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Rocky Mountain Ayre Inc is a holding company. It is engaged in producing BitLocation. It is a software platform that will provide ordinary currency exchange offices, shops, and other retail businesses a virtually no-cost, no-risk way to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and become cryptocurrency locations.

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Rocky Mountain Ayre Inc

Analyst Ratings

ESTC

CORRECTION: B of A Securities Analyst Koji Ikeda Downgraded Elastic From Buy To Neutral

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Reddit.
Looking at options history for Reddit (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) we detected 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 50% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 37% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $203,057 and 4, calls, for a total amount of $182,165.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $42.5 to $95.0 for Reddit over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Reddit's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Reddit's whale trades within a strike price range from $42.5 to $95.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Reddit 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725042175_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</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 style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$105.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">142</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">295</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$10.85</td>
<td>$10.4</td>
<td>$10.85</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$65.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">657</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$9.4</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">660</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$1.71</td>
<td>$1.51</td>
<td>$1.71</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$42.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">582</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">202</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RDDT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.4</td>
<td>$7.25</td>
<td>$8.2</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$40.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">303</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Reddit</h3>
Reddit Inc is engaged in providing internet content. The company provides online services that include gaming, sports, business, crypto, television and others.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Reddit, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Reddit</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,683,215, with RDDT's price up by 1.86%, positioned at $59.84.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 87 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Reddit</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $67.4.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Reddit, which currently sits at a price target of $59. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Piper Sandler keeps a Overweight rating on Reddit with a target price of $70. </li>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from Cannonball Research downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $67. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Needham lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $75.</li>
<li>An analyst from Roth MKM persists with their Buy rating on Reddit, maintaining a target price of $66. </li>
</ul>
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 Reddit, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

RDDT

Smart Money Is Betting Big In RDDT Options

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Pinterest (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with PINS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Pinterest.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 50% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $91,564, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $500,910.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $22.0 and $33.5 for Pinterest, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Pinterest's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Pinterest's whale trades within a strike price range from $22.0 to $33.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Pinterest 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725042170_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>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.43</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$228.9K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$4.25</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$119.4K</td>
<td>446</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$1.96</td>
<td>$1.94</td>
<td>$1.94</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$54.5K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>283</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$0.32</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>$0.32</td>
<td>$33.50</td>
<td>$41.2K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>$2.04</td>
<td>$2.04</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$40.8K</td>
<td>535</td>
<td>761</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Pinterest</h3>
Pinterest is an online product and idea discovery platform that helps users gather ideas on everything from cooking recipes to travel destinations. Founded in 2010, the platform consists of a largely female audience, which accounts for roughly two thirds of its nearly 500 million monthly active users. The company generates revenue by selling digital ads and is now rolling out more in-platform e-commerce features. About 20% of users reside in the US and Canada, but the region accounted for about 80% of revenue in 2023.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Pinterest, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Pinterest's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,295,759, the PINS's price is up by 0.54%, now at $31.37. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 59 days.</li>
</ul>
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 Pinterest with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

PINS

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With PINS

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with KLAC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 9 uncommon options trades for KLA.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 44% bullish and 33%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $606,892, and 2 are calls, for a total amount of $79,020.
<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 $520.0 to $850.0 for KLA during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of KLA stands at 83.83, with a total volume reaching 672.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in KLA, situated within the strike price corridor from $520.0 to $850.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>KLA 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725042165_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</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 style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$27.9</td>
<td>$26.0</td>
<td>$27.2</td>
<td>$800.00</td>
<td>$179.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">247</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">275</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$27.2</td>
<td>$25.3</td>
<td>$26.8</td>
<td>$800.00</td>
<td>$134.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">247</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">209</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$26.6</td>
<td>$26.2</td>
<td>$26.2</td>
<td>$800.00</td>
<td>$131.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">247</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$14.8</td>
<td>$14.85</td>
<td>$520.00</td>
<td>$63.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">45</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$56.9</td>
<td>$53.4</td>
<td>$56.4</td>
<td>$850.00</td>
<td>$45.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">46</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About KLA</h3>
KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.
Having examined the options trading patterns of KLA, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is KLA Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 218,177, with KLAC's price up by 0.79%, positioned at $802.07.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 54 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on KLA</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $960.0.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Buy rating on KLA with a target price of $960. </li>
</ul>
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 KLA with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

