 (IEX:ZEXIT) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Jim Salera reiterates Wingstop (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WING#NASDAQ">WING</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $450 price target.

News

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

WING

Stephens & Co. Reiterates Overweight on Wingstop, Maintains $450 Price Target

Evercore ISI Group analyst Thomas Gallagher maintains Lincoln National (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNC#NYSE">LNC</a>) with a In-Line and raises the price target from $41 to $44.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Lincoln National, Raises Price Target to $44

JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintains Sonic Automotive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAH#NYSE">SAH</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $74 to $80.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Sonic Automotive, Raises Price Target to $80

Shares of Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) climbed in trading on Wednesday, despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43799173/occidental-petroleum-shares-slide-after-mixed-q4-results-eps-beat-revenues-missed">a revenue miss in the fourth quarter</a>.
Here are some key analyst takeaways.
<ul>
<li>Stephens <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6447940daaeafc000160521b/mike-scialla">analyst Mike Scialla</a> reiterated an Overweight rating and price target of $71.</li>
<li>Raymond James <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/580dc7a6846faa000106ae4f/mark-lear">analyst Mark Lear</a> maintained a Neutral rating on the stock.</li>
</ul>
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Stephens: Occidental Petroleum reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and cash flows of 80 cents per share and $3.13 per share, respectively. It beat the consensus of 68 cents per share and $2.85 per share, Scialla said. Production grew by 4% sequentially and 19% year-on-year to 1,463 MBpoed (million barrels of oil equivalent per day), 1% above Street expectations, he added.
Occidental divested another $1.2 billion-worth of properties in the first quarter of 2025. The company also achieved its $4.5 billion near-term debt reduction target seven months early, the analyst explained. Management's first-quarter guidance for total and oil production were 4% and 5% below market estimates, mainly due to weather conditions and the divestitures in the quarter, he further stated.
Raymond James: Occidental's fourth-quarter results were mostly ahead of expectations. Lear credited "stronger volumes and Oxychem and midstream beats" for driving growth. The full-year guidance for capital expenditure came in at $7.5 billion, in-line with expectations, he added.
The "glaring negative" was the oil production guidance for the first quarter, the midpoint of which stands at 703 million barrels of oil per day, down around 4% sequentially, the analyst stated. The main driver of lower volumes guide was the divestitures closing by the end of the first quarter and "expected ethane rejection in the DJ decreasing production volumes by ~21 mboe/d," he further wrote.
Price Action: Shares of Occidental Petroleum had risen by 6.30% to $51.96 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43786111/buffett-buys-more-occidental-petroleum-sticking-to-his-playbook">Buffett Buys More Occidental Petroleum—Sticking To His Playbook</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Movers

Trading Ideas

Occidental Petroleum Posts Q4 Earnings Beat, Here's A 'Glaring Negative'

JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintains Penske Automotive Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAG#NYSE">PAG</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $160 to $165.

JP Morgan Maintains Underweight on Penske Automotive Group, Raises Price Target to $165

Evercore ISI Group analyst David Raso maintains Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITW#NYSE">ITW</a>) with a Underperform and lowers the price target from $255 to $252.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Underperform on Illinois Tool Works, Lowers Price Target to $252

Nisun International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NISN#NASDAQ">NISN</a>) partnered with Gold of China Co. to expand its gold business amid rising prices and growing demand. This collaboration aims to strengthen retail and wholesale operations, with projected 2025 sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43812560" rel="noreferrer noopener">between $30 million and $50 million.</a>
Gold prices have surged in 2025, reaching their eighth record high this year, following an 11% year-to-date increase after a 27% rise in 2024.
Capitalizing on this momentum, Nisun International is leveraging its partnership with Gold of China to build a comprehensive gold service platform, integrating supply chain management with retail and wholesale expertise.
Key initiatives include optimized procurement for cost-effective sourcing, retail innovation to meet evolving consumer demand, and wholesale expansion leveraging Gold of China&#8217;s established market presence.
&#8220;The gold market&#8217;s unprecedented growth presents a transformative opportunity for Nisun International,&#8221; said Xin Liu, CEO of Nisun International. &#8220;Our partnership with Gold of China positions us to harness this momentum, drive significant growth, and reinforce our commitment to creating value for stakeholders and customers.&#8221;
The company plans to deepen its collaboration with Gold of China and explore new opportunities for innovation and long-term growth.
Price Action: NISN shares are trading lower by 0.87% at $8.575 at the last check Wednesday.
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

Contracts

NISN

Nisun Partners With Gold Of China To Tap Booming Market: Details

JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintains Lithia Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAD#NYSE">LAD</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $400 to $420.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Lithia Motors, Raises Price Target to $420

Evercore ISI Group analyst David Raso maintains Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IR#NYSE">IR</a>) with a In-Line and lowers the price target from $100 to $91.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Ingersoll Rand, Lowers Price Target to $91

