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

 (OTC:RHBTS) Stock, Option Chain

One of the annual traditions of Christmas for most families is the giving and receiving of gifts. While popular gift items include toys, clothes, gift cards, and money, another option is to give a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gift of cryptocurrency.</a>
Here&#8217;s a look back at how much a gift of cryptocurrency for Christmas in 2023 would be worth today.
What Happened: Just<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38778908/if-you-bought-your-mom-100-in-bitcoin-dogecoin-and-ethereum-last-mothers-day-heres-how-muc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> like Mother&#8217;s Day</a>, Christmas is a holiday that could see the selection of gifts for loved ones in your family.
Giving cryptocurrency as a gift at Christmas 2023 may have been a more popular option than in 2022. The 2022 year saw several cryptocurrency platforms go bankrupt and all the major cryptocurrencies trade down on the year.
In 2023, cryptocurrencies turned around with many of the largest cryptos outperforming the top stocks and overall broad stock market.
Fast forward to 2024 and the cryptocurrency market has been surging with several of the largest cryptos hitting new all-time highs after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41778425/bitcoins-all-time-high-a-groundbreaking-milestone-and-strong-post-election-rally-coming-ex">the 2024 election</a>. A new White House administration has created optimism for investors and crypto advocates. 
Here&#8217;s a look back at how much three major cryptocurrencies given as gifts for Christmas 2023 would be worth today.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42607398/dogecoin-down-17-in-one-month-will-meme-crypto-reach-25-cents-or-69-cents-first-78-of-readers-say">Dogecoin Down 17% In One Month, Will Meme Crypto Reach 25 Cents Or 69 Cents First? 78% Of Readers Say…</a>
Investing $100 in Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum: A popular gift amount may have been giving $100 in cryptocurrency to a loved one on Christmas Day 2023. Here&#8217;s a look at how much one could have bought of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) based on the intraday high on Dec. 25, 2023.
<ul>
<li>Bitcoin: 0.0023 BTC</li>
<li> Dogecoin: 1,050.78 DOGE</li>
<li> Ethereum: 0.0434 ETH</li>
</ul>
Investing $100 in each cryptocurrency last Christmas would be worth the following based on prices at the time of writing:
<ul>
<li>Bitcoin: $225.46, +125.5%</li>
<li> Dogecoin: $349.17, +249.2%</li>
<li> Ethereum: $150.68, +50.9%</li>
</ul>
A $300 gift consisting of the three cryptocurrencies would be worth $725.32 today, an increase of 141.8%.
This return from Christmas 2023 to Christmas 2024 trumps the return of the three cryptocurrencies from Christmas 2022 to Christmas 2023 when the same $300 would have turned into $559.61 in one year, an increase of 86.5%.
Family members would likely welcome the return of any of these three cryptocurrencies over the last year.
For comparison, a $300 investment last Christmas in the&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index, would be worth $379.48 today. This represents a return of 26.5%.
The holidays would likely be happier for loved ones who got cryptocurrency as a gift last year than many clothes, gift cards, cash, or stocks.
Based on Benzinga's calculations for the hypothetical investments in Bitcoin, Dogecoin and Ethereum over the last two Christmases would have turned $300 in 2022 and $300 in 2023 into $2,015.30 total. This represents a gain of 235.9% on the $600 investment over the last two Christmases.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42658677/better-christmas-gift-gamestop-stock-or-latest-video-game">Better Christmas Gift: GameStop Stock Or Latest Video Game?</a></li>
</ul>
This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated.

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

Cryptocurrency

Education

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

If You Gifted Your Family $100 In Bitcoin, Dogecoin And Ethereum Last Christmas, Here's How Much They Would Have This Christmas

Futu Hldgs's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NYSE">FUTU</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.88% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.46 million shares sold short, which is 4.47% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.57 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Futu Hldgs Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735136123_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Futu Hldgs has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Futu Hldgs's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Futu Hldgs's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.01%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

FUTU

How Is The Market Feeling About Futu Hldgs?

Williams Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMB#NYSE">WMB</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 4.83% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.15%. Currently, Williams Companies has a market capitalization of $66.62 billion. 
Buying $1000 In WMB: If an investor had bought $1000 of WMB stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,353.45 today based on a price of $54.65 for WMB at the time of writing.
<h3>Williams Companies's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735136122_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

News

$1000 Invested In This Stock 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Blackbaud's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLKB#NYSE">BLKB</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.58% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 613 thousand shares sold short, which is 2.13% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.27 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Blackbaud Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735136117_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Blackbaud has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Blackbaud's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Blackbaud's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 10.32%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

BLKB

Looking Into Blackbaud's Recent Short Interest

Beacon Roofing Supply's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BECN#NYSE">BECN</a>) short percent of float has fallen 18.34% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.13 million shares sold short, which is 2.36% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.48 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Beacon Roofing Supply Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735136112_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Beacon Roofing Supply has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Beacon Roofing Supply's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Beacon Roofing Supply's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.14%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

BECN

How Is The Market Feeling About Beacon Roofing Supply?

