Ultime notizie per PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL) Azioni

PayPal Holdings

PayPal was spun off from eBay in 2015 and provides electronic payment solutions to merchants and consumers, with a focus on online transactions. The company had 426 million active accounts at the end of 2023. The company also owns Venmo, a person-to-person payment platform.

PayPal Holdings Inc

Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintains PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $85 to $92.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

PYPL

Barclays Maintains Overweight on PayPal Holdings, Raises Price Target to $92

In August, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/09/41066122/feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-comes-in-below-expectations-for-august-easing-concerns-about-rising-p">Personal Consumption Expenditures </a>(PCE) Price Index, rose 2.2% year-over-year, coming in below analyst expectations of 2.3%. That&#8217;s down from July's 2.5%.
The core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased by 2.7% year-over-year, matching forecasts and slightly higher than July's 2.6%.
This decline in overall inflation, despite steady core inflation, suggests a potential easing of price pressures, even as costs for services like housing and financial services continue to rise.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41063577/peter-thiel-offloads-over-1b-in-palantir-stock-in-2024-as-stock-more-than-doubles">Peter Thiel Offloads Over $1B In Palantir Stock In 2024 As Stock More Than Doubles</a>
Following Friday&#8217;s PCE report, these 14 stocks showed strong momentum in premarket trading, according <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">to Benzinga Pro:</a>
<ul>
<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) rises 3.6% to $51.94.</li>
<li>PPD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) climbs 3.8% to $134.14.</li>
<li>JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) is up 3.3% to $39.38.</li>
<li>Equinor ASA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQNR#NYSE">EQNR</a>) gains 2.8% to $24.89.</li>
<li>Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) advances 1.5% to $66.52.</li>
<li>NetEase Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTES#NASDAQ">NTES</a>) lifts 1.7% to $92.69.</li>
<li>Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>) jumps 1.3% to $14.00.</li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) rockets 1.1% to $257.16.</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) moves 0.9% higher to $105.80.</li>
<li>BP p.l.c. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>) ticks up 0.9% to $31.07.</li>
<li>PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) soars 1.1% to $81.03.</li>
<li>General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) inches up 0.9% to $46.24.</li>
<li>Lennar Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) posts a rise of 1.07% to $185.01.</li>
<li>Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) registers a boost of 0.7% to $110.69.</li>
</ul>
Rising costs in services, particularly in housing, financial services, and insurance, were the key drivers of inflation, pushing the overall PCE index higher. While service prices surged, goods prices saw a slight decline, helping to offset some of the inflationary pressure. Meanwhile, falling energy prices, especially gasoline, provided additional relief compared to previous periods of stronger inflationary impact from energy.
Food prices increased modestly, primarily in off-premises consumption like groceries, but their effect on inflation was smaller compared to services. 
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained steady due to ongoing price increases in durable goods and essential services. Despite minor declines in goods prices, rising service costs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/inflation">kept core inflation elevated</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/09/41066338/alibaba-jd-com-strike-deal-to-open-ecosystems-amid-slowing-growth-and-chinas-antitrust-pressure">Alibaba, JD.com Strike Deal To Open Ecosystems Amid Slowing Growth And China&#8217;s Antitrust Pressure</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Econ #s

