COPT Defense Props (NYSE:CDP) Stock

COPT Defense Props

COPT Defense

COPT Defense Properties is a fully-integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on owning, operating and developing properties in locations proximate to, or sometimes containing, key U.S. Government (USG) defense installations and missions. Its tenants include the USG and their defense contractors, who are engaged in priority national security activities, and who generally require mission-critical and high security property enhancements. Its properties include 195 operating properties totaling approximately 22.4 million square feet comprised of 16.5 million square feet in 164 office properties and 5.9 million square feet in 31 single-tenant data center shells.

COPT Defense Properties Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

COPT Defense Properties

Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust Unit

Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

On Monday, Gary Black, managing partner at The Future Fund LLC, said that he believes Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock price after its first-quarter <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44896337/teslas-q1-test-drive-will-earnings-steer-tesla-stock-out-of-the-ditch">earnings report on Tuesday</a> will hinge more on the company's outlook and key management comments.
What Happened: Black took to X, formerly Twitter, and said, &#8220;Tesla&#8217;s stock price after tomorrow's earnings depends far more on what management says about the more affordable vehicle, the timing of the Austin unsupervised autonomous test market, Elon's future involvement with DOGE, and guidance on FY'25 delivery growth, than actual results,&#8221; Black said.
He also provided his predictions for Tesla's first-quarter and full-year 2025, and compared them to what Wall Street is expecting:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Metric</th>
<th>Gary Black&#8217;s Estimate</th>
<th>Wall Street Estimate</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Q1 Adjusted EPS</td>
<td>$0.37</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Q1 Auto Gross Margin (ex-reg credits)</td>
<td>12.6%</td>
<td>12.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Q1 Revenue</td>
<td>$20.0 billion</td>
<td>$21.4 billion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025 Deliveries</td>
<td>1.7 million (-5% YoY)</td>
<td>1.809 million (+1.1% YoY)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025 Adjusted EPS</td>
<td>$2.60</td>
<td>$2.64</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Gary Black, X</figcaption></figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44862552/ford-recalls-nearly-150000-vehicles-over-brake-and-powertrain-issues-nhtsa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford Recalls Nearly 150,000 Vehicles Over Brake And Powertrain Issues: NHTSA</a>
He points out that the Wall Street consensus may be outdated because analysts usually don't update their models after a quarter ends until the actual results come in. That makes those numbers possibly too optimistic.
Instead, he says the Tesla Investor Relations (IR) survey of analysts is more realistic.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Metric</td>
<td>Tesla IR-Compiled Estimate</td>
<td>Wall Street Consensus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Q1 Adjusted EPS</td>
<td>$0.38</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025 Deliveries</td>
<td>1.731 million (-3% YoY)</td>
<td>1.809 million (+1.1% YoY)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2025 Adjusted EPS</td>
<td>$2.29</td>
<td>$2.64</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Gary Black, X</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> stock price after tomorrow's earnings depends far more on what mgmt says about the more affordable vehicle, timing of the Austin unsupervised autonomous test market, Elon's future involvement with DOGE, and guidance on FY'25 delivery growth, which is a measure of brand… <a href="https://t.co/gKWpFgfLsq">pic.twitter.com/gKWpFgfLsq</a>
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1914436781656645990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Last week, it was reported that Tesla has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44888254/elon-musks-tesla-delays-launch-of-affordable-model-y-by-several-months-report">delayed the U.S. launch</a> of a more affordable variant of its Model Y SUV. Internally codenamed &#8220;E41,&#8221; the vehicle was originally scheduled to debut in the first half of the year.
Musk&#8217;s EV giant has also been hinting at the launch of its Cybercab autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas — but the plan has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44444272/there-are-many-ways-to-fake-a-robotaxi-service-former-waymo-ceo-casts-doubt-on-teslas-upcoming-robotaxi-launch">drawn skepticism from</a> industry experts.
Moreover, Musk is facing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44346423/teslas-biggest-bull-frustrated-with-elon-musks-focus-on-doge-over-company-patience-wearing-thin">mounting criticism from investors</a> over concerns that he's losing focus on the company, as his attention appears increasingly directed toward his role in President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Since assuming the position following Trump's inauguration, Musk's political involvement has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/interview/25/03/44539183/exclusive-tesla-protest-organizer-says-elon-musk-seems-to-have-purchased-the-american-government">sparked nationwide protests</a> at Tesla showrooms and facilities, ranging from peaceful demonstrations to acts of vandalism.
His controversial remarks on foreign affairs have also drawn backlash in Europe, where attacks on Tesla properties and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44232237/whats-going-on-with-tesla-shares-monday-2">slumping sales have been reported</a>.
Price Action: Tesla's stock dropped 5.96% on Monday, continuing a broader decline that has seen shares fall by 40.04% year-to-date, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
29 analysts tracked by Benzinga have set a consensus price target for Tesla at $298.14. The three latest ratings from Piper Sandler, UBS, and Mizuho suggest a higher average price target of $321.67, indicating a potential upside of 41.17% based on these updated evaluations.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21225843/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-8.28.37%E2%80%AFAM-1024x374.png" alt="" class="wp-image-880887" /></a></figure>
The company currently holds a growth score of 67.59% based on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Ti Vla On Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Markets

