Starbucks Stock (NASDAQ:SBUX), Trade Ideas

Starbucks

Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 38,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2023. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products.

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The Nasdaq 100 closed lower by more than 200 points on Wednesday. Investors, meanwhile, focused on some notable insider trades.

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Starbucks Corp

The Nasdaq 100 closed lower by more than 200 points on Wednesday. Investors, meanwhile, focused on some notable insider trades.
When insiders sell shares, it could be a preplanned sale, or could indicate their concern in the company&rsquo;s prospects or that they view the stock as being overpriced. Insider sales should not be taken as the only indicator for making an investment or trading decision. At best, it can lend conviction to a selling decision.
Below is a look at a few recent notable insider sales. For more, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> Benzinga&#39;s insider transactions </a> platform.
<h3>Starbucks </h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sbux#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) CEO, North America Michael Aaron Conway <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> sold a total of 3,250 shares </a> at an average price of $85.39. The insider received around $277,518 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What&rsquo;s Happening: On April 16, Jefferies analyst Andy Barish maintained Starbucks with a Hold and lowered the price target from $100 to $94.</li>
<li>What Starbucks Does: Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 38,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2023.</li>
</ul>
Have a look at our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> 
<h3>Alphabet</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: 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>) CEO Sundar Pichai <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> sold a total of 22,500 shares </a> at an average price of $157.41. The insider received around $3.54 million from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What&rsquo;s Happening: Following protests over its Israeli government cloud contract, Google&lsquo;s parent company Alphabet has terminated 28 employees.</li>
<li>What Alphabet Does: Alphabet is a holding company. Internet media giant Google is a wholly owned subsidiary. Google services account for nearly 90% of Alphabet&#39;s revenue, of which more than 85% is from online ads.</li>
</ul>
<h3>NetApp </h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: NetApp, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ntap#NASDAQ">NTAP</a>) CEO George Kurian <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> sold a total of 8,500 shares </a> at an average price of $103.16. The insider received around $876,838 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What&rsquo;s Happening: On April 10, NetApp announced a partnership with Google Cloud to maximize flexibility for cloud data storage.</li>
<li>What NetApp Does: NetApp Inc is a leading provider of enterprise data management and storage solutions. The company&#39;s segments include Hybrid Cloud and Public Cloud.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Trade Desk </h3>
<ul>
<li>The Trade: The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ttd#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) President and CEO Jeffrey Terry Green <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/"> sold a total of 2,600 shares </a> at an average price of $86.41. The insider received around $224,666 from selling those shares.</li>
<li>What&rsquo;s Happening: On Feb. 15, Trade Desk reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue results and issued first-quarter revenue guidance above estimates.</li>
<li>What Trade Desk Does: The Trade Desk provides a self-service platform that helps advertisers and ad agencies programmatically find and purchase digital ad inventory (display, video, audio, and social) on different devices like computers, smartphones, and connected TVs.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38307448/investor-sentiment-decreases-further-s-p-500-falls-for-fourth-straight-session"> Investor Sentiment Decreases Further, S&amp;P 500 Falls For Fourth Straight Session </a>
&nbsp;

Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.82% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 11.52%. Currently, Starbucks has a market capitalization of $97.33 billion. 
Buying $1000 In SBUX: If an investor had bought $1000 of SBUX stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $8,813.17 today based on a price of $85.96 for SBUX at the time of writing.
<h3>Starbucks's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713380440_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Starbucks Stock In The Last 20 Years

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary 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>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$56.1K</td>
<td>30.5K</td>
<td>123.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/26/24</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>9.7K</td>
<td>6.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$43.7K</td>
<td>10.5K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CZR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$34.00</td>
<td>$27.6K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LEN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$149.00</td>
<td>$33.2K</td>
<td>93</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GPS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$44.2K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>368</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>309</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CPNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$52.0K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>279</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$28.7K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>114</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TJX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$56.8K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 215 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.1K, with a price of $263.0 per contract. There were 30585 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 123274 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on April 26, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $185.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.0K, with a price of $360.0 per contract. There were 9774 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 259 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.7K, with a price of $169.0 per contract. There were 10517 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3378 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CZR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on May 17, 2024. Parties traded 644 contract(s) at a $34.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.6K, with a price of $43.0 per contract. There were 1939 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2785 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LEN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 196 contract(s) at a $149.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.2K, with a price of $170.0 per contract. There were 93 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1366 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GPS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPS#NYSE">GPS</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 66 day(s) on June 21, 2024. Parties traded 202 contract(s) at a $21.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.2K, with a price of $219.0 per contract. There were 1361 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 368 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 276 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 35 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $885.0 per contract. There were 3725 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 309 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CPNG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPNG#NYSE">CPNG</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 276 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $25.00 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 $52.0K, with a price of $260.0 per contract. There were 5221 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 279 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 31 day(s) on May 17, 2024. This event was a transfer of 25 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.7K, with a price of $1150.0 per contract. There were 5425 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 114 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TJX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 276 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.8K, with a price of $1420.0 per contract. There were 2679 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 55 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

CPNG

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Jefferies analyst Andy Barish maintains Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $100 to $94.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Jefferies Maintains Hold on Starbucks, Lowers Price Target to $94

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in SBUX often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 options trades for Starbucks. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 33% bullish and 66% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $66,105, and 8 calls, totaling $342,645.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $75.0 and $95.0 for Starbucks, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Starbucks options trades today is 4536.25 with a total volume of 2,412.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Starbucks's big money trades within a strike price range of $75.0 to $95.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Starbucks Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713282387_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>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$72.0K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>189</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.55</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$66.1K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$21.35</td>
<td>$18.95</td>
<td>$20.4</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$61.2K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$1.99</td>
<td>$1.95</td>
<td>$1.97</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$59.1K</td>
<td>17.5K</td>
<td>503</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.12</td>
<td>$2.12</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$42.4K</td>
<td>17.5K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Starbucks</h3>
Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 38,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2023. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products.
In light of the recent options history for Starbucks, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Starbucks</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,260,705, the price of SBUX is down -0.02% at $85.16. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 14 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Starbucks</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $104.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from JP Morgan persists with their Overweight rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $100. </li>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from TD Cowen downgraded its rating to Hold, setting a price target of $100. </li>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $115. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from TD Cowen continues to hold a Hold rating for Starbucks, targeting a price of $100. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $105. </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 Starbucks options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Spotlight on Starbucks: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/01/36493680/mcdonalds-18-big-mac-meal-goes-viral-again-as-fast-food-minimum-wage-hike-to-20-triggers-fears-of-sk">California fast-food employees</a> started earning a minimum of $20 an hour in April.
Thanks to a new law, which went into effect earlier this month, California chain restaurants with at least 60 locations nationwide have to pay their employees more. 
For smaller restaurants, the minimum wage continues to be the statewide bottom of $16 an hour.
The largest publicly-traded fast-food companies include McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>); Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>); Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>), which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC; Wendys Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>); Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), which owns Burger King; Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>); Papa John&#8217;s International Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PZZA#NASDAQ">PZZA</a>) and Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JACK#NASDAQ">JACK</a>).
Many of these stocks have lost value since the law was implemented on April 1.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38083611">AI Gunning For Fast Food Jobs Next? KFC, Taco Bell Operator Yum Brands Planning ChatGPT-Like Bots To Boost Operations</a>
The wage hikes were deemed necessary in the Golden State. After all, the <a href="https://www.rentcafe.com/cost-of-living-calculator/us/ca/">cost of living in California</a> is about 38% higher than the national average.
Some fast food companies are considering cutting employee hours and raising menu prices. 
In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder said in an <a href="https://www.today.com/video/in-n-out-burger-president-shares-story-behind-family-run-business-208611397732">interview</a> with Today that she "was sitting in VP meetings going toe-to-toe saying, ‘We can't raise the prices that much, we can't.&#8217;"
Her company, which owns over 400 restaurants — primarily in California — continues to be privately held. Snyder said there are no plans to go public or open up to the franchise model.
In-N-Out has, however, raised prices in Los Angeles restaurants by about 25 cents per burger. That&#8217;s still less than the price hikes other restaurants had to implement. 
According <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/11/business/in-n-out-president-lynsi-snyder-went-toe-to-toe-to-keep-menu-prices-down/">to</a> the New York Post, one Burger King in Los Angeles raised the price of its Double Texas Whopper by 12% from $15.09 to $16.89.
Many restaurant chains started preparing for wage hikes, even before the law was passed last September. Some companies are exploring automation as a strategy — a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-self-serve-kiosks-at-mcdonalds-mean-for-cashiers-2017-6">trend</a> that took off in 2017 with self-service ordering kiosks.
Insider <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-fast-food-minimum-wage-order-kiosks-burger-king-popeyes-2024-4">reported</a> that some restaurant franchises, including a major Burger King franchise, are ordering new digital order kiosks to replace existing staff.
Burger King management recently pointed out that customers tend to order larger meals whenever interacting with digital self-service screens.
In October, after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law, McDonald&#8217;s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the company's third-quarter earnings call he expected the policy to "certainly be a hit in the short term to franchisee cashflow."
Yet the secondary effects of the new law could even replicate into further trouble for the fast food segment in the Golden State. A Jack in the Box franchise owner speculated on Sunday in an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-california-expensive-diners-could-switch-to-chilis-applebees-2024-4">interview</a> with Business Insider that rising prices for fast food chains could mean a loss in market share to casual diners like Chili&#8217;s, owned by Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>) or Applebee&#8217;s, a subsidiary of Dine Brands Global Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIN#NYSE">DIN</a>).
Casual dining restaurants could, in turn, benefit if they're able to keep running without altering prices.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37407897">Wendy&#8217;s Clarifies &#8216;Dynamic Pricing&#8217; Comments After Public Outcry, Elizabeth Warren Criticism</a>
Image from MidJourney AI.

