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

RMB Hldgs (OTC:RMBHF) Stock, Option Chain

RMB Holdings Ltd is a holding company that owns roughly a third of FirstRand Limited, which is a large financial services group in South Africa. FirstRand is RMB's sole investment. FirstRand operates First National Bank, which is a retail and commercial bank; Rand Merchant Bank, which is a corporate and investment bank; WesBank, which offers vehicle and asset financing; and Ashburton Investments, which engages in investment management. FirstRand generates more than half its total revenue from net interest income, with the remainder coming from fees, commissions, and insurance premiums. By business, First National Bank, the retail and commercial bank, provides most of FirstRand's revenue.

RMB Holdings Ltd

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-27/activist-pick-for-us-steel-ceo-eyes-major-stake-if-given-top-job" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-27/activist-pick-for-us-steel-ceo-eyes-major-stake-if-given-top-job">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-27/activist-pick-for-us-steel-ceo-eyes-major-stake-if-given-top-job</a>

News

Management

'Activist Pick For US Steel CEO Eyes Major Stake If Given Top Job; Former Stelco CEO Plans To Take Major Stake To Fix Company; Kestenbaum Says He's Prepared To Become The Top Investor' - Bloomberg News

JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jamie-dimon">Jamie Dimon</a> indicated that the largest bank in the U.S. "probably would" provide banking services to marijuana businesses if/when federal laws permit.
Dimon&#8217;s comments, made during a recent <a href="https://www.chase.com/business/podcast">episode</a> of the firm&#8217;s podcast, will likely spark optimism within the cannabis industry, which has long struggled with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40629764/financial-roadblocks-in-cannabis-whats-hindering-growth-and-how-to-fix-it-according-to-experts">numerous obstacles</a> of not having access to traditional financial and banking services due to its onerous classification as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/controlled-substances-act">Schedule I substance</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Debanking? Cannabis Comes To Mind</h2>
What Happened: In response to a comment about debanking made by venture capitalist <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/marc-andreessen">Marc Andreessen </a>on Joe Rogan&#8216;s podcast, Dimon launched into how debanking works at JPMorgan Chase. Apparently, cannabis came to his mind.
"I wanted to explain to him [Marc Andreessen], we have not debanked anyone because of political or religious relationships, period," Dimon said. "Now, when we debank someone, they often blame that reason, but that&#8217;s not a reason. We don&#8217;t bank marijuana companies because there&#8217;s no federal law around it&#8230; If there&#8217;s a federal law, we probably would."
Dimon added that Chase's operations adhere strictly to legal standards to combat issues like money laundering and tax evasion.
"And we do bank some crypto companies and very carefully. We are responsible on the law to fight sex trafficking, money laundering, tax avoidance," Dimon said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cannabis Banking Reform: Top Of Marijuana Industry&#8217;s Wish List</h2>
The CEO's remarks come as cannabis advocates press for renewed bipartisan momentum on marijuana banking legislation, mainly the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/safer-banking-act">Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation </a>(SAFER) Banking Act. Approved by the Senate Banking Committee in <a href="http://Senate Banking Committee">September 2023</a> &#8211; a regulatory milestone that was in the works for nearly a decade &#8211; the bill was crafted to&nbsp;enable legal cannabis businesses access to&nbsp;banks and financial institutions,&nbsp;which<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/09/34745118/schumer-vows-to-fast-track-newly-revised-cannabis-banking-bill-after-sept-27-vote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> have been off limits</a> for years.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Cannabis rescheduling, a promise repeated on countless occasions during the Biden administration, could result in a situation where banks like Chase would open their doors and welcome the industry&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/10/41335229/cannabis-industrys-130b-growth-potential-top-states-for-investment-as-financial-institutions-set">billions in earnings</a>. An October 2024 report from Whitney Economics projected that the U.S. cannabis sales are expected to grow from $28.8 billion in 2023 to $87 billion by 2035. Who wouldn&#8217;t want those deposits in their bank?
That said, the cannabis banking bill could now face uncertain prospects in the new GOP-controlled House and Senate. Hence, Dimon's openness on the topic can only be a good thing. 
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43219350/elizabeth-warren-to-elon-musk-cut-unnecessary-federal-cannabis-enforcement-and-save-billions">Elizabeth Warren To Elon Musk: Cut Unnecessary Federal Cannabis Enforcement And Save Billions</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Cannabis

