Latest news for Zephyr Energy (OTC:ZPHRF) Stock

Zephyr Energy PLC is a technology-led oil and gas company focused on responsible resource development from carbon-neutral operations in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. The company's main operating segment is the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources, based in the USA. It generates the revenue from Crude oil, Natural gas, and Natural gas liquids.

Zephyr Energy PLC

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Offerings

AISP

Airship AI Holdings Files For Resale Of Up To 2.16M Shares By The Selling Stockholder

Oppenheimer analyst Christopher Glynn maintains OSI Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OSIS#NASDAQ">OSIS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $205 to $225.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

OSIS

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on OSI Systems, Raises Price Target to $225

JP Morgan analyst Domingos Falavina maintains Banco De Chile (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCH#NYSE">BCH</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $21 to $23.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Banco De Chile, Raises Price Target to $23

Guggenheim analyst Nathan Martin maintains Union Pacific (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNP#NYSE">UNP</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $266 to $275.

Guggenheim Maintains Buy on Union Pacific, Raises Price Target to $275

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) shares are trading higher on Friday after its CEO Mark Zuckerberg <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zuck/">posted on Facebook</a> about the company&#8217;s plans for capital spending in 2025 and artificial intelligence (AI).
What To Know: Zuckerberg anticipates Meta dedicating between $60 billion to $65 billion to capital spending, with a focus on growing the company&#8217;s AI teams and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/25/01/43192704/investigating-meta-platformss-standing-in-interactive-media-amp-services-industry-compared-to-compe">a new </a>data center.
Zuckerberg described the new data center as, &#8220;so large that it would cover a significant part of Manhattan.&#8221; He added that Meta aims to bring about a gigawatt of computing power online in 2025 and is projected to close the year with more than 1.3 million graphics processing units.
Zuckerberg stated, &#8220;In 2025, I expect Meta AI will be the leading assistant serving more than 1 billion people, Llama 4 will become the leading state of the art model, and we&#8217;ll build an AI engineer that will start contributing increasing amounts of code to our R&amp;D efforts.&#8221;
What Else: According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-23/trump-blasts-eu-regulators-for-targeting-apple-google-meta?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>, President Donald Trump criticized the European Union (EU) for targeting United States technology giants such as Meta, Apple and Google. He accused EU regulators of unfairly singling out these companies, describing their actions as &#8220;a form of taxation.&#8221;
"These are American companies whether you like it or not," Trump stated. "They shouldn't be doing that. That's, as far as I'm concerned, a form of taxation. We have some very big complaints with the EU."
Trump pointed to Apple's loss in a $14.4 billion tax dispute with the EU which stemmed from allegations that Ireland provided the company with illegal state aid. He made these remarks during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/43193916/tradepulse-power-inflow-alert-booking-holdings-bkng-moves-up-190-points-after-alert">Tradepulse Power Inflow Alert: Booking Holdings (BKNG) Moves Up 190 Points After Alert</a>
META Price Action: At the time of writing, Meta stock is trading 1.19% higher at $644.12, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: via Shutterstock

Movers

$META

What's Going On With Meta Shares Friday?

