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Over the weekend, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau&#8217;s (CFPB) operations were unexpectedly suspended. This followed DOGE lead Elon Musk&#8217;s apparent call for the agency&#8217;s dissolution in an X post on Saturday, where he wrote &#8220;CFPB RIP.&#8221; The decision is expected to benefit financial firms facing ongoing enforcement actions.
What Happened: Shortly after Musk&#8217;s post, the CFPB&#8217;s acting director, Russell Vought, who also recently became the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, took action.
Vought halted all pending CFPB investigations and supervisory activities. He then informed the Federal Reserve that the CFPB would not be requesting its next round of funding, citing the agency&#8217;s current $711.6 million balance as &#8220;excessive in the current fiscal environment.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Pursuant to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, I have notified the Federal Reserve that CFPB will not be taking its next draw of unappropriated funding because it is not &quot;reasonably necessary&quot; to carry out its duties. The Bureau&#39;s current balance of $711.6 million is in fact…
&mdash; Russ Vought (@russvought) <a href="https://twitter.com/russvought/status/1888423503537360986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Companies With Recent Enforcement Actions By CFPB</h3>
According to the CFPB <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/#:~:text=Early%20Warning%20Services%2C%20LLC;%20Bank,of%20dollars%20in%20consumer%20losses.">website</a>, it took recent actions on some listed companies like Equifax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>), Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>), and others.
<ul>
<li>The Bureau, in a release dated Jan. 17, said that Equifax violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Honda Motor&#8217;s American Honda Finance Corporation furnished inaccurate consumer reporting information. In a release dated Jan. 16, CFPB issued an order against Jack Dorsey&#8217;s Block for failing to provide effective customer service for Cash App, citing the failure to provide live telephone agents.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>): The Bureau alleged that the firm&#8217;s representations for its 360 Savings account were false or misleading for a period ranging from December 2020 to at least August 2024.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>): CFPB alleged that Walmart and Branch Messenger Inc. engaged in unfair, abusive, and deceptive practices by requiring Walmart Spark drivers to use Branch accounts for payment, often without consent, and misrepresenting the Branch account&#8217;s features.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>): The company allegedly violated the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act by giving things of value to real estate brokerages, including referrals, in exchange for referrals of real estate settlement business to Rocket Mortgage and Amrock.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Bureau also filed a lawsuit on Dec. 20, 2024, against Early Warning Services LLC., Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), and Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), alleging their failure to adequately protect the Zelle network from fraud and other vulnerabilities, leading to consumer losses totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42479974/us-lenders-file-joint-lawsuit-against-consumer-finance-watchdog-for-capping-overdraft-fees-wells-fargo-jpmorgan-citigroup-stocks-in-focus">US Lenders File Joint Lawsuit Against Consumer Finance Watchdog For Capping Overdraft Fees: Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, Citigroup Stocks In Focus</a>
Why It Matters: Tesla Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO, Musk, who is charged with cutting wasteful federal spending via the Department of Government Efficiency, in an X <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1861644897490751865">post</a> dated Nov. 27, 2024 had said, &#8220;Delete CFPB. There are too many duplicative regulatory agencies.&#8221; 
The co-founder and CEO of Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) Brian Armstrong supported Musk and said &#8220;CFPB is unconstitutional&#8221; and the U.S. already has Department of Justice to prosecute fraud.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">100% the right call The CFPB is unconstitutional on the face of it. And even if it wasn't, it should be deleted as we already have DOJ to prosecute fraud, and (many) other financial services regulators. It's an activist organization that has done enormous harm to the country. <a href="https://t.co/GlbETlnsZt">https://t.co/GlbETlnsZt</a>
&mdash; Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) <a href="https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1888385895163953554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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However, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in an X post said &#8220;The CFPB is protected by law and we will fight to ensure it can continue to fight for consumers.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is the richest man on earth bragging about destroying an agency that's returned BILLIONS of dollars to working Americans who were cheated by big corporations. Well guess what &#8211; the CFPB is protected by law and we will fight to ensure it can continue to fight for consumers. <a href="https://t.co/TDoof9dtGd">pic.twitter.com/TDoof9dtGd</a>
&mdash; Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1888358187503661399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Also, Eric Feigl-Ding, the chairman of the Department of Public Health at New England Complex Systems Institute said that CFPB was &#8220;murdered by the richest man on Earth and his oligarchs.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">CFPB, the agency to help the poor fight corrupt banks and bad corporations, is dead (website and X account at least)… murdered by the richest man on Earth and his oligarchs. <a href="https://t.co/uruaia9wkX">pic.twitter.com/uruaia9wkX</a>
&mdash; Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1888780098058457180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In December 2024, financial industry groups, including American Credit Unions, the Consumer Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, and the Mississippi Bankers Association filed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42479974/us-lenders-file-joint-lawsuit-against-consumer-finance-watchdog-for-capping-overdraft-fees-wells-fargo-jpmorgan-citigroup-stocks-in-focus">joint lawsuit</a> against the CFPB over its new rule capping overdraft fees. The CFPB estimated the cap will save consumers up to $5 billion annually, or $225 per household.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43521806/deepseeks-hedge-fund-owner-had-multiple-top-projects-before-creating-the-firm-that-fueled-1-trillion-market-cap-erosion-of-ai-stocks">DeepSeek&#8217;s Hedge Fund Owner Had Multiple Top Projects Before Creating The Firm That Fueled $1 Trillion Market Cap Erosion Of AI Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Government

Politics

COIN

TSLA

JPMorgan, BofA, Equifax, And Others May Get Relief After CFPB Dissolution: Maryland Senator Says He Will Ensure It Continues To 'Fight For Consumers'

Google Deepmind&nbsp;CEO, Demis Hassabis, commended that DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model is &#8220;probably the best work&#8221; to have surfaced from China. Despite praising the model, Hassabis clarified that it did not constitute a significant technological breakthrough.
What Happened: At a Google-hosted event in Paris preceding the AI Action Summit, DeepMind CEO, Demis Hassabis expressed that the DeepSeek AI can do "extremely good engineering" and that it "changes things on a geopolitical scale.", <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/09/deepseeks-ai-model-the-best-work-out-of-china-google-deepmind-ceo.html">CNBC </a>reported. 
However, Hassabis added that "despite the hype, there's no actual new scientific advance … it's using known techniques [in AI]." According to him, the hype around Deepseek has been "exaggerated a little bit."
Hassabis questioned DeepSeek&#8217;s claims regarding its low costs and the chips it utilizes. DeepSeek had earlier proclaimed that its AI model was developed at a fraction of the cost of leading AI players and utilized less advanced Nvidia chips. This revelation triggered a substantial stock sell-off and ignited a discussion over the high spending of large tech firms on AI infrastructure.
Regarding artificial general intelligence (AGI), Hassabis stated&nbsp;that the AI industry is&nbsp;&#8220;on the path towards AGI,&#8221;&nbsp;and suggested that we may be only around five years away from a&nbsp;system that exhibits all the&nbsp;cognitive capabilities humans have.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43014233/google-expands-collaboration-with-associated-press-to-deliver-up-to-date-information-in-gemini-ai-app">Google Expands Collaboration With Associated Press To Deliver Up-To-Date Information In Gemini AI App</a>
Why It Matters: Hassabis&#8217; comments align with 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>) CEO Sundar Pichai <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43487551/sundar-pichai-acknowledges-deepseeks-ai-advancementsbut-says-googles-gemini-still-leads-in-cost-performance-and-latency">who acknowledged the progress made by DeepSeek</a> but maintained that Google&#8217;s Gemini remains superior in efficiency, cost, and performance. Hassabis also considers Google&#8217;s newly launched Gemini 2.0 Flash Models as more efficient than even Deepmind&#8217;s model. 
In another instance, ex-Google researcher and CEO of Cohere, Aidan Gomez told Business Insider that DeepSeek&#8217;s R1 is &#8220;a really impressive release&#8221;. However, he doesn&#8217;t believe that it should be a viable option for businesses.
Interestingly, Chinese tech companies are witnessing a surge after the DeepSeek launch which gaining an edge over its US tech counterparts in terms of valuation. On Feb.6, Bloomberg Data suggested that the Hang Seng Tech Index had an average price-to-earnings ratio of 20.5 times, compared to the Mag. 7 giants that <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/quote/meta" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>traded at an average of 41.4 times.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43573186/china-tech-etfs-surge-as-deepseek-led-ai-boom-fuels-bull-market">China Tech ETFs Surge As DeepSeek-Led AI Boom Fuels Bull Market</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

