ProShares Trust ProShares Metaverse ETF (ARCA: VERS)

最新ニュース ProShares Trust ProShares Metaverse ETF (ARCA:VERS)

Technology

Consumer Cyclical

Communication Services

Real Estate

Healthcare

The Fund invests in financial instruments that ProShare Advisors believes, in combination, should track the performance of the Index. The Index consists of companies that provide innovative technologies to offer products and services around the Metaverse. Metaverse is a term used to refer to a digital world or a future iteration of the internet. The Metaverse is characterized by virtual worlds that create a simulated environment as well as augmented reality where the real-world environment is enhanced by computer generated sensory information.

Roblox

Fubotv Inc

Apple Inc

Immersion Corp Com

Amazon.Com Inc

Nvidia Corp.

Alphabet Inc.Class A

Exp World Holdings, Inc.

Microsoft Corp

Meta Platforms, Inc.

ProShares Metaverse ETF

ProShares Trust ProShares Metaverse ETF

VERSES AI Inc

VersaBank

VERSACOM INTL INC by VersaCOM International, Inc.

Versacom International Inc

VERSAILLES FINANCIAL CORP by Versailles Financial Corp.

Versailles Financial Corp

Versant PWR

Versarien PLC

Verso

Versus Systems Inc

In response to US President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland, the Danish government has significantly ramped up defense spending for the Arctic territory. This announcement was made shortly after Trump&#8217;s statement.
What Happened: Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced a substantial investment in Greenland&#8217;s defense, amounting to a &#8220;double digit billion amount&#8221; in krone, equivalent to at least $1.5bn. The investment package includes the procurement of two inspection ships, long-range drones, and additional dog sled teams, as well as bolstering staffing at Arctic Command in Nuuk and an upgrade for one of Greenland&#8217;s main civilian airports, <a href="http://Denmark Ramps Up Greenland's Defense Budget Amid Trump's Renewed Acquisition Interest In response to US President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland, the Danish government has significantly ramped up defense spending for the Arctic territory. This announcement was made shortly after Trump's statement. What Happened: As reported by a BBC article on Thursday, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced a substantial investment in Greenland's defense, amounting to a &quot;double digit billion amount&quot; in krone, equivalent to at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn). The investment package includes the procurement of two inspection ships, long-range drones, and additional dog sled teams, as well as increased staffing at Arctic Command in Nuuk and an upgrade for one of Greenland's main civilian airports. Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, holds strategic importance to the US due to its location on the shortest route from North America to Europe and its significant mineral reserves. The territory also houses a large US space facility. See Also: Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF Reverses In December: What's Going On? Trump expressed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the &quot;ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity&quot; for the US. However, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded, stating &quot;we are not for sale&quot;, but emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and trade. Analysts suggest that Denmark's defense boost has been under discussion for a while and should not be seen as a direct response to Trump's comments. If Denmark fails to protect the waters around Greenland from potential encroachments by China and Russia, US demands for greater control could increase. Why It Matters: Trump's controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland and reclaiming the Panama Canal have been seen as part of his &quot;America First&quot; agenda, which emphasizes asserting U.S. interests on the global stage. The idea of buying Greenland apparently came from cosmetics heir, Ronald Lauder, as revealed in an upcoming book. Trump's call to reclaim the Panama Canal has sparked backlash from Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, highlighting potential tensions that could affect maritime trade through the critical waterway. Read Next: Biden Dumps Student Loan Forgiveness Plans: What It Means For Borrowers, Loan Providers Like SoFi">reported</a> BBC on Wednesday.
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, holds strategic importance to the U.S. due to its location on the shortest route from North America to Europe and its significant mineral reserves. The territory also houses a large U.S. space facility.
Trump expressed on Truth Social, that the &#8220;ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity&#8221; for the U.S. However, Greenland&#8217;s Prime Minister Mute Egede responded, stating &#8220;We are not for sale&#8221;, but emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and trade.
Analysts suggest that Denmark&#8217;s defense boost has been under discussion for a while and should not be viewed as a direct response to Trump&#8217;s comments. If Denmark fails to protect the waters around Greenland from potential encroachments by China and Russia, US demands for greater control could increase.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42660458/schwab-us-dividend-equity-etf-reverses-in-december-whats-going-on?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF Reverses In December: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>
Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42678846/trumps-controversial-remarks-on-panama-canal-and-greenland-safeguarding-trade-and-security-or-grabbing-power">controversial remarks</a> about acquiring Greenland and reclaiming the Panama Canal have been seen as part of his &#8220;America First&#8221; agenda, which emphasizes asserting U.S. interests on the global stage. The idea of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/09/28875236/donald-trumps-said-greenland-purchase-was-his-idea-but-it-came-from-a-new-york-cosmetics-heir-reveal">buying Greenland</a> apparently came from cosmetics heir, Ronald Lauder, as revealed in an upcoming book. 
Trump&#8217;s call to reclaim the Panama Canal has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639737/trumps-call-to-reclaim-panama-canal-sparks-backlash-every-square-meter-belongs-to-panama-says-president-mulino">sparked backlash</a> from Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, highlighting potential tensions that could affect maritime trade through the critical waterway.
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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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Trump Effect? Denmark Boosts Greenland's Defense Budget Amid President-Elect's Renewed Acquisition Interest

Mark Cuban took to the Bluesky platform on Dec. 1 to issue a dire warning about the future of housing affordability. His message? It's not interest rates that will be the top challenge for homeowners in the next few years – it's home insurance.
Cuban said:
"Home insurance in areas hit by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41222716/as-florida-prepares-for-one-of-deadliest-hurricanes-here-are-some-potential-stock-winners-and-lo">repetitive disasters</a> will be the number one housing affordability issue over the next four years. And possibly going into the midterms. More so than interest rates.&nbsp;
Florida in particular is going to have huge problems."
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This comment wasn't made in a vacuum. Cuban was responding to a post by another Bluesky user, @AmyL, who painted a grim picture of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/04/38046445/florida-governor-ron-desantis-raises-alarm-by-calling-citizens-insurance-not-solvent-as-an-explosive">housing market in Florida</a>:
"Here in Florida we have a housing crisis of our own – developers are building affordable homes all around, but many are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/10/41353947/5-6-million-vacant-homes-in-america-are-we-misunderstanding-the-housing-crisis-experts-weigh-in">sitting empty</a> because people can't afford the necessary home insurance."
Cuban's concern is rooted in the growing number of natural disasters hitting regions like Florida, California and the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes, wildfires and flooding are becoming more frequent and severe, leading insurance companies to either raise premiums dramatically or pull out of these markets altogether.
See Also: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion –<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-homes-private-credit-fund"> they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends</a>
Take Florida, for example. Once a haven for retirees and snowbirds, the state faces skyrocketing insurance premiums due to its vulnerability to hurricanes. Some insurers have stopped offering coverage, forcing homeowners to rely on state-backed programs that aren't always sufficient.
This has created a vicious cycle:
• Homes in disaster-prone areas are becoming increasingly expensive to insure.
• Without insurance, many prospective buyers are priced out, even if the home is "affordable."
• Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40837523/suze-orman-isnt-wasting-money-on-insurance-for-her-condo-im-not-paying-28-000-a-year-when-the-in">property damage risks</a> remain high, discouraging investment and leaving homes empty.
It's not just Florida. Here are some areas in the U.S. known for frequent natural disasters – and the ripple effects they're experiencing:
1. California: Wildfires have devastated entire communities, leading to billions in damages and skyrocketing premiums.
2. Texas: Hurricanes, flooding and hailstorms make parts of the state a high-risk zone for insurers.
3. Louisiana: Like Florida, Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and rising sea levels.
4. Oklahoma: Tornadoes regularly wreak havoc, increasing home repair costs and insurance premiums.
5. Midwest States: Flooding from rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri has made some areas nearly uninsurable.
Trending: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partnered with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target announces the deadline to invest this year is 12/20. – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Last Chance to get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>
Cuban's prediction that home insurance will become a political issue makes sense. As premiums rise and insurers retreat, state and federal governments may have to step in to prevent housing markets in disaster-prone areas from collapsing.
But it's not just about legislation. This crisis is a wake-up call for how we handle climate change, urban planning and disaster preparedness. Without serious reforms, homeowners in high-risk areas might face an impossible choice: pay unaffordable premiums, go without insurance or leave their communities entirely.
Mark Cuban's warning highlights an often-overlooked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42572520/2025-housing-market-looks-like-a-year-of-struggle-for-states-like-builders-now-hold-record-inventory">aspect of the housing crisis</a>. While interest rates and rising home prices grab headlines, the real threat may come from something even harder to control: nature. For homeowners in places like Florida, the clock is ticking and the need for solutions has never been more urgent.
If you're considering buying property in a disaster-prone area, it's crucial to factor in the cost – and availability – of home insurance. But for savvy investors, this shifting landscape could be a unique opportunity. By focusing on rentals or REITs in safer regions, there's still a way to turn the challenges of today's housing market into a long-term advantage.
Read Next:
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<li>Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/marcus-millichap-backed-platform-makes-it-easy-to-invest-in-real-estate"> this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a></li>
<li>This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bezos-landlord-100-dollars">become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100 for properties like the Byer House from Stranger Things.</a></li>
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'Florida, In Particular, Is Going To Have Huge Problems' – Mark Cuban Says #1 Housing Affordability Issue Is Insurance, Not Interest Rates

Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 14.69% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 26.58%. Currently, Apple has a market capitalization of $3.90 trillion. 
Buying $100 In AAPL: If an investor had bought $100 of AAPL stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $3,415.99 today based on a price of $258.10 for AAPL at the time of writing.
<h3>Apple's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735166738_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

AAPL

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Apple Stock In The Last 15 Years

<h3>GAINERS:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LBUY">Leafbuyer Techs</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LBUY#OTC">LBUY</a>) shares closed up 33.33% at $0.02</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CBDY">Target Group</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBDY#OTC">CBDY</a>) shares closed up 25.00% at $0.00</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CBWTF">Auxly Cannabis Group</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBWTF#OTC">CBWTF</a>) shares closed up 22.11% at $0.02</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CLSH">CLS Holdings USA</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSH#OTC">CLSH</a>) shares closed up 17.88% at $0.04</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RSSFF">Affinor Growers</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSSFF#OTC">RSSFF</a>) shares closed up 16.67% at $0.07</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EAST">Eastside Distilling</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAST#NASDAQ">EAST</a>) shares closed up 14.75% at $0.80</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FFNTF">4Front Ventures</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFNTF#OTC">FFNTF</a>) shares closed up 10.53% at $0.02</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UGRO">Urban-gro</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UGRO#NASDAQ">UGRO</a>) shares closed up 8.57% at $1.08</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNBX">CNBX Pharmaceuticals</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNBX#OTC">CNBX</a>) shares closed up 6.00% at $0.01</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TGIFF">1933 Industries</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGIFF#OTC">TGIFF</a>) shares closed up 5.15% at $0.01</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZLDAF">Zelira Therapeutics</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZLDAF#OTC">ZLDAF</a>) shares closed up 4.88% at $0.37</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZDPY">Zoned Properties</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZDPY#OTC">ZDPY</a>) shares closed up 4.53% at $0.46</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOL">Emeren Group</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOL#NYSE">SOL</a>) shares closed up 4.00% at $2.10</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNTMF">Cansortium</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNTMF#OTC">CNTMF</a>) shares closed up 3.57% at $0.07</li>
</ul>
<h3>LOSERS:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MPXOF">MPX International</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPXOF#OTC">MPXOF</a>) shares closed down 81.82% at $0.0002</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMMJ">Body and Mind</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMMJ#OTC">BMMJ</a>) shares closed down 24.35% at $0.01</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FUAPF">Global Compliance</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUAPF#OTC">FUAPF</a>) shares closed down 24.05% at $0.00</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RMHB">Rocky Mountain High</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RMHB#OTC">RMHB</a>) shares closed down 18.75% at $0.01</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NWVCF">EnWave</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWVCF#OTC">NWVCF</a>) shares closed down 8.97% at $0.14</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CURR">Currenc Group</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CURR#NASDAQ">CURR</a>) shares closed down 7.95% at $1.56</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KAYS">Kaya Holdings</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KAYS#OTC">KAYS</a>) shares closed down 7.16% at $0.03</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVSI">CV Sciences</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVSI#OTC">CVSI</a>) shares closed down 6.52% at $0.03</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MRMD">MariMed</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRMD#OTC">MRMD</a>) shares closed down 6.43% at $0.12</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GNLN">Greenlane Hldgs</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNLN#NASDAQ">GNLN</a>) shares closed down 5.40% at $1.51</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CWBHF">Charlottes Web Holdings</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWBHF#OTC">CWBHF</a>) shares closed down 4.37% at $0.10</li>
</ul>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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CANNABIS WHEATON INCOME by Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp.

CBWTF

CLSH

CNBX

CNTMF

CURE PHARMA HLDG CORP by CURE Pharmaceutical Holding Corp.

CURR

CVSI

CWBHF

EAST

FFNTF

FUAPF

GNLN

KAYS

LEAFBUYER TECHNOLOGIES by Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc.

LBUY

MPXOF

MRMD

NWVCF

RMHB

RSSFF

TGIFF

UGRO

ZDPY

ZLDAF

Marijuana Stock Movers For December 25, 2024

In the current market session, Portland Gen Electric Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) share price is at $43.71, after a 0.02% increase. Moreover, over the past month, the stock fell by 8.93%, but in the past year, spiked by 0.76%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735155908_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>Portland Gen Electric P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 24.36 in the Electric Utilities industry, Portland Gen Electric Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 13.19. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735155908_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In summary, while the price-to-earnings ratio is a valuable tool for investors to evaluate a company's market performance, it should be used with caution. A low P/E ratio can be an indication of undervaluation, but it can also suggest weak growth prospects or financial instability. Moreover, the P/E ratio is just one of many metrics that investors should consider when making investment decisions, and it should be evaluated alongside other financial ratios, industry trends, and qualitative factors. By taking a comprehensive approach to analyzing a company's financial health, investors can make well-informed decisions that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.

Intraday Update

P/E Ratio Insights for Portland Gen Electric

Intuitive Machines's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NYSE">LUNR</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.79% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 14.22 million shares sold short, which is 17.11% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.0 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Intuitive Machines Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735155020_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Intuitive Machines has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Intuitive Machines's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Intuitive Machines's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 8.55%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

LUNR

Peering Into Intuitive Machines's Recent Short Interest

American Tower's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMT#NYSE">AMT</a>) short percent of float has fallen 6.67% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.55 million shares sold short, which is 1.12% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.88 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>American Tower Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735155016_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for American Tower has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing American Tower's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, American Tower's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.38%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into American Tower's Recent Short Interest

GE HealthCare Techs's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NYSE">GEHC</a>) short percent of float has risen 6.2% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 9.24 million shares sold short, which is 2.57% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.56 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>GE HealthCare Techs Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735155011_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for GE HealthCare Techs has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing GE HealthCare Techs's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, GE HealthCare Techs's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.65%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

