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

NUGL Stock (OTC:NUGL), Short Interest Report

NUGL Inc through Kaya Group operates a multifaceted cannabis lifestyle company with a portfolio of brands. The combined resources and expanded international exchange provide the combined companies with growth opportunities, larger markets, and a larger client base. Kaya operates lifestyle and wellness brands from locations, consumption lounge, maintaining facility and product/brand launch in Southern California. NUGL provides search engine and online directory, and a multi-media platform created by technology professionals for the marijuana industry that adjusts rankings based on community input. NUGL App highlights profiles for businesses in all sectors of the cannabis industry, including retail stores, brands, services, events.

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Psyched: Three Noteworthy Psychedelics M&amp;As, Colorado&#39;s Regulations, Exclusive Financing &amp; More

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Canadian next-generation psychedelics developer Mindset Pharma (OTCMKTS: MSSTF) has entered into a definitive agreement by which Otsuka America Inc., the U.S. arm of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., would acquire all its outstanding shares in an all-cash transaction for approximately $60 (CA$80) million.

Mindset Pharma&#39;s $60M Acquisition, Otsuka&#39;s Leap Into Next-Gen Psychiatry Solutions

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Silo Wellness (OTCQB: SILFF) has confirmed its intention to acquire all issued and outstanding securities of NUGL Inc./Kaya Group (OTC Pink: NUGL) in an arms-length transaction valued at $31.9 (CA$43.3) million.

Second Psychedelics Merger Of The Week? Silo Wellness To Buy Jamaica-Based Business For $31.9M

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Lucid shares are trading lower. The stock may be pulling back following yesterday's gain.

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New York Community Bancorp shares are trading lower after the company agreed to sell $5 billion in warehouse loans to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

<a href="https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202405151529DGAP____CORPNEWS_corporate_1904313_en-1#:~:text=As%20part%20of%20the%20restructuring%2C%20CORSAIR%20will%20take%20over%20Endor,with%20around%20EUR%2070%20million%20.">https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202405151529DGAP____CORPNEWS_corporate_1904313_en-1#:~:text=As%20part%20of%20the%20restructuring%2C%20CORSAIR%20will%20take%20over%20Endor,with%20around%20EUR%2070%20million%20.</a>
&nbsp;
As part of the restructuring negotiations entered into on 9 May 2024, the Management Board of Endor AG has agreed on concrete steps with CORSAIR&#xAE; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRSR#NASDAQ">CRSR</a>) with the approval of the lending banks and the Supervisory Board.
As a first step, CORSAIR will provide interim financing, which will be made available in tranches in the short term in line with the company's maturity profile.
"During the exclusive negotiations, we perceived CORSAIR as a reliable partner that not only has the financial resources, but also knows our market well and wants to invest for the long term," says Andres Ruff, CEO and Chief Restructuring Officer of Endor AG. "Following a comprehensive review, the lending banks also decided not to support other restructuring offers because they did not believe they were suitable to avert the threat of insolvency."
CFO Matthias Kosch adds: "The successful avoidance of insolvency is the direct result of the work of a dedicated team. As part of the open-ended professional investor process, we scrutinised and evaluated various offers. We are confident that the acceptance of CORSAIR's offer will secure Endor's future in the long term."
As already communicated, Endor AG is to be restructured outside of insolvency proceedings in accordance with the German Act on the Stabilisation and Restructuring of Companies (StaRUG) due to imminent insolvency. A binding agreement is expected to be signed in mid-June and submitted to the restructuring court in Munich in the near future.
As part of the restructuring, CORSAIR will take over Endor AG in full and provide it with sufficient financial resources to stabilise the company without external debt. Endor is currently leveraged with around EUR 70 million.

