Vanguard Communication Services ETF (ARCA: VOX)

最新ニュース Vanguard Communication Services ETF (ARCA:VOX)

Vanguard Communication Services ETF

Vanguard Telecom ETF

Vanguard Telecom ETF - DNQ

Technology

Communication Services

Consumer Cyclical

Other

Industrials

The fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Index (IMI)/Communication Services 25/50, an index made up of stocks of large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies within the communication services sector, as classified under the GICS. The Advisor attempts to replicate the target index by seeking to invest all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, in order to hold each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index. It is non-diversified.

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Alphabet Inc

Alphabet, Inc.- Cl C

Verizon Communications, Inc.

Netflix, Inc.

Walt Disney Co

Comcast Corp. Class A

At&T Inc

T-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558

Trade Desk, Inc.

Voxies - United States Dollar

Vox Royalty Corp

VOXX International Corporation - Class A Common Stock

VOXX International Corp

VOXTUR ANALYTICS CORP by VOXTUR ANALYTICS CORP.

Voxtur Analytics Corp

voxeljet AG

The U.S. telecom sector has delivered a robust performance over the past year, outpacing broader market gains. The S&amp;P Telecom Select Industry Index surged around 37% over the past year, significantly outperforming the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/24/12/42751664/sp-500-ends-2024-23-higher-experts-see-double-digit-growth-for-2025">S&amp;P 500's 22.95% gain</a>. 
This strength has inevitably seeped into telecom-focused ETFs, making them attractive investment avenues. Here are three ETFs that could be a door for investors to ride this wave:
Strong gains in several telecom ETFs speak of the sector's bullish momentum:
<ul>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>): Up 10% over the past three months and 31.36% over the past year.</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>): Climbed 9.83% in the past three months and 31.52% over the past year.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYZ#BATS">IYZ</a>): Gained 6.7% over three months and 15% in a year.</li>
</ul>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/43331404/top-3-tech-and-telecom-stocks-that-could-lead-to-your-biggest-gains-this-quarter">Top 3 Tech And Telecom Stocks That Could Lead To Your Biggest Gains This Quarter</a>
The telecom sector's outlook remains optimistic, considering the positive forecasts in artificial intelligence. Moreover, interest rate cuts throughout 2024, and President Trump&#8217;s push for further rate reductions, could support positive sentiments and hence, industry growth.
Notably, telecom giants AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>), Verizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), T-Mobile (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) and Comcast (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMSCA#NASDAQ">CMSCA</a>) reported relatively healthy Q4 earnings, reinforcing investor confidence:
<ul>
<li>Comcast<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43335926/comcast-q4-earnings-beats-estimates-peacock-subscribers-surge-29-dividend-raised-15-billion-buyback-approved"> exceeded Wall Street's expectations</a>, driven by strong broadband revenues, despite customer losses. Earnings per share (EPS) is at 96 cents adjusted revenue at $31.92 billion; net income was $4.78 billion, up 47% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA growth of 10%.</li>
<li>Verizon's Q4 results reflected healthy growth, with both revenue and earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43189382/verizon-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-1-million-mobile-and-broadband-subscriber-adds-business-segment-margin-expands">surpassing estimates</a>. Its EPS was recorded at $1.10 adjusted, revenue at $35.68 billion, and net Income at $5.11 billion, rebounding from a loss a year ago.</li>
<li>AT&amp;T reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43230968/att-q4-earnings-307k-fiber-adds-projects-mid-teens-broadband-growth-in-2025">strong subscriber growth</a> and operational efficiency gains, with EPS and revenues at $0.54 and $32.3 billion respectively. Net Income of $4.03 billion nearly doubled from a year ago.</li>
<li>T-Mobile&#8217;s stock gained after it reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43300596/t-mobile-q4-earnings-beats-estimates-adds-1-9-million-postpaid-customers-targets-6-million-new-customers-in-2025">strong fourth-quarter results</a>, surpassing analyst expectations. Its EPS was $2.57, and revenue came in at $21.87 billion.</li>
</ul>
U.S. telecom ETFs remain well-positioned for continued growth thanks to strong corporate earnings and an optimistic industry outlook.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/01/43335143/peo-alphaquest-tidal-launch-etf-with-private-equity-inspired-strategy-thematic-appeal">PEO, AlphaQuest, Tidal Launch ETF With Private Equity-Inspired Strategy, Thematic Appeal</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

ETFs

CMSCA

FCOM

iShares Dow Jones US Telecommunications Sector Index Fund

TMUS

Telecom ETFs Gain Momentum As Sector Giants AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile Reinforce Investor Confidence

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/telecom" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telecom giants</a> AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) announced that their networks are secure following a cyberespionage attack by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42713217/nine-telecommunication-companies-hacked-as-part-of-salt-typhoon" rel="noreferrer noopener">China-linked Salt Typhoon</a> group.
This marks the first acknowledgment by the companies of the breach, TechCrunch <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/30/verizon-says-it-has-secured-its-network-after-breach-by-china-linked-salt-typhoon-group/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>. Both the stocks are down Monday.
AT&amp;T&#8217;s Alexander Byers communicated to TechCrunch the company currently detects no nation-state activity on its networks.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42721526/taiwan-semiconductors-kaohsiung-expansion-to-boost-jobs-and-2-nm-chip-production" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s Kaohsiung Expansion To Boost 2-nm Chip Production</a>
Verizon&#8217;s Richard Young confirmed to TechCrunch that the breach had been contained, with verification from a respected third-party cybersecurity firm, though the firm remains unnamed.
Both companies emphasized TechCrunch&#8217;s collaboration with federal law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to address the incident.
AT&amp;T told TechCrunch that China-backed hackers targeted a limited number of individuals with foreign intelligence ties, with relatively few instances of compromised information.
Verizon told TechCrunch that it identified the attackers as focusing on a small group of high-profile government customers.
Verizon&#8217;s chief general officer said the company took decisive actions, collaborating with law enforcement, national security agencies, and private cybersecurity firms to address and contain the breach.
U.S. officials have identified at least nine telecom providers targeted by Salt Typhoon, including Lumen Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUMN#NYSE">LUMN</a>) and T-Mobile US, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>).
China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42154276/us-confronts-chinese-cyber-espionage-threat-worst-telecom-hack-in-our-nations-history" rel="noreferrer noopener">denied the hacking allegations</a>, but U.S. officials remain concerned about its extensive hacking program. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that China&#8217;s cyber operations surpass all other significant nations combined.
In April, Wray <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022124/t-mobile-hit-by-chinese-hackers-after-rivals-att-verizon-suffer-breach-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">cautioned that China</a> could disrupt U.S. infrastructure, explicitly targeting telecommunications, energy, and water sectors.
In May, a significant hacking event compromised the data of U.K. military personnel, with China emerging as the primary suspect.
Microsoft&nbsp;Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and&nbsp;other cybersecurity companies are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41200026/chinese-hackers-breach-at-t-verizon-networks-in-major-wiretap-data-theft-putting-us-national-securit" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigating the&nbsp;Salt Typhoon</a> breach.
U.S. and China remain embroiled in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42265847/biden-targets-china-with-new-chip-restrictions-nvidia-slides" rel="noreferrer noopener">geopolitical tensions</a>. The Western counterpart imposed semiconductor sanctions on its Asian counterpart after the 2020 pandemic outbreak disrupted semiconductor supply chains.
Investors can gain exposure to the telecom stocks through Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Actions: At the last check on Monday, T stock was down 1.03% to $22.63.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42721414/nvidia-targets-robotics-as-next-big-opportunity-amid-rising-ai-rivalry" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Targets Robotics as Next Big Opportunity Amid Rising AI Rivalry</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Bits And Splits on Shutterstock

