Ultime notizie per Block (NYSE:SQ) Azioni

Block

Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.

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BMO Capital analyst Rufus Hone maintains Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $93 to $92.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on Block, Lowers Price Target to $92

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DFS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$202.0K</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$51.0K</td>
<td>366</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$35.8K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>569</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$38.5K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>483</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BEN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$17.50</td>
<td>$29.9K</td>
<td>604</td>
<td>342</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$157.50</td>
<td>$46.9K</td>
<td>203</td>
<td>266</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/17/26</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>154</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>10.0K</td>
<td>136</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PGR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$34.2K</td>
<td>249</td>
<td>112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
<td>$29.1K</td>
<td>691</td>
<td>81</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding DFS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on October 11, 2024. Parties traded 1010 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $202.0K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 48 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3261 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on October 11, 2024. Parties traded 102 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.0K, with a price of $505.0 per contract. There were 366 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1973 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 79 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 150 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.8K, with a price of $239.0 per contract. There were 4310 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 569 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 79 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 4 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.5K, with a price of $9652.0 per contract. There were 1688 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 483 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BEN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEN#NYSE">BEN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 197 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 90 contract(s) at a $17.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.9K, with a price of $331.0 per contract. There were 604 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 342 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on October 11, 2024. Parties traded 127 contract(s) at a $157.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.9K, with a price of $369.0 per contract. There were 203 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 266 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 653 day(s) on July 17, 2026. Parties traded 65 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $430.0 per contract. There were 5400 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 154 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 107 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.0K, with a price of $490.0 per contract. There were 10058 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 136 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PGR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 471 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.2K, with a price of $1710.0 per contract. There were 249 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 112 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 103 contract(s) at a $67.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.1K, with a price of $283.0 per contract. There were 691 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 81 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

FUTU

PYPL

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) underwent analysis by 11 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $84.91, with a high estimate of $100.00 and a low estimate of $55.00. This current average has decreased by 6.79% from the previous average price target of $91.10. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727805719_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
A clear picture of Block's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Soomit Datta</td>
<td>New Street Research</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rayna Kumar</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$92.00</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mayank Tandon</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Perlin</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Bauch</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rufus Hone</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$92.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Palmer</td>
<td>Benchmark</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$99.00</td>
<td>$99.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Faucette</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Golding</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bryan Keane</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$98.00</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vasundhara Govil</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$74.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Block. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Block compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Block's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Block's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SQ/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Block analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Block: A Closer Look</h2>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
<h3>A Deep Dive into Block's Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a smaller scale relative to peers. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Block's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 11.21% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Block's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 3.17%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Block's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 1.02%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Block's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.53%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Block's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average. With a ratio of 0.38, the company relies less on debt financing, maintaining a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by investors.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings For Block

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Block. Our analysis of options history for Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) revealed 16 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 62% of traders were bullish, while 37% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 6 were puts, with a value of $294,142, and 10 were calls, valued at $533,520.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $30.0 to $80.0 for Block over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Block stands at 1541.06, with a total volume reaching 2,962.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Block, situated within the strike price corridor from $30.0 to $80.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Block 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727794891_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$38.85</td>
<td>$37.3</td>
<td>$38.33</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$95.8K</td>
<td>36</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$9.75</td>
<td>$9.65</td>
<td>$9.75</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$87.7K</td>
<td>601</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">113</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$36.4</td>
<td>$34.95</td>
<td>$36.4</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td>363</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$65.4K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">397</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$1.98</td>
<td>$1.73</td>
<td>$1.9</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$64.4K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">878</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Block, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Block Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,008,015, with SQ's price down by -3.29%, positioned at $64.92.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 30 days.</li>
</ul>
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20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Block, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on Block Options

Oppenheimer analyst Rayna Kumar assumes Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) with a Perform rating.

