Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) reported first-quarter financial results after the market close on Wednesday. Here&#8217;s a look at the key details <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n45116472/meta-reports-first-quarter-2025-results">from the quarter</a>.



Q1 Earnings: Meta reported first-quarter revenue of $42.31 billion, beating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst estimates</a>&nbsp;of $41.39 billion. The company reported first-quarter earnings of $6.43 per share, easily beating analyst estimates of $5.21 per share.



According to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>, Meta exceeded analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines in nine straight quarters.



Total revenue in the first three months of the year was up 16% on a year-over-year basis. Family daily active people climbed 6% year-over-year to 3.43 billion. Ad impressions jumped 5% year-over-year and average price per ad increased by 10% year-over-year.



Operating margins totaled 41%, up from 38% in the prior year&#8217;s quarter. Costs and expenses came in at $24.76 billion, up 9% year-over-year. Capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, came in at $13.69 billion. The company ended the quarter with $70.23 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. Meta noted its headcount was up 11% year-over-year to 76,834 as of March 31.



&#8220;We&#8217;ve had a strong start to an important year, our community continues to grow and our business is performing very well. We&#8217;re making good progress on AI glasses and Meta AI, which now has almost 1 billion monthly actives,&#8221; said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.



Check This Out: <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">EXCLUSIVE &#8211; If Meta Is Forced To Divest Instagram, WhatsApp, Or Facebook, 43% Pick This Standout</a>



Outlook:&nbsp;Meta expects second-quarter revenue to be in the range of $42.5 billion to $45.5 billion versus&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;estimates of $44.06 billion.



Meta expects full-year 2025 expenses to be in the range of $113 billion to $118 billion, down from prior guidance of $114 billion to $119 billion. The company anticipates full-year capital expenditures of $64 billion to $72 billion. That&#8217;s up from prior guidance of $60 to $65 billion.



&#8220;This updated&nbsp;outlook&nbsp;reflects additional data center investments to support our artificial intelligence efforts as well as an increase in the expected cost of infrastructure hardware,&#8221; the company said in the earnings release.



&#8220;In addition, we continue to monitor an active regulatory landscape, including legal and regulatory headwinds in the EU and the U.S. that could significantly impact our business and our financial results.&#8221;



Meta executives will further discuss the quarter on a conference call with investors and analysts at 5 p.m. ET.



Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/meta" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Platforms shares</a> were up 4.22% after hours, trading at $572.78 at the time of publication Wednesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/45098124/trumps-next-100-days-these-fallen-angels-are-jpmorgans-top-picks">Trump&#8217;s Next 100 Days: These &#8216;Fallen Angels&#8217; Are JPMorgan&#8217;s Top Picks</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/tadaimages">Tada Images</a>/Shutterstock.

Earnings

News

Guidance

Movers

Meta Q1 Earnings: EPS Beat, Revenue Up 16%, AI Approaches 1 Billion Monthly Actives, Capital Expenditures Forecast Raised

Technology giant Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) reported third-quarter financial results after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">market close Wednesday.</a>



Here are the key highlights.



What Happened: Microsoft reported third-quarter revenue of $70.07 billion, up 13% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $68.43 billion according to data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0430">from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company reported quarterly earnings per share of $3.46, beating a Street consensus estimate of $3.22.



Here&#8217;s a look at Microsoft&#8217;s revenue by reporting segment:



<ul>
<li>Productivity and Business Processes: $29.9 billion, +10% year-over-year.</li>



<li>Intelligent Cloud: $26.8 billion, +21% year-over-year.</li>



<li>More Personal Computing: $13.4 billion, +6% year-over-year.</li>
</ul>



Total Microsoft Cloud revenue was $42.4 billion in the quarter, up 20% year-over-year. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said the Cloud revenue growth was driven "by continued demand for our differentiated offerings."



The company saw growth across several segments for cloud. Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue was up 12% year-over-year in the quarter. Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue was up 10% year-over-year. Dynamics products and cloud services revenue was up 11% year-over-year. Server products and cloud services revenue was up 22% year-over-year.



Microsoft also said its Azure and other cloud services revenue was up 33% year-over-year.



In the More Personal Computing segment, Xbox content and revenue was up 8% year-over-year with Search and news advertising revenue up 21% year-over-year.



"Cloud and AI are the essential inputs for every business to expand output, reduce costs, and accelerate growth," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said. "From AI infra and platforms to apps, we are innovating across the stack to deliver for our customers."



Microsoft will provide forward-looking guidance on its earnings conference call Wednesday, which can be viewed below.



MSFT Price Action: Microsoft stock is up 5.5% to $417.17 year-over-year in after-hours trading Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $344.79 to $468.35.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/45082109/microsoft-q3-earnings-preview-cloud-ai-guidance-top-items-analysts-highlight-to-watch">Microsoft Q3 Earnings Preview: Cloud, AI, Guidance Top Items Analysts Highlight To Watch</a></li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534; WATCH LIVE: Microsoft Q3 2025 Earnings Call &#x7C; $MSFT" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LcyAJdx64cw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Photo: Shutterstock

Tech

Trading Ideas

MSFT

Microsoft Q3 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, CEO Says 'Cloud And AI Are The Essential Inputs'

Editor&#8217;s Note: Today, we&#8217;re hearing from Tom Gentile, one of America&#8217;s most successful pattern traders, with 30 years of trading and teaching experience under his belt. You may recognize him from Money Morning, CNBC, or the numerous options books he has authored. Most importantly, Tom has spent the last two decades building some of the most sophisticated pattern-tracking software in the markets, with the help of actual rocket scientists from NASA and Raytheon. Below, he reveals three &#8220;tariff-proof&#8221; stocks his system has identified. 



The tariff threats might be paused for now—but the uncertainty isn't going anywhere. It's not a matter of if they flare back up, it's when.



Sure, we&#8217;ve seen a few rallies since the tariffs were first announced in early April, and the DOW tanked by 4,000 points. But let's be honest: those rallies were more like dead cat bounces. The underlying issues—higher tariffs on Chinese imports and retaliation overseas—haven't gone anywhere. And they're still weighing heavy on the markets.



The simple truth? The tariff war isn't over. Not even close. And it's created an environment where what used to be &#8220;safe&#8221; plays just aren't so safe anymore.



Here's the good news: There's still a path to profits—even in the choppiest markets—if you know where to look.



So, I've been busy running my scans, checking my seasonal patterns and analyzing the stocks and sectors that actually benefit from tariffs. That's right: some companies are positioned to thrive in this environment.



And today, I want to show you the top three stocks I consider to be &#8220;tariff-proof&#8221; and why they&#8217;re primed to soar this spring.



Let&#8217;s dig in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Steel</h2>



U.S. Steel (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>) is still one of the clearest beneficiaries when it comes to tariff dynamics.



Why? Because X is heavily invested in domestic production and because foreign competitors face higher barriers, they've gained serious pricing power. And with tariffs once again dominating the headlines, U.S. Steel is right back in the spotlight.



Now, has the stock seen its share of volatility this year? Absolutely.



Shares pulled back sharply in early April, along with the broader market selloff. But even with the turbulence, X has stabilized faster than many other industrial names—and it&#8217;s showing signs of strength as infrastructure spending ramps up.



So, as long as the tariff battle continues—and as long as domestic steel demand stays firm—U.S. Steel is positioned to outperform. It's one of the few companies that stands to benefit as Washington puts more pressure on imports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Marathon Petroleum</h2>



Marathon Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPC#NYSE">MPC</a>) remains one of the quiet winners as trade tensions reshape the energy market. Domestic refining stands to gain when tariffs hit Canadian oil—and Marathon is built to thrive on U.S. supply.



With a massive nationwide network and deep investment in American energy, MPC is positioned right where the demand shift is heading.



And they&#8217;ve proven they can capitalize.



Since the start of the year, Marathon has not only weathered market volatility—it's gained serious momentum. Shares are up double digits since January, and the company's latest earnings report showed revenue topping $36.2 billion—a clear sign that demand is holding firm.



Bottom line?



As the push toward U.S. energy independence grows and foreign oil faces even more hurdles, Marathon is built to keep winning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Archer Daniels Midland</h2>



Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADM#NYSE">ADM</a>) is still my favorite of the group—and for good reason.



What sets ADM apart is its seasonal strength. Between March and May, this stock has moved higher nine out of the last ten years. That's 90% accuracy over the last decade—a consistency you don't find very often.



When I ran these three stocks through my Money Calendar software, ADM was the clear standout.



It's delivered an average 6% move higher during this window, and just last year, it popped nearly 13% between March and May. That's the kind of reliability I want in my corner.



And here's the best part: ADM doesn't care about tariffs.



Its seasonal pattern—and its position as a global agriculture powerhouse—gives it pattern-driven potential, strong fundamentals and technical momentum all at once.



In a choppy market, that&#8217;s the triple threat you want working for you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get Ahead of Tomorrow's Biggest Earnings Moves</h2>



When earnings reports are released tomorrow, the ripple effects could shake the entire market. Our Earnings Command Center gives you real-time alerts, key data, and actionable insights—before the news breaks. Get Your Earnings Edge <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge">HERE</a>



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



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

3 Stocks To Turn Tariffs Into Opportunities

Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/45100783/qualcomm-earnings-are-imminent-these-most-accurate-analysts-revise-forecasts-ahead-of-earnings-call">second-quarter financial</a> results after market close Wednesday.



Here are the key highlights.



What Happened: Qualcomm reported second-quarter revenue of $10.84 billion, up 15% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $10.65 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.



