In a quiet week for economic data, Wall Street&#8217;s focus shifted to the possibility of witnessing a "Santa Rally," the seasonal tendency for stocks to rise in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42675763/santa-rally-serial-winners-10-stocks-historically-poised-for-big-year-end-gains">final days of December. </a>



Historically, the S&amp;P 500 has gained 64 times in the past 96 years during the Dec. 24–Dec. 31 window, averaging a 0.85% return.



The market began the week attempting a recover from the Federal Reserve's hawkish signals of fewer rate cuts in 2024. Yet, renewed volatility resurfaced on Friday, casting doubt on the Santa rally's resilience.



Investors remain cautious, as markets weigh Fed policy outlook against uncertainty surrounding the incoming Trump administration's economic plans.



Still, 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year. The S&amp;P 500 is on track to match last year's 24% surge, setting up a two-year gain of 55%, the strongest since 1999. U.S. stocks are also outperforming global markets by the widest margin since 1997, driven by the enduring strength of U.S. economic fundamentals.



On the leaderboards, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) has surged 360%, overtaking Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), last year's top performer, which gained 175% in 2024.



Consumer Confidence Slips



U.S. consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, declined in December, highlighting rising concerns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42657230/us-consumer-confidence-drops-in-december-expectations-signal-potential-economic-weakness-in-2025">about economic conditions</a>. A deeper drop in the expectations index, a key forward-looking measure, signals potential weakness in 2025 amid fears of persistent inflation and steady, high interest rates.



Tesla's Robotaxi Bet



Elon Musk envisions a Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&#8217;s robotaxi fleet allowing owners to earn $40,000 annually. Despite the bold prediction, experts question the feasibility of the technology and regulatory challenges, suggesting Musk's vision remains aspirational rather than immediately achievable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42642606/elon-musk-wants-to-raise-a-tesla-fleet-expert-estimates-vehicle-owners-can-make-40kyear-but-remains-doubtful">in the near term.</a>



Trump's Tariff Impact



Goldman Sachs projects the Trump administration will raise tariffs on Chinese imports, averaging a 20% hike, with higher rates for non-consumer goods. This could increase consumer prices by 1%-2%, strain industrial margins, disrupt supply chains and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42701155/made-in-china-paid-in-america-what-trumps-new-tariffs-mean-for-the-us-economy">ignite Chinese retaliatory measures,</a> the Wall Street firm says.



Cadillac EV Success



General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>)&#8217;s Cadillac Lyriq, priced at $60,000, became its best-selling EV in 2024 through the third quarter. The premium EV's success highlights a potential shift toward luxury electric vehicles as automakers target higher <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42666472/gms-60000-cadillac-lyriq-was-its-best-selling-ev-in-2024-as-of-q3-is-premium-the-way-to-go-for-ev-makers">margins and affluent buyers.</a>



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42710358/veteran-investor-bets-big-on-sp-500-hitting-7000-by-end-of-2025-these-sectors-could-lead-the-charge">Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&amp;P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Marek Maskin on Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

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Macro Economic Events

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Economics

Federal Reserve

Tech

ETFs

NVDA

PLTR

TSLA

Wall Street's Santa Rally At Risk, Palantir Dethrones Nvidia, Consumer Confidence Pulls Back: This Week In The Markets

Ukraine said it received 150 sets of SpaceX's Starlink from Poland hours before Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk told the U.S. to pay for the high-speed internet services because it can no longer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29264636/elon-musks-spacex-asks-us-to-foot-the-bill-for-starlink-internet-services-in-ukraine-report-says-we">afford to give it to Ukraine for free.&nbsp;</a>



What Happened: Ukrainian Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories said the Starlink sets would allow it to quickly restore communication until the damaged infrastructure is rebuilt in the liberated regions.&nbsp;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29264331/angered-by-elon-musks-special-administrative-zone-comments-taiwans-military-will-not-buy-tesla-cars">Elon Musk&#8217;s &#8216;Special Administrative Zone&#8217; Remarks Anger Taiwan&#8217;s Military, Says No More Tesla &#8216;Purchases&#8217;</a>



"Some of them are intended for mobile operators and Internet providers. Currently, mobile operators have restored 27 mobile base stations in the Kharkiv region and continue to restore others," it added.



This came days after Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29130474/ukraine-diplomat-asks-elon-musk-to-f-k-off-says-tesla-will-be-boycotted-in-the-country">drew massive flak on social media</a>, including from Ukrainian officials for polling his followers on what would be the most likely outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;



Following his tweet, Ukraine&#8217;s outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, sharply replied to Musk. &#8220;F&#x2A;&#x2A;k off is my very diplomatic reply to you, Elon Musk,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29129597/elon-musk-tells-zelenskyy-i-still-very-much-support-ukraine-but">Musk later defended it</a> to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said he supports Kyiv. "I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world," he said.&nbsp;



The billionaire entrepreneur early Friday on Twitter said SpaceX could not &#8220;indefinitely&#8221; fund the Starlink internet service in Ukraine and send it several thousand more terminals..



 Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Europe and Asia coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/eurasia">following this link</a>.

News

Politics

Ukraine Gets 150 Starlinks From Poland While Elon Musk Says He Can No Longer Afford To Give The Kits Away For Free

Veteran Wall Street investor Ed Yardeni is doubling down on one of the Street's most optimistic forecasts, projecting the S&amp;P 500 to hit 7,000 by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">the end of 2025. </a>



In a Friday newsletter, Yardeni reinforced his bullish outlook, positioning himself at the forefront of high-stakes predictions for the index's 2025 gains.



&#8220;We&#8217;ve been bullish on the stock market since October 2022. We remain bullish, targeting 7000 on the S&amp;P 500 by the end of next year. That puts us near the head of the pack,&#8221; he said. 



Oppenheimer sets its sights on an even loftier 7,100, while major investment bank firms, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley, hover around 6,500.



But will the market's stars align or are we looking at overly rosy predictions?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top 10 Wall Street&#8217;s 2025 Year-End S&amp;P 500 Predictions</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Oppenheimer</td><td>7,100</td></tr><tr><td>Wells Fargo</td><td>7,007</td></tr><tr><td>Yardeni Research</td><td>7,000</td></tr><tr><td>Deutsche Bank</td><td>7,000</td></tr><tr><td>Societe Generale</td><td>6,750</td></tr><tr><td>BMO</td><td>6,700</td></tr><tr><td>HSBC</td><td>6,700</td></tr><tr><td>Bank of America</td><td>6,666</td></tr><tr><td>Scotiabank</td><td>6,650</td></tr><tr><td>Barclays</td><td>6,660</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Yardeni Research, as of Dec. 27, 2024</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Yardeni's Roaring 2020s Scenario</h3>



Yardeni's optimism stems from a &#8220;Roaring 2020s&#8221; scenario fueled by productivity gains, GDP growth of 3.0%-3.5%, and inflation cooling near 2.5%.



