Short interest for ARK Innovation ETF gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of ARK Innovation ETF's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

ARK Innovation ETF (ARCA:ARKK), Short Interest Report

ARK Innovation ETF

January,12,,2024,,Brazil.,In,This,Photo,Illustration,,The,Palantir

Earnings

News

Movers

ARKF

ARKK

ARKQ

ARKX

PLTR

Palantir&#39;s first-quarter revenue increased 21% year-over-year to $634 million, beating the consensus estimate. However, the stock tumbled as investors reacted negatively to the company&#39;s light guidance for the second quarter and the full year. CNBC&#39;s Jim Cramer said he still believes Palantir is a strong company following the earnings report. &#34;I like that conference call very, very much,&#34; Cramer said. &#34;I say not to worry, that company is a good company to own right here, right now.&#34;

What&#39;s Going On With Palantir&#39;s Stock?

Cathie Wood chart2

Equities

Markets

ETFs

$BTC

ARKW

AVAV

COIN

DKNG

GLBE

RDDT

RKLB

SHOP

STNE

TWLO

TWOU

TWST

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest made some significant trades.

Cathie Wood&#39;s Ark Invest Purchases Over $30M of Shopify Shares Amid Q1 Numbers-Driven Plunge; Adds Reddit Shares To Kitty — Offloads Coinbase Stock As Bitcoin Declines

Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood

DDOG

On Tuesday, the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made some significant trades.

Cathie Wood&#39;s Ark Invest Swoops In To Buy The Palantir Dip — Purchases Stock Worth $29M — Offloads Coinbase Shares Worth Over $15M Amid Softening Bitcoin Price

Piper Sandler analyst Craig Johnson has predicted a period of consolidation in the markets as they approach all-time highs. He noted an uptick in staples, utilities, and financials.
What Happened: During CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Last Call&#8221; on Thursday, Johnson reflected upon the recent market activities. Dow Jones picked up gains for the seventh session in a row by picking up 331.37 points, S&amp;P 500 jumped over 5,000 in a month and Nasdaq continued its pace for the longest win streak in three months with 0.27% gain.
Johnson said, &#8220;For 2024, we are going to be in this high-level consolidation range&#8230;We think we&#8217;re going to be chopping around and consolidating around.&#8221;
&#8220;Because as we look into the internals of this market&#8230;we&#8217;re seeing a pick-up in staples. We&#8217;re seeing a pick-up in utilities. We&#8217;re seeing a pick-up in financials.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&quot;We think we&#39;re going to be chopping around and consolidating around,&quot; says <a href="https://twitter.com/Piper_Sandler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Piper_Sandler</a>&#39;s Craig Johnson as the markets near all-time highs. &quot;We&#39;re seeing a pick up in staples. We&#39;re seeing a pick up utilities. We&#39;re seeing a pick up in financials.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DJI&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DJI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24IXIC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$IXIC</a> <a href="https://t.co/PRBxGejksS">pic.twitter.com/PRBxGejksS</a>
&mdash; Last Call (@LastCallCNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LastCallCNBC/status/1788718388342063227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38660535/expert-slams-starbucks-ceos-response-to-falling-stock-performance-you-got-to-be-on-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Expert Slams Starbucks CEO&#8217;s Response To Falling Stock Performance: &#8216;You Got To Be On Drugs To Say Something</a>
Why It Matters: Johnson&#8217;s comments come as the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/05/38722510/investor-optimism-improves-dow-rises-for-6th-straight-session"> market recorded gains</a>. Despite this, the CNN Money Fear and Greed index remains in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone, indicating mixed market sentiment.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38738612/stocks-rebound-as-rising-jobless-claims-sustain-rate-cut-hopes-dollar-falls-gold-rallies-w">Wall Street has seen a day of gains</a>, with all major indices trading in the green.
This uptick is driven by a surprising increase in unemployment claims, which rose from 209,000 to 231,000 in the week ending May 4, surpassing market expectations. This has led to speculation over potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38720330/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-continue-to-slip-analyst-says-king-crypto-network-fundamentals-i?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Continue To Slip: Analyst Says King Crypto Network Fundamentals Indicate 300% Upside, Could Top Between $250K-$275K</a>
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General

Piper Sandler Predicts 'High-Level Consolidation' As Market Nears All-Time Highs: 'We're Seeing A Pick Up In Financials'

