First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February (BATS: XFEB)

Latest news for First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February (BATS:XFEB)

Fund will invest substantially all of its assets in FLexible EXchange Options (FLEX Options) that reference the price performance of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (the Underlying ETF). FLEX Options are customized equity or index option contracts that trade on an exchange, but provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like exercise prices, styles and expiration dates. The Underlying ETF is an exchange-traded unit investment trust that uses a replication strategy, meaning it invests in as many of the stocks in the S&P 500 Index as is practicable. PDR Services, LLC (PDR) serves as the Underlying ETFs sponsor. The investment objective of the Underlying ETF is to seek to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index.

Dreyfus Government Cash Management

FT Vest US Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February

UBS analyst William Grippin initiates coverage on EVgo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVGO#NASDAQ">EVGO</a>) with a Neutral rating and announces Price Target of $4.

News

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

EVGO

UBS Initiates Coverage On EVgo with Neutral Rating, Announces Price Target of $4

WIIM

Rentokil shares are trading higher following a report suggesting former BT CEO Philip Jansen is in talks to acquire the company.

Piper Sandler analyst Kashy Harrison maintains Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLNC#NASDAQ">FLNC</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $18 to $16.

FLNC

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Fluence Energy, Lowers Price Target to $16

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-20/former-bt-ceo-in-talks-to-buy-rentokil-initial-the-sunday-times?srnd=telecom" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-20/former-bt-ceo-in-talks-to-buy-rentokil-initial-the-sunday-times?srnd=telecom">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-20/former-bt-ceo-in-talks-to-buy-rentokil-initial-the-sunday-times?srnd=telecom</a>

Rumors

Rentokil Shares Higher Premarket; Report From This Weekend Suggests Former BT CEO Philip Jansen Is In Talks To Acquire Co.

Piper Sandler analyst Kashy Harrison maintains Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $111 to $120.

ENPH

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Enphase Energy, Raises Price Target to $120

GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have teamed up under a new CRADA to boost supercomputing capabilities, aiming to advance next-generation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/n39873885/ge-aerospace-and-u-s-department-of-energy-reach-agreement-to-expand-supercomputing-capability-for-" rel="noreferrer noopener">aircraft engine technologies like Open Fan</a>.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, home to Frontier—the fastest supercomputer at over a quintillion calculations per second—is renowned for its advanced computing expertise.
Oak Ridge will enhance GE Aerospace&#8217;s ability to handle large simulations, extract data efficiently, leverage AI tools for better result interpretation, and improve physics visualization.
GE Aerospace plans to hire over 900 engineers in 2024 to drive innovation and support both current engine programs and future flight technologies.
The company developed computational fluid dynamics software for Frontier to model the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of its full-scale Open Fan engine.
Mohamed Ali, senior vice president of engineering for GE Aerospace said, &#8220;Supercomputing and access to Frontier is changing the way we design jet engines, allowing us to solve previously impossible problems. We&#8217;re now able to digitally fly components of an Open Fan at full-scale in a simulated environment before the hardware is built.&#8221;
&#8220;Our expanded research collaboration through a new cooperative agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory will accelerate our engine design and testing, building confidence that Open Fan architecture is the most promising engine technology to help the aviation industry meet its net zero ambitions.&#8221;
Today, Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>) and GE Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and produce cost-effective small engines for unmanned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/g39877552/ge-aerospace-and-kratos-partner-on-small-affordable-engines" rel="noreferrer noopener">aerial systems and collaborative combat aircraft</a>.
The partnership builds on an existing joint development agreement and includes full-scale engine production.
Last week, GE Aerospace announced plans to invest over $1 billion over the next five years to expand its global Maintenance, Repair, and&nbsp;Overhaul (MRO) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39860866/ge-aerospace-commits-1b-to-enhance-global-repair-and-overhaul-facilities" rel="noreferrer noopener">and component repair facilities</a>.
Earlier this month, the company disclosed that it had extended CEO Larry Culp's tenure until the end of 2027, with the option for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39597343/steering-the-course-ge-aerospace-keeps-ceo-culp-at-the-helm-through-2027" rel="noreferrer noopener">an additional one-year&nbsp;extension</a>.
GE stock has gained over 80% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via IShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>)&nbsp;and TCW Transform Systems ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NETZ#NYSE">NETZ</a>).
Price Action: GE shares are up 0.51% at $159.94 premarket at the last check Monday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Unsplash/ Headway

Equities

Large Cap

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

KTOS

Engine No. 1 ETF Trust Engine No. 1 Transform Climate ETF

NETZ

GE Aerospace Invests In Supercomputing Talent: Plans To Hire 900 Engineers

Piper Sandler analyst Kashy Harrison maintains Bloom Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BE#NYSE">BE</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $10 to $11.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Bloom Energy, Raises Price Target to $11

Seaport Global analyst Laurie Havener Hunsicker upgrades Independent Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INDB#NASDAQ">INDB</a>) from Neutral to Buy and announces $65 price target.

