Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) Azioni

Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities is a Pennsylvania-based holding company for US water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution utilities. The company's water business serves 3 million people in eight states. Its largest service territory is in Pennsylvania, primarily suburban Philadelphia. Its Peoples subsidiary serves more than 740,000 gas distribution customers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. It completed the sale of its West Virginia gas utility and the bulk of its nonregulated assets in 2024.

Essential Utilities Inc

JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO Jamie Dimon has emerged as a critical voice on President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff policies, acknowledging legitimate concerns while cautioning against excessive measures that could isolate the U.S. economy.
What Happened: &#8220;I thought it was too large, too big and too aggressive when it started,&#8221; Dimon <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG0pOnTWJEY">told</a> Fox in an interview released Thursday, describing Trump&#8217;s initial tariff approach as part of a &#8220;master plan to get people to the table.&#8221;
Despite these reservations, the Wall Street veteran defended the administration&#8217;s fundamental goal. &#8220;It&#8217;s ok to say if it&#8217;s unfair [and] we want to fix it,&#8221; Dimon stated, suggesting the White House is justified in addressing perceived trade imbalances.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45331065/the-trade-desk-ceo-slams-google-amazons-walled-gardens-imagine-what-we-can-do-in-a-fair-market">The Trade Desk CEO Slams Google, Amazon&#8217;s &#8216;Walled Gardens&#8217;: &#8216;Imagine What We Can Do In A Fair Market&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Dimon&#8217;s comments come amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45333895/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-warns-trump-tariffs-are-terrifying-says-government-is-picking-winners-and-losers-amid-soaring-trade-deficit">escalating market concerns about tariff impacts</a>. Citadel founder Ken Griffin recently warned that the policies had &#8220;unleashed an era of crony capitalism,&#8221; while JPM itself raised recession odds to 60% from 40%, citing supply-chain disruptions. Major ports report Chinese shipments have &#8220;essentially ceased.&#8221;
The banking executive, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44968496/theyre-probably-going-to-live-to-120-jpmorgans-jamie-dimon-says-gen-z-should-stop-worrying-and-start-building-a-better-future">who earned $39 million in 2024</a>, has maintained that tariffs would likely prove only &#8220;modestly inflationary&#8221; with potential to deliver &#8220;good stuff&#8221; for the economy. 
Regarding the recent U.K.-U.S. trade agreement, Dimon welcomed progress while noting it represents just a preliminary step. &#8220;Any progress is good,&#8221; he said, also expressing satisfaction with improving relations with China, Japan and Taiwan.
When asked what advice he would offer Trump, Dimon recommended: &#8220;Keep doing what you&#8217;re doing now&#8221; on border security, while encouraging focus on immigration reform, pro-growth policies, deregulation and tax reform. On tariffs, he advised: &#8220;Just make progress now, country by country, tariff by tariff.&#8221;
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45330282/fed-stays-put-trump-touts-uk-trade-deal-bitcoin-booms-past-100k-stagflation-fears-rise-this-week-in-markets">Fed Stays Put, Trump Touts UK Trade Deal, Bitcoin Booms Past $100K, Stagflation Fears Rise: This Week In Markets</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Economics

Markets

Jamie Dimon Says Trump's Tariffs Were 'Too Aggressive,' Warns US Risks Going It Alone Without Measured Trade Strategy

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) remains a stock to hold for the long term despite recent market volatility, with the potential to reach a $1 trillion valuation, according to Will McGough, Director of Investments at Prime Capital Financial.
What Happened: McGough maintains his buy recommendation on the artificial intelligence software company even after its shares have surged 55% this year, pushing its market cap to $281 billion, now exceeding Salesforce, which generates 10 times more revenue, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/palantir-may-grow-to-a-trillion-dollar-market-value-investor-says.html">reported</a> CNBC.
&#8220;I think you own for the ride to a trillion-dollar market cap knowing it&#8217;s going to be extremely volatile,&#8221; McGough said. 
The bullish outlook aligns with Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, who recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45216263/pltr-stock-falls-9-19-in-premarket-trading-but-this-analyst-remains-bullish-predicts-1-trillion-valuation-in-3-years">raised his price target</a> from $120 to $140 while calling Palantir &#8220;the Messi of AI&#8221; and &#8220;a core name in the AI Revolution.&#8221; Ives similarly projected a trillion-dollar valuation within three years, citing the company&#8217;s success with its AIP product and multi-million dollar deals pipeline.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45333895/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-warns-trump-tariffs-are-terrifying-says-government-is-picking-winners-and-losers-amid-soaring-trade-deficit">GOP Megadonor Ken Griffin Warns Trump Tariffs Are &#8216;Terrifying,&#8217; Says Government Is Picking &#8216;Winners And Losers&#8217; Amid Soaring Trade Deficit</a>
Why It Matters: Palantir&#8217;s lofty valuation metrics remain controversial, trading at 520 times trailing earnings, almost 200 times forward earnings and 90 times revenue. The disparity has created a stark divide between institutional skeptics and retail investors who have driven the stock up over 400% in the past year.
The data analytics firm reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/05/45229767/pltr-focused-etfs-down-whats-really-behind-palantirs-plunge-the-numbers-dont-tell-the-full-story">impressive first-quarter results</a>, with revenue beating expectations at $883.86 million, up 39% year-over-year. U.S. commercial revenue specifically surged 71%, while CEO Alex Karp described a &#8220;tectonic shift&#8221; in software adoption.
Price Action: Palantir closed at $117.30 on Friday, down 1.55% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped another 0.49% to $116.72. Year to date, Palantir shares have surged 56%.
Palantir Technologies shows strong growth and momentum, but ranks low on valuation metrics, according to Benzinga Stock Edge Rankings. PLTR shares exhibit a positive price trend across both short- and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Check the detailed report here</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Equities

