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U.S. stocks traded lower, with the Dow Jones dropping around 450 points on Tuesday. Here are some big stocks recording gains in today’s session.

Manitowoc, Helix Energy Solutions, JELD-WEN Holding And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Tuesday

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Iris Acquisition Corp Warrants (24/02/2026)

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Patrick Trucchio reiterates Altimmune (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALT#NASDAQ">ALT</a>) with a Buy and maintains $12 price target.

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Altimmune, Maintains $12 Price Target

Needham analyst has initiated coverage on Absci Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABSI#NASDAQ">ABSI</a>), a drug and target discovery company that harnesses deep learning AI and synthetic biology to expand proteins&#8217; therapeutic potential.
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) has led to the emergence of numerous companies that are difficult to tell apart. This challenge is worsened by the fact that clinical proof of concept (POC) in this area is still years away.
Recently, Absci entered into a strategic collaboration with&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) to enhance its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42874399/amd-invests-20m-in-absci-to-boost-ai-drug-discovery" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI drug discovery capabilities</a>.
Needham analyst Gil Blum writes that Absci sets itself apart with its practical focus on drug development.
Absci leverages its proprietary synthetic biology technology (SoluPro) to internally generate large experimental datasets that can be further refined using AI/ML.
The company has demonstrated an ability to rapidly develop indication-agnostic leads while focusing on highly optimized agents to reduce downstream clinical failure.
Needham writes that Absci&#8217;s core technologies, SoluPro and ACE, are essential for a successful tech-bio company. These high-throughput platforms generate large-scale, well-documented binding affinity data for biologics.
By combining this robust data with AI/ML, Absci can quickly identify and improve lead candidates through an iterative process. This capability was showcased by the rapid development of the company&#8217;s TL1A candidate, ABS-101.
Needham has initiated with a Buy rating and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ABSI/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecast of $9</a>. Blum writes that Absci builds its value through proprietary assets it develops in-house, such as ABS-101, 201, 301, and 501.
The company focuses on creating first-in-class or best-in-class therapies, progressing them from discovery to early clinical trials. Instead of handling commercialization, Absci plans to partner with other companies after proving the concept in clinical trials.
Additionally, Absci works with pharmaceutical partners like Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Almirall SA, and AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>) on early-stage projects. These collaborations provide milestone payments and royalties, offering steady income with less financial risk.
This approach allows Absci to quickly advance and monetize clinical-stage assets, aligning well with its AI/ML-driven platform.
Price Action: ABSI stock is up 23% at $3.96 at the last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43133056/travelers-reports-10-sales-growth-in-q4-driven-by-strong-performance-in-earned-premiums" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Travelers Reports 10% Sales Growth In Q4, Driven by Strong Performance in Earned Premiums</a></li>
</ul>

Analyst Color

Health Care

Initiation

General

ABSI

Analyst Praises AMD-Partner Absci's Practical Approach, Sees 118% Stock Upside

United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>) reported fourth-quarter earnings after the market closed on Tuesday. The following are the comments from different analysts regarding the company&#8217;s report.
Goldman Sachs analyst Catherine O'Brien maintained a $125 price forecast on the stock, based on a normalized EBITDAR valuation methodology applying a 4.9x EV/EBITDAR multiple to a normalized EBITDAR estimate of $12.8 billion.
United reported an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43114961/united-airlines-q4-earnings-revenue-eps-beat-estimates-as-demand-trends-continue-to-accelerate">adjusted EPS of $3.26 for the December quarter</a>, surpassing both FactSet consensus ($3.03) and its own guidance range ($2.50 to $3).
This outperformance was driven by stronger-than-expected revenue, with unit revenue (RASM) rising 1.6%, ahead of the expected 0.2%. The company also set its 2025 EPS guidance at $11.50 to $13.50, slightly below the consensus estimate of $12.78.
According to the analyst, investor focus was expected to be on the revenue assumptions behind the 2025 EPS guidance, as year-over-year comparisons would be easier later in the year than in the March quarter.
Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth reiterated an Outperform rating on the air carrier&#8217;s shares.
Like Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>), United&#8217;s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings and first-quarter 2025 guidance exceeded expectations, though the latter followed a significant rise in fuel prices, said the analyst.
Importantly, year-over-year RASM for international routes was positive in the fourth-quarter 2024 and United anticipated domestic year-over-year RASM to turn notably positive in first-quarter 2025, alongside continued growth in international RASM, noted the analyst.
The 2025 EPS forecast of $11.50-$13.50 compared to analyst&#8217;s and consensus projections of $12 and $12.80, respectively, aligning with buy-side expectations of $12-$14 before the recent fuel price hike.
Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora maintained a Buy rating on the shares and said United&#8217;s fourth-quarter FY24 EPS of $3.26, exceeded its guidance of $2.50-$3 and the consensus estimate of $3.04, though slightly under the analyst&#8217;s forecast of $3.34 due to higher fuel and unit costs.
Despite a nearly 8% increase in fuel prices, year-to-date concerns that United might guide below consensus were alleviated by strong revenue trends, noted the analyst.
The analyst considered United&#8217;s 2025 EPS guidance of $11.50-$13.50 to be quite reasonable, compared to the Street's estimate of $12.77.
The analyst believed the company&#8217;s current outlook reflected a balanced approach to both jet fuel costs and revenue trends and anticipated consensus estimates would rise following this outlook.
The growth in premium revenue, recovery in corporate travel and robust transatlantic sales contributed to a 7.8% increase in total fourth quarter 2024 revenue, said the analyst.
UAL Price Action: United shares are trading down by 1.03% at $109.38 at publication Wednesday.