Government

Legal

Jamie Dimon Says JPMorgan Chase 'Probably Would' Provide Services To Cannabis Industry Once Federal Laws Permit

On Monday, MTR Carbon Capture <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/carbon-emissions" rel="noreferrer noopener">bagged a deal</a> from contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) to supply a Polaris membrane carbon capture system to treat emissions from a Taiwan Semiconductor solvent incineration facility in Taiwan.
The capture unit will be installed at Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s Taichung Zero-Waste Manufacturing Center by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250127757815/en/MTR-Carbon-Capture-Selected-to-Provide-a-Capture-Plant-to-TSMC" rel="noreferrer noopener">end of 2025</a>.
The project will showcase the effectiveness of MTR&#8217;s clean membrane capture technology in reducing carbon emissions from Taiwan Semiconductor operations.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43138590/jim-cramer-says-taiwan-semiconductors-capex-plans-boost-applied-materials-lam-research-kla-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s Capex Plans Boost These Chip Stocks, Jim Cramer Says</a>
MTR Carbon Capture will deploy larger Polaris systems in the future at additional Taiwan Semiconductor facilities and waste-to-energy plants in the region. MTR is working jointly on this project with CTCI, Taiwan&#8217;s most significant engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company.
MTR Carbon Capture President Brett Andrews noted the move as an essential first step in deploying clean Polaris capture systems in Taiwan to help a global leader like Taiwan Semiconductor decarbonize their operations.
Brazil&#8217;s Re.green <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43137590/microsoft-invests-in-carbon-credits-to-restore-amazon-rainforest-faces-challenges-from-data-center-growth-trumps-fossil-fuel-focus" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly bagged a</a> $200 million deal with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) to buy 3.5 million carbon credits to restore Amazon and Atlantic forests. In 2023, Microsoft&#8217;s carbon footprint surpassed 17 million tons of carbon dioxide, up 40% from 2020.
Big Tech giants, including Microsoft,&nbsp;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>) Google, and&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) data center endeavors, have pressurized emission control promises.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Microsoft co-founder&nbsp;Bill Gates, and Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) co-founder Jack Ma have been advocates for climate-focused investments.
Price Action:&nbsp;TSM stock is down 13.5% to $191.82 at the last check on Monday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43065734/western-digital-poised-for-long-term-growth-despite-short-term-nand-pressures-analysts-say" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Western Digital Faces &#8216;Challenging Pricing Environment,&#8217; But There&#8217;s Long-Term Potential: Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Tech

AMZN

BABA

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

Taiwan Semiconductor Partners with MTR to Tackle Carbon Emissions

Shares of nuclear energy companies, including Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNE#NASDAQ">NNE</a>), Oklo Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKLO#NYSE">OKLO</a>) and NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMR#NYSE">SMR</a>) are trading lower Monday following the emergence of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43236579/chinas-deepseek-ai-rattles-tech-stocks"> China&#8217;s DeepSeek AI model</a>, which has triggered uncertainty across multiple sectors.
What To Know: DeepSeek's latest large language model (LLM), which has quickly gained traction by surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta's Llama 3.1 on Apple's App Store, has sparked fears that AI investments could be redirected. It is pressuring sectors such as nuclear power that depend on technological partnerships and AI-driven optimizations. 
The revelation that DeepSeek built its model in just two months for under $6 million using restricted Nvidia chips has further fueled market unease, prompting a broader sell-off in technology-driven industries, including nuclear energy.
However, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives downplays these concerns, arguing that the sell-off presents a "golden buying opportunity" rather than a legitimate threat to AI investment. Ives asserts that major global enterprises are unlikely to rely on a Chinese startup like DeepSeek for their AI infrastructure needs, meaning long-term demand for advanced AI capabilities—critical to the nuclear energy sector&#8217;s growth and efficiency—remains intact.
Ives emphasizes that the AI sector's focus is on enterprise applications and infrastructure, which are expected to see $2 trillion in capital expenditures over the next three years. He contends that nuclear energy companies leveraging AI technologies for operational improvements, predictive maintenance and safety enhancements will continue to benefit from sustained investments in established AI firms such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet.
Price Action: Nano Nuclear Energy shares fell 25.7% to $33.14. Oklo shares dropped 28.4% to $29.94. NuScale Power shares declined 29.2% to $19.8 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43244872/tech-stocks-tumble-on-ai-nightmare-nvidia-eyes-worst-day-since-march-2020-bitcoin-drops-below-100000-whats-driving-markets-monday">Tech Stocks Tumble On AI Nightmare, Nvidia Eyes Worst Day Since March 2020, Bitcoin Drops Below $100,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Bigjom Jom via Shutterstock.

