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Dave Ramsey has never been shy about sharing his opinions on financial systems and this time, he took on one of the most entrenched ideas in personal finance: the FICO score. In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGHGzU3CtZg&amp;t=1610s">video</a> addressing criticisms of his 7 Baby Steps Program, Ramsey called the FICO score system a "Bankers' scam" designed to keep <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42746966/debt-and-broke-are-the-norm-says-dave-ramsey-explains-why-normal-isnt-working-for-most-americans-and-how-to-take-control-of-your-money">Americans stuck in a cycle of debt</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">You Need a Credit Card to Build a Credit</h2>
Many financial advisors claim that building your credit score is essential, so you need a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-credit-cards">credit card</a>. Ramsey debunks this myth by explaining that the FICO score isn't about financial success but rather how well you interact with debt. In fact, 100% of your FICO score is based on debt-related factors:
<ul>
<li>35%: Your payment history on debts.</li>
<li>30%: The amount of debt you owe.</li>
<li>15%: How long you've been in debt.</li>
<li>10%: Types of debt.</li>
<li>10%: New debt taken on.</li>
</ul>
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"You could inherit a million dollars tomorrow or get a million-dollar raise at work and it wouldn't improve your FICO score one bit," Ramsey points out. Why? Because the system only cares about how you manage debt, not your actual wealth.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The FICO Score Benefits Banks, Not You</h2>
Ramsey emphasizes that the FICO score was created by Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) to help banks evaluate how profitable you'll be as a borrower. "Guess who loves FICO? All the banks, because the whole purpose of FICO is to get you into debt so that you can run your score up so that you can get into debt so that you can run your score," he says.
In a sharp critique, Ramsey notes that many people with high FICO scores have paid tens of thousands of dollars in interest over time, effectively rewarding the banks. That's why he noted, "If you've got an 800 credit score, it has nothing to do with whether you're winning financially."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/qnetic-2">This 12,000 RPM Spinning Battery With Over $100 Million In LOIs Could Be The Missing Link For Green Energy — Here&#8217;s Why Early Investors Are Flocking To Invest Before Funding Closes</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Ridiculous Reality</h2>
To highlight the absurdity of the system, Ramsey shares a personal story. Despite being able to write a check to buy an entire apartment complex, he can't rent an apartment because he doesn't have a FICO score, as he famously avoids debt altogether.
He says a 26-year-old at the leasing office is following a checklist that says you need a credit score to rent. Never mind the fact that Ramsey could buy the whole building outright. "This is how asinine this is," Ramsey says. "This is stupid and the idea that we all fell for this crap is ridiculous."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chasing the Wrong Goals</h2>
Ramsey argues that the cultural obsession with FICO scores has led many Americans to worship the "Great FICO," as if it's the ultimate measure of financial success. But he stresses that real wealth comes from avoiding debt and building assets – not chasing a high credit score.
Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a>
Dave Ramsey advises stopping chasing a FICO score and starting to focus on building actual wealth. The system is rigged to benefit banks, not consumers and falling into the debt trap makes it harder to achieve financial independence. Instead of playing by the rules of the "Bankers' scam," Ramsey recommends breaking free by avoiding debt altogether.
While Ramsey critiques the FICO score system, it's worth noting that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42330187/had-to-uber-to-the-funeral-home-and-beg-for-a-ride-this-family-says-dave-ramseys-no-credit-advice-failed-them">having a (good) credit score</a> can make certain financial processes smoother. For those who use debt responsibly, a good FICO score can help secure lower interest rates on mortgages, car loans or other financing options. This can result in significant savings over time, especially for individuals who plan to finance large purchases. The key is to avoid becoming overly reliant on debt and to use credit as a tool rather than a crutch.
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Personal Finance

'It's A Bankers' Scam' – Dave Ramsey Blasts The FICO Score System: I Can't Rent An Apartment, But I Can Write A Check For The Whole Complex

