Qualcomm Option Alert: Fri $170 Calls at the Ask: 1598 vs 15219 OI

Qualcomm Option Alert: Fri $170 Calls at the Ask: 1598 @ $3.5 vs 15219 OI; Ref=$172.97

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (3) near the Bid: 377 vs 7072 OI

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (3) near the Bid: 377 @ $21.151 vs 7072 OI; Ref=$174.93

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (6) near the Bid: 407 vs 7859 OI

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (6) near the Bid: 407 @ $19.752 vs 7859 OI; Ref=$171.5

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (4) near the Bid: 419 vs 8260 OI

Qualcomm Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $210 Calls Sweep (4) near the Bid: 419 @ $20.133 vs 8260 OI; Ref=$172.065

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) Stock

Qualcomm

Qualcomm develops and licenses wireless technology and designs chips for smartphones. The company's key patents revolve around CDMA and OFDMA technologies, which are standards in wireless communications that are the backbone of all 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Qualcomm's IP is licensed by virtually all wireless device makers. The firm is also the world's largest wireless chip vendor, supplying nearly every premier handset maker with leading-edge processors. Qualcomm also sells RF-front end modules into smartphones, as well as chips into automotive and Internet of Things markets.

Qualcomm's Interest In Taking Over Intel Wanes Due To 'Complexities' Involved: Report

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Apple&#39;s move to develop its own modem chips has investors closely watching Qualcomm in the semiconductor industry. ETFs with exposure to Qualcomm are noteworthy for tracking sector developments.

Apple&#39;s In-House Modem Chip Sparks Qualcomm Concerns: 3 ETFs With Key Exposure

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Apple is reportedly testing its second-generation C2 modem, marking a significant step in its effort to develop in-house wireless technology and reduce reliance on Qualcomm.

Leaker Claims Apple&#39;s Next-Gen C2 Modem Is Already In Testing— Here&#39;s What It Means For iPhone 5G Connectivity

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Deepwater Management&#39;s Gene Munster anticipates a revenue boost for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) in FY25, driven by the newly launched iPhone 16e.

Apple&#39;s iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook&#39;s Company, Says Top Analyst

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Shares of companies in the broader technology sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

Shares of semiconductor companies are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

With Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) gradually shifting to its own chips, investors are closely monitoring Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) position in the semiconductor industry. Several ETFs have significant exposure to Qualcomm, making them noteworthy for those tracking developments in the sector:
VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMHX#NASDAQ">SMHX</a>): This ETF provides exposure to major fabless semiconductor firms that are key players in wireless communication and AI-driven processing. The fund holds 5.35% of its assets in Qualcomm currently.
iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>): One of the most popular semiconductor ETFs, SOXX holds a diversified portfolio of leading chipmakers, including Qualcomm, in which it currently invests 6.45% of its assets.
Invesco Semiconductors ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSI#NYSE">PSI</a>): This ETF invests in semiconductor firms with strong growth potential. Qualcomm is one of its top three holdings, with 5.18% weightage.
Why is the exposure to Qualcomm the talk of town right now? Let&#8217;s see.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is Qualcomm About To Lose A Key Customer?</h3>
Apple has leapt toward self-reliance with the introduction of its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43820197/apple-unveils-iphone-16e-with-a18-chip-ai-features-599-price-tag"> first custom-designed modem chip</a>. Revealed on Feb. 19, this chip will power the newly launched iPhone 16e, a $599 model in Apple&#8217;s latest smartphone lineup. This move could signal a major shift in Apple&#8217;s relationship with Qualcomm, its long-time modem supplier.
For years, Apple has depended on Qualcomm for modem chips that connect iPhones to wireless networks. Qualcomm also supplies modems for Android smartphones and Windows laptops, making it a dominant player in the industry. However, Apple has been working on reducing its dependence on third-party suppliers and took a major leap with the development of the C1 subsystem—a collection of components that now includes Apple&#8217;s in-house modem chip.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43840286/apples-iphone-16e-to-drive-revenue-growth-for-tim-cooks-company-says-top-analyst">Apple&#8217;s iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook&#8217;s Company, Says Top Analyst</a>
Creating a modem chip isn't easy. It must be compatible with networks worldwide and work seamlessly with hundreds of carriers. Only a handful of companies, including Samsung, MediaTek, and Huawei, have successfully developed their own modem chips.
Apple itself struggled in the past to move away from Qualcomm. It even had a legal battle with the chip giant before settling in 2019 and signing new supply agreements. But now, Apple believes it has cracked the code with its advanced C1 chip, which it plans to refine and expand across its devices in the coming years.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next For Qualcomm?</h3>
Qualcomm faces a significant challenge as Apple moves away from its modem business. The transition could result in a revenue hit to Qualcomm's annual revenue. Management at Qualcomm has already <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/qualcomm-inks-deal-with-apple-to-supply-iphone-chips-through-2026-4d7890a4">projected </a>that it will supply only 20% of Apple&#8217;s modem chips by 2026, according to a September 2023 Wall Street Journal report.
Qualcomm has been preparing for Apple's departure for years, but it still relies on the iPhone maker for over 10% of its total revenue, according to its annual filing for 2024.
With Apple gradually shifting to its own chips, Qualcomm could eventually lose one of its biggest customers. While Apple hasn't given a timeline for a complete transition, this development raises concerns for Qualcomm's future revenue from iPhone modems.
On the flip side, it is still too early to say whether Apple&#8217;s modem chip is successful. Let&#8217;s say if the phone does not perform as well as iPhones with Qualcomm chips, it will bolster investors&#8217; faith in Qualcomm. For now, investors can only keep an eye on the developments and tap ETFs carrying semiconductor companies including Qualcomm.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Apple's In-House Modem Chip Sparks Qualcomm Concerns: 3 ETFs With Key Exposure

