Ultime notizie per Rubicon Technologies (OTC:RBTC) Azioni

Rubicon Technologies Inc is a software platform providing full-service waste management, recycling, and smart city technology solutions. It focuses on developing software solutions that bring new transparency to the waste and recycling industry, encouraging customers to make data-driven decisions that lead to more efficient and effective operations as well as more sustainable outcomes. It is a digital marketplace for waste and recycling services.

This summer, millions of Americans are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/45839291/travelers-plan-to-spend-4600-on-vacations-this-summer-up-16-from-2024">planning trips</a> — and a growing number are using buy now, pay later services to help cover the cost. These short-term installment loans, offered by companies like Klarna and Affirm, are being used to pay for flights, hotels, cruises, and even event tickets.
According to a NerdWallet <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/2025-summer-travel-report">survey</a>, 18% of summer travelers planned to use BNPL this year. Klarna reported a 50% year-over-year jump in travel bookings, and Affirm (AFRM:NASDAQ)&nbsp; said its travel-related volume rose 38% in late 2024, topping $1 billion.
While BNPL may seem appealing — especially when it comes with no upfront costs or interest — experts caution that it's not always a smart choice.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It's Not Just Luxury Travel Anymore</h2>
BNPL was once associated with high-end purchases, but that's changing. Andrew Lokenauth, founder of TheFinanceNewsletter.com, told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/23/using-bnpl-for-travel-more-are-using-it-especially-gen-z-travelers.html">CNBC</a> that many of his clients now use BNPL to pay for basic travel, such as visiting family or attending weddings.
"It's not just luxury vacations anymore," he said. "I've worked with over 100 clients drowning in BNPL travel debt, and it's not pretty."
BNPL loans typically have zero flexibility — miss a payment, and you might face late fees or damage to your <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46510561/fico-to-roll-out-new-scores-to-reflect-your-buy-now-pay-later-habits-impacting-millions-of-americans-credit">credit score</a>. Even Affirm, which doesn't charge late fees, began reporting pay-over-time products to credit bureaus this year.
Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/finally-a-fully-automated-trading-platform-for-individual-investors?">You Can Become an Investor for Just $500.25</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Debt Can Outlast the Trip</h2>
The biggest risk with BNPL travel financing is that the fun may end, but the debt lingers. NerdWallet found that 30% of travelers who used credit cards for summer travel in 2024 still haven't paid off their balances. The average credit card interest rate, according to the <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TERMCBCCINTNS">Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis</a>, is over 22%.
BNPL doesn't charge interest in many cases, but it can still lead to overextension. A recent Consumer Finance Protection Bureau <a href="https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_BNPL_Report_2025_01.pdf">report</a> found that 63% of BNPL borrowers had more than one loan at a time — also known as "loan stacking" — at some point in 2021 and 2022.
Disney vacation planner Jackie Steele said he's seen more clients use BNPL to pay for Disney trips, sometimes to make last-minute travel happen or to upgrade their experience. "I always caution people — especially younger adults or families on tight budgets — to look beyond the monthly breakdown," he told CNBC.
See Also: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Use Caution and Have a Backup Plan</h2>
Some travelers say <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45139105/more-americans-are-using-buy-now-pay-later-loans-to-pay-for-groceries-and-falling-behind">BNPL</a> made their trips possible. One traveler told CNBC she used it to book a last-minute trip to Miami, calling it a "lifesaver." But when she missed one payment reminder, she was hit with extra fees.
Some experts say that BNPL can work if used wisely. Fiserv Head of Embedded Finance Sunil Sachdev told CNBC that the service has matured in recent years and, so far, hasn't resulted in widespread defaults.
Still, Lokenauth doesn't sugarcoat it: "If you can't pay for a vacation outright, you probably shouldn't take it."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Smart Alternatives for Summer Travel</h2>
Before reaching for BNPL, consider alternatives. According to NerdWallet, 91% of travelers are already looking for ways to save — such as using credit card points or choosing budget hotels.
"Travel rewards aren't fine wine — they don't get better with age," NerdWallet spokesperson Sally French says. "In fact, with airlines and hotels constantly tweaking their loyalty programs to a level that's usually not in your favor, your points could be worth less next summer than they are right now."
No matter your destination this summer, planning ahead — and paying responsibly — can help you avoid turning your dream vacation into a long-term debt burden.
Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $10.</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

'If You Can't Pay For The Trip, You Shouldn't Take It': Expert Warns Against Buy Now, Pay Later Travel Trend

Most people think becoming a police officer comes with a steady paycheck, maybe a pension, and the kind of stability that helps build a future. But one 31-year-old cop from Philadelphia says he's barely treading water — <a href="https://youtu.be/8GTrcB5_dXk?si=YSaFYdxV6Nw-Hz3F">buried under $451,000 in debt and living on just $40,000</a> a year after deductions.
"I bring in $70,000 a year, but after pension and everything else is taken out, it's more like $40,000," Mike <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/07/46382396/dave-ramseys-shortest-call-in-show-history-came-from-a-20-year-listener-with-211k-cash-and-a-mortgag">told "The Ramsey Show."</a> His debt load includes $252,000 in student loans and $185,000 from a mortgage he said he took on for emotional reasons.
"I purchased the house in September. My father passed in July," he explained. "It was across the street from his house. It was the last conversation we had — he really wanted me to get it." Since he had just purchased the home, there was no equity in it, so selling wasn't really on the table.
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Host Dave Ramsey didn't waste time easing into it. "You bought things you couldn't afford with money you didn't have — both under the influence of your parents," he said. "You make $70K a year, and you're so far in debt you can't breathe."&nbsp;
Mike's massive student loan balance came from attending a private university, initially for finance. He later switched majors to criminal justice and eventually earned a master's degree — which didn't do much for his career prospects in law enforcement.
"My mother wanted me to go to that school," he admitted.
"Well," Ramsey replied, "you're 31. You're going to have to love your parents without letting them dictate your financial life."
Mike lives with his girlfriend and her daughter, but they aren't married. She's studying to become a nurse practitioner and reportedly earns around $89,000 a year — but she's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43768530/should-married-couples-split-expenses-dave-ramsey-says-no-youre-married-not-roommates">not interested in discussing finances</a>.
"She said she's too busy with school and doesn't want to worry about that right now," Mike said.
Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/finally-a-fully-automated-trading-platform-for-individual-investors?">You Can Become an Investor for Just $500.25</a>
That drew a sharp warning from Ramsey: "If you're not on the same page about money, you're not ready to be on the same page about marriage. The number one cause of divorce is money fights and money problems. You already see it when you go on domestic calls."
Even if the relationship does move toward marriage, Ramsey told Mike the numbers still don't work. "You <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/07/46265990/dave-ramsey-calls-58-year-old-with-1-million-in-her-401-k-a-victim-of-the-real-estate-market-for-cho">cannot afford a $185,000 house</a> making $70,000 a year — especially not alone," he said. "That house is in your name, not hers. And right now, you can't afford it."
After breaking down the debt and income mismatch, Ramsey offered a clear short-term goal: boost income fast.
"You need side work," he said. "Security gigs outside your department pay $40 to $50 an hour. That's what it's going to take to dig out."
For anyone in Mike's position — overwhelmed by six-figure student debt, a mortgage they may not be able to afford, and a household with separate finances — there are a few non-financial-advice takeaways:
See Also: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $10.</a>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Re-evaluate the house: If you're not married and the house is solely in your name, you're the one on the hook. Downsizing or renting could relieve pressure — even temporarily.</li>
<li>Don't count other people's income: If you're not legally tied, you can't build your budget around someone else's paycheck.</li>
<li>Increase income by any means: Overtime, second jobs, contracting, or monetizing skills — it doesn't have to be forever, but it has to start somewhere.</li>
<li>Have hard conversations early: If a partner refuses to talk about debt, that's a red flag. Financial compatibility is real — and necessary.</li>
</ul>
Ramsey offered to enroll Mike and his girlfriend in Financial Peace University, but the bigger question loomed: Would they take the next step together, or would the silence around money keep digging the hole deeper?
"You're heading straight at the wall with the accelerator on the floor," Ramsey told him. "You have to turn the wheel."
Read Next: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?
Image: Shutterstock