The company reported second-quarter non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.85, up 17% year-over-year. The total beat a Street consensus estimate of $2.81.



Qualcomm has now beaten analyst estimates for revenue in eight straight quarters and for earnings per share in seven straight quarters.



Qualcomm's revenue for the QCT segment was $9.47 billion, up 18% year-over-year. The segment revenue breaks down as follows:



<ul>
<li>Handsets: $6.93 billion, +12% year-over-year</li>



<li>Automotive: $959 million, +59% year-over-year</li>



<li>IoT: $1.58 billion, +27% year-over-year.</li>
</ul>



QTL segment revenue was $1.32 billion, flat compared to last year.



"We are pleased to report another quarter of strong results," Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said.



What's Next: Qualcomm is guiding for third-quarter revenue to come in a range of $9.9 billion to $10.7 billion. Analysts expect $10.35 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.



The company's guidance includes QTL revenue in a range of $1.15 billion to $1.35 billion and QCT revenue in a range of $8.7 billion to $9.3 billion.



Qualcomm is guiding for third-quarter earnings per share in a range of $2.60 to $2.80 versus an analyst estimate of $2.67.



"As we navigate the current macroeconomic and trade environment, we remain focused on the critical factors we can control – our leading technology roadmap, best-in-class product portfolio, strong customer relationships and operational efficiencies," Amon said.



Amon said the company's top priorities are executing on its diversification strategy and continuing to invest in areas that drive long-term value.



QCOM Price Action: Qualcomm stock was trading at $146.96 ahead of Wednesday's close versus a 52-week trading range of $120.80 to $230.63.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45115442/sell-in-may-and-go-away-looks-outdated-as-mayjuly-data-signal-bullish-sp-500-seasonality">&#8216;Sell In May And Go Away&#8217; Looks Outdated As May–July Data Signal Bullish S&amp;P 500 Seasonality</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Michael Vi via Shutterstock

QCOM

Qualcomm Beats Q2 Expectations On Earnings, Revenue: CEO Highlights Focus On 'Critical Factors We Can Control'

Investors clinging to the old market adage "Sell in May and go away" risk missing reliable gains. Recent historical trends from May 1 to July 31 show the S&amp;P 500 often rallies during this period, challenging <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/seasonality">decades-old seasonal wisdom.</a>



April, typically one of the strongest months for U.S. equities along with November and December, is set to end in negative territory this year as Trump-related tariff announcements rattled markets.



"History would argue that if the S&amp;P 500 is able to pull off this feat and April losses or gains turn out to be relatively mild… the outlook isn't quite as grim," Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist at LPL Financial, said in an email.



In such scenarios, the S&amp;P 500 — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — has posted an average return of 5.9% from May through December and 11.5% for the full year.



See Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/04/45108426/as-growth-falters-sentiment-slips-economist-says-risks-to-the-economic-outlook-are-increasing">As Growth Falters, Sentiment Slips, Economist Says &#8216;Risks To The Economic Outlook Are Increasing&#8217;</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Happens Between May And July?</h3>



Contrary to the adage, May through July has increasingly been a period of strength for stocks. 



According to Seasonax data, during this three-month window, the S&amp;P 500 gained ground in 11 of the past 15 years. The average return across those years is 3.3%, while the median is 4.3%.



The standout year was 2020, when the index surged 14% in the aftermath of the pandemic rally. On the downside, 2010 saw the S&amp;P 500 fall 8.4% during the same period, its worst May–July stretch in the dataset.



Recent years paint an even clearer picture: over the past decade, the index rose in 9 out of 10 May–July periods, with an average gain of 5.3% and a median of 4.6%. That's hardly consistent with a market hibernation phase.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What About 2025—A Post-Election Year?</h3>



Market behavior in post-election years tends to reinforce the bullish May–July trend. 



Based on 97 years of data, the S&amp;P 500 recorded gains in 18 out of 24 such periods following a U.S. presidential election. The average return during those months is 3.8%, with a median return close to 3%.



This suggests that political cycles may influence investor confidence and liquidity, creating favorable conditions for equities between May and July.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Was The &#8216;Sell In May&#8217; Rule Ever Valid?</h3>



Between 1962 and 2012, the &#8220;sell in May&#8221; strategy held more weight. Over those 50 years, the S&amp;P 500 delivered gains in just over half of the May–July periods (26 out of 50), yet with an average return of negative 0.3%. 



The worst performance came in 2002, when the index cratered 16.9% amid the collapse of tech stocks. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Performance Between May 1 To July 31</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Period</th><th>Positive Years</th><th>Negative Years</th><th>Average Return</th><th>Median Return</th><th>Worst Return</th><th>Best Return</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Last 15 Years</td><td>11</td><td>4</td><td>3.3%</td><td>4.3%</td><td>-8.4% (2010)</td><td>+14.0% (2020)</td></tr><tr><td>Last 10 Years</td><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>5.3%</td><td>4.6%</td><td>-0.8% (2022)</td><td>+14.0% (2020)</td></tr><tr><td>Post-Election Years (24)</td><td>18</td><td>6</td><td>3.8%</td><td>2.9%</td><td>-13.1% (1969)</td><td>+19.2% (1997)</td></tr><tr><td>1962–2012 (50-Year Span)</td><td>26</td><td>24</td><td>-0.3%</td><td>0.4%</td><td>-16.9% (2002)</td><td>+19.2% (1997)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/45111417/more-than-70-of-americans-concerned-about-a-recession-this-year-heres-how-suze-orman-says-to-prepare">More Than 70% Of Americans Concerned About A Recession This Year: Here&#8217;s How Suze Orman Says To Prepare</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Analyst Ratings

ETFs

'Sell In May And Go Away' Looks Outdated As May–July Data Signal Bullish S&P 500 Seasonality

An <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44799581/no-expiration-date-on-metas-antitrust-case-says-former-ftc-chair-ahead-of-trial">antitrust trial against </a>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has put the company's segments, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, into the spotlight, as the company could be forced to divest these units.



A Benzinga reader poll shows a potential break-up could be a value unlock for Meta Platforms as they share which new unit they would want to own.



What Happened: An<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44821791/meta-platforms-used-buy-or-bury-strategy-to-monopolize-social-media-ftc-says"> antitrust trial by</a> the Federal Trade Commission could cast a shadow over Meta Platforms, with its first-quarter financial results due Wednesday after the market close.



The trial accuses Meta of using a "buy or bury" strategy to acquire competing companies, such as Instagram and WhatsApp. The trial highlighted how Meta also considered buying Snap Inc. and has shut down some of the companies it previously acquired.



While a forced spinoff or breakup for Meta Platforms might sound like a bad thing, it could ultimately unlock shareholder value through a sum-of-parts valuation. This could allow each unit to trade at higher multiples and highlight individual growth.



Benzinga recently asked readers if they think Meta could be worth more under a spinoff or break-up plan from the FTC.



"Meta Platforms could be forced to sell or spinoff Instagram and WhatsApp. If the spinoffs/sales happen which do you think describes what happens next?" Benzinga asked.



<ul>
<li>Sum of parts greater than current $1.27 trillion market cap: 50%</li>



<li>Sum of parts less than current $1.27 trillion market cap: 28%</li>



<li>Meta, Instagram and WhatsApp worth $1.27 trillion together still: 22%</li>
</ul>



The survey found that half of Benzinga readers believe Meta stock could be worth more with a forced spinoff or breakup.



Benzinga readers were also asked which future Meta unit they would most want to own if a breakup were to happen.



"If Meta splits into three separate companies, which would you be most interested in owning?" Benzinga asked.



<ul>
<li>Instagram: 43%</li>



<li>Meta Platforms/Facebook: 35%</li>



<li>WhatsApp: 23%</li>
</ul>



The poll found that Instagram would be the most coveted asset if traded individually.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/45083272/meta-platforms-q1-earnings-preview-analyst-expects-weak-guidance-will-company-continue-streak-of-revenue-beats">Meta Platforms Q1 Earnings Preview: Analyst Expects Weak Guidance, Will Company Continue Streak Of Revenue Beats?</a>



Why It's Important: Meta acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, beating out a bid of $500 million previously offered by Twitter.



At the time of the acquisition, many experts questioned the premium valuation given Instagram's 30 million users and limited revenue.



Since the acquisition, Instagram has become one of the most important growth segments for Meta with around two billion users and hundreds of millions of daily active users.



A break-up could see Instagram get a premium valuation given its higher growth and more monetization opportunities compared to the legacy Facebook brand. Of course, the Meta Platforms/Facebook company, under a new model, could have more of the company's AI technology and platforms, which could also receive a premium valuation.



Meta has argued against the antitrust allegations, highlighting competition from TikTok and YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>). The trial remains active and will ultimately decide if Meta is forced to make any moves.



META Price Action: Meta stock trades tat $538.05 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $427.11 to $740.91. Meta stock is down 10.2% year-to-date in 2025 and up 25% over the last year.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44832468/snapchat-rejection-resurfaces-as-mark-zuckerberg-defends-meta-in-ftc-trial-and-the-tech-mogul-still-thinks-he-cou">Mark Zuckerberg Defends Meta In FTC Trial Over $6 Billion Offer To Acquire Snapchat: &#8216;We Would Have Accelerated Their Growth&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



The study was conducted by Benzinga from April 23, 2025 through April 28, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 100 adults.