From Amazon.Com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and UPS to Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and Hollywood studios, organized labor is experiencing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36823346/trump-blasts-uaw-president-for-backing-biden-get-rid-of-this-dope" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resurgence in the U.S. after years of decline</a>.
&#8220;Workers have realized they&#8217;ve been getting screwed for decades, and they&#8217;re fed up,&#8221; United Auto Workers (UAW) President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/shawn-fain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shawn Fain</a> opined to The Guardian in an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/13/shawn-fain-president-uaw-union-interview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a> published on Saturday. 
In a pivotal year for labor and American politics, Fain has risen as a prominent figure among a new wave of labor leaders.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36819947/uaw-president-says-cant-fathom-teamsters-backing-trump-who-cycled-through-white-house-staff-like-toi" rel="noreferrer noopener">UAW President Says &#8216;Can&#8217;t Fathom&#8217; Teamsters Backing Trump, Who &#8216;Cycled Through White House Staff Like Toilet Paper&#8217;</a>
A quietly assertive Midwesterner, Fain recently secured a groundbreaking contract with major automakers, garnering attention from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joe Biden </a>and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump</a>. Despite concerns from some of his members, Fain has thrown his support behind the Democrats.
Now, bigger challenges await him as the UAW expands its battle to states historically resistant to unions, according to The Guardian. 
He must unite his coalition amid a divisive election cycle that will divide worker allegiances, The Guardian added.
The union leader&#8217;s political rise culminated in his recent invitation as a guest to Biden&#8217;s State of the Union address. Both he and the union received a nationally televised acknowledgment from the president.
At the Capitol event, Fain, sporting a freshly trimmed beard and dressed in a dark suit and tie, raised a power fist, the report stated.  This symbolized organized labor&#8217;s evolving message and tone, reflecting their growing popularity.
Also See:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38230942/elon-musk-says-democrats-will-vote-against-trump-and-mike-johnsons-proposed-legislation-against-non" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Democrats Will &#8216;Vote Against&#8217; Trump And Mike Johnson&#8217;s Proposed Legislation Against Non-Citizen Voting: &#8216;Will Be Surprised If Even One Dem Votes For It&#8217;</a>
In an interview with the Guardian at the UAW&#8217;s Detroit headquarters, Fain criticized past leadership, denouncing what he termed &#8220;company unionism.&#8221; He highlighted the loss of jobs and factories, advocating for a more equitable approach to labor relations.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, Tesla, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO, staunchly opposes unionization, The Guardian pointed out. In response to a complaint against SpaceX, Musk joined other companies in suing the National Labor Relations Board, questioning its constitutionality.
&#8220;Workers have realized they&#8217;ve been getting screwed for decades, and they&#8217;re fed up,&#8221; Fain said despite this backdrop.
As for Musk, Fain conceded that the billionaire&#8217;s a tougher challenge, stating, &#8220;He&#8217;s the epitome of everything that&#8217;s wrong with this world.&#8221;
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36730673/uaw-endorsement-for-joe-biden-not-a-done-deal-yet-union-president-says-will-hold-formal-discussions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UAW Endorsement For Joe Biden Not A Done Deal Yet; Union President Says Will Hold Formal Discussions To Decide</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock

Elon Musk Is 'Epitome Of Everything That's Wrong With This World,' Says UAW Chief Shawn Fain While Discussing Labor Movement Resurgence Amid Political Divide

Future prices for coffee and cocoa beans hit new highs Friday, as supply concerns continue to drive asking prices higher. New York cocoa futures have hit their highest levels <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/03/37990561/easters-bitter-surprise-cocoa-is-up-240-in-a-year-what-can-a-ton-of-the-chocolate-commodity-get-yo">since the 1960s</a>.<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-12/robusta-coffee-hits-fresh-record-high-as-shortage-fears-mount?embedded-checkout=true&amp;sref=TBDibEcD"> </a>What's Going On? Supply concerns, including extreme weather conditions brought by the El Nino storm have hindered production of both cocoa and coffee beans in regions like Brazil, according to a recent report from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-12/robusta-coffee-hits-fresh-record-high-as-shortage-fears-mount?embedded-checkout=true&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg.</a> 
Aging trees in Vietnam and Africa are also limiting supply, and because coffee and cocoa are staples in many diets around the world, demand typically remains constant. Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37934123/hershey-shrinkflation-chocolate-makers-cost-chaos-as-cocoa-reaches-10-000-per-metric-ton">Hershey &#8216;Shrinkflation&#8217;: Chocolate Makers&#8217; Cost Chaos As Cocoa Reaches $10,000 Per Metric Ton</a>
When demand stays steady and supply gets limited, prices usually go up. Hershey Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HS#NYSE">HS</a>) addressed the rising prices of cocoa earlier this month, and said it is working with distributors in order to keep prices of chocolate bars from going up too much.
But, higher input costs for the company could hurt earnings, and the stock is down more than 5% in the last month.&nbsp;
Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and other coffee companies appear to be feeling the pressure of higher operating costs as well. Like Hershey, Starbucks stock is lagging the overall market, and is trading down more than 7% in the last month. 
It's not just cocoa and coffee pushing higher. Other commodities, like copper and gold, are also making new highs. Are All Beans Equal? Robusta coffee is a cheaper type of coffee typically used in instant drinks. Bad weather in Vietnam is causing concerns about the production of robusta. Futures for robusta coffee shot up more than 1.5% to its highest point since 2008, according to Bloomberg.&nbsp;
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37900275/agriculture-commodities-rise-to-9-year-highs-cocoa-prices-skyrocket-chocolate-lover">Agriculture Commodities Rise To 9-Year Highs, Cocoa Prices Skyrocket: Chocolate Lovers Brace For Hyperinflation</a>
Image generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Commodities

Bad News Chocolate And Coffee Lovers: Prices Are Only Going Higher

TD Cowen analyst Agnes Lim reiterates Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) with a Hold and maintains $100 price target.