31-Year-Old Philly Police Officer Is $451,000 in Debt and Brings Home Just $40K — Dave Ramsey Warns 'You're Heading Straight at the Wall'

Last week, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci offered a surprising assessment of Donald Trump, calling his political comeback historic and cautioning critics not to confuse his communication style with a lack of intelligence.
What Happened: In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Scaramucci—who once described working for Trump as the "biggest mistake" of his life—expressed his stance on the president's intellect and political savvy.
"If you think the president is stupid, you don't know the president," Scaramucci said. "He may talk like a fifth grader … but he's a very smart and very clever guy."
Scaramucci, who briefly served as Trump's White House communications director in 2017, suggested Trump may struggle with conditions like dyslexia or ADHD but compensates with heightened situational awareness.
He also praised Trump's political strategy, saying, "He understands this trick—the trick is to tell the big lie and to repeat the big lie and to create a mantra and narrative around it."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46265725/elon-musk-announces-formation-of-america-party-emerges-in-wake-of-donald-trumps-historic-spending-bill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Announces Formation of ‘America Party' Emerges in Wake of Donald Trump's Historic Spending Bill</a>
Calling Trump's return to the White House "the greatest comeback in political history," Scaramucci noted, "He went from being a reality television star and a moderately successful real estate developer to the American presidency in 18 months—and he just reascended to the presidency."
<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="Donald Trump is Not Dumb I Anthony Scaramucci" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ap7aK5klJ-M?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>
Why It's Important: While Scaramucci has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45253032/anthony-scaramucci-gives-donald-trump-b-or-a-on-crypto-but-warns-presidential-meme-coin-defi-project-risk-derailing-policy-progress">commended Trump</a> for advancing digital asset regulation and establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve without taxpayer funding, he has also criticized several aspects of Trump&#8217;s presidency, including tariffs and economic decisions.
He strongly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44602870/anthony-scaramucci-hates-it-when-trump-pumps-his-own-coin-but-loves-the-presidents-bitcoin-moves-this-complex-crypto-relationship-decoded">condemned the launch</a> of Trump's official meme coin, the Official Trump (CRYTO: TRUMP), calling it "Idi Amin-level corruption" and likening a related Truth Social post to a market "pump."
Scaramucci also joined others in questioning the timing of Trump's crypto-related announcements, suggesting possible manipulation.
Despite his political criticisms, Scaramucci holds substantial crypto investments, with over 55% of his net worth in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and a significant stake in Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>).
Earlier this year, Scaramucci also said that his brief 11-day stint in the White House during Trump's first term rekindled his interest in Bitcoin.
A July 2025 <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/07/02/anthony-scaramuccis-mooch-cryptocurrency-donald-trump/">report</a> by Fortune said that, as per sources, Scaramucci's net worth is estimated to be between $150 million and $200 million, largely tied to volatile crypto assets.
His wealth stems from personal investments and management fees through SkyBridge Capital, which had $2.6 billion in assets at the end of 2024. He also earns royalties from several books, including The Little Book of Hedge Funds.
While some in the crypto industry criticize his financial expertise, others, like SALT CEO John Darsie, credit Scaramucci for strategic pivots that saved SkyBridge—such as shifting from hedge-fund seeding to a fund-of-funds model via a Citi acquisition in 2010 and moving heavily into crypto in 2020.
Earlier this week, Scaramucci also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46516846/anthony-scaramucci-says-lets-spend-as-he-backs-trumps-big-spending-plan-but-only-if-one-rule-is-met">voiced support for Trump's</a> infrastructure-focused spending—if it creates long-term economic value—calling for "Big, Beautiful Spending" with a real multiplier effect, like Boston's "Big Dig."
Read Next:
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Photo Courtesy: Al Teich On Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

$BTC

$SOL

Anthony Scaramucci May Not Have Seen Eye-To-Eye With Trump On Crypto, But Called His Second Term, 'The Greatest Comeback In Political History'

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been one of the most active stock investors from the political fraternity, and several of her trades have received significant media attention.
What happened: The lawmaker has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46620387/marjorie-taylor-greene-increases-these-2-stocks-in-portfolio-including-this-ai-name-up-over-100-ytd">expanded her portfolio with stocks</a> from several large-cap companies, including Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>). Greene <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44723570/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-the-dip-congresswoman-purchases-shares-of-apple-amazon-nike-and-more-fol">purchased Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares</a>, with a reported value range between $1,001 and $15,000, on April 4.&nbsp;
The congressperson bought the market dip, precipitated by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff measures. The stock had slipped more than 8% over the previous two days.
But if the idea was to accumulate the stock before it began a sustained rally, that hasn&#8217;t precisely happened.&nbsp;
While shares rebounded on easing tariff measures, the upsurge was short-lived. After hitting yearly highs of $539.80, BRK.B reversed course and went on to slide below $500. Since the purchase, the shares have been down 2.62%
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46620387/marjorie-taylor-greene-increases-these-2-stocks-in-portfolio-including-this-ai-name-up-over-100-ytd">Marjorie Taylor Greene Increases These 2 Stocks In Portfolio, Including This AI Name Up Over 100% YTD</a>
Let's assume instead of Warren Buffett's high-profile holding company, the Republican would have chosen to buy Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), the world's largest cryptocurrency. Since we don't know the exact amount invested, let&#8217;s go with the top range.
A $15,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock would have been reduced to $14,607.On the other, a $15,000 investment in Bitcoin on the same date would now be worth $20,700.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Asset</td>
<td>Price (Recorded on April 4, 2025)</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 2:52 a.m. ET)</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berkshire Hathaway Class B</td>
<td>$493.54</td>
<td>$480.60</td>
<td>-2.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin</td>
<td>$83,100</td>
<td>$115,370.79</td>
<td>+38.83%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The BRK.B stock exhibited a very high Growth score but lagged in Momentum as of this writing. Use Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings to see how it compares to &#8221;Mag 7&#8221; equities.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="433" height="192" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25034912/image-383.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1000244" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25034912/image-383.png 433w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25034912/image-383-300x133.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px" /></a></figure>
Notably, Greene was ranked 23rd&nbsp;among members of Congress <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46620387/marjorie-taylor-greene-increases-these-2-stocks-in-portfolio-including-this-ai-name-up-over-100-ytd">who made stock transactions based on a return of</a> +30.2% in 2024.
However, her trades have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip">drawn scrutiny</a>, particularly for well-timed stock purchases around market events, such as those before and after Trump&#8217;s tariff pause announcement. Greene has dismissed the criticism as &#8220;laughable.&#8221;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46612914/bitcoin-could-go-to-300000-before-great-depression-crisis-traders-argue">Bitcoin Could Go To $300,000 Before &#8216;Great Depression&#8217; Crisis, Traders Argue</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Berkshire Hathaway Investment Falters After She Bought The Shares At April Lows — What If She Had Chosen Bitcoin Instead?

