Serko (OTC:SERKF) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Serko Ltd is engaged in the provisioning of computer software solutions for corporate travel. The company's products are Serko Online and Serko Expense which are cloud-based enterprise-grade solutions that help corporates manage their travel and expense programs. Geographically, it derives a majority of its revenue from Australia and also has a presence in New Zealand, the US, India, Singapore, and Others. The company generates revenue from Serko Online, Serko Zeno, Serko Mobile, and Serko Expense technology platforms.

Serko Ltd

WIIM

Oxford Industries shares are trading lower after the company reported worse-than-expected Q3 financial results and issued Q4 and FY24 EPS guidance below estimates. Also, UBS cut its price target on the stock from $81 to $80.

POET Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POET#NASDAQ">POET</a>) shares are trading lower Thursday after the company announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42457229/poet-technologies-announces-us-25-million-offering-priced-at-a-premium-to-market">$25 million public offering</a>.
What Happened: POET announced plans to complete a non-brokered public offering of 5 million units at a price of $5 per unit. 
Each unit will be comprised of one share of common stock and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. The warrants will be exercisable for five years to acquire one common share at a price of $6.
The offering is expected to close on or about Dec. 19. POET said it anticipates gross proceeds of $25 million. The company expects to use any net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes.&nbsp;
The offering comes just weeks after POET announced a $25 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/g42202419/poet-technologies-announces-us-25-million-registered-direct-offering" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">registered direct offering</a>. The company said at the time that it planned to use net proceeds from that offering for working capital related to POET&#8217;s recently announced plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42168802/whats-going-on-with-poet-technologies-stock-monday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expand assembly operations</a>&nbsp;into Malaysia.
POET Technologies offers high-speed optical engines, light source products and custom optical modules to the&nbsp;<a href="http://benzinga.com/topic/ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>&nbsp;systems market and to hyperscale data centers.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42469214/stocks-slip-on-hot-inflation-data-adobe-tumbles-natural-gas-hits-1-year-high-whats-driving-markets-thursday">Stocks Slip On Hot Inflation Data, Adobe Tumbles, Natural Gas Hits 1-Year High: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Thursday?</a>
POET Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/poet">POET shares</a> were down 9.25% at $4.36 at the time of publication Thursday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo: courtesy of POET Technologies.

News

Offerings

Movers

POET

What's Going On With POET Technologies Stock Thursday?