Initiation

Oppenheimer Assumes Block at Perform

There aren&#39;t&nbsp;many deals to consider for further value in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/sectors/computer-and-technology/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">technology sector</a>. However, one stock is looking to change that narrative by delivering on previous promises. Shares of&nbsp;PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pypl#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) have recently made a new 52-week high, now trading near $80 a share for the first time since the first quarter of 2023. The issue becomes whether they can sustain this new price or even reach&nbsp;a higher valuation.
According to a few Wall Street analysts, PayPal may be able to do this in the coming quarters. The <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/sectors/finance/">financial sector</a> is one of the first to move when the economic landscape shifts, such as today, with the interest rate pivot coming from the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to help boost transaction volume and fees for stocks like PayPal. But then, there&#39;s the subject of competition.
It&#39;s true that PayPal doesn&#39;t operate in a vacuum. It competes with behemoths in the space like Visa Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/v#NYSE">V</a>) and Mastercard Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ma#NYSE">MA</a>). Even in the smaller market bracket, PayPal must remain competitive and attractive relative to competitors like <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/">Block Inc. (NYSE: </a><a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sq#NYSE">SQ</a>). Investors could safely assume this may be the case moving forward with PayPal stock for reasons that will become clear in just a bit.
<h3>Price Action and Forecasts Position PayPal Stock Ahead </h3>
Investors can begin to get a feel for what the market feels about PayPal stock through price action. Compared to its closest competitor, Block, PayPal is trading at a new 52-week high now, while Block is trading down to roughly <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/chart/">77% of its 52-week high</a>.
There must be a reason traders and markets are bidding higher for PayPal, which can be found in expectations and forecasts. Earnings per share (EPS) growth forecasts reflect PayPal&#39;s jump from $1.19 in profits today to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/earnings/">$1.30 for the same quarter next year</a>.
This 10% jump is significantly higher than <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/earnings/">Block&#39;s EPS forecasts for $0.50</a>, down from today&#39;s $0.93, a nearly 50% contraction in comparison. Given that PayPal is a $74 billion company, investors cannot&mdash;and should not&mdash;compare its growth to that of Visa or Mastercard, which are closer to the half-trillion mark.
However, investors can compare upside potential. Those at Mizuho Financial decided to place a $90 price target on PayPal a couple of months ago, jumping the gun early given that nobody else followed the trend until now. Analysts from Deutsche Bank topped Mizuho&#39;s view with a <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/forecast/">$94 a share price target</a>.
This implies that despite the current yearly high, PayPal has about 21.2% upside left to run higher. PayPal takes the lead compared to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/SQ/forecast/">Block&#39;s recent $70 price target</a> from New Street Research. When it comes to Visa and Mastercard, a respective <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/V/forecast/">7.5%</a> and <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/MA/forecast/">3% upside</a> potential pales next to PayPal&#39;s growth.
The question is whether PayPal&#39;s financials and business have what it takes to deliver on these promises.
<h3>PayPal Proves Stronger Than Investors Previously Expected</h3>
Looking at <a href="https://s201.q4cdn.com/231198771/files/doc_financials/2024/q2/PYPL-2Q-24-Earnings-Release.pdf">PayPal&#39;s latest quarterly earnings results</a>, the trend toward a potential higher price becomes clearer. Starting with revenues, PayPal reported a net increase of 8%, along with a similar 8% expansion in transaction margins to boost further profitability down the line.
Regarding other drivers or key performance indicators (KPIs), PayPal didn&#39;t disappoint either. Total payment volume rose 11% in the year to $416.8 billion, and transactions per active account also rose 11% in signal activity within the platform despite worries about the consumer and business economy.
Here&#39;s why markets and bears have kept PayPal stock so low during the past few quarters. Net active accounts decreased by 0.4% to 429 million, which may have been enough to scare capital away from this company. Still, those savvy enough will focus on the other profit metrics on the rise.
All told, PayPal reported up to $1.4 billion in free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures). Knowing that the best is just ahead for PayPal, management has committed up to 100% of the company&#39;s free cash flow into a share buyback program.
This addition to the buyback program would put PayPal on pace to buy back up to $5 billion worth of stock, which is nearly 10% of the company&#39;s market capitalization. When management approves such aggressive buybacks, it typically means they think the stock is cheap enough today and also expect to see higher prices ahead.
However, management isn&#39;t the only one buying up PayPal stock; those at Legal &amp; General Group decided to boost their holdings by as much as 3.3% as of August 2024, bringing their net position to <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NASDAQ/PYPL/institutional-ownership/">$501.2 million today</a>. This is only a fraction of the $4 billion of institutional capital called PayPal stock home over the past 12 months, a figure investors can safely assume will increase.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/paypal-soars-to-new-heights-why-analysts-see-more-upside/">PayPal Soars to New Heights: Why Analysts See More Upside</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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PayPal Soars To New Heights: Why Analysts See More Upside

