AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF (ARCA: EATZ)

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The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (ETF) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their net revenue from the restaurant business.

Brinker International Inc

Cava Group, Inc.

Wingstop, Inc.

Domino S Pizza Inc

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. Class A

Dutch Bros Inc

Texas Roadhouse Inc

El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc

Aramark Holdings

Yum! Brands, Inc.

AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF

On Friday, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) released topline results from its Phase 3 CREST trial evaluating sasanlimab, an investigational anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as induction therapy with or without maintenance for BCG-naïve, high-risk non-muscle <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b42908491/pfizers-sasanlimab-in-combination-with-bcg-improves-event-free-survival-in-patients-with-bcg-na-ve" rel="noreferrer noopener">invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)</a>.
The study met its primary endpoint of event-free survival by investigator assessment, showing a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement with sasanlimab in combination with BCG as compared to BCG alone.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42873977/safety-labels-updated-for-pfizer-and-gsks-rsv-vaccines-fda-adds-warning-for-rare-neurological-disorder" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pfizer And GSK&#8217;s RSV Vaccines Safety Labels Updated, FDA Adds Warning For Rare Neurological Disorder</a>
Each year, around 100,000 individuals worldwide receive a diagnosis of high-risk NMIBC.
The overall safety profile of sasanlimab in combination with BCG was generally consistent with the known profile of BCG and data reported from clinical trials with sasanlimab.
The profile of sasanlimab was also generally consistent with the reported safety profile of PD-1 inhibitors.
The company plans to submit results for presentation at an upcoming medical congress.
Pfizer intends to discuss these data with global health authorities to support potential regulatory filings. Sasanlimab also continues to be investigated in combination with Pfizer&#8217;s antibody-drug conjugate portfolio in advanced solid tumors.
Price Action: PFE stock is up 0.28% to $26.94 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42913319/beer-maker-constellation-brands-q3-sales-hit-by-subdued-spending-stock-slides" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beer Maker Constellation Brands&#8217; Q3 Sales Hit By Subdued Spending; Stock Slides</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

Biotech

Large Cap

News

Health Care

General

Pfizer Reveals Encouraging Data From Pivotal Bladder Cancer Trial

Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey initiates coverage on AppLovin (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $375.

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

Benchmark Initiates Coverage On AppLovin with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $375

Truist Securities analyst Keith Hughes maintains Tempur Sealy Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPX#NYSE">TPX</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $58 to $63.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Tempur Sealy Intl, Raises Price Target to $63

