VictoryShares Core Plus Intermediate Bond ETF (NASDAQ: UBND)

Latest news for VictoryShares Core Plus Intermediate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:UBND)

VictoryShares ESG Core Plus Bond ETF

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt securities and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities. The Fund primarily invests in securities that have a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity between three to 10 years. The debt securities in which the Fund may invest include government obligations (including U.S., state, and local governments, their agencies and instrumentalities); mortgage and asset-backed securities (including collateralized debt obligations and collateralized mortgage obligations); corporate debt securities; repurchase agreements; and other securities believed to have debt-like characteristics. In selecting investments, the Adviser analyzes economic factors, industry-related information, the underlying financial stability of the company issuing the security, and evaluates whether the issuer demonstrates strong or improving environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics.

VictoryShares Core Plus Intermediate Bond ETF

GCTK

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

The White House has appointed Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, as a &#8220;special government employee.&#8221; This designation allows Musk to be employed by the federal government while potentially sidestepping certain disclosure rules.
What Happened: As reported by Reuters, Musk, who continues to helm Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX, has been charged with leading Trump&#8217;s cost-cutting initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency. This role has granted Musk&#8217;s team access to various government systems, triggering concern and turmoil within some agencies.
Musk&#8217;s new designation could enable him to bypass disclosure rules about conflicts of interest and finances applicable to regular government employees. He will not receive a paycheck. This development has sparked scrutiny, with Democratic lawmakers voicing concerns over a billionaire without an electoral mandate gaining substantial power over the federal government.
Trump defended Musk, asserting that Musk cannot act without White House approval. He also lauded Musk&#8217;s instinct and his team&#8217;s talent. 
&#8220;Elon can&#8217;t do and won&#8217;t do anything without our approval,&#8221; said Trump. He said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll give him the approval, where appropriate; where not appropriate, we won&#8217;t. But he reports in.&#8221;
However, questions about accountability persist, as most special government employees are not bound to file financial disclosures, potentially making it challenging for the public and journalists to hold Musk and the government accountable.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43446852/elons-trump-alignment-costs-him-his-canada-starlink-contract">Elon&#8217;s Trump Alignment Costs Him Canada Starlink Contract: &#8216;Oh Well&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s appointment comes amidst his recent <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43442302/elon-musk-says-elizabeth-warren-is-meddling-with-trillions-in-us-treasury-via-his-unqualified-flunkies">criticisms</a> of the Treasury Department and his proposal to use <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43425216/elon-musk-supports-putting-treasury-department-operations-on-blockchain-to-fix-irregularities">blockchain technology</a> to streamline its operations. 
His Department of Government Efficiency was recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43440720/elon-musks-4b-doge-plan-may-cut-federal-spending-30-apples-spring-2025-lineup-revealed-triumph-group-to-go-privat">granted access</a> to a sensitive Treasury Department payment system, a move that coincided with the resignation of a career Treasury official who had disagreements with Musk&#8217;s department. 
The potential implications of Musk&#8217;s new role and his plans for the Department of Government Efficiency, including a $4 billion a day cost-cutting plan, remain to be seen.
Notably, the Department of Government Efficiency shares its acronym with Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), a cryptocurrency that Musk has promoted in the past with his social media posts.
Price Action: At the time of writing DOGE was seen trading higher by 7.95% at $0.285, according to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Image via Shutterstock
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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$DOGE

TSLA

Elon Musk Appointed As 'Special Government Employee' Amid DOGE Department Push: 'Can't Do Anything Without Our Approval,' Says Trump