Movers

OKLO

Nuclear Stocks Are On The Rise Today: What's Going On?

Gladstone Land Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAND#NASDAQ">LAND</a>) ("Gladstone Land" or the "Company") announced that none of its California farms have been impacted by the recent wildfires that have occurred in the southern part of the state. The Company further notes that all of its farms in the state growing permanent crops are insured by the Company or its tenant-farmers under policies that would cover both the crops and any potential loss of crop income.

LAND

Gladstone Land Announces That None Of Its California Farms Have Been Impacted By The Recent Wildfires That Have Occurred In The Southern Part Of The State

Pool's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POOL#NYSE">POOL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.79% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.89 million shares sold short, which is 8.88% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 7.86 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>Pool Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738006222_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Pool 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 Pool'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>, Pool's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.39%, 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

POOL

How Is The Market Feeling About Pool?

eBay's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NYSE">EBAY</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.82% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.87 million shares sold short, which is 4.5% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.31 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>eBay Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738006217_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for eBay 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 eBay'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>, eBay's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.58%, 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.

EBAY

(EBAY) - Analyzing eBay's Short Interest

Elevance Health's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.37% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.63 million shares sold short, which is 1.57% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.98 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>Elevance Health Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738006211_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Elevance Health 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 Elevance Health'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>, Elevance Health's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.53%, 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.

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

How Is The Market Feeling About Elevance Health?

On Saturday, Pfizer Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) revealed results from the Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial evaluating Braftovi&nbsp;(encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab (marketed as Erbitux) and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43216973/pfizers-braftovi-combination-regimen-demonstrates-improved-response-in-patients-with-braf-v600e-mu" rel="noreferrer noopener">a&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PFE" rel="noreferrer noopener">BRAF V600E</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43216973/pfizers-braftovi-combination-regimen-demonstrates-improved-response-in-patients-with-braf-v600e-mu" rel="noreferrer noopener"> mutation</a>.
At the time of this analysis, the Braftovi combination regimen demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in confirmed objective response rate (ORR) compared to patients receiving chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43216973/pfizers-braftovi-combination-regimen-demonstrates-improved-response-in-patients-with-braf-v600e-mu" rel="noreferrer noopener">(60.9% vs. 40.0%)</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42986202/pfizer-eyes-20-billion-revenue-from-acquisitions-amid-patent-cliff-challenges" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pfizer Eyes $20 Billion Revenue From Acquisitions Amid Patent Cliff Challenges</a>
The results were presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium (ASCO GI) and were simultaneously published in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41591-024-03443-3&amp;esheet=54190707&amp;newsitemid=20250124736884&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Nature+Medicine&amp;index=2&amp;md5=e34d314000d7a0319df057ab6633d8e1" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>.
The estimated median duration of response was 13.9 months with Braftovi plus cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 and 11.1 months with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
Of patients on Braftovi plus cetuximab and mFOLFOX6, 22.4% (n=15) had a response lasting 12 months or longer, compared to 11.4% (n=5) with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
The median time to response was 7.1 weeks with Braftovi plus cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 and 7.3 weeks with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
Overall survival (OS) data were immature during this analysis but demonstrated a trend favoring Braftovi plus cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 compared to patients receiving chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
Median overall survival with Braftovi plus cetuximab with chemotherapy was not estimable, and 14.6 months with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
The BREAKWATER trial is ongoing for OS and progression-free survival (PFS), with PFS results expected in 2025.
The safety profile of Braftovi in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 in the BREAKWATER trial was consistent with the known safety profile of each respective agent. No new safety signals were identified.
In December 2024, the FDA granted accelerated approval to Braftovi in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 for BRAF&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/b42626814/u-s-fda-approves-pfizers-braftovi-combination-regimen-as-first-line-treatment-of-braf-v600e-mutant" rel="noreferrer noopener">V600E</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/b42626814/u-s-fda-approves-pfizers-braftovi-combination-regimen-as-first-line-treatment-of-braf-v600e-mutant" rel="noreferrer noopener">-mutant mCRC</a>.
Price Action: PFE stock is up 2.76% at $26.81 at the last check on Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43237532/veru-shares-tumble-despite-enobosarms-lean-muscle-preservation-breakthrough" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Veru Shares Tumble Despite Enobosarm&#8217;s Lean Muscle Preservation Breakthrough</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Biotech