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) miners may heave a sigh of relief as the network experienced its largest negative difficulty adjustment since November 2022.&nbsp;
What Happened: The Bitcoin blockchain underwent its fourth negative difficulty adjustment for the year, according to CryptoQuant's Head of Research Julio Moreno, making it easier for the halving-battered sector to produce blocks and generate new Bitcoins.&nbsp;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Signs that the average <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> miner is under pressure after the halving: As revenue has declined sharply after the halving, Miners are currently underpaid by the most since March 2020, the COVID crash. As a result, hashrate has declined and the network experienced today its… <a href="https://t.co/2epPYR5bjq">pic.twitter.com/2epPYR5bjq</a>
&mdash; Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcmoreno/status/1788645540915261907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The mining difficulty is adjusted every 2.016 blocks, or roughly two weeks, to ensure block production time remains at 10 minutes. It is positively correlated with hash rate, the computational power dedicated by miners.
The latest 5.7% drop in difficulty comes as a likely response to the 10% decline in the 7-day moving average of the hash rate from 655 EH/s on the halving day to 586 EH/s as of May 10, <a href="https://data.hashrateindex.com/network-data/btc">according</a> to Hash Rate Index.&nbsp;
Why It Matters: The quadrennial halving that slashed block rewards, severely impacted miners' revenue streams. CryptoQuant's Moreno noted, "As revenue has declined sharply after the halving, Miners are currently underpaid by the most since March 2020, the COVID crash."&nbsp;
The loss in earnings prompted many participants, particularly those operating on a small scale, to turn off their machines and abandon the market. This caused a hash rate decline and subsequently led to a negative difficulty adjustment.
The sentiment was echoed by Luxor mining pool CEO Nick Hansen who reportedly told <a href="https://decrypt.co/230133/bitcoin-mining-difficulty-plummeting-why">Decrypt</a>, "If there isn't enough margin for miners to make a profit, they turn off, which causes the hash rate to go down.&#8221;
That said, CEO of mining firm Optiminer Scott Noris pointed out that this bodes well for the sector&#8217;s future growth. "The miners who planned properly will grow or the ones who turned off will get newer tech and find cheaper energy while everyone waits for the price to reflect the halving," he told Decrypt.
With difficulty lowered and competition lessened, mining costs could decrease, providing temporary relief for the sector.
Miners earn the majority of their revenues through fixed subsidies from every block produced. Halvings attack this very component severely, as each occurrence reduced rewards by 50%.&nbsp;
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading up 2.81% at $62919.46, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38741679/joseph-lubin-accuses-sec-of-stifling-crypto-growth-amid-legal-showdown">Joseph Lubin Accuses SEC Of Stifling Crypto Growth Amid Legal Showdown</a>
Photo by Gaston Cerliani on Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

Media

Bitcoin Is Getting Less Difficult To Mine After Halving — But Is That A Good Or Bad Sign?

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>), has accused President Joe Biden of actively working to stifle the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and cryptocurrency industry in the United States.
What Happened: Hoskinson, in a video posted on social media platform X on Thursday, criticized the Biden administration for its alleged efforts to &#8220;destroy the American cryptocurrency industry,&#8221; <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/president-joe-biden-trying-kill-crypto-says-cardano-founder">reported</a> Cointelegraph.
The Cardano founder pointed out that the U.S. government has been detrimental to the crypto industry through various means, including restricted access to bank accounts and the Securities and Exchange Commission&#8217;s policy of regulation by enforcement. He also criticized the White House for obstructing the legislative process.
"A vote for Biden is a vote against the American cryptocurrency industry," Hoskinson said.
Hoskinson&#8217;s comments were in response to a statement from the White House, indicating that President Biden would veto legislation aimed at overturning SEC guidelines that discourage banks from holding crypto assets.
"The [Trump] administration had its issues but mostly ignored our industry. The Biden administration has engaged in a coordinated effort to kill crypto," Hoskinson said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Biden and Crypto <a href="https://t.co/P06encxBEv">https://t.co/P06encxBEv</a>
&mdash; Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) <a href="https://twitter.com/IOHK_Charles/status/1788294144181543383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38661166/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-dip-after-robinhood-gets-wells-notice-from-sec-analyst-says-eths?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Dip After Robinhood Gets Wells Notice From SEC — Analyst Says ETHs Weak Fundamentals A &#8216;Roadblock&#8217; For King Crypto</a>
He also criticized the SEC for using outdated legislation that he believes should not apply to new and emerging asset classes. Hoskinson cited other countries such as Switzerland, Singapore, and Dubai, which have welcomed crypto companies and reaped the benefits of substantial investments.
Notably, Hoskinson&#8217;s comments were challenged by a Twitter user who pointed out that the Trump administration had also been unsupportive of crypto. Hoskinson, however, stood by his claims, asserting that the Biden administration&#8217;s stance was &#8220;completely wrong.&#8221;
Why It Matters: The Biden administration&#8217;s approach to cryptocurrency has been a subject of debate and scrutiny. The House of Representatives recently voted in favor of a resolution seeking to overturn a controversial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38733156/house-challenges-sec-over-crypto-custody-rules-biden-vows-blockade">SEC cryptocurrency accounting directive</a>, indicating a growing divide between legislative preferences and executive defense of regulatory measures.
Earlier in March, a poll revealed that former President Donald Trump was the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/37724562/trump-or-biden-new-poll-reveals-which-2024-candidate-voters-with-crypto-holdings-surprisin">top choice for U.S. voters</a> who own cryptocurrencies. This indicates a potential shift in voter sentiment towards the Biden administration&#8217;s handling of the crypto industry.
On the other hand, Trump has recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38736514/donald-trump-says-you-better-vote-for-him-if-youre-pro-crypto-but-has-he-always-been-fine-">publicly endorsed cryptocurrency</a>, positioning it as a significant election issue, which contrasts with President Biden&#8217;s perceived unfamiliarity with the crypto world.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38723503/trump-pledges-to-make-sure-you-can-donate-using-crypto-to-his-2024-campaign-unwittingly-se?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Pledges To &#8216;Make Sure You Can&#8217; Donate Using Crypto To His 2024 Campaign — Unwittingly Sends Memecoin Parodying Biden Surging</a>
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Engineered by Benzinga Neuro, Edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>
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Politics

Global

$ADA

Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson Says Voting For Biden Is A 'Vote Against American Crypto Industry'