KLAC

KLA's Options: A Look at What the Big Money is Thinking

<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/841f6e58-b1bb-4c8e-bce0-a4c0b46ee2f8" title="https://www.ft.com/content/841f6e58-b1bb-4c8e-bce0-a4c0b46ee2f8">https://www.ft.com/content/841f6e58-b1bb-4c8e-bce0-a4c0b46ee2f8</a>

News

MSFT

'OpenAI considers changes to its corporate structure amid latest funding talks' - FT

Nvidia Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) push to maintain its lead in artificial intelligence chips involves a new line of larger, more complex processors called Blackwell, according to analysts.
These chips are nearly double the size of their predecessors, packing 2.6 times more transistors, the Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/nvidias-future-relies-on-chips-that-push-technologys-limits-bd3839fc?mod=hp_lead_pos4" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
However, this ambitious leap has led to significant manufacturing challenges, WSJ noted, impacting Nvidia&#8217;s profit margins and contributing to a $908 million provision.
During its recent earnings call, the company acknowledged these hurdles, announcing design adjustments to improve production yields.
A significant flaw can make a $40,000 Blackwell chip unusable, severely impacting manufacturing yields.
G. Dan Hutcheson, vice chair of TechInsights, told WSJ that the main challenge is getting these chips to function cohesively, as low yields in individual parts can lead to quick overall failure. Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), told WSJ that future complexity will rise as chipmakers stack more silicon layers for increased performance.
Analysts rerated Nvidia after its upbeat <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/08/40635333/nvidia-stock-dips-despite-q2-earnings-beat-is-the-ai-rally-fading" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter print</a>.
Wedbush analyst Matt Bryson reiterated an Outperform on Nvidia with a price target of $138.
Nvidia reported $30 billion in second-quarter sales driven by data center sales, which is in line with Bryson&#8217;s revised estimate, while management guided for $32.5 billion in revenues in the third quarter, which was just above his outlook.
Regarding Blackwell delays, management described a change to the Blackwell mask to improve yields, the analyst flagged.
Bryson noted that Nvidia expects shipments to ramp up in the fourth quarter, eying revenue worth several billion dollars for Blackwell this year. Gross margins will likely be in the mid-70s for fiscal 2025.
He added that Hopper revenues will likely grow in the second half of fiscal 2025, as Nvidia indicated. While the stock dropped meaningfully after hours, Bryson did not note anything in numbers or in Nvidia&#8217;s commentary that was concerning or suggested any slowing in momentum fundamentally.
Bryson calculated his price target by applying a price-to-earnings multiple of ~36x to his fiscal 2026 EPS estimate of $3.78 plus net cash of $1.01 per share. Bryson projects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $32.50 billion and 73 cents.
Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann maintained a Buy rating with a price target of $200.
Mosesmann noted that Nvidia reported a solid beat and raise on Hopper&#8217;s generative AI and networking momentum, offset by slightly lower gross margins in the outlook due to Blackwell&#8217;s start-up ramp for the January quarter.
Blackwell is undergoing a mask update to improve yields, but interestingly, the analyst said there will be no change to the January quarter revenue ramp going through the next fiscal.
Mosesmann argued that the company&#8217;s GPU roadmap is driven by accelerated computing, which has a significant ROI compared to general-purpose computing, and generative AI, which is still in its early stages of deployment.
Given Blackwell&#8217;s roadmap for the 2026 calendar year, the analyst remains bullish on the stock.
Mosesmann noted unconstrained fiscal 2027 EPS of $4.50 and applied a ~44x PE multiple, which drives his price target within Nvidia&#8217;s historical 37x-69x forward PE range, backed by more robust Data Center demand dynamics. Mosesmann projects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $32.50 billion and $0.73.
Price Action: NVDA stock traded up 0.14% at $117.84 at the last check on Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock

