Blue Foundry Stock (NASDAQ:BLFY), Trade Ideas

Blue Foundry

Blue Foundry Bancorp is a full-service bank. Its business consists of originating one-to-four-family residential, multi-family, and non-residential real estate mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, and commercial and industrial loans. It attracts retail deposits from the general public in the areas surrounding its banking offices, through its borrowers, and through its online presence, offering a wide variety of deposit products. The bank also invests in securities. Its revenues are derived from interest on loans and, to a lesser extent, interest on mortgage-backed and other investment securities. The company's sources of funds are deposits, principal, and interest payments on loans, securities, and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

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The most oversold stocks in the financial sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.

Top 4 Financial Stocks That May Explode This Quarter

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Gainers


	Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) shares jumped 41.2% to settle at $7.10 on Friday.


50 Biggest Movers From Friday

Blue Foundry Bancorp

Needham analyst Mayank Tandon maintains WNS (Hldgs) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WNS#NYSE">WNS</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $80 to $60.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Needham Maintains Buy on WNS (Hldgs), Lowers Price Target to $60

Goldman Sachs analyst Brooke Roach maintains Gap (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPS#NYSE">GPS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $24 to $25.

Goldman Sachs Maintains Buy on Gap, Raises Price Target to $25

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Joseph Pantginis reiterates Lisata Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LSTA#NASDAQ">LSTA</a>) with a Buy and maintains $15 price target.

Reiteration

LSTA

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Lisata Therapeutics, Maintains $15 Price Target

Deutsche Bank analyst Justin Bowers maintains Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $600 to $610.

Deutsche Bank Maintains Buy on Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raises Price Target to $610

PG&amp;E Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PCG#NYSE">PCG</a>) reported&nbsp;first-quarter FY24&nbsp;operating revenue of $5.86 billion (vs. $6.21 billion a year ago), missing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/n38424738/pg-e-corporation-reports-first-quarter-results-on-track-to-deliver-solid-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $6.59 billion</a>.
Electric revenue fell to $4.05 billion from $4.12 billion a year ago. Natural gas declined to $1.81 billion from $2.09 billion the prior year.&nbsp;
Adjusted EPS was $0.37, higher than $0.29 in the prior year, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $0.35</a>.
FY24 Guidance:&nbsp;PG&amp;E reaffirmed&nbsp;its adjusted EPS guidance of $1.33-$1.37&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">versus the $1.36&nbsp;consensus</a>.&nbsp;
PG&amp;E shared its five-year financing plan, which includes funding&nbsp;$62 billion&nbsp;of safety and reliability capital expenditures.&nbsp;
The strategy, which does not factor in the sale of the Utility&#8217;s non-nuclear generation assets, confirms the company&#8217;s dedication to refraining from new equity in 2024.&nbsp;
It also allows for significant dividend expansion over the next five years and anticipates a possible equity requirement of up to $3 billion between 2025 and 2028.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;VanEck Uranium Nuclear Energy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NLR#NYSE">NLR</a>) and&nbsp;Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTES#NYSE">UTES</a>).
Price Action: PCG shares are trading higher by 0.28% at $17.05 at the last check Thursday.
Photo via Shutterstock

Earnings

Equities

Guidance

UTES

PG&E Posts Mixed Bag Of Q1 Earnings, Plows Billions Into Safety

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards PDD Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in PDD usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 47 extraordinary options activities for PDD Holdings. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 59% leaning bullish and 31% bearish. Among these notable options, 16 are puts, totaling $961,520, and 31 are calls, amounting to $1,696,034.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $70.0 and $190.0 for PDD Holdings, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in PDD Holdings's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to PDD Holdings's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $70.0 to $190.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>PDD Holdings Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714065350_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$6.45</td>
<td>$6.3</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$393.0K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">611</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$65.0</td>
<td>$64.15</td>
<td>$65.0</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$260.0K</td>
<td>25</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$11.0</td>
<td>$10.95</td>
<td>$11.0</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$156.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$17.2</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$17.19</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$120.4K</td>
<td>19</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/24/24</td>
<td>$16.6</td>
<td>$15.5</td>
<td>$15.6</td>
<td>$111.00</td>
<td>$113.8K</td>
<td>15</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About PDD Holdings</h3>
PDD Holdings is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. PDD aims to bring more businesses and people into the digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities that support its underlying businesses.
Having examined the options trading patterns of PDD Holdings, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of PDD Holdings</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 3,708,069, the price of PDD is down by -1.58%, reaching $125.53.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 29 days from now.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for PDD Holdings with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in PDD Holdings