Large Cap

Health Care

General

Pfizer's Conditionally Approved Braftovi Combo Therapy Regime Shows Improved Response In Colorectal Cancer Patients

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.270018/gov.uscourts.mad.270018.64.0.pdf" title="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.270018/gov.uscourts.mad.270018.64.0.pdf">https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.270018/gov.uscourts.mad.270018.64.0.pdf</a>

IRBT

Class Action Lawsuit Against iRobot Has Been Dismissed With Prejudice

The Federal Reserve's first meeting of 2025 comes at a moment of elevated uncertainty, as a brutal tech sell-off erased trillions in market value and fresh tensions between President Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell may threaten to shake interest rate policy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">in the months ahead.</a>
Tech stocks took a massive hit at the start of the week, driven by concerns over China&#8217;s DeepSeek, an open-source AI model that reportedly rivals top U.S. models at a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43239042/magnificent-seven-broadcom-lose-nearly-900-billion-in-value-as-deepseek-sparks-ai-carnage-why-this-expert-is-still-bullish-on-us-tech">fraction of the cost. </a>
The reaction was swift and severe. The VIX index, also known as market fear gauge, soared 25% on Monday with Wall Street shedding over $1.2 trillion in market capitalization. NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 16%, erasing nearly $500 billion in value.
Despite the market chaos, it&#8217;s a done deal the Fed expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.25%-4.50% after three consecutive cuts totaling 100 basis points last year, giving investors no room to hope for a miracle. 
Yet, the real focus will be on Powell's messaging, whether he signals that further cuts are coming or if the central bank will hold firm in its inflation fight despite political interference from Washington. 
Trump has a history of pushing for lower interest rates, clashing with Powell during his first term over monetary policy. Now, with inflation moderating, the president appears ready to pressure the Fed again.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">How Many Interest-Rate Cuts In 2025?</h1>
At its last meeting in December, the Fed projected only two rate cuts in 2025, revising earlier expectations of four. 
Policymakers also raised their inflation forecast for headline Personal Consumption Expenditures to 2.5%, up from 2.1% in September. Core PCE inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is now seen at 2.5% in 2025, up from 2.2% earlier.
Investors will be watching closely to see if Powell acknowledges recent benign inflation reports, which some argue could justify a more dovish stance. 
Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle highlighted in a note Monday that &#8220;in the press conference, we will listen for hints about whether the further decline in inflation we expect in coming months could open the door to rate cuts.&#8221;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Trump vs. Powell: A New Round In The Interest Rate Fight?</h1>
This week's Fed meeting will be the first since Trump returned to the White House, and tensions between the president and Powell are already heating up.
During a video speech at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43170854/trump-outlines-economic-reset-at-davos-5-things-you-need-to-know">World Economic Forum last Thursday</a>, Trump made his stance on interest rates clear: "With oil prices going down, I&#8217;ll demand that interest rates drop immediately, and likewise, they should be dropping all over the world.&#8221;
Journalists will likely press Powell on whether Trump's remarks influence policy decisions, but the Fed chair has consistently emphasized the central bank's independence.
Yet, speculation is already swirling about whether Trump could try to remove Powell before his term expires in May 2026. 
According to Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated betting market, there is a 21% chance Powell will be out as Fed chair by the end of the year.
<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: 0;" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/LEAVEPOWELL-25/markets/LEAVEPOWELL-25-DEC31?color_scheme=light&amp;widget_size=large" width="552px" height="400px"></iframe>
A pressing issue is the potential impact of Trump's trade policies on inflation. Goldman Sachs estimated last week that new tariffs could add up to one percentage point to inflation if they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43193866/trumps-tariff-hikes-could-stoke-consumer-inflation-jitters-challenge-fed-goldman-sachs-warns">significantly influence consumer expectations.</a> That could complicate the Fed's decision-making, forcing policymakers to balance inflation risks with economic growth concerns.
Beyond interest rates and inflation, another potential Trump-Powell clash could emerge over digital assets. 
The president signed last week an executive order aimed at strengthening U.S. leadership in digital assets, which some speculate could lay the groundwork for a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) strategic reserve later this year.
Powell, however, remains firmly opposed to Bitcoin as a central bank asset. "We&#8217;re not allowed to own Bitcoin," he said in December, stressing that the Federal Reserve Act <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/12/42564807/powell-triggers-market-carnage-vix-spikes-58-stocks-plummet-dollar-hits-2-year-highs-bitcoin-nosedives">prohibits such holdings. </a>
"People use Bitcoin as a speculative asset… It's just like gold, only it's virtual, it's digital," he also added. 
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43203417/dollar-cracks-below-50-day-moving-average-as-trumps-tariff-trade-unwinds-buy-the-rumor-sell-the-fact">Dollar Cracks Below 50-Day Moving Average As Trump&#8217;s Tariff Trade Unwinds: &#8216;Buy The Rumor, Sell The Fact&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Macro Economic Events