Apple Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) first-generation mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro, continues to gain popularity among surgeons in India, with over 30 &#8220;keyhole&#8221; surgeries performed using the device.
What Happened: Even Before Apple Vision Pro became available to users, some doctors, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36732169/apple-vision-pro-for-healthcare-surgeon-thinks-it-can-give-superpowers-to-doctors-i-am-excited">especially surgeons were enthusiastic</a> about the device&#8217;s applications in healthcare. Now it appears surgeons in India have widely adopted the headset for performing precise laparoscopic surgeries. 
At Chennai&#8217;s GEM Hospital, surgeons are employing the headset for laparoscopic surgeries, commonly referred to as &#8220;Keyhole&#8221; surgeries. Vision Pro has been used in over 30 procedures to date. Its applications have extended to treating conditions such as gall bladder problems, stomach cancer, fistulas, and hernias, <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/09/more-doctors-are-embracing-apple-vision-pro-for-precision-keyhole-surgeries">reported</a> AppleInsider, citing FirstPost.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38660790/is-apple-back-in-the-ev-game-tech-giant-reportedly-eyes-rivian-partnership?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is Apple Back In The EV Game? Tech Giant Reportedly Eyes Rivian Partnership</a>
Dr. R. Parthasarathy, the COO and surgical gastroenterologist at GEM Hospital in Chennai, has been a strong advocate for the Apple Vision Pro. &#8220;There is no delay in transmission,&#8221; he told&nbsp;The Hindu. &#8220;I had a better vision and was connected to the real world.&#8221;
&#8220;In addition, if I want to view a CT scan, I can simultaneously see it in the device itself. It will display the scan adjacent to the surgery screen,&#8221; he added. This aids in preventing the surgeon from needing to turn their head to view various monitors, a potential disruption to the surgical procedure. 
Dr. Parthasarathy also noted that the headset allows for easy communication with other medical professionals, enabling second opinions during surgeries. 
Indian markets are posting record gains as the emerging economy charts its &#8216;growth story.&#8217; Subscribe to the weekly <a href="https://share.hsforms.com/1K1H7Kd0aRhmSdDIuxTAkxg1npzh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">India markets newsletter</a> to stay ahead of the curve.
Why It Matters: The&nbsp;Apple Vision Pro has been&nbsp;making waves in the medical community since its launch. In January,&nbsp;Dr. Rafael Grossmann, a pioneer in introducing Google Glass to the operating room, expressed excitement about the potential of the Apple Vision Pro in healthcare. 
He believed that the device could give doctors &#8220;superpowers&#8221; by providing data without the need for a nearby display.
Apple&#8217;s headset has previously&nbsp;been used in surgeries in&nbsp;Brazil, the U.S., and the U.K., where it replaced the HoloLens 2 for one surgeon, the report noted. 
Meanwhile, Vision Pro has also been making strides in other areas. Earlier this year, it was reported that the device could soon&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37926450/apple-vision-pro-could-soon-support-apple-pencil-allowing-air-drawing-to-become-reality">support the Apple Pencil</a>, allowing for air drawing. Additionally, Apple announced plans to launch the Vision Pro headset in China within the year, marking its entry into the virtual and augmented reality headset market.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38635874/elon-musk-is-astonished-by-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-amassing-as-much-cash-as-tesla-ceo?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Is Astonished By Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway Amassing As Much Cash As Tesla CEO&#8217;s Wealth: &#8216;Wow&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Health Care

Tech

AAPL

Apple's Vision Pro Headset Becomes Surgeons' Tool Of Choice For 'Keyhole' Surgeries

Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/05/38680360/apples-secret-project-and-bold-move-towards-in-house-ai-chips-could-this-be-a-threat-to-nvidia">developing in-house artificial intelligence chips</a> even as it charts out plans to make a big splash in the AI arena, multiple media reports suggested recently. Against the backdrop, a bullish analyst weighed in on what this could mean for the tech giant.
Another Breadcrumb: &#8220;Cupertino [is] ready to play chess on AI..while others [are] playing checkers,&#8221; said Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives in a note. Apple&#8217;s rumored plan to put some of its most advanced high-end chips in data centers and use them to process its more advanced AI-based services was another breadcrumb, heading into the company&#8217;s annual World Wide Developers Conference, the analyst said.
&#8220;Apple is not going to be driving 45 MPH in the right lane when it comes to its AI strategy set to be unveiled at WWDC in June and will be riding in the left lane at 80 MPH,&#8221; Ives said. The company would be looking to monetize AI on the Services front, with developers the linchpin to this strategy, he said. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-artificial-intelligence-stocks">Best Artificial Intelligence Stocks</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: Apple&#8217;s intent to use its advanced homegrown chips around AI gives the company more control over its AI plan, the Wedbush analyst said. He expects the company to build out a broader chip ecosystem for its AI strategy.
&#8220;In this AI Revolution [Tim] Cook and Apple are much further down the path of its own proprietary AI LLMs and technology than the Street expects in our view and this move is another tipping of the hand heading into what could be the biggest unveil event for Cook and Cupertino in roughly a decade,&#8221; Ives said.
What To Expect At WWDC: At the conclave of developers kickstarting on June 10, Apple will likely unveil its &#8220;long-awaited&#8221; AI strategy to its &#8220;golden installed base&#8221; and developer community, Ives said. The analyst expects an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38701300/apples-new-m4-ipads-more-powerful-than-any-ai-pc-today-set-to-boost-sales">AI-driven super-cycle, starting with the iPad lineup, </a>launched this week, and continuing through the AI-powered iPhone 16 this fall.
Ives also sees the launch of an AI App Store, which would be the foundational starting point for developers and AI apps over the coming years. Tapping into the 2.2 billion iOS devices worldwide along with an iPhone 16 model that will break new ground in AI and begin this next supercycle at Apple, he added.
Ives has an Outperform rating and a $250 price target for Apple.
Apple ended Thursday&#8217;s session up 1% at $184.57, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38661417/apple-will-pursue-aggressive-and-no-holds-barred-strategy-around-ai-says-bullish-an">Apple Will Pursue &#8216;Aggressive And No Holds Barred Strategy Around AI,&#8217; Says Bullish Analyst: &#8216;Worst Is In Rearview Mirror&#8217;</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Apple Analyst Says Rumors Of In-House AI Chip 'Another Breadcrumb' Ahead Of WWDC: 'Cupertino Ready To Play Chess...While Others Playing Checkers'