Reiteration

TD Cowen Reiterates Hold on Starbucks, Maintains $100 Price Target

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38170993/nvidia-stock-is-trading-lower-tuesday-whats-going-on">pulled back from record high</a> levels in recent sessions and yet has been a standout among stocks. An analyst on Thursday compared the stock with an American collegiate basketball legend.
What Happened: &#8220;Nvidia is the Caitlin Clark of the stock market,&#8221; said Charlie Bilello, Creative Planning&#8217;s Chief Market Strategist. 
The comparison came in the wake of Creative Planning&#8216;s CEO Peter Mallouk sharing a chart comparing the points scored and assists by Clark and 9,718 Division 1 college hoops players this season. 
The star basketball&#8217;s performance was a cut above the rest, going by the plotting. &#8220;That green dot in the far upper right corner is Caitlin Clark,&#8221; Mallouk said.
Bilello drew a parallel between Nvidia and Clark by plotting the past 10-year stock performances and earnings per share growth of S&amp;P 500 companies. In terms of stock performance, Nvidia outshone all others by a mile. Over the past 10 years, the stock has returned about 2,070%.
Incidentally, newbie S&amp;P 500 stock Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) was a distant second.
In terms of earnings per share, Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) and Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) had greater earnings per share growth over the ten years but their stock performances paled before Nvidia&#8217;s.
<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">Nvidia is the Caitlin Clark of the stock market. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a> <a href="https://t.co/obtDQ9ZExB">https://t.co/obtDQ9ZExB</a> <a href="https://t.co/x5X8PYc5mQ">pic.twitter.com/x5X8PYc5mQ</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1778609690428993800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-artificial-intelligence-stocks">Best Artificial Intelligence Stocks</a> Why It&#8217;s Important: Nvidia&#8217;s stock run is likely to continue in the near-to-medium term as it holds a near monopoly position in the market for AI accelerators, according to analysts. Deepwater Asset Management&#8217;s Gene Munster sees the AI bubble lasting for at least three to five years. </figcaption></figure>
The average analysts&#8217; price target for Nvidia, based on data compiled by TipRanks, is $989.53, with the highest price target at $1,400. The average price target suggests scope for nearly 10% upside over the next 12 months.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/37247922/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-q1-guidance-and-more">Nvidia&#8217;s earnings growth in fiscal 2024 was an astounding 586%</a>, thanks to strong sales of its high-performance chips that power AI applications, inference and training, as well as its mouth-watering margins. 
The stock has added about 83% for the year to date. In premarket trading on Friday, the stock slipped about 0.55% to $901.21, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data.</a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38140898/ahead-of-chip-earnings-analyst-turns-more-bullish-on-nvidia-and-these-semiconductor">Ahead Of Chip Earnings, Analyst Turns More Bullish On Nvidia And These Semiconductor Stocks On Robust AI Demand</a>
Photo via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Tech

NVDA

SMCI

TMUS

Nvidia, 'Caitlin Clark' Of Stock Market, Says Analyst: AI Leader's Stock Performance, EPS Growth Leaves S&P 500 Peers Biting Dust

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Citigroup cut the price target for Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sbux#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) from $102 to $95. Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintained a Neutral rating. Starbucks shares fell 0.1% to close at $85.90 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SBUX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Citigroup slashed the price target for Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tsla#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) from $196 to $180. Citigroup analyst Itay Michaeli maintained a Neutral rating. Tesla shares gained 1.7% to close at $174.60 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Needham cut CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kmx#NYSE">KMX</a>) price target from $99 to $91. Needham analyst Chris Pierce maintained a Buy rating. CarMax shares fell 9.2% to close at $71.98 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KMX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Mizuho cut the price target for Phillips 66 (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/psx#NYSE">PSX</a>) from $167 to $162. Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar maintained a Neutral rating. Phillips 66 shares rose 0.2% to close at $165.41 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nflx#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) price target from $600 to $700. Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne maintained an Overweight rating. Netflix shares rose 1.7% to close at $628.78 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFLX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Exane BNP Paribas lowered V.F. Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vfc#NYSE">VFC</a>) price target from $18 to $14. Exane BNP Paribas analyst Laurent Vasilescu downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral. V.F. Corporation shares fell 2.7% to close at $13.13 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VFC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird cut the price target for Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fast#NASDAQ">FAST</a>) from $77 to $71. Baird analyst David Manthey maintained a Neutral rating. Fastenal shares fell 6.5% to close at $69.88 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FAST/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel slashed Target Hospitality Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/th#NASDAQ">TH</a>) price target from $13 to $12. Stifel analyst Stephen Gengaro downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Target Hospitality shares fell 0.5% to close at $10.82 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Bernstein cut ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/asml#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) price target from $1,072 to $1,052. Bernstein analyst Sara Russo maintained an Outperform rating. ASML shares rose 1.8% to close at $992.18 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ASML/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. reduced Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/enlv#NASDAQ">ENLV</a>) price target from $12 to $7. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju maintained a Buy rating. Enlivex Therapeutics shares fell 54% to close at $1.83 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ENLV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38217987/insiders-buying-smart-global-holdings-and-2-other-stocks"> Insiders Buying SMART Global Holdings And 2 Other Stocks </a>

Penny Stocks

Small Cap

ASML

ENLV

FAST

NFLX

Tesla To $180? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Friday

Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintains Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $102 to $95.

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Starbucks, Lowers Price Target to $95

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour maintains Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $120 to $115.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Starbucks, Lowers Price Target to $115

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary 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>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/12/24</td>
<td>$177.50</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>18.4K</td>
<td>59.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$29.5K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TPR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$125.9K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KMX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/12/24</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$41.4K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td>762</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$57.0K</td>
<td>934</td>
<td>629</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIVN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>261</td>
<td>561</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$427.7K</td>
<td>505</td>
<td>304</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$62.1K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>187</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APTV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>188</td>
<td>158</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$420.00</td>
<td>$31.9K</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>52</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 1 day(s) on April 12, 2024. This event was a transfer of 575 contract(s) at a $177.50 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 $28.2K, with a price of $49.0 per contract. There were 18477 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 59794 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 8 day(s) on April 19, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.5K, with a price of $295.0 per contract. There were 1381 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2604 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TPR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPR#NYSE">TPR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 29 day(s) on May 10, 2024. This event was a transfer of 1145 contract(s) at a $44.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 43 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $125.9K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1145 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding KMX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMX#NYSE">KMX</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 1 day(s) on April 12, 2024. Parties traded 46 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.4K, with a price of $900.0 per contract. There were 5530 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 762 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 190 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 61 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.0K, with a price of $935.0 per contract. There were 934 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 629 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RIVN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 29 day(s) on May 10, 2024. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $10.00 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 $28.8K, with a price of $96.0 per contract. There were 261 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 561 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SBUX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 162 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 292 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $427.7K, with a price of $1465.0 per contract. There were 505 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 304 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 281 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 36 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.1K, with a price of $1725.0 per contract. There were 4133 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 187 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding APTV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APTV#NYSE">APTV</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 127 day(s) on August 16, 2024. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 188 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 158 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ULTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 435 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 9 contract(s) at a $420.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.9K, with a price of $3557.0 per contract. There were 5 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 52 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.

APTV

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RIVN

ULTA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintains Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $102 to $90.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Starbucks, Lowers Price Target to $90