<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-versus-qualcomm-a-split-looms-for-techs-rockiest-marriage" title="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-versus-qualcomm-a-split-looms-for-techs-rockiest-marriage">https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-versus-qualcomm-a-split-looms-for-techs-rockiest-marriage</a>

'Apple Plans To Replace Qualcomm Modems In The Rest Of Its iPhones With Apple Modems; Apple Has Been Quietly Working On A Plan That Could Potentially Whittle Down The Patent Fees It Needs To Pay Qualcomm' - The Information

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly testing its second-generation C2 modem for upcoming iPhone models.
What Happened: A private X, formerly Twitter, account with a track record of accurate Apple leaks claims that the company is already testing the C2 modem, internally identified as "C4020," <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/20/apple-already-testing-a-c2-modem/">reported</a> MacRumors.
Apple&#8217;s next-generation modem is expected to deliver improved 5G connectivity with enhanced speed and reliability while also being more energy efficient.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43874069/meta-slashes-employee-stock-awards-by-10-as-zuckerberg-pours-up-to-65-billion-into-ai-race-against-openai-alphabet-and-amazon-report">Meta Stock Has Soared Almost 50% Over A Year But Now The Company Is Slashing Staff Stock Awards As It Braces To Face OpenAI, Amazon And Others In AI Race</a>
The latest rumor signals a major step in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42376583/how-apples-billion-dollar-modem-gamble-could-redefine-the-future-of-macs-headsets-and-foldable-iphones-report">Apple's effort to move away</a> from Qualcomm Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) chips and improve in-house wireless technology. Earlier reports suggested that Apple&#8217;s first modem, C1, might be <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43774315/apples-iphone-se-4-to-feature-tsmc-made-in-house-5g-modembut-it-may-lag-behind-qualcomms-snapdragon-x75">slower than Qualcomm&#8217;s</a> Snapdragon X75 modem.
Why It Matters: The current <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43820197/apple-unveils-iphone-16e-with-a18-chip-ai-features-599-price-tag">C1 modem in the</a> iPhone 16e is already noted for its power efficiency, contributing to the longest battery life among 6.1-inch iPhones.
Apple's chipmaking chief, Johny Srouji, mentioned that the C1 modem is just the beginning, with the C2 modem marking the next phase.
Bloomberg's columnist Mark Gurman previously highlighted the significance of Apple's first in-house modem, calling it a "monumental technical achievement" after a seven-year, multi-billion-dollar effort.
However, Gurman noted that Apple gave it minimal attention in its official announcements, which he believes was intentional.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The C1 Apple modem is a monumental technical achievement. A several billion dollar effort that has been in the works for 7 years. In the end it gets two sentences in the press release and 15 seconds in the announcement video. Apple is clearly downplaying this intentionally.
&mdash; Mark Gurman (@markgurman) <a href="https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1892255032344519066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also weighed in, stating that all iPhone 17 models set to launch in late 2025 will feature Apple's own Wi-Fi chips, a move aimed at reducing reliance on Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>). He also said that only the slim iPhone 17 model is expected to adopt Apple's C1 modem.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Following Qualcomm, Broadcom&#39;s Wi-Fi chips will also be replaced by Apple&#39;s in-house chips at a faster pace. My latest industry survey indicates that all new 2H25 iPhone 17 models will feature Apple&#39;s in-house Wi-Fi chips (vs. only the slim iPhone 17 will adopt Apple&#39;s C1 modem…
&mdash; 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1892605046078259711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Flighty CEO Ryan Jones has questioned whether the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e can match expectations.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Actually important about iPhone 16e: &#8211; increase from $429 → $599 is a lot. 8GB and A18 alone don't justify. This is not really a typical "SE" &#8211; Apple's C1 modem, can it hold up? &#8211; Why no MagSafe? kneecapping for 16 sales and repair cost? &#8211; "2-in-1 camera" is brilliant…
&mdash; Ryan Jones (@rjonesy) <a href="https://twitter.com/rjonesy/status/1892743722145562913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock closed at $245.83 on Thursday, rising 0.39% for the day. However, in after-hours trading, it edged down 0.094% to $245.60, 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" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42053396/why-chinese-tech-giants-alibaba-bytedance-and-meituan-are-expanding-their-ai-footprints-in-silicon-valley-amid-us-efforts-to-block-progress?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China&#8217;s Tech Giants Alibaba, ByteDance, And Meituan Are Expanding Their Silicon Valley AI Footprints Amid US Efforts To Block Progress: Here&#8217;s Why</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Leaker Claims Apple's Next-Gen C2 Modem Is Already In Testing— Here's What It Means For iPhone 5G Connectivity

<a href="https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1892605046078259711" title="https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1892605046078259711">https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1892605046078259711</a>

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Says "Following Qualcomm, Broadcom's Wi-Fi chips will also be replaced by Apple's in-house chips at a faster pace. My latest industry survey indicates that all new 2H25 iPhone 17 models will feature Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chips (vs. only the slim iPhone 17 will adopt Apple's C1 modem chip). Beyond cost reduction, the switch to in-house Wi-Fi chips will enhance connectivity across Apple devices."

