All three major U.S. indices are red in Wednesday's midday trading as investors weighed President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on auto imports, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. An official announcement is<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43807804/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-following-fresh-records-from-previous-session-expert-says-dont-be-scared-of-new-highs"> expected as soon as April 2.&nbsp;</a>



Markets are anticipating the release of the most recent FOMC minutes later in the trading day which will give further insight into the Federal Reserve's policy outlook. The Fed held interest rates steady at its last meeting and has signaled it is in no hurry to lower rates.&nbsp;



Natural gas futures were up 5%, closing in on a two-year high, as extreme <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/02/43814828/life-threatening-cold-air-snow-brings-travel-delays-higher-heating-costs">cold temperatures</a> across the U.S. drove higher heating demand and froze oil and gas wells, disrupting production. Adding to the pressure on prices are record-level gas flows to LNG export plants. The United States Natural Gas Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNG#NYSE">UNG</a>) ETF was up more than 5% midday Wednesday.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/02/43814828/life-threatening-cold-air-snow-brings-travel-delays-higher-heating-costs">&#8216;Life-Threatening&#8217; Cold Air, Snow Brings Travel Delays, Higher Heating Costs</a>



The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note held above 4.5% on Wednesday after Trump issued new tariff threats which fueled inflation concerns. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) rose 0.03% to $88.13.&nbsp;



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rose to above the $96,000 level as crypto markets recovered some of Tuesday's losses.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1 day % chg.</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>20,037.70</td><td>-0.02%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,132.74</td><td>0.05%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,465.91</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,284.05</td><td>0.28%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



According to Benzinga Pro data:



<ul>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched up 0.05% to $611.78</li>



<li>The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was down 0.17% at $445.16. </li>



<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) was flat at $539.41. </li>



<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.4% to $226.31.</li>



<li>The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) dipped 0.38% to $225.52. </li>



<li>The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) rose 1.36% to $92.54. </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday's Stock Movers:&nbsp;</h2>



Shares of EV truck maker Nikola Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKLA#NASDAQ">NKLA</a>) plummeted after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/02/43811409/nikola-files-for-bankruptcy-seeks-auction-for-sale-of-its-assets">company filed</a> for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking to auction its assets while continuing limited operations through March 2025. Another small EV company, Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MULN#NASDAQ">MULN</a>), shares are down after the company reported significant losses in its fourth-quarter earnings release before the opening bell.&nbsp;



Stocks reacting to company earnings reports included:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Bumble, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMBL#NASDAQ">BMBL</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Shift4 Payments, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOUR#NYSE">FOUR</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>)</li>



<li>Medifast, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MED#NYSE">MED</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Appian Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APPN#NASDAQ">APPN</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Arista Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NASDAQ">ANET</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEDG#NASDAQ">SEDG</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Global-E Online Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLBE#NASDAQ">GLBE</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Companies reporting after Wednesday's closing bell include:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Toast, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOST#NYSE">TOST</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>The Cheesecake Factory Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAKE#NASDAQ">CAKE</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Alamos Gold Inc. &nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>)</li>



<li>Borr Drilling Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BORR#NYSE">BORR</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Taseko Mines, Ltd. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGB#AMEX">TGB</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Equinox Gold Corp.&nbsp; (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQX#AMEX">EQX</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>B2Gold Corp. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTG#AMEX">BTG</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Vale S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VALE#NYSE">VALE</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXAS#NASDAQ">EXAS</a>)&nbsp;</li>



<li>Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRAB#NASDAQ">GRAB</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43787369/us-russian-officials-begin-ukraine-peace-talks-defense-sector-stocks-rise"> US, Russian Officials Begin Ukraine Peace Talks: Defense Sector Stocks Rise</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: gary yim/Shutterstock.com

Cryptocurrency

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$BTC

ANET

APPN

BMBL

BORR

CAKE

CDNS

CVNA

EXAS

FOUR

GLBE

GRAB

GRMN

MULN

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SEDG

TOST

VALE

Trump Calls For More Tariffs, Federal Reserve Minutes On Deck: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

President Donald Trump has launched a sharp critique of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy&#8216;s leadership, claiming the Ukrainian leader &#8220;played (former U.S. president Joe) Biden like a fiddle,&#8221; prompting increasing speculation on prediction markets about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43769730/ukraine-raises-alarm-over-us-russia-talks-on-war-without-kyivs-involvement">Zelenskyy&#8217;s political future</a>.



What Happened: According to Polymarket trading <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/zelenskyy-out-as-ukraine-president-before-july?tid=1739982358891">data</a>, there&#8217;s a 23% probability that Zelenskyy could leave office before July 2025, while separate market predictions indicate a 29% chance that Trump could end the Ukraine war within his first 90 days if elected president.



In a strongly-worded Truth Social <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1892242622623699357">post</a>, Trump criticized U.S. spending on the Ukraine conflict, stating that &#8220;the United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe&#8217;s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back.&#8221; 



He also claimed his administration is &#8220;successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia.&#8221;



The prediction markets have shown volatile trading patterns regarding potential outcomes in Ukraine. 



The <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/ukraine-agrees-to-give-trump-rare-earth-metals-before-april?tid=1739983030731">probability</a> of Ukraine conceding rare earth metals to Trump before April stands at 34%, while bettors assign a 29% chance to Trump ending the Ukraine war within his first 90 days.



The trading volumes on these predictions are substantial, with one market <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/trump-wins-ends-ukraine-war-in-90-days?tid=1739983073256">showing</a> over $17 million in volume, suggesting significant investor interest in potential Ukrainian political developments.



The markets demonstrate particular uncertainty about the period following the U.S. presidential election.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43816143/study-shows-reasons-why-bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-shiba-inu-plummet-from-their-all-time-highs">Study Shows Reasons Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Plummet From Their All-Time Highs &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s criticism focused heavily on financial aspects, questioning both aid distribution and European contributions. 



He specifically referenced Zelenskyy&#8217;s background, describing him as &#8220;a modestly successful comedian&#8221; who convinced the U.S. to spend &#8220;$350 Billion Dollars to go into a War that couldn&#8217;t be won.&#8221;



In his statement, Trump also raised concerns about alleged missing aid money and Ukraine&#8217;s domestic political situation, though these claims would require independent verification. 



The prediction markets reflect this general uncertainty, with probabilities suggesting significant potential for political changes in the coming months.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43815939/binanceus-restores-usd-services-after-lengthy-regulatory-roadblock">Binance.US Restores USD Services After Lengthy Regulatory Roadblock</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Donald Trump Says US Is 'Successfully Negotiating With Russia' Over Ukraine, But Polymarket Traders Aren't Convinced

Cupertino tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) on Thursday announced the iPhone 16e, an affordable iPhone offering that replaces the third-generation iPhone SE.



