8217;t the first time Polymarket has been in the spotlight for its betting markets on sensitive issues. 
Last year, the platform faced criticism for facilitating bets on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. 
Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)&nbsp;co-founder Vitalik Buterin defended Polymarket, highlighting its role in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41110897/ethereum-creator-vitalik-buterin-bats-for-polymarkets-model-amid-concerns-over-betting-on-">providing accurate information and preventing misinformation</a>. 
It&#8217;s worth noting that Buterin has skin in the game, having participated in Polymarket&#8217;s $70 million funding round in May of last year.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890191/trump-themed-nfts-launch-on-bitcoin-network-for-first-timeheres-what-you-should-know">Trump-Themed NFTs Debut On Bitcoin Network — One Card Gets Listed At $1.9 Million</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Representative Image. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia

$POL

Los Angeles Wildfires Will Be Tamed By This Day, Predict Polymarket Users — Observers Raise Ethical Question

The Tender Offer is for the outstanding notes listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes" and each a "Series" of Notes), in the order of priority shown in the table below, and subject to the 2027 Notes Tender Cap set forth in the table below.
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Title of Security</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">CUSIP(1)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Issuer</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2027 Notes Tender Cap(2) (in millions)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Acceptance Priority Level(3)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Reference U.S. Treasury Security</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Early Tender Premium(4)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Fixed spread (basis points)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Bloomberg Reference Page(5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
6.375% Senior Notes due 2027
(the "2027 Notes")&#x2A;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
403949 AK6
U4322C AD5
403949 AP5
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HF Sinclair</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$399,875,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$150,000,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.625% U.S.T. due 4/15/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5.875% Senior Notes due 2026&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
403949 AF7
U4322C AB9
403949 AB6
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HF Sinclair</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$797,100,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">N/A.</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.250% U.S.T. due 12/31/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5.875% Senior Notes due 2026&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">436106AA6</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HollyFrontier</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$202,900,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">N/A.</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.250% U.S.T. due 12/31/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

DINO

Reported Earlier, HF Sinclair Upsizes Cash Tender Offer To $1.05B For Outstanding Debt Securities

NYMT

Reported Earlier, New York Mortgage Trust Prices $75M 9.125% Senior Notes Due 2030 With Nasdaq Listing Planned

Recent Highlights &amp; Accomplishments
<ul>
<li>Generated preliminary unaudited fourth quarter revenue of approximately&nbsp;$8.3 million, and preliminary unaudited full year 2024 total revenue of approximately&nbsp;$22.5 million</li>
<li>Received FDA approval for Eversense&#xAE; 365 Continuous Glucose Monitoring system and launched Eversense 365 with commercial partner, Ascensia.</li>
<li>Patient base increased 56% in 2024 over 2023 to approximately 6,000 global patients</li>
<li>Reached a milestone of over a 1,000 annual U.S. Eversense prescribers during 2024</li>
<li>Continued strong interest in Eversense 365, as evidenced by the following early U.S. launch performance indicators:
<ul>
<li>Direct to Consumer (DTC) leads have doubled in Q4 compared to the pre-launch third quarter</li>
<li>New patient shipments of approximately 600 in December were the highest monthly total in the Company's history</li>
<li>The number of patients switching to Eversense from competitive CGM's has increased 49% since Eversense 365 launch</li>
<li>118% increase in patient referrals from physicians since launch</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following recent appreciation in Company's share price, determined not to proceed with previously announced Special Meeting of stockholders to consider reverse stock split.</li>
</ul>
 &nbsp;

SENS

Reported Earlier, Senseonics Reports $22.5M Preliminary 2024 Revenue With $8.4M In Q4, 56% YoY Patient Growth, And Milestone Eversense 365 Launch Success

