Investors poured billions into long-dated U.S. Treasury ETFs in the days leading up to Moody's credit rating downgrade—raising fresh doubts over whether that confidence can endure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45500872/30-year-treasury-yields-hit-5-what-that-means-for-stocks">as debt risks deepen.</a>



The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>)—the world&#8217;s biggest fixed-income ETF—attracted $2.07 billion in inflows between May 12 and May 16, according to ETFdb.com flow data. This is the largest weekly haul since November 2024 and the second biggest since June 2024.



Other long-duration Treasury ETFs also recorded notable inflows last week:



The Direxion Daily 20-Yr Treasury Bull 3x Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMF#NYSE">TMF</a>)—which offers triple-leveraged exposure to 20-year Treasury bonds—attracted $470 million, its largest weekly inflow since November 2024, signaling a surge in leveraged bullish bets on long-term rates.



Meanwhile, the PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZROZ#NYSE">ZROZ</a>) pulled in $32.8 million, marking its strongest week of inflows since January 2025.



The timing is notable: the surge in demand preceded Friday's Moody's downgrade, which cut the U.S. sovereign rating to Aa1 from Aaa, citing chronic deficits, rising debt servicing costs, and a bleak fiscal outlook heading toward deficits near 9% of GDP by 2035, should the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act be extended.



Still, year-to-date long-dated Treasury ETFs have seen more outflows than inflows. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) witnessed $1.2 billion in outflows, positioning 2025 to potentially become the first year of net withdrawals since 2020. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariff Truce Sparked Optimism, Reduced Recession Odds </h3>



Part of the inflows into long-dated Treasuries may have been fueled by a major U.S.-China trade breakthrough, with both sides agreeing to slash tariffs by 115 percentage points—a move that sparked a rally in risk assets and lowered perceived recession risks.



Last week's economic tone was notably risk-on – bolstered by two cooler-than-expected inflation reports – and investors, anticipating stability in interest rates and soft-landing potential, re-entered duration trades in Treasury markets. Long bonds typically perform well when growth fears ease and the market sees room for rate cuts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Moody's Downgrade Adds Tension—But No Panic</h3>



Despite the downgrade, the market response was measured on Monday. The 30-year Treasury yield briefly spiked above 5% on Monday before falling back to 4.92% as demand resurfaced.



The TLT ETF inched 0.3% lower, signaling that while sentiment slightly weakened, there was no panic selling.



"Friday&#8217;s U.S. sovereign downgrade by Moody&#8217;s is unlikely to result in forced selling but may worsen UST sentiment," said Bank of America analyst Mark Cabana in a note.



Yet, several analysts across Wall Street have largely downplayed the immediate impact of the downgrade. 



Further, regulatory frameworks—such as the Basel III capital standards—continue to treat U.S. Treasuries rated AAA to AA- as risk-free for capital requirement purposes. 



This means banks and institutional investors face no changes in how they treat U.S. government bonds, reinforcing the structural role Treasuries play as collateral and liquidity instruments globally.



The appetite for duration remains intact—for now—but whether investors continue pouring in as fiscal risks take center stage remains to be seen.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45497403/is-the-dollars-global-reserve-role-at-risk-after-moodys-downgrade">Is The Dollar&#8217;s Global Reserve Role At Risk After Moody&#8217;s Downgrade? </a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Bonds

Specialty ETFs

Treasuries

Analyst Ratings

ETFs

ZROZ

Investors Piled Into Long-Term Treasury ETFs Ahead Of Moody's Downgrade: Will Confidence Hold?

Home improvement retailer The Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) could be a gauge for the do-it-yourself growth in the era of high home prices and mortgage rates when the company reports first-quarter financial results Tuesday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> before market open.</a>



Here are the earnings estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report, and the key items to watch for.



Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter revenue of $39.33 billion, up from $36.42 billion in last year's first quarter, according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and six of the last 10 quarters overall.



Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of $3.60, down from $3.63 in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in more than 10 straight quarters overall.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45272436/marjorie-taylor-greene-goes-stock-shopping-again-here-are-50-stocks-the-congresswoman-bought">Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Stock Shopping Again: Here Are 50+ Stocks The Congresswoman Bought</a>



What Experts Are Saying: While Home Depot showed signs of improvement in April, the delay of the Spring season could lead to lower comparable sales, JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers said in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45236384/home-depot-may-face-weaker-comps-in-q1-as-choppy-spring-and-tariff-risks-weigh">recent investor note.</a>



The analyst reiterated an Overweight rating on Home Depot and lowered the price target from $470 to $410.



Horvers is cautious on the company's gross margins for the quarter, while seeing positives like inventory shrink likely coming in the report.



The analyst said macro economic uncertainty will also likely weigh on higher-ticket spending in the report and the future. Horvers said the home improvement retailer will likely keep its guidance in place and revisit things after the second quarter report.



Freedom Capital Markets Chief Global Strategist Jay Woods said Home Depot's report comes as the stock has struggled year-to-date.



"Home Depot results will give a peek at how the DIY home retail investor is changing their spending habits," Woods said in a weekly <a href="https://jaywoods.substack.com/">newsletter</a>.



Woods said investors will be looking to see if Home Depot revises its guidance given higher interest rates and economic challenges.



Goldman Sachs analyst Kate McShane has a Buy rating on Home Depot and $421 price target <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44797563/goldman-sachs-sees-upside-in-retail-giants-dollar-tree-home-depot-best-buy-and-target-despite-tariff-margin-pressures">ahead of the report.</a>



The analyst said the company won't be widely impacted by tariffs in the short term, with most of its imported goods being seasonal and spring merchandise already in inventory at stores.



In the past, Home Depot helped offset tariff impacts by sourcing alternative items and adjusting operations, McShane said in the note.



The analyst highlighted Home Depot's management commentary about home buyers likely sidelined with rates in the 6% to 6.5% range.



Here are other<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HD/analyst-ratings"> analyst ratings on</a> Home Depot and their price targets:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Wells Fargo: Maintained Overweight rating, lowered price target from $445 to $420</li>



<li>Truist: Maintained Buy rating, raised price target from $391 to $393</li>



<li>Morgan Stanley: Maintained Overweight rating, lowered price target from $450 to $410</li>
</ul>



Key Items to Watch: Tariffs will likely be one of the biggest topics to watch for, as many retailers have commented on what the impact of higher import prices could mean. Given the potential impact of tariffs and macroeconomic concerns, guidance will be closely watched.



Home Depot CEO Ted Decker was among the retail CEOs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44920573/ceos-of-walmart-target-home-depot-meet-trump-to-push-back-on-tariffs-impacting-consumer-prices">who met with</a> President Donald Trump to share concerns about the impact tariffs could have on the sector.



Investors and analysts will be watching to see if Home Depot can maintain its momentum from<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43937535/home-depot-lifts-annual-dividend-after-strong-q4-but-soft-2025-outlook-weighs-on-stock" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the fourth quarter</a>. In the fourth quarter, sales were up 14.1% year over year, and customer transactions were up 7.6% year over year.



A recent Placer.ai <a href="https://www.placer.ai/anchor/articles/lowes-and-the-home-depot-weathering-q1-storms-and-looking-to-the-horizon">report </a>indicates that Home Depot saw fewer visits during the first quarter. The report said visits to Home Depot fell 3.8% in the first quarter on a year-over-year basis. The report showed visits down 2.3%, 9.2% and 0.7% in the months of January, February and March respectively.



Visits were down 1.8% year-over-year in April, which could factor into second-quarter and full-year guidance. Placer.ai said the good news is that last year's peak weekly visits came in mid-May, which could be a sign of optimism for the current quarter.



Home Depot's report comes one day before rival Lowe's Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>), which reports on Wednesday. The report from Home Depot could make Lowe's shares volatile as they operate in the same sector and could indicate what's to come in Lowe's report.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average could also be volatile following Home Depot's report. Home Depot is one of the 30 components of the closely watched market index. Since the Dow Jones is price-weighted, Home Depot is one of the larger components and currently the third largest weighting (5.5%) of the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>).



Higher mortgage rates have often helped home improvement retailers, as they lead to more do-it-yourself home projects and spending money on existing homes rather than buying a new one.



HD Price Action: Home Depot stock trades at $379.91 Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $323.77 to $439.37. Home Depot stock is down 2.2% year-to-date and up 12.5% over the last year, outpacing a 4.5% year-to-date decline and 2.8% one-year gain for rival Lowe's.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/45037102/walmart-home-depot-target-push-chinese-suppliers-to-resume-shipments-agree-to-absorb-tariffs-report">Walmart, Home Depot, Target Push Chinese Suppliers To Resume Shipments, Agree To Absorb Tariffs: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Price Target

Previews

Reiteration

Trading Ideas

Home Depot Q1 Earnings Preview: Tariffs, Mortgage Comments, How Consumers Are 'Changing Their Spending Habits'

The term ‘short squeeze' entered retail investors' vocabulary in January 2021 when GameStop (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) went parabolic following a coordinated effort by traders on Reddit. Short sellers had attempted to profit from GameStop&#8217;s demise by borrowing shares from their broker and immediately selling on the open market.



The selling and the company&#8217;s lagging business would drive the price down, so the short sellers were hoping to buy the shares back later for less and pocket the difference. Instead, Reddit traders and a stronger-than-expected business pushed the price up. This sent short-sellers scrambling to buy shares back and close out their positions, causing the stock to go up even faster.



These &#8220;short squeezes&#8221; often peter out as quickly as they materialize, but profits can be exponential for those who find entry points before the catalyst.



Now that markets have recovered from April&#8217;s tariff drama, let&#8217;s take a look at some still-downbeat stocks primed for a short squeeze.



Here are five stocks with huge potential for a short squeeze run-up.



