Talen Energy Option Alert: Fri $175 Calls at the Bid: 91 vs 160 OI; Earnings 2/27 After Close 

Talen Energy Option Alert: Fri $175 Calls at the Bid: 91 @ $68.0 vs 160 OI; Earnings 2/27 After Close Ref=$242.84

Talen Energy (NASDAQ:TLN) 株価情報

Talen Energy

Talen Energy Corp is an independent power producer and energy infrastructure company. The company owns and operates approximately 10.7 gigawatts of power infrastructure in the United States. The group produces and sells electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale U.S. power markets, including PJM and WECC, with its generation fleet located in the Mid-Atlantic and Montana.

Talen Energy Corp

Talen Energy Corp Ordinary Shares New

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Douglas Tsao reiterates argenx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARGX#NASDAQ">ARGX</a>) with a Buy and maintains $720 price target.

News

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

ARGX

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on argenx, Maintains $720 Price Target

Goldman Sachs analyst Gavin Parsons upgrades Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowers the price target from $150 to $109.

Upgrades

Goldman Sachs Upgrades Booz Allen Hamilton to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $109

As of April 11, 2025, two stocks in the consumer discretionary sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi"> RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Raytech Holding Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RAY#NASDAQ">RAY</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Jan. 10, Raytech posted a 6-month EPS of 3 cents and revenue of $5.56 million. CHING Tim Hoi, CEO and Chairman of the Company, commented, &#8220;The Company achieved a notable 31.0% increase in revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2024, reaching HKD 43.2 million (US$ 5.6 million), up from HKD 33.0 million in the prior year. This growth was driven primarily by strong sales in our trimmer series within the personal care products segment, reflecting our success in attracting new customers.&#8221; The company's stock jumped around 39% over the past month and has a 52-week high of $6.04.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 72.8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>RAY Price Action: Shares of Raytech gained 6.3% to close at $2.35 on Thursday.</li>
<li>Edge Stock Ratings: Value at 61.96. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ray"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="510" height="185" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/11055609/image-76.png" alt="" class="wp-image-867571" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/11055609/image-76.png 510w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/11055609/image-76-300x109.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ThredUp Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDUP#NASDAQ">TDUP</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>ThredUp will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31 on Monday, May 5, after the close of the U.S. markets. The company's stock gained around 38% over the past five days and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TDUP">has a 52-week high</a> of $3.40.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 74.8</li>
<li>TDUP Price Action: Shares of ThredUp gained 4.8% to close at $3.30 on Thursday. </li>
</ul>
Don't miss out on the full BZ Edge Rankings—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">compare all the key stocks now</a>. 
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44734419/top-2-real-estate-stocks-that-may-keep-you-up-at-night-this-month">Top 2 Real Estate Stocks That May Keep You Up At Night This Month</a> </li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Short Ideas

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

TDUP

Top 2 Consumer Stocks That May Collapse This Quarter

Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas initiates coverage on Murphy USA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUSA#NYSE">MUSA</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $550.

Initiation

MUSA

Keybanc Initiates Coverage On Murphy USA with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $550

Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak upgrades Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) from Sell to Neutral and raises the price target from $424 to $521.

Goldman Sachs Upgrades Northrop Grumman to Neutral, Raises Price Target to $521

Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas initiates coverage on Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASY#NASDAQ">CASY</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $500.

CASY

Keybanc Initiates Coverage On Casey's General Stores with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $500

Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak upgrades L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>) from Sell to Buy and raises the price target from $198 to $263.