Markets

Movers

BABA

EQNR

NTES

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

TSLA

14 Stocks Gain Momentum As August Inflation Comes In Below Expectations

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/26/final-trades-palo-alto-networks-delta-air-lines-paypal-and-the-xlv.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Brenda Vingiello of Sand Hill Global Advisors said Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>) continues to gain market share in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PANW/earnings">the cybersecurity space</a>.
On Aug. 19, Palo Alto Networks reported better-than-expected results for its fourth quarter and issued strong guidance. Palo Alto's board authorized an additional $500 million for share repurchases, bringing the company's remaining buyback authorization up to $1 billion.
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) as his final trade.
Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) recently introduced a new $2.5 billion share repurchase program. Southwest&#8217;s repurchase plan, alongside its enhanced growth projections and cost-saving initiatives, signals broader optimism for the airline industry&#8217;s recovery and profitability. Delta, as one of the leading carriers in the U.S., could see increased investor interest as competitors like Southwest aim for financial efficiency and stronger earnings growth. Delta Air Lines is scheduled to hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss its September quarter financial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41051475/why-delta-air-lines-shares-are-rising">results on Thursday, Oct. 10</a>.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Liz Young Thomas of SoFi picked The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>).
Joshua Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management said PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) continues to break out.
PayPal Holdings recently unveiled its plan to extend cryptocurrency services to U.S. business account holders, with the exception of New York State. As per a press release issued on Tuesday, the latest move would enable U.S. merchants to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency directly from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41038635/paypal-steps-up-crypto-game-allows-us-merchants-to-buy-sell-and-hold-digital-assets">their business accounts</a>.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Palo Alto fell 0.5% to close at $338.73 during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>Delta Air shares gained 6.3% to settle at $51.81 on Thursday.</li>
<li>The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund gained 0.3% during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>PayPal shares gained 3.5% to close at $80.08 on Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/41054730/top-3-tech-stocks-that-are-ticking-portfolio-bombs">Top 3 Tech Stocks That Are Ticking Portfolio Bombs</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

Trading Ideas

PANW

Palo Alto, Delta Air, PayPal And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) and Revolut Ltd. are reportedly exploring the possibility of entering the $170 billion stablecoin market, which could challenge the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41049052/tether-ceo-paolo-ardoino-discusses-launch-of-dirham-pegged-stablecoin-new-tokenization-pla">dominance of incumbent</a> Tether (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDT</a>).
What Happened: Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-26/robinhood-revolut-explore-entering-the-burgeoning-stablecoin-sector?sref=TBDibEcD">cites </a>sources familiar with the matter that both Robinhood and Revolut are looking into launching their own stablecoins, although they may ultimately decide against it.
The stablecoin market is currently dominated by Tether&#8217;s USDT, which has a circulation of almost $120 billion, ahead of Circle&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDC</a>), which has a valuation of $36 billion. To diversify, Tether is branching out to other markets, having recently launched a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41049052/tether-ceo-paolo-ardoino-discusses-launch-of-dirham-pegged-stablecoin-new-tokenization-pla">Dirham-pegged stablecoin</a> and expanded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/cryptocurrency/24/06/39275499/tether-pumps-millions-of-dollars-into-crypto-mining-is-rebel-satoshi-arcade-the-next-memec">into Bitcoin mining.</a>
This interest comes as the European Union edges closer to fully implementing its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations by the end of 2024. 
These rules could force crypto exchanges operating in the EU to delist stablecoins from issuers like Tether that lack appropriate permits. 
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino told Bloomberg in an emailed statement that his company is working on a &#8220;technology-based solution&#8221; to serve the EU market.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41048382/bitcoins-uptober-is-coming-100k-is-the-target-for-q4-says-trader">Bitcoin&#8217;s &#8216;Uptober&#8217; Is Coming, $100K Is The Target For Q4, Says Trader</a>
Tether reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40078923/tether-reports-record-5-2b-profit-in-q2">profits of $5.2 billion</a> in the first half of 2024, primarily from reserves backing its stablecoin. 
Thomas Eichenberger, chief product officer at Swiss crypto bank Sygnum, noted, &#8220;Many businesses have looked at the likes of Circle and Tether and the figures they&#8217;ve posted. It sounded like a beautiful business model, and there are many out there that might want to replicate that.&#8221;
Stablecoins are gaining traction as a payment method. Bernstein analysts see them as &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40946534/stablecoins-like-tether-becoming-systemically-important-bernstein">systemically important</a>,&#8221; citing that &#8220;20% of 18-24-year-olds (in emerging markets) hold 25-50% of their portfolio in stablecoins.&#8221; 
The entry of Robinhood and Revolut into the stablecoin market could introduce new competition to incumbents like Tether and Circle. Meanwhile, PayPal Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41038635/paypal-steps-up-crypto-game-allows-us-merchants-to-buy-sell-and-hold-digital-assets">expanded its cryptocurrency offerings</a>, allowing U.S. merchants to buy, sell, and hold crypto in their online wallets, signaling broader adoption of digital currencies.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41050565/bitcoin-shines-as-hedge-against-major-geopolitical-events-says-research-firm">Bitcoin Shines As Hedge Against &#8216;Major Geopolitical Events,&#8217; Says Research Firm</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$USDC

