Leading cryptocurrencies rebounded Monday as President Donald Trump's brief tariff reprieve fueled positive sentiment in risk-on markets.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+5.14%</td><td>$101,349.10</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+1.46%</td><td>$2,860.84</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+15.87%</td><td>$0.2866</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin surged past $100,000, a day after plunging below $92,000. The leading cryptocurrency hit an intraday high of $102,500 before paring gains overnight.



Ethereum chalked out modest gains, but the second-largest cryptocurrency was yet to reclaim the pre-slump levels. Dogecoin rallied 15%, erasing significant losses from the Sunday decline.



Cryptocurrency liquidations hit $1.56 billion over the last 24 hours, with longs accounting for over $1 billion.&nbsp;



If Bitcoin retraces to $95,000 again, over $1 billion in upside bets will be wiped out.



More than 55% of Bitcoin futures traders were short Bitcoin, according to the Long/Short Ratio, signaling a potential drop.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin's Open Interest rose 2.36% in the last 24 hours, suggesting a surge in speculative trading.



Market sentiment flipped from "Fear" to "Greed", according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>MANTRA (OM)</td><td>+25.38%</td><td>$6.20</td></tr><tr><td>Ethena (ENA)</td><td>+20.65%</td><td>$0.6834</td></tr><tr><td>Onyxcoin (XCN)</td><td>+19.10%</td><td>$1.04</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.35 trillion, rising 4.38% in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures climbed Monday night after Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43450261/trump-trudeau-strike-border-security-deal-tariffs-on-canada-paused-for-at-least-30-days">paused planned tariffs</a> against Canada and Mexico. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures rose 151 points, or 0.34%, as of 7:48 p.m. EDT.&nbsp;



Earlier in the day, major averages closed in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 122.75 points, or 0.28%, to close at 44,421.91. The S&amp;P 500 slid 0.76%, ending at 5,994.57, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.20% to close at 19,391.96.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Popular cryptocurrency analyst and trader Rekt Capital noted Bitcoin's recovery to the $101,000 level.



"Now BTC needs to daily close above it and retest it successfully to reclaim it into support," the analyst remarked. "Until then &#8211; $101,000 needs to prove it is not a new resistance."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin has successfully revisited the $101k level (black) Now BTC needs to Daily Close above it and retest it successfully to reclaim it into support A successful reclaim and BTC could continue to the blue diagonal above Until then &#8211; $101k needs to prove it is not a… <a href="https://t.co/gHHQGCypXL">https://t.co/gHHQGCypXL</a> <a href="https://t.co/KloKLgqs9f">pic.twitter.com/KloKLgqs9f</a>&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1886501278819475809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Another well-known analyst, Ali Martinez, spotted a potential head-and-shoulders pattern for Ethereum.



"ETH must hold above $2,700 to keep the bullish structure intact and have a chance of reaching $7,000," Martinez projected.



The inverse head and shoulders pattern is a bullish reversal pattern, indicating exhaustion of a prolonged downturn.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">If this is a head-and-shoulders pattern, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> must hold above $2,700 to keep the bullish structure intact and have a chance of reaching $7,000! <a href="https://t.co/nR6TDg2jA4">pic.twitter.com/nR6TDg2jA4</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1886352428477391317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by SvetlanaParnikova on Shutterstock



Read Next:    



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43451872/kalshi-crypto-com-super-bowl-contracts-under-regulatory-scrutiny">Kalshi, Crypto.com Super Bowl Contracts Under Regulatory Scrutiny</a></li>
</ul>

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$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Stage Strong Rebound As Trump Pauses Canada, Mexico Tariffs: Analyst Flags Significance Of $101,000 For BTC

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) is capturing Wall Street&#8217;s attention, with market commentators Jim Cramer and Dan Ives making bold predictions about the company&#8217;s potential in the artificial intelligence revolution.



What Happened: On X, CNBC&#8217;s Cramer wrote, &#8220;I predicted $100 on Palantir and I promise I won&#8217;t let you down&#8230;&#8221; This comes as the stock experienced a dramatic after-hours surge of 22.75%, closing at $102.79.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I predicted $100 on Palantir and i promise I won&#39;t let you down&#8230;&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1886527639634239959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Wedbush Securities Managing Director Ives was even more bullish, describing Palantir&#8217;s earnings as a &#8220;massive AIP growth&#8221; and a &#8220;very bullish barometer for use cases accelerating as part of the AI Revolution in 2025.&#8221; Ives went as far as suggesting Palantir could become &#8220;the next Oracle&#8221; in an interview with CNBC and potentially reach a trillion-dollar market cap in the next few years.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Great to be on <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBCOvertime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBCOvertime</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/MorganLBrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MorganLBrennan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jonfortt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonfortt</a> discussing the Messi of AI Palantir with a growth quarter for the ages as the AI Revolution takes hold. <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBC</a> &#x1f3c6;&#x1f525;&#x1f402;&#x1f37f;&#x1f4fa;&#x1f447;<a href="https://t.co/xWjdtjl0o3">https://t.co/xWjdtjl0o3</a> <a href="https://t.co/lwxyFDapLE">pic.twitter.com/lwxyFDapLE</a>&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1886547930544255305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43452478/salesforce-cuts-1000-jobs-but-ramps-up-hiring-for-ai-sales-roles">Salesforce Cuts 1000 Jobs But Ramps Up Hiring For AI Sales Roles</a>



Why It Matters: The company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43449486/palantir-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-us-revenue-up-52-customer-count-up-43-strong-guidance-this-is-a-new-phase-unlike-anything-that-has-come-before">fourth-quarter results</a> provide substantial backing to these optimistic views. Palantir reported revenue of $827.52 million, beating consensus estimates, with U.S. revenue growing 52% year-over-year and commercial revenue jumping 64%.



CEO Alex Karp emphasized the company&#8217;s transformative potential, positioning Palantir at the center of AI&#8217;s emerging landscape. The company&#8217;s strong performance and forward guidance suggest these expert predictions might be more than just market hype.



Price Action: Palantir&#8217;s stock surged 22.75% to an all-time high of $102.79 in after-hours trading on Monday, following a 1.52% gain in the regular session, closing at $83.74, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43451675/bessent-freezes-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-work-leaving-lawsuits-against-jpmorgan-bank-of-america-capital-one-in-limbo">Bessent Freezes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Work Leaving Lawsuits Against JPMorgan, Bank Of America, Capital One In Limbo</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock 



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

PLTR

Palantir Crosses $100 Mark In After-Hours Trading, Hits All-Time High — Jim Cramer Says 'Won't Let You Down'

On Monday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Reddit Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>), and Iridium Communications Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRDM#NASDAQ">IRDM</a>). 



The Lockheed Martin Corp Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to sell 15,995 shares of Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) through ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>) comes during a period of mixed financial results for the aerospace giant. Recently, Lockheed Martin reported a slight decline in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2024, missing consensus estimates. However, the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43271143/lockheed-martin-q4-earnings-sales-miss-margin-squeeze-but-backlog-boosts-2025-prospects">surpassed earnings expectations</a> with an adjusted EPS of $7.67. Despite challenges, analysts remain <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43313600/lockheed-martin-to-face-near-term-challenges-say-analysts">optimistic</a> about the company&#8217;s future, especially with the F-35 program ramping up, as highlighted by BofA Securities. The closing price for LMT on Monday was $455.42. The Ark trade was valued at $7.3 million.