EXPE

LYFT

PLTR

PLTR Stock Remains Long-Term Buy Despite Sky-High Valuation, Says Prime Capital's McGough—Joins Dan Ives In Predicting $1 Trillion Market Cap Amid AI Surge

Lyft Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) CEO David Risher&#8216;s leadership strategy, shaped by his decade working under tech titans Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has propelled the ride-sharing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45309828/gary-black-says-lyft-is-worthy-of-increased-investment-following-q1-earnings-call">company to record performance in 2024</a>.
What Happened: Risher, who joined Lyft as CEO in 2023, credits a specific lesson from Gates that&#8217;s proven transformative: focus more on weaknesses than strengths.
&#8220;From Microsoft, I learned how to compete&#8230; From Amazon, I learned how to obsess over customers,&#8221; Risher wrote in his 2023 letter to employees. This approach has yielded impressive results, with Lyft posting record-high annual ride numbers last year.
In a March 2024 interview <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/lessons-learned-lyft-ceo-draws-industry-titans-jeff-bezos-bill-gates">with</a> Fox Business, Risher described a &#8220;revealing&#8221; moment watching Gates at a 1990s executive conference. When asked about Microsoft Excel&#8217;s future, Gates responded: &#8220;I don&#8217;t spend any of my time thinking about Excel because I know that right now we&#8217;ve got around 60% market share, and I know that&#8217;s going to go to 80 or 90&#8230; I don&#8217;t have to worry about that.&#8221;
This insight showed Risher that Gates created more value by focusing on areas needing improvement rather than successful products.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45333895/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-warns-trump-tariffs-are-terrifying-says-government-is-picking-winners-and-losers-amid-soaring-trade-deficit">GOP Megadonor Ken Griffin Warns Trump Tariffs Are &#8216;Terrifying,&#8217; Says Government Is Picking &#8216;Winners And Losers&#8217; Amid Soaring Trade Deficit</a>
Why It Matters: At Lyft, Risher has applied this philosophy by personally identifying weaknesses in the company&#8217;s business model. &#8220;Every six weeks or so, I open my Lyft Driver app and hit the road,&#8221; he wrote in an April shareholder letter, noting this hands-on approach helps him understand driver experiences and customer frustrations.
Following rider complaints about surge pricing, Risher directed his team to increase driver supply and develop a feature allowing riders to lock in prices during frequent commute periods.
&#8220;By the end of 2024, we could see that these were the right investments when drivers chose us at record rates,&#8221; Risher wrote, attributing the company&#8217;s success to addressing shortcomings.
The strategy appears to be working. Lyft recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45309828/gary-black-says-lyft-is-worthy-of-increased-investment-following-q1-earnings-call">reported first-quarter of 2025 earnings</a> of 1 cent per share versus an expected 1-cent loss, with rides growing 16% year-over-year to 218.4 million. The company&#8217;s board also authorized an increased share repurchase program totaling $750 million.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve never met a great leader who isn&#8217;t curious about the details,&#8221; Risher noted, emphasizing that successful leadership requires diving into troubled areas rather than avoiding them.
Price Action: Lyft stock closed at $16.65 on Friday, up 28.08% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock inched up another 0.30% to $16.70. Year to date, Lyft shares have gained 21.98%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Lyft CEO Says He Learnt 'How To Compete' From Bill Gates And 'How To Obsess Over Customers' From Jeff Bezos —Now His Focus On Weaknesses Over Strengths Drives Record Rides, Earnings Beat, And 28% Stock Surge In Single Session