The <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/eu-us-policy-gap-widens-as-trump?r=3nmatg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">policy gap between the European Union </a>(EU) and the United States (US) has widened even further on a range of critical issues after the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday, January 20.
This includes EU-US policy gaps on climate change and energy use, a regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI), and free speech. While speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump had vastly different messages.
Von der Leyen <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-paris-climate-deal-donald-trump-eu-commission-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">described</a> the 2015 Paris Agreement as "the best hope for all humanity" to "protect nature and stop global warming." Trump withdrew the US from the accord on the first day of his return to the Oval Office. He described it as one-sided, and ended US participation in the Green New Deal.
"I terminated the ridiculous and incredibly wasteful Green New Deal," Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/remarks/2025/01/remarks-by-president-trump-at-the-world-economic-forum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> WEF during a virtual address on Thursday. "I call it the Green New Scam and ended the insane and costly electric vehicle (EV) mandate."
In contrast, the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1166921698/eu-zero-emission-cars" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU approved a plan in 2023</a> that would require all new cars sold in the EU to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The rule on CO2-emission-free cars is part of the European Green New Deal. This policy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20200618STO81513/green-deal-key-to-a-climate-neutral-and-sustainable-eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">55% by 2023</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Oil Push Highlights in EU-US Policy Gap</h2>
Trump, however, has pledged to "unlock the liquid gold under our feet and pave the way for rapid approvals of new energy infrastructure." The US "has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we're going to use it," he added.
The US ranks fifth in the world for proven oil reserves, according to an April 2024 <a href="https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/?form=MG0AV3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> from the Energy Information Administration. For natural gas, the US holds the largest reserves globally.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0af52c4-993b-4eaa-9ddf-e3b16f82ee33_526x258.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd0af52c4-993b-4eaa-9ddf-e3b16f82ee33_526x258.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/?form=MG0AV3">EIA</a></figcaption></figure>
The EU relies almost entirely on imports for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil consumption. In 2023, the US was the largest LNG supplier to the EU,<a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/eu-gas-supply/?form=MG0AV3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> representing almost 50%</a> of total imports.
The EU-US policy gap on energy has widened as Europe pursues renewables. This effort became urgent after <a href="https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/focus-eu-energy-security-and-gas-supplies-2024-02-15_en?form=MG0AV3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russia attempted to weaponize </a>its energy exports after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"EU energy security will be achieved by replacing imported fossil fuels with domestically produced renewable energy and improving energy efficiency," the EC <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/focus-eu-energy-security-and-gas-supplies-2024-02-15_en?form=MG0AV3">said</a> in a report.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EU Reliance on Renewables Puts Bloc at AI Disadvantage</h2>
The EU's reliance on renewables has put the bloc at an AI disadvantage. Europeans are paying some of the world's highest energy costs. 
Now, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-17/ai-computing-is-on-pace-to-consume-more-energy-than-india-arm-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI's need for power is threatening</a> to overwhelm energy sources. By 2030, AI <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-17/ai-computing-is-on-pace-to-consume-more-energy-than-india-arm-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data centers</a> may use more electricity than India, Arm Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Rene Haas <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-17/ai-computing-is-on-pace-to-consume-more-energy-than-india-arm-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> Bloomberg.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F59cd4ab1-e49a-404c-81b7-70058ae949ff_517x418.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F59cd4ab1-e49a-404c-81b7-70058ae949ff_517x418.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/cost-of-electricity-by-country?form=MG0AV3">World Population Review</a></figcaption></figure>
For Trump, the US must tap its energy supplies to position the world's largest economy as the world's AI capital.
"Not only will this reduce the cost of virtually all goods and services, it will make the United States a manufacturing superpower and the world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto," he said.