I admit it: I am something of a geek.
I spend a lot of time sitting around reading articles, crunching numbers, and engaging in other research-focused activities.
One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is with a game in the background (preferably baseball, but there has to be an offseason), reading the latest academic studies and insights.
Recently, I spent some time with a study on insider buying titled &#8220;Are CFOs&#8217; Trades More Informative Than CEOs&#8217; Trades?&#8221;
As it turns out, they are.
Everyone focuses on the CEO. After all, he is the top executive who sees everything: all the plans, all the ideas, all the sales figures, everything.
The CEO is the ship&#8217;s captain who sees all and theoretically knows all.
Why, then, does the CFO outperform?
Keeping our ship analogy, the CEO may be the captain, but the CFO oversees the engine room and the power plant.
He knows what cash is coming in, where it is going, and how the excess is being spent.
The CFO knows how much they owe and to whom they owe it.
The CFO is also present in every meeting and sees every plan and vision laid out by the CEO and other executives.
He also knows how these plans will impact the business&#8217;s financial health.
She is also best positioned to judge how these plans will likely impact the company&#8217;s value.
When the Chief Financial Officer buys, it is because the business is trading for less than the ultimate insider view says it is worth.
Here are three companies with recent significant buying by the Chief Financial Officer:
Dorchester Minerals, L.P. (Ticker: DMLP) is a master limited partnership that acquires, owns, and manages producing and non-producing mineral, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests across the United States.
Its diversified portfolio spans 593 counties and parishes in 28 states, providing exposure to various oil and gas assets.
While the company is currently most active in the Permian and Bakken regions, it also has significant acreage in the Utica Shale and Marcellus Shale regions, which hold enormous amounts of natural gas.
Most energy industry insiders think that natural gas will be in huge demand as the energy source for developing AI to its full potential.
As a royalty trust, Dorchester is paid for every drop of oil and gas produced on the acreage they own. At the current price, the yield on the shares is over 10%.
CFO Leslie Moriyama is clearly a big believer in higher energy prices, as she has recently purchased over $500,000 worth of additional stock in the company.
HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (Ticker: HASI), formerly known as Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc., is a leading investor in climate solutions, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets across the United States.
HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI) maintains a diversified portfolio across three primary markets: Behind-the-Meter (BTM), Grid-Connected (GC), and Fuels, Transport &amp; Nature (FTN). As of June 30, 2024, the portfolio distribution was approximately 47% in BTM, 40% in GC, and 13% in FTN.
The company&#8217;s investments encompass various asset classes, including equity, joint ventures, land ownership, lending, and other financing transactions. Notable investments include a structured equity investment in a 2.0 GW portfolio of contracted wind, solar, and solar-plus-storage projects, and a senior debt investment in a portfolio of operating landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas and wastewater treatment biogas-to-renewable natural gas plants.
CFO Marc Pangburn is not buying the death of renewables story, as he recently purchased a six-figure stake in the company.
Centene Corporation (Ticker: CNC), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading managed care company specializing in government-sponsored healthcare programs. Founded in 1984, Centene has become a significant intermediary for government-sponsored and privately insured healthcare plans, offering a comprehensive range of services to individuals and families across the United States. The company&#8217;s portfolio includes Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Marketplace insurance plans, serving over 28 million members nationwide.
In the third quarter of 2024, Centene reported total revenues of $42.0 billion, marking a 10% increase from the same period in the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by a 22% increase in Marketplace membership and a 49% rise in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. The company&#8217;s adjusted diluted earnings per share stood at $1.62, surpassing analysts&#8217; expectations.
Despite a decline in Medicaid membership due to redeterminations, Centene&#8217;s diversified portfolio allowed it to navigate these challenges effectively. The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance of greater than $6.80, reflecting confidence in its financial outlook.
The stock has sold off this year, finally attracting the interest of CFO Andrew Asher, who recently purchased $1 million worth of the company.

Opinion

DMLP

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital

HASI

C-Suite Buy of the Week: Executives' Investments Offer Clues to Market Directions