Core Scientific Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>), one of the world's biggest Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining companies, would remember 2024 as a turnaround year.
The firm exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January and relisted its shares on Wall Street. Since making a comeback, the company's stock has surged nearly 260%.&nbsp;
The resurgence was largely fueled by a recovery in Bitcoin&#8217;s price, which had fallen to $16,000 when the company declared bankruptcy in December 2022. Since the recovery, the company has pivoted to a high-performance computing (HPC) model, servicing data center demand for artificial intelligence applications.
Benzinga talked to Adam Sullivan, the company's CEO, about its strategy and the evolving dynamics of the industry in the U.S.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Halving Woes And The Pivot To AI</h2>
Sullivan acknowledged the industry's pains, especially after the April halving, that slashed block rewards, a major component of mining revenue, by 50%.
The top executive disclosed that the company&#8217;s post-halving strategy, focused on hash price, local power costs, and environmental factors, has successfully maximized fleet performance and profitability
"We conducted extensive scenario analysis to understand the impact of different hash price assumptions on our business."
Sullivan added that the company's HPC strategy was shaped over the last 18 months, as it spotted a supply-demand balance in the high-power data center market.&nbsp;
In contrast to the volatile Bitcoin mining business, Sullivan described the AI business as a &#8220;predictable, long-term, and profitable revenue stream.&#8221;
Earlier in June, Core Scientific <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39151600/ai-and-bitcoin-mining-what-core-scientifics-unexpected-partnership-with-nvidia-backed-ai-f">entered into a 12-year contract</a> with Nvidia-backed cloud provider CoreWeave to provide infrastructure for AI use cases.
Sullivan said the company expected $6.7 billion in revenue as a result of the deal, positioning itself as one of the biggest publicly traded data center companies in the U.S.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39359780/dogecoin-shiba-inu-floki-are-dino-coins-says-trader-he-likes-these-3-other-meme-coins-as-b?itm_source=parsely-api"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41038635/paypal-steps-up-crypto-game-allows-us-merchants-to-buy-sell-and-hold-digital-assets">PayPal Steps Up Crypto Game, Allows US Merchants To Buy, Sell, And Hold Digital Assets</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Historic Deal With Jack Dorsey&#8217;s Block In Line With Trump&#8217;s &#8220;America First&#8221; Vision?</h2>
Bitcoin mining has received support from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39363038/donald-trump-speaks-on-bitcoin-mining-wants-all-the-remaining-bitcoin-to-be-made-in-the-us">wanted all remaining Bitcoins to be mined in the U.S</a>.&nbsp;
Sullivan welcomed support from all elected officials, from the White House to Congress to local legislatures and city councils.
"We believe that Bitcoin and artificial intelligence represent strategic technologies that the United States must support and nurture to ensure continued leadership in the global arena" he said.&nbsp;
Sullivan also talked about Core Scientific's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/39721727/jack-dorseys-block-makes-historic-bitcoin-mining-chip-sale-to-core-scientific-our-first-mi">historic mining chip purchase</a> from Jack Dorsey's company Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), departing away from the China-headquartered market leader. Bitmain.
"We believe the new Block ASIC chips will improve our mining economics in terms of initial capital expenditures, ongoing maintenance, and performance," Sullivan stated.&nbsp;
The CEO added that the deal reflected the capabilities of domestic chipmakers, and strong government backing would pave the way for future success.
These insights set the stage for deeper discussions at the upcoming Benzinga <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/">Future of Digital Assets</a> event on Nov. 19.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41039204/mark-cuban-and-anthony-scaramuccis-stance-against-gary-gensler-earns-appreciation-from-eli">Mark Cuban And Anthony Scaramucci&#8217;s Stance Against Gary Gensler Earns Appreciation From Elizabeth Warren&#8217;s Pro-Crypto Rival: &#8216;He&#8217;s Hurting America&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