News

Tech

Media

LUMN

MSFT

AT&T and Verizon Contain Cyberattack Linked to China's Salt Typhoon Group

Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, aims to advance wearable technology by integrating displays into its Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, the Financial Times reports.
The $300 sunglasses, developed with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLOF#OTC">ESLOF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLOY#OTC">ESLOY</a>), could feature small screens to display notifications and responses from Meta&#8217;s virtual assistant, the Financial Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/77bd9117-0a2d-4bd7-9248-4dd288f695a4" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> familiar sources.
This development aims to position Meta as a frontrunner in augmented reality (AR) and wearable computing, which has the potential to replace smartphones as key computing devices.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41377833/meta-cuts-jobs-in-whatsapp-instagram-and-reality-labs-in-latest-reorganization" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Cuts Jobs in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs In Latest Reorganization</a>
According to the report, the next iteration of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, expected in late 2025, will introduce display technology, marking a step toward CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s vision of lightweight AR headsets.
The move aligns with Meta&#8217;s broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into everyday wearables, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40699921/snap-ceo-evan-spiegel-announces-focus-on-ad-business-and-ar-amid-still-competition-from-tiktok-a" rel="noreferrer noopener">competing with companies</a> like Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
Meta is also fast-tracking the development of its prototype AR glasses, Orion, after receiving positive feedback from early testers. The glasses feature advanced silicon carbide lenses for brighter and larger imagery.
Last week, Meta launched <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42524192/metas-ray-ban-smart-glasses-can-now-be-your-chef-linguist-and-dj-whats-next-therapist" rel="noreferrer noopener">three new features</a> for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including live AI, live translations, and&nbsp;Shazam.
Meta&#8217;s smart glasses&nbsp;have emerged as a blockbuster product in 60% of Ray-Ban stores in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41458752/metas-smart-glasses-dominate-ray-ban-stores-ai-features-still-missing" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europe, the Middle East, and Africa</a>. Despite lacking AI features in Europe, the glasses outperformed conventional Ray-Ban models.
In mid-December, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth <a target="_blank" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/12/accelerating-the-future-ai-mixed-reality-and-the-metaverse/" rel="noreferrer noopener">flagged 2025 as</a> the most significant year in the history of the Reality Labs unit behind the company&#8217;s glasses and headsets.
According to reports, the current model features sensitive in-ear speakers, cameras, and microphones.
Wall Street firms, including JMP Securities, Wedbush, Oppenheimer, and Guggenheim, hailed Meta&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41054106/meta-analysts-highlight-ai-vr-advances-see-growth-pushing-it-toward-apple-like-valuation" rel="noreferrer noopener">launch of a VR headset</a> and AI updates after the Connect event in September. They expect Meta&#8217;s AI and VR innovations to be pivotal in helping it reach valuations like Apple&#8217;s.
Meta stock surged 71% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VV#NYSE">VV</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: META stock is up 2.28% at $598.53 at last check Monday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41465662/metas-reels-monetization-and-ai-innovations-drive-top-ai-pick-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta&#8217;s Reels Monetization and AI Innovations Drive Top AI Pick: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

AAPL

ESLOF

ESLOY

GOOGL

SNAP

Meta Plans Display-Equipped Ray-Ban Glasses By 2025: FT

Meta Platforms Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Instagram has the potential to generate 50% of the company&#8217;s advertising revenue in the U.S., Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-18/instagram-expected-to-generate-50-of-meta-s-us-ad-sales-in-2025?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> from Emarketer estimates.
Instagram could breach $32 billion in U.S. advertising revenue in 2025, up over 24% in 2024, as its short-form video product Reels gain traction, Bloomberg cites Emarketer. The video-sharing app boasts over 148 million American users.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42554393/disneys-marvel-rivals-game-hits-20-million-players-proves-superhero-power-still-reigns" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disney&#8217;s Marvel Rivals Game Hits 20 Million Players, Proves Superhero Power Still Reigns</a>
By early 2022, Instagram accounted for nearly 30%&nbsp;of Meta&#8217;s global business from 27% in 2021, Bloomberg cited court filings.
Reels competes with ByteDance&#8217;s TikTok and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) YouTube Shorts.
Meta&#8217;s focus on video content has been instrumental to its growth, as users devoted nearly 67% of their Instagram time to surfing videos, Bloomberg cited Jasmine Enberg of Emarketer.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42369266/meta-reddit-stocks-climb-record-highs-as-tiktoks-battle-against-us-ban-continues-after-court-ruling" rel="noreferrer noopener">The TikTok ban</a> could serve as a tailwind for Instagram, helping it win over 20% of reallocated TikTok ad dollars in the U.S, Reuters cites Enberg.
Meta previously told Instagram Reels accounted for over 50%&nbsp;of the time people spend on the app.
In 2024, 53.7% of Instagram&#8217;s ad revenue primarily came from its Feed features and 24.6% from Stories features. With Reels&#8217; revenue boost, the combined revenue share from Instagram Explore, Reels, and Threads could rise 9.6% in 2025.
In October, BofA Securities analyst Justin Post <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41465662/metas-reels-monetization-and-ai-innovations-drive-top-ai-pick-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">projected Meta&#8217;s upside</a> from ramping up Messaging and Reel monetization powered by new artificial intelligence tools and CRM integration.
Meta Platforms stock surged 79% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) and The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Meta A Good Stock To Buy?</h2>
An investor or trader's decision to buy or sell a stock is unique to their time horizon and risk tolerance. Many typical investors evaluate earnings growth and valuation on a particular stock before making a decision. 
For example, for Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), you'll notice that earnings in its last quarter grew 14.86% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META/earnings">source</a>. As an investor, you'll want to decide whether that's better or worse than what you'd like to see among stocks in your portfolio. 
On the valuation side, Meta Platforms's price to earnings ratio &#8211; a measure of how much an investor pays for the company's earnings &#8211; is compressed 15.56% in the current quarter when compared with last year. That places it below similar businesses Alphabet, Baidu, Pinterest in its sector. You'll need to decide whether that makes it more or less attractive based on how you think the company will perform over time.
There are many different valuation metrics that may help you make a decision. Find more on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META">Meta Platforms's quote page</a>, or if you'd like a deeper dive in an advanced program, try <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga PRO</a> for free.
Price Action: META stock is up 1.15% at $626.545 at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42553094/jabil-q1-earnings-tops-expectations-cloud-and-data-center-growth-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jabil Q1 Earnings: Revenue And EPS Beat, Cloud and Data Center Growth, Raises Annual Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Trading Ideas