This will likely <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2023/09/04/the-gdp-gap-between-europe-and-the-united-states-is-now-80_6123491_23.html#:~:text=In%202008%2C%20the%20eurozone%20and,trillion%20and%20%E2%82%AC13.6%20trillion)." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">widen the gap in GDP</a> between the EU and the US. In 2008, for example, the eurozone and the US had equivalent GDPs of $14.2 trillion and $14.8 trillion, respectively. 
By 2023, the eurozone&#8217;s GDP was just over $15 trillion, while US GDP soared to $26.9 trillion, a difference mainly attributed to EU regulations.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EU-US Policy Diverges on AI Regulations</h2>
The EU and the US are also diverging on AI regulations. The<a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchitoperations/news/366618386/EU-US-at-odds-on-AI-safety-regulations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> EU will begin enforcing</a> its AI regulations beginning next month.
The AI Act includes an initial list of prohibited AI practices. These include certain uses of biometric and facial recognition data. The <a href="https://www.ey.com/en_ch/insights/forensic-integrity-services/the-eu-ai-act-what-it-means-for-your-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">penalties for non-compliance</a> range from €7.5 million to €35 million or 1% to 7% of the global annual turnover.
"I bet the Eurozone will again be on the losing end of AI, too," Jeroen Blokland, founder of Blokland Smart Multi-Asset Fund, <a href="https://x.com/jsblokland/status/1882046494653698125" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote on X</a>. "It still has this bizarre idea that regulating others and its own people will get you on top."
Europe will face challenges across the entire AI value chain. It will miss hundreds of billions on opportunities while <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/time-to-place-our-bets-europes-ai-opportunity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">policymaking lags behind the US</a>.
"Policy makers must embrace a holistic view of the technology that encompasses the challenges and opportunities posed by creation, adoption, and energy," McKinsey wrote.
<div class="wp-block-cover"><img decoding="async" class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9ca7b19-fc43-49a2-b853-b54c2eab3d8b_816x766.png" data-object-fit="cover" /> 
<div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow">
Potential Value ($) of AI Opportunity in Europe, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/time-to-place-our-bets-europes-ai-opportunity">McKinsey</a>
</div>
</div>
Trump rescinded Biden's executive order on AI safety, citing the "act as barriers to American AI innovation." 
This clears the "path for the United States to act decisively to retain global leadership in artificial intelligence," the Trump executive order <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/removing-barriers-to-american-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. "It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America's global AI dominance.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EU-US Policies Split as Trump Pushes for Data Centers</h2>
In step with this policy, Trump announced a $500 billion plan, known as Stargate, to build data centers to power AI in the US.
"European Parliament &amp; EU lawmakers: focus on strict enforcement of regulating Big Tech, social media, and AI," Blokland wrote. "US &amp; Trump: Let&#8217;s create Stargate, a $500 billion joint venture between tech giants to build a massive A.I. infrastructure and create thousands of jobs."
Japan's SoftBank Group Corp., Sam Altman-led OpenAI, Oracle Corp. and Abu Dhabi-based AI-focused fund MGX will provide the initial funding. Nvidia Corp., Microsoft Corp. and British chip designer Arm, of which <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/04/softbank-shares-hit-record-high-after-24-years-on-arm-and-ai-boost.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Softbank has a 90%</a> stake, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nvidia-tech-stocks-rally-after-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-project-153919780.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJa3Wg7lZR0zeDUN66dDerUpZzvvoawraI_Rz7hs_XzHGGpOuZW6zmiq71Ni-IGc-A51smK7hNGcY3TUXG4dmoEEYNN_Nrd12BHqGuLjjFwvXMe9VbpmrmEJfZ3a7S87ocUul1izwIGWX8hQuzPdfSUZUWlA65ZA1MmRlyAvug6G" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">were named</a> as "key initial technology partners.&#8221;
Oracle gained 6.7% and Softbank 10.97% following the announcement, while ARM soared 15.95%.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08e0a2e9-5d47-4823-b369-df7ed46451e0_796x471.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08e0a2e9-5d47-4823-b369-df7ed46451e0_796x471.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Stargate" AI Stocks Performance, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/259596/ai-stocks-jump-on-trumps-%24500-billion-stargate-announcement.aspx">MorningStar</a></figcaption></figure>
"Other companies, likewise, have announced billions and billions and billions — adding up to trillions — of investment in America," Trump said. "Under our leadership, America is back and open for business."
As the UK and Germany monitor their citizens for speech violations, Trump has pushed back against any form of censorship.
"No longer will our government label the speech of our own citizens as misinformation or disinformation, which are the favorite words of censors and those who wish to stop the free exchange of ideas and, frankly, progress," Trump said.
Disclaimer:
Any opinions expressed in this article are not to be considered investment advice and are solely those of the authors. European Capital Insights is not responsible for any financial decisions made based on the contents of this article. Readers may use this article for information and educational purposes only.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content&nbsp;or&nbsp;accuracy.