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar highlighted the limitations of automation in enterprise artificial intelligence, as the data analytics firm faces renewed scrutiny over its soaring valuation and recent institutional selling.
What Happened: &#8220;If all of the value is in automation, what have we been doing for the last 20 years with self-driving cars? We&#8217;ve been handling edge cases,&#8221; Sankar stated, emphasizing that automation&#8217;s effectiveness is constrained by exceptional scenarios that require human oversight.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"[With LLMs], the value is in automation, and in enterprise autonomy. Maybe you can be 50% more productive with a copilot, but [unlocking] all of the economic value requires thinking about AI as a type of labor." Watch Palantir CTO <a href="https://twitter.com/ssankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ssankar</a> explain why the most powerful… <a href="https://t.co/57bShrdI6v">pic.twitter.com/57bShrdI6v</a>
&mdash; Palantir (@PalantirTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/PalantirTech/status/1876991053842055327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The comments come as Cathie Wood&#8216;s ARK Invest sold 196,728 PLTR <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/01/42843542/palantir-stock-the-ark-is-rocking-as-palantirs-rally-hits-resistance">shares worth approximately</a> $15 million across its flagship funds, including ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>). 
The sale follows Morgan Stanley&#8216;s recent &#8220;underweight&#8221; rating and $60 price target, despite the stock&#8217;s remarkable 355% surge over the past year.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890496/cybertruck-was-my-hero-today-says-ross-gerber-after-teslas-truck-allowed-him-to-navigate-california-wildfires-in-safety">&#8216;Cybertruck Was My Hero Today,&#8217; Says Ross Gerber After Tesla&#8217;s Truck Allowed Him To Navigate California Wildfires In Safety</a>
Why It Matters: The institutional selling presents a stark contrast to CNBC host Jim Cramer&#8216;s bullish stance, who recently indicated interest in adding <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42806417/jim-cramer-works-sunday-brainstorm-on-buying-palantir-and-tesla-stock-calls-them-protective-intellectual-blankets">PLTR to his portfolio</a>. The stock has attracted increased <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42331892/trump-eyes-shyam-sankar-for-pentagon-role-while-palantir-gains-from-border-crisis-contracts-analyst-says-this-is-a-win-for-the-stock">attention amid reports</a> that Sankar is being considered for a top Pentagon research position.
Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives identifies Palantir as a leader in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42331892/trump-eyes-shyam-sankar-for-pentagon-role-while-palantir-gains-from-border-crisis-contracts-analyst-says-this-is-a-win-for-the-stock">enterprise AI transformation</a>, though government revenue growth slowed to 10% in 2023 from over 20% in 2022.
Trading at a reported 80% premium compared to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42811388/palantir-trades-in-the-red-during-monday-premarket-as-morgan-stanley-assigns-underw">high-growth software peers</a>, PLTR closed at $68.23 on Wednesday, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">analyst price targets</a> ranging widely from UBS&#8217;s $80 to Wolfe Research&#8217;s $7.50, reflecting the market&#8217;s divided outlook on the company&#8217;s valuation.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">SoftBank-Owned Arm Eyes Acquisition Of Oracle-Backed Chip Designer Ampere Computing Amid Nvidia&#8217;s Dominance: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ARKK

ARKW

PLTR

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar Challenges Automation's Potential As Selling Pressure Mounts: 'What Have We Been Doing For 20 Years?'

Avadel Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVDL#NASDAQ">AVDL</a>) slipped by 25.63% in after-hours on Wednesday after it missed the fourth quarter sales estimate by 5.12%. Still, the sales of its narcolepsy drug, LUMRYZ rose by 150% on an annual basis.
What Happened: The preliminary earnings results for the fourth quarter pegged a 150% increase in net product revenue to $50 million, as compared to $19.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. This missed the consensus analyst estimate by 5.12%, which was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVDL/earnings">expected </a>to be $52.7 million, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVDL/earnings">Benzinga</a>.
The biopharmaceutical company is focused on treating cataplexy, excessive daytime sleepiness, and other sleep disorders in adults and children above seven.
The company reported a full-year net product revenue of approximately $169 million compared to $28 million in 2023. Its cash flow from operations stood at approximately $73 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024.
Greg Divis, CEO of Avadel Pharmaceuticals, highlighted 2024 as a pivotal year, emphasizing the consistent patient adoption of LUMRYZ and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and providers regarding the life-changing benefits of its once-nightly dosing regimen.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42871340/regional-banks-can-thrive-despite-big-bank-dominance-truist-securities-highlights-three-key-paths-for-thriving-regional-banks">Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks</a>
Why It Matters: There was a 275% increase from 900 patients on LUMRYZ in 2023 to 2,500 in 2024. According to its press release, demand continued across all three patient segments in the fourth quarter, with 34% of patients being new to oxybates and 38% switching from first-generation oxybates.
The company expects the net product revenue for 2025 in the range of $240 million to $260 million, representing a 50% increase at the midpoint of guidance from 2024 and a positive cash flow of $20 million – $40 million.
Divis added that moving into 2025, the company is refining its strategy to increase LUMRYZ&#8217;s demand and aiming to drive uptake across all narcolepsy patient segments. &#8220;We&#8217;re well-positioned to lead in the sleep space and transform care for patients with sleep disorders.&#8221; he said.
Price Action: Avadel shares have fallen by 32.72% over the last six months, underperforming the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, which fell by 5.07% in the same period. Furthermore, the exchange-traded fund tracking the index, iShares Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBB#NASDAQ">IBB</a>) fell 2.9% over the last six months.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data, AVDL has a consensus price target of $20.9 per share, with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating based on the ratings of 10 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SERV/analyst-ratings">analysts</a>. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $30 issued by Oppenheimer as of Oct. 31, 2024. The lowest target price is $11 per share issued by Jefferies on Nov. 30, 2024.
The average price target between HC Wainwright &amp; Co., Needham, and Needham implies an 189.31% upside for AVDL.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SERV/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="946" height="355" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR.png" alt="" class="wp-image-725276" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR.png 946w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR-768x288.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a></li>
</ul>

