Moody's Ratings downgraded the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/economy">United States' long-term</a> credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 and changed its outlook from "negative" to "stable."  



The move marks the loss of the United States' last remaining top-tier rating from the three major credit agencies, as Moody's joins Fitch and S&amp;P Global in grading the U.S. below the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44480823/debt-alarm-bells-ring-in-washington-as-moodys-ray-dalio-call-for-urgent-fiscal-discipline">highest "triple-A" level.</a>



Rising Government Debt: Moody's cited a sustained increase in government debt and interest payment ratios over more than a decade as a reason for the downgrade.&nbsp;



The U.S. debt-to-gross domestic product ratio will climb from nearly 100% in 2025 to around 130% by 2035, according to Moody's.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/05/45471661/coinbase-under-sec-investigation-for-overstatement-of-user-numbers?utm_source=articleShare">Coinbase Under SEC Investigation For Overstatement Of User Numbers&nbsp;</a>



&#8220;Even in a very positive and low probability economic and financial scenario, debt affordability remains materially weaker than for other Aaa-rated and highly rated sovereigns,&#8221; Moody&#8217;s said in a statement in late March.&nbsp;



Persistent Fiscal Deficits: The agency noted that successive U.S. administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs. 



Moody's said it expects these trends to continue without material reductions in mandatory spending or deficits which will drive debt and interest burdens even higher over the next decade.&nbsp;



"While we recognize the US' significant economic and financial strengths, we believe these no longer fully counterbalance the decline in fiscal metrics," Moody's wrote Friday, per Bloomberg.&nbsp;



Markets React: The S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), and the Nasdaq 100, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), slipped in Friday's after-hours trading on the news.&nbsp;



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45305392/unitedhealth-investors-claim-company-hid-profit-impact-of-ceos-murder">UnitedHealth Investors Claim Company Hid Profit Impact Of CEO&#8217;s Murder</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Econ #s

Moody's Downgrades US Credit Rating Over Debt, Deficit Concerns

With a legacy rooted in cinematic excellence and iconic sound, THX Ltd. has long stood at the forefront of high-fidelity audio and video innovation. With Tuyen Pham as Chief Executive Officer, the company enters an exciting new chapter — one defined by cutting-edge innovation, global expansion, and a sharpened focus on the future of immersive media experiences.



An engineer by training and an entrepreneur by instinct, Pham brings over two decades of industry experience to THX. At the helm of THX, Pham is marrying the brand's storied heritage with a vision for the next generation of entertainment. He brings not only deep technical expertise but also a global perspective, having successfully led cross-border operations, built multicultural teams, and raised significant financial capital throughout his career.



As per Pham, his mission is clear: to preserve the gold standard of THX certification while pushing the boundaries of audio and visual excellence for today's consumers — whether they're watching films, playing games, or listening to music.



In this exclusive interview with Benzinga, Pham shares his vision for THX, the innovations on the horizon, and how he plans to continue delivering world-class experiences in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Here's an excerpt from the interaction.



Share your journey from founding A-Volute to leading THX. How have your experiences shaped your vision for THX&#8217;s future?



I'm deeply focused on innovation, a key factor that helped A-Volute succeed against much larger brands in the past. At THX, I'm building on its strong legacy of branding while driving innovations that truly benefit the end user. Unlike A-Volute, where despite powering millions of devices, creating a recognizable brand was a challenge, THX already has an established reputation built over 40 years.&nbsp;



My vision for THX remains true to its founding mission—delivering the best audio and video experiences. I&#8217;m pushing for innovations that are not just new for the sake of it, but practical and meaningful for users. This approach ensures that we stay ahead of trends and continue to provide value with each new device and experience we help create.&nbsp;



THX has a storied legacy in audio excellence. How do you plan to balance this heritage with the need for innovation in today&#8217;s market?



Everything is moving quickly these days with changes in habits, platforms, and technology. China, particularly Shenzhen, is at the forefront of innovation in AI, robotics, hardware, and consumer electronics. THX is committed to staying ahead of these trends and forecasting future ones to reshape how we consume media.



Our goal is to remain at the forefront of high-end audio quality while leveraging our branding, audio-marketing, industry expertise, and technology to help partners push boundaries. For instance, we recently helped launch the first THX-certified ARC-V 5 headphones, a significant milestone in the industry. This reflects our commitment to helping brands validate and market their products while integrating cutting-edge audio technologies, like the immersive THX special audio technology for a truly high-quality listening experience. 



The partnership with Skullcandy brings THX Spatial Audio to a broader audience. What does this collaboration signify for THX&#8217;s strategic direction?



We want to be everywhere, meaning that we want to help every device, and Skullcandy is a very well-known brand, especially in the US and Europe, and this also helps us to reach a younger generation. And this is very key for us, to be able to put the THX branding in the front of eyes of all generations. And it helps Skullcandy to bring THX technology on board to reach and market to the audiophile audiences which is a THX strong suit.



Of course THX is very well known for the cinemas and a lot of movies, especially with DVDs, we&#8217;re having the THX logo at the beginning, but how can we continue that, and how we can expose more users to THX, and this is one of the ways we&#8217;re doing it, is helping new partners to do that, and also help them to integrate new technologies there.&nbsp;



So is Dolby one of the competitors? I would say Dolby is sometimes a partner, because we have some products like Soundbars from SCI Robotics or ZTE that can decode Dolby and have THX together. Sometimes we&#8217;re competitors, but I would say that we are all in the audio field, and what is very interesting to me is that we all have the same mission, to make sure the audio is good, and to make sure to educate about the importance of audio. &nbsp;



With your background in immersive audio, how do you see THX influencing the evolution of audio experiences across different platforms?



We are currently focused on two key initiatives to push spatial sound to the next level. The first is our involvement in the Alliance of Open Media (AOM), specifically within the IMF workgroup, where we are helping to develop the Eclipsa audio format that has been announced. This new format allows content creators to encode media using a completely free codec, making it accessible for all consumer electronics to decode and experience multi-channel audio, 3D sound objects, or advanced ambisonics.



By making this technology freely available, we aim to broaden the adoption of spatial audio and enhance the overall audio experience for users. The second initiative, which we announced at GDC, Razer Wyvrn, involves the development of a game developer's plugin. This THX game plugin,  offered on the Wyvrn platform, will be integrated into sound engines across games, enabling them to output spatial sound, with the first output being in the IMF format. By pushing these boundaries, we are working to expose more people to the benefits of spatial audio, both in gaming and other media experiences.



THX&#8217;s technologies are now integrated into various consumer electronics. How do you ensure consistency and quality across these diverse applications?



THX possesses deep expertise in audio and video technology and marketing, with a particular focus on audio. Our core asset is our knowledge of what constitutes great audio, how to measure it, and how to help partners build better products. We offer this expertise to help partners improve their designs, from hardware to component selection. Some partners come to us early in the process, allowing us to guide them through the hardware design, component choices, and even the materials used inside the products.



Our commitment to quality extends throughout the entire process. When certifying an audio product, we perform over 450 measurements, including electrical and acoustic tests, to ensure top-notch performance. We identify areas for improvement, leaving little room for error. The THX logo represents the highest performance achievable at a given price point.<del></del>



In an era where audio technology is rapidly advancing, what challenges do you foresee, and how is THX preparing to address them?



So the first aspect is audio. So the output of audio, it&#8217;s either headphones, now there&#8217;s a new category of OWS, open wireless stereo headphones. There will be, I&#8217;m sure, a lot of new categories.



So we always do R&amp;D to be able to categorize those outputs, and then also keep our certification program up to date to that. So that&#8217;s the first thing. I think also on the, there&#8217;s AI, which is impacting a lot, all the audio processing.



And of course we are ready for that, we are using more and more AI functions, like in the software you will see, you have camera-based AI head tracking, which follows your head and can compensate the movement of your head while you&#8217;re playing a game or while you&#8217;re watching a movie. So we&#8217;re integrating more and more of those technologies. So there might be a switch on how, let&#8217;s say, the content is generated by AI, but we&#8217;ll make sure that those contents always sound great or always look great.



Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for THX in terms of innovation, market presence, and consumer&nbsp;engagement?



I want the THX logo to be everywhere and to become really the logo that gives trust to the end users. My vision for the THX logo is to make it a universal symbol of trust and excellence. &nbsp;When consumers see the THX logo, they should be assured that the product delivers the best performance available at that price point. Unlike some brands that only perform a single measurement, THX conducts hundreds of rigorous tests to ensure every product meets the highest standards. We&#8217;re committed to doing the hard work, helping our partners improve their products and achieve consistent quality.



Currently, THX has a global presence, with headquarters and R&amp;D based in California, along with offices in Europe and China. We've had a footprint in China for over eight years, with offices in both Beijing and Shenzhen, and we also have a presence in Taiwan. As the demand for high-quality audio and video devices increases, we're focusing more on expanding our operations in Shenzhen. We&#8217;re building a large lab to assist our partners with precise performance measurements for both audio and video products, offering quick turnarounds to keep up with the fast pace of the industry. 



While we already have strong partnerships in Europe, our primary focus for the next few years will be in China, particularly Shenzhen. The region is becoming a hotbed for innovation, with many emerging brands in the tech space, making it a key area for THX's expansion and growth. We&#8217;re excited to be at the forefront of these developments and continue helping brands bring top-tier products to the market.

Entertainment

News

Tech

Interview

At THX, I Am Building On Its Strong Legacy Of Branding While Driving Innovations That Truly Benefit The End User, Says Tuyen Pham

The U.S. and China agreed to de-escalate their trade war by cutting tariffs by 115 percentage points, bringing U.S. duties on Chinese <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45347089/wall-street-rips-higher-as-tariff-truce-halts-us-china-economic-escalation">goods down to 30%.</a>



The announcement sparked a broad-based equity rally, with the S&amp;P 500 climbing back to early March 2025 levels and erasing losses from President Donald Trump's &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45355655/magnificent-seven-gain-700b-after-us-china-slash-tariffs-gold-crashes-whats-driving-markets-monday">Liberation Day&#8221; tariff shock.</a>



The improved trade outlook also prompted economists to cut recession odds and upgrade U.S. growth forecasts for the second half of the year.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Logs 5 Consecutive Winning Sessions</h3>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) closed 5% higher for the week, notching five straight sessions in the green.



Semiconductors kept powering higher. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) rose nearly 10% on the week, logging its fourth straight week of gains and delivering its best monthly rally since 2020.



Yet, clean energy stocks – as tracked by the Invesco Solar ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) – outshined even chipmakers. Solar names surged after Republicans released a better-than-expected tax proposal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/05/45381191/first-solar-eyes-best-2-day-rally-since-2013-after-gop-tax-plan-spares-key-clean-energy-credits">on renewable energy credits.</a> Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) soared 27% for the week, leading the sector.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump&#8217;s Middle East Blitz Attracts $2 Trillion In Gulf Commitments</h3>



During his Middle East visit, President Trump secured around $2 trillion in trade and investment pledges from Gulf countries.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45390422/trump-unveils-historic-and-transformative-600-billion-saudi-deal-predicts-markets-will-go-a-lot-higher">Saudi Arabia committed $600 billion</a> in deals involving Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NASDAQ">ORCL</a>), Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Uber Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NASDAQ">UBER</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), GE Vernova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>).



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45446924/trump-secures-12-trillion-qatar-deal-as-boeing-ge-land-record-orders">Qatar followed with a $1.2 trillion package</a> focused on energy and infrastructure, inking major contracts with GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>) and Boeing.



The United Arab Emirates signed a $200 billion deal to import over one million AI chips from Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and other initiatives with Exxon Mobil Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NASDAQ">XOM</a>), Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UNH In Free Fall, Consumer Inflation Concerns Hit 1980s Levels</h3>



Back on Wall Street, one corporate giant is facing deep losses in what's shaping up to be one of the worst crises in its history. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) shares nosedived 27% this week, marking the company&#8217;s worst weekly performance since the 2009 financial crisis and extending a five-week losing streak.



CEO Andrew Witty resigned Tuesday citing "personal reasons," while the company suspended 2025 guidance due <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance">to surging medical costs</a>. A U.S. Department of Justice criminal probe into alleged fraud in its Medicare Advantage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45426769/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-over-8-in-after-hours-trading-as-doj-criminal-probe-adds-to-turmoil-after-ceo-shake-up">program worsened investor fears.</a>



On the macro front, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45374267/inflation-eases-in-april-as-trumps-tariffs-dont-push-prices-higher">April inflation data</a> signaled softening price pressures, but retail sales dropped, reflecting consumer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45435725/tariffs-slow-retail-spending-as-producer-prices-post-sharpest-drop-since-2020">caution amid trade uncertainty</a>. Inflation expectations are also heating up again.



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45470155/consumer-sentiment-crashes-to-5-year-lows-as-inflation-fears-reach-1981-levels">University of Michigan's survey</a> showed the weakest sentiment since 2020 as the one-year consumer inflation outlook hit levels last seen in 1981.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart Of The Week: Year-Ahead Consumer Inflation Expectations Have Never Been This High Since Early &#8217;80s</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918486" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-768x397.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-1536x793.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16155140/image-213-2048x1058.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45466937/us-targets-european-digital-rules-in-free-speech-campaign-defending-american-big-tech">US Slams Europe&#8217;s Digital Laws, Calls Them A Danger To Free Expression And American Big Tech </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Economics

Federal Reserve

ETFs

AMZN

FSLR

GOOGL

NVDA

ORCL

QCOM

SOXX

UBER

US-China Trade Truce, Trump's Middle East Deals Spark Wall Street Rally: This Week In Markets

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.



U.S. stocks extended their rally for a fifth consecutive day on Friday, buoyed by easing trade tensions and softer-than-expected April inflation data. The S&amp;P 500 returned to positive territory for the year, while the dollar rebounded amid rising Treasury yields. However, consumer sentiment slumped to 2020 levels, with one-year inflation expectations jumping to 7.3%, significantly above forecasts.



Despite the market's upward momentum, concerns about inflation persist. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index dropped to 50.8, reflecting heightened inflation fears. Gold prices fell 1.8% due to stronger yields and dollar strength, while Bitcoin recovered to over $104,500.



Looking ahead, investors are closely monitoring upcoming U.S.-China trade talks and potential adjustments to existing tariffs. The Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates remains a focal point, especially as real borrowing costs rise, tightening broader financial conditions. Additionally, corporate earnings reports and economic indicators will continue to influence market dynamics in the coming weeks.



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.







The Bulls



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/05/45455588/virgin-galactic-stock-rockets-higher-on-q1-earnings-beat">"Virgin Galactic Stock Rockets Higher On Q1 Earnings Beat"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPCE#NYSE">SPCE</a>) shares surged after the company beat Q1 expectations with $461,000 in revenue and a $2.38 per-share loss, while reaffirming plans to launch Delta-class payload flights in summer 2026 and private astronaut missions that fall.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45378734/duolingos-89-bull-run-since-march-earnings-ai-and-a-whole-lot-of-green-candles">"Duolingo's 89% bull run since March: Earnings, AI and a whole lot of green candles"</a>, by Surbhi Jain, reports that Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUOL#NASDAQ">DUOL</a>) shares have surged 89% since March, driven by a Q1 earnings beat, rapid AI-driven course expansion, and significant user growth, with the company now targeting a $220 billion total addressable market.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45443360/archer-aviation-stock-has-strong-momentum-whats-driving-the-action">"Archer Aviation stock has strong momentum: What's driving the action?"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>) shares surged over 35% in a week, nearing 52-week highs, after announcing an exclusive partnership as the official air taxi provider for the LA28 Olympic Games and Team USA.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/05/45424475/foot-locker-stock-soars-on-potential-dicks-sporting-goods-deal-report">Foot Locker Stock Soars On Potential Dick's Sporting Goods Deal: Report</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45414265/nvidia-climbs-on-saudi-ai-investments-analyst-estimates-15-billion-to-20-billion-in-revenue">Nvidia Climbs On Saudi AI Investments: Analyst Estimates $15 Billion To $20 Billion In Revenue</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45406701/super-micro-computer-stock-is-surging-again-whats-going-on">Super Micro Computer Stock Is Surging Again: What's Going On?</a>