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has reportedly instructed workers on Model Y and Cybertruck production lines at its Austin factory to stay home during Memorial Day week, marking an unusually extended break as the automaker grapples with declining deliveries.
What Happened: Workers, who are paid hourly, were notified earlier this week that they could either use paid time off or report for cleaning and training duties, but wouldn&#8217;t work on production lines. Employees indicated production schedules have been increasingly inconsistent since February, with many sent home early multiple times, three employees <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-cybertruck-workers-stay-home-memorial-day-2025-5">told</a> Business Insider.
The production pause follows Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44607859/teslas-deliveries-slide-in-q1-amid-production-setbacks-political-backlash">first-quarter delivery decline</a> of 13% year-over-year and comes amid mounting inventory concerns. The company produced nearly 26,000 more vehicles than it delivered in the first quarter, despite already reducing production by approximately 100,000 units compared to the previous quarter.
Tesla did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45333895/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-warns-trump-tariffs-are-terrifying-says-government-is-picking-winners-and-losers-amid-soaring-trade-deficit">GOP Megadonor Ken Griffin Warns Trump Tariffs Are &#8216;Terrifying,&#8217; Says Government Is Picking &#8216;Winners And Losers&#8217; Amid Soaring Trade Deficit</a>
Why It Matters: &#8220;If the ship of America goes down, Tesla will go with it,&#8221; CEO Elon Musk warned <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45332420/if-the-ship-of-america-goes-down-tesla-will-go-with-it-elon-musk-says-hes-refocusing-on-tesla-after-71-profit-drop">during an April earnings call</a> after the company reported a 71% plunge in net income to $409 million. Tesla&#8217;s core automotive revenue tumbled 20% to $14 billion.
Cybertruck has faced particular challenges, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45216453/tesla-has-over-10000-units-of-unsold-cybertrucks-in-its-us-inventory-amid-poor-sales-report">reports suggesting over 10,000 units remain unsold</a>. The company has delivered fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks as of March, according to a voluntary recall notice.
The company has introduced discounts on the refreshed Model Y launched in January and released a cheaper variant this week as it attempts to stimulate demand.
Price Action: Tesla&#8217;s stock closed at $298.26 on Friday, up 4.72% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock rose slightly to $299.29, gaining an additional 0.35%. Year to date, Tesla shares are down 21.36%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45333766/ethereum-dogecoin-and-other-altcoins-may-erase-4-years-suffering-in-just-months-says-michael-van-de-poppe-amid-historic-bullish-divergence">Ethereum, Dogecoin And Other Altcoins May Erase &#8216;4 Years Suffering&#8217; In Just Months, Says Michael Van De Poppe Amid Historic Bullish Divergence</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

TSLA

Tesla Workers Told To Stay Home As Elon Musk's EV Giant Extends Memorial Day Break Following 13% Delivery Drop And Surging Inventory: Report