Guidance

Travel

United Airlines Analysts Remain Bullish As Revenue Exceeds Estimates

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Joseph Pantginis reiterates Rigel Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIGL#NASDAQ">RIGL</a>) with a Buy and maintains $57 price target.

RIGL

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Maintains $57 Price Target

Halliburton Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) shares are<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener"> trading lower on Wednesday.</a>
Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta reiterated the Buy rating on the stock, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HAL/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price forecast of $36.</a>
Halliburton reported a fourth-quarter revenue decline of 2.3% year-over-year to $5.610 billion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43131221/halliburton-faces-mixed-q4-with-north-american-weakness-but-global-gains-and-cash-flow-bolster-optimism" rel="noreferrer noopener">missing the consensus of $5.63 billion</a>. Completion and Production revenue fell 4.2% YoY to $3.2 billion, with $629 million operating income.
The analyst noted that softer revenue was mainly due to a decline in Completion and Production, partially offset by Drilling and Evaluation. North America revenue was 7% below the analyst&#8217;s estimate, while international revenue was 3% higher.
Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43126103/oracles-ai-moonshot-why-project-stargate-could-propel-orcl-stock-higher" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Oracle&#8217;s AI Moonshot: Why Project Stargate Could Propel ORCL Stock Higher</a>
Mehta writes, free cash flow for the quarter was $1.104 billion, surpassing the analyst&#8217;s estimate of $930 million and consensus of $1.045 billion. This beat was attributed to better working capital and lower capital expenditures ($426 million vs the analyst estimate of $454 million).
During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately $309 million in common stock, in line with the analsyst&#8217;s estimate of $310 million.
The analyst is uncertain about 2025 revenue growth by region and is seeking clarity on expectations for activity in the international market, particularly in the Middle East.
Mehta has questions on how investors should view long-term margin expansion, especially in a flat activity environment.
Additionally, the analyst is ambiguous about Halliburton&#8217;s future participation in the power space, including its partnership with VoltaGrid. Finally, there is uncertainty around how capital returns in 2025 should be approached, the analyst highlights.
Price Action: HAL shares are trading lower by 1.51% to $29.09 at last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43122667/oracle-unveils-ai-powered-sales-tools-to-boost-customer-engagements-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oracle Unveils AI-Powered Sales Tools To Boost Customer Engagements: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Ground Picture on Shutterstock.

Equities

Halliburton's Soft Revenue Lags Estimates, Goldman Sachs Analyst Seeks Clarity On 2025 Activities

RBC Capital analyst Michael Harvey reiterates Veren (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRN#TSX">VRN</a>) with a Outperform and maintains C$10 price target.

TSX:VRN

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Veren, Maintains C$10 Price Target