The Reddit Trade



Ark Invest jettisoned 2,716 Reddit Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) shares, worth $549,473, through Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>). the dynamic sentiment surrounding the social media platform. Analysts have provided a range of opinions on Reddit, with a recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/25/01/43317183/18-analysts-assess-reddit-what-you-need-to-know">analysis</a> showing a diverse set of ratings. Analysts&#8217; 12-month price targets average $185.89, up 51.36% from $122.81. Reddit&#8217;s stock closed at $202.31 on Monday marking a 1.38% rise.



The Iridium Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s purchase of Iridium Communications Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRDM#NASDAQ">IRDM</a>) shares via ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) aligns with the company&#8217;s recent strong performance. On Monday, Ark picked up 22,067 Iridium shares worth $626,261.



Iridium, reported an 8% increase in total revenue for the third quarter of 2024, driven by higher commercial and government service revenues, as detailed in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41383069/iridiums-q3-revenue-soars-8-fy24-outlook-brightens-as-subscriber-base-expands">previous report</a>. The company&#8217;s stock closed at $28.38 for the day, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.29%.



Other Key Trades:



<ul>
<li>Accolade Inc (ACCD): Sold 80,788 shares by ARKG.</li>



<li>L3Harris Technologies Inc (LH): Bought 32,680 shares by ARKQ.</li>



<li>Nu Holdings Ltd (LU): Sold 100 shares via ARKW.</li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43450261/trump-trudeau-strike-border-security-deal-tariffs-on-canada-paused-for-at-least-30-days">Trump, Trudeau Strike Border Security Deal, Tariffs On Canada Paused For &#8216;At Least 30 Days&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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ARKQ

ARKX

IRDM

RDDT

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Dumps Lockheed Martin Shares, Swoops Up Stock Of This Satellite Phone Provider

A second major development in the tariff political drama came late Monday as the United States and Canada reached an agreement to pause Donald Trump&#8217;s proposed trade levies <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">&#8220;for at least 30 days.&#8221;</a>



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the deal on social media platform X following a phone call with Trump. 



The tariff deal includes new border security commitments to combat fentanyl trafficking and organized crime, mirroring Trump's agreement with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly…&mdash; Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1886529228193022429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Canada Rolls Out $1.3 Billion Border Plan</h3>



Trudeau outlined a $1.3 billion border reinforcement initiative featuring:



<ul>
<li>Deployment of nearly 10,000 frontline personnel equipped with new helicopters, surveillance technology and enhanced coordination with U.S. agencies.</li>



<li>The appointment of a fentanyl Czar to spearhead drug interdiction efforts.</li>



<li>Official designation of cartels as terrorist organizations to enable tougher enforcement measures.</li>



<li>The creation of a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force targeting organized crime, fentanyl networks and money laundering.</li>



<li>A $200 million intelligence directive to enhance monitoring and enforcement along the northern border.</li>
</ul>



&#8220;Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,&#8221; the Canadian prime minister said. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Markets React: Canadian Dollar Rallies, Equities Gain</h3>



The tariff deal gave a reprieve Canadian assets that were battered by heightened uncertainty earlier Monday. 



The Canadian dollar rallied, with the USD/CAD exchange rate dropping to 1.4391, down from 1.46 levels prior to the news.



Canadian equities also advanced in after-hours trading, with the iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWC#NYSE">EWC</a>) rising over 1%.



Read Next.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43447339/trump-announces-us-sovereign-wealth-fund-hints-at-tiktok-ownership">Trump Orders US Sovereign Wealth Fund, Hints At TikTok Ownership: &#8216;I Have The Right To Do That&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

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Trump, Trudeau Strike Border Security Deal, Tariffs On Canada Paused For 'At Least 30 Days '

Technology giant Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) could focus on cloud, AI and YouTube growth when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market close Tuesday.</a>



Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect the company to report fourth-quarter revenue of $96.6 billion, up from $86.3 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in seven straight quarters.



Analysts expect the company to report fourth-quarter earnings per share of $2.13, up from $1.64 in last year's fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in seven straight quarters.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43441911/alphabets-q4-earnings-bullish-trend-just-getting-started">Alphabet Q4 Earnings Preview: Bullish Trend Just Getting Started?</a>



What Analysts Are Saying: Recent strength in advertising for Meta Platforms could foreshadow strong advertising strength for Alphabet, Bank of America analyst Justin Post<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43396598/alphabet-shares-are-on-the-rise-today-whats-going-on"> recently said.</a>



The analyst, who has a Buy rating and $225 price target, said Alphabet should show positive commentary on cloud demand in the fourth-quarter results and commentary.



Post said Alphabet will likely show strength in search thanks to AI usage helping with monetization and YouTube could also benefit from improved AI targeting.



Potential negatives for Alphabet would be talking about tougher first-quarter advertising comps, slowing YouTube growth or new hiring/Capex commentary.



"We remain constructive on Alphabet and believe Street is likely underestimating potential for AIOs to drive Search monetization strength in 2025," Post said.



Here are other <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL/analyst-ratings">analyst ratings for Alphabet </a>and their price targets:



<ul>
<li>JMP Securities: Reiterated Market Perform rating, no price target</li>



<li>Needham: Maintained Buy rating, increased price target from $210 to $225</li>



<li>DA Davidson: Maintained Neutral rating, increased price target from $190 to $200</li>



<li>Cantor Fitzgerald: Maintained Neutral rating, lowered price target from $215 to $210</li>
</ul>



Key Items to Watch: Alphabet likely won't comment on pending legislation, but could be asked about its current case with the Department of Justice and what the new White House administration means.



Alphabet<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42898021/google-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-plans-youtube-livestream-pleased-to-support"> donated $1 million</a> to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, an amount higher than the $285,000 donated to the 2016 and 2020 inaugurations. The company also live-streamed the inauguration on YouTube.



The donation comes as the company has been targeted by the Department of Justice for&nbsp;alleged monopolistic behavior&nbsp;and could be forced to break up and spin off assets such as the Chrome browser.



While there&#8217;s no certainty that a donation or a visit to Mar-a-Lago will sway the new administration or prevent such outcomes, changes to the DOJ's leadership could potentially shift the company's legal challenges.



Incoming Vice President&nbsp;J.D. Vance&nbsp;also previously said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/07/39826475/trumps-new-running-mate-j-d-vance-wants-to-break-up-google-could-2024-election-be-bad-for-big-te" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wants to break up&nbsp;</a>Alphabet, which could make the company a target of the new administration.



Senator&nbsp;Ted Cruz&nbsp;(R-Texas) recently told Politico that Republicans would target Alphabet&#8217;s Google and YouTube content moderation policies on the search engine.



As mentioned by Post, AI could also be one of the key themes.



"Our commitment to innovation, as well as our long-term focus and investment in AI, are paying off with consumers and partners benefiting from our AI tools," Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said after<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41611263/alphabet-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-google-cloud-up-35-momentum-across-the-compan"> third-quarter results.</a>



Pichai said at the time that Alphabet was winning larger deals and attracting new customers thanks to its AI solutions in the cloud. Investors and analysts would welcome an update on this and what the future holds for its cloud segment thanks to AI tools.



YouTube passed $50 billion in total ads and subscription revenues over the last four quarters for the first time, he said.



GOOGL Price Action: Alphabet stock closed Monday down 1.37% to $201.23 versus a 52-week trading range of $130.67 to $205.48. Alphabet stock is up 40% over the last year.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/43403758/exclusive-this-magnificent-7-stock-will-feel-the-pinch-of-feds-rate-decision-poll-shows">EXCLUSIVE: This &#8216;Magnificent 7&#8217; Stock Will Feel The Pinch Of Fed&#8217;s Rate Decision, Poll Shows</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Previews

Tech

GOOG

GOOGL

Alphabet Q4 Earnings Preview: AI, YouTube, DOJ Case Key Items To Watch

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday ordered a halt to the majority of work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after being selected as the acting director of the agency by <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">President Donald Trump. </a>



The Details: According to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/bessent-takes-helm-of-consumer-finance-watchdog-orders-halt-to-work-0a9cfc3d?mod=hp_lead_pos3">a report</a> from the Wall Street Journal, Bessent directed the CFPB to freeze much of its work in an internal email. The work stoppage includes decisions about active litigations, enforcement actions and suspends effective dates for completed rules that are not yet in effect.