Financial Framework
Novavax is updating its Full Year 2024 Financial&nbsp;Guidance&nbsp;and expects to achieve the following objectives:
Full Year 2024&nbsp;Guidance
<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$ in millions
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Prior
(as of February 28, 2024)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Updated
(as of May 10, 2024)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Combined Revenue and Sanofi Agreement Payments
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$800&nbsp;-&nbsp;$1,000
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$970&nbsp;-&nbsp;$1,170
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total Revenue1,2
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$800&nbsp;-&nbsp;$1,000
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$400&nbsp;-&nbsp;$600
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Initial Sanofi Agreement Payments3
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
			&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
~$570
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
			&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
			&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
			&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Combined R&amp;D and SG&amp;A
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$700&nbsp;-&nbsp;$800
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$700&nbsp;-&nbsp;$750
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Guidance

NVAX

Novavax Updates 2024 Guidance: Expects Combined Revenue And Sanofi Agreement Payments Of $970M-$1.17B (Prior $800M-$1B); And Combined R&D And SG&A Of $700M-$750M (Prior $700M-$800M)

Construction Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROAD#NASDAQ">ROAD</a>) is expected to release earnings results for its second quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/road/earnings">opening bell on May 10</a>.
Analysts expect the Dothan, Alabama-based company to report a quarterly loss at 4 cents per share, versus a year-ago loss of 11 cents per share. Construction Partners is projected to report quarterly revenue of $366.05 million, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Construction Partners recently said it has acquired the asphalt manufacturing and construction operations of Sunbelt Asphalt Surfaces, Inc., headquartered in Auburn, Georgia.
Construction Partners shares rose 2.1% to close at $53.81 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ROAD/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Stifel analyst Stanley Elliott maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $51 to $57 on Feb. 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
<li>Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral and increased the price target from $46 to $50 on Feb. 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
<li>Raymond James analyst Patrick Tyler Brown maintained a Strong Buy rating and boosted the price target from $45 to $49 on Dec. 1, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38730657/jim-cramer-says-buy-this-tech-stock-right-here-likes-cognex">Jim Cramer Says Buy This Tech Stock Right Here, Likes Cognex</a>

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Trading Ideas

ROAD

Construction Partners Gears Up For Q2 Print; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

Novavax (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(1.05) per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $(1.06) by 0.94 percent. This is a 69.21 percent increase over losses of $(3.41) per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $93.855 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $101.160 million by 7.22 percent. This is a 15.94 percent increase over sales of $80.951 million the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

Novavax Q1 2024 GAAP EPS $(1.05) Beats $(1.06) Estimate, Sales $93.855M Miss $101.160M Estimate

<ul>
<li>Agreement provides individuals with broader access to a protein-based non-mRNA adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine through combined commercial strength, from 2025 onwards</li>
<li>Provides Novavax with cash and an equity investment totalling approximately&nbsp;$1.2 billion&nbsp;(upfront payment of&nbsp;$500 million&nbsp;and up to&nbsp;$700 million&nbsp;in additional development, regulatory and launch milestones), plus tiered royalties</li>
<li>Novavax is entitled to additional launch and sales milestone opportunities of up to&nbsp;$200 million, plus mid-single digit royalties, for each additional Sanofi vaccine product developed under a non-exclusive license with Novavax&#39;s Matrix-M&trade; adjuvant technology</li>
<li>Accelerates potential for development of a novel COVID-19-Influenza combination product based on authorized vaccines with demonstrated efficacy and tolerability, potentially offering individuals enhanced convenience and protection</li>
</ul>

Novavax And Sanofi Enter Co-Exclusive Licensing Agreement To Co-Commercialize COVID-19 Vaccine And Develop Novel COVID-19-Influenza Combination Vaccines

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCN#NYSE">DOCN</a>) is set to release earnings results for its first quarter before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DOCN/earnings">opening bell on May 10, 2024.</a>
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at 38 cents per share, up from 28 cents per share in the year-ago period. DigitalOcean is projected to report quarterly revenue of $182.58 million, compared to $165.13 million a year ago, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
DigitalOcean replaced Agiliti Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGTI#NYSE">AGTI</a>) in the S&amp;P SmallCap 600 on Tuesday, May 7.
DigitalOcean shares fell 3.2% to close at $32.58 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings </a>page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DOCN/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>JMP Securities analyst Patrick Walravens reiterated a Market Outperform rating with a price target of $47 on March 21. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst James Fish maintained a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $35 to $38 on Feb. 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer analyst Timothy Horan maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $37 to $46 on Feb. 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $37 to $43 on Jan. 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity analyst Kingsley Crane maintained a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $52 to $33 on Oct. 31. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38730657/jim-cramer-says-buy-this-tech-stock-right-here-likes-cognex">Jim Cramer Says Buy This Tech Stock Right Here, Likes Cognex</a>