Google DeepMind CEO Calls DeepSeek AI 'Best Work' From China, But Says Hype Is Overblown: 'There's No Actual New Scientific Advance'

In a recent interview with YouTuber Modern Day Eratosthenes, Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s co-founder Bill Gates criticized Tesla Inc.&#8217;s Elon Musk and Amazon.com Inc.&#8217;s Jeff Bezos for prioritizing space exploration over real-world crises.
What Happened: Gates argues that While they spend billions on Mars colonies and space tourism, their money would be better spent addressing urgent global issues like hunger, disease, and climate change. "Rich people can do whatever they want&#8230; but I do think malnourishment is the worst thing there is," he said.
Space vs. Real-World Problems: For Gates, issues on Earth deserve far more attention than space exploration. "Farmers&#8230; they're experiencing climate change, which will mean sometimes too much rain, sometimes drought," he noted, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions.
He also highlighted the staggering human cost of mosquito-borne diseases, stating, "Nobody who has money has malaria," which is why he believes these issues receive far less funding than space ventures. "With mosquitoes, it's still like 600,000 [deaths] a year," he said, highlighting the scale of the problem.
While he acknowledges that some space technology has value — such as SpaceX's reusable rockets, which lower launch costs — he remains skeptical of long-term space ambitions. In his view, billionaire resources would be better spent addressing immediate crises on Earth rather than funding extravagant space projects.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42479974/us-lenders-file-joint-lawsuit-against-consumer-finance-watchdog-for-capping-overdraft-fees-wells-fargo-jpmorgan-citigroup-stocks-in-focus">US Lenders File Joint Lawsuit Against Consumer Finance Watchdog For Capping Overdraft Fees: Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, Citigroup Stocks In Focus</a>
Why It Matters: Gates dismissed Musk's vision of a Mars colony as impractical, saying, "It's not a very hospitable place." He also aimed at Bezos' plans for space stations, suggesting they serve more as billionaire hobbies than meaningful contributions to humanity.
"Some people like more artificial satellites that you could put people on. People like Jeff Bezos are into that," he said.
While Musk and Bezos push for interplanetary expansion, Gates sees their priorities as misplaced. "I put my money into things like getting rid of malaria and measles and polio," he said, contrasting his focus with their space ambitions.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43581896/analyst-who-nailed-2021-crypto-collapse-now-says-worst-of-bitcoin-could-come-in-next-few-weeks">Analyst Who Nailed 2021 Crypto Collapse Now Says Worst Of Bitcoin Could Come In Next Few Weeks</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and reviewed by Benzinga editors before publication.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bill Gates Slams Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos: 'Rich People Can Do Whatever They Want… But Malnourishment Is the Worst Thing There Is'

BMO Capital analyst Phillip Jungwirth initiates coverage on Flowco Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLOC#NYSE">FLOC</a>) with a Outperform rating and announces Price Target of $33.

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

FLOC

BMO Capital Initiates Coverage On Flowco Holdings with Outperform Rating, Announces Price Target of $33

Former Coinbase technology chief Balaji Srinivasan has joined a growing chorus of tech leaders and politicians advocating for Ron Paul to lead the Federal Reserve, highlighting renewed interest in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42377089/ron-paul-wants-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-led-doge-to-eliminate-this-program-of-immoral-transfer-of-wealth">former congressman&#8217;s anti-Fed stance</a>.
What Happened: The discussion gained momentum after Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) posted on X, formerly Twitter, asking followers to support Paul as Federal Reserve chairman. Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk endorsed the idea, responding to a suggestion that Paul should lead a Federal Reserve audit team.
Srinivasan, a prominent Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) advocate and Silicon Valley investor, shared an image of Paul&#8217;s 2009 book &#8220;End the Fed&#8221; with the caption &#8220;Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.&#8221; The book criticizes the Federal Reserve System and advocates for its abolition on constitutional and economic grounds.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. <a href="https://t.co/y3dmtU8UYQ">https://t.co/y3dmtU8UYQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/A0Wls1DZpW">pic.twitter.com/A0Wls1DZpW</a>
&mdash; Balaji (@balajis) <a href="https://twitter.com/balajis/status/1888680721365287185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
This trend coincides with more general debates concerning the leadership of the Federal Reserve. Originally nominated to the Fed Board of Governors by former President Barack Obama, current Fed Chair Jerome Powell was chosen to run the central bank by President Donald Trump in early 2018. Powell has declared his intention to serve out his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41849984/powell-brushes-off-trumps-removal-threat-economists-say-2026-could-be-his-last-stand">entire tenure through 2026</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43585332/trump-orders-scott-bessent-to-rip-the-waste-out-ends-penny-production-after-elon-musks-doge-report">Trump Orders Scott Bessent To &#8216;Rip The Waste Out,&#8217; Ends Penny Production After Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE Report</a>
Why It Matters: The conversation around Paul&#8217;s potential role extends beyond the Fed chairmanship. Musk previously expressed interest in having Paul join the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump campaign initiative aimed at cutting federal spending. Paul, while open to helping reduce government spending, has indicated he doesn&#8217;t seek <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41698615/elon-musk-says-would-be-great-to-have-former-congressman-and-fed-critic-ron-paul-in-department-of-go">an official position</a>.
Paul, known for his fiscal conservatism, recently criticized U.S. foreign aid practices, calling them an &#8220;immoral transfer of wealth&#8221; and arguing they redirect funds from American citizens to wealthy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42377089/ron-paul-wants-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-led-doge-to-eliminate-this-program-of-immoral-transfer-of-wealth">entities in poorer nations</a>.
The renewed attention on Paul&#8217;s monetary policy views comes as the DOGE initiative targets potential federal spending cuts of up to $2 trillion, though experts project more modest savings of $50-100 billion annually against a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42377089/ron-paul-wants-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-led-doge-to-eliminate-this-program-of-immoral-transfer-of-wealth">projected $1.7 trillion deficit in 2024</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43582928/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-as-investors-prepare-for-crucial-cpi-ppi-data-top-analyst-anticipates-a-strong-week-for-crypto">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Investors Prepare For Crucial Inflation Data: Top Analyst Says This Week Comparable To Any &#8216;Crisis&#8217; Period But You Should Be Bullish</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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

Cryptocurrency

Federal Reserve

$BTC

Bitcoin Advocate Balaji Pushes 'End The Fed' Author Ron Paul For Central Bank Chair Amid Elon Musk's Support: 'Nothing Can Stop An Idea...'

