$AAPL - $AAPL

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $250 Puts at the Ask: 1500 vs 1068 OI

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $250 Puts at the Ask: 1500 @ $27.6 vs 1068 OI; Ref=$245.47

Apple Option Alert: Jul 18 $225 Puts at the Bid: 1000 vs 2435 OI

Apple Option Alert: Jul 18 $225 Puts at the Bid: 1000 @ $5.75 vs 2435 OI; Ref=$245.3093

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $260 Calls at the Ask: 600 vs 3286 OI

Apple Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $260 Calls at the Ask: 600 @ $34.55 vs 3286 OI; Ref=$244.4956

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $250 Calls Sweep (13) near the Ask: 1506 vs 51428 OI

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $250 Calls Sweep (13) near the Ask: 1506 @ $4.049 vs 51428 OI; Ref=$244.935

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $165 Calls at the Bid: 255 vs 1504 OI

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $165 Calls at the Bid: 255 @ $80.9 vs 1504 OI; Ref=$245.08

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $170 Calls at the Bid: 255 vs 1926 OI

Apple Option Alert: Mar 21 $170 Calls at the Bid: 255 @ $75.97 vs 1926 OI; Ref=$245.08

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $250 Puts Sweep (8) near the midpoint: 500 vs 494 OI

Apple Option Alert: May 16 $250 Puts Sweep (8) near the midpoint: 500 @ $13.138 vs 494 OI; Ref=$244.17

Apple Option Alert: Fri $235 Calls at the Bid: 3000 vs 19286 OI

Apple Option Alert: Fri $235 Calls at the Bid: 3000 @ $4.34 vs 19286 OI; Ref=$238.83

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Azioni

APPLE INC

Apple

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

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Apple Inc

A sweeping new wave of tariffs unveiled by President Donald Trump on Wednesday triggered a sharp selloff during the after hours of trading as the scope and scale of the trade duties exceeded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44616760/donald-trump-sets-reciprocal-tariffs-on-key-trade-partners-in-historic-policy-shock">Wall Street's worst-case expectations.</a>
The president framed the move as a long-overdue correction to decades of trade imbalance, instituting what he called a "reciprocal tariff rate," set at 50% of what trading partners charge the United States, but also factoring in non-tariff barriers like currency manipulation, value-added taxes and outright import bans.
While Trump had telegraphed his intention to "rebalance" U.S. trade policy, the specific duty levels, some of which reached into the mid-30% range with key trading partners, jolted investors.
Under the new framework, China, which Trump said imposes tariffs as high as 67% on American goods, will now face reciprocal U.S. duties of approximately 37%. The European Union, which applies a 39% combined rate including VATs, will be subject to a 20% U.S. tariff. Japan, with an estimated 46% trade barrier, now faces a 24% duty on exports to the U.S.
Canada and Mexico, two major trading partners, were notably excluded from the tariff program — a move that suggests Trump may be preserving the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, at least for now.
The White House confirmed that new trade tariffs will take effect on April 9. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs Spark After-Hours Chaos: Index Futures Dive</h3>
The market&#8217;s reaction was swift and brutal. By 5:10 p.m. ET, futures on the S&amp;P 500 dropped 2.5%, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell 3.3%. Dow Jones Industrial Average contracts lost 1.4% and the Russell 2000 futures collapsed by 4.7%. 
Losses were broad-based. Every major sector of the S&amp;P 500 was in the red, with Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) and Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) down about 3%.
As risk appetite evaporated, gold prices climbed. Futures on the yellow metal gained 1.1%, extending their year-to-date advance as investors sought shelter from escalating geopolitical and trade tensions.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tech Megacaps Bear the Brunt</h3>
The Magnificent Seven stocks, the market's dominant tech names, are on track to lose a combined $685 billion.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) was the biggest laggard, down 6.6% and projected to erase $221.7 billion in market value.
 Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) lost 4.7%, a drop equivalent to $127.2 billion. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) fell 5.1%, and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) slid nearly 6%, as traders repositioned for a potentially more inflationary and protectionist economic environment.
Here's the breakdown of projected market cap losses with the tech elite group:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Market Cap ($B)</th>
<th>Post-Mkt % Chg</th>
<th>Projected Loss ($B)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc.</td>
<td>3364.8</td>
<td>-6.59%</td>
<td>-221.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>2842.7</td>
<td>-1.99%</td>
<td>-56.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation</td>
<td>2694.6</td>
<td>-4.72%</td>
<td>-127.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com, Inc. </td>
<td>2079.0</td>
<td>-5.06%</td>
<td>-105.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</td>
<td>1923.7</td>
<td>-3.09%</td>
<td>-59.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>1480.5</td>
<td>-4.16%</td>
<td>-61.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla, Inc. </td>
<td>910.7</td>
<td>-5.86%</td>
<td>-53.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td>—</td>
<td>—</td>
<td>-685.1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data, the steepest decliners in the aftermarket session included:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Chg %</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>)</td>
<td>-24.41%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAG#NYSE">PAG</a>)</td>
<td>-22.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>)</td>
<td>-12.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hess Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>)</td>
<td>-11.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Gap, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPS#NYSE">GPS</a>)</td>
<td>-11.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>)</td>
<td>-10.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>)</td>
<td>-10.38%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Major gainers were: 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Chg %</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Dillard&#8217;s, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDS#NYSE">DDS</a>)</td>
<td>+4.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Certara, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CERT#NASDAQ">CERT</a>)</td>
<td>+4.16%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRT#NYSE">FRT</a>)</td>
<td>+3.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGA#NYSE">RGA</a>)</td>
<td>+2.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ferguson Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FERG#NASDAQ">FERG</a>)</td>
<td>+2.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Church &amp; Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHD#NYSE">CHD</a>)</td>
<td>+2.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td>
<td>+2.33%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44610548/trumps-auto-tariffs-could-crush-demand-blow-26-billion-hole-in-industry-profits">Trump&#8217;s Auto Tariffs Could Crush Demand, Blow $26 Billion Hole In Industry Profits</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using photos from Shutterstock.

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Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Markets Reel As Trump's Tariffs Hit — Magnificent 7 Set To Shed Almost $700 Billion