LRCX

Lam Research Exec Says Co Expects To Reach Adjusted Gross Margin Of About 50% By 2028

JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintains AutoNation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $180 to $195.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on AutoNation, Raises Price Target to $195

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Analog Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</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 ADI, 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 22 uncommon options trades for Analog Devices.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 59% bullish and 31%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $124,355, and 19 are calls, for a total amount of $1,248,199.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $170.0 to $240.0 for Analog Devices over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Analog Devices stands at 468.47, with a total volume reaching 3,101.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Analog Devices, situated within the strike price corridor from $170.0 to $240.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Analog Devices 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739981745_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 align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ADI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$17.1</td>
<td>$16.2</td>
<td>$16.47</td>
<td>$217.50</td>
<td>$164.7K</td>
<td align="right">325</td>
<td align="right">163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$10.06</td>
<td>$225.00</td>
<td>$150.9K</td>
<td align="right">185</td>
<td align="right">199</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$25.7</td>
<td>$25.4</td>
<td>$25.4</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$127.0K</td>
<td align="right">818</td>
<td align="right">351</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$11.6</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$222.50</td>
<td>$124.0K</td>
<td align="right">154</td>
<td align="right">163</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$10.9</td>
<td>$10.4</td>
<td>$10.85</td>
<td>$222.50</td>
<td>$107.4K</td>
<td align="right">618</td>
<td align="right">17</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Analog Devices</h3>
Analog Devices is a leading analog, mixed signal, and digital signal processing chipmaker. The firm has a significant market share lead in converter chips, which are used to translate analog signals to digital and vice versa. The company serves tens of thousands of customers, and more than half of its chip sales are made to industrial and automotive end markets. Analog Devices' chips are also incorporated into wireless infrastructure equipment.
In light of the recent options history for Analog Devices, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Analog Devices Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 3,465,171, the price of ADI is up 6.16% at $233.78. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 0 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Analog Devices</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $245.0.
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; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Benchmark lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $245.
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 Analog Devices options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Markets

A Closer Look at Analog Devices's Options Market Dynamics

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Tesla. Our analysis of options history for Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) revealed 488 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 47% of traders were bullish, while 36% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 132 were puts, with a value of $15,676,812, and 356 were calls, valued at $22,759,094.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $250.0 to $720.0 for Tesla over the recent three months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Tesla'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 Tesla's whale trades within a strike price range from $250.0 to $720.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Tesla Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739981740_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>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$8.95</td>
<td>$8.85</td>
<td>$8.9</td>
<td>$365.00</td>
<td>$178.4K</td>
<td>4.2K</td>
<td>18.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$135.4K</td>
<td>23.7K</td>
<td>69.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$5.45</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$365.00</td>
<td>$108.0K</td>
<td>16.2K</td>
<td>47.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$6.05</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$72.0K</td>
<td>8.0K</td>
<td>29.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$18.6</td>
<td>$18.6</td>
<td>$370.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>9.3K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Tesla</h3>
Tesla is a vertically integrated battery electric vehicle automaker and developer of autonomous driving software. The company has multiple vehicles in its fleet, which include luxury and midsize sedans, crossover SUVs, a light truck, and a semi truck. Tesla also plans to begin selling more affordable vehicles, a sports car, and offer a robotaxi service. Global deliveries in 2024 were a little below 1.8 million vehicles. The company sells batteries for stationary storage for residential and commercial properties including utilities and solar panels and solar roofs for energy generation. Tesla also owns a fast-charging network.
<h3>Tesla's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 29,881,125, the TSLA's price is up by 1.84%, now at $360.64. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 62 days.</li>
</ul>
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>.
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 Tesla options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

TSLA

Tesla's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards IBM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in IBM usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 10 extraordinary options activities for IBM. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 40% leaning bullish and 40% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $132,681, and 7 are calls, amounting to $321,088.
<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 $235.0 to $270.0 for IBM during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for IBM options trades today is 1835.62 with a total volume of 575.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for IBM's big money trades within a strike price range of $235.0 to $270.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>IBM 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739981735_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 align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$3.55</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$3.65</td>
<td>$262.50</td>
<td>$72.7K</td>
<td>739</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$5.68</td>
<td>$257.50</td>
<td>$56.8K</td>
<td>797</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$12.5</td>
<td>$11.15</td>
<td>$11.5</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$55.0K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$13.05</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$50.8K</td>
<td>342</td>
<td align="right">83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IBM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$13.05</td>
<td>$12.75</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$50.3K</td>
<td>342</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About IBM</h3>
IBM looks to be a part of every aspect of an enterprise's IT needs. The company primarily sells software, IT services, consulting, and hardware. IBM operates in 175 countries and employs approximately 300,000 people. The company has a robust roster of business partners to service its clients, which include 95% of all Fortune 500 companies. Primary products include its mainframes, Red Hat software, transaction processing software, and IT consulting.
Having examined the options trading patterns of IBM, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of IBM</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 648,867, with IBM's price down by -0.48%, positioned at $261.81.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 63 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for IBM</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $255.4.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Buy rating on IBM, maintaining a target price of $260. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from BMO Capital continues to hold a Market Perform rating for IBM, targeting a price of $280. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Hold rating on IBM, maintaining a target price of $270. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Equal-Weight rating on IBM, maintaining a target price of $217. 
&#x2A; An analyst from RBC Capital downgraded its action to Outperform with a price target of $250. 
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 IBM options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