Anthony Pompliano, founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management, discussed the rise of branded &#8220;meme coins&#8221; like those tied to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/trump-coin-price-prediction">Donald and Melania Trump</a>.
What Happened: Speaking with CNBC on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_2I5B26DbA">Tuesday</a>, Pompliano likened meme coins to digital trading cards—speculative assets with value primarily driven by branding and perceived scarcity rather than underlying business fundamentals.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>24-Hour Trend</td>
<td>Since Launch</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OFFICIAL TRUMP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$39.52</td>
<td>$7.9 billion</td>
<td>+2.9%&nbsp;</td>
<td>+509.4%&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Official Melania Meme (CRYPTO: MELANIA)</td>
<td>&nbsp;$3.79</td>
<td>$728.3 million</td>
<td>-0.3%&nbsp;</td>
<td>-48.2%&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Commenting on Trump and Melania Coins, he described them as examples of leveraging strong personal brands in the digital financial space. 
He noted that Trump's track record in business and his widely recognized personal brand amplify investor interest, even amid concerns about the coins&#8217; financial foundation or potential conflicts of interest.
Pompliano explained that perceived scarcity often contributes to the value of these coins, much like Bitcoin or rare art, but their speculative nature makes them highly volatile. 
He urged investors to critically assess the long-term value of such assets.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43133561/bitcoin-could-drop-up-to-20-as-trump-hope-fades-standard-chartered-warns">Bitcoin Could Drop Up To 20% As Trump &#8216;Hope&#8217; Fades, Standard Chartered Warns</a>
Why It Matters: Pompliano highlighted how retail investors play a pivotal role in propelling these assets, much like Dogecoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) meteoric rise despite its origins as a joke. 
He contrasted this retail enthusiasm with institutional acceptance of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), which has gained legitimacy as a digital asset.
However, he cautioned that meme coins, including Trump-themed tokens, lack tangible business backing and pose significant investment risks. 
Critics, such as Dave Portnoy, have likened some meme coins to Ponzi schemes, further emphasizing the need for caution
Pompliano also highlighted Bitcoin&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42815711/bitcoin-is-the-the-grand-daddy-and-outshines-wall-street-anthony-pompliano-says">dominance as a legitimate investment</a>, noting its superior performance compared to traditional assets like the S&amp;P 500, gold and Berkshire Hathaway.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43135463/strategic-bitcoin-reserve-probability-up-to-64-despite-trump-silence-on-crypto">Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Probability Up To 64% Despite Trump Silence On Crypto</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

$TRUMP

Donald, Melania Trump Meme Coins Are A Personal Brand Play, Says Anthony Pompliano

RBC Capital analyst Trevor Bryan reiterates Northland Power (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NPI#TSX">NPI</a>) with a Outperform and maintains C$28 price target.

TSX:NPI

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Northland Power, Maintains C$28 Price Target

In the current session, the stock is trading at $20.83, after a 1.26% spike. Over the past month, Plains All American Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAA#NASDAQ">PAA</a>) stock increased by 23.69%, and in the past year, by 29.86%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are optimistic but others are more likely to look into the price-to-earnings ratio to see if the stock might be overvalued.

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737569711_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Plains All American P/E Compared to Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 32.73 in the Oil, Gas &amp; Consumable Fuels industry, Plains All American Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 18.2. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737569711_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Price Over Earnings Overview: Plains All American

On Tuesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/21/jim-crame-taiwan-semis-bullish-earnings-revives-optimism.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNBC&#8217;s&nbsp;Jim Cramer</a> called out the market reaction to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43099745/taiwan-semiconductor-touts-1-5-billion-in-us-subsidies-confident-trump-will-maintain-chips-act-backing" rel="noreferrer noopener">quarterly print</a>. The sector, especially capital equipment companies, got a boost from the chipmaker&#8217;s report and guidance.
Taiwan Semiconductor reported&nbsp;fourth-quarter revenue&nbsp;of $26.88 billion, up by 39%, topping the analyst consensus of $26.28 billion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43110913/apples-iphone-dependence-remains-but-services-wearables-offer-growth-potential-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPhone Dependence Remains, But Services, Wearables Offer Growth Potential: Analyst</a>
The gross margin was 59%, up 600 bps, backed by its 3-nm and 5-nm technologies.
The company expects first-quarter 2025 revenue of $25.0 billion—$25.8 billion, compared to the&nbsp;$24.97 billion consensus estimate. It has also earmarked $38 billion—$42 billion in fiscal 2025 capex versus the actual fiscal 2024 capex of $29.8 billion.&nbsp;
Taiwan Semiconductor shared plans to boost manufacturing capabilities, marking its focus on advanced process technologies.
Cramer correlated advanced process technologies with equipment catering to Nvidia Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) GPUs and other accelerators. Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s plan to boost capex on equipment triggered a rally in its supplier stocks, including&nbsp;Applied Materials, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>),&nbsp;Lam Research&nbsp;Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), and&nbsp;KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Cramer reasoned. However, the rally reflected investor conviction on the companies&#8217; prospects.
Cramer also attributed the rally to investor expectations that the Trump administration would soften some of the Biden government&#8217;s advanced semiconductor technology embargo as the former took charge on Monday.
Taiwan Semiconductor won a $1.5 billion grant from the U.S. for its semiconductor facilities in Arizona, where the chipmaker has invested over $65 billion.
Trump verbally attacked Taiwan Semi during&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43053982/taiwan-semiconductor-chief-calls-us-semiconductor-sanctions-manageable-to-skip-trump-inauguration" rel="noreferrer noopener">his presidential campaign</a> for allegedly&nbsp;undermining America&#8217;s chip industry. He also criticized the U.S. CHIPS Act and promised to slap tariffs on Taiwanese chips.
Recently, Taiwan Semiconductor chief C.C. Wei dismissed concerns over U.S. AI sanctions, calling them &#8220;manageable.&#8221; He voiced the chipmaker&#8217;s focus on advanced packaging, citing that non-AI sectors like automotive and crypto mining remain unaffected by sanctions.
Bernstein analyst Rupal Agarwal reiterated an Outperform rating on Taiwan Semiconductor with a $258.00 price target, marking it as the firm&#8217;s 2025 top pick.
Taiwan Semiconductor stock surged over 93% in the last 12 months.
Price Action: TSM stock traded higher by 2.41% to $223.97 at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43065280/intel-gains-8-on-speculation-of-buyout-details-remain-unclear" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Stock Gains On Speculative Buyout Report, Details Remain Unclear</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by wakamatsu.h via Shutterstock

