Alphabet Option Alert: Sep 19 $160 Puts at the Ask: 4000 vs 13468 OI

Alphabet Option Alert: Sep 19 $160 Puts at the Ask: 4000 @ $3.25 vs 13468 OI; Ref=$177.64

Alphabet Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $155 Puts at the Bid: 900 vs 317 OI

Alphabet Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $155 Puts at the Bid: 900 @ $12.22 vs 317 OI; Ref=$174.29

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $175 Puts Sweep (14) near the Bid: 772 vs 8781 OI; Earnings 7/22 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $175 Puts Sweep (14) near the Bid: 772 @ $7.201 vs 8781 OI; Earnings 7/22 After Close [est] Ref=$176.15

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $190 Calls Sweep (61) near the Bid: 2000 vs 12950 OI; Earnings 7/22 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $190 Calls Sweep (61) near the Bid: 2000 @ $3.551 vs 12950 OI; Earnings 7/22 After Close [est] Ref=$176.52

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Azioni

ALPHABET INC-CL A

Alphabet

Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.

Nvidia

Equities

News

Markets

Tech

AAPL

CRWV

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

Un accordo per il cloud, ma un &#34;no&#34; ai chip. La scelta della casa madre di ChatGPT che rafforza il leader del settore AI.

Nonostante un accordo con Google, OpenAI si affida ancora a Nvidia

Pershing Square

Hedge Funds

UBER

Il miliardario ha puntato il 62% del suo patrimonio su un pugno di società. Ecco la sua strategia ultra-concentrata.

Bill Ackman, un portafoglio da 12 miliardi concentrato in sole 4 azioni

Uber

PONY

SFTBF

TSLA

Un finanziere di Wall Street prevede la fine di un colosso tech. Ma la vera minaccia non è quella che tutti pensano.

Uber è destinata a sparire? Ecco cosa ne pensa Ross Gerber

Wall Street posted fresh all-time highs this week, fueled by a relentless rally in Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which became the first company in history to surpass a $4 trillion market capitalization, igniting optimism across the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech"> tech and AI sectors.</a>
The chipmaker extended its winning streak to a seventh straight week — and the 11th in the last 12 — nearly doubling its share price from early April lows in just over three months.
This surge pushed the combined market value of the so-called Magnificent Seven — Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) — to a staggering $18.3 trillion.
Chart Of The Week: Nvidia Has Now Rallied 90% Since April&#8217;s Tariff Turmoil
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="525" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-1024x525.png" alt="" class="wp-image-982442" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-1024x525.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-768x394.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-1536x788.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11154407/image-140-2048x1050.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
President Donald Trump reignited trade war concerns, announcing a 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting Aug. 1. He also proposed blanket tariffs of 15% to 20% on most other U.S. trading partners. Additionally, the administration unveiled 50% duties on copper and Brazilian goods, all set to kick in on the same day.
Trump also escalated his feud with the Federal Reserve. On Wednesday, he called for an aggressive three-percentage-point rate cut, arguing that each point costs the U.S. $360 billion annually in debt service.
The Fed remains cautious. Minutes from the June 17–18 FOMC meeting revealed that most officials expect to cut rates later this year. Still, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee pushed back, saying debt costs shouldn&#8217;t drive monetary policy. He reiterated the central bank's dual mandate: price stability and full employment.
Airline stocks outperformed this week. Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) surged 12% on Thursday after beating earnings expectations and reaffirming its full-year profit forecast. Optimism spilled over to United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), as investors bet on a strong summer quarter for the travel sector.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) also broke records, soaring past $118,000. The iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>) — the world's largest crypto-related exchange-traded fund — posted inflows in 12 of the past 13 weeks, reflecting surging institutional interest in the top cryptocurrency.
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46348036/trump-trade-regional-bank-stocks-2025">This Trump Trade Boomed After Election—Now It May Be Making A Comeback</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

$BTC

AMZN

IBIT

Wall Street Hits Record Highs As Nvidia Tops $4 Trillion, Trump Ramps Up Trade Tensions: This Week In Markets

JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth maintains Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $195 to $200.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Alphabet, Raises Price Target to $200

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon issued a stark message to European leaders this week: the continent is steadily falling behind the United States, and financial markets now expose just how wide <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone">the gap has become.</a>
At a conference in Dublin organized by Ireland's foreign ministry, Dimon warned that Europe is slipping in the global economic race. Over the past 10 to 15 years, he noted, the region's share of global output has dropped sharply compared to the U.S.
"Europe has gone from 90% U.S. GDP to 65% over 10 or 15 years. That's not good. You're losing," Dimon said.
He pointed to sluggish growth, outdated regulation, and insufficient investment as key reasons why the EU is falling behind both the U.S. and China.
While Dimon's focus was on economic differences in terms of GDP, the numbers coming out of stock markets reveal an even deeper structural divide between the U.S. and Europe.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Caps Tell An Even Bigger Divergence Story</h2>
The combined market capitalization of America's Magnificent Seven—Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)—has now soared past $18.3 trillion.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Top U.S. Tech Giants</th>
<th>Market Cap</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia</td>
<td>$4.08T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>$3.74T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple</td>
<td>$3.15T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon</td>
<td>$2.39T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet</td>
<td>$2.20T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta</td>
<td>$1.81T</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla</td>
<td>$995B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td>$18.37T</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
By contrast, the top seven companies in Europe—including SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>), Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), Hermès International SCA (OTCPK: HESAY), LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTCPK: LVMUY), Roche Holding AG (OTCPK: RHHBY), and Nestlé S.A. (OTCPK: NSRGY)—are worth just $2.1 trillion combined.
The gap is staggering. The U.S. tech giants are now worth over nine times as much as Europe's largest companies.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Top EU Corporates</th>
<th>Market Cap</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SAP</td>
<td>$359B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Novo Nordisk</td>
<td>$317B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ASML</td>
<td>$314B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hermès</td>
<td>$303B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LVMH</td>
<td>$295B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Roche</td>
<td>$265B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nestlé</td>
<td>$252B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td>$2.11T</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Over the past 20 years, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – which tracks the S&amp;P 500 – has outperformed the SPDR DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEZ#NYSE">FEZ</a>) by a staggering 244%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="525" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-1024x525.png" alt="" class="wp-image-982188" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-1024x525.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-768x394.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-1536x788.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11124301/image-139-2048x1051.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
"We've got this huge, strong market and our companies are big and successful, have huge kinds of scale that are global. You have that, but less and less," he said.
Dimon's comments add to growing concern across the continent. Last year, former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi called for €800 billion per year in industrial investment to help Europe remain globally competitive.
Yet, despite repeated calls for reform, European stock markets continue to lag behind as U.S. firms dominate in scale, innovation and investor interest.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Eurozone

ASML

HESAY

LVMUY

Nestle Sponsored representing Registered Shares Series B

NSRGY

RHHBY

Magnificent 7 Crush EU Giants—Jamie Dimon Tells Europe: 'You're Losing'