What Happened: Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared in a video posted by the company to announce the new budget-friendly iPhone. The smartphone replaces the iPhone SE that was launched in 2022 and comes with several improvements.



iPhone 16e Price And Availability: The iPhone 16e has been priced starting at $599. The device will be available for pre-orders starting from Feb.21 and will go on sale from Feb. 28.



It comes in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options and is available in five colors: Black, Fuchsia, Lake Green, White, and Winter Blue.



iPhone 16e Specifications: The iPhone 16e runs on iOS 18 and features a 6.1-inch OLED display, an upgrade from the 4.7-inch LCD on the third-generation iPhone SE.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43794360/apple-supplier-foxconns-efforts-to-make-iphones-in-india-thwarted-by-tech-and-talent-exports-report">Apple Supplier Foxconn&#8217;s Efforts To Make iPhones In India Thwarted By Tech And Talent Exports: Report</a>



The device is powered by the A18 chipset, which includes a 6-core CPU, a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It supports Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI features that enhance text, image, and video processing, along with a more advanced version of Siri.



Additionally, the iPhone 16e debuts Apple's first custom modem, the C1, which the company says is the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone to date.



The smartphone features a 48MP camera at the back with support for HDR, portrait mode, and the ability to record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. On the front, the device sports a 12MP sensor.



The iPhone 16e is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that is said to offer up to 26 hours of video playback on a single charge.



<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="Introducing iPhone 16e - February 19" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mFuyX1XgJFg?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>



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.



Read Next:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43765088/mark-zuckerberg-follows-elon-musks-footsteps-as-meta-reportedly-plans-major-investment-into-ai-power">Mark Zuckerberg Follows Elon Musk&#8217;s Footsteps As Meta Reportedly Plans Major Investment Into AI-Powered Humanoid Robots</a>



Photo courtesy: Apple

AAPL

Apple Unveils iPhone 16e With A18 Chip, AI Features, $599 Price Tag

Wall Street's most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/hedge-funds">elite hedge funds</a> had a clear pecking order in the fourth quarter of 2024, and it wasn't the usual suspects leading the pack. 



Tiger Global Management LLC, Appaloosa LP, and Soros Fund Management LLC pulled ahead, outpacing investing legends like Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), Dan Loeb's Third Point LLC, Carl Icahn, and Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management LP.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Hedge Fund Olympics: Q4's Podium Finishers</h2>



According to WhaleWisdom <a href="https://whalewisdom.com/dashboard2/search/fund_performance_search">data</a>, Chase Coleman's Tiger Global roared with a 13.10% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) gain, flexing its dominance with high-conviction tech bets like Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>). 



Not far behind, David Tepper's Appaloosa returned 7.83%, thanks to an opportunistic approach that saw Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABAF#NYSE">BABAF</a>) as a core holding. 



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43746268/david-tepper-rausing-family-boost-nvidia-holdings-ahead-of-stock-volatility">David Tepper, Rausing Family Boost Nvidia Holdings Ahead Of Stock Volatility</a>



Meanwhile, George Soros' fund, better known for geopolitical plays than pure stock picking, still managed an impressive 7.79%.



In contrast, long-established investment firms saw more modest gains. Berkshire Hathaway, known for Buffett's long-term value approach, lagged at 6.29%, despite Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) making up a significant portion of its holdings.



Loeb's Third Point edged up 5.46%, while Icahn—typically strong in volatile markets—managed 2.01%. As for Ackman's Pershing Square? Just 0.28%.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43766008/berkshire-hathaways-13f-filing-suggests-a-buffett-style-bash-pizza-beer-and-fine-wine">Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s 13F Filing Suggests a Buffett-Style Bash — Pizza, Beer and Fine Wine</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Old School Value Investing Meets Hedge Fund Hustle</h2>



The shift in hedge fund dominance underscores a broader trend: High-speed, tactical investing is outpacing the traditional buy-and-hold strategy. Tiger Global's aggressive tech positioning, Appaloosa's contrarian bets, and Soros' nimble rotations all outshined Berkshire's methodical approach. 



While Buffett and his cohort remain revered, the fourth quarter was a reminder that adaptability wins the day. If this trend holds, the next 13F season could see the hedge fund world's power dynamics shifting even further. 



For now, it's Tiger, Appaloosa, and Soros basking in the spotlight.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43811538/5-top-tech-stocks-hedge-funds-have-been-bullish-on-in-q4-hint-its-not-nvidia">5 Top Tech Stocks Hedge Funds Have Been Bullish On In Q4 (Hint: It&#8217;s Not Nvidia)</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Long Ideas

Hedge Funds

Trading Ideas

BABA

BABAF

Hedge Fund Shake-Up: Tiger, Appaloosa, Soros Outperform Buffett, Icahn, Ackman

Record-breaking cold and winter weather is gripping much of the United States on Wednesday and the National Weather Service has issued weather advisories, watches or warnings in 38 states. Snow, ice and travel delays are expected to mount throughout the day with effects lingering<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43771116/delta-air-lines-jet-overturns-at-toronto-pearson-airport-amid-snowstorm-18-injured-3-critical"> into Thursday as well.&nbsp;</a>



What To Know: AccuWeather meteorologists <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/life-threatening-cold-to-blast-millions-across-central-eastern-us-into-weeks-end/1746445">warn</a> that "life-threatening" cold is moving across the central U.S. with the coldest conditions spreading east behind the track of a winter storm bringing arctic air that "will be painful, dangerous and damaging in some cases."



Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43787369/us-russian-officials-begin-ukraine-peace-talks-defense-sector-stocks-rise"> US, Russian Officials Begin Ukraine Peace Talks: Defense Sector Stocks Rise</a>



Oklahoma City woke up to blowing and drifting snow Wednesday morning with temperatures just above zero Fahrenheit and wind chills of 30 below zero. Storm conditions are tracking east and are forecast to bring snow and ice to much of the mid-Atlantic region including Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Lighter snow accumulations are expected into New England as well.&nbsp;



The cold air following the storm is expected to intensify throughout the week. CNN<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/weather/frigid-cold-us-flooding-tuesday-hnk/index.html"> reported</a> approximately 75% of the US population is expected to experience below-freezing conditions by Friday with temperatures as much as 50 degrees below February averages.&nbsp;



Energy Effects: The frigid air will place pressure on household budgets and energy demands. The price of natural gas is up more than 4% on Wednesday and nearly 16% since the beginning of 2025, according to TradingEconomics. The United States Natural Gas Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNG#NYSE">UNG</a>) which tracks the the daily percentage changes in natural gas prices is climbing higher on the cold weather forecast as well. 