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

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$BTC

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

Trump Wants US To Be Bitcoin Mining Capital Of The World — Core Scientific's Move To Buy Chips From Jack Dorsey Just The First Step In That Direction? CEO Gives Us His Take

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

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

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

AFRM

CUBI

Consumers remained a pillar of support for the economy despite the high interest-rate environment that has prevailed since early 2022. With the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40965372/fed-delivers-large-interest-rate-cut-in-bid-to-sustain-labor-market-stocks-gold-set-new-record-h">Federal Reserve implementing a substantial 50 basis-point</a> rate cut, the benefits of which are expected to trickle down to them, consumers are forecasted to splurge on purchases this holiday season, according to early forecasts provided by Adobe on Wednesday.
Vibrant Spending: Consumer E-commerce spending will likely reach a record $240.8 billion from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, Adobe said. This included spending online, discounting, &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later,&#8217; mobile shopping and more, it said. The forecast would mean an 8.4% year-over-year increase from the $221.8 billion spent in 2023, which saw a more modest 4.9% growth.
Electronics, apparel and furniture/home goods will account for the bulk of the spending. The firm&#8217;s analytics show spending on Black Friday &#8211; the Friday that follows the Thanksgiving Thursday, and Thanksgiving day will grow 9.9% and 8.7%, respectively. Cyber Monday online spending is expected to be up a more modest 6.1%.
Adobe expects discounts to peak at 30% this season, and drive over $2 billion in incremental online spending for retailers. The firm also said consumers will likely trade up to more expensive goods this season as opposed to the trend seen in recent months. Expensive goods will likely make up 19% of the share of the total online spending. In electronics, the share will likely be a steeper 58%.
Mobile shopping could make up 53.2% of total online spending and spending through BNPL could see another record this time. BNPL sales are expected to rise 11.4% to $18.5 billion, over 75% of this driven by mobile purchases.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-retail-stocks">Best Retail Stocks</a>
Best Time To Buy: This time around, discounts would be more spread out, with deals starting in October itself, Adobe said, adding that goods could trade up to 16% off the listed price in October. The discount could go up to 18% in November before the Cyber Week.
Hot Sellers: Among the most sought-after items are:
<ul>
<li> Bluey Ultimate Lights</li>
<li> Sounds Playhouse​</li>
<li> Slime Kits</li>
<li>Sony Group Corp.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNE#NYSE">SNE</a>) PlayStation 5</li>
<li>Madden NFL 25</li>
<li>Apple, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40971882/as-apples-iphone-16-goes-on-sale-analyst-says-demand-off-to-strong-start-keeping-cu">iPhone 16</a></li>
<li> ice cream maker Ninja Creami</li>
</ul>
Stock Implications: With most spending likely happening online, those retailers having a strong online presence could be the ones to benefit the most. Pureplay electronics retailers such as Best Buy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NASDAQ">BBY</a>), Apple and Sony, e-commerce giant Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and retailers such as Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NYSE">COST</a>) could also be preferred destination for buying consumer electronics goods. 
Madden NFL 25 is an American football video game developed by Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) Orlando and published by EA Sports. It could be bought on EA&#8217;s website, Amazon, or any other video game retailer.
BNPL stocks such as Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and PayPal, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) could reap the benefit of rising interest in purchases via the BNPL route.
The Commerce Department&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40897882/retail-sales-rise-0-1-in-august-more-than-expected-boosting-odds-of-larger-fed-ra">retail sales report for August </a>released earlier this month showed an unexpected increase as weak auto &amp; auto parts sales were more than offset by strength in online sales, underlining the underlying strength. 
The SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRT#NYSE">XRT</a>) ended Tuesday&#8217;s session up 0.80% at $77.13 but it has lost about 0.8% for the year even as the broader market hovers at a record high. The Fed rate cuts &#8211; the one announced and the two more anticipated before the year-end, and the seasonally strong holiday season could bring these stocks back to favor in the near term.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/40984858/dont-miss-these-3-retail-stocks-for-fall-gains">Don&#8217;t Miss These 3 Retail Stocks for Fall Gains</a></li>
</ul>
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Buoyed by a holistic growth model, Block (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sq#NYSE">SQ</a>) has gained 47.9% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Business-Services sector&#39;s rally of 26.9% and the S&amp;P 500&#39;s return of 31.1%.
However, the company has underperformed its industry&#39;s rise of 62.9% in the same time frame.
Block&#39;s strong positioning in the digital payments industry on the back of its robust payment and point-of-sale (POS) solutions, which include both hardware and software to accept payments, streamline operations, and analyze business information, is a major positive.
SQ&#39;s comprehensive commerce ecosystem, which enables sellers to combine software, hardware and payment services to accept payments from customers, helps it sustain solid momentum across sellers. Strength Square ecosystem is a plus.