In an evolving landscape where efficiency and talent optimization are becoming paramount, Netflix Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)  remarkable revenue per employee sets it apart and shifts the market&#8217;s focus to the untapped potential of human capital. This challenges traditional metrics of company valuation, prompting investors to reassess the importance of workforce quality <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/labor-market">in driving future growth.</a>
Netflix had the highest revenue per full-time equivalent (FTE) among the nine big-cap companies in coverage, according to Needham.
The Netflix Analyst: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/580607ae846faa000106ab43/laura-martin">Analyst Laura Martin</a> maintained a Buy rating, while raising the price target from $1,126 to $1,500.
The Netflix Thesis: The quality of a company's employee base "is a key asset and upside value driver," Martin said in the note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Netflix recorded FTE of $2.78 billion in fiscal 2024, meaningfully higher than Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), the analyst stated.
"In total, NFLX reported nearly 2x higher average rev/FTE compared with the 9 big cap companies we cover," she further wrote.
The revenue and earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have been raised from $49.07 billion to $49.89 billion and from $29.61 per share to $31.03 per share, respectively, Martin said.
NFLX Price Action:&nbsp;Netflix shares were down 0.29% at $1247.03 at the time of publication Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Benzinga Pro</a>.
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Reiteration

NFLX

Here's What Netflix Does Better Than Apple, Meta And Google

<ul>
<li>MSTR</li>
<li>CORN</li>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>$BTC</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>HOOD</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>AMZN</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

Trading Ideas

BULL

CORN

HOOD

MSTR

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of July 11, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

Michael Dell, the CEO of&nbsp;Dell Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>), expressed concerns about the potential cultural challenges that&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) might face due to its aggressive artificial intelligence hiring strategy.
What Happened: Dell, in a&nbsp;BG2 podcast hosted by Bill Gurley and Brad Gerstner, on Thursday, warned that Meta&#8217;s AI hiring spree could lead to internal discontent among existing employees. This could result in a significant distraction for Meta and its CEO,&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg.
Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/META" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">META stock here</a>.
&#8220;It&#8217;ll&nbsp;be a challenge culturally for&nbsp;sure,&#8221; Dell said. He pointed out that the generous salaries of new AI hires could lead to unhappiness and resentment among existing employees. This could potentially create a long line of &#8220;complaining&#8221; employees outside Zuckerberg&#8217;s office, demanding fair treatment.
Dell emphasized the importance of fairness in the workplace, stating, &#8220;People&nbsp;generally have a sense of&nbsp;fairness, right? They&nbsp;want to be treated fairly&nbsp;relative to others and relative&nbsp;to&nbsp;the opportunities that they have&nbsp;out there in the overall&nbsp;market.&#8221;
While Dell acknowledged that Meta&#8217;s strategy and the &#8220;math&#8221; could work if this is reduced to a &#8220;race to super intelligence,&#8221; he maintained that the potential for internal conflict and dissatisfaction should not be overlooked.
See Also&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46268640/china-expresses-concern-to-eu-over-russias-potential-defeat-in-ukraine-conflict-amid-fears-that-trump-would-do-this-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Expresses Concern To EU Over Russia&#8217;s Potential Defeat In Ukraine Conflict Amid Fears That Trump Would Do &#8216;This&#8217;: Report</a>
Why It Matters: Meta has been aggressively expanding its AI dominance through its Superintelligence Labs, launched in June to pursue artificial general intelligence. This expansion has been fueled by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46301582/metas-ai-empire-grows-fueled-by-openai-deepmind-apple-defectors">poaching top talent</a> from OpenAI, Anthropic, Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google DeepMind, and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), reshaping the AI landscape in a fierce talent war. 
However, this aggressive hiring spree has not been without criticism. Like Dell, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously warned of potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46216611/openais-sam-altman-hints-at-compensation-evaluation-amid-metas-distasteful-ai-talent-poaching-spree-report">cultural problems</a> at Meta due to its recruitment efforts, calling it "distasteful". He also hinted at possible compensation evaluations for the entire research organization at OpenAI in response to Meta&#8217;s hiring strategy.&nbsp;
On the other hand, Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn cofounder and former OpenAI board member, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/09/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-linkedin-co-founder-reid-hoffman-in-sun-valley.html">told </a>CNBC it&#8217;s economically justified for companies like Meta to invest heavily in AI talent.
<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="Michael Dell – Invest America Act Becomes Law, AI Talent Wars, Compute Demand, Market Update &#x7C; BG2" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X52BNWZrXSk?start=2541&#038;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>
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46337678/chamath-palihapitiya-agrees-with-a-social-media-user-who-says-while-meta-spends-200-million-a-year-to-poach-ai-talent-elon-musk-keeps-costs-low-but-still-manages-to-unveil-better-products">Chamath Palihapitiya Agrees With A Social Media User Who Says While Meta Spends $200 Million A Year To Poach AI Talent, Elon Musk Keeps Costs Low But Still Manages To Unveil Better Products</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.

DELL

Mark Zuckerberg May Have To Deal With A Long Line Of 'Complaining' Employees Outside Of His Door, Warns Michael Dell, Calls Meta's AI Hiring Spree 'Cultural Challenge'

Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google division will heavily discount cloud computing services for the U.S. government as the Trump administration pressures technology giants to slash prices on lucrative federal contracts worth more than $20 billion annually.
What Happened: The agreement follows Oracle Corp.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) precedent-setting deal that included 75% discounts on some software contracts and substantial reductions on cloud computing services. A senior General Services Administration official <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f4b6e155-8f2e-4486-8811-aaaa6158228a">told</a> the Financial Times that Google&#8217;s cloud contract is likely &#8220;to land in a similar spot,&#8221; with finalization expected within weeks.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Azure and Amazon.com Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services are expected to follow with equivalent discounts, though negotiations remain less advanced than with Google, according to the GSA official. &#8220;Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission,&#8221; the official said. &#8220;We will get there with all four players.&#8221;
The four cloud providers account for the bulk of the government&#8217;s annual $20 billion cloud services spending. President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration is attempting to slash IT procurement costs as part of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, previously led by Elon Musk.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46359669/teslas-annual-shareholder-meeting-set-for-november-6th-dan-ives-says-elon-musks-pay-package-in-the-spotlight">Tesla&#8217;s Annual Shareholder Meeting Set For November 6th, Dan Ives Says Elon Musk&#8217;s $56 Billion Pay Package &#8216;Will Be The Focus&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Oracle&#8217;s recent agreements could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46335864/oracle-stock-gains-as-30-billion-ai-cloud-deals-mark-pivotal-moment-in-race-against-rivals-jefferies-calls-it-a-hyperscale-leap-amid-trump-backed-stargate-push">generate over $30 billion in yearly revenue by fiscal 2028</a>, according to regulatory filings. Jefferies analysts called the deals a &#8220;pivotal moment&#8221; in Oracle&#8217;s transition to hyperscale cloud status, positioning the company to double its remaining performance obligations while accelerating revenue growth.
Tech leaders, including Meta Platforms Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Mark Zuckerberg and Google&#8217;s Sundar Pichai have courted Trump, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43085323/trump-sworn-in-as-47th-president-declares-golden-age-of-america-begins-right-now">appearing at his inauguration</a> and ending diversity programs. Amazon&#8217;s Jeff Bezos has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46107959/jeff-bezos-and-blue-origin-engaged-with-trump-administration-for-government-contracts-amid-elon-musks-rift-with-the-president-report">worked to rebuild relationships</a> after Trump&#8217;s first term saw AWS lose the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft in 2019.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has formed close ties with Trump, participating in TikTok <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43118289/trump-open-to-elon-musk-or-larry-ellison-buying-tiktok-calls-us-permit-key-to-1-trillion-valuation">acquisition talks and the $100 billion</a> Stargate AI data center project alongside OpenAI.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Politics

