Microsoft Stock (NASDAQ:MSFT), Trade Ideas

Microsoft

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

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AAPL

GOOGL

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Good Morning Traders! In today&#39;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.

Market Clubhouse Morning Memo - April 24th, 2024 (Trade Strategy For SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, And TSLA)

Moderna

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Movers

MRNA

Moderna began a collaboration with OpenAI in early 2023 with the launch of Moderna&#39;s own instance of ChatGPT, called mChat. The company said Wednesday that it has reached more than 80% internal adoption of mChat, which has accelerated the AI culture at Moderna.

Moderna Stock Jumps On Collaboration With OpenAI: What&#39;s Going On?

trader ai2

Media

FANG

GOOG

Google&#39;s CEO announced restructuring to accelerate AI development, while Diamondback Energy and WisdomTree India ETF were recommended as final trades.

Alphabet, Diamondback Energy And More On CNBC&#39;s &#39;Final Trades&#39;

Microsoft Corp

Good Morning Traders! In today&#39;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.
Our proprietary formula, exclusive to Market Clubhouse, dictates these price levels. This dynamic equation takes into account price, volume, and options flow. These levels are updated every day and shared with all Clubhouse Members, prior to the opening of the market.
We recommend closely monitoring these stocks, and be prepared to leverage potential breakouts or reversals. As always, stay alert and ready to adjust your tactics based on the market&#39;s pulse to optimize your trading gains. Now, let&#39;s dive into the stock analysis:
<h3>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust</h3>
The SPY&nbsp;(ARCA: SPY) is currently trading around our specified level of 506.06. For the bullish scenario, a move above 506.06 towards 506.71 would be ideal. Should the market maintain strength above this level, we would look for a rise to 507.52. If 507.52 proves to be a reliable support during regular trading hours, the next target would be 508.34, with a final bullish objective for the day at 508.83.
On the downside, if SPY fails to sustain above 506.06, the focus shifts to bears aiming for a pullback to 505.32. A continuation of the downward trend could push the price to test 503.95. Breaking below this level could lead to a strong support test at 502.85, with the most significant bearish goal set at 501.74 for the day.
<h3>Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 </h3>
The QQQ (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) is currently fluctuating around the pivotal level of 427.32. Bulls would benefit from a push above this level to 428.50, with 429.40 as the subsequent target if the higher level holds firm. Continuous buying could escalate the price to 430.16, potentially testing a high point of 431.18 by day&#39;s end, with an ultimate bullish target of 431.82.
Should the price fail to remain above 427.32, the bears could drive the price lower towards 426.64. If signs of weakness continue, a further decline to 425.77 could occur, with the possibility of reaching 424.82. If this support cannot be maintained, the bearish trajectory could extend down to 424.04 as the day&#39;s lowest target.
<h3>Apple Inc. </h3>
Apple&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is currently positioned around the 167.09 level. For bullish traders, maintaining support at 167.09 is crucial, aiming for an advance to 167.59. A sustained bullish momentum could push the stock to 168.00, with a stretch goal for the day at 168.41 if control remains with the bulls.
Conversely, if 167.09 fails as a support level, the price might retreat to 166.27. Continued selling pressure could lead to further declines towards 165.62, and if the downtrend persists, the next level to watch would be 164.71, with a bearish extreme target at 164.15 for the day.
<h3>Microsoft Corp.</h3>
Microsoft&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is trading around 409.69, with bullish sentiments aiming to keep the price above this level and target 410.64, which needs to be sustained as support. If successful, the next objectives would be 411.72, with an aggressive bull target for the day at 413.14.
If Microsoft cannot hold above 409.69, the downside scenario involves testing 408.46. A break below this could see a move towards 407.11, and if bearish momentum continues, the subsequent level to test would be 406.01, with the lowest bear target set at 404.92.
<h3>NVIDIA Corporation </h3>
NVIDIA&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is now trading near 842.42. Bulls are looking to elevate the auction price to 846.80, establishing it as a clear support level. A successful claim could lead to 852.61, with the potential of reaching 858.43, and an optimistic daily high at 865.62.
If NVIDIA fails to uphold support at 842.42, bears might push the price down to 837.58. A breach of this level could prompt a decline to 833.50, with further weakening possibly testing 827.98, and the bearish extreme for the day targeted at 823.52.
<h3>Alphabet Inc Class A</h3>
Alphabet&#39;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) current auction level is 157.41. Bulls aim to hold this as support and drive the price to 158.54. Continued bullish force could propel the price towards a high target of 160.36.
If support at 157.41 fails, a bearish downturn could see the price drop to 156.61, with a further decline potentially to 155.59. Intensified selling could depress the price to a low bear target of 154.95.
<h3>Meta Platforms Inc </h3>
Meta&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>) is currently positioned at 508.25. Bulls seek to sustain this level and push the price up to 512.85, with the potential of climbing further to 515.39. The highest bullish target for the day is set at 520.27.
Should 508.25 not maintain as support, the downside trajectory could see the price fall to 504.54. Further selling pressure could drive the price down to 500.83, with the day&#39;s lowest bear target at 498.03.
<h3>Tesla Inc.</h3>
Tesla&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is presentlyauctioning around 162.32. Bulls are aiming for a rise to 164.87, with continued buying possibly leading to 166.89. A significant bullish rally could test further highs at 169.70, with a day&#39;s high target at 172.61.
If Tesla cannot sustain 162.32 as support, a decline to 160.32 could ensue. Persistent selling might lead to a test at 157.52, with the potential for a fall to the day&#39;s lowest bear target at 155.78.
Final Word: Today&rsquo;s market session is relatively light on economic data, with Preliminary Capital and Durable Goods Orders data scheduled for release at 8:30 AM ET. Additionally, the Treasury will hold an auction for 2 Year Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) at 11:30 AM ET. These FRNs offer a dynamic investment opportunity as their interest payouts adjust periodically, providing a hedge against rate fluctuations. Later in the day, at 1 PM ET, a 5 Year Note auction is also planned. The market will be particularly attentive to afterhours earnings reports from Meta, Ford, and IBM. Investors should keep an eye on large positions and potential hedging actions within the options market. Trade cautiously and good luck!
The Morning Memo is curated by RIPS, a pro trader with years of experience in equities, options, and futures trading. RIPS is at the heart of the exclusive Market Clubhouse community, offering his insights, expertise, and real-time mentorship.
Start your day with a live daily market analysis, a carefully selected watch list, early access to the Morning Memo, and exclusive Market Clubhouse price levels, providing precise support and resistance indicators. When you become a member of Market Clubhouse, you will gain early access to the Morning Memo, just like this one, every single day&mdash;hours before it&#39;s published. You will also have access to a live stream with zero latency and screen sharing, enabling you to witness Rips executing his trades in real-time and sharing his exclusive trading plans, strategies, and live decision-making.
For a limited time during our special promotion, you can join RIPS and get a full access pass to Market Clubhouse for 7 full days for just $7. Check it out at <a href="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/" title="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/">https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/</a> where you can trade live with him and tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience. You can also catch Rips on his live day trading streams every Monday-Friday at 8 am EST on the Market Clubhouse YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse" title="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse">https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse</a>.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) shares are trading higher Wednesday after the company announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/ac38402918/moderna-and-openai-collaborate-to-advance-mrna-medicine">ongoing collaboration with OpenAI</a>.
What To Know: Moderna said the company and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)-backed OpenAI share a vision of AI&#8217;s transformative potential in the future of business and healthcare.
Moderna began a collaboration with OpenAI in early 2023 with the launch of Moderna&#8217;s own instance of ChatGPT, called mChat. The company announced Wednesday that it has reached more than 80% internal adoption of mChat, which has accelerated the AI culture at Moderna.
As a result of the company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ai">AI </a>integration, Moderna has deployed ChatGPT Enterprise and its enhanced capabilities such as Advanced Analytics, Image Generation and GPTs, which are now embedded across Moderna&#8217;s business functions as purpose-built assistants working alongside Moderna employees.
&#8220;Just as the introduction of the personal computer in the 1980&#8217;s changed the way we work and live, AI is on a path to completely transform our everyday lives &#8211; and OpenAI is helping to lead the way. Both our companies have shared values and are research-driven organizations pushing the boundaries of technology to drive transformation,&#8221; said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. 
&#8220;Moderna has an ambitious plan to launch multiple products over the next few years, and collaborations with companies like OpenAI are critical to our ability to scale and maximize our impact on patients.&#8221;
Since adopting ChatGPT in recent months, Moderna said it has deployed more than 750 GPTs that have helped drive automation and productivity. 
Moderna is set to report financial results for the first quarter on May 2. The company is expected to report a loss of $3.68 per share and revenue of $97.501 million, according to estimates from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38369584/boeing-foresees-slower-787-production-ramp-up-due-to-supplier-shortages-report">Boeing Foresees Slower 787 Production Ramp-Up Due To Supplier Shortages: Report </a>
MRNA Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRNA">Moderna shares</a> were up 3.9% at $112.10 at the time of publication, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: Lutsenko_Oleksandr from Shutterstock.

