Blackstone Option Alert: Dec 19 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1000 vs 1023 OI; Earnings 7/24 Before Open 

Blackstone Option Alert: Dec 19 $150 Puts at the Bid: 1000 @ $10.5 vs 1023 OI; Earnings 7/24 Before Open Ref=$154.59

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Stock

Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.167 trillion in total asset under management, including $860.1 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of March 2025. The company has four core business segments: private equity (26% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (34% and 40%), credit and insurance (32% and 23%), and multi-asset investing (8% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).

Blackstone Inc

Brambles Ltd

BlueLinx Holdings Inc

BROOKFIELD CORP PREF A 13 by BROOKFIELD CORP.

Brookfield Corp

Bexil Corp

BEXIMCO PHARMS LTD S/GDR by Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Common Stock

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc

Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund

BXN - United States Dollar

BOX INC PFD CONV SER A 3% by Box, Inc.

Bang Holdings Corp

BLOCKCHAIN INST OF TECH by BLOCKCHAIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INC.

Blockchain Institute Of Technology Inc

BXP Inc

BOTANIX PHARMACEUTICALS by Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd

BENDIGO & ADELAIDE BL ORD by Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd

AUSTRALIAN SILICA QUARTZ by AUSTRALIAN SILICA QUARTZ GROUP LTD.

Australian Silica Quartz Group Ltd

BOXER RETAIL LTD U/ADR by Boxer Retail Limited

Baudax Bio Inc Ordinary Shares

Baudax Bio Inc

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund

Bexil Investment Trust

ExGen Resources Inc

Natural Resource Holdings Inc Ordinary Shares

Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 3.31% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.68%. Currently, Blackstone has a market capitalization of $125.23 billion. 
Buying $100 In BX: If an investor had bought $100 of BX stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $399.54 today based on a price of $162.00 for BX at the time of writing.
<h3>Blackstone's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752269421_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

News

Trading Ideas

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Blackstone Stock In The Last 10 Years

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $153 to $167.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $167

Citigroup analyst Christopher Allen maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $137 to $160.

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $160

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Blackstone. Our analysis of options history for Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) revealed 34 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 35% of traders were bullish, while 50% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 7 were puts, with a value of $537,408, and 27 were calls, valued at $1,741,086.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $130.0 to $195.0 for Blackstone over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Blackstone stands at 977.43, with a total volume reaching 4,435.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Blackstone, situated within the strike price corridor from $130.0 to $195.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Blackstone Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752174078_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$36.0</td>
<td>$35.95</td>
<td>$36.0</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$302.4K</td>
<td>733</td>
<td align="right">85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$7.05</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$7.05</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$282.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td align="right">439</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$9.65</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$9.3</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$260.2K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td align="right">339</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$13.15</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$185.5K</td>
<td>402</td>
<td align="right">165</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$121.5K</td>
<td>771</td>
<td align="right">194</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Blackstone</h3>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.167 trillion in total asset under management, including $860.1 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of March 2025. The company has four core business segments: private equity (26% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (34% and 40%), credit and insurance (32% and 23%), and multi-asset investing (8% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
Having examined the options trading patterns of Blackstone, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of Blackstone</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,881,104, with BX's price up by 0.2%, positioned at $159.0.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 14 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Blackstone</h3>
3 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $163.33.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Blackstone, which currently sits at a price target of $157. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Blackstone, maintaining a target price of $168. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Blackstone, which currently sits at a price target of $165. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Blackstone with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Markets

Blackstone's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $136 to $168.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $168

Evercore ISI Group analyst Glenn Schorr maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $152 to $165.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $165

ORCL

SNAP

'TikTok Preparing U.S. App With Separate Algorithm And Codebase; TikTok's New U.S. App Preparing To Operate Separately From Rest Of The World; Some ByteDance Employees In The U.S. Will Likely Continue To Work On U.S. TikTok On Outsource Basis, Sources Say' - Reuters Exclusive