ADBE

ORCL

Trump Pushes Google, Amazon, Microsoft To Cut Cloud Prices: $20 Billion IT Budget On Chopping Block As Oracle Sets Precedent: Report

Although the innovation ecosystem has started to look interesting again as evidenced by the recent performance of the Nasdaq Composite index, Akamai Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AKAM#NASDAQ">AKAM</a>) has been a conspicuous laggard. Since the start of the year, the content delivery network (CDN) specialist — which also offers robust cybersecurity and edge computing services — has dropped nearly 17%. Nevertheless, AKAM stock could be an intriguing candidate for a sentiment reversal.
Fundamentally, Akamai plays a vital role in how people and enterprises consume the internet — it's just that the essential work occurs behind the scenes. Using a geographically distributed network of proxy servers, CDNs help speed up websites by storing cached content near end-users. This capability is especially critical for companies with content-streaming arms, such as Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>).
Further, Akamai plays an important (albeit indirect) role in artificial intelligence. Today, many AI models — especially those involving voice assistants, fraud detection services and personalized ads — require <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/24/09/40814222/from-latency-to-a-i-algo-driven-capital-markets">low latency</a> or minimal lag in data transmission between source and destination. Thanks to Akamai's edge computing infrastructure, AI workloads can run closer to the user, reducing delay and bandwidth strain.
Finally, Akamai offers a strong cybersecurity suite, including advanced protocols such as zero-trust security. Given the importance of digital protection, it's arguably one of the key line items that companies <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/03/44501515/cybersecurity-stocks-to-outperform-its-the-one-line-item-that-no-company-in-the-world-is-cutting-josh-brown">can't afford to skimp out on</a>.
Unfortunately, recent financial performances reflect <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AKAM">revenue pressures</a>, which points to a highly competitive environment. Further, while Akamai is making progress in cybersecurity, that arena is also crowded. Essentially, the company needs to prove that its edge computing services can scale profitably; hence, the volatility in AKAM stock.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Applying Game Theory To Formulate A Strategy In AKAM Stock</h2>
At the heart of every market-related discussion is a game of probabilities. People are looking to see whether their investment idea of choice will likely move higher or not; otherwise, why bother having the discussion in the first place? But merely listing out the pros and cons of a security won't empirically get us any closer to the answer.
To better understand AKAM stock as a trading prospect, it's helpful to consider this thought experiment. Imagine flipping a fair coin 100 times every business day. What you flip on Monday will have no bearing on what you flip on Tuesday and so forth. That's simply because coin tosses are random events.
Now imagine that the stock market is also random. If so, we could look at various intervals in the past and the long-side success ratio for each session in the interval would be about the same: 50%. That's not what we see at all.
By converting the price action of AKAM stock into market breadth — or sequences of accumulative and distributive sessions — we can filter out the messy noise of price discovery and get down to root demand sentiments. Further, segregating market breadth into 10-week sequences (using data from January 2019 onward) reveals the following profile:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Ticker</td>
<td>L10 Category</td>
<td>Sample Size</td>
<td>Up Probability</td>
<td>Baseline Probability</td>
<td>Delta</td>
<td>Median Return if Up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>2-8-D</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>100.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>41.18%</td>
<td>0.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>3-7-D</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>72.73%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>13.91%</td>
<td>1.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>3-7-U</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>100.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>41.18%</td>
<td>0.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>4-6-D</td>
<td>34</td>
<td>61.76%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>2.94%</td>
<td>2.65%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>4-6-U</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>50.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-8.82%</td>
<td>3.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>5-5-D</td>
<td>47</td>
<td>53.19%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-5.63%</td>
<td>1.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>5-5-U</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>72.73%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>13.91%</td>
<td>1.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>6-4-D</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>56.76%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-2.06%</td>
<td>2.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>6-4-U</td>
<td>53</td>
<td>54.72%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-4.10%</td>
<td>1.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>7-3-D</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>50.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-8.82%</td>
<td>3.35%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>7-3-U</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>53.85%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-4.97%</td>
<td>1.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>8-2-D</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>100.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>41.18%</td>
<td>7.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>8-2-U</td>
<td>38</td>
<td>68.42%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>9.60%</td>
<td>1.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKAM</td>
<td>9-1-U</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>20.00%</td>
<td>58.82%</td>
<td>-38.82%</td>
<td>2.14%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In the trailing two months, AKAM stock is printing a "4-6-D" sequence: four up weeks, six down weeks, with a negative trajectory across the 10-week period. This is a relatively uncommon sequence, having materialized 34 times. However, the biggest takeaway is that in 61.76% of cases, the following week's price action results in upside, with a median return of 2.65%.
Based on the current market price, the statistical response to the 4-6-D sequence suggests that AKAM stock could hit $81.87, perhaps push toward $82 given its psychological lull.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10151246/AKAM-stock-10wk-forecast-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-980673" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10151246/AKAM-stock-10wk-forecast-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10151246/AKAM-stock-10wk-forecast-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10151246/AKAM-stock-10wk-forecast-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10151246/AKAM-stock-10wk-forecast.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by author</figcaption></figure>
Broadly, what makes the above framework appealing is the non-randomness of the market. If AKAM stock traded randomly, then all the sequences should roughly coalesce around the 50% probability mark. They don't. Instead, some sequences are clearly favorable for the bullish speculator.
Rather than trying to trade AKAM stock based on curated opinions, I believe it's better to use game theory; that is, make a move when the odds favor you.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Two Trades To Consider</h2>
Based on the market intelligence above, the nearest-term strategy to consider is the 79/81 bull call spread expiring July 18. This transaction involves buying the $79 call and simultaneously selling the $81 call, for a net debit paid of $110 (the most that can be lost in the trade). Should AKAM stock rise through the short strike price ($81) at expiration, the maximum reward is $90, a nearly 82% payout.
If you want to ramp up the reward, you could opt for the 80/82 bull spread also expiring next Friday. While this trade features a maximum payout of roughly 111%, it also requires AKAM stock to move that much further by expiration.
The other trade to consider is the 75/85 bull call spread expiring Aug. 15. This trade provides five weeks for AKAM stock to rise to the required profitability threshold, with the breakeven price presently at $80.25. Here, the net debit required is $525 with a maximum payout of 90.48%.
The opinions and views expressed in this content are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Benzinga. Benzinga is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information provided herein. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be misconstrued as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Readers are asked not to rely on the opinions or information herein, and encouraged to do their own due diligence before making investing decisions.
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Long Ideas