Deepwater Management's Gene Munster anticipates a revenue boost for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in FY25, driven by the newly launched iPhone 16e.
What Happened: On Wednesday, Munster posted his insights on Apple&#8217;s latest offering, iPhone 16e on X. He highlighted three key takeaways from the new model, which he believes will contribute to an increase&nbsp;in iPhone revenue for FY25.
According to Munster, the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43820197/apple-unveils-iphone-16e-with-a18-chip-ai-features-599-price-tag"> iPhone 16e&#8217;s starting price of&nbsp;$599</a>, is higher than the iPhone SE&#8217;s launch price at $429 but lower than the iPhone 16 at $799. This pricing strategy positions the 16e as the most affordable&nbsp;model that supports Apple&nbsp;Intelligence.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The iPhone 16e lays the groundwork for upside in iPhone revenue for FY25. Three takeaways from the new <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> iPhone 16e: 1. It will run Apple Intelligence at a starting price of $599—higher than the $429 launch price of the last iPhone SE but lower than the $799 entry point for…
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1892262595433742395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Munster also predicts that the 16e will account for approximately 10% of Apple&#8217;s revenue, surpassing the SE&#8217;s current 7% contribution. He suggests that this incremental revenue could exceed the current Wall Street expectation of 1% iPhone&nbsp;growth in FY25. Muster anticipates a growth above 3% being more likely.
Lastly, Munster notes that the 16e will be the first iPhone model to feature Apple&#8217;s own cellular modem chip, a move that allows it to step away from Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>). Munster also expects this chip to be a part of iPhone 17 due this fall. Overall, he anticipates these developments to&nbsp;slightly enhance Apple&#8217;s gross margins in&nbsp;FY26.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43719655/arm-takes-on-its-own-customers-poaches-talent-competes-with-qualcomm-and-nvidia-for-ai-and-data-center-chip-deals-report">Arm Takes On Its Own Customers — Poaches Talent, Competes With Qualcomm And Nvidia For AI And Data Center Chip Deals: Report</a>
Why It Matters: Munster&#8217;s predictions come in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43683976/apple-intelligence-rollout-in-china-and-europe-to-boost-iphone-sales-says-deepwaters-gene-munster">recent reports</a>&nbsp;suggesting that Apple&#8217;s introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) features in China, in collaboration with Alibaba Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), could stimulate iPhone sales growth in the region. This move is seen as a potential rebound strategy following a challenging period of declining sales in China, largely attributed to the absence of AI capabilities on iPhones in the region.
While the anticipated introduction of Apple Intelligence in China is expected to strengthen the case for a rebound in iPhone sales, Munster had previously <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43683976/apple-intelligence-rollout-in-china-and-europe-to-boost-iphone-sales-says-deepwaters-gene-munster">stated that the 10% growth expectation for iPhone </a>for next year could be too aspirational.
Meanwhile, analyst Wamsi Mohan from the Bank of America predicts that President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs would lead to an increase in iPhone prices impacting Tim Cook-led company&#8217;s sales volume and earnings in 2026.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43802471/apples-leaked-renders-show-iphone-17-air-and-pro-getting-unique-camera-islands-but-base-models-looks-may-disappoint-some">Apple&#8217;s Leaked Renders Show iPhone 17 Air And Pro Getting Unique Camera Islands —But Base Model&#8217;s Looks May Disappoint Some</a>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple's iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook's Company, Says Top Analyst

Investors are scrambling to assess the potential fallout of yet <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">another tectonic trade decision</a>. 
What Happened: President Donald Trump plans to impose a 25% levy on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43805852/trump-shakes-global-trade-with-25-auto-chip-and-pharma-tariffs-announcement-asian-stocks-pare-their-five-day-rally">auto, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical imports</a>,
This move could have far-reaching consequences for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs with heavy exposure to these sectors</a>, particularly those tracking automakers, chipmakers, and biotech firms.
Trump's protectionist stance triggered an immediate market response across the global markets. Asian stocks retreated after a five-day rally, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipping, particularly affecting Japanese automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43795579/warren-buffett-unfazed-by-trumps-tariff-threats-oracle-of-omaha-bets-on-mexico-beer">Warren Buffett Unfazed By Trump&#8217;s Tariff Threats: Oracle Of Omaha Bets On Mexico, Beer</a>
Automakers: The U.S. imported around 8 million passenger cars and light trucks last year, comprising 50% of total vehicle sales, according to a report by Wall Street Journal. A 25% tariff would increase vehicle prices, impact supply chains, and hurt companies dependent on overseas manufacturing. 
Here are a few ETFs likely to take a hit:
<ul>
<li>Global X Autonomous &amp; Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRIV#NASDAQ">DRIV</a>): Fairly exposed to Toyota, Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), and Ford (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), this fund could face turbulence as trade tensions mount.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CARZ#NASDAQ">CARZ</a>): Tracks major global automakers, including BMW, Honda, and General Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), which rely on imported parts. The ETF also has significant exposure to Toyota and Tesla and allocates 46% of its assets to overseas stocks. That places it in a precarious position amid escalating tariff situations.</li>
</ul>
Chips: Trump also declared that sectoral tariffs on semiconductors would start at "25% or higher", escalating further over time. This comes as the U.S. considers a 100% tariff on Taiwanese semiconductors, an industry heavily reliant on TSMC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).
<ul>
<li>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) – With Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), and Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) among its top holdings, this fund is exposed to volatility stemming from supply chain disruptions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) – Heavily weighted towards TSMC, Intel (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), making it vulnerable to any tariff escalation.</li>
</ul>
Pharma: The pharmaceutical sector is also caught in the crosshairs, with Trump hinting at escalating tariffs beyond 25% over the year. This could upend drug pricing, R&amp;D costs, and supply chain dynamics for major biopharma companies.
<ul>
<li>iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>): Tracks major drugmakers like Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), all of which could see higher costs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Biotech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XBI#NYSE">XBI</a>): While biotech firms often have global R&amp;D operations, increased tariffs could disrupt access to imported drug components.</li>
</ul>
Why It Matters: Trump has long voiced concerns over U.S. automotive exports being treated unfairly abroad. In his first term, he threatened a similar 25% car tariff but ultimately backed down.
For ETF investors, volatility is back on the table. Those holding funds exposed to autos, chips, and pharmaceuticals must brace for a bumpy ride. While Trump believes the move will bring manufacturing back home, the short-term pain could be severe.
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. companies may receive a phase-in period, with tariffs increasing over the course of the year.
What's Next: Markets will be watching closely as April 2 (when auto tariffs are expected to kick in) approaches. Any delays or modifications to the tariff plan could shift investor sentiment. 
For now, ETF traders should keep an eye on sectoral rotation, hedge exposure where necessary, and prepare for the potential impact of another round of trade wars.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/02/43794873/vanguard-overtakes-state-street-as-top-etf-provider-3-funds-in-focus">Vanguard Overtakes State Street As Top ETF Provider: 3 Funds In Focus</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