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>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>13.5K</td>
<td>7.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$139.6K</td>
<td>24.5K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$1.7 million</td>
<td>10.5K</td>
<td>6.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FLG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$87.4K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$37.1K</td>
<td>6.9K</td>
<td>428</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OSCR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$39.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>227</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TRV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$34.6K</td>
<td>278</td>
<td>214</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$7.50</td>
<td>$29.9K</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KKR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$30.8K</td>
<td>251</td>
<td>86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>77</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 90 contract(s) at a $95.00 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 $27.9K, with a price of $311.0 per contract. There were 13564 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7413 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 73 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 600 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 40 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $139.6K, with a price of $233.0 per contract. There were 24507 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6571 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 192 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 1001 contract(s) at a $60.00 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 $1.7 million, with a price of $1735.0 per contract. There were 10593 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6005 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FLG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLG#NYSE">FLG</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 38 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2506 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $87.4K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 1917 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2522 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 38 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 70 contract(s) at a $72.50 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 $37.1K, with a price of $530.0 per contract. There were 6938 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 428 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For OSCR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OSCR#NYSE">OSCR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 345 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 99 contract(s) at a $25.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.1K, with a price of $395.0 per contract. There were 1358 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 227 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TRV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 105 contract(s) at a $250.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.6K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 278 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 214 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on July 11, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $7.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.9K, with a price of $598.0 per contract. There were 13 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 192 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 77 contract(s) at a $170.00 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 $30.8K, with a price of $400.0 per contract. There were 251 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 86 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 192 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 57 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.3K, with a price of $725.0 per contract. There were 4540 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 77 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.

AFRM

HOOD

OSCR

PYPL

SOFI

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) and Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGT#NASDAQ">ALGT</a>) today announced that funds affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate have agreed to acquire Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor from Allegiant for $200 million.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to satisfying customary conditions.

ALGT

BXMT

Blackstone And Allegiant Travel Says Funds Affiliated With Blackstone Real Estate To Acquire Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor From Allegiant For $200M

TikTok is building a new version of its app for U.S. users ahead of a planned sale to American investors, according to a report on Sunday.
What Happened: The Chinese-owned short-video app plans to launch the new U.S. version to app stores on September 5, The Information reported, citing sources, according to Reuters. Existing users will eventually need to download the new app to continue service, though the current version will function until March 2026.
The development comes as President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/07/46265991/donald-trump-announces-upcoming-talks-with-china-on-tiktok-we-pretty-much-have-a-deal">announced Friday that the U.S. will begin negotiations with China</a> as early as Monday or Tuesday over the ByteDance-owned platform. &#8220;We pretty much have a deal,&#8221; Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump extended ByteDance&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/07/46265991/donald-trump-announces-upcoming-talks-with-china-on-tiktok-we-pretty-much-have-a-deal">divestment deadline to September 17</a>, marking the third extension since his January inauguration. 
TikTok did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46264668/elon-musks-father-says-he-warned-his-son-against-going-into-politics-hes-not-a-very-good-politician-at-all">Elon Musk&#8217;s Father Says He Warned His Son Against Going Into Politics – &#8216;He&#8217;s Not a Very Good Politician At All&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The original congressional mandate required TikTok to cease U.S. operations unless ByteDance completed asset divestiture or demonstrated significant sale progress.
The deal structure involves spinning off TikTok&#8217;s U.S. operations into a new American-controlled entity. Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46263734/trump-says-we-pretty-much-have-a-deal-as-he-reveals-us-will-resume-tiktok-deal-talks-with-china-soon">shown acquisition interest</a>.
However, the transaction stalled after China indicated it would block forced divestment following Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988862/trump-extends-tiktok-divestment-deadline-again-says-xi-will-ultimately-approve-the-deal-amid-stalled-us-spinoff-talks">announcement of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods</a>. The president acknowledged China&#8217;s approval requirement, stating, &#8220;President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it&#8217;s good for them.&#8221;
TikTok serves 170 million American users and has become a focal point in national security and data privacy discussions.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46267477/trump-threatens-10-additional-tariff-on-all-brics-aligned-nations-says-tariff-letters-drop-at-noon-monday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Threatens 10% ‘Additional' Tariff On All BRICS-Aligned Nations, Says Tariff Letters Drop At Noon Monday</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: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com