Citadel founder Ken Griffin is sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff policies, warning they have &#8220;unleashed an era of crony capitalism&#8221; where the government picks &#8220;winners and losers&#8221; in the economy.
What Happened: &#8220;Tariffs open the doors to crony capitalism,&#8221; Griffin <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/08/griffin-trump-tariffs-milken-wall-street-00335374">told</a> Politico at the Milken Institute&#8217;s Global Conference. &#8220;I thought that would play out over the course of years. It&#8217;s terrifying to watch this play out over the course of weeks.&#8221;
The hedge fund billionaire&#8217;s criticism reflects growing concerns among Wall Street executives that the escalating trade war could derail economic growth despite the administration&#8217;s promises of prosperity. His comments come as the U.S. grapples with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45317301/5-treasury-yields-could-force-trump-to-slash-tariffs-in-q2-says-bofas-hartnett">record $140 billion trade deficit in March</a>.
Griffin, a longtime GOP megadonor, expressed particular concern about the administration&#8217;s selective exemptions for certain industries. The dollar&#8217;s recent decline, he noted, will soon weaken American consumer purchasing power.
&#8220;Whether it&#8217;s a flat-screen TV or a new laptop, your dollar is just not going to go as far,&#8221; Griffin said. &#8220;This starts unfolding in the next couple weeks.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45330282/fed-stays-put-trump-touts-uk-trade-deal-bitcoin-booms-past-100k-stagflation-fears-rise-this-week-in-markets">Fed Stays Put, Trump Touts UK Trade Deal, Bitcoin Booms Past $100K, Stagflation Fears Rise: This Week In Markets</a>
Why It Matters: Bank of America&#8216;s chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett predicts tariffs may be reduced this quarter, warning that Treasury yields above 5% could jeopardize the deficit-financed growth strategy. JPMorgan Chase recently raised its recession odds to 60% from 40%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45317301/5-treasury-yields-could-force-trump-to-slash-tariffs-in-q2-says-bofas-hartnett">citing supply-chain disruptions</a>.
The impact is already being felt across sectors. Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley announced tariffs could cost the automaker $1.5 billion, forcing the company to withdraw its earnings guidance. Major ports report Chinese shipments have &#8220;essentially ceased,&#8221; with retailers facing five to seven weeks of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45217767/ford-ceo-jim-farley-says-trumps-tariffs-could-cost-ford-1-5-billion-pulls-its-earnings-guidance">inventory before shortages emerge</a>.
Despite these concerns, some Trump allies remain optimistic. Former presidential adviser Gary Cohn told Milken Conference attendees, &#8220;We&#8217;ve lived through depressions. We&#8217;ve lived through recessions&#8230; Every time, when we thought it was really bad, it got a lot better.&#8221;
For Griffin, who has previously criticized Trump, the risk is clear: &#8220;We all want to see the president succeed&#8230; There&#8217;s that fine line between constructive criticism and just being toxic.&#8221;
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45333766/ethereum-dogecoin-and-other-altcoins-may-erase-4-years-suffering-in-just-months-says-michael-van-de-poppe-amid-historic-bullish-divergence">Ethereum, Dogecoin And Other Altcoins May Erase &#8216;4 Years Suffering&#8217; In Just Months, Says Michael Van De Poppe Amid Historic Bullish Divergence</a></li>
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Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

GOP Megadonor Ken Griffin Warns Trump Tariffs Are 'Terrifying,' Says Government Is Picking 'Winners And Losers' Amid Soaring Trade Deficit

Cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe identified a potentially significant market signal Friday, noting that altcoins could be poised for a dramatic recovery against Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).
What Happened: &#8220;The bull market is the biggest reward of 4 years suffering. Within a window of a few months, your Altcoins can erase all the losses,&#8221; van de Poppe wrote on X. &#8220;The Altcoin market capitalization against Bitcoin is still massively bullish. The longest bullish divergence in history.&#8221;
The analyst&#8217;s comments come as Bitcoin trades near $103,023, with a market capitalization of approximately $2.04 trillion. 
Meanwhile, the CMC Altcoin Season Index currently sits at 39/100, firmly in &#8220;Bitcoin Season&#8221; territory, which indicates Bitcoin has outperformed most alternative cryptocurrencies over the past 90 days, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The bull market is the biggest reward of 4 years suffering. Within a window of a few months, your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a> can erase all the losses.
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1920963425586249940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoin</a> market capitalization against Bitcoin is still massively bullish. The longest bullish divergence in history. <a href="https://t.co/A03iDxMIrN">pic.twitter.com/A03iDxMIrN</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1920921463147594177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45330282/fed-stays-put-trump-touts-uk-trade-deal-bitcoin-booms-past-100k-stagflation-fears-rise-this-week-in-markets">Fed Stays Put, Trump Touts UK Trade Deal, Bitcoin Booms Past $100K, Stagflation Fears Rise: This Week In Markets</a>
Why It Matters: Van de Poppe emphasized that timing and positioning will be crucial for investors. &#8220;All I&#8217;ve learned from previous cycles is that if the markets start a rotation, it&#8217;s going to be a fast move on those Altcoins and you&#8217;ll be questioning yourself whether it&#8217;s a real or a fake move. That&#8217;s why I fancy being positioned early.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">All I&#39;ve learned from previous cycles is that IF the markets start a rotation, it&#39;s going to be a fast move on those <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Altcoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Altcoins</a> and you&#39;ll be questioning yourself whether it&#39;s a real or a fake move. That&#39;s why I fancy being positioned early.
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1920894034387890472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The CMC Altcoin Season Index, which tracks the performance of the top 100 altcoins relative to Bitcoin, currently shows divergent performance across the altcoin market. 
While some tokens like Four (FORM) have posted gains exceeding 480% over 90 days, many large-cap altcoins, including Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), have underperformed Bitcoin during this period.
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Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

$SOL

Ethereum, Dogecoin And Other Altcoins May Erase '4 Years Suffering' In Just Months, Says Michael Van De Poppe Amid Historic Bullish Divergence