The year 2024 saw the U.S. stock market make new records, with major indices breaching key milestones. While many stocks witnessed a stellar rally this year, analysts still expect some blue-chip equities to rise further as they forecast a better return potential.
Dow&#8217;s Performance In 2024
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index hit a record eight 1,000-point milestones this year. It started the year around the 37,000 level and breached the 45,000 level at the beginning of December. It took only seven trading days for the index to go from 44,000 to 45,000, the second fastest 1,000-point milestone ever.
Following that the index also saw one of its longest 10-day losing streak, the first ever since 1974. These 10 days of underperformance stems from a confluence of factors. 
The Dow doesn&#8217;t include all &#8220;Magnificent 7&#8221; stocks like Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>). The recent inclusion of Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) in the Dow has also pulled the index down because of the stock&#8217;s underperformance.
Dow&#8217;s constituent UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) has experienced a substantial decline this month following the tragedy with its CEO&#8217;s shooting. Moreover, in essence, the Dow&#8217;s historical advantage of its price-weighted indexing has become a significant disadvantage in today&#8217;s market. This is because, unlike market capitalization-weighted indices, higher-priced stocks have more weight in the calculation of a price-weighted index.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Dow Jones Stocks With The Best And Worst Return Potential</h4>
Analysts still expect that a group of stocks led by Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>), UnitedHealth and Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHW#NYSE">SHW</a>) within the Dow will rise even more, according to estimates compiled by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>. Others on the list are the Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) and Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>).
To be sure, analysts keep updating their forecasts based on company performance and may change their estimates as the new earnings season begins.
Selection Criteria:
<ul>
<li>The thirty blue-chip stocks in Down Jones.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The highest and lowest return potential is based on the average 12-month target prices from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Companies</td>
<td>M-Cap</td>
<td>Highest PT ($/Share)</td>
<td>Lowest PT ($/Share)</td>
<td>Consensus PT ($/Share)</td>
<td>Upside/Downside Potential</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>)</td>
<td>176.73B</td>
<td>515</td>
<td>174</td>
<td>331.35</td>
<td>31.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>460.26B</td>
<td>675</td>
<td>460</td>
<td>608.16</td>
<td>28.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHW#NYSE">SHW</a>)</td>
<td>86.71B</td>
<td>450</td>
<td>249</td>
<td>371.19</td>
<td>24.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</td>
<td>2,365.04B</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>197</td>
<td>247.05</td>
<td>23.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>)</td>
<td>347.83B</td>
<td>215</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>168</td>
<td>22.41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</td>
<td>256.71B</td>
<td>212</td>
<td>160</td>
<td>179.36</td>
<td>21.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE: MRK</td>
<td>248.03B</td>
<td>155</td>
<td>104</td>
<td>126.24</td>
<td>20.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Salesforce Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/crm#NYSE">CRM</a>)</td>
<td>328.87B</td>
<td>450</td>
<td>236</td>
<td>378.52</td>
<td>20.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>3,246.07B</td>
<td>600</td>
<td>465</td>
<td>508</td>
<td>18.21%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</td>
<td>622.63B</td>
<td>375</td>
<td>252</td>
<td>318.42</td>
<td>17.69%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Benzinga.com (Data as of Dec. 22, 2024)</figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42430296/carson-researchs-50-year-study-suggests-that-the-26-months-old-bull-market-is-far-from-over">Is The 26-Month Bull Market Over? Here Is What Carson Research&#8217;s 50-Year Old Study Tells Us</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Caterpillar Inc</h3>
<ul>
<li>Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) has the highest return potential of 31.68% among the Dow Jones constituents.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 28 analysts tracking the company have a consensus price target of $331.35 per share, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CAT/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist Securities&#8217; Jamie Cook raised the price target from $454 to $471 per share on Dec. 19, 2024 as he expects significant investments in infrastructure, likely driven by government initiatives and private sector projects to fuel demand for Caterpillar&#8217;s equipment.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Citigroup analyst Kyle Menges maintained a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating on the company and raised the price target from $435 to $460 apiece on Dec. 9, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Dec. 9, JPMorgan analyst Tami Zakaria also reaffirmed her bullish stance on Caterpillar, maintaining a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating on the stock. Concurrently, she raised the firm&#8217;s price target for Caterpillar from $500 to $515 per share.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UnitedHealth Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) has the second highest return potential of 28.95% among the Dow Jones constituents.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 26 analysts tracking the company have a consensus price target of $331.35 per share, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Oppenheimer raised its price target to $640 from $610 apiece on Dec.6, 2024. The primary reason for the price target increase is that the Oppenheimer analyst is updating their financial model. This update appears to be based solely on the publicly available information disclosed by UnitedHealth in their 8-K filing.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co raised its target price to $675 from $605 per share on Dec. 5, 2024, after conducting a detailed review of the 2025 guidance metrics that UnitedHealth had shared before the fatal shooting of CEO Brian Thompson that led to the cancellation of their investor conference.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Deutsche Bank also increased its target from $595 to $625 apiece as it believes investor positioning into the event is mostly neutral to positive, with almost no one expecting a negative revision versus the third quarter outlook.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sherwin-Williams Company</h3>
<ul>