Travel Delays: Travelers should expect changing conditions and possible delays Wednesday and into Thursday as well. According <a href="https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/today">to data</a> from FlightAware, more than 450 flights have been cancelled and another 700 flights delayed. Cancellations and delays are expected to mount throughout the day. 



American Airlines Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) are reporting the highest percentage of cancellations, with 4% and 1% of flights cancelled as of Wednesday morning.&nbsp;



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43703014/robert-f-kennedy-confirmed-as-trump-secretary-of-health">Robert F. Kennedy, Vaccine Skeptic, Confirmed As Trump&#8217;s Secretary Of Health: Health Care Stocks To Watch</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

Travel

'Life-Threatening' Cold Air, Snow Brings Travel Delays, Higher Heating Costs

Shares of e-commerce company Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>) are trading lower after the fourth-quarter FY24 earnings result.



The company reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 1.2% year-on-year to $852.2 million, missing the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43808750/etsy-inc-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of $862.82 million</a>.



Consolidated GMS declined 6.8% to $3.7 billion. EPS of $1.03 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus estimate of $0.94.</a>



Etsy marketplace GMS decreased 8.6% to&nbsp;$3.3 billion, a result of pressure on consumer discretionary product spending, challenging year-over-year comparisons in a shortened holiday season, category mix, and a highly promotional and competitive retail environment.



Active buyers declined 2.6% to 89.6 million. GMS per active buyer on a trailing twelve month basis slipped 3.5% to $121.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/02/43778605/tesla-files-fresh-lawsuit-against-matthews-after-court-defeat" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Files Fresh Lawsuit Against Matthews After Court Defeat</a>



Gross profit for the quarter increased 8.2% to $634.4 million with a gross margin of 74.4%. Operating expenses for the quarter rose 1.7% to $479.3 million. Operating income climbed 34.4% to $155.1 million and the operating margin expanded 450 basis points to 18.2%.



Adjusted EBITDA improved 6.4% to $250.64 million and the corresponsding EBITDA margin expanded 140 basis points to 29.4%.



The company held $1.2&nbsp;billion in cash and equivalents as of December 31, 2024. The operating cash flow for the year totaled $752.5 million.



Outlook: Etsy expects first-quarter FY25 GMS to decline at a rate similar to the year-over-year&nbsp;performance reported for the fourth quarter of FY24.



The company expects first quarter adjusted EBITDA margin of about 25% &#8211; 26%.



Price Action: ETSY shares are trading lower by 10.2% at $51.48 at the last check Wednesday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43737860/coca-cola-pepsico-adjust-dei-policies-following-trump-executive-order-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Adjust DEI Policies Following Trump Executive Order: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock.

Earnings

Guidance

ETSY

Etsy Q4 Earnings: Sales Miss, Pressured Consumer Spending, Active Buyers Dip And More

Nikola Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKLA#NASDAQ">NKLA</a>) shares are trading lower in the premarket session on Wednesday, after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking to auction its assets while continuing limited <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43567770/whats-going-on-with-nikola-stock-friday" rel="noreferrer noopener">operations through March 2025.</a>



Nikola announced today that it and certain subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43809634/nikola-initiates-comprehensive-voluntary-chapter-11-sale-process" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware.</a>



According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, NKLA stock has lost over 96% in the past year.



Related Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43552668" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola, Once A $30 Billion EV Sensation, Struggles To Survive After Hindenburg Fallout And Mounting Losses</a>



The company is also seeking authorization for an auction and sale process under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. This move comes as Nikola looks to address its liquidity challenges and explore options to maximize value for stakeholders.



In December, Nikola launched $300 million in debt and equity offerings to raise capital for working capital, as disclosed in the company&#8217;s public filings, per a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hydrogen-truck-maker-nikola-explores-bankruptcy-filing-3233b9d2" rel="noreferrer noopener">report </a>by The Wall Street Journal.



Last year, Nikola&#8217;s CFO, Thomas Okray, informed investors that the company&#8217;s cash reserves would only last until April of this year, the report noted.



Nikola&#8217;s financial position includes approximately $47 million in cash, which will be used to fund its ongoing activities, including limited operations.



Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43185673/nikola-considering-options-including-selling-company-raising-new-funds-report" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Nikola Eyes Sale, New Partners As It Risks Running Out Of Cash By End Of First Quarter</a>



The company intends to continue essential services, such as supporting its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in the field, as well as certain HYLA fueling operations, through the end of March 2025.



After that, Nikola plans to partner with other entities to maintain these services.



In his statement, Nikola&#8217;s President and CEO Steve Girsky acknowledged the company&#8217;s progress in advancing zero-emissions transportation, citing milestones such as the launch of North America&#8217;s first commercially available Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks and the creation of the HYLA hydrogen refueling network.



&#8220;Our customers have accumulated approximately 3.3 million fleet miles across both our FCEV and BEV truck platforms and our HYLA fueling network has dispensed well over 330 metric tons of hydrogen,&#8221; Girsky said.&nbsp;



Despite these achievements, Girsky emphasized the market and macroeconomic challenges that have hindered the company&#8217;s ability to maintain operations.



&#8220;In recent months, we have taken numerous actions to raise capital, reduce our liabilities, clean up our balance sheet and preserve cash to sustain our operations. Unfortunately, our very best efforts have not been enough,&#8221; the CEO added.



Meanwhile, electric vehicle companies that went public during the pandemic, including Fisker, Lordstown Motors, and Proterra, went bankrupt in recent years as funding for their operations dwindled amid rising interest rates and decreasing demand, Reuters reports.



Nikola reported assets valued between $500 million and $1 billion, while its liabilities were estimated to range from $1 billion to $10 billion, the report further noted.



Price Action: NKLA shares are trading lower by 45.5% to $0.4170 premarket at last check Wednesday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43774239/teslas-self-driving-ambitions-in-china-at-risk-as-us-china-trade-war-heats-up-its-a-bit-of-a-quandary-says-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla&#8217;s Self-Driving Ambitions In China At Risk As US-China Trade War Heats Up: &#8216;It&#8217;s A Bit Of A Quandary,&#8217; Says Elon Musk</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Asset Sales

Media

Nikola Files For Bankruptcy, Seeks Auction For Sale Of Its Assets

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WMT/earnings">opening bell, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.</a>



Analysts expect the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company to report quarterly earnings at 65 cents per share, up from 60 cents per share in the year-ago period. Walmart projects quarterly revenue of $179 billion, compared to $171.91 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.



On Tuesday, Baird analyst Peter Benedict maintained Walmart with an Outperform and raised the price target from $100 to $115, while Piper Sandler analyst Peter Keith maintained the stock with an Overweight and boosted the price target from $93 to $118.



With the recent buzz around Walmart, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. Currently, Walmart offers an annual dividend yield of 0.80%, a quarterly dividend amount of 21 cents per share (83 cents a year).  