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Roku (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ROKU, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 16 uncommon options trades for Roku.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 31% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $215,910, and 12 are calls, for a total amount of $611,602.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $45.0 to $105.0 for Roku during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Roku options trades today is 1021.5 with a total volume of 3,012.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Roku's big money trades within a strike price range of $45.0 to $105.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Roku Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714065344_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$6.85</td>
<td>$6.9</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$119.4K</td>
<td>198</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">214</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
<td>$115.0K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">664</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.95</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
<td>$82.1K</td>
<td>337</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$5.15</td>
<td>$4.95</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
<td>$74.0K</td>
<td>337</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">171</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ROKU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.73</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
<td>$57.3K</td>
<td>114</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">142</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Roku</h3>
Roku is the leading streaming platform in the U.S. by hours watched with 87.4 billion hours of content streamed in 2022. The firm's namesake operating system is used not only in Roku's own hardware but in cobranded TVs and soundbars from manufacturers like TCL, Onn, and Hisense. Roku generates revenue from advertising, distribution fees, hardware sales, OS licensing, and subscription sales.
In light of the recent options history for Roku, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Roku's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,303,041, the price of ROKU is up by 1.08%, reaching $62.5.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 0 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Roku</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $75.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Wedbush has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Roku, which currently sits at a price target of $80. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Benchmark lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $115.</li>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Roku, which currently sits at a price target of $60. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Underweight rating on Roku, maintaining a target price of $45. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Roku options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

ROKU

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

Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) doesn&#8217;t go about selling its software products in conventional ways. After refusing to hire a sales team for years, the company is now using rock concert-like boot camps to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38427992/whats-going-on-with-palantir-technologies-today">bring new customers on board</a>.
Selling AI Software: Palantir has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai">AI</a> boom. The data firm&#8217;s software allows companies and governments to organize and analyze large amounts of data to improve efficiency in decision-making processes. 
CEO Alex Karp has long refused to hire salespeople at Palantir due to the belief that the company&#8217;s software is so good, it sells itself. He even once said the only way Palantir would hire a sales team is if he were &#8220;hit by a bus.&#8221;
A new report from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-23/inside-palantir-s-ai-sales-secret-weapon-software-boot-camp?srnd=indus&amp;embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a> this week suggests that Karp has at least been hit with a fresh perspective on sales. Although the company still refuses to build a sales team to help capture booming demand, Palantir has adopted a new approach that involves software boot camps. 
Software Boot Camps: The name &#8220;software boot camp&#8221; doesn&#8217;t really tell the whole story. These so-called boot camps can last anywhere from one to five days and are described as being one part hackathon, one part conference and one part party. 
The events feature demonstrations from engineers, work sessions for those attending and presentations from current customers on how they use <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37519215/palantirs-aipcon-unveils-over-20-new-customers-partners-including-openai">Palantir&#8217;s AI tools</a> to improve efficiency. 
On a recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/36941798/palantir-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-in-line-continued-gaap-profitability-ahead-and-more">conference call</a>, Karp told investors and analysts that the company was making a push to sell its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) product through these boot camps. 
&#8220;We can&#8217;t do enough of them &#8230; We&#8217;re limiting the number of people who can come. It&#8217;s like a rock concert &#8230; If you know somebody, we can get you backstage,&#8221; Karp said at the time. 
Karp noted that Palantir held a total of about 500 boot camps in 2023, mostly in the second half of the year. The company is targeting five boot camps per day on average throughout 2024. 
Palantir has attributed much of its recent U.S. commercial sales growth to the boot camp initiative. Analysts expect Palantir&#8217;s commercial revenue to exceed its total government revenue <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/36958716/palantir-rallies-off-ai-driven-q4-earnings-bull-analyst-sees-off-the-charts-commerc">for the first time next year</a>.
Don&#8217;t Miss: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38434513/us-growth-slows-in-q1-yet-inflation-acceleration-signals-stagflation-the-worst-poss">US Growth Slows In Q1, Yet Inflation Acceleration Signals Stagflation: &#8216;The Worst Possible Outcome For The Fed&#8217;</a>
PLTR Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR">Palantir shares</a> are up approximately 24% since the start of the year. The stock was down 0.51% trading at $21.47 Thursday at publication, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Spyro the Dragon from Shutterstock.