Moderna Stock Jumps On Collaboration With OpenAI: What's Going On?

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>META</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>BA</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>AI</li>
<li>MSFT</li>
<li>DJT</li>
<li>INTC</li>
<li>NFLX</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

INTC

NFLX

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of April 24, 2024 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/04/23/final-trades-wisdomtree-india-earnings-etf-diamondback-energy-and-alphabet.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners said Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) powered through this down turn like the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38358239/microsoft-and-oracle-could-be-tiktoks-likely-buyers-but-real-winners-would-be-mark-">downturn didn&#8217;t happen</a>.
Sundar Pichai, Google&#8217;s CEO, recently announced a significant restructuring of the company&#8217;s leadership and operational divisions to accelerate its artificial intelligence (AI) development. This move is in response to criticisms that the company is lagging <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38334324/sundar-pichai-announces-restructure-after-google-fires-protesting-employees-too-important-a-moment-a">behind competitors like</a> Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Jason Snipe of Odyssey Capital Advisors picked Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), saying he likes this energy name here.
Diamondback Energy is expected to release first quarter 2024 financial results on April 30 after the closing bell. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at $4.42 per share, up from $4.10 per share in the year-ago period. The company is projected to post revenue of $2.09 billion, compared to $1.93 billion in the year-earlier quarter.
On Tuesday, Stifel analyst Derrick Whitfield maintained Diamondback Energy with a Buy and raised the price target from $224 to $229.
Stephanie Link of Hightower named the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPI#NYSE">EPI</a>) as her final trade.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Alphabet shares rose 1.3% to close at $159.92 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Diamondback Energy shares gained 0.9% to settle at $204.37 during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>WisdomTree India Earnings Fund gained 0.4% during Tuesday's session.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38396305/tesla-boeing-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-wednesday">Tesla, Boeing And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Wednesday</a>
Image generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Alphabet, Diamondback Energy And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Tesla Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) may install 85,000&nbsp;Nvidia Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H100 chips by year-end to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models.&nbsp;
If CEO Elon Musk proceeds with this plan, Tesla will surpass tech giants like&nbsp;Amazon.Com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and&nbsp;Alphabet Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)&nbsp;Google&nbsp;as a significant Nvidia customer.&nbsp;
During Tesla&#8217;s first quarterly earnings report for 2024, Musk disclosed that the company currently possesses 35,000 H100 chips, the most advanced and expensive graphics processing units designed for AI applications, CNBC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/tesla-nvidia-h100-biggest-buyer-google-amazon-microsoft-meta-19401278.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
These chips are vital for Musk&#8217;s AI initiatives, which include the development of advanced robots like Optimus Bot and Robotaxi and a supercomputer named Dojo.
Reports indicate that&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is Nvidia&#8217;s largest customer.&nbsp;
According to the World Economic Forum, Nvidia produced 550,000 chips last year, and companies must wait until 2024 to secure additional supplies.&nbsp;
Microsoft Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is the second-largest buyer, as stated by Omdia, with an order of 150,000 GPUs in 2023. Other significant purchasers include Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), Tencent Holding Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), Google, and Amazon, each reportedly acquiring 50,000 chips. Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon nearly account for 40% of Nvidia&#8217;s revenue. CNBC writes.&nbsp;
Musk&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38345502/elon-musk-reacts-after-nvidia-stock-plunges-10-and-erases-212b-market-cap-rookie-numbers" rel="noreferrer noopener">had mocked Nvidia&#8217;s</a>&nbsp;substantial market capitalization loss on April 19, calling the 10% stock decline &#8220;rookie numbers&#8221; on X, formerly Twitter.&nbsp;
Nvidia experienced a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38358181/whats-going-on-with-nvidia-and-amd-stocks-on-monday" rel="noreferrer noopener">significant drop in</a>&nbsp;stock value, shedding $211 billion in market capitalization, marking the second-largest single-day loss in U.S. stock market history.&nbsp;
This steep decline&nbsp;was triggered&nbsp;by disappointing earnings from&nbsp;ASML Holdings NV&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) and a pessimistic market outlook from&nbsp;Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).&nbsp;
Meanwhile, analysts maintained their bullish stance on Nvidia, expecting it to rule the accelerator market primarily backed by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38388117/whats-going-on-with-nvidia-and-amd-stocks-on-tuesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">its Blackwell product</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24044332/newplot-27.png" alt="" class="wp-image-305990" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24044332/newplot-27.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24044332/newplot-27-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
Nvidia stock gained 205% in the last 12 months. Tesla stock lost 11%.
Price Actions: TSLA shares traded higher by 11.40% at $161.21 premarket at the last check Wednesday.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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ASML

ORCL

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Elon Musk's Big Bet: Tesla to Ramp Up AI Development with Nvidia's Powerful Chips

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has refuted that there is any conflict of interest over his ownership of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) shares, ahead of a vote to potentially ban TikTok.
What Happened: The senator was questioned on Last Call with CNBC about the optics of voting on the TikTok ban while owning Meta shares. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37710878/congress-moves-to-ban-tiktok-could-members-benefit-from-positions-in-social-media-stocks-like-meta-p">Mullin purchased Meta shares in January</a>, leading to speculation that his vote could be influenced by potential profit gains for Meta, a TikTok competitor, if the ban is implemented.
<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">&quot;Do you worry about the optics of voting on this legislation, but also owning <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24META&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$META</a>?&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/SullyCNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SullyCNBC</a> asks <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMullin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenMullin</a> ahead of a vote to potentially ban TikTok. <a href="https://t.co/CsvKYx3z3K">pic.twitter.com/CsvKYx3z3K</a>
&mdash; Last Call (@LastCallCNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LastCallCNBC/status/1782920183385850067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38350014/elon-musk-reacts-to-teslas-pricing-debate-only-a-fool-thinks?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Reacts To Tesla&#8217;s Pricing Debate: &#8216;Only A Fool Thinks ….&#8217;</a>
While Mullin denied divulging details about his market activities, he mentioned that he was not fighting against a company, but the Chinese Communist Party.
&#8220;What I am saying is the Chinese Communist Party should not be allowed to do business openly inside the United States and use the freedom of speech as a protection. They don&#8217;t have protection, the communist party doesn&#8217;t have protection. They are an enemy and we should fight against them with every opportunity we have,&#8221; he said.
Why It Matters: The controversy arises amid increasing regulatory pressure on TikTok. TikTok&#8217;s efforts to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38350035/tiktok-to-remove-executive-responsible-for-allaying-us-national-security-concerns-amid-rising-regula">allay U.S. national security concerns</a> have been unsuccessful, leading to the removal of a key executive. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill requiring TikTok to be sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., or face a ban in the U.S.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38368049/trump-reverses-tiktok-ban-stance-accuses-biden-of-favoring-zuckerbergs-meta-doing-it-to-help-faceboo">reversed his stance on the TikTok ban</a>, accusing President Joe Biden of favoring Meta. Trump alleges that Biden is pushing for the TikTok ban to help Meta gain more power.
Analysts from Wedbush believe that while Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) could be the &#8220;likely buyers&#8221; of TikTok, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38358239/microsoft-and-oracle-could-be-tiktoks-likely-buyers-but-real-winners-would-be-mark-">real winners could be </a>Meta&#8217;s Mark Zuckerberg and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Sundar Pichai. The TikTok ban bill is part of a larger package aimed at providing aid and bolstering national security measures in support of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. 
Price Action: On Tuesday, Meta stock closed 2.98% higher at $496.10, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38368953/jim-cramer-sees-nvidia-as-going-from-star-of-the-show-to-being-the-goat-of-the-game?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Sees Nvidia As Going &#8216;From Star Of The Show To Being The Goat Of The Game&#8217;</a>
Photo via Shutterstock
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GOP Senator Who Owns Meta Stock Denies Conflict of Interest Ahead Of TikTok Ban Vote: 'I Am Not Fighting Against A Company'