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Catherine Mealor upgrades Wesbanco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSBC#NASDAQ">WSBC</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and raises the price target from $40 to $44.

Upgrades

WSBC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Upgrades Wesbanco to Outperform, Raises Price Target to $44

<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=7GYlbST4D1MUi9iMD5inIgUErNsz6C4CZGCaevjxxwVlCp4fPTPD6zGmRfCtOWAcocG0FB1x3md5I1wd92EUSSH0VgyKKdPgkSS6P3jhnmI=">Royal Philips</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHG#NYSE">PHG</a>, AEX: PHIA))), a global leader in health technology, in collaboration with the World Bank and Ukraine's Ministry of Health (MOH), today announced a nationwide initiative to modernize stroke and cardiovascular care in Ukraine. The demand for stroke care in Ukraine is nearly doubling, exacerbated by war damage and displaced populations lacking access to timely care. This program – which is already well on its way – aims to address these immense challenges by creating an advanced network of locations for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke.
The joint initiative delivers advanced image-guided therapy systems optimized for acute stroke treatment to key regions, including Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv, Lviv, Zaporizhzha and Odesa. Philips is deploying 25 of its Azurion interventional suites to support minimally invasive stroke treatments. These systems support complex neurovascular procedures, such as thrombectomies&#x2A;, which can reverse stroke effects. The systems integrate software tools and technologies to accelerate procedures and enhance care coordination. Together, these innovations streamline care pathways, reduce treatment delays and improve patient outcomes. Philips is working with its partner, AFS Medizintechnik, to roll out systems across the country. So far, 19 systems have been installed and are already helping Ukrainian physicians provide optimized care to their stroke patients.

Regulations

Philips Joins Forces With World Bank and Ukraine to Modernize Stroke and Heart Care

&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4358137-1&amp;h=3676430497&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cognizant.com%2Fuk%2Fen&amp;a=Cognizant+(Nasdaq%3A+CTSH)">Cognizant (NASDAQ:</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>)&nbsp;today announced the renewal of its relationship with KBC Group, a leading Belgian universal multi-channel bank-insurer.
&nbsp;
This renewal of the agreement will extend until 2027, positioning Cognizant as KBC Group's partner in supporting its IT and business transformation across the entire spectrum of IT services, including application development &amp; maintenance, data services, infrastructure, and quality engineering.

CTSH

KBCSY

Cognizant Extends Partnership With Belgian Bank-Insurer KBC Group to Enhance IT Services and Innovation Through 2027

As we enter a new week, the cryptocurrency market presents both opportunities and risks for investors seeking short-term gains. Market indicators, though not foolproof, can help investors make informed decisions in this volatile environment.
What happened: Meme coins 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>) invariably remain on investors' radar because of their high valuations and impressive gains over the years.
DOGE and SHIB <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583729/bitcoin-dogecoin-made-amends-last-week-but-litecoin-grabbed-spotlight-with-25-gains">rose 9.19% and 9.85%</a>, respectively, last week. Technical indicators gave mixed signals for the two meme heavyweights.
The Momentum indicator, which compares the short-term price and long-term price, flashed a &#8220;Buy&#8221; signal for both SHIB and DOGE, <a href="https://in.tradingview.com/symbols/DOGEUSD/technicals/">according </a>to TradingView.
On the other hand, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator, which compares two exponential moving averages of price, flashed a &#8220;Sell&#8221; signal.
The Bull Bear Power indicator, which measures the strength of buyers and sellers, was "Neutral" for both SHIB and DOGE.
On the derivatives front, over 50% of Dogecoin traders were betting against its price increase, while 52% of SHIB traders were long on the meme coin, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/LongShortRatio">according</a> to Coinglass.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43454192/microstrategys-convertible-bonds-a-better-choice-than-spot-bitcoin-for-inclusion-in-sovereign-wealth-fund-says-analyst">Trump-Announced Wealth Fund Should Choose MicroStrategy Bonds Over Bitcoin, Analyst Says</a>
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's meme coin, Official Trump (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>), plunged over 10% over the last week, affecting its speculative interest.
TRUMP's Open Interest fell by 9% in the last 24 hours, with the majority of its futures traders placing bearish short positions.
XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, rallied over 10% in the last week. Its Momentum indicator and the Stochastic Relative Strength Index, which measures the level of the Relative Strength Index relative to its high-low range over a period, both flashed a "Buy" signal.&nbsp;
That said, the MACD indicator painted a bearish short-term picture for the cryptocurrency.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43581896/analyst-who-nailed-2021-crypto-collapse-now-says-worst-of-bitcoin-could-come-in-next-few-weeks">Analyst Who Nailed 2021 Crypto Collapse Now Says Worst Of Bitcoin Could Come In Next Few Weeks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

$DOGE

$SHIB

$TRUMP

$XRP

DOGE

TRUMP, SHIB, DOGE or XRP — What's Your Best Bet In A New Trading Week? Here's What The Indicators Tell Us