<h2>One-Year Price Performance</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/e2/78855.jpg?v=1624265627" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Despite this positive scenario, market uncertainties, high inflation, unfavorable foreign exchange fluctuations and sluggish trends in consumer spending are concerning for the company. The normalization trend in the post-pandemic era is negative.
The combination of both risks and rewards is prompting investors to question how they should play the SQ stock.
<h2>Block Rides on Portfolio Strength</h2>
Block has been gaining solid momentum among several sellers across various industries, such as food, retail and services, and geographies, including the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada. The primary factor behind this remains its robust product portfolio, which, in turn, is increasing its Gross Payment Volume (GPV). In the second quarter of 2024, the company processed $61.94 billion of GPV, up 5% year over year.
SQ&#39;s omnichannel offerings, which help sellers create differentiated customer experiences on the back of customer insights by managing orders from POS and eliminating manual aggregation of online and in-person orders, are adding strength to its seller base.
Growing momentum across the Square ecosystem and CashApp ecosystem, which enables the company to provide peer-to-peer payment and digital commercial transaction facilities, is another positive.
Block leverages artificial Intelligence to deliver an enhanced seller experience. Square Online&#39;s Themes and Square for Retail&#39;s AI-generated product descriptions help sellers enhance their customer engagement and automate sales.
Square offers generative AI features to sellers, enabling them to automate operations, speed up workflows and save time.
Block is constantly gaining momentum in the cryptocurrency market on the back of CashApp, which allows users to buy, sell, send and receive bitcoins.
Its decentralized TBD platform, which enables developers to build decentralized finance applications that run on programmable blockchains, is noteworthy.
Block&#39;s self-custody bitcoin wallet, Bitkey, is also boosting its presence in the cryptocurrency space. The company offers Bitkey in more than 95 countries across six continents, allowing users to easily and safely own and manage their bitcoins.
<h2>Strong Partner Base Aids SQ&#39;s BNPL Prospects</h2>
Block&#39;s Afterpay division and strong partner base are boosting its prospects in the &lsquo;buy now, pay later&#39; (BNPL) market.
Afterpay&#39;s partnership with several brands, including Curology, Helzberg Diamonds, Journeys, Rawlings Sporting Goods and Zenni Optical, is noteworthy. These partnerships help Afterpay to deliver an enhanced shopping experience to U.S. customers.
Afterpay also collaborated with various merchants, including Diane von Furstenberg, Diggs, For Eyes and Kendra Scott, to offer installment payments for purchases from these merchants.
Afterpay&#39;s partnership with Rokt in a bid to boost the online shopping experience for customers is another positive. This partnership enables Afterpay and its retail partners to provide relevant advertising experiences to targeted customers during the checkout process using Rokt&#39;s e-commerce solution.
<h2>SQ&#39;s Rising Estimates</h2>
Block&#39;s near-term as well as long-term prospects are expected to benefit from compelling products and solutions, a comprehensive payment ecosystem, and a strong position in the digital payment industry.
For the third quarter of 2024, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.17 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 9.8%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 88 cents per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 60%. The estimate has been revised 14.3% upward in the past 60 days.
For 2024, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $24.52 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 11.9%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $3.60 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 100%. The estimate has been revised 0.6% upward in the past 30 days.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/64/78856.jpg?v=1766539391" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Attractive Valuation: A Silver Lining For SQ</h2>
Block offers an attractive valuation at current levels.
SQ is trading at a discount, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 1.58X compared with the industry&#39;s 6.33X. This reflects a good opportunity for the investors.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/81/78854.jpg?v=1782768029" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Challenges Being Faced by Block</h2>
Block has been grappling with weakening transaction activities on Cash App and softness in consumer spending trends in food and drink and retail discretionary verticals.
Broader market volatility is acting as a headwind.
Specific challenges associated with the security of payments and money transfer in the digital payments industry, and regulatory uncertainties in the cryptocurrency space are other concerns for SQ.
Increasing pricing pressure due to rising competition from the likes of PayPal (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pypl#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) in the peer-to-peer payments space does not bode well. SQ also faces stiff competition from Affirm (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afrm#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>) in the booming buy now, pay later (BNPL) market.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Block&#39;s strong solutions portfolio, rising earnings estimates, strong position in the digital payments industry and attractive valuation present a compelling investment opportunity.
However, macroeconomic uncertainties and unfavorable changes in the consumer spending pattern, which surround Block&#39;s prospects at present, do not bode well.
With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Block appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and investors could be better off if they trade with caution.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340077/block-surges-47-9-in-a-year-should-sq-stock-be-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|most_popular_stocks-2340077">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Large Cap