$USDT

HOOD

Robinhood, Revolut Reportedly Looking To Rival Tether With Stablecoin Launches

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: Palo Alto Networks, Delta Air Lines, PayPal Holdings, SPDR Select Sector Fund - Health Care

<a href="https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/fidelity-ends-bloom-app-f370d2b4?mod=hp_LATEST">https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/fidelity-ends-bloom-app-f370d2b4?mod=hp_LATEST</a>
Fidelity Investments plans to pull the plug on Bloom, the savings and rewards app it launched two years ago.
The financial-services giant informed customers Thursday that it will wind down Bloom early next year and transfer its users to Fidelity's main app.&nbsp;
"Fidelity is moving existing Fidelity Bloom customers to our flagship app as part...
 &nbsp;

SOFI

'Bye-Bye Bloom: Fidelity Plans to Shutter Savings App Launched 2 Years Ago' - Barron's

<a href="https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2024-09-26-PayPal-Introduces-PayPal-Complete-Payments-in-China#:~:text=Leveraging%20its%20global%20resources%2C%20PayPal,covering%20more%20than%20100%20currencies">https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2024-09-26-PayPal-Introduces-PayPal-Complete-Payments-in-China#:~:text=Leveraging%20its%20global%20resources%2C%20PayPal,covering%20more%20than%20100%20currencies</a>
PayPal unveiled <a href="https://www.paypal.cn/portal/merchant/ncps">PayPal Complete Payments</a>, a safe and efficient all-in-one platform that integrates a range of customized products and solutions to support Chinese merchants in selling globally. This platform streamlines payment and receivables processes for businesses of all sizes in China, empowering them to thrive in cross-border trade and the digital economy.
Today, PayPal's global and China management teams engaged with over 700 merchants from across the country along with partners. They provided insights into PayPal's global and local business strategies, cross-border payment solutions, industry trends, and specific initiatives designed to drive business growth for Chinese merchants.

Global

'PayPal Introduces PayPal Complete Payments In China' - Newsroom

Payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) unveiled its plan to extend cryptocurrency services to U.S. business account holders, with the exception of New York State.
What Happened: As per a press release issued on Tuesday, the latest move would enable U.S. merchants to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency directly from their business accounts. 
Furthermore, business account holders would be able to send and receive supported cryptocurrency tokens to and from external blockchain addresses.
However, New York State will be excluded from this service at the time of launch, the press release read.
This initiative is part of PayPal&#8217;s ongoing strategy to enhance the usefulness of cryptocurrency by making it more readily available to millions of merchants throughout the U.S. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41037763/kamala-harris-strengthens-crypto-stance-the-us-will-remain-dominant-in-ai-and-quantum-comp">Kamala Harris Strengthens Crypto Stance: The US Will &#8216;Remain Dominant In AI And Quantum Computing, Blockchain, And Other Emerging Technologies&#8217;</a>
Jose Fernandez da Ponte, Senior Vice President of Paypal&#8217;s cryptocurrency arm, said the step was taken in response to growing demands by business owners to access the same services already available to consumers.
Why It Matters: PayPal&#8217;s foray into cryptocurrency services is not new. In August last year, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/08/33600520/paypal-unveils-usd-backed-stablecoin-pyusd-in-digital-payments-revamp">company launched a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin</a>, PayPal USD (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PYUSD</a>), aimed at bolstering the adoption of digital tokens for transactions.
As of this writing, it was the sixth-largest stablecoin, with a market capitalization exceeding $700 million, <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/view/stablecoin/">according </a>to CoinMarketCap.
The company already allows customers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies in their online wallets. 
Interestingly, earlier this week, Cathie Wood&#8217;s investment management firm Ark Invest purchased <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40994536/cathie-woods-ark-invest-buys-4-5m-of-paypal-and-3-5m-of-pinterest-shares-sells-own-bitcoin-etf-a">$4.5 million worth of PayPal shares</a>. This investment came amidst diverse analyst opinions about the company.
Price Action: Shares of PayPal closed 1.25% lower at $77.36 during Wednesday&#8217;s regular trading session, although they were up 0.08% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image Courtesy: PayPal
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40983710/anthony-scaramucci-quips-kamala-means-bitcoin-in-every-language-but-biden-harris-administr?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Quips &#8216;Kamala Means Bitcoin In Every Language,&#8217; But Biden-Harris Administration Is No Laughing Matter For Crypto</a></li>
</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.