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAIN#NASDAQ">HAIN</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.12 per share on revenue of $431.01 million. 
• Monday.Com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNDY#NASDAQ">MNDY</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $261.34 million. 
• Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSEM#NASDAQ">TSEM</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.53 per share on revenue of $387.09 million. 
• Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPC#NYSE">EPC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.12 per share on revenue of $480.16 million. 
• McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $2.86 per share on revenue of $6.48 billion. 
• Incyte (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INCY#NASDAQ">INCY</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.55 per share on revenue of $1.15 billion. 
• CSP (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSPI#NASDAQ">CSPI</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its first quarter. 
• Ispire Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ISPR#NASDAQ">ISPR</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.03 per share on revenue of $59.50 million. 
• Motorcar Parts of America (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPAA#NASDAQ">MPAA</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.43 per share on revenue of $179.50 million. 
• Roivant Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROIV#NASDAQ">ROIV</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.22 per share on revenue of $5.00 million. 
• Insperity (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSP#NYSE">NSP</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $1.60 billion. 
• GCM Grosvenor (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GCMG#NASDAQ">GCMG</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.23 per share on revenue of $158.60 million. 
• Rockwell Automation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROK#NYSE">ROK</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.67 per share on revenue of $1.88 billion. 
• PowerFleet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIOT#NASDAQ">AIOT</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.05 per share on revenue of $99.43 million. 
• ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.98 per share on revenue of $1.76 billion. 
• Alexander's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALX#NYSE">ALX</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.71 per share on revenue of $55.20 million. 
• Loews (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) is expected to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• CNA Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNA#NYSE">CNA</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.21 per share on revenue of $3.62 billion. 
• ORIX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IX#NYSE">IX</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its third quarter. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Arch Capital Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACGL#NASDAQ">ACGL</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.80 per share on revenue of $3.95 billion. 
• RCI Hospitality Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RICK#NASDAQ">RICK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $81.82 million. 
• Ark Restaurants (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKR#NASDAQ">ARKR</a>) is expected to report earnings for its first quarter. 
• Compass Minerals Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMP#NYSE">CMP</a>) is projected to report earnings for its first quarter. 
• Radiant Logistics (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RLGT#AMEX">RLGT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.10 per share on revenue of $220.60 million. 
• Cresud SACIF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRESY#NASDAQ">CRESY</a>) is likely to report earnings for its second quarter. 
• Prospect Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSEC#NASDAQ">PSEC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.14 per share on revenue of $189.67 million. 
• SelectQuote (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLQT#NYSE">SLQT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $447.00 million. 
• SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSK#NYSE">PSK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.22 per share on revenue of $121.00 million. 
• PetMed Express (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PETS#NASDAQ">PETS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.01 per share on revenue of $60.00 million. 
• Quipt Home Medical (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QIPT#NASDAQ">QIPT</a>) is likely to report earnings for its first quarter. 
• RGC Resources (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGCO#NASDAQ">RGCO</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.50 per share on revenue of $26.00 million. 
• Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLNC#NASDAQ">FLNC</a>) is projected to report quarterly loss at $0.21 per share on revenue of $375.22 million. 
• Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCO#NASDAQ">CMCO</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $252.56 million. 
• Origin Agritech (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEED#NASDAQ">SEED</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its Fiscal Year 2024. 
• Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LSCC#NASDAQ">LSCC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.19 per share on revenue of $117.09 million. 
• Unitil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTL#NYSE">UTL</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.95 per share on revenue of $145.00 million. 
• Beyond Air (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAIR#NASDAQ">XAIR</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.15 per share on revenue of $934 thousand. 
• SPS Commerce (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPSC#NASDAQ">SPSC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.87 per share on revenue of $169.29 million. 
• Bank of N.T Butterfield (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTB#NYSE">NTB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.14 per share on revenue of $143.43 million. 
• Simpson Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSD#NYSE">SSD</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.29 per share on revenue of $498.53 million. 
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $4.10 per share on revenue of $2.78 billion. 
• TIM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TIMB#NYSE">TIMB</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• Vornado Realty (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNO#NYSE">VNO</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.51 per share on revenue of $447.75 million. 
• Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACLS#NASDAQ">ACLS</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.25 per share on revenue of $244.95 million. 
• Arrowhead Pharma (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARWR#NASDAQ">ARWR</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $1.10 per share on revenue of $14.09 million. 
• Kilroy Realty (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRC#NYSE">KRC</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $280.21 million. 
• Apollo Comml Real Est (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARI#NYSE">ARI</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.22 per share on revenue of $48.20 million. 
• Mitek Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MITK#NASDAQ">MITK</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.13 per share on revenue of $36.05 million. 
• Harmonic (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLIT#NASDAQ">HLIT</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.37 per share on revenue of $212.45 million. 
• Amkor Tech (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMKR#NASDAQ">AMKR</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.38 per share on revenue of $1.66 billion. 
• Danaos (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAC#NYSE">DAC</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $6.95 per share on revenue of $261.56 million. 
• Coty (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COTY#NYSE">COTY</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.21 per share on revenue of $1.73 billion. 
• Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTS#NYSE">WTS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.92 per share on revenue of $537.61 million. 
• CoreCivic (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.30 per share on revenue of $465.17 million. 
• NGL Energy Partners (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NGL#NYSE">NGL</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.13 per share on revenue of $1.72 billion. 
• Medpace Hldgs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDP#NASDAQ">MEDP</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $3.12 per share on revenue of $535.01 million. 
• Astera Labs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALAB#NASDAQ">ALAB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.26 per share on revenue of $127.91 million. 
• Inspire Medical Systems (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INSP#NYSE">INSP</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.72 per share on revenue of $232.90 million. 
• Pennant Park Investment (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNNT#NYSE">PNNT</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.21 per share on revenue of $35.59 million. 
• PennantPark Floating Rate (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFLT#NYSE">PFLT</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.32 per share on revenue of $59.48 million. 
• Cincinnati Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CINF#NASDAQ">CINF</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.87 per share on revenue of $2.63 billion. 
• Brixmor Property Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRX#NYSE">BRX</a>) is projected to report earnings for its fourth quarter. 
• Credicorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAP#NYSE">BAP</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $4.66 per share on revenue of $1.48 billion. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings

ACGL

ACLS

AIOT

ALAB

AMKR

ARKR

ARWR

CINF

CMCO

COTY

CRESY

CSPI

FLNC

GCMG

HAIN

HLIT

INCY

INSP

ISPR

LSCC

MEDP

MITK

MNDY

MPAA

PETS

PFLT

PNNT

PSEC

QIPT

RGCO

RICK

RLGT

ROIV

SEED

SLQT

SPSC

TIMB

TSEM

VRTX

XAIR

Earnings Scheduled For February 10, 2025

Despite inflation worries, Americans are expected to increase their Super Bowl spending, according to a recent report. However, more fans are planning to cut back on their expenses for the big game.
What Happened: A study by LendingTree found that 75% of Americans plan to watch the Super Bowl. However, 31% of these viewers intend to cut back on their Super Bowl spending compared to last year, <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/americans-super-bowl-spending-rise-despite-inflation-worries?ref=biztoc.com">reported</a> Fox Business. This is a notable jump from the 19% who plan to increase their budget. Meanwhile, 50% of respondents expect their spending to remain unchanged.
Those planning to spend on Super Bowl festivities expect to spend an average of $142, marking a 22% increase from last year&#8217;s $116. The main expenses include food, beverages, and fan gear.
Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst&nbsp;at LendingTree stated, &#8220;Even though more people are&nbsp;saying they&#8217;re going to spend&nbsp;less, the average amount for&nbsp;people who are going to&nbsp;spend was up fairly significantly.&#8221;
The report also highlighted that 41% of Super Bowl viewers intend to place bets on the game. Most of these bettors plan to wager smaller amounts, with only 41% expecting to bet $100 or more.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43488268/googles-gemini-ai-could-soon-include-adssundar-pichai-hints-at-future-monetization-beyond-subscriptions">Google&#8217;s Gemini AI Could Soon Include Ads — Sundar Pichai Hints At Future Monetization Beyond Subscriptions</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;The high cost of Super Bowl ads was a concern for many viewers. A Benzinga poll also revealed that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43563633/exclusive-is-super-bowl-7m-cost-worth-it-61-say-this-while-18-admit-to-looking-up-companies-after-last-years-nfl-">61% of viewers didn&#8217;t believe</a> the high cost of these ads was worth it. LendingTree&#8217;s findings coincide with a separate study by the Bank of America Institute, which revealed that Americans&#8217; spending on spectator sports hit a record high in 2024.
The Super Bowl event of Sunday saw a host of celebrity-packed commercials, with over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583058/super-bowl-ads-go-all-in-on-ai-stars-and-8m-price-tags-elon-musk-shared-this-advert-with-his-followers">10 spots costing</a> advertisers $8 million each. President Donald Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. Besides the traditional sponsors, this year&#8217;s commercials attracted tech companies like Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) covered a wide range of themes, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583058/super-bowl-ads-go-all-in-on-ai-stars-and-8m-price-tags-elon-musk-shared-this-advert-with-his-followers">Salesforce Cuts 1000 Jobs But Ramps Up Hiring For AI Sales Roles</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Sports