Offerings

Block Surges 47.9% in a Year: Should SQ Stock be in Your Portfolio?

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$13.50</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>109</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>24.6K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$67.50</td>
<td>$496.0K</td>
<td>64</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FHN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$143.0K</td>
<td>246</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$51.5K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>580</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$46.5K</td>
<td>7.4K</td>
<td>412</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$42.1K</td>
<td>646</td>
<td>361</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$243.9K</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>309</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PRU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$90.2K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$37.3K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>42</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding NU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 14 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 5000 contract(s) at a $13.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 50 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.0K, with a price of $10.0 per contract. There were 109 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5051 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $84.0 per contract. There were 24630 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1534 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $67.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $496.0K, with a price of $496.0 per contract. There were 64 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1058 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FHN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 56 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $143.0K, with a price of $143.0 per contract. There were 246 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $47.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.5K, with a price of $206.0 per contract. There were 2222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 580 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 636 day(s) on June 18, 2026. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.5K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 7412 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 412 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.1K, with a price of $2105.0 per contract. There were 646 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 361 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 455 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 173 contract(s) at a $82.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $243.9K, with a price of $1410.0 per contract. There were 19 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 309 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PRU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRU#NYSE">PRU</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 148 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $90.2K, with a price of $610.0 per contract. There were 1547 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 153 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, is expiring today. Parties traded 19 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.3K, with a price of $1966.0 per contract. There were 3480 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 42 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SOFI