Photo: Shutterstock

Exclusives

GOOG

GOOGL

EXCLUSIVE: If Meta Is Forced To Divest Instagram, WhatsApp, Or Facebook, 43% Pick This Standout

The U.S. economy contracted for the first time in three years at the beginning of 2025 as a surge of imports ahead of Trump's tariffs pulled GDP negative<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/45100047/recession-odds-spike-wall-street-tumbles-as-q1-gdp-surprisingly-contracts-be-patient-trump-responds"> in the first quarter.&nbsp;</a>



The Details: Gross domestic product declined by 0.3% on an annualized basis during the January–March period. The reading fell short of analyst expectations, which had forecast a modest slowdown to 0.4% growth.



On the jobs front, Automatic Data Processing Inc. reported that private employers added only 62,000 jobs in April, well below economists&#8217; expectations of 108,000.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/04/45056354/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-askshow-much-did-majorie-taylor-greene-make-when-she-bought-the-dip?utm_source=articleShare">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Asks,&#8217;How Much Did Majorie Taylor Greene Make When She Bought The Dip?&#8217;</a>



Expert Ideas: Most economists agree that first-quarter GDP was "clouded" by a rush of imports as businesses increased inventories ahead of the implementation of Trump's tariff policies.&nbsp;



Jason Furman, professor of economics at Harvard University, highlighted that while GDP contracted, core GDP was up 3% at an annualized rate.&nbsp;



<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">Real GDP fell at a 0.3% annual rate in Q1. The underlying numbers are very extreme&#8211;with an enormous increase in imports and inventories. My preferred measure of &quot;core GDP&quot; a better signal, up at a 3.0% annual rate (see next) <a href="https://t.co/oSJ7KBNqsa">pic.twitter.com/oSJ7KBNqsa</a>&mdash; Jason Furman (@jasonfurman) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonfurman/status/1917564370839650531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, cautioned that the first quarter GDP "says less than usual about the economy's trajectory" and pointed instead to April's ADP employment report as a more accurate barometer of economic conditions.&nbsp;



April's ADP private payrolls data came in well-below expectations and was the weakest monthly increase since July 2024.



"Between the GDP report, April's ADP report, and a pullback in business and consumer surveys last month, the economy is losing momentum and risks to the economic outlook are increasing," Adams said.&nbsp;



Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial, said the GDP report builds anticipation ahead of Friday's payroll numbers as the "trajectory for growth hinges on the health of the labor market."



Roach expressed the belief that the economy and U.S. consumer remain strong and that most of the economic turbulence is related to Trump's tariff policies.&nbsp;



"A successful resolution to global trade policy would likely remove most of the volatility and uncertainty currently experienced by businesses and consumers," Roach said.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Markets React: All three major indexes are in the red in Wednesday&#8217;s midday trading as they attempt to recover from steep declines following the GDP and ADP employment reports. 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>), was down 0.55% and the Nasdaq 100, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), was down 1.29%. 



Read Next:&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/45076599/sell-in-may-and-go-away-only-in-bear-markets-one-expert-says?utm_source=articleShare">&#8216;Sell In May And Go Away?&#8217; Only In Bear Markets, One Expert Says&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

As Growth Falters, Sentiment Slips, Economist Says 'Risks To The Economic Outlook Are Increasing'

Wall Street is set for a volatile Wednesday after first-quarter GDP data showed an unexpected economic contraction, stoking fears that a recession <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/45098824/tariffs-hit-hard-as-us-economy-shrinks-for-first-time-since-2022">may already be underway. </a>



The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% on an annualized basis last quarter, down from 2.4% growth in the previous quarter and well below the expected 0.4% growth, official advance statistics showed.



The outcome marked the first quarterly contraction since the second quarter of 2022. 



In addition, U.S. private employers added 62,000 jobs in April, according to ADP National Employment Report, the lowest since July 2024 and well below predictions of 108,000. 



Broad-based equity losses followed during premarket trading in New York as investors digested signs of weakening growth, elevated inflation, and deteriorating trade balances.



Futures on the S&amp;P 500 fell 1.28% to 5,489.61 by 9:00 a.m. ET, shedding 71 points. 



Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 336 points, or 0.8%, to 40,191. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 underperformed, plunging 1.9% to 19,184, while the small-cap Russell 2000 index dropped 1.7% to 1,944.



Recession odds for 2025 climbed to 74%, their highest level yet, according to data from CFTC-regulated betting platform Kalshi. Under Kalshi&#8217;s terms, a $100 bet on a recession now yields $131 if the U.S. sees two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/RECSSNBER-25/markets/RECSSNBER-25?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Economists Divided On US Economic Performance</h3>



David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation, noted the growing stagflation risk: "Today's data shows more stagflation, with the economy shrinking and prices rising more than expected. Trade was a huge drag as imports jumped ahead of tariffs. Combined with the weak ADP payrolls growth and yesterday's weak JOLTs data, the numbers increasingly suggest a recession may have begun."



Economist Joseph Brusuelas of RSM US LLP offered a more tempered view: "The trade shock caused a large change in behavior that resulted in that large drag due to a larger trade deficit. However, the economy did not slide into recession in Q1 2025." 



He expects a recession more likely by midyear, citing a $140 billion inventory swing that temporarily padded GDP by 2.25 percentage points.



Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, echoed concerns about the unusual nature of the trade dynamics, calling the current environment "a huge natural experiment," with ballooning imports and swelling inventories reflecting a widespread effort to front-run tariffs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Responds: &#8216;This Is Biden&#8217;s Stock Market, Not Trump&#8217;s&#8217;</h3>



"This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20th," Trump wrote on social media X, shortly after the GDP release.



Trump denied that his trade policies were responsible for the weak GDP figures, attributing the slowdown to the economic legacy of President Joe Biden. 



"This will take a while, has nothing to do with tariffs, only that he left us with bad numbers," Trump posted. 



"But when the boom begins, it will be like no other. Be patient!!!"



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Premarket Gainers In The S&amp;P 500</h3>



<ul>
<li>Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) up 7.5% to $43.7</li>



<li>Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TT#NYSE">TT</a>) up 6.3% to $375.6</li>



<li>Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>) up 5.9% to $86.4</li>



<li>Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>) up 5.6% to $139.7</li>



<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) up 5.5% to $273.5</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Premarket Decliners In The S&amp;P 500</h3>



<ul>
<li>Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) down 19.3% to $29.1</li>



<li>First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) down 12.8% to $119.6</li>



<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) down 10.0% to $76.4</li>



<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) down 8.4% to $15.9</li>



<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>) down 8.1% to $187.5</li>
</ul>



By 8:52 a.m. ET, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data, the stocks falling most over the past 30 minutes of premarket trading included:



<ul>
<li>AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) down 6.2% to $242.0</li>



<li>Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) down 3.6% to $133.1</li>



<li>Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) down 3.5% to $220.8</li>



<li>Shopify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>) down 3.3% to $95.0</li>



<li>KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) down 3.0% to $111.0</li>



<li>Eaton Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETN#NYSE">ETN</a>) down 2.5% to $283.1</li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) down 2.4% to $111.4</li>



<li>Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCCO#NYSE">SCCO</a>) down 2.2% to $87.5</li>



<li>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>) down 2.1% to $34.5</li>



<li>Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) down 2.1% to $312.0</li>
</ul>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45098912/caterpillar-faces-lower-q1-results-but-projects-flat-sales-in-2025-or-slight-decline-with-tariff-headwinds">Caterpillar Warns Of $250 Million To $350 Million Tariff Hit After Q1 Profit Miss</a></li>
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Photo by Dilok Klaisataporn via Shutterstock

Equities

Macro Economic Events

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Recession Odds Spike, Wall Street Tumbles As Q1 GDP Surprisingly Contracts: 'Be Patient,' Trump Responds

Wall Street traded lower on the final session of the month, heading for its third consecutive monthly loss as economic data began reflecting the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">impact of Trump tariffs.</a>



U.S. GDP shrank by 0.3% in the last quarter, marking the first economic contraction since 2022 and missing forecasts for a 0.4% expansion. The decline was driven by a surge in imports and reduced government spending.



Labor market data also disappointed. The ADP National Employment Report showed private employers added just 62,000 jobs in April—the weakest gain in nine months and well below the expected 108,000.



By midday in New York, the S&amp;P 500 was down 1% to 5,500, on pace to end a six-day winning streak. Tech stocks in the Nasdaq 100 lagged ahead of earnings from industry titans Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc.



Nine of the S&amp;P 500's eleven sectors were in the red, with only consumer staples and health care posting modest gains. Energy and consumer discretionary led the losses, falling 3.3% and 2.7%, respectively.



Commodities were broadly lower. Oil tumbled 3.7% to $58 a barrel, approaching its lowest close since March 2021. Copper—often seen as a gauge of global growth—plunged 5.2% to $4.60 per pound. Natural gas declined 2.5% to $3.17 per million British thermal units.



Bond markets were steady, with the 10-year Treasury yield hovering at 4.17%. Gold dipped 0.3% to $3,330 per ounce, while the U.S. dollar index (DXY) strengthened by the same margin.



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) showed resilience, holding steady at around $93,000 despite broader market weakness.



