$AAPL - $AAPL

Dernières nouvelles pour Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Stock

APPLE INC

Apple

Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.

What Happened?

$ETH

AAPL

modifié de CureVac

Apple Inc

Jeff Williams, Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) longtime chief operating officer and a key figure once rumored to be Tim Cook's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/09/34524884/did-apples-wonderlust-event-confirm-clear-succession-plan-for-tim-cook-munster-thin">potential successor</a>, will retire later this year.
What Happened: On Tuesday, in a press release, Apple announced that Williams will transition COO duties to Sabih Khan later this month.
The outgoing COO joined Apple in 1998 and helped architect the company's health strategy and build the supply chain.
&#8220;Apple wouldn't be what it is without him,&#8221; said Tim Cook, adding, &#8220;He's helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45338324/apples-2027-vision-foldable-iphones-smart-glasses-and-ai-innovations">Apple&#8217;s 2027 Vision: Foldable iPhones, Smart Glasses, And AI Innovations</a>
The incoming COO, Khan, a 29-year Apple veteran who currently serves as SVP of operations, will report to Cook. Williams will remain at Apple temporarily to oversee the design team until retirement.
Price Action: AAPL shares inched up 0.072% in after-hours trading, after posting a 0.029% gain during regular hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show that AAPL is trending upward in the short term but downward over the medium and long term. Its quality score remains strong, though its value rating is comparatively weaker. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">You can find more detailed performance data here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/08221657/Screenshot-2025-07-09-at-7.44.42%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-977397" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46258669/tesla-made-2-76-billion-from-zev-credits-in-2024-in-us-but-trumps-tax-bill-just-killed-this-revenue-stream" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Made $2.76 Billion From ZEV Credits In 2024 In US But Trump&#8217;s Tax Bill Just Killed This Revenue Stream</a></li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Prathmesh T on Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Tech

Jeff Williams, Once Tipped As Tim Cook's Successor, To Retire From Apple

Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has reportedly acquired a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/07/39867045/metas-34-year-to-date-surge-and-a-5-stake-in-essilorluxottica-transform-ray-ban-smart-glasses-and-re">minority stake</a> in EssilorLuxottica (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLOF#OTC">ESLOF</a>).
What Happened: Meta has acquired nearly 3% of EssilorLuxottica, the French-Italian eyewear giant behind brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-08/meta-invests-3-5-billion-in-essilorluxottica-in-ai-glasses-push">reported</a> Bloomberg on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The stake is worth approximately €3 billion ($3.52 billion) at current market prices and comes amid Meta's growing ambitions in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43114842/meta-expands-ai-wearables-with-oakley-smart-glasses-camera-equipped-earbuds-in-development">wearable tech space</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46301582/metas-ai-empire-grows-fueled-by-openai-deepmind-apple-defectors">Meta&#8217;s AI Empire Grows — Fueled By OpenAI, DeepMind, Apple Defectors</a>
As per the report, Meta could increase its stake to as much as 5% over time.
Meta did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Why It's Important: Last month, it was reported that Meta and EssilorLuxottica plan to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45987099/meta-teams-up-with-oakley-prada-for-next-gen-ai-smart-glasses">release new AI smart glasses</a> under the Oakley and Prada brands.
This comes after the popularity of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which launched in 2023 and have reportedly sold millions of units. In October 2024, it was reported that Ray-Ban and Meta's smart glasses have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41458752/metas-smart-glasses-dominate-ray-ban-stores-ai-features-still-missing">become the best-selling product</a> in 60% of Ray-Ban stores across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Meanwhile, Meta rival Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) reportedly has at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46161059/apple-has-the-potential-to-crush-metas-ray-ban-smart-glasses-says-ming-chi-kuo-but-the-tech-giant-has-been-surprisingly-slow">least seven headsets and smart glasses</a> in development. This includes Vision Pro M5 models, Vision Air, XR glasses and a display accessory, with some expected to launch starting in 2027.
Price Action: Meta shares rose 0.044% in after-hours trading, following a 0.32% gain during regular market hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that META shows a strong upward trend in the short, medium and long term. While its growth score remains high, its value rating is relatively lower. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance data is available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/08213814/Screenshot-2025-07-09-at-7.06.22%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-977355" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Skorzewiak on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46127671/amazon-loses-top-ai-leader-in-high-stakes-talent-shuffle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Loses Top AI Leader In High-Stakes Talent Shuffle</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"> </a>

Media

ESLOF

Mark Zuckerberg-Led Meta Acquires Nearly 3% Of Ray-Ban, Oakley Parent EssilorLuxottica In $3.5 Billion Deal: Report

Apple&#xAE; today announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer later this month to Sabih Khan, Apple's senior vice president of Operations as part of a long-planned succession. Williams will continue reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook and overseeing Apple's world class design team and Apple Watch alongside the company's Heath initiatives. Apple's design team will then transition to reporting directly to Cook after Williams retires late in the year.

Management

Apple Names Sabih Khan As New COO As Part Of Long-Planned Succession; Jeff Williams To Oversee Design And Health Initiatives Until Year-End Retirement

SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>) stock is soaring on Tuesday. However, the stock plunged over 35% year-to-date.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Contributed The Decline</h2>
On February 14, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43739106/soundhound-ai-stock-drops-27-as-nvidia-exits-position" rel="noreferrer noopener">the stock tumbled</a> 27% after Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) disclosed that it had dissolved its stake in the company. Nvidia&#8217;s exit casts doubt on SoundHound AI&#8217;s future growth and stability.
As a key AI player, Nvidia likely gave other investors confidence through its backing.
On March 26, CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer recommended selling&nbsp;SoundHound AI, dismissing it as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44492633/jim-cramer-palantir-is-a-winner-recommends-selling-this-tech-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">complete meme stock</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44401097/soundhound-ai-integrates-nvidias-software-to-accelerate-voice-ai-technologies" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoundHound AI Integrates NVIDIA&#8217;s Software To Accelerate Voice AI Technologies</a>
Retail investors on social media hype up meme stocks, which often have compelling stories that drive their popularity. GameStop and AMC Entertainment Holdings rank among the most well-known examples.
On May 8, the conversational AI company reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45302790/soundhound-ai-stock-slides-on-mixed-q1-results-reaffirms-fy25-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue</a> of $29.13 million, up 151% year over year, missing analyst&nbsp;estimates&nbsp;of $30.38 million. The stock lost close to 4% in value after the results.
SoundHound AI reaffirmed its full-year 2025 revenue guidance of $157 million-$177 million versus estimates of $166.17 million.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Rivals</h2>
As per a June 27 report, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is exploring acquiring voice-cloning startup PlayAI to strengthen its push into conversational AI and build a superintelligence lab.
Meanwhile, OpenAI enhanced ChatGPT&#8217;s voice assistant in March, making it more natural and engaging as competition in the AI voice space heats up.
Wedbush&#8217;s Daniel Ives expects Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46216283/dan-ives-urges-apple-to-make-a-move-saying-that-perplexity-acquisition-is-a-no-brainer-its-a-matter-of-when-and-not-if" rel="noreferrer noopener">to enter the</a> conversational AI space by acquiring Perplexity AI to boost search capabilities and stay competitive.
They urge Apple to move beyond its cautious approach, citing growing pressure from rivals like OpenAI, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Analyst Opinion</h2>
Eight analysts have set a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOUN/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus price forecast</a> of $10.50 for SoundHound AI. HC Wainwright gave the highest forecast at $18 on May 12, 2025.
The latest ratings from Piper Sandler (May 27), HC Wainwright &amp; Co. (May 12), and Wedbush (May 9) average a $15 target, suggesting a potential upside of 13.85% for the stock.
H.C. Wainwright&nbsp;analyst&nbsp;Scott Buck noted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/05/45356352/soundhound-ai-expansion-in-autos-and-dining-plus-q4-profit-target-fuels-bullish-analyst-view" rel="noreferrer noopener">a growing customer base</a> across sectors and 13,000+ restaurant locations as signs of strong business diversification.
According to the analyst, SoundHound AI&#8217;s restaurant segment could generate over $31 million in annual recurring revenue, with room to expand in 2025. He said gross margins will likely improve toward 70% over time despite short-term declines due to recent acquisitions.
Buck added that SoundHound AI&#8217;s $246 million in cash and no debt give the company flexibility for strategic M&amp;A and organic growth opportunities.
Buck now projects SoundHound AI will generate $164 million in revenue for 2025, down from his earlier $170 million estimate but still within the company&#8217;s $157 million–$177 million guidance range.
He forecasts an adjusted EBITDA loss of $50.4 million for the year, including a $0.9 million profit in Q4, marking a key turning point for the business.
For 2026, Buck expects revenue to rise 34.1% to $220 million, with the adjusted EBITDA loss narrowing to $26.1 million. He anticipates greater visibility as the company scales in the coming quarters.
On June 19, Wedbush&#8217;s Dan Ives included SoundHound AI in his new ETF, calling it one of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46013679/dan-ives-says-market-is-massively-underestimating-this-ai-play-urges-investors-to-look-beyong-mag-7" rel="noreferrer noopener">the overlooked names</a> poised to benefit from the AI revolution. He noted that investors undervalue AI&#8217;s long-term growth and that focusing only on valuation risks misses transformative tech stocks like SoundHound.
Price Action: SOUN shares traded higher by 13.2% at $12.87 at the last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46292413/alibabas-delivery-ambition-sets-stage-for-chinas-epic-clash-of-giants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba&#8217;s Delivery Ambition Sets Stage For China&#8217;s Epic Clash Of Giants</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Movers

GOOGL

MSFT

NVDA

SOUN

SoundHound AI Plunged 35% In 2025 - Is It Still Worth Owning?

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is aggressively <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">expanding its AI dominance</a> through its Superintelligence Labs (MSL), launched in June 2025 to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI). Led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, MSL consolidates Meta's Llama models and FAIR (Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research) research to deliver "personal superintelligence."
Fueling this ambition, Meta has poached top talent from OpenAI, Anthropic, Alphabet Inc&#8216;s (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>) Google DeepMind, and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), reshaping the AI landscape in a fierce talent war.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Talent Heist: Building An AI Dream Team</h2>
From OpenAI, Meta recruited seven researchers, including <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/rs-800-crore-joining-bonus-once-in-accenture-iitian-trapit-bansal-joins-meta-ai-superintelligence-team/ar-AA1HS1Xj?apiversion=v2&amp;noservercache=1&amp;domshim=1&amp;renderwebcomponents=1&amp;wcseo=1&amp;batchservertelemetry=1&amp;noservertelemetry=1">Trapit Bansal</a> and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/meta-hires-four-more-openai-researchers-information-reports-2025-06-28/">Shuchao Bi</a>, experts in large language models and reinforcement learning. Google DeepMind lost <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-11/meta-hires-top-researchers-from-google-sesame-for-new-ai-lab">Jack Rae</a>, a machine learning pioneer, and <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3316858/metas-ai-lab-stacked-chinese-talent-drawing-attention-back-home">Huiwen Chang</a>, an image generation specialist.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46288145/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-lures-away-apple-ai-chief-ruoming-pang-with-tens-of-millions-compensation-package-report">Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta Lures Away Apple AI Chief Ruoming Pang With Tens-Of-Millions Compensation Package: Report</a>
Apple's Ruoming Pang, former head of its Foundation Models team behind Genmoji and Siri upgrades, joined MSL with a reported multimillion-dollar package. These defections bolster MSL's expertise in multimodal AI and reasoning systems. Meta also hired from Anthropic, including <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/700196/meta-apple-openai-ai-talent-war">Anton Bakhtin</a>, a Claude developer, and inference expert <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/mark-zuckerberg-creating-meta-superintelligence-labs-read-the-memo.html">Joel Pobar</a>, enhancing its technical depth.
Led by Alexandr Wang, ex-Scale AI CEO, and Nat Friedman, former GitHub CEO, MSL is backed by Meta's $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI for superior data resources. While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46132953/fake-news-former-engineer-joining-meta-refutes-sam-altmans-100m-golden-pass-accusation-to-poach-openai-talent">Meta denied claims</a> of $100 million signing bonuses, competitive compensation has drawn elite talent. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Powering AGI: Meta's Strategic Hires</h2>
MSL aims to integrate advanced AI into Meta's platforms, such as Instagram and Smart Glasses, leveraging its billion-user reach. However, AGI's technical and ethical challenges raise doubts, with critics recalling Meta's metaverse struggles.
By luring defectors from OpenAI, DeepMind and Apple, Meta is building a formidable AI empire. The success of MSL hinges on this talent's ability to deliver groundbreaking innovations in a competitive field, positioning Meta as a serious contender in the AGI race.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46276421/broadcom-tesla-mag-7-switch-musk-trump-feud">Musk Chaos Could Oust Tesla From Mag 7, Making Way For Broadcom</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Poetra.RH via Shutterstock