Options

AKAM

Options Corner: Why Low-Key Infrastructure Play Akamai Technologies Might Surprise You

As Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) makes history by achieving a $4 trillion market capitalization, the spotlight shifts to Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which is poised to reach this same unprecedented milestone soon. This rapid ascent for both tech giants underscores the transformative power of the AI Revolution and Microsoft&#8217;s central role in shaping its future in the cloud.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated an Outperform rating</a> on Microsoft with a $600 price forecast on Thursday, noting the company&#8217;s inclusion on Wedbush&#8217;s &#8220;Best Ideas List.&#8221;
Ives emphasized the historical significance of Nvidia, led by &#8220;Godfather of AI&#8221; Jensen Huang, becoming the first member of the $4 trillion market cap club. He stated, &#8220;This is a historical moment for Nvidia, the tech space flexing its muscles, and it speaks to the AI Revolution hitting its next stage of growth, led by the one chip fueling AI&#8230;Nvidia.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Revolution&#8217;s &#8220;Poster Children&#8221;</h2>
Ives positioned both Nvidia and Microsoft as &#8220;poster children for the AI Revolution,&#8221; calling them &#8220;foundational pieces&#8221; in what he considers the biggest tech trend of his 25-year career covering tech stocks. He projects Microsoft will join the $4 trillion club this summer, with an eye on the $5 trillion club within the next 18 months, signaling that this tech bull market, driven by AI, is still in its early stages.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Accelerating AI Enterprise Adoption</h2>
The analyst&#8217;s recent field checks reveal an &#8220;accelerating&#8221; pace of deal conversions for broader enterprise-scale AI deployments as the AI Revolution gains traction. Many Microsoft customers are now prioritizing enterprise use cases across various verticals, with financials, government, and retail emerging as clear standouts.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46204491/microsofts-ai-and-cloud-scale-drives-market-beating-returns" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s AI And Cloud Scale Drives Market-Beating Returns</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI to Transform Microsoft Cloud Growth</h2>
Ives strongly views this period as Microsoft&#8217;s &#8220;shining moment,&#8221; with AI poised to fundamentally alter the cloud growth trajectory for the Redmond-based giant. His analysis suggests that over the next three years, over 70% of Microsoft&#8217;s installed base will ultimately adopt AI functionality for enterprise or commercial purposes. This widespread adoption, he believes, will significantly change the landscape and growth trajectory for CEO Satya Nadella&#8217;s leadership.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fiscal 2026: AI Inflection Year</h2>
While AI use cases are building notably in fiscal 2025, Ives asserts that fiscal 2026 will be the true inflection year for Microsoft&#8217;s AI growth, as CIOs prepare for deployments &#8220;behind the velvet ropes in Redmond.&#8221; Microsoft is strategically &#8220;doubling down&#8221; on its AI monetization strategy within the cloud, evidenced by its capital expenditure guidance of $80 billion for fiscal 2025, with continued growth into fiscal 2026. This investment aims to expand data center buildouts to keep pace with scaling laws and capitalize on the strong demand trajectory.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft Leads Enterprise AI</h2>
Despite increasing competition from Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google Cloud Platform, Ives identifies Microsoft as the &#8220;clear frontrunner on the enterprise hyper-scale AI front.&#8221; He highlights AI as the core driver of Azure&#8217;s impressive value proposition and Microsoft&#8217;s advanced enterprise stack, noting that this dynamic is &#8220;just starting to take shape in the field.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Untapped Growth, Copilot Impact</h2>
The analyst believes the stock has yet to fully price in the upcoming &#8220;next wave of cloud and AI growth&#8221; for Microsoft, emphasizing its strong competitive cloud edge against both Amazon and Google in cloud evaluations. Recent partner checks have shown &#8220;incrementally strong&#8221; momentum around Copilot deployments with Microsoft customers, which could add an estimated ~$25 billion to Redmond&#8217;s top-line revenue by fiscal 2026.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI&#8217;s Multiplier Effect</h2>
Crucially, Ives concluded that &#8220;the multiplier ripple impact from the Godfather of AI, Jensen, and Nvidia is just starting to be felt on the cloud or software layer as the second derivatives of the AI Revolution play out in the field.&#8221; His core thesis remains that cloud and AI monetization will constitute a larger portion of Microsoft&#8217;s business going forward, ultimately spurring growth and margins in the coming years. Ives projects Microsoft&#8217;s fourth-quarter revenue at $73.77 billion and EPS at $3.34.
Price Action: MSFT stock is trading lower by 0.64% to $500.30 at last check Thursday.&nbsp;
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Microsoft Headed For $4 Trillion Market Cap This Summer

Apple Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) massive $60+ billion cash pile is once again <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/news">in the spotlight</a> &#8211; and with rivals <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">racing ahead in AI</a>, investors are wondering: is it finally time for Apple to make a bold move?
The discussion heated up this week after Apple confirmed that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46311533/jeff-williams-once-tipped-as-tim-cooks-successor-to-retire-from-apple">COO Jeff Williams will retire in 2025</a>, marking a rare leadership shake-up at the famously stable company. While some see it as a routine transition, others say it&#8217;s the opening Apple needs to shift its approach &#8211; particularly on artificial intelligence.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Spending Gap: Apple Can Afford to Catch Up Fast</h2>
While Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google have made bold AI acquisitions or launched internal platforms (OpenAI partnerships, Gemini, LLaMA, etc.), Apple has largely sat on the sidelines &#8211; despite having one of the biggest acquisition budgets in the game.
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While analysts speculate about Apple's next move following the COO exit, the raw numbers suggest it could reshape the AI landscape practically overnight—if it chose to.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has pointed out potential AI targets like Perplexity, but others believe Apple should think even bigger. Two names at the top of that list? Datadog Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>), valued at around $48 billion; and Tempus AI Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), valued at approximately $10.4 billion.
Apple's cash reserve &#8211; about $60 billion &#8211; is more than just a cushion for rainy days. It's a strategic asset that dwarfs the entire market capitalizations of some of the rising tech players. Stripping away real-world constraints like deal feasibility, regulatory approval, or strategic fit, Apple's $60 billion cash reserve is large enough—at least on paper—to outright acquire both Datadog and Tempus AI.
In short: if Apple wanted to, and if no constraining rules applied, it has enough cash to scoop up both companies and still have money left over.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Leadership Change Could Signal Strategy Shift</h2>
The decentralization of Jeff Williams' role across hardware and operations leaders could loosen Apple's famously tight structure &#8211; and perhaps invite more aggressive bets. The market responded mildly, with shares up 0.5%, but the potential is anything but mild.
If Apple really wants to make noise in AI, it's got the ammo. Now investors are waiting to see if it pulls the trigger.
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DDOG