10 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in SQ usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 8 extraordinary options activities for Block. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 62% leaning bullish and 37% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $200,280, and 5 are calls, amounting to $199,426.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $55.0 and $95.0 for Block, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Block's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Block's significant trades, within a strike price range of $55.0 to $95.0, over the past month.
<h3>Block Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726851809_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$67.50</td>
<td>$123.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">203</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$4.85</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">104</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$7.96</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$47.7K</td>
<td>7.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$40.2K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$1.97</td>
<td>$1.94</td>
<td>$1.97</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$37.6K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">403</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Block</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 3,661,976, the price of SQ is down -1.49% at $67.62. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Block</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $81.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Buy rating on Block with a target price of $92. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from New Street Research lowers its rating to Neutral with a new price target of $70.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Block, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Block Unusual Options Activity

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$34.7K</td>
<td>20.6K</td>
<td>6.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SCHW</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$27.7K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
<td>$69.5K</td>
<td>109</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$31.4K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VLY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$110.0K</td>
<td>785</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$61.9K</td>
<td>745</td>
<td>867</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$72.9K</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>503</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$57.6K</td>
<td>535</td>
<td>245</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$72.4K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>228</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 120 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 61 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.7K, with a price of $570.0 per contract. There were 20661 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6183 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ABR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABR#NYSE">ABR</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 29 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 4000 contract(s) at a $16.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $80.0K, with a price of $20.0 per contract. There were 3995 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4128 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SCHW (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 29 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 165 contract(s) at a $62.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.7K, with a price of $168.0 per contract. There were 8421 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3131 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 22 day(s) on October 11, 2024. Parties traded 781 contract(s) at a $64.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.5K, with a price of $89.0 per contract. There were 109 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 29 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 109 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.4K, with a price of $288.0 per contract. There were 2785 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1179 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For VLY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLY#NASDAQ">VLY</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 120 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $110.0K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 785 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 29 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 96 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.9K, with a price of $645.0 per contract. There were 745 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 867 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 155 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.9K, with a price of $243.0 per contract. There were 32 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 503 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we observe a put option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 92 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.6K, with a price of $1450.0 per contract. There were 535 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 245 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 120 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.4K, with a price of $3620.0 per contract. There were 1372 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 228 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SCHW

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AGNC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$95.6K</td>
<td>68.9K</td>
<td>6.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$49.5K</td>
<td>15.2K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$49.7K</td>
<td>13.0K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/01/24</td>
<td>$67.00</td>
<td>$900.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$112.9K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AIG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$77.50</td>
<td>$175.0K</td>
<td>793</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$56.9K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td>787</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KKR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>546</td>
<td>253</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>118</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/01/24</td>
<td>$290.00</td>
<td>$45.9K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>52</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding AGNC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGNC#NASDAQ">AGNC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 1518 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $95.6K, with a price of $63.0 per contract. There were 68988 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6871 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 1500 contract(s) at a $23.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 23 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.5K, with a price of $33.0 per contract. There were 15281 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2755 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1772 contract(s) at a $52.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.7K, with a price of $28.0 per contract. There were 13085 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2253 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 46 day(s) on November 1, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2000 contract(s) at a $67.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $900.0K, with a price of $450.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2001 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 34 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $112.9K, with a price of $3321.0 per contract. There were 1074 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1295 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AIG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 60 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $77.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 43 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $175.0K, with a price of $175.0 per contract. There were 793 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1002 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 32 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 633 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 36 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.9K, with a price of $90.0 per contract. There were 5529 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 787 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 546 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 253 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 123 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 21 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $1434.0 per contract. There were 2771 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 118 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For V (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 46 day(s) on November 1, 2024. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $290.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.9K, with a price of $920.0 per contract. There were 6 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 52 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AGNC

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in SQ usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 13 extraordinary options activities for Block. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 30% leaning bullish and 61% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $217,016, and 8 are calls, amounting to $558,264.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $40.0 to $95.0 for Block over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Block's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Block's significant trades, within a strike price range of $40.0 to $95.0, over the past month.
<h3>Block Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725981402_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$157.1K</td>
<td>660</td>
<td>494</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$83.7K</td>
<td>660</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$0.46</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>$78.6K</td>
<td>10.5K</td>
<td>13.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$75.0K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$11.2</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$65.0K</td>
<td>715</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
In light of the recent options history for Block, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Block's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,690,608, the price of SQ is down by -2.02%, reaching $60.07.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 51 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Block</h3>
In the last month, 2 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $81.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Block, which currently sits at a price target of $92. </li>
<li>An analyst from New Street Research has revised its rating downward to Neutral, adjusting the price target to $70. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Block options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Behind the Scenes of Block's Latest Options Trends

New Street Research analyst Soomit Datta initiates coverage on Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) with a Neutral rating and announces Price Target of $70.

