U.S. business activity kept expanding in April, but beneath the surface, growth is losing steam, inflation is reawakening, and the once-reliable services sector is showing signs of malaise following Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">announcements earlier this month.</a>



In flash data released Wednesday by S&amp;P Global, a slowdown in service sector activity dragged the U.S. Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) to 51.2 in April, down from 53.5 in March. While still above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction, it's the weakest reading since December 2023.



The flash Services PMI dropped to 51.4 from 54.4, marking the second-slowest pace of growth in the past year, and missing estimates of 52.5. 



The Manufacturing PMI slightly improved to 50.7, up from 50.2, outpacing expectations of a drop to 49.1.



Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence, said the figures signal that U.S. output is expanding at a sluggish annualized pace of just 1.0%. 



He added that the manufacturing sector is "broadly stagnating," with the dampening effects of economic uncertainty and weakening exports offsetting any tailwind from tariffs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs Drive Prices Higher</h3>



Average prices charged for goods and services rose at the fastest pace in 13 months in April, driven by a 29-month high in manufacturing price inflation. Input costs in manufacturing surged at a rate unseen since August 2022, largely due to tariffs, rising import prices and a weaker U.S. dollar.



In services, prices also climbed at a quicker pace, the fastest in seven months, as firms passed on rising costs tied to labor and raw materials. Although the rate of increase in service input costs slowed from March, it remained the second-highest in six months.



"Tariffs are being cited as the key cause of higher prices," Williamson said, adding that these inflationary pressures "will inevitably feed through to higher consumer inflation."



&#8220;This is creating a headache for a central bank which is coming under increasing pressure to shore up a weakening economy just as inflation looks set to rise,&#8221; he added. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Cheers Possible Tariff Relief</h3>



Despite the downbeat economic data, Wall Street responded with optimism on Wednesday after reports emerged suggesting the Trump administration may ease tariffs on Chinese imports as well as confirmation by the president that he won&#8217;t fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell.



According to a Wall Street Journal report, officials are considering slashing existing duties by up to half, in some cases, and adopting a tiered approach to Chinese imports.



The proposed structure would assign a 35% levy on non-strategic items and at least 100% on products deemed crucial to U.S. national interests, phased in over a five-year period.



A senior White House official said the new policy could reduce the most aggressive tariffs to a range of 50%-65%, aiming to stabilize relations with Beijing and reduce pressure on global supply chains.



The S&amp;P 500 index – tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – opened over 3% higher, with Nasdaq 100 tech stocks rallying 3.7% and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) outperforming with a 4% gain.



Gold prices slid as demand for safe-haven assets weakened, with the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) dropping 3.4%—on track for its worst day since June 2024.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44948932/goldman-sachs-backs-copper-tariff-trade-if-trump-slaps-25-duty-on-us-imports">Goldman Sachs Backs &#8216;Copper Tariff Trade&#8217; If Trump Slaps 25% Duty On US Imports</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

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Equities

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Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

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Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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Analyst Ratings

ETFs

Business Growth Cools, Prices Rise, And Markets Surge On Tariff Rollback Hopes

Goldman Sachs is eyeing a high-reward opportunity in copper that could pay off big if the U.S. follows through on i<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">ts protectionist policy shift.</a>



In a note published on Wednesday, Goldman Sachs analysts led by Eoin Dinsmore outlined a bullish view on what they are calling "The Copper Tariff Trade," a strategy built on the expectation of a potential import tax from the Trump Administration.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Happening With Copper Tariffs?</h3>



In February, the Trump Administration launched a formal investigation into copper imports under Section 232 — a process used to determine if certain imports pose a national security risk. It's the same move that led to tariffs on steel and aluminum years ago.



&#8220;For metals there is a stated and very real commitment to tariffs, which we believe they will deliver on,&#8221; Dinsmore wrote.



Goldman Sachs thinks copper is next in line. The bank says there's a 90% chance the U.S. will impose a 25% import tariff on foreign copper, possibly as soon as June. But right now, markets are acting like there's only a 60% chance of that happening.



That's where the trade opportunity comes in.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Trade: Bet On COMEX Over LME Copper</h3>



Goldman says the market is underpricing this risk and suggests a tactical move: go long the December 2025 COMEX–London Metal Exchange copper arbitrage.



The trade Goldman likes is based on the price difference between copper traded in the U.S. – on COMEX – and globally, on the London Metal Exchange.



In simpler terms, bet that U.S. copper prices will jump relative to global ones if tariffs are put in place. Right now, U.S. copper for December delivery is trading $1,707 per metric ton higher than global prices — an 18% premium.



If a 25% tariff becomes reality, Goldman says that spread should widen to $2,287 per ton.



The United States Copper Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPER#NYSE">CPER</a>) is the only U.S.-listed ETF that invests in COMEX copper futures, offering investors direct exposure to U.S. copper prices tied to domestic market dynamics.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How Fast Could Copper Tariffs Happen?</h3>



Goldman's base case assigns a 55% probability that the tariff will be announced by the end of June—just 125 days after the investigation began. 



This expectation is supported by a March 26 press report suggesting tariffs could arrive "within weeks." Another scenario, with a 30% probability, pushes the decision to August or early September, based on a 180-day timeline used in previous investigations of critical minerals.



Regardless of the exact timing, the final decision must be made by December 2025, which is why Goldman favors the December COMEX-LME arbitrage trade.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How High Could Tariff Rate On Copper Go?</h3>



Goldman's model suggests a "fair" probability-weighted tariff of 22.5% on U.S. copper imports. That figure comes from assigning a 90% probability to a full 25% tariff and 10% to a no-tariff scenario. 



Notably, the investment bank indicated that a middle-ground 10% tariff is "hard to rationalize," especially since copper was excluded from the baseline 10% tariffs already in effect.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Copper? National Security, Economic Policy, China's Dominance</h3>



The U.S. imports nearly 50% of the refined copper it uses — about 725,000 metric tons last year, worth around $7 billion. That's up from just 25% back in 2010.



Domestic copper production has dropped by 20% since 2010 due to high costs and tough regulations, while global production — mostly in China — has increased by 40%. So even as U.S. demand rises, more copper is coming from abroad, especially from countries like Chile, Peru and Canada.



&#8220;The Trump Administration believes the US&#8217; reliance on copper imports leaves consuming sectors vulnerable to supply disruptions,&#8221; Goldman Sachs stated.



This worries policymakers. Copper is used in defense systems, power grids, electric vehicles, and even AI technology — all areas closely tied to national and economic security.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Could Tariffs Boost US Copper Output?</h3>



Goldman expects tariffs to encourage more investment in copper recycling and might help restart idle smelters and refineries. It could also reduce demand for copper exports by making them pricier overseas.



The bigger shift could come from Washington's push to fast-track mining permits. If that goes through, U.S. copper mine production could get a real lift, yet not until the early 2030s.



Photo: Shutterstock

Econ #s

CPER

Goldman Sachs Backs 'Copper Tariff Trade' If Trump Slaps 25% Duty On US Imports

Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) stock soared on Wednesday following the company&#8217;s stronger-than-expected <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n44945808/boeing-reports-first-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter 2025</a> results.



Revenue increased 18% year over year to $19.496 billion, beating the consensus of $19.43 billion.



Adjusted loss per share improved to 0.49 cents from $1.13 in the same quarter of 2024. It beat the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of a $1.27 loss per share</a>.



The company reported an operating cash outflow of $1.6 billion and a free cash outflow of $2.3 billion, driven by enhanced operational performance and higher commercial delivery volume. These figures include only the tariffs implemented by March 31.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/44929060" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing Finalizes $10.55 Billion Deal To Divest Jeppesen And ForeFlight Assets</a>



Boeing recorded an adjusted operating income of $199 million for the quarter, compared to an adjusted operating loss of $388 million a year ago. The core operating margin recovered to 1% from (2.3)% a year ago.



&#8220;Our company is moving in the right direction as we start to see improved operational performance across our businesses from our ongoing focus on safety and quality. We continue to execute our plan, are seeing early positive results and remain committed to making the fundamental changes needed to fully recover the company&#8217;s performance while navigating the current environment,&#8221; commented Kelly Ortberg, Boeing president and chief executive officer.



Commercial Airplanes revenue rose 75% year over year to $8.157 billion, and an operating margin of -6.6%, driven by higher deliveries. The 737 program gradually increased production, aiming for 38 per month this year, while the 787 program stabilized at five per month, with plans to expand to seven.



The 777X program began expanded FAA certification testing, with the first 777-9 delivery expected in 2026. The division booked 221 net orders and delivered 130 airplanes, with a backlog of over 5,600 planes valued at $460 billion.



Defense, Space &amp; Security revenue slid 9% year over year to $6.298 billion. The backlog was $62 billion, of which 29% represents orders from customers outside the U.S.



Global Services revenue was flat year over year at $5.01 billion, with an operating margin of 18.6%, up 40 bps, driven by favorable performance and mix.



In April, the company agreed to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/04/44929060/boeing-finalizes-10-55-billion-deal-to-divest-jeppesen-and-foreflight-assets" rel="noreferrer noopener">sell</a> parts of its Digital Aviation Solutions business to Thoma Bravo for $10.55 billion. The deal includes assets like Jeppesen and ForeFlight and is expected to close by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approval.



Boeing&#8217;s cash and investments in marketable securities rose to $23.7 billion from $26.3 billion, primarily driven by the quarter&#8217;s free cash flow usage. Debt was $53.9 billion, and it holds $10 billion in undrawn credit facilities.