GOOG

Instagram's Ad Revenue Could Hit $32 Billion by 2025, Driving Meta's Growth: Report

On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) disclosed plans for a $10 billion AI data center in northeast Louisiana, marking a major investment in the state&#8217;s innovation ecosystem.
Set to be Meta&#8217;s largest global facility at 4 million square feet, the data center in Richland Parish is slated to begin site work in December and expects construction to extend through 2030.
The Richland Parish Data Center will be Meta&#8217;s largest facility globally, designed to handle vast data processing needs for AI workloads.
As part of its advanced infrastructure, it will support Meta&#8217;s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads.
The AI data center in Richland Parish is expected to create over 500 direct jobs, with LED projecting an additional 1,000 indirect roles, totaling more than 1,500 new jobs in the region. At the construction peak, the 2,250-acre site will employ approximately 5,000 workers, the LED said in the press release.
Meta plans to benefit from Louisiana&#8217;s new incentive program under Act 730, which provides a sales and use tax rebate on data center equipment purchases or leases for qualifying projects.
The company has also pledged over $200 million for local infrastructure upgrades, including roads and water systems.
Meta will work with Entergy to add 1,500 MW of renewable energy to the grid, matching the data center&#8217;s energy use with 100% clean power.
Kevin Janda, Meta&#8217;s Director of Data Center Strategy, stated, &#8220;Richland Parish&nbsp;in&nbsp;Louisiana&nbsp;is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward.&#8221;
Governor&nbsp;Jeff Landry&nbsp;said, &#8220;Meta&#8217;s investment establishes the region as an anchor in&nbsp;Louisiana&#8217;s&nbsp;rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state&#8217;s beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for&nbsp;Louisiana&nbsp;workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to Meta through&nbsp;iShares Global Comm Services ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) and&nbsp;Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: META shares are up 0.22% at $615.14 premarket at the last check on Thursday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42321266/meta-joins-big-techs-shift-to-nuclear-power-for-ai-ambitions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Joins Big Tech&#8217;s Shift To Nuclear Power For AI Ambitions</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Skorzewiak via Shutterstock

Equities

Large Cap

iShares Trust S&P Global Telecommunications Sector Index Fund

Meta Readies $10 Billion AI Data Center in Louisiana, Its Largest Facility Globally

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) plans to build a massive fiber-optic subsea cable and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/data">become its sole owner</a>.
What Happened: The cable would reportedly span 40,000-kilometers and give Meta a dedicated pipe for data traffic worldwide.
The cable&#8217;s planned route will span from the east coast of the U.S. to India via South Africa and then to the west coast of the U.S. from India via Australia.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42244387/nvidia-lam-reasearch-applied-materials-stocks-gain-as-biden-government-eyes-softer-semiconductor-sanctions-against-china" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia, Chip Stocks Gain On Reports Of Softer China Sanctions</a>
Sunil Tagare, a subsea cable expert, told <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/29/meta-plans-to-build-a-10b-subsea-cable-spanning-the-world-sources-say/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechCrunch</a> that Meta would proceed with the plan with a budget of $2 billion and gradually cross $10 billion after years of work.
The company&#8217;s properties and users account&nbsp;for 10% of all fixed and 22% of all mobile traffic. Meta&#8217;s artificial intelligence investments will likely pose additional positive drivers.
Santosh Janardhan, the company&#8217;s head of global infrastructure and co-head of engineering, oversees Meta&#8217;s infrastructure work.
Why It Matters: Meta is the second-biggest driver of internet usage globally, thanks to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. 
The cable could help the company accomplish its ambitions of becoming the sole owner of the infrastructure to support its business, rubbing shoulders with Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/04/38202919/google-invests-1b-in-subsea-cables-to-strengthen-us-japan-digital-connectivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which is involved</a> in 33 different routes.
The investment would span across five to ten years, the Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/29/24308746/meta-10-billion-global-subsea-cable-project" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Meta is part-owner of 16 existing networks, TechCrunch cites telecom analysts&nbsp;Telegeography.&nbsp;
Meta Platforms stock surged 66% year-to-date.
BofA Securities&#8216;s Justin Post hailed Meta as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41465662/metas-reels-monetization-and-ai-innovations-drive-top-ai-pick-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">top AI pick</a>, backed by generative AI and infrastructure developments. He flagged the prompt and&nbsp;rising adoption&nbsp;of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41658862/meta-is-an-ai-story-fueled-by-llama-and-meta-ai-says-bullish-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Llama and Meta AI</a>.
Investors can gain exposure to Meta through iShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: Meta stock is up 1.17% at $575.88 at last check Friday.
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Image: Pixabay

Meta Weighs Sole Ownership Of A $10 Billion Subsea Cable Project

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), the parent company of Google, reported stellar third-quarter earnings that not only beat Wall Street&#8217;s expectations but also drove the combined market cap of the &#8220;Magnificent Seven&#8221; tech giants to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-7">an unprecedented $16.8 trillion.</a>
Alphabet's earnings per share came in at $2.12, a 37% increase over the same quarter last year, far exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.55, according to data from <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent103024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Revenue reached $88.27 billion, representing a 15% year-over-year rise and surpassing the $86.39 billion that analysts anticipated.
Google advertising business was a key factor leading to the rise in revenue, totaling $65.9 billion, up from $59.6 billion last year. 
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41611263/alphabet-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-google-cloud-up-35-momentum-across-the-compan">Alphabet Q3 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Google Cloud Up 35%, &#8216;Momentum Across The Company Is Extraordinary&#8217;</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Alphabet Stock Surge Adds Over $150 Billion To Market Cap</h3>
As a result of these impressive numbers, Alphabet's shares rallied over 6% by mid-morning on Wednesday, marking its best trading session since April. 
The stock price increase translated into a more than $150 billion rise in Alphabet&#8217;s market capitalization, which now stands at $2.239 trillion.
Alphabet's surge also gave a substantial lift to the combined valuation of the Magnificent Seven, pushing it to a record-high $16.8 trillion. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mixed Performance Among the Magnificent 7</h3>
While Alphabet soared on the back of its strong quarterly report, other stocks within the Magnificent Seven showed mixed performance on Wednesday. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) slid as investors grew cautious on semiconductor stocks following weaker-than-expected earnings from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>).
The week remains pivotal for the Magnificent Seven, as several other tech giants are set to release their quarterly earnings. Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) will report their results after the close on Wednesday, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) will follow suit on Thursday after the market close.
Looking at the group's recent performance, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) emerged as the strongest over the last five days, with its stock gaining 20.28% following a positive reaction to its recent earnings report.
Here's a breakdown of market caps, recent price changes and year-to-date returns for each company within the Magnificent Seven:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>Price Chg (5 Days)</td>
<td>Total Return (YTD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc.</td>
<td>$ 3,526.02</td>
<td>-1.67%</td>
<td>20.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation</td>
<td>$ 3,416.76B</td>
<td>-3.00%</td>
<td>181.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corporation</td>
<td>$ 3,255.49B</td>
<td>2.43%</td>
<td>17.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc.</td>
<td>$ 2,237.83B</td>
<td>9.48%</td>
<td>29.92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com, Inc.</td>
<td>$ 2,035.74B</td>
<td>2.25%</td>
<td>27.66%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms, Inc.</td>
<td>$ 1,507.24B</td>
<td>2.37%</td>
<td>68.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla, Inc.</td>
<td>$ 841.61B</td>
<td>20.28%</td>
<td>5.51%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">10 ETFs Moving On Alphabet Rally </h3>
Alphabet's post-earnings rally has boosted several exchange-traded funds with significant exposure to the stock.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>ETF Name</th>
<th>Weight %</th>
<th>1-day %chg</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily GOOGL Bull 2X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GGLL#NYSE">GGLL</a>)</td>
<td>18.49%</td>
<td>+10.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Global Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>)</td>
<td>12.61%</td>
<td>+1.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>)</td>
<td>12.40%</td>
<td>+1.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>)</td>
<td>11.87%</td>
<td>+1.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Magnificent 7 Bull 2X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQU#NYSE">QQQU</a>)</td>
<td>10.73%</td>
<td>+2.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)</td>
<td>10.70%</td>
<td>+1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KQQQ#NYSE">KQQQ</a>)</td>
<td>8.96%</td>
<td>+1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NYLI U.S. Large Cap Core ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRND#NYSE">LRND</a>)</td>
<td>8.53%</td>
<td>+0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGPT#NYSE">IGPT</a>)</td>
<td>8.12%</td>
<td>-0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ProShares Ultra Communication Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LTL#NYSE">LTL</a>)</td>
<td>7.99%</td>
<td>+3.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Markets