Each week, Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.
Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.
Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/46157351/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: June's 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do CoreWeave, Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?</a>
Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending July 25:
Ensign Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENSG#NASDAQ">ENSG</a>): The healthcare services company saw strong interest from readers during the week after reporting second-quarter financial results. The company beat analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings per share. Ensign Group also raised full-year guidance for both earnings per share and revenue after the report.
"Our local teams achieved another outstanding quarter, raising the bar again for what is possible, even in a quarter where we historically have experienced more seasonality. The clinical results they achieved continue to be the primary driver of our success," Ensign CEO Barry Port said.
The company saw strong results for its same store occupancy and also acquired new operations that Port said will help with "long-term upside." Ensign's portfolio consists of 348 healthcare operations, including 31 that are also senior living operations, in 17 states. The company owns 146 real estate assets, with 110 being operated by an Ensign affiliate.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="508" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181428/Screenshot-512.png" alt="" class="wp-image-999817" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181428/Screenshot-512.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181428/Screenshot-512-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181428/Screenshot-512-768x391.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
IonQ Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>): The quantum computing sector continues to be hot for investors and IonQ was searched by an increased number of readers during the week. The company <a href="https://investors.ionq.com/news/news-details/2025/IonQ-Expands-Across-APAC-Through-Strategic-Collaboration-With-Australian-Company-Emergence-Quantum/default.aspx">announced </a>a new collaboration with Emergence Quantum to co-develop electronics and materials. IonQ said the partnership will help the company's global expansion roadmap and help Australia's quantum capabilities. Investors are likely eagerly awaiting the company's second-quarter financial results set for Aug. 6. Analysts expect the company to report a loss of 27 cents per share. IonQ has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in three of the last five quarters. Investors expect the company to report quarterly revenue of $17.23, which would be a record. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in more than 10 straight quarters. Recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IONQ/analyst-ratings">analyst activity </a>saw Cantor Fitzgerald initiate the stock with an Overweight rating and price target of $45 and Benchmark maintain a Buy rating and raise the price target from $50 to $55.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="497" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181442/Screenshot-513.png" alt="" class="wp-image-999819" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181442/Screenshot-513.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181442/Screenshot-513-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181442/Screenshot-513-768x383.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Brinker International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>): The restaurant company that owns Chili's and other brands saw increased interest from readers during the week. The company has received <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EAT/analyst-ratings">mixed ratings from analysts</a> during the month of July with mostly Neutral and Equal-Weight ratings. Most analysts have been raising their price targets on the restaurant company. Brinker will report fourth-quarter financial results in August. Analysts predict the company will show increased earnings per share and revenue on a year-over-year basis. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine of the last 10 quarters and beaten estimates for revenue in seven of the last 10 quarters.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181457/Screenshot-514.png" alt="" class="wp-image-999820" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181457/Screenshot-514.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181457/Screenshot-514-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181457/Screenshot-514-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>
PulteGroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>): The homebuilder company saw strong interest during the week and shares up over 5% after reporting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46543464/pultegroup-posts-solid-earnings-but-revenue-misses-whats-next-for-the-homebuilder">second-quarter financial results</a>. The company beat analyst estimates for earnings per share and narrowly missed a consensus revenue estimate of $4.41 billion with $4.40 billion reported. The company reported 7,639 homes closed and net new orders of 7,083. The company's unit backlog was 10,779 at the end of the quarter. Multiple analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46581345/pultegroup-analysts-increase-their-forecasts-after-better-than-expected-q2-earnings">raised their price targets </a>on the stock after the report with optimism for the company's second half of 2025 outlook.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="498" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181512/Screenshot-515.png" alt="" class="wp-image-999821" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181512/Screenshot-515.png 1001w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181512/Screenshot-515-300x149.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181512/Screenshot-515-768x382.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /></a></figure>
Hims &amp; Hers Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>): The telehealth company saw strong interest from readers during the week. Shares traded lower in June after the company announced it would no longer be working with Novo Nordisk, losing direct access to Wegovy. Shares have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46586702/whats-going-on-with-hims-hers-stock-wednesday">rebounded in July </a>ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report set for Aug. 4. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings per share of 15 cents, up from 6 cents per share in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in six straight quarters and nine of the last 10 quarters overall. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly revenue of $549.8 million, up from $315.7 million in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in more than 10 straight quarters. While this figure would be a beat, it would mark the first time the company didn't grow revenue on a quarter-over-quarter basis in some time. Truist recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HIMS/analyst-ratings">maintained a Hold rating</a> on the stock and increased the price target from $45 to $48. Shares remain up over 100% year-to-date in 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="503" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181526/Screenshot-516.png" alt="" class="wp-image-999822" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181526/Screenshot-516.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181526/Screenshot-516-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/24181526/Screenshot-516-768x388.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>
Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0725" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>
Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46264224/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-72" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46381556/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-73" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 11</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46508365/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-74">July 18</a></li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46236448/exclusive-2025s-first-half-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-nvidia-tesla-apple-stock-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: 2025's First Half Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Nvidia, Tesla, Apple Stock Rank?</a></li>
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Long Ideas

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

ENSG

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

IONQ

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

Imagine this: a hospital conference room, lights low, filled with decision-makers. A sales representative clicks through slides driven by Palantir Technologies&#8217; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) Foundry platform, highlighting real-time data integration and pinpoint analytics that would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46640145/how-palantir-tempus-nvidia-backed-recursion-are-disrupting-big-pharma">make Pharma R&amp;D from the past</a> look like it&#8217;s still sending lab results by fax. Down the same hallway, Tempus AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>) is making its pitch: a genomics-driven diagnostics pipeline that has the potential to condense drug development months into weeks. Down the street, Recursion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>), connected to Nvidia&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) AI muscle, is whipping up molecules more quickly than most of the major pharma companies can convene a patent meeting.
Track Palantir's stock moves <a href="https://archive.ph/o/RcesA/https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.
This isn&#8217;t a sci-fi movie. It&#8217;s 2025. And it&#8217;s the future of medicine.
But what if you peek under the hood of most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">healthcare ETFs</a>, and find the list still dominated by old-school giants: Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), Merck (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), all good revenue machines, yes, but now stalled in terms of stock momentum and innovation hype. So the elephant-in-the-room question hangs: are ETF issuers missing the real excitement in AI-native biotech?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Landscape: Are We Still Wearing 2015 Goggles?</h2>
Even with this tectonic shift in where innovation is really occurring, the world of ETFs hasn&#8217;t yet caught up. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) remains top-heavy in UnitedHealth (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), and Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>). The iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>) is laser-beamed on the usual suspects. 
However, very few thematic funds such as the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) have piled into Tempus AI and Recursion — although Cathie Wood&#8217;s ARK is infamous for dipping its toes into Palantir waters.
It raises the question: if AI is reshaping healthcare at its source — the molecule, the diagnosis, the trial protocol — why are investors still paying for exposure to the output, rather than the architects?
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46639976/3-pharma-stocks-that-arent-sweating-the-coming-200-drug-tariffs">3 Pharma Stocks That Aren&#8217;t Sweating the Coming 200% Drug Tariffs</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI-Native Pharma Is Already A Thing And It&#8217;s Moving Fast</h2>
Let&#8217;s begin with the numbers. Palantir is up more than 11% in the past month and has already shown a phenomenal YTD performance as investors prepare for its Q2 earnings. The company&#8217;s expansion into healthcare is no side gig, it&#8217;s quietly establishing itself as the digital scaffolding for hospital systems and military-grade medical planning, too.
Tempus AI, though experiencing a modest 6% retreat in the last month, has remained firm at around $64, indicating market faith in its capability to use AI to industrialize cancer diagnosis. And Recursion Pharmaceuticals has been up 15% since late June, while remaining in loss for the year, a classic biotech early-stage pattern, but now infused with algorithmic drug discovery.
NVIDIA, whose chips reside at the center of Recursion&#8217;s wet-lab-meets-silicon-brain hybrid model, remains the underlying facilitator of this whole thing.
And Big Pharma, meanwhile? Pfizer languishes at around $24, while Merck hovers at around $85, not exactly the material for breakout tales.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Opportunity</h2>
The pressure is obvious. Conventional drugmakers still control manufacturing, regulation, and distribution. But AI-first companies are beginning to own the upstream, the concepts, the iterations, the trial designs. And in a space where delays in R&amp;D can run into billions and cost patient lives, speed and accuracy are no longer niceties — they&#8217;re necessities.
ETF providers now have a choice. Are they going to keep tracking yesterday&#8217;s winners in healthcare, or pre-emptively shift portfolios towards the players really shaping tomorrow&#8217;s innovation?
There is an open invitation here to innovating. A specially designed &#8220;AI &amp; Next-Gen Healthcare ETF&#8221; that combines genomics-based diagnostics, machine learning-assisted discovery, and healthtech infrastructure could grab the very growth that conventional pharma ETFs are not seeing.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line</h2>
Palantir, Tempus AI, and Recursion are not merely healthcare-adjacent technology companies. They&#8217;re the leading edge of a very lucrative spear — one that already has pieced biotech&#8217;s old armor. And although Big Pharma is still, well, pharma, it&#8217;s the AI-born upstarts who are flexing the future.
The ETF business might need to begin paying attention, because the actual biotech bull cycle may not be occurring in corner offices, but in server racks, sequencing labs, and real-time data dashboards.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/07/46641666/teslas-earnings-flop-trips-up-these-etfs">Tesla&#8217;s Earnings Flop Trips Up These ETFs</a></li>
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Sector ETFs