So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly?



To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $750,226 or around 7,229 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $150,066 or around 1,446 shares.



To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($0.83 in this case). So, $6,000 / $0.83 = 7,229 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $0.83 = 1,446 shares ($100 per month).



Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.



How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock&#8217;s current price.



For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40).



Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield.



Price Action: Walmart&#8217;s shares fell 0.3%, closing at $103.78 on Tuesday.



<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="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Read More: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43776863/top-3-risk-off-stocks-which-could-rescue-your-portfolio-this-quarter-3">Top 3 Risk Off Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

How To Earn $500 A Month From Walmart Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings

Open interest in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-meme-coins">meme coin futures</a> has significantly decreased as prices have dropped, sparking a debate about the sector&#8217;s future.



What Happened: In a post on <a href="https://x.com/glassnode/status/1892167279460114624">X</a> on Feb 19, Glassnode data shows the decrease, with Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) open interest down by 58.45%, falling from $3.58 billion on Dec. 9, 2024 to $1.49 billion recently.



Other meme coins experienced even steeper drops, with Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>) open interest down by 71.93% ($1.25 billion to $351 million), Bonk (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">BONK</a>) down 75.10% ($715 million to $178 million), and Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>) down 69.83% ($653 million to $197 million).



Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) and Floki (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">FLOKI</a>), while smaller in total OI, also faced sharp declines of 74.41% and 69.18%, respectively. 



This widespread contraction in OI suggests a major flush of leverage from the market but could also indicate shifting sentiment within the meme coin sector.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43786713/solana-meme-coin-ecosystem-under-fire-galaxy-research-cites-libra-rug-pull-as-major-blow">Solana Meme Coin Ecosystem Under Fire: Galaxy Research Cites LIBRA Rug Pull As Major Blow</a>



Why It Matters: The decline in open interest coincides with falling prices, with meme coins losing between 45% and 83% since December. 



Dogwifhat suffered the steepest decline, while Dogecoin has held up the best.



CrediBULL Crypto in a post on <a href="https://x.com/CredibleCrypto/status/1892114797002453335">X</a> on Wednesday called this a &#8220;meme-pocalypse&#8221;, suggesting that while meme coins took a hit, it could be a reset rather than a total collapse.



Coingecko data confirms that the entire meme coin sector has undergone a significant valuation drawdown over the past three months.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="957" height="547" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19082904/meme-futures-oi.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-788915" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19082904/meme-futures-oi.jpg 957w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19082904/meme-futures-oi-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19082904/meme-futures-oi-768x439.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" /></figure>



Source: Coingecko



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43734199/millionaire-trader-says-dogecoin-bonk-trump-memes-have-bottomed">Millionaire Trader Says Dogecoin, Bonk, Trump Memes Have Bottomed</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$BONK

$DOGE

$FLOKI

$PEPE

$SHIB

$WIF

Is The 'Meme-Pocalypse' Here? Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Pepe, Bonk Open Interest Craters Over 50%

U.S. stock futures fell on Wednesday after scaling fresh records in Tuesday&#8217;s session. The futures of all four benchmark indices were trading lower in the premarket.



President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on auto imports, along with tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductor chips.



The auto tariffs are expected to take effect by April 2, based on a report from his cabinet. Tariffs on pharmaceuticals and chips will also start at 25% or higher, with increases over the year. Trump did not specify a start date, allowing manufacturers time to establish U.S. factories to avoid the tariffs.



The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.56%, while the two-year yield was at 4.30%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 97.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.09%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.10%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.10%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.43%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were trading below the flatline on Wednesday. SPY fell 0.12% to $610.73, and QQQ dropped 0.093% to $538.87, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From The Last Session



Energy, materials, and utilities sectors led the gains in U.S. stocks on Tuesday, propelling the S&amp;P 500 to a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43806227/sp-500-settles-at-record-high-ahead-of-fed-minutes-investor-sentiment-improves-fear-greed-index-moves-to-neutral-zone"> record-high close</a>. Despite the overall positive trend, communication services and consumer discretionary sectors declined on Tuesday. 



The broader market awaited the release of the latest FOMC minutes on Wednesday and monitored other ongoing geopolitical developments.



Last week saw positive momentum across equity markets. The S&amp;P 500 was approximately up 1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 2.6% last week.



In company news, Fluor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLR#NYSE">FLR</a>) shares plummeted over 8% after the company reported quarterly earnings and revenue below expectations. On the economic front, the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index exceeded forecasts, rising 18.3 points to +5.7 in February.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.072%</td><td>20,041.26</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.24%</td><td>6,129.58</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.023%</td><td>44,556.34</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.45%</td><td>2,290.35</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts



Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research, pointed out that the S&amp;P 500 scaled its second all-time high of 2025 on Tuesday.



This was the 1,243rd record high over the 17,176 trading days since 1957 when the gauge increased to having 500 stocks.



Processing this data, Detrick highlighted that the S&amp;P 500 hits a new all-time high about once every three weeks.



<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">And with that we have the 2nd all-time high of 2025 for the S&amp;P 500. Since 1957 (when it become 500 stocks) this is 1,243 ATHs out of 17,176 trading days. In other words, a new ATH happens about once every 3 wks. New highs happen, congrats to the investors who remembered. <a href="https://t.co/D30va9bi5Y">pic.twitter.com/D30va9bi5Y</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1891961462475591906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



He also addressed a very important question, "Should you buy when stocks are all-time highs?" in one of his X posts.



Detrick said, "Don&#8217;t be scared of new highs". He substantiated his claims by adding that the index is usually up 71% of the times, a year after scaling an all-time high.



<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">Should you buy when stocks are all-time highs? That&#39;s a popular question we often get. My take is don&#39;t be scared of new highs, as the S&amp;P 500 is up a year later 71% of the time after an ATH and up a median of 8.3%. In other words, about normal returns. <a href="https://t.co/I01bT0Bgwg">pic.twitter.com/I01bT0Bgwg</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1891968184590246018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Talking about the fresh record, Nathan Peterson, director of derivatives analysis at the <a href="https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/stock-market-update-open">Schwab Center</a> for Financial Research said: &#8220;It seems that stocks can maintain a bullish bias provided the economic data and earnings growth estimates hold up and yields on the 10-year Treasury note remain below the mid-January high of 4.8%." 



According to economist Jeremy Siegel, despite the uncertainties, "The stock market continues to perform well, particularly in the tech sector, even as leadership has broadened beyond last year's AI-driven rally."