Technology giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) faces negative headlines concerning a case <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37876155/apple-doj-lawsuit-could-challenge-core-business-model-leading-analyst-predicts-what">from the U.S. Department of Justice.</a>
Apple and its stock could now see pressure as shareholders grapple with what increased unionization of the company's retail stores could mean.
What Happened: Apple has a recent history <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/unions">with unionization</a> at two retail stores in Oklahoma and Maryland, which successfully unionized.
The company is now seeing a new push from a fifth store to petition to unionize in what could be the third store to be successful.
The company's retail store in Short Hills, New Jersey, which is located in a mall, is the latest Apple retail store to petition to organize, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The store, which has 104 employees, saw a file with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. The staff is being represented by the Communications Workers of America according to the report.
"We strongly believe forming a union is the best way to ensure all Apple workers receive the respect, pay, benefits and working conditions we deserve," John Nagy, who is a member of the organizing committee for the New Jersey story.
Nagy said Apple has responded to union organizing by violating workers' rights across the country at retail stores.
"We hope Apple's executives will recognize their opportunity to stay on the cutting edge by taking a different approach."
Nagy added that the group is asking Apple "not to interfere" in the efforts and allow workers determine whether they should form a union.
"We have always paid our retail teams in the top tier of the market," Apple said in a statement, shared by Bloomberg. "And we provide exceptional and comprehensive benefits for all full- and part-time employees."
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/36900033/apple-q1-earnings-beat-estimates-as-cupertino-snaps-4-quarter-revenue-decline-streak-stock-slides-o">Apple Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates As Cupertino Snaps 4-Quarter Revenue Decline Streak; Stock Slides On China Weakness</a>
 Why It's Important: The stores in Towson, Maryland, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29278380/apple-store-in-oklahoma-becomes-second-in-us-to-vote-to-unionize"> only two Apple </a>U.S. stores to successfully unionize. Stores in Atlanta, Georgia, and St. Louis, Missouri, have previously filed petitions to unionize.
Towson was the first Apple store to unionize in June 2022. The Towson and Oklahoma City workers have not been able to reach a collective bargaining agreement with Apple since unionizing according to the report.
Apple held <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31720348/apple-issues-new-warnings-to-store-employees-over-unionization-heres-what-you-should-know">meetings with retail workers </a>in 2023 in an effort that was seen by employees as a push to fight back against unionization efforts.
The petition filed by the New Jersey store could reignite efforts from numerous Apple retail stores across the country.
While unions can be good for employees, they can bring question marks for shareholders of public companies with the potential of higher employee wages and benefits and rising costs for companies.
Companies like Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are among the U.S. companies that have<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/12/36158710/starbucks-reportedly-reaches-out-to-union-a-fresh-start-for-worker-relations-in-new-year"> seen individual locations</a> around the country push for forming unions to demand better pay and compensation.
AAPL Price Action: Apple shares closed Wednesday down 1.11% to $167.78 versus a 52-week trading range of $159.78 to $199.62.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/02/36912911/6-apple-analysts-size-up-q1-results-iphone-sales-major-step-in-the-right-direction-">6 Apple Analysts Size Up Q1 Results, iPhone Sales: &#8216;Major Step In The Right Direction,&#8217; &#8216;Some Good And Bad News&#8217;</a>
Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/John+Gress+Media+Inc">John Gress Media Inc</a> via Shutterstock

AAPL

Apple Faces Increased Union Efforts From New Jersey Store: Will Previous Attempts In Maryland, Oklahoma Influence Result?

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SBUX, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 21 uncommon options trades for Starbucks.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 47% bullish and 52%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 12 are puts, for a total amount of $1,180,125, and 9 are calls, for a total amount of $444,798.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $100.0 for Starbucks during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</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 Starbucks's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Starbucks's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $70.0 to $100.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Starbucks 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712693747_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$10.2</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$300.7K</td>
<td>87</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.86</td>
<td>$2.79</td>
<td>$2.86</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$200.2K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$132.4K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">301</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$9.5</td>
<td>$9.25</td>
<td>$9.3</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$129.2K</td>
<td>99</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">141</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.66</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$113.2K</td>
<td>771</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">205</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Starbucks</h3>
Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 38,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2023. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Starbucks, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Starbucks's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 6,144,509, the price of SBUX is down -0.07% at $87.13. </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 21 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Starbucks</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $101.8.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Neutral rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $102. </li>
<li>An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $105. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Starbucks, targeting a price of $100. </li>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from TD Cowen downgraded its rating to Market Perform, setting a price target of $102. </li>
<li>An analyst from TD Cowen persists with their Hold rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $100. </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 Starbucks, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Starbucks Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Capital market investors often look for entry points, hidden gems, and value bets. Quality stocks trading at or around their 52-week low levels offer one <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SBUX/news">such opportunity window.</a>
We looked at established companies that, recently, made new 52-week lows. We point readers&#8217; attention to three such stocks, with $35 billion market capitalizations. These are: Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>) and Ambev SA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABEV#NYSE">ABEV</a>).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Starbucks</h2>
Trading at around $86.83, the coffee franchise&#8217;s stock could potentially offer a buy-the-dip opportunity. The Seattle-based company&#8217;s shares command a market cap of over $98 billion on the stock market and sport an average three-month trading volume of 8.49 million.
The stock also offers, to its investors, a dividend yield of 2.63%.
Wells Fargo, TD Cowen, and TD Cowen released the last three analyst ratings on April 1, April 1, and March 19, 2024, respectively. These ratings suggest an average price target of $102.33 for Starbucks Corp, implying a potential upside of 17.23% based on the assessments of these three analysts.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/24/03/37971829/100-invested-in-this-stock-15-years-ago-would-be-worth-1-600-today">$100 Invested In This Stock 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth $1,600 Today</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gilead Sciences</h2>
Trading at around $69.32, this biopharma stock is currently trading about its 52-week lows. The company gained widespread recognition for its development of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, including medications such as Truvada, Atripla, and Descovy.
Gilead stock offers a robust dividend yield of 4.43%.
Wells Fargo, Mizuho, and Truist Securities recently released the last three analyst ratings. These assessments collectively suggest an average price target of $83.33 for Gilead stock.
Based on these ratings, there is an implied 20.16% upside potential for the company.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ambev</h2>
Ambev SA is widely renowned for its portfolio of beer brands, including popular labels such as Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, and Budweiser. Trading at $2.40, Ambev stock is near-about its 52-week low level of $2.36. The stock also offers a juicy dividend yield of 6.26%.
Based on the analysis of the 8 latest analyst ratings, Ambev SA has a consensus price target of $2.2. The most recent ratings were issued by Barclays, Jefferies, and Bernstein on March 4, 2024, Nov. 22, 2023, and May 24, 2023, respectively. 
These assessments collectively indicate an average price target of $3.2 for Ambev stock. Consequently, there&#8217;s an implied 32.51% upside potential for the company based on these three analyst ratings.
These findings suggest that these quality stocks may present lucrative investment opportunities, offering potential upside for investors in the coming months.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38032100/redditors-identify-best-undervalued-stocks-for-2024">Redditors Identify &#8216;Best Undervalued Stocks&#8217; For 2024</a>

ABEV

GILD

Starbucks, Gilead And Ambev Are At 52-Week Lows: Should You Buy The Dip?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Starbucks. Our analysis of options history for Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) revealed 9 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 77% of traders were bullish, while 22% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 7 were puts, with a value of $555,395, and 2 were calls, valued at $90,585.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $70.0 to $100.0 for Starbucks over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Starbucks options trades today is 3728.5 with a total volume of 2,362.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Starbucks's big money trades within a strike price range of $70.0 to $100.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Starbucks Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712595649_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.2</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$4.12</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$164.8K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>407</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>$0.54</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$79.00</td>
<td>$101.6K</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$4.95</td>
<td>$5.01</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$100.2K</td>
<td>14.4K</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/03/24</td>
<td>$0.59</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$79.00</td>
<td>$69.1K</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SBUX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$65.5K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>159</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Starbucks</h3>
Starbucks is one of the most widely recognized restaurant brands in the world, operating more than 38,000 stores across more than 80 countries as of the end of fiscal 2023. The firm operates in three segments: North America, international markets, and channel development (grocery and ready-to-drink beverage). The coffee chain generates revenue from company-operated stores, royalties, sales of equipment and products to license partners, ready-to-drink beverages, packaged coffee sales, and single-serve products.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Starbucks, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Starbucks</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 3,148,347, the SBUX's price is up by 0.36%, now at $87.17. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 22 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Starbucks</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $101.8.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from JP Morgan keeps a Overweight rating on Starbucks with a target price of $100. </li>
<li>An analyst from TD Cowen has revised its rating downward to Market Perform, adjusting the price target to $102. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from TD Cowen continues to hold a Hold rating for Starbucks, targeting a price of $100. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Starbucks with a target price of $105. </li>
<li>An analyst from Citigroup persists with their Neutral rating on Starbucks, maintaining a target price of $102. </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 Starbucks, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

There's a lot to be optimistic about in the Consumer Cyclical sector as 3 analysts just weighed in on Starbucks (SBUX – Research Report), Mobileye ...

Analysts Offer Insights on Consumer Cyclical Companies: Starbucks (SBUX), Mobileye Global, Inc. Class A (MBLY) and Amazon (AMZN)

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Climate Change, El Nino And The New Parabolic Move In Commodities

Two companies that rank among the largest U.S. corporations by employees that may be less familiar to the public include Concentrix and Cognizant.