GOOG

Meta's AI Empire Grows — Fueled By OpenAI, DeepMind, Apple Defectors

In the ever-changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, conducting thorough company analysis is crucial for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and its primary competitors in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry. By closely examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, our aim is to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Apple Background</h3>
Apple is among the largest companies in the world, with a broad portfolio of hardware and software products targeted at consumers and businesses. Apple's iPhone makes up a majority of the firm sales, and Apple's other products like Mac, iPad, and Watch are designed around the iPhone as the focal point of an expansive software ecosystem. Apple has progressively worked to add new applications, like streaming video, subscription bundles, and augmented reality. The firm designs its own software and semiconductors while working with subcontractors like Foxconn and TSMC to build its products and chips. Slightly less than half of Apple's sales come directly through its flagship stores, with a majority of sales coming indirectly through partnerships and distribution.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Apple Inc</td>
<td>33.26</td>
<td>47.75</td>
<td>8.11</td>
<td>37.11%</td>
<td>$32.25</td>
<td>$44.87</td>
<td>5.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer Inc</td>
<td>26.39</td>
<td>4.54</td>
<td>1.42</td>
<td>1.72%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>19.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co</td>
<td>20.52</td>
<td>1.17</td>
<td>0.90</td>
<td>-4.4%</td>
<td>$0.87</td>
<td>$2.17</td>
<td>5.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corp</td>
<td>22.63</td>
<td>4.45</td>
<td>1.49</td>
<td>5.86%</td>
<td>$0.28</td>
<td>$0.91</td>
<td>30.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NetApp Inc</td>
<td>18.92</td>
<td>20.66</td>
<td>3.41</td>
<td>33.42%</td>
<td>$0.43</td>
<td>$1.19</td>
<td>3.84%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pure Storage Inc</td>
<td>149.82</td>
<td>14.96</td>
<td>6.01</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>$0.04</td>
<td>$0.54</td>
<td>12.26%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Eastman Kodak Co</td>
<td>12.94</td>
<td>0.89</td>
<td>0.53</td>
<td>-1.66%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>-0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Turtle Beach Corp</td>
<td>19.50</td>
<td>2.41</td>
<td>0.80</td>
<td>-0.55%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>14.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>38.67</td>
<td>7.01</td>
<td>2.08</td>
<td>4.76%</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.76</td>
<td>12.29%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>When closely examining Apple, the following trends emerge: 
<ul>
<li>
The Price to Earnings ratio of 33.26 is 0.86x lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.
</li>
<li>
It could be trading at a premium in relation to its book value, as indicated by its Price to Book ratio of 47.75 which exceeds the industry average by 6.81x.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 8.11, which is 3.9x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 37.11%, which is 32.35% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $32.25 Billion, which is 129.0x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher gross profit of $44.87 Billion, which indicates 59.04x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is witnessing a substantial decline in revenue growth, with a rate of 5.08% compared to the industry average of 12.29%, which indicates a challenging sales environment.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751986847_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio helps evaluate the capital structure and financial leverage of a company.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By analyzing Apple in relation to its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be derived:
<ul>
<li>
Compared to its top 4 peers, Apple has a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, indicating a balanced financial structure.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company maintains a reasonable level of debt while also leveraging equity financing.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Apple in the Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals industry, the PE, PB, and PS ratios indicate that the stock is relatively undervalued compared to its peers. However, the high ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and low revenue growth suggest that Apple is efficiently utilizing its resources and generating strong profits, despite slower revenue growth. Overall, Apple's financial performance is solid, with room for potential growth in the future.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Markets

Trading Ideas

Insights Into Apple's Performance Versus Peers In Technology Hardware, Storage &amp; Peripherals Sector

Just when it looked like the AI-fueled rally would chug along forever, investors quietly shifted gears. On July 2, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) raised $1.6 billion, increasing its assets under management to over $683 billion, according to FactSet data cited by etf.com. 
That massive single-day inflow wasn't just another data point in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ETF land;</a> it was a flashing signal that the market may be undergoing a subtle but meaningful mood shift in which AI over-enthusiasm, MAG7 concentration concerns, and valuation jitters are nudging investors back to old-school diversification.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/07/46277766/tesla-troubles-amplified-by-musks-party-politics-etfs-on-edge">Tesla Troubles Amplified By Musk&#8217;s Party Politics: ETFs On Edge</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Hot Hype To Steady Hands</h2>
For months, Wall Street was captivated by the so-called Magnificent Seven—Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>). These tech juggernauts drove a lion's share of the market's gains, powered by the explosive promise of artificial intelligence.
But that momentum is showing signs of slight sputtering. The stock price of Nvidia, the poster child of the AI boom, remains sky-high but is facing valuation concerns. Tesla's margins are under pressure. Apple has been lagging behind its big tech peers. And many retail and institutional investors are beginning to realize that this rally is becoming top-heavy.
Enter VOO, the ultra-low-cost ETF tracking the S&amp;P 500. Unlike the NASDAQ-100-heavy QQQ or tech-concentrated MAG7-themed funds, VOO offers broad-based exposure with a healthy dose of MAG7 stocks, albeit not a full diet of them.
More evidence of investors choosing broad market exposure is evident in the $1.3 billion in single-day inflows attracted by the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTI#NYSE">VTI</a>) on July 2.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rotation, Not Recession</h2>
The recent VOO inflow appears less like panic and more like a recalibration. Investors aren&#8217;t fleeing equities, they're just redistributing their bets. As AI headlines become background noise and thematic ETFs lose their novelty sparkle, passive giants like VOO are emerging as the port of choice for long-term capital.
It also helps that VOO's expense ratio is a lean 0.03%, a significant edge over its pricier peers like SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) (0.0945%). And in volatile markets, low fees and broad exposure are the grown-up way to stay invested.
The takeaway? Investors aren't abandoning tech or growth. They're just hedging against overexposure, dialing down the noise, and rebalancing toward structure and stability.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bigger Picture</h2>
The S&amp;P 500 is near record highs and rose 0.5% on the day VOO saw its largest inflow. That timing isn't a coincidence. As bullish sentiment returns, but with a bit more caution, VOO represents the Goldilocks zone: not too risky, not too boring, just right.
With earnings season approaching and uncertainty still looming over Fed rate cuts, it seems investors are saying: "We'll take the gains, but hold the hype."
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/46060843/vanguard-etfs-lead-2025-with-150-billion-inflows-challenging-wall-streets-old-guard">Vanguard ETFs Lead 2025 With $150 Billion Inflows, Challenging Wall Street&#8217;s Old Guard</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

AMZN

TSLA

VOO Gets Some Love As Investors Say 'No Thanks' To Magnificent 7 Stocks

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nvidia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading close</a> to its 52-week high of $161 on Tuesday. The stock has seen a notable increase this year, rising almost 18% year-to-date and gaining over 64% in market value in the last three months. 
This performance surpasses the broader market, as the S&amp;P 500 and NASDAQ Composite indexes have generated approximately 6% in returns year-to-date.
In May, Nvidia reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46177736/what-is-going-on-with-nvidia-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter revenue</a> of $44.1 billion, a 69% increase year-over-year and a 12% sequential rise. This figure exceeded the Street consensus estimate of $43.2 billion, despite a new export ban impacting sales of its chips to China, one of its significant markets.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45845825/ai-momentum-powers-nvidia-arm-and-chip-supply-chain-in-bofa-recap" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI Momentum Powers Nvidia, Arm And Chip Supply Chain In BofA Recap</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recent Key Events Impacting Valuation</h2>
Several recent events have influenced Nvidia&#8217;s valuation. On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump unveiled the &#8220;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46291393/micron-stock-soars-42-in-2025-but-ceo-warns-of-demand-pull-ins" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Beautiful Bill</a>,&#8221; which would raise the semiconductor investment tax credit from 25% to 30% through 2026, giving chipmakers more substantial incentives to expand U.S. manufacturing.
He also created the United States Investment Accelerator within the Commerce Department by executive order, shifting control of the CHIPS Act program directly under the White House.
Although Trump previously criticized the $39 billion in grants and $75 billion in loans under the CHIPS and Science Act, he now backs pro-chip policies through this bill, which has cleared the Senate and is awaiting a House vote.
Also in July, OpenAI <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46290622/openai-sticks-with-nvidia-chatgpt-maker-says-no-plans-to-use-googles-ai-chips-at-scale" rel="noreferrer noopener">confirmed it will</a> continue using Nvidia AI chips at scale, rejecting Alphabet&#8217;s (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>) Google&#8217;s tensor processing units (TPUs) despite a recent cloud deal with Google Cloud. Nvidia, in turn, reaffirmed its partnership with OpenAI, highlighting its role as the core hardware provider for OpenAI&#8217;s AI models.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Supply Chain And Export Controls</h2>
Reportedly, contract chipmaker and key Nvidia supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46283410/taiwan-semiconductor-shifts-focus-100-billion-usa-expansion" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">accelerated its U.S. expansion</a>. This move is a response to Washington&#8217;s chip tariff policies, leading TSM to delay the construction of its second plant in Japan to prioritize its growing American footprint.
In March, TSM Chairman C.C. Wei announced an additional $100 billion U.S. investment, building on the $65 billion disclosed in April 2024. This expanded investment aims to boost domestic chipmaking to support major clients like Nvidia and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and reduce reliance on overseas production.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is drafting <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/07/46266218/us-plans-to-restrict-ai-chip-exports-to-malaysia-thailand-to-curb-diversion-to-china" rel="noreferrer noopener">new export controls</a> to prevent Nvidia AI chips from reaching China via third-party routes, specifically through Malaysia and Thailand. This marks the first formal step in Trump&#8217;s overhaul of prior AI chip export rules, though key security questions remain unresolved.
These U.S. sanctions had previously compelled Nvidia to halt H20 chip exports to China on April 9, resulting in a $4.5 billion first-quarter charge for Nvidia, attributed to excess inventory and purchase commitments. Consequently, Nvidia projected its second-quarter revenue at $45 billion, approximately $780 million below estimates, citing an $8 billion impact from lost H20 sales due to these export restrictions.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Analyst Projections</h2>
Thirty-seven analysts have set a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus price forecast</a> of $179.17 for Nvidia. Loop Capital issued the highest forecast at $250 on June 25, 2025, while Seaport Global gave the lowest at $100 on April 30, 2025. The latest ratings from Citigroup (July 7), Mizuho (July 3), and Loop Capital (June 25) average a forecast of $208.33, suggesting a potential upside of 30.65% for Nvidia based on those recent views.
NVDA Price Action: NVDA stock is trading higher by 0.82% to $159.59 premarket at last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/07/46281768/telecom-stocks-are-no-longer-one-size-fits-all-analyst-says-heres-which-company-stands-out" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telecom Stocks Are No Longer One-Size-Fits-All, Analyst Says — Here&#8217;s Which Company Stands Out</a></li>
</ul>
Image by Jack Hong via Shutterstock