Apple Acquisition Buzz: Its $60 Billion War Chest Is Enough To Buy Datadog And Tempus

Keybanc analyst Justin Patterson upgraded Roku (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>) from Sector Weight to Overweight with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ROKU/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$115 price target</a> on Wednesday.
Roku is turning the corner on monetization and also demonstrating more expense discipline, according to Patterson.
Thus, the analyst raised his 2025E and 2026E EBITDA by 4% and 6% to $362 million and $530 million (both 5% above the Street consensus), and established 2027E revenue of $6.0 billion (7% above Street) and EBITDA of $743 million (12% above Street).
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From June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2025, Roku shares increased by 7%, lagging the NASDAQ&#8217;s +85% gain and many mid-to-large cap stocks in Patterson&#8217;s coverage universe. The analyst attributed this to Roku being slower to scale back investment post-COVID-19, headwinds toward endemic advertisers, and an over-reliance on its OneView platform. 
However, Roku continues to have a highly engaged audience, he highlighted. Users streamed 35.8 billion hours in the first quarter (+17% year-over-year growth), with hours on The Roku Channel increasing at a materially faster rate (+84% Y/Y). Patterson&#8217;s ad checks indicate a shift in budget from legacy channels to CTV. As ad innovation ramps up and sports increasingly shift to CTV, the analyst expects the pace of budget shifts to increase.
Patterson noted that Roku became a &#8220;self-help&#8221; story. He referred back to the past three years of consumer Internet, noting that self-help stories were some of the strongest performers (e.g., DoorDash (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dash#NASDAQ">DASH</a>), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), Spotify Tech (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>), Uber Tech (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>)).
According to the analyst, Roku has made three key shifts. It established partnerships. Roku is leveraging The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) and now Amazon.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) as third-party monetization partners, which he noted can improve fill rates over time. Patterson said the opportunity for more partners to be onboarded over the coming years (e.g., Alphabet (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Google, Yahoo), which should sustain mid-teens revenue growth.
According to the analyst, Roku has been opening up home screen monetization and focusing more on specific ad verticals. This reduces the reliance on media and entertainment while also exposing Roku to the political cycle.
Roku imposed expense discipline by making GAAP profitability and FCF generation a core focus. As part of this, Patterson noted more discipline on headcount and incremental investments. He noted GAAP profitability in 2026E and more meaningful profitability in 2027E.
Patterson projected second-quarter revenue of $1.08 billion and EPS of $(0.14).
Price Action: ROKU stock is trading higher by 0.81% to $89.37 at last check on Thursday.
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Roku Called 'Self-Help' Turnaround, Citing Profit Focus And New Ad Partners

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>MP</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>AMD</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>GOOG</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>HOOD</li>
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Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
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Arm Sees 14-Fold Growth In Data Center Customers Since 2021 Amid Strategic Expansion To PC Market: Report

Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has amplified an observation about Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk's efficiency in building cutting-edge AI, despite spending far less than rivals like Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
What Happened: Following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46335602/elon-musk-s-xai-launches-grok-4-with-phd-level-ai-debuts-in-300-month-supergrok-tier">the launch of</a> Grok 4, Musk's most advanced large language model developed by his AI startup xAI, Artificial Analysis ranked the model as the most intelligent among leading competitors, surpassing OpenAI's GPT-4, Anthropic's Claude 4 and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google Gemini 2.5 Pro in several key benchmarks.
<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">xAI gave us early access to Grok 4 &#8211; and the results are in. Grok 4 is now the leading AI model. We have run our full suite of benchmarks and Grok 4 achieves an Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index of 73, ahead of OpenAI o3 at 70, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro at 70, Anthropic Claude… <a href="https://t.co/Vc9781SIzd">pic.twitter.com/Vc9781SIzd</a>
&mdash; Artificial Analysis (@ArtificialAnlys) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtificialAnlys/status/1943166841150644622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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In response to this achievement, Palihapitiya posted on X, "Elon doing Elon things… Grok 4 is now the leading AI model in the world. I think people may not realize how impressive this feat is… they started from scratch just a few years ago."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46335091/elon-musk-says-they-arrested-and-killed-peanut-the-squirrel-but-didnt-try-to-file-charges-in-epstein-client-list-pnut-token-soars-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says They ‘Arrested' And ‘Killed' Peanut The Squirrel But Didn't Try To File Charges In Epstein Client List — PNUT Token Soars 5%</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Elon doing Elon things… Grok 4 is now the leading AI Model in the world. I think people may not realize how impressive this feat is…they started from scratch just a few years ago. <a href="https://t.co/GOhkRPl0g1">https://t.co/GOhkRPl0g1</a>
&mdash; Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) <a href="https://twitter.com/chamath/status/1943177837956968499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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A user replied to his post, saying, "Seriously, how does this guy produce what he produces? Meta is buying talent at $200M/year and Elon keeps his people at a fraction. Mind blowing." Palihapitiya agreed, replying: "This is a critically important point."
<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 a critically important point.
&mdash; Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) <a href="https://twitter.com/chamath/status/1943195784410767453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
 Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: Meta's Superintelligence Labs (MSL), launched in June 2025, has aggressively <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33202228/elon-musk-quietly-launches-xai-amid-bid-to-decode-universe">poached top talent</a> from OpenAI, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Google DeepMind with multimillion-dollar offers as part of its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
In contrast, Musk's xAI—founded in 2023—has built a world-class model reportedly with a leaner team and lower compensation.
Musk&#8217;s xAI is also seeking to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/06/45853241/elon-musks-xai-seeks-5-billion-via-morgan-stanley-amid-trump-rift-and-2022-twitter-debt-hangover-report">raise $5 billion as it ramps</a> up API access and deployment across X, Tesla and potentially Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Azure.
xAI's valuation has jumped to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/06/45738963/elon-musks-xai-targets-113-billion-valuation-with-300-million-share-sale-report">$113 billion after its March acquisition</a> of X. The company has also wrapped up a $300 million share sale and is still seeking up to $20 billion in equity funding, with potential valuations climbing as high as $200 billion.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Chamath Palihapitiya Agrees With A Social Media User Who Says While Meta Spends $200 Million A Year To Poach AI Talent, Elon Musk Keeps Costs Low But Still Manages To Unveil Better Products