GEHC

(GEHC) - Analyzing GE HealthCare Techs's Short Interest

On Dec. 21, the U.S. Senate passed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42141974/house-passes-196-billion-social-security-bill-will-repealing-pension-reductions-shorten-the-programs-lifespan">Social Security Fairness Act</a>, a bipartisan bill to eliminate reductions in social security benefits for millions of Americans. With a vote of 76-20, the bill now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for final approval. This marks a significant milestone for retired educators, firefighters, police officers and government employees.&nbsp;
For decades, certain provisions have reduced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/41882904/think-youll-get-full-social-security-missing-this-35-year-window-could-cost-you-thousands">Social Security payments</a> for retirees receiving public pensions. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) were initially set to prevent overlapping benefits but have been widely criticized as unfair.&nbsp;
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"Millions of retired teachers, firefighters, letter carriers and state and local workers have waited decades for this moment," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor. "No longer will public retirees see their hard-earned Social Security benefits robbed, thanks to this bill."
Repealing the WEP and GPO will restore full <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41210847/do-former-u-s-presidents-really-collect-social-security-the-surprising-truth-about-their-retirem">Social Security benefits</a> to nearly three million retirees nationwide. Advocates argue that these workers deserve the benefits they've contributed to throughout their careers.&nbsp;
"Everyone knows a teacher, firefighter, law enforcement officer, nurse or public worker who's paid into Social Security year after year, only to have their payments curbed by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset when they retire," said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers.&nbsp;
See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a>
Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a leading advocate for the bill, said Social Security is a bedrock of the American middle class that public workers pay into like anyone else and that the WEP and GPO restrictions make no sense. "These workers serve the public," he said, addressing the Senate. "They protect our communities. They teach our kids."
National organizations representing public workers have also praised the decision. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's website shares celebratory messages from those in the National Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Education Association and others.&nbsp;
Rebecca Pringle, president of the National Education Association, celebrated the bipartisan effort, saying, "Public service workers have been waiting 40 years for this wrong to be righted and we are grateful that members of Congress, in both the House and now the Senate, put aside partisan politics to come together and pass the Social Security Fairness Act."
Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>
While the legislation is celebrated for its fairness, not everyone agrees it is the right path forward. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), repealing the WEP and GPO will add an estimated $195 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40817544/report-warns-of-16-500-annual-social-security-benefit-cut-for-dual-income-couples-by-2033">Social Security Trust Funds</a>, already projected to be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2035, will see their insolvency date increased by about six months.
Critics of the bill, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, expressed concerns about its long-term impact. "We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis," he said. Others, like Sen. Rand Paul, proposed alternative solutions such as gradually raising the Social Security retirement age, though such amendments gained little support.
The bill now awaits President Biden's signature. Once enacted, it will provide immediate relief to retirees who have seen reduced benefits for years. Since the bill was set to apply to payments beginning January 2024, the CBO suggests that benefits owed before fiscal year 2025 may be paid retroactively.&nbsp;
This legislation represents a long-awaited victory for public service retirees and a step toward a fairer retirement system. Stay informed about updates on Social Security and other retirement-related news to plan for your future.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a></li>
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Personal Finance

A Long-Awaited Victory: Public Workers Set To Receive Higher Social Security Benefits After Senate Passes Social Security Fairness Act

In the current market session, Dow Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOW#NYSE">DOW</a>) price is at $40.09, after a 0.30% spike. However, over the past month, the stock fell by 8.76%, and in the past year, by 27.41%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is undervalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735153208_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>A Look at Dow P/E Relative to Its Competitors</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 29.31 in the Chemicals industry, Dow Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 26.65. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735153208_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Price Over Earnings Overview: Dow

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it will issue automatic payments this month to approximately 1 million <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-special-payments-going-this-month-to-1-million-taxpayers-who-did-not-claim-2021-recovery-rebate-credit-encourages-non-filers-about-approaching-deadline-to-claim-credits">taxpayers</a> who did not claim the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2021 Recovery Rebate Credit</a>.
The total amount of payments is expected to be around $2.4 billion, with individual payments potentially reaching up to $1,400.
The payments, which are part of ongoing efforts to assist taxpayers, will be sent to individuals who were eligible for the Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) but did not claim them on their 2021 tax returns.
The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit for those who missed out on one or more of the stimulus payments.
These payments will be issued automatically, meaning no additional action is required from eligible taxpayers. The funds will be either direct deposited or sent as paper checks, with most payments arriving by late January 2025.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42677188/elon-musk-calls-jeff-bezos-ex-wife-mackenzie-scotts-charitable-donations-concerning" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Calls Jeff Bezos&#8217; Ex-Wife MacKenzie Scott&#8217;s $19 Billion Charitable Donations &#8216;Concerning&#8217;</a>
Eligible taxpayers will also receive a separate notification letter from the IRS confirming the payment.
The IRS also reminded taxpayers who haven't yet filed their 2021 tax returns that they may still be eligible for the credit if they file by the April 15, 2025, deadline.
The payments will go to those who filed a 2021 tax return but left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or entered $0 when they were actually qualified.
These automatic payments aim to simplify the process for eligible taxpayers, saving them from filing an amended return. Additionally, the IRS assured that the payments would not count as income when determining eligibility for federal benefits such as SSI, SNAP, and WIC. The IRS said it continues its efforts to help taxpayers access credits and deductions, including other coronavirus tax relief measures.
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Equities

Payments of Up to $1,400 Coming for 1 Million Eligible Taxpayers, IRS Confirms

Taiwan&#8217;s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has reportedly blocked Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) $950 million acquisition of Delivery Hero&#8217;s Foodpanda <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38809280/uber-spices-up-taiwans-food-delivery-scene-with-950m-foodpanda-deal-whats-on-the-menu">business due to anti-competitive concerns.</a>
The merger, which was initially announced in May 2023, would have significantly increased Uber Eats&#8217; dominance in Taiwan&#8217;s food delivery market, giving the combined company over 90% of the market share, Reuters reports.
The FTC cited concerns that the merger would eliminate Foodpanda as Uber Eats&#8217; main competitor, reducing market pressure on the combined entity.
The commission argued that without this competition, Uber would have less incentive to keep prices low for consumers or commissions reasonable for restaurant partners.
With a huge market share, the merger could have led to higher prices and less choice for consumers, undermining the competitive landscape of Taiwan&#8217;s food delivery sector.
The deal was scrutinized by the FTC after Uber filed the application in November 2023. The commission stated that the merger&#8217;s negative effects would outweigh any economic benefits.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42677188/elon-musk-calls-jeff-bezos-ex-wife-mackenzie-scotts-charitable-donations-concerning">Elon Musk Calls Jeff Bezos&#8217; Ex-Wife MacKenzie Scott&#8217;s $19 Billion Charitable Donations &#8216;Concerning&#8217;</a>
The FTC also noted that corrective measures would not be sufficient to address these concerns.
In response, Uber and Delivery Hero said they might appeal the decision or consider terminating the acquisition.
Uber was optimistic about the deal, as it had hoped the merger would help boost its delivery business by contributing $150 million annually to its adjusted core profit.
While online food delivery platforms in Taiwan account for a small fraction of the broader food delivery market, Foodpanda&#8217;s operations had reached breakeven in adjusted core earnings by March 2024.
The proposed merger was expected to be finalized in the first half of 2025, but now faces significant regulatory hurdles in Taiwan.
This decision highlights ongoing scrutiny of mergers in the tech and delivery sectors, as regulators assess their long-term impact on competition and consumers.
Price Action: UBER shares 0.26% to $61.71 on Tuesday, while shares fell by 0.07% after hours.
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</ul>