Tech

ETFs

ARKG

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

NVDA

PLTR

RXRX

Palantir, Nvidia & Tempus AI Could Be Pharma ETF Darlings That Don't Make Pills

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.
Wall Street rallied as a wave of new trade deals — including agreements with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines — fueled optimism, pushing the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh record highs. President Donald Trump escalated pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during an in-person visit, demanding lower rates in light of trade easing.
Investor sentiment remained upbeat despite rising political friction. Treasury yields increased modestly on speculation about compromised Fed independence, amid calls from influential voices like Mohamed El‑Erian suggesting Powell resign to preserve central bank autonomy.
Looking ahead, markets are watching progress in U.S.–EU trade negotiations — including a meeting between Trump and Ursula von der Leyen — and upcoming economic data. Investor focus is also on whether pressure on the Fed may influence its rate path or institutional reputation.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.

The Bulls
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46607168/google-stock-roars-as-analysts-race-to-raise-price-targets">"Google stock roars as analysts race to raise price targets"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) delivered its tenth straight quarter of earnings beats — including $96.43 billion in Q2 revenue and $2.31 EPS — prompting firms to raise their price targets on strength in AI‑driven growth across Cloud, Search, and Ads.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46587855/t-mobile-stock-climbs-after-q2-results-crushed-growth-records">"T‑Mobile stock climbs after Q2 results ‘crushed' growth records"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that T‑Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) beat Q2 estimates with $2.84 EPS and $21.13 billion in revenue, added a record 1.7 million postpaid customers — driving upwardly revised FY2025 guidance — and sent shares higher.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46590824/lendingtree-stock-climbs-as-company-signals-stronger-growth-ahead">"LendingTree stock climbs as company signals stronger growth ahead"</a>, by Akanksha Bakshi, reports that LendingTree Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TREE#NASDAQ">TREE</a>) shares rose after the company highlighted improving lead quality and customer acquisition metrics — citing momentum in core marketplaces and new verticals as drivers of expected stronger growth ahead.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46559708/capital-one-stock-climbs-on-strong-q2-eps-despite-revenue-miss">Capital One Stock Climbs On Strong Q2 EPS, Despite Revenue Miss</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46618339/coursera-stock-rockets-20-higher-after-q2-earnings-report-heres-why">Coursera Stock Rockets 20% Higher After Q2 Earnings Report: Here's Why</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46588567/quantumscape-announces-better-than-expected-q2-results-expands-collaboration-with-powerco">QuantumScape Announces Better-Than-Expected Q2 Results, Expands Collaboration With PowerCo</a>

The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46612958/molina-healthcare-stumbles-cigna-cvs-humana">"Centene, Cigna, Others Drop As Molina's Results Rattle Sector"</a>, by Vandana Singh, reports that Molina Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>) missed Q2 earnings expectations — posting $5.48 EPS vs. $6.21 consensus — even as revenue topped estimates, and slashed its 2025 EPS guidance to just over $19 (from $21.50-$22.50), sending shares of Centene Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>), The Cigna Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>), and others sharply lower on concerns about medical cost trends and sector-wide risk.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/fda/25/07/46544331/fda-rejects-replimunes-blood-cancer-drug-stock-sinks">"FDA rejects Replimune's blood cancer drug, stock sinks"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Replimune Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REPL#NASDAQ">REPL</a>) shares plunged after the FDA rejected the company's investigational oncolytic virus therapy for blood cancers, citing deficiencies in clinical data and risk-benefit analysis — prompting investor concern about future development timelines and capital needs.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46589727/viking-therapeutics-stock-slides-after-company-misses-q2-earnings-estimates">"Viking Therapeutics stock slides after company misses Q2 earnings estimates"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) shares tumbled after reporting a Q2 loss of $0.58 per share — wider than the expected $0.46 loss — while R&amp;D expenses surged to $60.2 million and the company ended the quarter with $808 million in cash.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46606784/c3-ai-stock-is-tumbling-thursday-whats-going-on">C3 AI Stock Is Tumbling Thursday: What's Going On?</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">Is A Stock Market Crash Imminent? Bubble Warnings Grow Louder</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46569958/mara-holdings-stock-is-moving-lower-wednesday-heres-why">MARA Holdings Stock Is Moving Lower Wednesday: Here's Why</a>

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

Markets

COUR

GOOGL

MARA

REPL

TMUS

TREE

VKTX

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: T-Mobile, LendingTree, Molina Healthcare — And Trade Deal Optimism Boosts Markets

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded its 14-month investigation into Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (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>) self-driving company, Waymo. The investigation was initiated due to a series of minor collisions and unexpected vehicle behavior.
What Happened: The NHTSA decided to close the investigation without taking further action, as reported by Reuters on Friday. The probe was launched in May 2024 following 22 reports of potential traffic safety law violations and &#8220;unexpected behavior&#8221; by Waymo&#8217;s robotaxis, including 17 collisions.
The NHTSA considered two recalls issued by Waymo and its analysis of available data before closing the investigation. This included a 2024 recall to address a collision with a utility pole and a May 2024 recall of over 1,200 vehicles to update software for better detection and avoidance of roadway barriers.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46602872/joe-rogan-says-most-americans-are-one-catastrophe-away-from-losing-everything-says-ai-and-ubi-income-">Joe Rogan Says Most Americans Are One Catastrophe Away From Losing Everything, Says AI And UBI Income Will Bring Chaos And Addiction</a>
Waymo has over 1,500 vehicles on the road in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas, and is conducting more than 250,000 fully autonomous paid rides weekly. The company aims to expand its services to New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C., and recently launched a service with Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) in Atlanta.
Why It Matters: The closure of the NHTSA investigation comes at a crucial time for Waymo, which has been making significant strides in the autonomous vehicle industry. The company has been expanding its operations and enhancing its technology to ensure the safety and reliability of its self-driving vehicles.
Earlier this year, Waymo&#8217;s CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, emphasized the importance of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45585674/waymo-ceo-takes-aim-at-teslas-camera-only-approach-you-have-to-be-able-to-have-this-vision-thats-better-than-humans">LiDAR-based system for autonomous driving</a>. This approach has proven to be effective, as evidenced by the recent investigation closure.
Moreover, Waymo&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45752429/waymos-explosive-growth-sets-the-pace-as-tesla-prepares-robotaxi-launch">rapid growth in its ride-hailing operations</a> has positioned the company as a leader in driverless vehicle technology. The NHTSA&#8217;s decision to close the investigation further solidifies Waymo&#8217;s position in the autonomous vehicle industry.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46612914/bitcoin-could-go-to-300000-before-great-depression-crisis-traders-argue">Bitcoin Could Go To $300,000 Before &#8216;Great Depression&#8217; Crisis, Traders Argue &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Tada Images / Shutterstock.coma