The Bears



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45437447/alibaba-stock-slides-5-after-revenue-miss-cloud-spend-hits-free-cash-flow">"Alibaba stock slides 5% after revenue miss, cloud spend hits free cash flow"</a>, by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) shares fell after the company reported Q4 revenue of $32.58 billion—missing estimates—and a 76% drop in free cash flow due to increased cloud infrastructure investments, despite adjusted earnings per ADS of $1.73 beating expectations.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45454257/doximity-stock-dives-on-q4-earnings-as-guidance-comes-in-below-estimates">"Doximity stock dives on Q4 earnings as guidance comes in below estimates"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Doximity Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCS#NYSE">DOCS</a>) shares fell over 24% after the company beat Q4 expectations with $138.3 million in revenue and $0.38 EPS but issued fiscal 2026 guidance below analyst estimates, citing macroeconomic and policy uncertainties impacting pharmaceutical advertising.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45443786/workhorse-stock-slides-after-q1-miss-plans-to-cut-workforce-to-curb-cash-burn">"Workhorse stock slides after Q1 miss, plans to cut workforce to curb cash burn"</a>, by Nabaparna Bhattacharya, reports that Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WKHS#NASDAQ">WKHS</a>) shares dropped after the company reported a wider-than-expected Q1 loss and announced plans to reduce its workforce and monthly cash burn to $2.8 million by year-end.







For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45394173/american-eagle-shares-dive-after-retailer-warns-of-weak-q1-results-withdraws-fy25-guidance-we-are-clearly-disappointed-with-our-execution">American Eagle Shares Dive After Retailer Warns Of Weak Q1 Results, Withdraws FY25 Guidance: ‘We Are Clearly Disappointed With Our Execution'</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45453681/applied-materials-q2-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-beat-solid-guidance-no-significant-changes-to-customer-demand">Applied Materials Q2 Earnings: Revenue Miss, EPS Beat, Solid Guidance — No ‘Significant Changes' To Customer Demand</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45456686/kulr-technology-group-stock-tumbles-on-q1-earnings-company-plans-to-turbocharge-bitcoin-acquisition-strategy">KULR Technology Group Stock Tumbles On Q1 Earnings, Company Plans To ‘Turbocharge' Bitcoin Acquisition Strategy</a>







Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Markets

ACHR

AMAT

BABA

DOCS

DUOL

KULR

SMCI

SPCE

WKHS

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Virgin Galactic, Duolingo, Alibaba — And Stocks Close Up Five Days In A Row

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;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/trading-ideas/25/05/45171636/exclusive-aprils-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-apple-palantir-nvidia-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: April&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Apple, Palantir, Nvidia Stocks Rank?</a>



Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending May 16:



 Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>): The real estate investment trust that pays out monthly dividends saw increased interest from readers during the week. Realty Income reported first-quarter financial results on May 5 and could be seeing interest after the report. The company <a href="https://www.realtyincome.com/investors/press-releases/realty-income-announces-operating-results-three-months-ended-march-31-2025">reported </a>adjusted funds from operations of $1.06, meeting a Wall Street consensus estimate. This came after two straight quarters of missing analyst estimates. The company reported quarterly sales of $1.38, which beat a Street estimate of $1.31 billion. This was the sixth straight quarter of beating analyst sales estimates. The company's CEO Sumit Roy highlighted the company's "high-quality tenant base," and predictable cash flows. The stock saw several analysts<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/O/analyst-ratings"> raise their price targets</a> after the report.



Realty Income stock was up slightly on the week, as shown on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below. Shares are up around 2% over the last year.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918543" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182455/Screenshot-416-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Simon Property Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPG#NYSE">SPG</a>): Investors were also drawn to another REIT this week with Simon Property Group seeing increased interest after reporting first-quarter financial <a href="https://investors.simon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/simonr-reports-first-quarter-2025-results-and-reaffirms-full">results </a>on May 12. The company missed funds from operations estimates from analysts, but beat sales estimates. The company has beaten analyst estimates for sales in more than 10 straight quarters. Simon Property Group reaffirmed full-year FFO guidance of a range of $12.40 to $12.65. The company also highlighted its US Mall and Premium Outlets occupancy up 0.4% from 95.5% in last year's first quarter to 95.9% in this year's first quarter. The company also saw the opening of Jakarta Premium Outlets in Indonesia in the quarter, with Simon Property owning 50% of the mall. Stifel <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPG/analyst-ratings">maintained their Buy rating</a> on the stock and raised the price target from $168.5 to $180.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="494" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918544" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182508/Screenshot-417-768x381.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Cheniere Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>): The liquified natural gas company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45183831/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-63">returns to the index </a>after another strong week of increased interest from readers. The company reported financial results on May 8 and has found its way onto the index two times in the last four weeks. Cheniere Energy missed analyst estimates for earnings per share, which was only the second miss in the last 10 quarters. The company beat sales estimates with $5.44 billion versus an estimate of $4.91 billion. This was the second straight quarter of beating sales estimates and seventh of the last 10 overall. The company reconfirmed some of its full-year financial targets and saw shares trade down slightly on the mixed results.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918545" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182521/Screenshot-418-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>): The connectors and sensors company hit new all-time highs and continues to see strong interest from readers. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44950358/amphenol-q1-earnings-48-topline-growth-driven-by-it-mobile-defense-sectors">reported first-quarter financial results</a> in April with earnings per share and revenue both beating analyst estimates. In fact, the company has beaten analyst estimates for both key figures in more than 10 straight quarters. The first quarter saw sales up 48% year-over-year with strong organic growth in the IT market and organic growth in the networks markets. Contributions from recent acquisitions also helped the revenue growth. Guidance from the company for the second quarter came in ahead of analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings per share. Analysts were quick to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/APH/analyst-ratings"> raise their price targets </a>after the results. The stock was up over 4% in a week that came several weeks after earnings. The stock is up around 30% over the last year and may continue to go higher with strong quarterly results.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918546" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182534/Screenshot-419-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Philip Morris International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>): The international tobacco company could be one of the stocks gaining interest from investors as a stock that could be highly insulated from the tariff impacts. The company sells tobacco products in other countries with facilities worldwide. In the United States, the company sells the Zyn nicotine pouches thanks to the acquisition of Swedish Match in 2023. The pouches are made in the United States. Philip Morris' smoke-free product lines have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44949808/zyn-gum-makers-smoke-free-business-revenue-jumps-15-raises-annual-profit-outlook">grown in the United States </a>and overseas. The company has posted five straight double beat quarters with earnings per share and revenue both coming in ahead of estimates. The stock trades near an all-time high and analysts have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PM/analyst-ratings">raising their price targets. </a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420.png" alt="" class="wp-image-918547" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16182550/Screenshot-420-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0516" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44883576/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-61" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 18</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/45029510/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-62" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 25</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45183831/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-63" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">May 2</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45335286/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-64">May 9</a></li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45112477/exclusive-if-meta-is-forced-to-divest-instagram-whatsapp-or-facebook-43-pick-this-standout" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: If Meta Is Forced To Divest Instagram, WhatsApp, Or Facebook, 43% Pick This Standout</a></li>
</ul>

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

Billy Evans, the partner of imprisoned Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is raising millions of dollars for a new health-tech startup that's already drawing comparisons to Holmes' failed venture.



His company, called Haemanthus, says it is creating AI-powered diagnostic tools that use light to analyze blood, saliva, and urine samples. Despite the similarities to Theranos, Evans is adamant that the comparison stops there.