CRSR

'Endor AG Agrees On Further Steps As Part Of Exclusive Negotiations With Strategic Investor CORSAIR; Corsair Will Take Over Endor AG In Full And Provide It With Sufficient Financial Resources; Endor Is Currently Leveraged With Around €70 Million; A Binding Agreement Is Expected To Be Signed In Mid-June And Submitted To Restructuring Court In Munich In Near Future' - FT

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>) is stirring up investor interest Wednesday with notable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PANW">movement in its stock price</a>.&nbsp;
What's Going On: Anticipation appears to be building as the company prepares to release its third-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings on May 20. In the previous quarter, Palo Alto Networks surpassed expectations, reporting EPS of $1.46 and revenue of $1.975 billion, outperforming the estimated EPS of $1.30 and revenue of $1.971 billion. For the upcoming quarter, analysts anticipate EPS of $1.25 and revenue of $1.967 billion, according to estimates from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Analyst Updates: Morgan Stanley analyst Hamza Fodderwala reiterated Palo Alto Networks with an Overweight rating on Wednesday and maintained a price target of $360.
A day earlier, Evercore ISI adjusted its price target to $385, while maintaining an Outperform rating. JMP Securities also reiterated Market Outperform and maintained a price target of $380.
The analyst updates came after Palo Alto and Accenture announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/05/n38787418/palo-alto-networks-and-accenture-team-to-secure-the-genai-transformation-journey">expansion of their strategic alliance</a>. The companies revealed new offerings combining Precision AI technology from Palo Alto Networks with Accenture&#8217;s secure generative AI services. This collaboration aims to help organizations navigate the AI journey securely, prioritizing cybersecurity from the outset.
The offerings include Palo Alto&#8217;s Secure AI by Design and Accenture&#8217;s comprehensive AI diagnostic services, providing clients with a multilayered strategy to support every stage of the AI lifecycle. Through this partnership, Palo Alto Networks and Accenture aim to foster ethical and responsible AI adoption while enabling organizations to leverage AI securely for business transformation.
Looking Ahead: Palo Alto&#8217;s response to evolving cyber threats, along with its strategic acquisitions and product offerings, will likely influence investor sentiment moving forward. Additionally, analysts emphasize the importance of monitoring earnings estimates and company developments for insights into future performance.
Palo Alto Networks is a stock to watch closely in the coming days with earnings on the horizon.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38854520/nvidias-new-blackwell-gpus-expected-to-boost-future-revenues-analyst-forecasts"> Nvidia&#8217;s New Blackwell GPUs Expected To Boost Future Revenues, Analyst Forecasts</a>
PANW Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PANW">Palo Alto shares</a> are currently up 3.77%, trading at $312.89 at the time of writing, according to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2"> Benzinga Pro</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="497" height="280" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/15151441/PANW.png" alt="" class="wp-image-340225" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/15151441/PANW.png 497w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/15151441/PANW-300x169.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px" /></figure>
Image: Michael Vi via Shutterstock

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Palo Alto Networks Stock Is Rising: What's Going On?

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Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Roblox.
Looking at options history for Roblox (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) we detected 13 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 30% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 61% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $342,398 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $876,867.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $22.5 to $50.0 for Roblox over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Roblox's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Roblox's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $22.5 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Roblox 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1715802364_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$652.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">206</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$1.89</td>
<td>$1.86</td>
<td>$1.86</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$93.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$6.3</td>
<td>$6.2</td>
<td>$6.2</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$84.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">187</td>
<td>138</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$10.25</td>
<td>$10.15</td>
<td>$10.15</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$83.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RBLX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$2.89</td>
<td>$2.87</td>
<td>$2.89</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$55.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td>340</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Roblox</h3>
Roblox operates an online video game platform that lets young gamers create, develop, and monetize games (or "experiences") for other players. The firm effectively offers its developers a hybrid of a game engine, publishing platform, online hosting and services, marketplace with payment processing, and social network. The platform is a closed garden that Roblox controls, earning revenue in multiple places while benefiting from outsourced game development. Unlike traditional video game publishers, Roblox is more focused on the creation of new tools and monetization techniques for its developers then creating new games or franchises.
In light of the recent options history for Roblox, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Roblox</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 6,193,970, the price of RBLX is up 0.6% at $31.85. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 84 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Roblox</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $45.2.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Roblox, which currently sits at a price target of $53. </li>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Benchmark lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $50.</li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Needham keeps a Buy rating on Roblox with a target price of $40. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Roblox, targeting a price of $35. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Canaccord Genuity keeps a Buy rating on Roblox with a target price of $48. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Roblox, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