GOOG

UBER

Alphabet's Waymo Cleared As NHTSA Closes 14-Month Robotaxi Safety Probe

The Donald Trump administration is preparing to launch one of the most expensive defense initiatives in U.S. history, kicking off a $151 billion procurement drive for its "Golden Dome" <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46544230/trump-turns-to-jeff-bezoss-project-kuiper-as-elon-musk-feud-threatens-spacex-role-in-175-billion-golden-dome-defense-project-report">missile shield</a>.
What Happened: On Friday, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said it would soon invite proposals for an "advanced, multi-domain defense system" under the project officially known as Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b8cbefc9-9e68-4ba9-a621-667024481a5b">reported</a> the Financial Times.
The 10-year plan seeks to fund a sweeping array of contracts covering research and development, cybersecurity and the design and deployment of systems capable of defending against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats.
Trump has pledged $175 billion toward the Golden Dome initiative, modeled loosely on Israel's Iron Dome and vowed to have it operational within three years.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46590373/elon-musk-richest-man-alive-is-asked-how-he-feels-about-being-labeled-evil-billionaire-its-not-like-ive-got-some-massive-cash-balance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk, Richest Man Alive, Is Asked How He Feels About Being Labeled ‘Evil Billionaire' — ‘It's Not Like I've Got Some Massive Cash Balance'</a>
Why It's Important: On the same day, Booz Allen Hamilton Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>) CEO Horacio Rozanski told analysts the firm "can play a variety of roles" and is "participating in the procurement process as it ramps up."
During its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46600670/l3harris-q2-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-raised-guidance-clear-inflection-point">second-quarter earnings</a> call on Thursday, L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>) also said that the company is preparing to deploy 40 to 45 Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellites, which are vital to the Golden Dome missile defense system.
Major defense contractors—Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOX#NYSE">NOX</a>), RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)—have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46565953/lockheed-martin-confirms-talks-with-us-over-trumps-175-billion-golden-dome-missile-shield-ceo-james-taiclet-says-no-contracts-yet-lmt-is-all-in">also signaled interest</a>.
While Trump's initial defense bill allocates just $25 billion toward the project, the Congressional Budget Office estimates a full-scale missile shield could cost up to $542 billion over 20 years, the report stated.
If executed, the plan could trigger a massive windfall for aerospace firms and defense startups alike, with Elon Musk's SpaceX—despite recent tensions with the administration—well-positioned to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44861620/spacex-palantir-frontrunners-in-bid-that-could-build-donald-trumps-golden-dome-report">secure satellite launch contracts</a>.
The Golden Dome project marks a dramatic expansion of U.S. homeland defense ambitions, potentially reshaping military procurement and creating new frontiers for defense technology and private-sector collaboration.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that Booz Allen Hamilton Corp is showing strong upward momentum in the short and medium term, but exhibits a downward trend over the long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">Additional performance metrics can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/26042123/Screenshot-2025-07-26-at-1.50.01%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1001868" /></a></figure>
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Trump's $151 Billion 'Golden Dome' Shield Program Will Soon Open Bidding For Defense Tech Giants, Startups: Report

"Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary has cautioned that Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46512871/trump-says-he-doesnt-need-scott-bessents-advice-to-fire-jerome-powell-i-know-better-than-anybody-whats-good-for-the-market">attacks on</a> Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could undermine global trust in U.S. financial markets.
What Happened: On Friday, O'Leary shared a video clip from his Fox News appearance on X, formerly Twitter, warning against politicizing the Fed's role.
"Whacking the Fed is not a good idea, period," he said. "This is a weird situation with this Fed renovation deal. Trump doesn't mind letting people watch sausages being made and that's what you saw there, but whacking the Fed is not about renovating buildings in Washington."
O'Leary defended the Federal Reserve's independence, calling it essential to maintaining global investor confidence.
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"What makes financial markets work globally is the understanding of the balance of the independence of the Fed to make these really important interest rate decisions," he said. "They get it right, they get it wrong, but the fact that they're independent is what gives comfort to trillions of dollars that comes rolling into the U.S."
In the video, O'Leary shared, Fox News correspondent Charles Gasparino agreed that Fed independence is vital but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46537558/former-fed-chairs-ben-bernanke-janet-yellen-warn-trumps-pressure-on-powell-could-lead-to-inevitably-higher-inflation-and-economic-damage">criticized Powell's track record</a>.
O'Leary acknowledged past policy mistakes but stressed that removing Powell prematurely would jeopardize institutional credibility. "It's not enough to not let him run out his mandate," O'Leary said. "The orderly transition of the Fed chair is the whole deal."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Whacking the Fed is not a good idea, period. This is a weird situation with this Fed renovation deal. Trump doesn't mind letting people watch sausages being made and that&#39;s what you saw there, but whacking the Fed is not about renovating buildings in Washington. It's a big deal… <a href="https://t.co/quwpVg1rUR">pic.twitter.com/quwpVg1rUR</a>
&mdash; Kevin O&#39;Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinolearytv/status/1948735972926988776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: The comments came in response to Trump's ongoing clash with Powell over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46361722/jerome-powell-has-grossly-mismanaged-says-russ-vought-as-fed-hq-renovation-costs-soar-to-2-5-billion-the-palace-of-versailles-would-have-cost-3-billion">$2.5 billion renovation project</a> and repeated public criticisms of Powell's performance on inflation and interest rates.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought earlier slammed the Fed's renovation costs as excessive, comparing them to the Palace of Versailles.
Powell <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46485087/jerome-powell-defends-2-5-billion-fed-hq-overhaul-says-no-vip-dining-rooms-no-private-elevators-as-trump-allies-slam-project-over-versailles-style-excess">defended the spending</a> as necessary for safety and functionality—amid speculation that Trump could use the overruns as justification to fire Powell.
On Thursday, in a rare visit to the Federal Reserve, Trump urged Powell to cut interest rates and criticized the Fed's costly renovation project, though he later clarified he has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46621837/trump-says-not-necessary-to-fire-jerome-powell-but-presses-fed-chair-on-rate-cuts-and-2-5-billion-renovation-id-love-him-to-lower-interest-rates">no plans to fire Powell</a> despite their tensions.
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Politics

Kevin O'Leary Warns Trump's Powell Criticism Threatens US Financial Credibility: 'Whacking The Fed Is Not A Good Idea'