Don't Miss:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.30/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>



<li>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-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;This Is Not Theranos 2.0&#8221;</h2>



"We're Haemanthus. Yes, our CEO, Billy Evans, is Elizabeth Holmes' partner. Skepticism is rational. We must clear a higher bar," the company said in a <a href="https://x.com/haemanthusinc/status/1921644016904364381">statement on X</a>, directly addressing public concerns. "This is not Theranos 2.0. Theranos attempted to miniaturize existing tests. Our approach is fundamentally different."



<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">We&#39;re Haemanthus. Yes, our CEO, Billy Evans, is Elizabeth Holmes&#39; partner. Skepticism is rational. We must clear a higher bar. When <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> contacted us, we invited them: see our lab, tech, and team. They declined. The headline was already written. Our reality inconvenient.&#x1f9f5;&mdash; haemanthus (@haemanthusinc) <a href="https://twitter.com/haemanthusinc/status/1921644016904364381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The company says it uses photonics and AI to detect disease earlier and more accurately.&nbsp;



In follow-up posts, Haemanthus continued: &#8220;The science, when ready, will stand on its own merits. But we feel compelled to introduce ourselves because of recent media coverage.&#8221;



&#8220;Setting the record straight. Elizabeth Holmes has zero involvement in Haemanthus. We&#8217;ve learned from her company&#8217;s mistakes, but she has no role, now or future.&#8221;



Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">Invest before it's too late.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Science and Strategy</h2>



Haemanthus, named after the blood lily flower, was incorporated in February 2024 and is still in early development. It reportedly raised around $3.5 million from friends and family and is seeking up to $50 million more. According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/business/elizabeth-holmes-partner-blood-testing-startup.html">New York Times</a>, some high-profile investors have already passed on the opportunity, while others have committed close to investing.



The company builds on Raman spectroscopy, which it calls &#8220;a proven technique with decades of research.&#8221; Haemanthus says it's using the method to scan biological samples on a molecular level using lasers, paired with deep learning models to detect cancer, Parkinson's, and other diseases.



"We&#8217;re making lab technology accessible through modern lasers and AI," the company said. "Think mainframe-to-PC transformation. Faster. Smaller. Accessible."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Theranos Echoes Linger</h2>



Evans, an heir to a hotel fortune, lives in Austin, Texas, with Holmes and their two children. He has not publicly acknowledged Holmes' involvement, but media reports speculate she may be advising him from prison, where she is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/06/32697657/elizabeth-holmes-what-was-it-like-working-with-the-disgraced-theranos-founder">serving an 11-year sentence</a> for defrauding investors.



Haemanthus' materials do not mention Holmes, and the company insists she has &#8220;zero involvement.&#8221; Holmes, meanwhile, told <a href="https://people.com/elizabeth-holmes-breaks-her-silence-in-first-interview-from-prison-it-s-been-hell-and-torture-exclusive-8789737">People</a> magazine earlier this year that she plans to return to biotech after her release in 2032.



See Also: The team behind $6B+ in licensing deals is now building the next billion-dollar IP empire — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-ym?v=123">invest early at $2.25/share.</a>



The startup's prototype resembles Theranos' miniLab, according to The Times, which accessed the marketing materials. It has a digital display and internal lasers. It plans to begin by testing pets before expanding to humans. The company told investors its long-term goal is to develop a stamp-sized wearable version of the device for people.



Haemanthus claims it is not subject to regulatory oversight for its veterinary diagnostics, citing a redacted U.S. Department of Agriculture document. However, a USDA spokesperson told The Times the agency does regulate veterinary diagnostics and could not confirm the company's claim.



Much of the Haemanthus team comes from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44519166/luminar-and-caterpillar-join-forces-to-revolutionize-autonomous-hauling-with-lidar-tech">Luminar, a self-driving tech company</a> where Evans previously worked. &#8220;Our co-founders have decades of experience in photonics, medicine, and AI. Our technical team scaled Luminar&#8217;s laser systems to production,&#8221; the company wrote.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;We've Learned From Her Company's Mistakes&#8221;</h2>



Haemanthus remains in stealth mode, and Evans has been vague about specifics. "When you're in stealth, you're trying to be in stealth. They aren't going to find anything associated with the name Haemanthus," he told the Times.



Still, the company is leaning into the scrutiny. "We've learned from her company's mistakes, but she has no role, now or future," Haemanthus said.



As for why the company is starting with animals, Haemanthus said, "Not because it's easier, but because it's practical and meaningful. It validates our technology, helps animals who can't describe symptoms, and builds the foundation for human applications."



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-ai-imaging-technology-has-been-used-in-more-than-500-surgeries-now-you-can-be-part-of-the-ai-imaging-revolution">Be part of the next med-tech breakthrough for only $350 — 500+ surgeries already done with nView's AI system.</a></li>



<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.30/share!</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

'Our Approach Is Fundamentally Different'—Says Partner Of Elizabeth Holmes As He Launches A Blood-Testing Startup, Reportedly Gets Funding

Vice President JD Vance has a huge lead over other possible contenders for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination according to a new poll.



What Happened: A survey conducted by J.L. Partners reveals that 46% of registered Republicans support Vance as the successor to President Donald Trump. No other candidate broke out of single digits.



According to the J.L. Partners <a href="https://jlpartners.com/">survey</a>, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is a distant second to Vance at 8%, followed by Vivek Ramaswamy at 7%. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) each garnered 6% support, while former South Carolina governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley secured 5%.



If Donald Trump Jr. is listed as an option, he polls 14%, still far behind Vance.



Vance, a Yale Law graduate and former venture capitalist, rose to prominence with his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy. Initially a Trump critic, he was a strong supporter of Trump during his successful Senate run in 2022 and has been a key communicator on issues such as immigration enforcement, trade, and social issues within the Trump administration.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44450678/jd-vances-poll-numbers-at-all-time-low-for-a-new-vp-breaking-kamala-harris-record">JD Vance&#8217;s Poll Numbers at All-Time Low for a New VP, Breaking Kamala Harris Record</a>



Why It Matters: According to&nbsp;JL Partners research manager Caroline&nbsp;Mulvaney, Vance &#8220;can&nbsp;expect to gain further support&nbsp;from voters who are currently&nbsp;supporting individuals unlikely to end&nbsp;up on the 2028 ticket,&nbsp;as well as at least&nbsp;some&nbsp;support from voters who are&nbsp;currently undecided.&#8221; 



This suggests that Vance&#8217;s lead in the race could potentially grow as the nomination process progresses, making him a strong contender for the 2028 Presidential election.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44211191/vp-vance-slams-pro-ukraine-protesters-for-confronting-him-with-his-daughter-chasing-a-three-year-old-for-politics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VP Vance Slams Pro-Ukraine Protesters for Confronting Him With His Daughter: ‘Chasing a Three-Year-Old for Politics'</a>



Image: Shutterstock/Consolidated News Photos

Politics

Poll Shows Vance With Big Lead For 2028 GOP Presidential Nomination

As the global gaming landscape evolves, few projects embody the bold leap from Web2 to Web3 quite like MapleStory Universe (MSU) — the blockchain-based expansion of Nexon's iconic IP.



Spearheaded by NEXPACE, Nexon's dedicated Web3 division headquartered in Abu Dhabi, MSU is redefining what sustainable, community-driven gaming economies can look like.



Backed by a $100M commitment and with over 17.6 million transactions and 470,000+ active wallets from public playtests, MSU is more than a Web3 experiment — it's a blueprint for the future of gaming.



During the TOKEN2049 Dubai, we sat down with Dominic Jang, Chief Business Officer &amp; Vice President, Nexpace Limited, MapleStory Universe, to explore the convergence of gaming, culture, and blockchain.



With over 15 years in global game operations and business development, Dominic shares his vision for building lasting Web3 ecosystems, why the UAE is emerging as a Web3 gaming hub, and how MSU is empowering creators and players through UGC, digital ownership, and on-chain innovation. Here's an excerpt from that conversation with Benzinga.



What sets MSU's approach to Web3 gaming apart from traditional play-to-earn models?