Bessent is the temporary replacement for Biden appointee Rohit Chopra who was ousted from the agency on Friday.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43372753/eggs-prices-soar-as-bird-flu-spreads-why-experts-expect-another-45-increase-in-2025">Eggs Prices Soar As Bird Flu Spreads: Why Experts Expect Another 45% Increase In 2025</a>



"I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth," Bessent said in a written statement Monday.



It is expected that Bessent will begin to roll back many of the regulations that were enacted under the Biden administration, including limits on overdraft fees and the exemption of medical debt reporting by credit agencies. 



CFPB Actions In Limbo: Many lawsuits brought by the CFPB now face an uncertain future as decisions on litigations and enforcement actions have been frozen.&nbsp;



In late December, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42713746/financial-crime-weekly-sec-charges-tai-mo-shan-with-misleading-terra-usd-investors-rocket-companies-sued-over-alleged-kickback-scheme">CFPB sued</a> Rocket Homes, a division of Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) in what it said was an action to stop the company from providing incentives to real estate brokers and agents to steer homebuyers to Rocket Mortgage. 



JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Early Warning Services also face <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42687945/zelle-became-a-gold-mine-for-fraudsters-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-lawsuit">a lawsuit</a> from the CFPB alleging the companies rushed to complete the Zelle payment network in order to compete with Venmo and CashApp and neglected to enact effective fraud safeguards.



The CFPB also slapped Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>) with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42981370/cfpb-sues-capital-one-over-alleged-2-billion-in-lost-interest-for-consumers">a lawsuit </a>in January accusing the bank of cheating millions of consumers out of more than $2 billion in lost interest.



Read Next:&nbsp;



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</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Fintech

Legal

Bessent Freezes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Work Leaving Lawsuits Against JPMorgan, Bank Of America, Capital One In Limbo

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) reported fourth-quarter financial results after the market close on Monday. Here&#8217;s a look at the key details <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43448656/palantir-reports-q4-2024-revenue-growth-of-36-yy-u-s-revenue-growth-of-52-yy-issues-fy-2025-revenu">from the quarter</a>.



Q4 Earnings: Palantir reported fourth-quarter revenue of $827.52 million, beating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate</a>&nbsp;of $775.91 million. The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of 11 cents per share. 



Palantir has now met or exceeded analyst estimates in six consecutive quarters, according to data from&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Total revenue was up 36% year-over-year and U.S. revenue grew 52% year-over-year. U.S. Commercial revenue grew 64% year-over-year to $214 million and U.S. Government revenue climbed 45% year-over-year to $343 million.



Palantir&#8217;s customer count grew 43% year-over-year and 13% on a quarter-over-quarter basis. The company said it closed 129 deals worth over $1 million during the quarter and 58 deals worth at least $5 million. Palantir generated $460 million in cash from operations and $517 million in adjusted free cash flow in the quarter. 



Palantir ended the quarter with $5.2 billion of cash, equivalents and short-term U.S. treasury securities.



&#8220;Our business results continue to astound, demonstrating our deepening position at the center of the AI revolution. Our early insights surrounding the commoditization of large language models have evolved from theory to fact,&#8221; said&nbsp;Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43447339/trump-announces-us-sovereign-wealth-fund-hints-at-tiktok-ownership">Trump Orders US Sovereign Wealth Fund, Hints At TikTok Ownership: &#8216;I Have The Right To Do That&#8217;</a>



Guidance:&nbsp;Palantir expects first-quarter revenue to be in the range of $858 million to $862 million, versus estimates of $799.35 million. The company expects full-year 2025 revenue to be between $3.74 billion and $3.76 billion versus estimates of $3.52 billion. 



Palantir also guided for positive GAAP operating income and net income in each quarter of 2025 and said it anticipates full-year adjusted free cash flow between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion. 



&#8220;We are still in the earliest stages, the beginning of the first act, of a revolution that will play out over years and decades,&#8221; Karp said in a letter to shareholders. 



&#8220;This is not an incremental advance or marginal acceleration of our business. This is a new phase. And the momentum we are seeing across sectors, both commercial and government, is unlike anything that has come before.&#8221;



Management will hold a conference call with analysts and investors to further discuss the quarter at 5 p.m. ET.



PLTR Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palantir shares </a>were up approximately 10% year-to-date heading into the print. The stock was up 18.09% after-hours, trading at $98.99 at the time of publication Monday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/02/43432917/palantir-q4-earnings-countdown-bullish-charts-vs-bearish-analysts">Palantir Q4 Earnings Countdown: Bullish Charts Vs. Bearish Analysts</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534; WATCH LIVE: Palantir Technologies Q4 2024 Earnings Call &#x7C; $PLTR" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tjTnfbBBC0s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>

Earnings

Guidance

Palantir Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, US Revenue Up 52%, Customer Count Up 43%, Strong Guidance

Asset manager Vanguard on Monday announced that it was slashing the fees associated with investing in its funds, saving investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43337274/why-voo-investors-should-keep-calm-despite-ai-stock-turbulence">up to $350 million in 2025 alone</a>.



What To Know: Vanguard has lowered the expense ratio across 87 of its funds, bringing its average asset-weighted fee down to just 0.07% versus an industry average of 0.44%, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-03/vanguard-s-average-fee-is-now-just-0-07-after-biggest-ever-cut?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>.



The fee reductions, which became effective Feb. 1 and were announced in a <a href="https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/articles/announcing-largest-fee-cut-vanguard-history.html">news release</a> Monday morning, represent the largest cut Vanguard has ever made. The cuts will lower investment costs for bond mutual funds, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETFs</a>, U.S. equity, international equity and money market funds. 



&#8220;Lower fees mean fund investors can keep more of their returns and a competitive edge for our funds,&#8221; said Greg Davis, chief investment officer at Vanguard. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43443587/stocks-trim-losses-on-mexico-tariff-delay-gold-extends-records-tesla-sinks-6-whats-driving-markets-monday">Stocks Trim Losses On Mexico Tariff Delay, Gold Extends Records, Tesla Sinks 6%: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a>



Vanguard has reduced its expense ratios more than 2,000 times since 1975 and was already one of the cheapest operators before the latest cuts. Following the cuts, 86% of Vanguard mutual fund and ETF assets are in the lowest-cost deciles of their peer group.



According to Bloomberg, Vanguard ETFs brought in $305 billion of inflows last year, which was close to an all-time high for the asset manager. 



"After paying for technology and investments that we need to make in the company, the way we effectively give the value back to our clients — who are also our owners — is through fee cuts. The larger we become, the lower it goes," Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji, reportedly told Bloomberg.



The cuts are specifically attractive for investors looking to increase exposure to fixed income. Vanguard&#8217;s average weighted fee on its actively managed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-vanguard-bond-funds">bond funds</a> is now down to 0.1% versus an industry average of about 0.52%.



The report indicates that Vanguard recently released a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36485117/vanguard-predicts-bonds-to-make-strong-comeback-short-term-pain-can-lead-to-long-te">10-year outlook</a> showing that it expects U.S. bonds to outperform U.S. equities over the next decade. 