The Dogs of the Dow are a favorite pet among income-minded investors, especially at the start of the new year.&nbsp;
The term "Dogs of the Dow" is largely credited to money manager Michael B. O'Higgins.
&nbsp;In 1991, O'Higgens postulated an investment strategy that chose the top ten Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks that pay the highest dividends. Investors hold the stocks throughout the calendar year, then replace them the following January with the new year's latest top ten list of dividend-yielding stocks.
Here&#8217;s how it works &#8211; and the three &#8220;Dogs&#8221; to do buy today.
The "Dogs" portion of the &#8220;Dogs of the Dow&#8221; name stems from the otherwise underperformance of high-yielding stocks. For whatever reason – poor sector performance, major supply chain problems, high inflation, or toxic public relations issues – these Dow Jones stocks didn't cut it in the previous year and raised their dividend to appease market buyers.
Dogs of the Dow proponents believe these stocks will bounce back in the new year and will do so, paying out high dividends to shareholders.&nbsp;
That's the theory, at least.
In both 2023, Dogs of the Dow stocks significantly underperformed the Dow Jones index in 2024 by 14% and the S&amp;P 500 Index by 24%.
Let's dig into the 2024/2025 Dogs of the Dow and see if the strategy reverses course in the new year, starting with the latest Dogs of the Dow list (as follows with dividend yield and 2024 share performance):
2025 Dogs of the Dow Stocks
1. Verizon Communications (VZ)
6.79% yield, +5.9% in 2024
2. Chevron Corporation (CVX)
4.53% yield, -3.5% in 2024
3. Amgen Inc (AMGN)
3.62% yield, -8.8% in 2024
4. Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ)
3.42% yield, -7.5% in 2024
5. Merck &amp; Company (MRK)
3.25% yield, -8.5% in 2024
6. Coca-Cola Company (KO)
3.11% yield, +6.0% in 2025
7. International Business Machines (IBM)
3% yield, +36.2% in 2024
8. Cisco Systems (CSCO)
2.68% yield, +18.0% in 2024
9. McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (MCD)
2.41% yield, -1.0% in 2024
10. Procter &amp; Gamble (PG)
2.37% yield, +15.7% in 2024
What do these stocks bring to the table? Market experts use some variation of the word "potential."
"These &#8220;dogs&#8221; are often undervalued as signaled by high yields," says Joseph Zappia, co-chief investment officer at LVW Advisors in Pittsford, NY. "These stalwarts typically hold their dividends steady or increase them, so high yields usually mean a lower price. The strategy is simple, income-focused, and rooted in value investing, making it appealing to investors seeking higher dividend income."
Engaging with a Dogs of the Dow investment strategy is ideally discussed with a trusted financial advisor, but user-wise, it's an easy move to make for Main Street investors.
"The Dogs of the Dow is a solid strategy, and it's good for anyone who understands the inherent risks of the stock market," says Lucas Barcelo, a money manager and founder at Thrivin Life, a business consulting company in Las Vegas, Nevada. "It's like investing with training wheels because there is lower risk, stability, and consistent income in the form of dividend payouts."
"For anyone who is looking for a set-it-and-forget-it approach to investing, this is a very feasible option," Barcelo added.&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top &#8220;Dog&#8221; Picks for 2025</h2>
While vintage Dogs of the Dow strategies focus on those top 10 Dow dividend-paying stocks, some Dogs stand out more than others. These companies lead the list
Verizon (VZ). Some companies just have bad luck one year and good luck the next. Telecommunications giant Verizon should fall into that category.
"I like Verizon most of the Dogs, not just because of the high yield, but because their stock price has declined mainly because of China&#8217;s Salt Typhoon attack on their networks," says Jason DeLorenzo, owner and principal at Ad Deum Funds and creator of the Volland options trading platform. "They should shore up their cybersecurity and yield both capital gains and dividend yields."
Additionally, their stock price is not exceptionally volatile, "which means that their yield will only persist," DeLorenzo adds.
Chevron (CVX). The oil and gas sector has faced stiff headwinds from reduced demand and a push toward cleaner energy, but there's still plenty of room for growth for oil and gas heavyweights like CVX. The company boasts a robust balance sheet and steady cash flow. Chevron is also expanding its energy exploration projects in regions like the Gulf of Mexico, where CVX expects to boost production by 2026. A current dividend yield of 4.39% won't hurt either.
"Companies like Chevron are expecting to continue their generation of high cash flows and I can personally attest to their consistent payouts of dividends," Barcelo says.
Coca-Cola (KO). Coca-Cola is getting support on Wall Street, with 76% of analysts covering the stock slapping "buy" calls on KO in early 2025.
Wells Fargo is holding its buy rating on the stock, while Piper Sandler initiated its coverage of KP with an overweight rating and a $74 per share target price. Coca-Cola stock is currently trading at $61 per share.
Coupled with a solid dividend yield of 3.15%, KO becomes a good Dogs of the Dow play as consumers appear to be in bounce-back spending mode in 2025.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Feed the Dogs With Your Eyes Wide Open</h2>
As 2024 demonstrated, a Dogs of the Dow strategy offers no guarantees, and risk is always an issue.
"Currently, you can buy a 10-year Treasury bond with lower risk and a higher yield than all but one of those Dogs of the Dow (Verizon)," DeLorenzo says. "As a result, you're relying heavily on capital gains for this strategy to work, and the Dow is not known to be an index that makes fantastic returns on capital gains."
DeLorenzo calls the Dogs of the Dow an "interesting strategy" and a "good one for Main Street investors."
"However, you shouldn't buy these stocks blindly and mechanically," he added. "Do your due diligence to ensure that your investment in the Dogs of the Dow strategy is properly diversified."

Image via Shutterstock

Opinion

Trading Ideas

3 "Dogs of the Dow" to Buy Now

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Charles Duncan initiates coverage on Bright Minds Biosciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRUG#NASDAQ">DRUG</a>) with a Overweight rating.

DRUG

Cantor Fitzgerald Initiates Coverage On Bright Minds Biosciences with Overweight Rating

In the current market session, PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTC#NASDAQ">PTC</a>) share price is at $184.45, after a 0.05% increase. Moreover, over the past month, the stock decreased by 8.39%, but in the past year, increased by 6.08%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736529309_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>PTC P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry Peers</h3>
The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&amp;P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. 
PTC has a lower P/E than the aggregate P/E of 97.91 of the Software industry. Ideally, one might believe that the stock might perform worse than its peers, but it's also probable that the stock is undervalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736529309_1.png" alt="Guage" />

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

Intraday Update

Markets

Price Over Earnings Overview: PTC

Truist Securities analyst Joseph Civello maintains Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $420 to $460.