Tech

Media

AMAT

KLAC

LRCX

NVDA

Taiwan Semiconductor's Capex Plans Boost These Chip Stocks, Jim Cramer Says

Tech stocks enjoyed a surge Wednesday, driven by a sharp rise in semiconductor shares after President Donald Trump, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) co-founder Larry Ellison, and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son unveiled the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43135764/trumps-500-billion-stargate-ai-plan-puts-3-etfs-in-focus">Stargate Project on Tuesday</a>.
The $500 billion initiative is set to develop AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years.
According to OpenAI, &#8220;this infrastructure will secure American leadership in AI, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and generate massive economic benefit for the entire world.&#8221;
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) was up 2.3% by midday trading in New York, eyeing their fourth straight positive session, the longest streak since late September. 
Yet, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)&#8217;s CEO Elon Musk questioned the financial viability, saying that founders &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43121798/elon-musk-says-project-stargate-doesnt-actually-have-the-money-after-trump-announces-500-billion-ai-investment-led-by-softbank-oracle-and-openai">don't actually have the money</a>.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">They don't actually have the money
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881923570458304780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The earnings season continues to be off to a strong start, with companies surpassing fourth-quarter expectations, showcasing the resilience of corporate America. Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) delivered a stronger-than-expected quarterly performance across the board, driving its shares up 12%.
Elsewhere, small caps paused for a breather following Tuesday&#8217;s outperformance vis-à-vis large-cap counterparts. 
Chinese stocks slipped, with the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXI#NYSE">FXI</a>) down 0.8%, after Trump floated the idea of imposing a 10% tariff on China starting from Feb. 1.
In commodities, gold prices surged to an 11-week-high, marking their tenth gain in the past eleven sessions, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical risks.
On Wednesday, Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of potential new sanctions if a peace deal for Ukraine is not reached. Meanwhile, oil prices remained flat after three consecutive sessions of losses.
In the crypto market, selling pressure is mounting as traders react to the absence of crypto-related commentary from the new administration, which had previously positioned itself as crypto-friendly. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) retreated nearly 2% to $104,000.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,933.62</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,103.81</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,173.70</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,307.01</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent012225&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.8% to $602.64.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;inched 0.3% higher to $441.25.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 1.6% to $533.22.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.5% to $228.56.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) rallied, up 2.4%; the&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 1.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Oracle Corp. rallied 7% as reaction to the Stargate project. Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) was the chipmaker&#8217;s top performer on Wednesday, up 14%. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rose over 4%. </li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>) rose 2.8% in reaction to quarterly results beating Street&#8217;s estimates. </li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to company earnings include Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>), up 8.8%, Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), up 2.6%, United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), down 2%, Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>), up 9%, Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), down 1.3%, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) down 3.4%, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>), up 2.2%, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), up 2.2%, Amphenol Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>), up 6%, The Travelers Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) up 3.8%, Halliburton Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>), down 1.3%, Ally Financials Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>), up 4.5%. </li>
<li>Major large-cap companies slated to report earnings after the close include Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMI#NYSE">KMI</a>), Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) and Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>), </li>
</ul>
Now Read: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43135622/coffee-prices-soar-to-record-highs-could-starbucks-face-margin-squeeze">Coffee Prices Soar To Record Highs: Could Starbucks Face Margin Squeeze?</a></li>
</ul>
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Chipmakers Rally On AI Stargate Bet, Netflix Soars, Bitcoin Falters As Trump Keeps Quiet On Crypto: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