$PYUSD

PayPal Steps Up Crypto Game, Allows US Merchants To Buy, Sell, And Hold Digital Assets

COIN

Paypal Says Enabling Its U.S. Merchants To Buy, Hold And Sell Cryptocurrency Directly From Their Paypal Business Account; At Launch, This Functionality For Business Accounts Will Not Be Available In New York State

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$1.5 million</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$29.4K</td>
<td>9.3K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GPN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$26.0K</td>
<td>589</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
<td>$33.3K</td>
<td>900</td>
<td>835</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CUBI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>502</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$255.00</td>
<td>$72.5K</td>
<td>512</td>
<td>267</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>USB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$104.9K</td>
<td>837</td>
<td>250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$30.5K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>177</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$167.50</td>
<td>$33.7K</td>
<td>175</td>
<td>157</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$29.6K</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>154</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 177 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 2000 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.5 million, with a price of $760.0 per contract. There were 5089 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2055 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 51 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $57.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.4K, with a price of $98.0 per contract. There were 9343 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1209 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GPN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 70 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.0K, with a price of $372.0 per contract. There were 589 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1040 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 66 contract(s) at a $62.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.3K, with a price of $505.0 per contract. There were 900 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 835 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CUBI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CUBI#NYSE">CUBI</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 250 contract(s) at a $42.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.5K, with a price of $150.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 502 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For V (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 86 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 145 contract(s) at a $255.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.5K, with a price of $500.0 per contract. There were 512 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 267 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For USB (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 268 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $42.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $104.9K, with a price of $525.0 per contract. There were 837 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 250 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 51 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $195.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.5K, with a price of $305.0 per contract. There were 4051 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 177 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 9 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $167.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.7K, with a price of $679.0 per contract. There were 175 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 157 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 359 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 32 contract(s) at a $52.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.6K, with a price of $925.0 per contract. There were 18 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 154 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AFRM

CUBI

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/24/final-trades-paypal-citizens-financial-cisco-systems-and-the-iyr.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management said PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) continues to make new highs. &#8220;I am rolling up my stop-loss, but staying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL/analyst-ratings">with the trade,&#8221; he added</a>.
On Sept. 23, Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Keane maintained PayPal with a Buy and raised the price target from $74 to $94.
Brian Belski of BMO Capital Markets said Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>) has a 4% dividend yield and 18% free cash flow yield.
On Sept. 20, Citizens Financial Group announced the appointment of Claude E. Wade to the company&#8217;s board of directors, effective March 1, 2025. The company also said Wendy Watson will retire from the board after her current term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders in April 2025.
Don't forget to check out our<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here</a>
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners said Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) will quietly hit a fresh high for the year.
On Aug. 16, HSBC analyst Stephen Bersey upgraded Cisco from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $46 to $58.
Shannon Saccocia of NB Private Wealth named iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYR#NYSE">IYR</a>) as her final trade.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>PayPal gained 0.1% to close at $78.40 during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>Citizens Financial shares fell 0.7% to settle at $40.76 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF rose slightly by 0.03% during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>Cisco shares gained 0.6% to close at $52.52 on Tuesday.</li>
</ul>
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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