AGTI

DOCN

DigitalOcean Likely To Report Higher Q1 Earnings; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

The UK has successfully navigated its way out of a recession, with the gross domestic product expanding by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to official figures released on Friday.
What Happened: The Office for National Statistics <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/gdpfirstquarterlyestimateuk/latest">revealed</a> that the UK&#8217;s GDP grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2024, marking the end of a mild recession that began in the second half of 2023. The UK&#8217;s production sector saw an expansion of 0.8% during this period, while construction experienced a 0.9% decline.
On a monthly basis, the economy grew by 0.4% in March, following a 0.2% expansion in February. The Bank of England&#8217;s Monetary Policy Committee has kept its main interest rate at 5.25% due to elevated indicators of persistent inflation.
Renowned economist Mohamed A. El-Erian, Chief Advisor at Allianz, emphasized the need for sustainable growth in light of the UK&#8217;s exit from the technical recession. He stated, &#8220;The UK is no longer in a technical recession. GDP grew by 0.6% in the first quarter, exiting the mild July-December contraction. Having said that, the economy's growth dynamics remain too timid — this after what already has been too long a period of growth that is insufficiently robust and insufficiently inclusive/sustainable.&#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">The UK is no longer in a technical recession. GDP grew by 0.6% in the first quarter, exiting the mild July-December contraction. Having said that, the economy's growth dynamics remain too timid — this after what already has been too long a period of growth that is insufficiently…
&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1788813041078882565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2024</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/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38690365/pro-bitcoin-president-javier-mileis-argentina-introduces-10-000-peso-notes-as-it-combats-h?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro-Bitcoin President Javier Milei&#8217;s Argentina Introduces 10,000-Peso Notes As It Combats Hyperinflation,</a>
Why It Matters: The UK&#8217;s exit from recession comes at a time when global economic concerns are on the rise. In the U.S., for instance, there are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38109673/top-economist-flags-warning-signs-of-possible-recession-in-us-economy-it-certainly-">warning signs</a> of a possible recession, with the Economic Cycle Research Institute&#8217;s Leading Economic Index showing a downward trend. This has raised concerns about the vulnerability of the U.S. economy to shocks.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve&#8217;s potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38720656/feds-rate-cut-could-trigger-stock-market-melt-up-warns-investment-strategist">monetary easing through interest rate cuts</a> could lead to a stock market &#8220;melt-up,&#8221; potentially propelling the S&amp;P 500 to record highs by the year&#8217;s end, according to investment strategist Ed Yardeni.
Earlier in the year, a survey revealed that only 25% of experts predict a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37063210/only-25-of-experts-predict-us-recession-in-2024-china-conflict-and-external-factors-pose-risk-survey">U.S. recession in 2024</a>, with potential triggers being external factors such as a conflict involving China, rather than domestic economic issues like increased interest rates.
Before the UK&#8217;s recent GDP growth, the country&#8217;s economy had officially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37976434/economic-downturn-hits-uk-as-2023-growth-plummets-to-0-1-setting-stage-for-pm-sunaks-pre-election-st">entered a recession</a>, raising concerns for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he prepared for an upcoming election.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38698967/wise-indeed-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-concurs-as-billionaire-investor-stanley-druckenmill?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Wise Indeed:&#8217; Tesla CEO Elon Musk Concurs As Billionaire Investor Stanley Druckenmiller Gives Bidenomics</a>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Economics

UK's Economy Exits Recession With 0.6% GDP Growth: El-Erian Calls For Sustainable Growth

Runway Growth Finance Corp&nbsp;announced the pricing of the previously announced underwritten secondary offering of 3,750,000 shares of its common stock by OCM Growth Holdings LLC (the &quot;Selling Stockholder&quot;), pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &quot;SEC&quot;), at a public offering price of&nbsp;$11.50&nbsp;per share.&nbsp;

RWAY

Reported Earlier, Runway Growth Finance Prices Secondary Offering Of 3.75M Common Stock By Selling Stockholder At $11.50/Share

As part of this transaction, GeoPark will obtain immediate access to committed funding from Vitol for up to&nbsp;$300 million, with an option to increase by another&nbsp;$200 million&nbsp;for a total of&nbsp;$500 million, in prepaid future oil sales over the period of the offtake contract. Funds committed by Vitol will be made available until June 30, 2025, subject to certain conditions. Amounts drawn on this prepayment facility can be repaid through future oil deliveries or prepaid at any time without penalty. The interest cost is based on a SOFR risk-free rate plus a margin of&nbsp;3.75%&nbsp;per annum.

