Latest news for Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:ZIONO) Stock

Zions Bancorporation is a regional us bank with core operations that span 11 states. The bank is headquartered in Salt Lake City and does business primarily in the Western and Southwestern United States. Zions primarily focuses on providing banking services to small and midsize businesses, with the bulk of its loans focused on commercial and commercial real estate lending.

Zions Bancorp NA

Mike Ippolito of Blockworks sees a resurging Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), an evolution for Solana&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) and the expanding role of stablecoins and AI as key trends in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42638493/crypto-analyst-2025-will-continue-to-be-a-great-year-for-bitcoin">crypto in 2025</a>.
What Happened: In a <a href="https://x.com/MikeIppolito_/status/1870938950396731667">thread</a> on X on Sunday, Ippolito said he believes the U.S. will dominate the global crypto scene, with domestic conferences surpassing Asian counterparts in size and influence. 
He further predicted Ethereum dissenters to diminish, boosting sentiment and price recovery. 
Efforts to scale Ethereum's Layer-1 will remain minimal and stablecoins will outnumber Ethereum 2:1 on Layer-2 solutions, with valuations exceeding $450 billion.
Solana's cycle will continue, but inflation concerns will prompt changes to its issuance policy, while AI-focused tokens and use cases will gain momentum despite early challenges. 
Crypto VC funding is projected to reach $20–$25 billion, with multiple raises exceeding $50–$100 million.
Layer-1 blockchains like Sui (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">SUI</a>) and Hyperliquid (CRYPTO: HYPE) will be the fastest-growing chains, according to Ippolito, and by year-end, Robinhood will rival Coinbase as the top U.S. crypto exchange.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42638493/crypto-analyst-2025-will-continue-to-be-a-great-year-for-bitcoin">Crypto Analyst: &#8216;2025 Will Continue To Be a Great Year for Bitcoin&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Santiment data <a href="https://x.com/santimentfeed/status/1870993979782963500">shows</a> an increase in cryptocurrency holders for the top coins: Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) saw a 27% spike, while Ethereum posted a 47% increase. 
Tether (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDT</a>) and XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) registered a 66% and 28% surge, respectively.
In another post, the data firm showed a sharp sentiment shift from bullish to bearish, with altcoin market caps declining and attention returning to Bitcoin. 
This crowd-driven fear may create opportunities for patient traders to capitalize on market pessimism.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f631; The crypto majority has flipped their moods from bullish to bearish in an alarming fashion these past 2 weeks. As market caps have corrected (particularly altcoins), there is far less interest in meme coins and far more interest back on Bitcoin. This crowd FUD is a healthy… <a href="https://t.co/9ByahlY7MZ">pic.twitter.com/9ByahlY7MZ</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1871091109063020911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42512673/ai-cryptocurrencies-surge-208-to-61-5-billion-market-cap-in-2024-these-were-the-top-performers">AI Cryptocurrencies Surge 208% To $61.5 Billion Market Cap In 2024: These Were The Top Performers</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

News

$BTC

$ETH

$SOL

$SUI

$USDT

$XRP

Ethereum, Solana Outfox Bitcoin, XRP In Industry Expert's 205 Crypto Predictions

WIIM

INSP

Inspire Medical shares are trading lower after rival Eli Lilly received approval for Zepbound as an obstructive sleep apnea treatment for obese adults.

BMO Capital analyst Fadi Chamoun maintains CAE (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAE#TSX">CAE</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from C$33 to C$38.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

TSX:CAE

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on CAE, Raises Price Target to C$38

ResMed shares are trading lower after rival Eli Lilly received approval for Zepbound as an obstructive sleep apnea treatment for obese adults.

TeraWulf Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WULF#NASDAQ">WULF</a>) shares are trading lower Monday after initially jumping after the company announced a deal to expand into AI-driven <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42644398/terawulf-to-deliver-over-70-mw-of-data-center-infrastructure-for-g42s-us-operations">high performance computing hosting</a>.
What Happened: TeraWulf announced it signed long-term data center lease agreements with cloud and AI services company Core42. 
Under the agreements, TeraWulf will deliver over 70 megawatts (MW)&nbsp;of data center infrastructure to host Core42&#8217;s deployment at the Lake Mariner facility. The infrastructure is expected to be released in phases between the first and third quarters of 2025.
TeraWulf noted that the move represents a strategic push into AI-driven computing, which it believes will complement its profitable Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining operations, aligning with its mission to leverage scalable energy to power the digital economy. 
&#8220;Our strategic relationship with G42, and most specifically with Core42, positions TeraWulf at the intersection of two of today&#8217;s most transformative computational networks: AI compute and Bitcoin mining,&#8221; said Paul Prager, CEO of TeraWulf. 
&#8220;This agreement not only diversifies our revenue streams but also significantly enhances our long-term earnings potential.&#8221;
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42646398/rumble-stock-soars-44-pre-market-crypto-meets-free-speech-game-changer-or-hype">Rumble Stock Soars 44% Pre-Market: Crypto Meets Free Speech — Game-Changer Or Hype?</a>
The data center leases include two five-year renewal options, as well as provisions for expanding near-term hosting capacity for Core42 by an additional 135 MW. 
TeraWulf noted that Core42&#8217;s GPU clusters will feature Dell Integrated Rack Scalable Solutions,&nbsp;including direct liquid cooled Dell PowerEdge XE9680L GPU servers.
WULF Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/wulf">TeraWulf shares</a> were down 13.3% at $5.715 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Pixabay.