Tech

TSLA

Gary Black Says Wall Street Consensus Outdated On Tesla Q1: Stock Price Will Depend On Affordable Car Commentary, Elon Musk's DOGE Moves

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) rebounded Monday overnight following Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fresh move past $88,000.
What happened: The largest meme coin by market capitalization crossed $0.16, erasing losses after slipping below the level earlier this afternoon.&nbsp;
DOGE traded in a narrow range of $0.1629 to $0.1561 during the day, representing a marginal 0.20% rise in the last 24 hours. The coin's trading volume was up 23% over the previous day.
The late evening spike likely followed Bitcoin's move past $88,000, following a pullback to $86,000 in the early trading hours.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44891685/gary-black-shares-polymarket-data-says-trump-tariffs-have-pushed-odds-of-2025-recession-to-57">Gary Black Shares Polymarket Data, Says Trump Tariffs Have Pushed Odds Of 2025 Recession To 57%</a>
Whale activity spiked, evidenced by a 41% jump in transactions valued over $100,000 in the last 24 hours, <a href="https://app.intotheblock.com/">according</a> to IntoTheBlock. Additionally, the balance held by long-term DOGE holders dipped by 0.88% in the 24 hours.
DOGE's Open Interest rose 1.58%, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/BitcoinOpenInterest">according </a>to Coinglass, signaling a surge in speculative activity. More than 68% of Binance traders with open DOGE positions bet in favor of the coin's rally, as indicated by the Long/Short Ratio.
Meanwhile, the odds of a Dogecoin exchange-traded fund getting approved in the U.S. reached <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/doge-etf-approved-in-2025?tid=1745289857349">52%</a> on cryptocurrency-based prediction platform Polymarket.
Price Action: At the time of writing, DOGE was selling at $0.1603, up 0.20% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Photo Courtesy: Piotr Gortat On Shutterstock.com
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

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$BTC

$DOGE

What Is Happening With Dogecoin Overnight On Monday?

U.S. stock markets experienced a downturn today, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping over 400 points to end the day at 15,870.90. The S&amp;P 500 also saw a decline, falling by 2.36% to 5,158.20, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 2.48% to 38,170.41.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s shares fell by 5.96%, closing at $227.42. The stock reached an intraday high of $232.21 and a low of $222.79, with a 52-week range between $488.54 and $138.80. Investors are keenly awaiting Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44896337/teslas-q1-test-drive-will-earnings-steer-tesla-stock-out-of-the-ditch">first-quarter earnings report</a>, expected to be released after market hours on Tuesday. Analysts predict earnings of 41 cents per share on $21.35 billion in revenue. The market is closely watching CEO Elon Musk&#8217;s ability to shift the narrative around the company&#8217;s declining stock.
Amazon.com, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)
Amazon&#8217;s stock dropped 3.11% to close at $167.32, with a daily high of $169.60 and a low of $165.29. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high is $242.52, and the low is $151.61. The decline follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44903087/amazon-stock-downgraded-price-target-slashed-as-tariffs-create-uncertainty">downgrade</a> by Raymond James analyst Josh Beck, who reduced the stock&#8217;s rating from Strong Buy to Outperform and slashed the price target from $275 to $195. This adjustment reflects growing concerns over tariffs and their impact on Amazon&#8217;s operations.
Meta Platforms Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)
Meta Platforms saw a 3.35% decrease, closing at $484.66. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $493.50, and the low was $479.80, with a 52-week range from $740.89 to $414.5. The company is facing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44902980/meta-platforms-stock-falls-amid-antitrust-trial-tariff-and-inflation-concerns-whats-going-on">major antitrust trial</a>, with the U.S. government accusing it of maintaining a monopoly in social networking. The Federal Trade Commission is pushing for Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, adding to the pressure from tariff and inflation concerns.
Broadcom Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)
Broadcom&#8217;s shares declined by 2.80%, ending the day at $166.21. The stock hit a high of $168 and a low of $161.61, with a 52-week range of $251.87 to $120.14. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44910856/whats-going-on-with-broadcom-shares-monday">semiconductor industry</a>&nbsp;is under pressure following Huawei&#8217;s announcement of a new AI chip, which could challenge Nvidia&#8217;s H20 line. This development has affected Broadcom and other semiconductor stocks.
Nvidia Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)
Nvidia&#8217;s stock decreased by 4.51%, closing at $96.91. The intraday high was $99.44, and the low was $95.04, with a 52-week range between $153.13 and $76.40. The decline is linked to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44906106/whats-going-on-with-nvidia-stock-monday-2">Huawei&#8217;s announcement</a> of its advanced 910C AI chip, which is set to rival Nvidia&#8217;s H100 chip. This competition is expected to impact Nvidia&#8217;s market position.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings show Tesla has a high Momentum in the 92nd percentile but Value in the 12th percentile. Looking for other EV stories? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here</a> to see how other stocks are ranked.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="794" height="105" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21215837/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-10.58.13.png" alt="" class="wp-image-880847" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21215837/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-10.58.13.png 794w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21215837/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-10.58.13-300x40.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21215837/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-10.58.13-768x102.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Chokchai Poomichaiya on Shutterstock.com
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading <a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a> by Benzinga.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44891827/what-trucking-volumes-tell-us-about-trade-tariffs-and-the-economy-agriculture-and-oil-up-retail-and-manuf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What Trucking Volumes Tell Us About Trade, Tariffs, And The Economy? Agriculture And Oil Up, Retail And Manufacturing In Freefall</a>