Each stock on this list has a minimum Benzinga Edge Growth Score of 96, short interest over 15% (meaning at least 15% of the float is sold short), and a potential catalyst on the horizon that could spark the fire.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Abercrombie and Fitch Co.</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Benzinga Edge Growth Score: 99.21</li>



<li>Short Interest: 20.93%</li>



<li>Catalyst: Tariff reductions, technical breakout</li>
</ul>



Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) made our list earlier as a stock to watch in March when the Relative Strength Index (RSI) dropped below 30, triggering an Oversold signal. But then Liberation Day happened, and stocks plunged, especially those exposed to Chinese manufacturing like ANF. However, now that the harshest tariffs have been rolled back and the odds of a recession are dropping, apparel stocks could be primed for a comeback, and Abercrombie is still flashing bullish technical signals. The stock has been down over 40% year-to-date (YTD) but up 13% in the last 30 days.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXejWYySmB76KdXbLy8Wl853VRDSFevBoRd5EuSYBht6xZ0Zj9F9Q-_tJHFu0G2iAsCCE-AfK5yhgYnf-akDyuWTue0Td7G2w-YRpqQjBddKmfcpeKO9YYzMZEkMi4B83ge2xu2UaA?key=BlRnkVoXsDLlwLJ4ABsedQ" alt=""/></figure>



The stock recently saw its 14-day exponential moving average (EMA) cross the 21-day EMA, indicating short-term bullish momentum. ANF's price has struggled to break above this level since President Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs, but now the breakout has occurred, and the RSI is still cooperating by staying below 70. ANF shares trade at just 7.5 times earnings, and the company still has some of the best margins in the apparel business. It also reports earnings on May 28, so a potential short-squeeze catalyst awaits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Applied Digital Corp.</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Benzinga Edge Growth Score: 98.02</li>



<li>Short Interest: 30.54%</li>



<li>Catalyst: Cryptocurrency bull market, technical breakout</li>
</ul>



Applied Digital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLD#NASDAQ">APLD</a>) is an artificial intelligence "picks and shovels" play that focuses on hosting data centers and cloud services for AI, crypto mining, and high-performance computing firms. The company has a $1.27 billion market cap and has grown its annual revenue each year since it went public, but it has yet to reach profitability.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXddq6O1E7WnluYE4PqT4qiKYFlngbgG4yHQ1G_--mBJ0_I3V3tP0-NWseewbSTcspxErVjeZh6eK9V6rrqvQ5hKJYzBJVHj_7Ctlf3di85QFKX_cE9cZPxQocsc2rcVXJC-1wL6mg?key=BlRnkVoXsDLlwLJ4ABsedQ" alt=""/></figure>



Of course, we aren't worried about the path to profitability when hunting short squeezes, and APLD shares have some bullish technical signals to go along with over 30% short interest. The stock dipped following a revenue miss on the April 14 earnings report, but shares have been shrugging off the bad report and moving higher. Like ANF, the stock chart shows the 14-day EMA crossing the 21-day EMA, with the price hugging the 14-day EMA as support. Analysts are still bullish on the stock, with Needham, Cantor Fitzgerald, and HC Wainwright defending their Buy ratings following earnings. The average price target between these three is $9, indicating a potential upside of over 55%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Airship AI Holdings Inc.</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Benzinga Edge Growth Score: 97.70</li>



<li>Short Interest: 71.66%</li>



<li>Catalyst: Earnings</li>
</ul>



Airship AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AISP#NASDAQ">AISP</a>) is a small-cap firm offering data management solutions to clients using AI platforms. AISP has some of the classic hallmarks of a short squeeze: a tiny market cap, a thinly traded float that was massively sold short, and a potential catalyst unfolding.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe3fT9KA-hbPQshVpStWY8CP7fKa-MsD1FWMxAt_hlfOs_TsHiD5gJOx--vC5F0ACC-P9eCYQgKrrpZQwooQHTrMIJMsxvuXh5W0M9T6WwK9PnZseecx1yBlbnmSYmQT6eKzxpe1Q?key=BlRnkVoXsDLlwLJ4ABsedQ" alt=""/></figure>



AISP has over 71% short interest, the highest on our list by more than 40%. When stocks are shorted to this level, there's usually a good reason, and a parabolic GameStop-esque rally isn't in the cards. However, AISP reported a 25% revenue surprise to the upside during its May 15 earnings report, sending the stock up 4% in after-hours trading. It was the third straight quarter the company had increased revenue, and it&#8217;s now trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) for the first time since February.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NuScale Power Corp.&nbsp;</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Benzinga Edge Growth Score: 96.87</li>



<li>Short Interest: 18.98%</li>



<li>Catalyst: Earnings, technical breakout</li>
</ul>



Nuclear power has been grabbing lots of headlines lately as Google <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/45335750/google-is-betting-big-on-nuclear-reactors-should-you">reached an agreement</a> to open three nuclear sites to power AI data centers. The AI energy boom will require alternative sources, and nuclear power is quickly becoming a revitalized choice. Companies like NuScale (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMR#NYSE">SMR</a>), which operates the only approved small module reactors (SMRs), could benefit most from this change of heart.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdVzU12PzgkXxgIuWJjv6nKvtZT6vLI5BtMEKiN9bdhh_MTQyn7Fm88PZjpD348wAL6i-odpJTl-dhTILDqpY8ld8xOHk_q_c4i2B9w2ofx27Vm2kVcHpyPUeoibcxZIeaSKP3W?key=BlRnkVoXsDLlwLJ4ABsedQ" alt=""/></figure>



NuScale has a pair of catalysts working in its favor: its partnership with AI data center provider Standard Power and a blowout earnings report. On May 12, NuScale reported a top and bottom-line earnings beat, including a 289% revenue surprise to the upside. The company also beat analysts&#8217; EPS estimates by 26%, and the stock is now up 37% in the last five sessions. The breakout above the 50-day and 200-day SMAs indicates more potential upside ahead, especially if the 50-day heads back over the 200-day SMA and triggers a Golden Cross.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reservoir Media Inc.</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Benzinga Edge Growth Score: 98.07</li>



<li>Short Interest: 18.09%</li>



<li>Catalyst: Earnings, technical breakout</li>
</ul>



Reservoir Media  (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSVR#NASDAQ">RSVR</a>) is a small-cap music media firm that records and publishes material from various independent artists. The company both signs new artists and acquires existing music catalogs. RSVR reports earnings on May 28, and technical indicators are signaling bullish activity under the surface.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc6HMYkcOP1aGE3xb3MQ1ji1v0peaF8vdNFXpFO4pdsRLkLhCFkY4FxJHQPUpoc7UDTaY8KhadzOexz49da-mick4EHPF_0RuFXqswEa1723EzSqvYksF_JDANodmFqXFryEMDVfQ?key=BlRnkVoXsDLlwLJ4ABsedQ" alt=""/></figure>



RSVR has been declining since February but recently began poking its head above the 14-day and 21-day EMAs, indicating a potential support level is forming. As of this writing, shares are trading above both EMAs with the RSI well below the oversold threshold of 70. With earnings coming up, RSVR is the type of small-cap stock with high short interest that could surge higher with an upside surprise. Analysts thinly cover the stock, but B. Riley Securities did imbue a Buy rating with a $12.50 price target back on Halloween, which is nearly 70% higher than current prices. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Unlock Hidden-Gem Stock Picks — 60% Off for Memorial Day</h2>



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Editorial content from our Expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

AISP

APLD

RSVR

5 Stocks About To Short Squeeze As Market Rebounds

U.S. stocks trimmed early-session losses by midday Monday, as investors showed limited concern after Moody's downgraded U.S. sovereign credit from Aaa to Aa1, effectively stripping the world's largest economy of its last <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45492889/americas-credit-strength-just-got-cut-again-should-you-panic">top-tier credit rating. </a>



The S&amp;P 500 index hovered near Friday's close. A green end to the session would mark the sixth consecutive daily gain. The Nasdaq 100 also traded flat, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average outperformed, and small caps lagged. 



Bond markets initially reacted sharply, with 30-year Treasury yields spiking above 5% following the downgrade. Yet, buying interest emerged during the session, pulling yields back to 4.95%. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) still was down 0.6% on the day. 



The U.S. dollar index (DXY) weakened 0.6% to 100.40, reflecting moderate selling pressure on the greenback. Sector performance was muted overall, except for energy, which fell 1.5%. Crude oil slipped 0.4%, while natural gas dropped 6% amid oversupply concerns. 



Gold rose 1% to $3,235 per ounce, supported by safe-haven flows. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rallied 2%, climbing above the $105,000 mark.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,824.92</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,456.60</td><td>0.1 %</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,965.78</td><td>0.1 %</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,102.02</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 1:05 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45497403/is-the-dollars-global-reserve-role-at-risk-after-moodys-downgrade">Is The Dollar&#8217;s Global Reserve Role At Risk After Moody&#8217;s Downgrade?</a></li>
</ul>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.1% up to $594.91.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.4% to $428.18.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;edged 0.1% higher to $522.01.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.5% to $208.80.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) outperformed, up 0.7%; the&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.5%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) jumped 8%, extending Friday's 6% surge, after several company executives bought shares <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45493652/700m-asset-manager-exits-unitedhealth-stock-says-medicare-advantage-is-facing-a-perfect-storm">during the recent selloff</a>.</li>



<li>New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFE#NASDAQ">NFE</a>) rallied 21%, following a nearly 60% decline last week amid lower-than-expected earnings. </li>



<li>Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) surged 18% after the FDA approved its Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45488265/novavax-wins-limited-fda-nod-for-covid-shot-cleared-only-for-seniors-high-risk-groups-amid-safety-scrutiny">for high-risk individuals</a>, including seniors over 65 and those aged 12–64 with underlying health conditions. Shares of Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) rose 6.4%.</li>
</ul>



Now Read: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45497403/is-the-dollars-global-reserve-role-at-risk-after-moodys-downgrade">Is The Dollar&#8217;s Global Reserve Role At Risk After Moody&#8217;s Downgrade?</a></li>
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Stocks Mixed, Treasury Bonds Slip On Moody's US Downgrade: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Wall Street's reaction to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/05/45479078/moodys-downgrades-us-credit-rating-over-debt-deficit-concerns">Moody's downgrade of U.S. debt </a>is turning into a tale of two titans. On one end, you have Ray Dalio — founder of Bridgewater Associates — warning that the downgrade grossly understates the true risk of owning U.S. debt.