Eurozone

Commodities

Trump's Push For Cheap Oil, AI Dominance Widens EU-US Policy Gap

Franklin Templeton kicked off 2025 with a bang, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250123751431/en/Franklin-Templeton-Expands-ETF-Lineup-Launching-Two-New-Income-Multiplier-ETFs">launching </a>two<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs"> ETFs that aim to bring</a> a fresh approach to dividend income investing. Meet Franklin U.S. Dividend Multiplier ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XUDV#NYSE">XUDV</a>) and Franklin International Dividend Multiplier ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIDV#NYSE">XIDV</a>), both curated to multiply dividend income.
Todd Mathias, head of U.S. ETF Product Strategy at Franklin Templeton, summed it up. &#8220;With competitive expense ratios of 0.09% for XUDV and 0.19% for XIDV, these ETFs provide cost-effective access to strategies that combine enhanced dividend income with next generation portfolio design, serving as a compelling option for investors seeking access to long-only equity income. These strategies are particularly well-suited for fee-based advisors, sophisticated clients, and general retail investors seeking efficient, diversified equity solutions."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Closer Look At The Mechanics</h3>
The U.S. Dividend Multiplier ETF and the International Dividend Multiplier ETF don't just screen for high-yield stocks, they take things one level up. These ETFs have integrated New Frontier's proprietary optimization techniques to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/dividends">enhance dividend income</a> and risk-managed capital appreciation.
The Franklin U.S. Dividend Multiplier ETF tracks the VettaFi New Frontier U.S. Dividend Select Index, which yielded 4.1% as of Jan. 21 and focuses on U.S.-based dividend opportunities. Meanwhile, the Franklin International Dividend Multiplier ETF mirrors the VettaFi New Frontier International Dividend Select Index, which delivered 7.5% yield as of Jan. 21.
Robert Michaud, chief investment officer at New Frontier, describes these ETFs as a game-changer. "By applying our time-tested optimization to dividend strategies, we&#8217;ve built an index to pursue enhanced dividend yield coupled with risk-managed capital appreciation. This launch is setting a new standard in the ETF industry through effective investment technology. We&#8217;re confident these ETFs will redefine expectations for dividend-focused investments and demonstrate the power of advanced optimization in portfolio construction.&#8221;
Dividend-focused ETFs are nothing new, but the two fresh ETFs by Franklin Templeton aim to bridge the gap between high yields and risk-managed growth. 
See Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/01/43170440/leuthold-group-introduces-select-industries-etf-focus-on-companies-ready-to-outperform">Leuthold Group Introduces Select Industries ETF, Focus On Companies Ready To Outperform</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

New ETFs

ETFs

Franklin Templeton ETF Trust Franklin International Dividend Multiplier Index ETF

XIDV

Franklin Templeton ETF Trust Franklin U.S. Dividend Multiplier Index ETF

XUDV

Franklin Templeton's New ETFs Aim To Multiply Dividends...And Investor Confidence

Oppenheimer analyst Jeff Jones maintains Evolent Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVH#NYSE">EVH</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $28 to $18.

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on Evolent Health, Lowers Price Target to $18