Politics

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

$BTC

NVDA

Traders Want The Fed To Tame Market Volatility, Yet Trump-Powell Interest Rate Fight Is Just Beginning

VSME

VS Media SG To Acquire 21% Stake In S T Meng For 1.5M Class A Shares

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) analyst Mark Delaney highlights the Model Y update, automotive market share, what consumers are saying in a new survey and key questions ahead of the company's fourth quarter earnings report on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">Wednesday, Jan. 29.</a>
Tesla Model Y: The refreshed Model Y, which comes to the U.S. and Europe after a launch in China earlier this month, offers good upgrades, Goldman Sachs analyst Delaney said in the investor note.
The analyst maintained a Neutral rating with a price target of $345.
"Some of the changes made in the refresh, beyond the extended range, include updated exterior lighting, an added screen for the back seat, ambient lighting, and better outside noise reduction," Delaney said.
The analyst said a new camera on the front bumper could better assist with parking and also could be used for Autopilot and FSD. &nbsp;
Tesla is offering discounts on Model Y units in inventory ahead of the refresh launch in March.
"Mix and how fast Tesla ramps up production of the refreshed version will help determine the effect on blended ASPs. We believe the new version offers several good enhancements."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43172806/tesla-lost-15-billion-in-brand-value-in-2024-report-says-did-elon-musks-political-push-hurt-ev-giant">Tesla Lost $15 Billion In Brand Value In 2024, Report Says: Did Elon Musk&#8217;s Political Push Hurt EV Giant?</a>
Tesla Market Share: The analyst estimates Tesla's sales in the U.S. were flat in the fourth quarter on a year-over-year basis. Tesla's market share for the electric vehicle sector in the U.S. likely hit "the mid 40% range," Delaney said. This would be down from around 50% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Delaney estimates Tesla's sales in the European market were down 10% year-over-year in the fourth quarter and its market share went from 16% in last year's fourth quarter to 13% in this most recent fourth quarter.
The analyst said Tesla's sales in China are estimated up 16% year-over-year in the fourth quarter and the company had a high-single-digit percentage market share for battery-powered electric vehicles.
Consumer Feedback Survey: Delaney uses data from a HundredX consumer feedback survey to predict Tesla's demand.
"The survey data still shows a decline for Tesla in the brand/trust metric, whereas the score for the broader industry have been relatively stable. Similarly, Tesla's net purchase intent scores have declined by more than the peer group," Delaney said.
The analyst said items like new vehicles and Full Self Driving are keys in potentially reversing the Tesla scores going forward.
Key Items to Watch: Ahead of Tesla's fourth-quarter financial results, Delaney highlights the top items to watch.
These are the analyst&#8217;s key topics for the earnings report:
<ol>
<li>Automotive non-GAAP gross margins</li>
<li>Vehicle delivery outlook for 2025</li>
<li>Progress with FSD and AI-related efforts</li>
<li>Growth in other segments, including Services and Energy</li>
<li>Progress with Optimus and expectations on ramp timing</li>
</ol>
"We believe a key debate in the market will be whether Tesla can grow more meaningfully in 2025/2026, driven by a refreshed Model Y and a new lower-cost model or models," Delaney said.
The analyst said Tesla is targeting 20% to 30% year-over-year growth in deliveries in 2025.
Delaney said the potential end of the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles could be a key topic in the company commentary.
On the AI front, Delaney said Tesla is unlikely to hit a goal of being safer than human drivers in the second quarter of 2025. The analyst also questions Tesla's timeline launch of the Cybercab robotaxi in 2026.
"We expect Tesla to begin very limited robotaxi operations in 2H26."
TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock is down 3.02% to $394.62 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $138.80 to $488.54. Tesla stock is up about 110% over the past year.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42856115/tesla-analyst-on-high-stakes-future-optimus-robotaxi-fsd-have-potential-but-execution-risks-loom">Tesla Analyst On High-Stakes Future: Optimus, Robotaxi, FSD Have Potential, But Execution Risks Loom</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Earnings