"Even if we're wrong, people's portfolios are out of balance and they need more bonds in there, even just as a ballast to diversify back to 60/40. But as they do that, they don't need to pay 50 basis points,&#8221; Ramji reportedly said. 



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43442691/mexico-etf-faces-volatility-despite-temporary-tariff-reprieve">Mexico ETF Faces Volatility Despite Temporary Tariff Reprieve</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Mutual Funds

Vanguard Slashes Investing Fees, Saving Investors Millions: 'The Larger We Become, The Lower It Goes'

President Donald Trump announced plans for the creation of the first-ever U.S. sovereign wealth fund through an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">executive order on Monday. </a>



The fund, which aims to &#8220;monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet for the American people,&#8221; will leverage government-owned assets to generate economic value, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said while speaking to the media at the White House.



&#8220;We&#8217;re going to have a Sovereign Wealth Fund, which we&#8217;ve never had,&#8221; Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. 



Bessent indicated the fund would include a variety of &#8220;liquid assets&#8221; and strategic holdings within the U.S. economy.



&#8220;The extraordinary size and scale of the U.S. government and the business it does with companies should create value for American citizens,&#8221; he stated.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">President Eyes TikTok Inclusion, No Bitcoin Mention </h3>



While details remain limited, Trump indicated the fund could include the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok.



&#8220;For example, TikTok—we&#8217;re going to be doing something perhaps with TikTok, and perhaps not. If we make the right deal, we&#8217;ll do it, otherwise, we won&#8217;t,&#8221; Trump said, adding, &#8220;I have the right to do that.&#8221;



The U.S. government previously mandated ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest its U.S. operations by Jan. 19, 2025, or face a ban.



On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order delaying the ban by 75 days to explore potential deals. 



One option under discussion is a joint venture where the U.S. government would hold a 50% stake in TikTok, allowing the platform to continue operating while addressing national security concerns.



Trump's idea that the U.S. strategic fund could take control of TikTok raises significant concerns about media influence and state-backed control of digital platforms, potentially reshaping the landscape of digital free speech and platform governance.



No mention of digital assets or Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) was made in connection with the sovereign wealth fund, though they were not explicitly ruled out. The largest cryptocurrency rose to $100,000, up by 3% as of 2:30 p.m. ET. 



Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US LLP, voiced skepticism about the initiative, calling it "problematic at best&#8221; and indicating that fund's structure could invite &#8220;crony capitalism and corruption.&#8221;



His concerns stem from the lack of clarity on where the money will come from and how it will be allocated, particularly if tariff revenues are involved.



Brusuelas also raised doubts about the fund's objectives, asking what specific economic goals it aims to achieve and on what evidence those decisions will be based.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US-Mexico Tariff Talks Continue</h3>



Trump also addressed ongoing tariff negotiations with Mexico, following early morning confirmations that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">a 25% tariff had been temporarily placed on hold. </a>



&#8220;We haven&#8217;t agreed on tariffs yet, and maybe we will, maybe we won&#8217;t,&#8221; he stated.



Trump stressed border security concerns, particularly regarding fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. 



&#8220;We&#8217;ve had a great talk with Mexico. We&#8217;ve had good relations, but we have to stop fentanyl from coming in,&#8221; he said.



According to Trump, Mexico has agreed to deploy 10,000 soldiers permanently to the border. &#8220;They have a big incentive to do so,&#8221; he added, without specifying further details.



The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWW#NYSE">EWW</a>) slightly trimmed its session rally to 2.3%. The Mexican peso held gains, up 1%. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US-Canada Trade Relations Under Scrutiny</h3>



Turning to trade relations with Canada, Trump criticized the country's business practices, claiming that U.S. banks are restricted from operating in Canada and that Canadian policies are unfair to American agricultural and automotive exports.



&#8220;We&#8217;re not treated well by Canada, and we have to be treated well,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;They don&#8217;t take our agricultural product for the most part. They don&#8217;t take our cars. We take theirs.&#8221;



Trump hinted at continued negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with another call scheduled for later in the day.



Trump also reiterated his idea that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, an outcome that would eliminate trade barriers.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43445680/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-spotlight-on-3-financial-stocks-with-over-13-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Financial Stocks With Over 13% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Shutterstock.com

Macro Economic Events

Emerging Market ETFs

Econ #s

Trump Orders US Sovereign Wealth Fund, Hints At TikTok Ownership: 'I Have The Right To Do That'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is scrapping a nearly $100 million contract with Elon Musk&#8216;s Starlink, citing U.S. tariffs that Ford says <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">threaten Canadian businesses. </a>



The deal, signed in November, was meant to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 remote and rural locations across the province, but Ford now says Ontario will no longer do business with American firms until the tariffs are lifted, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-ripping-up-province-contract-with-starlink-1.7448763">CBC </a>reports Monday.



What Happened: Ford announced Monday that Ontario will terminate its agreement with Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk's SpaceX, after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods over the weekend. Speaking in Etobicoke, Ford accused Musk of being part of a team that aims to "destroy families, incomes, destroy businesses."



Ontario&#8217;s procurement budget totals $30 billion annually, and Ford stated that American companies will be blocked from receiving government contracts until the tariffs are repealed. "U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame," Ford said.



According to CBC, Ford has faced previous criticism over the Starlink contract, with Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie calling for its cancellation last week. Crombie argued the province should have prioritized Canadian providers from the start. Opposition leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, also welcomed the decision, though they questioned why the contract was awarded to Musk's company in the first place.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43442691/mexico-etf-faces-volatility-despite-temporary-tariff-reprieve">Mexico ETF Faces Volatility Despite Temporary Tariff Reprieve</a>



Why It Matters: Ontario's decision to retaliate against the U.S. tariffs with procurement restrictions signals a deepening trade rift between Canada and its largest trading partner. The move could have major financial implications for American businesses that rely on provincial contracts, CBC reports.



Musk responded with "Oh well" on X, the platform he owns.



While Ford defended the original contract by stating that only two providers, Starlink and Xplore Inc., met Ontario's technical requirements, he now says a Canadian alternative must be pursued. He insisted the province has not paid Starlink anything yet and suggested legal action may be unnecessary to exit the deal.



The controversy comes as Starlink expands its footprint in Canada, now serving approximately 400,000 subscribers. Meanwhile, the satellite provider is also making headlines in the U.S. after teaming up with Apple Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. to introduce Starlink-powered texting on iPhones, initially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43294364/apple-surprises-iphone-users-by-teaming-up-with-spacex-and-t-mobile-to-bring-starlink-satellite-texting-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-feature">in a limited beta test.</a>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">US, Mexico Agree On 1-Month Tariff Pause: Stocks Rebound, Peso Rallies</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using photos from Shutterstock.

Global

AAPL

TMUS

Elon's Trump Alignment Costs Him Canada Starlink Contract: 'Oh Well'

Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) are duking it out for investor attention with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">fourth-quarter earnings</a> being reported on Tuesday.



Both pharmaceutical heavyweights have very different technical setups, leaving investors to wonder which stock will have the upper hand.



Let's break down the charts and what the technical signals are saying about each company as they prepare to report.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Merck Stock's Mixed Signals: Bullish Short-Term, But Long-Term Resistance Looms</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115322/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.22.11-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-763045" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115322/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.22.11-PM.png 626w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115322/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.22.11-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Merck stock has shown some solid short-term strength, with its stock price of $98.90 comfortably sitting above its eight-day and 20-day simple moving averages (SMAs) of $97.81 and $98.64, respectively. These short-term buying signals, along with a neutral Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 50.39, suggest a continuation of the current trend, barring any earnings surprises.