Ranked: The Largest U.S. Corporations By Number Of Employees

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
The concept of stocks for a hot job market comes at an awkward juncture. From the perspective of the Federal Reserve, it sought an excuse to raise interest rates. Now, with nonfarm payrolls coming in hotter than anticipated, it may not be impossible for a policy pivot to occur.



Still, one alternative proposal is that the central bank may take a modest approach to financial engineering. If so, the robust labor market &ndash; while carrying inflationary implications &ndash; offers one significant positive: more people have more money to spend. And that extra cash will almost certainly work its way into the economy.



Even with the challenges that we have, Americans continue to spend. Indeed, we&rsquo;re spending money we don&rsquo;t have, with <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/06/credit-card-balances-jump-to-new-1point13-trillion-record-at-end-of-2023.html#:~:text=Americans%20now%20owe%20a%20collective,the%20New%20York%20Fed%20found.">credit card debt skyrocketing to $1.13 trillion</a>. Yet the machine keeps marching onward. If you believe that the music won&rsquo;t stop, below are the stocks for a hot job market.



<h2>HF Sinclair (DINO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/oil-price-predictions1600-300x169.png" alt="Rise in gasoline prices concept with double exposure of digital screen with financial chart graphs and oil pumps on a field. Oil prices and oil price predictions"><div>Source: Golden Dayz / Shutterstock.com</div></div>In my opinion, the bullish case for HF Sinclair (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/dino-stock-quote/">DINO</a>) sells itself. An independent energy company, HF Sinclair produces and markets gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and many other petroleum-based products. Thus, it&rsquo;s a downstream operator, meaning that it focuses on the marketing and refining end of the hydrocarbon value chain. Stated differently, if it goes in your car, it&rsquo;s downstream.



One of the cynical factors that make DINO a compelling idea for stocks for a hot job market is the broader economic backdrop. Yes, electric vehicles are becoming more commonplace. However, the vast majority of people drive combustion-powered vehicles. Further, when discussing new energy vehicles, it&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/business/toyotas-hybrid-electric-vehicles.html#:~:text=Last%20year%20in%20the%20U.S.,hybrids%20and%20plug%2Din%20models.">hybrids that have dominated the discourse</a>. Guess what? Hybrids need gasoline.



With more people having jobs, workers make enough to afford the rising prices of gasoline. However, they&rsquo;re not making so much that they can make the jump to EVs. Therefore, DINO&rsquo;s assessment as a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/dino/forecast">moderate buy</a> is quite reasonable. Wall Street&rsquo;s experts believe shares can rise to $66, with the high-side target hitting $78.



<h2>Carmax (KMX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kmx-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="a Carmax (KMX) sign on a storefront"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Given the recent volatility in used-car dealership Carmax (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/kmx-stock-quote/">KMX</a>), KMX seems an unusually risky idea for stocks for a hot job market. Indeed, management didn&rsquo;t offer an encouraging outlook during its most recent earnings call. Further, inflation remains hot (naturally) and borrowing costs are also elevated. This dynamic is hampering demand for big-ticket items.



However, the reality is that vehicles &ndash; whether they be combustion powered or otherwise &ndash; are mechanical products. Mechanical products eventually wear down or in the case of EVs don&rsquo;t hold their charge. Now, in certain parts of the country (mainly in the east coast), you can get away without having a personal vehicle.



Try that in California or anywhere else. You&rsquo;re just not going to get that far. And so, we come across a harsh reality: used cars may be an inevitability.



Sure, the latest projections for the current fiscal year call for earnings per share of $3.41 on sales of $26.64 billion. That implies very modest growth on the top line. However, because of the necessity of personal transportation, the high-side metrics of $4.10 EPS on revenue of $28.58 billion isn&rsquo;t out of the question.



<h2>Apple (AAPL)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/aapl1600-300x169.png" alt="Apple (AAPL) logo brand and text sign on entrance facade store American multinational boutique corporation dealership shop. Apple Layoffs"><div>Source: sylv1rob1 / Shutterstock.com</div></div>One of the challenges associated with consumer technology giant Apple (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>) is commoditization. When the company launched its first iPhone, it truly revolutionized the world. It singlehandedly pioneered an entirely new product category. Then came other smart devices, which have done the company so well. However, these devices are no longer special and cheaper copycats have sprouted everywhere.



That said, what I appreciate about the &ldquo;fruit&rdquo; brand is that it commands social cachet. It&rsquo;s not just about the devices but the underlying Apple ecosystem. Therefore, with the unemployment rate coming in lower than expected, people may be incentivized to boost their discretionary spending. If so, I can see Apple leveraging this social cachet to its advantage.



For the current fiscal year, analysts are seeking EPS of $6.55, a noticeable bump up from last year&rsquo;s print of $6.13. Now, the top line is much more modest, with projected sales of $386.51 billion less than 1% up from fiscal 2023&rsquo;s result. However, fiscal 2025 could see sales jump to nearly $412 billion. Thus, AAPL could rank among the stocks for a hot job market.



<h2>Amazon (AMZN)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/amzn_amazon_2_1600-300x169.png" alt="Closeup of the Amazon logo at Amazon campus in Palo Alto, California. The Palo Alto location hosts A9 Search, Amazon Web Services, and Amazon Game Studios teams. AMZN stock"><div>Source: Tada Images / Shutterstock.com</div></div>A company that needs no introduction, Amazon (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amzn-stock-quote/">AMZN</a>) represents one of the top stocks for a hot job market. Fundamentally, the company pioneered the e-commerce revolution. What&rsquo;s remarkable is that post-pandemic, consumers have gravitated toward online transactions. Significantly, <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ECOMPCTSA">e-commerce transactions</a> as a percentage of total retail sales have been steadily rising since the second quarter of 2022.



Back during the worst of the Covid-19 crisis (Q2 2020), this metric soared to a record 16.5%. It will be difficult to match that level of scope and scale. Yet we&rsquo;re close, with e-commerce transactions coming in at 15.6% of total sales in Q4 2023. Conspicuously, this rise occurred during a period of rising inflation and rising interest rates.



It&rsquo;s possible that consumers may have acclimated to the inflationary paradigm. If so, AMZN could be a compelling idea for stocks for a hot job market. With the unemployment rate so low, people could resume their obsession with online transactions.



Presently, experts rate AMZN a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/amzn/forecast">unanimous strong buy</a> with a $212.21 average price target. It&rsquo;s a reasonable assessment given the underlying relevance.



<h2>Starbucks (SBUX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sbux1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="Learnin' From Luckin, Starbucks Stock Heats Up a Strategy"><div>Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Based on broader economic challenges, I&rsquo;ve been skeptical about the prospects for Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sbux-stock-quote/">SBUX</a>). Yes, it&rsquo;s pretty much the reason for existence among suburban America. It may be responsible for maintaining the mental health of white-collar office workers. Yet its caffeinated products are heavily overpriced. You know what I&rsquo;m talking about if you go to one.



Still, a combination of a robust labor market and broader normalization trends (i.e. return to office) could inspire the need for psychological rewards. People need their caffeine to lift their spirits and admittedly, Starbucks&rsquo; products feature an addictive nature. Your brain fills with endorphins the moment you walk in. That&rsquo;s probably by design.



Covering experts believe the company&rsquo;s EPS will land at $4.04 in fiscal 2024. That&rsquo;s a big improvement over last year&rsquo;s print of $3.54. Also, sales could clock in at $38.75 billion, up 7.7% from 2023&rsquo;s tally of $35.98 billion.



What&rsquo;s notable is that in fiscal 2025, analysts are seeking revenue of $42.46 billion, up 10% from projected 2024 sales. So, it could be one of the stocks for a hot job market.



<h2>Darden Restaurants (DRI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/dri1600-300x169.jpg" alt="an Olive Garden sign on the front of the restaurant"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>An intriguing but risky idea for stocks for a hot job market, Darden Restaurants (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/dri-stock-quote/">DRI</a>) could potentially benefit from the increase in discretionary funds. To be clear, it&rsquo;s not an argument without downside concerns. With so many Americans deeply indebted, one of the easiest budget items to cut is entertainment.