The XRP Token (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) from Ripple was part of a surprise charity donation to Ellen DeGeneres in 2018 with Ashton Kutcher describing his investment in the company and why it was important in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto">the cryptocurrency sector.</a>
Here's a look back at the moment and how much investors could have made investing in XRP at the time.
What Happened: The price of XRP has soared in 2024 thanks to filings for XRP ETFs, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42446237/xrp-price-explodes-20-to-2-43-after-ripple-receives-rlusd-stablecoin-approval">a stablecoin launch</a> and optimism that a new White House administration could help the company in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/11/42173824/if-you-invested-1000-in-xrp-token-when-sec-lawsuit-caused-mass-panic-heres-how-much-youd-have-today">pending SEC lawsuit.</a>
While XRP has had a great 2024, the cryptocurrency hit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42225289/heres-how-much-100-invested-in-xrp-token-today-will-be-worth-if-crypto-returns-to-all-time-highs">an all-time high</a> of $3.84 in early 2018, a level it has failed to recapture over the last six years. Another event that happened for XRP in 2018 was the cryptocurrency being highlighted by actor and tech investor Kutcher.
Kutcher made a surprise <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JQzSn8Ptg">appearance </a>on the May 23, 2018 episode of "The Ellen Show," a talk show hosted by DeGeneres.
During his appearance, Kutcher was joined by investor Guy Oseary. The two business partners were also investors in Ripple at the time.
"Ripple is basically a platform to allow people to transfer money from bank account to bank account, person to person, really securely, really simply, really quickly," Kutcher said of the company.
Kutcher said XRP is the cryptocurrency for Ripple and a way to get value "from here to there."
The actor and investor shared on the show that Ripple was donating $4 million to DeGeneres' charity, The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, leaving the talk show host nearly speechless.
"You never ask anyone for anything, you're always thinking about everyone else," Kutcher added.
Kutcher highlighted the power of Ripple by saying instead of bringing out a giant check to mark the $4 million donation, he could transfer the money to DeGeneres right there by pushing a button and putting the money into her charity's account.
"That was the most amazing thing," DeGeneres said. "I love Ripple. Thank you Ripple for doing this."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/05/32192147/ashton-kutcher-says-companies-not-investing-in-ai-will-go-out-of-business-and-hes-putting-h">Ashton Kutcher Says Companies Not Investing In AI Will Go Out Of Business — And He&#8217;s Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is</a>
Investing $1,000 in XRP: The XRP Token traded between $0.5870 and $0.6491 on May 23, 2018, the day the episode aired.
A $1,000 investment at the time could have purchased 1540.5947 XRP based on the day&#8217;s high price.
The $1,000 investment would be worth $3,712.83 today based on a price of $2.41 for XRP at the time of writing. This represents a potential return of 271.3% over the last six-plus years.
While XRP is up over 280% year-to-date in 2024, Benzinga readers predict positive things ahead in 2025.
Benzinga <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42378513/can-bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-shiba-inu-or-solana-beat-xrp-in-2025-poll-says-yes-one-coin-stands-out">recently asked readers</a> their thoughts on XRP versus other cryptocurrencies for 2025.
&#8220;Do you think any of these cryptos will outperform XRP in 2025?&#8221; Benzinga asked.
These were the results:
<ul>
<li>Bitcoin: 28%</li>
<li>Solana: 15%</li>
<li>Dogecoin: 13%</li>
<li>Ethereum: 10%</li>
<li>Shiba Inu: 10%</li>
<li>Hedera: 1%</li>
<li>None of the Above: 24%</li>
</ul>
Bitcoin won the poll, with 28% of readers believing that the leading cryptocurrency will outperform the other options in 2025.
Ranking second in the poll was None of the Above, which means 24% of readers think XRP will outperform the other six cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin in 2025.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42303487/if-you-invested-1000-in-xrp-token-when-snoop-dogg-performed-at-ripple-community-event-at-consensus-2018-heres-how-much-youd-have-today">If You Invested $1,000 In XRP Token When Snoop Dogg Performed At Ripple Community Event At Consensus 2018, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a></li>
</ul>
Illustration created using Shutterstock photos.

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

Cryptocurrency

Education

$XRP

If You Invested $1,000 In XRP Token When Ashton Kutcher Surprised Ellen DeGeneres With $4 Million Charity Donation, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