Contracts

Movers

WULF

What's Going On With TeraWulf Stock Today?

Trading Ideas

Health In Tech Shares Resume Trade, Then Halted Again, This Time To The Downside

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Citigroup.
Looking at options history for Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) we detected 22 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 59% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 17 are puts, for a total amount of $1,338,929 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $403,959.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $57.5 to $77.5 for Citigroup over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Citigroup stands at 9225.15, with a total volume reaching 24,043.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Citigroup, situated within the strike price corridor from $57.5 to $77.5, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Citigroup 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734970537_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$2.34</td>
<td>$2.22</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$77.50</td>
<td>$230.0K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$2.57</td>
<td>$2.58</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$184.0K</td>
<td>26.1K</td>
<td>718</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$1.19</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$154.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.69</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$153.1K</td>
<td>770</td>
<td>567</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$2.72</td>
<td>$2.71</td>
<td>$2.72</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$136.5K</td>
<td>770</td>
<td>567</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Citigroup</h3>
Citigroup is a global financial-services company doing business in more than 100 countries and jurisdictions. Citigroup's operations are organized into five primary segments: services, markets, banking, US personal banking, and wealth management. The bank's primary services include cross-border banking needs for multinational corporates, investment banking and trading, and credit card services in the United States.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Citigroup, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Citigroup's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,896,254, the price of C is down -0.26% at $69.01. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 23 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Citigroup</h3>
Over the past month, 4 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $83.25.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from B of A Securities keeps a Buy rating on Citigroup with a target price of $90. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Piper Sandler continues to hold a Overweight rating for Citigroup, targeting a price of $80. 
&#x2A; Showing optimism, an analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods upgrades its rating to Outperform with a revised price target of $82. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Goldman Sachs has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Citigroup, which currently sits at a price target of $81. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Citigroup options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Markets

A Closer Look at Citigroup's Options Market Dynamics

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Spotify Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SPOT, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 16 uncommon options trades for Spotify Technology.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 43%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $684,088, and 8 are calls, for a total amount of $845,005.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $340.0 to $490.0 for Spotify Technology during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Spotify Technology's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Spotify Technology's whale trades within a strike price range from $340.0 to $490.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Spotify Technology 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734970532_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SPOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$40.75</td>
<td>$39.65</td>
<td>$40.28</td>
<td>$460.00</td>
<td>$402.8K</td>
<td align="right">909</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPOT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$71.1</td>
<td>$70.0</td>
<td>$71.1</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$156.4K</td>
<td align="right">19</td>
<td align="right">57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPOT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$132.75</td>
<td>$126.5</td>
<td>$130.75</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$130.7K</td>
<td align="right">55</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPOT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$31.4</td>
<td>$30.3</td>
<td>$30.3</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$106.0K</td>
<td align="right">497</td>
<td align="right">123</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPOT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$27.15</td>
<td>$26.05</td>
<td>$27.15</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$86.8K</td>
<td align="right">497</td>
<td align="right">78</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Spotify Technology</h3>
Spotify is the leading global music streaming service provider, with over 600 million monthly active users and 250 million paying subscribers, with the latter comprising the firm's premium segment. most of the firm's revenue and nearly all its gross profit come from the subscribers, who pay a monthly fee to access a very comprehensive music library that consists of most of the most popular songs ever recorded, including all from the major record labels. The firm also sells separate audiobook subscriptions and integrates podcasts within its standard music app. Podcast content is not exclusive and is typically free to access on other platforms. Ad-supported users can access a similar music catalog but cannot customize a similar on-demand experience.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Spotify Technology, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Spotify Technology's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 392,062, the SPOT's price is down by -1.31%, now at $454.83. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 43 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Spotify Technology</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $560.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Canaccord Genuity has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Spotify Technology, which currently sits at a price target of $560. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Spotify Technology options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