Tech

PLTR

Palantir's 'Rock Concert' AI Sales Strategy Is Rapidly Boosting Commercial Sales: 'We Can't Do Enough Of Them'

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Visa (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in V usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 26 extraordinary options activities for Visa. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 50% leaning bullish and 42% bearish. Among these notable options, 8 are puts, totaling $339,400, and 18 are calls, amounting to $718,929.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $250.0 to $355.0 for Visa over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Visa stands at 705.31, with a total volume reaching 3,981.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Visa, situated within the strike price corridor from $250.0 to $355.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Visa 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714065339_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$19.35</td>
<td>$19.3</td>
<td>$19.3</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$77.2K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$15.4</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$15.3</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$74.9K</td>
<td>187</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">118</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.3</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$282.50</td>
<td>$67.2K</td>
<td>507</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">458</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$11.4</td>
<td>$11.15</td>
<td>$11.35</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$55.6K</td>
<td>120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>$2.1</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$55.0K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">255</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Visa</h3>
Visa is the largest payment processor in the world. In fiscal 2022, it processed over $14 trillion in total volume. Visa operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 160 currencies. Its systems are capable of processing over 65,000 transactions per second.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Visa, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of Visa</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,617,518, with V's price up by 0.07%, positioned at $275.2.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 89 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Visa</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $303.6.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Buy rating for Visa, targeting a price of $321. </li>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from Redburn Atlantic downgraded its rating to Neutral, setting a price target of $307. </li>
<li>An analyst from Macquarie has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Visa, which currently sits at a price target of $300. </li>
<li>An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Visa, which currently sits at a price target of $325. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Neutral rating on Visa with a target price of $265. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Visa options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Looking At Visa's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Deutsche Bank analyst Pito Chickering maintains Boston Scientific (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $63 to $73.

Deutsche Bank Maintains Hold on Boston Scientific, Raises Price Target to $73

Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) faces a significant security challenge, Tom Warren from the Verge&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/25/24139914/microsoft-cyber-security-incidents-trust-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>. In recent years, a series of high-profile security breaches has shaken Microsoft.
A U.S. Cyber Safety Review Board report revealed that Microsoft&#8217;s security culture needs an overhaul.&nbsp;
Warren writes that concerns are growing within the company that these attacks could significantly damage trust in Microsoft.
Microsoft&#8217;s engineering and security teams have been actively addressing these threats in response to ongoing attacks by Nobelium or Midnight Blizzard—the same Russian state-sponsored hackers behind the&nbsp;SolarWinds Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWI#NYSE">SWI</a>) incident.
This group recently spied on senior Microsoft leadership&#8217;s email accounts and&nbsp;even&nbsp;stole source code.
These repeated attacks have alarmed many within Microsoft, prompting efforts to bolster the company&#8217;s defenses and prevent further breaches.&nbsp;
Historically, Microsoft has also&nbsp;been targeted&nbsp;by hackers from the Chinese government.&nbsp;
The U.S. Cyber Safety Review Board described last year&#8217;s U.S. government email attack as a &#8220;cascade of security failures&#8221; that was preventable.&nbsp;
At a recent internal leadership conference, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith emphasized prioritizing security.
With AI and security as its primary focus, Microsoft faces new security risks as it rapidly deploys AI technologies and more customers move to the cloud.
Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley recently urged Microsoft to stop marketing security as a premium service, the Verge reports.
Similarly, former senior White House cyber policy director A.J. Grotto highlighted past issues where Microsoft upsold logging capabilities during the SolarWinds breach, making it difficult for agencies to assess their exposure.
Talking about earnings,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38322536/microsofts-strategic-emphasis-on-ai-and-cloud-services-signals-strong-future-perfor" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysts are optimistic</a>&nbsp;about upcoming third-quarter results, anticipating strengthened growth in Azure, particularly from AI services and solid interest in CoPilot.
Analysts also flagged Microsoft&#8217;s potential AI-driven revenue and free cash flow acceleration, noting the growing importance of AI in Microsoft&#8217;s strategy and&nbsp;naming Microsoft as a top software pick.
Microsoft stock gained 43% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Technology&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) and&nbsp;Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTEC#NYSE">FTEC</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;MSFT shares traded lower by 3.93% at $393.09 on&nbsp;the last check Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Media