The year 2025 is shaping up to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ipo">positive for IPOs</a>, with market experts and investors predicting a revival of capital market activity. 
A flurry of factors, including policy changes under the Trump administration, monetary easing and a favorable business environment, is expected to stimulate this resurgence. For investors, this creates a good opportunity to consider ETFs that focus on IPOs and newly public companies.
Here's a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">look at some key ETFs</a>.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">First Trust U.S. Equity Opportunities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FPX#NYSE">FPX</a>)</h1>
This ETF tracks the IPOX-100 U.S. Index, which includes a basket of 100 securities, has an asset base of $795.4 million and an annual expense ratio of 0.59%. Its one-year return stands at an impressive 25%. 
This ETF is a solid choice for investors seeking broad exposure to U.S. IPOs.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Renaissance IPO ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPO#NYSE">IPO</a>)</h1>
Focusing on the Renaissance IPO Index, this ETF includes 26 securities and offers targeted exposure to U.S. IPOs. The fund has an asset base of $153.7 million and an expense ratio of 0.60%. The ETF has returned 15.8% over the past year. 
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Renaissance International IPO ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPOS#NYSE">IPOS</a>)</h1>
Another international option, this ETF tracks the Renaissance International IPO Index, comprising 35 securities. With a smaller asset base of $4.4 million and an annual fee of 0.80%, this ETF is ideal for niche investors. 
It has faced recent headwinds, losing 6.65% over the past three months and 10.46% over the past year, but those could be a reflection of the challenges in international IPO markets in the past year.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Strong Investor Appetite For IPOs</h1>
Per a Reuters report, recent IPOs have demonstrated strong performances, indicating ample investor interest. An example is ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), which raised $4.87 billion in September 2023. Its shares surged nearly 200% since. Another instance is Viking Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIK#NYSE">VIK</a>) which raised $1.54 billion in April 2023, climbing 86% since. These results, and the results of many such companies, show us that there is a thriving appetite for high-profile IPOs.
Reuters reported that a promising <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/ipos">lineup of anticipated IPOs</a> is in the pipeline this year, powered by a more business-friendly regulatory situation as interest rates decline and Donald Trump returns to the White House. High-profile IPOs from companies such as Klarna, Chime, Cerebras and Medline are expected to headline the rebound.
David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, echoed this optimism on CNBC, noting that the multi-year IPO drought is finally nearing its end.
Proceeds from U.S. IPOs are expected to rise significantly, according to EY, thanks to monetary easing and historical trends that show IPO activity often builds in the years following a presidential election, irrespective of the winning party. 
The incoming Trump administration's policies, including plans for corporate tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks, should further fuel market sentiment. Pro-crypto leader Paul Atkins' expected leadership at the SEC, coupled with unified Republican control of the House and Senate, could relax the restrictive regulatory environment, supporting IPO growth.
See Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43170386/spdr-gold-shares-vs-ishares-gold-trust-two-shiny-etfs-in-focus-as-tariff-man-trump-fuels-uncertainty">SPDR Gold Shares Vs. iShares Gold Trust: Two Shiny ETFs In Focus As &#8216;Tariff Man&#8217; Trump Fuels Uncertainty</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

IPOs

IPOS

IPO Rebound In 2025? Here's What's Fueling The Boom, How ETFs Can Help Investors Capitalize

Oppenheimer analyst Ari Wald maintains Addus HomeCare (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADUS#NASDAQ">ADUS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $145 to $150.

ADUS

Oppenheimer Maintains Outperform on Addus HomeCare, Raises Price Target to $150

The "excellent margins" achieved by Travelers Companies Inc's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) commercial lines in the fourth quarter are likely to prove "more sustainable than we once thought," while personal lines profitability is recovering faster than expected, according to Piper Sandler. 
The Travelers Companies Analyst: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/58b05504b85e93000174c0f8/paul-newsome">Analyst Paul Newsome</a> upgraded the rating for Travelers Companies from Neutral to Overweight, while raising the price target from $259 to $310.
The Travelers Companies Thesis: The company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with better profitability in both the commercial and personal lines, Newsome said in the upgrade note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
"Improvement on an underwriting basis in personal lines was particularly strong this quarter" and price increases could enable this trend to continue, he added.
The fourth quarter results also suggest stabilization in the company's reserve development, the analyst stated.
He raised the earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 from $19.50 per share to $24.85 per share and from $21.60 to $26.30 per share, respectively.
Price Action: Shares of Travelers Companies had risen by 0.36% to $242.39 at the time of publication on Thursday.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/25/01/43110717/this-is-what-whales-are-betting-on-bank-of-new-york-mellon"></a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43168966/la-wildfire-update-hughes-fire-burns-10000-acres-travelers-insurance-says-fires-will-have-material-impact-on-q1-earnings">LA Wildfire Update: Hughes Fire Burns 10,000 Acres, Travelers Insurance Says Fires Will Have &#8216;Material Impact&#8217; On Q1 Earnings</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Upgrades

Insurance

Travelers Analyst Expects Margin Expansion To Continue In Both Commercial, Personal Lines

Oppenheimer analyst Rayna Kumar initiates coverage on Toast (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOST#NYSE">TOST</a>) with a Outperform rating and announces Price Target of $46.