Nvidia Outpaces Market With AI-Powered Growth, Nears Record Highs

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>GOOG</li>
<li>RKLB</li>
<li>CORN</li>
<li>SOFI</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

BULL

CORN

RKLB

SOFI

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of July 8, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/s-p-500-index">The S&amp;P 500</a> is on fire this July, just as it has been every year since 2015. But behind the celebratory green candles and fresh highs lurks a much murkier picture.
<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">S&amp;P 500 has traded above its upper Bollinger Band for the past 8 days &#x1f6a8; The last time it did that was in July 2024 and then <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPY&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPY</a> promptly corrected by 10% &#x1f4c9;&#x1f4c9; <a href="https://t.co/p3ysYAiMk4">pic.twitter.com/p3ysYAiMk4</a>
&mdash; Barchart (@Barchart) <a href="https://twitter.com/Barchart/status/1942409054984233316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
For the past eight trading sessions, the S&amp;P 500 has closed above its upper Bollinger Band, <a href="https://x.com/Barchart/status/1942409054984233316?s=31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as noted by</a> Barcharts on X—a technical sign that the index is overheating. The last time this happened? July 2024, right before a swift 10% correction. While history doesn't always repeat itself, it often rhymes, and some traders are beginning to hear the echo.
Investors in the S&amp;P 500 tracking SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) might want to remain wary of their holdings.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45840999/sp-500s-steady-climb-to-6000-just-killed-the-vix-what-this-volatility-crash-means-for-the-next-market-move">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Steady Climb To 6000 Just Killed The VIX – What This Volatility Crash Means For The Next Market Move</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Breadth Is Flashing Red</h2>
Even more concerning: market breadth is flashing red. According to Barchart, the <a href="https://x.com/Barchart/status/1942444639794966694">gap</a> between the index's strength and that of its average constituent is near the widest it's been this century. In plain terms, a handful of mega-cap stocks &#8211; think Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) &#8211; are doing the heavy lifting while the majority of the S&amp;P 500 is lagging far behind.
This kind of narrow leadership can keep indexes afloat for a while, but it's hardly a foundation for sustainable gains. When only a few names are driving performance, the risk of a pullback increases if even one of them falters.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Wild Card</h2>
Still, seasonal strength remains a wildcard. The S&amp;P has finished green every July since 2015 &#8211; a rare and powerful trend that bulls are betting on to continue. That momentum, combined with AI hype and rate-cut hopes, has kept sentiment buoyant.
But cracks are forming. The question now is whether July's bullish streak can overpower technical warning signs and deteriorating internals &#8211; or whether investors are partying on a weakening floor.
For now, the S&amp;P 500's scoreboard looks impressive. Just don't forget to check who's actually playing and who's missing the game entirely.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46246574/datadogs-sp-500-debut-could-spark-a-sizzling-rally">Datadog&#8217;s S&amp;P 500 Debut Could Spark A Sizzling Rally</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Technicals

Another July, Another S&P 500 Rally - But Something's Seriously Off This Time

Craig Shapiro, a macro strategist at The Bear Traps Report, says that President Donald Trump&#8217;s approach to inflation management is not that unlike &#8220;running a protection racket,&#8221; one that is built on coercion and intimidation, rather than the use of monetary tools.
What Happened: &#8220;Trump isn't fighting inflation with traditional tools,&#8221; Shapiro said on Monday, in a post on X, adding that &#8220;He's managing it like a boss running a protection racket.&#8221;
According to Shapiro, Trump&#8217;s strategy hinges on behavioral enforcement via public shaming, regulatory threats, and backroom pressure tactics to influence corporate pricing behavior, instead of fiscal and monetary controls.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/forex/25/07/46272823/as-us-dollar-sinks-top-economist-warns-10-slide-could-spark-new-inflation-spike">As US Dollar Sinks, Top Economist Warns 10% Slide Could Spark New Inflation Spike</a>
He cites several examples of this, starting with his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45530157/peter-schiff-slams-trumps-eat-the-tariffs-message-to-walmart-he-might-as-well-ask-it-to-eat-rent-wag">&#8220;eat the tariffs&#8221; remark</a> to Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45769527/trump-threatened-tariffs-on-apple-and-mattel-why-the-barbie-maker-could-slide-free-but-tim-cooks-com">the tariffs threat</a> to Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and so much more. 
Shapiro calls this model &#8220;Protection Racket Capitalism,&#8221; where major corporations like Walmart, Apple, and Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) play the role of capos expected to enforce price discipline in their respective sectors. &#8220;Maintain discipline in your territory, or else,&#8221; he says.
&#8220;Meanwhile,&#8221; he says, Trump is using other policy tools, such as running deficits, imposing tariffs and pursuing deregulation, all of which he says are inflationary, while the &#8220;narrative is being held together by intimidation.&#8221;
The biggest vulnerability, according to Shapiro, is structural inflation. &#8220;You can jawbone Walmart,&#8221; he says. &#8220;You can threaten refiners. But you can't jawbone the rent.&#8221;
In conclusion, he states that if core inflation metrics were to reaccelerate in late-2025, this entire &#8220;Boss Economy&#8221; model could unravel, revealing a fragile narrative being held together, not by policy strength, but by optics and intimidation. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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">Trump isn't fighting inflation with traditional tools. He's managing it like a boss running a protection racket. Welcome to the Boss Economy: a world where prices are controlled by fear, favor, and direct intervention from the top. &#x1f9f5;
&mdash; Craig Shapiro (@ces921) <a href="https://twitter.com/ces921/status/1942192955885773235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: This is precisely what Economist Peter Schiff had warned several months ago when Trump had asked Walmart to &#8220;eat the tariffs&#8221; and not pass on the costs to consumers. 
&#8220;Trump said Walmart should eat the tariffs. He might as well tell Walmart to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45530157/peter-schiff-slams-trumps-eat-the-tariffs-message-to-walmart-he-might-as-well-ask-it-to-eat-rent-wag">eat its rent</a>, wages, insurance, utilities, and all of its other costs too,&#8221; Schiff said.
Besides this, Yardeni Research President&nbsp;Ed Yardeni, believes that Trump&#8217;s tariffs have not been inflationary thus far, because falling oil and goods prices are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44828850/trump-tariffs-may-not-ignite-inflation-after-all-says-yardeni?">providing a deflationary backdrop</a>. 
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/07/46290263/is-china-dodging-us-tariffs-direct-exports-to-america-plunge-43-as-vietnam-and-indonesia-see-big-spurts-report">Is China Dodging US Tariffs? Direct Exports To America Plunge 43% As Vietnam And Indonesia See Big Spurts: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Politics