Tech

TikTok To Roll Out New US App As Trump Says 'We Pretty Much Have A Deal:' Report

On Friday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988862/trump-extends-tiktok-divestment-deadline-again-says-xi-will-ultimately-approve-the-deal-amid-stalled-us-spinoff-talks">poised to resume negotiations</a> with China as early as Monday or Tuesday over a potential deal involving TikTok's U.S. operations.
What Happened: Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that the U.S. "pretty much" has a deal in place for the ByteDance-owned video app, reported Reuters.
"I think we&#8217;re gonna start Monday or Tuesday&#8230; talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives," Trump said. "We pretty much have a deal."
When asked how confident he was about Beijing&#8217;s cooperation, Trump responded, "I&#8217;m not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship and I think it&#8217;s good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it&#8217;s good for us."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46199580/microsoft-rivian-intel-slash-jobs-in-june-tech-layoff-spree?utm_source=articleShare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft, Rivian, Intel Slash Jobs In June Tech Layoff Spree</a>
Why It's Important: TikTok's fate has become a high-stakes issue at the intersection of national security, data privacy and U.S.-China trade tensions.
The original plan — which involved spinning off TikTok's U.S. assets into a new, American-controlled company — had stalled earlier this year after Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports.
In response, China signaled it would block any forced divestment, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988862/trump-extends-tiktok-divestment-deadline-again-says-xi-will-ultimately-approve-the-deal-amid-stalled-us-spinoff-talks">delaying the deal's progress</a>.
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.
Last month, Trump extended the deadline for TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest U.S. operations until Sept. 17. The president said a final deal would likely require China&#8217;s sign-off.
Before the widespread tariffs were announced in April, a deal appeared likely, with a group of U.S. investors — including Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) and the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43198088/tiktok-ban-sparks-divide-oracle-backs-trump-while-apple-google-play-it-safe">showing interest</a>.
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:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46223791/elon-musks-stupid-actions-will-be-teslas-nail-in-the-coffin-ross-gerber-warns?utm_source=articleShare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s ‘Stupid&#8217; Actions Will Be Tesla&#8217;s ‘Nail In The Coffin,&#8217; Ross Gerber Warns</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: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com

Trump Says 'We Pretty Much Have A Deal' As He Reveals US Will Resume TikTok Deal Talks With China Soon

In the last three months, 14 analysts have published ratings on Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Blackstone and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $152.79, accompanied by a high estimate of $207.00 and a low estimate of $129.00. Observing a downward trend, the current average is 13.11% lower than the prior average price target of $175.85. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751487483_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive Blackstone. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Crispin Love</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$157.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$153.00</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian McKenna</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brennan Hawken</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Market Perform</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benjamin Budish</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$136.00</td>
<td>$129.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Cyprys</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$222.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bill Katz</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$147.00</td>
<td>$233.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Brown</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$139.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Allen</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$137.00</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devin Ryan</td>
<td>JMP Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Market Outperform</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Crispin Love</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$182.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benjamin Budish</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$129.00</td>
<td>$186.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Craig Siegenthaler</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$207.00</td>
<td>$219.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Blackstone. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Blackstone compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Blackstone's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Blackstone's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BX/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Blackstone analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Blackstone: A Closer Look</h2>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.167 trillion in total asset under management, including $860.1 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of March 2025. The company has four core business segments: private equity (26% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (34% and 40%), credit and insurance (32% and 23%), and multi-asset investing (8% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
<h3>Blackstone: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: Blackstone's revenue growth over a period of 3M has faced challenges. As of 31 March, 2025, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -7.28%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Financials sector.
Net Margin: Blackstone's net margin falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 21.75%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Blackstone's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 7.6%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Blackstone's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 1.39% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: Blackstone's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 1.68. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantag">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Breaking Down Blackstone: 14 Analysts Share Their Views

Piper Sandler analyst Crispin Love maintains Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $140 to $157.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Blackstone, Raises Price Target to $157