FTEC

MSFT

AI Is Going Well For Microsoft, But Cybersecurity Is Not

The allure and impact of meme coins within the cryptocurrency space is sparking a heated debate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38428816/join-anthony-scaramucci-in-nyc-for-the-future-of-finances-digital-era">among industry leaders</a>. 
What Happened: Eddy Lazzarin, CTO of a16zcrypto, a prominent venture capital firm focused on crypto, on Thursday took to X (formerly Twitter) to <a href="https://x.com/eddylazzarin/status/1783179299085856934">express</a> his concerns about the long-term effects of meme coins.
According to Lazzarin, memecoins potentially distort the public&#8217;s understanding of cryptocurrency&#8217;s potential. 
&#8220;Meme coins alter how the public, regulators, and entrepreneurs see crypto. At best, it looks like a risky casino. Or a series of false promises masking a casino,&#8221; Lazzarin tweeted. 
He emphasized that this perception could adversely impact adoption, regulatory actions, and the behavior of developers within the space.
The debate extended to the actual appeal of meme coins, with Mike Dudas, the Founder &amp; General Partner at 6th Man Ventures <a href="https://x.com/mdudas/status/1783170465269199215">pointing</a> out their popularity across multiple blockchain platforms like Base, Blast, and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), highlighting their &#8220;extremely broad adoption and usage.&#8221; 
Lazzarin responded by questioning the value of attracting users primarily interested in speculative aspects, remarking, 
&#8220;Interesting to which users? Serving a casino to a relatively small population just isn&#8217;t exciting. It&#8217;s probably even net negative if you consider the externalities.&#8221;
Lazzarin also pointed out that while meme coins are part of the activities on blockchain networks, they do not necessarily preclude engagement in other blockchain applications such as decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, or social platforms. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s simply one thing people do on chain,&#8221; he noted.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/ "><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/27091545/Benzinga-conference.gif" alt="Benzinga future of digital assets conference" class="wp-image-267246" /></a></figure>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38431860/maxine-waters-says-stablecoin-bill-in-the-short-run-coming">Maxine Waters Says &#8216;Stablecoin Bill In The Short Run&#8217; Coming</a>
Furthering the discussion, Jesse Walden, Co-Founder and General Partner at Variant Fund, <a href="https://x.com/jessewldn/status/1783225310726504865">introduced</a> a comparative perspective on the damage caused by deceptive projects versus the straightforward, albeit volatile, nature of meme coins. 
Walden suggested, &#8220;I think it's highly debatable which is doing more damage: a) projects promising groundbreaking tech to mask token liquidity schemes b) meme coins that do not promise anything but volatility and entertainment.&#8221;
Lazzarin countered by highlighting the lack of substantive defense for deceptive tech projects compared to the defense often mounted for memecoins, even as the industry faces challenges on multiple fronts. He stated, &#8220;Nobody is writing essays defending the concept of ‘fake tech to mask token liquidity schemes'. But people are defending memecoins while the industry is struggling on multiple fronts.&#8221;
What&#8217;s Next: These exchanges underline a critical dialogue within the crypto community as it navigates its path towards maturity and wider acceptance. 
This ongoing debate is particularly relevant in the context of upcoming industry events like Benzinga&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/events/digital-assets/agenda/">Future of Digital Assets</a> on Nov. 19, where discussions will likely explore the balance between innovation, entertainment, and investor protection in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38427873/blackrocks-spot-bitcoin-etf-sees-zero-inflows-as-net-outflows-tally-130m-on-wednesday">evolving digital asset landscape.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38431467/morgan-stanley-considers-broader-bitcoin-etf-sales-through-broker-network">Morgan Stanley Considers Broader Bitcoin ETF Sales Through Broker Network</a>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$SOL