Texas lawmakers have passed legislation that would significantly reduce small shareholders&#8217; influence over corporations, potentially offering companies like Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) a shield from legal challenges that have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44488029/tesla-teases-robotaxi-launch-in-texas-but-industry-veterans-question-safety-and-readiness-if-a-company-were-serious">plagued them in Delaware</a>.
What Happened: Two bills awaiting Governor Greg Abbott&#8216;s signature &#8211; Senate Bill 29 and Senate Bill 1057 &#8211; would make it harder for shareholders to sue companies and raise requirements for bringing resolutions at annual meetings, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-bills-big-business-wins-activist-investors-shareholders-2025-5">reported</a> Business Insider on Friday. Abbott has previously signaled support for SB 29.
&#8220;How can you have confidence in Delaware judges?&#8221; said Eric Lentell, Archer Aviation&#8216;s top lawyer, who testified in favor of SB 29, referencing a Delaware court&#8217;s decision to strike down CEO Elon Musk&#8216;s pay package at Tesla. &#8220;A shareholder vote was essentially ignored.&#8221;
Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Texas), who backed SB 1057, described the legislation as &#8220;Dexit,&#8221; highlighting the growing exodus of companies from Delaware. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45332474/a-38-year-old-father-shares-how-he-paid-388000-in-debt-after-listening-to-dave-ramsey-we-held-off-on-a-lot-of-big-purchases">A 38-Year-Old Father Shares How He Paid $388,000 In Debt After Listening To Dave Ramsey: &#8216;We Held Off On A Lot Of Big Purchases&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Tesla reincorporated in Texas following its Delaware court battle, while the New York Stock Exchange recently announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43768417/market-analysts-say-nyses-texas-expansion-a-direct-challenge-to-wall-streets-dominance">plans to establish NYSE Texas in Dallas</a>.
Chris Babcock, who helped draft SB 29, defended the legislation as balanced, saying it was shaped by &#8220;a wide array of businesses and experts,&#8221; according to the BI report. The bills have received support from AT&amp;T, Nasdaq, and the Texas Stock Exchange.
SB 29 would apply to major Texas-incorporated companies like Tesla and Southwest Airlines, while SB 1057 could affect businesses merely headquartered in the state, according to the BI report. Hughes said the legislation was partly inspired by hedge fund Engine No. 1&#8216;s successful campaign to reshape ExxonMobil&#8216;s board in 2021.
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

Tesla Poised To Gain As Texas Declares 'Dexit,' Passing Bills To Shield Companies From Shareholder Lawsuits After Elon Musk's Pay Battle

<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/google-texas-data-privacy-settlement-paxton.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/google-texas-data-privacy-settlement-paxton.html</a> &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Google agreed to pay nearly $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle allegations of violating the data privacy rights of the state's residents, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said.</li>
<li>Paxton sued Google in 2022 for allegedly unlawfully tracking and collecting the private data of users.</li>
<li>The attorney general in July 2024 obtained a $1.4 billion settlement for Texas from Meta to resolve claims of unauthorized use of biometric data belonging to Facebook and Instagram users.</li>
</ul>

GOOG

GOOGL

'Google Agrees To Pay Texas $1.4B Data Privacy Settlement' - CNBC

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

CYCCP

CYCC

argenx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARGX#NASDAQ">ARGX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 14.8% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 29.3%. Currently, argenx has a market capitalization of $34.79 billion. 
Buying $100 In ARGX: If an investor had bought $100 of ARGX stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $367.81 today based on a price of $569.76 for ARGX at the time of writing.
<h3>argenx's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746834313_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