Total backlog grew 5% sequentially to $544.74 billion, including over 5,600 commercial airplanes.



Last week, A Boeing aircraft intended for China was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44888512/boeing-jet-returns-to-us-amid-escalating-tariff-tensions-with-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">redirected</a> to the U.S. amid escalating tariff tensions, with reports of a potential <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44883727/chinas-boeing-ban-could-backfire-on-its-own-aircraft-manufacturer-comac" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese ban</a> on Boeing imports.



While China&#8217;s move could benefit Airbus, it may also harm Comac, which relies on U.S. technology for its C919 model. Boeing&#8217;s deliveries face uncertainty, but the ongoing trade dispute highlights the company&#8217;s significant role in the global aviation market.



Price Action: At the last check on Wednesday, BA shares were trading higher by 5.67% at $171.74 premarket.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/44933957/boeing-preps-for-a-rough-q1-takeoff-but-10-55-billion-cash-deal-could-provide-a-soft-landing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing Preps For A Rough Q1 Takeoff &#8211; But $10.55 Billion Cash Deal Could Provide A Soft Landing</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

Earnings

News

Guidance

Movers

Trading Ideas

Boeing Clocks 18% Q1 Topline Growth, Plans Production Expansion For 737 And 787

AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n44944470/at-t-delivers-strong-first-quarter-financial-performance" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiscal first-quarter 2025</a> results Wednesday.



The telecom giant reported quarterly&nbsp;operating revenues of $30.63 billion, up 2.0% year over year. This beat the&nbsp;analyst consensus estimate of $30.35 billion. Adjusted EPS of $0.51 also beat&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $0.49</a>.



AT&amp;T&#8217;s 324 thousand postpaid phone net adds (versus 349 thousand a year ago) with postpaid phone churn&nbsp;of&nbsp;0.83% (versus 0.72% a year ago). Contrastingly, Verizon Communications Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) quarterly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44920917/verizon-struggles-with-subscriber-losses-from-price-increases-competition-and-lower-government-support" rel="noreferrer noopener">postpaid phone net losses</a> were 289,000 versus 114,000 net losses Y/Y driven by price hikes, intense rival promotional offers, and lower government support.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44928719/verizons-subscriber-losses-raise-concerns-but-strong-business-revenue-guidance-keeps-analyst-optimistic" rel="noreferrer noopener">Verizon&#8217;s Subscriber Losses Raise Concerns, But Strong Business Revenue, Guidance Keeps Analyst Optimistic</a>



AT&amp;T&#8217;s Consumer Wireline segment had 261 thousand AT&amp;T Fiber net&nbsp;adds. Verizon had 339,000 total broadband net additions,&nbsp;compared to 389,000&nbsp;Y/Y.



AT&amp;T reported 181 thousand AT&amp;T Internet Air net adds.



AT&amp;T&#8217;s adjusted EBITDA of $11.5 billion was up from $11.0 billion a year ago.&nbsp;It spent $4.3 billion on Capex. Net income&nbsp;of&nbsp;$4.7 billion&nbsp;rose compared to $3.8 billion&nbsp;in the year-ago quarter.



The company generated $9.0 billion in operating cash flow (up from $7.5 billion in the year-ago quarter) and $3.1 billion in free cash flow (up from 2.8 billion last year).



Prepaid churn&nbsp;was 2.64% compared to 2.77% in the year-ago quarter. Postpaid phone-only ARPU&nbsp;was $56.56, up 1.8% compared to the year-ago quarter.



Operating Income: Operating income was $5.75 billion, versus $5.85 billion in the year-ago quarter.



The Mobility segment&#8217;s operating income grew 4.2%&nbsp;year over year&nbsp;to $6.74 billion, with a margin of 31.2% compared to 31.4% in the <a target="_blank" href="https://investors.att.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations" rel="noreferrer noopener">year-ago quarter</a>.



The Business Wireline segment operating margin was (2.2)% compared to 1.3% in the year-ago quarter. The Consumer Wireline segment operating margin was 9.9% compared to 6.4% in the year-ago quarter.



FY25 Outlook: AT&amp;T&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43230968/att-q4-earnings-307k-fiber-adds-projects-mid-teens-broadband-growth-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated consolidated service</a> revenue&nbsp;growth in the low-single-digit range, Mobility service revenue growth in the higher end of 2%-3%, Consumer fiber broadband revenue growth in the mid-teens, and adjusted EPS of $1.97 – $2.07 versus&nbsp;the&nbsp;$2.04 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate</a>.



It maintained full-year adjusted EBITDA growth of 3% or better and full-year free cash flow, excluding DIRECTV, of $16 billion+.



Chair and CEO&nbsp;John Stankey said AT&amp;T Fiber and 5G wireless were gaining traction. He also reiterated the company&#8217;s priorities it laid out at the 2024 Analyst &amp; Investor Day in December.



Price Action: T stock is up 2.63% at $27.67 in the premarket&nbsp;at&nbsp;the last check on Wednesday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44930091/t-mobiles-long-game-five-year-price-lock-takes-a-jab-at-verizon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile&#8217;s Long Game: Five-Year Price Lock Takes A Jab At Verizon</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Jason Taylor AG via Shutterstock

Tech

AT&T Adds 324 Thousand Postpaid Subscribers In Q1, Outpaces Verizon's 289 Thousand Loss

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) says the company plans to launch more affordable models this year amid rising pressure from global competitors.



What Happened: At the earnings call on Tuesday, the company shared that it was working out any ‘last-minute issues' with the product and that the production is reeling from the effects of the current ‘trade' and ‘global' issues.



<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">NEWS: Tesla says the more affordable models are launching this year, but they are working out last minute issues and that the ramp will be a little slower than they had hoped initially due to current trade/global issues.&mdash; Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1914805559968326134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The company also shared that the planned affordable models will resemble the cars currently in Tesla's line-up. Tesla's current line-up includes the Model S, Model Y, Model 3, Model X, and the Cybertruck.



<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">NEWS: Tesla says the more affordable models that will be built in the coming months will resemble the form and shape of the cars that Tesla currently makes. &quot;The key is that they will be affordable and that you&#39;ll be able to buy one.&quot; Sounds like a stripped down Model Y.&mdash; Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SawyerMerritt/status/1914816250275897604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: While news of a more affordable Tesla model has been in the headlines for a while, it's worth noting that the company has recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44888254/elon-musks-tesla-delays-launch-of-affordable-model-y-by-several-months-report">delayed the launch </a>of an affordable Model Y.



Elsewhere, Elon Musk also outlined an update on Tesla's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44941025/tesla-optimus-robot-hit-by-chinas-rare-earth-magnet-crackdown-elon-musk-says-thousands-may-be-ready-by-year-end-but-no-guarantees-when-you-have-a-complex-manufactured-product">Optimus line of humanoid robots</a>, which has been hit with disruptions following China's halt on the export of rare earth metals.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Tesla's earnings call looked back on what was a lackluster quarter for the company, with dwindling sales figures and increased criticism from investors for Musk's involvement with politics. However, the billionaire shared with investors that he will be rolling back on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44940401/elon-musk-says-hell-only-spend-day-or-two-per-week-on-government-matters-to-ensure-fraud-does-not-come-roaring-back-ceos-focus-to-shift-to-tesla-beginning-may">his DOGE commitments</a>.



Price Action: TSLA is currently trading at $237.97 on NASDAQ, according to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"> Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44919745/cybertruck-gets-a-down-to-earth-redesign-as-tesla-shifts-to-traditional-pickup-marketing-amid-poor-sales">Cybertruck Gets A Down-To-Earth Redesign As Tesla Shifts To Traditional Pickup Marketing Amid Poor Sales</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

General

TSLA

Tesla Says More Affordable Models Launching This Year: 'They Will Be Affordable And You'll Be Able To Buy One'

U.S. stock futures continued rising on Wednesday after a day of strong recovery on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were higher in premarket.



President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44943319/craig-shapiro-takes-a-dig-at-donald-trump-trump-2-0-same-as-1-0-after-administration-hints-at-a-">hinted at a deal with China</a>. While speaking to the reporters at the White House, he said, "I think we will make a deal with China. If we don't make a deal, we will set it. I think they will want to be a part of the United States. We're doing great. This is the Golden Age.&#8221;



Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44935649/alibaba-nio-pdd-shares-rise-amid-potential-de-escalation-of-china-trade-tensions-whats-going-on">during a private meeting</a> hosted by JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), hinted at de-escalation with China. 



He said that a deal is achievable even as the formal negotiations have not begun yet. Bessent acknowledged that current duties were untenable, but did not provide the specifics or the timeline of the deal.



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.34% and the two-year bond was at 3.83%. 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 94.2% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.72%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>2.17%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>2.49%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2.21%</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, rose in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was up 2.08% to $538.21, while the QQQ advanced 2.50% to $455.59, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Fueled by strong earnings reports from 3M Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), alongside a more than 5% after-hours surge for Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), U.S. stocks closed higher Tuesday.



On the economic front, the U.S. Redbook Index increased 7.4% year-over-year in the week ending April 19.



All S&amp;P 500 sectors advanced, led by financial, consumer discretionary, and communication services stocks.



As of Tuesday, the Nasdaq 100 index was down 17.76% from its previous high of 22,222.61 points. The S&amp;P 500 index was 13.98% lower, as compared to the last record high of 6,147.43 points. On the other hand, Dow Jones was 13.06% down from its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points.