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc - American Depositary Shares each representing one Ordinary Share

AVDL

Avadel Pharmaceuticals Misses Earnings Estimates But Posts 150% Sales Increase From  Narcolepsy Drug LUMRYZ

Burak brings over 27 years of extensive international experience within the finance sector. Burak started his career with Xerox where he held a number of key financial positions in the USA and the UK in addition to serving as the General Manager of Xerox Turkey. More recently Burak has held the position of Chief Financial Officer within the global Digital Transformation, IT Solutions &amp; Cybersecurity space

VEON

VEON Appoints Burak Ozer As CFO, Effective January 9, 2025

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Germany Trade Balance For November 19.7B Vs. 14.7B	Est.; 13.4B Prior

Quarterly Commentary - Preferred Stock

2 Solid Yields From Preferred Stocks For Uncertain Times

It Is The Right Time To Be A Retirement Income Investor

$75,000 Is All You Need To Be Happy

Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF declares monthly distribution of $0.1675

Year Of The Dragon: Comprehensive Review Of My 2024 Stock Picks, And Current Ratings

Why 9.2%-Yielding PFFA Beats The Competition

6%-Yielding PFF Is On Sale, But I Am Not Buying

Invest In $100,000 Financial Freedom Portfolio For Accelerated Passive Income

PFFA: The Right Moment To Lock In This 9% Monthly Dividend

AAPL

AMLP

AMZN

BIZD

BLDP

BXSL

COLD

CPRI

CTAS

DLMAF

FDUS

FVRR

GOLD

INTC

JEPI

JEPQ

KBDC

MAIN

MATW

MKTX

NVDY

PALL

PAXS

PFFR

PLCE

PLTM

PPLT

QDTE

QYLD

SCHD

SOXL

SPGI

SPYI

SRRTF

STAG

SVOL

THRM

TIXT

TQQQ

TRIP

UPWK

Press Releases

Virtus InfraCap ETFs (AMZA/PFFA/PFFR) Declare Monthly Distributions

Infrastructure Capital Advisors Declares Its Monthly Dividends: The InfraCap Small Cap Income ETF (SCAP) and InfraCap Equity Income Fund ETF (ICAP)

Infrastructure Capital Advisors Announces a Quarterly Dividend Increase: the Infracap Small Cap Income ETF (SCAP)

Infrastructure Capital Advisors Announces a Quarterly Dividend Increase for the Infracap Small Cap Income ETF (SCAP) and the Infracap Equity Income Fund ETF (ICAP)

Infrastructure Capital Announces a Quarterly Dividend Increase

AMZA

ICAP

SCAP

A high-yield dividend-paying&nbsp;exchange-traded fund (ETF) could be a valuable tool for investors seeking to build a solid portfolio that generates dividends. These ETFs offer a steady income stream, providing a cushion for living expenses and the potential for capital appreciation. Two standout ETFs currently offer high dividend yields, the potential for growth, and the ability to compound earnings, making them &quot;cash machines&quot; for investors seeking a consistent income stream.

<h2>The Preferred Stock Powerhouse</h2>

The Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFFA#NYSE">PFFA</a>) offers investors a compelling opportunity to capitalize on the income-generating potential of preferred stocks. PFFA seeks to provide income and the potential for capital appreciation by tracking an index of preferred stocks issued by U.S. companies.