Earlier in November, he issued a bold prediction: the S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – could climb to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41917731/wall-street-veteran-predicts-sp-500-to-hit-10000-by-2029-roaring-2020s">10,000 by the end of the decade</a>, buoyed by Donald Trump&#8216;s return to the presidency.



"We believe Trump 2.0 represents a major regime change that&#8217;s bullish for the economy and stocks," Yardeni said. 



Hr also anticipated a significant boost to corporate profit margins, driven by the proposed reduction in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, coupled with tax breaks on individual income from tips, overtime and Social Security.



While much of the recent earnings growth has been dominated by the tech sector's "Magnificent 7," Yardeni foresees a broader rally on the horizon. 



"We expect to see a broadening of the companies and industries for which analysts raise their sights in 2025," he said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Earnings: The Backbone Of The Rally</h3>



Yardeni forecasts operating earnings per share (EPS) for the S&amp;P 500 to hit $285 in 2025 &#8211; an 18.8% year-over-year jump, far above the Street&#8217;s consensus of $270. 



&#8220;We're leading the pack on EPS outlook," Yardeni stated, attributing the growth to a record profit margin of 13.9% and rising revenues per share, which are projected to climb 5.1% to $2,050.



Wall Street analysts expect robust earnings growth of 14.3% for 2025, up from the estimated 10% for 2024. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sector Winners And Losers: Tech Takes Retains The Crown</h3>



Tech continues to dominate, with the Information Technology sector predicted to post EPS growth of 21.7% in 2025, up from 20.4% in 2024, according to consensus estimates. 



Analysts also expect a rebound in Health Care, with EPS growth accelerating from 5.0% this year to 20.1% in 2025. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology are key drivers, with EPS expected to soar 33.1% and 30.9%, respectively.



The Materials sector is gearing up for a strong rebound, expected to shift from an 8.2% EPS decline in 2024 to an impressive 18.3% growth in 2025. 



Similarly, Industrials are set to thrive, fueled by Boeing's return to profitability and surging growth in key industries such as Copper, projected to rise by 37.6%, Commodity Chemicals by 33.1% and Construction Materials by 24.8%.



Read now: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42658817/5-semiconductor-stocks-wall-street-analysts-predict-could-soar-in-2025">5 Semiconductor Stocks Wall Street Analysts Predict Could Soar In 2025</a></li>
</ul>



Image generated using AI Via Midjourney

Biotech

Health Care

Price Target

Markets

Veteran Investor Bets Big On S&P 500 Hitting 7,000 By End Of 2025: These Sectors Could Lead The Charge

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is now offering free lifetime supercharging on the purchase of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tesla-cybertruck">foundation series Cybertrucks</a> from its inventory in a bid to make it more enticing to potential buyers.



What Happened: Under the limited-period offer, customers who purchase the foundation series Cybertruck on or after Dec. 27 will be eligible for free supercharging during their ownership of the vehicle.



However, the vehicle owner will have to continue to pay supercharger fees like idle or congestion fees. While congestion fees refer to the charges to be paid by drivers who charge their electric vehicles beyond a certain level at &#8220;busy&#8221; supercharger stations, idle fees apply when vehicles stay connected to the charger post-full charging.



The offer cannot be transferred to another vehicle or person, the company noted on its website.



Earlier this month, Benzinga reported that Tesla is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42524912/teslas-99k-foundation-series-cybertrucks-still-available-a-sign-of-possible-demand-hurdles">continuing to sell its premium foundation series Cybertrucks in its inventory</a> in the U.S., implying that the company hasn't yet entirely sold out the units of the limited edition stainless steel truck it produced.



Why It Matters: Tesla's inventory in the U.S. now shows multiple new foundation series Cybertrucks, including the all-wheel drive variant and the more expensive Cyberbeast variant. While the foundation series all-wheel drive variant is priced at $99,990, the Cyberbeast is priced at $119,990.



The foundation series refers to a limited and pricier edition of the Cybertruck with laser-etched foundation series badges and premium accessories.



Tesla made only the foundation series Cybertrucks for the first few months of deliveries. Earlier this year, in October, Tesla started selling the regular version of Cybertruck priced about $20,000 lower than the foundation series. 



The foundation series trucks manufactured by the company for the U.S. market haven't seemingly been sold in totality, hinting at significant<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42501487/cybertruck-production-rate-was-reduced-even-before-decembers-production-pause-says-tesla-researcher"> demand challenges for the truck</a>.



Early in December, Tesla told its workers on the Cybertruck production line at Giga Texas that they need not report to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42283708/tesla-gives-cybertruck-production-line-workers-three-days-off-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work for three days from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5</a>, implying a brief pause in production.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



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</ul>



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Tesla Offers Free Lifetime Supercharging With Foundation Series Cybertruck As It Looks To Clear Inventory

Microsoft Corp.-backed (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) OpenAI&nbsp;has outlined its plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41043358/sam-altman-poised-for-10-5b-payday-as-openai-transitions-to-for-profit-model-with-150b-valuation-on">transition its for-profit entity</a>&nbsp;into a Delaware Public Benefit&nbsp;Corporation (PBC).



What Happened: Making the announcement, OpenAI said that it needs to evolve to align with&nbsp;its mission of ensuring artificial&nbsp;general intelligence (AGI) that benefits all humanity.



The company, currently structured with a nonprofit controlling a for-profit, intends to balance shareholder and stakeholder interests while maintaining its public benefit mission.



OpenAI&#8217;s existing nonprofit will receive shares in the new PBC, valued by independent financial advisors.



OpenAI&#8217;s blog <a href="https://openai.com/index/why-our-structure-must-evolve-to-advance-our-mission/">post</a> emphasized the need to evolve beyond a lab and startup to become an enduring company as the world builds new infrastructure for the 21st-century economy. The transition is expected to help OpenAI raise the necessary capital with conventional terms.



"As we enter 2025, we will have to become more than a lab and a startup — we have to become an enduring company," said OpenAI.



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



"The world is moving to build out a new infrastructure of energy, land use, chips, datacenters, data, AI models, and AI systems for the 21st century economy. We seek to evolve in order to take the next step in our mission, helping to build the AGI economy and ensuring it benefits humanity."



However, the plan faces opposition. Billionaire&nbsp;and OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk&nbsp;has filed for an injunction&nbsp;to halt the transition, accusing OpenAI of straying from its original mission.