In a moment keenly watched by the global financial community, Donald Trump&#8216;s inauguration address on Monday notably <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43065423/donald-trump-to-mention-bitcoin-or-crypto-at-the-inauguration-polymarket-traders-say-theres-a-chance">omitted any mention of cryptocurrency</a>. 
The speech was in contrast to Trump&#8217;s often vocal, and at times contradictory, stance on the burgeoning digital asset class.
Trump delivered a speech focusing on national issues such as immigration, economic policies, and energy production. Conspicuously absent was any reference to cryptocurrency, despite his recent support for digital assets.
This silence has sparked questions and speculation, particularly given Trump&#8217;s history of both criticizing and engaging with the crypto world.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43065531/coinbase-launches-bitcoin-backed-loans-for-us-users">Coinbase Launches Bitcoin-Backed Loans For US Users</a>
Trump&#8217;s relationship with cryptocurrency is a complex one. During his initial term as president, he was a vocal skeptic.
In 2019, he famously <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1149472282584072192">tweeted </a>about his distaste for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>). The then-45th president called it &#8220;based on thin air&#8221; and not &#8220;money,&#8221; expressing his preference for the U.S. dollar.
Trump, at times, expressed concern that cryptocurrencies could potentially undermine the dollar. This skepticism led to policies that observers viewed as overly cautious in regulating the nascent industry.
Trump&#8217;s personal actions have sometimes painted a different picture.
After leaving office in 2021, Trump embraced crypto to a degree that was not expected given his earlier criticisms. He <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/12/30135978/trumps-nft-collection-accused-of-using-stock-and-copyrighted-images">launched his own NFT</a> (non-fungible token) collections, a move widely seen as a personal endorsement of the digital asset technology.
These digital collectibles have garnered millions, demonstrating his willingness to participate in the crypto space. 
However, during his 2024 presidential campaign, he adopted a more favorable view. He also proposed the establishment of a federal &#8220;Bitcoin stockpile&#8221; and accepting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43059401/bitcoin-spikes-to-104000-traders-eye-130000-target-in-late-january">digital assets for campaign donations.</a>
Furthermore, his venture into using cryptocurrencies to engage with his base during fundraising efforts has further blurred the lines between skepticism and adoption.
Prior to the inauguration, Bitcoin prices surged past $108,000, driven by anticipation of pro-cryptocurrency policies under the new administration.
The lack of any mention of crypto during the inauguration ceremony comes at a crucial time for the digital asset industry, which has continued to mature and become a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43035888/donald-trump-reportedly-open-to-us-crypto-reserve-as-bitcoin-reserve-chatter-gathers-steam">relevant player in global financial markets.</a>
Trump has recently intensified his engagement with the cryptocurrency sector through the launch of the Trump (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>) meme coin and the family&#8217;s investment in World Liberty Financial (WLF).
On Jan. 17, Trump introduced the TRUMP meme coin, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43083490/melania-rise-and-trumps-fall-signal-crypto-mainstreaming-and-potential-blow-to-tradfi-experts-note">experienced a rapid surge in value. </a>
Initially priced at approximately $3, the coin&#8217;s value escalated to $76.94, briefly achieving a market capitalization of $15 billion. 
Notably, around $12 billion of this valuation is linked to three wallets associated with Trump.
The TRUMP coin is built on the Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) network, with a total supply of 1 billion tokens. 
Eighty percent of these tokens are held by Trump-affiliated entities, including CIC Digital LLC, subject <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43082005/market-to-seek-further-information-on-utilization-of-80-trump-token-supply-says-bernstein">to a three-year unlocking schedule.</a>
The Trump family&#8217;s involvement in the cryptocurrency space extends to WLF, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform.
WLF has successfully raised $1 billion through token sales, surpassing its initial goal of 20 billion tokens sold. 
An additional 5 billion tokens have been made available, according to <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/trump-world-liberty-financial-token-sale-extended-sold-out-presale">Cointelegraph</a>. 
To diversify its digital asset holdings, WLF plans to acquire a significant amount of Tron (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/trx/usd">TRX</a>) tokens for its treasury.
This acquisition aims to strengthen ties between WLF and the Tron ecosystem, especially considering that Tron&#8217;s founder, Justin Sun, serves as an advisor to the project.
Trump&#8217;s involvement in cryptocurrency has also raised ethical and regulatory concerns.
Critics highlight potential <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/01/17/us/politics/trump-conflicts-of-interest.html">conflicts of interest</a>, particularly with the possibility of foreign entities purchasing the TRUMP coin, which could violate the Constitution&#8217;s foreign emoluments clause.
Ethics experts have described the venture as &#8220;predatory.&#8221; SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci likened it to &#8220;Idi Amin level corruption,&#8221; emphasizing the risks of allowing individuals worldwide to deposit money directly into accounts<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43062997/exclusive-how-donald-trumps-crypto-plans-will-bitcoin-xrp-solana"> associated with the President of the United States.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Trump meme coin stuff is bad for the industry. Don't delude yourself. It's Idi Amin level corruption.
&mdash; Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scaramucci/status/1880570676043727354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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Image: Shutterstock

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Trump's Crypto Silence: Inauguration Omission Sparks Questions After History Of Mixed Signals

The share prices of several of the most valuable publicly traded companies reached all-time highs since Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41778433/s-p-500-dow-hit-record-highs-after-trump-win-fear-index-drops-20">won the 2024 presidential election</a>.
A new Benzinga reader poll predicts where the S&amp;P 500 Index will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the day after Trump's inauguration.
What Happened: Trump's inauguration, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43085323/trump-sworn-in-as-47th-president-declares-golden-age-of-america-begins-right-now">took place on Monday</a>, marked his second non-consecutive term as the U.S. President.
The stock market remains closed Monday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43082450/is-the-market-open-on-martin-luther-king-jr-day-heres-what-investors-need-to-know">in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>, which is a federal holiday.
While investors can&#8217;t trade stocks individually mentioned or sectors highlighted during Trump&#8217;s inauguration speech, the market&#8217;s reaction will unfold when trading resumes on Tuesday.
Benzinga polled readers on how high the S&amp;P 500, one of the leading stock market indexes, might climb when trading resumes on Tuesday.
"How high will the S&amp;P 500 climb when it opens on Tuesday after Donald Trump's inauguration?" Benzinga asked.
Here are the results:
<ul>
<li>Up 51 to 100 points: 39%</li>
<li>Up 0 to 50 points: 35%</li>
<li>Up 101+ points: 14%</li>
<li>None, the S&amp;P will drop: 11%</li>
</ul>
The poll found that 89% of readers think the S&amp;P 500 will trade higher on Tuesday. The leading vote-getter was 51 to 100 points. This translates to a 0.8% to 1.7% gain based on Friday's closing price of 5,996.66 for the index.
The next leading vote-getter was 0 to 50 points, which would be a positive gain but on a smaller level.
Around 14% of readers believe the S&amp;P 500 Index will gain at least 101 points on Tuesday.
Why It's Important: The S&amp;P 500 Index, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), enjoyed strong returns during Trump's last term in the White House.
During Trump&#8217;s last four years in the White House, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust was up around 70%.
Observers don&#8217;t expect all the gains to happen on Trump&#8217;s first day in office. Tuesday&#8217;s stock price action could signal optimism for a new administration, although some of the optimism may already be priced in.
On Nov. 6, 2024, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust opened at $589.20, marking a 2.2% increase from its previous close on Election Day. The strong open and subsequent closing price of $591.04 may reflect investor sentiment following Trump&#8217;s victory in the 2024 election.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF opened at $381.11 — up 0.6% from the previous close — on Jan. 20, 2021 when Joe Biden was sworn in as president. The ETF closed at $383.89 for the day, ending the day up from the previous day and higher than the opening price.
The same can be said for the ETF on Jan. 20, 2017 — the last time Trump was sworn in as president. The ETF opened at $226.70, up from a close of $225.91 the night before. The ETF closed at $226.74. That was up from the close the night before, but only marginally from the opening price that day.
A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43059744/exclusive-can-sp-500-repeat-large-gains-from-donald-trumps-first-term-a-second-time-around-readers-say-this-return-range-most-likely">recent Benzinga poll </a>asked readers what they believe the S&amp;P 500 ETF will return from 2025 through 2029. The range of 31% to 45% was the leading vote-getter at 33%, followed by 0% to 15% at 24%.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/01/43041374/exclusive-how-high-will-sp-500-go-under-donald-trump-in-2025-readers-are-optimistic-26-say-this">Another Benzinga poll</a> found that 26% of readers predict the S&amp;P 500 will be up 16% or more in 2025, Trump's first year back in office.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43074163/exclusive-will-bitcoin-dogecoin-shiba-inu-or-xrp-gain-more-on-trumps-inauguration-day-41-pick-this-crypto">EXCLUSIVE: Will Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Or XRP Gain More On Trump&#8217;s Inauguration Day? 41% Pick This Crypto</a></li>
</ul>
Benzinga conducted the study from Jan. 16, 2025 through Jan. 17, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 79 adults.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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EXCLUSIVE: Where Will S&P 500 Open Tuesday After Trump's Inauguration? 39% Pick This Range