RBLX

Roblox Unusual Options Activity

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Schlumberger.
Looking at options history for Schlumberger (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>) we detected 9 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 66% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 33% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $61,478 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $431,065.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $35.0 to $60.0 for Schlumberger over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Schlumberger stands at 1329.67, with a total volume reaching 3,123.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Schlumberger, situated within the strike price corridor from $35.0 to $60.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Schlumberger Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1715802359_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$0.6</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$128.0K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$121.4K</td>
<td>503</td>
<td>267</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$42.1K</td>
<td>732</td>
<td>118</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$8.1</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$8.1</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$40.5K</td>
<td>338</td>
<td>61</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$11.95</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$38.8K</td>
<td>165</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Schlumberger</h3>
SLB is the largest oilfield service firm in the world, with expertise in myriad disciplines, including reservoir performance, well construction, production enhancement, and more recently, digital solutions. It maintains a reputation as one of the industry's leading innovators, which has earned it dominant share in numerous end markets.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Schlumberger, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Schlumberger</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,678,691, with SLB's price down by -0.66%, positioned at $48.3.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 65 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Schlumberger</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $64.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Schlumberger, which currently sits at a price target of $65. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo has revised its rating downward to Equal-Weight, adjusting the price target to $53. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from TD Cowen keeps a Buy rating on Schlumberger with a target price of $63. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Buy rating on Schlumberger, maintaining a target price of $62. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Susquehanna continues to hold a Positive rating for Schlumberger, targeting a price of $77. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Schlumberger, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In SLB Options

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Visa.
Looking at options history for Visa (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) we detected 29 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 48% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 41% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $158,334 and 25, calls, for a total amount of $1,331,134.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $175.0 to $300.0 for Visa over the recent three months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Visa's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Visa's whale trades within a strike price range from $175.0 to $300.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Visa Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1715802354_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$3.75</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$277.50</td>
<td>$166.5K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>719</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$6.4</td>
<td>$6.25</td>
<td>$6.25</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$121.8K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.7</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$86.2K</td>
<td>5.7K</td>
<td>204</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$60.95</td>
<td>$59.8</td>
<td>$60.59</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$85.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$3.4</td>
<td>$2.8</td>
<td>$3.4</td>
<td>$275.00</td>
<td>$85.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>250</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Visa</h3>
Visa is the largest payment processor in the world. In fiscal 2022, it processed over $14 trillion in total volume. Visa operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 160 currencies. Its systems are capable of processing over 65,000 transactions per second.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Visa, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Visa</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,356,601, the V's price is up by 1.25%, now at $281.22. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 69 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Visa</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $306.4.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Wedbush persists with their Outperform rating on Visa, maintaining a target price of $300. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Neutral rating on Visa with a target price of $275. </li>
<li>An analyst from Piper Sandler has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $322. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from RBC Capital continues to hold a Outperform rating for Visa, targeting a price of $315. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Baird continues to hold a Outperform rating for Visa, targeting a price of $320. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Visa options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Visa Unusual Options Activity For May 15