Trump Manages Inflation Like 'Boss Running A Protection Racket,' Says Craig Shapiro: 'You Can Jawbone Walmart, But Not The Rent'

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) strengthened its partnership with OpenAI after the ChatGPT maker confirmed it has no plans to deploy Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (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>) in-house artificial intelligence chips at scale, despite recent cloud collaboration between the rivals.
What Happened: &#8220;We&#8217;re proud to partner with OpenAI and continue powering the foundation of their work,&#8221; Nvidia wrote on X Monday, citing a Reuters report that OpenAI rejected Google&#8217;s tensor processing units (TPUs) for large-scale deployment.
<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">We're proud to partner with <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpenAI</a> and continue powering the foundation of their work. <a href="https://t.co/CWgsn1uAIk">pic.twitter.com/CWgsn1uAIk</a>
&mdash; NVIDIA (@nvidia) <a href="https://twitter.com/nvidia/status/1942270425607569562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
OpenAI spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Sunday that the AI lab is conducting early testing with some Google TPUs but has no active plans to use them at scale. The company continues relying on Nvidia&#8217;s graphics processing units (GPUs) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) AI chips to meet growing computational demands.
The statement comes two days after Reuters reported OpenAI signed a cloud services deal with Google Cloud in May, marking a rare partnership between direct AI competitors. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/hedge-funds/25/07/46290114/bill-ackman-bets-over-60-of-pershing-squares-portfolio-in-these-4-stocks-uber-hhh-and-more">Bill Ackman Bets Over 60% Of Pershing Square&#8217;s Portfolio In These 4 Stocks: UBER, HHH And More</a>
Why It Matters: The agreement provides OpenAI access to Google&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32645037/nvidia-vulnerable-to-in-house-ai-chip-production-by-google-meta-microsoft-amazon">infrastructure to support training and deployment</a> of models like ChatGPT, reducing reliance on Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Azure.
Google has expanded external availability of its TPUs, historically reserved for internal use, winning customers including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and AI startups Anthropic and Safe Superintelligence. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41615800/googles-cost-advantage-with-custom-chips-only-nvidia-tops-it-says-analyst">custom chips offer Google a cost advantage</a> second only to Nvidia in performance, according to D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/biotech/25/07/46289610/palantir-co-founder-joe-lonsdale-wants-a-fda-overhaul-with-special-forces-style-ai-team-because-china-is-racing-to-outpace-us-in-biotech">Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale Wants A FDA Overhaul With Special Forces-Style AI Team Because China Is Racing To Outpace US In Biotech</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Jack Hong / Shutterstock.com

Equities

CRWV

OpenAI Sticks With Nvidia: ChatGPT Maker Says No Plans To Use Google's AI Chips At Scale

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has filed an appeal against the €500 million ($586 million) fine imposed by the European Union (EU) over alleged anti-competitive practices on its App Store.
What Happened: The EU&#8217;s executive arm, the European Commission, previously charged Apple of violating its laws by restricting app developers from informing customers about alternative offers or marketplaces outside the App Store. The commission also alleged that Apple was steering customers towards in-app purchases, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvjdm4mp92o">reported</a> BBC.
Apple has contested the fine, calling it &#8220;unprecedented&#8221; and stated that the decision and its penalty &#8220;go far beyond what the law requires&#8221;. The company is also objecting to the additional concessions the Commission is demanding, which it claims will add complexity to its services and negatively impact users and businesses.
The fine imposed on Apple in April was the first under the EU&#8217;s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a significant legislation aimed at promoting fair business practices in online markets. The DMA also imposes stricter obligations on companies designated as dominant &#8220;gatekeepers&#8221; in certain sectors and threatens hefty fines for rule breaches.
Paolo Pescatore, a technology analyst at PP Foresight, described Apple&#8217;s appeal as a &#8220;widely expected move&#8221; that could set a precedent for others. He also noted that the process of enforcing the required changes could be lengthy and complex.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46268414/as-elon-musks-rift-with-donald-trump-deepens-former-google-executive-says-maga-and-tech-world-cant-t" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">As Elon Musk&#8217;s Rift With Donald Trump Deepens, Former Google Executive Says MAGA And Tech World Can&#8217;t Thrive Without Each Other</a>
Why It Matters: This appeal follows a series of events that began with the European Union imposing a total of $800 million in fines on Apple and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) in April 2025 for violating the bloc&#8217;s Digital Markets Act. Apple was fined approximately $570 million for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44952117/apple-and-meta-fined-nearly-800-million-for-violating-european-unions-digital-markets-act">restricting app </a>developers from informing users about alternative sales or promotions outside the App Store and for limiting access to competing app stores on Apple devices.
In response, Apple announced new terms in June 2025, allowing developers in the European Union to communicate and promote external purchase offers, marking a significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46133145/apple-opens-eu-app-store-to-external-payments-to-avoid-fines-under-digital-markets-act-but-adds-new-fees">compliance step</a> under the Digital Markets Act. The updated terms enable developers to direct users to alternative payment channels, including websites, alternative app marketplaces, or other apps.
On a year-to-date basis, Apple stock slumped 13.9%, as per Benzinga Pro.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46246152/iphone-sales-bounce-back-in-china-but-huawei-and-xiaomi-intensify-pressure"> iPhone Sales Bounce Back In China, But Huawei And Xiaomi Intensify Pressure </a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple Fights Back Against EU's $586 Million Fine, Says Penalty 'Far Beyond What The Law Requires'