What differentiates MapleStory Universe from the traditional play-to-earn model is the foundation it is built on: a globally recognized, time-tested IP with a massive existing player base. MapleStory IP, developed by Nexon, has accumulated over 250 million registered users worldwide and has generated $5 billion in lifetime revenue since its launch. We are bringing this proven franchise with over two decades of live-service operation for community trust. In the past, many play-to-earn models have historically launched without in-depth consideration of entertainment value in gameplay or users, relying on financial incentives to attract short-term attention. This has often led to unsustainable economies and rapid user churn. In contrast, MapleStory Universe brings blockchain functionality to a world that already has depth, longevity, and a deeply engaged community. &nbsp;



Another key distinction is MapleStory's extensive underground economy, which has long existed outside of official game ecosystems. Although not officially endorsed, this underground peer-to-peer economy across global servers is considered a billion-dollar market. Players trade rare items, accounts, and services through unofficial grey markets. These economies emerged organically due to strong player demand, but in the web2 world, they were unregulated and risky. MapleStory Universe addresses this by formalizing these behaviors on-chain, giving players secure, transparent ownership and the ability to engage in value creation within a supported framework. We aim to transcend the project by combining the strengths of a globally successful IP with the capabilities of Web3, creating a gaming economy where fun, ownership, and longevity go hand-in-hand.



How is MSU building a sustainable, community-driven economy in its game ecosystem?



MSU's economy is designed to be adaptive, participatory, and resistant to speculative pressure. At its core is NXPC, the ecosystem token powered by the Nexpace Protocol, which governs the flow of value through two key mechanics: Fission and Fusion. Players redeem NXPC for NFTs when needed, and return NFTs for NXPC when utility shifts. This keeps the economy aligned with player-driven gameplay.



Designing for scale and longevity is a key sustainable factor for MSU as well. This is where the Nexpace Protocol plays a central role. MapleStory Universe is only the first of many IPs to be integrated into the protocol. Nexon's broader portfolio includes global successful mega-IPs, each with their own economies, communities, and design systems. As more IPs onboard, the protocol becomes a multi-IP economy, where assets, creators, and players move fluidly between game worlds. This cross-IP interoperability creates long-term retention, deeper engagement, and a more resilient digital ecosystem overall. NXPC offers an economic framework designed to evolve with players, scale across IPs, and remain sustainable over time.



What makes the MENA region a strategic hub for blockchain gaming innovation?



The MENA region, particularly the UAE, has emerged as a global leader in blockchain innovation, thanks to its favorable regulatory environment. Here at MSU, we believe that the MENA region provides us with the space where legacy IPs and digital ownership can thrive, aligning with our vision of a player-driven economy and ecosystem.&nbsp;



Abu Dhabi, the global headquarters for Nexpace, was strategically selected for its forward-thinking regulatory landscape and its strong commitment to blockchain innovation. The city's robust infrastructure and proactive policies enable us to confidently invest in the talent and resources required to drive long-term growth. Additionally, the region's demographic advantages play a crucial role in our wider decision to set up a base in MENA. With a young, tech-savvy population and the growing appetite for IP-centric digital economies, the Web3 gaming industry is expected to contribute to the region's GDP — potentially injecting US$4B through the renewed interest in gaming. Security and compliance are also critical factors that we took into consideration. 



How is UGC shaping MSU's gameplay and player engagement strategies?



Taking a step back, if you have a closer look in the entire entertainment industry, there is an obvious trend, where every consumer's preference over what kind of contents they find entertaining or fun, is increasingly diversifying, and it's becoming almost impossible for one single entity to cope with such diverging demands. TV stations are losing their viewers to streaming platforms, and now we are living in a world where anyone can become their own media. Game studios are not immune to this big wave. If you take a look at TikTok, we are seeing a much clearer trend, where consumers are becoming content creators themselves at the same time, even to an extent that content creation itself is becoming an entertainment, and I highly evaluate TikTok for content creation being incredibly accessible.



We, at Nexon Group, believe that user-generated content (UGC) is at the heart of what makes MapleStory unique and engaging for our players. A great example of this would be MapleStory World, the original MapleStory's UGC platform that saw over 100,000 concurrent users and has created adapted games from the original IP like Artale or Maple Land. In the MapleStory Universe ecosystem, we are taking this one step further by empowering players to create, trade and monetize their own creations, by adding one more layer of blockchain. We are introducing Synergy Apps, which enable players to integrate their creations within existing gameplay systems. These apps create a virtuous cycle of creation, ownership, and utility, allowing players to not just play the game but shape its evolution. Over the course of ecosystem growth, we are introducing more APIs, SDK, and game development tools, to allow users to interchangeably interact with different Synergy Apps, eventually creating much fruitful player experience based on creative strategies, leading to everlasting creation of next-gen contents. The use of blockchain technology and its characteristics are what takes UGCs to the next level and keeps players engaged.



What opportunities does asset ownership unlock for players in your ecosystem?



Asset ownership fundamentally changes how players interact with games. Instead of assets being confined to a single server and controlled by game creators for instance, players will be able to truly own their items and trade them freely. This sense of ownership not only adds real value to their in-game efforts but also fosters a more direct participation by players to preserve the value of the assets they own. Finally, it unlocks the potential for players to earn from their creative contributions, whether through marketplace sales or peer-to-peer transactions. In essence, ownership means that players are not just participants but have an actual stake in MSU's narrative.



One of the most significant opportunities asset ownership unlocks is the formalization of player-driven economies that have long existed outside official game systems. For years, players have found ways to trade rare items or in-game progress through unofficial channels, often facing risks such as fraud, account bans, or loss of assets. These grey markets emerged because players wanted more control over the value they created, even when the system didn't support it.



With MapleStory Universe, we're addressing that need directly. By integrating blockchain, we enable players to truly own their in-game assets. These items can be traded, collected, or used across multiple experiences in a secure and transparent environment that is officially supported. This removes the need for unregulated workarounds and ensures players are rewarded for their time, effort, and creativity within the ecosystem. 



How has Nexon's $100M investment accelerated MSU's Web3 development roadmap?



The $100M investment from Nexon has certainly played a pivotal role in accelerating MSU's Web3 development. However, it's important to highlight that MSU's approach is fundamentally different from most crypto projects. Instead of relying on the typical venture capital routes that often lead to inflated valuations, we made the deliberate decision to opt out of concentrated VC ownership. This strategic move is a core element of our long-term vision for a sustainable Web3 entertainment platform.



In contrast to the overcapitalized "foie gras" scenarios seen in the market—where projects are prematurely inflated only to be dumped once liquidity events occur—we are focused on building a project that centers on real utility and long-term user engagement. This means that, while the investment helps us grow and accelerate development, it doesn't come with the pressure of quick token listings or speculative hype cycles. Instead, we're building a robust ecosystem that emphasizes utility-first, user-focused features like open-world content creation tools (APIs, SDKs, synergy apps), real user engagement, and a sustainable, incentive-driven economy.



This focus on building an ecosystem grounded in MapleStory's proven IP, rather than chasing short-term market hype, allows us to create a genuine user-driven platform. By rolling out features only when they're truly ready and backed by real usage data, we're ensuring that MSU's growth is driven by organic demand and community involvement, rather than the unpredictable swings of speculative capital.



What's next for MSU in terms of expanding its universe and onboarding creators?



We are constantly exploring ways to expand MSU and onboard more creators into our ecosystem. Following the launch of MapleStory N on 15 May, we will look to roll out more robust creator tools and host collaborative events to inspire community-driven content.



Looking ahead, our vision extends beyond MapleStory N. As the MSU ecosystem continues to evolve and grow, we see potential in adding more IPs to the universe. Players will be able to experience new narratives and gameplay while remaining within the same blockchain. By building an interconnected world of games and IPs, we are laying the foundation for long-term growth and a prosperous community. Lastly, we hope to expand our user base — from traditional gamers to Web3 enthusiasts we aim to foster a more adaptive and creative community where literally anyone can play and create within MSU.