President Donald Trump is expected to announce sweeping new trade tariffs Wednesday afternoon, calling it "Liberation Day" — a symbolic push to tackle the ballooning U.S. trade deficit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">with major global partners.</a>
Early reports suggest the new reciprocal tariffs could reach as high as 20% on a wide spectrum of imported goods. If confirmed, such measures would raise average U.S. tariffs to levels unseen in decades, stoking uncertainty across global supply chains and financial markets.
Trump is set to reveal more details during his scheduled address from the White House at 4 p.m. Wednesday. 
Markets will be watching closely, not just for the scope and scale of tariffs, but also for potential signals on diplomatic retaliation, corporate lobbying reactions, and the Fed's response.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Historic Deficit Fuels Protectionist Moves</h3>
In 2024, the U.S. imported $3.3 trillion in goods and exported only $2.06 trillion, resulting in a trade deficit exceeding $1.2 trillion, according to data from the International Trade Centre.
January and February 2025 marked the two largest monthly goods deficits ever recorded — $156 billion and $148 billion, respectively, hinting that U.S. businesses may have frontloaded imports in anticipation of higher future costs.
Top trading sources of U.S. imports include Mexico at $510 billion, China at $462 billion, and Canada $422 billion. Imports from Germany totaled $163 billion, predominantly in the automotive sector, while the European Union as a whole supplied $687 billion worth of goods.
Among product categories, automobiles top the list at $219 billion, followed by crude oil and petroleum at $174 billion.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Auto Industry In the Crosshairs</h3>
Trump has already enforced a 25% tariff on all foreign car imports. If an additional 20% reciprocal duty is introduced, foreign vehicles could face a combined 45% import tax.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44610548/trumps-auto-tariffs-could-crush-demand-blow-26-billion-hole-in-industry-profits">Analysts warn</a> this could trigger a severe contraction in U.S. auto sales. Price tags on new vehicles may surge by as much as $15,000, dealing a blow to consumer demand and profit margins of major automakers.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/04/44596034/goldman-warns-trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-could-spike-us-fuel-prices">Goldman Sachs cautioned</a> that if energy products are included in the tariff package, oil and refined product prices including gasoline and diesel could spike sharply, adding to inflationary pressures.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wall Street Reacts: Correction And Caution</h3>
Equity markets are already flashing red. The S&amp;P 500 — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — entered correction territory last month, down over 10% from recent highs, and closed its worst quarter since 2022 with a 4.6% loss.
The so-called "Magnificent Seven" — Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), 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>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) — have all posted negative year-to-date returns and are underperforming the broader market.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44598088/trumps-liberation-day-creates-major-uncertainty-for-big-tech-analyst-dan-ives-says">Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Liberation Day&#8217; Creates &#8216;Major Uncertainty&#8217; For Big Tech, Analyst Dan Ives Says</a>
Notably, bullish strategist <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44584000/veteran-investor-warns-of-rising-stagflation-risk-as-tariffs-loom-anticipates-squeezed-profit-margins-for-us-businesses">Ed Yardeni</a> revised his S&amp;P 500 earnings forecasts downward and cut his year-end index target, citing risks from trade policy and slowing global demand.
Amid equity outflows, gold has solidified its status as a safe-haven asset, repeatedly hitting record highs and surging 19% year to date as investors seek shelter from mounting uncertainty.
A scenario involving stronger-than-expected retaliatory measures from key trading partners could amplify the market dynamics seen in the first quarter, deepening volatility and risk-off sentiment.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44560485/goldman-sachs-slashes-sp-500-price-outlook-as-tariffs-weaker-growth-hit-earnings">Goldman Sachs Slashes S&amp;P 500 Price Outlook As Tariffs, Weaker Growth Hit Earnings</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rising Fears Of Stagflation</h3>
So far, markets have not fully priced in a worst-case economic scenario, one where rising tariffs lead to slower growth coupled with surging prices, also known as stagflation.
Yet, a growing number of economists are increasing their subjective probabilities of a U.S. recession in 2025, especially if retaliatory tariffs hit U.S. exports and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44537936/consumer-inflation-expectations-skyrocket-in-march-hit-highest-levels-in-32-years">consumer sentiment deteriorates.</a>
This week, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44608617/jp-morgan-hikes-us-recession-odds-to-40-tariffs-create-a-dilemma-for-the-fed">JPMorgan raised U.S. probability odds </a>to 40%, up from 30% previously.
Uncertainty also clouds the Federal Reserve's path forward. Although markets currently expect three 25-basis-point rate cuts by the end of 2025, rising inflation risks from new tariffs could tie the Fed's hands.
The central bank may find itself squeezed between the need to support slowing growth and the imperative to fight resurgent price pressures, a policy dilemma reminiscent of the 1970s.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/04/44597023/trumps-tariffs-could-spark-reshoring-boom-for-these-4-us-stocks">Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Could Spark Reshoring Boom For These 4 US Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
President Trump delivers a live address on tariffs from the White House at 4 p.m. ET.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534;WATCH LIVE: Trump Speaks Live From The White House on Liberation Day &#x7C; April 2nd, 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgmKYg-zK9o?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>
</div>
</figure>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Econ #s

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Analyst Ratings

GOOG

Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariff Reveal Set For 4PM: What's At Stake

BofA Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan on Wednesday maintained a Buy rating on Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target of $265</a>.
The rerating reflects an expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/apple-inc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strong iPhone upgrade</a> cycle in fiscal 2025 and 2026 driven by the need for the latest hardware to enable generative AI features, higher growth in Services revenue, higher margins from more internally developed silicon, continuing capital returns and AI features that can drive higher institutional ownership. 
Mohan maintained a Buy on Apple on stable cash flows, earnings resiliency and potential beneficiary of AI use on edge devices.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43910982/apple-commits-500-billion-in-us-investment-for-ai-push-boost-us-manufacturing-tech" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Commits $500 Billion In US Investment For AI Push, Boost US Manufacturing Tech</a>
As per SensorTower data, App Store revenues in the fiscal second quarter 2025 (after 91 days) increased to $8.6 billion (+15%, according to data on developer revs from SensorTower), with total downloads (iPhone + iPad) +5% (8.9 billion) during the same period.
In the second quarter, Mohan noted app store dollars per download increased to $0.95, +9%.
For March, App Store revenue increased by +11% globally.
The Productivity category of Apps was the fastest-growing segment in the fiscal second quarter of 2025, with revenues growing +54% after 91 days. Productivity grew to 4% of total revenue from 3% in the fiscal second quarter of 2024, driven by ChatGPT, which has seen daily active users on the Apple App Store grow by more than five times from January 2024 (4 million DAUs) to March 2025 (20 million DAUs).
The Unified app store noted DAU growth at roughly the same rate, from 13 million in January 2024 to nearly 75 million in March 2025.
During the quarter, ChatGPT (63 million) and DeepSeek (42 million) were the two most downloaded apps on the Apple App Store globally (Unified app store downloads were 180 million for ChatGPT and 80 million for DeepSeek during the quarter).
Apple recently announced that the Apple TV App will be available on Android mobile devices (including phones, tablets, and foldables).
Android users can have a better experience without accessing Apple TV+ using a browser.
According to Sensor Tower data, Apple TV averaged ~1.5 million DAUs during March but has yet to see meaningful revenue appear in the data.
Mohan noted in the long term, this can help to increase subscription revenue by making Apple TV+ more readily available and convenient to view on the Android installed base, which is much larger than the iOS installed base.
Mohan modeled services revenue growth of +12% for total services revenue in the fiscal second quarter of 2025 and +13% in fiscal 2025, estimates that could prove conservative if App Store strength persists.
AAPL Price Action: AAPL stock is down slightly at $223.14 at publication on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44606004/blackberry-q4-earnings-secure-communications-and-licensing-segments-drive-impressive-performance-stock-tanks-on-dismal-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BlackBerry Q4 Earnings: Secure Communications And Licensing Segments Drive Impressive Performance, Stock Slides On Dismal Guidance</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Reiteration

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Apple Set For Strong iPhone Upgrade Cycle Driven By AI, Analyst Says