Equities

AMZN

AVGO

NVDA

Tesla, Amazon, Meta, Broadcom, And Nvidia: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Bitcoin rose higher Monday as pro-cryptocurrency Paul Atkins was sworn in as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+1.18%</td>
<td>$87,335.05</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-2.56%</td>
<td>$1,574.22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+0.92%</td>
<td>$0.1595</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: The apex cryptocurrency touched an intraday high of $88,821.47 after crossing $87,000 the day before, as investors cheered the breakout following weeks of sideways price action.&nbsp;
The excitement was reflected through a 98% jump in trading volumes to $38.64 billion.
The uptick, however, failed to lift Ethereum out of the doldrums, as the second-largest cryptocurrency fell below $1,600.
Bitcoin's dominance reached 63.7%, signaling continued rotation of capital from altcoins to the leading digital asset.
The sentiment may have been bolstered overnight by news of Atkins&#8217; swearing-in as the 34th SEC Chair. Atkins had previously stated that building a regulatory framework for digital assets <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44531654/trumps-sec-pick-paul-atkins-says-his-top-priority-will-be-rational-crypto-regulations-marking-shift-from-gary-genslers-approach">would be his top priority</a>.
Total liquidations reached $270 million in the last 24 hours, with nearly equal number of bullish and bearish bets erased.
Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest rose 3.06% in the last 24 hours, representing an increase of $3.52 billion. That said, nearly 59% of Binance traders with an open BTC position were positioned short.
The market sentiment improved from &#8220;Fear&#8221; to "Neutral," according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stacks (STX)</td>
<td>11.09%</td>
<td>$0.704</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kaspa (KAS)</td>
<td>7.88%</td>
<td>$0.08381</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Decentraland (MANA)</td>
<td>5.52%</td>
<td>$0.3016</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.74 trillion, following an increase of 0.76% in the last 24 hours.
Major stock averages ended the session in the red.&nbsp; The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 971.82 points, or 2.48%, to end at 38,170.41. The S&amp;P 500 lost 2.36% to close at 5,158.20, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite finished 2.55% lower at 15,870.90.
The sell-offs came after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44909343/speculators-ramp-up-bets-on-who-will-succeed-fed-chair-powell-as-trumps-pressure-campaign-intensifies">intensified his attack</a> on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of prior political favoritism and calling for &#8220;preemptive&#8221; interest rate cuts.
Meanwhile, gold surged to a record high above $3,400 per ounce, reflecting a 0.23% increase from the previous day.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: CryptoQuant&#8217;s Head of Research, Julio Moreno, identified $91,000-$92,000 as a potential Bitcoin resistance level, which corresponded to the Trader&#8217;s On-chain Realized Price.
"The trader&#8217;s realized price acts as support when market conditions are bullish (green area, bull score &gt;= 60), and as resistance when market conditions are bearish (red area, bull score &lt;= 40)," Moreno explained.
<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">Bitcoin price resistance may be at ~$91-$92K, around the Trader&#39;s On-chain Realized Price (pink line). The trader&#39;s Realized Price acts as support when market conditions are bullish (green area, bull score &gt;= 60), and as resistance when market conditions are bearish (red area,… <a href="https://t.co/EpKSqeITbr">pic.twitter.com/EpKSqeITbr</a>
&mdash; Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjcmoreno/status/1914350833359106054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital commented on Bitcoin's breakout, stating that the "multi-month downtrend" was over.
"And when a technical downtrend is broken&#8230; technical uptrends emerge," Rekt Capital added.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> The multi-month Downtrend is over And when a Technical Downtrend is broken&#8230; Technical Uptrends emerge<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/GsEWQyEAc4">https://t.co/GsEWQyEAc4</a> <a href="https://t.co/VSCC0DP7EY">pic.twitter.com/VSCC0DP7EY</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1914269443401675145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: Bukhta Yurii on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:    
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</ul>

$ETH

Bitcoin, Dogecoin Rise, Ethereum Falls As Pro-Crypto Paul Atkins Sworn In As SEC Chair: Top Analyst Declares Multi-Month BTC Downtrend Over