Price Target

Previews

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

TSLA

Tesla Analyst's Top 5 Items To Watch In Q4 Earnings: Will Refreshed Model Y, New EVs Help Growth?

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Pinterest (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in PINS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 11 extraordinary options activities for Pinterest. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 27% leaning bullish and 45% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $107,666, and 8 are calls, amounting to $725,015.
<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 $25.0 to $50.0 for Pinterest during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Pinterest's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Pinterest's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $25.0 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Pinterest 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738005326_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$1.97</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$1.68</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$178.1K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$1.14</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$172.0K</td>
<td>998</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$1.83</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$129.2K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$1.74</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.74</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$91.1K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/31/25</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>$0.42</td>
<td>$0.43</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$44.1K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>225</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Pinterest</h3>
Pinterest is a social media platform with a focus on product and idea discovery. Pinterest users, or pinners, can leverage the platform as they go about gathering ideas on topics such as home improvement, fashion, cooking, and travel. The company has more than 500 million monthly active users, two thirds of whom are female. Pinterest generates revenue by selling digital ads on its platform. While the platform's user base spans the globe, the vast majority of its revenue stems from ads shown to North American users.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Pinterest, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Pinterest</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 4,328,891, the price of PINS is up 0.91% at $33.2. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 10 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Pinterest</h3>
A total of 4 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $36.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Pinterest with a target price of $36. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies has revised its rating downward to Hold, adjusting the price target to $32. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keybanc persists with their Overweight rating on Pinterest, maintaining a target price of $37. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Pinterest, which currently sits at a price target of $39. 
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 Pinterest, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

PINS

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With PINS

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Western Digital.
Looking at options history for Western Digital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) we detected 16 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 68% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 31% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $355,746 and 11, calls, for a total amount of $565,725.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $58.0 to $75.0 for Western Digital over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Western Digital options trades today is 4491.0 with a total volume of 11,190.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Western Digital's big money trades within a strike price range of $58.0 to $75.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Western Digital Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738005322_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$215.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$164.6K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td>503</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$3.35</td>
<td>$3.38</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$84.7K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
<td>753</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$2.1</td>
<td>$1.95</td>
<td>$2.04</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$47.9K</td>
<td>16.8K</td>
<td>235</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$2.03</td>
<td>$2.0</td>
<td>$2.0</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$46.0K</td>
<td>16.8K</td>
<td>678</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Western Digital</h3>
Western Digital is a leading vertically integrated supplier of data storage solutions, spanning both hard disk drives and solid-state drives. In the HDD market it forms a practical duopoly with Seagate, and it is the largest global producer of NAND flash chips for SSDs in a joint venture with competitor Kioxia.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Western Digital, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Western Digital's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 4,141,118, the WDC's price is down by -2.69%, now at $65.6. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 2 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Western Digital</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $85.2.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Western Digital, which currently sits at a price target of $84. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $95. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Mizuho has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Western Digital, which currently sits at a price target of $82. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Western Digital, which currently sits at a price target of $80. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Western Digital with a target price of $85. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Western Digital with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Behind the Scenes of Western Digital's Latest Options Trends