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary says he learned his most ruthless lesson in productivity three decades ago from Steve Jobs and he's still measuring entrepreneurs against it.
What Happened: "Steve would say, ‘They don't know what they want till I tell them,' " O'Leary recalled of quarterly meetings built around Oregon Trail upgrades during his stint making education software for Apple in the early 1990s.
O'Leary told Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpAZehPviLQ&amp;t=467s">podcast</a> that Jobs boiled success down to &#8220;signal-to-noise ratio,&#8221; an idea that a leader must lock onto the day's three to five critical tasks and ignore everything else. "For Steve Jobs it was 80 signal, 20 noise," he said. Jobs' focus was so intense, O'Leary added, that "he would email me at 2:30 in the morning and expect me to get back to him."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Kevin O&#039;Leary: This $28 Habit Is Keeping You Poor! Every Time You Get Paid, Do This!" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mpAZehPviLQ?start=467&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
The Canadian investor called Jobs "not a nice guy," paraphrasing one blow-up in which the Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) co-founder snapped, "Shut up and do what I say." Yet the approach produced &#8220;wildly successful&#8221; results, O'Leary said.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/entrepreneurship/25/07/46265862/kevin-oleary-says-youll-never-be-free-if-you-remain-an-employee-but-theres-actually-nothing-wrong-with-it-heres-why">Kevin O&#8217;Leary Says &#8216;You&#8217;ll Never Be Free&#8217; If You Remain An Employee, But There&#8217;s Actually Nothing Wrong With It: Here&#8217;s Why</a>
He sees only one contemporary who outdoes the late Apple chief: "Elon Musk… he has no noise,&#8221; O'Leary said. &#8220;Sixty seconds of every minute, 60 minutes of every hour, the 18 hours he's awake, it's all signal. And look what he's achieved."That level of concentration, he argued, separates &#8220;geniuses of their time&#8221; from merely competent managers.
Why It Matters: The 70-year-old software mogul said he still teaches Jobs' formula to CEOs and MBA students. "It's not your vision for next year," he told Bartlett. "It's the next 18 hours you're awake."
Musk, for one, has repeatedly heralded hard work and long hours as major factors in success. At USC's Marshall School of Business commencement in 2014, Musk urged graduates to "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41428758/its-simple-math-musk-said-if-you-work-100-hours-a-week-and-others-work-50-youll-accomplish-twice-as">work super hard</a>," recounting how he and his brother launched their first company from a rented office where they slept on the couch and showered at the YMCA.
Steve Jobs was also one who demanded relentless focus at work from every employee at Apple, according to an account by Jony Ive. Ive, at an on-stage conversation back in 2014, called Jobs &#8220;the most <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/cannabis/25/06/45718360/jony-ive-once-said-steve-jobs-demanded-everyone-at-apple-often-answer-this-question-it-still-shocks-me-how-few-people-actually-practice-this">remarkably focused</a> person I&#8217;ve ever met.&#8221;
Photo Courtesy: Kathy Hutchins on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46283137/trump-vs-bezos-how-big-beautiful-bill-may-wreck-20k-ev-dream">Trump Vs. Bezos: How &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217; May Wreck $20K EV Dream</a>

Success Stories

Kevin O'Leary Says Steve Jobs Was 'Not A Nice Guy' But Taught Him A Success Formula That Elon Musk Now Uses

Ruoming Pang, the AI model lead at Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), is reportedly leaving to join Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
What Happened: Pang, who was leading Apple's AI model team responsible for training Cupertino's foundational models, is the latest hire to escalate Meta's suprintelligence efforts, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/apple-loses-its-top-ai-models-executive-to-meta-s-hiring-spree?srnd=phx-technology">reported</a> Bloomberg on Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Meta proposed a compensation package valued at tens of millions of dollars annually to ensure Pang joins the Facebook parent. At Apple, Zhifeng Chen will take over his responsibilities.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/06/45983347/jensen-huang-gave-12-6-million-to-charity-then-nvidias-stock-made-it-billions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jensen Huang Gave $12.6 Million To Charity, Then Nvidia&#8217;s Stock Made It Billions</a>
On the same day, Meta also brought on board Yuanzhi Li, a researcher from OpenAI, and Anton Bakhtin, formerly of Claude at Anthropic PBC, the report added, citing people with knowledge.
Apple and Meta did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: The latest move by Meta is another in the series of pushes the company is taking to expand its superintelligence unit.
Last month, Zuckerberg's company also brought Scale AI's Alexandr Wang, startup founder Daniel Gross and former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman on board with lucrative <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010604/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-reportedly-looking-to-hire-former-github-ceo-nat-friedman-and-investor-daniel-gross-as-part-of-aggressive-ai-expansion-strategy">compensation packages</a>.
Previously, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that Meta has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46041399/meta-tried-luring-openais-top-minds-with-massive-paychecks-but-sam-altman-neglected-to-mention-that-hes-countering-those-offers-says-andrew-bosworth">been approaching several</a> people at ChatGPT-parent, luring them with substantial offers. However, he said that none of the startup's top talent took these offers.
Price Action: Meta shares edged up 0.014% in after-hours trading, while Apple shares slipped 0.46% during the same period, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show that META maintains a solid upward trend across the short, medium and long term. Its growth score remains strong, though its value rating is comparatively lower. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">You can find more detailed performance data here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07212421/Screenshot-2025-07-08-at-6.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-975610" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Skorzewiak on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46127671/amazon-loses-top-ai-leader-in-high-stakes-talent-shuffle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Loses Top AI Leader In High-Stakes Talent Shuffle</a></li>
</ul>

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Lures Away Apple AI Chief Ruoming Pang With Tens-Of-Millions Compensation Package: Report

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/apple-loses-its-top-ai-models-executive-to-meta-s-hiring-spree?embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/apple-loses-its-top-ai-models-executive-to-meta-s-hiring-spree?embedded-checkout=true</a>

General

'Apple Loses Its Top AI Models Executive to Meta's Hiring Spree'- Bloomberg

Washington&#8217;s tariff policies on imported chips have prompted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tsmc" rel="noreferrer noopener">postpone the construction</a> of a second plant in Japan and fast-track its U.S. expansion instead.&nbsp;
In 2024, Taiwan Semiconductor announced plans to build a second facility in Japan&#8217;s Kumamoto prefecture as part of a $20 billion investment initiative. The Japanese government pledged over $8 billion in support, the Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/tsmc-to-delay-japan-chip-plant-and-prioritize-u-s-to-avoid-trump-tariffs-f623c07e?mod=tech_lead_pos4" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> on Friday.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46105742/nvidia-supplier-taiwan-semiconductor-wants-to-raise-10-billion-for-this-risk-it-cannot-control" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Wants To Raise $10 Billion For This Risk It Cannot Control</a>
Taiwan Semiconductor is a leading supplier to Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) supplier. The first plant began chip production last fall, serving major clients like Toyota Motor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>).
Taiwan Semiconductor originally planned to begin construction on the second site earlier this year. However, Chairman C.C. Wei stated in June that heavy traffic in the region <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45748492/taiwan-semiconductors-japan-chip-factory-faces-delays-while-us-expansion-takes-priority" rel="noreferrer noopener">had caused a slight delay</a>. There has been no official confirmation from Japan regarding the delay.
Sources familiar with the matter now suggest that the timeline for the second plant remains uncertain, with further delays likely. According to the report, this setback is challenging for Japan, as its economy struggles under President Trump&#8217;s 25% tariffs on autos and steel.
Nonetheless, the government expects the factory&#8217;s production schedule and output targets to remain unchanged.
The U.S., Japan, Europe, and Taiwan financially supported the Taiwanese contract chipmaker&#8217;s global expansion after the 2020 pandemic helped them realize the importance of the semiconductor industry, which is indispensable for electronic devices ranging from a smartphone to a vehicle.
The disruption of the global semiconductor supply chain following China&#8217;s pandemic prompted companies to boost their semiconductor base to avoid a semiconductor chip crisis.
In March, Wei&nbsp;announced&nbsp;an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46219423/taiwan-semiconductor-outperforming-the-market-shows-moatbut-it-comes-with-risk" rel="noreferrer noopener">additional&nbsp;$100 billion</a> investment&nbsp;in U.S. chipmaking (on top of the $65 billion announced in April 2024).
Price Action: TSM stock is down 2.88% to $228.04 at the last check Monday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46242782/why-qualcomms-stock-isnt-soaring-like-its-rivals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Qualcomm&#8217;s Stock Isn&#8217;t Soaring Like Its Rivals</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by wakamatsu via Shutterstock