Donald Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th U.S. president, taking the oath of office at the United States Capitol Rotunda <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43084601/trump-day-1-executive-order-tsunami-incoming-heres-what-hes-signing-first">in Washington, D.C. </a>
In his inaugural address, Trump painted a stark picture of what he perceives as an America in decline, vowing to reclaim sovereignty, restore law and order, and put an end to what he called the &#8220;weaponization&#8221; of government institutions.
&#8220;The golden age of America begins right now,&#8221; Trump declared to the crowd. &#8220;From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world.&#8221;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Crackdowns On Immigration, Announces National Energy Emergency</h3>
&#8220;First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;Under the orders I signed today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,&#8221; he added.
Trump also declared a national energy emergency. &#8220;We will drill, baby, drill,&#8221; he added.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A ‘New Era' Focused On America First — Again</h3>
Trump's grandiose speech echoed many themes from his 2017 inauguration, with an emphasis on national pride, economic revival, and strong borders.
&#8220;Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous, and free,&#8221; he said. &#8220;America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before.&#8221;
Among the other promises Trump made: Renaming the Gulf of Mexico, &#8220;taking back&#8221; the Panama Canal from China and putting astronauts on Mars.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Attacking The ‘Failures' Of The Past</h3>
&#8220;We have a government that has given unlimited funding to defend foreign borders but refuses to defend our own people,&#8221; he said. 
&#8220;Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency.&#8221;
Trump specifically called out the federal government's response to disasters, referencing hurricane recovery in North Carolina and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43076438/spare-no-expense-says-biden-but-whos-really-footing-the-bill-as-the-los-angeles-wildfire-damage-surpasses-250-billion">ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles</a>, where he claimed that even the wealthiest and most powerful Americans had been left without help.
&#8220;They don&#8217;t have a home any longer. That&#8217;s interesting,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America&#8217;s decline is over,&#8221; he added.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Education, Healthcare, Justice In The Crosshairs</h3>
Trump also took aim at the U.S. public health and education systems, arguing that despite massive spending, both institutions had failed Americans.
He accused public schools of indoctrinating children, claiming that students are being taught to &#8220;hate their country&#8221; rather than embrace patriotism. He vowed that such trends would &#8220;change starting today, and it will change very quickly.&#8221;
&#8220;The American people have spoken,&#8221; Trump, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42916780/donald-trump-receives-unconditional-discharge-in-new-york-hush-money-case-will-enter-white-house-as-convicted-felon">a convicted felon</a>, said regarding his political comeback.
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock
Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated with additional information.

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Trump Sworn In As 47th President, Declares 'Golden Age Of America Begins Right Now' (UPDATED)

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SLS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$1.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JNJ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$56.9K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMMT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$265.4K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>348</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$41.4K</td>
<td>516</td>
<td>213</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$63.0K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$430.00</td>
<td>$52.3K</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TGTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$37.9K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GILD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For SLS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLS#NASDAQ">SLS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 725 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $1.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $50.0 per contract. There were 2779 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5080 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JNJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 227 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.9K, with a price of $251.0 per contract. There were 4980 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1483 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SMMT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMMT#NASDAQ">SMMT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 361 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 84 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 52 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $265.4K, with a price of $3160.0 per contract. There were 4074 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 348 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MDGL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDGL#NASDAQ">MDGL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $320.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.4K, with a price of $1360.0 per contract. There were 516 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 213 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HIMS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 361 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $25.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $63.0K, with a price of $1050.0 per contract. There were 2977 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 153 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VRTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 34 contract(s) at a $430.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $52.3K, with a price of $1540.0 per contract. There were 11 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 91 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TGTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGTX#NASDAQ">TGTX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 17 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.9K, with a price of $2230.0 per contract. There were 1306 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 40 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GILD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 9 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $3230.0 per contract. There were 33 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