However, the story changes when looking at Merck stock&#8217;s long-term trend. Its 50-day SMA of $99.64 and 200-day SMA of $114.28 are higher than its stock price, indicating that the stock may face resistance moving forward. Merck&#8217;s Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) of a negative 0.47 suggests bearish momentum in the near term, adding an element of risk.



On the flip side, analysts are bullish on Merck with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRK/analyst-ratings">consensus target of $124</a>, representing an implied upside of 20.25%. That positive outlook could be enough to offset the short-term technical pressure, making Merck stock a bit of a mixed bag heading into earnings.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43321236/rfk-jr-and-big-pharma-stocks-to-watch-as-health-secretary-hopeful-answers-pointed-questions-on-drugs-insurance-trump-exec-orders">RFK Jr. And Big Pharma: Health Secretary Hopeful Answers Pointed Questions On Drugs, Insurance, Trump Exec Orders</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Pfizer Stock's Bearish Downtrend: Can It Overcome The Struggles?</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115333/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.21.55-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-763046" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115333/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.21.55-PM.png 626w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03115333/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-10.21.55-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



In stark contrast, Pfizer stock is looking much weaker technically. The stock has been firmly entrenched in a bearish trend, with its share price sitting below its five-, 20- and 50-day exponential moving averages (EMAs), signaling ongoing selling pressure. Pfizer stock at $26.30 has eight-day SMA at $26.51 and the 20-day SMA at $26.56, both signals pointing to potential further downside.



Pfizer stock's 50-day SMA of $26.15 provides some minor support, but overall, the chart points to more trouble ahead. The MACD indicator of 0.04 shows only a glimmer of bullish potential, while the RSI of 47.61 reinforces the neutral sentiment surrounding the stock. While there's a chance for some short-term recovery, Pfizer's overall trajectory looks weaker than Merck's.



Despite the challenges, Pfizer's analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PFE/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> is $36.74, offering an implied upside of 13.80%. However, with the Pfizer stock trading significantly below its 200-day SMA of $27.87, it's clear Pfizer has a tough road ahead.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Merck Vs. Pfizer: Who Will Win The Earnings Showdown?</h1>



When it comes to earnings, Merck's solid analyst outlook and bullish short-term signals seem to give it the edge over Pfizer, which is struggling with technical bearishness. 



While both stocks face risks, Merck's upside potential, supported by a 20% price target boost from analysts, makes it the more promising candidate for investors looking for stability and growth. 



Pfizer, on the other hand, remains a riskier play, though it does offer some upside potential if it can overcome its technical hurdles.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43403416/is-big-pharma-about-to-win-goldman-sachs-weighs-in-on-340b-and-medicaid-shifts">Is Big Pharma About To Win? Goldman Sachs Weighs In On 340B And Medicaid Shifts</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Merck: Zah108; Pfizer: Vadi Fuoco

Biotech

Health Care

Technicals

General

Merck Vs. Pfizer: Which Pharmaceutical Giant Will Prevail In Q4 Earnings?

The U.S. and Mexico paused a planned 25% tariff for one month, agreeing to tackle security issues while reopening trade talks. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the deal Monday, highlighting a troop deployment to curb fentanyl trafficking and a U.S. pledge <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">to restrict arms smuggling.</a>



President Donald Trump called the agreement "very friendly," with high-level negotiations now led by Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, and Howard Lutnick. Investors are watching the iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWW#NYSE">EWW</a>) as trade uncertainty lingers. Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43423288/trumps-tariffs-are-here-heres-what-will-get-more-expensive-from-canada-china-and-mexico">Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Are Here. Here&#8217;s What Will Get More Expensive From Canada, China, and Mexico</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Rise Of EWW</h3>



The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF has gained popularity among investors looking to tap into Mexico's growing economy, which, for years, has been one of the largest and most dynamic in Latin America. As a country with significant trade ties to the U.S., including the automotive, manufacturing, and energy sectors, the ETF is essentially a proxy for the health of Mexico's stock market.



The ETF covers a wide range of sectors, with its top holdings being companies from consumer goods, financials, and industrials, many of which are highly sensitive to U.S. policies. This is reflected in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EWW">beta of 1.06%</a>, which means that it is more volatile than the overall market.



Notably, 2024 was a year full of challenges for the ETF. Various factors, including economic uncertainties and currency fluctuations beat down the fund. This was followed by Trump&#8217;s tariff plan revealed on Nov. 24, citing concerns over drug trafficking and illegal migration related to Mexico. This led to immediate market reactions, and EWW dropped 2.8% in after-hours trading that day. In the past year, the ETF price has crashed 25%.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next For EWW?</h3>



Looking forward, the iShares MSCI Mexico ETF faces many hurdles, as a reflection of the economic shakeup in the country. 



Already, the Mexican <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43103527/mexican-peso-canadian-dollar-slide-as-trump-threatens-25-tariffs-expert-eyes-price-hikes-on-typical-us-breakfast">Peso has weakened</a>, and while the tariff pause provides temporary relief, trade uncertainty remains. A prolonged dispute could disrupt trade flows, drive inflation higher, and risk a <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/how-trump-tariffs-could-impact-mexico-economy">recession </a>in Mexico. Although Mexico has avoided immediate retaliatory measures, future tensions could strain economic relations and impact market sentiment.



One potential silver lining for the ETF is the diversification it offers. With holdings across multiple sectors, including consumer goods, financials, and energy, the ETF may be better positioned to weather the storm compared to more narrowly focused funds. Additionally, the ETF could benefit from long-term structural trends in Mexico's economy, such as its growing <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets-economy/062416/economics-mexicos-middle-class.asp#:~:text=Mexico's%20middle%20class%20accounted%20for,to%20this%20level%20by%202030.">middle class</a> and efforts to boost manufacturing and infrastructure.



However, for investors, uncertainty remains. While the tariff pause offers a temporary reprieve, the long-term impact on the Mexican economy and trade relations is unclear. The ability to adapt to shifting policies will be key, but for now, volatility persists.



EWW Price Check: The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF was up 2.5% at $50.22 at the time of publication Monday.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43403716/3-u-s-auto-etfs-caught-in-the-crosshairs-as-trump-announces-25-tariff-on-mexican-imports">3 U.S. Auto ETFs Caught In The Crosshairs As Trump Announces 25% Tariff On Mexican Imports</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Mexico ETF Faces Volatility Despite Temporary Tariff Reprieve

Wall Street bounced back after President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to a one-month suspension of tariffs following Mexico's pledge to bolster its military presence <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43440692/us-mexico-agrees-on-one-month-tariffs-pause-stocks-rebound-peso-rallies">at the northern border.</a>



Earlier on Monday, markets had been rattled by Trump&#8217;s announcement of sweeping tariffs — 25% on all imports from Mexico and Canada and 10% on Chinese goods. The prospect of escalating trade tensions led to sharp early session declines.



The temporary tariff reprieve on Mexico has fueled speculation that Trump may be using tariffs as a negotiation tool rather than a definitive policy, potentially easing concerns they will remain in place if U.S. demands — centered on immigration and drug trafficking — are met.



Trump is set to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 3 p.m. ET.



By midday in New York, the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 were down 0.8%, trimming earlier losses, while the Dow nearly erased its decline entirely, reflecting renewed investor confidence in industrial and less tech-sensitive stocks.



Some of the Magnificent Seven stocks remained under pressure. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) all faced sharp declines, by 6%, 4% and 3.8% respectively, amid concerns over worsening trade relations with China and the risk of retaliatory measures from Beijing.



In fixed income, long-term Treasury yields edged lower, while the U.S. dollar trimmed its early session gains. The Mexican peso rebounded sharply, rising over 1% by 12:30 p.m. ET, recovering from overnight losses of up to 2%.