<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>2.71%</td><td>16,300.42</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>2.51%</td><td>5,287.76</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>2.66%</td><td>39,186.98</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2.71%</td><td>1,890.28</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Senior economist Mohamed El-Erian underscored in an X post that volatility was the dominant theme for U.S. financial assets as the stocks recovered sharply on Tuesday after Monday&#8217;s heavy selloff.



According to him, Tuesday&#8217;s session followed the &#8220;exact opposite session on Monday,&#8221; which had seen a decline in equities, a fall in the dollar, and a rise in gold prices. 



He was of the opinion that &#8220;Given all the uncertainties in play, it is prudent to expect continued volatility in the weeks ahead.&#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">Volatility continues to be the dominant theme for US financial assets: In both the regular session and after-hour trading on Tuesday, stocks bounced strongly, the dollar strengthened and yields edged lower — this as the US authorities signaled a greater probability of… <a href="https://t.co/quJb8UnWRt">pic.twitter.com/quJb8UnWRt</a>&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1914830729902743918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Ryan Detrick from Carson Research highlighted a trend in the market, the occurrence of which has marked the bottom within the NYSE in 1987, 2009, 2011 and 2020.



According to the data, over 89% of stocks advanced, with 89% of trading volume on Tuesday. This has happened on two days within nine trading days on April 9 and April 22.



This market signal's reliability stems from extreme market breadth, indicating oversold conditions, often preceding rebounds as investor sentiment shifts.



However, the past performance isn't a guaranteed predictor, especially with current pressures like Trump's tariff policies and potential Federal Reserve rate changes.



Detrick said that after such a market signal, the market was &#8220;Up nearly 25% on avg 6 months later.&#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">&gt;89% advancers and 89% of volume advancing on the NYSE has happened twice over the past 9 trading days. The first big day is a clue, the second is the signal. Rare stuff and has always marked lows. 1/5/87, 3/12/09, 8/11/11, and 4/8/20 Up nearly 25% on avg 6 months later. <a href="https://t.co/xPuEboktAA">pic.twitter.com/xPuEboktAA</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1914879487419830550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates, investors, including Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, have been &#8220;needlessly worried&#8221; about inflation and stagflation that has not materialized. &#8220;The reality is that deflation has arrived in the wake of the lowest crude oil prices in the past four years, so investors, the Fed, and our allies have been unnecessarily worried over nothing,&#8221; he said.



&#8220;The stock market is a manic crowd that likes to react first and think second. It is now time to think and prosper during another spectacular earnings announcement season. Spring has arrived, and consumers are increasingly getting out and about, which is why the strongest retail sales in two years just occurred,&#8221; he added.



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 Wednesday:



<ul>
<li>Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will speak at 9:00 a.m., whereas St. Louis Fed President Alberton Musalem and Fed Governor Christopher Waller speak after that at 9:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>April&#8217;s S&amp;P flash U.S. services and manufacturing PMI will be announced by 9:45 a.m., and new home sales data for March will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Beige Book will be out by 2:00 p.m., and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will speak at 6:30 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will speak at 7:40 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) rose 1.00% in premarket on Wednesday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 49 cents per share on revenue of $30.35 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>) was up 0.54% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $1.61 per share on revenue of $9.12 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) advanced 1.80% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 42 cents per share on revenue of $7.54 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) gained 2.02% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 28 cents per share on revenue of $2.97 billion after the closing bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) jumped 6.86% despite posting weaker-than-expected earnings and sales results for its first quarter on Tuesday. However, Elon Musk said that his time at the Department of Government Efficiency was likely to drop &#8220;significantly.&#8221;</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>) was 1.63% higher after reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter. The company shipped 3.5 million tons of steel during the first quarter and generated $230 million of operating income from its steel operations.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>EQT Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>) traded higher by 1.81% after projecting increased sales volume and adjusting 2025 expenditure plans for the year.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sonoma Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOA#NASDAQ">SNOA</a>) surged 77.25% after receiving U.K. MHRA registration for its hypochlorous acid acne products, set for launch in over 1,200 stores via a major pharmacy chain.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGRI#NASDAQ">AGRI</a>) climbed 44.13% after it expanded Ohio Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining with 500 more S19j Pro Antminers for its second site, boosting the total Ohio hash rate to 130 PH/s.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>MYT Netherlands Parent BV ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MYTE#NYSE">MYTE</a>) shares plunged by 30.72% after it decided to rebrand as LuxExperience B.V. with a change in its ticker from MYTE to LUXE on NYSE from May 1, 2025.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 1.81% to hover around $64.82 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar declined 1.83% to hover around $3,319.46 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.17% at the 99.0890 level.



Asian markets were higher on Wednesday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Japan's Nikkei 225, China&#8217;s CSI 300, Australia's ASX 200, and South Korea's Kospi index all advanced. European markets were also higher in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44942759/gamestop-short-seller-andrew-left-goes-long-on-china-and-these-two-us-stocks-amid-the-market-correction-heres-more-on-it">GameStop Short Seller Andrew Left Goes Long On China And These 2 US Stocks Amid Market Correction</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Frontpage / Shutterstock.com

Futures

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

$BTC

AGRI

MYTE

SNOA

STLD

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher After Trump Administration Hints At A Deal With China: 'It Is Prudent To Expect Continued Volatility In The Weeks Ahead,' Says Expert

Economist Craig Shapiro has taken a jibe at President Donald Trump after the administration hinted at a deal with China amid the ongoing market turmoil. He suggested that Trump was caving on all his promises and proposed policies.



What Happened: Shapiro, a macro strategist at the Bears Trap Reports, said in a recent X post that Trump&#8217;s new book should be called &#8220;Art of the Cave.&#8221;



This was also a jibe at the Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman&#8216;s April 9th post, which praised Trump for &#8220;brilliantly executing&#8221; the 90-day tariff pause, calling it the &#8220;Textbook, Art of the Deal.&#8221;



Shapiro, in his post, went on to add that &#8220;Trump 2.0 same as 1.0,&#8221; pointing out that the President has caved to China, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, markets, and on cutting the deficit.



<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">Trump&#39;s New Book: Art of the Cave Cave to China Cave to Powell Cave to the Markets Cave on cutting the deficit Trump 2.0 same as 1.0&mdash; Craig Shapiro (@ces921) <a href="https://twitter.com/ces921/status/1914802768977494024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



This comes after Trump spoke to the reporters at the White House on Tuesday and said that his relationship with President Xi Jinping was great and &#8220;it&#8217;s been great for a long time.&#8221;



"I think we will make a deal with China. If we don&#8217;t make a deal, we will set it. I think they will want to be a part of the United States. We&#8217;re doing great. This is the Golden Age,&#8221; he added.



<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">"I think we will make a deal with China. If we don&#39;t make a deal, we will set it. I think they will want to be a part of the United States. We&#39;re doing great. Golden Age." I don't think this guy could get a $100,000 job in finance. <a href="https://t.co/P1PGPEsO2J">pic.twitter.com/P1PGPEsO2J</a>&mdash; Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerHakimian/status/1914817988038971605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44918830/jim-cramer-takes-a-dig-at-trumps-criticism-of-powell-you-would-actually-buy-this-rally-if-trump-hadnt-criticized-the-fed-chair">Jim Cramer Takes A Dig At Trump&#8217;s Criticism Of Powell: &#8216;You Would Actually Buy This Rally&#8217; If Trump Hadn&#8217;t Criticized The Fed Chair</a>



Why It Matters: Trump was accused of caving by Shapiro following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44910907/top-fed-voices-defend-powell-slam-trumps-attack-on-central-bank-independence">criticism of Powell</a> in a Truth Social post on Monday, issuing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44720006/markets-take-off-as-trump-announces-90-day-tariff-pause-for-non-retaliating-nations-slaps-china-with-125-duty">90-day tariff pause</a> following bond market turmoil on April 9th, and finally hinting at making a deal with China.



Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44935649/alibaba-nio-pdd-shares-rise-amid-potential-de-escalation-of-china-trade-tensions-whats-going-on">hinted at de-escalation with China</a> during a private session at an event hosted by JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) in Washington, held alongside the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. 



Bessent, during this private meeting, said that a deal is achievable even as the formal negotiations have not begun yet. He said that the current duties were untenable, but did not provide the specifics and the timeline of the deal.



Price Action: Stock markets bounced on the possible de-escalation news on Tuesday.



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, rose on Tuesday. The SPY was up 2.60% to $527.25, while the QQQ advanced 2.63% to $444.48, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



As of Tuesday, the Nasdaq 100 index was down 17.76% from its previous high of 22,222.61 points. The S&amp;P 500 index was 13.98% lower, as compared to the last record high of 6,147.43 points. On the other hand, Dow Jones was 13.06% down from its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points.



On Wednesday, the futures of Dow Jones were up 1.29%, the S&amp;P 500 index futures rose 1.77%. The Nasdaq 100 futures, on the other hand, were higher by 2.10% 



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44920880/expert-flags-never-before-observed-trio-falling-stocks-and-short-yields-bucking-rising-long-yields-nothing-is-normal-about-this">Wall Street Veteran Sounds Alarm On &#8216;Never Before&#8217; Seen Market Trio: Falling Stocks, Surging Long Yields, Sinking Short Rates</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Craig Shapiro Takes A Dig At Donald Trump: 'Trump 2.0 Same As 1.0' After Administration Hints At A Deal With China

Leading cryptocurrencies rose alongside stocks on Tuesday on hopes that trade tensions between the U.S. and China would ease.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+5.39%</td><td>$93,035.20</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>+11.94%</td><td>$1,771.73</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>+12.27%</td><td>$0.1813</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin drove the surge, surpassing $93,000 for the first time since the first week of March.&nbsp;



The rest of the market followed suit, with Ethereum, which was previously immune to Bitcoin's advances, soaring nearly 12% in the last 24 hours.