CARZ

DRIV

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

TSLA

Trade War Redux: These ETFs Due For Bumpy Ride Thanks To Trump Tariffs On Auto, Pharma, Chip Imports

Shares of Cadence Design Systems Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>) were trading lower on Wednesday, despite the company reporting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43799268/cadence-design-systems-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-very-well-positioned-to-benefit-from-ai-shares-slide-on-soft-guidance">upbeat fourth-quarter results</a>.
The results came in amid an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">exciting earnings season</a>. Here are some key analyst takeaways.
Piper Sandler On Cadence Design Systems
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/61387715a3c6b90001ec2bda/clarke-jeffries">Analyst Clarke Jeffries</a> reaffirmed an Overweight rating, while raising the price target from $318 to $328.
Cadence Design Systems reported fourth-quarter revenues at $1.356 billion, representing 27% year-on-year growth and beating the midpoint of guidance, Jeffries said in a note. The company's non-GAAP operating margins of 46.0% and earnings of $1.88 per share were also higher than the guidance midpoints, he added.
Cadence Design Systems ended 2024 with a record backlog of $6.8 billion, "driven by broad-based strength across all businesses and AI tailwinds to the product portfolio," the analyst wrote. While the 2025 revenue guidance of $5.180 billion missed consensus of $5.23 billion, the revenue assumptions "could rise as the year progresses," he further stated.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Stifel On Cadence Design Systems
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58ad935ab85e930001f97192/ruben-roy">Analyst Ruben Roy</a> reiterated a Buy rating and price target of $350.
Cadence Design Systems delivered fourth-quarter results that were "above consensus across all key metrics," Roy said. Management expects no growth in China revenue in 2025 "due to a lack of visibility into the macro and geopolitical environment," he added.
The midpoints of their full-year sales and adjusted earnings guidance of $5.18 billion and $6.70 per share came below consensus estimates of $5.23 billion and $6.80 per share, respectively, the analyst stated. Cadence Design Systems typically begins the year with a conservative guidance and may raise it as the year progresses, given "continued robust design activity across broad markets and recent hardware momentum, coupled with record backlog," he further wrote.
Needham On Cadence Design Systems
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/60ed6112b473c600014bf1c9/charles-shi">Analyst Charles Shi</a> maintained a Buy rating and price target of $325.
Cadence Design Systems reported record backlogs of $6.8 billion, implying more than $2.5 billion of net bookings in the fourth quarter, Shi said. "Management partly attributed the bookings strength to a few large deals," with companies like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), he added. &nbsp;
"The average contract duration is extended to the high end of the historical range of 2.4 to 2.6 years, likely due to the large contracts skewing the average," the analyst wrote. Management expects bookings activity to decelerate and backlogs to decline in the first half of 2025 before renewals in the back half of the year, he further stated.
CDNS Price Action: Shares of Cadence Design Systems were down 11.6% to $265.45 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43786111/buffett-buys-more-occidental-petroleum-sticking-to-his-playbook">Nvidia And 5 Other Stocks Are Analyst&#8217;s Top Semiconductor Picks For 2025, Sees 2 AI Trends</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Price Target

Reiteration

Movers

CDNS

Cadence Design Stock Drops Despite Strong Q4, Analysts See Upside

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with QCOM, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 26 uncommon options trades for Qualcomm.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 42% bullish and 46%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 11 are puts, for a total amount of $705,185, and 15 are calls, for a total amount of $1,786,635.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $130.0 to $220.0 for Qualcomm during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Qualcomm's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Qualcomm's whale trades within a strike price range from $130.0 to $220.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Qualcomm Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739896250_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>QCOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$21.0</td>
<td>$19.55</td>
<td>$19.6</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$803.9K</td>
<td>7.8K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$28.0</td>
<td>$28.0</td>
<td>$28.0</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$338.8K</td>
<td>42</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$120.8K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$103.8K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$15.8</td>
<td>$15.65</td>
<td>$15.8</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$94.8K</td>
<td>419</td>
<td align="right">60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Qualcomm</h3>
Qualcomm develops and licenses wireless technology and designs chips for smartphones. The company's key patents revolve around CDMA and OFDMA technologies, which are standards in wireless communications that are the backbone of all 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. Qualcomm's IP is licensed by virtually all wireless device makers. The firm is also the world's largest wireless chip vendor, supplying nearly every premier handset maker with leading-edge processors. Qualcomm also sells RF-front end modules into smartphones, as well as chips into automotive and Internet of Things markets.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Qualcomm, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Qualcomm Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 1,582,794, the price of QCOM is up by 0.41%, reaching $172.94.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 71 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Qualcomm</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 $203.8.
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; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Piper Sandler continues to hold a Overweight rating for Qualcomm, targeting a price of $190. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their In-Line rating on Qualcomm, maintaining a target price of $179. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Rosenblatt persists with their Buy rating on Qualcomm, maintaining a target price of $250. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has revised its rating downward to Neutral, adjusting the price target to $160. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Benchmark lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $240.
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 Qualcomm, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