Additionally,&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)&nbsp;has also expressed concerns, arguing that the shift could have significant implications for Silicon Valley.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42682230/tech-bull-predicts-26-upside-for-apple-stock-sees-golden-era-of-growth-for-cupertino-due-to-multi-year-ai-driven-iphone-upgrade-cycle?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tech Bull Predicts 26% Upside For Apple Stock, Sees &#8216;Golden Era Of Growth&#8217; For Cupertino With AI-Driven iPhone Upgrade Cycle</a>



OpenAI&#8217;s current structure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35861275/the-reason-behind-sam-altmans-ouster-from-openai-could-be-something-elon-musk-has-been-complaining-a">led to the ousting</a> of CEO Sam Altman last November, causing investor dissatisfaction, particularly from Microsoft. The company continues to face challenges, including talent outflow and concerns about prioritizing commercial products over safety.



Why It Matters: The transition of OpenAI into a for-profit entity has sparked significant controversy, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42257564/musk-goes-to-court-to-block-openais-for-profit-transition">particularly from&nbsp;Musk</a>, who has taken legal action to block the move. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, has been vocal about his concerns, arguing that the transition could divert the company&#8217;s focus from its original mission.



Adding to the complexity,&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495758/elon-musk-finds-an-unlikely-ally-in-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-in-his-fight-against-sam-altmans-openai">has sided with Musk</a>, highlighting the potential misuse of assets developed under OpenAI&#8217;s nonprofit status. This alliance is notable given Musk&#8217;s recent public disagreements with Meta&#8217;s Mark Zuckerberg over AI advancements.



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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</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Startups

MSFT

OpenAI Lays Out Its For-Profit Transition Plans, Says It Must Evolve To Advance Its AGI Mission

President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;has sought a "political resolution" of the TikTok ban, urging the Supreme Court to&nbsp;postpone a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42496518/tiktok-ban-signed-into-law-what-it-means-for-americas-15-billion-small-business-economy">law that threatens to block the social media app</a>.



What Happened: The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Jan. 10 as it looks to rule on a law that requires TikTok&#8217;s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19 or face a ban.



Trump's new position represents a departure from his 2020 efforts to ban TikTok due to its Chinese ownership.



Trump&#8217;s attorney, D. John Sauer, emphasized that Trump is not taking a stance on the case&#8217;s merits but is requesting a delay in the divestment deadline.



"Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act&#8217;s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump&#8217;s incoming administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case," Sauer said, according to the report.



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.



TikTok, which boasts over 170 million users in the U.S., argues that its American operations are free from Chinese influence.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42699730/steve-jobs-knew-what-macbook-should-be-like-in-1983-it-took-apple-25-years-to-bring-his-vision-to-life-with-aapl-stock-at-record-highs-heres-what-analysts-say">Steve Jobs Knew What MacBook Should Be Like In 1983 — It Took Apple 25 Years To Bring His Vision To Life</a>



Critics, including free speech advocates, have condemned the law, comparing it to censorship practices seen in authoritarian regimes.



Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department and several state attorneys general maintain that&nbsp;Chinese control of TikTok poses&nbsp;a national security threat.



Why It Matters: The TikTok ban has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42496518/tiktok-ban-signed-into-law-what-it-means-for-americas-15-billion-small-business-economy">significant implications</a> for the U.S. economy, particularly affecting the $15 billion small business sector. The ban could disrupt the seven million small and medium-sized businesses that rely on the platform for revenue and brand growth.



Senate Minority Leader&nbsp;Mitch McConnell&nbsp;has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42568430/senate-minority-leader-mcconnell-urges-supreme-court-to-reject-tiktoks-delay-request-pushing-for-january-ban-amid-first-amendment-debate">urged the Supreme Court</a> to reject TikTok&#8217;s delay request, arguing that the platform seeks a less hostile Department of Justice under the Trump administration. His counsel, Michael A. Fragoso, dismissed TikTok&#8217;s First Amendment claims.



Additionally, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495579/lawmakers-demand-apple-and-google-remove-tiktok-by-jan-19-what-you-need-to-know">U.S. lawmakers have directed</a>&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;and&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;to prepare for TikTok&#8217;s removal from their app stores by Jan. 19, following a federal appeals court ruling.



Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42682230/tech-bull-predicts-26-upside-for-apple-stock-sees-golden-era-of-growth-for-cupertino-due-to-multi-year-ai-driven-iphone-upgrade-cycle?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tech Bull Predicts 26% Upside For Apple Stock, Sees &#8216;Golden Era Of Growth&#8217; For Cupertino With AI-Driven iPhone Upgrade Cycle</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Legal

Trump Asks Supreme Court To Delay TikTok Ban As He Pursues A 'Political Resolution'

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639340/bernie-sanders-is-all-for-canada-becoming-the-51st-state-if-the-u-s-will-also-adopt-universal-healthcare">Universal healthcare</a> has been debated in the United States for decades. A study from Yale University after the pandemic sheds light on its potential impact, the costs and benefits of adopting it and the lives it could have saved.&nbsp;



According to the study published by Yale researchers, more than 335,000 lives could have been saved from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 2022 if the U.S. had a universal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40150567/charlie-munger-called-healthcare-industry-deeply-immoral-and-a-disgrace-claiming-providers-artif">single-payer healthcare system</a>. In 2020 alone, during the height of the pandemic, the study reported that 212,000 deaths could have been prevented.&nbsp;



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<li>The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?</li>



<li>Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>



The study also revealed the potential economic benefits of a universal system like Medicare for All. In 2020, it could have saved the U.S. about $105 billion in COVID-19-related hospitalization costs. Beyond the pandemic, researchers estimate that universal healthcare could reduce national healthcare expenses by $438 billion annually during a typical year.&nbsp;



The Yale study determined the following factors would contribute to this potential cost savings:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Better access to preventive care: Catching and managing chronic conditions earlier would allow patients to avoid costly emergency treatments.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Lower administrative overhead: Single-payer systems streamline billing and reduce bureaucracy, saving billions.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Price negotiations: Giving <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/41852616/doctors-3-medicare-pay-cut-could-it-lead-to-fewer-providers-accepting-medicare-patients">Medicare</a> more control over negotiating drug and service prices could lower costs.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Alison Galvani, Ph.D., director of Yale's Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis and lead author of the study, said, "Americans are needlessly losing lives and money. Medicare for All would be an economic stimulus and life-saving transformation of our health care system."