Movers

AMZN

GGLL

IGPT

KQQQ

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Alphabet's Earnings Rally Pushes Magnificent 7 Market Cap To Record $16.8 Trillion: 10 Tech-Heavy ETFs Moving Wednesday

A refusal by Google to grant an e-mobility app made by Enel SpA access to its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/08/40657322/google-stock-an-ai-play-for-health-care-the-doctor-will-hear-you-now-and-diagnose-your-cough"> Android Auto platform </a>may violate competition laws, according to an adviser with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Italy&#8217;s antitrust regulator fined Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) 102 million euros ($113.2 million) in 2021 for blocking Enel&#8217;s Juice Pass on Android Auto, software that projects a smartphone screen onto a car&#8217;s infotainment screen, Reuters reported.
JuicePass is an app that lets users control their electric car chargers at any time from anywhere.
Google&#8217;s refusal abuses its dominant position by obstructing access by an app developed by a third-party operator to the platform, producing anti-competitive effects to the detriment of consumers, according to Court Advocate General Laila Medina.
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Google raised concerns over security and absence of a specific template in refusing to make JuicePass compatible with Android Auto. Google, which appealed to the Italian Council of State, said it has since taken action to resolve the issue.
&#8220;We note the opinion of the Advocate General and await the final decision of the Court. Since this case started, we have worked to add the template Enel asked for, and many similar apps are already available globally on Android Auto,&#8221; a Google spokesperson said.
CJEU judges, who will rule in the coming months, usually follow the majority of such non-binding opinions. 
Price Action: Alphabet (GOOG) gained 0.50% to close at $158.60 on Thursday.
A majority of exchange-traded funds that hold the stock also gained on Thursday.
<ul>
<li>T-Rex 2X Long Alphabet Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOX#BATS">GOOX</a>) slipped 0.55%</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>) ticked up 0.35%</li>
<li>IShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) went up 0.58%</li>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) gained 0.59%</li>
<li>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) edged up 0.29%</li>
</ul>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Legal

Global

ETF Opportunities Trust T-Rex 2X Long Alphabet Daily Target ETF

GOOX

Google Blocks Android Auto Access, May Violate EU Rules, According To Court Adviser

Facebook users may have better control over using the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/40056947/nvidia-amd-microsoft-meta-tesla-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today">social media platform</a> if a college professor wins a lawsuit against its owner, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
Ethan Zuckerman, a public policy professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, filed a suit against the tech giant as part of a quest to release a browser extension called Unfollow Everything 2.0.
The extension, which is being developed by Zuckerman, would allow users to unfollow their friends, groups, and pages in one fell swoop, and, in doing so, to effectively turn off their newsfeed, according to court documents.
&#8220;Users who download the tool would be free to use the platform without the feed, or to curate the feed by refollowing only those friends and groups whose posts they really want to see,&#8221; the suit said.
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Zuckerman is basing the suit on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives users control over how they access the Internet.
&#8220;Through this provision, Congress intended to promote the development of filtering tools that enable users to curate their online experiences and avoid content they would rather not see,&#8221; the suit said.
Facebook already allows users to manually unfollow friends, groups, and pages one at a time, but &#8220;doing so for hundreds or even thousands of friends, groups, and pages is cumbersome and time-consuming,&#8221; the suit stated.
&#8220;Unfollow Everything 2.0 streamlines the process, while protecting user privacy,&#8221; it said.
Meta has filed a motion to dismiss the suit, according to a company spokesperson.
"This suit is baseless, and was filed over a hypothetical browser extension that has not even been built.&#8221;
Price Action: Meta has gained 0.77% to $530.79 as of Wednesday&#8217;s mid-day trading. Exchange-traded funds that cover the stock also trended upward.
<ul>
<li>Direxion Daily META Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/METU#NASDAQ">METU</a>) rose 1.52%</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>) edged up 0.13%</li>
<li>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) went up 0.17%</li>
<li>IShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) gained 0.03%</li>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) picked up 0.04%</li>
</ul>
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METU

Meta Blasts Professor Lawsuit Over User Control Of Facebook As 'Baseless'

Google, which is owned tech giant Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), is required to face a dismissed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39938868/google-analysts-see-upside-for-alphabet-stock-following-q2-earnings-as-generative-a">class action lawsuit</a> by Google Chrome users after U.S. appeals court decided to revive the case.
The suit was brought against Google for allegedly collecting Chrome users&#8217; personal information without their permission after deciding to not synchronize their browsers with their Google accounts, Reuters reported. The proposed class covers Chrome users since July 27, 2016.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the lower court judge who dismissed the suit should have assessed whether Chrome users consented to allow Google to collect their data as they browsed online.
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Tuesday&#8217;s 3-0 decision comes after Google agreed last year to destroy billions of records to&nbsp;settle a suit claiming Google tracked people who thought they were browsing privately, even users browsing in Chrome&#8217;s &#8220;Incognito&#8221; mode.
Google did not immediately respond to Benzinga&#8217;s request for comment.
The lower court judge concluded Google&#8217;s general privacy policy allowing data collection governed because the company would have collected the plaintiffs&#8217; information regardless of which browsers they used.
But Circuit Judge Milan Smith called that focus misplaced in Tuesday&#8217;s decision.
&#8220;Here, Google had a general privacy disclosure yet promoted Chrome by suggesting that certain information would not be sent to Google unless a user turned on sync,&#8221; Smith wrote. &#8220;A reasonable user would not necessarily understand that they were consenting to the data collection at issue.&#8221;
The appeals court returned the case to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, who dismissed it in December 2022.
Price Action: Alphabet gained 0.33% to close at $168.96 on Tuesday, while exchange-traded funds that track the stock trended downward for the most part.
<ul>
<li>T-Rex 2X Long Alphabet Daily Target ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOX#BATS">GOOX</a>) rose 0.73%</li>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) slipped 0.04%</li>
<li>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) declined 0.07%</li>
<li>IShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) went down 0.06%</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>) dipped 0.15%</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Alphabet's Google Faces Revived Chrome Lawsuit After Appeals Court Ruling