IBM's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Guidance

Lam Research Exec Says Co Expects Revenue Of $25B-$27B In CY2028; Expects Adjusted EPS Of $6-$7 In 2028

Evercore ISI Group analyst David Raso maintains Gates Industrial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GTES#NYSE">GTES</a>) with a In-Line and raises the price target from $22 to $23.

GTES

Evercore ISI Group Maintains In-Line on Gates Industrial Corp, Raises Price Target to $23

Union Pacific (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNP#NYSE">UNP</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 6.25% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.69%. Currently, Union Pacific has a market capitalization of $149.23 billion. 
Buying $1000 In UNP: If an investor had bought $1000 of UNP stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $15,388.87 today based on a price of $246.15 for UNP at the time of writing.
<h3>Union Pacific's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739981715_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.

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 20 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Vivek Ramaswamy is known for speaking his mind, and his latest opinion on education is no different. In a <a href="https://x.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1890126030201057682">tweet</a> that got a lot of attention, he said that the best teachers in America should get paid a lot more, instead of wasting money on teachers and school leaders who don&#8217;t do a good job.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Debate Over Merit-Based Pay</h2>
&#8220;The best teachers in America should be paid way more than they are right now. Instead we're wasting that $$ on the teachers &amp; administrators who underperform. The right answer: merit-based pay for teachers, principals, &amp; superintendents. This shouldn't be controversial," Ramaswamy wrote.
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His stance taps into a long-running debate about how teachers should be compensated. Supporters of merit-based pay argue that rewarding high-performing educators could improve student outcomes and attract better talent to the profession. Critics, however, raise concerns about how performance would be measured fairly and the unintended consequences of such a system.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Busy Political Schedule</h2>
Ramaswamy's outspoken views on education come at a time when he's making significant political moves. The former presidential candidate was initially named as a co-chair of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk but stepped down before it was officially formed. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43378742/vivek-ramaswamy-clarifies-doge-exit-shifts-focus-to-ohio-governorship-bid-you-got-to-do-it-through-legislation">Ramaswamy abruptly resigned</a> from the initiative, that supposedly intends to reduce unnecessary government spending, leaving Musk as its only leader. According to reports, the split was caused in part by difficulties between the two.
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Ramaswamy left DOGE around the same time he announced he was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43067969/billionaire-vivek-ramaswamy-to-run-for-ohio-governor-replacing-dewine-what-happens-to-trumps-doge-program">running for governor</a> of Ohio. People who know about his plans say he always wanted to use his time at DOGE to gain support before making his campaign official. Since Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine can&#8217;t run again due to term limits, Ramaswamy is getting ready to release his campaign statement, which is already written and just waiting to be announced.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump's Education Overhaul</h2>
Ramaswamy's stance on education comes as Trump pushes for sweeping changes, including his call to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43450076/trump-administration-weighs-plan-to-shut-down-education-department-which-stocks-could-be-affected">immediately shut down</a> the Department of Education. Trump has long viewed the agency as unnecessary bureaucracy and has tasked Education Secretary-nominee <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/11/42171604/trumps-department-of-education-secretary-pick-linda-mcmahon-owns-tko-stock-thanks-to-famous-wrestling-past">Linda McMahon</a> with closing it. If successful, this move could disrupt billions in funding for K-12 schools and college tuition assistance.
Conservative think tanks have suggested that other agencies could take over the department's responsibilities, but the plan remains controversial. Trump's aggressive cost-cutting measures align with Ramaswamy's push for efficiency in education spending, making merit-based pay a potentially stronger talking point in conservative circles.
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'This Shouldn't Be Controversial'—Vivek Ramaswamy Says Top Teachers Deserve Higher Pay While Poor Performers And Admins Shouldn't

JP Morgan analyst Bill Peterson maintains EVgo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVGO#NASDAQ">EVGO</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $7 to $6.

EVGO

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on EVgo, Lowers Price Target to $6

Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintains Genuine Parts (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPC#NYSE">GPC</a>) with a In-Line and lowers the price target from $128 to $125.

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