Economics

General

Americans To Spend Big On Super Bowl, 22% Surge From Last Year Likely Despite Inflation Worries: Report

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently expressed his views on Elon Musk&#8216;s Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, advocating for more transparency and suggesting the inclusion of Democrats for oversight.
What Happened: Cuban on Monday reiterated his long-standing stance on government transparency, stating, &#8220;If you have nothing to hide, hide nothing.&#8221; 
Cuban&#8217;s post was a response to a resurfaced 2017 video shared by an X user, where the billionaire called for cutting the government's size by at least one-third and enhancing its efficiency—an idea that also underpins Trump&#8217;s newly established department, now led by Musk.
Cuban said, he &#8220;Still stand by it.&#8221;
challenging Musk&#8217;s DOGE initiative, which has faced criticism for its lack of transparency, Cuban suggested that Musk invite Democrats to work with his DOGE teams to provide a clearer picture of the project&#8217;s operations.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Still stand by it. Said it many times before then. Blogged about it too. Difference is the transparency. <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@doge</a> says they are transparent. They don't want anyone questioning them. When it comes to government transparency: If you have nothing to hide, hide nothing… <a href="https://t.co/P845QlOTAJ">https://t.co/P845QlOTAJ</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1888711577047880106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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This post follows Cuban&#8217;s previous criticisms of the Tesla Inc CEO&#8217;s influence on the government and his control over free speech. He has also expressed concerns about Musk&#8217;s motivations and intentions.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43582376/not-a-bad-return-on-his-investment-bernie-sanders-says-elon-musk-spent-277-million-to-elect-trump-and-made-154-billion-since-election-day">&#8216;Not A Bad Return On His Investment&#8217;—Bernie Sanders Says Elon Musk Spent $277 Million To Elect Trump And Made $154 Billion Since Election Day</a>
Why It Matters: Cuban&#8217;s post comes amid ongoing legal challenges claiming that DOGE fails to comply with federal transparency regulations. His call for more transparency and diverse oversight could potentially impact the public&#8217;s perception of DOGE and its operations. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43554357/mark-cuban-calls-out-elon-musks-growing-influence-under-trump-on-a-mission-to-make-himself-above-and-beyond-the-president-of-the-united-states">Cuban has previously questioned Musk&#8217;s growing influence</a> and his control over free speech.
Interestingly, Cuban, a long-time Trump critic, has also shown interest in launching his meme coin with proceeds going to the U.S. Treasury to reduce the national debt. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43515728/mark-cuban-mocks-meme-coins-but-pitches-one-to-cut-u-s-debt-if-its-a-grift-make-it-a-grift-to-benefit-all-americans">Cuban&#8217;s potential meme coin</a>&nbsp;could offer a contrast to the current DOGE initiative and its transparency issues.
Meanwhile, in a pre-Super Bowl interview, President Donald Trump expressed his trust in Elon Musk and highlighted that Musk's influence is particularly noteworthy since he is &#8216;not gaining anything&#8217; from the position.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43581429/mark-cubans-400k-bet-on-teen-founder-comes-with-an-unexpected-invitation-i-want-my-daughters-to-meet-you-and-learn-from-you">Mark Cuban&#8217;s $400K Bet On Teen Founder Comes With An Unexpected Invitation: &#8216;I Want My Daughters To Meet You, And Learn From You&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Mark Cuban Says He Backs Government Efficiency, But Questions Elon Musk's DOGE Initiative's Transparency: 'If You Have Nothing to Hide, Hide Nothing'

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk and Vice President of Finance Sendil Palani addressed allegations of the EV company evading taxes in posts on X over the weekend. The company did not evade tax but carried it forward as per an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provision, they said.
What Happened: Musk called for tax reform in a post on social media X on Saturday, claiming there are too many &#8220;loopholes.&#8221; Following the post, several X users noted that his EV company Tesla did not pay federal income tax for several years, including in 2024.
&#8220;Tesla losses were high for many years, so carry forward. Super majority of profit is from production and sales overseas, not US. But the point I am making IS that we need tax reform!,&#8221; Musk wrote in response to the allegations.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Yeah. Tesla losses were high for many years, so carry forward. Super majority of profit is from production and sales overseas, not US. But the point I am making IS that we need tax reform!
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1888411275060773218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Tesla VP of Finance Palani also took to X to address the claims.
&#8220;Tesla&#8217;s income taxes are not an example of fraud. Tesla complies with all tax regulations in all of the regions of the world in which we operate,&#8221; Palani said.
&#8220;Details about 2024 Income Taxes were disclosed to last month in our 10-K (filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission). Notably &#8211; we outline our net operating loss carry-forwards, which result from the fact that Tesla has been unprofitable for the significant majority of its 20+ year history,&#8221; he said, while urging everyone to not look at any one recent year in isolation for details on the company&#8217;s finances. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Professor, Respectfully, Tesla&#39;s income taxes are not an example of fraud. Tesla complies with all tax regulations in all of the regions of the world in which we operate. Details about 2024 Income Taxes were disclosed to last month in our 10-K. Notably &#8211; we outline our net…
&mdash; Sendil Palani (@sendilpalani) <a href="https://twitter.com/sendilpalani/status/1888694584894754947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
A tax loss carryforward is an&nbsp;IRS&nbsp;provision that allows businesses to carry a tax loss from one year into future years to offset a portion of their taxable income.&nbsp;
Why It Matters: Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38485339/elon-musk-reminisces-how-tesla-achieved-its-first-quarterly-profit-11-years-ago-a-case-of-deliver-or">turned a full-year profit for the first time in 2020</a>. The company reported a net income of $721 million for 2020 and in 2024, this rose to $7.09 billion. In 2023, Tesla&#8217;s net income attributable to shareholders was nearly $15 billion. 
For the full-year 2024, Tesla recorded total revenue of $97.69 billion, marking a growth of about 1% from the year before, despite a 6% drop in automotive revenues which was offset by a rise in revenue from the company&#8217;s energy generation and storage segment.
The company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43326143/tesla-stock-rises-5-after-hours-on-fsd-and-new-vehicle-promises-despite-q4-revenue-miss">earnings per share of $2.04</a>, down 53% from the year before, following a drop in annual vehicle deliveries and heavy discounting measures aimed at hiking sales. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43577187/spacex-to-land-falcon-9-first-stage-off-the-coast-of-the-bahamas-later-this-month">Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX To Land Falcon 9 First Stage Off The Coast Of The Bahamas Later This Month</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, VP Of Finance Address Allegations Of Tax Fraud: 'Losses Were High For Many Years, So Carry Forward'