New Street Research Initiates Coverage On Block with Neutral Rating, Announces Price Target of $70

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SQ, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 22 uncommon options trades for Block.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 22% bullish and 68%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 13 are puts, for a total amount of $862,487, and 9 are calls, for a total amount of $521,940.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $45.0 and $120.0 for Block, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Block stands at 1418.06, with a total volume reaching 9,295.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Block, situated within the strike price corridor from $45.0 to $120.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Block 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725639383_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$27.65</td>
<td>$27.35</td>
<td>$27.6</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$138.0K</td>
<td>351</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$7.65</td>
<td>$7.65</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$130.0K</td>
<td>264</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.35</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$7.4</td>
<td>$87.50</td>
<td>$127.2K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">172</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$19.95</td>
<td>$19.2</td>
<td>$19.39</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$96.9K</td>
<td>203</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$23.75</td>
<td>$22.05</td>
<td>$23.5</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$94.0K</td>
<td>130</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
<h3>Block's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,477,330, the price of SQ is down by -4.72%, reaching $61.53.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 55 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Block</h3>
A total of 1 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $92.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Block, which currently sits at a price target of $92. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Block options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Decoding Block's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SQ, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 10 uncommon options trades for Block.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 50% bullish and 40%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $189,877, and 5 are calls, for a total amount of $314,373.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $65.0 and $95.0 for Block, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Block stands at 896.88, with a total volume reaching 646.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Block, situated within the strike price corridor from $65.0 to $95.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Block Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725377454_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$20.0</td>
<td>$20.0</td>
<td>$20.0</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$92.0K</td>
<td>83</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.6</td>
<td>$7.7</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$76.9K</td>
<td>514</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.7</td>
<td>$7.7</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$60.0K</td>
<td>514</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">178</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$58.8K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$11.05</td>
<td>$11.68</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$53.7K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">46</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Block, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Block</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,332,456, the price of SQ is down -1.07% at $65.38. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 58 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Block</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $86.0.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Needham continues to hold a Buy rating for Block, targeting a price of $80. </li>
<li>An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Block, which currently sits at a price target of $92. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Block, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Block's Options: A Look at What the Big Money is Thinking

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Block.
Looking at options history for Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) we detected 23 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 52% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 39% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $181,669 and 20, calls, for a total amount of $1,079,152.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $60.0 to $77.5 for Block over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Block stands at 1475.07, with a total volume reaching 10,035.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Block, situated within the strike price corridor from $60.0 to $77.5, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Block Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725036402_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$9.95</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$98.5K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.45</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$91.6K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
<td>$84.1K</td>
<td>48</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">187</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$4.85</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$67.2K</td>
<td>655</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">533</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$4.85</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$65.7K</td>
<td>655</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">170</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Block, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Block</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,303,249, the price of SQ is down by -2.13%, reaching $65.0.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 62 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Block</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $90.4.
<ul>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Benchmark lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $99.</li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from BMO Capital keeps a Outperform rating on Block with a target price of $93. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Needham keeps a Buy rating on Block with a target price of $80. </li>
<li>An analyst from RBC Capital has revised its rating downward to Outperform, adjusting the price target to $88. </li>
<li>An analyst from UBS persists with their Buy rating on Block, maintaining a target price of $92. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Block options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

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Legal

SQ INVESTIGATION: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Announces Investigation into Block, Inc. and Encourages Investors with Substantial Losses or Witnesses with Relevant Information to Contact the Firm

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