GILD

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

MDGL

SMMT

TGTX

VRTX

8 Health Care Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$435.00</td>
<td>$42.2K</td>
<td>11.1K</td>
<td>182.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$31.9K</td>
<td>27.0K</td>
<td>55.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$44.50</td>
<td>$69.3K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PHM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$192.5K</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$56.5K</td>
<td>351</td>
<td>326</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$54.5K</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
<td>125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LULU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$410.00</td>
<td>$254.9K</td>
<td>123</td>
<td>79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$40.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CMG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$40.6K</td>
<td>104</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$62.5K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 326 contract(s) at a $435.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.2K, with a price of $130.0 per contract. There were 11175 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 182630 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 266 contract(s) at a $225.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.9K, with a price of $120.0 per contract. There were 27051 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 55202 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVS#NYSE">LVS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 850 contract(s) at a $44.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.3K, with a price of $80.0 per contract. There were 5839 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3397 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PHM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 500 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $192.5K, with a price of $385.0 per contract. There were 3 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 361 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 65 contract(s) at a $42.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.5K, with a price of $870.0 per contract. There were 351 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 326 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 151 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.5K, with a price of $545.0 per contract. There were 6463 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 125 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LULU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 151 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 48 contract(s) at a $410.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $254.9K, with a price of $5315.0 per contract. There were 123 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 79 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 14 contract(s) at a $450.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.4K, with a price of $2890.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 38 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CMG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 697 day(s) on December 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $44.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.6K, with a price of $2030.0 per contract. There were 104 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVNA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 116 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 5 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.5K, with a price of $12514.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

CVNA

LULU

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$138.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>19.8K</td>
<td>111.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$35.6K</td>
<td>13.2K</td>
<td>63.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$64.2K</td>
<td>8.5K</td>
<td>40.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$227.50</td>
<td>$458.8K</td>
<td>8.0K</td>
<td>25.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
<td>$57.6K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td>13.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RGTI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$158.8K</td>
<td>10.2K</td>
<td>8.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DELL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/31/25</td>
<td>$112.00</td>
<td>$39.2K</td>
<td>215</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRVL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$124.00</td>
<td>$25.1K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRWD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$50.3K</td>
<td>398</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BTDR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$127.2K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>568</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 800 contract(s) at a $138.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.0K, with a price of $50.0 per contract. There were 19862 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 111568 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 216 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.6K, with a price of $165.0 per contract. There were 13284 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 63935 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1285 contract(s) at a $22.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 75 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $64.2K, with a price of $50.0 per contract. There were 8563 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 40894 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2151 contract(s) at a $227.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 124 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $458.8K, with a price of $210.0 per contract. There were 8000 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 25449 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $72.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.6K, with a price of $192.0 per contract. There were 4879 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 13519 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RGTI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 32 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 298 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $158.8K, with a price of $532.0 per contract. There were 10205 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8544 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DELL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on January 31, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $112.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.2K, with a price of $196.0 per contract. There were 215 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1613 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MRVL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRVL#NASDAQ">MRVL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $124.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.1K, with a price of $335.0 per contract. There were 1154 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1579 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CRWD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on January 24, 2025. Parties traded 90 contract(s) at a $360.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.3K, with a price of $560.0 per contract. There were 398 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1158 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BTDR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTDR#NASDAQ">BTDR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 60 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 187 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $127.2K, with a price of $680.0 per contract. There were 2297 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 568 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AAPL