Price Target

Reiteration

Tech

Media

Trading Ideas

NVDA

Nvidia's Blackwell Chip Potential Signals Strong Future Growth: Analysts

MongoDB, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>)&nbsp;stock climbed on&nbsp;Friday after the company reported&nbsp;upbeat&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40639636/mongodb-stock-rallies-after-strong-q2-results-upbeat-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter earnings</a>&nbsp;on Thursday.
The company reported quarterly sales of $478.1 million, up 12.8% year-on-year. It topped analyst consensus estimates of $464 million. The quarterly earnings of 70 cents per share beat the analyst consensus estimate of 49 cents.
The results came amid an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">exciting earnings season</a>. Here are some key analyst takeaways.
<ul>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Rishi Jaluria reiterated MongoDB <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MDB/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with an Outperform</a> and a $350&nbsp;price target.</li>
<li>Stifel analyst Brad Reback maintained a Buy and raised the price target from&nbsp;$300&nbsp;to&nbsp;$325.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Miller Jump reiterated a Buy and raised the price target from&nbsp;$300&nbsp;to&nbsp;$320.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin maintained an Overweight and raised the price target from&nbsp;$300&nbsp;to&nbsp;$335.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst&nbsp;Kash Rangan&nbsp;reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $340.</li>
<li>JMP Securities analyst Patrick Walravens maintained an Outperform rating and a $350 price target.</li>
</ul>
RBC Capital: MongoDB reported a good beat-and-raise quarter, leading shares up 13% after market close, Jaluria noted. Atlas&#8217; revenue was solid. Margins and EPS upside were solid, and Jaluria raised his estimates. 
Most importantly, the analyst flagged that consumption trends improved, operational headwinds subsided, and new business generation was strong. Jaluria noted that the second quarter was a good outcome, and fiscal 2025 is back on track.
Considering MongoDB&#8217;s large TAM, powerful secular drivers, and category leadership, the price target implies a premium to the peer group.
Jaluria expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $495 million and 66 cents.
Stifel: MongoDB posted a solid rebound quarter. A 3% revenue beat was driven by consumption growth that modestly outperformed expectations and solid improvement in new business execution across Enterprise Advanced and Atlas, sending the stock up ~14% after hours after being down ~40% year-to-date, Reback noted. 
The analyst said results highlight improving execution in the challenged macro, which, combined with investments that should support gross margin expansion and an expanding set of core and emerging growth drivers, should enable the company to sustain 20%+ revenue growth and incremental levels of profitability and cash flow in coming years.
Reback expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $496.1 million and 68 cents.
Truist Securities: MongoDB produced second-quarter results that indicated some stabilization in the business after a shaky start to the year, Jump noted. From an execution perspective, the management team pointed to an improvement in new business as a sign of their operational rebound.
From a macro perspective, consumption patterns in the quarter uptick slightly from the first quarter but are not enough to change the company&#8217;s expectations for the remainder of the year. Jump expects the company to reaccelerate revenue growth by about 17% annually and scale to a 23% free cash flow margin by then.
Jump expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $495 million and 68 cents.
Piper Sandler: The solid beat-and-raise suggests the worst of a two-year growth moderation is now behind MongoDB, Bracelin noted. The second-quarter top-line growth could mark a near-term quarterly trough, setting up for accelerating growth into next year.
Bracelin expects further growth normalization back above the 20%+ range exiting next year, even with little benefit from artificial intelligence, another upside lever. The analyst adds that MongoDB remains a high-quality and profitable growth compounder with a modern cloud database facing favorable secular tailwinds that could help double revenue to $4 billion-$5 billion in three to five years. 
Solid execution, as evident by the quarterly beat-and-raise and underlying Atlas momentum, further increases Bracelin&#8217;s conviction that growth investors rebuild core positions in MongoDB.
Bracelin expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $495.2 million and 68 cents.
Goldman Sachs: MongoDB is well positioned to benefit from the growth of generative AI as their document model is best-in-class at processing rich, complex data structures quickly, and with more AI applications and data ultimately increasing the demand for Databases, Rangan&nbsp;noted. The analyst remains confident in MongoDB&#8217;s ability to win an outsized share of the $100 billion+ database market that can support durable 20% growth mid-term.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Rangan expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $$495 million and 67 cents.
JMP Securities: The rating followed the company, indicating healthier new business trends and Atlas strength. The company reported better-than-expected second-quarter results. The price target reflects a premium to the high-growth infrastructure peer group median multiple, which is warranted by MongoDB&#8217;s attractive market opportunity and strong leadership team.
Walravens expects third-quarter revenue and EPS of $496 million and 68 cents.
Price Action: MongoDB stock traded up 16.75% at $286.87 at last check Friday.
Now Read: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40658314/chipmakers-tick-up-as-nvidia-halts-sell-off-dollar-rises-as-traders-revise-fed-wagers-whats-driv">Chipmakers Tick Up As Nvidia Halts Sell-Off, Dollar Rises As Traders Revise Fed Wagers: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Friday?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