A Closer Look at Qualcomm's Options Market Dynamics

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) reportedly plans to introduce its first in-house 5G modem, manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43550876/iphone-se-could-be-unveiled-as-early-as-next-week-apples-budget-model-to-feature-iphone-14-design-and-ai-features">in the upcoming</a> iPhone SE 4 — but early reports suggest it may not match the performance of Qualcomm Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) Snapdragon X75.
What Happened: The iPhone SE 4, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43720367/tim-cook-confirms-new-apple-product-launch-next-week-elon-musk-sets-off-buzz-by-sharing-is-it-the-iphone-se-4">expected to be unveiled</a> on Feb. 19, marks Apple&#8217;s transition away from Qualcomm&#8217;s cellular modems. Apple is reportedly using its self-developed 5G modem, produced by TSMC.
According to a new <a href="https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20250214/131031632/1">report</a> from South Korea, Apple&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42376583/how-apples-billion-dollar-modem-gamble-could-redefine-the-future-of-macs-headsets-and-foldable-iphones-report">first-generation modem</a> will lack mmWave 5G support, a feature that enables ultra-fast speeds in dense urban areas.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43613962/apples-super-bowl-lix-strategy-was-discretely-genius-says-youtuber-nikias-molinaheres-how-it-stole-the-spotlight-without-selling-a-single-product" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's Super Bowl LIX Strategy ‘Discretely Genius,' Says YouTuber Nikias Molina—Here's How Cupertino Stole The Spotlight Without Pushing An iPhone In Your Face</a>
The modem may offer fewer carrier aggregation features, potentially resulting in slower upload and download speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, which has Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75.
Apple's modem is also expected to support Dual Sim Dual Standby and be deeply integrated with its custom-designed processors.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: According to available reports and rumors, the iPhone SE 4 will have a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, similar to the iPhone 14. It may also feature the A18 chip with 8GB of RAM from the iPhone 16 series and support Apple Intelligence.
Camera upgrades include a 48MP rear and 12MP front camera from the iPhone 15, but the ultra-wide lens may be removed.&nbsp;
With new features and design changes, a price increase is possible. The iPhone SE 4 could go on sale on Feb. 28.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s shares inched up 0.02% in after-hours trading, reaching $244.64, per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43485288/apple-raises-monthly-applecare-prices-for-all-iphones-and-you-can-no-longer-buy-the-warranty-upfront-in-stores" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Raises Monthly AppleCare+ Prices For All iPhones— And You Can No Longer Buy The Warranty Upfront In Stores</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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Apple's iPhone SE 4 To Feature TSMC's In-House 5G Modem, But It May Lag Behind Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75

In a recent shift of investment strategy,&nbsp;David Tepper&#8216;s hedge fund,&nbsp;Appaloosa LP, has made significant alterations to its portfolio. 
What Happened: The firm&#8217;s latest 13F filing reveals a reduction in semiconductor holdings, while stakes in other tech stocks, including&nbsp;Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and the&nbsp;ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), have been increased.
Appaloosa LP, during&nbsp;the fourth quarter of 2023,&nbsp;purchased&nbsp;1.3 million shares in Oracle&nbsp;Corp worth approximately&nbsp;$140 million and a call&nbsp;option for nearly&nbsp;2.6 million shares of the&nbsp;ARK Innovation ETF valued at over $133 million. The hedge fund also established&nbsp;new positions in FMC Corp.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FMC#NYSE">FMC</a>) and General Motors Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>).
Investments were also made&nbsp;in the home improvement, construction,&nbsp;and building materials sectors, with the acquisition of shares in firms such as Masco Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAS#NYSE">MAS</a>), Mohawk Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MHK#NYSE">MHK</a>), and Owens Corning (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OC#NYSE">OC</a>).
According to a report <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/tepper-appaloosa-13f-q4-2023-8580346">by </a>Investopedia, Appaloosa reduced its positions in&nbsp;several tech firms, including Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>),&nbsp;Alphabet Class C stock (GOOG),&nbsp;Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), Uber Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>), and&nbsp;Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).&nbsp;The largest sell-off involved&nbsp;nearly 1.7 million shares of&nbsp;Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43746268/david-tepper-rausing-family-boost-nvidia-holdings-ahead-of-stock-volatility">David Tepper, Rausing Family Boost Nvidia Holdings Ahead Of Stock Volatility</a>
Outside of tech, the fund sold off shares in KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEKE#NYSE">BEKE</a>), Macy&#8217;s Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/M#NYSE">M</a>), and PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>). On the flip side, Appaloosa added to its existing positions in Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>), MPLX LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPLX#NYSE">MPLX</a>), Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
The hedge fund also&nbsp;exited two positions entirely in&nbsp;the fourth quarter, selling off&nbsp;shares of Arista Networks (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>)&nbsp;and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>).
Why It Matters: Appaloosa&#8217;s portfolio reshuffle indicates a strategic shift towards diversification. The reduction in semiconductor holdings comes amidst a global chip shortage, potentially signaling a cautious approach. 
The increased stakes in other tech stocks and the home improvement sector suggest a focus on industries that have shown resilience during the pandemic. The fund&#8217;s&nbsp;new positions in FMC Corp.&nbsp;and General Motors Co. indicate a bet on the agrochemical and automotive industries, respectively. 
The sell-offs, on the other hand, might reflect an attempt to mitigate risks associated with specific stocks or sectors.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/25/02/43740996/palo-alto-analysts-optimistic-on-revenue-growth-expanding-market-share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palo Alto Analysts Optimistic On Revenue Growth, Expanding Market Share</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

AMZN

ARKK

BEKE

MPLX

MSFT

ORCL

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

UBER

David Tepper's Appaloosa Revamps Portfolio, Cuts Down On Semiconductor Stocks

<a href="https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1890443603350348215" title="https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1890443603350348215">https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1890443603350348215</a>

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Posts On X "iPhone SE4 is expected to ship around 12M/10M units in 1H25/2H25, performing slightly better than previous SE models (typically shipped near 20M units annually after launch). Not only does this help smooth out the usual seasonal dip in shipments, but it also boosts the adoption of Apple Intelligence devices. One key feature worth noting is Apple's in-house modem. Once the model launches, Qualcomm will look into its modem patents...."