Commodity markets experienced turbulence. Natural gas prices soared 11% on Monday, surpassing $3 per million British thermal units, while oil climbed 0.8%.



Safe-haven demand remained strong, with gold rallying 0.8% to a record high of over $2,810 per ounce.



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) surged back to $99,000 following news of the U.S. pause on Mexico tariffs. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance On Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices </td><td>Price</td><td>Chg 1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,433.51</td><td>-0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,994.65</td><td>-0.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,280.79</td><td>-0.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,257.74</td><td>-1.3%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:38 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.8% to $596.84.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) eased 0.3% to $443.77.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.9% to $517.15.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) dropped 1.2% to $223.80.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 0.4%; the&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 1.4%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul>
<li>Stocks moving on earnings report include Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>), up 1.2%, IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDXX#NASDAQ">IDXX</a>), up 11.2%. </li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>) Equity Residential (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQR#NYSE">EQR</a>), Clorox Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLX#NYSE">CLX</a>) are among large-cap companies reporting after the close.</li>



<li>Polaris Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PII#NYSE">PII</a>) tumbled 8% after UBS slashed the stock price target from $67 to $48. </li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43439462/us-manufacturing-confidence-tops-forecasts">US Manufacturing Confidence Tops Forecasts, Yet Price Pressures Intensify, &#8216;Could Become A Concern,&#8217; Economist Says</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

IDXX

NVDA

NXPI

TSLA

Stocks Trim Losses On Mexico Tariff Delay, Gold Extends Records, Tesla Sinks 6%: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Elon Musk and his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41965420/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-led-department-of-government-efficiency-opens-account-on-x-says-it-is-working-overtime">Department of Government Efficiency</a> have been granted access to a sensitive Treasury Department payment system containing personal data of millions of Americans receiving tax refunds, Medicare, Social Security and other payments from the federal government.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Did This $6 Trillion Agency Fall Under Musk&#8217;s Purview? </h2>



According to the New York Times, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/elon-musk-doge-federal-payments-system.html">approved the access </a>late Friday, which coincided with the resignation of David Lebryk, a career Treasury official who clashed with DOGE over the system. The Bureau of Fiscal Service, normally run by civil servants, processes over $6 trillion annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Democrats Are Furious</h2>



Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee sent a <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/final_-_rm_warren_letter_to_bessent_re_treasury_payment_system.pdf">letter</a> on Monday to Bessent demanding answers, calling Musk's "meddling&#8221; with a system that processes trillions in transactions "extraordinarily dangerous."



"I am alarmed that as one of your first acts as Secretary, you appear to have handed over a highly sensitive system responsible for millions of Americans' private data – and a key function of government – to an unelected billionaire and an unknown number of his unqualified flunkies,&#8221; Warren wrote.



Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_from_senator_wyden_to_secretary_bessent_on_payment_systemspdf.pdf">did the same</a> on Friday. "I can think of no good reason why political operators who have demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law would need access to these sensitive, mission-critical systems,&#8221; he said. 



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called the situation a five alarm fire following news that Musk was intending to merge the U.S. Agency for International Development with the State Department — a move that requires Congressional approval. "The people elected Donald Trump to be President ― not Elon Musk. Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security," AOC <a href="https://x.com/AOC/status/1886149143980032275">wrote</a> on X.



Musk said early Monday that Trump has "agreed" to the USAID shutdown, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5122521-musk-trump-agreed-usaid-should-be-shut-down/">according</a> to The Hill.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is a five alarm fire. The people elected Donald Trump to be President &#8211; not Elon Musk. Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security. This should not be a partisan issue. <a href="https://t.co/OkEfM1n1Ga">https://t.co/OkEfM1n1Ga</a>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1886149143980032275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Remember The Constitution?</h2>



The U.S. Constitution explicitly requires Senate confirmation for anyone wielding significant federal power, a requirement that Musk has apparently been enabled by President Donald Trump to ignore. This was demonstrated recently when Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43417749/elon-musks-aides-block-government-workers-from-federal-data-systems-report">installed numerous loyalists</a> throughout the government, essentially demanding access to many of the levers of power.



The mounting news of Musk-led takeovers and threats of more to come have heightened fears the Trump administration is consolidating power by sidelining career officials, not to mention stripping many Americans and institutions of much needed financial payments.



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43425216/elon-musk-supports-putting-treasury-department-operations-on-blockchain-to-fix-irregularities">Elon Musk Says Treasury Officials &#8216;Breaking The Law Every Hour&#8217; By Approving Fraudulent Payments — DOGE Lead Wants A Blockchain Fix</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock.

Treasuries

Elon Musk, Says Elizabeth Warren, Is 'Meddling' With Trillions In US Treasury Via 'Unqualified Flunkies'

President Donald Trump's announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China could impact many sectors and see retailers and companies raising prices on consumers to offset<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43423288/trumps-tariffs-are-here-heres-what-will-get-more-expensive-from-canada-china-and-mexico"> the higher prices.</a>



Here's a look at the sectors and stocks that could be hurt the most by Trump's tariffs and retaliatory efforts by the three countries back on the U.S.



What Happened: Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43427091/as-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-americas-3-largest-trading-partners-this-macro-strategist-call">announced 25% tariffs </a>on imports from Canada and Mexico along with a 10% tariffs on items imported from China. Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday the U.S. tariffs on Mexico have been paused for one month. 



Canada fought back with retaliatory measures on U.S. imports.



Trump said he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and plans to speak to the leader again at 3 p.m. ET Monday.



The tariffs were met with anger in Canada where sports fans booed the playing of &#8220;The Star-Spangled Banner,&#8221; the U.S. national anthem, at NBA and NHL sporting events over the weekend, as reported by <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/02/u-s-national-anthem-booed-nhl-nba-games-canada-tariffs-1236276207/">Deadline</a>.



NBA and NHL games involving teams from both countries typically play national anthems ahead of games.



Goods and Sectors Impacted: Here's a look at the top imports from Canada, Mexico and China that will be impacted if the tariffs stick.



Beer and Spirits: One of the companies that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/42220682/trump-tariffs-on-mexico-could-affect-beer-why-your-modelo-corona-could-cost-more-next-year">could be hit hardest</a> by the tariff news is Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STZ#NYSE">STZ</a>), an alcohol company that holds the exclusive U.S. license for several of the top imported beer brands in America. Constellation imports brands like Modelo, Corona and Pacifico from Mexico, where they are brewed by Grupo Modelo, which is a unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>).



Modelo is the top imported beer in the U.S., with Corona ranking second. Heineken and Dos Equis XX, which are imported by Heineken USA, a unit of Heineken NV (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HEINY#OTC">HEINY</a>), ranked third and fourth on the list of top imported beers. Dos Equis is manufactured in Mexico and imported to the U.S.



Constellation stock is down around 40% since it was flagged as a company to see pressure from tariffs back in November.



The U.S. is also a large importer of tequila, a sector that could be hit hard by tariffs on Mexico.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/12/42536470/costco-warns-that-tariffs-raise-prices-trump-team-says-trade-policies-will-make-life-affordable">Costco Warns That Tariffs Raise Prices, Trump Team Says Trade Policies Will &#8216;Make Life Affordable&#8217;</a>



Automotive: Several automotive companies like Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) and Honda Motor Co Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42688941/are-us-vehicles-under-30000-a-thing-of-the-past-trumps-mexico-tariff-plans-could-change-auto-market">have sub-$30,000 vehicles</a> that are partially or fully built in Mexico and Canada. Tariffs on these countries could quickly make these sub-$30,000 vehicles cost more for consumers and eliminate options in the popular starting price point.