MongoDB Atlas Revenue 'Solid,' AI Integration Set To Drive Strong Cash Flows: Analysts

Citigroup analyst Eric Wolfe maintains Public Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSA#NYSE">PSA</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $303 to $378.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Public Storage, Raises Price Target to $378

Telegram, the company co-founded by Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire who has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40567036/telegram-ceo-pavel-durovs-arrest-by-france-means-they-practically-detained-the-head-of-communication">indicted in France</a> for allegedly failing to control criminal content on his platform, derives a significant share of its revenue from crypto-related operations.
What Happened: Telegram&#8217;s 2023 financials reveal that a significant portion of its revenue comes from crypto transactions. The company, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, reported $342.5 million in revenue last year, despite an operating loss of $108 million, according to a Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/242552a9-4280-46c0-9d61-bcf6ccd14400">report</a>.
Telegram&#8217;s revenue breakdown shows that over 40% comes from its "integrated wallet" and "sale of collectibles" line items, both closely tied to cryptocurrency. The integrated wallet is a software program that allows users to store, send, receive, and trade crypto assets. The company also sells different collectibles in exchange for Toncoins, a digital asset.
The TON blockchain, which underpins Toncoins, was originally developed in-house at Telegram. Digital assets make up a large portion of Telegram&#8217;s assets, valued at nearly $400 million.
Despite its heavy reliance on crypto and substantial liabilities, Telegram, wholly owned by Durov, has raised over $2.3 billion from blue-chip investors. The company&#8217;s valuation, according to Durov, exceeds $30 billion.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/27091545/Benzinga-conference.gif" alt="Benzinga future of digital assets conference" class="wp-image-267246" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40617113/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-formally-charged-by-judge-in-france-amid-rising-tensions-with-russia-bail-s">Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Formally Charged By Judge In France Amid Rising Tensions With Russia — Bail Set At $5.6M</a>
Why It Matters: The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40617113/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-formally-charged-by-judge-in-france-amid-rising-tensions-with-russia-bail-s">arrest of Durov</a> raises questions about the future of Telegram, especially given its heavy reliance on cryptocurrency. 
The company&#8217;s significant revenue from crypto transactions underscores the growing influence of digital assets in the tech industry, as evidenced by the drop in Toncoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TON</a>) price following Durov&#8217;s arrest. 
Despite these challenges, Telegram&#8217;s ability to attract significant investment indicates confidence in its long-term prospects.
What&#8217;s Next: The influence of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/is-bitcoin-a-good-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin as an institutional asset class</a>&nbsp;is expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga&#8217;s upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future of Digital Assets</a>&nbsp;event on Nov. 19.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/08/40563957/is-telegram-safer-than-whatsapp-or-signal-app-might-not-be-so-private-after-all-report">Is Telegram Safer Than WhatsApp Or Signal? App Might Not Be So Private After All: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$TON