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the U.S. and internationally.
It will report its Q1 2025 earnings on May 2. Wall Street analysts expect the company to post EPS of $1.70, down from $2.06 in the prior-year period. According to data from Benzinga Pro, quarterly revenue is expected to be $86.09 billion, up from $83.08 billion a year earlier.
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The 52-week range of Exxon Mobil stock price was $97.80 to $126.34.
Exxon Mobil's dividend yield is 3.80%. It paid $3.96 per share in dividends during the last 12 months.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Latest On Exxon Mobil</h2>
On Jan. 31, the company announced its Q4 2024 earnings, posting total revenues and other income of $83.4 billion, missing the consensus of $86.6 billion, as reported by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43389620/exxon-mobil-q4-earnings-mixed-results-but-ceo-promises-profitable-growth-well-into-the-future">Benzinga</a>.
Net production in the fourth quarter was 4.6 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, an increase of 20,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day from the prior quarter.
"Financially, we delivered some of our highest earnings and operating cash flow in a decade. We earned returns higher than our peers and well above our cost of capital, and we distributed more cash to shareholders than all but five companies in the entire S&amp;P 500," CEO Darren Woods said.&nbsp;
Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/25/04/44817140/decoding-exxon-mobils-options-activity-whats-the-big-picture">article by Benzinga</a>, which decodes Exxon Mobil&#8217;s options activity.
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Can You Earn $100 Per Month As An Exxon Mobil Investor?</h2>
If you want to make $100 per month — $1,200 annually — from Exxon Mobil dividends, your investment value needs to be approximately $31,579, which is around 303 shares at $104.19 each.&nbsp;
Understanding the dividend yield calculations: When making an estimate, you need two key variables — the desired annual income ($1,200) and the dividend yield (3.80% in this case). So, $1,200 / 0.038 = $31,579 to generate an income of $100 per month.
You can calculate the dividend yield by dividing the annual dividend payments by the current price of the stock.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
The dividend yield can change over time. This is the outcome of fluctuating stock prices and dividend payments on a rolling basis.
For instance, assume a stock that pays $2 as an annual dividend is priced at $50. Its dividend yield would be $2/$50 = 4%. If the stock price rises to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). A drop in stock price to $40 will have an inverse effect and increase the dividend yield to 5% ($2/$40).
In summary, income-focused investors may find Exxon Mobil stock an attractive option for making a steady income of $100 per month by owning 303 shares of stock. There may be more upside to come as investors benefit from the company's consistent dividend hikes. Exxon Mobil has raised its dividend consecutively for the last 42 years.&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

Here's How You Can Earn $100 In Passive Income By Investing In Exxon Mobil Stock

U.S. stock futures rose Monday night even as Wall Street had a rough start to the week, amid growing concerns regarding the Federal Reserve&#8217;s independence, and President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44902537/selling-on-threat-to-powell-dollar-stocks-and-bonds-fall-gold-and-yen-rise">repeated attacks</a> on Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates.
The S&amp;P 500 futures are up 0.47%, at 5,209, followed by Nasdaq futures at 18,010, up 0.51%, and the Dow Jones futures at 38,500, an increase of 0.45%. This comes despite the sharp selloff during the regular session on Monday morning.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44913967/trumps-bowling-ball-tale-bounces-back-japan-refutes-presidents-car-safety-test-claims">Trump&#8217;s Bowling Ball Tale Bounces Back, Japan Refutes President&#8217;s Car Safety Test Claims</a>
It&#8217;s another volatile start for Japan&#8217;s benchmark Nikkei 225. After opening down by 0.50%, the index mounted a recovery, before slipping back into the red, trading down by 109 points, or 0.32%, at the time of writing. 
This is attributed to the strengthening Yen, which reached a 7-month high against the U.S. Dollar on Monday, weighing on Japan&#8217;s export-reliant industries, according <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/japan/stock-market">to</a> TradingEconomics data.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) hit a fresh three-year low of 97.923 on Monday, a level it last saw in 2022. It, however, recovered in the latter half of the day and is now back above the 98 level. It currently trades at 98.47, up 0.16%.
Investors will be closely watching several large-cap stocks that are set to report their earnings today. This includes Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>), Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), among several others.
Photo Courtesy: tadamichi on Shutterstock.com
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44913389/rtx-lockheed-martin-northrup-grumman-report-earnings-tuesday-what-to-watch">RTX, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman Report Earnings Tuesday: What To Watch</a>

S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Rise After Stocks Dip Amid Trump's Jabs At Powell, Strong Yen Gives Nikkei A Volatile Start