See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>



While the Yale study covered many potential benefits of universal healthcare for the U.S., transitioning to this system would have challenges. An article published by the National Library of Medicine outlined some of these challenges:



<ul>
<li>Implementing universal healthcare would require substantial upfront costs as the current healthcare infrastructure must undergo complete reform.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Funding universal healthcare would likely require higher taxes. Past proposals for this system have included increases in payroll and income taxes.&nbsp;</li>



<li>The U.S. would have several logistical hurdles to overcome, including significant regional disparities that would make ensuring an equitable system difficult.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



The U.S. spends more on health care per capita than other high-income countries. However, according to the Commonwealth Fund, it still lags behind nations with universal healthcare in key areas like life expectancy and preventable mortality rates.&nbsp;



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elon-musk-told-the-u-n-if-they-could-show-a-plan-for-ending-world-hunger-hed-donate-6-billion-i-will-sell-tesla-stock-right-now-and-do-it">Elon Musk Told The U.N. If They Could Show A Plan For Ending World Hunger He'd Donate $6 Billion – ‘I Will Sell Tesla Stock Right Now And Do It'</a></a>



Those in favor of universal healthcare argue that it would address these issues and provide coverage to millions of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42491306/is-u-s-health-insurance-failing-the-sickest-and-poorest-new-study-reveals-49-million-americans-lack-proper-health-coverage">uninsured Americans</a>, reducing disparities in access to care. Critics, however, state that universal systems in other countries often face challenges like longer wait times and limitations on elective procedures. They are also concerned about the strain the upfront costs could have on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41564246/from-10-trillion-to-35-trillion-how-government-spending-has-spiraled-out-of-control">federal budget</a>.&nbsp;



The debate over universal healthcare in the U.S. is far from simple. The Yale study and others like it discuss the potential savings of lives and healthcare expenses for the average American. Implementing a system like this in the United States would take a lot of effort, including tackling financial, logistical and political barriers.&nbsp;



Whether universal healthcare is in the United States' future remains to be seen. For Americans concerned about the state of health care, these findings provide further context to understand what reform would take.&nbsp;



Read Next:



<ul>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>



<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

$438 Billion In Savings and 335,000 Lives: What It Would Cost The U.S. To Implement Universal Health Care

The NFL aired two games on Christmas Day in 2024, a move that may have angered the NBA while also bringing in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42701434/netflixs-nfl-debut-brings-record-streams-but-lags-traditional-tv-report">impressive viewership figures.</a>



What Happened: While many sports leagues see strong viewership in the United States, the NFL has been king for years and that may have been even more evident with streaming records set Wednesday for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42695495/netflix-nfl-games-show-super-bowl-contenders-mvp-frontrunner-poll-27-watch">premiere on streaming giant</a> Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>).



Two NFL Christmas Day games featuring four teams who have made the NFL Playoffs broke records for the league with an average of 24.1 million viewers for the earlier Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers game and an average of 24.3 million viewers for the Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans game.



The <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-nfl-christmas-gameday-reaches-65-million-us-viewers">ratings </a>beat a previous NFL streaming record of 23 million set by Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) with an exclusive game on Peacock during the previous NFL Playoffs. The figures also broke a regular-season record of 17.92 million set by the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers on Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) owned Prime Video in December, as reported by <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-netflix-debut-sets-streaming-records-as-nba-sees-84-increase/">FrontOfficeSports</a>.



Netflix said Nielsen data showed 65 million U.S. viewers watched at least one minute of the NFL games, with average viewership peaking at 27 million during Beyoncé&#8217;s halftime performance in the Ravens and Texans game.



NBA superstar LeBron James might not want to see the viewership figures and hear about the records.



After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, James declared the holiday as belonging to the NBA.



"I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day," James said.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42689806/netflix-to-release-beyonce-bowl-nfl-halftime-performance-as-standalone-special">Netflix To Release &#8216;Beyoncé Bowl&#8217; NFL Halftime Performance As Standalone Special</a>



Can NBA and NFL Both Win?: While Christmas produced records for the NFL, the NBA also enjoyed a strong day for viewership.



The NBA aired five games on Christmas Day, which aired on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+, all units of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>).



NBA Christmas Day games averaged 5.25 million viewers, up 84% year-over-year. Helping the viewership may have been the teams involved and the fact that all five games were available on ABC, while only two were last year.



This figure is the highest for the NBA on the holiday in five years. The Lakers and Warriors game averaged 7.76 million viewers, ranking as the NBA's most-watched Christmas Day game since 2019.



For the 2024 NBA season, viewership is now down 4% year-over-year after the Christmas day games, compared to being down 18% year-over-year ahead of Wednesday.



NBA viewership on ESPN platforms is now up 4% year-over-year, as reported by <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/12/nba-christmas-day-ratings-lakers-warriors-1236242578/">Deadline</a>.



The NBA could also benefit from the Christmas Day games, with its owned NBA League Pass reporting its most-viewed Christmas Day ever.



What's Next: For the NFL, encroaching on other sports isn't exactly new and likely won't be changing anytime soon.



The NFL began Monday Night Football games in 1970 and later added Thursday Night Football games in 2006, which now stream on Prime Video.



NFL games air on Saturdays during December and January, diverging from the league&#8217;s usual avoidance of the day for most of the season due to NCAA Football and the restrictions of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act. This year, the NCAA expanded its College Football Playoffs from four to 12 teams, leading to a rare head-to-head clash with the NFL last weekend.



On Saturday, Dec. 21, the NFL had two games, and there were three College Football Playoffs games, with two airing on TNT Sports, a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>), and one airing on ABC and ESPN.



Netflix has a three-year deal with the NFL and will stream at least one game on Christmas for the next two seasons.



The increase in Christmas Day games from the NFL might come as a bit of a surprise after the league said last year it was only scheduling games on Christmas 2023 because the day fell on Monday, a traditional NFL date, as <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lebron-james-i-love-the-nfl-but-christmas-is-the-nbas-day">reported </a>by NBC Sports.



The league said it wouldn't schedule games on Christmas if it fell on a Tuesday or Wednesday previously, according to the report, but strong viewership last year and the potential for more money may have changed the league's mind.



Netflix has more sports content coming with its WWE deal through a partnership with TKO Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TKO#NYSE">TKO</a>), premiering on Jan. 6.



The NBA is likely stuck with going head-to-head with the NFL on Christmas Day, regardless of what day the holiday falls on. One way for the NBA to get back at the NFL would be to start <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/11/42226470/heres-why-the-detroit-lions-dallas-cowboys-always-have-thanksgiving-day-nfl-games">scheduling games on Thanksgiving</a>, a date the league has avoided due to the NFL having three games that day.