On the other hand, there&#8217;s Tom Lee of Fundstrat. Lee brushed the downgrade off as a "non-event" and told investors to go shopping for stocks.



Moody's cut the U.S. credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, following in the footsteps of S&amp;P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023. With this move, the U.S. officially loses its AAA status across the board. 



But is it a flashing red signal or just another headline?



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/hedge-funds/25/05/45447966/ray-dalios-bridgewater-dumps-spy-trims-nvidia-meta-alphabet-bearish-vibes">Ray Dalio&#8217;s Bridgewater Dumps SPY, Trims Nvidia, Meta, Alphabet — Bearish Vibes?</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ray Dalio: The Real Threat Isn&#8217;t Default, It Is&#8230;</h2>



Dalio didn't mince words. 



<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">Re the U.S. debt downgrade, you should know that credit ratings understate credit risks because they only rate the risk of the government not paying its debt. They don&#39;t include the greater risk that the countries in debt will print money to pay their debts thus causing holders…&mdash; Ray Dalio (@RayDalio) <a href="https://twitter.com/RayDalio/status/1924452875108839862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



He argued the real threat isn't default, but dilution — central banks printing money to meet obligations. 



"For those who care about the value of their money," he posted on X, "the risks for U.S. government debt are greater than the rating agencies are conveying." Translation? The downgrade misses the bigger picture: currency debasement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tom Lee: Downgrade = Largely &#8216;Non-Event&#8217;</h2>



Tom Lee, meanwhile, is telling clients to stay calm and keep buying. Like those before, he says this downgrade is unlikely to trigger panic. History might just be on his side — after S&amp;P's downgrade in 2011 and Fitch's in 2023, the S&amp;P 500 plunged roughly 10% in the short term but rallied over 35% within a year in both cases.



So what now? If Dalio's right, long-term bondholders could face slow bleed-through inflation, not default. But if Lee's playbook holds, a short-term dip could be just the setup bulls need.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/05/45491935/history-says-sp-500-could-fall-10-after-rating-downgrade-but-rally-35-after">S&amp;P 500 History Suggests 10% Drop After Downgrade — Followed By 35% Rally</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Hedge Funds

Dalio Sees Danger, Tom Lee Sees Dip-Buy: Who's Right About The US Credit Downgrade?

As Moody's strips the U.S. of its last AAA credit rating, financial markets and currency analysts are weighing whether the dollar's role as the world's primary reserve <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45492889/americas-credit-strength-just-got-cut-again-should-you-panic">currency could slowly erode. </a>



Analysts across major institutions agree that Treasuries remain indispensable in global finance, and no mechanical turmoil is expected in the near term.



Yet, the downgrade's timing and symbolism—arriving amid growing fiscal deficits, political uncertainty and weakening sentiment—have amplified calls for greater diversification from dollar-denominated investments for foreign investors.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dollar&#8217;s Dominance Isn't Over, But It's Under Pressure</h3>



"The link between U.S. sovereign risk, Treasuries, and the dollar is one of capital flight," said Chris Turner, analyst at ING Group. 



"Are global investors shifting their portfolios away from the U.S.?" 



He highlighted that March data from the U.S. Treasury's International Capital report showed foreign buyers added $26 billion in Treasuries, though China trimmed its holdings by $19 billion. 



Turner said upcoming TIC data for April, due mid-June, will be key to determining any real trend.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Downgrade Could Spark Market Volatility</h3>



According to Alejandro Cuadrado, forex strategist at BBVA, Moody's downgrade—though symbolic—arrives at a vulnerable time.



"It may act as a psychological catalyst," he said. Unlike S&amp;P's 2011 or Fitch's 2023 downgrades, this one coincides with bearish sentiment in Treasuries and rising global fiscal concern.



Cuadrado said the structural use of Treasuries in collateral systems, reserve portfolios and liquidity management remains unchanged. 



Still, "in this macro environment, the downgrade could amplify market jitters and FX volatility," he said, potentially weakening the dollar's ability to rebound after a three-month slide.



"The downgrade highlights long-term risks, including debt sustainability, which could further erode the dollar's haven appeal," George Vessey, lead macro strategist at Convera, said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Time to Start Reducing Dollar Exposure?</h3>



According to UBS, the recent consolidation in the dollar following earlier weakness offers a strategic moment for reallocation.



"We believe that this provides an opportunity for investors with excess USD cash, or international investors with unhedged exposure to U.S. assets, to reduce their exposure to the U.S. dollar."



Over the long term, UBS sees further structural risks. "The trend of international diversification could lead to further dollar weakness, particularly if the Federal Reserve begins to play a more active role intervening in bond markets amid high fiscal deficits."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Not A Collapse For Now, Yet Caution Is Warranted</h3>



The Dollar Index (DXY) – which is tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – fell 0.8% on Monday, erasing gains from last week on the back of a U.S.-China trade truce.



Capital flight hasn't hit the data yet, but concerns about U.S. debt and policy are starting to grow worldwide.



For the time being, the dollar remains the anchor of global trade and finance—but the psychological buffer it once enjoyed is showing cracks, and that shift may matter more than a credit downgrade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/05/45396490/peter-schiff-says-trade-truce-aside-the-world-is-losing-confidence-in-dollar-and-in-us-ability-to-put-fiscal-house-in-order">Peter Schiff Says Trade Truce Aside, The World Is &#8216;Losing Confidence&#8217; In Dollar And In US Ability To Put &#8216;Fiscal House In Order&#8217;</a> </li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Currency ETFs

Forex

Is The Dollar's Global Reserve Role At Risk After Moody's Downgrade?

Wall Street's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/billionaires">billionaire brigade hit</a> turbulence in the first quarter of 2025. From Warren Buffett to George Soros, even the most iconic names couldn't dodge the drawdowns as markets rotated and profit-taking weighed down performance.



Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) <a href="https://whalewisdom.com/dashboard2/search/fund_performance_search">saw </a>a -2.52% return on an equal-weighted basis in the first quarter, trailing its own 3-year and 5-year annualized returns of 7.10% and 10.90%, respectively. The world's most famous value investor remains heavily concentrated &#8211; 89% of his $258 billion portfolio sits in the top 10 holdings &#8211; but that concentration didn't provide a cushion in a volatile quarter.



Carl Icahn fared even worse. The activist legend posted a brutal -10.15% quarterly return &#8211; by far the worst among the billionaire cohort. Despite nearly 98% portfolio concentration, Icahn&#8217;s equal-weighted decline highlights how even conviction bets can backfire. His 5-year return of 15.99% is respectable, but the near-term pain is undeniable.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45471704/icahn-ramps-up-bets-on-genes-and-jets-illumina-stake-jumps-450-jetblue-holding-grow-90">Icahn Ramps Up Bets On Genes And Jets: Illumina Stake Jumps 450%, JetBlue Holding Grow 90%</a>



Soros, known for macro mastery, couldn't escape the downturn either. His fund returned -1.81%, despite maintaining a more diversified approach across 287 holdings. While Soros&#8217; 3-year return of 13.11% remains solid, the first quarter slip suggests even global tacticians weren't spared by the market's crosscurrents.



Bill Ackman's Pershing Square also struggled, dropping -2.72% in the first quarter. With a razor-sharp portfolio of just 12 holdings &#8211; and an eye-popping 99.5% concentration &#8211; Ackman's approach didn't offer much defense this quarter. His 5-year annualized return of 16.88% still towers over peers, but the first quarter was a rare off note.



Bottom line? 



The billionaire investors who thrived on bold bets and long-term conviction were handed a reality check. The first quarter wasn't about who&#8217;s biggest &#8211; it was about who could adapt. And for once, the billionaires blinked.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/hedge-funds/25/05/45447966/ray-dalios-bridgewater-dumps-spy-trims-nvidia-meta-alphabet-bearish-vibes">Ray Dalio&#8217;s Bridgewater Dumps SPY, Trims Nvidia, Meta, Alphabet — Bearish Vibes?</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Buffett, Ackman, Icahn Take A Beating As Billionaires Weather Q1 Chaos

Moody's Ratings has officially stripped the U.S. of its final AAA credit score — the highest mark of financial credibility — sparking political uproar and media alarm, yet market analysts and economists widely believe it will have limited impact on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/expert-ideas">the broader financial system.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Did Moody's Decide About US Credit Rating?</h3>



Moody's cut the U.S. long-term sovereign credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa on Friday, citing sustained fiscal deficits, rising debt burdens and growing interest costs. 



The agency criticized "successive U.S. administrations and Congress" for failing to implement a credible debt reduction strategy.



This move aligns Moody's with Fitch Ratings, which downgraded the U.S. in August 2023, and S&amp;P Global Ratings, which cut the rating back in 2011. 



For the first time, all three major credit agencies have the U.S. rated below AAA.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>S&amp;P</th><th>Moody&#8217;s</th><th>Fitch</th></tr><tr><th>AA+</th><th>Aa1</th><th>AA+</th></tr></thead></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Do Markets Care This Time?</h3>



"This downgrade won't force anybody to do anything on Monday," said Jim Bianco of Bianco Research. 