<li>Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHW#NYSE">SHW</a>) has a return potential of 24.08% going into 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A consensus price target of $371.19 per share was maintained by 25 analysts that track the company, as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHW/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Greg Melich from Evercore ISI raised the price target of the Ohio-based paints, coatings and related products manufacturer to $420 from $400 per share on Nov. 7, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>RBC Capital&#8217;s Arun Viswanathan lowered his target on the company from $455 to $446 per share on Oct. 24, 2024. While acknowledging that third-quarter results might not have met investor expectations, Viswanathan emphasized the company&#8217;s potential for market share gains and the positive impact of its upcoming price increase scheduled for January 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Citigroup adjusted its price target from $430 to $420 apiece on Oct. 24 as it anticipates choppy demand in the first half of 2025, which could hinder the rapid pass-through of interest rate cuts.</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42383725/trump-administrations-deregulation-efforts-to-lift-energy-oil-and-gas-sectors-ai-frenzy-to-aid-faang-stocks-and-nvidia-says-fintech-insider">Trump&#8217;s Deregulation Efforts To Benefit Energy, Oil And Gas Sectors, While AI Frenzy Will Boost FAANG Stocks And Nvidia, Says Fintech Insider</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Amazon.com Inc</h3>
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has a return potential of 23.82% going into 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A consensus price target of $247.05 per share was maintained by 39 analysts that track the company, as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tigress Financial&#8217;s Ivan Feinseth umped is price target from $245 to $290 apiece on Dec.20, 2024 as it believes Amazon is well-positioned for continued success, driven by robust retail trends, effective utilization of generative AI and its fulfillment network, and the strategic integration of AI across its entire business.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The expectations of strong long-term growth driven by operational efficiency and sustained momentum across its business segments led Bernstein to raise its target price from $235 to $265 per share on Dec. 18, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>According to JPMorgan analyst Douglas Anmuth, Amazon is a best idea for 2025, and confidence in AWS growth in the months to come is a major reason for that. He raised its target price from $250 to $280 apiece on Dec. 18, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Johnson &amp; Johnson</h3>
<ul>
<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) has the fifth highest return potential in Dow of 22.41% going into 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 21 analysts tracking the company have a consensus price target of $168 apiece, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JNJ/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Citigroup&#8217;s Joanne Wuensch lowered Johnson &amp; Johnson&#8217;s price target from $185 to $175 per share while maintaining a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating on Dec. 11, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>BofA Securities reinstated coverage of Johnson &amp; Johnson with a &#8216;neutral&#8217; rating and a $166 price target on Dec. 10, 2024. BofA notes that J&amp;J&#8217;s current valuation premium to peers may limit upside potential. However, the analyst acknowledges a &#8220;fairly interesting&#8221; pipeline and anticipates that resolving the talc litigation in 2025 would be beneficial. This analysis was part of BofA&#8217;s broader coverage initiation of 11 large-cap U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Wolfe Research analyst Alexandria Hammond commenced coverage of Johnson &amp; Johnson with an &#8216;outperform&#8217; recommendation and established a price target of $190 per share on Nov. 15, 2024</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chevron Corporation</h3>
<ul>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) has a return potential of 21.42% going into 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 24 analysts tracking the company have a consensus price target of $179.36 apiece, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVX/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd reduced his price target on the company from $184 to $173 per share on Dec. 19, 2024, while maintaining a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating. Piper Sandler suggests the valuation gap between Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Chevron implies a probability of over 65% of the Hess Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>) deal failing out. This scenario presents a potential 15%-25% upside, while a successful deal offers a 5%-10% downside ahead of the upcoming arbitration.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Despite this deal uncertainty, Piper expects Chevron to deliver strong portfolio performance in 2025, driven by project starts and controlled capital expenditures. This is projected to result in a significant free cash flow increase of $6-$7 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read raised his target price from $171 to $188 apiece on Dec. 9, 2024</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist Securities raised its price target on Chevron to $160 from $155 while maintaining a &#8216;hold&#8217; rating, on Dec. 6, 2024. The analyst highlights Chevron&#8217;s significant inventory, including ample royalties, and expects improved capital efficiency to drive a cash flow inflection in the coming year.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Merck &amp; Co Inc</h3>
<ul>
<li>Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) has the seventh highest return potential in Dow of 20.76% going into 2025.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The 27 analysts tracking the company have a consensus price target of $126.24 apiece, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK/analyst-ratings">Benzinga</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>BMO Capital Markets downgraded Merck to &#8216;market perform&#8217; from &#8216;outperform&#8217; lowering the price target from $136 to $105 apiece, on Dec. 20, 2024. The downgrade reflects concerns about the company&#8217;s Gardasil franchise in China and the potential revenue gap as Keytruda faces increased competition from biosimilars and generic drugs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tim Anderson from BofA Securities maintains his bullish stance on Merck with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating, while adjusting the price target downward to $121 from $127 per share, on Dec. 10, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist analyst Robyn Karnauskas reaffirms a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating for Merck on Nov. 7, 2024, but lowers the price target to $130 from $132 apiece.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642834/market-breadth-turns-positive-after-a-rare-14-day-negative-streak-history-suggests-gains-ahead">Market Breadth Rebounds As Risk Appetite Makes A Comeback: This Analyst Predicts Gains Ahead After S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Record Negative Streak</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Long Ideas