Cryptocurrency

At MSU, We Aim To Merge Global IP With Web3 To Build Gaming Economy Rooted In Fun, Ownership, And Longevity, Says Dominic Jang

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) reportedly faces mounting scrutiny from U.S. authorities over its efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence features in iPhones sold in China through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43631776/apple-teams-up-with-alibaba-for-ai-innovation-in-china-submits-ai-features-for-regulatory-approval" rel="noreferrer noopener">a potential partnership with </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43631776/apple-teams-up-with-alibaba-for-ai-innovation-in-china-submits-ai-features-for-regulatory-approval" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>).



The deal, which would allow Alibaba&#8217;s AI technology to power iPhones in China, has drawn concern from both the White House and Congress due to national security risks and the potential amplification of Chinese tech capabilities, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/technology/apple-alibaba-ai-tool-china.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>, citing people familiar with the discussion.



Over recent months, U.S. officials have privately questioned Apple executives about the proposed tie-up.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45473543/alibabas-cloud-and-e-commerce-units-shine-as-analyst-sees-ai-take-rates-fueling-future-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Misses Revenue, But AI Cloud Has Silver Lining</a>



Lawmakers are worried that working with a major Chinese firm could lead to data-sharing obligations under Beijing&#8217;s laws and assist China&#8217;s advancement in military-use AI.



Meetings between Apple and members of the House Select Committee on China revealed gaps in Apple&#8217;s preparedness, with company representatives reportedly unable to provide specifics about regulatory commitments or data protections.



The friction comes amid a broader tech rivalry between the U.S. and China.



Policymakers, viewing AI as pivotal in future warfare, have taken steps to restrict China&#8217;s access to cutting-edge AI chips. Now, they&#8217;re weighing whether to add Alibaba and similar firms to a blacklist that would bar dealings with American companies, The New York Times adds.



Adding fuel to the fire, former President Donald Trump recently criticized Apple CEO Tim Cook for shifting manufacturing to India<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45462006/no-change-in-apples-production-plans-says-india-despite-trumps-little-problem-with-ceo-tim-cook-report" rel="noreferrer noopener"> instead of focusing on domestic production.</a>



The remarks came during Trump&#8217;s Middle East visit, highlighting broader dissatisfaction with Apple&#8217;s global strategy.



China remains Apple&#8217;s second-largest market, making the stakes particularly high.



Without a local AI partner like Alibaba, Apple could struggle to keep pace with domestic rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi.



Apple reportedly explored multiple local partners before settling on Alibaba and has already sought regulatory clearance for the AI features. However, congressional leaders remain alarmed by the possibility of Apple binding itself to Chinese laws in this emerging technological domain.



Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) expressed frustration over Apple&#8217;s lack of transparency, calling Alibaba &#8220;a poster child&#8221; for China&#8217;s military-civil fusion strategy.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45443398/zeekr-vehicle-sales-jump-25-cost-cuts-drive-record-margins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zeekr Vehicle Sales Jump 25%, Cost Cuts Drive Record Margins</a></li>
</ul>



Shutterstock/Mamun_Sheikh

General

AAPL

iPhones, AI, And Alibaba: Why Apple's China Bet Alarms Donald Trump

Elon Musk&#8217;s influence within the Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is gradually diminishing, yet the agency&#8217;s sweeping reforms <a target="_blank" href="https://benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45140155/musk-shifts-focus-back-to-tesla-says-doge-will-endure-without-him-is-buddha-needed-for-buddhism" rel="noreferrer noopener">continue to reshape the federal landscape.</a>



Despite Musk&#8217;s diminishing presence, DOGE has already rooted itself in multiple agencies and launched projects ranging from IT overhauls to constructing a centralized data system intended to bolster fraud detection and immigration enforcement, CNN <a target="_blank" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/17/politics/musk-doge-future" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.



In the early months of Trump&#8217;s second term, DOGE helped facilitate layoffs affecting more than 120,000 federal workers.



Others took early retirements or relocation packages amid a flurry of program cuts and departmental shake-ups.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45481170/as-tesla-stock-witnesses-nearly-45-surge-in-one-month-elon-musk-asks-minnesota-governor-tim-walz-hows-your-day-bro" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Takes A Swipe At Minnesota Governor Tim Walz As TSLA Stock Surges 45% In One Month: &#8216;How&#8217;s Your Day, Bro?&#8217;</a>



These actions have caused confusion and discontent among public employees, some of whom described significant operational disruptions and morale dips across agencies.



Although Musk has confirmed he will refocus his attention on Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), he plans to remain peripherally involved in the federal initiative.



Administration officials and lawmakers close to DOGE insist the agency&#8217;s work will go on uninterrupted, citing a deeply embedded structure that now spans nearly every executive department.



Many DOGE staffers occupy positions with long-term contracts or renewable terms, while others have assumed roles traditionally viewed as permanent.



This workforce includes engineers and advisers drawn from SpaceX, X, and Musk&#8217;s affiliated companies.



Some Cabinet officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have reportedly resisted what they see as DOGE&#8217;s overreach into their jurisdiction.



Critics say DOGE&#8217;s tactics mirror Silicon Valley&#8217;s disrupt first approach, with some initiatives lacking clear legal parameters.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45463905/tesla-futurist-brian-wang-doubles-down-on-1000-price-target-bets-big-on-ai-and-robotaxis-few-technical-resistance-levels-then-its-all-time-highs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Futurist Brian Wang Doubles Down On $1,000 Price Target, Bets Big On AI And Robotaxis: &#8216;Few Technical Resistance Levels…Then It&#8217;s All-Time Highs&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Shutterstock/Joshua Sukoff

TSLA

Elon Musk Pulls Back—But His Federal Overhaul Machine Rolls On

President Donald Trump&#8216;s approval ratings have taken a significant hit on almost all fronts, with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/45027947/trumps-second-term-viewed-as-chaotic-and-scary-by-majority-of-voters">notable exception of border security</a>.



What Happened: A new <a href="https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/announcing-the-strength-in-numbersverasight">poll</a> by Strength in Numbers/Verasight, reveals that President Trump&#8217;s approval ratings are in the negative on every issue, except for border security. The survey, conducted from May 1 to May 6, included 1,000 adult participants.



The poll results show that a mere 40 percent of respondents&nbsp;either strongly or somewhat approve&nbsp;of Trump&#8217;s overall presidency, while 56 percent disapprove. 



This puts him at a deficit of 16 points. On specific policy areas, Trump&#8217;s ratings are even more dismal, with a net negative&nbsp;32-point rating on prices and&nbsp;inflation, and a 17-point deficit on jobs and the economy.



Additionally, Trump&#8217;s ratings are down by 20 points&nbsp;on government funding and social&nbsp;programs, and by 17 points on healthcare. His policies&nbsp;on immigration and deportations also&nbsp;received negative ratings, with deficits of two points and six points, respectively. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45184463/donald-trumps-support-tanks-early-in-second-term-poll-numbers-paint-grim-picture">Donald Trump&#8217;s Support Tanks Early in Second Term — Poll Numbers Paint Grim Picture</a>



However, when it comes to border security, Trump seems to have found his silver lining, with&nbsp;a net positive approval rating&nbsp;of 10 points. 52 percent of respondents approve of his record on this issue, while 42 percent disapprove.



Despite these discouraging figures, it&#8217;s important to remember that&nbsp;there are still 17 months&nbsp;to go&nbsp;before the congressional midterm elections&nbsp;in 2026. A strategic&nbsp;shift in policy by the&nbsp;administration could potentially turn these ratings around.



Why It Matters: These poll results could have significant implications for the upcoming midterm elections. Trump&#8217;s low approval ratings on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, and government funding could potentially sway voters away from his party. 



However, his positive rating on border security might appeal to a certain demographic, potentially helping to balance out some of the negative sentiment. 