President Donald Trump has indicated the presence of a potential&nbsp;buyer for the US operations&nbsp;of TikTok, the widely used&nbsp;social media app owned by&nbsp;China&#8217;s&nbsp;ByteDance Ltd. However, he has decided to keep the specifics under wraps for the next two weeks.
What Happened: During a conversation with Fox News&#8217;s Sunday Morning Futures, Trump said, &#8220;We have a buyer for TikTok,&nbsp;by the way. I think&nbsp;I&#8217;ll&nbsp;need probably China approval and&nbsp;I think President Xi will&nbsp;probably do it,&#8221; as per a&nbsp;Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-29/trump-says-there-s-a-buyer-for-tiktok-but-he-won-t-provide-name?srnd=homepage-asia&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">report</a>.
Trump, who had earlier extended the deadline for ByteDance to offload TikTok&#8217;s US operations, did not reveal the identity of the potential buyer. He merely referred to them as a &#8220;group of very wealthy people.&#8221; The interview was aired on Sunday, but was recorded on the preceding Friday.
In the previous year, a law was enacted by Congress mandating ByteDance to divest its US operations of TikTok due to concerns over national security. 
However, the progress on the deal has been significantly delayed due to the rising tensions surrounding US-China trade and tariff negotiations.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44886711/trump-expresses-reluctance-to-escalate-china-tariffs-hints-at-trade-deal">Trump Expresses Reluctance To Escalate China Tariffs, Hints At Trade Deal</a>
Prior to the announcement of&nbsp;widespread tariffs in April, a&nbsp;deal seemed to be on the horizon, with&nbsp;a consortium of US investors&nbsp;including&nbsp;Oracle Corp.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>),&nbsp;Blackstone Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>),&nbsp;and venture capital firm Andreessen&nbsp;Horowitz expressing interest.
Why It Matters: The sale of TikTok&#8217;s US operations has been a topic of intense discussion and speculation due to the political and economic implications it carries. 
The potential buyer&#8217;s identity, once revealed, could significantly impact the dynamics of the tech industry, particularly in the realm of social media. 
Furthermore, the deal&#8217;s progress could serve as a barometer for the state of US-China relations, which have been fraught with tension due to ongoing trade and tariff disputes.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40866761/is-amazon-eyeing-tiktok-for-a-possible-acquisition">Is Amazon Eyeing TikTok For A Possible Acquisition?</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Social Media

Donald Trump Drops Hint About Potential TikTok Buyer, But Keeps Details Close To His Chest

Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUB#NYSE">AUB</a>) ("Atlantic Union"), the holding company for Atlantic Union Bank (the "Bank"), and Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) jointly announced today the closing of the sale of approximately $2 billion of the Bank's performing commercial real estate ("CRE") loans acquired from Sandy Spring Bank to vehicles affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies ("BREDS"). The CRE loan sale was contemplated and announced as part of Atlantic Union's merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., which closed on April 1, 2025.

Asset Sales

Atlantic Union Closes $2B CRE Loan Sale To Blackstone Following Sandy Spring Merger

Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 2.17% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.61%. Currently, Blackstone has a market capitalization of $111.04 billion. 
Buying $1000 In BX: If an investor had bought $1000 of BX stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $3,602.58 today based on a price of $143.63 for BX at the time of writing.
<h3>Blackstone's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750860962_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Blackstone 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-18/blackstone-snaps-up-stakes-in-office-buildings-leased-by-meta?srnd=homepage-americas" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-18/blackstone-snaps-up-stakes-in-office-buildings-leased-by-meta?srnd=homepage-americas">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-18/blackstone-snaps-up-stakes-in-office-buildings-leased-by-meta?srnd=homepage-americas</a>