GPRK

GeoPark Inks New Offtake Agreement With Vitol For The Llanos 34 Block In Colombia

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects DNOW Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNOW#NYSE">DNOW</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 23 cents per share on revenue of $569.15 million before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. DNOW shares rose 0.9% to $15.00 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Array Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARRY#NASDAQ">ARRY</a>) reported stronger-than-expected financial results for the first quarter on Thursday. The company posted adjusted earnings of 6 cents per share, versus market expectations for a loss of 3 cents per share. Array Technologies shares 9.5% to $13.70 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts are expecting Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#NYSE">ENB</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 60 cents per share on revenue of $8.95 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. Enbridge shares gained 0.4% to $37.50 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Funko, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNKO#NASDAQ">FNKO</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and issued strong earnings forecast for the second quarter. The company also appointed Cynthia Williams as its Chief Executive Officer, effective May 20. Funko shares jumped 12.2% to $7.65 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>) to post quarterly earnings at 54 cents per share on revenue of $943.44 million after the closing bell. Hawaiian Electric shares rose 1.7% to $10.41 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38730657/jim-cramer-says-buy-this-tech-stock-right-here-likes-cognex">Jim Cramer Says Buy This Tech Stock Right Here, Likes Cognex</a>

ARRY

DNOW

FNKO

Enbridge, Funko And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, but the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones index recording gains for the seventh straight session.
Roblox Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) posted better-than-expected first-quarter financial results, but issued weak guidance. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>) shares dipped around 7% on Thursday after the company reported first-quarter financial results.
On the economic data front, U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 22,000 to 231,000 on the week ending May 4, higher than market estimates of 210,000.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, real estate and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Thursday. However, information technology stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 331 points to 39,387.76 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.51% at 5,214.08, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.27% at 16,346.26 during Thursday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>), Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#NYSE">ENB</a>), and DNOW Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNOW#NYSE">DNOW</a>) today.
At a current reading of 44.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 42.8.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38730657/jim-cramer-says-buy-this-tech-stock-right-here-likes-cognex">Jim Cramer Says Buy This Tech Stock Right Here, Likes Cognex</a>

ABNB

RBLX

Investor Sentiment Improves Further, Dow Jumps Over 300 Points

Buybacks

CRH And HSBC Collaborate On Strategic $300M Share Buyback, Aiming To Reduce Share Capital

Afya (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFYA#NASDAQ">AFYA</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.55 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.45 by 22.22 percent. This is a 61.76 percent increase over earnings of $0.34 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $162.47 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $156.68 million by 3.70 percent. This is a 18.90 percent increase over sales of $136.65 million the same period last year.

AFYA

Afya Q1 EPS $0.55 Beats $0.45 Estimate, Sales $162.47M Beat $156.68M Estimate

Customers in the U.S. looking to buy a 7-seat <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628520/tesla-launches-model-y-rwd-variant-that-can-go-upto-320-miles-on-a-single-charge-elon-musk-promises">Tesla Model Y </a>can now get it for $1000 cheaper, given they are willing to forgo their color preferences. 
What Happened: The Model Y long-range all-wheel drive version can house either five or seven individuals. While the five-seat interior is included in the price of the vehicles, customers looking for seven-seat interiors, which includes a third-row seating for two, will have to pay an additional charge.
The long-range all-wheel drive version of the Model Y starts at $47,990 and opting for the seven-seat interior will add an additional $1000- $2000, depending on customer color preferences. 
While the all-black seven-seat interior is priced at $2000 on stealth grey Model Ys, customers can get $1000 off on opting for black and white mixed interiors. 
Stealth Grey is the only exterior paint option that is included in the starting price of the Model Y. For all other paint options, customers have to pay a premium ranging from $1000- $2000.
Why It Matters: The Model Y is Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36840882/its-official-teslas-model-y-rewrites-history-as-first-ev-to-top-global-car-sales-just-as-musk-predic">best-selling vehicle </a>starting at $44,990 for the base version. However, all versions of the car are eligible for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit, taking the effective price for eligible customers significantly lower. 
According to data from automotive research company&nbsp;Kelley Blue Book, Tesla saw its Model Y sales rise 1.4% to 96,729 units in the U.S. in the first quarter. Model 3, S, and X, however, all saw their sales dip between 13.3% and 43.9%. 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38723715/lucid-dedicated-to-ev-efficiency-even-as-it-races-to-make-cheaper-high-volume-models-to-trim-losses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Lucid Dedicated To EV Efficiency Even As It Races To Make Cheaper, High-Volume Models To Trim Losses: CEO Peter Rawlinson</a>
Photo by The Bold Bureau on Shutterstock