He noted that after S&amp;P&#8217;s 2011 downgrade caused market disruption due to contract language requiring AAA-rated collateral, those rules were rewritten. "Now, these contracts reference ‘government securities,' not ratings," he said.



Bianco added, "So technically it didn't even change the US's overall credit rating because it was already split rated AA+. Now it's unanimous AA+. Nothing changed."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Debt Concerns Are Misguided</h3>



Macro analyst Alfonso Peccatiello also challenged the logic behind the downgrade. He indicated that U.S. debt in its own currency is not inherently dangerous. 



"Any government doing deficit spending and issuing bonds in its own currency—like the U.S.—isn't walking into an abyss of doom," Peccatiello said. "It's just choosing to stimulate the economy by printing money for the private sector."



Addressing concerns about the $1 trillion annual interest burden, he said this is simply money being transferred from the government to investors holding Treasury bonds. 



"For every dollar the U.S. pays in interest, there is an investor making that dollar," he said, framing it as a redistribution within the economy, not a red flag of insolvency.



Peccatiello explained that U.S. Treasuries continue functioning as high-quality liquid assets for banks under Basel regulations.



"The downgrade to AA+ wouldn't make any difference," he said, as government bonds rated between AAA and AA- carry the same 0% risk weighting under Basel's framework.



He said rising deficits only become problematic when they cause inflation or resource scarcity—not because of arbitrary credit score thresholds.



According to Peccatiello, long-term bond yields are already pricing in much of the fiscal outlook, making current levels—particularly 30-year Treasuries above 5.25%—increasingly attractive for accumulation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">More Politics Than Panic</h3>



Economist Mohamed El-Erian called the move "historic," but said it was unlikely to shake global markets. 



However, he added that the downgrade "amplifies the conversation about America&#8217;s political ability to address its fiscal deficit and debt trajectory."



El-Erian&#8217;s view mirrors market action: U.S. Treasuries remain the most trusted collateral globally, and their deep liquidity shields them from dramatic dislocations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Political Reactions And The Trump Administration's Position</h3>



Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on CNBC, called Moody's decision "a lagging indicator." 



He said, "We inherited a 6.7% deficit-to-GDP ratio, the highest when we weren't in a recession or at war. We are determined to bring spending down."



Bessent added that foreign capital flows remain robust. "Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pushing more and more money into the U.S., with 10-year investment plans," he said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wall Street Shakes On The Downgrade</h3>



Despite widespread commentary downplaying Moody's downgrade of U.S. debt, investors reacted defensively in Monday's premarket, with major equity futures sliding and high-growth tech stocks leading losses.



S&amp;P 500 futures fell 1%, while Nasdaq 100 contracts dropped 1.5%, signaling a risk-off tone ahead of the Wall Street open.



Among mega-cap stocks, the worst-hit names in premarket trading:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) declined 2%. </li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) dropped 4.4%.</li>



<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) declined 3.9%.</li>



<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) slipped 2.9%.</li>



<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) lost 2.7%.</li>



<li>United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) fell 2%.</li>
</ul>



The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield jumped 10 basis points to 5%, hitting its highest level since October 2023. The spike in yields reflects investor concerns over the long-term fiscal trajectory and a higher-for-longer interest rate environment.



The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>)—a popular proxy for long-dated U.S. bonds—fell 1.6% in premarket trading, continuing a trend of weakness in duration-sensitive assets.



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45489038/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-moodys-downgrade-bear-market-isnt-fully-recovered-yet-but-it-is-close-says-expert">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Moody&#8217;s Downgrade: &#8216;Bear Market Isn&#8217;t Fully Recovered Yet, But It Is Close,&#8217; Says Expert</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Regulations

AMZN

AVGO

NVDA

PLTR

TSLA

America's Credit Strength Just Got Cut Again: Should You Panic?

On Monday, Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang took center stage at Computex 2025 in Taipei with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45426637/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-expected-to-unveil-new-ai-alliances-at-computex-2025-as-geopolitical-pressures-persist-over-tech-sector">a sweeping keynote that revealed</a> the company's aggressive roadmap to power the next era of artificial intelligence — from personal AI supercomputers to an ambitious AI infrastructure hub in Taiwan.



What Happened: Speaking to a packed Taipei Music Center, Huang was wearing his trademark leather jacket. After taking the stage, he noted that among the audience at the Taipei Music Center are "my parents."&nbsp;



Huang also openly expressed his deep affection for his homeland, Taiwan. He remarked, "Taiwan, which I have been visiting for over 30 years, is the hometown of our invaluable partner corporations. We are working together to open the AI ecosystem," he stated.



The Nvidia CEO then gave a brief description of the company's journey and growth milestones over the years. "We realize now, we're an AI infrastructure company. An infrastructure company that's essential all around the world," he stated at some point while talking about the same.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45487329/nvidias-jensen-huang-gets-rockstar-welcome-in-taiwan-pop-up-merch-screaming-fans-and-jet-parking-drama">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Gets Rockstar Welcome In Taiwan — Pop-Up Merch, Screaming Fans And Jet Parking Drama</a>



Key announcements included the RTX 5060 GPU alongside a new MSI laptop equipped with the same chip, the DGX Spark desktop AI workstation, and NVLink Fusion — a groundbreaking interconnect technology that lets other chipmakers integrate Nvidia's systems into their own infrastructure.



Huang also announced that Nvidia will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487650/nvidia-tsmc-and-apple-supplier-foxconn-partner-to-develop-taiwan-ai-supercomputer">develop AI infrastructure for a large-scale</a> supercomputing ecosystem in collaboration with Foxconn, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), and Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council, or NSTC.



The CEO also introduced Nvidia Constellation, a new office in Taipei's Beitou district.



During his presentation, Huang also shifted focus to accelerated computing, highlighting Nvidia's CUDA-X libraries as a core part of the company&#8217;s broader ecosystem. Emphasizing that Nvidia's innovation extends beyond GPUs, he showcased platforms like Earth-2 for climate modeling and Megatron Dynamo for deep learning.



In robotics, Huang showcased the Isaac Groot platform and Newton engine, enabling robots to learn real-world navigation and human-like actions via simulation. He also revealed that Nvidia's RTX Server Pro would support DeepSeek's R1 model.



<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="NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Keynote at COMPUTEX 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLzna9__DnI?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>



Why It&#8217;s Important: Nvidia is set to report its first-quarter earnings on May 28 after the market closes. Analysts, as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/login">Benzinga Pro</a>, anticipate earnings of 89 cents per share on revenue totaling $43.07 billion.



Nvidia currently holds a consensus price target of $172.32, based on ratings from 39 analysts. The highest target, $220, was issued by Rosenblatt on Feb. 24, 2025.



The three latest updates by B of A Securities, UBS, and Seaport Global have set an average price target of $145, suggesting an implied upside of 11.07%.



Price Action: As of the time of writing, during Monday's pre-market session, Nvidia shares were down 3.57%, trading at $130.57.



According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Nvidia holds an impressive growth score of 95.02%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it stacks up against other top tech firms</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19045408/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-2.24.03%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-919465" style="width:381px;height:auto"/></a></figure>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45486464/nvidias-quantum-pivot-chip-giant-reportedly-mulls-major-stake-in-psiquantum-amid-rising-global-interest">Nvidia&#8217;s Quantum Pivot? Jensen Huang-Led Chip Giant Reportedly Mulls Major Stake In PsiQuantum</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: jamesonwu1972 / Shutterstock.com

News

Jensen Huang Reveals RTX 5060, DGX Station, Nvidia Constellation And More At Computex 2025: 'We Realize Now, We're An Infrastructure AI Company'

On May 12, President Donald Trump followed through on a campaign promise by signing an Executive Order (EO) mandating that pharmaceutical companies lower their prescription drug prices in the US to those seen abroad.



At a media event, Trump told reporters he was aiming for price cuts of between 59% and 90% and gave drug companies 30 days to play ball.



Wall Street digested the news, and while major biopharma stocks saw share prices drop the day the EO was announced, most industry stocks rebounded.&nbsp;



Here are three pharma stocks that won&#8217;t just rebound, but are poised to soar because of Trump&#8217;s executive order.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Team Trump on Solid Ground?</h1>



Nobody&#8217;s denying that US drug prices are out of whack. A 2024 RAND Corporation study concluded US drug prices were approximately three times higher than those in 33 other developed countries.



Presidents have full power to order such a price cut from a private industry, at least in part.



&#8220;That&#8217;s especially the case in sectors like healthcare where government programs like Medicare are massive buyers,&#8221; said Lou Carter, founder and CEO at the Best Practice Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. &#8220;Policy isn&#8217;t just about law—it&#8217;s about leverage. This EO uses the weight of public programs to force pricing accountability, and that&#8217;s smart business when you&#8217;re managing taxpayer funds.&#8221;



Congress and the courts can try to stop the EO in its tracks, but success on that front is unlikely.&nbsp;



&#8220;Politically, it&#8217;s tough to argue against lower drug prices,&#8221; Carter said. &#8220;Even if pharma lobbies hard, most lawmakers know it&#8217;s political suicide to oppose something that helps seniors afford insulin. If this goes to court, it&#8217;ll hinge on procedural questions—not on whether the move is popular or right.&#8221;



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Bigger Drug Makers are Hardest Hit</h1>



Given the size and scope of the EO, it&#8217;s no surprise that the more substantial drug companies may find themselves in financial trouble.&nbsp;



&#8220;Large-cap biotech and specialty pharma companies with heavy Medicare exposure like Amgen (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>) or Regeneron (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REGN#NASDAQ">REGN</a>) could be hit hardest,&#8221; said Dr. Will Soliman, Founder and CEO of the New York City-based Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. &#8220;They rely on high-margin (Medicare) Part B drugs.&#8221;



Vertical-oriented drug makers could also feel the heat from the EO.&nbsp;



&#8220;Specialized oncology manufacturers like Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) have greater exposure than diversified pharmaceutical companies with broader portfolio ranges,&#8221; said Seann Malloy, founder and managing partner of Malloy Law Offices in Bethesda, Md. &#8220;Small to mid-cap biotechnology companies with early commercial products often fall outside immediate impact zones due to limited Medicare utilization and existing price protection provisions. &#8220;



&#8220;The executive order&#8217;s key element mandates that Medicare&#8217;s prescription drug payments align with the lowest prices in other developed countries, essentially using international reference pricing,&#8221; Malloy said. &#8220;While some demonstration projects will start within 30 days, full implementation across all provisions will take longer, likely 6-12 months, due to necessary regulatory development. &#8220;



Timing could play a big role in determining how much of an impact the EO will have on biotech drug stocks, if any.