BTDR

CRWD

DELL

INTC

MRVL

MSTR

NVDA

PLTR

RGTI

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

President Donald Trump has pledged to cut spending in a number of areas, but one place that's likely to see a budget increase is the Department of Defense. Increased defense spending is one of the few issues reaching bipartisan agreement in Washington, as outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently recommended a <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-01-13/austin-recommends-defense-spending-boost-by-more-than-50-billion-in-2026-bloomberg-news-reports">$50 billion boost</a> over current 2026 projections.
As global geopolitics becomes increasingly volatile and the nature of conflicts changes, upgrades are especially needed in certain critical areas like missile defense systems, autonomous drone technology, and cybersecurity.
These five companies are set to benefit the most from the drive to modernize America&#8217;s defense.
These five stocks were chosen based on their past success with federal projects, current financial and technical standing, and likelihood of avoiding any axes from the incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>)</h2>
Huntington Ingalls is one of the largest manufacturers of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, with two major manufacturing facilities in Virginia and Mississippi and a large cybersecurity and IT facility outside the Pentagon in Fairfax, VA. The company also manufactures autonomous amphibious technology, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="298" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123041/HII-1024x298.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741406" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123041/HII-1024x298.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123041/HII-300x87.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123041/HII-768x224.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123041/HII.png 1302w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
HII stock had a rough 2024 despite a promising start. Shares hit an all-time high of $299 in early March before tumbling below $200 by the end of the year. Despite this recent decline, there's reason for optimism moving forward.
Gross profits have returned to pre-pandemic levels and the stock currently trades with a 11.2 price-to-earnings ratio, 1.84 price-to-book value, and 0.67 price-to-sales ratio; all metrics showing a cheaper valuation than competitors like Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman. The stock also pays a 2.74% dividend yield.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</h2>
L3Harris has been a public company for only five years, but they're already making a mark on the defense industry through innovations in command and control systems, intelligence and surveillance equipment, and navigation products for both commercial and government clients.
Formed through a merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corp in 2019, the company is now one of the 10 largest US defense contractors and has shown impressive growth since the two original firms combined forces.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="298" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123047/LHX-1024x298.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741407" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123047/LHX-1024x298.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123047/LHX-300x87.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123047/LHX-768x224.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123047/LHX.png 1302w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
L3Harris has a loftier valuation than Huntington Ingalls, but it&#8217;s justified considering the company's revenue growth of 7.7% year-over-year, outpacing larger competitors like Lockheed and Northrop while maintaining healthy cash flow.
Last quarter, the company saw gross margins of 26.4% (far above industry average) and $5.52 billion in institutional money has flowed into the stock in the last 12 months. LHX has a $40.6 billion market cap and pays a 2.2% dividend yield. The stock chart shows upward momentum has petered out recently, but the RSI indicates it could be time to start accumulating shares again.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>)</h2>
The future of defense isn't just on land, air, and water, but also online through the various information networks connecting governments and businesses all over the globe. Protecting private information is a crucial aspect for any large organization, and Palo Alto Networks has been providing cybersecurity solutions to public and private clients for nearly 20 years.
The company's main product is a line of firewalls designed to protect networks of all shapes and sizes, but it also operates Unit 42, an advance threat detection team. The FBI has credited Unit 42 with catching numerous hacking groups and cybercriminals, including the Gorgon hacking syndicate and the Xbash ransomware program.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="298" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123053/PANW-1024x298.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741408" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123053/PANW-1024x298.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123053/PANW-300x87.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123053/PANW-768x224.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123053/PANW.png 1302w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Palo Alto Networks has a few tailwinds working for it that investors should keep an eye on. For starters, the company is a serial acquirer of smaller cybersecurity firms, with seven major acquisition announcements since 2020 (six have closed as of this writing). The incoming administration is expected to be much friendlier to merger and acquisition activity, which could greenlight Palo Alto to dig deeper into its cash horde for new companies.
Cybersecurity firms also have less capital expenditures since they aren't building ships or planes or tanks, but computer programs to protect from invisible threats. This allows companies like Palo Alto to operate leaner than traditional defense firms, and retain more of their revenue as profit.
But even compared to other cybersecurity firms, Palo Alto stands out. The company has 33% profit margins and quarterly revenue growth of 12% year-over-year.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</h2>
General Dynamics has roots tracing back to the Electric Boat Company in 1899, but stands today as the fifth largest defense contractor in the United States. The company manufactures five major product lines: aircraft systems like the Aardvark and Fighting Falcon, marine systems like Electric Boat and Bath Iron Works, missile systems like the Redeye and Stinger, combat systems like the M1 Abrams and LAV series, and launch vehicles like the Atlas system.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="306" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123059/GD-1024x306.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741410" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123059/GD-1024x306.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123059/GD-300x90.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123059/GD-768x229.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123059/GD.png 1303w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
GD shares are down 11% over the last three months, but this correction could be a chance for investors to add shares. The company has grown revenue 10.4% year-over-year and has profit margins of 7.9%, higher than Northrop Grumman, RTX, and even L3Harris. Shares are trading below the 50-day moving average for the first time since October 2023, but other technical indicators show that the long-term uptrend remains in place.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>)</h2>
Booz Allen Hamilton might sound like an upscale clothing store, but it&#8217;s actually another major defense contractor, although not as well-known (or capitalized) as the big boys like Lockheed or Raytheon.
Founded at Northwestern University in 1914, Booz Allen Hamilton specializes in consulting, analytics, engineering, and cybersecurity services for governments, nonprofits, and private sector clients. The company has a $17.4 billion market cap and 1.5% dividend yield.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="298" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123105/BAH-1024x298.png" alt="" class="wp-image-741411" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123105/BAH-1024x298.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123105/BAH-300x87.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123105/BAH-768x224.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20123105/BAH.png 1302w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The BAH stock chart looks very similar to GD&#8217;s, only with a more pronounced dip. Shares are down 16% in the last three months despite consistent revenue growth and a 7.2% profit margin in the most recent quarter. Like GD shares, the stock has dipped below the 50-day moving average for the first time in over a year, but the long-term uptrend still looks strong. If defense contractors get a boost under the second Trump administration, Booz Allen Hamilton already has the stock momentum in place.
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Image via Defence.gov