Telegram Derives 40% Of Its Revenue From Crypto-Related Operations

Editor&#8217;s note: this article has been updated to reflect the views of the NCR more accurately.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled a hearing on Dec. 2, 2024, to discuss the proposed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/08/40613739/dea-schedules-hearing-on-proposed-ban-of-psychedelics-doi-doc-amid-researchers-concerns">reclassification of cannabis as a Schedule III substance</a> under the Controlled Substances Act. This marks a crucial step in the ongoing process of cannabis rescheduling, drawing attention from industry leaders and stakeholders.
Saphira Galoob, executive director of the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) and upcoming speaker at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/cannabis-conference/">Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference</a>, issued a press release sharing the organization's position on the hearing, emphasizing the importance of utilizing every aspect of the administrative process.
"For significant decisions, it is only logical that all pieces of the administrative process are utilized, and a hearing reflects the gravity of change that accompanies reversing decades of misguided federal drug policy," she said.
The Role of Science and Public Opinion
Galoob highlighted the overwhelming support for moving cannabis to Schedule III. Tens of thousands of individuals and organizations have submitted comments in favor of the change, she noted.
Scientific and medical analyses conducted by federal health agencies, including the FDA and NIDA, have recognized the accepted medical use of cannabis. "We will continue to stand in strong support of the medical and science-driven analyses by multiple federal health agencies," Galoob affirmed.
Implications of Rescheduling
The rescheduling of cannabis has been a long-standing issue within the industry, with many advocating for its removal from Schedule I, where it currently sits alongside substances like heroin. Moving cannabis to Schedule III would acknowledge its medical benefits and potentially ease some of the restrictions that have hindered research and industry growth.
Galoob reiterated the NCR&#8217;s commitment to supporting the rescheduling effort and countering misinformation. "We look forward to the opportunity to participate in a hearing to speak in strong support of these conclusions… and to combat the misinformation being put forward by those who continue to ignore the science and data on cannabis," she stated.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Cannabis rescheduling seems to be right around the corner. Want to understand what this means for the future of the industry? Hear directly for top executives, investors and policymakers at the&nbsp;19th Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference,&nbsp;coming to Chicago this Oct. 8-9.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets now</a>&nbsp;before prices surge by following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benzinga-capital-conference-cannabis-fall-2024-tickets-858948065787?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this link</a>.
Photo: Courtesy of geralt, lindsayfox Pixabay

Cannabis

Events

Cannabis Rescheduling Could Reverse 'Decades Of Misguided Drug Policy,' Says Key Industry Organization Following DEA Hearing Rescheduling (UPDATED)

Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that analyst Koji Ikeda covers Elastic N.V. for Bank of America Securities.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page.</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58e64305b85e9300014c97f9/wamsi-mohan">B of A Securities analyst Koji Ikeda</a> downgraded the rating for Elastic N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESTC#NYSE">ESTC</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $140 to $94. Elastic shares gained 0.6% to close at $103.64 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/estc/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom downgraded Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>) from Buy to Hold and announces $90 price target. Dollar General shares fell 32.2% to close at $84.03 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/dg/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/59c264af6e84a70001eb1bb9/oliver-chen">TD Cowen analyst Oliver Chen</a> downgraded the rating for Kohl&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KSS#NYSE">KSS</a>) from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target from $25 to $21. Kohl&#8217;s shares rose 0.6% to close at $19.77 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/kss/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Stifel analyst Selman Akyol downgraded the rating for EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENLC#NYSE">ENLC</a>) from Buy to Hold and maintained the price target of $15. EnLink Midstream shares gained 9.4% to settle at $14.40 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/enlc/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/620ce684a9d04f0001c832d4/leo-you">CLSA analyst Leo You</a> downgraded Baozun Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BZUN#NASDAQ">BZUN</a>) from Outperform to Hold and cut the price target from $2.8 to $2.2. Baozun shares gained 4.5% to close at $2.32 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bzun/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
Considering buying DG stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="523" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30085157/image-317-1024x523.png" alt="" class="wp-image-523090" style="width:605px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30085157/image-317-1024x523.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30085157/image-317-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30085157/image-317-768x392.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/30085157/image-317.png 1327w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>

Downgrades

Pre-Market Outlook

BZUN

ENLC

This Dollar General Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Downgrades For Friday (CORRECTED)

Macro Notification

General

U.S. Trade Representative Requests Trade Dispute Settlement Consultations With Canada Over New Digital Services Tax; Says Tax Is Discriminatory And May Violate USMCA; USTR Could Seek Dispute Settlement Panel If Issues Aren't Resolved Within 75 Days