Taiwan Semiconductor Shifts Focus To $100 Billion USA Expansion Instead Of Japan

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>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$90.6K</td>
<td>93.2K</td>
<td>122.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$61.3K</td>
<td>20.7K</td>
<td>19.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ORCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$34.2K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>15.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$50.9K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td>14.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BTBT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>$80.7K</td>
<td>15.9K</td>
<td>8.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DDOG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$34.8K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$38.0K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RGTI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$112.7K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$27.50</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>7.4K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WDC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$150.0K</td>
<td>345</td>
<td>1.0K</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 sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on July 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 537 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $90.6K, with a price of $168.0 per contract. There were 93233 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 122529 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 sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 4 day(s) on July 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 224 contract(s) at a $210.00 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 $61.3K, with a price of $275.0 per contract. There were 20716 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 19387 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ORCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on July 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 199 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.2K, with a price of $172.0 per contract. There were 2370 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15369 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on July 11, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $135.00 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 $50.9K, with a price of $509.0 per contract. There were 8451 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14096 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BTBT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTBT#NASDAQ">BTBT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 39 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $3.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 45 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $80.7K, with a price of $80.0 per contract. There were 15949 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8287 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DDOG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on July 11, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $155.00 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 $34.8K, with a price of $174.0 per contract. There were 4024 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5861 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 74 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 22 contract(s) at a $125.00 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 $38.0K, with a price of $1730.0 per contract. There were 12780 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3757 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 102 day(s) on October 17, 2025. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $15.00 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 $112.7K, with a price of $225.0 per contract. There were 1627 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3046 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AI#NYSE">AI</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 11 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 912 contract(s) at a $27.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $31.0 per contract. There were 7417 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1156 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WDC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $150.0K, with a price of $150.0 per contract. There were 345 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1067 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

BTBT

DDOG

ORCL

PLTR

RGTI

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

Nearly six months into President Donald Trump's second term, the market has picked its winners—and it's not on ESG, the strategy built around environmental,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/esg"> social and governance principles.</a>
As deregulation gains steam and culture wars escalate, a group of so-called &#8220;sin stocks&#8221; tied to guns, booze, tobacco, and gambling is sharply beating clean investing strategies.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sin Stocks Are Smoking ESG—and Trump Might Be The Reason</h3>
Since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, the USA Mutuals Vice Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VICEX#NASDAQ">VICEX</a>) — a portfolio built around industries typically shunned by ethical investors — has jumped 16.4%. By contrast:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESGV#NYSE">ESGV</a>) is up just 3.5%.</li>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) gained 4.2%.</li>
<li>The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 6%. </li>
</ul>
This shift reflects a broader investor reallocation toward industries that benefit from Trump's deregulatory, America-first agenda—and away from sectors screened for ESG compliance.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-975026" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-768x397.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-1536x794.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/07105031/image-66-2048x1059.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What's Driving Sin Stocks Higher?</h2>
The USA Mutuals Vice Fund, launched in 2002, invests at least 80% of its assets in companies tied to alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and defense.
It concentrates a minimum of 25% in these four "vice industries," which the fund defines as sectors often subject to social disapproval or regulatory risk. 
No single industry makes up more than 80% of the portfolio. The fund also maintains global exposure, investing at least 40% of assets in non-U.S. companies across a minimum of three countries.
 Its top holdings as of March 31, 2025 have delivered eye-catching returns in 2025:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>BAE Systems plc (OTCPK: BAESY): +79.3%</li>
<li>Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>): +51.8%</li>
<li>British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTI#NYSE">BTI</a>): +46.9%</li>
<li>Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>): +38.8%</li>
<li>RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>): +28.0%</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>): +28.5%</li>
<li>Heineken N.V. (OTCPK: HEINY): +25.9%</li>
<li>Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>): +9.4%</li>
<li>Diageo plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DEO#NYSE">DEO</a>): -17.1% (the lone laggard). </li>
</ul>
In particular, a portfolio of defense contractors—tracked by the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>)—has surged 25% year-to-date, fueled by rising geopolitical tensions and further escalated by the recent Israel–Iran war.
&#8220;The Vice Fund remains committed to its core belief that certain stocks are undervalued because certain factions of society deem them morally questionable,&#8221; said portfolio manager Paul Strehle in the fund's latest quarterly report.
&#8220;Our core holdings remain military defense, casino, alcohol, and tobacco stocks because they typically have an inelastic customer base that is unlikely to be swayed by whether the product price rises or falls,&#8221; he added. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ESG Stocks Struggle Despite Big Tech Exposure</h2>
Despite the Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF including several of the market's strongest tech names, it hasn't kept up with vice stocks. 
Top 10 ESGV Holdings and 2025 YTD Returns:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): +18.1%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): +18.6%</li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): -15.1%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): +2.0%</li>
<li>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): +24.3%</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>): +20.0%</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>): -6.1%</li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): -27.4%</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>): -6.1%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>): +24.8%</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46271577/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-slashes-solar-incentives-cathie-woods-ark-says-nuclear-may-now-be-cheapest-option-oklo-smr-ltbr-and-other-stocks-in-focus">Trump&#8217;s Big Beautiful Bill Slashes Solar Incentives — Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Says Nuclear May Now Be Cheapest Option: OKLO, SMR, LTBR And Other Stocks In Focus </a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Large Cap