'Blackstone Snaps Up Stakes in Office Buildings Leased by Meta' - Bloomberg News

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Blackstone. Our analysis of options history for Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) revealed 9 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 44% of traders were bullish, while 44% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $289,765, and 4 were calls, valued at $244,654.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $85.0 to $150.0 for Blackstone during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Blackstone stands at 1263.43, with a total volume reaching 823.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Blackstone, situated within the strike price corridor from $85.0 to $150.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Blackstone 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750269646_0_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$54.15</td>
<td>$51.4</td>
<td>$53.09</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$132.7K</td>
<td>76</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$18.05</td>
<td>$18.7</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$108.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td align="right">63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$80.6K</td>
<td>530</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$41.3K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td align="right">151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.5</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$13.27</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$39.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Blackstone</h3>
Blackstone is the world's largest alternative-asset manager with $1.167 trillion in total asset under management, including $860.1 billion in fee-earning assets under management, at the end of March 2025. The company has four core business segments: private equity (26% of fee-earning AUM and 30% of base management fees), real estate (34% and 40%), credit and insurance (32% and 23%), and multi-asset investing (8% and 7%). While the firm primarily serves institutional investors (87% of AUM), it also caters to clients in the high-net-worth channel (13%). Blackstone operates through 25 offices in the Americas (8), Europe and the Middle East (9), and the Asia-Pacific region (8).
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Blackstone, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Blackstone</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,256,349, the BX's price is up by 1.71%, now at $138.01. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 29 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Blackstone</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $153.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Blackstone, maintaining a target price of $153. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Blackstone options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In Blackstone Options

Blackstone's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.06% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 11.85 million shares sold short, which is 1.61% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.23 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Blackstone Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750266023_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Blackstone has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Blackstone's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Blackstone's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.78%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

What Does the Market Think About Blackstone?