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has paused some of its data center leasing talks, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44733013/microsoft-shelves-1-billion-ohio-data-center-plans-amid-global-project-withdrawals-we-are-slowing-or-pausing-some-early-stage-projects">following a similar move</a> by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
What Happened: Amazon has temporarily halted certain data center lease negotiations for its cloud division, especially in international markets, said Wells Fargo analysts on Monday.
&#8220;This is routine capacity management, and there haven&#8217;t been any recent fundamental changes in our expansion plans,&#8221; said Kevin Miller, vice president of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Global Data Centers, in a LinkedIn post, first noted on Reuters.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21211510/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-6.45.01%E2%80%AFAM-1024x995.png" alt="" class="wp-image-880816" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: LinkedIn</figcaption></figure>
This development signals that growing economic uncertainty may be prompting firms to reassess their multi-billion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure, including costly Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) chips, noted Reuters.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44862552/ford-recalls-nearly-150000-vehicles-over-brake-and-powertrain-issues-nhtsa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford Recalls Nearly 150,000 Vehicles Over Brake And Powertrain Issues: NHTSA</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: The decision mirrors actions taken by Microsoft, which abandoned data center projects in the U.S. and Europe due to an oversupply of electricity relative to current demand forecasts.
Hyperscalers are becoming more cautious and selective in their data center leasing for capacity scheduled to come online before the end of 2026, the Wells Fargo analysts noted, according to Reuters.
Although companies like Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) continue to actively pursue leasing deals, they said.
Price Action: Amazon shares fell 3.11% on Monday, continuing a broader downward trend that has led to a 24.02% drop so far this year, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Despite the slide, Amazon maintains a strong growth score of 94.13% based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to compare it with top players</a> like Nvidia, Meta, Google, and others.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMZN"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21211543/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-6.45.38%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-880817" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

ORCL

Amazon Follows Microsoft's Lead, Halts Some Data Center Deals — Executive Says 'Routine Capacity Management'

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and longtime &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; investor, once reflected on his childhood habit that set him apart from his peers — something that continues to drive his success today.
What Happened: In a 2019 interview with Yahoo Finance's former editor in chief, Andy Serwer, Cuban, who grew up in Pittsburgh, described himself as an "unusual kid" because he spent his time reading about business figures like Ted Turner rather than watching movies like other children.
Cuban's father, who worked in auto upholstery and faced hardships like losing an eye in an accident, was supportive of his son's entrepreneurial spirit, though he didn't fully understand it.&nbsp;
&#8220;My dad used to always say, ‘I don't understand what you're doing, but I'm glad you're doing it,'&#8221; Cuban recalled.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44433124/mark-cuban-breaks-down-the-no-1-red-flag-that-makes-him-want-to-look-for-a-way-out-on-shark-tank-rev">Mark Cuban Breaks Down The No. 1 Red Flag That Makes Him Want To Look For A Way Out On Shark Tank — Reveals Dumbest Pitches He&#8217;s Seen, From Tail Lightz To Original Man Candle</a>
This attitude fostered his drive to excel in business and shape his future success, even though his interests seemed unusual at the time.
His drive for learning and self-improvement continued into his adult life, especially as he ventured into the tech world. Cuban has long been a believer in the importance of constant learning, and today, his interest is focused on artificial intelligence.
In an ongoing effort to stay ahead, Cuban has immersed himself in learning about AI, stating that he has been doing the machine learning tutorials. &#8220;I've taken Python online classes. I want to understand [AI], so I understand all the nuances."
The billionaire said that he doesn't want to become a top AI engineer but wants to understand AI enough to make smart business decisions and evaluate AI-based projects or startups.
"I&#8217;m not gonna write a research paper," but "I can ask questions and understand the answers," he stated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Mark Cuban discusses what it takes to be successful" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gtMg4jqEylA?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>
 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&#8217;s Important: Previously, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43077063/mark-cubans-success-mantra-if-youve-got-nothing-its-the-perfect-time-to-start-a-business">during a podcast appearance</a>, Cuban reflected on the power of starting a business when you have nothing to lose—something he experienced firsthand when he launched his first tech company, MicroSolutions, in 1983.
At the time, Cuban was unemployed and sharing a cramped apartment. Seven years later, he sold MicroSolutions for $6 million.
His next venture, Broadcast.com, would prove even more lucrative—Yahoo acquired the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/10/41234173/how-mark-cuban-turned-broadcast-com-into-5-7b-sale-we-were-the-youtube-of-our-day">company in 1999 for $5.7 billion</a>, securing Cuban's place among the world's billionaires.
Cuban currently has a net worth of $7.53 billion, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/mark-cuban/">Index</a>.
Nowadays, the billionaire has been making headlines for his views on Trump tariffs. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44897891/mark-cuban-says-its-a-game-of-chicken-with-china-as-he-questions-trumps-strategy-behind-tariffs-you-cant-be-dogmatic-in-business-or-government">During a conversation</a> with Iman Hasan of Biohack-it on Friday, Cuban said he is not opposed to tariffs outright.
He noted that shielding key industries such as agriculture or steel can be justified, but warned that sweeping tariffs could drive up inflation. He also pointed out that reviving domestic manufacturing isn't an overnight fix—it's a gradual process that can take years.
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Photo Courtesy: Kathy Hutchins On Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Mark Cuban Once Revealed A Childhood Habit That His Automobile Upholsterer Father Was Happy About: 'I Don't Understand What You're Doing, But I'm Glad You're Doing It'