Initially, the order focuses on physician-administered drugs under Medicare Part B but may later include retail prescriptions under Part D. &#8220;This staged implementation means the immediate and long-term market effects will differ, a point often missed by investors,&#8221; Malloy noted. &#8220;Despite initial impressions of swift price changes, significant revenue impacts will likely be delayed by extensive regulatory procedures.&#8221;



Additionally, overseas drug providers may face stiff headwinds from the Trump drug price directive.



&#8220;International manufacturers are most vulnerable,&#8221; said Javier Palomarez, founder and CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council. &#8220;Many of them ship to the United States because of the return on investment &#8211; eroding that return dampens the incentive and ability to ship medicines across the world, which could lead to total loss of US market access for some companies.&#8221;



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Three Drug Stocks That Bear Watching Over the Next 30 Days</h1>



Biotech investors looking to leverage the Trump EO should understand Trump&#8217;s intention to &#8220;cut out the middleman,&#8221; as he said in his May 12 press event. This translates to good news for actual drug manufacturers and not-so-good news for so-called pharmacy-benefit managers.



PBM&#8217;s act as intermediaries between health insurance companies, big employers, drug manufacturers, insurers, and patients. While they don&#8217;t produce prescription drugs, they handle the more mundane side of the drug business, like claims processing and negotiating prescription drug prices.



The big drug producers have historically blamed the PBMs for sky-high drug prices and would likely back any initiative that expands the direct-to-consumer drug marketplace. In that scenario, no insurers are needed, as drug consumers could deal directly with drug manufacturers to buy the medicines they need, presumably at a more affordable price.



Investors in that marketplace would want large drug makers, and big PBMs would not. These three drug stocks stand out on the plus side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eli Lilly</h2>



Drug manufacturing giant Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) is priced high at $730 per share, but it&#8217;s a stock that would likely prosper in a direct-to-consumer prescription drug marketplace. The stock is off by 5.0% year-to-date, but 26 Wall Street analysts who track LLY give it a top rating. The company&#8217;s recent earnings per share are off the charts, with an upward spike of 106% in EPS in 2024 and an estimated 68% in 2025. The stock is off 20% compared to recent highs, which could mean a nice discount for a drug industry stalwart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Novo Nordisk</h2>



Novo Nordisk (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) has experienced market woes that preceded the Trump E/O, as competitors continue to chew into market share in the lucrative weight loss drug market. Particularly damaging was a recent study that concluded patients taking Eli Lilly&#8217;s Zepbound were losing weight faster than with Novo&#8217;s Wegovy. That&#8217;s one big reason Novo Nordisk has seen its share price fall by 50% over the past year. Yet the stock is in rebound mode right now, up 13.9% over the past month. A $2.2 billion deal between Novo and Septerna (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEPN#NASDAQ">SEPN</a>) to develop weight loss pills is seen as a big step by analysts and big names like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan are sticking to their buy calls on the stock. Meanwhile, a larger group of industry analysts is out with a consensus 50% share price upside from current levels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AbbVie</h2>



AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) is a genuine cash flow producer that seems immune to any political interference from Washington, D.C. The drug manufacturer has a diverse set of popular prescription drugs, like Botox, Humira, Rinvoq, and Skyrizi. The stock only fell by a paltry 1% on the E news this week, and is up 5% over the past month. It also comes with a healthy 3.6% dividend for income-minded investors, a robust drug pipeline in play, and a brand new regulatory &#8220;green light&#8221; for its lung cancer drug Emrelis, supporting the rationale that ABBV shares should continue to climb in 2025.



<a href="https://benzinga.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OJ2FBspHSJSSVNlW8zGapw/?utm_campaign=webinar052025&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD051925/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_medium=newsletter">Smart Options Plays for Traders Watching Junk Bonds</a> Credit markets are breaking down. Volatility is back. Join Ryan Faloona, Anne-Marie Baiynd, and Tim Melvin live on May 20 at 6 PM ET to see how seasoned traders are using junk bond signals and short-term options to hedge, profit, and stay a step ahead. <a href="https://benzinga.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OJ2FBspHSJSSVNlW8zGapw/?utm_campaign=webinar052025&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD051925/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_medium=newsletter">Save your seat for this live tactical session.</a>



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Markets

ABBV

AMGN

REGN

SEPN

3 Stocks That Will Profit From Trump's Drug Price Cut

It's downgrade déjà vu. Late Friday, after Wall Street had already packed up for the weekend, Moody's quietly dropped the hammer: the U.S. just got its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/05/45479078/moodys-downgrades-us-credit-rating-over-debt-deficit-concerns">credit rating cut from Aaa to Aa1</a>.



If this feels familiar, that's because it is &#8211; and the market's playbook has been pretty consistent. The real question now: Will the market freak out for the third time, or has it finally learned to chill?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Another 10% Correction Coming?</h2>



Let's rewind.



In August 2011, Standard &amp; Poor's made history by downgrading U.S. debt for the first time ever. The result? A 10.37% drop in the S&amp;P 500 Index over the next 41 trading days, <a href="https://x.com/adamkhootrader/status/1923970924589744439">according</a> to data analyzed by Piranha Profits. But fast forward 12 months, and the index was up 36%. Investors who bought the dip didn't just survive &#8211; they thrived.



Then came August 2023, when Fitch pulled the same move. Same script, different year. The S&amp;P 500 slid 10.31% over 58 trading days. But again &#8211; patience paid off. One year later, stocks were up a cool 37%.



Now, here comes Moody's, joining the downgrade party. And yes, if the market follows precedent, we could be looking at another 10% correction.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45486452/jim-cramer-recalls-2011s-6-7-market-decline-after-us-debt-downgrade-says-it-ultimately-meant-nothing-dan-niles-sees-limited-downside-amid-tariff-rollbacks-fomo">Jim Cramer Recalls 2011&#8217;s 6.7% Market Decline After US Debt Downgrade, Says It &#8216;Ultimately Meant Nothing:&#8217; Dan Niles Sees Limited Downside Amid Tariff Rollbacks, FOMO</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bulls Have Reasons To Shrug This One Off &#8211; But Will They?</h2>



But here's the twist &#8211; after two prior false alarms, has Wall Street stopped reacting to credit downgrades like it's the end of the world? After all, these cuts haven't exactly spelled disaster in the long run. Quite the opposite.



And let's not ignore the context: strong earnings from tech giants, resilient consumer spending, and cooling inflation may give bulls a reason to shrug this one off.



But if markets do panic on Monday, history suggests it could be yet another gift-wrapped opportunity to scoop up high-quality stocks at a discount.



Because if there's one thing we've learned, it's this: America's credit rating may slip &#8211; but investor memory tends to fade faster than a market dip lasts.



For investors holding broad S&amp;P 500 ETFs like SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>), and Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>), the Moody's downgrade may feel unsettling at first glance &#8211; especially heading into Monday's open. But history offers a useful compass. During the past two U.S. debt downgrades in 2011 and 2023, the S&amp;P 500 fell over 10% within two months, only to surge more than 35% over the following year. If markets follow a similar playbook, any short-term volatility could prove to be a golden buying window for long-term investors. 



In other words, don't be surprised if passive index investors wind up thanking Moody's by this time next year.



Will Wall Street overreact a third time? 



Or has the market finally grown up? 



We'll find out Monday.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45488403/moodys-had-an-investment-grade-rating-on-us-debt-during-2008-global-financial-crisis-recent-cut-not-a-huge-shock-says-expert">Moody&#8217;s Had An Investment Grade Rating On US Debt During 2008 Global Financial Crisis: Recent Cut &#8216;Not A Huge Shock,&#8217; Says Expert</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

S&P 500 History Suggests 10% Drop After Downgrade — Followed By 35% Rally

U.S. stock futures dipped on Monday after closing higher for the day and the week on Friday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading lower in premarket.



The S&amp;P 500 index recorded its fifth day of gains on Friday after turning positive for the year at the beginning of the previous week.



However, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/05/45479078/moodys-downgrades-us-credit-rating-over-debt-deficit-concerns">Moody&#8217;s Ratings downgraded</a> the United States&#8217; long-term credit rating, from Aaa to Aa1 and shifted its outlook from &#8220;negative&#8221; to &#8220;stable.&#8221;



This decision means the U.S. has now lost its top-tier &#8220;triple-A&#8221; rating from all three major credit agencies, following similar downgrades by Fitch and S&amp;P Global.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.54% and the two-year bond was at 4.00%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 91.7% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its June meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.92%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-1.32%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-1.74%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-1.72%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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, fell in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 1.21% to $587.00, while the QQQ declined 1.63% to $513.00, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Fueled by tech giants like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), the Nasdaq Composite led the charge with a robust 7.2% gain last week, contributing to a broad market rally.