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



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>40,325.88</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,515.27</td><td>-0.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>19,330.85</td><td>-1.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1,953.01</td><td>-1.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 1:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



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



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.9% to $549.56.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) eased 0.5% to $403.24.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;eased 1% to $470.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 1.1% to $193.82.</li>
</ul>



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



Stocks reacting to earnings reports included:



<ul>
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>): down 0.0%</li>



<li>Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>): down 0.1%</li>



<li>Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>): down 1.5%</li>



<li>Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITW#NYSE">ITW</a>): down 2.4%</li>



<li>Automatic Data Processing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADP#NASDAQ">ADP</a>): up 1.2%</li>



<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>): down 1.3%</li>



<li>Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TT#NYSE">TT</a>): up 7.6%</li>



<li>Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLM#NYSE">MLM</a>): up 2.9%</li>



<li>Vulcan Materials Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMC#NYSE">VMC</a>): up 6.3%</li>



<li>Mondelez International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>): up 4.4%</li>



<li>PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPG#NYSE">PPG</a>): up 4.0%</li>



<li>GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NASDAQ">GEHC</a>): up 3.8%</li>



<li>Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACGL#NASDAQ">ACGL</a>): down 3.1%</li>



<li>Fair Isaac Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FICO#NYSE">FICO</a>): down 0.6%</li>



<li>Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>): down 7.0%</li>



<li>Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>): up 0.7%</li>



<li>Costar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGP#NASDAQ">CSGP</a>): down 9.7%</li>



<li>Veralto Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLTO#NYSE">VLTO</a>): up 2.1%</li>



<li>Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>): up 8.8%</li>



<li>Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>): up 6.4%</li>



<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>): down 9.2%</li>



<li>Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNRC#NYSE">GNRC</a>): up 0.0%</li>



<li>First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>): down 9.5%</li>



<li>Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>): down 15.7%</li>



<li>Edison International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIX#NYSE">EIX</a>): down 9.1%</li>



<li>American Electric Power Company Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>): down 0.9%</li>



<li>Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEG#NYSE">PEG</a>): down 2.3%</li>



<li>PPL Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#NYSE">PPL</a>): down 0.1%</li>



<li>Oneok Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>): down 7.5%</li>



<li>Hess Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>): down 3.2%</li>



<li>International Paper Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IP#NYSE">IP</a>): down 5.3%</li>



<li>Stanley Black &amp; Decker Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWK#NYSE">SWK</a>): down 4.2%</li>



<li>Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>): up 0.1%</li>



<li>Equity Residential Properties Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQR#NYSE">EQR</a>): up 0.2%</li>



<li>Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REG#NASDAQ">REG</a>): down 0.8%</li>



<li>Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXR#NYSE">EXR</a>): up 3.1%</li>



<li>BXP Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BXP#NYSE">BXP</a>): down 3.7%</li>



<li>Caesars Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>): down 3.9%</li>



<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>): down 8.9%</li>



<li>Amcor Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMCR#NYSE">AMCR</a>): down 1.2%</li>



<li>Expand Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXE#NYSE">EXE</a>): down 3.5%</li>
</ul>



Stocks slated to report earnings after the bell include The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>), Host Hotels &amp; Resorts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HST#NASDAQ">HST</a>), MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>), Everest Group Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EG#NYSE">EG</a>), Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>), ANSYS Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANSS#NASDAQ">ANSS</a>), Public Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSA#NYSE">PSA</a>), Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GL#NYSE">GL</a>), PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTC#NASDAQ">PTC</a>), Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), UDR Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UDR#NYSE">UDR</a>), American Water Works Company Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AWK#NYSE">AWK</a>), Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INVH#NYSE">INVH</a>), VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VICI#NYSE">VICI</a>), AvalonBay Communities Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVB#NYSE">AVB</a>), Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRU#NYSE">PRU</a>), Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCI#NYSE">CCI</a>), Align Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGN#NASDAQ">ALGN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Equinix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>), Aflac Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>), Ventas Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTR#NYSE">VTR</a>), Albemarle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>), Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAA#NYSE">MAA</a>), MetLife Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MET#NYSE">MET</a>), C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>), and KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>).



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/04/45108426/as-growth-falters-sentiment-slips-economist-says-risks-to-the-economic-outlook-are-increasing">As Growth Falters, Sentiment Slips, Economist Says &#8216;Risks To The Economic Outlook Are Increasing&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



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Wall Street Falls On Weak Economic Data As Oil Slumps To $58: What's Driving Markets Wednesday

Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) shares are facing heavy selling pressure Wednesday morning after the company reported worse-than-expected results <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45084597/starbucks-misses-q2-earnings-estimates-ceo-says-optimism-has-turned-into-confidence-i-see-more-opportunity-than-i-imagined">for the second quarter</a>. 



<ul>
<li>Q2 Revenue: $8.76 billion, versus <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;of $8.86 billion</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Q2 Adjusted EPS: 41 cents, versus estimates of 50 cents</li>
</ul>



Second-quarter net revenue climbed 2% on a year-over-year basis, but global comparable store sales fell 1%, driven by a 2%&nbsp;decline in comparable transactions. 



Comparable store sales were down 1% in North America and down 2% internationally. Starbucks noted that comparable store sales in China were flat in the quarter.



The coffee giant opened 213 net new stores in&nbsp;the quarter and had 40,789 total locations at quarter&#8217;s end.



Despite the soft headline numbers, CEO Brian Niccol provided optimistic commentary that turnaround plans are on track.



"My optimism has turned into confidence that our ‘Back to Starbucks' plan is the right strategy to turn the business around and to unlock opportunities ahead,"&nbsp;Niccol said.



"Improving transaction comp in a tough consumer environment at our scale is a testament to the power of our brand and partners getting ‘Back to Starbucks.' We are on track and if anything, I see more opportunity than I imagined.&#8221;



Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/45100047/recession-odds-spike-wall-street-tumbles-as-q1-gdp-surprisingly-contracts-be-patient-trump-responds">Recession Odds Spike, Wall Street Tumbles As Q1 GDP Surprisingly Contracts: &#8216;Be Patient,&#8217; Trump Responds</a>



Analysts don&#8217;t appear to be quite so optimistic, with some cutting estimates in response to the company&#8217;s weak quarterly results.



TD Securities analyst Agnes Lim maintained Starbucks with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Buy rating</a>, but lowered the price target from&nbsp;$102&nbsp;to&nbsp;$90. Guggenheim analyst Gregory Francfort also cut estimates on Starbucks this week, citing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45087119/analyst-warns-starbucks-faces-growing-risks-from-competition-costs-and-global-tensions">rising competition</a> from local brands and potential impacts from ongoing global trade tensions.



In an interview on CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk On The Street&#8221; Wednesday morning, Niccol reinforced the company&#8217;s turnaround plans and said a lot of the progress is happening &#8220;below the surface.&#8221;



&#8220;We&#8217;re taking a stage gate approach, where we&#8217;re going to first learn on it and then we&#8217;ll roll and scale it,&#8221; Niccol said. 



The Starbucks CEO said the company is seeing a &#8220;great response&#8221; from customers where it&#8217;s testing some of its &#8220;Back to Starbucks&#8221; initiatives.



Other changes on the horizon include a revamp of the digital experience and an overhaul of the company&#8217;s rewards program, which had been acting more like a &#8220;coupon book&#8221; in the past, he said.



&#8220;In the near-term, the earnings will lag, but in the longer-term, my experience always has been, if you drive growth and do the right thing for the customer, our partner, the financial performance comes with it,&#8221; Niccol told CNBC.



SBUX Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SBUX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starbucks shares</a> were down 7.51% at $78.45 at the time of publication Wednesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45097966/starbucks-posts-weak-earnings-joins-super-micro-computer-snap-and-other-big-stocks-moving-lower-in-wednesdays-pre-market-session">Starbucks Posts Weak Earnings, Joins Super Micro Computer, Snap And Other Big Stocks Moving Lower</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Ned+Snowman">Ned Snowman</a>/Shutterstock.

Starbucks Stock Tumbles On Q2 Earnings, CEO Says Progress Is Happening 'Below The Surface'

Don't call it a comeback, but the market attempted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/45015276/wall-street-rally-pauses-tesla-heads-for-strongest-week-in-6-months-whats-driving-markets-friday">rally last week</a> after a worrisome Monday decline. The S&amp;P 500 closed above 5500 on Friday for the first time since President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44720006/markets-take-off-as-trump-announces-90-day-tariff-pause-for-non-retaliating-nations-slaps-china-with-125-duty">announced a 90-day pause</a> on levying his reciprocal tariffs.



While the benchmark index was still 150 points below its pre-tariff announcement level, investors are gaining confidence that the steepest import taxes will be reduced or disregarded entirely.



Given this week&#8217;s rocky start, it&#8217;s still too early to call the bear market over. But it&#8217;s a good time to start looking for stocks that are building short-term momentum.



Today, we'll look at six stocks with promising technical trends that are driving their prices up.



We&#8217;re focusing on stocks with a minimum 98 Momentum score from Benzinga Edge that could be poised for an upward move over the next few weeks.



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



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 99.86



Quantum computing stocks were one of 2025's first significant new investment trends, and Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>), which manufactures quantum computers and superconducting processors, was one of the most prominent winners. The company's stock was trading under $1.50 around Thanksgiving before a parabolic breakout saw shares reach $20 by the first week of January. The exponential rally fizzled shortly thereafter, but the stock is still well above its pre-Thanksgiving average and could be coiling up for the next move higher.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe56O1M3JQtasNTb3WpvSiFw9pcXN0K8637FvovhUiDDeja3dnylTb7ZTfXUv8MqKCS_4vw8PP_eZWTXcFDMOVP5FercsbsgG5wAwgqx-I0mCkMosvYfOCKXVBLInT9hyEtdKAV?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



RGTI shares have traded in a tight range since the beginning of March, and the price appears to have found support around the $7.50 level, with a potential double-bottom formation. Another short-term bullish signal comes from the exponential moving average (EMA), which puts more emphasis on recent prices than the simple moving average (SMA). The 5-day EMA crossed over the 10-day last week and the stock has been up for four straight days since. Rigetti reports earnings on May 8, which could provide another catalyst for a stock that's already showing uptrending technical signs. 