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$42.1K</td>
<td>41.5K</td>
<td>79.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$53.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ORCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$36.8K</td>
<td>295</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$356.0K</td>
<td>513</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$45.9K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANET</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>7.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/25/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$27.1K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>524</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$47.0K</td>
<td>17.5K</td>
<td>448</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MNDY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$79.0K</td>
<td>113</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 137 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.1K, with a price of $309.0 per contract. There were 41578 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 79221 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on April 4, 2025. Parties traded 72 contract(s) at a $315.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $53.6K, with a price of $745.0 per contract. There were 2065 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5803 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ORCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 15 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 134 contract(s) at a $152.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.8K, with a price of $275.0 per contract. There were 295 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1958 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 352 day(s) on March 20, 2026. Parties traded 193 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $356.0K, with a price of $1845.0 per contract. There were 513 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1908 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 15 day(s) on April 17, 2025. Parties traded 174 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.9K, with a price of $264.0 per contract. There were 5259 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1415 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ANET (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 44 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 88 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 7835 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1219 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 23 day(s) on April 25, 2025. This event was a transfer of 149 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.1K, with a price of $182.0 per contract. There were 1876 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 524 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 79 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.0K, with a price of $940.0 per contract. There were 17573 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 448 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MNDY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNDY#NASDAQ">MNDY</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 44 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 12 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.8K, with a price of $2395.0 per contract. There were 1630 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 290 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 198 day(s) on October 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.0K, with a price of $1975.0 per contract. There were 113 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 40 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

ANET

MNDY

MSTR

ORCL

SMCI

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive business environment, conducting a thorough analysis of companies is crucial for investors and industry enthusiasts. In this article, we will perform an extensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in relation to its major competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By closely examining crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to offer valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>35.43</td>
<td>50.22</td>
<td>8.63</td>
<td>58.74%</td>
<td>$45.91</td>
<td>$58.27</td>
<td>3.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>15.24</td>
<td>3.33</td>
<td>1.07</td>
<td>5.29%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>54.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>7.52</td>
<td>0.81</td>
<td>0.68</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>16.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>16.57</td>
<td>18.56</td>
<td>2.90</td>
<td>31.69%</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>2.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>146.42</td>
<td>11.33</td>
<td>4.91</td>
<td>3.12%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>11.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>11.82</td>
<td>1.17</td>
<td>0.90</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>41.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>6.88</td>
<td>0.78</td>
<td>0.55</td>
<td>2.46%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-3.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>18.76</td>
<td>2.42</td>
<td>0.82</td>
<td>18.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>46.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AstroNova Inc</td>
<td>17.49</td>
<td>0.73</td>
<td>0.44</td>
<td>0.26%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>7.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>30.09</td>
<td>4.89</td>
<td>1.53</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>22.16%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By carefully studying Apple, we can deduce the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
Notably, the current Price to Earnings ratio for this stock, 35.43, is 1.18x above the industry norm, reflecting a higher valuation relative to the industry.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 50.22 relative to the industry average by 10.27x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 8.63, which is 5.64x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 58.74% is 50.21% above the industry average, highlighting efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $45.91 Billion, which is 117.72x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher gross profit of $58.27 Billion, which indicates 73.76x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
With a revenue growth of 3.95%, which is much lower than the industry average of 22.16%, the company is experiencing a notable slowdown in sales expansion.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743606055_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a key indicator of a company's financial health and its reliance on debt financing.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
When comparing Apple with its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be observed:
<ul>
<li>
Compared to its top 4 peers, Apple has a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, indicating a balanced financial structure.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company maintains a reasonable level of debt while also leveraging equity financing.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, indicating that the stock may be overvalued based on these metrics. On the other hand, Apple's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest that the company is efficiently utilizing its resources and generating strong profits, despite slower revenue growth compared to industry peers.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Exploring The Competitive Space: Apple Versus Industry Peers In Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) short interest has increased by over 21% during its current reporting period, making it the fourth most shorted stock in the U.S. market currently.
What Happened: The short interest on the company led by Elon Musk has increased from 67.126 million to 81.331 million shares. About 2.9% of the company's publicly available shares were shorted as of the settlement date on March 14, having an effective date of March 25.
According to Nasdaq data, the short interest soared by 21.16% from the previous settlement date of Feb. 28.
The average daily trading volume during the latest period increased from 84.714 million to 125.16 million shares. The volume indicated that it would require approximately one day for the short sellers to cover their positions without significantly impacting the stock price.
While high short interest signals bearishness, an increase during the current report period indicates lower confidence. According to Beth Kindig, a tech analyst at I/O Fund, this increase makes its notional short interest of 81.331 million shares, the fourth-most currently after Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
<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">Tesla's <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> short interest has risen to 81M shares, per S3 partners, making its notional short interest the fourth-largest after Nvidia <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a>, Microsoft <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSFT&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSFT</a>, and Apple <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a>.
&mdash; Beth Kindig (@Beth_Kindig) <a href="https://twitter.com/Beth_Kindig/status/1907119660358893992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44600269/mark-cuban-argues-ais-new-sht-will-drive-growth-not-deflation">Mark Cuban Dismisses Concerns of AI Causing Deflation, Calls It The &#8220;Greatest Growth And Productivity Engine Ever&#8221;</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Technical Analysis</h3>
The technical indicators painted a grim picture for the stock, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. As the stock closed at $268.46 apiece on Tuesday, its price trend remained weak. While it was above its 20-day simple moving average of $254.19, it trailed the eight, 50, and 200-day moving averages.
The relative strength index of 47.30 was in the neutral zone. The momentum indicator MACD indicated that the stock is in a bearish trend as the score of its MACD line was -11.6, showing that its 12-period exponential moving average is below the 26-period EMA.
However, the histogram has a positive number of 6.65, meaning that the MACD line is rising and getting closer to the signal line. This signaled a bullish sign within a bearish trend, depicting that the bearish momentum is decreasing.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-852684" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034147/Tesla-Tech-chart.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Price Action: Shares of Tesla were trading 1.37% lower in premarket on Wednesday, while the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, was down by 0.46%.
The stock has fallen by 29.22% on a year-to-date basis, whereas it was up 61.11% over the last year.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate Tesla has negative price trends over the short, long, and medium term. Its momentum ranking was solid at the 90.20th percentile, but its value ranking was weaker. Further fundamental details and the quality and growth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">rankings are available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/TSLA"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="796" height="130" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034235/Tesla-Edge-new.png" alt="" class="wp-image-852688" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034235/Tesla-Edge-new.png 796w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034235/Tesla-Edge-new-300x49.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034235/Tesla-Edge-new-768x125.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings">Benzinga&#8217;s analysis of 29 analysts</a> shows a consensus &#8220;hold&#8221; rating for the stock, with an average price target of $309.55, ranging from $24.86 to $550. Recent ratings from Stifel, Deutsche Bank, and Wedbush average $450, suggesting a 67.86% potential upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="385" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034257/Tesla-ANR-new-latest-1024x385.png" alt="" class="wp-image-852689" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034257/Tesla-ANR-new-latest-1024x385.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034257/Tesla-ANR-new-latest-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034257/Tesla-ANR-new-latest-768x289.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/02034257/Tesla-ANR-new-latest.png 1063w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44580978/goldman-sachs-warns-us-stocks-are-at-risk-of-further-declines-but-policy-pivot-from-trump-or-fed-cou" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Warns US Stocks ‘Are At Risk Of Further Declines,' But Policy Pivot From Trump Or Fed Could Stoke Recovery</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

Futures

Technicals

General

Tesla Short Interest Soars To 21.16%, Making It 4th Most Shorted Stock Currently: Here's What Its Charts Indicate

Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) has reportedly proposed a $100 million payment to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to secure the Apple Card network. This move comes amid fierce competition among the country&#8217;s leading payment networks.
What Happened: Apple Card is up for grabs as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), the bank currently backing it, plans to exit the consumer lending sector. Major banks such as JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Synchrony Financial are vying to take over as the card issuer. Visa has stepped in with a $100 million bid to secure the Apple Card network,
Visa, Apple and Mastercard did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment. 
Meanwhile, payment networks, including Visa Inc. and American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), are in a tight race to replace Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) as the network for the Apple Card. Apple Inc. is expected to choose a network for its card before selecting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43019382/apple-eyes-barclays-and-synchrony-to-replace-goldman-sachs-as-credit-card-partner-report">bank to replace</a> Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Visa Inc., the largest network, has made a bold bid to win the card, offering an upfront payment to Apple that is typically reserved for the largest card programs, according to a report by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/apple-card-visa-mastercard-deal-3ce762da">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44599257/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-edge-higher-as-market-braces-for-trumps-liberation-day-why-arthur-hayes-still-sees-btc-hitting-250000-by-year-end" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Edge Higher As Market Braces For Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Liberation Day:&#8217; Why Arthur Hayes Still Sees BTC Hitting $250,000 By Year-End &#8211; Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) Common units of</a>
Mastercard Inc. is also making a strong effort to retain its role as the network for the Apple Card, exploring the use of its fintech, Finicity, to enable consumers to view their deposit-account balances within the Apple ecosystem.
Why It Matters: The Apple card program, with approximately $20 billion in balances, is one of the largest co-branded deals to change issuers. The network that secures this deal is expected to remain closely connected to Apple&#8217;s future payment efforts. Visa Inc. remains the undisputed scale leader in the payments industry, but Mastercard Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44435113/visa-vs-mastercard-the-heavyweight-bout-of-payments">has been outpacing </a>its rival in growth. This competition for the Apple card network could significantly impact the balance of power in the payments industry.
The outcome of this competition could have significant implications for the future of Apple&#8217;s payment efforts and the payments industry at large.
Visa holds a momentum rating of 89.49% and a quality rating of 81.30%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/V" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga&#8217;s Proprietary Edge Rankings</a>. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up for Benzinga Edge.</a>
Visa stock lost 1.13% to close at $346.35&nbsp;on Tuesday. The stock has surged more than 25% over the past 6 months.
<ul>
<li>Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44487389/sundar-pichai-shows-off-googles-most-intelligent-ai-ever-with-a-dinosaur-video-game-that-even-you-could-make-with-a-simple-prompt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sundar Pichai Shows Off Google&#8217;s &#8216;Most Intelligent AI&#8217; Ever With A Dinosaur Video Game That Even You Could Make With A Simple Prompt &#8211; Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Visa Offers $100 Million To Secure Apple Card Network In A Bid To Outdo Mastercard: Report

The National Labor Relations Board has frozen two cases against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) days after President Donald Trump nominated Crystal Carey, an attorney representing the tech giant, as the agency&#8217;s general counsel.
What Happened: The NLRB filed multiple complaints against the iPhone maker last year, alleging interference with employee organizing efforts, but abruptly pulled back from two cases late last week, according to <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ad7fcc22-343e-47e3-a6f3-58bfd4294c9d">documents</a> reviewed by the Financial Times.
Carey, a Morgan Lewis &amp; Bockius partner, is listed in agency records as an attorney defending Apple in both cases. Morgan Lewis specializes in representing management in labor disputes and has also represented Elon Musk&#8216;s SpaceX and Amazon in challenges against the agency.
The postponed cases involve Janneke Parrish and Cher Scarlett, two leading figures of the 2021 &#8216;AppleToo&#8217; movement, an employee backlash against Apple&#8217;s handling of wage discrimination and harassment claims. Both women filed complaints with the NLRB after leaving the company, claiming they were dismissed because of their labor organizing efforts.
NLRB did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/ipos/25/04/44599457/waton-financial-soars-396-on-nasdaq-debut-but-wtf-rally-simmers-down-in-after-hours-trading">Waton Financial Soars 396% On Nasdaq Debut, But WTF Rally Simmers Down In After-Hours Trading</a>
Why It Matters: This development comes as Apple faces challenges in China, where smartphone sales showed promising signs in February with foreign-branded phone <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/04/44588577/apple-stock-a-buy-on-revenue-durability-visibility-analyst-highlights-china-smartphone-sales-up-in-february">shipments up 9% year-over-year</a>, according to Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng, who maintains a Buy rating on Apple with a $294 price target.
The halting of these labor cases coincides with broader market uncertainty as investors await Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; tariff announcements. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has warned that potential Chinese retaliation to new tariffs could disrupt tech supply chains, particularly affecting companies like Apple that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44598088/trumps-liberation-day-creates-major-uncertainty-for-big-tech-analyst-dan-ives-says">rely heavily on Asian manufacturing</a>.
Apple has denied wrongdoing in the labor cases, stating it has &#8220;always respected our employees&#8217; rights to discuss their wages, hours and working conditions,&#8221; according to the report. 
Apple stock is in a negative short- and medium-term price trend, but the iPhone maker maintains strong momentum despite a weak valuation, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Ranking. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up for in-depth insights</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44599196/gene-munster-warns-teslas-q1-deliveries-will-be-ugly-expects-june-to-be-worse-before-gradual-recovery">Gene Munster Warns Tesla&#8217;s March Delivery Number Will Be &#8216;Ugly&#8217; But June Will Be Uglier</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple Labor Cases Frozen By NLRB After Trump Nominates Company's Attorney As General Counsel: Report

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is reportedly gearing up to release an over $1,000 version of its smart glasses to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39449125/apple-glass-potential-competitor-to-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-may-take-longer-to-develop-report">further challenge</a> Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) AR ambitions.
What Happened: The new version of Meta's smart glasses will come with a built-in screen, hand-gesture controls, and a price tag ranging from $1,000 to $1,400, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-01/how-meta-s-upcoming-1000-smart-glasses-with-a-screen-will-work">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The device, code-named Hypernova, could feature a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42659936/meta-plans-display-equipped-ray-ban-glasses-by-2025-aiming-to-replace-smartphones">monocular display</a> in the lower-right quadrant of the right lens.
They are expected to offer an immersive AR experience that goes beyond the company's current Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, which start at $299. Last year, it was reported that&nbsp;Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses have become the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41458752/metas-smart-glasses-dominate-ray-ban-stores-ai-features-still-missing">best-selling item in 60%</a> of Ray-Ban stores across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44577187/sam-altman-led-openai-releases-open-weight-ai-model-with-reasoning-capabilities-as-deepseek-and-meta-taste-success">Sam Altman-Led OpenAI Releases Open-Weight AI Model With Reasoning Capabilities As DeepSeek And Meta Taste Success</a>
Why It Matters: Previously, it was reported that Apple might be considering a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39747111/apples-vision-pro-struggles-to-find-its-killer-app-to-justify-3-500-price-tag-just-not-quite-hit-the">lightweight glasses design</a> following the lukewarm response to its first-generation mixed reality headset, Vision Pro.
Alphabet Inc.'s (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>) subsidiary Google is also reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to acquire AdHawk Microsystems Inc. as part of its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44267530/while-apple-reportedly-mulls-over-ar-glasses-google-bets-big-on-eye-tracking-tech-with-115-million-adhawk-acquisition-report">renewed focus on headsets</a> and smart glasses.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
The steep price hike for Meta's new model Hypernova is primarily due to the screen, the report noted.
While giving his review of Vision Pro in February 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that Apple's headset <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/02/37116135/mark-zuckerberg-finally-tries-apples-vision-pro-and-says-metas-quest-3-is-the-better-produc">offers a higher screen resolution</a> than Quest. However, he also expressed surprise at the compromises made in device quality, comfort, and ergonomics to achieve it.
Price Action: Meta stock closed 1.67% higher at $586 on Tuesday. However, year-to-date, the company&#8217;s shares have dropped 2.21%, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">according to Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44554189/openai-and-microsoft-back-mcp-standard-in-major-shift-toward-interoperable-ai-agents-that-can-think-click-and-navigate-the-web-but-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-appears-to-be-mulling-over-it-in-shakespearean-fashion-to-mcp-or-not-to-mcp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google's Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question</a></li>
</ul>