Markets

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

TSLA

Top 7 Blue-Chip Stocks With The Best Return Potential Going Into 2025

In the current market session, Ladder Cap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LADR#NYSE">LADR</a>) price is at $11.45, after a 1.42% spike. However, over the past month, the stock decreased by 3.78%, and in the past year, by 1.72%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is undervalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735135215_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>How Does Ladder Cap P/E Compare to Other Companies?</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of 9.49 in the Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry, Ladder Cap Inc. has a higher P/E ratio of 14.86. Shareholders might be inclined to think that Ladder Cap Inc. might perform better than its industry group. It's also possible that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735135215_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

LADR

A Look Into Ladder Cap Inc's Price Over Earnings

Russian companies have started using Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and other digital currencies for international transactions, said Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Wednesday.
What Happened: Siluanov revealed that Russian businesses have begun using Bitcoin and other digital currencies for international transactions, reported Reuters. The legislative changes that allowed this move were implemented to counter the impact of Western sanctions on Russia&#8217;s trade with major partners like China and Turkey.
Siluanov told Russia 24 television channel &#8220;As part of the experimental regime, it is possible to use bitcoins, which we had mined here in Russia (in foreign trade transactions).&#8221; 
&#8220;Such transactions are already occurring. We believe they should be expanded and developed further. I am confident this will happen next year,&#8221; he continued, expressing his conviction that digital currencies will play a significant role in future international payments.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639340/bernie-sanders-is-all-for-canada-becoming-the-51st-state-if-the-u-s-will-also-adopt-universal-healthcare?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bernie Sanders Is &#8216;All For&#8217; Canada Becoming The 51st State If The U.S. Will Also Adopt Universal Healthcare</a>
Why It Matters: Russia has been increasingly embracing cryptocurrencies. This came after President Vladimir Putin, earlier this month, criticized the current U.S. administration for undermining the role of the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency by using it for political purposes. According to Putin, this has compelled many countries to seek alternative assets. He highlighted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42317460/vladimir-putin-says-nobody-can-ban-bitcoin-stresses-crypto-will-develop-one-way-or-the-other">Bitcoin as an example of such assets</a>, asserting that no global authority could regulate Bitcoin. 
Putin also said that cryptocurrencies are becoming the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42405700/russia-weighs-bitcoin-reserve-as-deputy-warns-sanctions-leave-crypto-only-instrument-for-trade-amid-trumps-pro-bitcoin-push">only instrument for international trade</a> in countries under sanctions. 
 This move comes despite the recent ban on cryptocurrency mining in several regions of Russia. The Russian government announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42667932/did-vladimir-putin-just-ban-bitcoin-mining-in-russia-the-devil-is-in-the-details">six-year ban on cryptocurrency mining</a> in ten regions, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, due to concerns over excessive energy consumption.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $$98,305, up 4% 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.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42650677/kevin-oleary-says-deregulation-is-the-real-reason-everybody-is-sucking-up-to-trump-now-not-lower-taxes?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin O&#8217;Leary Says Deregulation Is The Real Reason Everybody Is &#8216;Sucking Up To Trump Now,&#8217; Not Lower Taxes</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

General

Russian Firms Adopt Bitcoin For Global Trade In Response To Western Sanctions: 'Should Be Expanded And Developed Further'

In the current session, Sanofi Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>) is trading at $48.30, after a 0.18% decrease. Over the past month, the stock decreased by 0.88%, and in the past year, by 2.21%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are more likely to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735132508_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Sanofi P/E Compared to Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 27.1 in the Pharmaceuticals industry, Sanofi Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 26.01. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735132508_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

A Look Into Sanofi Inc's Price Over Earnings

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th align="right">Price</th>
<th align="right">Change ($)</th>
<th align="right">Change (%)</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Energy Select Sector</td>
<td align="right">84.23</td>
<td align="right">0.30</td>
<td align="right">0.35</td>
<td>22.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Technology</td>
<td align="right">238.92</td>
<td align="right">0.85</td>
<td align="right">0.35</td>
<td>9.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Consumer Discretionary</td>
<td align="right">229.70</td>
<td align="right">0.53</td>
<td align="right">0.23</td>
<td>438</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Utilities</td>
<td align="right">76.19</td>
<td align="right">0.13</td>
<td align="right">0.17</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Financial</td>
<td align="right">48.49</td>
<td align="right">0.07</td>
<td align="right">0.14</td>
<td>21.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Health Care</td>
<td align="right">138.88</td>
<td align="right">0.13</td>
<td align="right">0.09</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>)</td>
<td>SPDR Select Sector Fund - Consumer Staples</td>
<td align="right">78.97</td>
<td align="right">0.05</td>
<td align="right">0.06</td>
<td>420</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
No loser in today's Pre-market session. 
<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Pulled from Benzinga Pro data</a> the above sector movers alert assists traders in understanding macro-level trends and market variations. Traders will look for sector movers providing information on sectors that are over- or under-performing, deriving these results into investing decisions on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or individual tickers in those sectors. 
To read more about sector movers, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers">click here</a>.

Sector ETFs

Pre-Market Outlook

Movers

ETFs

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Leading And Lagging Sectors For December 25, 2024

CSX's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSX#NYSE">CSX</a>) short percent of float has risen 20.97% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 28.87 million shares sold short, which is 1.5% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.15 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>CSX Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735131622_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for CSX has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing CSX's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, CSX's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.29%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