CSCO

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Cisco, PayPal, Citizens Financial And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Consumers remained a pillar of support for the economy despite the high interest-rate environment that has prevailed since early 2022. With the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40965372/fed-delivers-large-interest-rate-cut-in-bid-to-sustain-labor-market-stocks-gold-set-new-record-h">Federal Reserve implementing a substantial 50 basis-point</a> rate cut, the benefits of which are expected to trickle down to them, consumers are forecasted to splurge on purchases this holiday season, according to early forecasts provided by Adobe on Wednesday.
Vibrant Spending: Consumer E-commerce spending will likely reach a record $240.8 billion from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, Adobe said. This included spending online, discounting, &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later,&#8217; mobile shopping and more, it said. The forecast would mean an 8.4% year-over-year increase from the $221.8 billion spent in 2023, which saw a more modest 4.9% growth.
Electronics, apparel and furniture/home goods will account for the bulk of the spending. The firm&#8217;s analytics show spending on Black Friday &#8211; the Friday that follows the Thanksgiving Thursday, and Thanksgiving day will grow 9.9% and 8.7%, respectively. Cyber Monday online spending is expected to be up a more modest 6.1%.
Adobe expects discounts to peak at 30% this season, and drive over $2 billion in incremental online spending for retailers. The firm also said consumers will likely trade up to more expensive goods this season as opposed to the trend seen in recent months. Expensive goods will likely make up 19% of the share of the total online spending. In electronics, the share will likely be a steeper 58%.
Mobile shopping could make up 53.2% of total online spending and spending through BNPL could see another record this time. BNPL sales are expected to rise 11.4% to $18.5 billion, over 75% of this driven by mobile purchases.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-retail-stocks">Best Retail Stocks</a>
Best Time To Buy: This time around, discounts would be more spread out, with deals starting in October itself, Adobe said, adding that goods could trade up to 16% off the listed price in October. The discount could go up to 18% in November before the Cyber Week.
Hot Sellers: Among the most sought-after items are:
<ul>
<li> Bluey Ultimate Lights</li>
<li> Sounds Playhouse​</li>
<li> Slime Kits</li>
<li>Sony Group Corp.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNE#NYSE">SNE</a>) PlayStation 5</li>
<li>Madden NFL 25</li>
<li>Apple, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40971882/as-apples-iphone-16-goes-on-sale-analyst-says-demand-off-to-strong-start-keeping-cu">iPhone 16</a></li>
<li> ice cream maker Ninja Creami</li>
</ul>
Stock Implications: With most spending likely happening online, those retailers having a strong online presence could be the ones to benefit the most. Pureplay electronics retailers such as Best Buy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NASDAQ">BBY</a>), Apple and Sony, e-commerce giant Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and retailers such as Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NYSE">COST</a>) could also be preferred destination for buying consumer electronics goods. 
Madden NFL 25 is an American football video game developed by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) Orlando and published by EA Sports. It could be bought on EA&#8217;s website, Amazon, or any other video game retailer.
BNPL stocks such as Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and PayPal, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) could reap the benefit of rising interest in purchases via the BNPL route.
The Commerce Department&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40897882/retail-sales-rise-0-1-in-august-more-than-expected-boosting-odds-of-larger-fed-ra">retail sales report for August </a>released earlier this month showed an unexpected increase as weak auto &amp; auto parts sales were more than offset by strength in online sales, underlining the underlying strength. 
The SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>) ended Tuesday&#8217;s session up 0.80% at $77.13 but it has lost about 0.8% for the year even as the broader market hovers at a record high. The Fed rate cuts &#8211; the one announced and the two more anticipated before the year-end, and the seasonally strong holiday season could bring these stocks back to favor in the near term.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/40984858/dont-miss-these-3-retail-stocks-for-fall-gains">Don&#8217;t Miss These 3 Retail Stocks for Fall Gains</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Unsplash

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Top 10 Stock Picks For The Holiday Boom: Adobe Forecasts Unprecedented E-Commerce Sales This Season