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vktx#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapeutics for metabolic and endocrine disorders, has been in the news, owing to updates from its obesity program.
The company, with a market cap of about $8 billion, is developing its lead candidate, VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. The candidate is being developed both as a subcutaneous injection and as an oral pill in a mid-stage study and an early-stage study, respectively.
The investigational drug is expected to reflect blockbuster potential, having demonstrated superior weight reduction capabilities in both clinical studies, coupled with the massive demand for obesity drugs. Biotech firms have been competing fiercely to enter the obesity market due to the huge untapped opportunity it represents amid increasing demand.
In early 2024, Viking Therapeutics reported that the phase II VENTURE study, which evaluated a subcutaneous formulation of VK2375, achieved its primary and all secondary endpoints, with statistical significance. Patients treated with this formulation achieved a mean weight reduction of 14.7% after 13 weeks compared with 1.7% in the placebo group.
Year to date, shares of VKTX have skyrocketed 289.6% against the&nbsp;industry&#39;s 5.7% decline.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/c6/66778.jpg?v=555967424" style="height:350px; width:600px" /> 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What&#39;s particularly impressive is that weight loss in all treated cohorts gradually progressed through 13 weeks and did not show evidence of&nbsp;plateauing.
This suggests that VK2375 has the potential to induce further weight loss over a longer treatment period and at higher doses.
Based on such encouraging results, Viking Therapeutics plans to advance both formulations into further development later this year.
Consequently, the company also reported data from the phase I study evaluating the oral formulation of the drug in March 2024, which demonstrated promising dose-dependent reductions in mean body weight after 28 days of daily dosing.
Patients who received the drug at the highest dose level (i.e., 40mg) lost up to 5.3% of their body weight compared with 2.1% in the placebo group. In fact, 57% of patients who received the 40mg dose lost at least 5% of their body weight.
Notably, in both studies, VK2735 was well-tolerated across all doses, with no serious adverse events.
Such impressive results should instill faith in investors regarding the potential of Viking&#39;s VK2735 development program for obesity.
Of the two formulations of VK2735, which are currently being investigated, the oral formulation is more interesting as it is much easier to use. Patients will most likely prefer a daily weight loss pill to a weekly injection, thereby having the potential to increase the company&#39;s customer base, which will contribute to strong sales, subject to approval.
Viking Therapeutics also enjoys a comfortable cash position. It had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of&nbsp;$963 million as of Mar 31, 2024, which should be able to fund the company&#39;s clinical program for VK2735, along with other pipeline programs, simultaneously. The company currently has no debt (short + long term) in its balance sheet, which is also encouraging.
VKTX&#39;s pipeline comprises two other promising candidates, which are undergoing clinical-stage development. This ensures that its entire growth prospect is not just dependent on the success of its obesity program.
Viking Therapeutics is evaluating its investigational candidate, VK2809, in an ongoing mid-stage study for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. On the other hand, a separate ongoing early-stage study is currently evaluating VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
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<h3>Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus</h3>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/chart/VKTX/price-consensus-chart?icid=chart-VKTX-price-consensus-chart"><img alt="Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/bb/1715781132.png" style="height:350px; width:600px" title="" /> </a>
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Quote
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However, there are several risk factors that investors should consider before making a decision.
One cannot simply overlook the tremendous competition in the obesity market, especially from pharma bigwigs like Eli Lilly (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvo#NYSE">NVO</a>).
Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have massive infrastructures and resources, far greater than that of Viking Therapeutics, which will likely allow these large caps to outmaneuver competition in the obesity market in the long run.
Wegovy, a GLP-1 agonist, is NVO&#39;s blockbuster chronic weight management injection approved for adults with obesity or overweight. The drug received FDA approval in 2021 and has witnessed stellar performance ever since. In 2023, Wegovy sales were up 407% to DKK 31.3 billion compared with the DKK 6.2 billion recorded in 2022 on a reported basis.
Wegovy is seeing strong prescription trends and is generating impressive revenues and profits for Novo Nordisk. NVO recently announced that the FDA has approved Wegovy for reducing the risk of serious heart problems in obese/overweight adults in March 2024. In the first quarter of 2024, Novo Nordisk generated revenues of DKK 9.4 billion from Wegovy sales, representing a surge of 107% year over year.
Eli Lilly launched its obesity drug, Zepbound, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist in November 2023. Zepbound has seen strong uptake since its launch. The drug generated revenues of $175.8 million in 2023. The first quarter of 2024 marked the first full quarter of commercialization following Zepbound&#39;s launch generating $517.4 million in revenues.
Amgen&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amgn#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>) also has a GLP-1 receptor candidate, MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide), for obesity in its pipeline. Earlier this month, Amgen stated that it was &quot;very encouraged&quot; with the interim data from the phase II study on MariTide. Top-line 52-week data from the phase II study is expected in late 2024. AMGN is planning to conduct a comprehensive phase III program on the candidate across obesity, obesity-related conditions and diabetes.
Despite the intense competition, the obesity market is still far from being saturated, which will likely provide enough breathing room for Viking Therapeutics to operate in the market and develop additional medicines.
However, in the absence of a marketed product, VKTX does not have a regular income stream to support clinical activities. All pipeline candidates are still a few years away from commercialization. Any developmental setback for the company&#39;s pipeline programs will be detrimental to the stock, driving up operating expenses that will significantly increase loss margins. The pharma industry is especially prone to such failures.
These above-discussed factors indicate that Viking Therapeutics is a good stock to hold on to. In fact, any major dip in stock price can be used as an opportunity to buy the stock. This could drive significant growth for investors&#39; portfolios as the company targets a lucrative market space. It has consistently reported positive results from the clinical studies of VK2735 for the obesity indication.
<h3>Zacks Rank</h3>
VKTX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2274279/should-you-hold-viking-therapeutics-vktx-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2274279">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