Bitcoin's April gains shot up to 12.3%, a marked recovery from the 12% dip in the first quarter of 2025.



The rally hit bearish traders hard as nearly $516 million in short positions were wiped out in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;



However, if Bitcoin reversed to $90,000, over $677 million in bullish long bets were at risk of liquidation.



Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest lifted 12.18% in the last 24 hours to a new monthly high, while funds locked in Ethereum's futures contract soared 15%.



Interestingly, over 60% of Binance traders with open Bitcoin positions were betting against the leading cryptocurrency, according to the Long/Short Ratio.



The market sentiment dramatically shifted from &#8220;Fear&#8221; to "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Immutable (IMX)</td><td>+39.29%</td><td>$0.6469</td></tr><tr><td>Sui (SUI)</td><td>+22.66%</td><td>$2.69</td></tr><tr><td>Bonk (BONK)</td><td>+21.57%</td><td>$0.00001501</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.92 trillion, following an increase of 5.75% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks staged a sharp recovery on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,016.57 points, or 2.66%, to end at 39,186.98. The S&amp;P 500 jumped 2.51% to close at 5,287.76, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gained 2.71% to end at 16,300.42.



The rebound came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44930495/wall-street-rebounds-ahead-of-tesla-earnings-dow-adds-1000-points-bitcoin-hits-91000-whats-driving-markets-tuesday">potential de-escalation in trade hostilities</a> with China during a JPMorgan-hosted event in Washington.



In other news, the International Monetary Fund <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44926902/imf-slashes-us-growth-outlook-as-trump-tariffs-bite-raises-recession-odds-to-40">downgraded</a> its 2025 economic growth forecast for the U.S., citing Trump's tariff policies, while modestly raising its inflation forecast.



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



Analyst Notes: Influential cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez highlighted the zone between $95,600 and $98,290 as the next key resistance for Bitcoin.



<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/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> just hit $90,000, and based on on-chain data from <a href="https://twitter.com/intotheblock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@intotheblock</a>, the next key area of resistance is between $95,600 and $98,290! <a href="https://t.co/tYDjUmTCfH">pic.twitter.com/tYDjUmTCfH</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1914682321363505534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Another well-known chartist, going by the pseudonym CrediBULL Crypto, warned against premature celebration.



"Really going to depend on BTC here. A pullback soon and we will likely reject. If BTC keeps pushing, however, there&#8217;s a chance we will get through," the analyst said. "Well we are still right up against our supply zone- so can&#8217;t celebrate just yet.



<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">Well we are still right up against our supply zone- so can&#39;t celebrate just yet. Really going to depend on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> here. A pullback soon and we will likely reject. If BTC keeps pushing however there&#39;s a chance we will get through. Note a rejection isn&#39;t anything to be scared of-… <a href="https://t.co/mEHS6PBDZa">https://t.co/mEHS6PBDZa</a> <a href="https://t.co/yliPEUsFpQ">pic.twitter.com/yliPEUsFpQ</a>&mdash; CrediBULL Crypto (@CredibleCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/CredibleCrypto/status/1914744641351524546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo Courtesy: Mc_Cloud on Shutterstock.com



Read Next:    



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44935698/solana-price-climbs-as-galaxy-digital-swaps-eth-for-sol-and-memecoin-momentum-builds">Solana Price Climbs As Galaxy Digital Swaps ETH For SOL And Memecoin Momentum Builds</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Pump Along With Stock On US-China Trade War De-Escalation Hopes: Analyst Flags $95,600-$98,290 As BTC's Next Key Resistance

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving major tech companies. The firm increased its holdings in NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), while also making notable moves with Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). These trades reflect Ark&#8217;s strategic positioning amid evolving market conditions.



The Nvidia Trade



ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>) fund acquired 11,000 shares of NVIDIA. On Tuesday, Nvidia shares ended the day at $98.89. The Ark trade was valued at $1.09 million. This move comes amid recent challenges for Nvidia, involving new U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44846329/nvidias-china-sales-face-setback-as-h20-chip-restrictions-catch-key-buyers-off-guard-reuters">export restrictions on its H20 chip to China</a>. The chipmaker&#8217;s failure to inform key clients about these restrictions has raised concerns. Despite these hurdles, Ark&#8217;s investment suggests confidence in Nvidia&#8217;s long-term potential, particularly in the AI and gaming sectors.



The AMD Trade



On the same day, Ark&#8217;s ARKQ fund purchased 24,800 shares of AMD. The chipmaker has faced a decline in its stock price due to U.S. government restrictions on AI chip exports to China. These restrictions have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44900227/amd-stock-drops-amid-ai-chip-export-ban-whats-going-on">sparked worries</a> about geopolitical risks and supply chain disruptions. For the day, AMD shares closed at $86.26. The Ark purchase was valued at $2.14 million.



The Airbnb Trade



ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (BATS: ARKW) funds collectively bought 80,361 shares of Airbnb. On Tuesday, the shares closed at $114.91, valuing the Ark purchase at $9.23 million. The company has been experiencing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43722350/airbnb-crushes-q4-estimates-as-classic-hotel-users-flock-to-short-term-rentals-heres-whats-driving-the-surge-in-nights-and-experiences">robust growth</a>, as it surpassed fourth-quarter 2024 earnings expectations, driven by increased bookings in &#8220;nights and experiences.&#8221; The company&#8217;s CFO, Ellie Mertz, noted significant market share gains from traditional hotels. Ark&#8217;s investment aligns with Airbnb&#8217;s strong performance and its potential for continued expansion in the travel sector.



The Microsoft Trade



In a strategic move, Ark&#8217;s ARKW fund sold 26,405 shares of Microsoft valued at approximately $9.7 million based on the latest closing price of $366.82. Despite Microsoft <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44515782/microsoft-halts-expansion-plans-yet-analysts-still-rank-it-among-top-investment-picks">halting expansion plans</a> for data centers, analysts still rank it among the top investment picks, as reported by Bloomberg. This decision reflects Ark&#8217;s tactical rebalancing, possibly to allocate resources to other emerging opportunities.



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>Sold 268,284 shares of UiPath Inc (PATH) across ARKF and ARKW funds.</li>



<li>Sold 154,591 shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc (KTOS) in the ARKQ fund.</li>



<li>Bought 303,603 shares of 10X Genomics Inc (TXG) in the ARKG fund.</li>
</ul>



Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings show AMD ranks in the 12th percentile when it comes to Momentum and 17th in terms of Value. How does it compare to Nvidia? Find out by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">clicking here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="446" height="278" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/22210807/Screenshot-2025-04-23-at-10.07.52.png" alt="" class="wp-image-883101" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/22210807/Screenshot-2025-04-23-at-10.07.52.png 446w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/22210807/Screenshot-2025-04-23-at-10.07.52-300x187.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px" /></a></figure>



Photo Courtesy: viewimage on Shutterstock.com



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44932257/billionaire-john-paulson-buys-800-million-stake-in-alaskan-gold-mine-as-gold-hits-record-hig" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billionaire John Paulson Buys $800 Million Stake In Alaskan Gold Mine As Gold Hits Record Highs</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>

ABNB

ARKF

ARKQ

ARKW

MSFT

NVDA

Cathie Wood Increases Bet On Nvidia And AMD Despite China Chip Hurdles, Ark Dumps Microsoft Stock Worth $9.7 Million

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further easing in overall fear level, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Tuesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones index jumping more than 1,000 points during the session.



3M Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter 2025 results. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) reported upbeat fiscal first-quarter results Tuesday.



Shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) gained over 5% in after-hours trading on Tuesday after the company posted financial results for its first quarter.



On the economic data front, the U.S. Redbook Index rose by 7.4% year-over-year in the week ending April 19.



All sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with financial, consumer discretionary, and communication services stocks recording the biggest gains on Tuesday.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 1,017 points to 39,186.98 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 jumped 2.51% to 5,287.76, while the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.71% to 16,300.42 during Tuesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>), GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), and AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 24.4, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 21.6.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based&nbsp;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>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44920101/top-2-tech-and-telecom-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-this-quarter">Top 2 Tech And Telecom Stocks You May Want To Dump This Quarter</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dow Jumps Over 1,000 Points Amid Upbeat Earnings: Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Editor's Note: This article was corrected to reflect that Tesla ended the quarter with $951 million in digital assets.



Electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) reported first-quarter financial results after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market close Tuesday.</a>



Here are the key highlights and what's next.



What Happened: Tesla reported first-quarter revenue of $19.34 billion, down 9% year-over-year. The revenue total missed a Street consensus estimate of $21.35 billion according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0422"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>



Automotive revenue was $13.97 billion in the first quarter, down 20% year-over-year.



The company said the lower revenue was attributed to a decline in deliveries, the Model Y update at plants and a lower average selling price for vehicles.



Tesla's first-quarter earnings were 27 cents per share, down 40% year-over-year and missing a Street consensus estimate of 31 cents per share.



The company had 10.4 GWh of storage deployed in the first quarter, up 154% year-over-year.



Tesla ended the first quarter with 7,131 Supercharger locations, up 14% year-over-year.