Elon Musk's <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/tag/doge">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;(DOGE) has been identifying and eliminating a wide swath of federal spending since President Donald Trump took office.
Now, DOGE is setting its sights on two mainstays in U.S. public broadcasting and journalism: NPR and PBS, the National Public Radio and the Public Broadcast System.
In a Monday <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/doge-subcommittee-chairwoman-greene-invites-npr-and-pbs-leaders-to-address-biased-news-coverage-at-public-hearing/">press release</a>, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>, head of a new House subcommittee, Delivering on Government Efficiency, accused NPR and PBS of "systematically biased content" and is demanding that the heads of both groups testify before Congress for their alleged <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/marjorie-taylor-green-pbs-npr-biased-content-b2691492.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;blatantly ideological and partisan coverage.&#8221;</a>
Greene pointed to NPR's coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story, the Russian collusion story and COVID-19 origins. She blasted PBS for failing "to provide Americans with accurate reporting by incorrectly implying that Elon Musk made a fascist salute during President Trump's inauguration celebration."  
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="WATCH: Elon Musk appears to give fascist salute during Trump inauguration celebration" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VfYjPzj1Xw?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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<h1 class="wp-block-heading">What&#8217;s Next?</h1>
Meanwhile, Musk — who Sen. Elizabeth Warren <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43442302/elon-musk-says-elizabeth-warren-is-meddling-with-trillions-in-us-treasury-via-his-unqualified-flunkies">bashed</a> as &#8220;an unelected billionaire&#8221; along with his &#8220;unqualified flunkies" — continues to fire, force out or harass government workers in numerous attempts over the past week to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43417749/elon-musks-aides-block-government-workers-from-federal-data-systems-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">install Trump loyalists</a> across all federal agencies, departments and organizations. The latest was the takeover of the Treasury Department and Secretary of State <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&#8216;s surprise Monday announcement that he is now acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
And to answer the question of what&#8217;s next &#8230; could the Department of Education <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43450076/trump-administration-weighs-plan-to-shut-down-education-department-which-stocks-could-be-affected">be heading</a> for the chopping block?
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</ul>

Government

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Musk DOGE Partner Marjorie Taylor Green Goes After NPR, PBS — Is The Department Of Education Next?

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission launched an inquiry on Monday into Crypto.com and Kalshi on how the companies' Super Bowl event contracts comply<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43439189/robinhood-to-offer-super-bowl-event-contracts"> with derivatives regulations.</a>
The Details: According to a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-03/crypto-com-kalshi-s-super-bowl-wagers-probed-by-us-derivatives-regulator">report</a>, the CFTC has requested additional information from Kalshi and Crypto.com, including evidence that the products are not susceptible to manipulation and comply with regulations.&nbsp;
The CFTC will then evaluate the responses before deciding on any enforcement actions or begin drafting a new rule.
"We are continuing to review the contracts in accordance with our regulations," a CFTC spokesman told Bloomberg.&nbsp;
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The CFTC put Crypto.com's sports contracts under a special regulatory review in January to determine if they qualified as gaming. The CFTC did not place Kalshi's sports contracts under review at the time.&nbsp;
The CFTC is expected to vote by mid-April on whether to bar the contracts and sports contracts continue to trade in the meantime.&nbsp;
The CFTC's latest inquiry comes as Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) announced on Monday that its clients can access sports contracts through the Kalshi exchange. 
"With an emerging asset class like event contracts, we recognize an opportunity to better serve our customers as their interests converge across the markets, news, sports and entertainment," Robinhood said in a statement.
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Photo: Shutterstock