(CSX) - Analyzing CSX's Short Interest

Ford Motor Co&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) F-150 Lightning sales have been falling in the U.S. over the past two months as compared to the corresponding months of 2023, while sales of its rival, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cybertruck">the Cybertruck</a>, rose significantly.
Quarterly Sales Comparison: Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) started delivering Cybertrucks to customers in the U.S. in late November 2023. Since then, the company has been ramping up deliveries.
In the quarter that ended in September, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41325252/tesla-cybertruck-leads-the-pack-as-most-popular-ev-truck-in-us-in-q3-outselling-rivals-from-ford-gm">Tesla delivered 16,692 Cybertruck vehicles</a> in the U.S., according to data from automotive research company Kelley Blue Book. Ford, in the meantime, managed to sell just 7,162 F-150 Lightnings.
This number, though higher than the number of EV trucks delivered by the company in the corresponding quarter of 2023, placed the conventional Ford truck behind its stainless steel counterpart.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="476" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23053934/gB1eV-quarterly-sales-of-f-150-lightning-amp-cybertruck-1024x476.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703836" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23053934/gB1eV-quarterly-sales-of-f-150-lightning-amp-cybertruck-1024x476.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23053934/gB1eV-quarterly-sales-of-f-150-lightning-amp-cybertruck-300x139.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23053934/gB1eV-quarterly-sales-of-f-150-lightning-amp-cybertruck-768x357.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23053934/gB1eV-quarterly-sales-of-f-150-lightning-amp-cybertruck.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Cybertruck sales overtook F-150 Lightning sales for the first time in the second quarter of 2024 despite the latter having a lower starting price. Cybertruck has been keeping its lead for two quarters straight.
Furthermore, Cybertruck sales have been rising drastically compared to Ford&#8217;s Lightning sales which have remained more or less stable at around 7,000-8,000 units over the last three quarters.
Thus Far Into Q4: F-150 Lightning sales have been falling over the past two months. Ford sold just 5,506 Lightnings in October and November put together as compared to 8,105 in the corresponding period last year. 
In the last quarter of 2023, the Lightning was, in fact, the best-selling electric truck in the U.S.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="368" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23055647/1Qq5V-f-150-lightning-sales-1024x368.png" alt="" class="wp-image-703877" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23055647/1Qq5V-f-150-lightning-sales-1024x368.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23055647/1Qq5V-f-150-lightning-sales-300x108.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23055647/1Qq5V-f-150-lightning-sales-768x276.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/23055647/1Qq5V-f-150-lightning-sales.png 1240w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Unlike Ford which shares monthly sales data, Tesla doesn&#8217;t. It is unclear how many Cybertrucks were sold in October and November this year. 
Demand Challenges: However, both the Lightning and Cybertruck are seemingly faced with demand challenges. In November, Benzinga reported that Ford will pause the production of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ford-f-150-lightning" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">F-150 Lightning pickup</a>&nbsp;truck for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41677673/ford-f-150-lightning-pickup-truck-production-to-be-halted-temporarily-after-teslas-cybertruck-races" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">six weeks from Nov. 18 to Jan.6</a>&nbsp;at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Plant.
"We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability,&#8221; Ford said about the decision then.
Tesla, meanwhile, told its workers on the Cybertruck production line at Giga Texas that they need not report to work for three days from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5, implying that both companies have inventory exceeding demand. 
Price Point Comparison: The F-150 Lightning is a cheaper EV truck offering as compared to the Cybertruck. The model year 2024 Lightning starts at $67,995 for the base variant and at $84,995 for the more premium Platinum variant. The company also manufactures two more variants priced in between. 
The Cybertruck, meanwhile, starts at $79,990 for the lower-priced All-wheel drive variant and at $99,990 for the higher-end Cyberbeast version. The EV giant offers just two variants of the truck. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42640472/tesla-exec-bemoans-cost-of-sending-letter-to-owners-affected-by-ev-giants-recent-recall-of-nearly-700000-vehicles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Exec Bemoans Cost Of Sending Letter To Owners Affected By EV Giant's Recent Recall Of Nearly 700,000 Vehicles</a></li>
</ul>
Photos courtesy: Tesla and Ford

Tech

Tesla Cybertruck's Popularity Threatens Ford F-150 Lightning Sales, Shows Data

Powell Industries's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWL#NYSE">POWL</a>) short percent of float has risen 12.68% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.83 million shares sold short, which is 23.28% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.85 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Powell Industries Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735131617_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Powell Industries has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Powell Industries's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Powell Industries's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.43%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

POWL

How Is The Market Feeling About Powell Industries?

AbbVie's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.51% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 19.32 million shares sold short, which is 1.1% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.62 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AbbVie Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735131612_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AbbVie has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AbbVie's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AbbVie's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.06%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ABBV