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with PYPL, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 42 uncommon options trades for PayPal Holdings.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 50% bullish and 38%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $404,520, and 36 are calls, for a total amount of $1,894,150.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $47.5 to $105.0 for PayPal Holdings during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of PayPal Holdings stands at 4661.0, with a total volume reaching 21,722.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in PayPal Holdings, situated within the strike price corridor from $47.5 to $105.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>PayPal Holdings Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727203545_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.68</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$408.0K</td>
<td>9.3K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$27.7</td>
<td>$27.65</td>
<td>$27.7</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$138.5K</td>
<td>172</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$6.65</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$6.58</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$131.0K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>217</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$101.2K</td>
<td>22.0K</td>
<td>266</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$19.0</td>
<td>$17.6</td>
<td>$17.65</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$88.2K</td>
<td>162</td>
<td>51</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About PayPal Holdings</h3>
PayPal was spun off from eBay in 2015 and provides electronic payment solutions to merchants and consumers, with a focus on online transactions. The company had 426 million active accounts at the end of 2023. The company also owns Venmo, a person-to-person payment platform.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with PayPal Holdings, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of PayPal Holdings</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 7,746,092, the PYPL's price is up by 0.7%, now at $78.21. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 36 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On PayPal Holdings</h3>
In the last month, 3 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $80.33333333333333.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods continues to hold a Outperform rating for PayPal Holdings, targeting a price of $78. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Goldman Sachs keeps a Neutral rating on PayPal Holdings with a target price of $69. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Deutsche Bank keeps a Buy rating on PayPal Holdings with a target price of $94. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest PayPal Holdings options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

PayPal Holdings Unusual Options Activity For September 24

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: PayPal Holdings, Cisco Systems, Citizens Financial Group, iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF

PayPal Oct 18 $80 Calls Sweep (45) Near The Ask: 2399 @ $1.701 Vs 9346 OI; Earnings 10/30 After Close [est] Ref=$78.525

On Monday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made some significant trades. Notably, the firm bought shares of PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) and Pinterest Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), while selling its stake in ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKB#BATS">ARKB</a>).
The PayPal Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>) added 57,824 shares of PayPal, valued at approximately $4.5 million based on the closing price of $77.67. This move comes in the wake of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/24/09/40929087/key-takeaways-from-paypal-holdings-analyst-ratings">analysts expressing diverse opinions</a> about the company, with an average 12-month price target of $78.62.
PayPal has recently made a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/09/40731875/paypal-ventures-into-in-person-payments-with-apple-pay-integration-and-cashback-rewards">strategic shift</a> to penetrate the U.S. point-of-sale (POS) payments market. The company is integrating its debit card with Apple Inc.&#8217;s mobile wallet and offering different cashback rewards.
The Pinterest Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) purchased 115,211 shares of Pinterest, amounting to approximately $3.51 million based on the closing price of $30.46. Pinterest reported solid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/40075181/pinterest-shares-plunge-despite-upbeat-q2-results-6-analysts-on-guidance-future-gro">second-quarter results</a> at the end of July, with revenue slightly surpassing expectations. However, third-quarter guidance came in below analyst projections, raising concerns about sustained growth for the rest of 2024.
The Bitcoin ETF Trade
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40946963/bitcoin-worth-63-000-pulled-in-33-pack-of-trading-cards-at-gamestop-mind-boggling-story-go?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Worth $63,000 Pulled In $33 Pack Of Trading Cards At GameStop: &#8216;Mind-Boggling&#8217; Story Goes Viral, Highlights Crypto Redemption Card</a>
ARKW sold 44,609 shares of ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, valued at approximately $2.82 million based on the closing price of $63.25. This sale occurred on the same day that Bitcoin hit a new high of $63,500, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40976413/bitcoin-etf-surge-in-pre-market-as-king-crypto-hits-63-500">causing a significant surge</a> in pre-market activity for several Bitcoin ETFs.
On Monday, Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40994451/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-pull-back-from-sundays-advances-analyst-says-eths-dips-below-2-3">steadily declined</a> below $63,000 after a spike to $64,600, following positive comments about cryptocurrency from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Total cryptocurrency liquidations surpassed $124 million in the past 24 hours, with bearish bets at $67 million, while Bitcoin&#8217;s funding rate remained positive, reflecting bullish trader dominance.
Other Key Trades: 
<ul>
<li>ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) sold 7,747 shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) in a transaction valued at $293,998, based on Monday&#8217;s closing price of $37.95 per share.</li>
<li>ARKF sold shares of Adyen NV (ADYEN). ARKG also sold shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (VRTX) and bought shares of Pacific Biosciences of California Inc (PACB). </li>
<li>ARKK sold shares of Roku Inc (ROKU) and ARKQ bought shares of 3D Systems Corp (DDD).</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40968244/trumps-new-crypto-ventures-legal-counsel-accused-of-attempting-to-seize-control-of-rival-f?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s New Crypto Venture&#8217;s Legal Counsel Accused Of Attempting To Seize Control Of Rival Firm</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Equities