That said, an increase in the employment rate suggests that people will be looking to blow off some steam during happy hours or the weekends. From that angle, DRI stock could make sense. Also, it&rsquo;s important to consider Darden&rsquo;s <a href="https://investor.darden.com/news/news-details/2023/Darden-Restaurants-Completes-Acquisition-of-Ruths-Hospitality-Group/default.aspx">acquisition</a> of premium steakhouse Ruth&rsquo;s Chris. This buyout could help Darden target the higher-income crowd, who may be looking for distinct experiences.



Analysts are overall bullish on DRI stock, pegging it a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/dri/forecast">consensus strong buy</a>. Further, for the current fiscal year, they&rsquo;re anticipating EPS of $8.85, a big improvement over last year&rsquo;s print of $7.99. As for the top line, the experts are targeting sales of $11.41 billion, up almost 9% from the prior year.



<h2>Universal Technical Institute (UTI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/student-loan-college-1600-300x169.png" alt="Black college graduation cap laying on a pile of $100 and $20 dollar bills"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/zimmytws</div></div>Although the labor market is booming, not everyone will win out. That&rsquo;s just economic reality. On a related point, not everyone will be satisfied with their income. I&rsquo;d venture to say that with the inflationary pressures, most people are dissatisfied with their compensation. And that&rsquo;s where Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/uti-stock-quote/">UTI</a>) comes into play. Basically, the company provides real skills that are in high demand.



The company provides vocational education geared toward the transportation or mobility space. What&rsquo;s really intriguing here is the fading demand for plug-in electric-powered vehicles. Stated differently, combustion-based platforms should enjoy extended relevancy. That means the addressable market for mechanics may be larger than previously anticipated.



For the current fiscal year, covering experts are seeking EPS of 70 cents. That&rsquo;s a huge leap up from last year&rsquo;s result of 13 cents EPS. Also, revenue is expected to land at $716.09 million. That&rsquo;s up 17.9% from 2023&rsquo;s haul of $607.41 million.



Finally, analysts rate UTI a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/uti/forecast">unanimous strong buy</a> with a $17.60 price target. It&rsquo;s one of the stocks for a hot job market.



On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/7-stocks-poised-to-profit-from-the-red-hot-job-market/">7 Stocks Poised to Profit From the Red-Hot Job Market</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

7 Stocks Poised to Profit From the Red-Hot Job Market

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Finding reliable assets is crucial in the current unstable environment. Even amid economic uncertainty, certain equities hold their value and offer steady returns. Three such luminaries are well-known in their fields. These three firms stand out as beacons of stability in the face of market turbulence: the first one with its strong loyalty program and worldwide development initiatives; the second with its consistent growth in wealth management; and the third with its inventive competence in medicines.



Their most recent results reveal that these companies survive and prosper throughout economic downturns, providing investors with a safe harbor for consistent growth. These companies are not just stable; they are also innovative. Their durability and flexibility make them appealing investments even in difficult times. 



Whether it&rsquo;s the first company&rsquo;s strong loyalty program and worldwide development initiatives, the second company&rsquo;s fee-based revenue growth, or the third company&rsquo;s groundbreaking cancer advances, their strategies are worth exploring. Discover the tactics and achievements that underpin these three stability pillars against market downturns.



<h2>Starbucks (SBUX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sbux1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="the Starbucks (SBUX) logo on a sign outside of a coffee shop"><div>Source: Grand Warszawski / Shutterstock.com</div></div>In Q1 2024, Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sbux-stock-quote/">SBUX</a>) had&nbsp;<a href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/869488222/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/1Q24-Earnings-Release-Final-1-30-24.pdf" target="_blank">34.3 million</a>&nbsp;active US Rewards members, a 13% growth from Q1 2023. The increase in membership shows how well Starbucks&rsquo; loyalty program encourages consumer interaction and return business. Moreover, the $3.6 billion placed into Starbucks cards in the US highlights the high level of consumer loyalty even further. This significant prepaid sum shows a high degree of client loyalty and gives Starbucks a reliable source of income.



Additionally, at the end of the first quarter, Starbucks had 38,587 locations worldwide, adding 549 net new locations. This rapid expansion shows the company&rsquo;s capacity to break into new areas and satisfy unmet customer demand. Starbucks intentionally concentrates on two important countries to spur expansion, with 61% of its outlets in China and the United States combined.&nbsp;



Furthermore, Starbucks&rsquo; international sector had a&nbsp;<a href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/869488222/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/SBUX-Q1-2024-Earnings-Call.pdf" target="_blank">10% growth</a>&nbsp;in net revenues in Q1, despite obstacles including currency headwinds. This expansion demonstrates the company&rsquo;s robust worldwide reach and capacity to seize various market possibilities. In short, Starbucks is still optimistic about its expansion in China, concentrating on gaining market share in the premium sector.&nbsp;



<h2>Goldman Sachs (GS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/gs1600-300x169.png" alt="In this photo illustration the Goldman Sachs Group (GS) logo displayed on a smartphone screen and a stock market graph in the background"><div>Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gs-stock-quote/">GS</a>) recorded a double-digit percentage boost in asset and wealth management revenues. The expanded management, other fees, and solid private banking and lending performance fueled the growth, indicative of Goldman Sachs&rsquo; consistent expansion in the segment.



The Asset &amp; Wealth Management division delivered an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/media-relations/press-releases/current/pdfs/2024-q1-results.pdf" target="_blank">18% uplift</a>&nbsp;in net sales from Q1 2023 to $3.79 billion in Q1 2024. Indeed, this expansion derived from the company&rsquo;s capacity to draw in and hold onto customer assets. This boosts the fee-based top and bottom lines.



Furthermore, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/media-relations/press-releases/current/pdfs/2024-q1-results.pdf">32% increase</a>&nbsp;in investment banking fees from 2022 emphasizes Goldman Sachs&rsquo; capacity to hike fee revenue from advisory services and debt and equity underwriting. This expansion shows how well the company executes high-value deals even under the adverse business environment.



Lastly, the Global Banking &amp; Markets business recorded net sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/goldman-sachs-group-inc-nyse-132831327.html" target="_blank">$9.73 billion</a>&nbsp;for Q1 2024, up 15% from Q1 2023 and a solid 53% from the previous quarter. To sum up, the Global Banking &amp; Markets division is seeing strong business activity. Hence, this reflects the double-digit percentage rise in net revenues compared to the same quarter last year and the previous year.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2>Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/jnj1600c-300x169.jpg" alt="A red Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ) sign hangs inside in Moscow, Russia."><div>Source: Alexander Tolstykh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>The Innovative Medicine sector of Johnson &amp; Johnson&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/jnj-stock-quote/">JNJ</a>) sales hit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investor.jnj.com/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/16/1q24-press-release_final-with-attachments.pdf" target="_blank">$13.6 billion,</a>&nbsp;up 2.5% worldwide. Interestingly, US sales grew by a robust 8.4%. Johnson &amp; Johnson&rsquo;s pharmaceutical division&rsquo;s robust performance reflects this trend, especially in its largest US market. The company&rsquo;s unique pharmaceutical products are in consistent demand, as seen by the moderate rise in global sales.



Furthermore, the company&rsquo;s excellent expansion in oncology was fueled by the adoption of new products and major brands. For example, DARZALEX had a&nbsp;21% rise, primarily due to improvements in share across all therapeutic lines. Additionally, vital clinical and regulatory milestones were reached, particularly in the field of cancer, whereby several medicines received positive Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) views and US Food and Drug Administration authorization.



These pipeline benchmarks demonstrate how Johnson &amp; Johnson&rsquo;s pipeline progresses. The company is focused on creating novel solutions for unmet medical needs. Therefore, the&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4684056-johnson-and-johnson-jnj-q1-2024-earnings-call-transcript" target="_blank">purchase of</a> Ambrx&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amam-stock-quote/">AMAM</a>) highlights the company&rsquo;s strategic commitment to growing in this therapeutic area and expanding its offering in cancer.