Ondo (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ONDO</a>) is gaining traction, building on strong monthly gains fueled by advancements in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tokenization">real-world asset sector.</a>
What Happened: Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez attributes Ondo's parabolic rally to heightened interest in RWA tokenization and strategic moves like its investment in BlackRock&#8217;s BUIDL fund. 
This bullish sentiment <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1867139781055926418">suggests</a> sustained momentum:
<ul>
<li>Long-Term Outlook: Ondo is currently in a &#8220;Greed&#8221; phase, nearing &#8220;Euphoria,&#8221; with a 235% rally over the past month and minimal corrections. Using the TD Sequential indicator, Martinez predicts the token could reach $5–$7 in the next few months.</li>
<li>Short-Term Setup: After breaking a key risk line, Ondo signals bullish continuation. A slight pullback to $1.81 or $1.75 is possible, but the recovery points to further upside. The near-term target is $3.22, with potential for more gains.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42296197/ondo-finance-ethereums-blackrock-backed-tokenization-crypto-surges-38-why-is-ondo-going-up">Ondo Finance, Ethereum&#8217;s BlackRock-Backed Tokenization Crypto, Surges 38%: Why Is ONDO Going Up?</a>
Why It Matters: BounceBit has <a href="https://medium.com/@bouncebit/bouncebit-integrates-usdy-as-first-tokenized-rwa-297355db09e2">integrated</a> Ondo Finance's flagship tokenized U.S. Treasury products into its CeDeFi V2 platform, making Ondo the first treasury-backed RWA in the ecosystem. This integration underscores Ondo's pioneering role in bridging traditional finance with blockchain innovation.
With a 24-hour trading volume of $617.8 million, Ondo leads the RWA sector, highlighting its growing appeal among investors.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42054361/cathie-woods-ark-bullish-on-500t-tokenization-market-as-tether-enters-race">Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Bullish On $500T Tokenization Market As Tether Enters Race</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

$ONDO

Ondo Finance, Ethereum's BlackRock-Backed Tokenization Crypto, Could Reach $5, Analyst Says

Rumors

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

ABCL

Watching AbCellera Biologics; Shares See Volume To The Upside, Traders Circulate Ray Blancos Catalyst Trader Action Alert To Buy The Stock Up To $4

D. Boral Capital analyst Jason Kolbert maintains CARISMA Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CARM#NASDAQ">CARM</a>) with a Buy and maintains $12 price target.

Price Target

CARM

D. Boral Capital Maintains Buy on CARISMA Therapeutics, Maintains $12 Price Target

Waterfall Network on Thursday announced it has raised $11.6 million in a funding round led by Bolt's Capital, with additional contributions from Alpha Token Capital and Enflux. 
The funds will be used to improve the platform's infrastructure, simplify node operations, and enhance its scalability.
The funding comes after Waterfall Network achieved 12,778 transactions per second (TPS), demonstrating its capacity for high-speed blockchain performance, according to a press release shared with Benzinga.
Waterfall Network positions itself as a scalable and decentralized layer-1 blockchain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
This compatibility facilitates migration for Ethereum-based decentralized applications (DApps), offering developers and users a simplified, user-friendly platform.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42460507/hacker-exploits-dogecoin-vulnerability-crashes-69-of-nodes-but-doge-still-spikes-1-8">Hacker Exploits Dogecoin Vulnerability, Crashes 69% Of Nodes—But DOGE Still Spikes 1.8%</a>
Waterfall also recently integrated with Chainspect, a blockchain analytics platform, to provide detailed performance metrics for investors and adopters.
Chainspect data suggests that Waterfall outperforms other notable networks, including Solana and Aptos, in scalability metrics.
Waterfall's validator network continues to grow, with 8,647 active validators reported as of December 2024, positioning it as the third-largest decentralized proof-of-stake (PoS) network globally by validator count.
Sergii Grybniak, CTO of Blue Wave and Head of Research at Waterfall, said, "This investment is a testament to the network's potential to improve scalability and operational efficiency.&#8221;
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42457774/donald-trump-reportedly-tapping-brian-quintenz-as-head-of-commodity-futures-trading-commission">Donald Trump Reportedly Tapping Brian Quintenz As Head Of Commodity Futures Trading Commission</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Waterfall Network Raises $11.6 Million To Enhance Blockchain Scalability And Decentralization

JP Morgan analyst Robbie Marcus maintains Insulet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PODD#NASDAQ">PODD</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $280 to $330.

PODD

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Insulet, Raises Price Target to $330

Kosmos Energy Shares Halted To The Downside, Stock Now Down -12.3%

NICE

NICE shares are trading higher after the company announced Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's office selected NICE Justice to safeguard and streamline its digital evidence management.