In the first quarter, Tesla delivered 336,681 vehicles, down from 386,810 in the same quarter last year. Analysts were expecting 377,592 deliveries&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/04/44593138/tesla-q1-deliveries-preview-analysts-forecast-377k-but-kalshi-traders-predict-a-miss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">for the quarter.</a>



Of the delivery total, Tesla reported 323,800 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, along with 12,881 other vehicles, which include the Cybertruck.



Tesla produced 362,615 vehicles in the quarter, down from 433,371 vehicles in last year&#8217;s first quarter.



Tesla ended the quarter with $951 million in digital assets, which includes the company&#8217;s Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holdings. The company previously disclosed $184 million in digital assets in recent quarters. Tesla recognized a mark-to-market gain of $600 million on digital assets previously in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43321103/tesla-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-miss-eps-miss-ev-updates-automaker-says-2025-will-be-a-seminal">the fourth quarter.</a>



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44845458/tesla-top-10-shareholder-questions-investors-want-answers-on-fsd-cybercab-tariffs-brand-damage-and-more">Tesla Shareholders Demand Answers On Self-Driving, Cybercab, Tariffs, Brand Damage And More: Their Top 10 Questions Ranked</a>



What's Next: The company's guidance said it is hard to make predictions on the rate of growth for the year and it will depend on a "variety of factors" including autonomy efforts, factory production ramp and the macroeconomic environment.



"It is difficult to measure the impacts of shifting global trade policy on the automotive and energy supply chains, our cost structure and demand for durable goods and related services," the company said.



Tesla said its 2025 guidance will be revisited in the second quarter update. The company has enough liquidity to fund its current product roadmap and long-term capacity expansion plans.



The company said plans for more affordable models remain on track to start production in the first half of 2025. Tesla also said its Robotaxi product, known as the Cybercab will begin volume production starting in 2026.



"While the current tariff landscape will have a relatively larger impact on our Energy business compared to automotive, we are taking actions to stabilize the business in the medium to long-term and focus on maintaining its health."



The company said there is "uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets," along with "changing political sentiment." These items could impact demand and cost structures for the company.



"We remain committed to expanding our business model to include delivering autonomous robots across multiple form factors and use cases – powered by our real-world AI expertise – to our customers and for use in our factories, as we navigate these headwinds."



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock is up 0.6% to $239.01 in after-hours trading versus a 52-week trading range of $141.11 to $488.54.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44933432/tesla-in-code-red-situation-as-analyst-flags-6-threats-tied-to-musks-government-role">Tesla In &#8216;Code Red Situation&#8217; As Analyst Flags 6 Threats Tied To Musk&#8217;s Government Role</a></li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534; WATCH LIVE: Tesla Q1 2025 Earnings Call &#x7C; $TSLA" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTjiTT6J-Bk?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>



Image created using photos from Shutterstock.

Tesla Q1 Misses Estimates As Tariff Pressures Weigh On Outlook, Lower-Cost EVs Still On Track (CORRECTED)

The first big economic pulse check since President Donald Trump's tariff announcement arrives Wednesday, and Wall <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">Street is watching closely.</a>



S&amp;P Global will release its flash Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index (PMI) surveys for April, covering the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. 



These surveys will provide the first broad snapshot of business sentiment since the April 2 tariff announcement.



While the 90-day pause may have delayed the most severe or recession-like signals, investors will be watching closely for early signs of strain — or unexpected resilience — already emerging in the data.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US April Flash PMIs: What Economists Expect</h3>



Consensus forecasts suggest a pullback in both U.S. manufacturing and services. According to TradingEconomics, economists expect:



<ul>
<li>Manufacturing PMI to decline from 50.2 in March to 49.4 in April</li>



<li>U.S. Services PMI to fall from 54.4 to 52.8</li>
</ul>



Any reading below 50 signals contraction. These forecasts suggest that America's factory activity could return to negative territory, while services — still growing — are likely to slow down.



"The flash releases of S&amp;P Global's PMIs will offer the first broad-reaching view of business conditions in April. They are expected to show manufacturing in contraction and growth of service-providing businesses slowing," Comerica's chief economist Bill Adams said.



The bank projects an even weaker outlook than consensus, seeing the manufacturing PMI at 49 and services down to 51.5.



Goldman Sachs economist Jan Hatzius said the firm is focused on the new export orders component of the survey. March data showed sharp declines in countries like Canada and Mexico, which were affected by early tariff announcements.



"Historically, each 1-point drop in new export orders has predicted a 0.75 percentage point hit to year-over-year export growth," Hatzius said, adding that while some export strength may reflect frontloading, a reversal is likely once tariffs are implemented.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Implications: Another Volatility Trigger?</h3>



Investors are poised to interpret the PMI data as a leading indicator of tariff-related disruptions. 



A weaker-than-expected release would likely confirm fears that global supply chains are already feeling the pressure, potentially weighing further on risk assets.



In contrast, stronger-than-expected readings could ease fears of a global downturn, suggesting that businesses are adapting better than feared, at least for now.



Since Trump's April 2 tariff announcement — which he branded as &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; — the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) has dropped 7%, reflecting heightened uncertainty and flight from equities. Meanwhile, gold, tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), has risen 8%, signaling investors' rush toward safety amid the unfolding trade tensions.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44933432/tesla-in-code-red-situation-as-analyst-flags-6-threats-tied-to-musks-government-role">Tesla In &#8216;Code Red Situation&#8217; As Analyst Flags 6 Threats Tied To Musk&#8217;s Government Role</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Commodities

Will Tariffs Leave A Mark? Business Activity Data Lands Wednesday In First Read Since Trump's Move

Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) plans to ramp up production of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44508019/tesla-and-other-us-robotics-giants-demand-federal-strategy-to-compete-with-chinas-138-billion-push-warn-america-will-lose-the-race-without-it">humanoid robot</a> Optimus are facing significant roadblocks due to supply chain constraints and China's new export restrictions on rare earth materials.



What Happened: On Tuesday, during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44937440/tesla-q1-misses-estimates-as-tariff-pressures-weigh-on-outlook-lower-cost-evs-still-on-track">Tesla's first-quarter earnings</a> call, CEO Elon Musk said that Optimus remains in early-stage development, with mass production still months away.



Musk said the company hopes to produce thousands of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43325888/tesla-likely-to-sell-optimus-to-rival-companies-in-2026-price-point-of-humanoid-robot-to-be-detemined-by-demand-says-ceo-elon-musk">robots by the end of the year</a>, but cautioned that progress is "totally impossible" to predict.



The billionaire highlighted one key challenge as China's requirement for export licenses on rare earth magnets—critical components in Optimus actuators.



Tesla's robot arms use permanent magnets to stay compact and efficient, but the new restrictions have disrupted the supply, Musk said.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44862552/ford-recalls-nearly-150000-vehicles-over-brake-and-powertrain-issues-nhtsa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford Recalls Nearly 150,000 Vehicles Over Brake And Powertrain Issues: NHTSA</a>



&#8220;We're working through that with China. Hopefully, we'll get a license to use the rare earth magnets. China wants some assurances that these are not used for military purposes, which, obviously, they're not,&#8221; the Tesla CEO said.



In addition to the geopolitical hurdles, Musk underscored the extreme complexity of Optimus. "Almost everything in Optimus is new," he said, noting the robot has about 10,000 unique parts and no existing supply chain for most components.



&#8220;When you have a new complex manufactured product, it'll move as fast as the slowest and least lucky component in the entire thing,&#8221; he stated.



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: Tesla reported first-quarter revenue of $19.34 billion, marking a 9% decline from the same period last year. The figure fell short of Wall Street's expectations, missing the consensus estimate of $21.35 billion.



Previously, it was reported that Tesla is encountering new hurdles in its production plans following the Donald Trump administration's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44831422/donald-trumps-145-tariffs-on-china-could-disrupt-teslas-cybercab-semi-production-report">145% tariffs on Chinese imports</a>.



Tesla has also reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44806701/tesla-suspends-new-orders-for-model-s-and-model-x-in-china-report">stopped accepting new orders</a> for its U.S.-made Model S and Model X in China. Last year, China imported more than 1,553 Model X units and 311 Model S vehicles.



Price Action: Tesla shares increased by 4.60% on Tuesday, reaching $237.97. However, the stock has dropped 37.26% year-to-date, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">according to Benzinga Pro</a>.



The company currently holds a growth score of 67.63%, based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it compares</a> with other companies in the sector.



Photo Courtesy: Iv-olga On Shutterstock.com



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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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44855242/charlie-munger-once-highlighted-how-warren-buffetts-lifelong-learning-made-berkshire-hathaways-success-possible-and-the-crucial-lesson-you-can-take-from-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlie Munger Once Said Warren Buffett Is A ‘Learning Machine' And That's What Lies Beneath Berkshire Hathaway's Success From One Decade To Another</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.

Tesla Optimus Robot Hit By China's Rare Earths Crackdown — Elon Musk Says Thousands May Be Ready By Year-End, But No Guarantees

Volatility and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">tariffs</a> are still capturing headlines and sending markets into a tailspin.



For one group of stocks, that&#8217;s been an enormous boon. Last week&#8217;s big bank earnings showed how market volatility led to a surge in stock trading, which massively boosted revenues for some big banks.