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HOOD

Kalshi, Crypto.com Super Bowl Contracts Under Regulatory Scrutiny

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/11/42011977/99-billion-bet-warren-buffett-invests-heavily-in-2-stocks-expected-to-jump-19-and-20-wall-street-analysts-predict">Warren Buffett's </a>$1 million bet against hedge funds wasn't just about bragging rights—it was a challenge to Wall Street's high-fee investment strategies.&nbsp;
Back in 2007, he bet that a simple S&amp;P 500 index fund would outperform a carefully selected group of hedge funds over a decade. Ted Seides, a hedge fund pro from Protégé Partners, took the other side, convinced that active management could beat the market.
The timing couldn't have been more dramatic. The bet kicked off on Jan. 1, 2008—right as the financial crisis hit. At first, it looked like the hedge funds had the upper hand. They lost 23.9% while the S&amp;P 500 tanked by 37%. But as markets recovered, Buffett's index fund started pulling ahead.&nbsp;
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By the end of 2016, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFIAX#NASDAQ">VFIAX</a>)—Buffett's choice—had delivered an average annual return of 7.1%. The hedge funds? Just 2.2%. That's a massive difference. If you had invested $100,000 in VFIAX, it would have grown to about $185,000. The hedge funds were at only $121,000.
So, what went wrong for the hedge funds? Fees. Hedge funds typically use the "two-and-twenty" model—2% in management fees and 20% of any profits. Over time, those fees add up.&nbsp;
According to a recent study by LCH Investments, since the inception of hedge funds in 1969, investors have paid nearly half of their profits as fees. Compare that with&nbsp; index funds, which charge as little as 0.03%, and it's easy to see why Buffett's bet played out the way it did.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
Buffett has always been a big believer in keeping things simple. He once said, "When trillions of dollars are managed by Wall Streeters charging high fees, it will usually be the managers who reap outsized profits, not the clients." The numbers back him up.
Even today, the trend holds. A recent Vanguard study found that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42516732/the-average-401k-balance-soars-to-a-record-breaking-high-is-your-nest-egg-keeping-pace">401(k) </a>investors saw an average annual return of 9.7% over the five years ended in December 2023. Hedge funds? They averaged 6.6% over the same period, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index. Over decades, that difference adds up in a big way.
The takeaway? For most people, keeping it simple wins. Morningstar reports that approximately 29% of actively managed funds outperform their passive counterparts over the decade ended last June. Buffett's bet just reinforced what research keeps proving: for the average investor, a low-cost index fund is one of the best ways to grow wealth over time.
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Startups

VFIAX

Warren Buffett's $1M Bet: Why 'Simple' Index Funds Crushed Hedge Funds By 7.1% To 2.2% Over A Decade

<a href="https://x.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1886529228193022429?s=19">https://x.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1886529228193022429?s=19</a>
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Justin Trudeau Posts On X "I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.... Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together."

Former President Jimmy Carter almost made history at the 67th Grammy Awards, an accomplishment that could have added to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers-shakers/24/12/42716329/jimmy-carter-the-39th-us-president-who-championed-human-rights-and-peace-in-the-middle-east-had-died">his lifetime accolades.</a>
What Happened: Months after passing away at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/25/01/42901026/jimmy-carters-funeral-5-living-presidents-attend-family-colleagues-share-warm-humorous-stories">the age of 100</a> in December, Carter was honored with a Grammy Award win at the 67th annual music awards show Sunday.
Carter <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/jimmy-carter/7405">won </a>his fourth Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for his "Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration" recordings.
The recordings came from his final Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia. The record also features recordings from Darius Rucker, LeeAnn Rimes and Jon Batiste.
Carter beat out Guy Oldfield, George Clinton, Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand for the award, as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-jimmy-carter-2025-grammy-awards-0b8a1c1fa8c8887b945a2b893b7e59e5">reported </a>by the Associated Press. 
The former president previously won three other Grammy Awards for spoken word recordings, winning most recently at the 61st &nbsp;(2019) and 58th (2016) award ceremonies.
The posthumous Grammy win nearly made history. If Carter was still alive he would have become the oldest Grammy Award winner in history. The current record is 97 years old held by Pinetop Perkins for a win in 2011. Carter ranks among the top 10 oldest winners for his past awards.
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Why It's Important: Carter's grandson Jason Carter accepted the award on his behalf.
"Having his words captured in this way for my family and for the world is truly remarkable," Carter said while accepting the award.
Speaking backstage at the award ceremony, Carter celebrated his grandfather's love of music.
"He's such an enormous music fan. He loves the creative aspect of music," Carter said, as reported by the Associated Press. "It's been an important part of his political life, an important part of his personal life. He's an artist in many ways."
The former president is the most-awarded Grammy winner among former presidents with his four wins, which come from 10 career nominations. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton each have won two Grammy Awards. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton have also won Grammy Awards.
Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were nominated for Grammy Awards, but did not win.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Entertainment

Jimmy Carter Beats George Clinton, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand For Grammy Award Months After Death, Nearly Makes History