Meta Planning To Drop $1,000 Smart Glasses With Hand Gesture Control As It Takes On Apple: Report

Shares of big tech companies, especially the Magnificent Seven, have dropped over the past six weeks as President Donald Trump's tariff agenda drove a wave of uncertainty through the market. 
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives pointed to two major concerns for tech investors ahead of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44575292/trump-to-target-dirty-15-countries-with-tariffs-which-countries-could-be-included">announcements expected Wednesday. </a>
Expert Ideas: Ives said the two biggest concerns for tech investors are a possible slowdown in AI spending amid the economic uncertainty and Beijing's potential retaliation to Trump's tariffs.&nbsp;
AI Spending Slowdown: Trump's tariff rollout threatens to inject caution into corporate spending, potentially delaying AI projects as businesses grapple with higher costs and economic uncertainty.
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44517885/trump-slaps-25-tariffs-on-autos-what-it-means-for-your-next-car-purchase"> Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs On Autos: What It Means For Your Next Car Purchase</a>&nbsp;
"In covering tech stocks and markets the last 25 years, we have seen some &#8216;fork in the road&#8217; political moments that have created major uncertainty for the markets&#8230;.and this Trump tariff announcement is up at the top of that list," Ives wrote. 
While AI adoption and investment remain robust, the near-term growth trajectory could stall if tariffs dampen demand and squeeze margins. 
The Wedbush analyst also noted tariffs are ultimately paid for by consumers and decreased consumer confidence and spending could weigh further on companies like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>). 
China: Beijing's response to the tariffs is another wildcard for tech stocks, especially semiconductor supply chains which are "cemented" in Asia, Ives said.&nbsp;
Retaliatory measures could disrupt production of critical components of NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) chips and accelerate China's push for self-reliance.  
Relocating even a fraction of Asia's semiconductor infrastructure to the U.S. would take years and cost hundreds of billions, leaving tech exposed to prolonged volatility.&nbsp;
"It would take three-four years to move even 10% of the supply chain from Asia to the U.S. in our view and cost hundreds of billions along with major supply chain delays and challenges in between," Ives warned. 
Read More:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44575292/trump-to-target-dirty-15-countries-with-tariffs-which-countries-could-be-included">Trump To Target &#8216;Dirty 15&#8217; Countries With Tariffs: Which Countries Could Be Included?</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Global

Movers

Trump's 'Liberation Day' Creates 'Major Uncertainty' For Big Tech, Analyst Dan Ives Says

Each trading day features hundreds of headlines and press releases on Benzinga Pro, a source for traders to see the latest news on the overall market<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0401" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;and individual tickers.</a>
Here is a look at the most-searched stocks on Benzinga Pro for the month of March. Current prices and year-to-date performance are based on April 1 prices and do not include dividends.
1. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $269.44</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $138.80 to $488.54</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -28.9%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 2nd</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/03/44124338/exclusive-februarys-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-palantir-alibaba-nvidia-rank">February Search Rank</a>: 5th</li>
</ul>
2. SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $556.96</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $493.86 to $613.23</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -4.7%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 3rd</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 3rd</li>
</ul>
3. NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $108.05</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $75.61 to $153.13</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -21.9%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 1st</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 2nd</li>
</ul>
4. Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $468.31</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $413.07 to $540.90</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -8.3%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 8th</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 17th</li>
</ul>
5. MicroAlgo Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLGO#NASDAQ">MLGO</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $22</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $1.11 to $509.40</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: +517.9%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: Not in Top 20</li>
<li>February Search Rank: Not in Top 20</li>
</ul>
6. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $82.83</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $20.33 to $125.41</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: +10.2%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 7th &nbsp;</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 4th</li>
</ul>
7. Visionary Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GV#NASDAQ">GV</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $3.19</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $1 to $9.60</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: +30.7%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: Not in Top 20 &nbsp;</li>
<li>February Search Rank: Not in Top 20</li>
</ul>
8. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $221.45</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $164.08 to $260.09</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -9.2%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 5th &nbsp;</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 16th</li>
</ul>
9. Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $34.59</li>
<li>52-Week Range: $17.25 to $106.90</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: +15.1%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: 4th &nbsp;</li>
<li>February Search Rank: 1st</li>
</ul>
10. D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>)
<ul>
<li>Current Price: $7.37</li>
<li>52-Week Range: 75 cents to $11.95</li>
<li>Year-to-Date Return: -11.67%</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42802731/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-gamestop-trump-media-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Benzinga Pro Search Rank</a>: Not in Top 20 &nbsp;</li>
<li>February Search Rank: Not in Top 20</li>
</ul>
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent040125">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
Honorable Mentions:&nbsp;The following stocks were the 11th&nbsp;to 20th&nbsp;most-searched tickers on&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent030425&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;in February.
<ul>
<li>11. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>12. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</li>
<li>13. Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</li>
<li>14. CervoMed Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRVO#NASDAQ">CRVO</a>)</li>
<li>15. Plus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSTV#NASDAQ">PSTV</a>)</li>
<li>16. MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>)</li>
<li>17. Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>18. Aclarion Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACON#NASDAQ">ACON</a>)</li>
<li>19. Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>
<li>20. Applovin Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>)</li>
</ul>
Why It's Important: Tesla retook the crown in March as the most-searched ticker on Benzinga Pro, narrowly edgeing out the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust. Tesla ranked first or second in many searches over the past two years and finished 2024 as the second most-searched ticker before falling to fifth place in February.
The Invesco QQQ Trust was one of the biggest gainers in March going from 17th place in February to fourth place in March. Apple also rejoined the top 10 going from 16th place to eighth place.
Super Mico Computer, which ranked first in the month of February, fell to ninth place in March. The company continues to be one of the most-searched tickers on Benzinga Pro in recent months.
The list of most-searched tickers in March looked significantly different, with only seven of the top 10 coming from the list of the 20 most-searched tickers in February. Of those seven tickers, five ranked in the top 10 in both February and March.
Newcomers in March included MicroAlgo, Visionary Holdings and D-Wave Quantum. Each of these stocks had major news in the month.
MicroAlgo<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44463040/why-microalgo-mlgo-stock-is-skyrocketing"> announced a $20 million offering</a> in March
Visionary Holdings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44168361/visionary-holdings-gv-stock-is-up-320-this-week-whats-going-on">announced a $1 billion </a>financing deal with Qatar's Alfardan Group to help support R&amp;D and global expansion of new energy vehicles.
D-Wave <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44333718/d-wave-quantum-stock-surges-following-strong-q4-bookings-growth-whats-going-on">reported fourth-quarter bookings</a> of $18.3 million, up 502% year-over-year.
In the 11th through 20th positions, Amazon, Intel and Applovin were the carryovers from February's top 20 most-searched tickers. The stocks ranked 13th, 18th and 14th, respectively, in the month of March.
Of the 10 stocks ranked 11th to 20th, five were among the 20 most-searched tickers in 2024 with Amazon, Intel, MicroStrategy, Meta Platforms and Microsoft all ranking in the top 20.
Among the notable stocks to miss out on the March list was Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), which ranked 11th in February and was the sixth most-searched ticker on Benzinga Pro in 2024.
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Photo: Insta_Photos via Shutterstock

Exclusives

ACON

CRVO

MLGO

PLTR

PSTV

QBTS

EXCLUSIVE: March's 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, Applovin Stock Rank?