Here are four banks set to weather this volatility through strong earnings, healthy dividends and robust fundamentals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">JPMorgan Chase and Co.</h2>



The largest bank in the United States, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), reported earnings on April 11 and posted better-than-expected top and bottom-line results. Revenue came in at $46.01 billion, handily beating the consensus expectation of $44.11. Earnings per share were $5.07, a beat of $0.44 over the consensus estimate of $4.63 per share. Despite CEO Jamie Dimon's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/04/44717888/jpmorgan-jamie-dimon-warns-recession-now-likely-outcome">warnings</a> about the state of the broader economy, JPMorgan Chase's earnings showcased strength throughout numerous divisions, especially in equities trading. Trading revenue tallied $3.8 billion, up 48% from the previous quarter and exceeding estimates by more than $500 million.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfYHIK2ui6lToVjJ2ZGw9zmAO-SnGCmvgF-4mFR0f9QksGW59JPJK2-6lLihKAQGxDOsP7pgYVVQaDGN7ZIrAUAjUr0ZrwfNGd9sji0HIl2jcbZGu_Or7Uxof8FwkpcGy2_KeicnQ?key=9zg1RvXLtlcToUFhHP-r9JNo" alt=""/></figure>



JPM&#8217;s underlying strength boosts these strong earnings figures. The stock has an 11.27 Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which is cheaper than that of competitors like Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs despite JPM's higher profit margins. It also pays a 2.44% yield with a 27% dividend payout rate (DPR), and the company has increased its payout annually for 15 consecutive years. One potential area of concern resides at the 200-day moving average, which could become a new resistance level if momentum fades. If the share price can sustainably break through this level, a resumption of the uptrend could follow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bank of America Corp.&nbsp;</h2>



Another large bank to post an impressive earnings beat was Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) which reported on April 15 and beat estimates on both earnings and revenue. Like his rival Dimon, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan echoed concern about what he's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/04/44829134/bank-of-america-ceo-says-consumers-are-resilient-while-business-owners-worried-as-we-face-a-changing-economy">hearing from business owners</a>, but also pointed to consumer resilience and growth from their business clients as reasons for strong quarterly earnings. The beat was narrower than JPM, with revenue of $27.51 billion compared to the expected $26.99 billion and earnings of 90 cents per share versus the expected 82 cents. However, the stock rose 4% following the earnings release as revenue was boosted by both equities trading and net interest income (NII). Both the $2.2 billion in trading revenue and the $3.5 billion in fixed income revenue exceeded estimates, offsetting the declines in investment banking fees.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXenISL3NobmQfOlsorQbqcKt4FrCalETBJDrsSooGc7sgzn_R0Yoy6kk1CABCAxXQUrvHXH64IeV7LZXOuey7xZnWnWkhjVvEvJwlr8qz1kXiOkYleu7-bvys0ACwBvHligcY75_w?key=9zg1RvXLtlcToUFhHP-r9JNo" alt=""/></figure>



BAC shares were finally closing in on their 2022 high before tariff uncertainty began spooking markets, and the stock recently made the dreaded ‘death cross' on the daily chart as the 50-day moving average crossed below the 200-day moving average. But there are fundamental reasons to believe the technical signal is a false alarm. Bank of America trades at just 10.2 times forward earnings, making its stock cheaper than most of its large bank competitors, such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. The stock also pays a 2.79% dividend yield with a 31% DPR, and an 11-year history of annual dividend increases. Analysts are also bullish, with a consensus Buy rating and an average price target of $45.52, based on 25 reports compiled by Benzinga.



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



Mega banks weren't the only companies producing strong earnings. Synovus Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) is a smaller regional bank with services primarily located in the southern United States, in states such as Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The bank has a market capitalization of just under $6 billion and generated $2.01 billion in annual sales last year. In its April 17 earnings release for Q1 2025, Synovus Financial posted top and bottom-line beats, including an impressive $1.30 EPS report versus the expected $1.10, a 16% upside surprise. The bank's $571 million in quarterly revenue also beat expectations, boosted by an expansion of net interest margin (NIM) and interest income of $454 million.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeFgoYPNw-Uitdz6wLMeUhXXy3tyvBOhSi84cYZSeOoIxC8BluaGyu7UUVigE287sNjOQglXp84d71vULPFkbaq2yWC9hrevr_-euGYYKM3rAvZlsoA9y8POYpaHOevnqdmnYhShQ?key=9zg1RvXLtlcToUFhHP-r9JNo" alt=""/></figure>



SNV's stock has been on quite the rollercoaster over the last decade. Shares hit an all-time high near $60 in June 2018 before collapsing to under $15 per share during the COVID-19 pandemic. The stock finally rebounded near its all-time high in Q4 2024, before this recent dip. The company's earnings and fundamentals suggest a stock with potential. The stock trades at just 8.7 times forward earnings, which is cheaper than its regional bank peers, such as Citizens Financial Group and Cadence Bank. The company has also grown its revenue by nearly 19% year over year (YoY) and pays a dividend yield of 3.85%. Like BAC, investors must be wary of the ‘Death Cross' formed by the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, but the uplifting earnings report could make this another false signal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Citigroup Inc.&nbsp;</h2>



Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) is often the whipping boy in the financial services sector, but its recent earnings report revealed nothing worth deriding. The bank reported $21.6 billion in quarterly revenue and $1.96 EPS, both numbers easily surpassing analysts&#8217; estimates. One of the more impressive numbers on the report was the $1.5 billion in equity trading revenue, a 23% increase from the previous quarter. The stock jumped 3% following the April 15 report, which also included full-year guidance estimates of $83.1 to $84.1 billion.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXex45eas7L5SPW_guCNF_5j66f3b4K6Oh9teQkVTqIt95wSa566hommyfbsSDbNbBq1Q_fr5djCLr5lRdpPrHYZ9oxwldRf65bWwqk_15Eh9uu_NgoI79R9nNJapaBFakbqM21eQg?key=9zg1RvXLtlcToUFhHP-r9JNo" alt=""/></figure>



Citigroup is still cheap to own compared to its large-cap peers, despite its earnings success and high 3.54% dividend yield. The stock has a P/E ratio of just 9.81, a Price-to-Book (P/B) value of 0.61, and trades at 8.6 times forward earnings, making it more affordable than JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The stock recently triggered an oversold signal on the Relative Strength Index (RSI) too, indicating that the underlying uptrend could be close to resuming its march.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rates, Reversals &amp; Volatility: How to Trade This Unpredictable Market</h2>



Conflicting signals. Sector rotation. Rate shocks. Traders are struggling to make sense of it all—but Matt Maley is thriving. Join him Wednesday, April 23 at 6 PM ET to learn the real-time strategies and setups he's using to trade volatility and target major upside—even while markets stay messy. Register <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/matt-maley-webinar-wed-apr23-2025-registration">HERE</a> before spots fill.



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 or impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

4 Bank Stocks To Buy As Earnings Soar

Investors are gearing up for Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) to release its quarterly results after<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44930495/wall-street-rebounds-ahead-of-tesla-earnings-dow-adds-1000-points-bitcoin-hits-91000-whats-driving-markets-tuesday"> Tuesday's closing bell.&nbsp;</a>



A Benzinga poll finds that a majority of respondents think that the EV giant will miss consensus estimates for the quarter.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44925313/tesla-q1-earnings-preview-shareholders-analysts-want-answers-on-guidance-tariffs-fsd-and-more">Tesla Q1 Earnings Preview: Shareholders, Analysts Want Answers On Guidance, Tariffs, FSD And More</a>



Estimates: Analysts expect Tesla to report first-quarter revenue of $21.35 billion, up from $21.30 billion in last year&#8217;s first quarter, according to data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0421">from Benzinga Pro.</a>



Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of 41 cents, down from 45 cents in last year&#8217;s first quarter. The company beat earnings per share estimates in the fourth quarter.



Tesla has missed analyst estimates for earnings per share in five of the last six quarters and six of the last 10 quarters overall.



What To Expect: Tesla sales are falling, especially in Europe and CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s focus could be elsewhere, said Jay Woods, Freedom Capital Markets chief global strategist.



&#8220;Tesla remains one of the most volatile and discussed stocks in the world. Elon Musk&#8217;s political bent has made this stock a lightning rod of discussion,&#8221; Woods said in a weekly newsletter.



Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives has argued that Musk should be focusing more time on Tesla and has also questioned how much "brand damage" has been done by the CEO's<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44933432/tesla-in-code-red-situation-as-analyst-flags-6-threats-tied-to-musks-government-role"> political involvement</a>.&nbsp;



Poll Results: Benzinga recently polled <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket-prep">Premarket Playbook</a> viewers to predict Tesla's earnings results.&nbsp;



The poll results were:



<ul>
<li>Miss: 68%</li>



<li>Beat: 19%</li>



<li>Inline: 11%</li>
</ul>



The poll found more than half of respondents expect Tesla to miss analysts' estimates and only 19% see the company beating the consensus expectations. The remaining 11% of respondents said they see Tesla's Q1 results inline with analysts' estimates.&nbsp;



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock was up 3.65% to $235.73 heading into Tuesday's closing bell, according to data from<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw"> Benzinga Pro.&nbsp;</a>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44903087/amazon-stock-downgraded-price-target-slashed-as-tariffs-create-uncertainty">Amazon Stock Downgraded, Price Target Slashed As Tariffs Create Uncertainty </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Exclusives

Will Tesla Beat The Street? 68% Expect Something Markets May Not Be Ready For

Ahead of Tesla Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, a well-known analyst is drawing a hard line in the sand that CEO Elon Musk<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44891383/elon-musk-needs-to-leave-the-government-and-get-back-to-being-ceo-of-tesla-says-dan-ives-ahead-of-q1-earnings"> should take a step back</a> from the White House and commit fully to the electric vehicle company.