ONEOK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 1.66% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 10.03%. Currently, ONEOK has a market capitalization of $61.24 billion. 
Buying $1000 In OKE: If an investor had bought $1000 of OKE stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $6,820.12 today based on a price of $98.15 for OKE at the time of writing.
<h3>ONEOK's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738626309_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In ONEOK 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday ordered a halt to the majority of work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after being selected as the acting director of the agency by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43450076/trump-administration-weighs-plan-to-shut-down-education-department-which-stocks-could-be-affected">President Donald Trump. </a>
The Details: According to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/bessent-takes-helm-of-consumer-finance-watchdog-orders-halt-to-work-0a9cfc3d?mod=hp_lead_pos3">a report</a> from the Wall Street Journal, Bessent directed the CFPB to freeze much of its work in an internal email. The work stoppage includes decisions about active litigations, enforcement actions and suspends effective dates for completed rules that are not yet in effect.
Bessent is the temporary replacement for Biden appointee Rohit Chopra who was ousted from the agency on Friday.&nbsp;
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"I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth," Bessent said in a written statement Monday.
It is expected that Bessent will begin to roll back many of the regulations that were enacted under the Biden administration, including limits on overdraft fees and the exemption of medical debt reporting by credit agencies. 
CFPB Actions In Limbo: Many lawsuits brought by the CFPB now face an uncertain future as decisions on litigations and enforcement actions have been frozen.&nbsp;
In late December, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42713746/financial-crime-weekly-sec-charges-tai-mo-shan-with-misleading-terra-usd-investors-rocket-companies-sued-over-alleged-kickback-scheme">CFPB sued</a> Rocket Homes, a division of Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) in what it said was an action to stop the company from providing incentives to real estate brokers and agents to steer homebuyers to Rocket Mortgage. 
JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Early Warning Services also face <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42687945/zelle-became-a-gold-mine-for-fraudsters-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-lawsuit">a lawsuit</a> from the CFPB alleging the companies rushed to complete the Zelle payment network in order to compete with Venmo and CashApp and neglected to enact effective fraud safeguards.
The CFPB also slapped Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42981370/cfpb-sues-capital-one-over-alleged-2-billion-in-lost-interest-for-consumers">a lawsuit </a>in January accusing the bank of cheating millions of consumers out of more than $2 billion in lost interest.
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Image: Shutterstock

Bessent Freezes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Work Leaving Lawsuits Against JPMorgan, Bank Of America, Capital One In Limbo