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), has publicly dismissed the idea of acquiring the widely-used short-video app, TikTok. On Jan. 19, the U.S. President, Donald Trump signed an executive order to postpone the enforcement of a ban on the Chinese short-video app.
What Happened: Musk&#8217;s comments were made in late January and released online by The WELT Group,&nbsp;a division of&nbsp;German media company Axel Springer&nbsp;SE, on&nbsp;Saturday. Musk joined a summit hosted by the group via video, where he stated, &#8220;I&nbsp;have not put in a&nbsp;bid for TikTok.&#8221;
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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> These comments were made a week after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled openness to Musk purchasing the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. However, Musk admitted he was unfamiliar with the app's format and stated he had no intentions of acquiring it. &#8220;I&#8217;m not eager to buy TikTok. I rarely acquire companies,&#8221; Musk remarked. The Tesla Founder also clarified that he likes to build companies from scratch but acquiring Twitter, now called X, was an &#8216;important and productive step&#8217; to preserve the freedom of speech in America and the world at large. While the enforcement of the ban on the short-video app has been delayed, Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) have yet to restore TikTok to their app stores. However, TikTok announced on Friday that U.S. Android users can now download and access the app via package kits available on its website, bypassing the restrictions. Trump has stated that he is in discussions with multiple parties regarding the potential purchase of TikTok and expects a decision on the app&#8217;s future later this month. The President ordered a ban on the short video app amid national security concerns. Currently, the app has approximately 170 million users in the U.S. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43511395/trump-pushes-for-tiktok-deal-china-could-oblige-if-it-werent-for-those-tariffs-heres-what-we-know">Trump Pushes For TikTok Deal, China Could Oblige If It Weren&#8217;t For Those Tariffs — Here&#8217;s What We Know</a> Why It Matters: The idea of Musk acquiring TikTok first <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42965533/elon-musk-emerges-as-potential-tiktok-us-buyer-as-ban-deadline-looms-company-terms-it-pure-fiction">emerged in mid-January</a>, when Chinese officials considered Musk as a potential buyer for TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations. This was due to Musk&#8217;s existing relationships in China through Tesla&#8217;s Shanghai factory and his close ties to President-elect Donald Trump. Later in the month, Trump himself <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43118289/trump-open-to-elon-musk-or-larry-ellison-buying-tiktok-calls-us-permit-key-to-1-trillion-valuation">expressed openness</a> to the idea of Musk or the Chairman of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) Larry Ellison acquiring TikTok. This marked a significant shift in the platform's uncertain future amid regulatory challenges. A report by The Washington Post on Wednesday suggests a rather firm stance by China, wherein it may allow TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations to shut down instead of approving a sale unless Washington offers broader trade and technology concessions. READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43582884/elon-musks-spacex-and-t-mobile-go-live-with-starlink-powered-satellite-to-cell-service-heres-how-much-it-will-cost">Elon Musk&#8217;s SpaceX And T-Mobile Go Live With Starlink-Powered Satellite-To-Cell Service: Here&#8217;s How Much It Will Cost </a> Image via Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. </figcaption></figure>

AAPL

ORCL

Elon Musk Shuts Down TikTok Buyout Rumors, Says He Prefers To Build Companies From Scratch: 'I Rarely Acquire Companies'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones index dipping more than 400 points as investors digested the jobs report for January.
Wall Street also recorded losses last week as renewed fears over inflation and trade tariffs eroded risk appetite. Investor uncertainty grew following President Donald Trump&#8217;s announcement that ‘reciprocal tariffs' would take effect next week.
The University of Michigan&#8217;s consumer sentiment survey revealed an &#8220;unusually large&#8221; spike in inflation expectations. The one-year inflation outlook surged by a full percentage point to 4.3%, marking its highest level since November 2023.
On the macro front, February's jobs report revealed a mixed outcome, with employment growth slowing down more than expected, yet unemployment fell more than expected, and wages surged more than expected.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings and sales results for its fourth quarter after the market close Thursday. However, the company said it sees first-quarter net sales to come in a range of $151 billion to $155.5 billion, up 5% to 9% year-over-year, down from market estimates of $158.5 billion.
All sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with communication services, consumer discretionary, and materials stocks recording losses on Friday.
The Dow Jones closed lower by over 444 points to 44,303.40 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.95% to 6,025.99, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.36% at 19,523.40 during Friday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>), and Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROK#NYSE">ROK</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 39.3, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 44.3.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43559194/jim-cramer-likes-this-utilities-stock-i-think-youve-got-a-good-one">Jim Cramer Likes This Utilities Stock: &#8216;I Think You&#8217;ve Got A Good One&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

AMZN

Dow Dips Over 400 Points Following Tariffs Threat: Investor Sentiment Declines, Greed Index In 'Fear' Zone

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Monday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects McDonald&#8217;s Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $2.84 per share on revenue of $6.44 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. McDonald&#8217;s shares slipped 0.02% to $294.25 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect&nbsp;ON Semiconductor Corp.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) to post quarterly earnings of 97 cents per share on revenue of $1.76 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. In after-hours trading, ON Semiconductor shares fell 0.5% to $51.00.</li>
<li>VOXX International Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOXX#NASDAQ">VOXX</a>) posted a loss of $1.90 per share for the third quarter, versus a year-ago profit of 8 cents per share. Its sales fell to $105.17 million from $135.26 million. VOXX International shares fell 0.3% to $7.38 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Before the markets open, Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROK#NYSE">ROK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.59 per share on revenue of $1.88 billion. Rockwell Automation shares fell 0.4% to $267.35 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $4.03 per share on revenue of $2.78 billion after the closing bell. Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares fell 2.5% to close at $469.32 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43559194/jim-cramer-likes-this-utilities-stock-i-think-youve-got-a-good-one"> </a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43559194/jim-cramer-likes-this-utilities-stock-i-think-youve-got-a-good-one">Jim Cramer Likes This Utilities Stock: &#8216;I Think You&#8217;ve Got A Good One&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

VOXX

McDonald's, ON Semiconductor And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Monday

McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/earnings">opening bell, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Chicago-based company to report quarterly earnings at $2.86 per share, down from $2.95 per share in the year-ago period. McDonald's projects quarterly revenue of $6.48 billion, compared to $6.41 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Jan. 21, Cognizant Technology Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>) and McDonald&#8217;s have extended their partnership with a multi-year renewal.
McDonald's shares fell 0.02% to close at $294.30 on Friday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MCD/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $334 to $336 on Jan. 28, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>Keybanc analyst Eric Gonzalez maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $330 to $320 on Jan. 24, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst John Glass maintained an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $340 to $336 on Jan. 21, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $350 to $342 on Oct. 30, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>BMO Capital analyst Andrew Strelzik maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $315 to $335 on Oct. 30, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying MCD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think:
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43559194/jim-cramer-likes-this-utilities-stock-i-think-youve-got-a-good-one">Jim Cramer Likes This Utilities Stock: &#8216;I Think You&#8217;ve Got A Good One&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