Avocados: American imports over 80% of its avocados from Mexico, which could lead to higher prices ahead of Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 9, as <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/02/us-news/whats-going-to-get-hit-by-trumps-tariffs-avocados-modelo-and-iphones/">reported </a>by the New York Post. Stocks that could be impacted by higher avocado costs are Mission Produce Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVO#NASDAQ">AVO</a>), Calavo Growers, Inc. (NASDDAQ: CVGW) and Limoneira Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMNR#NASDAQ">LMNR</a>).



Fruits and Vegetables: Canada is the largest supplier of cherry tomatoes for the U.S., which could see higher produce costs for consumers and restaurants.



Smartphones: China is one of the largest exporters of smartphones to the U.S., accounting for an estimated 87% of production according to the report. The iPhone from Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has 95% of production assembled in China as of 2023.



Toys: The Toy Association industry group estimates that 75% of all imported toys come from China, making the sector one area that could be significantly hit by higher tariffs. Hasbro Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAS#NASDAQ">HAS</a>) and Mattel Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>) are two stocks that could see pressure with the tariffs impacting one of their key sectors. &nbsp;



Clothing: Imported clothes from e-commerce companies including Shein and PDD Holdings &#8211; ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) brand Temu will see higher prices with the tariff on China. Canadian clothing companies Aritzia and Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) will also be impacted by the tariff news. 



The footwear portion of the clothing sector could see the biggest impact with the Footwear Distributors &amp; Retailers of America estimating that 99% of shoes sold in the U.S. are imported. Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) could be among the companies hit hardest by the tariff news.



Construction: The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that 25% of American steel comes from Canada and 12% comes from Mexico, which means steel prices could go up. Canadian lumber is also a large export to the U.S., which makes up around 30% of all lumber the country uses. Other construction items like drywall, lime and gypsum come from Mexico, which will put more pressure on homebuilders. The tariffs could lead to home prices going up and putting further pressure on the sector.



Oil: The U.S. is a large importer<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42300450/trump-told-trudeau-canada-could-avoid-tariffs-by-becoming-51st-state-a-look-at-sectors-trade-war-could-impact"> of Canadian oil.</a> While oil will only see a 10% tariff compared to the 25% on other Canadian goods, the sector could likely see a large impact. Companies like Suncor Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SU#NYSE">SU</a>), Enbridge (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#NYSE">ENB</a>), Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNQ#NYSE">CNQ</a>) and TC Pipelines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRP#NYSE">TRP</a>)&nbsp;could face significant impacts from the tariffs and a potential blow to the sector.



Transportation: Railway company Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CP#NYSE">CP</a>) and trucking companies Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>) and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNX#NYSE">KNX</a>) could be impacted by the tariffs and negative impact on trade between the United States and Canada.



Retailers: Dollar stores and discount retailers like Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLTR#NASDAQ">DLTR</a>) could be<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42402629/trump-to-change-dollar-stores-for-good-dollar-tree-exec-says-prepared-to-act"> impacted by the tariffs.</a> Executives warned of the potential impact in late 2024 with the goal of offsetting the higher prices with new product sizes and negotiating lower costs with suppliers. The company also said it would consider stopping the sale of several items due to the planned tariffs.



Price Actions on Monday at publication: The iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWC#NYSE">EWC</a>) is down 1.46% to $40.62.



The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWW#NYSE">EWW</a>) is up 2.12% to $50.02.



The iShares MSCI China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NASDAQ">MCHI</a>) is down 0.29% to $48.27.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43430259/miners-plead-for-collaboration-as-trade-wars-threaten-critical-mineral-supply-chains">Miners Plead For Collaboration As Trade Wars Threaten Critical Mineral Supply Chains</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Visuals6x via Shutterstock

CVGW

DLTR

HEINY

LMNR

LULU

MCHI

ODFL

Why Beer, Tequila, Avocados, Cars, iPhone Prices Could Rise: Trump's Tariffs On Canada, Mexico, China To Hurt Several Sectors

A major U-turn in the tariff drama unfolded Monday as the United States and Mexico agreed to pause the planned trade <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">levies for one month.</a>



Both nations pledged to tackle key security concerns, including drug trafficking and arms smuggling, while reopening trade negotiations.



Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the agreement via social media platform X at 10:21 a.m. ET.



She indicated the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops to Mexico's northern border to combat fentanyl trafficking and a U.S. pledge to curb the flow of high-powered weapons into Mexico.



Sheibaum said: &#8220;Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade.&#8221;



Twenty minutes later, President Donald Trump announced the deal on Truth Social, calling his conversation with Sheinbaum &#8220;very friendly.&#8221; 



He stressed Mexico's commitment to border security and said high-level negotiations will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Trump also indicated his involvement in talks, expressing optimism for a broader trade agreement.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43439462/us-manufacturing-confidence-tops-forecasts">Read also: US Manufacturing Confidence Tops Forecasts, Yet Price Pressures Intensify, &#8216;Could Become A Concern,&#8217; Economist Says</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Markets Rebound As Tariff Pause Fuels Optimism</h2>



Investor sentiment improved sharply following the announcement.



The S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) –&nbsp;trimmed losses to 0.6%, rebounding from steeper declines earlier in the session as traders anticipated a potential de-escalation in trade tensions.



The Mexican peso staged a dramatic turnaround, surging 1% after initially falling nearly 2% overnight.



The USD/MXN exchange rate dropped to 20.42, down from a session high of 21.32, reflecting renewed confidence in Mexico's economic outlook.



The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWW#NYSE">EWW</a>) rallied to 3%, reversing earlier session losses of up to 2.5%. 



All eyes now turn to Trump&#8217;s scheduled call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 3 p.m. ET, as markets speculate whether similar tariff relief could be extended to Canada.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43435750/ford-general-motors-shares-are-sliding-monday-whats-going-on">Ford, General Motors Shares Are Sliding Monday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock.

Large Cap

US, Mexico Agree On 1-Month Tariff Pause: Stocks Rebound, Peso Rallies

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) will be reporting its fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Wall Street expects $2.13 in EPS and $96.56 billion in revenues as the company reports<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings?tickers=GOOGL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> after market hours</a>.



The stock is up 41.10% over the past year, 7.02% YTD.



Let&#8217;s look at what the charts indicate for Alphabet stock and how the stock currently maps against Wall Street estimates.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43375573/mexican-president-asks-google-not-to-rename-gulf-of-mexico-takes-a-swipe-at-trump-decision-by-asking-for-mexican-america">Mexican President Asks Google Not To Rename Gulf Of Mexico, Takes A Swipe At Trump Decision By Asking For &#8216;Mexican America&#8217;</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alphabet Stock Strongly Bullish Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</h2>



Alphabet stock is currently in a strongly bullish trend, with its share price of $202.73 comfortably above its key exponential moving averages (EMAs) for five, 20 and 50 days. This indicates solid upward momentum and suggests that the stock could continue to outperform in the near term. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03111813/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-9.43.05-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-762948" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03111813/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-9.43.05-PM.png 626w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03111813/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-9.43.05-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Short-term bullish signals are further supported by Alphabet stock trading above its eight-day simple moving average (SMA) of $198.54, 20-day SMA of $196 and 50-day SMA of $187.86. These SMA levels confirm strong buying momentum and indicate the potential for continued upward movement. 



Additionally, Alphabet stock remains well above its 200-day SMA of $174.00, reinforcing long-term strength. 



The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator is at 3.37, signaling further bullish momentum, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 61.64 indicates that the stock is not yet overbought, leaving room for continued growth. 