UBER

Uber's Foodpanda Acquisition Blocked in Taiwan Due to Competition Concerns

President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s foreign policy rhetoric has recently shifted towards more aggressive stances, with controversial remarks about reclaiming the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639737/trumps-call-to-reclaim-panama-canal-sparks-backlash-every-square-meter-belongs-to-panama-says-president-mulino" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Panama Canal and acquiring Greenland</a>.
While unlikely to result in actual territorial changes, these statements reflect Trump&#8217;s continued &#8220;America First&#8221; agenda, which emphasizes asserting U.S. interests on the global stage, BBC News <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lnzzd1zrmo" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Trump&#8217;s remarks about the Panama Canal, made during a conservative conference in Arizona, center around what he perceives as &#8220;unfair&#8221; fees imposed on U.S. ships using the waterway.
The U.S. controlled the Panama Canal until 1977, when it was handed over to Panama under a treaty.
However, Trump has now suggested that the canal should be returned to U.S. control if Panama continues to impose what he called &#8220;ridiculous&#8221; charges, particularly with China&#8217;s increasing presence in the region.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42677225/is-the-stock-market-open-or-closed-on-christmas-day-2024-here-is-what-you-can-trade-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is Stock Market Open Or Closed On Christmas Day 2024? Here Is What You Can Trade Today</a>
China, the second-largest user of the canal after the U.S., has significant economic interests in Panama, which could pose security concerns for the U.S. in a future conflict.
Despite Trump&#8217;s claims, Panama&#8217;s President José Raúl Mulino has firmly rejected the notion, asserting that the canal is sovereign property of Panama.
Trump has also reiterated his 2019 desire to purchase Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. He argues that Greenland&#8217;s strategic location in the Arctic and its natural resources are essential for U.S. national security. Though Greenland&#8217;s prime minister, Múte B. Egede, has rejected the idea, Trump&#8217;s public push continues.
The U.S. maintains a military base in Greenland, and Russia&#8217;s growing interest in the region adds to the geopolitical tension, BBC News adds.
While these comments might be seen as coercive, they highlight Trump&#8217;s focus on using U.S. power to safeguard its trade and security interests. It remains to be seen how these statements will affect U.S. foreign relations moving forward, especially with countries like Denmark and Panama.
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Image: Shutterstock

Media

Trump's Controversial Remarks on Panama Canal and Greenland: Safeguarding Trade and Security or Grabbing Power?

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey on Tuesday provided an overview of which consumer sectors were the best performers in the third-quarter and highlighted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/12/42675763/santa-rally-serial-winners-10-stocks-historically-poised-for-big-year-end-gains">some &#8220;stocks with potential.&#8221; </a>
Sectors: One of the sectors highlighted by Telsey Advisory Group was the Off-Price group including TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TJX#NYSE">TJX</a>), Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BURL#NYSE">BURL</a>) and Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROST#NASDAQ">ROST</a>).&nbsp; All three of these companies in the Off-Price sector raised their annual profit outlooks in the third quarter, suggesting the discount retailers see benefits from a potentially cash-strapped consumer.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42669113/waymos-autonomous-vehicles-are-safer-than-human-drivers-report">Waymo&#8217;s Autonomous Vehicles Are Safer Than Human Drivers: Report</a>
Another sector of the Telsey Advisory Group's coverage that saw all companies in the firm's coverage raise their annual profit outlooks was the Digital/New Economy sector.&nbsp; Stitch Fix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFIX#NASDAQ">SFIX</a>), ThredUp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDUP#NASDAQ">TDUP</a>) and eyewear retailer Warby Parker Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WRBY#NYSE">WRBY</a>) comprise the Telsey Group's coverage in this sector.&nbsp;
"Some Stocks With Potential": The firm also highlighted Warby Parker as one of its "stocks with potential" and sees its operating momentum continuing in 2025 driven by enhanced telemedicine capabilities, expanded insurance coverage and scaling its contact lens business.&nbsp;
Telsey Advisory named Bath &amp; Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBWI#NYSE">BBWI</a>) as a stock with potential following its earnings and revenue beat-and-raise report for the third quarter. It also sees the store as a "holiday winner" with its strong gift assortment. 
The final "stock with potential" listed in the research note is RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>) which Telsey Advisory Group analyst Cristina Fernandez upgraded from Market Perform to Outperform last week. The analyst also raised the price target from $485 to $500 as she anticipates the retailer's strong demand trend to continue as the housing market begins to recover and new stores in European markets are opened. 
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Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Analyst Ratings

BBWI

BURL

ROST

SFIX

TDUP

WRBY

Warby Parker, RH, Bath & Body Works Are 'Stocks With Potential,' Analyst Says

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>JBLU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$7.00</td>
<td>$48.5K</td>
<td>25.1K</td>
<td align="right">799</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMTM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$82.5K</td>
<td>8</td>
<td align="right">650</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$84.3K</td>
<td>46.3K</td>
<td align="right">459</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BLDR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$359.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td align="right">191</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$97.00</td>
<td>$43.3K</td>
<td>238</td>
<td align="right">153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FDX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$43.2K</td>
<td>613</td>
<td align="right">129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$118.00</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>9</td>
<td align="right">82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$40.8K</td>
<td>64</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$61.7K</td>
<td>545</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>POWL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$30.3K</td>
<td>7</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For JBLU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 490 contract(s) at a $7.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.5K, with a price of $99.0 per contract. There were 25117 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 799 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMTM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMTM#NYSE">AMTM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 58 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 300 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $82.5K, with a price of $275.0 per contract. There were 8 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 650 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DAL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 350 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $84.3K, with a price of $241.0 per contract. There were 46357 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 459 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BLDR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLDR#NYSE">BLDR</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 233 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 191 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $359.0K, with a price of $1880.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 191 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UAL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $97.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.3K, with a price of $433.0 per contract. There were 238 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 153 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FDX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 113 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 60 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.2K, with a price of $720.0 per contract. There were 613 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 129 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VRT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 75 contract(s) at a $118.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.2K, with a price of $510.0 per contract. There were 9 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 82 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 113 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $340.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.8K, with a price of $4089.0 per contract. There were 64 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 723 day(s) on December 18, 2026. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.7K, with a price of $3085.0 per contract. There were 545 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 20 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For POWL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWL#NASDAQ">POWL</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 233 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.3K, with a price of $3036.0 per contract. There were 7 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 11 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AMTM

BLDR

JBLU

POWL

10 Industrials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$86.2K</td>
<td>22.4K</td>
<td>85.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$227.50</td>
<td>$50.5K</td>
<td>11.0K</td>
<td>17.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$30.1K</td>
<td>11.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$69.6K</td>
<td>28.1K</td>
<td>863</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$26.4K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>409</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DKNG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$38.00</td>
<td>$39.5K</td>
<td>793</td>
<td>373</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CZR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$28.1K</td>
<td>570</td>
<td>279</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$38.5K</td>
<td>12.8K</td>
<td>231</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WW</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SERV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$39.5K</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 53 contract(s) at a $450.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $86.2K, with a price of $1625.0 per contract. There were 22460 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 85344 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $227.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.5K, with a price of $253.0 per contract. There were 11095 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17023 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 86 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1157 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 80 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.1K, with a price of $26.0 per contract. There were 11091 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1260 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 387 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $69.6K, with a price of $174.0 per contract. There were 28104 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 863 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SN#NYSE">SN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 44 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.4K, with a price of $600.0 per contract. There were 4914 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DKNG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKNG#NASDAQ">DKNG</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 86 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $38.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.5K, with a price of $395.0 per contract. There were 793 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 373 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CZR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 125 contract(s) at a $32.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.1K, with a price of $225.0 per contract. There were 570 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 279 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.5K, with a price of $385.0 per contract. There were 12804 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 231 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WW (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WW#NASDAQ">WW</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $280.0 per contract. There were 2 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SERV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SERV#NASDAQ">SERV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 751 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.5K, with a price of $790.0 per contract. There were 60 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 55 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