SPRY

ARS Pharmaceuticals Files For Approval Of neffy In China, Japan And Australia

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-12/canada-weighs-export-taxes-on-uranium-oil-if-trump-starts-trade-war?srnd=homepage-americas" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-12/canada-weighs-export-taxes-on-uranium-oil-if-trump-starts-trade-war?srnd=homepage-americas">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-12/canada-weighs-export-taxes-on-uranium-oil-if-trump-starts-trade-war?srnd=homepage-americas</a>

Government

Macro Economic Events

Politics

Economics

General

Themes ETF Trust Themes Uranium & Nuclear ETF

URAN

UUUU

Canada Weighs Export Taxes On Uranium, Oil If Trump Starts Trade War

BriaCell Therapeutics Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCTX#NASDAQ">BCTX</a>) shares are trading lower by 40% to 65 cents Thursday afternoon after the company announced the pricing of a $5.5 million public offering of 7.4 million shares at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/g42452983/briacell-therapeutics-announces-pricing-of-5-5-million-public-offering">75 cents per share</a>.
What Else: BriaCell has priced an underwritten public offering of 7.4 million common shares and warrants at 75 cents per share and associated warrant. 
The warrants, exercisable at $0.9375 per share for five years, accompany the shares in the offering, which is expected to generate gross proceeds of approximately $5.55 million before expenses.
The offering, managed by ThinkEquity, is set to close on December 13, pending customary conditions. BriaCell says the company plans to use the funds for working capital, corporate purposes and advancing its business goals.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42467265/stocks-fall-as-producer-inflation-spikes-jobless-claims-jump-what-is-happening-here">Stocks Fall As Producer Inflation Spikes, Jobless Claims Jump: &#8216;What Is Happening Here?&#8217;</a>
According to data from&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>, BCTX has a 52-week high of $5.93 and a 52-week low of $0.46.

BCTX

Why BriaCell Therapeutics (BCTX) Stock Is Down 40%

On Wednesday,&nbsp;Patient Square Capital, a healthcare investment firm, agreed to acquire&nbsp;Patterson Companies, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDCO#NASDAQ">PDCO</a>), a dental and animal health product distributor, for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/12/b42433177/patterson-companies-announces-definitive-agreement-to-be-acquired-by-patient-square-capital-for-31" rel="noreferrer noopener">approximately $4.1 billion</a>.
During its second-quarter earnings release, the company announced it is exploring strategic options, including a sale or merger,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42342667/dental-supplies-patterson-companies-evaluates-strategic-alternatives-after-mixed-q2-earnings-amid-challenging-end-market-environment" rel="noreferrer noopener">to boost shareholder value</a>.
William Blair notes that based on Patient Square Capital&#8217;s portfolio, which doesn&#8217;t include dental or animal health companies, regulatory hurdles for this deal are unlikely.
Additionally, the analyst&#8217;s dental valuation analysis suggests the offer for Patterson is strong, making it unlikely that higher bids will emerge during the 40-day window for competing offers.
The valuation analysis includes Align Technology Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGN#NASDAQ">ALGN</a>), Dentsply Sirona Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRAY#NASDAQ">XRAY</a>), Henry Schein Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>), Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVST#NYSE">NVST</a>) and Europe-listed Straumann Holding.
William Blair writes that most dental companies they cover are trading at or near their lowest valuations in 15 years, as investor interest has declined due to ongoing macroeconomic challenges.
Most recently,&nbsp;Dentsply Sirona revised its 2024 outlook due to market pressures impacting U.S. equipment, legislative changes affecting the direct-to-consumer aligner business model, and the voluntary&nbsp;suspension of sales, marketing, and shipments of Byte Aligners <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41814727/dentsply-sirona-stock-sinks-on-dismal-2024-guidance-blames-macroeconomic-competitiv" rel="noreferrer noopener">and Impression Kits</a>.
Henry Schein&#8217;s third-quarter global dental segment sales were $1.9 billion, down 1.6%, and medical segment sales increased by 2.9% (down 4.8% internally) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41752173/henry-schein-q3-earnings-sees-recovery-from-cyber-incident-says-dental-equipment-business-shows-sta" rel="noreferrer noopener">to $1.1 billion</a>.
While it&#8217;s still early to gauge investor reactions, the analyst is considering whether Patterson&#8217;s acquisition might stabilize valuations and boost demand in the dental sector.
The analyst writes the move could support valuations and signal a potential recovery in the market, making many dental stocks appealing from a risk/reward perspective.
Among these, William Blair sees Align as having the greatest potential for stock growth, driven by improving market conditions and gains in both earnings and valuation.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42465586/gevo-and-lg-chem-push-ahead-on-eto-commercialization-for-sustainable-aviation-and-bio-propylene-markets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gevo And LG Chem Double Down On Ethanol-To-Olefins Tech: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Large Cap