NFLX Price Action: Netflix stock was down 1.8% to $907.55 on Friday, versus a 52-week trading range of $461.86 to $941.75.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42702484/if-you-invested-1000-in-netflix-stock-when-squid-game-was-released-heres-how-much-youd-have-today">If You Invested $1,000 In Netflix Stock When &#8216;Squid Game&#8217; Was Released, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Entertainment

Sports

AMZN

CMCSA

NFLX

LeBron James Vs. NFL: NBA Star Declares Christmas 'Our Day,' But 2024 Ratings Disagree

The S&amp;P 500 index is set to end 2024 with its strongest edge over global equities in nearly 30 years, a remarkable streak fueled <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">by U.S. economic dominance. </a>



Yet, Bank of America analysts caution that the rally's days may be numbered, predicting a reversal as early as the second quarter of 2025.



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) has surged 25% year-to-date as of Dec. 27, delivering a 21-percentage-point edge over global equities excluding U.S. exposure, tracked by the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACWX#NYSE">ACWX</a>)



That marks the widest outperformance of American versus world equities since 1997. 



This is also the widest performance gap since 1997, driven by investor positioning for &#8220;Trump trades&#8221; of higher U.S. dollar, equities and bond yields, according to Bank of America&#8217;s chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett.



Hartnett predicts that an &#8220;inflation boom&#8221; in the U.S. combined with a &#8220;global deflation bust&#8221; will drive a first-quarter overshoot in U.S. stocks. 



&#8220;We believe US small cap&nbsp;(Russell 2000)&nbsp;is the&nbsp;best trade to&nbsp;position for&nbsp;overshoots,&#8221; Hartnett said in a recent report. 



Hartnett highlighted that global equity markets are heading into 2025 with significantly weak economic momentum, especially in manufacturing &#8211; and this is even before factoring in the potential impact of a trade war.



But, as the champagne flows this New Year's Eve, Bank of America analysis suggests a sobering reality may await from the second quarter of 2025.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: S&amp;P 500 Sharply Outperformed International Equities In 2024</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="557" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222-1024x557.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709750" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222-1024x557.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222-300x163.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222-768x418.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222-1536x835.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27152453/image-222.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Shift To International Markets?</h3>



By spring 2025, Bank of America forecasts a hawkish Federal Reserve and &#8220;policy panic&#8221; in Europe and Asia to trigger a peak in U.S. market &#8220;exceptionalism.&#8221; 



According to Hartnett a strong U.S. dollar, already near multi-year highs, contributed to U.S. stocks' outperformance but poses risks given that 30% of S&amp;P 500 revenues come from overseas markets.



Hartnett projects that aggressive fiscal easing in China, new European stimulus – boosted by potential German election outcomes – and rate cuts by the European Central Bank will create fertile ground for global equities.



This could lead to significant rotations into international equities and currencies. 



"By Q2, we anticipate lower interest rates, cheaper currencies, and fiscal easing in Europe and China," Hartnett said.



Emerging markets, battered by a strong dollar and trade uncertainty, may finally rebound as the greenback loses steam.



David Hauner, head of global emerging markets fixed income strategy at Bank Of America, remains cautious on emerging markets in the near term but sees buying opportunities as U.S. trade policies become clearer and the dollar reaches a turning point.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2025: Volatility And Opportunity</h3>



Savita Subramanian, Bank of America&#8217;s head of U.S. equity strategy, said potential Trump 2.0 policies could heighten inflation and deficit risks.



&#8220;Trump 2.0 may drive higher uncertainty around inflation and deficit risks.&nbsp;Immigration and tariffs may be inflationary, but corporate tax cuts are disinflationary as benefits get passed onto the consumer,&#8221; Subramanian said.



She highlighted the prospects for a strong GDP upcycle, driven by lighter regulations and increased energy production lowering oil prices.



Despite predictions of volatility return in 2025, Bank of America analysts remain bullish on the S&amp;P 500. 



They indicated an ambitious year-end target of 6,666 for 2025, marking a staggering 10x rally from the market's 2009 lows.



"Volatility will present opportunities to buy the S&amp;P 500 at lower levels in 2025," said Subramanian, adding that the index is likely to close the year higher than current levels.



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42701155/made-in-china-paid-in-america-what-trumps-new-tariffs-mean-for-the-us-economy">Made In China, Paid In America: What Trump&#8217;s New Tariffs Mean For The US Economy</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Guidance

Eurozone

Analyst Ratings

ACWX

S&P 500 Poised For Best Year Vs. Global Stocks Since 1997: Bank Of America Warns Of 2005 Rotation

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index&nbsp;uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.



Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.



Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/11/41718416/exclusive-top-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-october-2024-where-do-tesla-nvidia-apple-d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: Top 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro In October 2024 — Where Do Tesla, Nvidia, Apple, DJT Stock Rank?</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Here&#8217;s a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending Dec. 27:</h1>



SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAES#NASDAQ">LAES</a>): The microchip company linked to the quantum computing sector saw a surge of interest from Benzinga readers and in its share price over the last week. 



The company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42695244/sealsq-corp-shares-are-moving-higher-after-hours-whats-going-on"> announced Thursday </a>it received formal written notice from the Nasdaq for regained compliance for the minimum bid price for shares. SEALSQ previously received a letter in August with shares under $1. 



The company also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42686387/sealsq-launches-sealquantumcom-lab-to-help-businesses-transition-to-quantum-safe-encryption">announced the launch </a>of SEALQUANTUM.com Lab, which is designed to support the transition of quantum-safe encryption for companies.



"Our SEALQUANTUM.com Lab is more than just a platform, it's a commitment to future-proofing our clients' security," SEALSQ CEO Carlos Moreira said.



SEALSQ <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42490690/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet">previously appeared on</a> the Stock Whisper Index earlier this month with shares seeing a surge of interest from several drone-related partnerships. With interest in drones and quantum computing rising, SEALSQ could continue to see a spotlight from readers.



Here's a look at the five-day <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro chart </a>of SEALSQ with shares up over 200%. The stock is up over 600% year-to-date in 2024.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="506" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120409/Screenshot-279.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709549" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120409/Screenshot-279.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120409/Screenshot-279-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120409/Screenshot-279-768x391.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>): For a second straight week, quantum computing stocks are among the most searched and seeing the largest increase in interest from Benzinga readers. 



Rigetti Computing leads the way in interest, which comes as the company recently announced the launch of the 84-qubit Ankaa-3 quantum computer. The computer is offered through Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services and will be available on Microsoft Azure and Amazon Bracket in the first quarter of 2025. 