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



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 99.94



Nutex (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUTX#NASDAQ">NUTX</a>) is a small-cap medical services company that owns healthcare facilities like microhospitals and outpatient centers. The company also offers cloud-based services for billing, human resources, accounting and legal. The stock soared to a multi-year high following a blowout earnings report at the start of April in which the company reported $257 million in quarterly revenue, an upside surprise of more than 200%.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXclVzIbQdIn5Axi1ozMV6mi-C491wLKfxoi0hHHSSiAefuv8GmPqC7Hfkw3-2OwF3hzaColAPeKHXkrwIAoJtt32G16RnXRSgm3sek_CEfx1xFh13suTv1OtichKW1dlIEg9p8y4g?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



NUTX shares had been showing promising signals before this breakout. The 50-day SMA crossed over the 200-day SMA in September, known as a Golden Cross, and has since served as a support level for the share price. But the stock quickly became overbought, and a sell signal from the Relative Strength Index (RSI) coincided with a multiday losing streak. However, the uptrend is still in place, and the RSI is back below the overbought trigger point of 70. Keep an eye on this one and remember the 50-day SMA's former role as a support level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rocket Lab USA Inc. RKL</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 99.46



Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>) builds and launches its spacecraft through three product families: the Neutron and Electron launch vehicles and the Photon satellite system. The company offers civil and commercial services and has put multiple objects into orbit. RKLB shares broke out of a multi-year range in October and reached a new all-time high in January, achieving a gain of more than 200% in just three months.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcc_nDaxh2ONdoH7w47EIXu0Eqz2ob_EYCEartuib7DtFw0jKjWVcRVX6gfClq8gCO2odgRq3rMdCRsF10mGfpdFbs8oNLHPFYEP6bByXINpLhMbpuDZHWroOEcljeV9k6DZSdNIA?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



RLKB shares failed to launch in 2025, however, dropping back under $20 per share and languishing in a constrictive range. The price dipped below the 50-day SMA in February but recently regained momentum by breaking through the 50-day SMA for the first time in two months. The RSI remains below the overbought threshold, indicating this breakout could have strength moving forward.



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



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 98.58



VNet Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNET#NASDAQ">VNET</a>) operates data centers across the Beijing and Shanghai areas and counts high-profile firms like Alibaba and Tencent as clients. Like Rocket Lab, VNET shares had a parabolic explosion earlier this year before retreating. The stock climbed as high as $15.34 before settling back under $5.00 earlier this month.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdCPwVUxMm9-TxlGnv_zAiMpcbcbf8C3wID2nu_pYphfsXKqMuxPL8gLVgWuZrjGVRTlT3-nLBaZgbXMUr-boP4Bby_ipGA1karSutrStrTJS0YTFha7NzZf_cNKvzornxqWzq_?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



This selloff may be overdone, though, as technical signals are pointing at a reversal. The RSI has dipped under 30 multiple times in April, signaling oversold conditions. Additionally, the stock has been trading below its 5-day and 10-day EMAs, but the gap between these two numbers is closing, and the share price is now above the 5-day mark. If the 5-day EMA crosses above the 10-day EMA, it will trigger another bullish signal, and this two-month downtrend could see a quick reversal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hallador Energy Co.&nbsp;</h2>



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 98.40



If you want an example of a breakout following the 5-day EMA crossing the 10-day EMA, look at Hallador Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HNRG#NASDAQ">HNRG</a>), a company that mines coal in Indiana. Hallador has tailwinds from the Trump administration's renewed interest in coal, and the stock also has some technical patterns pointing to a move higher.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd38x_XWW-XIPvF_Xynv-k2JtCVRWfoZ_CqOcx743I0aXv6o0vElzNsDsKAY-OwI9qVXh-Ls8e3MerzGRcQmtXbt2KC1bbq6saNL5pvblzoUAFi4ucDida6g5DnWyUouXeCdihl?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



The stock is already up over 50% in the last three months, and the 5-day/10-day EMA cross heralded another massive green candle, taking the stock from $11 to $14.69 in under three weeks. The bullish momentum remains in place, as the stock price is trading above the 5-day and 10-day EMAs while the RSI is still not in overbought territory. 



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



Benzinga Edge Momentum Score: 98.61



Archer Aviation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>) has had a turbulent time lately, jumping from $3.21 to $11.51 in under two months before dropping back under $7 earlier this month. Like most stocks on our list, ACHR shares had a significant uptrend stall out recently and now show signs of a turnaround.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd925p-JDONF6Q-L1JYUVOTTHsM2qifLuhVsLGChjiK1fIlc8FXN4U2Z_pbQLZPFovxyga52hs2rT2-5qprLq0ZL5SBThsy1HuyJlfMU9aK-XDsKjZLftvQq_VZwaDv2OKdk_NV1A?key=BFT1P88ZKYnvATe0GLA-uBhm" alt=""/></figure>



ACHR shares had been fading for multiple weeks but recently broke out of this slump by punching through a downward trendline that had been in place since mid-February. A bullish crossover accompanied this breakout on the MACD, which lends support to the breakout being legitimate. A potential catalyst for the move is a Buy reiteration from Needham on April 21, which places a $13 price target on the stock, indicating a possible upside of more than 51%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here's What Wall Street's Earnings Insiders See (That You're Missing)</h2>



Start trading earnings season like a pro – with real-time alerts the moment critical numbers drop. Plus, expert analysis that uncovers hidden opportunities in the post-earnings chaos. See What the Pros are Seeing Today right <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge">HERE</a>.



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



Photo: Shutterstock

ACHR

HNRG

NUTX

RGTI

RKLB

VNET

6 Stocks Showing Momentum As The Market Rebounds

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) shares are trading higher on Wednesday after the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n45094898/caterpillar-reports-first-quarter-2025-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter 2025 results</a>. Total sales and revenue for the quarter declined 9.8% year-over-year to $14.25 billion, missing the consensus of $14.66 billion.



The decrease was primarily due to a $1.1 billion drop in sales volume and a $250 million unfavorable price realization, largely impacted by changes in dealer inventories.



Dealer inventory increased by $100 million in the quarter, compared to a $1.4 billion increase a year ago.



CAT&#8217;s adjusted earnings were $4.24 per share, compared to $5.60 a year ago and below the consensus of $4.35.



Operating profit fell 26.7% to $2.579 billion, primarily due to a $652 million impact from lower sales volume and $250 million from unfavorable price realization.



The operating profit margin was 18.1%, down from 22.3% a year ago. The adjusted operating profit margin was 18.3% compared with 22.2% a year ago.



Enterprise operating cash flow was $1.3 billion, and the company ended the quarter with $3.6 billion in enterprise cash. The company spent $3.7 billion on stock repurchases and $0.7 billion on dividends.



&nbsp;&#8220;Our strong balance sheet allowed us to deploy over $4 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends during the quarter,&#8221; command Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby.



&#8220;Our strategy for long-term profitable growth is delivering results, which reflect the benefits of our diverse portfolio and end markets,&#8221; stated incoming CEO Joe Creed.



The revenue of the machinery, energy, and transportation segment declined 11% YoY, with construction Industries down 19%, Resource Industries down 10%, energy and transportation down 2%, and other segments down 17%.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44740051/general-electric-and-caterpillar-lead-xli-pullback-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">General Electric And Caterpillar Lead XLI Pullback: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>



Q2 Outlook: Caterpillar expects sales and revenues to be similar to 2024. The adjusted operating profit margin is expected to be lower than YoY, mainly due to lower price realization before considering tariff impact.



Tariffs are expected to create an additional cost headwind of $250M to $350M in Q2, net of initial mitigation actions and cost controls.



2025 Outlook Pre-tariff scenario: Caterpillar expects Full-year sales and revenues to be flat compared to 2024, better than the previous slight decline forecast.



Adjusted operating profit margin is expected to be in the top half of the annual target range, and ME&amp;T&#8217;s free cash flow is expected to be in the top half of the annual target range.



2025 Outlook, <a target="_blank" href="https://s25.q4cdn.com/358376879/files/doc_financials/2025/q1/1Q-2025-Analyst-Slide-Deck-Final.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alternative Scenario</a> (with Tariff Impact and Negative Economic Growth): CAT expects full-year sales and revenues to be down slightly compared to 2024, which aligns with previous expectations.



The adjusted operating profit margin and ME&amp;T&#8217;s free cash flow are expected to be within the annual target range.



Price Action: CAT is trading higher by 3.12% at $317 premarket at the last check Wednesday.



Photo via Shutterstock

Caterpillar Warns Of $250 Million To $350 Million Tariff Hit After Q1 Profit Miss

The U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter of 2025, posting its first negative growth reading since the second quarter of 2022 as Donald Trump's newly imposed trade tariffs sent shockwaves<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s"> through multiple sectors.</a>



Gross domestic product declined by 0.3% on an annualized basis during the January–March period, marking a sharp reversal from the 2.4% growth recorded in the final quarter of 2024. The reading fell short of analyst expectations, which had forecast a modest slowdown to 0.4% growth.



The decline in real GDP during the first quarter was mainly driven by a surge in imports—subtracted from GDP calculations—and a pullback in government spending. 



The U.S. economy posted the largest goods trade deficit ever in March, following the second- and third-largest monthly deficits on record in January and February, respectively, as importers accelerated foreign purchases in anticipation of tariffs. 



At the same time, spending reductions by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) contributed further downward pressure on economic output.



&#8220;These movements were partly offset by increases in investment, consumer spending, and exports,&#8221; the Bureau of Economic Analysis wrote.



Price pressures intensified in the first quarter, reinforcing concerns over a potential stagflation scenario. 



The price index for gross domestic purchases rose 3.4%, accelerating from a 2.2% increase in the previous quarter. 