AMGN

VKTX

Should You Hold Viking Therapeutics in Your Portfolio?

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lway#NASDAQ">LWAY</a>) posted first-quarter 2024 results, wherein the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while the bottom line missed the same. Both net sales and earnings experienced a year-over-year increase. 
Amid macro headwinds, LWAY has notably achieved a significant boost in net sales, particularly driven by strategic sales and marketing investments. These investments are evidently driving volume growth and increasing awareness among consumers. Lifeway Foods has achieved 18th consecutive quarter of growth and reported fourth consecutive quarter of record sales. 
The company has demonstrated remarkable strength on the back of strong operational execution, favorable transportation cost, gross margin expansion and net income growth. These strategic initiatives position it well to capitalize on emerging opportunities and further solidify its position in the market. 
The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company&#39;s shares have rallied 115.1% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s growth of 22.2%
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/da/66779.jpg?v=1393491047" /> 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Q1 Details</h3>
Lifeway Foods, the leading producer of probiotic-based products, delivered earnings of 16 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents. However, the figure increased from earnings of 6 cents in the same period last year. 
Net sales of $44.6 million jumped 17.8% from $37.9 million in the prior-year quarter. Net sales also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $43 million. The uptick was attributable to increased sales volumes of branded drinkable kefir. 
Gross profit of $11.5 million witnessed a significant improvement of 40.2% year over year. Gross margin of 25.8% expanded 410 basis points from 21.7% in the year-earlier quarter. Higher volumes of Lifeway branded products and the favorable impact of transportation costs played a key role in driving growth. 
SG&amp;A expenses of $7.8 million increased 17.8% from $6.7 million a year ago.
<h3>Other Financial Aspects</h3>
LWAY ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $12 million and total stockholders&#39; equity of $63.5 million. Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $1.5 million.
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<h3>Other Key Picks</h3>
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Here, we have highlighted three other top-ranked stocks, namely, Tyson Foods (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsn#NYSE">TSN</a>), Hormel Foods (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hrl#NYSE">HRL</a>) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cl#NYSE">CL</a>). 
Tyson Foods, which operates through the Beef, Pork, Chicken and Prepared Foods segments, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. TSN delivered an average earnings surprise of 24.4% in the trailing four quarters. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tyson Foods&#39; current fiscal-year sales and earnings calls for growth of 0.03% and 85.1%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. 
Hormel Foods develops, processes and distributes various meat, nuts and other food products. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. HRL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.5%, on average. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hormel Foods&#39; current financial-year sales suggests growth of 1.2% from the prior-year levels. 
Colgate, a general manufacturer and retailer of consumer products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. CL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.4%, on average. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CL&#39;s current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 9.3% and 3.9% from the year-ago actuals.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2274401/lifeway-foods-lway-q1-earnings-miss-sales-beat-estimates?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2274401">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings Misses