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk has said that the EV giant will expand its Robotaxi service to the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Happened: Responding to a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Musk said the service will soon expand into the SF Bay Area. "Waiting on regulatory approvals, but probably in a month or two," Musk said in the post.
<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">Waiting on regulatory approvals, but probably in a month or two
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1943134090179334207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The service, which currently operates in a geofenced area in Austin, will also expand its serviceable locations. "Expanding to a larger service area in Austin this weekend," Musk said in another response to a post on X.
<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">Expanding to a larger service area in Austin this weekend
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1943114704274231743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Musk's comments come in as the billionaire's robotaxi ambitions have been under scrutiny in Austin by the NHTSA over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46067027/tesla-robotaxi-faces-nhtsa-scrutiny-over-traffic-violations-during-austin-launch">possible traffic violations</a> during last month's launch event.
Robotaxis have also received criticism following an incident in Austin when a Model Y <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46268433/teslas-full-self-driving-tech-under-fire-again-after-robotaxi-nearly-hits-parked-vehicle-report">robotaxi nearly hit</a> a parked vehicle as it dropped a passenger off after finishing the ride.
The FSD or Full Self-Driving technology, a crucial element to the company's robotaxi plans, has received criticism for its camera-based approach, which is in contrast to competitor Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo's LiDAR approach.
However, Tesla also recently had to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46290586/elon-musks-tesla-forced-to-pay-nearly-18000-in-model-y-fsd-arbitration-full-self-driving-was-nowhere-near-autonomous">pay almost $18,000</a> to a Model Y owner in an arbitration case for FSD after the company failed to disclose the safety rating system it uses to unlock supervised FSD for owners.
"It was clear Tesla&#8217;s ‘Full Self-Driving' was nowhere near autonomous," Marc Dobin, a Kirkland, Washington-based lawyer and Model Y owner, who filed the arbitration, said.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="207" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1-1024x207.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-979592" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1-1024x207.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1-300x61.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1-768x155.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1-1536x311.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10040619/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1.jpg 1547w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Tesla offers poor Momentum and Value, while scoring well on the Growth metric and offering satisfactory Quality. For more such insights, sign up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> today!
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Photo Courtesy: Trygve Finkelsen on Shutterstock.com

Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Expand Robotaxi Services To San Francisco Bay Area 'In A Month Or Two'

Gerber Kawasaki's co-founder, Ross Gerber, has slammed Elon Musk's political ambitions amid the new "America Party" row, as well as the EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
Check out the current price of <a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/tsla">TSLA stock here</a>.
What Happened: "I don't know who's joining his political party and I don't know what values it represents, but at this point I don't think anybody is," Gerber said in an interview with Schwab Network on Wednesday.
The investor said Musk's move to start a third political party in the U.S. based on the billionaire's values would be "an abject failure."
"The whole company has been hijacked" by CEO Musk, who holds a 13% stake in Tesla, Gerber said. "The other 87% of Tesla's ownership is not being represented. It's basically, completely ridiculous at this point," the investor said, criticizing the automaker.
Gerber also called Musk's move to announce a third political party "the worst news for Tesla," citing dwindling sales, as well as major improvements needed in the company's FSD tech, as well as robotics.
Gerber even called Tesla a "ship going into the rocks" and that people were "jumping off the ship."
The investor also said that Tesla would need to adapt LiDAR, like Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo, instead of the camera-based system "to have a more precise picture of what's actually happening around" the Robotaxi.
"Elon fundamentally doesn't understand how humans actually work. This is a big problem if the CEO doesn't have emotions," Gerber said.
<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">.<a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GerberKawasaki</a> talks all things <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a>. He shares concerns regarding CEO Elon Musk starting a political party. Competitively, on the autonomous driving front, he sees Tesla as far behind other companies like <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOGL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOGL</a>&#39;s Waymo. <a href="https://t.co/1rGqCYvEjx">pic.twitter.com/1rGqCYvEjx</a>
&mdash; Schwab Network (@SchwabNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/SchwabNetwork/status/1943052545431343578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: The news comes as Tesla and Musk have been on the receiving end of criticism for the billionaire's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46186733/elon-musk-staging-a-political-comeback-tesla-ceo-sparks-america-party-buzz-as-he-slams-trumps-insane-spending-bill">return to politics</a>, with over 27 major investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46335587/tesla-investors-call-for-shareholder-meeting-amid-elon-musk-trump-feud-declining-sales-report">writing to the board</a> to schedule a date for the annual shareholder meeting.
Musk was also under fire for telling Wedbush Securities' analyst and Tesla Bull Dan Ives <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46335539/elon-musk-asked-dan-ives-to-shut-up-and-the-tesla-bull-says-thats-cool-heres-why">to "shut up</a>" as the investor had laid down what he described as steps the board could take to salvage the situation.
Meanwhile, Musk has reignited the Jeffrey Epstein <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46270547/elon-musk-reignites-jeffrey-epstein-client-list-row-adding-fuel-to-the-feud-with-trump">client list debate</a>, expressing discontentment with the lack of arrests made in the case, in what is yet another attack on President Donald Trump as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46216023/after-trump-warns-elon-musk-to-close-up-shop-china-rallies-behind-worlds-richest-man-theres-no-need-to-keep-putting-up-with-it">tensions continue to rise</a> between the pair.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="207" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1024x207.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-979537" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1024x207.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-300x61.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-768x155.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1-1536x311.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10033950/TSLA-JUL-10-2025-1.jpg 1547w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Tesla offers poor Momentum and Value, while scoring well on the Growth metric and offering satisfactory Quality. For more such insights, sign up for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"> Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> today!
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tesla Is 'Basically Hijacked' By Elon Musk, Says Ross Gerber, Calling It 'Completely Ridiculous:' America Party Is The 'Worst News For TSLA'

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is considering an additional multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic to deepen its strategic artificial intelligence partnership. 
What Happened: The potential deal would extend Amazon&#8217;s existing $8 billion commitment to the San Francisco-based AI model builder. The Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/3e569928-dc0e-4baa-80c3-b51d24facb23">reported</a>, citing sources.
The investment would position Amazon to remain among Anthropic&#8217;s largest shareholders alongside Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), which has invested over $3 billion in the company. 
Amazon executives view the partnership as a critical bulwark against the Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and OpenAI alliance, which has dominated early AI commercialization efforts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46336365/apples-data-center-chief-joins-openai-as-sam-altman-jony-ive-team-up-in-6-4-billion-io-deal">through a $14 billion investment</a>.
&#8220;We quickly realized that we had many shared goals that were fundamentally critical,&#8221; said Dan Grossman, Amazon&#8217;s vice president of worldwide corporate development. &#8220;The size of the [existing investment] represents our ambition.&#8221;
Amazon&#8217;s &#8220;fair value&#8221; stake in Anthropic is approximately $13.8 billion, according to regulatory filings. The investment structure uses convertible notes with caps preventing either Amazon or Google from owning more than one-third of the company. 
Amazon and Anthropic did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46336365/apples-data-center-chief-joins-openai-as-sam-altman-jony-ive-team-up-in-6-4-billion-io-deal">Apple&#8217;s Data Center Chief Joins OpenAI As Sam Altman, Jony Ive Team Up In $6.4 Billion &#8216;io&#8217; Deal</a>
Why It Matters: The partnership extends beyond financial backing into operational integration. Amazon outlined plans for &#8220;Project Rainier,&#8221; a massive data center initiative in New Carlisle, Indiana, designed to power Anthropic&#8217;s computing needs. The facility will draw 2.2 gigawatts when completed, surpassing Oracle Corp.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) 1.2-gigawatt campus for OpenAI in Texas.
The investment comes as AI competition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46335602/elon-musk-s-xai-launches-grok-4-with-phd-level-ai-debuts-in-300-month-supergrok-tier">intensifies across the technology sector.</a> Elon Musk&#8216;s xAI recently launched Grok 4, claiming &#8220;PhD-level&#8221; capabilities that outperform competitors, including Anthropic&#8217;s Claude models. 
Meanwhile, Perplexity AI launched its Comet browser after Google Chrome rejected its offer to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46335291/google-rejected-perplexitys-request-to-become-a-default-search-engine-option-on-chrome-ai-startup-fires-back-with-comet-browser">become a default search engine option</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46335864/oracle-stock-gains-as-30-billion-ai-cloud-deals-mark-pivotal-moment-in-race-against-rivals-jefferies-calls-it-a-hyperscale-leap-amid-trump-backed-stargate-push">Oracle Stock Gains As $30 Billion AI Cloud Deals Mark &#8216;Pivotal Moment&#8217; In Race Against Rivals — Jefferies Calls It A Hyperscale Leap Amid Trump-Backed Stargate Push</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Startups