U.S. stocks finished higher on Friday, marking the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s fifth consecutive session of gains and a 5.3% weekly increase. The Dow also added 3.4% for the week.



While most S&amp;P 500 sectors closed positively on Friday, with healthcare, utilities, and real estate leading, energy stocks declined.



Economic data revealed a dip in U.S. consumer sentiment but a slight increase in both import and export prices for April. Apple also saw a ~6% gain last week.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.52%</td><td>19,211.10</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.70%</td><td>5,958.38</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.78%</td><td>42,654.74</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.89%</td><td>2,113.25</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Ryan Detrick from Carson Research highlighted in an X post that the &#8220;bear market isn&#8217;t fully recovered yet, but it is close.&#8221;



According to the data shared by him, the bear markets between November 1980 to August 1982 and March 2000 to October 2002 staged the quickest recoveries, within three months.



&#8220;Should it happen soon, this will be the quickest recovery ever from a bear or near bear market.&#8221;



<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">No, this near bear market isn&#39;t fully recovered yet, but it is close. Should it happen soon, this will be the quickest recovery ever from a bear or near bear market. <a href="https://t.co/rbtma7WLYH">pic.twitter.com/rbtma7WLYH</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1924301522550071551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Meanwhile, CNBC's Jim Cramer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45486452/jim-cramer-recalls-2011s-6-7-market-decline-after-us-debt-downgrade-says-it-ultimately-meant-nothing-dan-niles-sees-limited-downside-amid-tariff-rollbacks-fomo">recalled that</a> "the market dropped 6.7% after the last downgrade back in 2011, but it, ultimately, meant nothing." Despite weeks of market decline following that event, Cramer emphasized investors "had to stay the course." 



<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">As I write a draft for the CNBC investing club for our meeting on Wednesday i am mindful that the market dropped 6.7% after the last downgrade back in 2011 but it, ultimately, meant nothing and while the market kept falling for weeks you had to stay the course&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1924128885228085605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, expects less severe market reactions this time. "Prior debt downgrades have been followed by S&amp;P drops of 8-10%," Niles noted, adding that "today, tariff rollbacks is driving a pickup in the economy &amp; the decline should be less."



Niles believes current conditions differ significantly. "Unlike in 2023 or 2011, the economic environment is improving around this debt downgrade," he wrote, citing reduced China tariffs driving trade resumption.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on this week:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>On Monday, New York Fed President John Williams and Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson will speak at 8:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>April&#8217;s U.S. leading economic indicators will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin will speak at 9:00 a.m., Boston Fed President Susan Collins will participate in the &#8216;Fed Listens&#8217; event at 9:30 a.m., St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will speak at 1:00 p.m., and Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler will speak at 5:00 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin and Fed Governor Michelle Bowman will take part in the &#8216;Fed Listens&#8217; event at 12:15 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims data for the week ending May 17 will be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>The S&amp;P flash U.S. services and manufacturing PMI for May will be released by 9:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>April&#8217;s existing home sales will be announced by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>New York Fed President John Williams will speak at 2:00 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid will speak at 9:35 a.m., new home sales data for April will be out by 10:00 a.m., and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook will speak at 12:00 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Sunday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver his commencement address at 2:40 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Trip.com Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCOM#NASDAQ">TCOM</a>) rose 1.11% in premarket on Monday as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of 86 cents per share on revenue of $1.91 billion, after the closing bell.</li>



<li>ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZIM#NYSE">ZIM</a>) dropped 1.31% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings before the opening bell. It is expected to post earnings of $1.87 per share on revenue of $1.85 billion.</li>



<li>Global Ship Lease Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSL#NYSE">GSL</a>) was up 0.36% as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $2.31 per share on revenue of $175.23 million, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>) was 0.62% lower after disclosing that its founder, Thomas Golisano, will step down from the company&#8217;s Board of Directors, effective after the board's July meeting.</li>



<li>Interactive Strength Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRNR#NASDAQ">TRNR</a>) jumped 15.40% after CEO Trent Ward and Sportstech CEO Ali Ahmad provided insights ahead of their first quarter earnings report, highlighting the early integration progress of TRNR&#8217;s pending acquisition of Sportstech and Wattbike.</li>



<li>Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) jumped 15% after the FDA gave its conditional approval to its COVID-19 vaccine, targeting specific populations under particular conditions.</li>



<li>Bit Origin Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTOG#NASDAQ">BTOG</a>) dropped 13.27% after announcing the date for its hearing to consider confirming the company&#8217;s proposed share capital reduction, which was approved by special resolution on March 14, 2025.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.53% to hover around $61.63 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 1.30% to hover around $3,243.83 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.80% at the 100.2840 level.



Asian markets ended lower on Monday as South Korea's Kospi, Australia's ASX 200, Japan's Nikkei 225, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, and China&#8217;s CSI 300 indices declined. European markets were also lower in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487788/trumps-drug-price-order-hits-pbms-hardest-cvs-cigna-unh-in-focus-as-experts-highlight-racket-and-pricing-distortion">Trump&#8217;s Drug Price Order Hits PBMs Hardest: CVS, Cigna, UNH In Focus As Experts Highlight &#8216;Racket,&#8217; Pricing Distortion</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Market Summary

Guidance

Futures

Pre-Market Outlook

BTOG

PAYX

TCOM

TRNR

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Moody's Downgrade: 'Bear Market Isn't Fully Recovered Yet, But It Is Close,' Says Expert

Cybersecurity firm DTEX has compared North Korea&#8217;s cybercrime operations to a mafia organization controlled by Kim Jong Un. The operations involve a global network of North Korean technologists who infiltrate Fortune 500 companies and launder money to support Kim&#8217;s nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.



What Happened: North Korea has intensified its strategy this year by enlisting 90 top graduates for an AI research center, while also requiring them to hand over twice their monthly earnings. This development coincides with efforts towards laundering $1.5 billion stolen in a cryptocurrency exchange hack earlier this year, <a href="https://reports.dtexsystems.com/DTEX-Exposing+DPRK+Cyber+Syndicate+and+Hidden+IT+Workforce.pdf?_gl=1&#x2A;16ngf3n&#x2A;_gcl_aw&#x2A;R0NMLjE3NDY0NzEwMjQuQ2owS0NRand0OHpBQmhES0FSSXNBSFh1RDdaT1FkeS1SWTRXbDZVZHU4a2JCZHpVR0stNmlLRy1Lakh1Y3RnbkJYREdCQ2ZnamNtbGlfZ2FBakUxRUFMd193Y0I.&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;OTYxMjM2ODE2LjE3NDQwNjkwNzE.">revealed </a>the report.



These IT workers, who are part of the regime's cyber cartel, collaborate with malicious North Korean Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups linked to the Korean People's Army. According to UN estimates, the IT workers generate between $250 million and $600 million annually, while the APTs have stolen at least $3 billion in cryptocurrency.



Many of these IT workers and APT actors, having trained together at elite institutions such as Kim Sung Il Military University and Kumsong Academy, are familiar with one another. This network of operatives, referred to as a "bro network," is a crucial part of the cybercrime operations.



The report highlights that North Korean workers are forced to compete under brutal conditions—working up to 16 hours a day, six days a week—with minimal breaks. They keep less than 20% of their earnings and must cover costs for operations and equipment themselves, while the main beneficiaries are Kim Jong Un's family and the North Korean elite.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/05/45485070/the-stock-market-is-shooting-through-the-roof-says-dave-ramsey-but-claims-the-medias-silent-they-want-you-ad" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;The Stock Market Is Shooting Through The Roof,&#8217; Says Dave Ramsey. But Claims The Media&#8217;s Silent—&#8217;They Want You Addicted To Fear&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: Earlier this year, it was reported that thousands of North Korean IT workers were impersonating Americans to land jobs at Fortune 500 companies, with their earnings being used to fund Kim Jong Un‘s illicit weapons programs. They were leveraging advanced AI to <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44678849/north-korean-it-workers-impersonating-americans-to-land-jobs-at-fortune-500-companies-to-fund-kim-jong-uns-weapons-program-report">alter </a>their appearances and voices and even managing to hold multiple jobs simultaneously, thereby increasing the amount of money funneled back to North Korea.



Furthermore, North Korean hackers infiltrated the U.S. corporate system to launch a malware campaign aimed at crypto developers. They set up fake companies using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/44999851/north-korea-spies-used-fake-us-firms-to-hack-crypto-developers-report">fake names </a>and addresses in the US to carry out their operations.



Moreover, in March, North Korea, with the help of the infamous <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44349644/kim-jong-uns-north-korea-backed-lazarus-group-now-has-more-bitcoin-than-el-salvador">hacking syndicate</a> Lazarus Group, has quietly become one of the biggest holders of Bitcoin. The stash was valued at more than double the amount held by El Salvador, the well-known Bitcoin-friendly country.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45486095/bitcoin-breaks-107000-ethereum-dips-dogecoin-rallies-as-greed-sentiment-takes-over-analyst-predicts-great-6-8-week-period">Bitcoin Breaks $107,000, Ethereum Dips, Dogecoin Rallies As &#8216;Greed&#8217; Sentiment Takes Over: Analyst Predicts BTC &#8216;Primed&#8217; For A New All-Time High</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.

Fortune 500 Companies Exploited To Fund North Korea's Nuclear Program Through Kim Jong Un's 'Mafia'-Style Cybercrime Operations: Report

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Friday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday, with the S&amp;P 500 recording gains for the fifth straight session and also notching weekly gains. For the week, the S&amp;P 500 gained 5.3%, while the Dow added 3.4%. The Nasdaq Composite was the standout performer, surging 7.2% last week.