TSLA

You Can Now Save $1,000 On Your 7-Seat Tesla Model Y, But There's A Small Catch

President Joe Biden has established a substantial lead over his presumptive opponent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state, according to an opinion poll released on Wednesday.
Head-to-Head Matchup: In a head-to-head matchup, Biden secured the support of 50% of the respondents, while Trump received a more modest 44% support, as per the Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters. The remaining 6% either indicated they wouldn&#8217;t vote, were undecided, would vote for someone else, or refused to disclose their preference.
The poll gathered responses from 1,457 self-identified registered voters in Wisconsin between May 2-6, with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.
Party-wise Breakdown: Among Democrats, Biden enjoyed 97% support, while among independents, he secured 50% support. Conversely, Trump garnered 95% of Republican votes, with 43% support from independents.
Five-Way Race: When independent candidates Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, as well as Green Party candidate Jill Stein, were included on the ballot, the dynamics shifted:
<ul>
<li>Biden: 40%</li>
<li>Trump: 39%</li>
<li>Kennedy: 12%</li>
<li>Stein: 4%</li>
<li>West: 1%</li>
</ul>
Eighty percent of Biden&#8217;s supporters in a two-way race remained loyal to him in the five-way race, while 11% shifted to Kennedy, 7% to Stein, and 2% to West. Trump&#8217;s support was less affected by the expanded ballot, with 87% of his initial supporters sticking with him. Only 10% switched to Kennedy, and 1% each to West and Stein.
&#8220;While the modest lead for Biden in the head-to-head will certainly resonate with his base, when all the candidates are thrown into the mix the race between Biden and Trump is basically a tie,&#8221; said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38724294/biden-says-hes-already-turned-economy-around-blames-corporate-greed-for-persistently-high-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden Says He&#8217;s Already Turned Economy Around, Blames &#8216;Corporate Greed&#8217; For Persistently High Inflation: &#8216;We&#8217;ve Got To Deal With It&#8217;</a>
Trump Over Biden in Key Issues: Despite Biden&#8217;s lead, most Wisconsin voters view his predecessor as better suited to handle key issues:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Issue</th>
<th>Biden</th>
<th>Trump</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Abortion</td>
<td>54%</td>
<td>36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Preservation of Democracy</td>
<td>51%</td>
<td>42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>International Conflicts</td>
<td>48%</td>
<td>47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Response to Israel-Hamas War</td>
<td>45%</td>
<td>43%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Economy</td>
<td>52%</td>
<td>44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Immigration</td>
<td>51%</td>
<td>43%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Regarding the ongoing issue of protests on college and university campuses, 50% opposed it, 38% supported it, and 11% did not offer an opinion.
When asked to prioritize the most urgent issue facing the country from a list of 10 options, 24% mentioned the economy, while 20% each chose immigration and preserving democracy.
A majority of voters (65%) rated the nation&#8217;s economy as either &#8220;not-so-good&#8221; or &#8220;poor.&#8221; Forty-nine percent believed the economy was worsening, while 30% felt it remained the same, and 20% believed it was improving.
However, respondents were more positive about their personal financial situations, with 65% describing them as either &#8220;excellent&#8221; or &#8220;good.&#8221; Despite this optimism, 61% of voters expressed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38634229/the-vanishing-american-dream-inflation-hits-even-six-figure-earners-and-threatens-middle-class-stabi">concerns about inflation</a>, stating that their income was not keeping up with the cost of living.
In a notable trend favoring Trump, 47% of voters reported being worse off financially in 2024 compared to 2020, while 41% claimed they were better off, and 10% reported no change.
Forty-nine percent of respondents expressed opposition to Biden&#8217;s student loan cancellation proposal.
Biden&#8217;s job approval rating was a modest 39%, with a majority (58%) disapproving of his performance as president.
These results hold significance as Wisconsin is one of the seven swing states in the current presidential election cycle. Swing states, which have swung between Republicans and Democrats in recent years, are crucial battlegrounds where candidates focus their campaign efforts to gain an advantage. The outcome in these states could be pivotal in what is anticipated to be a closely contested election.
Wisconsin, previously considered a &#8220;blue-belt state,&#8221; shifted to Trump in the 2016 election before returning to the Democrats in 2020, reclaiming its status as a swing state.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-startups">How To Invest In Startups</a>
Image made using photos on Shutterstock

Biden Vs. Trump: Key Swing State Voters Give Big Lead To One Candidate, Despite Ranking Him Down On Critical Election Issues

<table cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
2024&nbsp;Guidance
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
(in $ billions, except per share data)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Low
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
High
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Net income (i)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
3.55
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
3.80
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Adjusted EBITDA&#x2A;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
6.55
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
6.85
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
EPS (i)
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$5.15
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
$5.45
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
Capital expenditure
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
2.2
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
2.4
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
&nbsp;
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" rowspan="1">
(i) 2024 Net income and EPS are based on approximately&nbsp;$0.4 billion&nbsp;interest expense, net, effective tax rate of approximately&nbsp;23%&nbsp;and a year-to-date average of approximately 690 million of common shares outstanding.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

CRH 2024 Outlook: Expects EPS Of $5.15-$5.45 Vs $5.4 Est, And Adjusted EBITDA Of $6.55B-$6.85B

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<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
At the end of April, Bloomberg reported that C6, a Brazilian digital bank backed by JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/jpm-stock-quote/">JPM</a>), delivered its <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-29/jpmorgan-backed-digital-bank-c6-posts-first-quarterly-profit?srnd=homepage-canada">first quarterly profit</a> in the first quarter of 2024. While it&rsquo;s not a public company yet, there are digital <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/financial/bank/">bank stocks</a> to buy that are.



While JPM <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/jpmorgan-increases-stake-brazilian-digital-bank-c6-46-2023-08-29/">owns</a> 46% of the company, there are no plans for it to go public. It likes to remain out of the sight of public investors.



Digital banking is big and sure to get even bigger in the years ahead. According to the American Bankers Association, <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/banking/digital-banking-trends-and-statistics/">71%</a> of consumers prefer to manage their banking through a mobile app or computer.&nbsp;



Who are the digital bank stocks to buy now? Here are three choices for you to choose from.



<h2>SoFi Technologies (SOFI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/sofi1600-3-300x169.png" alt="SoFi logo sign on headquarters facade. Social Finance is an online personal finance company."><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sofi-stock-quote/">SOFI</a>) stock can&rsquo;t return to double digits. The last time it consistently did so was in 2021.&nbsp;



It tries, and it tries, and it tries, but every time it gets close, investors knock it back down into the mid-to-high single digits. It&rsquo;s always something that&rsquo;s nagging investors about its business model that keeps it down.