BABA

DKNG

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

SERV

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$29.6K</td>
<td>33.8K</td>
<td>140.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BBAI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$3.50</td>
<td>$97.9K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>10.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td>82.3K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$265.00</td>
<td>$619.7K</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/03/25</td>
<td>$245.00</td>
<td>$35.9K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CORZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$31.6K</td>
<td>7.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RGTI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$8.00</td>
<td>$293.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CDNS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$335.00</td>
<td>$170.5K</td>
<td>65</td>
<td>923</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BRZE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$28.4K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>629</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COHR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/27/24</td>
<td>$99.00</td>
<td>$39.3K</td>
<td>491</td>
<td>327</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $142.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.6K, with a price of $74.0 per contract. There were 33843 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 140691 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BBAI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAI#NYSE">BBAI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 751 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 466 contract(s) at a $3.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $97.9K, with a price of $210.0 per contract. There were 1222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10947 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.5K, with a price of $375.0 per contract. There were 82343 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7349 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 9 day(s) on January 3, 2025. This event was a transfer of 64 contract(s) at a $265.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $619.7K, with a price of $9685.0 per contract. There were 28 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3985 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on January 3, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $245.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.9K, with a price of $359.0 per contract. There were 3049 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3079 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CORZ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.6K, with a price of $317.0 per contract. There were 7870 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1276 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RGTI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. Parties traded 889 contract(s) at a $8.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 63 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $293.4K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 1789 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1071 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CDNS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 142 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 98 contract(s) at a $335.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $170.5K, with a price of $1740.0 per contract. There were 65 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 923 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BRZE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRZE#NASDAQ">BRZE</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 23 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 264 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.4K, with a price of $108.0 per contract. There were 3385 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 629 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COHR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COHR#NYSE">COHR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on December 27, 2024. Parties traded 254 contract(s) at a $99.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 44 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.3K, with a price of $155.0 per contract. There were 491 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 327 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AVGO

BBAI

BRZE

CDNS

COHR

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

MSTR

NVDA

RGTI

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Elon Musk is no stranger to controversy, but his recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/03/37923084/elon-musk-used-to-email-ex-google-ceo-larry-page-when-he-was-kind-of-homeless-and-ask-can-i-come">remarks about homelessness</a> have sparked a particularly intense reaction. On Dec. 10, Musk took to X – his own platform, no less – to declare, "In most cases, the word ‘homeless' is a lie. It's usually a propaganda word for violent drug addicts with severe mental illness."
The statement came in response to Jeremy Kauffman's post, which painted a grim picture of housing programs in San Francisco. Kauffman listed incidents of squalor, violence, drug overdoses and evictions, suggesting that simply giving unhoused individuals a roof doesn't fix the root of the problem. Musk agreed.
Don't Miss:
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This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42531924/elon-musk-had-a-food-budget-of-30-a-month-his-diet-was-mostly-hot-dogs-and-oranges-in-america-its-pretty-easy-to-keep-yourself-alive">isn't new territory for him</a>. Back in October, during an interview with Tucker Carlson, Musk doubled down on his view of homelessness as a far graver and more complex issue than it's often presented.&nbsp;
According to The Independent, Musk stated in the interview, "Homeless is a misnomer. It implies that someone got a little bit behind on their mortgage and if you just gave them a job, they'd be back on their feet," he said. "What you actually see are violent drug zombies with dead eyes, needles everywhere and human feces on the streets."&nbsp;
But Musk didn't stop there. He argued that pouring more money into homelessness programs only makes things worse. In his view, there's a dark financial incentive at play. He took to X again, writing: "The ‘save the homeless' NGOs are often paid based on how many homeless people are on the streets, thus creating a strong financial incentive for them to maximize the number of homeless people and never actually solve the problem!"
<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">The "save the homeless" NGOs are often paid according to how many homeless people are on the streets, thus creating a strong financial incentive for them to maximize the number of homeless people and never actually solve the problem! Incentives explain outcomes. <a href="https://t.co/ujxryf8z6d">https://t.co/ujxryf8z6d</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1866365811977511176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>
Critics have called Musk's comments tone-deaf, accusatory and just flat-out wrong. Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center stated, "People are really struggling to afford basic needs in this country, like rent and food. But I don't expect Musk or the other billionaires to know anything about that."&nbsp;
Others argue that someone with Musk's fortune – over $300 billion – could personally solve the housing crisis in the U.S. but chooses to throw verbal grenades instead.
The irony isn't lost on people, either. Musk, who had reportedly funneled over $250 million into <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42417117/jeff-bezos-shrugs-off-worries-about-musks-influence-on-the-trump-administration-if-that-turns-out-to-be-naive-well-well-see">Donald Trump's presidential campaign</a>, has become increasingly vocal about slashing federal programs. Programs, mind you, that directly assist the very people he's labeling as "violent drug addicts."
Trending: Unlock the hidden potential of commercial real estate —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/marcus-millichap-backed-platform-makes-it-easy-to-invest-in-real-estate"> This platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today!</a>
So, where does the truth lie? Advocates say Musk's views ignore decades of research that paint a far more nuanced picture of homelessness. According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 650,000 Americans experience homelessness on any given night – and nearly 17% of them are children. The vast majority are not violent, nor are they drug users. Many work full-time but still can't afford rent due to skyrocketing housing costs and stagnant wages.
Even more sobering: unhoused people are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes than perpetrators. The idea of "violent drug zombies" may grab attention, but experts say it's a gross oversimplification that fuels stigma.
For Musk, though, this isn't just rhetoric – it's a rallying cry. He's urging lawmakers and the White House to impose drastic cuts to federal programs, all in the name of "efficiency."&nbsp;
Critics, however, argue that weaponizing homelessness as a talking point – while ignoring the systemic issues that cause it – is not only harmful but wildly irresponsible.
The world's richest man has every platform and resource at his disposal, yet his commentary seems heavy on finger-pointing and light on solutions. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: when Musk talks, people listen. Whether or not they agree? That's another story.
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Elon Musk Says Term 'Homeless' Is A Lie And Misleading – Argues The Programs Claiming To Fix It Are Only Making It Worse For Financial Gain

ESAB's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESAB#NYSE">ESAB</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.77% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 616 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.47% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>ESAB Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735146922_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for ESAB has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing ESAB's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, ESAB's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.08%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ESAB

How Is The Market Feeling About ESAB?

Oracle's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 3.88% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 20.46 million shares sold short, which is 1.24% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.71 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Oracle Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1735146917_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Oracle has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Oracle's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Oracle's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.02%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

ORCL

Peering Into Oracle's Recent Short Interest

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
<a href="https://www.taylorstrategy.com/posts/ai-is-bringing-the-metaverse-back-to-life-so-whats-next">The metaverse is back</a>, creating a massive opportunity for some of the best metaverse stocks.



Yep, that network of shared, immersive virtual worlds where you can play, work, and even shop with millions of other people is back. The same one that helped Mark Zuckerberg and&nbsp;Meta Platforms&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meta-stock-quote/">META</a>) rack up&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/2023/10/27/mark-zuckerberg-net-worth-metaverse-losses-46-billion-earnings-stock/">about $46.5 billion in losses since 2019</a>. 



Should the metaverse idea take off this time,&nbsp;<a href="https://connect.comptia.org/blog/metaverse-statistics-facts-stats-market-size-and-future">Statista says we could be looking at a potential $490.4 billion market by 2030</a>. With hopes that it will &ndash; thanks in part to AI &ndash; investors may want to consider some of the best metaverse stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), such as:



<h2>Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF (METV)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/etf-arrows-1600-300x169.jpg" alt='Colorful arrows pointing at the multicolored word "ETF" against a cement surface'><div>Source: shutterstock.com/eamesBot</div></div>


Since late last year, the&nbsp;Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF&nbsp;(NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/metv-stock-quote/">METV</a>) rallied from a low of about $9.05 to a recent high of $11.67.



All should help push the METV ETF even higher, along with the metaverse comeback story. With an expense ratio of 0.59%.



For anyone looking to diversify with some of the metaverse stocks with low fees, the METV ETF is an attractive place to park your cash long-term.