Tech stocks also recorded strong gains last week, with shares of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) jumping around 16% and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) gaining 8%. Shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), meanwhile, gained around 6% last week.



On the economic data front, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment for the US dipped to 50.8 in May compared to April&#8217;s reading of 52.2 and down from market estimates of 53.4. U.S. import prices rose by 0.1% month-over-month in April compared to a revised 0.4% decline in the previous month. U.S. export prices increased 0.1% month-over-month in April, versus market estimates of a 0.5% fall.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with health care, utilities, and real estate stocks recording the biggest gains on Friday. However, energy stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 332 points to 42,654.74 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.70% to 5,958.38, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 0.52% to 19,211.10 during Friday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Global Ship Lease Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSL#NYSE">GSL</a>), ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZIM#NYSE">ZIM</a>), and Trip.com Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCOM#NASDAQ">TCOM</a>) today.



At a current reading of 70.6, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 69.2.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45466164/jim-cramer-prefers-autozone-over-rival-buy-the-one-thats-not-going-to-stock-split">Jim Cramer Prefers AutoZone Over Rival: &#8216;Buy The One That&#8217;s Not Going To Stock Split&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AAPL

S&P 500 Gains For Fifth Session: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Leading cryptocurrencies rallied sharply on Sunday as investors awaited new all-time highs for Bitcoin.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+2.53%</td><td>$105,868.99</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.57%</td><td>$2,438.87</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+6.63%</td><td>$0.2293</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin tapped $107,000, the highest in nearly four months, in a sharp evening rally that saw trading volumes increase by almost 50%. The apex cryptocurrency was already up 11% in the month



Ethereum, on the other hand, sold off, plunging to an intraday low of $2,344.67 before recovering to the mid-$2,400s by late evening.



Over $575 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with bullish leveraged bets accounting for $350 million.&nbsp;



That said, about $465 million in Bitcoin shorts risked liquidation if the apex cryptocurrency rallied to $108,000.



Bitcoin's Open Interest surged 5.31% in the last 24 hours to levels not seen since December 2024. Meanwhile, bearish bets against Bitcoin spiked, with over 60% of Binance traders with open BTC positions shorting the cryptocurrency.



The "Greed" barometer increased to 74, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, indicating a potential surge in buying pressure in the days to come.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)</td><td>+19.00%</td><td>$2.00</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (PEPE)</td><td>+12.56%</td><td>$0.00001372</td></tr><tr><td>dogwifhat (WIF)</td><td>+11.65%</td><td>$1.04</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.35 trillion, following an increase of 2.36% in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures dipped Sunday night. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures fell 287 points, or 0.67%, as of 8:37 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 slid 0.82%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lost 1.06%.



The sell-offs come after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45484954/treasury-secretary-bessent-addresses-moodys-downgrade-and-tariff-impact-n-walmart">Moody's downgraded the U.S. long-term credit rating</a>, raising fears about government debt and inflation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed these concerns, calling Moody's a "lagging indicator."&nbsp;&nbsp;



The S&amp;P 500 extended its gains on Wednesday. The broad-based index rose 0.10% to close at 5,892.58, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gained 0.72% to end at 19,146.81. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the second straight day, losing 89.37 points, or 0.21%, to end at 42,051.06.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Cryptocurrency market commentator Michaël van de Poppe highlighted the potential for altcoins to outperform Bitcoin in the next days.



"M2 Supply goes up and Bitcoin is primed for a new ATH. Altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin on every move upwards. I think we're in for a great 6-8 week period," Van De Poppe stated. Notably, Bitcoin touched an all-time high of $109,114.88 on Jan. 20, 2025. It is currently trading 3.72% below those levels.



<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">All the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a> are making higher lows and confirming buying pressure. M2 Supply goes up and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> is primed for a new ATH. Altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin on every move upwards. I think we&#39;re in for a great 6-8 week period.&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1924200569276920143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez commented on Ethereum's outlook, painting $3,000 and $4,000 as the next upside targets if the cryptocurrency holds above $2,200.



<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">According to the pricing bands, as long as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> holds above $2,200, the next upside targets could be $3,000 and possibly $4,000 as bullish momentum builds. <a href="https://t.co/Y8goRUPaAj">https://t.co/Y8goRUPaAj</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1924145073006018858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo Courtesy: Yalcin Sonat On Shutterstock.com



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45484640/25-74-trillion-shiba-inu-stuck-as-shib-trapped-in-uncertainty-amid-market-downturn">25.74 Trillion Shiba Inu Stuck, As SHIB Trapped In Uncertainty Amid Market Downturn</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

Movers

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin Breaks $107,000, Ethereum Dips, Dogecoin Rallies As 'Greed' Sentiment Takes Over: Analyst Predicts BTC 'Primed' For A New All-Time High

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, as reported by Reuters on Sunday. 



What Happened: The diagnosis was made on Friday after Biden, 82, experienced urinary symptoms. He and his family are currently considering treatment options with medical professionals.



The cancer is described as hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management, his office stated. Prostate cancers that have spread are classified as Stage 4, the most advanced stage. The&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and&nbsp;Prevention notes that in 2021, 70% of prostate cancer cases were detected before spreading beyond the prostate.



Biden&#8217;s health has been under scrutiny during his presidency from 2021 to 2025. He ended his reelection campaign last July following a debate performance against&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;that concerned Democrats. Trump expressed sympathy for Biden and his family on Truth Social.



Biden&#8217;s cancer scored a nine on the Gleason score, indicating a very high risk. Dr. Herbert Lepor from NYU Langone mentioned&nbsp;that many men can live&nbsp;five to 10 years and beyond with metastatic prostate cancer. Dr. Chris George from Northwestern Health Network stated that while the&nbsp;cancer is no longer curable&nbsp;once spread to the bones, treatments are available to control it.



President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Sunday that he and Melania were &#8220;saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45484990/voice-of-america-purge-trump-appointed-chief-fires-600-reporters-with-j-1-visa-face-deportation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Voice of America Purge? Trump-Appointed Chief Fires 600; Reporters With J-1 Visa Face Deportation</a>



Why It Matters Last year, Biden announced a substantial $240 million investment to combat cancer, enhancing the administration's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/23/12/36101788/bidens-million-dollar-moonshot-240-million-is-a-boon-for-cancer-research-will-it-be-a-boost-for-phar">"Cancer Moonshot"</a> initiative. This funding, distributed through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), supports projects aimed at cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.



Additionally, Biden&#8217;s administration has been actively involved in healthcare cost reforms. In August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revealed the first ten drugs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/08/34087337/biden-targets-cancer-diabetes-drugs-in-controversial-medicare-price-battle-wants-to-cut-billions-">subject to price negotiations</a> under Biden&#8217;s Inflation Reduction Act. This move targets reducing the costs of cancer and diabetes drugs, among others, which accounted for a significant portion of prescription drug costs.



Photo Courtesy: OogImages On Shutterstock.com



Check This Out:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Joe Biden Diagnosed With Advanced Prostate Cancer, Trump Wishes Former President A 'Fast And Successful Recovery'

As shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) witness a steep decline, company insiders are stepping up to the plate with a series of insider buys, which analysts and experts say is &#8220;a strong signal.&#8221;



What Happened: On Saturday, popular investment newsletter The Kobeissi Letter shared a post on X highlighting UnitedHealth&#8217;s new CEO, Stephen Hemsley, acquiring a significant stake in the company, worth $25 million, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



<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">This is interesting: Stephen Hemsley, the new CEO of UnitedHealth, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24UNH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$UNH</a>, bought $25 million worth of the stock on Friday. He is the latest of multiple insiders to begin buying shares amid the historic decline. What does it tell you if insiders are buying here? <a href="https://t.co/BqM4Ksabsy">pic.twitter.com/BqM4Ksabsy</a>&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1923782787909197829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



&#8220;He is the latest of multiple insiders to begin buying shares amid the historic decline,&#8221; the post says, referring to the three directors, Timothy Flynn, Kristen Gil and John Noseworthy, who purchased shares worth $491,786, $1,003,329 and $93,647, respectively, in the company last week. 



This is in addition to UnitedHealth&#8217;s CFO, John Rex, who bought shares worth $5 million, according to SEC filings.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45485704/joe-biden-diagnosed-with-advanced-prostate-cancer-trump-wishes-former-president-a-fast-and-successful-recovery">Joe Biden Diagnosed With Advanced Prostate Cancer, Trump Wishes Former President A &#8216;Fast And Successful Recovery&#8217;</a>



Replying to the post, investment manager&nbsp;Mike Shell&nbsp;says that investing personal capital after a sharp decline is a &#8220;strong signal&#8221; that&nbsp;management perceives &#8220;positive asymmetry&#8221; in the stock, suggesting limited downside risks, relative to its recovery potential.



<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">Investing personal capital after a sharp decline is a strong signal they perceive positive asymmetry: limited further downside versus potential recovery gains.&mdash; Mike Shell (@MikeWShell) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeWShell/status/1924108362909733063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: UnitedHealth shares have witnessed a steep decline since its disappointing <a href="https://benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44902410/unitedhealth-group-stock-is-getting-crushed-whats-fueling-the-selloff">first quarter results</a> last month, when the company narrowly missed expectations, posting earnings of $7.20 per share versus the consensus estimate of $7.29.



However, it&#8217;s been under scrutiny <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">ever since the assassination</a> of its insurance unit CEO, Brian Thompson, in December 2024, by a disgruntled insurance patient, Luigi Mangione.



The stock once again <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance">witnessed a pullback</a> last week, following the abrupt departure of its CEO, Andrew Witty. Former CEO Hemsley was reinstated, and the company subsequently withdrew its full-year guidance.