ARGX

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

At just 21 years old, Ethan Thornton is rewriting the rules of modern warfare. He's the founder and CEO of Mach Industries, a fast-rising defense tech <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/05/45184304/palo-alto-networks-acquires-protect-ai-for-500m-a-startup-backed-by-salesforce-samsung-and-01-advisors-in-ai-security-push">startup</a> that's just secured $100 million in new funding, co-led by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/45027859/khosla-ventures-leads-16-2m-series-a-in-loti-ai-backed-by-wme-caa-to-shield-celebrities-from-deepfake-threats">Khosla Ventures</a> and Bedrock Capital, with continued support from Sequoia Capital. This brings Mach's total raised capital to around $185 million, and the company's valuation now hovers around $470 million, according to<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/rising-star-defense-tech-startup-mach-industries-is-raising-100-million-sources-say/"> TechCrunch</a>.
Thornton left MIT to focus on Mach full-time, TechCrunch reported, but the company&#8217;s origins trace back to his high school years, where he operated a wood and metal workshop to bootstrap initial prototypes.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mach Industries Created A New Class Of Military Manufacturing</h2>
The Huntington Beach, California-based startup is aiming to revolutionize both defense hardware and the way it's made. According to TechCrunch, rather than relying on traditional centralized weapons factories, Mach is building &#8220;Forge 1,&#8221; a 115,000-square-foot facility in Southern California designed to manufacture its most advanced products.
Forge 1 represents the first step in Mach&#8217;s broader vision to establish a network of decentralized micro-factories across the U.S. and internationally, each designed to manage the full production process from raw materials to final assembly, TechCrunch reports.
Trending: Donald Trump just announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure deal — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/seize-a-share-while-you-still-can-in-the-2-trillion-entertainment-market-with-elf-labs-at-just-2-25-share">here's how you can invest in the entertainment market's next big disruptor at $2.25 per share</a>.
This distributed approach is part of Thornton's vision to build a resilient national defense infrastructure, capable of withstanding geopolitical shocks and supply chain disruptions. "Instead of very centralized factories, we will build many, many smaller factories to actually have a survival defense industrial base," he told TechCrunch. The factories will be designed to take raw materials through final assembly.
According to a company<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mach-industries-global-manufacturing-network-forge-partners-with-hevendrones-302403813.html"> statement</a> on March 18, Mach entered into a partnership with Heven Drones, which will use Forge 1 to assemble and scale unmanned aerial systems.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Viper, Glide, And The Edge Of Space</h2>
Mach's product lineup includes Viper, a jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle that doesn&#8217;t require a runway and is up to 300 times cheaper to build than traditional drones. It also builds Glide, a weapon launched from near-space altitudes to increase strike range and reduce the chance of interception. The company claims it could potentially hit any target on Earth without being detected, TechCrunch reports.
Recently, Mach revealed it had been selected by the U.S. Army Applications Laboratory to develop Strategic Strike, a next-generation cruise missile with vertical takeoff capabilities. Initial flight tests have already passed, marking a major milestone in the company's path to building deployable battlefield systems, according to TechCrunch.
See Also: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary called Missing Ring his biggest mistake — Don't repeat history—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/big-tech-has-spent-billions-acquiring-ai-smart-home-startups-one-company-stands-to-benefit-and-has-already-made-10-million">invest in RYSE at just $1.90/share.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Teen Dream To Government Contract</h2>
Mach became a breakout name in defense circles after being Sequoia Capital's first-ever investment in the defense tech sector. The startup's $5.7 million seed round was led by Sequoia's Stephanie Zhan and Shaun Maguire in mid-2023,<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/sequoia-makes-first-defense-tech-investment-mach-industries-2023-06-15/"> Reuters</a> reports. According to<a href="https://techstartups.com/2023/10/05/defense-tech-startup-mach-industries-raises-79m-in-series-a-funding-at-335-million-valuation/"> Tech Startups</a>, that funding was followed in October 2023 by a $79 million Series A led by Bedrock Capital.
The most recent round adds Khosla Ventures to the cap table, with investor Keith Rabois leading the deal, TechCrunch reports. Even former Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) recruiter Peterson Conway, known for working with only the most promising startups, now counts Mach among his rare list of clients, TechCrunch writes.
With dozens of employees, a U.S. Army contract, and three groundbreaking products already underway, Mach Industries may be shaping up to become the blueprint for the future of American defense.
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Image: Shutterstock

MIT Dropout Ethan Thornton Secures $100M For Mach Industries, Backed By Sequoia And Khosla, To Revolutionize U.S. Defense Tech