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Rio Tinto. Our analysis of options history for Rio Tinto (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIO#NYSE">RIO</a>) revealed 11 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 54% of traders were bullish, while 27% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 9 were puts, with a value of $928,577, and 2 were calls, valued at $69,620.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $52.5 to $75.0 for Rio Tinto over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Rio Tinto stands at 1673.56, with a total volume reaching 2,468.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Rio Tinto, situated within the strike price corridor from $52.5 to $75.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Rio Tinto Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738005316_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>RIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$13.6</td>
<td>$15.2</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$466.6K</td>
<td>136</td>
<td align="right">308</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$2.45</td>
<td>$2.45</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$109.5K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td align="right">542</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$87.8K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td align="right">294</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$65.7K</td>
<td>440</td>
<td align="right">138</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$1.6</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$60.5K</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
<td align="right">467</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Rio Tinto</h3>
Rio Tinto is a global diversified miner. Iron ore is the dominant commodity, with significantly lesser contributions from copper, aluminum, diamonds, gold, and industrial minerals. The 1995 merger of RTZ and CRA, via a dual-listed structure, created the present-day company. The two operate as a single business entity, with shareholders in each company having equivalent economic and voting rights. Major assets included the Pilbara iron ore operations, a 30% stake in the Escondida copper mine, 66%-ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, the Weipa and Gove bauxite mines in Australia, and six hydro-powered aluminum smelters in Canada.
In light of the recent options history for Rio Tinto, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Rio Tinto's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,445,321, the price of RIO is down -0.81% at $61.59. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 23 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Rio Tinto</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $73.0.
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 Jefferies continues to hold a Buy rating for Rio Tinto, targeting a price of $73. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Rio Tinto with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Rio Tinto Unusual Options Activity

BofA Securities analyst Rafe Jadrosich downgraded D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SDHC#NYSE">SDHC</a>), citing a tough outlook for homebuilder stocks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">as the spring selling season approaches</a>.
Notably, the analyst says that Homebuilder stocks lagged the market in 2024 due to declining demand in the second half of the year, driven by higher mortgage rates.
The analyst anticipates the tough environment for homebuilders will continue through the first half of 2025.
The analyst expects return-on-equity to decline in 2025 for seven out of eight homebuilders, with order growth impacting margins.
The analyst&#8217;s top picks in builders are Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOL#NYSE">TOL</a>) and NVR, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVR#NYSE">NVR</a>). TOL&#8217;s valuation is attractive compared to other builders with similar or lower ROE. NVR is the only builder in the analyst&#8217;s coverage universe that can hold ROE flat in 2025 vs. 2024.
Housing markets in the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic should outperform the Southeast and other regions, while the move-up and luxury segments are set to outperform entry-level markets, adds the analyst.
DHI: The analyst downgraded D.R. Horton from Buy to Neutral and cut the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DHI/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast from $160 to $150</a>.
The analyst writes that lot costs, which make up 26%-27% of total costs, are rising (+3% QoQ, +10% YoY in first-quarter), and DHI expects similar inflation before moderating to mid-to-high single digits on year in the next couple of quarters.
Due to the tough housing macro (higher rates, more supply), DHI may struggle to raise prices to offset lot cost inflation, adds the analyst.
The analyst says that DHI is no longer investing in its rental segment, but rental inventory already accounts for 11% of book value.
Jadrosich expects a low single-digit ROE for rentals in 2025, which will drag overall ROE by &gt;100bps.
Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43095811/d-r-horton-q1-earnings-beat-despite-soft-housing-market-fy25-outlook-reiterated" rel="noreferrer noopener">D.R. Horton Q1: Earnings Beat Despite Soft Housing Market, FY25 Outlook Reiterated</a>
SDHC: The analyst downgraded the company from Neutral to Underperform and cut the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sdhc/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast from $33 to $22</a>.
Jadrosich says that, like other builders, SDHC faces cost inflation headwinds while higher mortgage rates pressure net prices.
While ~15% community count growth and faster build cycles provide delivery tailwinds, the analyst notes absorptions will also need to improve to meet the guidance.
The valuation appears less compelling compared to peers, given the expectation that Smith Douglas&#8217; delivery growth will moderate in 2025 and its ROE will normalize closer to the group average, adds the analyst.
The analyst expect delivery growth of around 4% in 2025 vs. preliminary guidance of roughly 11% at the mid-point.
Jadrosich expects Smith Douglas to enter 2025 with a backlog that is down roughly 13% YoY.
Price Action: DHI shares are up 2.64% at $146.69, while SDHC sharesa re down 0.37% at $24.22 at the last check Monday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

Equities

Downgrades

SDHC

Homebuilders Brace For Tough 2025, Analyst Downgrades D.R. Horton And Smith Douglas Amid Market Pressures