Upgrades

INDB

Seaport Global Upgrades Independent Bank to Buy, Announces $65 Price Target

Needham analyst Mayank Tandon downgrades Open Lending (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPRO#NASDAQ">LPRO</a>) from Buy to Hold.

Downgrades

LPRO

Needham Downgrades Open Lending to Hold

Southern States (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSBK#NASDAQ">SSBK</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.00 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.89 by 12.36 percent. This is a 26.58 percent increase over earnings of $0.79 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $22.947 which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $22.600 million by 100.00 percent. This is a 100.00 percent decrease over sales of $26.294 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

SSBK

Southern States Q2 2024 Adj EPS $1.00 Beats $0.89 Estimate, Sales $22.947 Miss $22.600M Estimate

Citigroup analyst Ben Gerlinger downgrades Texas Capital Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCBI#NASDAQ">TCBI</a>) from Neutral to Sell and announces $60 price target.

TCBI

Citigroup Downgrades Texas Capital Bancshares to Sell, Announces $60 Price Target

Piper Sandler analyst Kashy Harrison maintains Ameresco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMRC#NYSE">AMRC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $30 to $37.

AMRC

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Ameresco, Raises Price Target to $37

While Tesla Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) sales in the U.S. have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39595720/tesla-deliveries-fall-for-second-straight-quarter-but-stock-takes-off-as-q2-numbers-exceed-expec">dropping since the start of the year</a>, South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYMTF#OTC">HYMTF</a>) and Japanese player Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) have been gaining ground in the country. 
Tesla Sales Drop: Tesla sales in the U.S. fell by nearly 10% since the start of the year and through the end of the second quarter, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates. Tesla does not segment its deliveries geography-wise, leaving third-party data as the sole means of tracking their sales in the country. 
As per the data, Tesla sold 304,451 units in the first half of the year as opposed to 336,892 vehicles in the corresponding period of last year.
While the sales drop was experienced across Tesla&#8217;s lineup, Model 3 sales took the largest hit. The company sold only 73,552 Model 3 sedans in the first half of this year as opposed to 112,791 units in the first half of 2023, likely due to the production ramp of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38511618/tesla-researcher-thinks-ev-giants-biggest-challenge-in-q2-comes-from-one-of-its-cas">updated Model 3</a> at the company&#8217;s Fremont factory.
Tesla introduced the updated version of the Model 3 in the U.S. market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36570546/you-can-finally-order-teslas-new-model-3-in-america-heres-its-starting-price">in January.</a> 
Foreign Players Sell More EVs: But despite the American EV giant dropping in sales, foreign players have gained ground. Toyota sold 9,468 EVs in the period, marking a jump of 159% year-on-year. Toyota&#8217;s luxury brand Lexus, meanwhile, saw EV sales jump about 405% to 5,639 units, owing to the rise in popularity of its Lexus RZ electric SUV.
South Korea&#8217;s Hyundai too is rising in popularity in the region. While Hyundai saw its EV sales surge 34% to 29,105 units owing to the popularity of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39630731/mustang-mach-e-drives-fords-q2-ev-sales-ahead-of-gm-but-its-still-just-a-fraction-of-elon-musks-tesl">Ioniq models</a>, its sister brand Kia saw sales jump 104% to 27,634 units.
Hyundai&#8217;s luxury brand Genesis also marked a nearly 27% growth in sales to 3,241 units, with the popularity of its GV70 Performance SUV making up for the drop in sales of its other EVs including the G80.
Other Domestic Player Performance: Foreign brands are not alone in their EV sales growth. Michigan-based Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39630731/mustang-mach-e-drives-fords-q2-ev-sales-ahead-of-gm-but-its-still-just-a-fraction-of-elon-musks-tesl">saw a 71.8% jump in EV sales</a> in the first six months of 2024 to 44,180 units, while American EV startup Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) registered a 33% rise in sales to 27,378, according to Kelley Blue Book data.
General Motors&#8216; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) Cadillac brand also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39612749/60-000-cadillac-lyriq-drives-gms-q2-ev-sales-after-bolt-is-discontinued">saw sales rise by 465% to 13,094 units, owing to a rise in sales of its Lyriq SUV</a> while Chevrolet EV sales dropped by nearly 41% to 19,918 units, likely due to the stop in production of its Bolt EV in December.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39877043/tesla-fsd-to-allow-users-to-wear-sunglasses-starting-with-version-12-5-elon-musk-tells-quake-video-g">Tesla FSD To Allow Users To Wear Sunglasses Starting With Version 12.5, Elon Musk Tells Quake Video Game Developer: &#8216;Tesla Has Done So Much&#8230;&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image made via photos on Shutterstock