LWAY

Lifeway Foods Q1 Earnings Miss, Sales Beat Estimates

All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it&#39;s through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you&#39;re an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company&#39;s earnings paid out to shareholders; it&#39;s often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Exxon Mobil in Focus
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>) is headquartered in Spring, and is in the Oils-Energy sector. The stock has seen a price change of 17.69% since the start of the year. The oil and natural gas company is paying out a dividend of $0.95 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.23% compared to the Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry&#39;s yield of 2.3% and the S&amp;P 500&#39;s yield of 1.58%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company&#39;s current annualized dividend of $3.80 is up 3.3% from last year. In the past five-year period, Exxon Mobil has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 1.67%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company&#39;s payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm&#39;s annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Exxon&#39;s current payout ratio is 43%, meaning it paid out 43% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Earnings growth looks solid for XOM for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 is $9.57 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 0.53%.
Bottom Line
Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. It&#39;s important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, XOM is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2274296/why-exxon-mobil-xom-is-a-great-dividend-stock-right-now?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_5-2274296">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Why Exxon Mobil is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Five startups have been chosen to join Mastercard&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ma#NYSE">MA</a>) Start Path blockchain and digital assets program to develop blockchain use cases and user experiences. The program will see Mastercard connect with industry experts and fintech firms to explore different use cases for digital assets and blockchain technology for solving real-world problems.
Read the <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/294660/mastercard-picks-five-startups-for-program-on-blockchain-use-case-development?utm_source=benzinga&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=Mastercard+picks+five+startups+for+program+on+blockchain+use-case+development">full story</a> at The Block.

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

Cryptocurrency

Fintech news covering the emerging Financial Technology services sector

Fintech

Mastercard Picks Five Startups for Program on Blockchain Use-Case Development

Constellation Energy shares are trading higher after Wells Fargo maintained an Overweight rating on the stock and raised its price target from $215 to $250.

The web3 digital identity firm Humanity Protocol raised $30 million in funding, bringing the startup to a $1 billion valuation.&nbsp; The venture firm Kingsway Capital led the round, which had additional support from Animoca Brands, Blockchain.com and Shima Capital, Bloomberg reports, adding that Humanity Protocol also raised $1.5 million from &quot;influential crypto figures.&quot;
Read the <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/294631/web3-digital-identity-startup-humanity-protocol-raises-30-million-at-a-1-billion-valuation?utm_source=benzinga&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=Web3+digital+identity+startup+Humanity+Protocol+raises+%2430+million+at+a+%241+billion+valuation">full story</a> at The Block.

Tech

Web3 Digital Identity Startup Humanity Protocol Raises $30 Million at a $1 Billion Valuation

Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bitf#NASDAQ">BITF</a>) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.02 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.03. This compares to loss of $0.01 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 33.33%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post a loss of $0.04 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.06, delivering a surprise of -50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.
Bitfarms, which belongs to the Zacks Technology Services industry, posted revenues of $50.32 million for the quarter ended March 2024, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.39%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $30.05 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock&#39;s immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management&#39;s commentary on the earnings call.
Bitfarms shares have lost about 44.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&amp;P 500&#39;s gain of 10%.
What&#39;s Next for Bitfarms?
While Bitfarms has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors&#39; minds is: what&#39;s next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company&#39;s earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Bitfarms: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company&#39;s just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.05 on $53.4 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.09 on $268.66 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Technology Services is currently in the top 24% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Sprinklr (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cxm#NYSE">CXM</a>), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended April 2024.
This customer experience software developer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.07 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +16.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Sprinklr&#39;s revenues are expected to be $194.54 million, up 12.2% from the year-ago quarter.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2273918/bitfarms-ltd-bitf-reports-q1-loss-lags-revenue-estimates?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_4-2273918">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

BITF

Bitfarms Ltd. Reports Q1 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates

Commodities

ETFs

AMEGF

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

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Silo Wellness will buy NUGL, valued at C$43M

Short Sellers

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CSE:SILO