The next 17 months will be crucial in determining whether Trump can turn the tide in his favor.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44780349/trumps-tariff-policies-fuel-economic-concerns-economists-expect-slower-growth-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump's Tariff Policies Fuel Economic Concerns, Economists Expect Slower Growth Ahead</a>



Image: Shutterstock/Shutterstock AI

Poll Shows Trump's Approval Rating Underwater on Nearly Everything From Economy to Abortion

Before Mark Cuban became a billionaire, a TV fixture, and a guy who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44839817/billionaire-mark-cuban-says-pharma-is-the-easiest-business-ive-ever-disrupted-in-a-500-billion-industry-1-is-a-whole-lot-of-money">casually disrupts Big Pharma</a> for fun, he was just another confident tech founder trying to make it in the ‘80s. He had a million-dollar company, a little swagger, and—at least for one night in Las Vegas—a front-row seat to what happens when <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/05/45332405/bill-gates-predicts-3-day-workweeks-says-its-probably-ok-if-machines-can-make-the-food-and-stuff-because-theres-more-to-life-than-work">Bill Gates walks into a bar</a>.



It all came up <a href="https://youtu.be/L_8wm30tLyc?si=KP1btYratigTdZB8">during a 2022 episode of the "Full Send Podcast"</a>, after the hosts asked Cuban about competition and missed opportunities. That's when he lit up with:



"I'll tell you a story. I'll tell you a story about in Vegas back in the day about Bill Gates."



Don't Miss:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.30/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>



<li>Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">Invest before it's too late.</a></li>
</ul>



This wasn't just any Vegas story—it was COMDEX, one of the biggest tech trade shows in the world at the time. According to Cuban, the crowd was massive. "125,000 people," he said. "I started my company, I was like 26, 27… and I just thought I was a badass."



He was feeling good, hanging with a group of women, ordering shots, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43190697/mark-cubans-black-amex-card-got-declined-buying-a-140000-bottle-of-champagne-to-celebrate-teams-nba-win-can-i-please-spend-some-money">assuming the night was going his way</a>.



"This was right when <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/history/history-of-microsoft-1986">Microsoft had gone public</a>," he said. "So one day, no one knows who Bill Gates is. The next day, he's the king of tech."



That's when the girls told him they needed to run to the bathroom—and never returned.



"I'm like, what the f&#x2A;&#x2A;&#x2A;?" Cuban said, still laughing about it decades later.



His buddy leaned over and broke the news: "Yo, do you know who Bill Gates is?"



Trending: The team behind $6B+ in licensing deals is now building the next billion-dollar IP empire — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-ym?v=123">invest early at $2.25/share.</a>



Turns out Gates had just hit a net worth of around $350 million. Cuban? "I was maybe worth a million dollars." Which made him… invisible.



"Bill Gates took my girls!" he admitted, laughing. But the sting was real.



The host cut in: "Did that fire you up? That should've motivated you, right?"



"It did motivate me," Cuban shot back. "Right? To find—to go on to the next…"



Years later, Cuban finally got a chance to one-up the tech legend. After selling Broadcast.com, he was invited to speak at a conference. The organizers mentioned Gates would be speaking first.



"I'm like, the only reason I'm doing this is because Bill Gates is talking right before me," he said.



See Also: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/a-cure-for-osteoarthritis-powered-by-everyday-investors-cytonics-is-looking-to-beat-big-pharma-and-disrupt-a-390-billion-market"> Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold</a>.



So when it was his turn, he walked out on stage and delivered the zinger he'd probably been waiting years to say:



"I'm excited to tell you I sold my company… and finally, after all these years, Bill Gates is my opening act."



Cuban says Gates "got so pissed." And the kicker?



"I've never talked to him since," Cuban said. "Not to this day."



Not out of spite. "Not that I've had any reason to talk to him," he added. But that night in Vegas? Still a core memory.



He may have lost the girls, but Cuban got the punchline. And maybe a little satisfaction knowing that even tech royalty doesn't always get the last word.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-ai-imaging-technology-has-been-used-in-more-than-500-surgeries-now-you-can-be-part-of-the-ai-imaging-revolution">Be part of the next med-tech breakthrough for only $350 — 500+ surgeries already done with nView's AI system.</a></li>



<li>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 $0.30/share!</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Mark Cuban Says 'Back In The Day' Bill Gates Stole 'His Girls' In Las Vegas — He Was Worth $1 Million, But Gates Was The Mega Rich 'King of Tech'

A push by Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk into politics may have hurt the electric vehicle company's brand value and caused some existing Tesla owners <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44365545/senator-ditches-tesla-vehicle-in-protest-against-damage-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-are-doing-to-country-heres-what-he-bought-instead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to sell</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44365545/senator-ditches-tesla-vehicle-in-protest-against-damage-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-are-doing-to-country-heres-what-he-bought-instead"> their vehicles.</a>



A Danish construction company is the latest Tesla owner to decide they no longer want to own vehicles associated with Musk.



What Happened: An entire corporate fleet of Tesla vehicles owned by Danish construction company Tscherning has been returned with Musk&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/interview/25/03/44539183/exclusive-tesla-protest-organizer-says-elon-musk-seems-to-have-purchased-the-american-government">push into politics </a>cited as the reason why.



"At Tscherning, we not only decide how we drive – but also who we drive with. That's why we've chosen to hand over the keys to our Tesla company cars – not because Tesla has become a bad car, but in light of Elon Musk's political commitment and the opinions he has publicly expressed (and which are increasingly hard to overlook), we as a company have chosen to say ‘thank you for the ride,'" Tscherning said, as reported by <a href="https://electrek.co/2025/05/15/company-returns-entire-tesla-vehicle-fleet-because-of-elon-musk/">Electrek</a>.



The move comes after the construction company electrified its corporate fleet with Tesla vehicles. The company will buy "European alternatives" after returning the Tesla vehicles according to the report.



Tscherning said it didn't want to be "associated with the values and political direction that currently accompany the Tesla brand."



Are you buying when the CEOs of the Magnificent 7 are selling?



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stay in the know with our Insider Trades page — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">see when leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang are offloading their own shares.</a></li>
</ul>



Why It's Important: Tesla has seen lower sales of its vehicles and Europe is one of the areas being hit the hardest.



The sales decline could be due to several factors, including the Model Y changeover, factory downtime, less demand for electric vehicles and consumers not wanting to be associated with Tesla vehicles anymore.



Demand for new Tesla vehicles has dropped and the sale prices of used Tesla vehicles have also fallen.



Corporate sales could be one of the latest areas to be hit by the Tesla brand damage. European pharmacy chain Rossman sold their corporate fleet of Tesla vehicles last year, with Musk also cited as the reason.



Sales of Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44128646/tesla-sales-drop-in-europe-in-february-some-countries-down-over-40-is-musks-political-push-hurting-ev-company">vehicles in Denmark</a> fell 48.1% in January, 53.1% in February and 65.6% in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44601458/teslas-european-sales-decline-for-3rd-consecutive-month-amid-china-competition-ceo-elon-musks-political-controversies">March </a>on a year-over-year basis.



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock was up 2% to $349.98 on Friday. Tesla stock is down 7.7% year-to-date in 2025 with shares up around 100% over the last year.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44937440/tesla-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-miss-eps-miss-tariff-landscape-and-changing-political-sentiment-cloud-guidance">Tesla Q1 Misses Estimates As Tariff Pressures Weigh On Outlook, Lower-Cost EVs Still On Track</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Global

Why A Danish Company Is Telling Elon Musk 'Thanks For The Ride' — And Returning Its Tesla Fleet

President Donald Trump has doubled down on his aggressive tariff stance, taking aim at toy giant Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>) as part of his ongoing trade dispute with China.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Threat</h2>



In <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1920505479543075300">remarks</a> from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump seemed to mistake the company for a country, saying, "Mattel, I don't know, I'm not so sure, they also said, they're the only country I've heard they said, &#8216;Well, we're going to go counter, we're going to try going someplace else,&#8217; that's okay.&#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">Trump floats the idea of a 100% on toys from Mattel which refers to as a country <a href="https://t.co/LeHlHBckEI">pic.twitter.com/LeHlHBckEI</a>&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1920505479543075300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Don't Miss:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>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 $0.30/share!</a></li>



<li>Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">Invest before it's too late.</a></li>
</ul>



He continued, "Let him go and we'll put a 100% tariff on his toys, and he won't sell one toy in the United States, and that's their biggest market."