As of this writing, Yiannis Zourmpanos held a long position in JNJ. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Yiannis Zourmpanos is the founder of Yiazou Capital Research, a stock-market research platform designed to elevate the due diligence process through in-depth business analysis.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/recession-proof-riches-3-stocks-that-thrive-in-any-economy/">Recession-Proof Riches: 3 Stocks That Thrive in Any Economy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Recession-Proof Riches: 3 Stocks That Thrive in Any Economy

In a report released today, Jeff Bernstein from Barclays maintained a Buy rating on Starbucks (SBUX – Research Report), with a price target of $112...

Barclays Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Starbucks (SBUX)

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
It used to be you had to have money to make money on Wall Street. And few people actually owned stocks. According to the Federal Reserve&rsquo;s Survey of Financial Characteristics of Consumers, <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/files/6263_bull0364.pdf">fewer than two families in 10</a> owned stocks as recently as 1962. However, 60 years later the same survey found as many as <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/scf23.pdf">58% of all families</a> owned stocks.



There has been a great democratization of investing over those six decades. From the advent of the first discount broker Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/schw-stock-quote/">SCHW</a>) to deep discount traders like E-Trade and TD Ameritrade, the cost of making an investment has been going down. And Robinhood (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/hood-stock-quote/">HOOD</a>) forced the industry to virtually give up transaction fees. Now you can buy and sell stocks at no cost!



Essentially all the barriers previously erected to keep investing as the playground of the rich have been torn down. That means you can find stocks to buy with $100 and begin your journey to creating a comfortable retirement today.



So if you only have a C-note to your name, and you don&rsquo;t need that money to pay bills or for an emergency, then the following three stocks should be no-brainer stocks to buy this month.



<h2>Broadcom (AVGO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/AVGO1600-300x169.jpg" alt="broadcom (AVGO) logo outside office building"><div>Source: Sasima / Shutterstock.com</div></div>At first glance, semiconductor stock Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/avgo-stock-quote/">AVGO</a>) won&rsquo;t intuitively seem a dead simple stock you should be buying with your $100. After all, shares trade for over $1,338 each. Even if you purchased fractional shares of AVGO stock, which is just a sliver of a whole share (it is totally possible and definitely worth doing), you&rsquo;re not getting much for your money, right?



Wrong! You have to look at the quality of the company and not the price of a share. That&rsquo;s why <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/penny-stocks/">penny stocks</a> are such a terrible idea. These are usually awful companies with little prospects for growth. But their cheap price makes them seem like such a deal. Unfortunately, you&rsquo;re more likely to lose whatever money you put into them rather than make a killing. That is exactly why Broadcom is an excellent choice.



The chip stock for mobile communication companies has seen its fortunes grow with the proliferation of smartphones. Apple (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>) is a <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/nose-bleed-section-3-stocks-priced-above-1000-and-worth-it/">major source of revenue</a>, accounting for 20% of the total. But the mobile market has a boom-bust cyclicality to it and Broadcom wants to smooth out those peaks and valleys. It has more recently steered its efforts towards software, and following the acquisition of VMWare last November, the chipmaker expects half of its revenue to come from this segment.



Broadcom stock also pays a dividend that has increased for 14 consecutive years. It has grown the payout at a 36% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last 10 years. Because you will enjoy capital appreciation buying this stock as well as get paid for owning it, Broadcom is the first no-brainer stock to buy.



<h2>Starbucks (SBUX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sbux1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="Learnin' From Luckin, Starbucks Stock Heats Up a Strategy"><div>Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Coffee slinger Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sbux-stock-quote/">SBUX</a>) is the next stock you should be buying with your $100. At $86 a share it is trading close to its 52-week low of $84 a stub. It&rsquo;s a great price for this excellent company.



Starbucks stock is down in the dumps because of pressures on its international business. China is the company&rsquo;s second-largest market with over 6,800 locations and the country&rsquo;s slowing economy has weighed on performance. Similarly, its presence in the Middle East, though dramatically smaller in scope, is bearing the brunt of protests over the war between Israel and Palestinians. It also sees tougher competition here at home from Dunkin, Dutch Bros (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bros-stock-quote/">BROS</a>) and McDonald&rsquo;s (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mcd-stock-quote/">MCD</a>).



Still, Starbucks enjoys <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922424000011/sbux-20240130.htm">growing sales and profits</a>. In its fiscal first quarter, revenue rose 8% to a record $9.4 billion as comparable sales increased 5% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings per share jumped 20%. Analysts forecast the java shop will grow its profits at 15% annually for the next five years.



SBUX stock also pays a dividend that yields 2.6% annually and it has been growing the payout at a rate of over 8% a year for 13 years. This is another no-brainer buy this month at this deeply discounted level.



<h2>Visa (V)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/visa-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="several Visa branded credit cards"><div>Source: Kikinunchi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>The last stock to buy without much thinking is Visa (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/v-stock-quote/">V</a>), the No. 1 payments processor. It has some 4.3 billion Visa cards in circulation and generated $14.5 trillion in total payments and cash volume for the full fiscal year. Visa also enjoys immense profitability.



Because the payments processor merely <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/03/the-smart-money-shift-3-stocks-to-buy-as-billionaires-abandon-nvidia/">lends it brand to credit issuers</a>, Visa&rsquo;s gross profit margins are 98%. Operating margins are an impressive 57% while net margins are only slightly lower at 50%. It makes the company a cash-generating machine.



Visa chooses to use a lot of that cash to return value to shareholders. Last October it announced it would be buying back $25 billion worth of stock, double the $12 billion it repurchased last year.&nbsp;



The payments company also pays a dividend that yields less than 1% annually. Yet it has been raising the payout at a torrid pace, hiking the dividend at almost 15% a year for the last five years. It just raised it 16% last year. Visa stock is a no-brainer stock to own now and for a lifetime.



On the date of publication, Rich Duprey did not hold (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 InvestorPlace.com <a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Rich Duprey has written about stocks and investing for the past 20 years. His articles have appeared on Nasdaq.com, The Motley Fool, and Yahoo! Finance, and he has been referenced by U.S. and international publications, including MarketWatch, Financial Times, Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cheddar News, The Boston Globe, L&rsquo;Express, and numerous other news outlets.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/only-have-100-3-no-brainer-stocks-to-buy-in-april-2024/">Only Have $100? 3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy in April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Only Have $100? 3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy in April 2024

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
If your <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/blue-chip-stocks/">blue-chip stocks</a> are underperforming, you have a big problem. Blue-chip stocks represent the best, most stable companies and can usually be considered solid performers. There are plenty of good names out there, so there&rsquo;s no need to holding battered blue-chip stocks.



Even with some recent pullbacks, the S&amp;P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite are up 5% on the year. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is comprised of 30 of the most prominent companies, is faltering. Its gains for the year are negligible at best.



Blue-chip stocks represent established companies that are leaders in their field. They often pay reliable dividends and are considered safe for long-term investors.



But you aren&rsquo;t getting those generous returns from the blue-chip stocks on this list. For various reasons, these battered blue-chip stocks are taking it on the chin right now, and threatening to pull portfolios down with them.



The Portfolio Grader is an ideal tool for identifying blue-chip stocks that aren&rsquo;t making the grade. The Portfolio Grader evaluates stocks based on earnings performance, growth, analyst sentiment and momentum, and assigns an &ldquo;A&rdquo; through &ldquo;F&rdquo; grade accordingly.



These blue-chip names are among the worst to have now. Act accordingly if you&rsquo;re holding any of these equities.



<h2>Apple (AAPL)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/apple-pay-300x169.jpg" alt="A close-up shot of the Apple Pay page"><div>Source: Bloomicon / Shutterstock.com</div></div>It wasn&rsquo;t too long ago that Apple (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>) was the biggest company in the world by market capitalization. It was revered for innovative products, had a huge base of customers and was seemingly unlimited potential.



What in the heck happened to push AAPL to the ranks of battered blue-chip stocks?



But the shine on this Apple faded a bit last year, as iPhone sales slipped and earnings flattened. Apple saw drops in multiple products, including to Macs, home products, iPads and wearable technology.



It doesn&rsquo;t help that Apple is facing huge challenges in China, where iPhone sales are down 24% in the first few weeks of the year, in part because competitor Huawei is now offering its own 5G smartphone. 