SPOT

A Closer Look at Spotify Technology's Options Market Dynamics

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Snowflake. Our analysis of options history for Snowflake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) revealed 21 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 23% of traders were bullish, while 47% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 4 were puts, with a value of $149,740, and 17 were calls, valued at $1,233,994.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $65.0 to $210.0 for Snowflake over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Snowflake's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Snowflake's significant trades, within a strike price range of $65.0 to $210.0, over the past month.
<h3>Snowflake Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734970527_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$25.6</td>
<td>$25.15</td>
<td>$25.35</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$134.3K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>114</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$25.65</td>
<td>$25.1</td>
<td>$25.28</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$128.9K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>61</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$59.5</td>
<td>$54.1</td>
<td>$56.9</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$113.8K</td>
<td>395</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$22.25</td>
<td>$21.3</td>
<td>$21.39</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$106.9K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNOW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$0.69</td>
<td>$0.68</td>
<td>$0.69</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$105.7K</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Snowflake</h3>
Founded in 2012, Snowflake is a data lake, warehousing, and sharing company that went public in 2020. To date, the company has over 3,000 customers, including nearly 30% of the Fortune 500. Snowflake's data lake stores unstructured and semistructured data that can then be used in analytics to create insights stored in its data warehouse. Snowflake's data sharing capability allows enterprises to buy and ingest data, while its data solutions can be hosted on various public clouds.
In light of the recent options history for Snowflake, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Snowflake</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,475,165, with SNOW's price down by -2.92%, positioned at $161.43.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 65 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Snowflake</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $195.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wedbush has elevated its stance to Outperform, setting a new price target at $190. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from JMP Securities downgraded its rating to Market Outperform, setting a price target of $190. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Loop Capital persists with their Buy rating on Snowflake, maintaining a target price of $205. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Snowflake, maintaining a target price of $190. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Snowflake, which currently sits at a price target of $200. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Snowflake, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

SNOW

A Closer Look at Snowflake's Options Market Dynamics

DRCT

Direct Digital Shares Resume Trade Then Again Halted On Circuit Breaker To The Upside, Stock Now Up 290.9%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) last week announced that the Phase 2 study of suzetrigine for painful lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR) had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42599745/why-is-vertex-pharmaceuticals-stock-trading-on-thursday-lower-after-back-pain-trial-data">met its primary endpoint</a>.
The company announced that the FDA had approved Alyftrek (or vanzacaftor triple) in cystic fibroris (CF) six years and older, in-line with expectations, according to Goldman Sachs.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/587781dc5064ed0001730067/salveen-richter">Analyst Salveen Richter</a> maintained a Buy rating for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and price target of $602.
The Vertex Pharmaceuticals Thesis: During the initial launch of Alyftrek, the company is likely to target those patients who had previously started on one of its CFTR modulators but have discontinued over time, Richter said in the note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Alyftrek expands the company's CF franchise to address around 6,000 such patients, he added.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals could also target patients who are currently on one of its other CF therapies, the analyst stated.
"Importantly, in addition to serving as a top-line growth opportunity, vanzacaftor enables higher margins and is dosed once daily, which provides incentive for switching notably in younger age groups," Richter wrote. This means Alyftrek provides the company with an "accretive opportunity" on both the top- and bottom-lines, he further said.
VRTX Price Action: Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals had declined by 0.38% to $395.75 at the time of publication on Monday late morning.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/12/42638379/novo-nordisk-super-micro-computer-and-arm-are-among-top-large-cap-losers-last-week-december-16-20-are-the-others-in-your-portfolio">Novo Nordisk, Super Micro Computer And Arm Are Among Top Large Cap Losers Last Week (December 16-20): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?</a>

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Reiteration

VRTX

Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Alyftrek Is An 'Accretive Opportunity' On Top- And Bottom-Lines, Says Bullish Analyst

Health In Tech Shares Halted

Roth MKM analyst Mike Niehuser maintains Tudor Gold (TSXV:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TUD#TSXV">TUD</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from C$3 to C$2.

TSXV:TUD

Roth MKM Maintains Buy on Tudor Gold, Lowers Price Target to C$2

IPOs

Health In Tech Shares Open For Trade At $5.25 Per Share; IPO Priced At $4.00 Per Share

MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) has further increased its holdings by purchasing 5,262 Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) at an average price of $106,662, totaling approximately $561 million.
What Happened: This <a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltb564490bc5201f31/blt0ec5bb8a309ff033/67695cb1b1ed3c2aa7dc573e/form-8-k_12-23-2024.pdf">acquisition</a> brings MicroStrategy's total Bitcoin holdings to 444,262 BTC, with an average cost of $62,257 and a total cost of approximately $27.7 billion as of Dec. 22, 2024.
This latest purchase by MicroStrategy comes at a time of market speculation about a potential pause in their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42617815/are-microstrategys-bitcoin-purchases-on-hold-in-january">Bitcoin-buying strategy next month</a>.
This speculation centers around the idea that the company might temporarily halt its practice of issuing convertible debt or selling shares through &#8220;at-the-market&#8221; programs to fund these acquisitions. 
It is believed that these activities might be put on hold as the company prepares for the release of its earnings report in early February 2025. 
A venture capitalist initially raised concerns about a potential restriction on the company issuing new convertible debt in January, which has spurred a great amount of discussion among investors.
While MicroStrategy has not confirmed or denied these rumors, it is generally understood that companies often implement self-imposed blackout periods to ensure compliance with trading regulations. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42647239/foresight-ventures-55m-investment-in-the-block-seeks-to-shape-the-future-of-crypto-media-forest-bai">Foresight Ventures&#8217; $55M Investment In The Block Seeks To Shape The Future Of Crypto Media: Forest Bai</a>
These periods usually occur near the end of a fiscal quarter and before the public release of earnings, thus limiting access to non-public information for insider trading purposes. 
The SEC does not require these blackout periods, but companies implement them to maintain trust and integrity with the shareholders. 
These financial blackout periods may apply to either ATM share sales, convertible debt offerings, or both and that information is not currently clear. 
These potential restrictions on Bitcoin purchases have put a spotlight on MicroStrategy's funding strategies.
Some analysts believe the timing of the rumored blackout aligns with MicroStrategy&#8217;s upcoming earnings report between Feb. 3-5, 2025, and could be a result of common precautions that businesses adopt before publicly releasing financial information. 
Furthermore, the company&#8217;s inclusion in the NASDAQ 100 index on Dec. 23 could also play a part, as this often leads companies to reassess their practices around governance and public disclosures. 
Any decision about a blackout period is ultimately decided by MicroStrategy&#8217;s board of directors, reflecting the importance of regulatory adherence.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

MSTR

MicroStrategy Adds 5,262 Bitcoin To Bring Holdings To Over 444,000 BTC

NVDA

NVIDIA Option Alert: 4,353 Jan 17 $140 Calls Swept Near Ask At $5.651 With 128,293 Open Interest; Underlying Stock At $137.34

Roth MKM analyst Sean McGowan maintains MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGPI#NASDAQ">MGPI</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $65 to $60.

MGPI

Roth MKM Maintains Buy on MGP Ingredients, Lowers Price Target to $60

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued a cease-and-desist order (order) against Bank of America, N.A. (bank) for deficiencies related to its Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and sanctions compliance programs.
<a href="https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2024/nr-occ-2024-140.html" title="https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2024/nr-occ-2024-140.html">https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2024/nr-occ-2024-140.html</a>

'OCC Issues Cease and Desist Order Against Bank of America for BSA Deficiencies' - OCC

Direct Digital Shares Resume Trade Then Again Halted On Circuit Breaker To The Upside, Stock Now Up 256.4%

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Applied Optoelectronics. Our analysis of options history for Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAOI#NASDAQ">AAOI</a>) revealed 21 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 38% of traders were bullish, while 47% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 6 were puts, with a value of $432,603, and 15 were calls, valued at $986,947.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $22.5 to $50.0 for Applied Optoelectronics during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Applied Optoelectronics's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Applied Optoelectronics's whale activity within a strike price range from $22.5 to $50.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Applied Optoelectronics Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734969631_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAOI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$17.5</td>
<td>$16.5</td>
<td>$17.4</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$132.2K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAOI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$6.2</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$130.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td align="right">205</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAOI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.62</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$113.3K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td align="right">447</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAOI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.2</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$97.5K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td align="right">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAOI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$92.8K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td align="right">808</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Applied Optoelectronics</h3>
Applied Optoelectronics Inc is a provider of fiber-optic networking products for the Internet data center, cable television, telecommunications and fiber-to-the-home end markets. The company focuses on designing and manufacturing a range of optical communication products from components, to subassemblies, and modules to complete turn-key equipment. Demand for Applied Optoelectronics is driven by bandwidth demand in end markets. Through direct sales personnel, and manufacturing teams in the United States, China, and Taiwan, the company coordinates with customers to determine product design, qualifications, and performance. The company derives maximum revenue from Taiwan.
In light of the recent options history for Applied Optoelectronics, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Applied Optoelectronics Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 1,020,369, the price of AAOI is down by -2.23%, reaching $36.98.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 59 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Applied Optoelectronics</h3>
4 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $34.25.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Northland Capital Markets downgraded its rating to Outperform, setting a price target of $40. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Rosenblatt persists with their Buy rating on Applied Optoelectronics, maintaining a target price of $44. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B. Riley Securities has revised its rating downward to Sell, adjusting the price target to $14. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Raymond James persists with their Outperform rating on Applied Optoelectronics, maintaining a target price of $39. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Applied Optoelectronics, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

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