a16z Crypto CTO Slams Memecoins, But Are They The Real Threat?

Needham analyst Joseph Stringer reiterates Apellis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APLS#NASDAQ">APLS</a>) with a Buy and maintains $85 price target.

APLS

Needham Reiterates Buy on Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Maintains $85 Price Target

Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Devries maintains PennyMac Financial Servs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFSI#NYSE">PFSI</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $115 to $112.

PFSI

Deutsche Bank Maintains Buy on PennyMac Financial Servs, Lowers Price Target to $112

Keybanc analyst Steve Barger maintains Westinghouse Air Brake (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAB#NYSE">WAB</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $155 to $185.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Westinghouse Air Brake, Raises Price Target to $185

FDA Says Cardinal Health Failure To Ensure Syringes In Convenience Kits, U.S. Importing & Distributing Have 510(k) Clearance Prevented FDA From Checking Risks

WIIM

First American Financial shares are trading lower after the company missed Q1 EPS and sales estimates.

DOOR

Masonite Holders Approve Transaction With Owens Corning

Keybanc analyst Jason Ader maintains ServiceNow (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $1000 to $950.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on ServiceNow, Lowers Price Target to $950

Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Devries maintains Mr. Cooper Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NASDAQ">COOP</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $88 to $90.

COOP

Deutsche Bank Maintains Buy on Mr. Cooper Gr, Raises Price Target to $90

Bank Buzz: Northeast Community Bancorp Offers An Attractive Valuation And Upside

Blue Foundry Bancorp announces 1.2M buyback program

Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Financial sector with new ratings on JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM – Research Report), Blue Foundry (BLFY –...

Analysts Offer Insights on Financial Companies: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Blue Foundry (BLFY) and Capital One Financial (COF)

Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Financial sector with new ratings on FS KKR Capital (FSK – Research Report), Blue Foundry (BLFY – Resea...

Analysts Conflicted on These Financial Names: FS KKR Capital (FSK), Blue Foundry (BLFY) and QCR Holdings (QCRH)

Bank Buzz: NB Bancorp Is Priced Below Liquidation Value And Insiders Are Buying

An update from Blue Foundry (BLFY) is now available. Jason Goldberg, the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Blue Foundry Bank, h...

Blue Foundry EVP Jason Goldberg Announces Resignation

Blue Foundry Bancorp GAAP EPS of -$0.13 beats by $0.08, revenue of $9.87M beats by $0.7M

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
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	The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/earning-results/2024/04/blfy-stock-earnings-blue-foundry-for-q1-of-2024/">BLFY Stock Earnings: Blue Foundry Beats EPS, Beats Revenue for Q1 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

BLFY Stock Earnings: Blue Foundry Beats EPS, Beats Revenue for Q1 2024

Blue Foundry Bancorp (BLFY) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Analysts fell to the sidelines weighing in on Bok Financial (BOKF – Research Report), Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN – Research Report) and Blue F...

Analysts Offer Insights on Financial Companies: Bok Financial (BOKF), Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) and Blue Foundry (BLFY)

BOKF

CFFN

FSEA

HONE

MSBI

MSVB

NBBK

NECB

QCRH

RMBI

TCBC

TCBS

WMPN

Press Releases

Blue Foundry Bancorp Schedules Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Blue Foundry Bancorp Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results

Blue Foundry Bancorp Announces Adoption of Third Stock Repurchase Program

Blue Foundry Bancorp Schedules Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Blue Foundry Bancorp Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Blue Foundry Bancorp Schedules Fourth Quarter & Year-End 2023 Earnings Conference Call