Amazon May Pour Billions More Into Anthropic As $13.8 Billion AI Bet Grows: Report

Perplexity AI launched its Comet web browser on Wednesday, following Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google Chrome&#8217;s rejection of the startup&#8217;s offer to become a default search engine option, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas.
What Happened: &#8220;I reached out to Chrome to offer Perplexity as a default search engine option a long time ago. They refused. Hence we decided to build Perplexity Comet browser,&#8221; Srinivas wrote on X Wednesday.
The move escalates competition in the browser market, where Google Chrome maintains a dominant market share. Perplexity&#8217;s entry comes as the San Francisco-based company, backed by Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/05/45358069/perplexitys-14-billion-valuation-ignites-google-search-engine-shakeup">carries a $14 billion valuation</a> from its latest funding round, up from $9 billion in November.
Comet positions itself as an artificial intelligence-powered browser that transforms browsing into &#8220;thinking,&#8221; according to Perplexity&#8217;s announcement. The browser integrates conversational AI capabilities, allowing users to ask questions directly without traditional search navigation. The company describes the shift as moving &#8220;from navigation to cognition.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I reached out to Chrome to offer Perplexity as a default search engine option a long time ago. They refused. Hence we decided to build <a href="https://twitter.com/PerplexityComet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerplexityComet</a> browser.
&mdash; Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AravSrinivas/status/1942993484341776729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/07/46335141/elon-musk-is-the-most-productive-human-being-on-earth-says-ark-invests-cathie-wood-facts-are-facts">Elon Musk Is The &#8216;Most Productive Human Being On Earth,&#8217; Says Ark Invest&#8217;s Cathie Wood: &#8216;Facts Are Facts&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The browser launch follows mounting speculation about potential acquisition targets for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>). Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called a Perplexity acquisition &#8220;a no-brainer&#8221; for Apple, citing the tech giant&#8217;s need to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46216283/dan-ives-urges-apple-to-make-a-move-saying-that-perplexity-acquisition-is-a-no-brainer-its-a-matter-of-when-and-not-if">strengthen its AI capabilities</a> amid criticism of Siri and delayed Apple Intelligence features.
Perplexity&#8217;s search engine provides inline citations and sources, differentiating it from traditional search results. 
The startup&#8217;s revenue continues growing, with CEO Srinivas stating &#8220;no plans of IPOing before 2028&#8221; during a Reddit discussion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44557415/perplexity-ceo-aravind-srinivas-shuts-down-financial-rumors-on-reddit-says-ai-search-startup-has-no-plans-of-ipoing-before-2028">addressing financial stability concerns</a>. Major investors include Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos and SoftBank Group Corp.
Comet launches initially for Perplexity Max subscribers, with invite-only access rolling out through summer. The browser represents Perplexity&#8217;s boldest challenge to Google&#8217;s web ecosystem as AI search competition intensifies across the technology sector.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Google Rejected Perplexity's Request To Become A Default Search Engine Option On Chrome: AI Startup Fires Back With 'Comet' Browser

The risk of unauthorized data collection and privacy breaches has surged as generative AI and large language models (LLMs) become embedded in everyday tools and services. Here's a look at some of the least invasive AI platforms, as well as the most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46187301/elon-musks-xai-secures-10-billion-in-debt-and-equity-amid-soaring-burn-rate-as-ai-arms-race-intensifies">aggressive data collectors.&nbsp;</a>
What To Know: According to a recent<a href="https://blog.incogni.com/ai-llm-privacy-ranking-2025/"> report </a>from Incogni, Mistral AI's Le Chat emerged as the least invasive AI platform in terms of data privacy, limiting data collection and performing well across most criteria.&nbsp;
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ChatGPT (OpenAI) ranked second, followed by Grok (xAI) with both generative AI platforms offering relatively clear privacy policies and the ability for users to opt out of having their data used in model training.
At the other end of the spectrum, Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Meta AI, Alphabet, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Gemini and Copilot from Microsoft, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) were found to be the most aggressive in data collection and least transparent about their practices. 
DeepSeek also performed poorly, particularly regarding opt-out options and policy clarity.
Anthropic and Meta also disclose sharing with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46197734/metas-superintelligence-lab-wants-to-outthink-the-world-and-scale-ai-dna-is-all-over-it">research collaborators</a>, which could raise concerns about data control once prompts leave the platform. 
Mobile app data collection practices were also scrutinized. Le Chat, Pi AI and ChatGPT had the lowest privacy risk on mobile. Meta AI's mobile app was the most aggressive and collected usernames, emails and phone numbers.&nbsp;
Gemini and Meta AI collect exact user locations, and Pi AI, Gemini, and DeepSeek collect phone numbers. Grok shares photos and app interaction data, while Anthropic's Claude shares app usage and email addresses.
User Beware: Overall, privacy risks vary widely between generative AI platforms.&nbsp;
The best performers offered clear <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46301582/metas-ai-empire-grows-fueled-by-openai-deepmind-apple-defectors">privacy policies</a>, opt-out controls and minimal data collection, while the worst offenders lacked transparency and shared user data broadly without clear justification.
Users should research generative AI platform privacy policies and understand and use privacy controls in order to limit security risks and maintain control of personal data.&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

Meta, Copilot Flunk AI Privacy 101 — Big Tech Is Playing Chicken With Your Privacy