<h2>ProShares Metaverse ETF (VERS)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/etf-bull-keyboard-300x169.jpg" alt="keyboard featuring a bull on the etf key. etfs to buy"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>


Just as explosive, the&nbsp;ProShares Metaverse ETF&nbsp;(NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vers-stock-quote/">VERS</a>) ran from about $33 to $42.11, and could see higher highs. 



With an expense ratio of 0.58%, the ETF tracks the Solactive Metaverse Theme Index, and offers investors access to companies shaping the virtual world.



&nbsp;As you wait for the metaverse ETF to push higher, why not get paid for it?



<h2>iShares Future Metaverse Tech and Communications ETF (IVRS)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="122" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/communication-technology-1600-300x122.jpg" alt="communication technology for internet business. global world network and telecommunication on earth"><div>Source: greenbutterfly / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


There&rsquo;s also the&nbsp;iShares Future Metaverse Tech and Communications ETF&nbsp;(NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ivrs-stock-quote/">IVRS</a>), which invests in tech hardware and <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/software/">software stocks</a> associated with the metaverse.&nbsp;



With an expense ratio of 0.47%, the ETF holds impressive <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/">tech stocks</a>. At the moment, it&rsquo;s a very low volume ETF that trades just under $33 a share.



<h2>Unity Software (U)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unity_u_stock_1600-300x169.png" alt="In this photo illustration Unity Software Inc. (U stock) logo is seen on a mobile phone and a computer screen."><div>Source: viewimage / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


Unity Software&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/u/">U</a>), which provides software platforms that create and operate interactive, real-time 3D content. 



While its chart has seen better days, don&rsquo;t write the stock off just yet. For one, the company is cutting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-08/unity-software-to-cut-1-800-employees-about-25-of-workforce">about 25% of its workforce</a>, becoming far more focused on eventual profitability.&nbsp;



Two, with the resurgence of the metaverse, Unity Software could come back strong, with patience. Three, Unity is &ldquo;bringing its powerful authoring tools for creating immersive real-time 3D apps and simulations to Apple&rsquo;s new spatial computing platform, Apple Vision Pro,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://unity.com/polyspatial-visionos-industry#:~:text=Unity%20is%20bringing%20its%20powerful,computing%20platform%2C%20Apple%20Vision%20Pro.">according to Unity&rsquo;s site</a>.



&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been working with Unity to bring those apps to Vision Pro, so popular Unity-based games and apps can gain full access to VisionOS features such as Passthrough, high-resolution rendering and native gestures,&rdquo; said Susan Prescott, Apple&rsquo;s vice president of worldwide developer relations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/05/unity-stock-jumps-as-much-as-11percent-on-apple-vision-pro-partnership.html">as quoted by CNBC</a>.



With that, I&rsquo;d take advantage of the recent, and most likely temporary pullback in U. From its current price of around $33, I&rsquo;d like to see the stock retest $50 initially.



<h2>Roblox Corp. (RBLX)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/rblx1600-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Roblox sign logo at headquarters. RBLX stock"><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90878692/roblox-grows-up#:~:text=The%203D%2Dworld%20for%20kids,Brands%20are%20taking%20notice.&amp;text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20you%27re%20ready%2C,whatever%20posture%20feels%20most%20supportive.%E2%80%9D">Roblox is the closest thing to a mainstream metaverse</a>. With a mission to build a human co-experience platform that enables billions of users to come together to play, learn, communicate, and explore, it&rsquo;s one of the top metaverse stocks to consider.



Better, the company currently has about&nbsp;<a href="https://backlinko.com/roblox-users">70.2 million daily active users</a>. All of which &ldquo;create, play, work, learn, and connect with each other in&nbsp;experiences&nbsp;built by our global community of creators,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.roblox.com/news/news-details/2024/Roblox-to-Report-Fourth-Quarter-and-Fiscal-Year-2023-Financial-Results-on-February-7-2024/default.aspx">as noted by the company</a>.&nbsp;



Earnings are just as exciting here. In its most recent quarter, the company saw revenue growth of 38% to $713.2 million year over year. Bookings were up 20% year over year to $839.5 million. Average daily users jumped 20% to 70.2 million.&nbsp;



&ldquo;Our strong third-quarter results reflect our continued platform innovation and growth across all age groups and geographies. We are executing against our key priorities to enable deeper forms of immersion, communication, and Avatar expression on the platform, while investing in artificial intelligence, brands, and advertising, to drive future growth,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.roblox.com/news/news-details/2023/Roblox-Reports-Third-Quarter-2023-Financial-Results/default.aspx">added David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox</a>.



<h2>Nvidia (NVDA)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/nvda1600-4-300x169.png" alt="Nvidia corporation (NVDA) logo displayed on smartphone with stock market chart background. Nvidia is a global leader in artificial intelligence hardware and software"><div>Source: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


There&rsquo;s also the super-explosive Nvidia, which just ran from a low of about $400 to $616.17. From here, it could easily test $700 near-term, possibly $1,000 by year-end. 



All thanks to incredible demand for its AI chips, which show no signs of slowing.



Better,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+PT+Change/NVIDIA+%28NVDA%29+PT+Raised+to+%24740+at+KeyBanc/22630932.html?classic=1">KeyBanc, which cited strong demand for AI chips by data centers</a>, hiked their price target to $740 from $650, with an overweight rating.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/nvidia-initiated-with-an-overweight-at-cantor-fitzgerald">Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald</a>&nbsp;also initiated coverage of NVDA with an overweight rating with a $775 price target.



We also have to remember that Nvidia is a key part of the metaverse. For example, it just announced a &ldquo;suite of new generative AI tools for users to experiment with on Omniverse, its real-time graphics collaboration platform,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://cybernews.com/tech/nvidia-announces-new-ai-tools-to-reimagine-metaverse/">as noted by CyberNews.com</a>. It&rsquo;s even&nbsp;<a href="https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-and-microsoft-to-bring-the-industrial-metaverse-and-ai-to-hundreds-of-millions-of-enterprise-users-via-azure-cloud">partnered with tech giants like Microsoft</a>&nbsp;to bring the industrial metaverse and AI to millions of users.&nbsp;



<h2>Meta Platforms (META)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/fb-stock-meta-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="META stock logo is shown on a device screen. Meta is the new corporate name of Facebook."><div>Source: Blue Planet Studio / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


Meta Platforms &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/microsoft-market-cap-today-0f6746ca">now a $3 trillion company</a>&nbsp;&mdash; still plays an essential role in the future of the metaverse, even though it lost billions of dollars with it so far.



<a href="https://www.xrtoday.com/mixed-reality/porsche-partners-with-meta-to-demonstrate-metaverse-potential/">According to XRToday.com</a>, Porsche will leverage Meta&rsquo;s &ldquo;MR headsets to create immersive presentations for upcoming vehicles in a bid to showcase how emerging Metaverse services provide business value. 



With its partnership, Porsche allows multiple attendees to move around and interact with a shared VR environment during new and upcoming product showcases.&rdquo;



That&rsquo;s another reason to get excited about the metaverse comeback.



On the date of publication, Ian Cooper did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Ian Cooper, a contributor to InvestorPlace.com, has been analyzing stocks and options for web-based advisories since 1999.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/01/the-7-best-stocks-and-etfs-to-invest-in-the-metaverse-now/">The 7 Best Stocks and ETFs to Invest in the Metaverse Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

The 7 Best Stocks and ETFs to Invest in the Metaverse Now

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
The metaverse is coming back, creating a long list of hot metaverse stocks to buy.



Look at&nbsp;Meta Platforms&rsquo;&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/meta-stock-quote/">META</a>) Reality Labs, for example. While it saw a massive loss of $4.6 billion in its recent quarter, <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/metas-reality-labs-reports-revenue-of-1b-losses-of-4-6b">revenue stood at $1 billion</a>. A year earlier, the Labs&rsquo; revenue was $727 million.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve invested heavily in both AI and the metaverse and will continue to do so,&rdquo;&nbsp;CEO Mark Zuckerberg added.