Professor of finance at the University of Pennsylvania, Siegel also added that "Tesla took a hit on competition from China's BYD, now the world's largest EV maker. Nvidia was hit after the DeepSeek news, but overall, the tech leaders have remained resilient."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep On Wednesday:



<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, January&#8217;s housing starts and building permits data will be out by 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>January&#8217;s minutes of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting will be released at 2:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Vice Chairman Philip Jefferson will speak at 5:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>) was up 0.58% in the premarket on Wednesday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.54 per share on revenue of $2.36 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Etsy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>) advanced 1.24% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of 93 cents per share on revenue of $862.82 million. before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) rose 0.99% ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of 29 cents per share on revenue of $3.31 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHG#NYSE">PHG</a>) tumbled 11.69% after reporting downbeat results for its fourth quarter.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Wix.Com Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WIX#NASDAQ">WIX</a>) jumped 6.68% after reporting earnings of $1.93 per share for the fourth quarter, which beat the analyst consensus. But its sales of $460.455 million missed the consensus of $461.748 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Aptose Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APTO#NASDAQ">APTO</a>) plunged 28.20% after it announced a 1-for-30 reverse share split approved by its board of directors. The consolidation will reduce outstanding common shares from 64,301,183 to approximately 2,143,372 shares.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Crown Crafts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWS#NASDAQ">CRWS</a>) slumped 34.12%, continuing to fall after its third-quarter sales, profit and EPS declined.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.89% to hover around $72.47 per barrel.



The gold spot index was up by 0.30% to $2,944.20 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.10% at 107.157 level.



Asian markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday. China's CSI 300, and South Korea's Kospi index rose. Whereas, Australia's ASX 200, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell. European markets were mixed in trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43806703/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-platforms-dips-below-short-term-average-as-it-snaps-20-day-winning-run">Meta Stock Dips Below Short-Term Average As Mark Zuckerberg-Led Tech Giant Snaps 20-Day Winning Streak</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Economics

Analyst Ratings

APTO

CRWS

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower Following Fresh Records From Previous Session: Expert Says, 'Don't Be Scared Of New Highs'

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) declined on Tuesday after making history with its 20-day-long winning streak. The stock fell below its eight-day simple moving average for the first time in several days, following Tuesday&#8217;s decline.



What Happened: In the 20 trading sessions between Jan. 16 to Feb. 14, Mark Zuckerberg&#8216;s firm rose by 20.22%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company added over $350 billion in market capitalization during this period.



Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), the exchange-traded fund tracking Nasdaq 100 advanced by 3.15% in these 20 days.



After Tuesday&#8217;s fall, the stock was up by 16.91% since Jan. 16.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-788288" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034101/Meta-Since-Jan.-16.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Meanwhile, Benzinga Pro data indicated that the stock fell below its eight-day average while still displaying bullish trends. It was still above the 20-day average and longer-term 50-day and 200-day averages.



Momentum indicators were also strong. The relative strength index fell below the overbought to neutral zone at 68.09 while it still had a positive MACD of 27.94, indicating the possibility of a further positive move.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-788289" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19034127/Meta-technical-analysis.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43806017/alibabas-q4-shakeup-many-asian-funds-exit-while-us-based-funds-like-ubs-oconnor-marathon-assetmark-cantor-fitzgerald-double-down">Alibaba Sees Asian Funds Exiting In Q4 Even As Their US Peers UBS O&#8217;Connor, Marathon, AssetMark, And Cantor Fitzgerald Double Down</a>



Why It Matters: Meta created history with 20 consecutive sessions of gains before falling 2.76% to $716.37 apiece on Tuesday. It declined further by 0.056% in afterhours.



Possibly following Elon Musk&#8217;s footsteps, Meta recently announced that it is creating a new Reality Labs team to develop its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43765088/mark-zuckerberg-follows-elon-musks-footsteps-as-meta-reportedly-plans-major-investment-into-ai-power">humanoid robot</a> hardware for household tasks. The long-term goal is to create AI, sensors, and software for other companies to use in their robots. Meta has begun talks with robotics firms like Unitree Robotics and Figure AI.



However, former Meta employees disputed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43723246/meta-faces-backlash-as-laid-off-workers-say-they-were-unfairly-targeted-despite-strong-performance-records">company&#8217;s recent layoffs</a>, alleging they disproportionately affected high performers, including those on leave, contradicting CEO Zuckerberg&#8217;s claim that the cuts were performance-based. These employees maintain they have no record of underperformance and feel unjustly targeted. 



Price Action: Meta has risen 22.35% this year and 51.85% over the last year.



The average price target among 43 analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings">tracked by Benzinga</a> is $731.76 with a ‘buy' rating. The estimates range from $575 to $935 apiece. Recent ratings from Tigress Financial, UBS, and Citigroup suggest a $833.67 target, implying a potential upside of 16.44%.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="388" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19033917/Meta-latest-ANR-1024x388.png" alt="" class="wp-image-788286" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19033917/Meta-latest-ANR-1024x388.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19033917/Meta-latest-ANR-300x114.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19033917/Meta-latest-ANR-768x291.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/19033917/Meta-latest-ANR.png 1063w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43805475/big-bets-on-ai-powered-precision-medicine-major-funds-from-ark-and-jpmorgan-to-blackrock-and-citadel-add-tempus-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tempus AI Sees Surge In Institutional Holdings In Q4: Cathie Wood's Ark Invest, JPMorgan, And BlackRock Load Up On TEM Stock</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Technicals

Meta Stock Dips Below Short-Term Average As Mark Zuckerberg-Led Tech Giant Snaps 20-Day Winning Streak

Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) possible expansion into the Indian market will likely not help the company&#8217;s global delivery numbers, according to researcher Troy Teslike.



What Happened: Teslike said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday that 2025 will be another &#8220;down year&#8221; for Tesla where the company&#8217;s global deliveries fall from the numbers reported a year ago. 



For 2025, Teslike expects Tesla deliveries to be 1% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43375903/tesla-researcher-estimates-drop-in-ev-deliveries-for-2025-despite-promise-of-new-models" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">below the numbers reported in 2024</a>. Tesla reported global&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliveries of 1.79 million</a>&nbsp;vehicles in 2024, down from full-year deliveries of 1.81 million in 2023, marking the first decline in over a decade.



Even though India has a huge population, it is a&#8221;tiny market&#8221; in Tesla&#8217;s price range, Teslike said. 



Teslike was responding on X to fund manager Gary Black who expressed optimism of Tesla stock outperforming NASDAQ as global EV adoption increases to 50% by 2030. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I don&#39;t share Gary Black&#39;s optimism about Tesla&#39;s vehicle sales volume growth. Gary believes that if Tesla achieves driverless autonomy, it won't be the only company to do so, which is true, given that other companies are already offering commercial driverless services. However,… <a href="https://t.co/tyDrgyo61e">https://t.co/tyDrgyo61e</a>&mdash; Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike/status/1892135005054177710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: Teslike, earlier this month, said that he expects Tesla deliveries to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43649222/tesla-q1-deliveries-could-drop-below-400000-as-brand-sentiment-takes-a-hit-says-researcher">below 400,000 units</a> in the first quarter of 2025.