The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index—a key inflation gauge closely watched by the Federal Reserve—climbed 3.6%, up from 2.4% in the fourth quarter. 



Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy components, rose 3.5% after a 2.6% gain in the prior quarter, signaling persistent underlying inflation even as growth slows.



Earlier in the day, eurozone GDP data surprised to the upside, showing an expansion of 0.4% quarter-over-quarter, double the 0.2% growth economists had predicted.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Weak Labor Market Signals Emerge</h3>



In a separate economic release, Automatic Data Processing Inc. reported that U.S. private employers added just 62,000 jobs in April, the weakest figure since July 2024. 



That outcome marked a notable slowdown from March's 155,000 new jobs and missed economists' expectations of 108,000.



Service-providing industries added 34,000 jobs, while goods-producing industries added 26,000. 



&#8220;Unease is the word of the day. Employers are trying to reconcile policy and consumer uncertainty with a run of mostly positive economic data. It can be difficult to make hiring decisions in such an environment,&#8221; said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. 



While ADP's private payroll data is not always a perfect proxy for the government's official employment numbers, the April report adds to signs of a cooling labor market. 



The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its April Employment Situation Report on Friday, with nonfarm payrolls projected to rise by 130,000, down sharply from 228,000 in March.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>



The U.S. dollar remained broadly steady across major currencies, with the euro-dollar exchange rate trading at 1.1370, down 0.1% on the day. 



U.S. Treasury yields snapped the seventh consecutive session of declines, with the 10-year yield inching up to 4.19%.



Stock futures suffered losses as investors speculated that signs of economic softness could weaken corporate profits. 



Futures on the S&amp;P 500 fell 0.8%, while contracts tied to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 tumbled 1.4% by 8:36 a.m. ET.



On Tuesday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) closed 0.6% higher, fully recovering the losses incurred following Trump's tariff announcement on April 2.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45094024/us-futures-mixed-after-six-day-winning-streak-dont-sell-in-may-go-away-say-analysts">US Stock Futures Fall After Tuesday Rally, But History Favors Bulls: Markets Rose 9 Of Last 10 Mays, Says Expert</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Tariffs Hit Hard As US Economy Shrinks For First Time Since 2022

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Satya Nadella disclosed that artificial intelligence is now writing up to 30% of the tech giant&#8217;s code, signaling a fundamental shift in software development as AI tools reshape how tech companies build their products.



What Happened: Nadella said on Tuesday that AI now writes between 20-30% of the company&#8217;s code base, during a conversation with Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta&#8217;s inaugural LlamaCon AI developer event in Menlo Park, California.



&#8220;I&#8217;d say maybe 20%, 30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software,&#8221; Nadella stated during the public discussion.



When asked about Meta&#8217;s AI code generation, Zuckerberg indicated his company is building an AI model designed to create future versions of Meta&#8217;s Llama models, predicting that &#8220;maybe half the development is going to be done by AI, as opposed to people&#8221; within the next year.



Both companies employ tens of thousands of software developers but are increasingly turning to AI for coding tasks. This trend extends beyond tech giants, with Google CEO Sundar Pichai previously reporting that more than 25% of new code at Google is AI-generated. See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/45092503/jim-cramer-says-stockholders-are-not-just-arrogant-rich-people-as-markets-slide-over-5-amid-trade-war-slams-trump-tariffs-bidens-hostility-toward-business">Jim Cramer Says Stockholders Are &#8216;Not Just Arrogant Rich People&#8217; As Markets Slide Over 5% Amid Trade War—Slams Trump Tariffs, Biden&#8217;s Hostility Toward Business</a> Why It Matters: The revelations come as Microsoft continues <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44066026/satya-nadella-says-ai-agents-will-replace-knowledge-work-but-theres-one-role-humans-will-always-need-to-play">expanding its AI capabilities</a> across its product suite while distinguishing between &#8220;knowledge work&#8221; and &#8220;knowledge workers&#8221; in its corporate philosophy. Nadella has emphasized that AI will transform how cognitive labor is performed without necessarily replacing human workers, comparing the shift to how spreadsheets revolutionized accounting or email transformed communication.



This integration of AI into development processes follows Microsoft&#8217;s recent launch of &#8220;Computer Use,&#8221; a new tool within <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44831264/microsoft-debuts-computer-use-tool-for-copilot-studio-ceo-satya-nadella-says-anyone-can-build-agents-that-take-action-on-the-ui-across-desktop-and-web-apps">Copilot Studio </a>that enables AI agents to perform tasks in desktop and web applications by directly interacting with user interfaces without requiring APIs. 



The tool represents part of Microsoft&#8217;s growing AI business, which Nadella recently announced has surpassed $13 billion in annual revenue, growing 175% year-over-year.



Meanwhile, Meta has reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44452879/meta-profits-from-llama-ai-models-despite-denials-court-filing-reveals">been monetizing its Llama AI models</a> through revenue-sharing agreements with host businesses, according to an unredacted court filing in the copyright lawsuit Kadrey v. Meta. Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45091974/snapchats-my-ai-once-controversial-sees-55-year-over-year-growth-in-daily-active-users-ceo-evan-spiegel-says-augmented-reality-is-the-ideal-interface">Snapchat&#8217;s My AI, Once Controversial, Sees 55% Year-Over-Year Growth In Daily Active Users: CEO Evan Spiegel Says, &#8216;Augmented Reality Is The Ideal Interface&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock



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

Markets

General

Satya Nadella Says AI Now Writes 30% Of Microsoft's Code — Mark Zuckerberg Predicts Half Of Meta's Future Development Will Be Done by AI

U.S. stock futures declined Wednesday morning, even as major indexes closed higher on Tuesday, with the S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones logging their sixth consecutive day of gains — marking their longest winning streak in months.



<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/45059191/donald-trump-will-reduce-impact-on-us-auto-industry-by-alleviating-some-auto-tarrifs-report">Easing of the auto tariffs</a> helped the markets with a fresh dose of optimism going into a jam-packed earnings week, with several heavy-hitters, including 4 of the &#8220;Magnificent 7&#8221; companies, set to release their quarterly results over this week. 



On Tuesday, President Donald Trump hinted that trade negotiations with India were &#8220;coming along great,&#8221; and that the administration was <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/29/trump-india-trade-deal-bessent-south-korea-japan.html">close to announcing a deal</a>, further adding to the optimism, according to a report by CNBC.



Investors on Wednesday will be closely watching the earnings of tech giants, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), and KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), which should set the tone for the rest of this week.



U.S. 10-Year Treasuries are at 4.16%, while the 2-Year Treasuries are at 3.66%. The CME Group's FedWatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a>&nbsp;shows the markets pricing a 92.4% likelihood of interest rates remaining unchanged during the FOMC meeting that is scheduled to take place the first week of May, which marks an increase from 91.1% on Tuesday.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Futures</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Dow Jones</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.09%</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">S&amp;P 500</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.05%</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nasdaq 100</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">-0.15%</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Russell 2000</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.16%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 0.63% on Monday, while the&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was up 0.66%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data.



Cues From Last Session:



Almost all S&amp;P 500 sectors closed in the green on Tuesday, barring the energy sector, which was down 0.29%. The index was up 0.58%, marking its sixth-straight winning day, the longest streak since November of 2024. The Dow Jones was up 0.75%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 0.55%.



Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) reported strong earnings, while Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45084597/starbucks-misses-q2-earnings-estimates-ceo-says-optimism-has-turned-into-confidence-i-see-more-opportunity-than-i-imagined">fell short of estimates</a> during its second quarter results on Tuesday.



Economic data was disappointing, with the S&amp;P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (20 Cities) up 4.5%, below estimates at 4.8%, followed by Consumer Confidence at 86.0, below the median forecast at 87.3, and finally, the Total Job Openings for March came in at 7.3 million, below the forecast at 7.5 million.



As of Tuesday, the Nasdaq 100 index was down 12.04% from its previous high of 22,222.61 points. The S&amp;P 500 index was 9.54% lower, as compared to the last record high of 6,147.43 points. On the other hand, Dow Jones was 10.08% down from its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points.



The Dow Jones index jumped 300 points or 0.75% to 40,527.62, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index surged 0.58% to 5,560.83. Nasdaq Composite ended 0.55% higher at 17,461.32, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, also advanced 0.56% to 1,976.52.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Index</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Performance (+/-)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Value</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nasdaq Composite</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.55%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">17,461.32</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">S&amp;P 500</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.58%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5,560.83</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Dow Jones</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.75%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">40,527.62</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Russell 2000</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.56%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1,976.52</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Chartered Market Technician, Ryan Detrick, says that the markets have ended up higher in May for 9 of the past 10 years, posting a graphic on X to illustrate his point.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/45088278/american-express-says-the-rich-are-still-dining-out-and-living-large-while-everyone-else-braces-for-recession-tariffs-and-skyrocketing-prices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Express Says the Rich Are Still Dining Out and Living Large — While Everyone Else Braces for Recession, Tariffs, and Skyrocketing Prices</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Before you Sell in May, just remember this month has been higher 9 of the past 10 years. <a href="https://t.co/8jE4OEvWpG">pic.twitter.com/8jE4OEvWpG</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1917211015969677603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The average returns in May over the past 10 years stand at 0.9%, with a median of 1.1%. However, it is worth noting that this is a relatively new phenomenon. A few years ago, &#8220;Sell In May &amp; Go Away&#8221; was a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/45076599/sell-in-may-and-go-away-only-in-bear-markets-one-expert-says">popular adage in the markets</a>, since the markets were known to underperform in the Summer months.