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Toshi (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TOSHI</a>), a meme coin named after Coinbase co-founder Brian Armstrong, has outperformed meme coin heavyweights like Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) over the past week, seeing stellar gains after being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COIN">listed on Coinbase</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>24-Hour Trend</td>
<td>7-Day Trend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Toshi (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TOSHI</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$0.00117</td>
<td>$477.8 million</td>
<td>-31.7%&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;+224.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td>
<td>$0.319&nbsp;</td>
<td>$47 billion</td>
<td>-10%&nbsp;</td>
<td>-12.3%&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$0.00001819</td>
<td>$10.7 billion</td>
<td>-8.8%&nbsp;</td>
<td>-11.7%&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Trader Notes: Crypto trader BasedTricky emphasized Toshi's strong performance despite market dips, pointing to its impressive $1 billion 24-hour trading volume. 
He <a href="https://x.com/BasedTricky/status/1883873858815463918">predicts</a> that Toshi, dubbed the &#8220;Face of Coinbase,&#8221; could experience a strong rebound as market conditions stabilize.
Another crypto trader, Pennski Hardaway, believes Toshi could redefine the meme coin landscape, especially within Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains, if it crosses the $1 billion market cap. 
He <a href="https://x.com/0x_Imperius/status/1882588299010908500">sees</a> Toshi as a transformative force that could reignite innovation and enthusiasm in the space, while strengthening Coinbase's position in the crypto industry.
Statistics: Crypto trader rb3k <a href="https://x.com/rbthreek/status/1883333311952777514">noted</a> that the meme coin Toshi occupied the top spot in volume trading on Jan. 26, even outperforming Bitcoin in terms of trading volume.
Over the past seven days, Toshi has accumulated 220% gains leaving behind meme coin leaders like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>).
Community News: On Jan. 23, Coinbase officially announced Toshi's listing, propelling the token to an all-time high of $0.002273.
However, after a weekend rally, the coin faced a 32% decline in a single day, highlighting its volatility amid broader market uncertainty.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$PEPE

$SHIB

$TOSHI

Coinbase's Toshi Cat Coin Leaps Past Dogecoin, Shiba Inu With 200% Surge In One Week

BofA Securities analyst downgraded the shares of Bloomin&#8217; Brands Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLMN#NASDAQ">BLMN</a>) from Neutral to Underperform and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BLMN/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">lowered the price forecast from $18.00 to $13.00.</a>
Over the last decade, Bloomin&#8217;s transaction growth has averaged a decline of approximately 2% per year across its brands, with its largest brand, Outback, seeing a -1.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in traffic, said the analyst.
Outback US accounted for about 51% of Bloomin&#8217;s (BLMN) revenue in FY24, and following the Brazil licensing, this is expected to rise to around 53%.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43241652">Starbucks Q1 Earnings Preview: Data Shows Visits Down, Will Company Continue Streak Of Missing Revenue Estimates?</a>
While the casual dining sector generally experiences slow growth, Bloomin&#8217;s challenges have allowed competitors to gain a larger market share. The new management&#8217;s primary focus is on reversing the decline in traffic, noted the analyst.
Although BLMN&#8217;s volumes have consistently decreased, its margins have remained unexpectedly strong. Domestic same-store transaction counts across the BLMN system are roughly 10% lower than in 2019, but restaurant margins have only dropped by 70 basis points.
With flow-through margins around 40% on additional transactions, the analyst would have anticipated a margin decline closer to 260 basis points compared to 2019.
The fact that their pricing has been on par with or higher than direct competitors such as Texas Roadhouse Inc in the steak category, supports this perspective.
While turnarounds in casual dining are uncommon, they are not unattainable, as demonstrated by Chili&#8217;s. However, its parent company, Brinker International Inc made substantial investments in labor to enhance service and marketing efforts to attract customers.
To balance this, Brinker implemented significant price hikes. In contrast, the analyst notes an important difference between Chili&#8217;s and Bloomin&#8217; is that Chili&#8217;s had historically underpriced its competitors.
Bloomin&#8217;s brands, on the other hand, have maintained competitive pricing and lack the scale advantages within their segments to outspend rivals on marketing or value without compromising margins.
Although BLMN is currently priced below its historical average, the analyst anticipates that both revenue and earnings projections will continue to face pressure in the near future.
Price Action: BLMN shares are trading lower by 0.36% at $12.27 at the last check Monday.
Photo via Shutterstock.

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