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is set to release earnings results for its first quarter after the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/earnings"> closing bell on April 24, 2024.</a>
Analysts expect the Menlo Park, California-based company to report quarterly earnings at $4.32 per share, up from $2.20 per share in the year-ago period. Meta is projected to report quarterly revenue of $36.16 billion, up from $28.64 billion in the year-earlier quarter, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Meta recently announced that its AI assistant, powered by the newly launched Llama 3 model, will now incorporate real-time search results from Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google and Microsoft Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Bing.
Meta shares rose 3% to close at $496.10 on Tuesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $535 to $590 on April 18, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 82%.</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Youssef Squali maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $525 to $550 on April 17, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 81%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Lloyd Walmsley maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $530 to $610 on April 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 85%.</li>
<li>Stifel analyst Mark Kelley maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $527 to $588 on April 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 87%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Ronald Josey maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $525 to $590 on April 15, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38376630/amazon-com-united-airlines-and-2-other-stocks-insiders-are-selling">Amazon.com, United Airlines And 2 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling</a>

Earnings

Price Target

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

Salesforce Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) advocates for increased environmental regulation of artificial intelligence, pointing out the technology sector&#8217;s high energy usage and lack of emissions reporting.&nbsp;
On Monday, the software developer announced its intention to push lawmakers and regulators to develop legislation that mandates AI emissions disclosure using standardized measurement and reporting metrics.
Megan Lorenzen, Salesforce&#8217;s director of climate and energy, emphasized AI&#8217;s dual potential to worsen or mitigate environmental challenges.&nbsp;
Also&nbsp;Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38225392/salesforce-leverages-ai-and-data-cloud-for-future-expansion-eyes-significant-margin" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Leverages AI and Data Cloud for Future Expansion, Eyes Significant Margin Gains and Sustained Growth, Analyst Says</a>
Salesforce specifically urges companies that use general-purpose AI models to publicly report their energy efficiency and carbon footprints using standardized metrics, the Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/salesforce-calls-for-ai-emissions-regulations-as-concerns-grow-over-tech-sectors-carbon-footprint-dc9c016f?mod=tech_lead_pos2" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.&nbsp;
According to Lorenzen, such transparency will improve efficiencies over time and enable users to make more informed decisions regarding AI and energy consumption.
Moreover, Salesforce sees these disclosures as essential to achieving a net-zero future and considers them ideal while assessing the risks of high-impact AI models.&nbsp;
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/04/38357035/whats-going-on-with-salesforce-and-informatica-stock-monday" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also this week</a>, Salesforce dumped its acquisition discussions with&nbsp;Informatica Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFA#NYSE">INFA</a>) after disagreeing on the merger terms.
The deal could have resulted in one of Salesforce&#8217;s most significant acquisitions.
Salesforce&nbsp;stock gained 41% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>) and&nbsp;SmartETFs Advertising &amp; Marketing Technology ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRAD#NYSE">MRAD</a>).
Price Actions:&nbsp;CRM shares traded lower by 0.33% at $272.92&nbsp;at&nbsp;the last check Tuesday.&nbsp;
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy of Salesforce

Government

Regulations

FEPI

INFA

SmartETFs Advertising & Marketing Technology ETF

MRAD

Salesforce Pushes for Transparency in AI Emissions Reporting

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. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<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>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$820.00</td>
<td>$30.3K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>36.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>984</td>
<td>9.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$29.4K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
<td>8.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CLSK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$184.2K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$407.50</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMCI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$750.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>719</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IREN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$170.0K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$1280.00</td>
<td>$54.4K</td>
<td>155</td>
<td>965</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CDNS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$44.6K</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>864</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOUN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$31.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>714</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $820.00 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 $30.3K, with a price of $1515.0 per contract. There were 7309 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 36255 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding APH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $125.00 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 $36.0K, with a price of $120.0 per contract. There were 984 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 9190 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $152.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.4K, with a price of $294.0 per contract. There were 5050 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8589 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CLSK (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSK#NASDAQ">CLSK</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. Parties traded 996 contract(s) at a $19.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $184.2K, with a price of $185.0 per contract. There were 4968 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4459 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. This event was a transfer of 33 contract(s) at a $407.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.8K, with a price of $875.0 per contract. There were 1454 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3776 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SMCI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $750.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $2791.0 per contract. There were 719 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3053 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IREN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 206 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $170.0K, with a price of $170.0 per contract. There were 5390 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1000 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 26, 2024. This event was a transfer of 75 contract(s) at a $1280.00 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 $54.4K, with a price of $726.0 per contract. There were 155 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 965 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CDNS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 206 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.6K, with a price of $2230.0 per contract. There were 9 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 864 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SOUN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 87 day(s) on July 19, 2024. Parties traded 350 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.8K, with a price of $91.0 per contract. There were 2288 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 714 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

AVGO

CDNS

CLSK

IREN

SMCI

SOUN

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<img alt="" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-23_08h41_13.png" style="height:362px; width:624px" />
<h3>Hedges Are Profitable</h3>
The Arora Report gave several signals to put&nbsp;hedges on to protect large profits on long-term positions. Hedges are now profitable.&nbsp;It is time to book partial profits on some hedges.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Semiconductors Stabilizing After 17% Drop&nbsp;</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/stock-market-chart-analysis-semiconductors-leading-sector-smh-mc-04232024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smh#NASDAQ">SMH</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>Historically, semiconductors are the leading sector.&nbsp;Often semiconductors move first and then the rest of the market follows.</li>
<li>This time, there has been an additional factor &ndash; semiconductors have been at the center of the AI revolution.</li>
<li>The chart shows semiconductors have had a massive run.&nbsp;As full disclosure, The Arora Report&#39;s ZYX Allocation Core Model Portfolio has a large allocation to semiconductors, up to 16% of the portfolio.</li>
<li>The chart shows when the Arora signal was given to take partial profits close to the top.</li>
<li>The chart shows semiconductors dropped 17% from the top.</li>
<li>The chart shows semiconductors are attempting to stabilize at the microsupport zone.</li>
<li>The chart shows RSI is oversold.&nbsp;Oversold RSI often, but not always, leads to a bounce.</li>
<li>Among the earnings, there are two notable earnings.
<ul>
<li>General Motors Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>) reported earnings significantly better than the whisper numbers.&nbsp;This indicates that in spite of high interest rates, consumers feel secure enough to buy new cars.</li>
<li>Cadence Design Systems Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cdns#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>) is a leading provider of semiconductor design software.&nbsp;CDNS stock has run up due to the AI frenzy.&nbsp;The presumption has been that as chips become more complex, CDNS will benefit.&nbsp; CDNS guidance is below expectations.&nbsp;This indicates that the momo crowd euphoria about AI is overdone.&nbsp; As full disclosure, CDNS is one of 18 stocks on the Arora Artificial Intelligence List.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the short term, the course of the stock market will depend on earnings from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>),&nbsp;Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), and Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet (GOOG), Meta (META), NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft (MSFT), and Tesla (TSLA).
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Apple Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are mixed in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (ARCA:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3>Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
The momo crowd is buying stocks in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
<h3>Gold</h3>
The momo crowd is selling gold in the early trade.&nbsp;Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see gold and silver ratings.
The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (ARCA:GLD). The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (ARCA:SLV).&nbsp;
<h3>Oil</h3>
The momo crowd is selling oil in the early trade.&nbsp; Smart money is inactive in the early trade.
For longer-term, please see oil ratings.
The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (ARCA:USO).
<h3>Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.&nbsp;Bitcoin bulls are disappointed that bitcoin is not running up immediately after the halving.&nbsp;
<h3>Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp;The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp;If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp;When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp;High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3>Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of seven year duration or less.&nbsp;Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Hedges Are Profitable, Semiconductors Stabilizing After 17% Drop