On Friday, President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. may abandon trade negotiations with Canada, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46150909/trump-canada-tariffs-dollar-deal">suggesting tariffs</a>—not a deal—may be the outcome.
What Happened: Speaking to reporters ahead of his trip to Scotland, Trump said, "We haven&#8217;t really had a lot of luck with Canada. I think Canada could be one where there&#8217;s just a tariff, not really a negotiation," <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dgdwl609xo">reported</a> BBC.
The comments follow his imposition of a strict Aug. 1 deadline for Canada to reach a new agreement under his broader global tariff strategy.
Trump warned that if no deal is reached, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/07/46469746/canada-hits-back-at-trumps-50-steel-tariffs-with-1-billion-rescue-new-quota-system">a 35% tariff would apply</a> to imports from Canada—unless goods fall under the existing North American Free Trade Agreement.
He has already levied tariffs of 25% on certain Canadian goods, 50% on aluminum and steel, and 25% on vehicles not built in the U.S.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46590373/elon-musk-richest-man-alive-is-asked-how-he-feels-about-being-labeled-evil-billionaire-its-not-like-ive-got-some-massive-cash-balance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk, Richest Man Alive, Is Asked How He Feels About Being Labeled ‘Evil Billionaire' — ‘It's Not Like I've Got Some Massive Cash Balance'</a>
Why It's Important: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney previously said Canada "will not accept a bad deal" or be rushed into an agreement.
On Thursday, Canadian intergovernmental affairs minister Dominic LeBlanc said talks in Washington were "productive" but stressed that negotiators "have a lot of work" ahead, the report added.
Canada exports about 75% of its goods to the U.S., and its auto industry is tightly linked with American supply chains. Trump's tariffs could significantly disrupt trade and raise prices for U.S. consumers.
While Trump remains optimistic about deals with other nations—citing a new agreement with Japan in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46562556/trump-says-550-billion-trade-deal-with-japan-reached-that-will-create-thousands-of-jobs-there-has-never-been-anything-like-it">exchange for a $550 billion investment</a>—his hardline approach with Canada risks escalating trade tensions with a key ally and economic partner.
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US May Ditch Trade Negotiations With Canada, Trump Says: 'Haven't Really Had A Lot Of Luck'

Renowned financial advisor and radio host Dave Ramsey addressed a financial dilemma faced by a married couple.
What Happened: Ramsey responded to an email from a woman named Emily, who expressed concerns about her husband&#8217;s spending habits, according to a report<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/dave-ramsey-has-blunt-words-on-marriage-and-money"> by</a> The Street.
Emily shared that her husband enjoys dining out frequently, which is disrupting their budget. She believes his behavior might be stress-induced due to his recent salary reduction.
Ramsey acknowledged the situation&#8217;s difficulty, noting that financial stress can lead to unhealthy spending habits.
Ramsey emphasized the importance of addressing financial responsibilities within a marriage. He advised against enabling irresponsible spending, comparing it to an indulgent parent-child dynamic.
Ramsey suggested that dining out should not be routine when finances are tight and encouraged working at a restaurant instead to earn extra income.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/07/46409445/dave-ramsey-says-dont-buy-a-new-car-unless-youre-worth-1-million">Dave Ramsey Says Don&#8217;t Buy A New Car Unless You&#8217;re Worth $1 Million</a>
He urged Emily to have a compassionate conversation with her husband, showing him the financial impact of his actions. Ramsey concluded with encouraging words, assuring Emily that they can overcome their challenges together.
Why It Matters: The advice from Dave Ramsey comes at a time when many individuals are grappling with financial challenges.
In a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, a caller named Nicole revealed that despite a household income of $350,000, she and her husband<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46591390/a-dave-ramsey-caller-earns-350000-but-still-lives-paycheck-to-paycheck-how-do-you-even-rack-up-55k-in-credit-card-debt-on-that-income"> were living paycheck</a> to paycheck with $55,000 in credit card debt.
Ramsey&#8217;s financial guidance extends beyond personal budgeting. He has also advised against<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46319259/dave-ramsey-warns-a-28-year-old-to-avoid-investing-in-a-business-with-zero-experience-you-have-no-freaking-idea-what-youre-getting-into"> investing in businesses without experience</a>, as seen in a recent warning to a young entrepreneur.
Additionally, Ramsey has shared his investment preferences,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/mutual-funds/25/07/46436088/dave-ramsey-rejects-bonds-and-stocks-calls-mutual-funds-safer-bet-be-the-tortoise"> advocating for mutual funds over bonds and stocks</a>.
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Dave Ramsey Tells Wife How To Deal With Husband Who Won't Stop Overspending On Dining Out: 'Show Him The Numbers'

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is investigating whether a leak from its early alert system for cybersecurity companies allowed Chinese hackers to exploit flaws in its SharePoint service before they were patched.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT">how MSFT stock is trading here</a>.
What Happened: The American tech giant is looking into whether the program, designed to provide cybersecurity experts with an opportunity to fix computer systems before the disclosure of new security concerns, led to the widespread exploitation of vulnerabilities in its SharePoint software globally over the past several days, Bloomberg reported <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-25/microsoft-sharepoint-hack-probe-on-whether-chinese-hackers-found-flaw-via-alert">on</a> Friday.
Microsoft has attributed the SharePoint breaches to state-sponsored hackers from China. At least a dozen Chinese companies participate in the initiative, called the Microsoft Active Protections Program, or MAPP, according to Microsoft&#8217;s website.
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The investigation comes in the wake of a series of cyberattacks, with the victims now totaling more than 400 government agencies and corporations worldwide, including the US&#8217;s National Nuclear Security Administration, the division responsible for designing and maintaining the country&#8217;s nuclear weapons.
Why It Matters: The investigation into the potential exploitation of Microsoft&#8217;s early alert system comes at a time when the company is under scrutiny for its cybersecurity measures.
This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46641054/microsoft-probing-if-chinese-hackers-learned-sharepoint-flaws-through-alert-bloomberg">investigation raises questions</a> about the efficacy of Microsoft&#8217;s cybersecurity systems and the potential impact on its business.
Despite these challenges, Microsoft remains a dominant force in the software industry, as evidenced by its strong standing compared to competitors. In a recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/25/07/46633948/investigating-microsofts-standing-in-software-industry-compared-to-competitors">industry comparison</a>, Microsoft&#8217;s performance was illuminated through a detailed examination of key financial metrics, market standing, and growth prospects, highlighting the company&#8217;s resilience and competitive edge in the industry.
Price Action: Microsoft stock closed at $513.71, marking a 0.55% surge during regular trading hours on July 25.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings indicate MSFT has a positive price trend across all time frames. &nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Know how</a> it's similar to other well-known tech companies.
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MSFT

Microsoft Probes Possible Breach of Its Cyber Threat Notification System After Suspected Chinese Hack: Report

Ken Fisher, the founder of Fisher Investments, has cautioned investors about a prevalent mistake during market downturns, which he terms &#8220;Breakevenitis.&#8221; This warning comes amidst growing concerns about market volatility and potential bubbles.
What Happened: Fisher, whose firm manages over $332 billion, explained that this phenomenon involves investors selling stocks once they return to their original purchase price after a downturn, according to a report<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/investing/billionaire-fund-manager-describes-one-word-phenomena-holding-back-your-portfolio"> by</a> The Street.
Fisher, known for his extensive experience navigating various market crises, emphasized that market corrections and bear markets are frequent occurrences.
He noted that investors often react emotionally, selling stocks during downturns due to fear of losses, which can negatively impact long-term portfolio performance.
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According to Fisher, historical data show that markets typically recover and continue to rise after downturns. He advised investors to resist the urge to sell at breakeven and instead focus on the potential gains that follow market recoveries.
Fisher&#8217;s insights are backed by economic theories on loss aversion, highlighting the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective in investing.
Why It Matters: Fisher&#8217;s warning comes at a time when concerns about a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">stock market bubble</a> are growing louder.
In July, experts from major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America pointed to speculative activities and market concentration reminiscent of past financial manias. These red flags suggest that the market could be on the brink of a significant correction.
Understanding the risks associated with &#8220;Breakevenitis&#8221; is crucial for investors, especially in a climate where market bubbles are being widely discussed.
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Equities