Trian Fund Management, an activist investor hedge fund co-founded by billionaire Nelson Peltz, still owns a piece of Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) after reportedly selling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/05/39078534/activist-investor-nelson-peltz-sells-entire-disney-stake-for-1b-after-losing-proxy-battle">its entire position</a> in late May, according to regulatory filings.
A quarterly 13-F report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15 shows that New York-based Trian had 32.4 million shares in the company worth a total of $3.96 billion during the first quarter.
A Thursday filing revealed that Trian sold 29.7 million shares worth $3.69 billion at some point in the second quarter. But the hedge fund still owns almost 2.65 million shares worth nearly $263 million.
Trian reportedly sold <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/05/39095549/the-rich-get-richer-how-one-billionaire-lost-but-still-made-hundreds-of-millions">its entire stake</a> in Disney at $120 a share as of May 29. The sale came after Peltz unsuccessfully tried to oust Disney CEO Bob Iger at an April shareholder meeting.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38104809/elon-musk-is-very-vocal-about-his-animosity-toward-bob-iger-but-his-bromance-with-nelson-peltz-is-go">Elon Musk&#8217;s Feud With Bob Iger Rages On, But His Bromance With Nelson Peltz Is Going Strong: &#8216;His Ideas Are Beyond Anything&#8230;&#8217;</a>
Investors voted against Peltz&#8217;s board nominees and moved to keep the entire board in place, including Iger. 
Peltz reportedly made $1 billion from the divestment, despite losing the activist battle against Disney.
The two 13-Fs also showed that Trian sold 539,884 shares of Ferguson Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FERG#NYSE">FERG</a>) that were worth more than $166 million during the second quarter. The deal left the firm with 1.95 million shares worth $378 million.
Trian also bought 3.55 million shares of UHaul for $78.6 million, 5.36 million shares of Solventum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOLV#NYSE">SOLV</a>) for $284 million and 470,000 shares of Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTO#NYSE">RTO</a>) for $13.9 million. It sold 1.22 million shares of Sysco Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYY#NYSE">SYY</a>) for $99.3 million.
Price Action: Disney gained 2.66% to $88.60 by Thursday&#8217;s late-afternoon trading. Exchange-traded funds that track the stock also trended upward.
<ul>
<li>First Trust S-Network Streaming &amp; Gaming ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNGE#NYSE">BNGE</a>) gained 1.34%</li>
<li>ALPS Global Travel Beneficiaries ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JRNY#NYSE">JRNY</a>) edged up 0.02%</li>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) ticked up 1.18%</li>
<li>iShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) went up 0.79%</li>
<li>AdvisorShares Gerber Kawasaki ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GK#NYSE">GK</a>) improved 1.72%</li>
</ul>
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</ul>

Entertainment

Gaming

BNGE

FERG

JRNY

SOLV

Disney Still Makes Up A Chunk Of Peltz's Trian Fund Despite $4B Exit, Records Show

Rafal Brzoska, a Polish billionaire who founded Polish locker company InPost, and his wife, Omenaa Mensah, plan to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40298698/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-platforms-triumphs-over-independent-presidential-candidate-robert-kennedy-jr-s"> file a lawsuit </a>against Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) for allegedly putting fake advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that feature his face.
Brzoska said they have not yet chosen a jurisdiction to file the planned suit, which also alleged that both social media sites are circulating false information about his wife, Reuters reported.
Brzoska&#8217;s legal action would be the latest attempt worldwide to hold Meta responsible for ads that consistently show up on the sites despite user complaints.
Meta said it removes false ads from its sites as it becomes aware of them and works with local authorities to deter scammers, but Brzoska said he told Meta about the issue in early July, but the company still has not fixed the problem.
&#8220;Scammers use every platform available to them to defraud people and constantly adapt to evade getting caught. Scam content breaks our rules and we remove it when we find it," Meta told Reuters.
"We also partner with businesses, local administrations and law enforcement to defeat these committed criminals."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40275791/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-owns-two-of-the-biggest-social-media-platforms-in-the-world-he-now-thin">Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Owns Two Of The Biggest Social Media Platforms In The World. He Now Thinks This Experience On Phones Is &#8216;Anti-Social,&#8217; And Why He&#8217;s Focused On Ray-Ban Smart Glasses</a>
Brzoska told Reuters that he and his wife &#8220;are considering absolutely all scenarios&#8221; for jurisdiction and may carry out the suit in the U.S. if they are met with inaction in Europe.
He said they would demand in the suit that Meta stop benefiting from promoting content which violates their rights and donate to charity an amount of money matching the amount of ad revenues Meta received by spreading the false information.
Last week, Poland&#8217;s Personal Data Protection Office told Meta Platforms Ireland Limited to stop displaying false advertisements that used real data and images of Brzoska and his wife on Facebook and Instagram in Poland for three months.
Price Action: Meta gained 2.25% to $527.59 by Tuesday&#8217;s mid-day trading, while exchange-traded funds that track the company also picked up.
<ul>
<li>Direxion Daily META Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/METU#NASDAQ">METU</a>) gained 3.49%</li>
<li>Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCOM#NYSE">FCOM</a>) edged up 1.12%</li>
<li>Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) rose 1.16%</li>
<li>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) went up 0/96%</li>
<li>IShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IXP#NYSE">IXP</a>) climbed 0.77%</li>
</ul>
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Photo: Melnikov Dmitriy on Shutterstock