In the lead-up to this week&#8217;s earnings announcements from major U.S. tech companies, the CEO of the world&#8217;s largest wealth fund has voiced concerns over the tech sector&#8217;s frothiness. This follows a 5.5% drop in the Nasdaq Composite last week.
What Happened: Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), expressed his views on CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk Box Europe&#8221; on Tuesday, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/23/tech-ceo-of-worlds-largest-wealth-fund-says-theres-a-lot-of-froth.html">CNBC</a> reported.
He stated, &#8220;There is clearly a lot of froth within the technology sector. Whether it is too much or not, that is unclear — and I guess we will get the answer later in the week when we get all these results coming through.&#8221;
NBIM, which oversees the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, is the world&#8217;s largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at 17.7 trillion kroner ($1.6 trillion) at the end of March. The fund, a major global investor, has stakes in over 8,800 companies across more than 70 countries. Last week, it reported a first-quarter profit of around $110 billion, largely due to strong returns on its tech stock investments.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38336261/tesla-musk-face-moment-of-truth-with-q1-earnings-call-believers-are-giving-up-on-th?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla, Musk Face &#8216;Moment Of Truth&#8217; With Q1 Earnings Call: &#8216;Believers Are Giving Up On The Story And Throwing In The White Towel&#8217;</a>
Trond Grande, deputy CEO of NBIM, mentioned that investors are taking &#8220;a more nuanced look&#8221; at the business models of the so-called Magnificent Seven U.S. tech giants, which include Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FB#NASDAQ">FB</a>), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
Why It Matters: The tech sector has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/37355192/ai-stocks-including-nvidia-face-bubble-risks-warns-wizard-of-wharton-impossible-to-tell-when-it-">under scrutiny for potential overvaluation</a>, with the &#8220;Wizard of Wharton&#8221; warning of a possible bubble in February. The sector led a market sell-off since Apr. 12, primarily driven by high-profile tech stocks, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38346847/nvidia-in-correction-territory-did-ai-led-tech-stock-bubble-just-burst-this-data-po">which ironically led the rally</a> that began in 2023.
However, the Nasdaq 100 index <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38365322/nasdaq-100-breaks-3-day-losing-streak-as-tech-stocks-rebound-ahead-of-earnings-week">managed to break a three-day losing streak </a>on Monday, as traders prepared for a crucial week of earnings reports from some of the tech sector's most influential names.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38367087/tesla-q1-earnings-preview-is-ev-giant-no-longer-a-growth-stock-analysts-cautious-wa?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Q1 Earnings Preview: Is EV Giant No Longer A &#8216;Growth Stock?&#8217; Analysts Cautious, Want Answers About Robotaxis, Model 2</a>
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World's Largest Wealth Fund CEO Cautions Over Tech Sector 'Froth' Ahead Of Major Earnings

Good Morning Traders! In today&#39;s Market Clubhouse Morning Memo, we will discuss SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, and TSLA.
Our proprietary formula, exclusive to Market Clubhouse, dictates these price levels. This dynamic equation takes into account price, volume, and options flow. These levels are updated every day and shared with all Clubhouse Members, prior to the opening of the market.
We recommend closely monitoring these stocks, and be prepared to leverage potential breakouts or reversals. As always, stay alert and ready to adjust your tactics based on the market&#39;s pulse to optimize your trading gains. Now, let&#39;s dive into the stock analysis:
<h3>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust </h3>
The SPY (ARCA: SPY) is currently positioned around a price of 500.91. For those favoring upward movement, the first target is 501.74. Should the price remain robust above this mark, the next objective is to reach 502.85. Should this support endure throughout the regular trading hours, an advance beyond to 503.95 might occur. The ambitious target for bulls on SPY today stands at 505.32.
Conversely, if 500.91 fails to serve as a sturdy floor, a downward test towards 500.17 by the bears is anticipated. Presence of sellers could further pressure the price to a lower target of 498.93. If this threshold is breached amid strong selling activity, the next substantial support is 497.55. A tumultuous selling session might culminate in reaching a bearish extreme at 496.93 today.
<h3>Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1</h3>
The Q&#39;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) are trading near 420.76. Bullish traders aim to secure this level, setting sights on 422.16 as a substantial support if maintained. Following this, 423.27 might come into play if buying strength persists, with an ultimate test at 424.04. The highest bullish aim for today is set at 424.82.
Should the level of 420.76 not withstand selling pressures today, bears might dominate, pushing the price to 419.89. A subsequent weakness could prompt further tests at 418.49. If selling intensifies, 417.49 could be at risk. Failure to hold this could lead bears to drive the price down to today&rsquo;s bearish goal of 416.23.
<h3>Apple Inc.</h3>
Apple&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is currently at 165.62, where bulls hope to establish support. A rally towards 166.27 is desired, with potential further uplift to 167.09 if bullish momentum continues. If bulls dominate today, the ultimate aim is to reach a high of 167.59.
If Apple&#39;s price can&#39;t sustain 165.62 as support, a decline to 164.71 might ensue. With continued selling, a further descent to 164.15 is likely. If selling persists, the price could fall to 163.24 and if this level breaks, the final bearish target for the day is set at 162.69.
<h3>Microsoft Corp.</h3>
Microsoft&#39;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) current level is 402.74, with bulls looking to maintain and extend the price to 404.92 as a firm support. Success here could lead to a push towards 406.01, and with continued buying, a peak bull target of 407.11 might be in sight today.
However, if 402.74 does not hold, bears could drive the price down to 401.39. If this level is breached, further declines to 400.30 and then 399.21 could occur, with a final bearish objective for today at 397.65.
<h3>NVIDIA Corporation</h3>
NVIDIA&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stands at 804.61, with bulls aiming for an initial rise to 810.13, securing it as a key support zone. A sustained buying push could elevate the price to 816.95, and potentially up to 823.52. The highest bull target today is envisioned at 827.98.
If 804.61 does not hold up, bears are expected to challenge the price down to 799.10. A breakdown here, with seller activity, could lead to 794.94. If weakness continues, further tests at 791.44 might occur, with a bearish floor target of 785.35 for the day.
<h3>Alphabet Inc Class A</h3>
Alphabet&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) is hovering around 156.61, with bulls hoping to secure this as a base for advancing to 157.41. With continued upward momentum, the next level to watch is 158.54.
If 156.61 cannot sustain support, a bearish push to 155.59 is likely. A break below this level might lead bears to 154.95, with a severe sell-off potentially bottoming out at 154.44 today.
<h3>Meta Platforms Inc </h3>
Meta&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/meta#NASDAQ">META</a>) is currently positioned at 488.81. Bulls aim to keep the level supported for a rise to 492.33, followed by a potential increase to 495.54. If buying remains strong, the highest bull target for today is 498.03.
Conversely, if 488.81 fails as support, a downward move to 485.96 is expected. Persistent selling could further drive the price to 483.11. If this level is compromised, the lowest bear target for Meta today stands at 479.47.
<h3>Tesla Inc. </h3>
Tesla&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) starts the day at 141.94. Bulls are targeting an increase to 143.67 and, with sustained buying, further up to 145.07. Strong market conditions could see Tesla reaching a higher test at 146.46, with a peak bull target of 148.45.
If 141.94 does not maintain as a robust support, bears may test down to 139.15. Continued selling pressure could bring the price further down to 136.35, and if this level fails, the ultimate bear target for the day is 134.62.
Final Word: Today&#39;s session begins light on data in the premarket with the Philly Fed Non-Manufacturing Activity due out at 8:30AM ET, followed by the Redbook Retail Sales at 8:55AM ET. More significant data will follow with the Global Manufacturing, Services, and Composite PMI for April, scheduled for release at 9:45AM ET. Shortly after, at 10AM ET, the Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index and Business Conditions, alongside New Home Sales for March, will be available. At 1PM, a 2-Year Note Auction is set, which could introduce some volatility into the markets. As the Federal Reserve remains in a blackout period ahead of next Wednesday&#39;s FOMC rate decision, most large institutional traders will be focusing on earnings reports after today&#39;s closing bell from major companies like Tesla and Visa. Good luck and trade safely!
The Morning Memo is curated by RIPS, a pro trader with years of experience in equities, options, and futures trading. RIPS is at the heart of the exclusive Market Clubhouse community, offering his insights, expertise, and real-time mentorship.
Start your day with a live daily market analysis, a carefully selected watch list, early access to the Morning Memo, and exclusive Market Clubhouse price levels, providing precise support and resistance indicators. When you become a member of Market Clubhouse, you will gain early access to the Morning Memo, just like this one, every single day&mdash;hours before it&#39;s published. You will also have access to a live stream with zero latency and screen sharing, enabling you to witness Rips executing his trades in real-time and sharing his exclusive trading plans, strategies, and live decision-making.
For a limited time during our special promotion, you can join RIPS and get a full access pass to Market Clubhouse for 7 full days for just $7. Check it out at <a href="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/" title="https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/">https://marketclubhouse.club/7Days/</a> where you can trade live with him and tap into his wealth of knowledge and experience. You can also catch Rips on his live day trading streams every Monday-Friday at 8 am EST on the Market Clubhouse YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse" title="https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse">https://www.youtube.com/@MarketClubhouse</a>.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Market Clubhouse Morning Memo - April 23rd, 2024 (Trade Strategy For SPY, QQQ, AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, GOOGL, META, And TSLA)

The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft Announce 5-Year Strategic Partnership On Generative AI Initiatives