JX Advanced Metals, a subsidiary of oil titan Eneos, is planning to raise an estimated ¥460 billion ($3 billion) through an initial public offering (IPO). This IPO is anticipated to be the largest in Japan since 2018.
What Happened: The firm has proposed a tentative price of ¥862 ($5.65) per share, as per a submission to the Finance Ministry. The final price will be determined on March 10, with JX Advanced Metals slated for its Tokyo Stock Exchange listing on March 19, <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/02/14/companies/jx-advanced-metals-ipo/">reported</a> The Japan Times on Friday.
If the IPO goes as planned, it will outshine last year&#8217;s significant IPO of subway operator&nbsp;Tokyo Metro and will be the most significant since SoftBank&#8216;s listing in December 2018.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/43690698/broadcom-stock-why-the-upside-is-too-good-to-ignore">Broadcom Stock: Why the Upside Is Too Good to Ignore</a>
Why It Matters: The move by JX Advanced Metals comes at a time when the semiconductor industry is under pressure. JX holds approximately 60% of the global market share for sputtering target materials, critical for semiconductor circuitry. Thus, the IPO will also serve as an indicator of global demand for chips, a crucial element in the rapidly advancing AI sector. 
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential tariffs of up to 100% on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43685791/taiwan-semiconductor-could-be-the-lifeline-intel-needs-as-rumors-swirl-of-a-us-backed-joint-venture">semiconductor exports from Taiwan to the U.S</a>., aiming to incentivize chip manufacturers to relocate their production facilities to the United States. However, Bob O'Donnell, chief analyst and founder of TECHnalysis Research told the Central News Agency&nbsp;that economic sanctions won't instantly enhance chip manufacturing in the U.S., as constructing a chip fabrication facility takes billions of dollars and several years to complete. "It will have a huge negative impact on every tech-related industry," cautioned O'Donnell.
Meanwhile, a report by Reuters today suggests that The White House is looking to revise U.S. CHIPS and Science Act awards and has indicated potential delays in upcoming semiconductor funding distributions. The event is likely to have a major impact on the operations of U.S. chip makers like Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), and Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>).
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) gained over 6% over the past year. 
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43719655/arm-takes-on-its-own-customers-poaches-talent-competes-with-qualcomm-and-nvidia-for-ai-and-data-center-chip-deals-report">Arm Takes On Its Own Customers — Poaches Talent, Competes With Qualcomm And Nvidia For AI And Data Center Chip Deals: 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.

General

Major Japanese Chip Material Supplier Eyes Record-Breaking $3 Billion IPO—Japan's Largest Since SoftBank's 2018 Debut

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chip-stocks">British chip designer</a> Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) is reportedly entering the chip sales market, directly competing with its own clients, including Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), for AI and data center chip deals.
What Happened: Arm, traditionally known for licensing its intellectual property to tech giants like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Nvidia, is now looking to diversify its revenue streams by potentially selling its own chips.
Arm has been actively hiring executives from its licensees to support this new venture, reported Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
This strategic pivot could disrupt the industry, as Arm has traditionally been viewed as a neutral entity. The company&#8217;s legal battle with Qualcomm over licensing rates, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42646386/qualcomm-scores-big-in-arm-lawsuit-will-bearish-trends-back-down">which Arm lost</a>, underscores the growing tensions, the report noted.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42966025/softbank-backed-arm-plans-major-price-hike-apple-qualcomm-supplier-explores-chip-development">SoftBank-Backed Arm Plans Major Price Hike: Apple, Qualcomm Supplier Explores Chip Development</a>
Arm could also be positioning itself as a competitor to Nvidia, according to JP Morgan analyst Harlan Sur. In a research note published Thursday, Sur mentioned that Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) has secured a contract with Arm and its parent company SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (SFTBY).
The deal involves developing a specialized AI chip designed to power SoftBank's data centers in Japan, potentially generating $30 billion in revenue.
Why It Matters: Arm is reportedly in competition with Qualcomm to supply data center CPUs to Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) (META.O). Earlier in the day it was reported that Arm has already <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43710498/arm-stock-rises-as-meta-becomes-first-customer-for-its-new-in-house-chip">secured a portion of this business</a>, although discussions between Meta and Qualcomm are still ongoing.
Arm&#8217;s stock has experienced a remarkable 155% surge since its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43676475/softbank-backed-arm-holdings-155-post-ipo-surge-bolstered-by-ai-growth-and-smartphone-integration">September 2023 IPO</a>, driven by AI growth and smartphone integration.
Earlier this month, Arm also confirmed its central role in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43521100/arm-confirms-central-role-in-100-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-project-with-openai-oracle">$100 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project</a> with OpenAI and Oracle.
Price Action: Arm&#8217;s shares rose 0.1% in after-hours trading, hitting $165. Earlier on Thursday, the stock closed at $164.83, marking a 6.06% gain, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42965859/ray-dalio-warns-us-could-go-broke-as-debt-soars-urges-action-to-avert-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ray Dalio Warns US Could ‘Go Broke' As Debt Soars, Urges Action To Avert Crisis</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

SFTBF

Arm Takes On Its Own Customers — Poaches Talent, Competes With Qualcomm And Nvidia For AI And Data Center Chip Deals: Report

GraniteShares has launched three new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">leveraged single-stock ETFs</a> that provide amplified exposure to Dell Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>), Intel (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>). The latest additions, revealed on Feb. 13, further expand the firm's rapidly growing suite of leveraged and short ETFs, bringing its total offerings to 23.
The newly launched leveraged single-stock ETFs include GraniteShares 2x Long QCOM Daily ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCML#NASDAQ">QCML</a>), GraniteShares 2x Long DELL Daily ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLLL#NASDAQ">DLLL</a>), GraniteShares 2x Long INTC Daily ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTW#NASDAQ">INTW</a>).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/02/43694659/elm-wealth-debuts-etf-with-362-million-in-assets-75-devoted-to-global-equities">Elm Wealth Debuts ETF With $362 Million In Assets, 75% Devoted To Global Equities</a>
These are the first leveraged single-stock ETFs for Dell, Intel, and Qualcomm. These funds provide investors with a more accessible way to trade these tech names without the need for margin accounts or concerns over margin calls. Additionally, the developing options market around these ETFs presents traders with further strategic possibilities.
These funds are designed for traders who are bullish on the AI revolution and looking to amplify their exposure to these key technology stocks. By leveraging performance at a two-times multiplier, investors stand to magnify both potential gains and losses based on daily price movements.
Beyond its leveraged products, GraniteShares recently made a bold entry into the options income space with its innovative YieldBoost strategy. The first fund in this lineup, GraniteShares YieldBoost TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSYY#NASDAQ">TSYY</a>), was launched in December last year. It is structured to generate income by selling put options.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/02/43663523/new-treasury-etfs-target-liquidity-as-vanguard-expands-fixed-income-lineup">New Treasury ETFs Target Liquidity As Vanguard Expands Fixed-Income Lineup</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