Most financial transformations take more than a decade, especially if you are starting with debt. While a big pile of debt can feel intimidating, it can also give you the motivation to change your financial situation.
That's exactly what happened with a couple who has <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DaveRamsey/comments/1kab4ta/paid_off_the_house_today_debt_free_38_yo_388k/">paid off $388,000 in debt over 13 years</a>. The couple was sick of high-interest payments on their student loans and came across Dave Ramsey's audiobooks.&nbsp;
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</ul>
The Redditor detailed how he and his wife paid off the debt after listening to Ramsey's advice.
"We held off on a lot of big purchases," the Redditor explained while sharing other strategies that worked. The tactics the 38-year-old father used can help you get out of debt and build wealth.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Yard Sales For The Kids</h2>
Kids are one of the biggest expenses you have, right next to your house. While many parents view raising a family as a worthwhile endeavor, there are some ways you can save money.&nbsp;
The father explained that they went to yard sales to buy clothing, books, and toys for the kids. The family even created a side hustle around buying and reselling yard sale finds, which helped a lot.
Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>
You may have to pick up a side hustle to make ends meet. The family found a fun one that could involve everyone. Some people turn side hustles into their professions after earning enough money. However, others work side hustles for short bursts. You don't have to do a side hustle forever if you don't want to, but it can move you closer to your financial goals.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pay Off The Credit Card Every Month</h2>
Credit card debt derails many people on the path to wealth, so the couple was adamant about paying it off at the end of each month. That way, you get all of the benefits of a credit card without having to deal with high interest rates.
Not having credit card debt also makes it easier to cover other financial obligations. For instance, the couple recently paid off their entire house and don't have to worry about mortgage payments anymore. Now, they will have far more money to invest.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep A Monthly Journal Of Your Finances&nbsp;</h2>
The Redditor edited his post after receiving a bunch of comments to include an important detail. He recommended keeping a monthly journal of your finances and jotting down some notes.
This journal serves two benefits. The first advantage of a financial journal is that you can track your progress regularly. You can record entries at the end of each month or opt for a daily journal.&nbsp;
The second perk is that a financial journal allows you to document your progress. The couple revisits journal entries from previous years to see where they were and compare them to where they are now. It's easy to look at how far away you are from a goal, but journaling allows you to recognize how much you have accomplished. Then, it's easier to move toward the target.
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

A 38-Year-Old Father Shares How He Paid $388,000 In Debt After Listening To Dave Ramsey: 'We Held Off On A Lot Of Big Purchases'

Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 24.81% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 36.07%. Currently, Broadcom has a market capitalization of $978.01 billion. 
Buying $1000 In AVGO: If an investor had bought $1000 of AVGO stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $102,916.46 today based on a price of $208.00 for AVGO at the time of writing.
<h3>Broadcom's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746833413_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AVGO

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Broadcom Stock In The Last 15 Years

Most people — even those who love their jobs — probably wouldn't mind <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44481583/bill-gates-thinks-you-might-only-work-2-3-days-a-week-thanks-to-ai-but-also-says-legitimately-people-are-like-wow-this-is-a-bit-scary">shaving a few days off the workweek</a>. Turns out, neither would Bill Gates. Yes, that Bill Gates. The man who famously worked 16-hour days in his 20s, refused vacations, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43163664/bill-gates-memorized-license-plates-of-everybody-at-microsoft-then-checked-the-parking-lot-to-see-who-was-working-i-was-quite-fanatical">and practically lived at Microsoft</a>.
Now? He's saying less work might actually be better.
"It's probably OK," Gates said in November 2023 on <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGLDEODaMX-uh8ZqttiSoV1d30dm9C5Y_&amp;si=cFaTB8hYzE0q3hH0">Trevor Noah's "What Now?" podcast</a>. "If you eventually get a society where you only have to work three days a week or something, that's probably OK if the machines can make all the food and the stuff and we don't have to work as hard."
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The billionaire, who built his career on relentless work ethic and obsession with productivity, now envisions a future where artificial intelligence and automation take over essential tasks — leaving humans with more free time.
"If you zoom out, the purpose of life is not just to do jobs," Gates told Noah.
Of course, he's not calling for a mass resignation just yet. Gates pointed out that even with a shorter workweek, there will still be plenty of meaningful work to go around. "The demand for labor to do good things is still there if you match the skills to it," he said. "And then if you ever get beyond that, then, OK, you have a lot of leisure time and will have to figure out what to do with it."
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He also acknowledged that the shift won't happen overnight — or pain-free. Technological change can mean job loss. But, Gates noted, "If they come slow enough, they're generational." Historically, societies have adapted. For example, farming jobs declined gradually over many decades.
"It's all good," Gates added. "It's the aging society, it's OK because the software makes things more productive."
This isn't the first time Gates has painted a picture of a lighter workload thanks to technology. He's long predicted that AI will revolutionize productivity, healthcare, and even personal assistants that can help people manage daily life. But he's also warned that governments need to create "rules of the road" to ensure AI's benefits outweigh the risks.
This isn't just speculation. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that up to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/29/microsoft-ceo-says-up-to-30-of-the-companys-code-was-written-by-ai/">30% of the company's code</a> is now written by AI — and that number is climbing. And it's not just Big Tech: autonomous trucking companies like Aurora are already running driverless freight routes between Dallas and Houston, clocking over 1,200 miles without a human at the wheel.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>
While these innovations promise more efficiency, they also raise tough questions about jobs. A <a href="https://home.barclays/news/press-releases/2025/05/barclays-research-expects-ai-to-recast-global-supply-chains-and-/">Barclays study</a> found that AI isn't causing mass unemployment yet, but it is holding down pay growth in some industries. Gates acknowledged these risks, saying technological change needs to come at a reasonable pace and be backed by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/07/39619831/elon-musk-predicts-jobs-will-become-obsolete-but-he-foresees-a-high-universal-income-that-acts-as-an">government support so workers can adjust</a>.
Some countries are already testing what a lighter workload might look like. Iceland's shorter <a href="https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/business/resource/shortened-work-weeks-what-studies-show">workweek trials led to better well-being</a> and no drop in productivity. Belgium has also rolled out labor reforms letting workers compress their hours into a four-day week.
For now, the man who once couldn't imagine taking a day off seems surprisingly open to a future where most of us might only work three days a week. And, honestly? Most people probably wouldn't argue with that.
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Bill Gates Predicts 3-Day Workweeks — Says It's 'Probably OK' If 'Machines Can Make The Food And Stuff' Because There's More To Life Than Work