Polish Billionaire Plans To Sue Meta Platforms For Alleged Fake Advertisements

Facebook parent Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) shares are trading lower today.
The company has agreed to pay a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-secures-14-billion-settlement-meta-over-its-unauthorized-capture" rel="noreferrer noopener">penalty </a>of $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims of improperly collecting millions of citizens&#8217; biometric data without consent. The company will pay the settlement over five years.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, &#8220;After vigorously pursuing justice for our citizens whose privacy rights were violated by Meta&#8217;s use of facial recognition software, I&#8217;m proud to announce that we have reached the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single State.&#8221;
In February 2022, Attorney General Paxton filed this lawsuit in state district court in Marshall. The lawsuit also alleged that Facebook has obtained patents for systems &#8220;where consumers wandering in stores or standing at checkout counters have their faces scanned and matched with their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/22/02/25606490/texas-attorney-general-prosecutes-facebook-parent-meta-all-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">social-networking profiles.&#8221;</a>
The complaint alleged that Facebook violated Texas state law not just hundreds or thousands, but billions of times, with civil penalties of at least $10,000 sought for each violation.
Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36653735/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-summoned-to-court-in-texas-over-alleged-misuse-of-facial-recognition" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Summoned To Court In Texas Over Alleged Misuse Of Facial Recognition</a>
Notably, Meta introduced a feature called Tag Suggestions in 2011 to enhance user experience by automating photo tagging and enabled this feature for all Texans without clearly explaining its functionality.
This settlement is the largest ever by a single state and surpasses the $390 million settlement from Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google secured by 40 states in 2022.
It is also the biggest privacy settlement achieved by an Attorney General and sets a precedent under Texas&#8217; biometric privacy law.
Moreover, this is also one of the largest penalties Meta has faced from regulators, only second to the $5 billion settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in 2019 over user data misuse related to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/06/39259832/metas-legal-battle-over-cambridge-analytica-scandal-heads-to-supreme-court" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambridge Analytica scandal</a>, as per Financial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/faedc975-7a9b-4632-bc6e-3e2ea71587c1" rel="noreferrer noopener">Times</a>.
Meta stock has gained over 44% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) and&nbsp;Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>).
Price Action: META shares are down 0.56% at $463.09 at the last check Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock
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</ul>

Regulations

Meta Hit with Largest-Ever State Privacy Fine – Texas AG Secures $1.4B Settlement

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has taken down approximately 63,000 accounts in Nigeria involved in financial <a target="_blank" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/07/combating-financial-sextortion-scams-from-nigeria/" rel="noreferrer noopener">sexual extortion</a>, or sextortion, scams targeting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/07/39934253/how-metas-game-changing-ai-model-could-enhance-developer-freedom-propel-privacy-standards-and-surge" rel="noreferrer noopener">adult men in the United States</a>.
Financial sextortion, a crime without borders, has been fueled in recent years by the rise in activities of loosely organized cybercriminals known as &#8216;Yahoo Boys&#8217;, predominantly operating from Nigeria, specializing in various scam techniques, Meta said in a statement.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve banned Yahoo Boys under Meta&#8217;s&nbsp;Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy&nbsp;— one of our strictest policies — which means we remove Yahoo Boys&#8217; accounts engaged in this criminal activity whenever we become aware of them,&#8221; the software giant said.&nbsp;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/39930463" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zuckerberg Says Sam Altman &#8216;Deserves A Lot Of Credit,&#8217; But Highlights The Irony In His Firm Named OpenAI Leading Closed AI Models</a>
The firm also removed around 7,200 assets, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 Facebook Pages, and 5,700 Facebook Groups, also based in Nigeria, that were providing tips for conducting scams.&nbsp;
&#8220;We also recently announced that we&#8217;ve developed&nbsp;new signals to identify accounts that are&nbsp;potentially engaging in sextortion,&nbsp;and are taking steps to help prevent these accounts from finding and interacting with teens,&#8221; Meta said.
In recent years, the social media giant has faced increasing pressure from governments, including lawmakers in its home country of the United States, to address concerns about its executives allegedly disregarding evidence that its platforms harm children, reported Reuters.
Last week, Meta was fined $220 million by Nigeria&#8217;s competition watchdog.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) revealed that Meta violated local consumer, data protection, and privacy laws by sharing data on its social platforms without user consent, per a Reuters report.
Additionally, Meta was accused of abusing its market dominance with exploitative privacy policies and treating Nigerians differently compared to users in jurisdictions with similar regulations.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, META stock has gained over 60% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Direxion Daily META Bull 2X Shares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/METU#NASDAQ">METU</a>) and&nbsp;Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: META shares closed lower by 5.61% to $461.27 on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Photo by DANIEL CONSTANTE on Shutterstock

General

Meta Cracks Down On Nigerian 'Yahoo Boys' In Massive Sextortion Scam Purge, Bans 63K Accounts

Peacock and its parent company, Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), are gearing up for a pivotal moment with the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Pacock's president, Kelly Campbell, is spearheading efforts with two dedicated task forces to attract viewers during the Games and ensure they remain engaged afterward.
With the opening ceremonies just days away, Campbell and her superiors believe the Olympics will significantly boost Peacock's position in the competitive streaming landscape against giants like Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) and Walt Disney Co's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) Disney+, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-22/comcast-bets-on-paris-olympics-to-make-peacock-a-must-have?srnd=phx-industries-entertainment&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a> reports.
"This is going to be a defining moment for Peacock," Campbell said in a recent interview. Over a 19-day period, Peacock will exclusively stream every Olympic event for U.S. viewers, offering thousands of hours of live and on-demand content, including a high-tech morning recap narrated by an AI-synthesized version of Al Michaels' voice.
For NBCUniversal, Comcast's media division, the stakes are high. The division, which owns several cable networks like Bravo, E!, and USA, faces significant pressure as viewers continue to shift from traditional TV bundles to streaming services, Bloomberg writes.
Comcast has invested billions into Peacock, yet it still trails behind competitors like Netflix and Walt Disney.
Comcast had intended to use the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to launch Peacock, but the pandemic delayed the launch. Despite the setbacks, the service launched in July 2020.
Related Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/07/39838603/warner-bros-discovery-shares-are-surging-thursday-as-ceo-considers-asset-sales-spinoff" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warner Bros Discovery CEO Considers Asset Sales, Spinoff</a>
Unlike other streaming services, Peacock started as a free, ad-supported platform with optional paid tiers. Initially, it struggled to attract subscribers without the Olympic boost, but the pandemic created a captive audience that drove growth.
In a strategic meeting in 2021, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts approved increased investments in Peacock, including more original content, movies, and sports.
The platform has since reclaimed popular series and movies and released hit originals like "Poker Face" and "The Best Man: The Final Chapters." Peacock has also secured exclusive rights to major sports events, including NBA and NFL games, bolstering its appeal.
Peacock now costs $7.99 a month following price increases to fund new programming. Despite high churn rates, the service continues to attract new subscribers, partly due to its strategic releases during major sporting events.
The upcoming Olympics will feature promotions for new shows like "Fight Night" and "The Day of the Jackal," leveraging the excitement of the Games to retain viewers.
With 34 million subscribers as of March, Peacock outperforms some rivals in U.S. viewership.
Comcast stock has lost more than 5% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYZ#BATS">IYZ</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: CMCSA shares were trading lower by 3.04% at $38.93 premarket at the last check on Tuesday.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by rarrarorro on Shutterstock