Throughout the last three months, 11 analysts have evaluated Samsara (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IOT#NYSE">IOT</a>), offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $41.91, a high estimate of $47.00, and a low estimate of $36.00. This current average has decreased by 1.85% from the previous average price target of $42.70. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725040832_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
A clear picture of Samsara's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matt Bullock</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Zukin</td>
<td>Wolfe Research</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Schappel</td>
<td>Loop Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
<td>$42.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Bullock</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Jester</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Hedberg</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kirk Materne</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Samsara. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Samsara compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Samsara's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Samsara's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IOT/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Samsara analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Samsara</h2>
Samsara Inc provides an end-to-end solution for operations: The solution connects physical operations data to the Connected Operations Cloud, which consists of the Data Platform and Application. Geographically, it derives a majority of its revenue from the United States.
<h3>Breaking Down Samsara's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company exhibits a lower market capitalization profile, positioning itself below industry averages. This suggests a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Growth: Samsara displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 April, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 37.4%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: Samsara's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of -20.05%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Samsara's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of -6.12%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Samsara's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -3.23%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.1, Samsara adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Deep Dive Into Samsara Stock: Analyst Perspectives (11 Ratings)

Travel over the Labor Day holiday has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/08/40653618/labor-day-weekend-with-a-billionaire-did-benzinga-readers-pick-musk-branson-cuban-gates-or-bezo">picked up significantly</a> from a year ago, data revealed.
Domestic travel is up 9% from the same period last year as American Automobile Association (AAA) booking data shows a 30% jump in trips to Seattle, partly because Seattle is a major port city for cruises to Alaska.
"This is a great time of year to take a cruise to Alaska. Crowds are smaller than earlier in the summer, the weather is still decent, although chillier than in July and August, and you may even see some fall colors," said Doreen Loofburrow, senior vice president of travel at AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Gas prices over Labor Day are averaging $3.35 a gallon nationwide, down from an average of $3.81 a gallon during the same period in 2023, according to AAA.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40577215/elliott-plans-meeting-with-southwest-over-immense-challenges-may-push-for-board-changes">Elliott Plans Meeting With Southwest Over &#8216;Immense&#8217; Challenges, May Push For Board Changes</a>
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it plans to screen more than 17 million people at airports during what is expected to be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record from Aug. 29 into Sept. 4. TSA expects to screen 2.86 million travelers on the busiest day of Aug. 30.
The TSA said this summer&#8217;s air travel volumes have been the highest it has seen in its history, and it expects passenger volumes to be 8.5% higher than last year during this time. 
&#8220;People are traveling more than ever this summer and TSA along with our airline and airport partners stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. 
Price Action: Rental car companies, airlines and cruise providers gave varied performances on Wall Street into Friday&#8217;s early-afternoon trading as the busy travel period was underway.
<ul>
<li>Hertz Global Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTZ#NASDAQ">HTZ</a>) declined 3.1% to $3.10</li>
<li>Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAR#NASDAQ">CAR</a>) fell 0.99% to $81.82</li>
<li>Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) gained 1.1% to $42.01</li>
<li>United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) rose 1.92% to $43.46</li>
<li>Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) slipped 1.42% to $16.31</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) slid 0.98% to $17.67</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40658314/chipmakers-tick-up-as-nvidia-halts-sell-off-dollar-rises-as-traders-revise-fed-wagers-whats-driv">Chipmakers Tick Up As Nvidia Halts Sell-Off, Dollar Rises As Traders Revise Fed Wagers: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Friday?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Ozkan Ulucam via Shutterstock

Travel

NCLH

Labor Day Getaway: Travelers Hit The Road As Gas Prices Drop

Across the recent three months, 14 analysts have shared their insights on Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Walgreens Boots Alliance, presenting an average target of $14.0, a high estimate of $22.00, and a low estimate of $7.00. A 30.73% drop is evident in the current average compared to the previous average price target of $20.21. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725040811_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
The perception of Walgreens Boots Alliance by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Valiquette</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Caliendo</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Ryhee</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Valiquette</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Erin Wright</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$9.00</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Allen Lutz</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$11.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elizabeth Anderson</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Caliendo</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Valiquette</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elizabeth Anderson</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Walgreens Boots Alliance. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Walgreens Boots Alliance compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Walgreens Boots Alliance's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Walgreens Boots Alliance's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WBA/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Walgreens Boots Alliance analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Walgreens Boots Alliance</h2>
Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the US, with over 8,500 locations. Nearly three quarters of Americans live within five miles of a Walgreens location. Roughly two thirds of revenue is generated from prescription drug sales; Walgreens makes up 20% of total prescription revenue in the US. Walgreens also generates sales from retail products (general wellness consumables and its own branded merchandise), European drug wholesale, and healthcare. With more locations incorporating additional services like Health Corner and Village Medical, Walgreens creates an omnichannel experience for patients and positions itself as a one-stop healthcare provider.
<h3>Financial Insights: Walgreens Boots Alliance</h3>
Market Capitalization: With restricted market capitalization, the company is positioned below industry averages. This reflects a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Walgreens Boots Alliance showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 2.64% as of 31 May, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Consumer Staples sector.
Net Margin: Walgreens Boots Alliance's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 0.95%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Walgreens Boots Alliance's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 2.54%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.
Return on Assets (ROA): Walgreens Boots Alliance's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.41%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Walgreens Boots Alliance's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 2.4, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On Walgreens Boots Alliance Through 14 Analysts