As a preferred stock ETF, PFFA provides investors with a high level of dividend income. Its dividend yield is 8.58%, making it an attractive option for investors seeking a substantial and reliable income stream, especially those approaching retirement. This high yield can help retirees and investors supplement their savings and maintain their desired lifestyles.

PFFA employs a robust diversification strategy to mitigate risk, investing in a portfolio of 217 preferred stocks. This minimizes the impact of any company&#39;s performance, ensuring a more stable and resilient portfolio, which is essential for long-term investors.

PFFA also benefits from the inherent stability of preferred stocks. These securities generally exhibit lower volatility than common stocks, providing a sense of security for investors, particularly during market fluctuations. This stability makes them an attractive addition to your portfolio, particularly for investors seeking to preserve capital and maintain their income stream.

<h2>The Power of Utilities and Fixed Income</h2>

The PIMCO Corporate &amp; Income Opportunity Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTY#NYSE">PTY</a>) is a closed-ended fixed-income mutual fund that primarily invests in corporate debt obligations. It offers exposure to a diverse range of fixed-income investments, including those issued by utility companies. PTY manages around $2 billion in assets, demonstrating its scale and potential for diversification within its portfolio.

PTY&#39;s high dividend yield of 9.75% provides a steady and reliable income stream for investors. This yield surpasses the returns of many other fixed-income investments, making it a compelling option for those seeking to generate income. Moreover, PTY&#39;s portfolio offers not just income, but also potential for growth, as the fund benefits from diversified investments across many sectors.&nbsp;

PTY&#39;s bond portfolio can also serve as a hedge against inflation. As inflation rises, interest rates typically follow suit, which can benefit bond investments.

Furthermore, PTY&#39;s focus on corporate debt provides diversification, mitigating risk, and enhancing portfolio stability. It also boasts high liquidity, with an average daily trading volume of 593,646 shares, ensuring investors can easily buy or sell shares.

<h2>PFFA and PTY: Cash Machines for Your Portfolio</h2>

The consistent income potential PFFA and PTY offer makes them particularly valuable for retirees and long-term investors. The ETF&#39;s high dividend yields surpass those of traditional fixed-income investments like bonds and CDs, providing a powerful income generation alternative.

These ETFs act as reliable &quot;cash machines&quot; for investors, delivering a steady and predictable stream of income that can be used as retirement income or reinvested for compounded growth. For example, a $100,000 investment in PFFA could generate approximately $8,580 in annual income, while a similar investment in PTY could yield roughly $9,730. This consistent cash flow can help retirees cover essential expenses such as healthcare, travel, or entertainment, providing financial security and peace of mind.

<h2>A Balanced Perspective</h2>

While PFFA and PTY offer compelling opportunities for income generation and potential growth, investors must recognize that preferred stocks and fixed-income investments carry inherent risks.

For instance, preferred stocks, while often less volatile than common stocks, can still experience price fluctuations, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty. Both PFFA and PTY are also susceptible to interest rate sensitivity. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities, including those held by PTY, can decline, potentially leading to capital losses.

Understanding the concept of credit risk is crucial, as it applies mainly to PTY&#39;s investment in corporate debt obligations. Credit risk arises from the possibility that a borrower, such as a company, may default on debt payments. This risk can significantly impact PTY&#39;s performance, potentially reducing its income stream and capital appreciation.

<h2>Harnessing the Power of High-Yield ETFs</h2>

Investors should constantly seek ways to maximize their income potential while building a portfolio that works for them. High-yield ETFs offer a compelling solution. They provide the potential for income generation and capital appreciation, creating a powerful engine for building wealth and achieving financial goals.

While these ETFs present attractive opportunities, it&#39;s crucial to remember that no investment is without risk. Thorough research, understanding the intricacies of different asset classes, and assessing your risk tolerance are essential steps before making investment decisions. By carefully considering your financial objectives and seeking guidance from a qualified professional, you can harness the power of high-yield ETFs to build a portfolio that aligns with your unique needs and aspirations. Whether you aim to supplement your current income, build a nest egg for the future, or simply generate a steady stream of returns, these ETFs offer a valuable tool for achieving financial success.

The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/two-high-yield-etf-cash-machines-for-your-retirement-portfolio/">Two High-Yield ETF Cash Machines for Your Retirement Portfolio</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Comments

Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF

News

Latest news for Virtus InfraCap U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (ARCA:PFFA)

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Popular Channels

Tools & Features

Partners & Contributors

About Benzinga