Alphabet stock investors should consider the current trend as favorable, but also monitor for any signs of overheating or correction if RSI climbs higher.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alphabet Analysts See 5% Upside</h2>



Ratings &amp; Consensus Estimates:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The consensus analyst rating</a> on Alphabet stock stands at a Buy currently with a price target of $210.91. The latest analyst ratings from Needham, DA Davidson and Cantor Fitzgerald suggest a 4.59% upside for Alphabet stock, with an average price target of $211.67.



GOOGL Stock Price Action: Alphabet stock was trading at $203.30 at the time of publication.



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Image: Shutterstock

Alphabet Q4 Earnings Preview: Bullish Trend Just Getting Started?

The U.S. manufacturing sector surprisingly returned to expansion in January, signaling renewed business optimism, though mounting input costs pose a growing inflation risk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">for the months ahead.</a>



Two key indicators tracking U.S. factory activity that were released Monday showed stronger-than-expected growth last month.



The S&amp;P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI was upwardly revised to 51.2, exceeding the preliminary estimate of 50.1 and improving from 49.4 in December. 



The ISM Manufacturing PMI rose to 50.9 from a downwardly revised 49.2 in December, beating market forecasts of 49.8, according to TradingEconomics. This marked the first expansion in the ISM index after 26 consecutive months of contraction.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Manufacturing Activity Surges In January</h3>



"The start of the new year saw a renewed expansion in the U.S. manufacturing sector amid a surge in confidence," S&amp;P Global wrote in its report. 



The firm attributed part of the optimism to expectations that business conditions would improve under President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration.



"Business confidence about prospects for the year ahead has leaped to the highest level in nearly three years after one of the largest monthly gains yet recorded by the survey," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence.



While manufacturing activity rebounded, rising input costs threaten to push consumer price inflation higher in the months ahead. Costs continued to increase sharply, driving the pace of output price inflation to its highest level since May 2024.



"A rise in the rate of increase of both input costs and selling prices could become a concern if this intensification of inflationary pressures is sustained in the coming months," Williamson stated. 



"Especially as the combination of higher price pressures alongside accelerating economic growth and rising employment is not typically conducive to cutting interest rates," he added.



A separate ISM survey reinforced these concerns, with its Prices Paid Index climbing 2.4 points from December to 54.9, the highest since May 2024, exceeding market expectations of 52.6. 



Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, highlighted that price pressures would be a significant challenge throughout 2025.



"As predicted, maintaining a slower rate of price increases as demand returns will be a major challenge for 2025," Fiore said.



The ISM report also highlighted that companies in the Food, Beverage &amp; Tobacco Products industry are actively assessing supply chain adjustments in response to potential tariff-driven cost increases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Stocks Drop, Bonds And Gold Rally</h2>



Markets reacted negatively to the confirmation of new tariffs on Canada and Mexico at 25% and China at 10% announced by Trump over the weekend.



By 10:30 a.m. ET, the S&amp;P 500 — tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — was down 1.2%.



Treasury yields declined, signaling demand for safe-haven assets. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond dropped 5 basis points to 4.75%, pushing the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) up 0.7%.



Gold prices surged to fresh all-time highs, with spot gold reaching $2,800 per ounce, while the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) rose 0.7%, reflecting heightened investor concerns over inflation and economic uncertainty.



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Photo via Shutterstock.

Bonds

US Manufacturing Confidence Tops Forecasts, Yet Price Pressures Intensify, 'Could Become A Concern,' Economist Says

Shares of U.S. automakers including Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) are moving lower Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump placed tariffs on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43423288/trumps-tariffs-are-here-heres-what-will-get-more-expensive-from-canada-china-and-mexico">Canada, Mexico and China</a>.



What Happened: Trump signed executive orders on Saturday to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on China in an effort to curb immigration and narcotics trafficking, per Reuters. 



The tariffs, which are expected to take effect on Tuesday, include a 25% duty on all&nbsp;imports from Mexico and most&nbsp;goods from Canada, as well as a 10% duty on Chinese goods. 



The auto industry is expected to be one of the hardest hit as U.S. automakers build, assemble and use parts from Canada and Mexico. Investors are also concerned about a potential trade war as Canada and Mexico have threatened to retaliate. The auto industry has a heavy reliance on North America, particularly Mexico where a lot of vehicles are manufactured.



&#8220;We may have short term some little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world,&#8221; Trump reportedly told reporters on Sunday.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43429067/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-as-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-china-canada-and-mexico-expert-notes-feb-worst-month-in-post-election-years">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower As Trump Imposes Tariffs On China, Canada, And Mexico: Expert Notes Feb Worst Month In Post-Election Years</a>



General Motors reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43263700/general-motors-stock-gains-after-q4-earnings-beat-incurs-charges-from-funding-halt-of-cruise-robotaxi-business">fourth-quarter earnings</a> last week that came in above analyst expectations. The automaker guided for strong earnings in 2025 on the back of growth in North America. 



Ford is due to report fourth-quarter earnings after the market close on Wednesday. The company is expected to report earnings of 33 cents per share and revenue of $43.25 billion, according to estimates from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



F, GM Price Action: Ford shares were down 3.89% at $9.68 and GM shares were down 5.90% at $46.60 at the time of publication Monday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Photo: courtesy of Ford.

Ford, General Motors Shares Are Sliding Monday: What's Going On?

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) will be reporting its fourth-quarter earnings on Monday. Wall Street expects 11 cents in EPS and $775.91 million in revenues as the company reports<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings?tickers=PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> after market hours</a>.



The stock is up 393.36%% over the past year, 9.71% YTD.



Let&#8217;s look at what the charts indicate for Palantir stock and how the stock currently maps against Wall Street estimates.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43426284">Palantir Technologies Plunges Overnight On Robinhood: Trump Tariff Impact Or Investor Jitters?</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLTR Stock Strongly Bullish Ahead Of Q4 Earnings&#8230;</h2>



PLTR stock is in a strongly bullish trend, trading above its five-day, 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03065308/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-5.22.51-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-762426" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03065308/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-5.22.51-PM.png 626w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/03065308/Screenshot-2025-02-03-at-5.22.51-PM-300x235.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



At $81.20, the stock sits comfortably above key moving averages, reinforcing upward momentum. Notably, PLTR is well above its eight-day SMA (simple moving average) of $79.79, 20-day SMA of $74.48 and 50-day SMA of $73.06, all bullish indicators suggesting continued strength. 



The 200-day SMA at $42.02 further underscores a long-term uptrend, with the stock having nearly doubled over this period.



Momentum indicators also support the bullish case. The MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) indicator at 2.61 signals increasing upside momentum, often a precursor to further gains. However, the RSI (relative strength index) at 61.03 indicates that while the stock isn&#8217;t yet overbought, it is approaching elevated levels, suggesting some caution as PLTR stock nears resistance zones. 



PLTR stock investors should watch for potential consolidation or minor pullbacks, but the overall technical picture remains bullish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8230;Yet Palantir Analysts See 9% Downside</h2>



Ratings &amp; Consensus Estimates:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The consensus analyst rating</a> on Palantir stock stands at a Neutral currently with a price target of $39.38. Recent analyst ratings from Wedbush, Cantor Fitzgerald and Morgan Stanley imply an 8.77% downside for PLTR stock, with an average price target of $74.



PLTR Stock Price Action: Palantir stock closed the trading day Friday at $82.49, up 1.56%.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43420511">Palantir CEO Alex Karp Sounds Alarm on China&#8217;s Deepseek – Could This Threaten Palantir&#8217;s AI Dominance?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Palantir Q4 Earnings Countdown: Bullish Charts Vs. Bearish Analysts

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