The best investments you will ever make in your entire life are those in sectors and opportunities where almost nobody else agrees with you.
The consensus holds that the asset class you are reviewing is terrible and investing there will almost certainly lead to immediate and severe loss of funds.
Right at this moment, as we survey Wall Street and Main Street, it is probably easier to find eight-year-old kids looking forward to a dinner of liver and onions with chicken gizzards and broccoli than openly enthusiastic advocates of investing in commercial real estate.
When you take an asset class this universally hated and discover that only private equity professionals truly love it, I start to get interested.
Recently, KKR &amp; Co (Ticker: KKR) came out and waxed poetic about opportunities in commercial real estate debt, pointing out severe price contractions. Low prices tend to bring out buyers and dealmakers, exactly what we are seeing.
John Gray at Blackstone (Ticker: BX) has emerged as a vocal advocate, pounding the table that this is the time to be opportunistic and aggressive. Gray came up through Blackstone&#8217;s real estate division and knows these markets intimately. His firm has generated tremendous returns for themselves and investors in commercial real estate.
When the best minds in private equity begin to pick at and nibble around a sector, it is generally time to start getting interested.
When I examine commercial real estate, offices immediately come to mind. The conventional wisdom holds that offices are empty, and nobody will ever work in them again. People envision office space as something from a post-apocalyptic movie.
In a word, bleak.
The forecast appears terrible.
Workers want to stay home in their sweatpants with dress shirts and ties for Zoom (Ticker: ZM) calls.
That paradigm is shifting. We have completed our work-from-home experiment. The office decline is beginning to ebb, stabilizing at a new, lower baseline.
Across the country, return-to-work policies are emerging. Financial services led the charge. The federal government has made it official policy. State and local governments are following suit.
Artificial intelligence companies are mandating office returns, recognizing that breakthrough innovation requires massive collaborative efforts that demand physical presence.
Return-to-work mandates represent just one factor.
Construction has virtually stopped. Even developers interested in office construction cannot secure financing for new projects.
According to a recent CBRE Group (Ticker: CBRE) report, the math has fundamentally shifted. The combined number of office conversions, to life science buildings, medical facilities, condominiums, and residential buildings, plus outright demolitions exceeds new supply coming to market in many U.S. markets.
We are witnessing the creation of a supply-constrained office market, particularly for Class A space where everyone wants to locate.
Within just a few years, we will face a supply-and-demand imbalance resulting in an actual shortage of high-end Class A office space.
This trend is emerging everywhere, even in battered markets like San Francisco. There, AI-related office space has grown fivefold over recent years and is projected to triple again over the next five years.
&nbsp;Demand is building while new supply remains nonexistent. Office real estate is beginning to improve, yet nobody is paying attention.
For three to four years running, I have heard predictions that multifamily real estate will collapse. These forecasts began with the initial post-pandemic surge that elevated multifamily values.
The reality is we face a massive affordability crisis in residential real estate. Three factors have created a perfect storm: older homeowners with no intention of moving, persistently high mortgage rates, and builders correctly focused on higher-margin market segments.
This combination has eliminated supply at the market&#8217;s lower end.
Estimates of the housing shortage range from two million to six million units, with the true number likely between four and five million.
We face an absolute shortage of new single-family and attached homes (think townhouses rather than condominiums).
Substantial new supply will not come online until older homeowners who own much of existing inventory either pass away or are convinced by their children to relocate. Something must break this logjam.
The mathematics are stark: older homeowners hold mortgages below four percent, creating zero incentive to sell and generate new inventory.
New construction requires tax and economic incentives to make first-time and move-up home building financially viable for developers. That relief remains distant.
The Mortgage Brokers Association forecasts no significant pickup in single-family housing activity over the next several years, nor any meaningful decline in mortgage rates.
Paradoxically, if mortgage rates do fall meaningfully, it will signal that economic activity has ground to a halt, creating different affordability problems entirely.
This dynamic sustains strong multifamily demand. An entire demographic cohort that would typically have purchased homes remains trapped in apartments.
These demographic shifts are creating apartment demand surges. The substantial building wave over recent years to meet post-COVID demand filled immediately upon completion. Construction is decelerating as financing becomes more selective. Lenders will only finance the best apartment complexes in the hottest, highest-end markets.
This pullback makes multifamily commercial real estate particularly attractive, especially if acquired during broader market sell-offs.
Logistics and industrial real estate has emerged as the hottest market, driven by global supply chain restructuring and e-commerce growth. Warehousing has migrated from central districts to locations closer to cities and towns.
&nbsp;Currently, everyone is holding their breath over trade uncertainties and their potential impact on global logistics and supply chains.
This too shall pass.
The underlying demand remains robust. While we experienced a supply surge as supply chains were remade following early COVID disruptions, that wave is now ebbing.
Demand has remained strong, existing supply is filling up, and occupancy rates are very high. The outlook for industrial and logistics real estate remains very positive.
Retail properties present a bifurcated market similar to office real estate. Second and third-tier malls are finished, destined for the dustbin of history. However, Class A malls with premier tenants, exceptional entertainment and dining options, and high-end retail remain fantastic businesses.
Outlet malls continue to thrive.
Open-air centers that are internet-resistant featuring grocery stores, gyms, medical offices, and pharmacies are performing exceptionally well.
Single-tenant net lease retail properties represent another compelling opportunity. These include Walgreens(Ticker: WBA), Starbucks (Ticker: SBUX), Home Depot (Ticker: HD), Walmart (Ticker: WMT), McDonald&#8217;s (Ticker: MCD), Burger King (Ticker: QSR), and other standalone businesses.
When you examine the four corners of any major city intersection, those corner buildings typically house net lease, single-tenant real estate. This is one of my favorite segments of the real estate market and a fantastic business model.