President Donald Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42864556/trump-does-not-rule-out-military-force-to-acquire-panama-canal-greenland-we-need-them-for-economic-security">reignited his push to acquire Greenland</a>, calling it an &#8220;absolute necessity&#8221; for U.S. security. But while Trump is focused on claiming the Arctic territory, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43291979/how-crazy-is-that-says-bernie-sanders-condemning-trump-for-ignoring-working-families-issues-in-his-inauguration-speech">Sen. Bernie Sanders</a>, (I-VT),&nbsp; has a different suggestion: instead of trying to take Greenland, why not copy its progressive policies?
In <a href="https://x.com/SenSanders/status/1884078267214487788">a post on X</a>, Sanders took a jab at Trump&#8217;s territorial ambitions, writing:
&#8220;Mr. President: Instead of stealing Greenland from Denmark, I have a better idea. In Denmark, everyone is guaranteed health care, college education is free, parents receive 1-year of paid paternity leave &amp; workers don't make less than $22 an hour. Let&#8217;s steal those ideas.&#8221;
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Greenlanders Overwhelmingly Oppose Joining the U.S.</h2>
Even though Trump says Greenlanders &#8220;want to be with us,&#8221; a new poll says otherwise. A survey found that 85% of Greenlanders do not want to become part of the U.S., while only 6% support the idea. About 45% see Trump's interest in Greenland as a threat, while 43% see it as an opportunity.
Even when it comes to citizenship, only 8% of Greenlanders would trade their Danish passport for an American one, while 55% prefer to remain Danish citizens. The numbers make it clear—most Greenlanders want nothing to do with becoming part of the United States.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Denmark and Europe Push Back</h2>
Trump&#8217;s aggressive push for Greenland has sparked an international backlash. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other leaders to make sure Greenland stays under Denmark. In a 45-minute phone call, Trump and Frederiksen argued, and European officials later called the conversation &#8220;horrendous.&#8221;
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Scholz cautioned that it is unacceptable to alter borders through force, citing Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine as an example. On Feb. 3, European leaders will convene to discuss Trump's plans for Greenland.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Does Trump Want Greenland?</h2>
Greenland is important for its location and its resources. The U.S. already has a military base in Greenland, called Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), which is a key Arctic outpost. For Trump, controlling Greenland would mean strengthening America&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/01/43133508/trump-wants-to-buy-greenland-for-us-security">position against China and Russia</a>.
Greenland is also rich in rare earth minerals, uranium, and oil. As the world looks for more of these resources, Greenland has become more valuable. Climate change is also making Arctic waters more accessible for shipping, adding to its economic potential.
Trending: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Denmark's Welfare System</h2>
Denmark has a strong support system for its people, but it means paying higher taxes. The government covers health care, free college, and paid parental leave through a system where wealthier people pay more. The top income tax rate is 55.9%, there is a 25% sales tax, and businesses pay a 22% tax.
In Denmark, students not only attend college for free but also receive a stipend from the government to cover living expenses. The country consistently ranks as one of the happiest in the world, with low crime, strong social programs, and a good work-life balance.
So, unlike the U.S., Denmark provides universal healthcare, tuition-free college and generous paid parental leave.
See Also: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a>
While Trump is focused on acquiring Greenland, Sanders and his supporters argue that the U.S. should be paying attention to why Denmark and Greenland rank so high in quality of life.&nbsp;
For now, Greenland's government, backed by Denmark and the European Union, has made it clear that it's not for sale. Whether Trump will continue to push for control remains to be seen, but for Greenlanders, the answer is simple—they'd rather keep their autonomy, their benefits, and their way of life.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mark-cubans-advice-for-lotto-winners">Many are surprised by Mark Cuban's advice for lotto winners: Cash or annuity?</a></li>
<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
</ul>

Bernie Sanders To Trump: Instead Of Greenland, Steal Denmark's Ideas Of Free Health Care, Paid Parental Leave And $22 Minimum Wage

Technology giant 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>) could focus on cloud, AI and YouTube growth when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market close Tuesday.</a>
Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect the company to report fourth-quarter revenue of $96.6 billion, up from $86.3 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">from Benzinga Pro.</a>
The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in seven straight quarters.
Analysts expect the company to report fourth-quarter earnings per share of $2.13, up from $1.64 in last year's fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in seven straight quarters.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43441911/alphabets-q4-earnings-bullish-trend-just-getting-started">Alphabet Q4 Earnings Preview: Bullish Trend Just Getting Started?</a>
What Analysts Are Saying: Recent strength in advertising for Meta Platforms could foreshadow strong advertising strength for Alphabet, Bank of America analyst Justin Post<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43396598/alphabet-shares-are-on-the-rise-today-whats-going-on"> recently said.</a>
The analyst, who has a Buy rating and $225 price target, said Alphabet should show positive commentary on cloud demand in the fourth-quarter results and commentary.
Post said Alphabet will likely show strength in search thanks to AI usage helping with monetization and YouTube could also benefit from improved AI targeting.
Potential negatives for Alphabet would be talking about tougher first-quarter advertising comps, slowing YouTube growth or new hiring/Capex commentary.
"We remain constructive on Alphabet and believe Street is likely underestimating potential for AIOs to drive Search monetization strength in 2025," Post said.
Here are other <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL/analyst-ratings">analyst ratings for Alphabet </a>and their price targets:
<ul>
<li>JMP Securities: Reiterated Market Perform rating, no price target</li>
<li>Needham: Maintained Buy rating, increased price target from $210 to $225</li>
<li>DA Davidson: Maintained Neutral rating, increased price target from $190 to $200</li>
<li>Cantor Fitzgerald: Maintained Neutral rating, lowered price target from $215 to $210</li>
</ul>
Key Items to Watch: Alphabet likely won't comment on pending legislation, but could be asked about its current case with the Department of Justice and what the new White House administration means.
Alphabet<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42898021/google-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-plans-youtube-livestream-pleased-to-support"> donated $1 million</a> to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, an amount higher than the $285,000 donated to the 2016 and 2020 inaugurations. The company also live-streamed the inauguration on YouTube.
The donation comes as the company has been targeted by the Department of Justice for&nbsp;alleged monopolistic behavior&nbsp;and could be forced to break up and spin off assets such as the Chrome browser.
While there&#8217;s no certainty that a donation or a visit to Mar-a-Lago will sway the new administration or prevent such outcomes, changes to the DOJ's leadership could potentially shift the company's legal challenges.
Incoming Vice President&nbsp;J.D. Vance&nbsp;also previously said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/39826475/trumps-new-running-mate-j-d-vance-wants-to-break-up-google-could-2024-election-be-bad-for-big-te" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wants to break up&nbsp;</a>Alphabet, which could make the company a target of the new administration.
Senator&nbsp;Ted Cruz&nbsp;(R-Texas) recently told Politico that Republicans would target Alphabet&#8217;s Google and YouTube content moderation policies on the search engine.
As mentioned by Post, AI could also be one of the key themes.
"Our commitment to innovation, as well as our long-term focus and investment in AI, are paying off with consumers and partners benefiting from our AI tools," Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said after<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41611263/alphabet-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-google-cloud-up-35-momentum-across-the-compan"> third-quarter results.</a>
Pichai said at the time that Alphabet was winning larger deals and attracting new customers thanks to its AI solutions in the cloud. Investors and analysts would welcome an update on this and what the future holds for its cloud segment thanks to AI tools.
YouTube passed $50 billion in total ads and subscription revenues over the last four quarters for the first time, he said.
GOOGL Price Action: Alphabet stock closed Monday down 1.37% to $201.23 versus a 52-week trading range of $130.67 to $205.48. Alphabet stock is up 40% over the last year.
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Previews