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) stock traded above its 50-day moving average and close to its 52-week high of $747.90 on Wednesday.
The stock has surged 26% year-to-date, topping the Nasdaq 100 index&#8217;s ~9% and the S&amp;P 500 index&#8217;s over 6%.
The Facebook and Instagram parent gained over 25% in the last three months, compared to the Nasdaq 100&#8217;s over 19% and the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s over 14%.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46117348/meta-secures-more-clean-energy-for-power-hungry-ai-and-data-center-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Secures More Clean Energy For Power Hungry AI And Data Center Growth</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Has Driven Meta&#8217;s Rally?</h2>
Meta aims to unlock value by strategically investing in AI and its core products. The company focuses on boosting user engagement, upgrading its advertising tools, and launching new AI-driven features.
Meta <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43072303/mark-zuckerberg-stands-to-gain-from-tiktoks-us-ban-analysis-shows-meta-could-reap-billions-in-ad-revenue" rel="noreferrer noopener">also stands to</a> gain billions of dollars from a potential TikTok ban as it erases a direct competitor to the social media platform.
Meta is expanding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/44031320/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-wants-to-do-an-ai-app-but-sam-altman-wants-to-pull-a-reverse-uno-card-maybe-well-do-a-social-app" rel="noreferrer noopener">its AI efforts</a> by making Meta AI available across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, where it already reaches around 700 million users.
The company also plans to test a paid subscription model similar to ChatGPT&#8217;s premium tier. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta is focused on scaling a smart, personalized AI assistant to over 1 billion people this year, positioning Meta AI as a market leader.
To support these efforts, Meta is ramping up capital spending on AI infrastructure, including data centers, and expanding its AI workforce.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meta&#8217;s Latest Quarterly Results</h2>
On April 30, Meta reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45117948/meta-q1-earnings-eps-beat-revenue-up-16-ai-approaches-1-billion-monthly-actives-capital-expenditures-forecast-raised" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue</a> of $42.31 billion, up 16% on a year-over-year basis, beating&nbsp;analyst estimates of $41.39 billion.&nbsp;
Family daily active people climbed 6% to 3.43 billion. Ad impressions jumped 5%, and the average price per ad increased by 10%.
Operating margins totaled 41%, up from 38% in the prior year&#8217;s quarter.&nbsp;
Meta expects second-quarter revenue of $42.5 billion-$45.5 billion versus&nbsp;estimates of $44.06 billion.
The company anticipates full-year capital expenditures of $64 billion to $72 billion (up from prior guidance of $60 to $65 billion), which reflects additional data center investments to support its artificial intelligence efforts and an increase in the expected cost of infrastructure hardware.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Is Meta Accomplishing Its Ambitions?</h2>
On January 14, Meta announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42986509/meta-platforms-announces-performance-based-job-cuts-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">performance-based job cuts</a> that could impact about 5% of its 72,000 workers. The company cited its plans to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster.
Meta is actively recruiting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46301582/metas-ai-empire-grows-fueled-by-openai-deepmind-apple-defectors" rel="noreferrer noopener">top AI talent</a> from rivals like OpenAI, Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to accelerate its artificial general intelligence (AGI) push through its Superintelligence Labs (MSL), launched in June 2025.
Under CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s leadership, Meta has consolidated its Llama models and FAIR research into MSL, aiming to build &#8220;personal superintelligence&#8221; for its platforms.
Meta has hired seven researchers from OpenAI to power this vision, including experts in large language models and reinforcement learning, machine learning veteran Jack Rae, and image generation specialist Huiwen Chang from Google DeepMind.
Apple&#8217;s former Foundation Models lead, Ruoming Pang—behind projects like Genmoji and Siri upgrades—joined MSL with a reported multimillion-dollar offer. Meta added Claude developer Anton Bakhtin and inference specialist Joel Pobar from Anthropic.
Led by Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman and supported by a $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, MSL is rapidly assembling a high-caliber AI team.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meta&#8217;s Inorganic Growth Strategy</h2>
Meta is in talks to acquire <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46141985/metas-play-for-voice-ai-could-shake-up-the-competition" rel="noreferrer noopener">voice-cloning AI startup</a> PlayAI along with some of its employees, according to Bloomberg sources.
While financial details remain undisclosed, the move reflects Meta&#8217;s push to develop a &#8220;superintelligence&#8221; lab and strengthen its position amid rising competition in the AI voice assistant market.
Meta is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45880561/meta-on-the-verge-of-a-15-billion-deal-with-scale-ai-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly planning a</a> $15 billion investment in data-labeling startup Scale AI for a 49% stake and aims to bring its co-founder, Alexandr Wang, along with key researchers, on board. This move aligns with Meta&#8217;s strategy to build a &#8220;superintelligence&#8221; lab.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Does Wall Street Think About Meta</h2>
Forty-three analysts have set a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">forecast</a> of $734.93 for Meta. Tigress Financial issued the highest forecast, $935, on February 11, 2025, while Scotiabank gave the lowest, $525, on April 21, 2025.
Recent ratings from TD Cowen, Roth Capital, and Wells Fargo average $774.33, suggesting a potential 5.33% upside for the stock based on their projections.
Following its first-quarter results, Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris named Meta the best-positioned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45144725/meta-analysts-highlight" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital advertising company</a>. JPMorgan&#8217;s Doug Anmuth reaffirmed Meta as a &#8220;top pick,&#8221; citing growing momentum behind its AI models, Andromeda and GEM.
Several Wall Street analysts agreed that Meta is well equipped to perform in a weaker macroeconomic climate and praised its capital spending as a solid foundation for future growth.
However, Needham analyst Laura Martin raised concerns about Meta&#8217;s long-term value, pointing out that the company doesn&#8217;t control its distribution channels or content and faces intense competition from Apple, TikTok, and YouTube.
TD Cowen&#8217;s John Blackledge flagged risks including declining engagement among younger users, regulatory and legal challenges, increasing competition, and the high costs of Reality Labs.
On March 18, Wolfe Research highlighted Meta&#8217;s WhatsApp business messaging, unlocking a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44374847/meta-could-rake-in-30-40-billion-in-revenue-from-whatsapp-business-messaging-predicts-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">total addressable market of $30–$40 billion</a> (TAM).
Analysts expect Meta&#8217;s integration of AI agents for small business customer service to boost WhatsApp revenue significantly.
With WhatsApp currently contributing just $1.5–$2 billion, Wolfe noted
On July 3, Needham&#8217;s Laura Martin flagged Meta&#8217;s soaring capex—expected to rise 84% to $68 billion in 2025—<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/upgrades/25/07/46245952/metas-growth-sizzles-but-wait-for-a-pullback-before-buying-in" rel="noreferrer noopener">as a concern</a> for future returns.
She questioned Meta&#8217;s capital allocation amid heavy spending on GenAI, metaverse, Scale AI, and hardware ventures. Martin also cited regulatory risks and high investor expectations, cautioning that Meta may be overvalued at current levels.
Price Action: META stock closed up by 1.68% to $732.78 on Wednesday.
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Photo via Shutterstock

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