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has launched Phi-3 Mini, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">lightweight AI model</a> with 3.8 billion parameters, the smallest in its Phi series.
What Happened: Microsoft's Phi-3 is the first of three small models that Microsoft plans to <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.14219.pdf">release</a>. It is trained on a relatively smaller dataset and is now available on Azure, Hugging Face, and Ollama.
The Phi-3 Mini is an improvement over its predecessor, Phi-2, and is said to perform as well as larger models like Meta Platforms Inc.'s Llama 2, and OpenAI's GPT-3.5.
Microsoft plans to release two more models in the Phi-3 series: Phi-3 Small (7B parameters) and Phi-3 Medium (14B parameters).
Phi-3 Mini is primarily geared at lower capacity devices like smartphones and comes at a time when Apple Inc. is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37787317/apples-partnership-with-google-the-missing-piece-in-tim-cooks-ai-strategy-says-wedb">still hashing out plans</a> to license Alphabet Inc.'s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37784585/gene-munster-says-apple-will-fight-to-rebrand-gemini-on-iphone-but-the-deal-is-what">Google Gemini AI for iPhones</a>.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Eric Boyd, corporate vice president of Microsoft Azure AI Platform, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24137534/microsoft-phi-3-launch-small-ai-language-model">told</a> The Verge that Phi-3 Mini is as capable as larger language models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5, but in a smaller form factor.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38358239/microsoft-and-oracle-could-be-tiktoks-likely-buyers-but-real-winners-would-be-mark-">Microsoft And Oracle Could Be TikTok&#8217;s &#8216;Likely Buyers,&#8217; But Real Winners Would Be Mark Zuckerberg And Sundar Pichai</a>
He also revealed that developers trained Phi-3 using a &#8220;curriculum,&#8221; inspired by how children learn from bedtime stories and books with simpler words and sentence structures that talk about larger topics.
Why It Matters: The launch of Phi-3 Mini is the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38366921/microsoft-boosts-ai-arsenal-with-former-meta-executive-jason-taylor">latest in line with Microsoft&#8217;s strategy</a> of developing lightweight AI models. These models are not only cheaper to run but also perform better on personal devices such as smartphones and laptops.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38346576/doge-day-has-an-elon-musk-connection-meme-coin-rebounds-after-the-bitcoin-halving-sell-the?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Doge Day Has An Elon Musk Connection, Meme Coin Rebounds After The Bitcoin Halving &#8216;Sell-The-News&#8217; Drop</a>
Microsoft&#8217;s competitors also have their own small AI models, each targeting specific tasks. For example, Google&#8217;s Gemma 2B and 7B are suitable for simple chatbots and language-related work, while Jeff Bezos-backed Anthropic Claude 3 Haiku can read dense research papers with graphs and summarize them quickly.
Meta&#8217;s recently released <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38358203/mark-zuckerberg-wont-just-open-source-instagrams-code-but-would-he-do-it-for-a-10b-ai-model-he-says">Llama 3 8B</a> can be used for chatbots and coding assistance.
Price Action: Microsoft's stock closed 0.46% up at $400.96 on Monday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38372183/meta-takes-a-leaf-out-of-googles-playbook-aims-to-make-quest-os-the-android-of-mixed-reality">Meta Takes A Leaf Out Of Google&#8217;s Playbook, Aims To Make Quest OS The Android Of Mixed Reality</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

Microsoft Rattles OpenAI With New AI Model That's 'As Capable As' GPT-3.5, While Apple Is Still Hashing Out Its Google Gemini Plans For iPhones

CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer, on Monday, highlighted the positive performance of the stock market but cautioned that the upcoming Big Tech earnings could determine the market&#8217;s future.
What Happened: Despite the positive market performance, Cramer warned that the upcoming Big Tech earnings, including those of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), could determine the market&#8217;s future. These reports will indicate whether the recent tech sell-off will continue or come to an end, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/22/cramer-notes-positives-in-mondays-rebound-warns-vs-lasting-gains.html">reported</a> CNBC.
Chipmaker NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) experienced a 4% rise on Monday, following a 10% drop on Friday. Cramer noted that while the stock has recovered, it may not be enough to offset the losses from Friday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38339431/general-motors-and-ford-are-facing-the-same-challenge-as-they-run-back-to-gas-powered-trucks?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">General Motors And Ford Are Facing The Same Challenge As They Run Back To Gas-Powered Trucks</a>
&#8220;Nvidia&#8217;s gone from being the star of the show to being the goat of the game, and I&#8217;m not talking about the greatest of all time,&#8221; Cramer said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve learned from multiple pieces of research that Nvidia is doing quite well. I think the stock finally gets cheap enough to start tempting people.&#8221;
Why It Matters: The stock market has been experiencing a period of volatility, with experts offering differing opinions on its future. Cramer recently warned that the market hasn&#8217;t hit rock bottom yet, advising against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38329234/buying-the-dip-jim-cramer-and-tom-lee-warn-market-hasnt-hit-rock-bottom-yet-quintessential-wrong">buying the dip</a>. He suggested that the market is still in a downward trend and that buying at the start of the session is not the right move.
Despite these concerns, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38284811/wall-street-experts-dismiss-rate-cut-fears-middle-east-tensions-predict-bull-market">Wall Street veterans</a> remain confident that the bull market will persist, citing a robust U.S. economy and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers. The recent dip was triggered by higher-than-expected inflation in March, which led to a reevaluation of rate cut expectations for 2024. The situation was further exacerbated by Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, prompting investors to seek refuge in safe havens like U.S. Treasuries.
However, Cramer also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38306086/jim-cramer-explains-what-could-trigger-further-market-decline-if-you-want-to-get-out-go-ahead">outlined potential factors</a> that could lead to further market decline, advising investors to be cautious about their buying and selling decisions. He warned investors against making sudden decisions to buy or sell.
Price Action: According to data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">from Benzinga Pro</a>, Nvidia closed Monday&#8217;s trading at $795.18, marking a 4.35% increase. However, in after-hours trading, the stock saw a slight decline of 0.22%. Nonetheless, the chipmaker&#8217;s stock has surged by 65.08% year-to-date.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38345362/tesla-slashes-model-s-x-and-y-prices-in-us-by-2-000-in-late-friday-move-as-volume-growth-turns-n?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Slashes Model S, X And Y Prices In US By $2,000 In Late-Friday Move As Volume Growth Turns Negative</a>
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IXIC

Jim Cramer Sees Nvidia As Going 'From Star Of The Show To Being The Goat Of The Game'

Jason Taylor, a former executive at Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), is joining Microsoft Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) AI supercomputing team, according to a LinkedIn post by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/04/38354903/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-openai-wouldnt-have-existed-without-microsofts-support">Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott. </a>
&#8220;I'm super excited to welcome Jason Taylor to Microsoft, who starts today reporting to me as CVP [corporate vice president] &amp; Deputy CTO for our AI supercomputing efforts,&#8221; Scott wrote.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38364762/microsoft-meta-reveal-limited-edition-meta-quest-vr-headset-with-game-pass-bundle">Microsoft, Meta Reveal Limited Edition Meta Quest VR Headset With Game Pass Bundle</a>
As <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/22/24137391/microsoft-hires-meta-ai-supercomputing-jason-taylor">reported</a> by The Verge, Taylor held various roles at Meta, including vice president of infrastructure, where he oversaw AI, data and privacy infrastructure, as well as managed server budgets.
He also chaired the Open Compute Project Foundation from 2015 to 2017, promoting open-source designs in data centers.
Microsoft and OpenAI are striving to enhance their hardware capabilities to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI technology. 
Recent reports suggested plans to construct a $100 billion supercomputer named &#8220;Stargate,&#8221; although Scott appears to downplay these rumors in his LinkedIn post, labeling much of the speculation as &#8220;amusingly wrong.&#8221;
This move follows Microsoft&#8217;s hiring of Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google DeepMind, as the CEO of a new consumer AI division in March. This division oversees projects such as Copilot, Bing, and Edge. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38362859/microsoft-in-unique-position-to-scale-gen-ai-revenue-goldman-sachs-says-ahead-of-q3">Microsoft &#8216;In Unique Position To Scale Gen-AI Revenue,&#8217; Goldman Sachs Says Ahead Of Q3 Earnings</a>
Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/es/g/inbj">IB Photography</a> on Shutterstock.