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/apple-card-visa-mastercard-deal-3ce762da?mod=latest_headlines" title="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/apple-card-visa-mastercard-deal-3ce762da?mod=latest_headlines">https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/apple-card-visa-mastercard-deal-3ce762da?mod=latest_headlines</a>

'Visa Offers Apple Roughly $100 Million To Take Over Credit Card From Mastercard' - Wall Street Journal

Tema ETF, known for its active thematic investment strategies, has unveiled a novel approach to traditional indexing. On Tuesday, in collaboration with S&amp;P Global Inc., the firm introduced the Tema S&amp;P 500 Historical Weight ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DSPY#NYSE">DSPY</a>), a new ETF product designed to tackle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">unprecedented index concentration risk. </a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Overconcentration Raises Red Flags, Equal Weight ETF Falls Short As Fix</h3>
"Today's S&amp;P 500 concentration is at an all-time high," said Maurits Pot, founder of Tema, in an exclusive interview with Benzinga.
The S&amp;P 500 is increasingly dominated by a handful of tech giants — the so-called Magnificent Seven — which include Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), 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>), Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>). 
These seven companies alone make up nearly 30% of the entire index. The top 10 stocks account for 36%, leaving the rest of the 490 companies with diminishing influence.
In comparison, the equal-weight S&amp;P 500 ETF, such as the Invesco Equal Weight S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSP#NYSE">RSP</a>) gives each stock the same weight — about 0.2% — which effectively erases large-cap dominance but also deviates significantly from the actual index composition.
"If I go equal weight, I actually have very little exposure to the S&amp;P 500," Pot said. "Fundamentally, it&#8217;s a different product."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The DSPY Innovation: A Historical Index Weighting</h3>
Tema S&amp;P 500 Historical Weight ETF mirrors the S&amp;P 500 in every way — same companies, same sector exposures, same rebalance frequency — except for one critical difference: how each stock is weighted.
Instead of using the current market cap, the new product assigns each company the average historical weight of its index position (1 through 500) based on 35 years of data since 1989.
For instance, Apple Inc., now the largest stock in the S&amp;P 500 with a nearly 7% weight, is reweighted to about 3.9% — the average weight of the dominant S&amp;P 500 company over the past 35 years.
"What we've built is the S&amp;P 500 with historical weightings," Pot said. "This reduces concentration risk while preserving the index&#8217;s integrity."
Repeat this for all 500 positions, and you get a smoothed-out S&amp;P 500 — one that reflects the index's long-term structure without overexposure to today&#8217;s top tech names.
By using historical weight averages, the ETF maintains the structural DNA of the cap-weighted S&amp;P 500 index while diluting short-term dominance.
Unlike equal-weight ETFs that assign every stock the same arbitrary 0.2% weight, DSPY preserves the natural hierarchy of the S&amp;P 500, offering investors a more reliable and historically grounded representation of the U.S. large-cap market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Comparing DSPY, S&amp;P 500, Equal-Weight ETF</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>S&amp;P 500</th>
<th>Equal Weight (RSP)</th>
<th>DSPY ETF</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Top 3 Stocks Weight (%)</td>
<td>19.84%</td>
<td>0.60%</td>
<td>9.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Top 10 Stocks Weight (%)</td>
<td>36.01%</td>
<td>2.21%</td>
<td>21.28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>% Index Held by Top 50 Stocks</td>
<td>77.14%</td>
<td>26.22%</td>
<td>71.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Largest Sector Weight</td>
<td>Tech (30.42%)</td>
<td>Industrials (15.65%)</td>
<td>Tech (23.32%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Index Coverage Similarity</td>
<td>100%</td>
<td>47%</td>
<td>85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rebalance Frequency</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
<td>Quarterly</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc. Weight (%)</td>
<td>6.78%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
<td>3.96%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (%)</td>
<td>6.08%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
<td>3.06%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc. (%)</td>
<td>5.98%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
<td>2.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corp. (%)</td>
<td>3.92%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
<td>2.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (%)</td>
<td>3.64%</td>
<td>0.20%</td>
<td>1.95%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Data: Tema ETF</figcaption></figure>
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Specialty ETFs

New ETFs

Tema ETF Trust Tema S&P 500 Historical Weight ETF Strategy

DSPY

Rydex ETF Trust Rydex S&P Equal Weight ETF

EXCLUSIVE: Tema ETF Tackles Mag 7 Concentration Risk With New S&P 500 Historical Weighting Strategy

<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ad7fcc22-343e-47e3-a6f3-58bfd4294c9d" title="https://www.ft.com/content/ad7fcc22-343e-47e3-a6f3-58bfd4294c9d">https://www.ft.com/content/ad7fcc22-343e-47e3-a6f3-58bfd4294c9d</a>

Legal

'US Labour Watchdog Halts Apple Cases After Donald Trump Picks Group's Lawyer For Top Job' - Financial Times

PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) is on the verge of triggering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/death-cross">a Death Cross</a>, a bearish technical signal where the 50-day simple moving average falls below the 200-day moving average.
While the stock has tumbled 23.7% year to date and 5.7% in the past month, analysts at Mizuho still see upside, maintaining an Outperform rating with a $96 price target, <a href="https://in.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/mizuho-maintains-paypal-stock-outperform-rating-96-target-93CH-4751722">reported</a> Investing.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0401"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="631" height="489" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01140718/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-7.06.58-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-851820" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01140718/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-7.06.58-PM.png 631w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01140718/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-7.06.58-PM-300x232.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0401" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PayPal Stock Technicals Flash Warning Signs</h2>
PayPal stock is struggling below key moving averages, reinforcing a strongly bearish trend despite signs of buying pressure. The eight-day simple moving average at $68.31 and the 20-day at $68.67 both suggest weakness, while the 50-day at $75.49 and 200-day at $75.28 highlight the broader downtrend. 
With the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator at a negative 2.21 signaling further downside risk and a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 32.09, PayPal stock is approaching oversold territory.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mizuho Remains Bullish</h2>
Despite PayPal stock&#8217;s technical struggles, Mizuho remains optimistic about its long-term prospects. The firm sees growth potential in Pay with Venmo, which has higher transaction margins than PayPal's traditional checkout service. With Pay with Venmo's Total Payment Volume expected to grow over 40% annually, Mizuho believes this could significantly boost overall transaction margin dollar growth.
PayPal's valuation stands at 17 times its estimated 2026 earnings per share, slightly above the median for legacy payments firms but still below historical levels. Mizuho argues that the company's strategic initiatives—including improvements in user experience and Fastlane adoption—justify this modest premium.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Path To Recovery?</h2>
While a death cross looms as a bearish technical indicator, PayPal is pushing forward with growth plans. The recent appointment of Microsoft Corp's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Joy Chik to the Board signals a focus on AI-driven innovation.
Additionally, Apple Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) decision to open its NFC chip to third-party apps could enable PayPal to expand tap-to-pay services, a potential game-changer in mobile payments.
For now, the trend remains bearish, but if PayPal's strategic initiatives gain traction, the stock may yet prove the skeptics wrong.
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Fintech news covering the emerging Financial Technology services sector

Fintech

Signals

PYPL

PayPal Stock's Death Cross Looms - Will It Trigger A Turnaround?