Goldman Sachs Upgrades L3Harris Technologies to Buy, Raises Price Target to $263

Lucid Group, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) announced Friday that it has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/n44754991/lucid-to-acquire-select-facilities-and-assets-previously-belonging-to-nikola-corporation-will-exte" rel="noreferrer noopener">agreed to acquire</a> select facilities and assets in&nbsp;Arizona&nbsp;previously belonging to Nikola Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKLAQ#OTC">NKLAQ</a>) in the bankruptcy auction.
Lucid committed close to $30 million in cash and non-cash considerations in exchange for the factory, Nikola's lease on its Phoenix headquarters, and "certain machinery, equipment and inventory," as per a Thursday night court&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://document.epiq11.com/document/getdocumentbycode?docId=4461235&amp;projectCode=NKL&amp;source=DM" rel="noreferrer noopener">filing</a>.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) rival Lucid will take over Nikola's former&nbsp;Coolidge&nbsp;manufacturing facility (680 E Houser Rd,&nbsp;Coolidge, AZ) and the&nbsp;Phoenix&nbsp;facility (4141 E Broadway Rd,&nbsp;Phoenix, AZ) previously used as Nikola's headquarters and product development center.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/04/44668137/nio-power-in-deal-talks-with-tesla-battery-supplier-catl" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nio Power In Deal Talks With Tesla Battery Supplier CATL</a>
These buildings add more than 884,000 square feet to Lucid's&nbsp;Arizona&nbsp;footprint. Most of this space comprises state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing buildings, which executes against Lucid's prior planned expansion in&nbsp;Arizona.
These facilities include development equipment with extensive battery and environmental testing chambers, a full-size chassis dynamometer, machining equipment, and more.
The deal is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of&nbsp;Delaware.
The deal does not include acquiring Nikola's business, customer base, or technology related to Nikola's hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.
Additionally, Lucid plans to offer employment to more than 300 former Nikola employees in roles across Lucid's&nbsp;Arizona&nbsp;facilities.
These offers will encompass various technical salaried and hourly positions, including manufacturing engineering, software, assembly, vehicle testing, and warehouse support. Lucid welcomes employees with strong backgrounds in EV technology and further supports its local community.
Nikola's bankruptcy auction concluded on&nbsp;April 10, 2025, as part of its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. Nikola's troubles began back in 2020 when short-seller&nbsp;Hindenburg&nbsp;accused it of fraud, followed by the&nbsp;conviction of former CEO&nbsp;Trevor Milton&nbsp;for lying about the company.
Hindenburg highlighted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43172296/whats-going-on-with-nikola-stock-on-thursday" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola's video titled "Nikola One in Motion,"</a> alleging that the company towed the truck to the top of a hill and released it instead of being driven at high speed.&nbsp;
In December 2023,&nbsp;Milton was convicted of fraud after a jury found he&nbsp;had lied persistently about the company. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43552668/nikola-once-a-30-billion-ev-sensation-struggles-to-survive-after-hindenburg-fallout-and-mounting-losses" rel="noreferrer noopener">subsequent investigation led</a> to Milton's conviction on fraud charges in 2022 and a four-year prison sentence.
In April 2024, Milton alleged Nikola's board of rampant&nbsp;misconduct and potential fraud.&nbsp;He also sought the resignation of then-CEO&nbsp;Steve Girsky&nbsp;and those involved in their decisions, as failing to do so might make the company go bankrupt by year-end.
In June 2024, Milton&nbsp;filed a multi-billion derivative lawsuit against the&nbsp;company's chief legal officer, Britton Worthen, and its directors.
Reportedly, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/02/43811409/nikola-files-for-bankruptcy-seeks-auction-for-sale-of-its-assets" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric vehicle companies</a> that went public during the pandemic, including Fisker, Lordstown Motors, and Proterra, went bankrupt as funding for their operations declined amid rising interest rates and decreasing demand.
Last week, Lucid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44626267/lucid-raises-1-billion-in-debt-offering-to-buy-back-2026-notes-and-boost-financial-flexibility" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced the pricing</a> of its private institutional offering of&nbsp;$1 billion&nbsp;aggregate principal amount of 5.00% convertible&nbsp;senior notes due 2030 for buyback of earlier debt&nbsp;due in 2026.
Lucid held $1.61 billion in cash and equivalents as of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43956551/lucid-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2024-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">December 31, 2024</a>.
Price Action: LCID stock is up 1.59% at $2.56 premarket at last check Friday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44709732/foxconn-eyes-nissan-mitsubishi-in-japan-ev-push-to-counter-chinas-growing-auto-threat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foxconn Eyes Nissan, Mitsubishi In Japan EV Push To Counter China's Growing Auto Threat</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Around the World Photos on Shutterstock

LCID

NKLAQ

TSLA

Lucid Wins Nikola Bankruptcy Auction, Buys Nikola Facilities for $30 Million To Boost US EV Production

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Heiko Ihle reiterates Western Copper &amp; Gold (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WRN#AMEX">WRN</a>) with a Buy and maintains $4.25 price target.