Management

Microsoft Boosts AI Arsenal With Former Meta Executive Jason Taylor

The Nasdaq 100 index, as tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), ended Monday 1% higher, breaking a three-day losing streak as traders prepare for a crucial week of earnings reports from some of the tech <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38363493/stocks-set-to-snap-worst-losing-streak-in-nearly-2-years-gold-sinks-bitcoin-reclaims-66-00">sector&#8217;s most influential names.</a>
This week&#8217;s earnings lineup features four Magnificent Seven giants like Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), which will report on Tuesday, followed by Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) on Wednesday, and both Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) slated for Thursday.
PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) led Monday&#8217;s rally among the Nasdaq 100 stocks by rallying over 9%, followed by Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which climbed 4.4% after experiencing a sharp 10% drop on Friday. The chip sector, represented by the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NYSE">SMH</a>) showed strength, advancing 1.9% for the day.
Last week marked the Nasdaq 100 Index&#8217;s largest weekly drop in over 17 months, dragging the index to its longest losing streak since December 2022.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38354891/apple-shot-itself-in-the-foot-telegram-founder-says-cupertino-iphone-market-share-in-china-will-keep">&#8216;Apple Shot Itself In The Foot:&#8217; Telegram Founder Says Cupertino iPhone Market Share In China Will &#8216;Keep Shrinking&#8217;</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">UBS Cautions In Tech Sector</h3>
UBS Group AG's chief U.S. equity strategist Jonathan Golub has advised caution on tech stocks. 
As reported by Bloomberg, UBS downgraded its stance on the &#8216;Big 6&#8217; technology giants—Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Nvidia Corp.— from Overweight to Neutral amid slowing earnings momentum. 
Golub suggests that the downturn in tech earnings momentum will be driven by wider cyclical challenges, not by worries about valuations or the industry's prospects in artificial intelligence.
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38362859/microsoft-in-unique-position-to-scale-gen-ai-revenue-goldman-sachs-says-ahead-of-q3">Microsoft &#8216;In Unique Position To Scale Gen-AI Revenue,&#8217; Goldman Sachs Says Ahead Of Q3 Earnings</a>
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Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Nasdaq 100 Breaks 3-Day Losing Streak As Tech Stocks Rebound Ahead Of Earnings Week

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) have <a href="https://www.meta.com/en-gb/blog/quest/meta-horizon-os-open-hardware-ecosystem-asus-republic-gamers-lenovo-xbox/">announced</a> a collaboration to produce a limited edition Meta Quest VR headset<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38150420/good-news-for-gamers-xboxs-sarah-bond-commits-to-game-preservation-creates-dedicated-team-for-futu"> &#8220;inspired by Xbox.&#8221; </a>
Although specific details remain scarce, it appears to be a customized version of the Meta Quest 3, bundled with an Xbox controller.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/03/37924898/phil-spencers-xbox-handheld-vision-unveiled-seamless-integration-full-screen-app-and-what-else-to-">Phil Spencer&#8217;s Xbox Handheld Vision Unveiled: &#8216;Seamless Integration, Full-Screen App&#8217; And What Else To Expect</a>
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, confirmed the partnership, stating: &#8220;We're working together again [with Microsoft] to create a limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox.&#8221; 
This move aligns with Meta&#8217;s strategy to open its operating system, which powers Quest VR headsets, to third-party hardware manufacturers. 
While companies like Asustek Computer (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASUUY#OTC">ASUUY</a>) and Lenovo Group Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNVGY#OTC">LNVGY</a>) are developing dedicated headsets running Meta&#8217;s Horizon OS, Microsoft&#8217;s involvement seems confined to this limited edition collaboration, reminiscent of their previous special edition Xbox consoles.
Zuckerberg revealed in an Instagram post that the special edition headset will come preloaded with Xbox controllers and Game Pass, offering immediate access to gaming on a large screen from anywhere.
Microsoft&#8217;s involvement in VR has been inconsistent, with previous endeavors like Project Fortaleza never materializing. Although the Xbox One X was positioned as VR-capable, it never received VR headset support, even though it was shipped with Oculus Rift-compatible controllers.
Despite Microsoft&#8217;s earlier failures in VR, the company has shifted its focus towards closer collaboration with Meta. This partnership has resulted in practical integrations, such as allowing Quest users to access Microsoft Office applications in VR and bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to Quest headsets.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38342816/meta-quest-2-price-permanently-cut-in-half-concerns-linger-about-long-term-support">Meta Quest 2 Price Permanently Cut In Half, Concerns Linger About Long-Term Support</a>
Image courtesy of Meta.

Gaming

ASUUY

LNVGY

Microsoft, Meta Reveal Limited Edition Meta Quest VR Headset With Game Pass Bundle

U.S. stocks are poised to break a six-day losing streak, marking the end of the longest downward <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38342242/powell-middle-east-fears-weigh-on-tech-stocks-treasury-yields-hit-5-gold-notches-fifth-wee">trend since September 2022.</a>
At noon trading in New York on Monday, major indices all traded higher, indicating modest gains, as investors prepare for a week jam-packed with pivotal earnings reports from major corporations, including Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>).
Easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East bolstered market sentiment but exerted downward pressure on key global commodities. 
Gold plunged 2.5% to $2,330 per ounce, marking its most significant single-day decline since June 2022, while silver tumbled 5%, poised for its worst daily performance since last October. 
Oil prices were broadly steady, erasing early session losses, with the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude trading at $82 a barrel.
Treasury yields saw no movements, amid lack of rate-sensitive data. 
Positive risk sentiment aided Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), with the largest cryptocurrency rising above $66,000, on track for its highest close in more than a week. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<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>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,975.07</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,013.74</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>17,199.55</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>38,300.54</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:30 p.m. EDT</figcaption></figure>
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 1% to $500.03, the&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.8%% to $383.02 and the tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rallied 1% to $417.03, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.&nbsp;
Small caps, as tracked by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>), soared 1.2%. 
Sector-wise, the Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 1.4%, followed by the Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>), up 1%. The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) was the major laggard, up 0.2%. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) rose over 5%, emerging as the top performer within the S&amp;P 500, potentially driven by heightened anticipation surrounding the automaker&#8217;s forthcoming quarterly results scheduled for unveiling this Wednesday.</li>
<li>Wolfspeed Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOLF#NYSE">WOLF</a>) surged nearly 10% following reports that activist investor Jana Partners is pushing the world&#8217;s largest silicon carbide manufacturer to explore various avenues to enhance shareholder value, including the possibility of a sale. </li>
<li>Informatica Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFA#NYSE">INFA</a>) saw a decrease of over 8% as the company confirmed it is not presently involved in any acquisition discussions. </li>
<li>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) rose over 5% amid the broader cryptocurrency market rebound. </li>
<li>Cardinal Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAH#NYSE">CAH</a>) experienced a 5% decline following the company&#8217;s announcement that its pharmaceutical distribution contracts with UnitedHealth Group Inc.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) OptumRx unit will not be renewed after expiring at the end of June.</li>
<li>Newmont Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>) tumbled over 3%, as gold prices fell. </li>
</ul>
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38356886/s-p-500-trades-at-two-month-low-where-is-the-next-support">S&amp;P 500 Trades At Two-Month Low: Where Is The Next Support?</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Mid Cap

Small Cap

COIN

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

WOLF

Stocks Set To Snap Worst Losing Streak In Nearly 2 Years, Gold Sinks, Bitcoin Reclaims $66,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) will report its fiscal Q3 2024 earnings Thursday, after market close, marking the most pivotal earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/news">report for the week. </a>
The world&#8217;s largest corporation has a market of nearly $3 trillion and is currently &#8220;in a unique position to scale Gen-AI revenue without structural changes to its profitability profile&#8221; according to Goldman Sachs analysts Kash Rangan and Henry Dane. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft Earnings Preview: What Do Analysts Expect? </h1>
<ul>
<li>Consensus among Wall Street analysts indicates that Microsoft is expected to report earnings per share of $2.83 and revenue of $60.769 billion, according to data derived from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro platform</a>.</li>
<li>The average revenue is projected to increase by 15.1% year-on-year, with a slight easing of 1.9% compared to the previous quarter.</li>
<li>Earnings are anticipated to grow at a pace of 15.98% compared to the same quarter of last year, with a decrease of 3% compared to the previous quarter.</li>
<li>Microsoft has consistently outperformed Wall Street&#8217;s earnings expectations in its last six reports and has surpassed revenue forecasts in five of those instances.</li>
<li>The 12-month average price target is currently set at $478, suggesting an 18% stock upside from current market levels.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Here Is A Breakdown Of Analyst Estimates</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Measure</td>
<td>Estimate Low to High Range</td>
<td>Average</td>
<td>YoY Chg %</td>
<td>QoQ Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sales</td>
<td>$60.27B – $62.06B</td>
<td>$ 60.769B</td>
<td>15.14%</td>
<td>-1.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS</td>
<td>2.78 – 3.18</td>
<td>2.83</td>
<td>15.98%</td>
<td>-3.02%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sachs&#8217; Take</h1>
&#8220;Microsoft is well poised to execute against its estimates for +15% revenue growth, 28% Azure growth, and earnings per shares of $2.87,&#8221; Goldman Sachs wrote. 
The tech giant is likely to expand due to the growing demand for new tech projects and its focus on improving productivity, even as budgets in IT may tighten, according to Goldman Sachs.
Microsoft&#8217;s Azure platform is expected to benefit from significant AI-driven workloads, efforts to improve efficiency, and the quick redeployment of cost savings.
&#8220;We believe Microsoft is one of the most compelling investment opportunities in the technology industry and across sectors,&#8221; analyst wrote. 
Goldman Sachs holds a &#8220;Buy&#8221; rating with a 12-month price target of $450.
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/04/38361740/the-nvidia-chart-shows-the-importance-of-earnings-from-tesla-meta-microsoft-and-alphabet">The Nvidia Chart Shows The Importance Of Earnings From Tesla, Meta, Microsoft, And Alphabet</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Previews

Microsoft 'In Unique Position To Scale Gen-AI Revenue,' Goldman Sachs Says Ahead Of Q3 Earnings

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most exciting markets right now due to the seemingly unlimited potential of its applications in businesses everywhere. Many large companies are making massive <a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/31314/global-corporate-investment-in-artificial-intelligence/">investments </a>to integrate AI into their platforms and services to stay ahead of the charge and offer customers the latest and greatest edition tech has to offer.