Rigetti also plans to launch a 36-qubit system by mid-2025 and to unveil a system exceeding 100 qubits by the end of 2025.



"We are extremely confident in our ability to deliver on our roadmap and performance goals," Rigetti CEO Dr. Subodh Kulkarni said.



Some investors, including Citron Research, remain skeptical after the large increase in valuation for quantum computing connected companies based on Google's recent quantum computing news.



"Buying $RGTI based on Google&#8217;s quantum success is as misguided as believing every TikTok guitarist is the next Taylor Swift," Citron Research tweeted.



Here's a look at Rigettti shares over the past five days with a gain of over 100%. The stock is up over 1,700% year-to-date.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120429/Screenshot-280.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709550" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120429/Screenshot-280.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120429/Screenshot-280-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120429/Screenshot-280-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



GameStop Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>): While GameStop stock doesn't fly under the radar much anymore these days, the stock saw a surge in interest during the week, likely due <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42679610/roaring-kittys-christmas-post-has-gamestop-rallying-7-in-overnight-trading-memecoin-connected-to-trader-also-surge">to a new tweet</a> from investor Roaring Kitty, aka Keith Gill.



On Christmas, Gill shared on X a picture of a present, the second tweet from the Roaring Kitty account in December following several months of silence. In the tweet on Dec. 5, the Roaring Kitty X account<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42349100/gamestop-rockets-as-roaring-kitty-returns-to-x-what-does-his-tweet-signal-ahead-of-q3-earnings"> shared a TIME magazine cover</a> with a computer with a video screen. The video is paused at the 1:09 minute mark, which could point to Jan. 9 as a clue.



GameStop reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/12/42425015/gamestop-q3-earnings-revenue-miss-4b-cash-no-more-offerings-planned-in-fiscal-year">quarterly financial results </a>earlier this month and investors will have to wait months to hear about the holiday shopping season.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="514" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120446/Screenshot-281.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709551" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120446/Screenshot-281.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120446/Screenshot-281-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120446/Screenshot-281-768x396.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Axon Enterprises (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>): The weapons and cloud-based digital evidence company rejoins the Stock Whisper Index, marking two appearances over the past two months. 



The stock saw strong interest from readers as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42503776/weapon-maker-axon-shares-rise-in-monday-pre-market-whats-going-on">was recently added </a>to the Nasdaq-100 Index, which is tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>). Launched in 1985, the Nasdaq-100 Index is a leading benchmark for non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. Axon, Palantir and MicroStrategy were the latest additions to the Nasdaq-100.



Axon's third-quarter revenue and earnings per share beat Street consensus estimates. The quarter continued a streak of consecutive quarters of beating analyst estimates, which now stands at 10 for both revenue and earnings per share. Axon also shared revenue guidance for the fourth quarter with an expected range of $560 million to $570 million, ahead of a Street estimate of $523 million.



Analysts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXON/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised price targets</a>&nbsp;on Axon after the recent third-quarter earnings and the 2024 election. Northland maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $365 to $550, Needham maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $525 to $600 and Baird maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $460 to $600.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120507/Screenshot-282.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709552" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120507/Screenshot-282.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120507/Screenshot-282-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120507/Screenshot-282-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Comcast Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>): The media and cable company had a strong 2024 at the box office, which may be one reason why investors are paying more attention to the stock. 



Comcast had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42603589/disney-hits-2-billion-domestic-box-office-wins-top-honors-global-box-office-2025-to-grow-8-to-33b-analyst-says">three of the top 10</a> grossing movies domestically in 2024 with "Wicked," "Twisters" and "Kung Fu Panda 4" ranking third, eighth and tenth, respectively. "Wicked" has earned critical praise and was nominated for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42395178/golden-globes-2025-nominations-netflix-scores-nods-for-emilia-perez-and-squid-game-comcast-lands-4-wicked-noms">multiple Golden Globe awards</a>. Comcast's Universal brand received an A- score from Variety for 2024 thanks to the movies in the top 10 and "The Wild Robot," which grossed over $300 million worldwide.



&#8220;Universal pulled off the seemingly impossible: Making musicals seem cool to moviegoers,&#8221; Variety writes of the success of &#8220;Wicked.&#8221;



Comcast reports fourth-quarter financial results on Jan. 30, which could provide a look at how the company's Peacock streaming platform and other segments are doing.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42563662/streamers-max-paramount-won-november-heres-why-analyst-expects-netflix-amazon-to-win-december"> Recent data showed</a> November Peacock downloads up 31% month-over-month, which could be due to the platform premiere of "Twisters" and 2024 election day coverage.



The media company will likely highlight its 2025 slate of movies during the quarterly financial results, which includes "Jurassic World Rebirth" and "Wicked: For Good."



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120523/Screenshot-283.png" alt="" class="wp-image-709553" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120523/Screenshot-283.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120523/Screenshot-283-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/27120523/Screenshot-283-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week's report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42366750/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">December 6</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42490690/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">December 13</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/12/42628286/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-including-qubt-qbts">December 20</a></li>
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Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

Jensen Huang, the CEO and cofounder of Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), is making headlines for more than just his company's dominance in AI chips. Huang is allegedly leveraging <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-reduce-taxable-income-for-high-earners">legal tax strategies</a> to protect an estimated $8 billion from federal estate and gift taxes, according to a recent investigation by The New York Times. This staggering number has spurred a wider discussion about how the ultrawealthy use legal loopholes to safeguard their money.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The NYT's Findings on Huang's Wealth Strategies</h2>



Huang&#8217;s net worth was $127 billion when the report was released in early December. According to the NYT, he has used a number of financial strategies to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/ownwell">reduce estate taxes</a>. These include instruments such as donor-advised funds (DAFs), grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRATs) and irrevocable trusts. By doing so, Huang could pass on much of his fortune to his descendants with minimal tax liability.



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<li>The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip"> for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.</a></li>
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One of the most notable examples cited by the NYT involves an irrevocable trust Huang and his wife set up in 2012. They transferred Nvidia shares worth $7 million into the trust, which has since grown in value to over $3 billion. Normally, the tax on that kind of wealth would be about 40%, but the trust helps them pay much less – perhaps just a few hundred thousand dollars.



As Lewis &amp; Clark Law School professor Jack Bogdanski told the NYT, "You have an army of well-trained, brilliant people who sit there all day long, charging $1,000 an hour, thinking up ways to beat this tax. Don't expect anyone in Congress to stop this."



See Also: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What's the Bigger Picture?</h2>



The NYT&#8217;s investigation provides a broader view of the continuous erosion of estate taxes over time. Huang&#8217;s tactics are becoming increasingly popular, even though these taxes are meant to impact only the wealthiest Americans. Thanks to these methods, experts estimate that about $200 billion gets passed down each year without being taxed.