Opinion

PANW

5 Defense Stocks to Buy for Trump 2.0

While there were many technological advancements at CES 2025, one robot caught people's attention for its ambition and controversy. The American robotics startup Realbotix unveiled Aria, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/41984426/nvidia-powers-teslas-humanoid-robots-with-new-ai-tech-heres-what-to-expect-in-2025">humanoid artificial intelligence robot</a> designed for "companionship and intimacy."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What's the Deal With Aria?</h2>
Aria is part of Realbotix's lineup of robots designed to address loneliness and provide emotional connection. It is available in three versions: a $12,000 bust, a $150,000 modular version and a $175,000 full-body model.
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The $150,000 version stands out because it can apparently be taken apart and packed up, making it easy to move around.&nbsp;
<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">MEET ARIA &#8211; THE FEMALE COMPANION ROBOT BY <a href="https://twitter.com/RealbotixCorp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealbotixCorp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aria</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/realbotix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#realbotix</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ces2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ces2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ces?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ces</a> <a href="https://t.co/oKh4Ggfb6O">pic.twitter.com/oKh4Ggfb6O</a>
&mdash; Dominic DiTanna (@dominicditanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominicditanna/status/1877175915806945683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Realbotix has focused on making Aria appear as lifelike as possible. In fact, the company's goal is to "create robots that are indistinguishable from humans." As Forbes reports, the robot has 17 motors in its face, enabling basic eye and mouth movements to replicate human expressions. It also uses AI to have conversations, though its responses can sometimes be slow and its movements a bit stiff, showing the limits of today's technology.
See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>
Aria's appearance is also customizable. It can be made as male or female and users can swap out its face, hair and even its personality. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42687432/smx-shares-soar-60-on-breakthrough-nfcrfid-protection-tech">RFID technology</a> is being developed by Realbotix so that the robot can identify various faces and modify its behavior accordingly. These features allow for a degree of personalization that sets it apart from standard AI devices.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not Just for Companionship</h2>
While Realbotix describes Aria as a robot for &#8220;companionship and intimacy,&#8221; it has distanced the product from being labeled a sex robot. CEO Andrew Kiguel highlighted its &#8220;social intelligence&#8221; and talked about using Aria in hospitals, theme parks or for customer service. Nonetheless, hints at the possibility of &#8220;conversations of a more intimate nature&#8221; have fueled speculation about the robot's intended use.
The high price tag means Aria isn't for everyone. Realbotix seems to be targeting tech fans, businesses and people looking for unique solutions to loneliness or interaction. The suitcase-friendly design adds convenience, but it's still a big investment.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Futuristic or Unsettling?</h2>
<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">I&#39;m cracking up about this Realbotix AI girlfriend. The funniest thing is it&#39;s not even a sex toy. Like they made this weird thing that looks like Chucky and moves like It&#39;s a Small World After All presumably for people who would bang it, but they can&#39;t bang it lol <a href="https://t.co/tIvkFn9IkN">pic.twitter.com/tIvkFn9IkN</a>
&mdash; Peter Coffin (@petercoffin) <a href="https://twitter.com/petercoffin/status/1878111254499250421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Reactions to Aria are mixed. While some think it's a cool step forward in robotics, others find it unsettling. Critics have pointed out its stiff movements and overly &#8220;humanlike&#8221; features, saying it falls into the &#8220;uncanny valley&#8221; where robots look almost human but not quite. Others have questioned the design choices and whether they're more about marketing than practicality.
Aria shows <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836293/samsungs-ballie-is-finally-coming-in-2025-will-this-round-home-robot-live-up-to-the-hype">how far robots have come</a>, but also how far they still need to go. Whether it becomes a household item or stays a niche product, it's sparking big questions about how robots might fit into our lives.
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Robotics Company Showcases $150,000 'Companionship And Intimacy' AI Robots That You Can Break Apart And Carry In A Suitcase With You

Digital asset investment products recorded $2.2 billion in inflows last week, driven by market optimism <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43076428/trump-inauguration-to-trigger-250k-bitcoin-rally-or-a-plunge-below-100k-analysts-weigh-in">surrounding Donald Trump's inauguration</a>.
What Happened: Total assets under management propelled to a record $171 billion, marking the largest weekly inflow of the year.
According to a Coinshares <a href="https://blog.coinshares.com/volume-217-digital-asset-fund-flows-weekly-report-02c0bf3c093d">report</a>, the significant surge in digital asset investment owes credit to investor enthusiasm for Trump's inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20.
Last week, inflows reached $2.2 billion, a yearly high, bringing year-to-date (YTD) inflows to $2.8 billion. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43083490/melania-rise-and-trumps-fall-signal-crypto-mainstreaming-and-potential-blow-to-tradfi-experts-note">Melania Rises, Official Trump Falls: Experts Say Meme Coins Signal &#8216;Paradigm Shift&#8217; And Potential Blow To TradFi</a>
Total assets under management (AuM) for digital asset products also hit a new all-time high of $171 billion.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) led the inflows, attracting $1.9 billion, which brings its YTD inflows to $2.7 billion.
"Bitcoin's performance remains the dominant force in the market, with substantial institutional interest driving these record inflows,&#8221; the report noted.
Ripple (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) also saw notable gains, with $31 million in inflows last week. This brings its total inflows since mid-November 2024 to $484 million.
Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), after weeks of outflows, managed to attract $246 million, though it remains one of the weaker performers in the YTD flow data.
Unusually, despite Bitcoin's price rally, short Bitcoin products saw minor outflows of $0.5 million, contrasting typical trends where short positions attract inflows during periods of positive price momentum.
Regionally, the U.S. accounted for the lion's share of inflows, contributing $2 billion.
Switzerland and Canada followed, with inflows of $89 million and $13 million, respectively. 
Trading volumes on exchange-traded products (ETPs) globally surged to $21 billion last week, representing 34% of Bitcoin's trading volumes on trusted exchanges. 
Why It Matters: President Trump&#8217;s pro-cryptocurrency stance bodes well for the sector.
"The Trump inauguration appears to have reinvigorated market sentiment, driving this unprecedented level of inflows. Investors are clearly optimistic about the administration's potential crypto-friendly policies," CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill, said.
The report also highlighted the implications for broader markets, suggesting that this surge reflects growing institutional confidence in digital assets. 
"We're seeing strong signals that institutional players are increasingly viewing digital assets as a vital component of their portfolios," Butterfill added.
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PayPal Holdings's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NYSE">PYPL</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.35% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 26.80 million shares sold short, which is 2.68% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.33 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>PayPal Holdings Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737393323_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for PayPal Holdings has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing PayPal Holdings's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, PayPal Holdings's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.04%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

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PYPL

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Zoom Communications's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZM#NYSE">ZM</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.2% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.11 million shares sold short, which is 3.1% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.27 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Zoom Communications Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737393318_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Zoom Communications has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Zoom Communications's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Zoom Communications's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.27%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Zoom Communications's Recent Short Interest

Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) short percent of float has fallen 12.44% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 23.82 million shares sold short, which is 1.76% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.41 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Chipotle Mexican Grill Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737393313_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Chipotle Mexican Grill has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Chipotle Mexican Grill's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Chipotle Mexican Grill's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.93%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Chipotle Mexican Grill's Recent Short Interest

Texas Roadhouse's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NYSE">TXRH</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.15% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.62 million shares sold short, which is 2.44% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.59 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Texas Roadhouse Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737391523_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Texas Roadhouse has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Texas Roadhouse's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Texas Roadhouse's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.90%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

TXRH

Looking Into Texas Roadhouse's Recent Short Interest

Voya Financial's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOYA#NYSE">VOYA</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.94% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.74 million shares sold short, which is 2.32% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.1 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Voya Financial Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737391517_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Voya Financial has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Voya Financial's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Voya Financial's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.32%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

VOYA

How Is The Market Feeling About Voya Financial?