A recent caller to &#8220;The Ramsey Show&#8221; revealed he's been making student loan payments for 19 years and still owes $20,000. Now 49, he asked Dave Ramsey about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44778031/she-was-29-months-from-erasing-247k-in-student-debt-now-her-forgiveness-is-frozen">student loan forgiveness programs</a> that kick in after 20 years.
Ramsey wasn't having it.
&#8220;The program is: cut your lifestyle and pay this off in 12 months,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/RamseyShow/status/1912492825393979755">told</a> the caller, who earns $90,000 a year. &#8220;Live on $70,000 minus taxes and pay this off in one year, and that means you're not going out to eat, and it means you're not going on vacation.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This caller has been paying off his student loans for 19 years, and STILL has debt left to pay. Dave tells him that intensity is the only way he will ever be able to stop paying off these loans. <a href="https://t.co/mlBl647onS">pic.twitter.com/mlBl647onS</a>
&mdash; The Ramsey Show (@RamseyShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/RamseyShow/status/1912492825393979755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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The financial expert emphasized that intensity is the only way the man will be able to stop making these payments for good. &#8220;That's the program,&#8221; Ramsey repeated.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bigger Picture: Student Loan Drama Runs Deep</h2>
The segment echoes a broader frustration Ramsey and his team often express over the student loan system, especially Parent PLUS loans. In another <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aLS5f3Rd4Q">episode</a>, a listener asked who should repay those loans once they come due.
&#8220;Legally, it's the parents,&#8221; Ramsey said, since their names are on the loans. But morally, it depends. If the student promised to pay, they should keep their word. &#8220;That's you keeping your word. You go pay it,&#8221; Ramsey said.
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
The hosts described how these situations can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42024498/it-sounds-like-a-relationship-issue-ramsey-show-hosts-on-fathers-100k-paycut-and-3000-mile-move">strain relationships</a> when promises are made informally, forgotten, or ignored. &#8220;It ends up being this tangled mess relationally,&#8221; Ramsey&#8217;s co-host, and daughter, Rachel Cruze added.
Ramsey knew exactly who was to blame for the student debt mess. In his words, &#8220;The whole stupid <a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/student-loan-forgiveness-scams?srsltid=AfmBOop3s_LjJkGZ1NtoofGSYRa2jgCB90LHJtYdSHhz4YHJjh9Fxj78">thing is a scam</a>. Higher education is to blame. Congress is to blame. Weak parents that won't tell their spoiled freaking children &#8216;no&#8217; are to blame.&#8221;
He added that if student loans are so harmful that we need to forgive them, then Congress should stop offering them altogether. &#8220;That'd be an awesome thing,&#8221; Ramsey quipped. Cruze also added that the universities would probably lower tuition because nobody could afford it.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Cheaper Way to Do College</h2>
Ramsey and his team insist there is a way to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43893926/you-can-be-a-student-without-a-student-loan-dave-ramseys-advice-to-paying-cash-for-college">attend college without debt</a>. Go to an in-state school, graduate in four years, and if possible, start with community college.&nbsp;
&#8220;Here's an idea: get a degree that&#8217;ll help you get a job,&#8221; Ramsey added.
As for the caller who still has $20,000 in student debt nearly two decades later, Ramsey's advice was blunt but simple: forget waiting on forgiveness. Get serious, cut back, and pay it off fast.
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After 19 Years Of Payments, A Man Asks Dave Ramsey About His Student Loan Forgiveness. At $90K A Year, Ramsey Doesn't Go Easy On Him

President Donald Trump has once again brought up his claim regarding a peculiar vehicle safety test in Japan, which he describes as a non-tariff barrier. However, according to a report on Monday, Japan&#8217;s transport ministry refuted this assertion.
What Happened: Trump took to social media on Sunday to highlight various &#8220;non-tariff cheating&#8221; practices, including currency manipulation and protective technical standards. Among these, he mentioned the alleged Japanese vehicle safety test, which he had previously described in 2018 as involving a bowling ball being dropped from 20 feet onto car hoods, disqualifying vehicles if they dent, <a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250421_10/">reported</a> NHK, Japan&#8217;s national broadcaster.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="608" height="403" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21203052/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-9.30.08.png" alt="" class="wp-image-880795" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21203052/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-9.30.08.png 608w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/21203052/Screenshot-2025-04-22-at-9.30.08-300x199.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px" /></figure>
Screenshot from Donald Trump&#8217;s Truth Social Account
Japan&#8217;s transport ministry responded on Monday, clarifying that their safety tests, which include a spherical device test, comply with international standards under a United Nations agreement. The device, used to ensure pedestrian safety, strikes the hood at 35 km/h and is launched from approximately six feet, not 20. The ministry added that hood denting is permissible if it absorbs shocks without endangering passengers.
Trump continues to argue that numerous leaders and executives are seeking relief from his tariffs, asserting that longstanding abuses must be addressed. The US contends that Japanese vehicle safety regulations obstruct American car market entry, while Japan maintains that its standards are in line with international norms.
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Why It Matters: This claim by Trump comes amid ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44857178/trump-joins-japan-tariff-talks-calls-progress-big-as-63-billion-trade-surplus-looms">tariff negotiations</a>&nbsp;between the US and Japan. Recently, Trump joined preliminary discussions with Japanese officials, describing the talks as a &#8220;great honor&#8221; and noting &#8220;big progress&#8221; as both nations navigate complex trade issues. Japan is currently facing a 10% baseline tariff and 25% duties on cars, auto parts, steel, and aluminum.
The newly imposed 25% auto tariff poses a significant threat to the global automotive industry, with analysts warning of potential price surges and declining sales. Goldman Sachs estimates that imported vehicle prices <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44522387/japanese-automakers-face-29-billion-tariff-hit-nissan-mazda-subaru-most-at-risk-says-analyst">could increase</a> by $5,000 to $15,000, while even U.S.-built cars might experience cost hikes of $3,000 to $8,000 due to foreign-made parts. 
Photo Courtesy: Joshua Sukoff on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Trump's Bowling Ball Tale Bounces Back, Japan Refutes President's Car Safety Test Claims