Bank of America analyst Lorraine Hutchinson reiterated a Buy rating on Bath &amp; Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBWI#NYSE">BBWI</a>) and maintained its $45 price target.
The Details: Hutchinson, in the note, explains that investors are often concerned that Average Unit Retail (AUR) will weaken as the company relies on promotions to drive sales.
However, the analyst argues that Bath &amp; Body Works will continue using a mix of strategies in 2025 to generate positive conversion trends and modest AUR growth. In the past, the company has used strategic price increases on fragrances, higher traffic through store remodels, and a mix of other methods to achieve this.
The analyst believes positive growth will continue due to the company&#8217;s Netflix collaboration and new product launches. Specifically, Hutchinson highlights the launch of new adjacencies, including Men's, Hair, Lip and Laundry.
Among these new categories, Men's grooming stands out as the largest. Despite its relatively low awareness, it demonstrates strong potential driven by early momentum from increased marketing and a new fragrance launch in the third quarter.
The analyst also believes that candle sales, which spiked during COVID and then tapered off as trends normalized, will no longer hinder Bath &amp; Body Works' overall sales. Although candle sales have yet to return to pre-COVID growth levels, the decline has slowed, and the analyst does not expect it to negatively impact 2025 sales.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/01/43137464/rail-vision-shares-surge-after-sujan-ventures-agrees-to-advance-safety-systems">Rail Vision Shares Surge After Sujan Ventures Agrees To Advance Safety Systems</a>
BBWI Price Action: At the time of writing, Bath &amp; Body Works shares are trading 0.4% lower at $37.12, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: Courtesy of Bath &amp; Body Works, Inc.

BBWI

Hutchinson Maintains Buy Rating On Bath & Body Works, Sees Continued Growth

RBC Capital analyst Karl Shepard maintains Zions Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $61 to $63.

ZION

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Zions Bancorp, Raises Price Target to $63

Macro Economic Events

Economics

North Dakota Oil Output Estimated To Be Down About 70,000-100,000 BPD Due To Extreme Cold And Related Operations Challenges; North Dakota Pipeline Authority Anticipate That The Majority Of The Lost Production Will Return Online Within The Next 3-6 Days

RBC Capital analyst Karl Shepard reiterates Old National (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONB#NASDAQ">ONB</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $24 to $26.

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on Old National, Raises Price Target to $26

RBC Capital analyst Nik Modi reiterates Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNST#NASDAQ">MNST</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $59 price target.

MNST

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Monster Beverage, Maintains $59 Price Target

<a href="https://news.delta.com/delta-teams-working-recover-day-after-rare-gulf-coast-region-snow-event" title="https://news.delta.com/delta-teams-working-recover-day-after-rare-gulf-coast-region-snow-event">https://news.delta.com/delta-teams-working-recover-day-after-rare-gulf-coast-region-snow-event</a>

Delta Air Lines Canceled About 400 Delta Mainline & Delta Connection Flights Before Noon Wednesday Due To Gulf Coast Region Snow; Says Customers Should Anticipate Additional Delays & Cancellations

Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland maintains Ambarella (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMBA#NASDAQ">AMBA</a>) with a Positive and raises the price target from $95 to $100.

AMBA

Susquehanna Maintains Positive on Ambarella, Raises Price Target to $100

Atmos Energy's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATO#NYSE">ATO</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.9% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.43 million shares sold short, which is 3.27% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.35 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>Atmos Energy Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737568933_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Atmos Energy 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 Atmos Energy'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>, Atmos Energy's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.22%, 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.

Short Sellers

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How Is The Market Feeling About Atmos Energy?

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RICK#NASDAQ">RICK</a>) today announced closing on the acquisition of Flight Club, the premier gentlemen's club in the Detroit market, 5 miles from Detroit Metro Airport and 20 miles from downtown, casinos and major sports venues.
The purchase price totaled $11.0 million, consisting of $3.0 million cash and $5.0 million seller financing at 8.0% for the club, and $3.0 million cash for associated real estate. The company expects the acquisition to contribute an estimated $2.0 million in annualized adjusted EBITDA.

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