To make matters worse, funding constraints have reduced the Internal Revenue Service&#8217;s (IRS) ability to enforce the law. During the early 1990s, audits of more than 20% of estate tax returns were conducted. The NYT reports that number has now fallen to roughly 3%.



Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Charitable Contributions and Scrutiny</h2>



While Huang's philanthropy is well-documented, critics also scrutinized his use of DAFs, which lack transparency and accountability. Through the Jen Hsun &amp; Lori Huang Foundation, the couple has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41124309/nvidias-jensen-huangs-wealth-exploded-in-five-years-to-108-billion-heres-why-his-philanthropy-is-bei">donated Nvidia shares</a> worth hundreds of millions of dollars to these funds. Although these contributions reduce Huang's taxable estate, the funds are not required to distribute money to charities immediately, leaving room for criticism about their actual societal impact.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Debate Continues</h2>



Huang's financial strategies highlight the growing divide between the ultrawealthy and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38295912/biden-promised-irs-funding-wouldnt-increase-audits-for-regular-americans-as-irs-audits-poorest-ameri">broader taxpaying public</a>. While these tactics are legal, they underscore how accessible loopholes can result in massive tax savings for billionaires. As the debate over wealth inequality and tax fairness continues, Huang's story may become a case study in how the richest Americans protect their fortunes.



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NYT Report Says Jensen Huang, The CEO Of Nvidia And The 10th-Richest Person In The U.S., Trying To Allegedly Avoid $8 Billion In Taxes

Wall Street turned volatile Friday as four days of gains give way to fresh selling pressure driven by investor uncertainty over the incoming Trump administration&#8217;s economic policies and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">Federal Reserve&#8217;s path forward.</a>



Major indices experienced wide losses by midday trading in New York, nearly erasing prior gains seen earlier this week, clouding the outlook for a Santa Rally.



The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 tumbled 2%, on track for its second-worst session this month. Both the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow saw notable losses, while small caps underperformed large-cap counterparts.



On the data front, the U.S. goods trade deficit widened to $102.86 billion in November 2024, surpassing expectations of $100.7 billion, as imports jumped 4.5%, according to an advance official estimate.



Treasury yields were little moved but remained elevated, with the long-dated 30-year yield hovering at the highest levels since May. 



In commodities markets, oil emerged by rising 1%, with West Texas Intermediate light crude topping $70 per barrel amid recent declines in in commercial crude inventories.



In cryptocurrency markets Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dropped 1.7% to $94,000, heading for its second consecutive weekly loss— the first since September.



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



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg</td><td>1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,739.03</td><td>-586.77</td><td>-1.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,934.68</td><td>-102.91</td><td>-1.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,326.63</td><td>-441.68</td><td>-2.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,226.71</td><td>-53.48</td><td>-2.3%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:15 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 1.6% to $591.61.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 1.2% to $427.96.</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>) tumbled 2.1% to $518.58.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 2.3% to $220.55.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, flat for the day; the&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 2.4%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday Stock Movers</h3>



<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) sank 4.8% as investors reassessed its valuation after a 73% year-to-date surge.</li>



<li>Crypto-related stocks pulled back strongly: KULR Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KULR#NYSE">KULR</a>) tumbled 7.4%, MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) slipped 3.6% and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) fell 3.5%. </li>



<li>Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>) gained 3.6% after shareholder Jana Partners added Jeff Delapp to its board nominee slate, signaling a potential board overhaul, according to a Friday regulatory filing.</li>
</ul>



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Photo via Shutterstock.

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Stocks Tumble As Traders Rethink Santa Rally, Crude Tops $70, Bitcoin Slips To $94,000: What's Driving Markets Friday?

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42652897/warren-buffett-says-hed-be-very-happy-to-have-this-one-word-on-his-tombstone-describing-him-and-its-not-related-to-investing">Warren Buffett's advice</a> on leverage feels more relevant than ever in 2024. Back in his 2010 annual letter, Buffett made a clear point: borrowing money can make you rich, but it can also destroy you. With interest rates now at their highest in decades, the risks he warned about are starting to play out for companies and investors who thought debt was a shortcut to success.



"Unquestionably, some people have become very rich through the use of borrowed money. However, that's also been a way to get very poor," Buffett wrote. It's a simple concept that too many overlook. Leverage amplifies your gains, but it also magnifies your losses. And as Buffett reminded everyone, a significant loss can erase years of progress. "History tells us that leverage all too often produces zeros, even when it is employed by very smart people."



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In 2024, the shift from a low-interest environment to a high-rate one has made Buffett's words feel especially urgent. Companies and individuals that borrowed heavily when rates were low are now finding themselves in a tight spot. Refinancing debt is harder and more expensive and businesses that assumed credit would always be available are discovering just how dangerous that assumption can be. Buffett's comparison of credit to oxygen sums it up: when it's abundant, nobody notices it; when it's gone, it's the only thing anyone can think about.



Buffett and his partner, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42416245/charlie-munger-found-it-weird-how-life-was-pretty-brutal-and-short-but-now-things-are-600-better-and-yet-people-are-less-happy">late Charlie Munger</a>, had always prioritized financial stability over short-term gains and you can see that approach in Berkshire Hathaway's current strategy. This year, the company has been trimming its stakes in major holdings like Apple and Bank of America while building its cash reserves to an all-time high of $325 billion. In a market full of uncertainty, that cash pile is a safety net – and maybe a war chest for future opportunities.



See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>



What's striking about Buffett's approach is how disciplined it is. He doesn't chase trends or gamble with leverage. Instead, he focuses on survival first. "To finish first, you must first finish," he wrote in that 2010 letter, drawing a parallel to auto racing. It's a philosophy that's kept Berkshire resilient through market cycles and crises.



For individual investors, Buffett's advice on leverage is just as applicable. The temptation to borrow money in pursuit of bigger gains is always there, but the risks are enormous. His strategy – invest in businesses you'd be happy to own for the long haul – cuts through the noise of market speculation and focuses on what matters.



Buffett's warning about leverage wasn't just about personal finance but the broader system. The 2008 financial crisis showed how excessive debt could destabilize entire economies. As Buffett explained:



Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.



"In September 2008, in fact, its overnight disappearance in many sectors of the economy came dangerously close to bringing our entire country to its knees."



Now, as 2024 comes to a close, with the cost of debt rising and markets more unpredictable than ever, Buffett's call for caution remains a stark reminder of what's at stake.