<ul>
<li>In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Melinda French Gates criticized the recent trend of ultra-wealthy people getting involved in politics</li>
<li>She spoke to concerns that the U.S. is becoming an oligarchy, telling the host she "hopes" that's not where things are heading</li>
<li>The Pivotal Ventures founder also said that the ultra-wealthy have a "moral obligation" to use their money philanthropically&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
When President Donald Trump put together his cabinet at the beginning of his second term, he stocked it with uber-wealthy businessmen. From Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the former CEO of Key Square Capital Management who has a net worth north of $500 million, to Steve Feinberg, the deputy secretary of cefense and former CEO of Cerberus Capital Management whose net worth hovers around $5 billion, these appointments are the most recent examples of the ultra wealthy dipping their toes into politics.
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The migrations from boardrooms to Capitol Hill have many worried that the country is becoming an oligarchy. Now, Melinda French Gates, who has a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/melinda-french-gates/">net worth of $14.5 billion</a>, is speaking out.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc9pV2bimAo">CNN</a> on Tuesday, she was critical of the trend of wealthy individuals engaging in politics. Throughout the conversation with host Abby Phillip, French Gates reiterated her oft-espoused belief that "to whom much is given, much is expected," making it clear that she did not approve of the way many ultra-wealthy are currently pouring money into electing their preferred candidates or using their fortunes to buy themselves powerful positions.&nbsp;
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
In response to Phillip's inquiry about whether this political focus is new or has always existed in these sorts of upper-class circles, French Gates replied, "I think we are seeing some of their true personalities come out in the last few years. I think this has always been in the undertone of lots of people… I think some of the particular people you're seeing right now, the values that they espouse are just different than mine." Continuing, "I know a lot of these folks. I've met a lot of them."
And when asked point-blank if she thought the country was on the verge of becoming an oligarchy, she replied, "I hope not."
Instead of politics, French Gates would like to see her peers investing money in more charitable causes. In 2010, she started The Giving Pledge with then-husband Bill Gates and billionaire Warren Buffett. The initiative pushes the ultra-wealthy to donate at least half of their fortunes to charitable and philanthropic causes, either during their lifetimes or after death through their wills and endowments. "If you have a billion dollars, that's an absurd amount of wealth. You have a moral responsibility to give away at least half of it," French Gates said.&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

'We Are Seeing Some Of Their True Personalities Come Out.' Melinda French Gates Speaks Out About The Rise of Billionaires In Politics

MCRB

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

FMTO

BSLK

BSLKW

Valero Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLO#NYSE">VLO</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 3.02% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 15.7%. Currently, Valero Energy has a market capitalization of $34.23 billion. 
Buying $100 In VLO: If an investor had bought $100 of VLO stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $209.03 today based on a price of $108.84 for VLO at the time of writing.
<h3>Valero Energy's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1745279111_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 You Would Have Made Owning Valero Energy Stock In The Last 5 Years

A Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) executive replied to a post on social media that called out the defense contractor for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44882049/peter-thiels-palantir-bags-30-million-order-from-ice-for-immigrant-tracking-system">new extended contract</a> with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Here's what Palantir Global Head of Commercial Ted Mabrey had to say.
What Happened: Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham criticized in a social media post the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44209697/how-peter-thiel-and-elon-musk-are-shaping-trump-administration"> work being done</a> by Palantir to help the Trump administration in rounding up immigrants.
"It's a very exciting time in tech right now. If you're a first-rate programmer, there are a huge number of other places you can go work rather than at the company building the infrastructure of the police state," Graham <a href="https://x.com/MabreyTed/status/1913703425495470304">tweeted</a>.
Graham shared a post on the ICE contract with Palantir that will build "ImmigrationOS" to expand surveillance and enforcement operations.
Included in the post were highlights of ImmigrationOS providing data on via overstays, self-deportation cases and individuals flagged for removal, including "foreign students flagged for removal for protesting U.S.-Israeli genocide."
Mabrey said Palantir's work with the Department of Homeland Security has spanned the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations.
"We are not looking for partisans at Palantir. Our mission spans administrations and political climates and our culture is one of constant disagreement," Mabrey said.
The Palantir executive, who has been with the company since 2010 according to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-mabrey/">LinkedIn</a>, said immigration policies can't be executed by governments.
"If the electorate cannot steer the execution of our government because the government cannot execute, our institutions lose all credibility, and the risk moves from an X debate to a much more fundamental one."
Mabrey said Palantir hires "believers" and the company's work is hard and covers "all sides of the political aisle."
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43449486/palantir-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-us-revenue-up-52-customer-count-up-43-strong-guidance-this-is-a-new-phase-unlike-anything-that-has-come-before">Palantir Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, US Revenue Up 52%, Customer Count Up 43%, Strong Guidance</a>
Why It's Important: In the social media post, Mabrey highlights past work done by Palantir, such as protecting people in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping with vaccines during Operation Warp Speed, helping with the Afghan withdrawal and enabling "David to resist Goliath in Ukraine."
"My politics have not agreed with many of the policies our software has enabled. But through all of them I have held the steadfast belief that if our government institutions are not competent, politics does not matter."
Graham replied asking if Mabrey and/or Palantir would commit publicly to not "build things that help the government violate the U.S. constitution."
Another lengthy post from Mabrey said this question from Graham was "in bad faith" and compared it to a courtroom trick.
Mabrey said the company's employee political makeup is "enormously varied."
"We make this promise as a company operating in America under the rule of law."
Mabrey's comment that he has not always agreed with things the company does could show the efforts Palantir makes on policies that are supported by both Republicans and Democrats. The company landed government contracts under various presidents and political parties.
Graham highlighted to another social media user that the point about protesting U.S.-Israeli genocide should be a red flag and is why he was most critical of Palantir's new contract extension with ICE.
Palantir stock has soared in the past year and the company was viewed as one of the many that could be favorable in a Trump administration with several connections to the company and the current presidential administration and donors.
Several Palantir co-founders <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/06/39557155/palantir-co-founders-thiel-lonsdale-back-trump-in-2024-election-id-rather-have-him-than-biden">endorsed Trump for the</a> 2024 presidential election as well.
PLTR Price Action: Palantir stock was down 3.18% to $90.80 on Monday at market close versus a 52-week trading range of $20.36 to $125.41. Palantir stock is up 20.8% year-to-date in 2025 and up over 300% in the past year.
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Photo: slyellow via Shutterstock.com

Government

Social Media

Management

PLTR

Palantir Executive Defends Company's ICE Contract: 'All Sides Of The Political Aisle'

Carvana (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 3.58% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 16.25%. Currently, Carvana has a market capitalization of $26.28 billion. 
Buying $1000 In CVNA: If an investor had bought $1000 of CVNA stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,230.16 today based on a price of $195.60 for CVNA at the time of writing.
<h3>Carvana's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1745278219_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.

CVNA

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Carvana Stock In The Last 5 Years

Though UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) reported disappointing first-quarter results last week, two analysts from KeyBanc Capital Markets and Truist Securities remain <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44902410/unitedhealth-group-stock-is-getting-crushed-whats-fueling-the-selloff">bullish on the stock. </a>
Expert Ideas: Both David MacDonald at Truist and Matthew Gillmor at KeyBanc said that although the health care giant's most recent quarter and 2025 earnings guidance missed the mark, they remain bullish on UnitedHealth for the long term. 
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/04/44869920/unitedhealth-ceo-says-high-cost-of-us-health-care-simply-not-sustainable"> UnitedHealth CEO Says High Cost Of US Health Care &#8216;Simply Not Sustainable&#8217;&nbsp;</a>
Both analysts said that while the Medicare Advantage utilization trend was troubling, its emergence early in the year will allow time for management to correct course.&nbsp; When coupled with the better-than-expected rate updates for 2026, the analysts see the company recovering into 2026.&nbsp;
The Truist analyst highlighted the narrowing Medicaid rate mismatch and upbeat selling season commentary from management.
KeyBanc sees a "silver lining" in UnitedHealth's ability to correct the RAF coding issues for 2026 and expects the company to factor the higher utilization rates into June bids. The analyst also said competitors like Humana and CVS are "not well positioned to take advantage of UNH's stumble."&nbsp;
The Takeaway: The analysts see UnitedHealth's issues as mostly isolated and "fixable" and maintained bullish ratings on the stock while slashing price targets.&nbsp;
KeyBanc maintained an Overweight rating on UnitedHealth shares, but lowered its price target from $650 to $575. Truist Securities maintained its Buy rating and lowered the price target for UnitedHealth stock from $660 to $580. 
UNH Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro,</a> UnitedHealth shares ended Monday's session 6.35% lower at $425.33. 
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Earnings

Health Care

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

UnitedHealth Q1 Disappoints, But These Analysts Remain Bullish On The Stock

Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 7.75% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 18.03%. Currently, Lululemon Athletica has a market capitalization of $30.67 billion. 
Buying $100 In LULU: If an investor had bought $100 of LULU stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $1,180.43 today based on a price of $254.24 for LULU at the time of writing.
<h3>Lululemon Athletica's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1745277310_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.

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