Most recently, it was the fintech&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/sofi-earnings-stock-price-f8df5417">disappointing Q2 2024 guidance</a>, projecting $560 million in revenue for the quarter at the midpoint, about $21 million less than the analyst estimate. It expects $2.41 billion, up from $2.39 billion, for the year. 



On the bottom line, it expects 8.5 cents in profits for the year, up from 7.5 cents in its previous guidance and half a cent higher than Wall Street.&nbsp;



The big negative was the comment from the company that its lending <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/sofi-earnings-revenue-growth-slows-lower-loan-growth-higher-credit-costs">revenues</a> will be 5%-8% lower than in 2023, as it transitions to a more diversified trio of revenue streams.&nbsp;



SoFi continues to add customers and deposits as its banking business grows. Restrained growth in a higher interest rate environment is a good thing.&nbsp;



<h2>Block (SQ)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sq-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Block logo over a background with former square logo. SQ stock."><div>Source: Sergei Elagin / Shutterstock</div></div>The other time we discussed Block (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sq-stock-quote/">SQ</a>) was in February when it was <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/02/cathie-woods-wild-cards-3-picks-with-uncertain-end-of-year-outcomes/">selected</a> along with two other top 15 holdings from Cathie Wood&rsquo;s Ark Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/arkk-stock-quote/">ARKK</a>). ARKK is not having a good year, though. It&rsquo;s down more than 12%, while Block is mostly flat in 2024.&nbsp;



Between its Cash App and Square businesses, CEO Jack Dorsey&rsquo;s got plenty to keep himself busy. Especially when you consider that it is down from late February by about 10%, despite trading at its lowest price-to-sales ratio since 2016.



It will continue focusing on the Cash App and the banking side of the business when it comes to growth.&nbsp;



On May 2, Block reported <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/block-stock-price-earnings-square-5d4a1496">Q1 2024 results</a> that were much better than analyst expectations. On the top line, its revenue of $5.96 billion was $130 million higher, while on the bottom line, its adjusted earnings per share were 85 cents, 13 cents better than Wall Street&rsquo;s estimate.&nbsp;




&ldquo;Seaport Research Partners analyst Jeff Cantwell was also optimistic, raising his target for the price to $101 from $95 and maintaining a Buy rating. The company &lsquo;is showing strength operationally in this &ldquo;new&rdquo; phase as it focuses on optimization, while also investing to drive growth over the longer-term,&rsquo; he wrote,&rdquo; Barron&rsquo;s reported.&nbsp;




Cash App&rsquo;s gross profit in the first quarter was <a href="https://s29.q4cdn.com/628966176/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Shareholder-Letter_1Q24_Block.pdf">$1.26 billion</a>, 25% higher than a year earlier. That resulted in a 12% operating margin.&nbsp;



You should like where it&rsquo;s headed in the banking realm.



<h2>Ally Financial (ALLY)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/finance-1600-300x169.png" alt="Man calculating finances on calculator. Finance. Finance stocks."><div>Source: wutzkohphoto / Shutterstock</div></div>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ally-stock-quote/">ALLY</a>) is the parent company of Ally Bank. Unlike the other two digital bank stocks, ALLY stock is up more about 12% in 2024, 266 basis points higher than the S&amp;P 500.



On March 27, Ally <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ally-financial-names-michael-rhodes-as-ceo-302101679.html#:~:text=Rhodes%20replaces%20Jeffrey%20J.,interim%20CEO%20since%20Brown's%20departure.&amp;text=Ally%20Financial%20Inc.,-(NYSE%3A%20ALLY)">named</a> Michael Rhodes as its new CEO. He replaced Jeffrey Brown, who stepped down in January after nine years leading the financial services company. 



Prior to his latest appointment, Rhodes was CEO of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/dfs-stock-quote/">DFS</a>). Before that, he was the head of Toronto-Dominion Bank&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/td-stock-quote/">TD</a>) <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/discover-ceo-michael-rhodes-resigns-to-become-ally-s-head-1.2052573#:~:text=(Bloomberg)%20%2D%2D%20Discover%20Financial%20Services,replaced%20by%20board%20member%20J.">Canadian personal banking business</a>.&nbsp;



Needless to say, his experience of over 25 years in the industry makes him a very good hire.&nbsp;



In the first quarter of 2024, Ally Bank added <a href="https://s2.q4cdn.com/753234398/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Ally-1Q-2024-Earnings-Presentation.pdf">103,000 net new customers</a> in the quarter, bringing its deposit customers to 3.1 million. Approximately 315,000 of those customers have multiple products with the bank.&nbsp;



Morever, its Consumer and Commercial Banking business had $145.1 billion in retail deposits, up $2.9 billion from a year ago with 92% of these deposits insured by the FDIC.&nbsp; 



In Q1 2014, its adjusted tangible book value per share was $21. A decade later, it was $46, more than double.&nbsp;



It&rsquo;s a solid digital bank stock to own for the long haul.&nbsp;



On the date of publication, Will Ashworth did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/"> Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications where he&rsquo;s appeared include InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and several others in both the U.S. and Canada. He particularly enjoys creating model portfolios that stand the test of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/3-digital-bank-stocks-to-buy-now/">3 Digital Bank Stocks to Buy Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.