ETFs

$BTC

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF

ARKB

ARKF

ARKK

ARKW

PINS

PLTR

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Buys $4.5M Of PayPal And $3.5M Of Pinterest Shares, Sells Own Bitcoin ETF Amid Crypto Surge, And Continues Offloading Palantir

Buoyed by a holistic growth model, Block (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sq#NYSE">SQ</a>) has gained 47.9% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Business-Services sector&#39;s rally of 26.9% and the S&amp;P 500&#39;s return of 31.1%.
However, the company has underperformed its industry&#39;s rise of 62.9% in the same time frame.
Block&#39;s strong positioning in the digital payments industry on the back of its robust payment and point-of-sale (POS) solutions, which include both hardware and software to accept payments, streamline operations, and analyze business information, is a major positive.
SQ&#39;s comprehensive commerce ecosystem, which enables sellers to combine software, hardware and payment services to accept payments from customers, helps it sustain solid momentum across sellers. Strength Square ecosystem is a plus.
<h2>One-Year Price Performance</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/e2/78855.jpg?v=1624265627" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Despite this positive scenario, market uncertainties, high inflation, unfavorable foreign exchange fluctuations and sluggish trends in consumer spending are concerning for the company. The normalization trend in the post-pandemic era is negative.
The combination of both risks and rewards is prompting investors to question how they should play the SQ stock.
<h2>Block Rides on Portfolio Strength</h2>
Block has been gaining solid momentum among several sellers across various industries, such as food, retail and services, and geographies, including the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada. The primary factor behind this remains its robust product portfolio, which, in turn, is increasing its Gross Payment Volume (GPV). In the second quarter of 2024, the company processed $61.94 billion of GPV, up 5% year over year.
SQ&#39;s omnichannel offerings, which help sellers create differentiated customer experiences on the back of customer insights by managing orders from POS and eliminating manual aggregation of online and in-person orders, are adding strength to its seller base.
Growing momentum across the Square ecosystem and CashApp ecosystem, which enables the company to provide peer-to-peer payment and digital commercial transaction facilities, is another positive.
Block leverages artificial Intelligence to deliver an enhanced seller experience. Square Online&#39;s Themes and Square for Retail&#39;s AI-generated product descriptions help sellers enhance their customer engagement and automate sales.
Square offers generative AI features to sellers, enabling them to automate operations, speed up workflows and save time.
Block is constantly gaining momentum in the cryptocurrency market on the back of CashApp, which allows users to buy, sell, send and receive bitcoins.
Its decentralized TBD platform, which enables developers to build decentralized finance applications that run on programmable blockchains, is noteworthy.
Block&#39;s self-custody bitcoin wallet, Bitkey, is also boosting its presence in the cryptocurrency space. The company offers Bitkey in more than 95 countries across six continents, allowing users to easily and safely own and manage their bitcoins.
<h2>Strong Partner Base Aids SQ&#39;s BNPL Prospects</h2>
Block&#39;s Afterpay division and strong partner base are boosting its prospects in the &lsquo;buy now, pay later&#39; (BNPL) market.
Afterpay&#39;s partnership with several brands, including Curology, Helzberg Diamonds, Journeys, Rawlings Sporting Goods and Zenni Optical, is noteworthy. These partnerships help Afterpay to deliver an enhanced shopping experience to U.S. customers.
Afterpay also collaborated with various merchants, including Diane von Furstenberg, Diggs, For Eyes and Kendra Scott, to offer installment payments for purchases from these merchants.
Afterpay&#39;s partnership with Rokt in a bid to boost the online shopping experience for customers is another positive. This partnership enables Afterpay and its retail partners to provide relevant advertising experiences to targeted customers during the checkout process using Rokt&#39;s e-commerce solution.
<h2>SQ&#39;s Rising Estimates</h2>
Block&#39;s near-term as well as long-term prospects are expected to benefit from compelling products and solutions, a comprehensive payment ecosystem, and a strong position in the digital payment industry.
For the third quarter of 2024, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.17 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 9.8%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 88 cents per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 60%. The estimate has been revised 14.3% upward in the past 60 days.
For 2024, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $24.52 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 11.9%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $3.60 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 100%. The estimate has been revised 0.6% upward in the past 30 days.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/64/78856.jpg?v=1766539391" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Attractive Valuation: A Silver Lining For SQ</h2>
Block offers an attractive valuation at current levels.
SQ is trading at a discount, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 1.58X compared with the industry&#39;s 6.33X. This reflects a good opportunity for the investors.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/81/78854.jpg?v=1782768029" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Challenges Being Faced by Block</h2>
Block has been grappling with weakening transaction activities on Cash App and softness in consumer spending trends in food and drink and retail discretionary verticals.
Broader market volatility is acting as a headwind.
Specific challenges associated with the security of payments and money transfer in the digital payments industry, and regulatory uncertainties in the cryptocurrency space are other concerns for SQ.
Increasing pricing pressure due to rising competition from the likes of PayPal (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pypl#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) in the peer-to-peer payments space does not bode well. SQ also faces stiff competition from Affirm (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afrm#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>) in the booming buy now, pay later (BNPL) market.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Block&#39;s strong solutions portfolio, rising earnings estimates, strong position in the digital payments industry and attractive valuation present a compelling investment opportunity.
However, macroeconomic uncertainties and unfavorable changes in the consumer spending pattern, which surround Block&#39;s prospects at present, do not bode well.
With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Block appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and investors could be better off if they trade with caution.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340077/block-surges-47-9-in-a-year-should-sq-stock-be-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|most_popular_stocks-2340077">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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PayPal shares are trading higher after Deutsche Bank raised its price target on the stock from $74 to $94.