Brazil appears to be on the brink of banning <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40612658/elon-musk-says-he-survived-on-1-per-day-before-becoming-the-richest-man-in-the-world-in-america-its">Elon Musk&#8216;s social media platform</a> X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, before October.
What Happened: According to <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/x-banned-in-brazil-before-october?tid=1725037020170">data</a> from prediction market Polymarket, there is an 80% chance of this occurring, with the market showing a significant 28% increase in recent trading.
The potential ban stems from an escalating legal dispute between Musk and Brazilian authorities, particularly Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. 
The conflict centers around X&#8217;s compliance with court orders to block certain accounts accused of spreading misinformation, a demand Musk has characterized as censorship.
On Thursday, the Brazilian Supreme Court took dramatic action by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40643433/elon-musk-lashes-out-at-judge-after-brazils-supreme-court-blocks-starlinks-bank-accounts-criminal-we">imposing a financial freeze on Starlink</a>, a subsidiary of Musk&#8217;s SpaceX.
This move came in response to X&#8217;s failure to appoint legal representatives in Brazil and pay outstanding fines related to document requests.
Justice de Moraes has given X a 24-hour ultimatum to designate a legal representative in Brazil or face potential suspension. 
The court&#8217;s decision emphasizes that companies failing to comply with Brazilian laws or protect user privacy could face <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40623911/brazilian-supreme-court-tells-elon-musk-to-appoint-legal-representative-for-x-in-24-hours-or-face-su">temporary suspension of their activities</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/27091545/Benzinga-conference.gif" alt="Benzinga future of digital assets conference" class="wp-image-267246" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40655318/ethereum-co-founders-2-1m-ether-transfer-raises-eyebrows-why-is-vitalik-buterin-dumping">Ethereum Co-Founder&#8217;s $2.1M Ether Transfer Raises Eyebrows: Why Is Vitalik Buterin Dumping?</a>
Musk has publicly criticized the court&#8217;s actions, calling Justice de Moraes a &#8220;criminal wearing judges robes like a Halloween costume.&#8221; 
He also pointed out that SpaceX and X are separate entities with different shareholders, arguing that the court&#8217;s actions unfairly punish other stakeholders.
The potential ban of X in Brazil, one of its largest markets, comes at a challenging time for the platform, which is already grappling with declining advertising revenue. 
This situation highlights the growing tensions between global tech platforms and national regulatory frameworks.
What&#8217;s Next: These topics will be central to Benzinga&#8217;s upcoming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/">Future of Digital Assets</a> event on Nov. 19, where industry leaders and experts will likely address the implications of such international disputes on the digital landscape.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40651187/underwater-bitcoin-buyers-refuse-to-book-losses-but-on-chain-data-shows-this-may-be-the-ca">Underwater Bitcoin Buyers Refuse To Book Losses, But On-Chain Data Shows This May Be The Calm Before The Storm</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Elon Musk's X Platform Faces 80% Chance Of Being Banned In Brazil Before October, Polymarket Data Shows

Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when Genesco (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gco#NYSE">GCO</a>) reports results for the quarter ended July 2024. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company&#39;s earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on September 6. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management&#39;s discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it&#39;s worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
<h2>Zacks Consensus Estimate</h2>
This seller of footwear, hats, clothing and accessories is expected to post quarterly loss of $1.12 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -31.8%.
Revenues are expected to be $512.19 million, down 2.1% from the year-ago quarter.
<h2>Estimate Revisions Trend</h2>
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 9.68% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
<h2>Earnings Whisper</h2>
Estimate revisions ahead of a company&#39;s earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model&#39;s predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
<h2>How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Genesco?</h2>
For Genesco, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company&#39;s earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.14%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1.
So, this combination indicates that Genesco will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
<h2>Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?</h2>
While calculating estimates for a company&#39;s future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it&#39;s worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Genesco would post a loss of $2.66 per share when it actually produced a loss of $2.10, delivering a surprise of +21.05%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
<h2>Bottom Line</h2>
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it&#39;s worth checking a company&#39;s Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release.
Genesco appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
<h2>An Industry Player&#39;s Expected Results</h2>
Another stock from the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, J.Jill (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jill#NYSE">JILL</a>), is soon expected to post earnings of $0.94 per share for the quarter ended July 2024. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -14.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $155.13 million, down 0.4% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for J.Jill has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.33%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that J.Jill will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2329640/genesco-gco-expected-to-beat-earnings-estimates-should-you-buy?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_9-2329640">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Retail Sales

Small Cap

JILL

Genesco Expected to Beat Earnings Estimates: Should You Buy?

Pivotal Research analyst Jeffrey Wlodarczak maintains Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $800 to $900.

NFLX

Pivotal Research Maintains Buy on Netflix, Raises Price Target to $900

Shares of XPEL, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xpel#NASDAQ">XPEL</a>) have gained 12.2% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $43.49, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $65 indicates a potential upside of 49.5%.
The mean estimate comprises three short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $17.58. While the lowest estimate of $52 indicates a 19.6% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 95.5% to reach $85. It&#39;s very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.
But, for XPEL, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company&#39;s ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn&#39;t gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside.
<h2>Here&#39;s What You May Not Know About Analysts&#39; Price Targets</h2>
According to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company&#39;s fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock&#39;s price movement. While that doesn&#39;t necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
<h2>Why XPEL Could Witness a Solid Upside</h2>
Analysts&#39; growing optimism over the company&#39;s earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That&#39;s because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current year, one estimate has moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 3.1%.
Moreover, XPEL currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than the 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock&#39;s potential upside in the near term.
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much XPEL could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2329578/wall-street-analysts-believe-xpel-xpel-could-rally-49-46-here-s-is-how-to-trade?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|consensus_price_target-2329578">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

XPEL

Wall Street Analysts Believe XPEL Could Rally 49.46%: Here's is How to Trade

Brenmiller Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNRG#NASDAQ">BNRG</a>) shares are moving higher on Friday after the company reported a year-over-year increase in EPS for the first half of the 2024 fiscal year. In addition, the company announced a projected pipeline with a potential value of up to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40640482">$500 million</a>.
The Details: 
Brenmiller announced it signed a 5-year distribution agreement with Rock Energy Storage, with projected sales milestones of more than $150 million.
&#8220;We have built an impressive project pipeline, potentially worth up to $500 million in value, and our team is working tirelessly, day in and day out, to move this pipeline forward so that we can start delivering meaningful cost savings and emissions reductions for our customers as well as recurring revenues for our company and value for our shareholders.&#8221;
The company reported a loss of 45 cents per share up from a loss of $3.02 per share compared to the same period last year.
For the the first half of the year, Brenmiller also reported cash and cash equivalents of $6.99 million, operating loss of $5.38 million, net loss of $1.58 million and net cash used in operating activities of $3.86 million. The net loss represents a 70% decline compared to the prior year period.
&#8220;Our pioneering bGen thermal battery continues to support the growing and mostly unmet need for on-demand access to sustainable heat,&#8221; said Brenmiller chairman and CEO, Avi Brenmiller.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40628887/nvidia-analysts-say-pullback-is-buying-opportunity-pushing-ai-envelope-too-signific">Nvidia Analysts Say Pullback Is Buying Opportunity: &#8216;Pushing AI Envelope Too Significant To Slow Down&#8217;</a>
BNRG Price Action: Brenmiller Energy stock is moving 174% higher at $1.76 per data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Image via Shutterstock

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