Looking Into AbbVie's Recent Short Interest

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? You can&#8217;t go wrong with tech.
The Magnificent 7 companies—Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), and Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)—offer some of the best gadgets, accessories, and experiences.
So, this Christmas, whether you&#8217;re shopping for a techie, a gamer, or someone who just loves convenience, there's something for everyone.
Apple
Apple Watch Strap: Add some flair to an Apple Watch with a durable, comfy band. Available in multiple colors. The starting price is $49.
AirTag: Perfect for tracking keys, bags, or anything else you misplace. Compact and easy to use. Price: $29.
Amazon
Echo Dot (5th Gen): A smart speaker with Alexa to control devices, play music, and more. Compact and stylish. Price starting at $22.99.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Stream your favorite shows in 4K resolution. Supports 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Easy to set up and use.&nbsp;
See Also:&nbsp;<a data-google-interstitial="false" style="white-space: normal; box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); color: rgb(44, 162, 209); text-decoration: inherit; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, OpenSans, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42378596/openais-chatgpt-makes-headway-in-search-threatening-googles-reign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ;">OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT Makes Headway In Search, Threatening Google&#8217;s Reign</a>
Alphabet
Chromecast with Google TV: A versatile streaming device that integrates various streaming services into a single user-friendly interface. Features a compact design that connects directly to the HDMI port of your TV and comes with a voice remote equipped with Google Assistant.&nbsp;
YouTube Premium Subscription: Enjoy ad-free videos, background play, and YouTube Music access. Priced at $13.99 per month.
Meta
Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap: For those who like to extend their virtual reality experience, this is a perfect gift. Addresses common discomfort issues by redistributing weight more evenly across the head, reducing pressure on the face and neck. Priced at $69.99.
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.
Microsoft
Xbox Wireless Controller: The controller features a sleek, updated design with improved ergonomics, textured grips, and a hybrid D-pad for superior comfort and precision during gameplay. It offers compatibility with both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth.
Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse: A simple, modern mouse that works with Windows and Mac can boost your productivity infinitely. Great for daily use.
Nvidia
GeForce NOW Priority Membership (One year): Stream top games with priority access and extended sessions. Users can stream games in up to 1440p resolution—an improvement from the previous 1080p—and enjoy support for ultrawide resolutions. A gamer's dream. Price: $9.99/month or $99.99/ year.
Tesla
Tesla Key Card: A handy backup or replacement key for Tesla owners. Makes life easier. Price: $40.
Tesla Wireless Portable Charger: A sleek, fast charger compatible with most smartphones. It offers magnetic, wireless charging and boasts a robust 5000mAh battery capacity. Perfect for on-the-go charging. Price: $95.
From sleek devices to powerful experiences, these gifts from the Magnificent 7 companies are sure to impress anyone on your list.
The best part? You can't go wrong with these trusted brands.
Happy shopping!
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>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AAPL

Tech, Toys, And Tesla: The Ultimate Santa Tech Wishlist From Magnificent 7 Companies

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang has shared his thoughts on his company's relationship with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) and the remarks by President-elect Donald Trump.
What Happened: Earlier this month, during WIRED&#8217;s &#8220;The Big Interview&#8221; series, Huang was asked about Trump's accusation about Taiwan taking some of the chip business from the U.S. and its implications for Nvidia&#8217;s close partnership with TSMC.
In response, Huang highlighted the pivotal role of TSMC in the global tech supply chain, praising the company as an &#8220;extraordinary&#8221; innovator with strong leadership.
&#8220;If anything, TSMC as a company gets better and better every single year that we work with them so our relationship with TSMC is going to continue,&#8221; he stated.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42608964/samsung-one-ui-6-1-1-update-is-turning-this-galaxy-series-phones-into-paperweights-bricking-random-reboots-and-overheating-reported?itm_source=parsely-api">Samsung One UI 6.1.1 Update Is Turning This Galaxy Series Phones Into Paperweights: Bricking, Random Reboots And Overheating Reported</a>
The Nvidia CEO also confirmed reaching out to Trump to congratulate him and expressed Nvidia&#8217;s readiness to support the new administration.
He expressed confidence that the incoming administration would recognize the importance of AI and offered to provide any necessary support to help the administration succeed in this area.
<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">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Jensen Huang, Zach Snyder, Mira Murati &amp; More - The Big Interview Live 2024 &#x7C; WIRED" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CC6H2dBt5WE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
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Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s concerns about Taiwan&#8217;s semiconductor industry have been a recurring theme. In October, while appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast, Trump accused Taiwan of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41604100/trump-goes-after-taiwan-semiconductor-on-joe-rogan-podcast">undermining the U.S. chip industry</a> and criticized the U.S. CHIPS Act.
He pledged to impose tariffs on Taiwanese chips, which could significantly impact TSMC, a major supplier for companies like Nvidia and Apple Inc.
Despite Trump&#8217;s critical remarks, TSMC announced that its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41845483/taiwan-semiconductor-us-expansion-plans-unfazed-by-trump-win-report">U.S. expansion plans remain</a> unchanged. The company proceeded with a $65 billion investment in advanced semiconductor production facilities in Arizona.
TSMC also plans a significant global expansion, with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42032114/taiwan-semiconductor-plans-major-global-expansion-sets-record-38-billion-investment-target">record $38 billion investment</a> target. The company aims to increase its production capacity by constructing several new semiconductor fabrication plants worldwide by 2025.
Nvidia and TSMC have partnered since 1995, with TSMC historically serving as the primary manufacturer of Nvidia&#8217;s high-performance GPUs.&nbsp;
In October, TSMC reported consolidated third-quarter revenue of NT$759.69 billion ($23.50 billion), reflecting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41373163/nvidia-supplier-tsmc-reports-q3-revenue-earnings-beat-amid-rising-demand-for-ai-chips">39% year-over-year increase</a>.
Price Action: TSMC&#8217;s stock has increased by 103.22% year-to-date, while Nvidia&#8217;s stock has risen by 191.09% during the same period, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
The latest analyst reports from Barclays and Needham set an average price target of $226.67 for TSMC, indicating a potential upside of 9.87%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSM/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/25061619/Screenshot-2024-12-25-at-4.46.11%E2%80%AFPM-1024x376.png" alt="" class="wp-image-706808" /></a></figure>
Meanwhile, reports from DA Davidson, Phillip Securities, and Truist Securities set an average price target of $154.67 for Nvidia, suggesting a potential upside of 10.65%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/25061648/Screenshot-2024-12-25-at-4.46.39%E2%80%AFPM-1024x376.png" alt="" class="wp-image-706810" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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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 by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock

Amid Donald Trump's Concerns About Taiwan's Rising Chip Business, Jensen Huang Praises TSMC For Its Unquestionable Innovation — Vows Nvidia's Support For The Incoming US Administration

Fraudsters in China are capitalizing on the popularity of the South Korean TV series &#8220;Squid Game&#8221; to exploit the financially vulnerable in a struggling economy, offering prize money, debt restructuring, and other deceptive schemes.
What Happened: Unlike the life-threatening challenges in the original series, the Chinese version&#8217;s &#8220;self-discipline&#8221; challenges do not pose a risk to participants&#8217; lives. However, some contestants in isolation challenges, who pay substantial fees to follow strict rules in the hope of winning up to 1 million yuan ($140,000), have been found to be victims of scams, reported Reuters on Wednesday.
These challenges, often promoted on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), have gained popularity amid the country&#8217;s economic slowdown. The challenges come with a long list of rules, including strict time limits for toilet breaks and restrictions on the use of electronic devices.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42609769/elon-musk-is-a-legendary-entrepreneur-but-also-a-bully-says-openai-ceo-sam-altman-now-its-me-its-been-bezos-gates-zuckerberg-lots-of-other-people?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk A Legendary Entrepreneur But Also A Bully, Says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: ‘Now It's Me, It's Been Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg, Lots Of Other People'</a>
Regulators have intervened in some cases, with a court in Shandong province ordering a challenge organizer to refund a player&#8217;s sign-up fees, ruling the contract as unfair and against public order and morals.
The National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) has also warned the public about dubious debt relief claims. These claims are made by &#8220;debt intermediaries&#8221; who promise to help restructure debts or improve credit profiles for a high fee.
Why It Matters: The rise of such fraudulent schemes coincides with China&#8217;s economic slowdown. In 2024, the Chinese economy is expected to experience a more severe downturn, with no clear industry catalyst for recovery, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36422871/analyst-says-chinas-economic-downturn-to-deepen-in-2024-will-be-slower-than-2023">according to analysts.</a> This economic pressure has led to a surge in these deceptive practices, taking advantage of the financially distressed.
China&#8217;s economic challenges have also prompted policymakers to consider significant measures, such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42473889/china-eyes-yuan-devaluation-to-counter-trumps-tariffs-will-it-work">allowing the yuan to weaken</a> significantly in 2025 to counter the potential impact of a 60% tariff on Chinese imports by the United States. This potential devaluation, if implemented, could further exacerbate the economic strain on Chinese households, potentially increasing their vulnerability to such fraudulent schemes.
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China's 'Squid Game'-Inspired Scams Target Financially Distressed Amid Economic Slowdown

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is gearing up to launch the AirTag 2, featuring significant upgrades in range and safety.
Everything we know so far about Apple's upcoming item tracker:&nbsp;
Ultra Wideband Chip For Longer Range
One of the most anticipated upgrades for the AirTag 2 is the integration of Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip. This new chip, first seen in the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, significantly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42501665/apples-2025-airtag-to-feature-iphone-15s-ultrawide-band-chip-for-smarter-longer-range-tracking-report">boosts the tracker's range</a>—potentially up to three times the distance of the first-generation AirTag.
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.
Improved Safety Measures To Address Stalking Concerns
One rumored change involves the tracker's built-in speaker, which is expected to be more difficult to remove. This tweak could help address concerns about AirTags being used for unauthorized tracking or stalking.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42609769/elon-musk-is-a-legendary-entrepreneur-but-also-a-bully-says-openai-ceo-sam-altman-now-its-me-its-been-bezos-gates-zuckerberg-lots-of-other-people?itm_source=parsely-api">Elon Musk A Legendary Entrepreneur But Also A Bully, Says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: &#8216;Now It&#8217;s Me, It&#8217;s Been Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg, Lots Of Other People&#8217;</a>
Better Integration With Apple Vision Pro
While specific details remain scarce, rumors suggest that the AirTag 2 will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38911822/upgraded-apple-airtag-with-advanced-chip-and-superior-location-tracking-set-for-2025-launch-says-mar">feature better compatibility</a> with Apple Vision Pro, the company's mixed-reality headset. This integration could unlock new possibilities for spatial tracking.
Design Consistency Overhaul Unlikely
Unlike some of Apple's other product updates, the AirTag 2 is not expected to undergo a major design overhaul. The current circular and compact form factor has proven effective, and Apple seems to be focusing on internal upgrades rather than aesthetic changes for its second-generation tracker.
Why It Matters: According to verified market research, the AirTag keychain market, valued at $0.6 billion in 2023, is anticipated to surge to $4.2 billion by 2030.
This reflects a compound annual growth rate of 35.19% from 2024 to 2030.
In January 2023, it was reported that Apple had sold over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/01/30446236/apple-airtags-and-bluetooth-trackers-are-officially-a-billion-dollar-industry-heres-what-to-know-tre">$1 billion worth of AirTags</a>—approximately 55 million units—since its debut in April 2021.
Earlier this year, Apple was also hit with a lawsuit claiming that AirTags were being used by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37764878/apple-loses-motion-to-dismiss-lawsuit-claiming-airtags-are-weapon-of-stalkers-determination-cannot-b">stalkers for malicious purposes</a>.
However, AirTags have also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33226618/how-an-apple-airtag-led-to-the-capture-of-a-sneaky-thief">demonstrated their value</a> in numerous scenarios, including helping to recover stolen possessions. Last month, Cupertino also launched a new feature enabling users to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41931360/apples-airtag-users-can-now-share-location-with-airlines-for-faster-recovery-of-lost-luggage">share the location</a> of lost items with third parties, like airlines, via the Find My app.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.&nbsp;
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What To Expect From Apple's AirTag 2: Ultra Wideband Boost, Enhanced Tracking, Safety Upgrades And More