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page.</a>
<ul>
<li>Small Cap Consumer Research raised the price target for JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JAKK#NASDAQ">JAKK</a>) from $24 to $30. Small Cap Consumer Research analyst Eric Beder maintained a Buy rating. JAKKS Pacific shares fell 1% to close at $25.88 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JAKK/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>TD Cowen increased the price target for CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>) from $115 to $130. TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles maintained a Buy rating. CAVA shares gained 2.9% to close at $128.79 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/cava/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Keybanc boosted CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>) price target from $300 to $345. Keybanc analyst Jackson Ader maintained an Overweight rating. CrowdStrike shares gained 8.1% to close at $299.85 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/crwd/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Deutsche Bank raised The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) price target from $66 to $80. Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Bedell upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Bank of New York Mellon shares gained 0.1% to close at $71.82 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bk/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Benchmark raised Sinclair, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBGI#NASDAQ">SBGI</a>) price target from $29 to $30. Benchmark analyst Daniel Kurnos maintained a Buy rating. Sinclair shares gained 4.3% to close at $14.67 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sbgi/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Piper Sandler boosted the price target for Wix.com Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WIX#NASDAQ">WIX</a>) from $184 to $200. Piper Sandler analyst Clarke Jeffries upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight. Wix.com fell 0.3% to close at $160.64 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/wix/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Baird slashed Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLS#NASDAQ">APLS</a>) price target from $96 to $92. Baird analyst Colleen Kusy maintained an Outperform rating. Apellis Pharmaceuticals shares fell 11.5% to close at $32.51 on Friday. S<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/apls/analyst-ratings">ee how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Deutsche Bank boosted the price target for PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) from $74 to $94. Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Keane maintained a Buy rating. PayPal shares fell 1% to close at $76.76 on Friday. S<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/pypl/analyst-ratings">ee how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Baird increased Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>) price target from $186 to $200. Baird analyst David Koning maintained an Outperform rating. Fiserv shares fell 0.7% to close at $177.61 on Friday.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FI/analyst-ratings"> See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Loop Capital slashed FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) price target from $317 to $288. Loop Capital analyst Rick Paterson maintained a Hold rating. FedEx shares dipped 15.2% to close at $254.64 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FDX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying CRWD stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="513" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23081011/image-177-1024x513.png" alt="" class="wp-image-560927" style="width:635px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23081011/image-177-1024x513.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23081011/image-177-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23081011/image-177-768x385.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23081011/image-177.png 1347w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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