Long-term growth seekers now have another choice as BNY Mellon introduces its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">newest ETF</a>, the BNY Mellon Concentrated Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKCG#NYSE">BKCG</a>).
BKCG follows a large-cap growth approach, targeting companies likely to grow in the long term. The subadvisor of the fund, Fayez Sarofim &amp; Co., looks for high-growth industries that could do well over the next three to five years or more. The fund has a net expense ratio of 50 basis points.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/03/44572706/value-stocks-gain-ground-as-inflation-recession-fears-grow-4-etfs-to-capitalize-on-the-trend">Value Stocks Gain Ground As Inflation, Recession Fears Grow: 4 ETFs To Capitalize On The Trend</a>
After identifying major industries, BKCG invests in industry leaders with good profitability, solid balance sheets and growing global presence. The fund also invests in companies that could be undervalued at that time but have potential for upside for shareholders.
Using a buy-and-hold strategy, BKCG seeks to reduce portfolio turnover while maintaining a stable long-term perspective. As much as 10% of the fund&#8217;s assets can also be invested in foreign securities.
As of April 1, BKCG has meaningful exposure to the financials and technology sectors, which represents its emphasis on industries with high growth potential. Some of the <a href="https://www.bny.com/investments/us/en/intermediary/products/etf/fund/bny-mellon-concentrated-growth-etf.html#?section=portfolio">holdings </a>adorning its portfolio are Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) with a 8.4% weighting, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) with a 6.10% weighting, and Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) with a 4.33% weighting.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Strengthening BNY Mellon&#8217;s ETF Offerings</h1>
BKCG is the newest addition to BNY Mellon&#8217;s expanding ETF family. The company continues to grow its presence in the ETF space, following on the success of products such as the BNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKLC#NYSE">BKLC</a>), which now has more than <a href="https://www.bny.com/investments/us/en/intermediary/products/etf/fund/bny-mellon-us-large-cap-core-equity-etf.html#?section=overview">$3.2 billion</a> in assets under management.
Through BKCG, BNY Mellon solidifies its position in offering investors concentrated, long-term growth possibilities in changing market spaces.
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BNY Mellon ETF Trust II BNY Mellon Concentrated Growth ETF

BKCG

BKLC

BNY Mellon's BKCG ETF Debuts With A Strategy Of Long-Term Growth Potential

An Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) analyst sees strong momentum for the company's smartphones in international markets, including China. The latest inventory checks and data could signal optimism for one of the areas that has weighed on Apple stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43042851/apple-shares-dip-as-iphone-sales-in-china-decline-sharply-in-2024-whats-going-on">over the last year.</a>
The Apple Analyst: Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng reiterated a Buy rating on Apple with a $294 price target.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">Apple Q1 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, iPhone Sales Slip, Installed Base Climbs To All-Time High — &#8216;Our Best Quarter Ever&#8217;</a>
The Analyst Takeaways: In February, foreign-branded phone shipments in China were up 9% year-over-year, Ng said in a new investor note.
This was a sharp increase from a 21% year-over-year decline in January 2025 for foreign-branded phone shipments in China.
"Though results will be impacted from potential inventory sell-in ahead of the release of the iPhone 16e, we remain encouraged with February 2025 marking the highest level of foreign-branded phone shipment growth since June 2024 (+12% yoy)," Ng said.
The analyst said that the overall mobile phone shipments in China for February were 19.7 million, which is up 38% year-over-year. The total came from Chinese branded phone shipments of 17.0 million (+44% yoy) and foreign-branded phone shipments of 2.6 million (+9%yoy).
The February figure was also one of the best month-over-month figures for China compared to the seasonal average for the month over the previous four years.
Ng said Apple got 51% of its fiscal 2024 revenue from iPhones, with the company dependent on smartphone upgrades. Longer replacement cycles due to macroeconomic headwinds and lackluster product innovation could hurt demand and overall iPhone sales, the analyst added.
The analyst also said Apple could see disruptions in its supply chain due to tariffs. "While Apple has a robust supply chain network, it may rely on one or a few key suppliers for unique or hard-to-manufacture at scale parts."
Ng said Apple's brand loyalty provides visibility into revenue growth with lower customer acquisition costs for new product and service launches and lower customer churn.
"We believe that the market's focus on slower product revenue growth masks the strength of the Apple ecosystem and associated revenue durability &amp; visibility."
He said Apple stock is attractive based on a valuation compared to historical multiples.
"The durability of Apple's installed base and the resulting revenue growth visibility from attaching more Services and Products is what underpins the recurring revenue – or Apple-as-a-Service – opportunity."
AAPL Price Action: Apple stock traded at $222.30 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $164.08 to $260.09. Apple stock is down 8.8% year-to-date in 2025.
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Apple Stock A Buy On 'Revenue Durability & Visibility': Analyst Highlights China Smartphone Sales Up In February

In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>35.26</td>
<td>49.98</td>
<td>8.59</td>
<td>58.74%</td>
<td>$45.91</td>
<td>$58.27</td>
<td>3.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>14.90</td>
<td>3.26</td>
<td>1.04</td>
<td>5.29%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>54.93%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>7.42</td>
<td>0.80</td>
<td>0.67</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>16.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>16.27</td>
<td>18.22</td>
<td>2.84</td>
<td>31.69%</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$1.15</td>
<td>2.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>142.81</td>
<td>11.05</td>
<td>4.79</td>
<td>3.12%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>11.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>11.68</td>
<td>1.16</td>
<td>0.89</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.96</td>
<td>$1.52</td>
<td>41.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>7.02</td>
<td>0.79</td>
<td>0.56</td>
<td>2.46%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-3.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>18.29</td>
<td>2.36</td>
<td>0.80</td>
<td>18.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>46.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AstroNova Inc</td>
<td>17.89</td>
<td>0.75</td>
<td>0.45</td>
<td>0.26%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>7.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>29.54</td>
<td>4.8</td>
<td>1.51</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>22.16%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By carefully studying Apple, we can deduce the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
The Price to Earnings ratio of 35.26 for this company is 1.19x above the industry average, indicating a premium valuation associated with the stock.
</li>
<li>
With a Price to Book ratio of 49.98, which is 10.41x the industry average, Apple might be considered overvalued in terms of its book value, as it is trading at a higher multiple compared to its industry peers.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 8.59, which is 5.69x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 58.74% that is 50.21% above the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits efficient use of equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $45.91 Billion, which is 117.72x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher gross profit of $58.27 Billion, which indicates 73.76x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
With a revenue growth of 3.95%, which is much lower than the industry average of 22.16%, the company is experiencing a notable slowdown in sales expansion.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743519648_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a key indicator of a company's financial health and its reliance on debt financing.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Apple can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:
<ul>
<li>
In terms of the debt-to-equity ratio, Apple is positioned in the middle among its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
This suggests a relatively balanced financial structure, where the company maintains a moderate level of debt while also utilizing equity financing with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to peers, indicating a potentially overvalued stock. On the other hand, Apple's high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest strong profitability and operational efficiency relative to industry competitors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Market Analysis: Apple And Competitors In Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals Industry