If navigating today's financial uncertainty feels overwhelming, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">consulting a financial advisor</a> can be smart. Even Buffett, with all his wisdom, knew the value of trusted counsel. And while Charlie Munger is no longer with us, the principle stands: having the right advice can help you avoid costly mistakes.



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<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
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Warren Buffett Says Borrowed Money Can Make You Very Rich Or Be 'Lethal' – Warning It Can Even Bring An 'Entire Country To Its Knees'

The cryptocurrency market could experience major volatility following the largest Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) options expiry in history on Friday.



What Happened: According to leading cryptocurrency <a href="https://www.deribit.com/statistics/BTC/metrics/options">derivatives exchange</a> Deribit, Bitcoin options contracts, with nearly $14.38 billion in notional value expired at 3:00 a.m. ET.



This figure accounted for 70% of the total Open Interest for BTC options across different expiration dates.



Options are derivatives that give the buyer of the contract the right to buy or sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price and date. Typically, high Open Interest in options trading indicates that there are many market participants and new money is entering the market.



A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy an asset, while a put option allows them to sell assets at an agreed-upon price. As of this writing, the put/call ratio was 0.61, indicating a bullish sentiment as more traders were betting on price increases.



The next most significant date for traders is set for Jan. 31, when around $5.48 billion worth of options will expire.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42697066/vivek-ramaswamys-strive-applies-for-bitcoin-bond-etf-that-will-track-microstrategys-convertible-securities-market">Vivek Ramaswamy&#8217;s Strive Applies For &#8216;Bitcoin Bond&#8217; ETF That Tracks MicroStrategy&#8217;s Convertible Securities Market</a>



Why It Matters: Talking to Benzinga previously, Deribit&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Luuk Strijers had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42655154/84000-is-bitcoins-worst-case-options-trading-firm-ceo-says">flagged $84,000</a> as the "max pain" level for Bitcoin, hinting at Bitcoin&#8217;s potential drop to this level.



Max pain price is the price at which most option holders would experience the biggest financial loss when an option expires.



Additionally, Sean McNulty, director of trading at liquidity provider Arbelos Markets, was <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-27/bitcoin-btc-rally-fizzles-as-token-s-record-breaking-year-winds-down?srnd=phx-markets">quoted </a>by Bloomberg as suggesting that the market could become choppy following the expiry.



Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $96,724.39, up 1.43% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin Options Worth Over $14 Billion Expired Today, One Of The Biggest Events In History: Here's What Crypto Investors Should Expect

Mark Cuban took to the Bluesky platform on Dec. 1 to issue a dire warning about the future of housing affordability. His message? It's not interest rates that will be the top challenge for homeowners in the next few years – it's home insurance.



Cuban said:



"Home insurance in areas hit by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41222716/as-florida-prepares-for-one-of-deadliest-hurricanes-here-are-some-potential-stock-winners-and-lo">repetitive disasters</a> will be the number one housing affordability issue over the next four years. And possibly going into the midterms. More so than interest rates.&nbsp;



Florida in particular is going to have huge problems."



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This comment wasn't made in a vacuum. Cuban was responding to a post by another Bluesky user, @AmyL, who painted a grim picture of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/04/38046445/florida-governor-ron-desantis-raises-alarm-by-calling-citizens-insurance-not-solvent-as-an-explosive">housing market in Florida</a>:



"Here in Florida we have a housing crisis of our own – developers are building affordable homes all around, but many are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/10/41353947/5-6-million-vacant-homes-in-america-are-we-misunderstanding-the-housing-crisis-experts-weigh-in">sitting empty</a> because people can't afford the necessary home insurance."



Cuban's concern is rooted in the growing number of natural disasters hitting regions like Florida, California and the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes, wildfires and flooding are becoming more frequent and severe, leading insurance companies to either raise premiums dramatically or pull out of these markets altogether.



Check It Out: Tax season is just around the corner, and the right financial advisor can help you maximize your deductions, organize your finances, and develop a strategy to minimize your tax burden. <a href="https://smartasset.com/retirement/find-a-financial-planner?utm_source=benzinga&amp;utm_campaign=ben&amp;utm_content=markcuban" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SmartAdvisor is a FREE tool to match you up to 3 financial advisors near you.</a>



Take Florida, for example. Once a haven for retirees and snowbirds, the state faces skyrocketing insurance premiums due to its vulnerability to hurricanes. Some insurers have stopped offering coverage, forcing homeowners to rely on state-backed programs that aren't always sufficient.



This has created a vicious cycle:



• Homes in disaster-prone areas are becoming increasingly expensive to insure.



• Without insurance, many prospective buyers are priced out, even if the home is "affordable."



• Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40837523/suze-orman-isnt-wasting-money-on-insurance-for-her-condo-im-not-paying-28-000-a-year-when-the-in">property damage risks</a> remain high, discouraging investment and leaving homes empty.



It's not just Florida. Here are some areas in the U.S. known for frequent natural disasters – and the ripple effects they're experiencing:



1. California: Wildfires have devastated entire communities, leading to billions in damages and skyrocketing premiums.



2. Texas: Hurricanes, flooding and hailstorms make parts of the state a high-risk zone for insurers.



3. Louisiana: Like Florida, Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and rising sea levels.



4. Oklahoma: Tornadoes regularly wreak havoc, increasing home repair costs and insurance premiums.



5. Midwest States: Flooding from rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri has made some areas nearly uninsurable.



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Cuban's prediction that home insurance will become a political issue makes sense. As premiums rise and insurers retreat, state and federal governments may have to step in to prevent housing markets in disaster-prone areas from collapsing.



But it's not just about legislation. This crisis is a wake-up call for how we handle climate change, urban planning and disaster preparedness. Without serious reforms, homeowners in high-risk areas might face an impossible choice: pay unaffordable premiums, go without insurance or leave their communities entirely.



Mark Cuban's warning highlights an often-overlooked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42572520/2025-housing-market-looks-like-a-year-of-struggle-for-states-like-builders-now-hold-record-inventory">aspect of the housing crisis</a>. While interest rates and rising home prices grab headlines, the real threat may come from something even harder to control: nature. For homeowners in places like Florida, the clock is ticking and the need for solutions has never been more urgent.



If you're considering buying property in a disaster-prone area, it's crucial to factor in the cost – and availability – of home insurance. But for savvy investors, this shifting landscape could be a unique opportunity. By focusing on rentals or REITs in safer regions, there's still a way to turn the challenges of today's housing market into a long-term advantage.



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Real Estate

'Florida, In Particular, Is Going To Have Huge Problems' – Mark Cuban Says #1 Housing Affordability Issue Is Insurance, Not Interest Rates

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