Tech

GOOG

GOOGL

Alphabet Q4 Earnings Preview: AI, YouTube, DOJ Case Key Items To Watch

MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 13.35% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 21.72%. Currently, MicroStrategy has a market capitalization of $88.37 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MSTR: If an investor had bought $1000 of MSTR stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $50,670.07 today based on a price of $350.20 for MSTR at the time of writing.
<h3>MicroStrategy's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738624509_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

MSTR

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In MicroStrategy 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Pure Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSTG#NYSE">PSTG</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 16.96% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 29.42%. Currently, Pure Storage has a market capitalization of $22.03 billion. 
Buying $1000 In PSTG: If an investor had bought $1000 of PSTG stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $3,538.95 today based on a price of $67.54 for PSTG at the time of writing.
<h3>Pure Storage's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738623615_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

PSTG

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

In 2024, approximately 11% of RYAM's total revenues were generated from Canadian Paperboard exports to the U.S. The Company has been proactively pursuing mitigation actions since late 2024 to partially offset these impacts. If the proposed 25% tariff on Canadian shipments to the U.S. is enacted, the Company would expect an impact of up to $3.5 million per month while in place.
Also, 2025 Cellulose Specialties average sales prices are projected to increase mid-single-digit percentage from 2024 levels, in line with RYAM's "value over volume" strategy. 2025 Cellulose Specialties sales volumes are expected to decline versus 2024 levels due to the indefinite suspension of the Temiscaming High Purity Cellulose plant; however, 2025 revenue is expected to be flat to 2024 levels.

Guidance

RYAM

Rayonier Advanced Materials Says Actively Assessing Impact Of Tariffs; If The Proposed 25% Tariff On Canadian Shipments To US Is Enacted, Company Would Expect Impact Of Up To $3.5M Per Month

Rayonier Advanced Materials Reports Preliminary 2024 Net Sales Of $1.639B (Est $1.626B), A Decline Of $4M From Prior Year