Most commercial real estate sectors are performing well. The only serious problems have been concentrated in downtown office buildings, and even there, the combination of constrained new supply, return-to-work mandates, conversions, and demolitions is generating meaningful market improvement.
This presents an opportune time to consider commercial real estate investments: direct property ownership, commercial real estate companies, servicing companies, and non-REIT companies that own real estate assets. Real opportunity exists here because no one on Wall Street that I am aware of is advocating for commercial real estate and commercial real estate services. Numerous companies are flying well under the radar, potentially offering huge long-term returns for patient, aggressive investors willing to step into the liver and onions of current financial markets.
FRP Holdings (Ticker: FRPH) embodies everything I discussed about commercial real estate opportunities. This Jacksonville, Florida-based holding company operates across four distinct segments that perfectly capture the themes I believe are driving the commercial real estate renaissance: Industrial and Commercial properties, Mining Royalty Lands, Development, and Multifamily residential.
The crown jewel of FRP Holding's portfolio remains largely invisible to most investors.
It is approximately 16,650 acres under lease for mining rents or royalties and an additional 4,280 acres through its Brooksville joint venture with Vulcan Materials. These properties contain reserves totaling over 500 million tons, representing decades of steady cash flow.
I find the mining segment particularly attractive because it brings in approximately $10 million annually in revenue with roughly 90% free cash flow margin, generating $9 million in free cash flow.
Think about that mathematics for a moment. &nbsp;
This represents the purest form of real estate investment, land that generates income without the headaches of tenant management, building maintenance, or capital expenditure cycles. The mining royalty business provides FRP Holdings with a steady foundation of cash flow that supports their more aggressive development activities.
I also like FRP Holding's multifamily portfolio concentration in the Washington D.C. market, exactly where I want exposure as a real estate investor. D.C. is fairly recession-resistant since the federal government is the biggest employer in the area.
The company owns interests in multiple apartment complexes including Dock 79, The Maren, The Verge, Bryant Street, and .408 Jackson through joint ventures.
The strategic positioning becomes clear when you examine FRP Holding's development pipeline. The company has executed an agreement with Steuart Investment Company and MidAtlantic Realty Partners for the development of up to ten mixed-use projects in the Capitol Riverfront and Buzzard Point submarkets of Washington, D.C.
&nbsp;Upon completion and stabilization, these projects will comprise over 3 million square feet of mixed-use development including 3,000 residential units and 150,000 square feet of retail.
I see FRP Holding's industrial segment perfectly capturing the trends I discussed earlier about logistics and warehousing demand.
The company entered into two new joint venture agreements in early 2024 with Altman Logistics. The first joint venture is a 200,000 square-foot warehouse development project in Lakeland, FL, and the second joint venture is a 182,000 square-foot warehouse redevelopment project in Broward County, FL.
Shell construction on their spec warehouse project in Aberdeen, MD on Chelsea Road was completed effective April 1, 2025, and is in the lease-up phase.
&nbsp;This 258,000 square-foot industrial asset in Harford County, Maryland represents exactly the type of modern logistics facility that companies need as they restructure supply chains closer to population centers.
I find the company&#8217;s industrial strategy particularly well-timed. FRP Holding aims to double its industrial segment over five years by delivering three new industrial assets every two years.
This aggressive expansion targets markets where demand for modern warehouse and distribution facilities continues growing while new supply remains constrained.
One of the most compelling aspects of FRP Holdings that involves its ownership structure and management alignment. The Baker family owns approximately 35% of the company, with the CEO owning 14.8% and other family members owning an additional 20.8%.
Company CEO John Baker is the largest shareholder with 15% of shares outstanding.
This represents serious skin in the game.
&nbsp;When management owns more than one-third of the business, their interests align perfectly with my interests as an outside shareholder.
The Baker family has shown that they are willing to sell if the right offer presents itself, which creates substantial shareholder value.
They have also demonstrated disciplined capital allocation, evidenced by the company repurchasing $20 million of shares during the pandemic below NAV.
I see FRP Holding's development pipeline providing multiple catalysts for future growth. In 2025, the company anticipates moving forward with two multifamily projects outside the DC area, one in South Carolina and the other in southwest Florida.
The company&#8217;s development expertise spans nearly four decades. Through its subsidiaries, FRP Development Corp &amp; Florida Rock Properties, Inc., FRP Holdings has nearly 40 years of development experience.
Several factors contribute to FRP Holding's relative obscurity among investors, which I view as an opportunity. FRP Holdings is covered by 4 analysts, with 0 of those analysts submitting estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to reports. The company operates in unfashionable sectors, mining royalties, apartment buildings, and warehouses, rather than the technology or growth companies that capture headlines.
FRPH does not currently pay a dividend, which eliminates income-focused investors from the shareholder base.
The company&#8217;s complex structure across multiple real estate segments requires more analysis than most investors want to undertake. This complexity creates the opportunity for those of us willing to do the work.
I believe FRP Holdings represents everything attractive about the commercial real estate opportunity I described. The company combines steady cash flows from mining royalties, growth potential from industrial development, and strategic positioning in recession-resistant Washington D.C. multifamily markets.
Management owns more than one-third of the business and has demonstrated disciplined capital allocation over decades.
This combination of quality assets, aligned management, and market neglect creates exactly the type of contrarian opportunity that I believe patient investors should embrace.
For investors willing to step into the liver and onions of today&#8217;s financial markets, I see FRP Holdings offering compelling exposure to the commercial real estate renaissance that nobody wants to discuss. The best investments you will ever make are those where almost nobody else agrees with you, and right here, almost nobody is paying attention to FRP Holdings.

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