New ETFs

DELL

DLLL

INTW

QCML

TSYY

New Leveraged ETFs Let Traders Bet Big On Dell, Intel, Qualcomm

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chip-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">British chip designer</a> Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) stock has surged over 155% since its September 2023 initial public offering, making way to the Nasdaq 100 index. Arm chip designs mainly cater to smartphones, including&nbsp;Apple Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone.
CEO&nbsp;Rene Haas&nbsp;proclaimed the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39470998/arm-holdings-ceo-rene-haas-says-experts-underestimated-the-rapid-growth-of-ai-the-analysts-maybe" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential of AI</a> to drive growth in the smartphone and Arm sectors.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43653433/softbank-q3-earnings-revenue-rises-vision-fund-takes-2-33-billion-hit-as-investments-falter" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoftBank Q3 Earnings: Revenue Rises, Vision Fund Takes $2.33 Billion Hit As Investments Falter</a>
Arm Holdings stock gained 26% year-to-date versus the S&amp;P Semiconductors Select Industry Index&#8217;s 4.3% decline.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12135339/newplot-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-779449" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12135339/newplot-8.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12135339/newplot-8-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Haas aims for Arm <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39157897/whats-going-on-with-arm-holdings-stock-tuesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">to capture over</a> 50% of the Windows PC market within five years and envisions 100 billion AI-ready Arm devices&nbsp;worldwide by 2025. In 2024, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40687996/microsofts-ai-pcs-stumble-with-game-compatibility-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">launched Windows PCs</a> with AI capabilities powered by Arm chips to intensify the rivalry with Apple&#8217;s Mac lineup.
Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google remain invested in building out new data centers bypassing Intel Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) x86 and are instead using a combination of Arm architecture and their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42826372/intel-struggles-to-compete-with-amd-and-nvidia-in-data-centers-and-ai-chips" rel="noreferrer noopener">in-house chip</a> designs. Arm-based chips are increasingly taking center stage in Nvidia Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) current-generation AI systems.
Arm sustained gross margins of 95%-96% by designing and licensing semiconductor intellectual property instead of manufacturing physical chips.
This enables it to earn upfront fees and ongoing royalties for each chip sold using its designs.&nbsp;Arm&#8217;s research and development margin increased to 61% in fiscal 2024 from 42% a year ago.
Arm&#8217;s positive catalysts: Last week, CEO&nbsp;Rene Haas&nbsp;declared Arm&#8217;s expanding role in AI infrastructure through its involvement in&nbsp;OpenAI&#8217;s $100 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project. It also plans to boost prices by up to 300% and has discussed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42966025/softbank-backed-arm-plans-major-price-hike-apple-qualcomm-supplier-explores-chip-development" rel="noreferrer noopener">manufacturing its chips</a>.
Reportedly, Arm has been strategizing since 2019 to raise its annual smartphone revenue by ~$1 billion over a decade to boost royalty rates for its latest Armv9 computing architecture.
Haas has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42966025/softbank-backed-arm-plans-major-price-hike-apple-qualcomm-supplier-explores-chip-development" rel="noreferrer noopener">explored producing complete</a> chips or chipsets, posing as a rival to its current customers, Apple and Qualcomm. However, the British chip designer is involved in a licensing disagreement between Arm&nbsp;and Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), reportedly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39470998/arm-holdings-ceo-rene-haas-says-experts-underestimated-the-rapid-growth-of-ai-the-analysts-maybe" rel="noreferrer noopener">threatening to disrupt</a> the shipment of new AI-powered laptops.
Wall Street analysts, including Raymond James&#8216; Srini Pajjuri,&nbsp;expressed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43540659/arms-rising-royalties-and-v9-adoption-strengthen-market-position-analysts-say" rel="noreferrer noopener">optimism over Armv9 CPU</a> architecture and the progress of compute subsystems (CSS), which essentially doubles the royalty rate, fueling continued strong double-digit growth. They expect the emergence of AI agents and efficient AI models (such as DeepSeek) to be significant positives for Arm.
Needham&#8217;s Charles Shi&nbsp;noted the company is overdelivering the fiscal 2025 targets set during the IPO and transition from licensing-driven growth to royalty-driven growth.
Analysts also flagged exposure to China (historically accounted for 20% of Arm&#8217;s overall sales) and ongoing smartphone, networking, and auto-cyclical headwinds.
Meanwhile, Arm China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43298802/arm-china-eyes-leadership-change-ai-boom-and-us-china-chip-wars-reshape-the-industry" rel="noreferrer noopener">tapped Chen Feng</a> as sole CEO after co-CEOs Liu Renchen&nbsp;and&nbsp;Eric Chen stepped down. The co-CEOs have served as interim leaders of Arm China since the company terminated&nbsp;Allen Wu in 2022 for&nbsp;alleged conflicts of interest.&nbsp;
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) snapped Arm in 2016 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/09/34593085/is-arm-a-buy-after-record-ipo-ceo-insights-ongoing-lawsuit-and-financials" rel="noreferrer noopener">for $32 billion</a>. SoftBank retained 90% of its ownership in Arm.
Price Actions: ARM stock closed at $155.41 on Wednesday.
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Photo via Shutterstock

GOOG

GOOGL

SFTBY

Softbank-Backed Arm Holdings 155% Post-IPO Surge Bolstered by AI Growth and Smartphone Integration