HC Wainwright & Co. Reiterates Buy on Western Copper & Gold, Maintains $4.25 Price Target

Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak upgrades Huntington Ingalls Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>) from Sell to Buy and raises the price target from $145 to $234.

Goldman Sachs Upgrades Huntington Ingalls Indus to Buy, Raises Price Target to $234

Baupost Group founder Seth Klarman once highlighted the importance of viewing investment risk with "vital clarity" urging investors to look beyond returns when assessing performance. 
What Happened: While return is measurable, Klarman <a href="https://valuehunter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/klarman_worrying.pdf">argues</a> in a 2004 year-end letter to investors that risk is harder to quantify. He dismisses "beta" or market volatility as an irrelevant measure, instead advocating a common-sense approach: gauge how much can be lost and the probability of it happening. This keeps investors grounded when markets grow complacent and helps them avoid catastrophic losses.
Klarman also highlights the dangers of allowing short-term pressures to obscure the ultimate goal of "long-term, risk-adjusted, cumulative" results. He warns that investors often ignore or minimize potential downsides until a market downturn forces them to face reality. 
According to Klarman, simply worrying about risks does little good if it fails to prompt concrete steps like hedging interest rate exposure or trimming vulnerable positions. By distinguishing "productive worrying" from idle fretting, he believes investors can safeguard against significant setbacks and position themselves for better long-term outcomes.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44680727/seth-klarman-learnt-warren-buffetts-lifetime-punch-card-secret-long-ago-and-it-helped-him-consistently-outperform-the-market">Seth Klarman Learnt Warren Buffett&#8217;s &#8216;Lifetime Punch Card&#8217; Secret Long Ago — And It Helped Him Consistently Outperform The Market</a>
Moreover, Klarman stresses the need for introspection to counteract biases such as clinging to outdated assumptions or riding overvalued assets without reassessment. 
He argues that routine, healthy skepticism — especially during periods of relative calm — can help investors detect flaws in their strategies before they morph into costly mistakes. Through consistent, deliberate action guided by an awareness of risk, Klarman contends investors can preserve hard-won gains. 
Ultimately, he concludes that the art of "productive worrying" can be a powerful defense against market turbulence. 
Klarman, a staunch disciple of Buffett, has previously advised investors to try having a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44680727/seth-klarman-learnt-warren-buffetts-lifetime-punch-card-secret-long-ago-and-it-helped-him-consistently-outperform-the-market">leaner selection</a> of investments and avoid falling into the &#8220;diworsification&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/29/charlie-munger-quotes-that-will-make-you-a-better-investor.html#:~:text=%22I%20think%20it's%20much%20easier,think%20I%20have%20an%20advantage.%22">trap</a>, a phrase coined by Charlie Munger.
Featured Image via Shutterstock
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44705626/want-to-succeed-like-warren-buffett-it-might-all-come-down-to-who-you-surround-yourself-with-pick-the-right-people">Want To Succeed Like Warren Buffett? It Might All Come Down To Who You Surround Yourself With: &#8216;Pick The Right People&#8217;</a>

Equities

Seth Klarman Once Said 'Productive Worrying' Is A Good Habit To Help Get A Measure Of 'Risk' — Here's What He Meant

Earnings

BNY Q1 Average Deposits $283 Billion (+1% YoY), Tier 1 Leverage Ratio 6.2% (+35 bps YoY)

HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Scott Buck initiates coverage on Richtech Robotics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RR#NASDAQ">RR</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $3.5.

HC Wainwright & Co. Initiates Coverage On Richtech Robotics with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $3.5

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.58 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.51 by 4.64 percent. This is a 22.48 percent increase over earnings of $1.29 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $4.792 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $4.771 billion by 0.44 percent. This is a 5.85 percent increase over sales of $4.527 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Bank of New York Mellon Q1 2025 Adj. EPS $1.58 Beats $1.51 Estimate, Sales $4.792B Beat $4.771B Estimate

Needham analyst Gil Blum reiterates Celcuity (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELC#NASDAQ">CELC</a>) with a Buy and maintains $29 price target.