Faraday Future (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFAI#NASDAQ">FFAI</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(0.14) per share. This is a 99.47 percent increase over losses of $(26.23) per share from the same period last year. The company reported $316.00 thousand in sales this quarter. This is a 15.70K percent increase over sales of $2.00 thousand the same period last year.

Earnings

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. - Class A Common Stock

FFAI

Reported May 8, 2025: Faraday Future Q1 EPS $(0.14) Up From $(26.23) YoY, Sales $316.00K Up From $2.00K YoY

Guidewire Software (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWRE#NYSE">GWRE</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 5.35% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.62%. Currently, Guidewire Software has a market capitalization of $17.91 billion. 
Buying $100 In GWRE: If an investor had bought $100 of GWRE stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $411.90 today based on a price of $213.57 for GWRE at the time of writing.
<h3>Guidewire Software's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746832511_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

GWRE

$100 Invested In Guidewire Software 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

At 61, many people are daydreaming about what their retirement will look like — morning coffee in the garden, long vacations, or maybe learning how to pickle things just because they can.
Ruth and her husband? They're just hoping retirement is even an option.
"We're wondering if it's too late for us," Ruth told <a href="https://youtu.be/Cnf_QBYvVOc?si=76fDVZPMDJBUpk2q">Dave Ramsey on an episode of The Ramsey Show</a>. She's 61, her husband's 60. And despite earning $130,000 a year, they've only managed to save $75,000 in their 401(k).
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That's not the only number working against them. They owe $137,000 on their house, another $10,000 on a car loan, and a couple thousand more on credit cards and bills.
Ramsey didn't waste time cutting to the chase. "He makes way too much money for you all to be this broke," he said. Ruth's husband has already accepted his backup plan: work until he drops. Not exactly the dream.
And Ramsey had a pretty bleak — and honestly gross — take on where they were headed. "If you keep spending like you've been spending and stay disorganized like you have been, you're going to retire on dog food," he warned.
That wasn't just a figure of speech. Without major changes, Ruth and her husband could be trading retirement for working forever — or living on whatever's cheapest at the grocery store.
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But it's not hopeless. Ramsey laid out a brutal but doable plan: stop spending, kill the car and credit card debt, build a $15,000 emergency fund, invest 15% of their income, and throw everything else at the mortgage.
"You guys are going to have to get very, very serious today," Ramsey said.
No more vacations. No more eating out — "unless you're working there," Ramsey joked.
It's worth mentioning this call took place back in 2014, when retirement savings benchmarks were much lower. At that time, <a href="https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/18608-02-ExecSum.pdf">Fidelity reported</a> the average 401(k) balance was $91,300. So despite Ramsey's critical take, Ruth and her husband weren't quite the financial disaster he made them out to be. By 2014 standards — and considering wage levels back then — they were actually pretty much on par.
Of course, by today's standards, they'd be trailing badly. <a href="https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity--q4-2024-retirement-analysis--retirement-savers-achieve-positive-momentum-through-2024/s/bbd405d1-c640-4be9-9c7b-67a8fd38e2bb">Fidelity's 2025 report</a> shows the average balance for 60-64 year olds is $246,500.&nbsp;
If they stuck to the plan, Ramsey believed they could retire in seven to nine years with about $500,000 saved and no house payment.
That's a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset">future worth fighting for</a>. Because the alternative? Dog food.
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'Too Late To Retire?' 61-Year-Old Couple Has $75K In 401(k) Despite $130K Salary — Dave Ramsey Warns They'll 'Retire On Dog Food' At This Rate

Chardan Capital analyst Geulah Livshits maintains Rocket Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCKT#NASDAQ">RCKT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $54 to $45.

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Chardan Capital Maintains Buy on Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Lowers Price Target to $45

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