Initiation

TOST

Oppenheimer Initiates Coverage On Toast with Outperform Rating, Announces Price Target of $46

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) shares shot up 42% on Tuesday when President Donald Trump announced a new $500 billion AI investment<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43163656/stargate-project-microsoft-gains-oracle-waits-data-centers-face-long-term-questions"> initiative, Project Stargate.</a>&nbsp;
What To Know: Project Stargate and its backers, including Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), OpenAI, Nvidia and SoftBank Capital, have committed $100 billion for immediate investment, with up to $400 billion in additional investments expected to take place over the next four years.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43136971/will-soundhound-ai-stock-get-a-boost-from-project-stargate">Will SoundHound AI Stock Get A Boost From Project Stargate?&nbsp;</a>
Project Stargate will focus on enhancing AI infrastructure, including the construction of new data centers and the development of advanced computing systems to train and operate larger AI models. Oracle's CEO Larry Ellison said that 20 data centers are planned under Project Stargate with the first under construction in Texas. 
Why It Matters: Quantum computing companies, like Rigetti Computing and IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>), are expected to benefit from Project Stargate. The initiative&#8217;s focus on building state-of-the-art data centers and computational systems aligns with the capabilities of quantum computing to accelerate AI model training, optimization and problem-solving. 
Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>), sees quantum computing solving issues with&nbsp; computing and energy demands and driving advancements in artificial intelligence in the future.&nbsp;
"As AI adoption increases, computational demands and energy costs will continue to rise," Baratz <a href="https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/quantum-stocks-ai-stargate-infrastructure-afc0409c">told</a> Barron's in early January. "We believe quantum computing is emerging as an essential tool for addressing these challenges."
RGTI Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Regetti Computing shares are up nearly 40% over the past five days.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43106379/trump-reverses-bidens-ai-policies-on-day-1-what-it-means-for-tech-giants-nvidia-amd-alphabet">Trump Reverses Biden&#8217;s AI Policies On Day 1: What It Means For Tech Giants Nvidia, AMD, Alphabet&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Tech

IONQ

ORCL

QBTS

RGTI

Rigetti Computing, Quantum Stocks Soar On Project Stargate

Guggenheim analyst Yatin Suneja reiterates Vigil Neuroscience (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIGL#NASDAQ">VIGL</a>) from Buy to Buy.

Reiteration

VIGL

Guggenheim Reiterates Buy on Vigil Neuroscienceto Buy

Stifel analyst Nathan Jones maintains Zurn Elkay Water (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZWS#NYSE">ZWS</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $38 to $39.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Zurn Elkay Water, Raises Price Target to $39

Guggenheim analyst Michael Schmidt reiterates Verastem (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSTM#NASDAQ">VSTM</a>) from Buy to Buy.

VSTM

Guggenheim Reiterates Buy on Verastemto Buy

Stifel analyst Nathan Jones maintains Xylem (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYL#NYSE">XYL</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $166 to $150.

Stifel Maintains Buy on Xylem, Lowers Price Target to $150

Stifel analyst Matthew Smith maintains WK Kellogg (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLG#NYSE">KLG</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $19 to $18.