Mattel recently announced plans to diversify its supply chain to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing, a response to Trump's steep import tariffs.&nbsp;



CEO Ynon Kreiz told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/06/mattel-ceo-toy-manufacturing-trump-tariffs.html?">CNBC</a> that the company is focused on global diversification, aiming to ensure that no single country will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45264015/trumps-tariffs-hit-mattels-barbies-will-americans-pay-a-couple-of-bucks-more-as-president-predicts">handle more than 25%</a> of its sourcing by the end of 2025, including China. Kreiz dismissed the idea of moving production back to the U.S., saying, "We don't see that happening."



The company&#8217;s shift comes as Trump pushes for more U.S.-based manufacturing, despite the higher costs this approach would impose on companies and consumers.&nbsp;



Trending: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-ym?v=123">Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000.</a>



Trump recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45144516/trump-a-grinch-or-santa-for-christmas-children-will-have-two-dolls-instead-of-30-dolls">downplayed concerns</a> about the impact of tariffs on toy prices, saying children might just end up with "two dolls instead of 30" and that the remaining toys might "cost a couple of bucks more."



According to a recent New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/business/trump-tariffs-christmas-china.html">report</a>, around 80% of all toys and 90% of all Christmas decorations sold in the U.S. are produced in China. With tariffs of up to 145% currently in place, many companies have paused new orders, further threatening the availability of popular holiday items.



Industry experts have warned that these tariffs could result in a significant toy shortage this Christmas. Toy Association's CEO Greg Ahearn told the Times that the situation is a "frozen supply chain" and called for a 24-month reprieve on tariffs to give manufacturers time to adjust their sourcing strategies.



See Also: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/a-cure-for-osteoarthritis-powered-by-everyday-investors-cytonics-is-looking-to-beat-big-pharma-and-disrupt-a-390-billion-market"> Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold</a>.



Mattel, the maker of iconic brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price, has been gradually reducing its reliance on China for nearly a decade. CEO Kreiz told CNBC that by the end of 2025, the company aims to have no single country handle more than a quarter of its production. However, this global diversification strategy has not included a significant move toward U.S. manufacturing.



Trump's latest comments suggest the White House is prepared to penalize companies that try to sidestep his trade policies. "I wouldn't want to have him as an executive too long," Trump said, seemingly referencing Kreiz's strategy to diversify rather than relocate production to the U.S.



With the holiday season fast approaching, the question remains whether parents will be willing to pay higher prices for fewer toys as Trump's trade policies continue to ripple through the retail sector.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-ai-imaging-technology-has-been-used-in-more-than-500-surgeries-now-you-can-be-part-of-the-ai-imaging-revolution">Be part of the next med-tech breakthrough for only $350 — 500+ surgeries already done with nView's AI system.</a></li>



<li>Inspired by Uber and Airbnb &#8211; Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets &#8211; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.30/share!</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

'He Won't Sell One Toy In The United States,' Says Donald Trump Suggesting A 100% Tariff On Mattel Which He Seemed To Mistake For A Country

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) treasury companies like Michael Saylor&#8216;s Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) (formerly MicroStrategy) were in focus as Brett Winton, the chief futurist at ARK Investment Management LLC, highlighted that trouble could be brewing for such companies in the long run.



What Happened: As companies like MSTR have been issuing equity and debt to raise funds for Bitcoin purchases, Winton underscored that funding purchases with debt &#8220;seems like a recipe for disaster on the back end of this cycle.&#8221;



According to him, if the treasury companies keep doing so, &#8220;a higher debt mix&#8221; will &#8220;be the seed that grows to destroy the business-less business model.&#8221;



He explains this by highlighting the presence of an arbitrage opportunity till the time the stock prices for companies like MSTR are trading at a premium to the net asset value (NAV).



As of its May 12 SEC filing, MSTR held 568,840 Bitcoins at an aggregate purchase price of $39.41 billion, whereas its market capitalization stood at a staggering $108.55 billion.



Thus, Winton implied that BTC treasury companies could keep issuing equity until the arbitrage opportunity closes. &#8220;Competitors are now launching/raising will accelerate that process,&#8221; he said in his X post.



However, as the equity to NAV gap closes, the companies will shift to debt for funding their BTC purchases, thus concocting the &#8220;recipe for disaster,&#8221; as underscored by Winton.



<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">though so-called bitcoin treasury companies don&#39;t make sense, but so long as they are trading at a NAV premium to the underlying holdings they should continue to sell equity and buy bitcoin until they arbitrage out the opportunity. That &quot;competitors&quot; are now launching/raising…&mdash; Brett Winton (@wintonARK) <a href="https://twitter.com/wintonARK/status/1923310593592926619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 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/general/market-summary/25/05/45399940/warren-buffett-shows-how-patience-pays-98-of-his-160-billion-wealth-came-after-turning-65-thanks-the-power-of-compound-interest">Warren Buffett Shows How Patience Pays: 98% Of His $160 Billion Wealth Came After Turning 65, Thanks The Power Of &#8216;Compound Interest&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: While MSTR is the largest BTC treasury company that has issues both equity and debt to purchase Bitcoins, Ryan Cohen&#8216;s GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) has recently announced its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/03/44511612/gamestop-follows-mstrs-footsteps-why-will-investors-buy-convertible-notes-with-no-interest">plans to join MSTR&#8217;s ranks</a>.



MARA Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), Cantor Equity Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEP#NASDAQ">CEP</a>), Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>), and Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. (TSE: GLXY) follow MSTR in having the highest number of Bitcoins as a part of their assets.



Meanwhile, other experts think that Bitcoin prices are poised to rise. Citing Tom Lee, the head of research at Fundstrat, the Moon Show highlighted on X Friday the potential for Bitcoin&#8217;s network value to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45463966/tom-lee-predicts-bitcoin-will-hit-1-5-million-in-10-years-calls-it-a-swiss-army-knife-of-money">equal that of gold</a>. 



Lee argued that Bitcoin&#8217;s versatility, acting as a risk-on asset in bull markets, combined with growing adoption, fuels network value and price appreciation.



Price Action: Shares of MSTR fell 4.73% on Thursday and rose 1.03% in premarket on Friday. The stock was up 32.34% on a year-to-date basis, and 175.72% higher over a year.



Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that MSTR had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid at the 97.50th percentile, while the value ranking was very poor. You can check the details of other metrics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">over here</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="148" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16075705/EDGE-MSTR-1024x148.png" alt="" class="wp-image-917803" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16075705/EDGE-MSTR-1024x148.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16075705/EDGE-MSTR-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16075705/EDGE-MSTR-768x111.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16075705/EDGE-MSTR.png 1224w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></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, were higher in premarket on Friday. The SPY was up 0.29% to $592.20, while the QQQ advanced 0.34% to $521.01, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/05/45464528/rocket-companies-soars-6-in-friday-premarket-as-activist-investor-valueact-reveals-new-position-calls-rkt-a-sleeping-giant-in-early-innings">Rocket Companies Soars 6% In Friday Premarket As Activist Investor ValueAct Reveals New Position, Calls RKT A &#8216;Sleeping Giant&#8217; In Early Innings </a></li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: creativeneko on Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Market Summary

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Futures

Analyst Ratings

$BTC

GLXY

MARA

MSTR

RIOT

Ark Invest Expert Takes Swipe At MSTR, MARA, Says 'Bitcoin Treasury Companies Don't Make Sense:' 'Funding Purchases With Debt...Seems Like A Recipe For Disaster'

The Symbol MBT was not found. Here are some similar symbols and popular symbols to consider.

MBT Page Not Found - Benzinga

Symbol Similar to: MBT

Top Gaining Stocks

Notizie

PARTNER/COLLABORATORE

BENZINGA NEL MONDO