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/vance-warns-u-s-allies-to-keep-ai-regulation-light-aa33c008?mod=latest_headlines" title="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/vance-warns-u-s-allies-to-keep-ai-regulation-light-aa33c008?mod=latest_headlines">https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/vance-warns-u-s-allies-to-keep-ai-regulation-light-aa33c008?mod=latest_headlines</a>

Government

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Economics

ASML

LSCC

RMBS

'Vance Warns U.S. Allies To Keep AI Regulation Light' - Wall Street Journal

The past week was a whirlwind in the world of artificial intelligence (AI), with major tech players making headlines. From Pinterest&#8217;s AI &#8220;Taste Graph&#8221; expansion to Amazon&#8217;s massive AI investment, the weekend was packed with significant developments. Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories.
Pinterest&#8217;s AI &#8216;Taste Graph&#8217; Expands 75%
Pinterest Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>) announced a significant expansion in its AI capabilities, with its proprietary &#8220;Taste Graph&#8221; growing its connections by 75% over the past two years. This advancement coincides with the company&#8217;s first billion-dollar revenue quarter, indicating that its tech investments are paying off. The platform&#8217;s ability to convert user engagement into sales was evidenced by a 90% year-over-year increase in clicks to advertisers.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43552113/pinterests-ai-taste-graph-expands-75-as-meta-rival-hits-first-1-billion-revenue-quarter">Read the full article here.</a>
Amazon&#8217;s $100 Billion AI Investment
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) plans to invest nearly $100 billion in AI initiatives this year, surpassing its competitors. CEO Andy Jassy revealed that the company&#8217;s $26.3 billion spending in the last quarter of 2024 reflects its planned quarterly investments for 2025, with most of the funds going to Amazon Web Services.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43550696/amazon-to-pour-nearly-100-billion-into-ai-in-2025-surpassing-microsoft-and-alphabet-andy-jassy-says-cost-of-inference-will-meaningfully-come-down-amid-deepseek-worries">Read the full article here.</a>
Arm&#8217;s Central Role in $100 Billion Stargate AI Project
Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) confirmed its central role in OpenAI‘s ambitious $100 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project. CEO Rene Haas highlighted Arm's expanding role in AI infrastructure, noting strong momentum in data center deployments alongside partners OpenAI, Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NASDAQ">ORCL</a>), and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>).
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43521100/arm-confirms-central-role-in-100-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-project-with-openai-oracle">Read the full article here.</a>
DeepSeek&#8217;s Impact on AI Stocks
Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, also known as Hangzhou Huanfang Technology Ltd. Co., founded DeepSeek in 2023 with the intention to explore artificial general intelligence (AGI). Before the AI startup became popular and caused a $1 trillion market cap erosion of AI stocks, this quantitative fund was involved with several innovations in China.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43521806/deepseeks-hedge-fund-owner-had-multiple-top-projects-before-creating-the-firm-that-fueled-1-trillion-market-cap-erosion-of-ai-stocks">Read the full article here.</a>
Qualcomm&#8217;s Record Quarter and Lowered Q2 Guidance
Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) shares fell 4.6% despite beating earnings expectations and posting a record first-quarter revenue. The company&#8217;s strength in on-device artificial intelligence inference was evident, but the weak second-quarter guidance due to seasonality and Apple shipments dragged down the stock.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43519066/qualcomm-rides-ai-wave-to-record-quarter-but-q2-guidance-dampens-investors-dragging-the-stock-down">Read the full article here.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

PINS

Pinterest's Taste Graph, Amazon's $100B Investment, DeepSeek's Impact, And More: This Week In AI

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/14/25</td>
<td>$18.50</td>
<td>$103.8K</td>
<td>6.0K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/07/25</td>
<td>$117.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>107</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$76.0K</td>
<td>15.4K</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$2.00</td>
<td>$50.3K</td>
<td>9.2K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EVLV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$31.5K</td>
<td>786</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
<td>$158.6K</td>
<td>905</td>
<td>912</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/07/25</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$51.6K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td>887</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APP</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/07/25</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>656</td>
<td>773</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/14/25</td>
<td>$247.50</td>
<td>$31.2K</td>
<td>264</td>
<td>719</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRWD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$1.5 million</td>
<td>143</td>
<td>711</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on February 14, 2025. This event was a transfer of 4924 contract(s) at a $18.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 45 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $103.8K, with a price of $21.0 per contract. There were 6088 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6388 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 136 contract(s) at a $117.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.7K, with a price of $189.0 per contract. There were 107 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5907 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For QCOM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 14 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 317 contract(s) at a $170.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $76.0K, with a price of $240.0 per contract. There were 15468 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5797 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 679 day(s) on December 18, 2026. Parties traded 4 contract(s) at a $2.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.3K, with a price of $12578.0 per contract. There were 9284 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4294 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EVLV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVLV#NASDAQ">EVLV</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 14 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1051 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 74 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.5K, with a price of $30.0 per contract. There were 786 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1051 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on March 7, 2025. Parties traded 260 contract(s) at a $215.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 37 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $158.6K, with a price of $610.0 per contract. There were 905 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 912 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 33 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.6K, with a price of $1565.0 per contract. There were 2417 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 887 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For APP (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $380.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $150.0 per contract. There were 656 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 773 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding IBM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on February 14, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $247.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.2K, with a price of $156.0 per contract. There were 264 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 719 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CRWD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 69 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 700 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.5 million, with a price of $2220.0 per contract. There were 143 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 711 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
11:51 AMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$170.00	Feb 21, 2025	-2	1081	1598	7	15219	TRADE	BULLISH
09:52 AMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$210.00	Jan 15, 2027	691	13	377	0	7072	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:48 AMFeb 18, 2025	CALL	$210.00	Jan 15, 2027	691	0	407	0	7859	SWEEP	BEARISH
09:49 AMFeb 14, 2025	CALL	$210.00	Jan 15, 2027	691	419	419	5	8260	SWEEP	BEARISH