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/42932626/billionaire-mark-cuban-on-college-costs-pick-the-cheapest-school-you-can-find-its-about-learning-not-prestige">Mark Cuban</a>, billionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank legend, has built a reputation for betting big and playing the long game. According to Shark Tank Insights, Mark Cuban has invested approximately $61.9 million across 204 deals on the show.
Sure, not every deal has been a home run, but Cuban insists the overall market value of his portfolio keeps climbing, proving that patience and strategy go a long way.
But even billionaires take hits. In 2022, Cuban didn't sugarcoat his struggles when he appeared on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_8wm30tLyc">Full Send Podcast.</a> &#8220;Oh no, I&#8217;ve gotten beat,&#8221; he confessed, discussing his portfolio's net losses.&nbsp;
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<li>With 100+ historic trademark victories, this company holds IP for some of the highest-grossing characters in history. Now, they've propelled these icons into the future using next-gen patented AR, VR, and AI technology. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-1">There&#8217;s now a limited window for investors to claim shares at just $2/share with $980 minimum—but the clock is ticking.</a></li>
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One deal that went south in a big way? Breathometer, a smartphone Breathalyzer app. Cuban thought the product was solid, but the founder's financial mismanagement sank the ship. "Next thing you know, all the money is gone," he said during the interview, recalling how the founder's social media posts of extravagant vacations were a big red flag.
Still, Cuban's had plenty of reasons to celebrate. BeatBox Beverages, a fun, party-ready wine brand, turned his $1 million investment for a one-third stake into a massive win. Forbes reports that the company now pulls in about $200 million a year.&nbsp;
Another big success is Dude Wipes, a personal hygiene brand. Cuban put down $300,000 for 25% equity and today, the company's worth has ballooned to over $300 million.
See Also: According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a>
When it comes to measuring success, Cuban takes the long view. "On a mark-to-market basis, I'm killing it," <a href="https://fortune.com/videos/watch/from-%24160k-to-%2419k%3A-mark-cuban%E2%80%99s-cost-plus-drugs-saves-millions-for-employers/993d5cea-ad21-45fe-95bc-320355fc6194">he told Fortune</a>, explaining how he evaluates his portfolio based on current market values.&nbsp;
Some of his gutsiest investments, like a $2 million deal for a 20% stake in Ten Thirty-One Productions – a live horror attraction company – have proved to be showstoppers. Mush, a ready-to-eat oats company and Gameday Couture, a trendy sports apparel brand, have also thrived under Cuban's guidance.&nbsp;
As of December 2024, Mush&#8217;s valuation is estimated at approximately $10.9 million, reflecting an annual growth rate of about 10% since its appearance on &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; in 2017. In 2014, Gameday Couture appeared on &#8220;Shark Tank,&#8221; where Mark Cuban invested $500,000 for a 30% stake, valuing the company at approximately $1.6 million at that time.
For Cuban, it's never just about the numbers. "It's not about money or connections – it's the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone," he said.&nbsp;
Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/qnetic-2">This 12,000 RPM Spinning Battery With Over $100 Million In LOIs Could Be The Missing Link For Green Energy — Here&#8217;s Why Early Investors Are Flocking To Invest Before Funding Closes</a>
He looks for founders with tenacity and vision, knowing that not all rewards come immediately. While he has had his fair share of flops, his ability to spot raw potential keeps him ahead of the curve.
Outside of Cuban's portfolio, the startup world is buzzing. According to Crunchbase News, global venture funding hit $66.5 billion in Q3 2024, down 16% from the previous quarter. But one sector is booming: AI.&nbsp;
According to Reuters, these companies scooped up 46.4% of U.S. venture funding this year, a massive jump from less than 10% a decade ago. As reported by WSJ, Anthropic, a hot <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42724565/dont-count-your-chickens-this-5-billion-food-startup-counts-them-daily-while-pushing-ai-to-predict-your-meals">AI startup</a>, raised $2 billion at a jaw-dropping $60 billion valuation, showing just how much money is pouring into the space.
While the number of venture capital firms in the U.S. has shrunk by 25% since 2021, Cuban's $5.7 billion net worth, per Forbes, proves his strategy is working.
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<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
<li>Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-the-most-boring-blockchain-company-partners-with-salesforce">this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.</a></li>
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Startups

Mark Cuban's $29 Million Shark Tank Portfolio: From $200K In Dude Wipes To $200M For BeatBox Beverages – 'I'm Killing It'

D-Wave Quantum's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.09% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 28.95 million shares sold short, which is 14.62% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.0 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>D-Wave Quantum Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737391512_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for D-Wave Quantum has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing D-Wave Quantum's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, D-Wave Quantum's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.95%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