Despite the metaverse&rsquo;s dismal history, it could be worth about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-metaverse-market">$936 billion by 2030</a>, according to Grand View Research. This is due in part to end-use industry demand from&nbsp;media and entertainment, education, and aerospace and defense.



With excitement only set to grow, investors may want to look into these top metaverse stocks to buy.



<h2>Roblox Corp. (RBLX)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/rblx1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Roblox Stock IPO"><div>Source: Miguel Lagoa / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


One of the top metaverse stocks to buy on pullbacks is&nbsp;Roblox Corp. (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/rblx-stock-quote/">RBLX</a>).&nbsp;



Over the last few weeks, Roblox slipped from about $46 to $38, where it found double bottom support. Further,&nbsp;analysts at Roth MKM <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4057001-roblox-among-top-comms-gainers-as-roth-mkm-sees-bright-2024">reiterated its buy</a> rating on the stock.



We&rsquo;ll get more information from RBLX earnings on Tuesday. Roth MKM raised its estimates after a strong year of engagement for the company. The firm also &ldquo;boosted fourth-quarter bookings expectations to $1.08B &mdash; reflecting 20% growth, in line with the rest of Wall Street &mdash; and raised its forecast for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to $188M,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4057001-roblox-among-top-comms-gainers-as-roth-mkm-sees-bright-2024">as noted by Seeking Alpha</a>.



Remember that RBLX is the closest thing to a mainstream metaverse, with about 70.2 million daily active users.



<h2>Unity Software (U)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unity_u_stock_1600-300x169.png" alt="In this photo illustration Unity Software Inc. (U stock) logo is seen on a mobile phone and a computer screen."><div>Source: viewimage / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


Take advantage of the recent dip to $32 on&nbsp;Unity Software&nbsp;(NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/u-stock-quote/">U</a>).&nbsp;



Down but not out, it&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/unity-software-cutting-25-staff-company-reset-continuation-2024-01-08/">cutting its workforce</a> by about 25%.&nbsp;Focusing more on profitability, U is working with&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>). They are concentrating on immersive, real-time 3D apps for the tech giant&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4635369-unity-buy-the-backbone-of-the-apple-visionpro-and-meta-quest?source=acquisition_campaign_google&amp;internal_promotion=true&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=20702154181&amp;utm_term=156477543482%5Edsa-1485125208378%5E%5E682998008775%5E%5E%5Eg&amp;hsa_acc=5428037747&amp;hsa_cam=20702154181&amp;hsa_grp=156477543482&amp;hsa_ad=682998008775&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=dsa-1485125208378&amp;hsa_kw=&amp;hsa_mt=&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA5fetBhC9ARIsAP1UMgHv4Qj9NbLNasc-gQOqZVbA_3dWkBr6qgBjbAs6vZnHwRsda6fZJ0saAjj6EALw_wcB">Apple Vision Pro</a>. Plus, with the metaverse showing signs of life, the company should see stronger demand.



Additionally, Bank of America just reiterated a buy rating on Unity. 



&ldquo;The bank has faith that Unity will emerge better positioned to compete in a stabilizing mobile game market with improved profitability and strategic focus.&nbsp;The wind-down of certain businesses will remove $300M in low-growth business that drags on profitability, and headcount reductions will result in savings of about $230M,&rdquo; as <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4059508-unity-reiterated-buy-at-bofa-amid-changes">noted</a> by Seeking Alpha.



From its current price of $32.84, I&rsquo;d like to see Unity Software initially retest $42.



<h2>ProShares Metaverse ETF (VERS)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/vr-metaverse-300x169.png" alt="An image of a person wearing a VR headset looking up, a nebulous digital cloud in the upper corner"><div>Source: Vit-Mar/Shutterstock</div></div>


Or, if you want to diversify at a low cost, check out the&nbsp;ProShares Metaverse ETF&nbsp;(NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vers-stock-quote/">VERS</a>).



With an <a href="https://www.proshares.com/our-etfs/strategic/vers">expense ratio</a> of 0.58%, the VERS ETF tracks&nbsp;the Solactive Metaverse Theme Index, which tracks stocks most relevant to the metaverse industry. Also, each company needs to generate at least 50% of revenues from metaverse operations. Top holdings for the ETF include&nbsp;Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amd-stock-quote/">AMD</a>), Meta Platforms,&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amzn-stock-quote/">AMZN</a>),&nbsp;Nvidia&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>), and&nbsp;Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>).



Since November, the VERS ETF ran from a low of about $33 to a high of $43. It dipped to about $39.62 and is just starting to push higher again.



On the date of publication, Ian Cooper did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Ian Cooper, a contributor to InvestorPlace.com, has been analyzing stocks and options for web-based advisories since 1999.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/02/3-metaverse-stocks-to-buy-on-the-dip-february-2024/">3 Metaverse Stocks to Buy on the Dip: February 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

3 Metaverse Stocks to Buy on the Dip: February 2024

AI-Powered Metaverse Applications Propelled Tech Stocks In 2023

ProShares Metaverse ETF declares quarterly distribution of $0.0389

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
The metaverse is rapidly gaining traction, and investors are scrambling to get in on the action with cheap metaverse stocks. As technology continues to advance, the concept of a fully immersive, interconnected virtual world is becoming increasingly tangible. These cheap metaverse stocks should be on every investors&rsquo; radar.



Although the technology so far has not met many investors&rsquo; expectations, I feel that we are just beginning to tap into the potential of the industry. We are using &lsquo;metaverse-like&rsquo; technologies increasingly in our everyday lives: from cryptocurrencies to NFTs to VR/AR and much more. It could be a matter of time before these brands lift off to new heights, thus making them comparably undervalued.



So for this article, here are seven cheap metaverse stocks for investors to buy for May. I believe that these brands will be strong performers in the future, and therefore won&rsquo;t stay cheap for much longer.



<h2>Roblox (RBLX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rblx-stock-300x169.jpg" alt="A child playing Roblox on a smartphone."><div>Source: Katya Rekina/ Shutterstock.com</div></div>Roblox (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/rblx-stock-quote/">RBLX</a>) operates a platform where users can create and play games. It has a vast user base and continues to focus on monetization strategies and partnerships, such as those with high-profile brands for advertising.



This year, RBLX has set a financial guidance with expected bookings of approximately $4.03 billion, up from <a href="https://ir.roblox.com/news/news-details/2024/Roblox-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2023-Financial-Results/">analysts&rsquo; expectations</a> of $3.98 billion, and aims for an adjusted EBITDA of around $490 million. The company plans to cap its capital expenditures related to infrastructure at about $100 million and anticipates a share dilution between 3% and 4%.



Additionally, RBLX is targeting a yearly growth in bookings of over 20% from 2025 to 2027, with an improvement in margins of 100 to 300 basis points annually over the same period&#8203;.



Looking back at 2023, RBLX reported significant financial metrics including a 38% year-over-year increase in revenue for the third quarter, reaching $713.2 million. Despite these gains, the company reported a net loss of $277.2 million for the quarter.



Trading at just 6.7 times sales, RBLX could be one of those undervalued metaverse stocks to consider.



<h2>Unity Software (U)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unity_u_stock_1600-300x169.png" alt="In this photo illustration Unity Software Inc. (U stock) logo is seen on a mobile phone and a computer screen."><div>Source: viewimage / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Unity Software (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/u-stock-quote/">U</a>) is a leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D content. Unity basically provides some of the &ldquo;picks and shovels&rdquo; that allow the metaverse to come to life.



This year,&nbsp; the <a href="https://unity.com/resources/industry-trends-report-2024">company aims to support creators</a> across the entire game development cycle with new AI features and a first look at Unity 6. They are also launching Unity Cloud, a platform aimed at broadening the usability of Unity&rsquo;s tools in cloud environments.