McDonald's Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABAF#OTC">BABAF</a>)&nbsp; stock climbed 5.90% to HKD 105.90 ($13.60) in Hong Kong trading Monday, extending its year-to-date gains to 30.26% as investors eye the company&#8217;s upcoming third-quarter earnings report and recent artificial intelligence developments.
The Chinese e-commerce giant&#8217;s cloud unit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43351350/alibaba-stock-rises-as-deepseek-selloff-continues-qwen-ai-model-gains-attention">recently launched Qwen2.5-VL</a>, an advanced AI model family capable of parsing files, analyzing videos, counting objects in images, and controlling PCs. The model reportedly outperformed competitors including OpenAI&#8216;s GPT-4, Anthropic&#8217;s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Google&#8217;s Gemini 2.0 Flash across various benchmarks.
The strong performance comes as Chinese tech stocks experience broader momentum, led by AI firm DeepSeek. This is helping narrow the valuation gap with U.S. tech leaders known as the &#8220;Magnificent Seven.&#8221; Alibaba will report its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BABA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third-quarter earnings</a> before the market opens on Feb. 20.
The company&#8217;s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) shares closed at $103.51 on Friday, up 3.13% on the U.S. markets, with after-hours trading showing a slight decline of 0.26%.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43582928/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-as-investors-prepare-for-crucial-cpi-ppi-data-top-analyst-anticipates-a-strong-week-for-crypto">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Investors Prepare For Crucial Inflation Data: Top Analyst Says This Week Comparable To Any &#8216;Crisis&#8217; Period But You Should Be Bullish</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shuterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

BABA

ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD by Alibaba Group Holding Limited

BABAF

Alibaba Shares Surge Ahead Of Q3 Earnings As AI Advances Boost Chinese Tech Stocks

President Donald Trump announced on Monday he has directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cease penny production, following recent criticism of the coin&#8217;s costly manufacturing process.
What Happened: &#8220;For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,&#8221; Trump posted on social media. &#8220;This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let&#8217;s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it&#8217;s a penny at a time.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/10012729/Screenshot-2025-02-10-at-11.55.45%E2%80%AFAM-1024x414.png" alt="" class="wp-image-773756" style="width:760px;height:auto" /></figure>
The decision comes after Elon Musk&#8216;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) highlighted the economic inefficiency of penny production last month. According to DOGE, the U.S. Mint <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43152917/elon-musk-led-doge-targets-us-penny-over-179m-annual-production-cost">spent $179 million in taxpayer funds</a> during the fiscal year 2023 to produce 4.5 billion pennies, with each coin costing 3.07 cents to manufacture – more than triple its face value.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43583982/mcdonalds-dishes-first-female-athlete-meal-ahead-of-q4-numbers-and-it-comes-with-a-bold-new-bbq-sauce">McDonald&#8217;s Dishes First Female Athlete Meal Ahead Of Q4 Numbers And It Comes With A Bold New BBQ Sauce</a>
Why It Matters: The penny&#8217;s composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper plating contributes to its high production costs, with parts and labor accounting for 88% of manufacturing expenses across four U.S. Mint facilities. The coin represents approximately 40% of total coin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43152917/elon-musk-led-doge-targets-us-penny-over-179m-annual-production-cost">circulation in the United States</a>.
The move aligns with actions taken by other nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, which have already eliminated their lowest-denomination coins. If implemented, the nickel would become America&#8217;s lowest-value coin in circulation.
This latest development adds momentum to a long-running debate about the penny&#8217;s future. In 2013, the Brookings Institution advocated for discontinuing both penny and nickel production, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/lets-drop-pennies-and-nickels-too-while-were-at-it/">suggesting</a> broader reform of U.S. coinage.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43582928/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-as-investors-prepare-for-crucial-cpi-ppi-data-top-analyst-anticipates-a-strong-week-for-crypto">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Investors Prepare For Crucial Inflation Data: Top Analyst Says This Week Comparable To Any &#8216;Crisis&#8217; Period But You Should Be Bullish</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Trump Orders Scott Bessent To 'Rip The Waste Out,' Ends Penny Production After Elon Musk's DOGE Report

Hank Azaria, the iconic voice behind some of "The Simpsons" most beloved characters, put artificial intelligence to the test to see if it could accurately replicate his voice—and the results left much to be desired.
What Happened: In an experiment with the New York Times, Azaria recorded samples of his voice, which were then fed into an AI system to generate artificial versions of his signature characters, including Moe Szyslak, the bartender.
The AI-generated voices, however, failed to capture the depth, nuance, and soul of his performances. "It felt like what it was, which was just a vocal version of printed text," Azaria noted after hearing an AI-generated imitation of himself.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583558/kendrick-lamars-super-bowl-halftime-show-teases-diss-track-not-like-us-before-delivering-the-ultimate-mic-drop-momentsamuel-l-jackson-serena-williams-and-sza-join-the-spectacle">Kendrick Lamar&#8217;s Super Bowl Halftime Show Teases Diss Track &#8216;Not Like Us&#8217; Before Delivering The Ultimate Mic Drop Moment—Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, And SZA Join The Spectacle</a>
When tested with Moe the bartender's voice, the AI&#8217;s attempt was even further off the mark. "It doesn't have enough gravel in it," Azaria explained. "And it's missing a lot of sounds that Moe should make."
Azaria also demonstrated how voice acting is more than just vocal delivery—it's a full-body performance. To prove his point, he acted out running dialogue while physically moving, showing how breath control and motion affect the realism of a character's voice.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Can A.I. Voice &#039;The Simpsons&#039;? We Found Out. &#x7C; NYT Opinion" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Hz19kpCse4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Why It&#8217;s Important: The exploration of AI in voice acting by Azaria comes amid growing interest in AI&#8217;s ability to mimic celebrity voices.
Last year, Meta Platforms Inc. unveiled plans to enable its AI chatbot to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40996713/metas-ai-chatbot-to-mimic-voices-of-celebrities-like-judi-dench-and-john-cena-heres-what-mark-zucker">replicate the voices</a> of celebrities like Judi Dench and John Cena.
However, the use of AI-generated voices has sparked controversy. Technology reviewer Marques Brownlee previously accused a company of using AI to clone his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/10/41383093/marques-brownlee-accuses-scummy-shady-company-of-using-ai-to-copy-his-voice-with-no-repercussions">voice without permission</a>.
Azaria acknowledged that AI is improving, but he remains skeptical that it can ever fully replace human creativity. He also noted that audience preferences will ultimately dictate the future of AI in entertainment.&nbsp;
&#8220;Right now, what AI generates by itself as Moe the bartender or anything else isn't going to cut it. But if it does start to cut it, people are going to listen to it, and they're going to be grateful that it's so readily available,&#8221; the voice actor stated.
Photo Courtesy: Ekaterina_Minaeva on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43583398/top-analyst-says-apple-has-ramped-up-hiring-for-home-robotics-team">Apple Ramping Up Hiring For Home Robotics Team, Says Top Analyst: What&#8217;s Brewing?</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Will The Simpsons Be Voiced By AI One Day? Hank Azaria Checks To See If His Job Is Safe

Press Releases

Thesis Gold Receives Positive Metallurgical Tests Results for Lawyers-Ranch Project: Achieves Average Precious Metal Recovery of 95% for Gold and 92% for Silver

Financing

Thesis Gold Announces $20 Million Private Placement

Thesis Gold Announces $7.0 Million Private Placement

Thesis Gold Upsizes Previously-Announced Private Placement To $10 Million

TSXV:TAU

Thesis Gold

Source: <a href="https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2024/05/10/analyst-says-gold-co-offering-superior-returns-on-the-path-to-production.html?utm_medium=feed">Ron Stewart 05/10/2024</a>

Thesis Gold Inc. is focused on advancing the exploration, engineering, and metallurgical test work on the combined project to create a new, intermediate gold producer, according to a Leede Jones Gable research note.