QBTS

(QBTS) - Analyzing D-Wave Quantum's Short Interest

Canadian Natural Res (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNQ#NYSE">CNQ</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 2.81% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.51%. Currently, Canadian Natural Res has a market capitalization of $65.87 billion. 
Buying $100 In CNQ: If an investor had bought $100 of CNQ stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $201.69 today based on a price of $31.17 for CNQ at the time of writing.
<h3>Canadian Natural Res's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737390608_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In Canadian Natural Res 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Donald Trump pledged to waste no time reshaping U.S. policy after he was officially sworn in as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43085323/trump-sworn-in-as-47th-president-declares-golden-age-of-america-begins-right-now">47th president of the U.S.</a>
Within minutes of his swearing-in ceremony, Trump in a speech from the U.S. Capitol rotunda, promised to roll out a barrage of executive actions targeting energy, immigration, inflation, social policies and trade.
While his long-promised tariffs are expected to remain on hold — for now — Trump is reportedly expected to sign anywhere from 10 to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/20/us/trump-executive-orders">100 </a>executive orders in his first 24 hours, marking a dramatic start to his second term.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Energy Emergency, Oil Declines</h3>
Trump is moving swiftly to boost U.S. fossil fuel production, with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/20/us/trump-executive-orders?">The New York Times</a> reporting that he will declare a national energy emergency, even though President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/what-bidens-oil-record-means-for-the-industrys-future/">presided</a> over a record boom <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/10/35240230/us-is-producing-more-oil-under-biden-than-at-any-point-under-the-trump-administration">in domestic oil production</a>. 
Analysts expect only marginal increases in oil production under Trump, despite his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/11/42164230/amid-trumps-drill-baby-drill-pledge-strategist-predicts-us-oil-supply-will-see-marginal-increase-does-the-world-need-that-much-oil">&#8220;drill baby drill&#8221; stance</a>.
Trump is expected to significantly roll back environmental regulations and focus on Alaska's vast oil and gas reserves, a resource the administration sees as critical to reducing energy costs.
The order will focus on Alaska's vast natural resources and is expected to eliminate restrictions on domestic drilling, with the administration arguing that increased production will help lower gasoline and utility costs. 
The same order will end the electric vehicle mandate and lift regulations on consumer appliances such as dishwashers and stoves.
Market reaction has been immediate—crude oil futures, tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), fell 1.6% by 10:30 a.m. ET, as traders digested the implications of higher U.S. output.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">All-Hands Inflation Strategy</h3>
The Trump administration will also launch a government-wide initiative to combat inflation, though specific details remain scarce. 
A White House official told Reuters that the effort will include "decisive actions" to lower costs for American consumers, potentially tied to energy production and supply chain deregulation.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Immigration Crackdown, Border Emergency, Diversity Programs Scrapped</h3>
Trump is also taking an aggressive stance on immigration and other social policies. 
During his rhetoric-filled speech, declared illegal immigration a national emergency, paving the way for a series of executive actions. An incoming administration official told the outlet that Trump will block all asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border, deploy additional troops, and accelerate border wall construction.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that Trump will designate criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. It&#8217;s a move that could escalate tensions with Mexico, considering 
Perhaps the most legally contentious order will be Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship. 
Reuters also reported that the administration will move forward with an executive action that seeks to deny U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil to undocumented parents. The measure is expected to face immediate constitutional challenges, as the 14th Amendment explicitly guarantees birthright citizenship.
&#8220;The federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States. We are also going to enhance vetting and screening of illegal aliens,&#8221; the official said to Reuters.
The president will also sign an executive order eliminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, reversing initiatives that expanded under the Biden administration. 
The move extends to hiring practices, government contracts, and workplace training, marking a significant rollback of affirmative action efforts within federal agencies.
Trump is also expected to issue a proclamation declaring that, under federal law, there are only two biological sexes—male and female.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs On Hold, For Now</h3>
Despite fiery campaign rhetoric on trade, Trump will not impose new tariffs on his first day in office, a temporary relief for markets that had been bracing for sweeping levies. 
Instead, he is expected to sign a memorandum directing federal agencies to review U.S. trade policies, particularly in relation to China, Mexico, and Canada, according to an exclusive <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-to-lay-out-trade-visionbut-wont-impose-new-tariffs-yet-b9c8378d">Wall Street Journal</a> report. 
The outlet confirmed that Trump's team has prepared a broad directive on trade policy but has opted to delay immediate tariff action. 
Market odds on Trump announcing tariffs before Thursday have dropped to as low as 16%, according to CFTC-regulated prediction platform Kalshi, the lowest level since betting began in December.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43083803/market-bets-on-trumps-tariff-announcement-plummet-dollar-falls-whats-going-on">Market Bets On Trump&#8217;s Tariff Announcement Plummet, Dollar Falls: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Crypto Executive Order On Day 1? More Likely Than Not</h3>
While tariffs are on the back burner, speculation is growing over whether Trump will move on cryptocurrency regulation today. 
Betting markets on Kalshi now price in a 56% chance that a crypto-related executive order will be issued within the first 24 hours. 
With Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) trading above $105,000, investors are closely watching whether Trump will push forward with a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, a concept he floated on the campaign trail. 
The move would signal a pro-crypto shift in U.S. policy, potentially impacting regulatory frameworks for digital assets.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/KXCRYPTODAY1-25/markets/KXCRYPTODAY1-25?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=large" width="552px" height="400px" style="border:0" /></iframe>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43083490/melania-rise-and-trumps-fall-signal-crypto-mainstreaming-and-potential-blow-to-tradfi-experts-note">Melania Rises, Official Trump Falls: Experts Say Meme Coins Signal &#8216;Paradigm Shift&#8217; And Potential Blow To TradFi</a></li>
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Image: Shutterstock
Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated with additional information.

Commodities

Economics

Trump Day 1, Executive Order Tsunami Incoming: Energy, Inflation, Immigration In Focus But What About Tariffs? (UPDATED)

Atlassian's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NYSE">TEAM</a>) short percent of float has risen 62.89% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.17 million shares sold short, which is 2.59% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.37 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Atlassian Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737389722_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Atlassian has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Atlassian's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Atlassian's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.29%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

TEAM

(TEAM) - Analyzing Atlassian's Short Interest

iShares Edge MSCI USA Multifactor UCITS ETF USD (Acc)

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