Tesla last reported quarterly deliveries below 400,000 units&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/10/41166723/how-many-evs-has-tesla-delivered-produced-each-quarter-a-look-at-the-results-since-2019" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the third quarter of 2022</a>. The company delivered just 365,923 vehicles in that quarter.



Tesla CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;said in October that he expects a 20-30% increase in deliveries in 2025. However, the CEO didn't reiterate the target during the company's fourth-quarter earnings in January. Instead, Tesla only said that it expects the vehicle business to "return to growth" in 2025, implying that major delivery growth is no longer on the horizon. 



However, in January, the company said that it would start production of new vehicles, including more affordable ones, in the first half of 2025. 



Meanwhile, the company has also started <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43805175/elon-musks-tesla-prepares-for-india-expansion-engineer-confirms-hiring-push-we-are-looking-for-motivated-talent-to-help-us">hiring for multiple job roles</a> in India, implying an imminent launch for the EV giant in the world&#8217;s most populated country. 



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



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43724986/uber-ceo-looks-forward-to-tesla-partnership-for-robotaxis-no-one-wants-to-compete-against-tesla-or-elon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uber CEO Hints At Potential Tesla Partnership For Robotaxis: ‘No One Wants To Compete Against Tesla Or Elon'</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

TSLA

Tesla's India Launch Will Not Help Prevent Drop In Global Deliveries In 2025, Says Researcher

Leading cryptocurrencies dipped on Tuesday, even as the stock market lifted to record highs.



<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 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-0.14%</td><td>$95,525.86</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>-1.96%</td><td>$2,674.93</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>-2.19%</td><td>$0.2515</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin plummeted to a two-week low of $93,388.83, breaking out of its rangebound price pattern.



Ethereum fell to an intraday low of $2,606.90 before recouping losses later in the evening.



Bitcoin's dominance rose above 60%, while Ethereum accounted for a 10.3% share of the cryptocurrency market.



Cryptocurrency liquidations soared to $344.95 million in the last 24 hours, with over $278 million in upside bets getting erased.



Bitcoin's Open interest rose by 1.12%. A rise in Open Interest, coinciding with a price decline, indicated the opening of new short positions.



That said, over $800 million in short positions will be liquidated if Bitcoin reclaims $100,000.



Market sentiment flipped into the "Fear" zone, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index, potentially leading to an increase in short positioning.



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 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Maker (MKR)</td><td>+9.72%</td><td>$1,416.27</td></tr><tr><td>Litecoin (LTC)</td><td>+7.94%</td><td>$131.74</td></tr><tr><td>Bittensor (TAO)</td><td>+5.61%</td><td>$377.66</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.14 trillion, contracting by 0.90% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks rallied sharply on the first trading day of the week. The S&amp;P 500 lifted 0.24% to close at a record high of 6,129.58. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was comparatively muted, adding 10.26 points, or 0.02%, to end at 44,556.34. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.07% to close at 20,041.26.



The Federal Reserve will release last month's meeting minutes on Wednesday, helping investors further understand the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43668443/powell-to-congress-fed-is-not-there-yet-on-inflation-cpi-was-above-every-forecast-us-debt-path-is-unsustainable">central bank's position on interest rates</a>.



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



Analyst Notes: Leading on-chain analytics firm Santiment noted a sharp decline in the Ethereum network's average fees, describing it as a "good sign" for mid-term and long-term price outlooks.



"Just as extremely high fees can sometimes push traders away or cause short-term corrections, extremely low fees (like we&#8217;re seeing now) will often incentivize users back and allowing the network&#8217;s utility to rise to a prosperous rate," the analyst stated.



<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">&#x1f4b8; The average fee of an Ethereum transfer currently sits at just $0.41, in contrast to the $15.21 high point of the past 2 years. When Ethereum transaction fees are low, it usually means the network is not overly crowded. When users are not paying high prices to move their ETH… <a href="https://t.co/G22qd3eTl8">pic.twitter.com/G22qd3eTl8</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1892012106972577997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Well-known cryptocurrency expert and trader Ali Martinez highlighted levels of interest on Bitcoin's price chart.&nbsp;



"Bitcoin faces a supply wall of 1.88 million BTC at $97,000, while support at $94,500 is backed by just 695,000 BTC. This imbalance could play a key role in the next move," Martinez predicted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> faces a supply wall of 1.88 million <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> at $97,000, while support at $94,500 is backed by just 695,000 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a>. This imbalance could play a key role in the next move! <a href="https://t.co/WVznb1c1RE">pic.twitter.com/WVznb1c1RE</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1891830021855248654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43792319/record-breaking-token-creation-in-january-raises-concerns-over-altcoin-liquidity-market-quality">Record-Breaking Token Creation In January Raises Concerns Over Altcoin Liquidity, Market Quality</a></li>
</ul>

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide As Stocks Rally: Analyst Spots 'Good Sign' For ETH's Mid-Term And Long-Term Price Outlooks

On Tuesday, Jon Prosser – a well-known Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) product leak source – shared leaked renders of the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro, each featuring unique camera island designs.



What Happened: According to Prosser, the iPhone 17 Air sports a single rear camera with a visor reminiscent of past Google Pixel models while the Pro model draws inspiration from the Poco X6 and Poco X6 Pro, <a href="https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_17s_design_to_be_wildly_different_from_the_iphone_17_air_and_iphone_17_pro-news-66602.php">noted</a> GSMArena.



While the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be a larger version of the Pro, the standard iPhone 17 model is rumored to retain the design of its predecessor, the iPhone 16.



This means no new camera island designs for the base model, which might disappoint some fans hoping for a fresh look.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43794360/apple-supplier-foxconns-efforts-to-make-iphones-in-india-thwarted-by-tech-and-talent-exports-report">Apple Supplier Foxconn&#8217;s Efforts To Make iPhones In India Thwarted By Tech And Talent Exports: Report</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">Here's iPhone Air &#x1f4a8; <a href="https://t.co/zxXAio1Ysb">https://t.co/zxXAio1Ysb</a> Something not mentioned in the video, but I'd like to add here: the regular base iPhone 17 continues the same look as the base iPhone 16. Do with that info what you will.. <a href="https://t.co/lqdhZNrsQO">pic.twitter.com/lqdhZNrsQO</a>&mdash; jon prosser (@jon_prosser) <a href="https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1891676271270047932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The leaks seem plausible, but history shows that not all rumored design changes make it to the final product.