Several AI-linked stocks are trading higher in Monday&#8217;s after-hours session following Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) shares rocketing higher on based on blowout earnings. Here&#8217;s what <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43449486/palantir-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-us-revenue-up-52-customer-count-up-43-strong-guidance-this-is-a-new-phase-unlike-anything-that-has-come-before">you need to know</a>.
What Happened With PLTR: Palantir beat analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines, reporting fourth-quarter revenue of $827.52 million and earnings of 14 cents per share.
Total revenue grew 36% year-over-year driven by strong growth in the U.S. of 52%. U.S. Commercial revenue jumped 64% year-over-year and U.S. Government revenue increased 45% year-over-year.
Palantir's customer count grew 43% year-over-year. The company delivered $517 million in adjusted free cash flow and ended the quarter with $5.2 billion of cash, equivalents and short-term U.S. treasury securities.
"We are still in the earliest stages, the beginning of the first act, of a revolution that will play out over years and decades," Palantir CEO Alex Karp said in a letter to shareholders.&nbsp;
"This is not an incremental advance or marginal acceleration of our business. This is a new phase. And the momentum we are seeing across sectors, both commercial and government, is unlike anything that has come before."
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43449486/palantir-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-us-revenue-up-52-customer-count-up-43-strong-guidance-this-is-a-new-phase-unlike-anything-that-has-come-before">Palantir Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, US Revenue Up 52%, Customer Count Up 43%, Strong Guidance</a>
The upside surprise and optimistic commentary from the company appears to be driving other AI-related names higher after the bell. 
Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>) has seen increased attention in recent weeks after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disclosed the purchase of several call options. Tempus AI shares were up more than 7% in extended trading at last check.
Other AI-related names including C3.ai Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AI#NYSE">AI</a>), BigBear.ai Holdings Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAI#NYSE">BBAI</a>) and SoundHound AI Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>) were also moving higher following Palantir&#8217;s quarterly report. C3.ai shares were up about 4.5%, BigBear.ai shares were up about 5.5% and SoundHound shares were up about 2%.
NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which has been the biggest beneficiary of the AI boom to date, was also moving higher, last up about 1.35% in after-hours trading. Palantir shares were up more than 22% in after-hours at the time of publication Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43402466/nancy-pelosi-pick-tem-stock-exciting-unpredictable-volatility">Options Corner: Tempus AI Stock Soars On Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s Call Options — But Should Investors Follow?</a></li>
</ul>
This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

After-Hours Center

BBAI

NVDA

PLTR

SOUN

AI Stocks Are Rallying After The Bell: What's Going On?

Ameriprise Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMP#NYSE">AMP</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 3.51% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.71%. Currently, Ameriprise Finl has a market capitalization of $51.67 billion. 
Buying $100 In AMP: If an investor had bought $100 of AMP stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $398.78 today based on a price of $537.12 for AMP at the time of writing.
<h3>Ameriprise Finl's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738622708_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

"Over the last few years, we proactively moved our U.S.-bound camera production outside of China, which has significantly reduced the impact of tariffs," said Brian McGee, CFO and COO of GoPro. "We are continuously evaluating and optimizing our supply chain to improve delivery of our products at lower cost."

GPRO

GoPro Says Its Diversified Supply Chain Mitigates Potential Impact Of US Tariffs; Does Not Expect US Consumer Pricing Or Gross Margin To Be Materially Affected By Recent Tariff Announcements

Nauticus completed assembly and the first phase of acceptance testing at its Houston facility in January. This second Aquanaut vehicle is now in Louisiana undergoing the next phase of acceptance testing.
The vehicle should complete the required pool testing this month. Once completed, the vehicle will move to the final phase of testing in open water off the southern coast of the United States. Nauticus is targeting completion of all acceptance testing for this vehicle within the first quarter of 2025.

KITT

Nauticus Robotics Reports Assembly Completion Of Its Second Flagship Underwater Vehicle, Aquanaut Mark 2; Targets Completion Of All Acceptance Testing For This Vehicle Within Q1 Of 2025

Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELH#NASDAQ">CELH</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 43.64% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 54.84%. Currently, Celsius Holdings has a market capitalization of $5.62 billion. 
Buying $1000 In CELH: If an investor had bought $1000 of CELH stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $80,089.89 today based on a price of $23.92 for CELH at the time of writing.
<h3>Celsius Holdings's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738621815_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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