CMCSA

NFLX

Comcast's Paris Olympics Bet For Boosting Peacock's Viewership: Report

Google's Parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) stock is trading lower today. The Italian Competition Authority has launched an investigation into Google and its parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), regarding their methods for obtaining user consent for linking <a target="_blank" href="https://en.agcm.it/en/media/press-releases/2024/7/PS12714" rel="noreferrer noopener">data across various services</a>.
The probe focuses on how Google requests consent from users to link data across its services, such as Google Search, YouTube, Chrome, and Maps.
The Italian regulator suspects that Google may provide inadequate or misleading information about the effects of this consent.
The Authority alleges that Google's consent requests might lack transparency about the scope and implications of combining user data across multiple services. This could lead users to unknowingly consent to broader data use than intended.
The investigation also examines whether Google employs techniques that could influence consumer decisions.
The Authority is concerned that these methods might pressure users into consenting to data practices they might otherwise reject.
In response to the investigation, a Google spokesperson stated, "We will analyze the details of this case and will work cooperatively with the Authority," <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/18/google-accused-of-misleading-consumers-to-grab-more-data-for-ads/" rel="noreferrer noopener">TechCrunch</a> reports.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39822184/google-and-microsoft-provide-nvidia-chip-access-to-chinese-firms-despite-u-s-restrictions-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google And Microsoft Provide Nvidia Chip Access To Chinese Firms Despite U.S. Restrictions: Report</a>
Google has been subject to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37911506/apple-meta-and-googles-alphabet-under-scrutiny-eu-launches-antitrust-probes" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) </a>since early March, which mandates that companies obtain explicit consent before processing users' personal data for advertising or combining data from different services.
The DMA, which includes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/digital-markets-act" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulations that align </a>with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), requires consent to be "freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous."
This investigation could have significant implications for how Google manages user data within the European Union.
However, Google has announced some of the changes including a new search page layout for European users, with dedicated aggregator units with links to aggregator sites from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37507425/from-search-to-flights-google-tweaks-everything-for-eus-digital-markets-act" rel="noreferrer noopener">across the web to comply with the DMA</a>.
Italy's investigation also touches on the broader issue of "dark patterns" in online consent flows, where design techniques can manipulate users into making choices they might not otherwise make.
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) bans such deceptive designs, aiming to protect users' ability to make free and informed decisions.
Alphabet stock has gained about 43% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via the&nbsp;Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: GOOGL shares are trading lower by 1.62% at $179.65 at the last check on Thursday.
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Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash.

What's Going On With Google's Parent Alphabet Stock On Thursday?

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is trading higher Thursday after the Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/meta-in-talks-to-buy-stake-in-eyewear-giant-essilorluxottica-3afc69d2?mod=hp_lead_pos5">reported</a> that it plans to acquire a 5% stake in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/smart-glasses">eyewear company EssilorLuxottica</a> (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLOY#OTC">ESLOY</a>).
What Happened: EssilorLuxottica, Meta&#8217;s partner for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/09/34964097/watch-mark-zuckerberg-unveils-metas-ai-smart-glasses-that-can-decode-anything-youre-looking">Ray-Ban smart glasses</a>, with an investment value of about 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion), based on EssilorLuxottica's market value.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, introduced last year, can take calls, play some music, help do live streams, and even search for things that you look at.
Sales of the latest Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have surpassed expectations. Meta aims to leverage this momentum to develop more devices in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica.
In June, CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased the company's upcoming "full holographic" glasses, an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39562120/mark-zuckerberg-says-meta-set-to-unveil-full-holographic-glasses-every-person-who-ive-shown-it-to-so">internal project dubbed&nbsp;Orion</a>.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39762765/apple-vision-pro-sales-fall-short-iphone-16-camera-upgrades-and-more-this-week-in-appleverse">Apple Vision Pro Sales Fall Short, iPhone 16 Camera Upgrades And More: This Week In Appleverse</a>
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/38001115/meta-ray-ban-smart-glasses-ready-to-get-ai-upgrade-expect-these-new-features-soon">third generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses</a>, expected to feature a small screen display, is anticipated for the 2025 holiday season.
The Ray-Ban brand's popularity is important for the success of wearable tech. Additionally, EssilorLuxottica also owns LensCrafters, so having a stake helps in introducing the Ray-Ban Meta to users requiring prescription lenses.
The partnership between Meta and EssilorLuxottica began with the first-generation Ray-Ban Stories in 2021. Although the initial device struggled, the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, released in September, have performed significantly better, featuring improved cameras and AI technology.
Zuckerberg noted in April that the market for such devices is developing faster than expected.
EssilorLuxottica recently announced a<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/essilorluxottica-to-buy-supreme-brand-from-vf-for-1-5-billion-2092167b"> $1.5 billion deal for the Supreme brand</a> and acquired an 80% stake in Germany's Heidelberg Engineering, further expanding its portfolio.
Meta stock has gained more than 50% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>) and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>)
Price Action: META shares are trading higher by 1.31% at $468.02 at last check Thursday.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

What's Going On With Meta Platforms Shares On Thursday?

Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>) shares are trading higher after reports of a significant restructuring that could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/streaming">separate its digital streaming</a> and studio businesses from its traditional television networks.
What Happened: The David Zaslav-led entertainment company looks to bolster its struggling share price and manage its substantial debt load of $39 billion. 
According to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/be716ec2-1c02-467c-94af-7c8ef9ae1963">Financial Times</a>, Zaslav — who, as CEO, enjoyed a 27% increase <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38338904/warner-bros-discovery-ceos-pay-soars-in-2023-amid-industry-challenges">in pay for 2023</a> and angered fans by <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/david-zaslav-took-courage-cancel-completed-movies-batgirl-coyote-vs-acme-1234930539/">canceling</a> movies already in post-production — is eager to sell assets.
A spin-off Warner Bros. studio and the Max streaming service into a new company is also being discussed. This company would be largely free of the group&#8217;s current debt. 
The media giant has not yet hired an investment bank to advise the process. 
Also, informal talks with advisors to rival media companies have taken place to gauge interest in potential mergers and acquisitions. 
Previous considerations included combinations with Comcast Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) NBCUniversal and Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), the latter of which has recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/39658163/paramount-board-endorses-merger-with-skydance-media-as-david-ellison-nears-acquisition-of-m">merged with David Ellison's Skydance</a>.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/07/39717603/warner-bros-subsidiary-postpones-suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-season-2-at-last-minute">Warner Bros. Subsidiary Postpones Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Season 2 At Last Minute</a>
Why It Matters: A company split could have severe repercussions for bondholders, Bank of America analysts say. 
A similar move by rival Lionsgate led to a creditor revolt.
A strategic spin-off could leave the more mature television assets with the bulk of the debt, while the growing streaming and studio business would have greater financial flexibility.
WBD&#8217;s shares have plummeted nearly 70% since AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) spun off Warner Bros and merged it with Discovery two years ago.
The company has faced declining advertising revenue, high streaming development costs, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood strikes, and costly failures. 
Despite cost-cutting measures and debt repayments, the stock dropped 10% in February.
BofA analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich recently suggested that WBD&#8217;s current structure is ineffective and recommended exploring asset sales, restructuring, and mergers. 
Warner Bros stock has lost over 34% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: WBD shares are trading higher by 7.45% at $8.950 in premarket at last check Thursday.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/06/39236107/warner-bros-discoverys-200m-loss-inside-the-turbulent-saga-of-suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-leagu">Warner Bros. Discovery&#8217;s $200M Loss: Inside The Turbulent Saga of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asset Sales