What Happened: Wedbush analyst Dan Ives may be known as one of the biggest bulls when it comes to analysts covering Tesla stock. Like other analysts, Ives has lowered his price target on Tesla stock ahead of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44925313/tesla-q1-earnings-preview-shareholders-analysts-want-answers-on-guidance-tariffs-fsd-and-more">Tuesday's earnings report.</a>



Ives maintained an Outperform rating while lowering the price target from $550 to $315 recently.



One of the items keeping Ives less bullish than normal is CEO Musk being less present at the electric vehicle company and more involved with the Donald Trump White House administration.



"Musk needs to leave the govt, take a step back on DOGE, and get back to being CEO of Tesla full-time in our view," Ives recently tweeted.



The analyst said Tesla is at a crossroads and this could be a "code red situation" as first-quarter earnings are important and represent a look at the future of the company.



Ives outlined six major concerns about Tesla amid Musk's new White House role at the Department of Government Efficiency, as shared by <a href="https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-sits-crossroads-wedbush-says-by-listing-six-negatives">Teslarati</a>.



<ol>
<li>Tesla has now unfortunately become a political symbol globally of the Trump administration/DOGE</li>



<li>Tesla's stock has been crushed since Trump stepped back into the White House</li>



<li>Brand damage to Musk/Tesla resulted in a terrible 1Q delivery number, with much lower 2025 deliveries on the horizon</li>



<li>Protests and violence against Tesla dealerships/owners have erupted around the globe</li>



<li>25% auto tariffs have been enacted, delaying future lower-cost models for Tesla, even though Musk is vocally against the tariffs for obvious reasons</li>



<li>Potentially 15%-20% permanent demand destruction for future Tesla buyers due to the brand damage Musk has created with DOGE</li>
</ol>



The analyst said Musk and Tesla have now become synonymous with the Trump administration.



Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44831960/dan-ives-says-tesla-best-positioned-to-deal-with-tariffs-it-will-ultimately-be-finished-cars-vs-auto-parts"> Dan Ives Says Tesla &#8216;Best Positioned&#8217; To Deal With Tariffs: &#8216;It Will Ultimately Be Finished Cars Vs Auto Parts&#8217;</a>



Why It's Important: The comments from Ives come as Tesla shareholders seek answers on tariffs, new vehicle models, and FSD, along with commentary on Musk's role within the company.



Despite the criticism of Musk's White House role, Ives remains bullish on the electric vehicle company.



"We believe Tesla along with Nvidia are two of the most disruptive technology companies on the globe over the coming years. The unparalleled innovation, engineering scale, autonomous roadmap, and robotics future will unleash massive valuation upside over the coming years in our view," Ives said.



The analyst said the timing and rollout plans for unsupervised Full Self-Driving and the details of more affordable vehicles need to be laid out by Musk.



Ives said after speaking to car buyers around the globe, the brand damage to Tesla is real.



"Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla."



An announcement by Musk about his time coming to an end or being minimized with DOGE could go a long way to restoring confidence in the future of Tesla and the share price on Tuesday.



"Tesla will have its most important asset and strategic thinker back as full-time CEO to drive the vision and the long-term story will not be altered," Ives said, as reported by <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-tesla-earnings-doge-2062458">Newsweek</a>. "If Musk chooses to stay with the Trump White House, it could change the future of Tesla."



Ives <a href="https://x.com/DivesTech/status/1914681933952319831">tweeted </a>on Tuesday that the first-quarter earnings and conference call could be one of the biggest in company history.



 TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock is up 4.3% to $237.31 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $141.11 to $488.54. Tesla stock is down 37.3% year-to-date in 2025.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44630769/heres-how-many-vehicles-tesla-has-delivered-produced-in-each-quarter-since-2019">Here&#8217;s How Many Vehicles Tesla Has Delivered, Produced In Each Quarter Since 2019</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Price Target

Previews

Reiteration

Tesla In 'Code Red Situation' As Analyst Flags 6 Threats Tied To Musk's Government Role

After Monday&#8217;s broad-based sell-off — triggered by renewed pressure from President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, raising concerns over the integrity of central bank independence — Wall Street bounced back with strength on Tuesday, buoyed by upbeat signals from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">the corporate earnings season.</a>



By midday in New York, major indices were up by nearly 3%, with all 11 sectors of the S&amp;P 500 trading in positive territory. Consumer discretionary stocks led the rally.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged over 1,000 points, breaking above the 39,200 mark, as bullish momentum swept across Wall Street. Only a few S&amp;P 500 stocks remained in negative territory.



At a JPMorgan-hosted event in Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at a potential de-escalation in tensions with China, further supporting risk sentiment.



Shares of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) surged nearly 5% as investors looked ahead to the company's first-quarter earnings report, due after the closing bell.



In the bond market, after two sessions of rising Treasury yields, a modest pullback suggested some investors saw an opportunity to buy as long-dated yields neared the 5% threshold.



On the commodities front, gold briefly touched $3,500 per ounce overnight before retreating to $3,420 amid an improvement in equity market sentiment. Oil jumped 2.3%, with WTI crude reaching $64 per barrel, while copper gained 2.8%.



The cryptocurrency market also reflected a broader risk-on mood. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rallied 4% to $91,000, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) advanced more than 7% to $1,700.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg</td><td>1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>18,321.10</td><td>+512.80</td><td>2.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>39,215.87</td><td>+1,045.46</td><td>2.7%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,297.34</td><td>+139.14</td><td>2.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1,889.24</td><td>+48.92</td><td>2.7%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:10 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



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



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rallied 2.7% to $527.95.</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 3.9% to $392.14.</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;rose 3% to $446.20.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rallied 2.7% to $187.68.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Consumer Discretionary&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) outperformed, up 3.8%. </li>
</ul>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>



Stocks reacting to quarterly earnings included: 



<ul>
<li>General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) up 4.8%</li>



<li>Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) up 0.5%,</li>



<li>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) down 8.7%</li>



<li>Danaher Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>) up 6.6%, </li>



<li>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) up 2.4%, </li>



<li>Moody&#8217;s Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCO#NYSE">MCO</a>) up 3%</li>



<li>3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>) up 8%</li>



<li>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) down 13%</li>



<li>Equifax Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFX#NYSE">EFX</a>) up 14%. </li>



<li>Halliburton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) down 4.9%. </li>
</ul>



Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) soared 12% as the U.S. administration imposed tariffs up to 3,521% on solar imports from Southeast Asia. 



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Equifax Inc. </td><td>14.34%</td></tr><tr><td>First Solar, Inc. </td><td>12.35%</td></tr><tr><td>Pentair plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNR#NYSE">PNR</a>)</td><td>9.59%</td></tr><tr><td>Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVZ#NYSE">IVZ</a>)</td><td>9.17%</td></tr><tr><td>PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>)</td><td>8.30%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Read Now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44926902/imf-slashes-us-growth-outlook-as-trump-tariffs-bite-raises-recession-odds-to-40">IMF Slashes US Growth Outlook As Trump Tariffs Bite, Raises Recession Odds To 40%</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Mid Cap

FSLR

Wall Street Rebounds Ahead Of Tesla Earnings, Dow Adds 1,000 Points, Bitcoin Hits $91,000: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) investors are hoping to get more answers on where things stand with FSD, new electric vehicle models and the impact of tariffs when the company reports its first-quarter financial results on Tuesday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> after the market close.</a>



Here are the earnings estimates, what analysts and experts are saying and the key items to watch.



Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Tesla to report first-quarter revenue of $21.35 billion, up from $21.30 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=0421">from Benzinga Pro.</a>



Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of 41 cents, down from 45 cents in last year's first quarter. The company beat earnings per share estimates in the fourth quarter.



Tesla has missed analyst estimates for earnings per share in five of the last six quarters and six of the last 10 quarters overall.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44630769/heres-how-many-vehicles-tesla-has-delivered-produced-in-each-quarter-since-2019">Here&#8217;s How Many Vehicles Tesla Has Delivered, Produced In Each Quarter Since 2019</a>



What Experts Are Saying: Tesla sales are falling, especially in Europe and CEO Elon Musk's focus could be elsewhere, said Jay Woods, Freedom Capital Markets chief global strategist. 



"Tesla remains one of the most volatile and discussed stocks in the world. Elon Musk's political bent has made this stock a lightning rod of discussion," Woods said in a weekly <a href="https://jaywoods.substack.com/">newsletter</a>.



Woods wrote that Tesla stock made a full reversal since its "post-election rally" and is poised to move again. "This is not an ideal looking chart for the bulls as key levels of support have been breached, the near-term trend is lower and the long-term trend is a volatile mess."



Woods said the key could be how Tesla's numbers look and if any guidance is given.



"It is not an ideal risk/reward set-up going into the numbers," he adds, while cautioning that the stock could fall to August 2024 lows around $180 if there is weakness.



Analysts have been lowering price targets on Tesla ahead of its first-quarter financial results, following the release of first-quarter deliveries that missed an analyst estimate of more than 377,000 units.



Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives, who is among the biggest bulls on Tesla, has been arguing that Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44891383/elon-musk-needs-to-leave-the-government-and-get-back-to-being-ceo-of-tesla-says-dan-ives-ahead-of-q1-earnings">should be focusing </a>more time on Tesla.