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



Why It Matters: Last month, Samsung Electronics Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) teased its Galaxy S25 Edge, which is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43155074/samsung-teases-galaxy-s25-edge-to-take-on-apples-rumored-iphone-17-air">expected to compete</a> with Apple&#8217;s rumored iPhone 17 Air.



Previously, it was reported that Apple&#8217;s iPhone 17 Air may serve as a testing ground for new technologies. It could be around 2 millimeters thinner than current models.



Preliminary data from IDC showed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42986042/apple-sees-market-share-decline-in-2024-as-chinese-smartphone-brands-surge-globally-idc">global smartphone shipments</a> grew by 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching 331.7 million units. Apple and Samsung remained the top players but saw year-over-year declines.



Apple reported fiscal <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">first-quarter revenue</a> of $124.3 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $124.13 billion. iPhone revenue reached $69.14 billion, slightly down from $69.7 billion last year.



Photo by WML Image on Shutterstock



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



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</ul>



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

SSNLF

Apple's Leaked Renders Show iPhone 17 Air And Pro Getting Unique Camera Islands —But Base Model's Looks May Disappoint Some

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index moved to the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Tuesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Tuesday, with the S&amp;P 500 closing at a record high level during the session as investors monitored recent geopolitical developments and anticipated the release of the latest FOMC minutes on Wednesday.



Equity markets recorded gains last week, with the S&amp;P 500 gaining around 1.5% and the Dow rising 0.6%. The Nasdaq gained 2.6% during the week.



Shares of Fluor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLR#NYSE">FLR</a>) fell more than 8% on Tuesday after the company missed quarterly earnings and revenue estimates.



On the economic data front, the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index rose by 18.3 points to a reading of +5.7 in February, topping market estimates of -1.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with energy, materials, and utilities stocks recording gains on Tuesday. However, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 10 points to 44,556.34 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.24% to 6,129.58, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.07% at 20,041.26 during Tuesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>), Etsy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>), and Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 48.9, the index moved to the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 44.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



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</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

S&P 500 Settles At Record High Ahead Of Fed Minutes: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear & Greed Index Moves To 'Neutral' Zone

SpaceX achieved a milestone on Tuesday by successfully landing a first-stage rocket booster off The Bahamas, marking the company&#8217;s first international landing as it advances ambitious plans for Mars missions.



What Happened: The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:21 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, <a href="https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2025/02/18/SpaceX-Bahamas-first-stage-booster-Starlink/6691739879039/#:~:text=Feb.%2018%20(UPI)%20%2D%2D,stage%20booster%22%20for%20the%20company.">reported</a> UPI. 



&#8220;We&#8217;re excited to continue working with the Bahamian government on this mutually beneficial partnership,&#8221; said Zachary Luppen, SpaceX&#8217;s avionics supply chain engineer, indicating potential future operations in the region.



The landing, which generated sonic booms audible to local residents, showcased the 16th flight for this particular booster, which has supported nine previous Starlink missions. This reusability strategy has significantly reduced launch costs compared to traditional expendable rockets.



SpaceX CEO Elon Musk congratulated the team and said, &#8220;This is the first time that a rocket has taken off from one country, gone to space and landed in another country!&#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">Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> team! <a href="https://t.co/m5pV56OaeZ">pic.twitter.com/m5pV56OaeZ</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1892003547262111822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is the first time that a rocket has taken off from one country, gone to space and landed in another country! <a href="https://t.co/uh2L66VboM">https://t.co/uh2L66VboM</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891988758893056474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43799173/occidental-petroleum-shares-slide-after-mixed-q4-results-eps-beat-revenues-missed">Occidental Petroleum Shares Slide After Mixed Q4 Results: EPS Beat, Revenues Miss</a>



Why It Matters: The successful landing comes as Musk unveiled plans to launch Tesla Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Optimus humanoid robots to Mars aboard Starship rockets in 2026. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell projects 400 Starship launches over the next four years, signaling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43779224/starship-will-carry-optimus-to-mars-in-2026-says-spacex-ceo-elon-musk">aggressive expansion plans</a>.



The company&#8217;s growth trajectory could see further acceleration under President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration, with SpaceX already managing approximately $20 billion in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43772021/tesla-spacex-and-x-how-musks-companies-could-cash-in-on-a-trump-presidency">government contracts</a>. 



However, international challenges persist, including Ontario&#8217;s planned cancellation of Starlink contracts and temporary service bans in Brazil amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43772021/tesla-spacex-and-x-how-musks-companies-could-cash-in-on-a-trump-presidency">content moderation disputes</a>.



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Image Via Shutterstock



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

SPACE

Elon Musk Says SpaceX Created History By Blasting Off A Rocket From One Country And Landing It Another: 'This is The First Time…'

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) reported its fourth-quarter results after Tuesday's closing bell. Here's a look at the key <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/g43797653/occidental-announces-fourth-quarter-2024-results">figures from the quarter.&nbsp;</a>



The Details:&nbsp;Occidental Petroleum reported quarterly earnings of&nbsp;80 cents&nbsp;per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of&nbsp;70&nbsp;cents and is an&nbsp;increase over earnings of&nbsp;74 cents&nbsp;per share from the same period last year. Quarterly revenue came in at $6.83 billion&nbsp;which missed the analyst consensus estimate of&nbsp;$7.05 billion&nbsp;and is a&nbsp;decrease from revenue of&nbsp;$7.52 billion&nbsp;from the same period last year.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43787369/us-russian-officials-begin-ukraine-peace-talks-defense-sector-stocks-rise">US, Russian Officials Begin Ukraine Peace Talks: Defense Sector Stocks Rise</a>



Total company production of 1,463 Mboed exceeded the mid-point of guidance by 13 Mboed. 



The company increased its quarterly dividend by 9% to 24 cents per share, payable April 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 10, 2025.



Occidental Petroleum <a href="https://www.oxy.com/news/news-releases/occidental-announces-further-progress-on-debt-reduction/">also announced</a> the company achieved its near-term debt repayment target of $4.5 billion in the fourth quarter and signed two agreements in the first quarter of 2025 to divest upstream assets for a combined total of $1.2 billion.



&#8220;Our teams continued to demonstrate industry-leading performance during the fourth quarter of 2024, outperforming guidance across all three segments and delivering record U.S. production while improving our capital efficiency,&#8221; said CEO Vicki Hollub.



&#8220;Our operational excellence translated to another quarter of strong financial results, highlighted by our fourth quarter operating cash flow, enabling us to achieve our near-term debt repayment target of $4.5 billion. Additional key differentiators for Occidental are our 2024 all-in reserve replacement of 230% and organic reserves replacement of 112%, which are indicators of our long-term sustainability,&#8221; Hollub added.



OXY Price Action: According to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Occidental Petroleum shares are down 1.3% after hours at $48.24 Tuesday.  