The three stocks we will examine today are currently on a dip and trading at a lower price than their actual value. When stocks dip due to volatility or other short-term events, investors have an excellent opportunity to buy when the stock is cheaper and see significant profits when it bounces back to its former price.



We&rsquo;ll detail why these three <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/artificial-intelligence/">AI stocks</a> are so prominent in today&rsquo;s AI market and why the dips they are facing now give investors a chance to profit from their inevitable future growth.



<h2>C3.ai (AI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/c3ai-ai-stock-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="C3.ai (AI) logo on a smartphone with computer screen showing graph in background, symbolizing AI stock"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/Below the Sky</div></div>C3.ai (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ai-stock-quote/">AI</a>) is unique to the other stocks on this list as the company is dedicated entirely to AI software for businesses. It offers AI software-as-a-service to assist other companies looking to integrate AI <a href="https://c3.ai/c3-ai-platform/">platforms</a> into their operations.&nbsp;



The potential applications of C3.ai&rsquo;s software are near the point where it is limited only by the imagination and vision of the company utilizing it. Because of the extensive range of uses possible within C3.ai&rsquo;s AI development platform, the company has no peers that offer a similar service that makes up direct competition.



Despite its state-of-the-art AI software and lack of competition, C3.ai has been on the dip since late February. The stock has fallen over 40% this year and sits at just over $21, almost half its peak earlier this year.&nbsp;



C3.ai has taken a hit this year due to inflation affecting businesses&rsquo; spending power. However, despite these headwinds, the company is not showing a weak performance. The company&rsquo;s most recent earnings <a href="https://ir.c3.ai/news-releases/news-release-details/c3-ai-announces-third-quarter-fiscal-2024-financial-results">report </a>showed a year-over-year revenue increase of 18% and a 58% profit margin.&nbsp;



While the company could improve its earnings and is priced low, there is no reason not to believe that C3.ai will be one of the first companies to benefit from businesses&rsquo; increasing demand for AI platforms.&nbsp;



<h2>Crowdstrike (CRWD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/crwd-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="A sign with the Crowdstrike (CRWD) company logo"><div>Source: VDB Photos / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Crowdstrike (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/crwd-stock-quote/">CRWD</a>) is one of the most prominent cybersecurity companies to date and is also leading the charge in incorporating AI into its platform. Its generative AI analyst, <a href="https://www.crowdstrike.com/falcon-platform/artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning/">Charlotte AI</a>, offers advanced features as part of the company&rsquo;s leading Falcon platform.



The company has seen a stellar performance since the summer of 2023 when the stock shot up 300% to reach its all-time <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/CRWD/crowdstrike/stock-price-history">high </a>in February of this year. In fiscal 2024, the company generated over $3 billion in <a href="https://ir.crowdstrike.com/news-releases/news-release-details/crowdstrike-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2024">revenue </a>and generated free cash flow of $938.2 million.&nbsp;



Subscription revenue accounts for almost all of the company&rsquo;s income and has some of the highest retention and adoption rates in the cybersecurity sector. While the company&rsquo;s <a href="https://ir.crowdstrike.com/news-releases/news-release-details/crowdstrike-reports-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2024">outlook </a>expects another $1 billion increase in revenue over the next year, to much surprise, the stock has fallen over $40 in the past month.



Considering Crowdstrike has been one of the most expensive <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/cybersecurity/">cybersecurity stocks</a>, a dip like this presents an exceedingly rare opportunity for interested investors. While the stock may dip further with such a high valuation, there is a likelihood Crowdstrike will see another leap in the years to come. That makes the current dip a one-of-a-kind chance.



<h2>Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/amd_stock1600-2-300x169.png" alt="Sign of AMD office in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is an American multinational semiconductor company."><div>Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amd-stock-quote/">AMD</a>) is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. It is a stock that has been on many investors&rsquo; lists over the past few years. The AI chip manufacturer is second only to tech giant Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>) but is in a fantastic position to capitalize on the growing demand for AI chips.&nbsp;



This past month, investors had a golden opportunity to buy AMD on the dip. The stock fell almost 20% due to volatility and macroeconomic headwinds. While AMD does not have as much market share as Nvidia, its products are up to par &mdash; some might say even better.



AI chips allow users to extract the processing power necessary to run through the enormous amounts of data required for AI applications. While Nvidia&rsquo;s H100 chips are exceedingly popular, AMD&rsquo;s MI300 chips are even more <a href="https://www.semianalysis.com/p/amd-mi300-performance-faster-than">powerful</a>. AMD also offers open-source software that pairs with the chips, which claims to provide better accessibility to users than Nvidia&rsquo;s software. AMD has profitable <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/06/meta-and-microsoft-to-buy-amds-new-ai-chip-as-alternative-to-nvidia.html">deals </a>with monster companies like Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meta-stock-quote/">META</a>) for its chips, ensuring a steady income stream. With the coming boom in AI, AMD will certainly be at the forefront. Its current low price is something any investor should keep an eye on this year.



On the date of publication, Joel Lim did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the&nbsp;InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Joel Lim is a finance freelance writer who writes content for several companies like LTSE and Realtor, along with financial publications, including Mises Institute and Foundation for Economic Education.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-ai-stocks-to-buy-on-the-dip-april-2024/">3 AI Stocks to Buy on the Dip: April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

3 AI Stocks to Buy on the Dip: April 2024

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
As gaming stocks have a bright future, investors should tap into this industry now while the valuation of these companies are still cheap. 



The <a href="https://gameanalytics.com/blog/gaming-industry-trends-2024/">global video game market size</a> was valued at approximately $217.06 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.4% from 2023 to 2030. This growth is largely driven by advancements in online gaming.



Online gaming dominates the market, attributed to increased internet penetration and the popularity of massively multiplayer online and free-to-play games. Moreover, the industry is seeing a shift towards subscription-based models, with platforms like Xbox Game Pass by Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>) and Apple&rsquo;s (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>) Apple Arcade.



This means that the gaming industry is becoming more lucrative due to some of these firms being evaluated the same as <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a> are, due to their monthly recurring revenue streams.



We might be at an inflection point soon when these companies take off. So here are three gaming stocks for investors to consider.



<h2>Roblox (RBLX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/rblx1600-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Roblox sign logo at headquarters. RBLX stock"><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Roblox (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/rblx-stock-quote/">RBLX</a>) has proven to be a resilient name in the gaming industry, and it has only just begun to mark its dominance in the industry.



Unlike traditional gaming platforms that rely on a set catalog of games, Roblox allows users to create and monetize their own gaming experiences.



Starting out as a gaming platform for kids, it has since considerably broadened its demographic and expanded its monetization features. This includes the <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/roblox-rblx-q4-2023-earnings-173014558.html">expansion of its developer subscription services</a> and advertising programs, which saw substantial brand engagements with <a href="https://www.campaignasia.com/article/roblox-expands-advertising-offering-for-brands-with-launch-of-new-website/494821">69 major brands</a> in Q4 2023.&nbsp;



Additionally, the company is enhancing its platform with new AI-driven features, such as real-time AI chat translation and AI-powered tools for 3D content creation.



Given how many dedicated communities on Roblox there are and its expanding monthly recurring revenue, Roblox will be in a great position to scale its userbase in the future and reach higher levels of profitability. This then makes it one of those gaming stocks to buy.



<h2>Unity Software Inc (U)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unity_u_stock_1600-300x169.png" alt="In this photo illustration Unity Software Inc. (U stock) logo is seen on a mobile phone and a computer screen."><div>Source: viewimage / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Unity Software Inc (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/u-stock-quote/">U</a>) dominates the game engine market, especially for mobile games, and also has significant shares in PC and VR and AR markets.