It also provided a financial outlook for 2024, projecting revenues between $1.76 billion to $1.80 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $400 million to $425 million.



Unity reported strong revenue growth, with a 38% increase year-over-year, and continued to invest in technology that advances its capabilities in real-time 3D content creation.



Stocks like U that provide the 3D engines for the metaverse to thrive may become in hot demand in later years, and of course it also benefits from the growth headwinds of the expanding gaming market as well.



<h2>Nvidia (NVDA)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nvda1600-1-300x169.png" alt="Nvidia (NVDA) investment growth and profit trading concept. Nvidia company logo on screen of smartphone against blurred background of up trading stock chart"><div>Source: Below the Sky / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nvda-stock-quote/">NVDA</a>) is known for its advanced graphics processing units that are essential for gaming and professional markets, including applications in the metaverse.



NVDA is still my best pick for one of those undervalued metaverse stocks despite its high multiples for both sales and earnings.&nbsp;



Financially, NVDA <a href="https://www.shacknews.com/article/138814/nvidia-nvda-q1-2025-revenue-guidance">has shown robust performance</a> and has projected even stronger outcomes for the upcoming fiscal year. For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, NVDA expects revenue to be around $24 billion. This guidance exceeds Wall Street expectations.



NVDA trades at 75 times earnings and 36 times sales. However, the expected growth rates for these metrics make them lower on their forward measures, at 39 times earnings and 22 times sales, respectively. This means that although these metrics may be high today, analysts are confident that NVDA&rsquo;s fundamentals will improve in the future.



There&rsquo;s also some potential for NVDA to do a stock split in the coming years, with it trading for nearly $900 per share at the time of writing, which could incur some indirect benefits to investors.



<h2>Shopify (SHOP)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shop_shopify1600-300x169.png" alt="Shopify (SHOP) on the phone display."><div>Source: Burdun Iliya / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Shopify (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/shop-stock-quote/">SHOP</a>) provides an e-commerce platform that is expanding into the metaverse by enabling new forms of digital commerce and integration of NFTs.



Shopify&rsquo;s metaverse strategy <a href="https://www.shopify.com/retail/digital-fashion-retail">includes enhancing digital fashion</a>, which represents a significant market opportunity projected to reach $50 billion by 2030. Digital fashion on Shopify allows for the creation of 3D clothing and accessories that are more sustainable and cost-effective.



Finally, Shopify&rsquo;s President has expressed optimism about the future of retail in the metaverse, emphasizing the importance of integrating commerce features into online platforms.



As one of the most popular web store builders, SHOP is positioning itself well to take advantage of the rising tide of metaverse products for store owners to tap into, potentially selling them on sites such as Instagram and Facebook.



Analysts are very optimistic about SHOP&rsquo;s near-term financial performance for FY2024, <a href="https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/shop/forecast/">anticipating that its EPS</a> will rise 944.33% to 1.04 this year. This then makes SHOP one of those undervalued metaverse stocks to consider.



<h2>ProShares Metaverse ETF (VERS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/vr-metaverse-300x169.png" alt="An image of a person wearing a VR headset looking up, a nebulous digital cloud in the upper corner"><div>Source: Vit-Mar/Shutterstock</div></div>ProShares Metaverse ETF (NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vers-stock-quote/">VERS</a>) is an exchange-traded fund that invests in companies heavily involved in the metaverse sector.



The financial data for VERS <a href="https://stockanalysis.com/etf/vers/holdings/">reveals an asset total</a> of $5.74M, with a relatively low expense ratio of 0.58%, and a P/E ratio of 25.42. The fund distributes a dividend yield of 0.69% with an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and maintains a conservative payout ratio of 17.44%. It has shown strong performance with a 1-year return of 24.81%.



Key stock holdings of the fund include leading tech companies like Alphabet (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>) 4.97%, Nvidia 4.60%, Apple (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/">AAPL</a>) 4.55%, Amazon (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/amzn-stock-quote/">AMZN</a>) 4.55%, and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/msft-stock-quote/">MSFT</a>) 4.38%.



I think that VERS could be one of those undervalued picks for investors to consider if they&rsquo;d like to invest in a broad-basket of metaverse stocks. It may go well with people who are particularly bullish on the sector, and its intersectionality with AI and robotics could further the bull case.



<h2>Fastly (FSLY)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/fsly-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A magnifying glass zooms in on the Fastly (FSLY) website."><div>Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Fastly (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/fsly-stock-quote/">FSLY</a>) operates an edge cloud platform, which is crucial for delivering content with reduced latency. In addition to U, it&rsquo;s one of those companies that provided the crucial infrastructure to make the metaverse a possibility.



FSLY <a href="https://investors.fastly.com/news/news-details/2024/Fastly-Announces-First-Quarter-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspx">has issued guidance</a> for 2024, forecasting total revenue to range between $555 million and $565 million. This represents a slight decrease from earlier projections of up to $585 million due to pricing pressures.



For the first quarter of 2024, Fastly reported a positive operating cash flow of $11.1 million and continues to focus on optimizing operations despite a non-GAAP operating loss.



I still believe that FSLY is an undervalued option for investors. For one, analysts have given the stock a 69.29% predicted upside from its current level. Its EPS also set to surge in the triple digits from FY2026 to FY2027, thus making it comparatively undervalued on an EPS basis.



<h2>Coinbase (COIN)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/metaverse-300x169.jpg" alt="A concept image of the metaverse with two young adults wearing virtual reality headsets. undervalued metaverse stocks"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>Coinbase (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/coin-stock-quote/">COIN</a>) is one of the <a href="https://investor.coinbase.com/news/news-details/2024/Coinbase-Announces-Proposed-Private-Offering-of-1.0-Billion-of-Convertible-Senior-Notes-Due-2030/default.aspx">largest cryptocurrency exchanges</a>, and it&rsquo;s becoming increasingly involved in the metaverse through its NFT marketplace.



This platform supports NFTs on the Ethereum (<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/eth-usd/">ETH-USD</a>) blockchain and aims to introduce more blockchains in the future.



Coinbase has also introduced a mobile DApp browser and a DeFi wallet, enhancing user interaction with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols for lending, borrowing, and trading. This includes a co-custodial hot wallet setup.



However, in its first quarter of 2024, Coinbase experienced some challenges, notably a consensus revenue estimate reduction of 14%.



Still, I am firmly bullish on COIN&rsquo;s long-term prospects, and I also think that this year will be the one where cryptos such as Bitcoin (<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/btc-usd/">BTC-USD</a>) shine, especially since many FAANG stocks could be seen as too overvalued for most investors&rsquo; tastes.



COIN could then be one of those undervalued metaverse stocks for investors to consider.



On the date of publication, Matthew Farley did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed are those of the writer, subject to the<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/"> InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Matthew started writing coverage of the financial markets during the crypto boom of 2017 and was also a team member of several fintech startups. He then started writing about Australian and U.S. equities for various publications. His work has appeared in MarketBeat, FXStreet, Cryptoslate, Seeking Alpha, and the New Scientist magazine, among others.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/7-cheap-metaverse-stocks-to-buy-now-may-2024/">7 Cheap Metaverse Stocks to Buy Now: May 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

7 Cheap Metaverse Stocks to Buy Now: May 2024

ProShares Metaverse ETF declares quarterly distribution of $0.1342

ProShares Metaverse ETF declares quarterly distribution of $0.0526

ANEW

ARKK

ARKQ

BOTZ

COIN

DTEC

FMET

FSLY

GOOG

GOOGL

IGPT

IRBO

IVRS

KOMP

LRNZ

METV

MSFT

RBLX

ROBO

ROBT

SHOP

THNQ

UBOT

VERS

WTAI

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