Leede Jones Gable analyst Ron Stewart initiated coverage on Thesis Gold Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THSGF#OTC">THSGF</a>) with a Buy rating and a February 2025 price target of CA$2.30 per share, according to a research report published on May 9, 2024. The analyst believes that Thesis offers investors the opportunity for superior returns over the next few years as the company advances on the path to production.

&quot;Thesis was formed through a business combination that brought together the multi-million-ounce Lawyers project and contiguous Ranch exploration project in north central BC&quot; Stewart noted. &quot;The company is focused on advancing the exploration, engineering, and metallurgical test work on the combined project to create a new, intermediate gold producer.&quot;

The current NI 43-101 mineral resource for Thesis Gold stands at 5.0 million gold-equivalent ounces (GEO), comprised of 4.0 million oz GEO of measured and indicated resources (82.0Mt at 1.11 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au), 31.9 g/t Ag) and 727K oz GEO of Inferred resources (12.4Mt at 1.48 g/t Au, 24.8 g/t Ag).

&quot;Despite the significant resource already identified, we believe the 325km2 property offers excellent exploration potential for additional high-quality resources&quot; Stewart commented.

The analyst highlighted that over 20 prospects and deposits on the Ranch property remain open for exploration and resource expansion, with high-grade mineralization open at depth beneath the AGB and Cliff deposits at Lawyers.

Thesis Gold is planning to incorporate underground mining at Lawyers and satellite feed from Ranch in an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), expected by late summer.

&quot;We expect a significant increase in the annual GEO production to average over 200K oz per year over a mine life of 10 to 15 years&quot; Stewart stated.

The analyst pointed out that Thesis Gold is currently trading at a 65% discount to peers on an enterprise value to total resource ounce basis, with an estimated valuation of approximately US$20/oz, compared to a peer average of US$54.9/oz.

Stewart also highlighted the appointment of William (Bill) Lytle as Chairman in February, noting that &quot;Mr. Lytle is a mining engineer with extensive construction and operating experience and is currently the Vice President &amp; COO of B2Gold Corp (BTO.T, Not Rated), a highly successful intermediate international gold producer.&quot;

Leede Jones Gable&#39;s valuation of Thesis Gold is based on an adjusted Net Asset Value (NAV) per share, comprised of the estimated fully financed, after-tax discounted cash flow (DCF) plus the additional exploration value from the residual contained metal not included in the mine plan.

&quot;Our estimated NAV at 5% includes a DCF of CA$871M and exploration value of CA$98M. We adjust the DCF by 50% to reflect the exploration stage of the project to arrive at an adjusted NAV of CA$436M, resulting in a target price of CA$2.30/share&quot; Stewart explained.

The analyst identified several key catalysts for Thesis Gold, including additional metallurgical test results expected in the current quarter, an updated PEA by the end of the summer, and the announcement of the 2024 exploration program by the end of the quarter.

With a Buy rating and a target price of CA$2.30 per share, representing a potential return of 199% from the current price of CA$0.77, Leede Jones Gable sees significant upside potential for investors in Thesis Gold as the company advances its projects toward production.

Important Disclosures:

<ol>
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Disclosures for Leede Jones Gable, Thesis Gold Inc., May 9, 2024

Important Information and Legal Disclaimers Leede Jones Gable Inc. (LJG) is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). This document is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular investing strategy. Data from various sources were used in the preparation of these documents; the information is believed but in no way warranted to be reliable, accurate and appropriate. All information is as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice. Any opinions or recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of LJG. LJG cannot accept any trading instructions via e-mail as the timely receipt of e-mail messages, or their integrity over the Internet, cannot be guaranteed. Dividend yields change as stock prices change, and companies may change or cancel dividend payments in the future. All securities involve varying amounts of risk, and their values will fluctuate, and the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates will also impact your investment returns if measured in Canadian Dollars. Past performance does not guarantee future returns, investments may increase or decrease in value and you may lose money. LJG employees may buy and sell shares of the companies that are recommended for their own accounts and for the accounts of other clients. Disclosure codes are used in accordance with Policy 3600 of IIROC

Description of Disclosure Codes 1. LJG and its affiliates collectively beneficially own 1% or more of any class of equity securities of the company as of the end of the preceding month or the month prior to the preceding month if the report was issued prior to the 10th. 2. The analyst or any associate of the analyst responsible for the report or public comment hold shares or is short any of the company&#39;s securities directly or through derivatives. 3. LJG or a director or officer of LJG or any analyst provided services to the company for remuneration other than normal investment advisory or trade execution services within the preceding 12 months. 4. LJG provided investment banking services for the company during the 12 months preceding the publication of the research report. 5. LJG expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services in the next three months. 6. The analyst preparing the report received compensation based upon LJG investment banking revenues for this issuer within the preceding 12 months. 7. The director, officer, employee, or research analyst is an officer, director or employee of the company, or serves in an advisory capacity to the company. 8. LJG acts as a market maker of the company. 9. The analyst has conducted a site visit and has viewed a major facility or operation of the issuer. 10. The company has paid for all, or a material portion, of the travel costs associated with the site visit by the analyst.

Dissemination All final research reports are disseminated to existing and potential institutional clients of Leede Jones Gable Inc. (LJG) in electronic form to intended recipients thorough e-mail and third-party aggregators. Research reports are posted to the LJG website and are accessible to customers who are entitled the firm&#39;s research. Reproduction of this report in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Research Analyst Certification The Research Analyst(s) who prepare this report certify that their respective report accurately reflects his/her personal opinion and that no part of his/her compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views as to the securities or companies. Leede Jones Gable Inc. (LJG) compensates its research analysts from a variety of sources and research analysts may or may not receive compensation based upon LJG investment banking revenue.

Canadian Disclosures This research has been approved by Leede Jones Gable Inc. (LJG), which accepts sole responsibility for this research and its dissemination in Canada. LJG is registered and regulated by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Canadian clients wishing to effect transactions in any designated investment discussed should do so through a LJG Registered Representative.

U.S. Disclosures This research report was prepared by Leede Jones Gable Inc. (LJG), a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). This report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities discussed herein. LJG is not registered as a broker-dealer in the United States and is not be subject to U.S. rules regarding the preparation of research reports and the independence of research analysts. Any resulting transactions should be effected through a U.S. broker-dealer.

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