Health Care

ALGN

HSIC

NVST

PDCO

XRAY

What Does Dental Player Patterson's $4.1 Billion Deal Mean For Other Players?

AMPS

Altus Power shares are trading lower after JP Morgan downgraded the stock form Neutral to Underweight.

Ahead of next week's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/bank-of-japan">Bank of Japan</a> (BoJ) meeting, investor sentiment is shifting back toward the &#8216;BoJ trade&#8217; — a strategy that plays on long Japanese equities and banks, while shorting the yen and Japanese government bonds (JGBs).
Despite recent reports suggesting the BoJ is unlikely to hike rates before 2024, this revived trade has gained momentum, particularly after Donald Trump's election win, according to JPMorgan analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou.
The yen has weakened, moving from 150 to 153 against the dollar, and the probability of a December rate hike has dropped sharply from 50% to just over 10%.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/24/11/42221646/stocks-fall-yen-eyes-best-day-in-2-months-bitcoin-rebounds-above-96000-whats-driving-markets-wednesday">Stocks Fall, Yen Eyes Best Day In 2 Months, Bitcoin Rebounds Above $96,000: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Wednesday?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump's Influence</h2>
Panigirtzoglou highlights that investors have been increasing their long positions in Japanese equities, shorting the yen, and shorting JGB futures, expecting that Japan's inflationary pressure from a weaker yen will lead to a boost in economic activity. 
The "BoJ trade" emerged at the end of 2022, with the expectation that Japan's persistent negative real rates and a weaker yen would spark inflation and allow the BoJ to lift nominal policy rates.
The inflationary aspect of Trump's policies, which reduce the chance of aggressive Fed rate cuts, has reignited investor interest in the trade.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The BoJ's Indecision: A Mixed Market Reaction</h2>
Since September, Japanese equities have traded in a range, although Japanese banks have outperformed, benefiting from the weaker yen. 
Positioning in the futures space, particularly for Nikkei and JGBs, has been volatile. While the unwinding of the "BoJ trade" had been significant earlier this year, post-election positioning has surged. However, this build-up in JGB futures didn't last long, as investor sentiment quickly adjusted, reflecting uncertainty over the BoJ's next move.
As Panigirtzoglou notes, the positioning shift was particularly notable, with one-third of the short positions in yen futures and significant unwinding of short positions in JGB futures by the end of September.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Japan Still The Inflation Play?</h2>
With Japan&#8217;s inflationary prospects, driven by negative real rates and a weaker yen, the "BoJ trade" remains a potential winner for investors willing to bet on Japan's evolving economic landscape. 
But with market fluctuations and global risks, the outlook remains mixed. As Panigirtzoglou states, the trajectory of the trade hinges largely on the BoJ's decisions in the coming months—investors are closely watching to see if the central bank will wait or take action.
The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWJ#NYSE">EWJ</a>), the JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBJP#NYSE">BBJP</a>) and the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXJ#NYSE">DXJ</a>) are popular ways to get exposure to Japanese equity.
The Invesco Currencyshares Japanese Yen Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXY#NYSE">FXY</a>) provides exposure to the Japanese yen.
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Keybanc analyst Brandon Nispel downgraded T-Mobile US Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TMUS/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overweight to Sector Weight</a>.
The rerating reflects the valuation, which Nispel noted as stretched, and was unwilling to raise his price target to justify the valuation.
The analyst noted a lot to like in the business that has proven to be the market share leader in Wireless for nearly the past decade, and its FWA business has proven to be accretive.
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However, going forward, the competitive environment seems to be shifting toward a converged offering, with T-Mobile making acquisitions in the Fiber business at significant multiples that have yet to be proven.
In addition, with T-Mobile guiding to ~5% EBITDA growth in fiscal 2025, this is still a significant deceleration from ~9% in fiscal 2024 and compares to AT&amp;T Inc&#8217;s Mobility business adjusted EBITDA guidance of 3%- 4%.