Tech

HYMTF

RIVN

TSLA

Should Elon Musk Be Worried? Toyota, Hyundai, And Ford Challenge Tesla On Home Turf With More EVs On US Roads As Billionaire's Auto Giant Faces Sales Slump

Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne downgrades Interpublic Gr of Cos (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>) from Equal-Weight to Underweight and lowers the price target from $34 to $28.

Morgan Stanley Downgrades Interpublic Gr of Cos to Underweight, Lowers Price Target to $28

Biotricity Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTCY#NASDAQ">BTCY</a>), a Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) company operating in the remote cardiac monitor sector of consumer healthcare, today announced ongoing improvements in operational efficiency, scalability and margin performance driven by the latest enhancements to the company&#39;s proprietary AI Cloud platform.
The latest version of Biotricity&#39;s AI Cloud has improved the company&#39;s tech stack efficiency by&nbsp;20%, which is expected to result in a topline margin improvement of 200 to 300 basis points (2 to&nbsp;3%) in the coming quarters. The next version of the AI Cloud, currently under development, is anticipated to enhance the tech stack by another&nbsp;20%, contributing to an additional margin improvement of 100 to 200 basis points (1 to&nbsp;2%). These across-the-board improvements are accelerating Biotricity&#39;s path to breakeven and achieving positive cash flow.
&quot;Our focus on AI and technology-driven efficiencies continues to bear fruit,&quot; said Dr. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, founder and CEO of Biotricity. &quot;The latest upgrades to our AI Cloud platform are not just technical achievements; they are key drivers in improving our operational margins, supporting scale and expediting our path to profitability. With each iteration, we are pushing the boundaries of what&#39;s possible in remote cardiac monitoring and healthcare technology.&quot;
Biotricity is developing one the most comprehensive AI Cloud platforms for cardiac care. The platform leverages over 500 billion beats of anonymized data to build predictive cardiac AI models for improved diagnoses and faster interventions. These models enable more accurate analyses and improved operational efficiency, supporting physicians in diagnosing more patients with the same resources.
Biotricity is targeting a&nbsp;$35 billion&nbsp;total addressable market opportunity. With its solutions utilized daily by cardiologists across 35 states and hundreds of centers, Biotricity is capturing a growing market share in cardiology. This growth is bolstered by a high retention rate of approximately&nbsp;99%&nbsp;and a recurring revenue base with strong LTV-to-CAC ratios.

BTCY

Biotricity's AI Cloud Upgrades Drive Operational Gains and Path to Profitability

Lennar shares are trading lower after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and lowered its price target from $180 to $174.

In addition, the Agreement ends all existing credit ties with the Agreement parties, removes the existing lien against Talicia&reg; and restores control over cash collections back to RedHill.

Biotech

Health Care

General

RDHL

Redhill Biopharma Terminates Agreement With Movantik Acquisition, Valinor Pharma, And Hcr Redhill, And Received ~$9.9M In Cash And Gained Full Control Over An Additional $0.74M Currently Held In Restricted Account

Wolfe Research analyst Steven Chubak downgrades Stifel Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SF#NYSE">SF</a>) from Outperform to Peer Perform.

Wolfe Research Downgrades Stifel Financial to Peer Perform

Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella downgrades Consolidated Edison (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ED#NYSE">ED</a>) from Equal-Weight to Underweight and lowers the price target from $97 to $92.

Barclays Downgrades Consolidated Edison to Underweight, Lowers Price Target to $92

Abercrombie & Fitch shares are trading higher after JP Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $167 to $194.

FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February

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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February

News

Latest news for First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February (BATS:XFEB)