CELC

Needham Reiterates Buy on Celcuity, Maintains $29 Price Target

General

Xenia Hotels & Resorts Sell Fairmont Dallas For $111M

B of A Securities analyst Kenneth Bruce upgrades American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) from Neutral to Buy and lowers the price target from $325 to $274.

B of A Securities Upgrades American Express to Buy, Lowers Price Target to $274

Abigail Disney, filmmaker and heir to the Disney fortune, is known for her frank views on wealth, inequality, and politics. She recently expressed her concerns about the rise of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the culture of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44710082/trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-wipe-out-174-billion-from-the-net-worth-of-worlds-top-10-billionaires-including-warren-buffett">unbridled privilege</a>, while advocating for systemic change and grassroots resistance.
What Happened: In a recent conversation <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/07/abigail-disney-every-billionaire-who-cant-live-on-999m-is-kind-of-a-sociopath">with</a> The Guardian&#8216;s John Harris, Disney criticized Trump's sense of entitlement grounded in inherited wealth, calling it "the worst way to raise a person."
She argued that both Trump and Musk represent a moral void, highlighting Musk's role in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43781034/bill-gates-hopes-elon-musk-will-rethink-slashing-usaid-their-work-is-something-every-taxpayer-would-be-proud">defunding</a> life-saving global health programs like PEPFAR.
Disney has long called for taxing the ultra-rich, stating, "Every billionaire who can't live on $999 million is kind of a sociopath." She has donated around $70 million to organizations supporting marginalized women.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44367634/bill-gates-says-hes-not-an-overly-frugal-billionaire-but-by-his-grandmothers-standards-hes-crazy"> Bill Gates Says He&#8217;s Not an Overly Frugal Billionaire—But by His Grandmother&#8217;s Standards, He&#8217;s &#8216;Crazy&#8217; for Tossing Gift Bags and Wrapping Paper</a>
Why It Matters: Disney believes Trump's success is not an accident but the outcome of years of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44658417/warren-buffett-stands-tall-in-2025-as-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-and-mark-zuckerberg-bleed-billions-in-net-worth-oracle-of-omaha-emerges-as-lone-gainer-among-top-billionaires-amid-market-rout">cultural adulation of wealth</a>. "Our magazine covers used to show war heroes or civil rights leaders—now it's all CEOs," she observed.
She holds the media, celebrity culture, and social media responsible for platforming figures like Trump, who "came along at the correct moment and played his role brilliantly."
Disney advocated for the restructuring of civic institutions and backing "authentic" voices in politics. She urged figures like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44400603/starbucks-must-end-its-greed-bernie-sanders-calls-out-starbucks-ceo-for-getting-96-million-for-4-months-of-work">Bernie Sanders</a>, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and younger politicians like Maxwell Frost to consolidate public support and chart a coordinated campaign.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44706255/trump-loses-500-million-in-personal-wealth-as-his-own-tariff-policy-sparks-sharp-declines-across-his-business-empire">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Push Drags Down His Personal Fortune — Here&#8217;s How Much The Billionaire President Has Lost Since &#8216;Liberation Day&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

Politics

'Every Billionaire Who Needs More Than $999M Is Kind Of A Sociopath,'  Says Abigail Disney