It should also be noted that Unity is a popular game engine of indie developers. So, even if one has a less bullish forecast on AAA publishers&rsquo; ability to outperform, Unity covers one-man bands, as well as small teams. Mobile gaming is its obvious strength, and VR and AR are strong potential growth areas.



For 2024, Unity is concentrating on <a href="https://investors.unity.com/news/news-details/2024/2024-Unity-Gaming-Report-Highlights-Game-Studios-Continued-Resilience-As-They-Boldly-Stretch-Resources-Amidst-Shifting-Market-Forces/default.aspx">expanding its core business areas</a>, including enhancing AI integration within its development tools and launching new multiplayer projects. 



Unity 6, a major update, is set to launch in fall 2024, promising improved performance and expanded features for developers. Additionally, Unity Muse, an AI-powered development platform, will be integrated directly into the Unity Editor.



Finally, the <a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stocks/NYSE/U/price-target/">consensus price target</a> among analysts is $37.03 for Unity to be reached within the next twelve months, which represents a potential upside of 61.64% from its current price.



<h2>Electronic Arts (EA)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ea1600f-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Electronic Arts logo on a wall"><div>Source: Rick Neves / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ea-stock-quote/">EA</a>) is a major player in video game development and publishing, known for popular titles across various genres like sports, such as FIFA and Madden NFL, first-person shooters and simulation games.&nbsp;



Although some committed gamers point out EA&rsquo;s reputation for <a href="https://www.gadgets360.com/games/reviews/ea-sports-fc-24-review-fifa-gameplay-career-mode-ultimate-team-4477856">rehashing</a> the same games every year, as in the case for its blockbuster sports franchises, combined with the morally debatable practice of loot boxes and pay-to-win dynamics, EA has managed to stand the test of time as a business.



EA also <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EA/news">recently adjusted</a> its workforce, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/29/ea-laying-off-6percent-of-workforce-reducing-office-space.html">reducing it by 6%</a> and implementing restructuring charges expected to range from $170 million to $200 million. This move aligns with broader industry trends &mdash; a smaller team in the future is why you should be bullish on EA.



EA forecasts net revenue to range between $7.3 billion and $7.7 billion this year, and net <a href="https://www.ea.com/news/electronic-arts-reports-q1-fy24-financial-results">income is projected </a>between $947 million and $1.087 billion. Diluted earnings per share are expected to lie between $3.42 and $3.92. This puts it around the results of last year, but the efficiencies of having a smaller workforce could unlock greater value in the long run.



On the date of publication, Matthew Farley did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed are those of the writer, subject to the<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/"> InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Matthew started writing coverage of the financial markets during the crypto boom of 2017 and was also a team member of several fintech startups. He then started writing about Australian and U.S. equities for various publications. His work has appeared in MarketBeat, FXStreet, Cryptoslate, Seeking Alpha, and the New Scientist magazine, among others.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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As Microsoft (MSFT) gears up to announce its earnings on April 25, investors are eagerly awaiting to see if the tech giant will continue to impress. Despite its robust emphasis on cloud services and strategic AI investments, MSFT's recent downturns in personal and gaming revenues have sparked concerns. Is MSFT poised to enhance your watchlist with its upcoming earnings report? Let's explore... Tech titan Microsoft Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MSFT/">MSFT</a>) is scheduled to report earnings on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Despite optimistic earning projections, this article discusses why it might be wise to hold entry in this stock.
MSFT is poised to demonstrate robust performance driven by the ongoing growth of its cloud platform, including Azure, Office 365, and other cloud services. Additionally, recent partnerships with OpenAI for AI advancement and a significant data center initiative further underscore its momentum. Street expects MSFT's revenue and EPS to rise 15.2% and 16.2% year-over-year to $60.89 billion and $2.84 in the to-be reported fiscal third quarter ended March 2024.
If we look at the previous quarter's performance, MSFT's Productivity &amp; Business Processes segment saw a 7% year-over-year revenue increase to $17 billion, driven by growth in Office 365 Commercial and Dynamics CRM. Revenue in the Intelligent Cloud segment rose by 17.8% from the prior-year quarter to $21.50 billion, fueled by robust growth in Azure and other cloud services.
However, the More Personal Computing segment experienced a revenue decline of 18.8% year-over-year to $14.2 billion, attributed to decreases in Windows and gaming, partially offset by growth in search and news advertising.
MSFT's shares have soared 42.6% over the past year but declined 4.9% over the past month to close the last trading session at $407.57. Its 24-month beta is 1.11.
Here are the key factors shaping MSFT's near-term performance:
Strides in AI
MSFT has been making strides in the field of AI. On April 23, 2024, the company introduced Phi-3-mini, a lightweight AI model aimed at broadening its client base with cost-effective options. Phi-3-mini is immediately available on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, Hugging Face's machine learning model platform, and Ollama for local machine deployment.
MSFT's recent investments in AI, including a $1.50 billion investment in UAE's G42 and partnerships with companies like Mistral AI, highlight its commitment to advancing AI technology.
Additionally, in January, MSFT unveiled new generative AI and data solutions tailored for retailers, covering everything from personalized shopping experiences to store operations.
Mixed Financials
During the fiscal 2024 second quarter, which ended December 31, 2023, MSFT's total revenue increased 17.6% year-over-year to $62.02 billion. Its operating income rose 32.5% from the year-ago value to $27.03 billion.
However, the company's cash outflow from investing activities grew 905.9% from the prior year's period to $71.93 billion. As of December 31, 2023, MSFT's cash and cash equivalents amounted to $17.31 billion, down from $34.70 billion as of June 30, 2023.
Stretched Valuation
MSFT's forward non-GAAP P/E of 34.27x is 48.9% higher than the industry average of 23.02x. Its forward EV/S multiple of 12.32 is 348.2% higher than the 2.75 industry average. Moreover, the stock's P/S of 12.19x is 342.2% higher than the 2.76x industry average.
Further, its forward P/B multiple of 11.14 is 189.6% higher than the 3.85 industry average.
Robust Profitability
MSFT's trailing-12-month EBIT margin of 44.59% is 810.7% higher than the 4.90% industry average. Its trailing-12-month net income and EBITDA margins of 36.27% and 52.04% are notably higher than the industry averages of 2.65% and 9.50%.
The stock's trailing-12-month ROCE and<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/return_on_total_assets.asp"> ROTA</a> of 39.17% and 17.54% are significantly higher than the industry averages of 3.49% and 1.51%.
POWR Ratings Exhibit Uncertain Prospects
MSFT's mixed fundamentals are reflected in its <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a>. The stock has an overall rating of C, translating to a Neutral in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by accounting for 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. MSFT has a C for Growth, echoing its previous quarter's mixed financial results. Its Momentum grade sits at a C, reflecting its fluctuating price performance.
Within the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/software-business/%22">Software – Business</a> industry, MSFT is ranked #17 out of the 43 stocks.
Beyond what we've stated above, we have also rated the stock for Value, Sentiment, Quality, and Stability. Get all MSFT ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MSFT/">here</a>.
Bottom Line
Demand for MSFT's cloud solutions is booming thanks to the rising shift of workloads to the cloud, particularly in infrastructure monitoring, application performance management, and human capital management. However, its personal and gaming revenues continue to fall.
Additionally, amid the AI boom, MSFT emerges as a leader, leveraging strategic investments in OpenAI and seamless integration of AI across its ecosystem to solidify its position in the AI revolution.
Nonetheless, with valuation multiples significantly higher than industry averages and a high beta indicating volatility, the stock appears to carry elevated risk at this point. Therefore, investors may want to exercise caution and wait for a more favorable entry point before considering adding MSFT to their portfolio.
 How Does Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Stack Up Against Its Peers? 
With its uncertain short-term outlook, MSFT's chances of outperforming in the coming weeks and months are diminished. However, you might want to explore other stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/software-business/">Software – Business</a> industry with an A (Strong Buy) rating:
F5 Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/FFIV/">FFIV</a>)
Yext, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/YEXT/">YEXT</a>)
SolarWinds Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SWI/">SWI</a>)
To explore more Software – Business stocks, click<a href="https://stocknews.com/category/software-business/"> here</a>.
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
MSFT shares rose $2.50 (+0.61%) in premarket trading Wednesday. Year-to-date, MSFT has gained 9.34%, versus a 6.99% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Kritika Sarmah</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kritika-Sarmah_Image-3.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Her interest in risky instruments and passion for writing made Kritika an analyst and financial journalist. She earned her bachelor's degree in commerce and is currently pursuing the CFA program. With her fundamental approach, she aims to help investors identify untapped investment opportunities.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=kritika-sarmah">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/msft-ffiv-yext-swi-ko-will-msft-add-value-to-your-watchlist-during-earnings/>Will MSFT Add Value to Your Watchlist During Earnings?</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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