U.S. financial markets will observe the Christmas holiday with modified trading hours, marking a brief pause in what has been an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42665923/is-stock-market-open-on-christmas-eve-2024-a-quick-guide-for-market-hours-banks-and-whats-closed-for-santa-claus">eventful year for Wall Street</a>.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will remain fully closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25, for Christmas Day. The bond market will follow a similar schedule, with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association <a href="https://www.sifma.org/resources/general/holiday-schedule/">announcing</a> a 2 p.m. ET close on Christmas Eve.
The adjusted schedule affects a broad range of market participants, from institutional investors to retail traders. Regular trading will resume on Thursday, Dec. 26, giving market participants time to position themselves before the year&#8217;s final trading week.
Meanwhile, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) which tracks the S&amp;P 500 saw its year-to-date returns climb by 27.35%, while that of the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which represents the Nasdaq composite, rose by 29.41%.
While traditional markets pause, 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>), Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), and other cryptocurrencies will continue trading non-stop on global exchanges, demonstrating the digital asset market&#8217;s unique 24/7 accessibility.
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Looking ahead, investors should note that while stock markets will maintain regular hours on New Year&#8217;s Eve, the bond market will close early at 2 p.m. ET on Dec 31. All U.S. markets will be closed on Jan. 1, 2025, for New Year&#8217;s Day.
The holiday closures come as Asian markets maintain varying schedules. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange will operate abbreviated sessions around Christmas, while the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange will continue normal operations during this period.
Major U.S. financial institutions, including Bank of America Corp, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co, and Citigroup Inc., will close their branches on Christmas Day, aligning with the market holiday schedule.
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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.

Is Stock Market Open Or Closed On Christmas Day 2024? Here Is What You Can Trade Today

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk has raised fresh concerns about MacKenzie Scott&#8216;s charitable donations, highlighting growing tensions over billionaire philanthropy and its societal impact.
What Happened: Responding to a social media post about Scott&#8217;s donations to liberal nonprofits, Musk offered a one-word critique: &#8220;Concerning.&#8221; The comment came after author John LeFevre highlighted Scott&#8217;s contributions to organizations focused on racial equity, social justice, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Scott, who received Amazon.com Inc. shares worth billions in her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, has emerged as one of America&#8217;s most prolific philanthropists. Through her Yield Giving organization, she has donated over $19 billion to more than 2,450 nonprofits since 2019, while maintaining a net worth above $30 billion due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42568686/mackenzie-scotts-mission-driven-investing-pushes-back-against-wealth-concentration-amazon-stock-rich-philanthropist-pledges-2-billion-in-donations">Amazon&#8217;s stock performance</a>.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Concerning <a href="https://t.co/C11Lnm8XeH">https://t.co/C11Lnm8XeH</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1871163247593996349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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This marks Musk&#8217;s latest criticism of Scott&#8217;s giving. In March, he suggested in a now-deleted post that &#8220;super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouse&#8221; could contribute to the decline of Western civilization. Shortly after his comment, Scott announced an additional $640 million in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37839087/shrugging-off-elon-musks-western-civilization-jab-jeff-bezoss-ex-wife-doubles-her-donation-efforts-t">donations to 361 organizations</a>.
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What Happened: Scott recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/11/42009316/jeff-bezos-ex-wife-mackenzie-scott-sells-more-amazon-shares">sold 11% of her Amazon holdings</a>, valued at over $8 billion, signaling a shift toward mission-aligned investments rather than traditional portfolio management. 
The debate over billionaire philanthropy has drawn in other prominent voices, including Melinda French Gates, who has publicly supported Scott&#8217;s rapid-giving approach while criticizing other tech billionaires, including Musk, for prioritizing public influence over charitable giving. 
In a recent New York Times interview, French Gates questioned whether certain tech leaders should even be called philanthropists, suggesting they use their platforms primarily to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40231450/melinda-french-gates-questions-philanthropy-of-musk-thiel-i-would-not-call-those-men-philanthrop">shape public opinion rather than contribute</a> meaningfully to charitable causes.
Her giving strategy contrasts sharply with other tech billionaires, including Musk, who has focused his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42640044/trump-fires-back-at-critics-and-denies-ceding-presidency-to-elon-musk-and-im-safe-he-wasnt-born-in-this-country">recent attention on political causes</a>, including substantial support for President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s campaign.
Scott&#8217;s donations for 2024 include significant support for economic security initiatives and repeat grants to organizations like CAMFED, which supports girls&#8217; education in Africa, demonstrating her continued commitment to addressing systemic inequalities despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42568686/mackenzie-scotts-mission-driven-investing-pushes-back-against-wealth-concentration-amazon-stock-rich-philanthropist-pledges-2-billion-in-donations">criticism from fellow billionaires</a>.
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Image via Flickr
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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