RBC Capital analyst Tom Narayan maintained an Outperform rating on Tesla while lowering the price target from $440 to $320 in March. The analyst argued that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44380301/tesla-analyst-says-demand-fears-overblown-but-has-some-concerns-as-used-car-prices-plummet">demand fears could be overblown </a>at the time, but also lowered pricing assumptions for FSD and the penetration rates of Robotaxis.



Cantor Fitzgerald&#8217;s Andres Sheppard was one of the lone Tesla analysts to upgrade the stock in recent months, moving it from Neutral to Overweight with a $425 price target last month.



The upgrade came after visiting Tesla's Austin Gigafactory and the company's AI data centers. Sheppard said Tesla's stock had an attractive entry point at the time ahead of catalysts like the Robotaxi introduction, the rollout of Full Self-Driving, a lower-priced vehicle and Optimus Bot production.



While Sheppard upgraded Tesla stock, he called for a "mild" first quarter for the company, seeing demand weakness and negative sentiment surrounding Musk's political stance.



Here are other recent<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings"> Tesla analyst ratings</a> and price targets.



<ul>
<li>Piper Sandler: Maintained Overweight rating, lowered price target from $450 to $400</li>



<li>UBS: Maintained Sell rating, lowered price target from $225 to $190</li>



<li>Mizuho: Maintained Outperform rating, lowered price target from $430 to $375</li>



<li>Benchmark: Maintained Buy rating, lowered price target from $475 to $350</li>



<li>Wedbush: Maintained Outperform rating, lowered price target from $550 to $315</li>



<li>Goldman Sachs; Maintained Neutral rating, lowered price target from $320 to $275</li>
</ul>



Key Items to Watch: After missing analyst estimates for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44607859/teslas-deliveries-slide-in-q1-amid-production-setbacks-political-backlash">first-quarter deliveries</a>, any guidance from the company for full-year deliveries will be closely watched by analysts and investors. The company previously said it expected to return to growth for its vehicle business in 2025, but that could now be out of reach.



"The rate of growth will depend on a variety of factors, including the rate of acceleration of our autonomy efforts, production ramp at our factories and the broader macroeconomic environment," the company previously said.



Updates on new vehicles, including more affordable models, will also be closely watched, as the company previously said it remained on track for production in the first half of 2025.



Tariffs and macroeconomic conditions remain concerns for the company, as evidenced by some of the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44845458/tesla-top-10-shareholder-questions-investors-want-answers-on-fsd-cybercab-tariffs-brand-damage-and-more"> top requested shareholder questions</a> for the first quarter. 



The top vote-getters for questions center on several topics, including FSD, Robotaxis, tariffs, and new models. There are numerous questions on tariffs and macroeconomic concerns. While Tesla may be better positioned to handle tariffs on countries like Canada and Mexico, investors are still worried about their impact.



While Tesla assembles and sells its EVs in the U.S., the company imports parts for several vehicles. This week, the company announced it was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44838043/tesla-stock-is-trading-lower-wednesday-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suspending plans</a> to ship parts from China for the Cybercab and Tesla Semi.



A top question on &#8220;brand damage&#8221; could also be significant. Multiple studies and reports have shown that sales have declined and the company&#8217;s brand has suffered since Musk&#8217;s political involvement in politics grew.



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock was down 6% to $227.42 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $138.80 to $488.54. Tesla stock is down 40% year-to-date in 2025, while shares remain up 60.1% over the last year.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44896337/teslas-q1-test-drive-will-earnings-steer-tesla-stock-out-of-the-ditch">Tesla Q1 Test Drive: Will Earnings Steer The Stock Out Of The Ditch?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Tesla Q1 Earnings Preview: Shareholders, Analysts Want Answers On Guidance, Tariffs, FSD And More

The International Monetary Fund has sharply downgraded its 2025 growth forecast for the United States, citing President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and a surge in economic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">uncertainty as major headwinds. </a>



In its April 2025 World Economic Outlook, the IMF now projects U.S. GDP growth at just 1.8% for the year, marking a 0.9 percentage point cut from its January forecast. 



Roughly 0.4 percentage points of the downgrade is directly linked to Trump's trade actions, while the rest reflects weakening domestic momentum that began even before the tariff shock.



"The tariffs represent a supply shock for the United States," said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF chief economist. "They reduce productivity and output permanently, and raise price pressures temporarily."



While the IMF still expects positive growth this year, it acknowledges that the risk of recession has risen substantially. Gourinchas said the IMF&#8217;s recession probability for the U.S. in 2025 has climbed to 40%, up from 25% in October.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Trade Shock With Long-Term Consequences</h3>



The growth hit comes as the U.S. effective tariff rate has surged past levels last seen over a century ago. 



On April 2, Trump announced sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, triggering retaliatory measures from several countries. The IMF warns that these trade disruptions are not only curbing growth in the short term but also lowering the long-run potential of the U.S. economy.



"For trading partners tariffs act mostly as a negative external demand shock weakening activity and prices" the IMF noted.



&#8220;All countries are negatively affected by the surge in trade policy uncertainty as businesses, cut purchases and investment, while financial institutions reassess their borrowers exposure,&#8221; Gourinchas said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Growth Slows, Inflation Pressures Mount</h3>



While growth slows, inflation is expected to remain sticky. The tariffs are seen increasing import costs, adding short-term upward pressure on prices even as consumer demand cools. The IMF raised its U.S. inflation forecast modestly, reflecting these dynamics.



The report warns that this combination of slower growth and persistent inflation puts the Federal Reserve in a difficult position, especially as it faces political pressure from the Trump administration to slash interest rates.



"Monetary policy will need to remain agile," the IMF chief said. "But central bank independence remains a cornerstone of long-term credibility."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dollar Disconnect</h3>



The IMF also flagged a notable divergence from historical norms: instead of strengthening amid tariffs, the U.S. dollar has weakened. That reflects, in their view, a diminished global demand for dollar-denominated assets as policy credibility erodes.



"The tariffs could have appreciated the dollar," Gourinchas said. "Yet, greater policy uncertainty lower U.S. growth prospects and an adjustment in the global demand for dollar assets are weighing down on the dollar.&#8221;



The U.S. dollar index – as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – has weakened by about 10% since Trump&#8217;s inauguration in January. 



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44910907/top-fed-voices-defend-powell-slam-trumps-attack-on-central-bank-independence">Top Fed Voices Defend Powell, Slam Trump&#8217;s Attack On Central Bank Independence</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

IMF Slashes US Growth Outlook As Trump Tariffs Bite, Raises Recession Odds To 40%

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) on Tuesday surged past the $90,000 mark for a 2.5% daily gain, as experts point to its growing perception as a safe-haven asset akin to &#8220;digital gold&#8221; amid a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44580634/bitcoin-is-digital-risk-not-digital-gold-asserts-peter-schiff">weakening U.S. dollar and market volatility</a>.



What Happened: The rally, which saw Bitcoin hit a high of $90,480, coincides with gold reaching new highs and U.S. equities sliding to tariff-era lows, prompting analysts to reevaluate the cryptocurrency's role in portfolio diversification.



Speaking with Benzinga, Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC, emphasized Bitcoin's resilience, noting that its tandem rally with gold signals a shift in investor perception. 



"Bitcoin's ability to post gains is reshaping investor perception," Jin said, highlighting its potential decoupling from risk-on assets. 



She suggested that persistent strength could drive institutional inflows in Q2, potentially pushing Bitcoin to all-time highs between $150,000 and $200,000, provided it holds support above $86,000-$87,000.



Katie Stockton, Founder of Fairlead Strategies, offered a more cautious outlook, maintaining a short-term neutral stance on Bitcoin despite its relief rally. 



"Bitcoin is extending its relief rally, clearing its 50-day MA," Stockton told Benzinga, but pointed to resistance between $88,200 and $88,800. 



She warned that the monthly stochastics' overbought downturn suggests the rally may be counter-trend, with support at $73,800 if momentum falters.



Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, in a note sent to Benzinga, underscored Bitcoin's technical strength, noting its test of the 200-day moving average. 



"A breakout above this level could lead to acceleration," he said, adding that the crypto market's $2.76 trillion capitalization reflects recovering sentiment, with the sentiment index rising to 47, a high not seen since late March.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44922586/bitcoins-dual-role-could-propel-it-to-200000-standard-chartered">Bitcoin&#8217;s Dual Role Could Propel It To $200,000: Standard Chartered</a>



Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), meanwhile, traded up 1.5% at $1,650, hovering near key support at $1,550, according to Stockton, who remains intermediate- and long-term bearish on the asset. 



Other major altcoins, including XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), BNB (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>), Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), saw modest 1% gains over the past 24 hours. 



Liquidation <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/LiquidationData">data</a> showed $322.2 million in positions wiped out, with $184.55 million in shorts and $137.65 million in longs, reflecting heightened market volatility.



Jin also flagged unconfirmed rumors of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's possible resignation as a potential driver of Bitcoin and gold's strength, alongside dollar weakness. 



She urged investors to monitor upcoming economic data and speeches from FOMC members and ECB President Christine Lagarde, which could sway broader market sentiment.



What&#8217;s Next: As Bitcoin consolidates above $90,000, analysts remain divided on its near-term trajectory but agree that its evolving narrative as a hedge against inflation and uncertainty could redefine its place in global finance.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44919277/xrp-solana-dogecoin-among-72-crypto-related-etfs-awaiting-sec-approval">XRP, Solana, Dogecoin Among 72 Crypto-Related ETFs Awaiting SEC Approval</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$BNB

$SOL

$XRP

Bitcoin Reclaims $90,000: Is 'Digital Gold' Heading To $100,000 Next?

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