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Image: Shutterstock

After-Hours Center

Occidental Petroleum Shares Slide After Mixed Q4 Results: EPS Beat, Revenues Miss

Investing legend Warren Buffett is known for finding stock undervalued and unloved by Wall Street and he may have done that again with a new investment unveiled in his latest<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43756510/berkshire-hathaway-adjusts-portfolio-keeps-apple-stake-unchanged-offloads-stakes-in-bofa"> fourth-quarter 13F.</a>



What Happened: Known for decades of strong investment returns that have<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/42832123/warren-buffett-beats-sp-500-in-2024-how-oracle-of-omahas-returns-compare-over-past-20-years"> outperformed the markets</a>, Buffett unveiled a new investment in beer and wine company Constellation Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>).



Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) unveiled a 5,624,324 share purchase of Constellation Brands stock in the fourth quarter in the latest 13F filing.



The position was recently valued at $1.24 billion, representing around 0.5% of Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s investing portfolio. In the latest filing, Constellation Brands ranks 18th by dollar value out of more than 30 stocks held by Berkshire Hathaway.



It is unknown if Buffett was the one to make the investment or if it was one of his investment managers. Buffett is noted for being a teetotaler, someone who does not drink. Buffett has often said he doesn't drink and never has due to health reasons.



While this doesn't mean that Buffett wouldn't invest in a company that makes money from people drinking beer and wine, it could limit the likelihood that he made the investment himself or without some convincing.



Constellation Brands has the U.S. license for beers like Modelo, Corona, and Pacifico and also has wine brands like Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford, and Meiomi in its portfolio. Modelo is the number one beer in the United States, and Modelo and Corona rank among the top five imported beers in the United States annually.



<ul>
<li>You may not be a billionaire like Warren Buffett, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43419547/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-52">check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention.</a></li>
</ul>



Why It's Important: Buffett is known for investing in value stocks that may be beaten down by Wall Street and in companies that have products loved and consumed by many people.



Modelo became the number one beer in the United States in 2023, and Constellation Brands benefitted from strong brand loyalty from beer drinkers.



Constellation Brands stock has taken a hit in recent months due to fears of President Donald Trump&#8216;s possible tariffs on Mexican imports. The stock is down 28% since <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/42220682/trump-tariffs-on-mexico-could-affect-beer-why-your-modelo-corona-could-cost-more-next-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benzinga's November article </a>highlighted it as a potential loser in Trump's tariffs on Mexico.



Constellation imports beers manufactured in Mexico by partner Grupo Modelo, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>). Tariffs could increase the cost of goods for Constellation Brands and force the company to choose between raising consumer rates or taking lower profits.



With the stock down significantly, Buffett could be practicing one of his most famous investing quotes of all time.



"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful," Buffett once said.



The famous quote was picked as the favorite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/10/41418702/warren-buffetts-words-of-wisdom-benzinga-readers-pick-their-favorite-oracle-of-omaha-quote">of Benzinga readers</a> in a previous poll.



With fears of Trump tariffs on Mexican goods, the stock has fallen out of favor. It is down 23.5% year-to-date in 2025 and down 30.5% over the last year. Buffett or his team could have made the purchases for numerous reasons, including a strong brand or the stock falling too far on the fears.



Buffett and his team are likely being "greedy when others are fearful" here, and time will tell if the tariffs on Mexican goods are enacted and end up hurting Constellation Brands.



For Berkshire Hathaway, the investment could be a small one made over the short term or could build a new favorite investment if more shares are added to the position in subsequent quarters.



STZ Price Action: Constellation Brands stock is up 4.6% to $170.37 on Tuesday as investors dissect the Berkshire Hathaway 13F filing from Friday.



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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Global

Warren Buffett Unfazed By Trump's Tariff Threats: Oracle Of Omaha Bets On Mexico, Beer

The Nasdaq-100 surged to a fresh all-time high of 22,191.37 on Tuesday, as tech stocks continued their relentless climb. The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), the most popular ETF <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nasdaq">tracking the index,</a> also notched a new 52-week high of $540, reflecting the broader tech momentum.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meta's Unstoppable Streak</h2>



Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has been on an absolute tear, closing higher for 20 consecutive trading sessions as of Friday. Although the stock was pulling back on Tuesday, down 3.8% at the time of publication.



Since Jan. 16, META stock has soared 16%, fueling the Nasdaq's ascent. Given Meta's decent weighting in the QQQ and other major ETFs, its rally has been a key force propelling both the tech-heavy Nasdaq and the broader market higher.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43726758/meta-platforms-could-break-winning-streak-missing-20th-day-of-gains-as-overbought-conditions-employee-layoffs-dampen-sentiment">Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Stock Poised To Snap 19-Day Winning Streak As Overbought Conditions, Employee Layoffs Dampen Sentiment</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI, Earnings, Economic Resilience</h2>



The AI boom continues to be a dominant theme, with Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) leading the charge. 



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">Strong corporate earnings</a> have also played a pivotal role, as companies across the tech sector smash analyst expectations. 



Meanwhile, economic indicators <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/02/43699486/inflation-persists-but-so-do-stock-opportunities-rally-on">such as consumer spending</a> and GDP growth are providing a sturdy foundation for investor confidence.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43711974/trump-launches-plan-for-reciprocal-tariffs-sp-500-nears-record-highs-dollar-tumbles-as-investors-cheer-on-late-kickoff">Trump Launches Plan For &#8216;Reciprocal Tariffs:&#8217; S&amp;P 500 Nears Record Highs, Dollar Tumbles</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Fed Factor</h2>



Investors are betting that the Federal Reserve has reached the peak of its rate hike cycle. Lower interest rates would provide further fuel for the Nasdaq-100's upward momentum, making growth stocks even more attractive. 



Inflation shows signs of easing, fueling optimism that a more dovish Fed could support higher equity valuations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technical Breakout With More Upside?</h2>



According to Adam Turnquist, Chief Technical Strategist at LPL Financial, the Nasdaq-100 has decisively broken out of its December highs and could have more room to run. 



"A minimum technical-based price objective sets up near 23,650," Turnquist notes. 



Additionally, relative strength versus the S&amp;P 500 is improving, pointing to continued Nasdaq leadership.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ETF Winners Riding The Surge</h2>



Tech-heavy ETFs are reaping the benefits of the rally. Invesco QQQM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQM#NASDAQ">QQQM</a>) and the First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTQI#NASDAQ">FTQI</a>) have seen steady gains, while the broader SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) has also climbed, albeit at a slower pace.



With tech stocks leading the charge and Meta's unrelenting rally keeping the momentum alive, the Nasdaq-100 looks poised for more record-breaking action.



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Photo: Shutterstock

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Nasdaq-100 Hits Record High, Meta's Rally Powers Tech Surge

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