As Stock Market Bubble Fears Mount, Ken Fisher Warns Of Common Investor Mistake

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has proposed the establishment of a global organization to promote international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
What Happened: Premier Li made this proposal during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Reuters reported on Friday.
He emphasized the need for a unified global framework for AI governance, citing the current fragmented state of AI regulation and institutional rules across different countries.
Li&#8217;s proposal comes amidst the ongoing technological rivalry between China and the United States, the world&#8217;s two largest economies.
The U.S. has imposed export restrictions on advanced technology to China, including high-end AI chips, over concerns about their potential military applications.
Despite these restrictions, China continues to make significant AI advancements, drawing scrutiny from U.S. officials. Li warned that AI could become an &#8220;exclusive game&#8221; for a few countries and companies, highlighting challenges such as a shortage of AI chips and restrictions on talent exchange.
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He also expressed China&#8217;s willingness to share its AI development experience and products with other countries, especially those in the Global South.
Why It Matters: The proposal for a global AI cooperation organization by China&#8217;s Premier Li Qiang is a significant move in the ongoing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46567115/anthropic-warns-us-falling-behind-china-in-ai-arms-race-as-energy-crisis-threatens-2028-infrastructure-goals">tech rivalry</a> between China and the U.S.
This proposal comes at a time when China is making substantial strides in AI, despite U.S. export restrictions. It also underscores the growing importance of AI in global technological competition and the need for international cooperation in its development and regulation.
China&#8217;s AI advancements have been notable, with the country&#8217;s tech giants such as Huawei and Alibaba (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) showcasing their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46626379/alibaba-chinese-tech-firms-slash-ai-model-prices-to-win-developers">latest innovations</a> at the WAIC. This proposal could potentially reshape the global AI landscape and influence the future of AI development and regulation.&nbsp;
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BABA

China Pushes For Global AI Body Amid Rising Tensions With US Over Tech Exports: Report

On Friday,&nbsp; Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades in the market, with the most prominent ones being in Veracyte Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VCYT#NASDAQ">VCYT</a>), Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRDM#NASDAQ">IRDM</a>), CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRSP#NASDAQ">CRSP</a>), Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), Absci Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABSI#NASDAQ">ABSI</a>), Veeva Systems Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEEV#NYSE">VEEV</a>), Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPT#NASDAQ">ADPT</a>) and Guardant Health Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GH#NASDAQ">GH</a>).
The ABSI Trade
Ark&#8217;s ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) bought a whopping 2,248,226 shares of Absci Corp, a drug discovery and development company.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46643607/its-the-craziest-gamble-ever-says-joe-rogan-about-insurance-you-pay-and-cross-your-fingers-theyll-act">&#8216;It&#8217;s The Craziest Gamble Ever,&#8217; Says Joe Rogan About Insurance. You Pay And Cross Your Fingers They&#8217;ll Actually Cover You</a>
The VCYT Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#BATS">ARKK</a>) purchased 262,141 shares of Veracyte Inc., a leading genomic diagnostics company. This move aligns with Ark&#8217;s focus on disruptive innovation in the healthcare sector.
The IRDM Trade
Iridium Communications Inc., a company that provides satellite communications worldwide, saw a significant investment from Ark. The ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>) and ARKK bought a combined total of 66,763 shares.
The CRSP Trade
Ark Invest sold 249,108 shares of CRISPR Therapeutics AG across the ARKG and ARKK ETFs.
The KTOS Trade
Ark&#8217;s ARKQ and ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) sold 36,628 shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc., a leading provider of unmanned systems, satellite communications, and warfighter solutions.
Other Key Trades:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>AKRG sold 1,916 shares of Veeva Systems Inc.</li>
<li>ARKG sold 75,523 shares of Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.</li>
<li>ARKG sold 37,350 shares of Guardant Health Inc.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46621957/cathie-wood-pounces-on-tesla-dip-ark-snaps-up-43-7-million-in-ev-stock-while-ditching-crypto-shares-amid-bitcoin-frenzy">Cathie Wood Pounces On Tesla Dip: Ark Snaps Up $43.7 Million In EV Stock While Ditching Crypto Shares Amid Bitcoin Frenzy</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ABSI

ADPT

ARKK

ARKQ

ARKX

CRSP

IRDM

KTOS

VCYT

VEEV

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Loads Up On Absci, Offloads CRISPR Therapeutics

Despite President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. will sell "so much" beef to Australia, economists and traders say supply shortages and record-high prices make major exports unrealistic.
What Happened: On Thursday, Australia eased longstanding biosecurity restrictions on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44790753/howard-lutnick-calls-out-eu-over-beef-restrictions-unbelievable-they-wont-take-our-chicken-our-lobsters-or-our-corn">U.S. beef imports</a>, prompting Trump to declare on Truth Social, "We are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable proof that U.S. Beef is the safest and best in the entire world."
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/26003728/Screenshot-2025-07-26-at-10.07.24%E2%80%AFAM-1024x612.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1001724" style="width:543px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Truth Social </figcaption></figure>
But livestock traders and economists quickly pushed back, reported Reuters.
"We can't get enough beef in the U.S. right now, so we're bringing it in from Australia and Brazil," said Dan Norcini, an independent U.S. livestock trader. "We're not going to be selling anything significant to anyone."
The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest in decades—94.2 million head as of July 1—due to drought and feed shortages, the report said.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46590373/elon-musk-richest-man-alive-is-asked-how-he-feels-about-being-labeled-evil-billionaire-its-not-like-ive-got-some-massive-cash-balance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk, Richest Man Alive, Is Asked How He Feels About Being Labeled ‘Evil Billionaire&#8217; — ‘It&#8217;s Not Like I&#8217;ve Got Some Massive Cash Balance&#8217;</a>
Last year, Australia exported nearly 400,000 metric tons of beef to the U.S., while American exports to Australia totaled just 269 tons.
"They have more cattle than people," said David Anderson, agricultural economist at Texas A&amp;M University. "That's why they export so much."
Why It Matters: While egg prices are falling, beef prices have surged to record <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/restaurants/25/07/46561796/beef-its-whats-for-dinner-if-you-can-afford-it">highs in 2025</a>, pushing grocery bills higher.
Ground beef now averages $6.12 per pound (up nearly 12% year-over-year), and steaks are around $11.49 per pound.
Key factors include shrinking cattle herds (lowest since 1951), persistent drought, costly feed, high interest rates and trade restrictions—such as a U.S. suspension of cattle imports from Mexico and a 50% tariff on Brazilian beef starting Aug. 1.
Despite rising prices, U.S. consumer demand for beef remains strong. However, companies like Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRL#NYSE">HRL</a>) may benefit if shoppers shift to pork or chicken, while plant-based alternatives like Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYND#NASDAQ">BYND</a>) and Impossible Foods could also see gains.
Tyson Foods Inc.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) CEO has called this the &#8220;most challenging market&#8221; for beef in the company's history.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46567973/ethereum-treasury-company-trend-will-accelerate-says-bitwises-matt-hougan-heres-what-it-means-for-eths-price" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Treasury Company Trend ‘Will Accelerate&#8217;, Says Bitwise&#8217;s Matt Hougan—Here&#8217;s What It Means For ETH&#8217;s Price</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Maxim Elramsisy / Shutterstock.com

BYND

US Can't Meet Its Own Beef Demand, Let Alone Export 'So Much' To Australia, Say Traders After Trump's Boast: 'Not Going To Be Selling Anything…'