China has announced a 60 billion yuan (US$8.2 billion) government-aided fund for jump-starting early-stage artificial intelligence projects, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44268864/chinese-investors-rushing-to-find-the-next-deepseek-says-vc-as-ai-boom-fuels-investment-surge-after-nvidia-selloff">consolidating its ambition </a>to dominate the global AI race.
The move comes amidst escalating trade tensions with the U.S. and an increasing country-wide push for technological self-sufficiency.
What Happened: Zhang Jianhua from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the AI Industry Investment Fund was set up in January with support from the Big Fund's third phase, according <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3306047/new-ai-fund-china-pour-us8-billion-early-stage-projects">to</a> the South China Morning Post.
Moderated by state-owned Guozhi Investment, the fund will invest throughout the AI supply chain, including computing power, data, algorithms, and applications. Embodied AI, which refers to intelligent systems in physical form, is a key area of focus.
"The development of embodied AI will provide an effective path for the commercialisation of AI," Zhang said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43770990/chinas-ai-boom-is-reshaping-the-global-economy-and-the-u-s-isnt-ready">China&#8217;s AI Boom Is Reshaping The Global Economy—And The U.S. Isn&#8217;t Ready</a>
Why It Matters: Launched almost immediately after new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44756353/xi-jinping-says-there-are-no-winners-in-tariff-war-as-china-slaps-125-tariffs-on-us-goods-urges-trump-to-immediately-correct-wrongdoings">U.S. tariff policies</a>, the fund highlights China's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44740040/chinas-growth-outlook-dims-as-trumps-125-tariffs-put-millions-of-jobs-at-risk-goldman-warns">push for tech independence</a>. With the AI market estimated to hit 5.6 trillion yuan by 2030, Beijing is using state capital to stay ahead of the curve.
Zhang added the fund will actively back companies in Shenzhen, stating: "The National AI Industry Investment Fund is willing to work with all relevant parties in Shenzhen to increase capital, confidence and capacity."
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44745275/alibaba-bets-big-on-ai-with-new-cloud-tools-as-jack-ma-reemerges-in-company-comeback">Alibaba Bets Big On AI With New Cloud Tools As Jack Ma Reemerges In Company Comeback</a>
Image via Shutterstock

Global

Tech

China's $8.2 Billion Fund Targets AI Startups In The Race For Global Tech Leadership

Housing inflation is finally showing signs of easing, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March posting a 4% year-over-year increase in housing costs — the slowest uptick since November 2021. 
Yet, buyers still grapple with steep price tags and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/25/04/44703014/tariff-turmoil-sends-mortgage-rates-higher-contract-signings-remain-well-below-normal-historical-levels">volatile</a> mortgage rates. Despite this cooling trend, prospective homeowners need to decide whether they should leap into the market or sit tight, especially as the Federal Reserve's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/04/44733390/march-inflation-rate-cools-far-more-than-expected-raises-hopes-for-near-term-fed-rate-cuts">inflation fight</a> continues.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rates and Prices Are A Double-Edged Sword</h3>
Throughout 2024, mortgage rates soared past 8%, but they've since receded to an average of around 6.76%, per recent Bankrate <a href="https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/historical-mortgage-rates/">data</a>. Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/existing-home-sales-accelerated-4-2-in-february">reports</a> that February's median home price stood at $398,100 — still historically high. While higher rates and record-breaking prices might deter many buyers, securing a loan now means you start building equity sooner, and you can refinance later if rates drop.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44706575/millions-of-seniors-could-be-shut-out-of-social-security-services-as-phone-applications-get-axed-study">Millions Of Seniors Could Be Shut Out Of Social Security Services As Phone Applications Get Axed: Study</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Three Key Factors At Play</h3>
The NAR data shows that homes spent an average of 42 days on the market in February (up from 38 last year), giving buyers more breathing room. Active listings have also increased by 17% year-over-year, improving choice and negotiation power. That said, real estate remains hyper-local, which means that supply and demand can swing dramatically even within a single metro area, so it's crucial to partner with an agent familiar with the nuances of your chosen neighborhood.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Recession Worries And More Careful Consideration</h3>
Talk of an impending recession clouds the future. A downturn could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-prepare-for-a-recession-9-tips">undermine job security</a> and dampen demand, which in turn might push prices lower. On the flip side, a recession can create opportunities for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house">well-prepared buyers</a> unburdened by layoffs or shaky finances. If you opt to wait, it would be a good idea to focus on boosting your credit score and padding your savings since a stronger financial position means better loan terms when the right time finally arrives.
Ultimately, this market hinges on personal stability. Whether housing inflation has cooled enough or not, ask yourself: Are you ready to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mortgage-tips">manage a mortgage</a>, maintain a steady income, and stay put long enough for the investment to pay off? If yes, buying now might be less daunting than it seems.
Featured Image via Shutterstock
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44756759/new-research-shows-donald-trumps-25-tariffs-could-cost-auto-companies-108billion-report">More Homes Hit The Market, But Pending Sales Dip As Buyers Hesitate</a>

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