Stifel Maintains Hold on WK Kellogg, Lowers Price Target to $18

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) confirmed a replacement to lead UnitedHealthcare, after the segment&#8217;s former chief executive was murdered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">in New York last month.</a>
What Happened: UnitedHealth Group announced Thursday that Tim Noel will be CEO of the UnitedHealthcare business. The move comes shortly after the company's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls">quarterly earnings report.</a>
Noel joined UnitedHealth Group in 2007. He was most recently in charge of the company's Medicare and retirement business, as <a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealthcare-taps-company-veteran-tim-noel-new-ceo">reported </a>by Fierce Healthcare.
"He brings unparalleled experience to this role with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners," UnitedHealth Group said of Noel in a statement.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest individual player in Medicare Advantage with 7.8 million members, the company's latest earnings report revealed. The company also has 4.3 million members enrolled in Medicare supplement plans through UnitedHealthcare. It also has 3 million people enrolled in standalone Part D coverage.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43042720/unitedhealth-the-number-one-company-on-sale-ahead-of-q4-earnings-report">UnitedHealth: The &#8216;Number One Company On Sale&#8217; Ahead Of Q4 Earnings Report</a>
Why It's Important: The health insurance company and sector have come under pressure after the death of UnitedHealth&#8217;s previous CEO, Brian Thompson.
Bullets found at the murder scene allegedly contained the words "deny," "defend" and "depose." A manifesto found on murder suspect Luigi Mangione linked the motive to targeting health insurance companies over caring more about profits over customers.
Thompson's death and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42605759/luigi-mangione-faces-death-penalty-details-show-attack-planned-for-months-the-target-is-insuranceit-checks-every-box">the possible motive </a>behind his killing have drawn scrutiny to the health insurance sector, including reports of high claim denial rates by companies like UnitedHealth Group.
UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty acknowledged the pressure on the health insurance sector during the company's earnings call. The industry needs to be "less confusing, less complex and less costly" for patients, he said.
The company's recent fourth-quarter financial results saw earnings per share beat consensus estimates and revenue of $100.8 billion miss Street estimates of $101.76 billion. UnitedHealth reaffirmed 2025 sales guidance of $450 billion to $455 billion, compared to a Street consensus of $448.13 billion.
Earnings per share guidance for 2025 is a range of $29.50 to $30.00, versus a Street consensus estimate of $29.83.
Mangione faces New York state charges along <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42541669/luigi-mangione-indicted-on-first-degree-murder-charges-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-death-senseless-act-of-violence">with federal charges</a>. He also faces the potential of the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder on federal charges.
Mangione <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42655562/luigi-mangione-suspected-ceo-assassin-pleads-not-guilty-in-new-york-court">pleaded not guilty</a> in New York on Dec. 23. He is expected to appear in federal court on Feb. 21.
Price Action: UnitedHealth was up 2% to $529.77 on the news of the announcement. Shares trade at $529.93 Friday versus a 52-week trading range of $436.38 to $630.73. The stock is up 3% over the last year.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42544499/luigi-mangione-documentaries-in-the-works-from-award-winning-creators-and-possibly-rapper-50-cent">Luigi Mangione Documentaries In The Works From Award-Winning Creators — And Possibly Rapper 50 Cent</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Health Care

Management

UnitedHealth Announces Replacement For Murdered Executive: Here's Who Will Lead Insurance Unit

Stifel analyst Matthew Smith maintains Vital Farms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VITL#NASDAQ">VITL</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $34 to $44.

VITL

Stifel Maintains Hold on Vital Farms, Raises Price Target to $44

Zephyr Energy reports strong fourth quarter with production increase and positive outlook

Press Releases

EnerCom Announces Chris Wright, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Energy, as Keynote Speaker at the 29th Annual EnerCom Denver - The Energy Investment Conference

Small Cap

EnerCom Announces Unparalleled Networking Opportunities at the 29th Annual EnerCom Denver - The Energy Investment Conference, Including Charity Golf Tournament, Monday Cocktail Mixer, Casino Night, and Last Day Reception

The 29th Annual EnerCom Denver - The Energy Investment Conference to Host The Energy Transition and Emerging Technology Session Featuring Start-Up Energy and Technology Companies

Presentation Times and Schedule for Participating Companies Now Posted on the Conference Website for 29th Annual EnerCom Denver - The Energy Investment Conference

Investor One-on-One Meeting Requests Open for 29th Annual EnerCom Denver - The Energy Investment Conference, to be held August 18-21, 2024 in Denver, Colorado

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