To make matters worse, a Wall Street Journal report claimed that UnitedHealth was under a <a href="https://benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45426769/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-over-8-in-after-hours-trading-as-doj-criminal-probe-adds-to-turmoil-after-ceo-shake-up">federal criminal investigation</a> focusing on its Medicare Advantage business practices. The company refuted these claims, stating that it has not been notified of any supposed criminal investigation by the Department of Justice.



While several experts see this string of insider buying as a sign of a turnaround to come, investor Jeremy Lefebvre posted on X, calling the company &#8220;straight trash.&#8221; 



<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">People want to know my opinion on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24UNH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$UNH</a> Straight trash. They are going to go thru years of investigations and it will be a mess. Doesn't mean it can't work for short term trade but it reminds me of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BA</a> stock many year ago. Boeing is still a mess even now. Your opinion? <a href="https://t.co/1eMPaXrAJJ">pic.twitter.com/1eMPaXrAJJ</a>&mdash; Jeremy Lefebvre (@HolySmokas) <a href="https://twitter.com/HolySmokas/status/1923806928951775450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Lefebvre says the company will go through years of investigation, and that it will &#8220;be a mess,&#8221; before drawing parallels with Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), which he says &#8220;is still a mess even now.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">7 Days</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Month</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Year-To-Date</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">12 Months</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-23.41%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-31.37%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-42.14%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-43.56</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">UnitedHealth shares have witnessed steep declines across multiple periods in recent months.</figcaption></figure>



Price Action: Shares of UnitedHealth were up 6.40% on Friday, following news of insider buying, but are down 1.46% pre-market. The stock remains down by 42.14% year-to-date, and 53.8% from its all-time high in November last year.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="139" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM-1024x139.png" alt="" class="wp-image-919079" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM-1024x139.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM-300x41.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM-768x104.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM-1536x208.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18221810/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-7.47.57-AM.png 1592w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



According to Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, UnitedHealthcare group has an unfavorable price trend in the short, medium, and long term. You can check more comprehensive metrics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a>. 



Shutterstock/The Image Party



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Health Care

Insider Trades

UnitedHealth CEO, Other Insiders Buy Millions In Stock As It Sinks Over 23% In A Week: Move Gets 'Mixed' Reaction

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has surged beyond the&nbsp;$105,000 mark, setting off a $250 billion rally in the wider cryptocurrency market.



On Sunday, Bitcoin&#8217;s climb to $105,424.45 has pushed its market value over $2.05 trillion and significantly lifted altcoin prices. 



According to reports, this surge follows a mix of inflation data, increased confidence regarding interest rate cuts, and significant&nbsp;fund inflows from both retail&nbsp;and institutional investors.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="656" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18152345/Screenshot-2025-05-19-005306-1024x656.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918981" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18152345/Screenshot-2025-05-19-005306-1024x656.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18152345/Screenshot-2025-05-19-005306-300x192.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18152345/Screenshot-2025-05-19-005306-768x492.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18152345/Screenshot-2025-05-19-005306.png 1052w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The rise in Bitcoin&#8217;s price,&nbsp;a 37.5% increase from its&nbsp;April low of less than $75,000, is propelled by a combination of strong&nbsp;technical breakouts and positive macro&nbsp;conditions. 



Open interest in Bitcoin futures has reached&nbsp;a record high of over&nbsp;$36 billion, indicating growing trader conviction.



The broader crypto market is&nbsp;benefiting from Bitcoin&#8217;s surge, with total capitalization exceeding $2.65 trillion—an increase of&nbsp;over $250 billion in just&nbsp;five trading days. 



Bitcoin&#8217;s dominance is now over 53.2%, its highest in more than&nbsp;three years, as capital continues&nbsp;to shift&nbsp;into large-cap digital assets amid&nbsp;increasing&nbsp;regulatory clarity in major markets.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45335892/decade-old-bitcoin-whale-emerges-transfers-207-51-million-btc-with-nearly-112000-profit">Decade-Old Bitcoin Whale Emerges, Transfers $207.51 Million BTC With Nearly 112,000% Profit</a>



Several&nbsp;macroeconomic and market catalysts are&nbsp;contributing to Bitcoin's parabolic move. These converging factors seem&nbsp;to have set the stage&nbsp;for Bitcoin's current breakout and&nbsp;may continue to support price&nbsp;appreciation in the short to&nbsp;medium term.



While Bitcoin is grabbing headlines, altcoins are also making a comeback.&nbsp;Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) jumped 12% in&nbsp;24 hours, breaking over important&nbsp;resistance at $6,000.



Analysts monitoring the $110,000–$115,000 area&nbsp;as the next main obstacle&nbsp;believe Bitcoin's breach over $105K&nbsp;could pave the way for&nbsp;more upside. 



The present increase&nbsp;could still have legs given&nbsp;ETF inflows ongoing and macro&nbsp;conditions staying good; particularly, if&nbsp;Ethereum ETFs become popular in&nbsp;the next weeks.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45485038/robert-kiyosaki-predicts-bitcoin-to-reach-250000-buy-more-do-not-sell">Robert Kiyosaki Predicts Bitcoin To Reach $250,000: &#8216;Buy More. Do Not Sell.&#8217;</a>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Skyrockets Past $105,000 Mark, Triggers $250 Billion Crypto Market Rally

Last week, gold and silver prices dropped after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily reduce most tariffs on each other&#8217;s goods. This could be driving a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/45429569" rel="noreferrer noopener">rotation out of safe-haven assets</a>.



Most gold mining stocks were among the top ten large-cap worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio?



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) shares dipped 23.31%  in reaction to a media report on a possible investigation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/45443695" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for criminal Medicare fraud</a>.</li>



<li>Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>) shares were down 9.46%.</li>



<li>Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>) shares declined 9.43%.</li>



<li>Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEM#NYSE">AEM</a>) stock fell 9.27%.</li>



<li>AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AU#NYSE">AU</a>) stock dived 9.06%.</li>



<li>Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KGC#NYSE">KGC</a>) stock fell 8.96%.</li>



<li>Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WPM#NYSE">WPM</a>) shares decreased 8.48%</li>



<li>Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFI#NYSE">GFI</a>) shares were down 8.47%.</li>



<li>Barrick Mining Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>) stock decreased 8.38%.</li>



<li>Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGLD#NASDAQ">RGLD</a>) stock dived 7.20%.</li>
</ol>



Image Via Shutterstock

Large Cap

Commodities

RGLD

Gold Mining Stocks Were Among Top 10 Large-Cap Losers Last Week (May 12-May 16): Are These In Your Portfolio?

The past weekend was a whirlwind of news in the tech and auto industries. From&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) showcasing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities to&nbsp;Uber&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) doubling down on its autonomy upside, there was no shortage of developments.



Let&#8217;s dive into the top stories.



Tesla Teases FSD Capabilities Ahead Of Robotaxi Event



Tesla is building anticipation for its upcoming Robotaxi event in Austin, Texas, by flaunting its FSD technology. A video surfaced over the weekend showing a Tesla vehicle skillfully navigating through traffic near Los Angeles&#8217;s LAX airport using Supervised FSD.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45342188/elon-musks-tesla-teases-fsd-capabilities-ahead-of-june-robotaxi-event">Read the full article here.</a>



Gary Black Doubles Down On Uber&#8217;s Autonomy Upside



Gary Black, a fund manager and long-term Tesla bull, has reaffirmed his belief in Uber&#8217;s potential in the autonomous vehicle sector. In a lengthy post, Black reflected on his past views on Tesla and the EV industry, asserting that his predictions have been validated over the years.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45339797/gary-black-doubles-down-on-ubers-autonomy-upside-reflects-on-tesla-debates-i-was-right-on-volume-pr-and-robotaxis">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45481170/as-tesla-stock-witnesses-nearly-45-surge-in-one-month-elon-musk-asks-minnesota-governor-tim-walz-hows-your-day-br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">As Tesla Stock Witnesses Nearly 45% Surge In One Month, Elon Musk Asks Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, &#8216;How&#8217;s Your Day Bro?&#8217;</a>



Ross Gerber Praises Waymo&#8217;s Self-Driving Taxis



Investor Ross Gerber has lauded&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;(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 Waymo&#8217;s self-driving technology, stating that it performs better than human drivers. This could spell increased competition for ride-sharing and autonomous vehicle rivals.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45341851/ross-gerber-calls-waymos-self-driving-taxis-better-than-human-says-theyre-tough-competition-for-uber-and-tesla">Read the full article here.</a>



Bezos-Backed Slate&#8217;s 100,000 EV Orders Challenge Cybertruck Hype



The Slate electric pickup truck, backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, has racked up 100,000 orders, posing a potential challenge to Elon Musk and Tesla&#8217;s Cybertruck. Early demand suggests that the Slate EV pickup truck could be a hit.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45381497/jeff-bezos-backed-slate-hit-100k-ev-reservations-in-2-weeks-how-it-compares-to-cybertruck-launch">Read the full article here.</a>



Republicans Target EV Perks With New Bill



House Republicans have introduced legislation to eliminate the electric vehicle tax credit and repeal fuel efficiency rules. This could disrupt billions in automaker investments and has sparked industry concerns about abrupt policy changes.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45366272/republicans-target-ev-perks-with-new-bill-ford-tesla-rivian-face-fallout-as-200-billion-in-battery-belt-investments-hang-in-balance">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45478121/why-a-danish-company-is-telling-elon-musk-thanks-for-the-ride-and-returning-its-tesla-fleet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why A Danish Company Is Telling Elon Musk &#8216;Thanks For The Ride&#8217; — And Returning Its Tesla Fleet</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ananya Gairola</a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Elon Musk's Tesla Teases FSD Capabilities, Jeff Bezos-Backed Slate's 100,000 EV Orders Challenge Cybertruck Hype And More: This Week In Mobility

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