T-Mobile is trading at ~9.3 times Nispel&#8217;s above consensus fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA estimates and ~15.1 times his fiscal 2026 price to free cash flow ratio, which compares to T-Mobile&#8217;s 3-year average of ~9.3 times and ~15.5 times, respectively, and current AT&amp;T and Verizon Communications Inc. average of ~6.3 times and ~10.1 times, respectively.
Nispel noted these multiples reflect T-Mobile&#8217;s execution and premium growth profile. While the valuation could expand over the short term, the company has signaled through a reduction in the buyback that the stock is expensive and noted there are limits.
T-Mobile has guided investors to 5% adjusted EBITDA growth in fiscal 2025, a significant slowdown versus fiscal 2024 expected adjusted EBITDA growth of ~9%. Free cash flow growth is also expected to slow to ~2% by Nispel&#8217;s estimates and ~4% for consensus, down from his estimate of 25% year-on-year in fiscal 2024.
T-Mobile has spoken about investments in the business, headwinds from ACP, and wholesale affecting EBITDA. In addition, cash taxes should be higher as T-Mobile becomes a full cash taxpayer, and T-Mobile has guided to higher capex, both of which will affect free cash flow.
With T-Mobile&#8217;s valuation at a premium and growth expected to slow, Nispel sought better relative value. In that regard, he noted AT&amp;T&#8217;s 3% or greater adjusted EBITDA growth appears relatively attractive, given AT&amp;T is trading at ~6.2 times his fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA. When looking at AT&amp;T excluding Business Wireline, he expects AT&amp;T&#8217;s Mobility and Consumer Wireline growth to be 5.4% in fiscal 20&#8217;25, making AT&amp;T appear relatively attractive. At current levels, Nispel noted T-Mobile as fairly valued.
Nispel projected fourth-quarter revenue of $21.41 billion and EPS of $2.36.
Price Action: TMUS stock is down 0.74% at $232.60 at last check Thursday.
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Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Apple.
Looking at options history for Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) we detected 58 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 55% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 32% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 23 are puts, for a total amount of $1,254,311 and 35, calls, for a total amount of $2,295,201.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $160.0 to $280.0 for Apple over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Apple's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Apple's whale trades within a strike price range from $160.0 to $280.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Apple Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734031901_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>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$43.1</td>
<td>$42.7</td>
<td>$43.1</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$258.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
<td>$5.28</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$237.7K</td>
<td>8.1K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$42.4</td>
<td>$42.0</td>
<td>$42.4</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$212.0K</td>
<td>12.0K</td>
<td>75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$89.45</td>
<td>$89.15</td>
<td>$89.28</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$178.5K</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/13/24</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$245.00</td>
<td>$164.9K</td>
<td>13.8K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Apple</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
In light of the recent options history for Apple, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Apple</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 17,973,754, the AAPL's price is up by 0.79%, now at $248.44. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 49 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Apple</h3>
A total of 3 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $277.6666666666667.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $273. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Wedbush lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $300. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Needham lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $260.
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Apple with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

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