Regulations

Sector ETFs

Specialty ETFs

AVGO

BABA

BAESY

ESGV

HEINY

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund

VICEX

Guns, Booze, And Gambling Stocks Are Crushing ESG In Trump's America

The year 2025 will go down in history for tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), but it won't be an iPhone or a new product launch. The year will mark the company's biggest box office movie of all time with "F1."
While the film is breaking box office records, it might not move the needle for Apple stock.
What Happened: Action movie "F1," which stars Brad Pitt, ranked second at the domestic box office during the Fourth of July holiday weekend with $26.1 million, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/07/46277528/dinosaurs-dominate-box-office-jurassic-world-rebirth-comcast">trailing only "Jurassic World Rebirth."</a>
The film has grossed $109.5 million domestically and $293.6 million worldwide after 10 days in theaters.
With the latest weekend box office total, "F1" is now the highest-grossing Apple theatrical film of all time, surpassing the $221 million total from "Napoleon," as reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/f1-movie-apple-highest-grossing-film-napoleon-1236448149/">Variety</a>.
With a strong sophomore weekend showing, "F1" could not only be the highest grossing Apple film of all time, but could surpass the theatrical totals of all Apple's previous films, including "Killers of the Flower Moon," which grossed $158 million and "Argylle," which grossed $96 million.
Many movie companies would likely see their stock prices rise if they were breaking all-time company or box office records. In the case of Apple, though, the film's success hasn't moved the Apple stock price much to date.
Apple&#8217;s previous big-budget films, "Napoleon" and "Killers of the Flower Moon,&#8221; had budgets of over $200 million each. They failed to generate a profit.
"F1" comes in with a reported production budget of $250 million and a marketing budget of $100 million, which means the film is still far away from breaking even for Apple, especially when accounting for the split it will pay out to movie theater companies.
The film <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/2025/?ref_=bo_yl_table_1">ranks </a>11th domestically for the year, earning $109.5 million, and 10th worldwide at $293.6 million. While the film may not stay there, a top 10 film of the year would put Apple's film unit on the map.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/03/37558754/apples-1b-gamble-on-3-blockbusters-analyzing-box-office-results-streaming-impact-and-oscar-nominatio">Apple&#8217;s $1B Gamble On 3 Blockbusters &#8211; Box Office Results, Streaming Impact, And Oscar Nominations</a>
Why It's Important: While Apple films have not been profitable yet, they are an important part of the company's entertainment division, which includes the AppleTV+ streaming platform.
Apple could release the films as streaming exclusives. But the box office route helps eat the high costs of making the movie and allows it to campaign for major award nominations.
Prediction market <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/kxoscarnompic/oscar-nominations-for-best-picture">Kalshi </a>currently lists a 22% chance that "F1" is nominated for Best Picture and a 12% chance that Pitt will be nominated for Best Actor for the film.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/KXOSCARNOMPIC-26?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;ids=KXOSCARNOMPIC-26-SIN&#038;ids=KXOSCARNOMPIC-26-SEN&#038;ids=KXOSCARNOMPIC-26-WIC" width="488px" height="196px" style="border:0"></iframe>
Award nominations could help boost the prominence of "F1" and Apple's place in the film world. Apple was the first streaming company to ever win the Best Picture with "CODA" previously.
While Apple's stock price may not get a boost from "F1's" success at the box office, there is a good chance that its streaming platform could get a boost when the film is added to Apple TV+. Apple also has the chance to time the launch of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/40014040/apple-to-follow-netflix-disney-ad-supported-appletv-streaming-plan-could-launch-soon">its rumored ad-supported</a> streaming plan around the time that "F1" hits the platform. Apple has previously offered promotions like free preview weekends around major series releases.
Launching an ad-supported plan could be the next catalyst for AppleTV+ and the timing with "F1" hitting the platform could be a potential huge boost for Apple on the streaming front.
In the most recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45152493/apple-reports-strong-q2-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-all-time-high-across-all-segments-100-billion-buyback-and-more">reported second quarter,</a> Apple reported $68.7 billion in product revenue, $26.65 billion in services revenue and a quarterly total of $94.53 billion in revenue.
With an estimated 45 million paid streaming subscribers who pay around $10 per month, the $450 million per month isn't a ton to move the needle. Apple loses an <a href="https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/apple-tv-plus-streaming-losses-1-billion-per-year-1236344052/">estimated </a>$1 billion per year from its streaming platform.
Whether the debut of "F1" on the platform, along with an ad-supported plan, brings Apple TV+ closer to profitability this year remains to be seen.
Price Action: Apple stock is down 0.5% to $212.47 on Monday, versus a 52-week trading range of $169.21 to $260.09. Apple stock is down 12.8% year-to-date in 2025.  
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42750888/top-anticipated-2025-movies-for-big-screen-success-and-stocks-investors-should-watch">Top Anticipated 2025 Movies For Big Screen Success And Stocks Investors Should Watch</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Entertainment

F1 Is Apple's Biggest Box-Office Win—So Why Is The Stock Stalling?

Legal

Press Releases

Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Apple Inc. and Certain Officers – AAPL

AAPL Securities Lawsuit Filed Against Apple Inc. Contact the DJS Law Group to Discuss Your Rights

Lawsuit Alert: Investors who lost over $250,000 with shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) should contact the Shareholders Foundation

APPLE INC. (NASDAQ: AAPL) SHAREHOLDER ALERT Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Apple Inc.  Investors of Upcoming Deadline

Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Apple Inc. and Certain Officers - AAPL

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Is Investigating Apple, Abacus, Lineage, and CTO, and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

ROSEN, SKILLED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Apple Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – AAPL

AAPL NOTICE: Apple Inc. Shareholders are Notified of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit -- Contact BFA Law by August 19 Court Deadline (NASDAQ:AAPL)

AAPL INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Announces that Apple Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit

Apple announces chief operating officer transition

LINE

AstroNova

Canaan

CompoSecure

Corsair Gaming

Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated Common stock

Diebold Nixdorf

Dell Technologies Inc. Class C Common Stock

Dell Technologies

Foxx Development Holdings Inc. - Common Stock

Foxx Development Hldgs

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Common Stock

Hewlett Packard

Immersion

IonQ

Eastman Kodak

NetApp

One Stop Systems

CPI Card

Pure Storage

Quantum

Quantum Computing

Super Micro Computer, Inc. - Common Stock

Super Micro Computer

SanDisk

Seagate Technology Holdings PLC - Ordinary Shares (Ireland)

Seagate Tech Hldgs

TransAct Technologies Incorporated - Common Stock

Transact Technologies

Turtle Beach

Western Digital Corporation - Common Stock

Western Digital

Xerox Holdings Corporation - Common Stock

Xerox Holdings

Jefferies

JP Morgan

Morgan Stanley

Wedbush

B of A Securities

Screenshot 2025-02-05 at 8.01.23 PM

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

HIVE

HIVE Digital Technologies Acquires Paraguay Bitcoin Mining Site, Targets 317% Hashrate Growth By September 2025

Screenshot 2024-09-19 at 5.42.03 PM

Commodities

Buffet Shifts To Cash, DoJ Launches Nvidia Investigation – Is It Time To Invest In Gold And Other Stores Of Value?

Screenshot 2024-09-03 at 5.56.09 PM

The Benefits Of Increasing Your Portfolio Diversification With Crypto

Screenshot 2024-08-26 at 7.19.14 PM

FEPI

NVDQ

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

NVDX

Nvidia Is Up Over 150% YTD, But Some Are Flagging Risks – Trade Your Expectation Either Way With REX Shares Leveraged ETFs

Screenshot 2024-08-02 at 5.41.43 PM

Movers & Shakers

FRGE

HOOD

SCHW

Private Companies Are 50% More Profitable Than Public Companies And Are At Lower Valuations – Now You Can Invest In Them With Linqto

AFRM

Affirm&#39;s underwriting is more sophisticated than other fintechs and the company has a strong track record, Will Nance said in the initiation note.

Goldman Analyst Is Bullish About This Buy Now, Pay Later Underwriting Company

Screenshot 2024-06-21 at 6.35.07 PM

Emerging Markets

BNAI

SSTK

Apple Becomes Latest Giant To Adopt AI, But Risks Persist – Brand Engagement Network May Have The Solution To Ensure Security In The Age Of AI

Screenshot 2024-03-11 at 9.18.37 PM

TSX:ZSP

The $8.8 Trillion That Could Flow To The Stock Market With Fed Rate Cuts

Comments

Apple

Actualités

Dernières nouvelles pour Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Stock

Les gens regardent aussi

Notizie

PARTENAIRE / CONTRIBUTEUR

BENZINGA MONDIAL