Apple is also battling both the U.K. and U.S. on the legal front, with allegations that Apple&rsquo;s App Store unfairly stymies competition.



Apple is still a great company. But as an investment, it&rsquo;s best to leave it on the tree. AAPL stock is down 13% in 2024 and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>Tesla (TSLA)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/tsla1600-9-300x169.png" alt="Tesla (TSLA) on phone screen stock image."><div>Source: sdx15 / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Electric vehicle maker Tesla (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tlsa-stock-quote/">TLSA</a>) was on a dynamic run at the beginning of the decade, rising over 1,000% in a two-year span from January 2020 to December 2021. Since then? A huge disappointment.



There are a couple of factors at play. First, Tesla dominated the EV market in that two-year period, but naturally, other car manufacturers began entering the market and giving Tesla competition. Tesla responded by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/17/tesla-slashes-prices-on-germany-cars-after-similar-cuts-in-china.html">lowering the prices</a> on some of its models to spur sales, and in turn <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2023/10/15/15k-drop-in-ev-prices-led-by-tesla-as-model-3-model-y-prices-fall/?sh=28d83c4d7e86">cutting its own profit margin</a>.



The second issue is Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk. Tesla&rsquo;s slip in stock price corresponds to his $44 billion purchase of the social media platform Twitter, which he rebranded to X. Musk sold billions of dollars in Tesla stock to finance the deal.



An activist at heart, Musk eagerly uses X as a platform to espouse controversial views and stir the pot. The drama <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-11-20/elon-musk-s-x-drama-hurts-tesla-where-it-matters-most">makes Tesla a less appealing brand</a> to would-be customers who don&rsquo;t want to be seen as endorsing Musk&rsquo;s brand of politics.



Tesla will report its first-quarter earnings on April 23 and <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/dear-tsla-stock-fans-mark-your-calendars-for-april-23/">analysts are already bracing for bad news</a>. TSLA stock is down 37% in 2024 and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>Intel (INTC)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/intc1600-300x169.png" alt="Close up of Intel (INTC) sign at entrance of The Intel Museum in Silicon Valley. Intel is an American multinational corporation and technology company."><div>Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Semiconductor chip maker Intel (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/intc-stock-quote/">INTC</a>) is facing some challenges. While its stock flails in 2024, bigger and better-heeled competitors are soaring on the power of generative AI chips, and in turn helping investors in those companies make money hand over fist.



So, it&rsquo;s no surprise that tech stock investors are turning away from Intel.



The company&rsquo;s foundry division posted a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/intel-discloses-financials-foundry-business-2024-04-02/">loss</a> of $7 billion in 2023 as it attempts to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tsm-stock-quote/">TSM</a>), which already has the lion&rsquo;s share of the foundry market.



Intel is still investing in the business, pouring billions of dollars into increasing capacity. It currently has a 1% market share in the foundry business, but hopes to be No. 2 in the world and start turning a profit by 2030 (TSMC has the top spot locked up with a <a href="https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20231206-11949.html">58% market share</a>).



I don&rsquo;t know about you, but that&rsquo;s a long time to ask investors to wait for foundry profits. INTC stock is down 29% this year and gets a &ldquo;C&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>PayPal (PYPL)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/paypal-pypl-1600.jpg"><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/paypal-pypl-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="PayPal logo and front of headquarters"></a>PayPal (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pypl-stock-quote/">PYPL</a>) is a fintech stock that may have ahead of its time. The stock rose 170% from January 2020 to July 2021, the Covid-19 shutdown era in which e-commerce was pretty much the only way to buy and sell products.



It&rsquo;s hard to believe that PayPal stock once topped $300. Now it could be had for less than $70. And while the company offers an impressive array of brands, including Zettle, Xoom, Venmo, Honey and Hyperwallet, there&rsquo;s massive competition in the fintech space.



The number of active users fell from 435 million in 2022 to 431 million in 2023. If PayPal is going to turn around its slide, it will need to find a way to reverse that trend.



PYPL stock is up 3% so far in 2024 and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>Ford Motor Co. (F)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ford1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Ford logo badge on grill of car"><div>Source: JuliusKielaitis / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/f-stock-quote/">F</a>) is one of the best-known brands in the world. As an automaker, Ford makes the F-150 pickup, the Explorer SUV and the sporty Mustang. It&rsquo;s one of the Big Three Detroit automakers.



It&rsquo;s been a challenge in recent months, however. Competition is always fierce, and Tesla&rsquo;s move to lower its EV prices <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/02/20/ford-mustang-mach-e-electric-cars-evs-price-drop/">has a ripple effect for other automakers that Ford can&rsquo;t ignore</a>. 



Ford also was one of three automakers that experienced a strike last year, and was forced to make significant wage concessions to get union members back on the job.



Ford saw an 81% jump in its EV sales in February, and overall sales increase by <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2024/04/03/ford-sales-first-quarter-hybrid/73137481007/">6.8% in the first quarter</a>. It remains to be seen how the company&rsquo;s profit margins will hold, however, and how investors will react when it reports first-quarter earnings on April 24.



F stock is down 1% in 2024 and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>Boeing (BA)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ba-stock-4-300x169.jpg" alt="Image of Boeing (BA) airplane in a hanger."><div>Source: Alex JW Robinson / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Boeing (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ba-stock-quote/">BA</a>) is a nightmare stock to own right now. The aerospace and defense contractor is under serious pressure as a series of problems with its aircraft left investors reeling.



First, a rear door plug flew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 passenger jet in mid-flight. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jets for inspection, and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/08/1223517098/door-plug-boeing-737-max-portland-ntsb-faa">two airlines</a> reported finding loose screws on their aircraft.



The FAA allowed the Max 9 to resume flying a few weeks later, but <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/27/1227278489/boeing-737-max-9-alaska-united-airlines-resumes-flying">many passengers remain reluctant</a>. The <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/04/1235826355/faa-audit-boeing-737-max-8-9-quality-control-failures">FAA</a> and the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236277058/boeing-737-max-9-alaska-airlines-door-plug-removed-ntsb-commerce-cantwell-cruz">National Transportation Safety Board</a> both issued critical reports of Boeing as well.



So unsurprisingly, Boeing stock is one of the worst performers of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2024, down 34%.



It&rsquo;s going to be a rough period for Boeing in 2024 and there&rsquo;s no need to try to catch a falling knife. BA stock has an &ldquo;F&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



<h2>Starbucks (SBUX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sbux1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="the Starbucks (SBUX) logo on a sign outside of a coffee shop"><div>Source: Grand Warszawski / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sbux-stock-quote/">SBUX</a>) grew mightily from its roots in Seattle to be a dominant brand around the world. Starbucks has more than 39,000 locations, with plans to increase that to 55,000 by the end of the decade.



However, the stock is trading near its 52-week lows as customer traffic fell in the U.S. and China. Embattled Luckin Coffee (OTCMTKS:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/lkncy-stock-quote/">LKNCY</a>) <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/hospitality/how-starbucks-lost-the-top-spot-in-chinas-coffee-race-b6b36353">surpassed Starbucks as China&rsquo;s No. 1 coffeehouse</a> with an aggressive expansion and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/how-luckin-coffee-overtook-starbucks-in-china.html">pricing plan</a> that undercuts Starbucks.



Starbucks saw its <a href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/869488222/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/1Q24-Earnings-Release-Final-1-30-24.pdf">international store count</a> and international revenue grow by 10% in 2023 &ndash; but operating margins slipped, and the company&rsquo;s operating income remained flat for the year despite the expansion.



The company will need to find a way to turn its fortunes in China around without shaving off too much in margin and profitability. SBUX stock is down 10% in 2024 and gets an &ldquo;F&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.



On the date of publication, Louis&nbsp;Navellier did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held AAPL, but did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any other positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/market360/2024/04/7-battered-blue-chip-stocks-to-bounce-from-your-portfolio-this-spring/">7 Battered Blue-Chip Stocks to Bounce From Your Portfolio This Spring</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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Analysts fell to the sidelines weighing in on Starbucks (SBUX – Research Report) and DR Horton (DHI – Research Report) with neutral ratings, indica...