Upcoming Economic Data:



Here&#8217;s what investors will be watching on Wednesday,



<ul>
<li>The ADP Employment figures are set to be released by 8:15 AM ET. </li>



<li>The first quarter GDP data, along with the Employment Cost Index at 8:30 AM ET. </li>



<li>Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) for April, which is scheduled to be unveiled by 9:45 AM ET. </li>



<li>Consumer Spending, PCE Index, Core PCE Index, and Pending Home Sales, all scheduled for 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday morning.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is up 0.19% pre-market, as investors await the tech giant&#8217;s quarterly results after markets close on Wednesday evening. Analysts expect $3.22 per share in earnings, on $68.4 billion in revenue. </li>



<li>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is down 0.50% in pre-market trade, as investors wait for its quarterly results, scheduled to be announced after markets close. Analysts expect $5.21 per share, on $41.4 billion in revenue. </li>



<li>Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) is trading up 0.84% pre-market, ahead of its second quarter results scheduled for after markets close. Earnings are expected at $2.82 per share, on $10.7 billion in revenue. </li>



<li>KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) is down 0.16% pre-market, with the company set to release its quarterly results after markets close. Consensus estimates peg earnings at $8.08 per share, on $3.01 billion in revenue. </li>



<li>Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) is rather flat pre-market, down just 0.02% at the time of writing this. The company is expected to release its quarterly results on Wednesday morning, before markets open, with analysts expecting $4.35 per share in earnings, on $14.6 billion in revenue.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures remain on their losing streak, down 0.91% in the early New York session, dipping below the key support level of $60, currently trading at $59.85 a barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar is down yet again, by 1.14%, hovering around 3,285.48 per ounce, down from its record high of $3,500.33 per ounce last week. The U.S. Dollar Index is up 0.16%, trading at the 99.3969 level.



Asian markets rose on Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei, India's Nifty 50, China's Shenzhen, and Australia's ASX 200 posting gains. South Korea's Kospi finished flat with a slight dip, while New Zealand's NZX 50 closed lower.



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



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45060872/peter-schiff-calls-out-trump-coin-gala-invite-hunter-biden-is-already-being-outdone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Schiff Calls Out ‘TRUMP' Coin Gala Invite: ‘Hunter Biden Is Already Being Outdone'</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

NXPI

US Stock Futures Fall After Tuesday Rally, But History Favors Bulls: Markets Rose 9 Of Last 10 Mays, Says Expert

Economist Peter Schiff criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday for reportedly pressuring Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos to abandon plans that would show consumers the cost of tariffs on product prices.



What Happened: &#8220;Apparently, Trump called Bezos personally to &#8216;convince&#8217; him not to honestly inform consumers about the taxes they&#8217;re paying when they buy goods on Amazon,&#8221; Schiff wrote on X. &#8220;I don&#8217;t like this at all. This is the type of stuff you might expect to see in China, our supposed enemy in the trade war.&#8221;



Schiff defended Amazon&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/45086459/amazon-pressures-suppliers-for-discounts-may-show-tariff-related-costs-on-haul-site">reported consideration to display tariff costs</a>, arguing that &#8220;consumers have a right to know how much tax they are paying&#8221; and questioning the White House&#8217;s characterization of such transparency as a &#8220;hostile and political act.&#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">Apparently, Trump called Bezos personally to &quot;convince&quot; him not to honestly inform consumers about the taxes they&#39;re paying when they buy goods on Amazon. I don&#39;t like this at all. This is the type of stuff you might expect to see in China, our supposed enemy in the trade war.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1917254205309382805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The controversy emerged after reports that Amazon might <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/45086459/amazon-pressures-suppliers-for-discounts-may-show-tariff-related-costs-on-haul-site">display tariff costs next to product prices</a>. While Amazon denied plans for its main site, the company acknowledged considering the idea for its Haul website, which sells items under $20.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45089879/paypal-says-buy-now-pay-later-users-spend-33-more-make-17-more-transactions-pushes-for-global-rollout">PayPal Says &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later&#8217; Users Spend 33% More, Make 17% More Transactions—Pushes For Global Rollout</a>



Why It Matters: Trump, who has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports and a 10% minimum tax on goods from other countries, confirmed the call with Bezos, telling reporters, &#8220;Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly.&#8221;



White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned Amazon&#8217;s potential move as a &#8220;hostile and political act.&#8221;



The disagreement unfolds as Amazon navigates challenges from Trump&#8217;s tariff policies, which analysts at Goldman Sachs expect could affect 6%-12% of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/45086459/amazon-pressures-suppliers-for-discounts-may-show-tariff-related-costs-on-haul-site">e-commerce giant&#8217;s operating margins in 2025.</a>



Price Action: Amazon stock closed at $187.39 on Tuesday, down 0.17% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock slipped further to $186.41, a decline of 0.52%. Year to date, Amazon shares have dropped 14.91%, or $32.83, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



Despite demonstrating strong momentum and ranking well on growth metrics, the e-commerce giant faces a negative price trend in the short to long term, according to Benzinga Edge&#8217;s Stock Ranking. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up to learn more.</a>



Photo Courtesy: Jonah Elkowitz on Shutterstock.com



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/45089307/trump-says-hes-already-ended-inflation-at-michigan-rally-held-to-mark-100-days-in-office-promises-to-protect-medicare-and-social-security-democrats-plan-senate-ba">Trump Says He&#8217;s &#8216;Already Ended Inflation&#8217; At Michigan Rally Held To Mark 100 Days In Office, Promises To Protect Medicare And Social Security — Democrats Plan Senate Barrage</a></li>
</ul>



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

AMZN

Trump's Call To Jeff Bezos Over Amazon's Tariff Display Earns Peter Schiff's Ire: 'Type Of Stuff You Might Expect To See In China'

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is drawing renewed investor interest despite recent setbacks, as Tom Lee, Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, identifies potential recovery signals amid extremely negative sentiment.



What Happened: Lee described Tesla as a &#8220;washed out&#8221; stock in a post on X on Tuesday, where he shared an analysis by Roy Mattox, Chief Market Strategist at Integrated Financial Strategies. 



Mattox revealed that his team initiated a pilot position in Tesla after the stock broke above its 200-day moving average and surpassed the $291.85 pivot point, following a sharp decline. 



Mattox acknowledged the move as an &#8220;unorthodox&#8221; and creative entry, driven not by recent earnings, which he characterized as a &#8220;horrible quarter.&#8221; Specifically, the investment is based on optimism around Tesla&#8217;s upcoming autonomous and robotaxi initiatives, as well as the anticipated rollout of the Optimus robot.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> &#x1f447; A ‘washed out' stock <a href="https://t.co/XRsbpiunuQ">https://t.co/XRsbpiunuQ</a>&mdash; Thomas (Tom) Lee (not drummer) FSInsight.com (@fundstrat) <a href="https://twitter.com/fundstrat/status/1917323549003366739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 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/25/04/45093311/not-everyone-needs-a-thousand-ai-engineers-but-for-those-who-do-zuckerberg-says-meta-will-gladly-build-it-for-a-price">Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Says AI Won&#8217;t Just Be About Free Tools And Ads — Some People Will Pay A Fortune To Deploy Armies Of Digital Workers</a> Why It Matters: The investment comes as the President Donald Trump administration begins <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45001024/trump-administration-announces-exemptions-for-autonomous-driving-companies-in-the-us-eases-self-driving-crash-report-requirements">easing regulatory hurdles for autonomous driving companies</a>. 



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is updating regulations to allow domestic autonomous vehicle manufacturers exemptions to U.S. Auto Safety Standards <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45001024/trump-administration-announces-exemptions-for-autonomous-driving-companies-in-the-us-eases-self-driving-crash-report-requirements">previously reserved for imported vehicles</a>, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.



These regulatory changes could boost Tesla&#8217;s prospects as the company recently launched limited autonomous ride-hailing services in Austin and San Francisco, with Musk promising that &#8220;10 to 20&#8221; Model Ys will offer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44979720/teslas-robotaxi-launch-in-june-will-likely-be-a-non-event-says-gary-black-this-isnt-really-a-test-market-its-an-experiment">paid robotaxi rides starting in June</a>.



Lee previously identified Tesla as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44549998/cathie-wood-sees-small-business-recovery-ahead-tom-lee-predicts-extremely-high-odds-of-a-v-shaped-ma">key indicator of broader market recovery</a>, noting the stock has already rebounded despite recent volatility from political scrutiny and concerns over CEO Elon Musk&#8216;s influence. 



Price Action: Tesla stock closed at $292.03 on Tuesday, up 2.15% for the day. In pre-market trading, the stock dipped 1.19% to $288.55. Year to date, Tesla shares are down 23%.



According to Benzinga Edge&#8217;s Stock Rankings, Tesla is outperforming Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>), Rivian Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>), and Nio Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) in terms of momentum, despite facing a short- to long-term downward price trend. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up for more insights</a>. Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45093263/jetblue-in-talks-with-united-airlines-over-possible-partnership-report">JetBlue In Talks With United Airlines Over Possible Partnership: Report</a></li>
</ul>



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

LCID

RIVN

TSLA

Tom Lee Sees Recovery Signal In 'Washed Out' Tesla As Stock Breaks Key Level, Backed By Robotaxi And Optimus Hopes

Leading cryptocurrencies were muffled on Tuesday, but stocks rallied on indications that the United States was nearing a deal with a key trading partner.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-0.77%</td><td>$94,494.12</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+0.03%</td><td>$1,803.83</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-2.30%</td><td>$0.1758</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin continued to face resistance around $95,500 as trading volume dipped nearly 15% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum wobbled in the early $1,800 territory, with volumes down 9.63%



More than $180 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for $120 million.&nbsp;



That said, over $630 million in Bitcoin short positions risked liquidation if the apex cryptocurrency rose to $98,000.



Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest dropped 2.27% in the last 24 hours, while more than 57% of Binance traders took short positions on the asset.



The market sentiment remained in "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Solayer (LAYER)</td><td>+9.31%</td><td>$3.21</td></tr><tr><td>Monero (XMR)</td><td>+4.63%</td><td>$272.48</td></tr><tr><td>Bonk (BONK)</td><td>+1.29%</td><td>$0.6561</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.96 trillion, following a drop of 0.74% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks moved further north on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lifted 300.03 points, or 0.75%, to end at 40,527.62. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.58% to finish at 5,560.83. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite added 0.55%, ending at 17,461.32.



On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the U.S. has reached a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/45082716/manufacturing-momentum-market-mirage-lutnick-dismisses-recession">definite trade deal</a> with an unnamed country. This comes a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at a potential deal with India



Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) got a hiccup ahead of its first-quarter earnings after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45067585/amazon-stock-tumbles-as-white-house-calls-tariff-visibility-plans-a-hostile-act">White House deemed "hostile"</a> the e-commerce giant's move to show tariffs on products. That said, the stock recovered nearly all of its initial sell-off at market close.



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



Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Greg Miller was confident Bitcoin would break out from the ascending triangle pattern.



"Price is holding strong, and the setup is clean—$98,300 might be coming sooner than we think," Miller predicted.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> looks ready to break out from this ascending triangle &#x1f4c8; Price is holding strong, and the setup is clean — $98.3k might be coming sooner than we think. Just staying patient and riding the trend. Let's see how this plays out. <a href="https://t.co/9km1G8OauL">pic.twitter.com/9km1G8OauL</a>&mdash; Greg Miller (@greg_miller05) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_miller05/status/1917279169739686306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Chartist and trader Ali Martinez also anticipated a new bull rally for Bitcoin, citing the golden cross between the MVRV Ratio and its 365-day SMA.



MVRV, a shorthand for Market Value to Realized Value, is a ratio used to assess the value of a cryptocurrency by comparing its current market value to its realized value.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">A golden cross between the MVRV Ratio and its 365-day SMA could mark the start of a new bull rally for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a>. One to watch closely! <a href="https://t.co/BrDrNOfgEY">pic.twitter.com/BrDrNOfgEY</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1917251279472189450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo: Igor Faun/Shutterstock



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PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) is seeing strong momentum with its "Buy Now, Pay Later" services, with significantly higher user engagement and larger transaction sizes, as it expands the offering globally.



What Happened: During its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45067312/paypal-earnings-beat-but-slower-spending-and-checkout-use-weigh-on-results">first quarter earnings</a> on Tuesday, PayPal highlighted key developments in its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service, a short-term financing option that lets consumers defer payments on purchases, starting with a 0% APR, and no late fees.



BNPL users spend 33% more per transaction than PayPal's overall average of $69.53, the company said. They also complete 17% more transactions than the average of 59.4 per active account over the past 12 months.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45089384/cathie-wood-bets-against-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-ahead-of-crucial-earnings-report-loads-up-on-this-amazon-rival">Cathie Wood Bets Against Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Ahead Of Crucial Earnings Report, Loads Up On This Amazon Rival</a>



Although PayPal launched its BNPL service in 2020, the company credits recent gains to its improved pay sheet that clearly showcases its full range of payment options. The service has also received greater visibility through marketing campaigns, including one featuring actor Will Ferrell.



Despite inherent credit risks tied to BNPL offerings, PayPal CFO Jamie Miller has said that charge-off rates remain stable and are improving. &#8220;In particular with respect to the consumer portfolios, we've actually seen delinquencies over the last 30 days improve,&#8221; Miller said on the earnings call.



The company&#8217;s CEO, Alex Chriss, considers BNPL a key growth lever going forward, with plans for an international rollout this year.



&#8220;We will continue to lean into BNPL throughout this year with targeted consumer awareness campaigns in the U.K. and Germany and continued investment in other priority global markets including Australia, France, Italy, and Spain,&#8221; Chriss said on the call.



Why It Matters: The BNPL market has surged in recent years, with the market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/01/36697045/the-rise-of-buy-now-pay-later-in-2024">expected to touch</a> $1 trillion by 2027, led by PayPal, and its peers such as Affirm Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Klarna, and AfterPay, which is now owned by Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>).



While analysts have cautioned against <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/02/43888952/americans-owe-a-record-1-21-trillion-in-credit-card-debt-expert-warns-theres-no-end-in-sight">rising BNPL debt</a> and overindulgence by consumers in the past, the company&#8217;s steady charge-off rates and low delinquencies have dismissed these concerns.



Price Action: PayPal stock was up 2.14% on Tuesday, but is down 0.26% after-hours, following the company&#8217;s first quarter earnings.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="136" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM-1024x136.png" alt="" class="wp-image-893944" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM-1024x136.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM-300x40.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM-768x102.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM-1536x204.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29223833/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-8.08.20-AM.png 1598w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



PayPal doesn&#8217;t fare too well on Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, with low scores across the board, and unfavorable price trends in the short, medium, and long term. How does it compare with peers such as Affirm and Block? Sign up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge</a> to find out.



Photo Courtesy: BigTunaOnline On Shutterstock.com



Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/45088278/american-express-says-the-rich-are-still-dining-out-and-living-large-while-everyone-else-braces-for-recession-tariffs-and-skyrocketing-prices">American Express Says the Rich Are Still Dining Out and Living Large — While Everyone Else Braces for Recession, Tariffs, and Skyrocketing Prices</a>

AFRM

PYPL

PayPal Says 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Users Spend 33% More, Make 17% More Transactions—Pushes For Global Rollout

On his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/04/45069781/trumps-first-100-days-what-he-delivered-where-he-fell-short-how-markets-reacted">100th day in office</a> during his second term, President Donald Trump returned to a familiar setting — a rally stage in Michigan — to energize supporters, defend his policies, and lash out at critics as Democrats prepared a coordinated protest in the Senate.



What Happened: On Tuesday, before a crowd in the battleground state he flipped in 2024, Trump touted his administration's economic record, declaring, "We've already ended inflation," and vowed further spending cuts to boost growth, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/29/trump-presidency-news-100-days/">reported</a> The Washington Post.



"We will cut more than $1 trillion in wasteful and unnecessary spending," he stated, adding, "We will end inflation, slash prices — we've already ended inflation — raise wages and give you the greatest economy in the history of the world."



In a speech that echoed his campaign rallies, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42980742/trump-off-hook-in-2020-election-case-special-counsel-smith-says-evidence-was-sufficient-to-obtain-and-sustain-a-conviction">repeated false claims</a> about the 2020 election and accused Democrats of trying to influence the 2024 outcome. "That's their single greatest trait," Trump said, the report noted.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44999959/how-the-us-china-trade-war-is-unintentionally-boosting-demand-for-intels-older-chips-amid-economic-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel's Older Parts Are In Demand Thanks To US-China Trade War: ‘Tariffs Have Everybody Hedging Their Bets,' Says Executive</a>



The president also defended his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/04/44891977/pete-hegseth-shared-yemen-strike-details-in-another-signal-group-chat-this-time-with-his-wife-brother-and-personal-lawyer-report">embattled defense secretary</a>, Pete Hegseth, calling him a "tough cookie."



He also said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/25/04/45064937/donald-trump-threatens-to-veto-any-gop-bill-that-touches-medicaid-or-social-security-if-it-cuts-it-i-would-not-approve">Republicans will defend Medicaid</a>. "We will always protect Medicare and Social Security for our great seniors with no cuts, and we will defend Medicaid for those great people that are in need,"



Trump said, despite criticism from Democrats and analysts who argue his budget plan would force cuts.



The President also saved some of his sharpest criticism for Democratic figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/23/09/34249216/trump-goes-all-in-on-his-nickname-for-biden-sleepy-joe-becomes-crooked-joe-says-indicted-former-">mocked former President</a> Joe Biden, polling the crowd on whether to call him "Sleepy Joe" or "Crooked Joe," the report said.



Meanwhile, Democratic senators intend to spend hours on the Senate floor Tuesday evening criticizing Trump's first 100 days in office, the report added.



Why It's Important: Trump has completed 100 days of his second term, with mixed progress on key 2024 campaign promises.



He's largely delivered on immigration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/45032435/trump-tariffs-prompt-suspension-of-chinese-factory-operations-and-shift-to-new-markets">and tariffs</a>, imposing a 10% import tax and targeting trade imbalances. Gas prices are down, but grocery costs have risen due to tariffs.



His vow to end the Ukraine war <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44888482/trump-set-ultimatum-for-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-not-going-to-continue-with-this-endeavour-for-weeks-and-months-says-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio">remains unmet</a>, though diplomatic efforts are underway.



Trump also signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43088148/trump-pardons-1500-jan-6-defendants-including-key-proud-boys-figures-after-bidens-final-hour-clemency">pardoned over 1,500 people</a>, including Jan. 6 defendants.



Economic pledges like tax cuts on tips and overtime remain unfulfilled. The Associated Press rates four promises as kept, 15 in progress, and five as "complicated."



Photo Courtesy: Rawpixel.com on Shutterstock.com



Read Next:&nbsp;



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

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Trump Says He's 'Already Ended Inflation' At Michigan Rally Held To Mark 100 Days In Office, Promises To Protect Medicare And Social Security — Democrats Plan Senate Barrage

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