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Apple.
Looking at options history for Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) we detected 25 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 32% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 64% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $321,991 and 16, calls, for a total amount of $671,728.
<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 $95.0 to $280.0 for Apple over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Apple options trades today is 10187.38 with a total volume of 137,005.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Apple's big money trades within a strike price range of $95.0 to $280.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Apple 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1743518755_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$2.31</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.31</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$105.7K</td>
<td>23.2K</td>
<td>11.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$1.82</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$1.81</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$55.6K</td>
<td>23.2K</td>
<td>18.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>$2.24</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$55.6K</td>
<td>23.2K</td>
<td>14.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$13.75</td>
<td>$13.7</td>
<td>$13.75</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$53.6K</td>
<td>20.4K</td>
<td>155</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
<td>$2.06</td>
<td>$2.06</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$51.7K</td>
<td>23.2K</td>
<td>16.1K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Apple</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Apple, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Apple</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 9,643,946, the price of AAPL is down by -0.24%, reaching $221.59.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 30 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Apple</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $294.25.
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;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wedbush downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $325. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Wedbush downgraded its rating to Outperform, setting a price target of $325. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Apple with a target price of $275. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Apple, maintaining a target price of $252. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Apple with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Apple Unusual Options Activity For April 01

President Donald Trump has set up a new body within the Commerce Department to manage the CHIPS and Science Act, 2022. 
What Happened: A new entity, the United States Investment Accelerator within the Commerce Department, will now oversee the CHIPS Act program, as established by an executive order signed by Trump on Monday.
Despite Trump&#8217;s past criticism of the bipartisan legislation, the White House said in its fact sheet that the new office will focus on &#8220;negotiating much better CHIPS Act deals&#8221; and streamlining investment processes through reduced regulatory burdens and faster permitting.
According to the <a href="https://www.semiconductors.org/chip-supply-chain-investments/">Semiconductor Industry Association</a>, the CHIPS Program has granted awards worth $32.5417 billion and provided loans up to $5.85 billion to 32 companies across 23 states. 
However, the new entity — Investment Accelerator that will be controlling the CHIPS Act, not only plans to expedite corporate investments but promises to deliver &#8221; the benefit of the bargain for taxpayers,&#8221; as per the Whit House fact sheet.
Other primary goals of the body include;
<ul>
<li>Reducing regulatory burdens</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Speeding up permitting;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Coordinating responses to investor issues across multiple Federal agencies; </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Increasing access to national resources;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Facilitating collaboration with national laboratories; </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Working with all 50 state governments and their economic development organizations.</li>
</ul>
Here are the U.S.-listed beneficiaries that have received grants under the CHIPS and Science Act, 2022 in the past. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One-Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amkor Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMKR#NASDAQ">AMKR</a>)</td>
<td>-30.57%</td>
<td>-43.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>)</td>
<td>-4.58%</td>
<td>2.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Coherent Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COHR#NYSE">COHR</a>)</td>
<td>-35.44%</td>
<td>8.23%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corning Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</td>
<td>-1.99%</td>
<td>40.13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Entegris Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENTG#NASDAQ">ENTG</a>)</td>
<td>-10.03%</td>
<td>-37.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Globalfoundries Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFS#NASDAQ">GFS</a>)</td>
<td>-13.11%</td>
<td>-28.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HP Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>)</td>
<td>-14.72%</td>
<td>-8.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</td>
<td>12.31%</td>
<td>48.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTSI#NASDAQ">MTSI</a>)</td>
<td>-22.44%</td>
<td>2.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHP#NASDAQ">MCHP</a>)</td>
<td>-14.89%</td>
<td>-46.06%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>)</td>
<td>-0.50%</td>
<td>-30.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Polar Power Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POLA#NASDAQ">POLA</a>)</td>
<td>-30.66%</td>
<td>-31.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rocket Lab USA Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>)</td>
<td>-28.37%</td>
<td>338%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Skywater Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKYT#NASDAQ">SKYT</a>)</td>
<td>-47.36%</td>
<td>-30.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Texas Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</td>
<td>-3.88%</td>
<td>3.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>)</td>
<td>-17.65%</td>
<td>17.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOLF#NYSE">WOLF</a>)</td>
<td>-53.85%</td>
<td>-89.77%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44578555/nancy-pelosis-pick-palo-alto-networks-downplays-ai-spending-need-analyst-warns-ai-digestion-phase-may-be-a-larger-problem" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Pelosi's Pick, Palo Alto Networks Downplays AI Spending Need: Analyst Warns ‘AI Digestion Phase May Be A Larger Problem'</a>
Why It Matters: Trump has been vocal about his criticism of the CHIPS Act. On March 4, during his joint address to Congress, he said, &#8220;Your Chips Act is a horrible, horrible thing.&#8221;
He also urged U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to &#8220;get rid&#8221; of it and use &#8220;whatever is left over&#8221; to &#8220;reduce debt or any other reason you want to.&#8221;
However, the White House&#8217;s new plan has passed on the management of the act to the new entity. Since his time in office, Trump has been able to convince companies to invest in the U.S.
In early March, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE: TSM revealed its plans to inject another $100 billion into U.S. advanced semiconductor manufacturing, significantly expanding its ongoing $65 billion Arizona initiative and bringing total investment to $165 billion.
Similarly, the Magnificent 7 companies are widely expected to spend more than $330 billion on capex in 2025. While the chipmaker Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) hasn't explicitly mentioned a target during its earnings call, the iPhone maker Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) broadly expects to spend $500 billion over the next four years. The remaining companies, however, have provided a specific target for 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>CAPEX Target For 2025</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>&#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</td>
<td>&#8211;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>$80 Billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</td>
<td>$100 Billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</td>
<td>$75 Billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>$65 Billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</td>
<td>$11 Billion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Price Action: The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, dropped in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 0.51% to $556.56, while the QQQ declined 0.46% to $466.75, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44579361/charlie-mungers-top-pick-costcos-golden-touch-gold-prices-soar-58-outpacing-spy-since-it-started-selling-gold-33-months-ago">Charlie Munger&#8217;s Top Pick Costco&#8217;s Golden Touch: Gold Prices Soar 58%, Outpacing SPY Since It Started Selling Gold 33 Months Ago</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Comments

Apple

Unusual Options Activity for

Notizie

PARTNER/COLLABORATORE

BENZINGA NEL MONDO

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:41 PMFeb 20, 2025	PUT	$250.00	Jan 15, 2027	652	1501	1500	141	1068	TRADE	BEARISH
01:46 PMFeb 20, 2025	PUT	$225.00	Jul 18, 2025	106	1051	1000	43	2435	TRADE	BULLISH
02:11 PMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$260.00	Jan 15, 2027	652	612	600	19	3286	TRADE	BULLISH
11:57 AMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$250.00	Mar 21, 2025	-13	5025	1506	10	51428	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:54 PMFeb 14, 2025	CALL	$165.00	Mar 21, 2025	-13	0	255	0	1504	TRADE	NEUTRAL
03:54 PMFeb 14, 2025	CALL	$170.00	Mar 21, 2025	-13	1	255	0	1926	TRADE	NEUTRAL
12:25 PMFeb 14, 2025	PUT	$250.00	May 16, 2025	43	548	500	111	494	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
10:51 AMFeb 13, 2025	CALL	$235.00	Feb 14, 2025	-48	14906	3000	77	19286	TRADE	BULLISH