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set to distribute $608 million to states for the construction of immigrant detention centers, a move aligned with the Donald Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to bolster capacity for detaining migrants.
What Happened: FEMA announced the initiation of a &#8220;detention support grant program&#8221; that will cover the expenses of states in building temporary facilities, according <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/25/fema-to-send-states-608-million-to-build-migrant-detention-centers.html">to</a> a CNBC report. States have until August 8 to apply for these funds.
This program is part of the administration&#8217;s strategy to encourage states to develop their facilities for detaining migrants, with FEMA partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to distribute the funds.
Florida&#8217;s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, has already expressed the state&#8217;s intention to apply for FEMA reimbursement to fund its new immigrant detention center, dubbed &#8220;Alligator Alcatraz.&#8221; The facility is estimated to cost $450 million annually.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46612914/bitcoin-could-go-to-300000-before-great-depression-crisis-traders-argue">Bitcoin Could Go To $300,000 Before &#8216;Great Depression&#8217; Crisis, Traders Argue</a>
These funds will be distributed through FEMA&#8217;s shelter and services program, which was directed by Congress during the Biden administration to cover the costs of sheltering migrants for state and local governments, as well as nonprofits.
Why It Matters: This move comes in the wake of the Trump administration&#8217;s aggressive immigration policy, which has led to a surge in profits for private prison operators. The administration&#8217;s $45 billion immigration policy has significantly boosted the fortunes of Geo Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) and CoreCivic (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>), the two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46284121/trumps-45-billion-immigration-policy-supercharges-profits-for-private-prisons-under-big-beautiful-bill">largest private prison contractors</a>.
Florida, under the Trump administration, opened its state-run immigrant detention camp, &#8220;Alligator Alcatraz,&#8221; in the Everglades, with plans to expand it to hold 10,000 detainees. 
The administration&#8217;s aggressive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45967200/ice-could-run-out-of-money-in-weeks-trumps-immigration-push-now-threatens-to-break-the-budget-report">immigration stance</a> has also caused a financial strain on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the agency at risk of running out of funds by next month.
However, not everyone is on board with the administration&#8217;s immigration policies. Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co., has criticized the U.S.&#8217;s immigration policies, warning of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45990167/jamie-dimon-sounds-alarm-on-us-immigration-policies-obsolete-tech-in-defense-strategy-well-be-out-of-missiles-in-seven-days">potential economic vulnerabilities</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

FEMA Commits $608 Million To Support Trump's Migrant Detention Expansion

Amid growing concerns about the financial burden of developing new AI models, Bret Taylor, chairman of OpenAI, has issued a cautionary note to AI entrepreneurs.
Taylor, who has a background with tech giants like Google and Facebook, highlighted the substantial costs involved in training new AI models.
What Happened: During a recent episode of the Minus One podcast, Taylor advised against the creation of new AI models due to their financial demands.
He suggested that only major industry players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) have the resources to undertake such projects.
Taylor emphasized that the high costs act as a barrier, preventing the emergence of an &#8220;indie data center market.&#8221;
Instead, Taylor recommended that AI entrepreneurs focus on building services and use-cases, collaborating with established AI companies.
This approach could benefit giants like OpenAI, which offers &#8220;tokens&#8221; for API access, allowing developers to integrate AI into their applications. He also suggested exploring opportunities in the &#8220;AI tools market&#8221; or creating &#8220;applied AI companies,&#8221; similar to SaaS applications from 2010.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46625981/jensen-huang-says-hes-created-more-billionaires-than-any-ceo-dont-feel-sad-for-anybody-at-my-layer">Jensen Huang Says He&#8217;s Created More Billionaires Than Any CEO: &#8216;Don&#8217;t Feel Sad For Anybody At My Layer&#8217;</a>
Taylor warned that developing AI models from scratch could quickly &#8220;destroy your capital,&#8221; as they are &#8220;fast-depreciating assets&#8221; requiring significant investment.
Why It Matters: OpenAI&#8217;s<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46538119/openai-is-spending-billions-to-stay-ahead-in-ai-but-jpmorgan-warns-this-vibe-spending-could-push-investors-to-their-limit"> aggressive spending on talent</a> and R&amp;D has raised concerns among investors, with JPMorgan analysts warning that such &#8220;vibe spending&#8221; could push investors to their limit.
Despite these concerns, OpenAI continues to push forward with ambitious projects, such as its partnership with Oracle to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46570838/elon-musk-6-months-ago-said-softbank-doesnt-have-the-money-to-power-500-billion-stargate-project-now-openai-says-5gw-with-oracle-will-exceed-the-initial-commitment-made-wit"> expand Stargate data center capacity</a> by 4.5 gigawatts, aiming to bolster U.S. AI leadership.
Meanwhile, OpenAI&#8217;s recent achievements, like its AI model solving problems at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46511716/openais-new-ai-model-solves-5-out-of-6-problems-on-the-worlds-toughest-math-olympiad-but-critics-say-it-stole-the-spotlight-from-student-geniuses">International Mathematical Olympiad</a>, have drawn criticism for overshadowing human competitors.
<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="Google, Facebook, Then Sierra &#x7C; Bret Taylor" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tGUsIg9fLkA?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>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Svet foto / Shutterstock.com

OpenAI Chairman Says Only Tech Giants Can Afford New AI Models—Startups Should Focus On Applications

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has officially named Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher, as Chief Scientist of its newly formed Superintelligence Labs.
What Happened: On Friday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Zhao's appointment on Threads, highlighting his central role in building the company's new frontier AI unit.
"I'm excited to share that Shengjia Zhao will be the Chief Scientist of Meta Superintelligence Labs," Zuckerberg said in a memo he shared.
"Shengjia co-founded the new lab and has been our lead scientist from day one. Now that our recruiting is going well and our team is coming together, we have decided to formalize his leadership role."
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25232631/Screenshot-2025-07-26-at-7.35.48%E2%80%AFAM-1024x717.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1001668" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Threads</figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46400815/meta-commits-hundreds-of-billions-to-build-massive-ai-clusters-in-race-for-superintelligence">Meta Commits &#8216;Hundreds Of Billions&#8217; To Build Massive AI Clusters In Race For Superintelligence</a>
Zhao previously contributed to some of OpenAI's most significant breakthroughs, including ChatGPT, GPT-4 and the "o1" reasoning model.
At Meta Superintelligence Labs, Zhao will work under the leadership of Alexandr Wang, former CEO of Scale AI, who was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46019178/why-metas-superintelligence-project-lead-alexandr-wang-says-it-is-a-strange-time-to-be-a-scientist">brought in to head the lab</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">We are excited to announce that <a href="https://twitter.com/shengjia_zhao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shengjia_zhao</a> will be the Chief Scientist of Meta Superintelligence Labs! Shengjia is a brilliant scientist who most recently pioneered a new scaling paradigm in his research. He will lead our scientific direction for our team. Let&#39;s go &#x1f680; <a href="https://t.co/D93KQWIvFl">pic.twitter.com/D93KQWIvFl</a>
&mdash; Alexandr Wang (@alexandr_wang) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexandr_wang/status/1948834974205182454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Meta has been ramping up infrastructure support for MSL, with Zhao and his team set to gain access by 2026 to Prometheus, a 1-gigawatt cloud computing cluster located in Ohio, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/25/meta-names-shengjia-zhao-as-chief-scientist-of-ai-superintelligence-unit/">reported</a> TechCrunch.
With Zhao joining the team, Meta now has two top AI scientists, including Yann LeCun, who heads the company's FAIR lab.
FAIR, unlike MSL, is dedicated to long-term AI research, exploring methods that could come into play over the next five to ten years. However, it remains unclear how Meta plans to coordinate its three AI divisions, the report said.
Price Action: Meta shares declined by 0.30% on Friday but edged up 0.16% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that META continues to trend upward across short-, medium-, and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">More detailed performance data can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25232707/Screenshot-2025-07-26-at-8.53.53%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1001669" /></a></figure>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO / Shutterstock.com

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