PARA

Warner Bros Discovery Shares Are Surging Thursday As CEO Considers Asset Sales, Spinoff

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Google&#39;s parent company Alphabet&nbsp;is reportedly in talks to acquire cyber security startup Wiz for $23 billion. This potential acquisition would be Google&#39;s largest ever and significantly boost its cloud computing capabilities.
The potential deal has put ETFs with a substantial allocation to Alphabet in focus. These include Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLC), Vanguard Communication Services ETF (ARCA:VOX), Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (ARCA:FCOM), iShares Global Comm Services ETF (ARCA:IXP) and MicroSectors FANG+ ETN (ARCA:FNGS).
Wiz, an Israeli startup founded in 2020, is one of the fastest-growing start-ups in the cloud security arena and has been positioning itself as a platform provider versus leaders Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/zs#NASDAQ">ZS</a>) and others.
The potential deal highlights Alphabet&#39;s strategic focus on enhancing its cybersecurity portfolio amid increasing competition in the tech industry. It would boost Google&#39;s cloud-computing business, which lags behind Amazon.com unit Amazon Web Services as well as Microsoft (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). Offering an all-in-one approach to cloud security, Wiz relies on ingesting data from various cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, and then scanning it all for security risk factors.
Alphabet executives see the deal as a way to fortify Google&#39;s cloud business, which grew 28% to $9.57 billion in the first quarter of this year. However, an agreement hasn&#39;t been reached yet, and talks may fall apart.&nbsp;
<h3>ETFs in Focus</h3>
Let&#39;s delve into each ETF below:
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund offers exposure to companies from telecommunication services, media, entertainment and interactive media &amp; services and has accumulated $19.6 billion in its asset base. It follows the Communication Services Select Sector Index and holds 22 stocks in its basket, with Alphabet Class A and C shares occupying the second and third position, respectively, with a combined 23.4% share. About 47% of the portfolio is allocated to interactive media &amp; services, while entertainment and media round off the next two.
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund charges 9 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 3.2 million shares. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
Vanguard Communication Services ETF
Vanguard Communication Services ETF targets the communication sector by tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index. Holding 117 stocks in its basket, both Alphabet Class A and C shares take the second and third spots, with a total of 22.2% of the portfolio. Interactive media &amp; services is the top sector, accounting for 51.1% of the portfolio, while movies &amp; entertainment, cable &amp; satellite and integrated telecommunication services round off the next three.
Vanguard Communication Services ETF has AUM of $4.1 billion and trades in a good volume of 135,000 shares a day, on average. It charges 10 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook.
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF follows the MSCI USA IMI Communication Services 25/50 Index. It holds 108 stocks in its basket, with Alphabet Class A and C shares occupying the second and third positions, respectively, at a combined 22.1%.
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF has amassed $1.2 billion in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 67,000 shares. It charges 8 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
iShares Global Comm Services ETF
iShares Global Comm Services ETF provides global exposure to companies in media, entertainment, social media, search engine, video/gaming and telecommunication services by tracking the S&amp;P Global 1200 Communication Services 4.5/22.5/45 Capped Index. It holds 65 stocks in its basket, with Alphabet Class A and C shares taking the second and third spot, respectively, at 22.8%. Interactive media &amp; services dominates the fund&#39;s return at 51.8%, followed by integrated telecommunication services (17.7%).
iShares Global Comm Services ETF has amassed $443 million in its asset base while trading at an average daily volume of 20,000 shares. The expense ratio comes in at 0.42%. IXP has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
MicroSectors FANG+ ETN
MicroSectors FANG+ ETN is linked to the performance of the NYSE FANG+ Index, which is equal-dollar weighted, designed to provide exposure to a group of highly traded growth stocks of next-generation technology and tech-enabled companies. It holds 10 equal-weighted stocks in its basket, with Alphabet accounting for a 10.2% share.
MicroSectors FANG+ ETN has accumulated $383.6 million in its asset base and charges 58 bps in annual fees. It trades in an average daily volume of 124,000 shares and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2302684/google-to-reportedly-acquire-wiz-etfs-in-focus?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2302684">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Analyst Ratings

FNGS

Google to Reportedly Acquire Wiz: ETFs in Focus

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) is in advanced talks to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/07/39764952/google-parent-alphabet-reportedly-eyes-23b-acquisition-of-cybersecurity-firm-wiz-to-take-on-microsof">acquire cloud security firm Wiz</a> in a deal potentially worth up to $23 billion, an acquisition that would significantly enhance Google&#8217;s cloud security capabilities, helping it compete with major rivals such as Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
The deal would also mark Google&#8217;s most expensive acquisition to date.
If successful, the acquisition of Wiz will provide Google with advanced cybersecurity tools designed to protect large organizations from ransomware attacks, reported Reuters.
Wiz&#8217;s offerings include comprehensive infrastructure and software scanning tools that give customers clear visibility into potential threats, senior intelligence analyst at MalwareBytes, Jerome Seguera, told Reuters.
Google has been steadily expanding its cybersecurity portfolio, having <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/03/26055604/read-how-analysts-view-googles-readiness-to-acquire-mandiant">acquired the cyber firm Mandiant</a> for $5.4 billion two years ago. 
Marc Bleicher, CTO of Surefire Cyber, noted that Google is positioning itself to better compete with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services in the cloud security market. Wiz, founded in 2020, has quickly become a key player in cloud security, especially with the shift to remote work during the pandemic.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39779768/googles-poker-move-with-wiz-could-be-the-kick-off-for-big-tech-m-a-in-2025-analyst">Google&#8217;s &#8216;Poker Move&#8217; With Wiz Could Be The Kickoff For Big Tech M&amp;A In 2025: Analyst</a>
Wiz was founded by former Israeli army intelligence members who previously established Adallom, another cloud security firm acquired by Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) for $320 million in 2015. 
Headquartered in New York, Wiz has rapidly grown, recently valued at $12 billion and expecting $1 billion in annual organic revenue by 2025. The company has raised nearly $2 billion in venture capital to date.
The potential acquisition of Wiz comes amid a surge in global cybersecurity deals in 2024, with 120 deals announced in the first half of the year totaling $12.4 billion. 
Alphabet stock has gained more than 43% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via the&nbsp;Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOX#NYSE">VOX</a>).
Price Action: GOOGL shares are trading higher by 0.75% at $187.93 in early morning trading Tuesday.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39766388/googles-camera-updates-will-soon-let-apps-like-instagram-capture-ultra-hdr-images-heres-why-its-impo">Google&#8217;s Camera Updates Will Soon Let Apps Like Instagram Capture Ultra HDR Images: Here&#8217;s Why It&#8217;s Important</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock

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