LULU

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Lululemon Athletica, Raises Price Target to $460

Options

NBIS

Nebius Group Option Alert: Feb 21 $38 Calls Sweep (3) near the Ask: 500 @ $2.2 vs 345 OI; Earnings 2/12 Before Open [est] Ref=$31.64

Truist Securities analyst Asthika Goonewardene maintains IGM Biosciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IGMS#NASDAQ">IGMS</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $12 to $2.

IGMS

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on IGM Biosciences, Lowers Price Target to $2

On Friday, Invivyd Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVVD#NASDAQ">IVVD</a>) announced that new in vitro neutralization data show continued neutralizing activity of Pemgarda&nbsp;(pemivibart) and pipeline candidate VYD2311 against dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant XEC.
The stock is trading with a strong session volume of 12.3 million, compared to an average volume of 757.02k as per data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.
As anticipated, the data are largely consistent with those previously reported for KP.3.1.1, based on the structural biology of pemivibart and VYD2311.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that XEC and KP.3.1.1 accounted for an aggregate 69% of U.S. circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 for the two weeks ended December 21, 2024.
Invivyd generated these new data as part of its ongoing industrial virology effort. It leverages a third-party pseudoviral system that routinely tests authentic Invivyd-produced pemivibart and is supported by extensive structure-based and proprietary analytics.
Invivyd has showed positive Pemgarda neutralization activity against over 75% of currently circulating U.S. variants and all prior variants tested to date.
Further, the company estimates that every clinical variant reported in the CDC COVID Tracker since the Omicron BA.1 lineage has been susceptible to pemivibart, even if untested, due to the consistent structural integrity of the pemivibart epitope.
Therefore, Invivyd does not anticipate any meaningful change to pemivibart neutralization activity, aside from expected normal quantitative variation in assay output, for the foreseeable future if the epitope pemivibart targets remain structurally intact, as it has since Omicron BA.1.
In November, Invivyd announced that a manuscript preprint conveying data from the CANOPY Phase 3 clinical trial of pemivibart for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19, including long-term protection shown versus recent JN.1 sublineages at low residual titers, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/g41899810/invivyd-announces-preprints-conveying-canopy-phase-3-clinical-trial-data-including-long-term-prote" rel="noreferrer noopener">was uploaded to MedRxiv</a>.
Price Action: IVVD stock is down 5.5% at $0.4357 at last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42917106/mind-cti-acquires-aurenz-gmbh-for-188m-to-expand-uc-analytics-capabilities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIND CTI Expands European Footprint With $1.88M Aurenz Acquisition: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

IVVD

What's Going On With COVID-19 Antibody Developer Invivyd Stock On Friday?

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Eric Schmidt reiterates Incyte (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INCY#NASDAQ">INCY</a>) from Neutral to Neutral.

Reiteration

INCY

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Neutral on Incyteto Neutral

Truist Securities analyst William Stein maintains Analog Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $216 to $230.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Analog Devices, Raises Price Target to $230

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) will release earnings results for its fourth quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/unh/earnings">opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings at $6.75 per share, up from $6.16 per share in the year-ago period. UnitedHealth projects to report revenue of $101.72 billion for the recent quarter, compared to $94.43 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMED#NASDAQ">AMED</a>) recently announced it extended its merger deadline with UnitedHealth Group. In an exchange filing, the companies entered into a waiver agreement, further advancing their merger deal, originally announced on June 26, 2023.
UnitedHealth shares gained 2% to close at $524.52 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $625 to $610 on Jan. 6, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer analyst Michael Wiederhorn maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $610 to $640 on Dec. 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Scott Fidel maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $605 to $675 on Dec. 5, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank analyst George Hill maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $595 to $625 on Dec. 3, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $680 to $650 on Oct. 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying UNH stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="418" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-1024x418.png" alt="" class="wp-image-727473" style="width:573px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-1024x418.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-300x123.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-768x314.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54.png 1451w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42900074/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-synovus-financial-stock-ahead-of-q4-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From Synovus Financial Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

AMED

UnitedHealth Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

<a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/musk-supports-far-right-afd-as-remedy?r=3nmatg">Tech billionaire Elon Musk </a>doubled down on his support for Germany's "<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-musk-scholz-election-afd-f621bbb93974c656c9a75b10da4413f0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">far-right party</a>" as a remedy for the country's faltering economy during a live event on his social media platform X.
<a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1877508005081788489">With more than 200,000 listeners</a>, Musk told Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on Thursday that he was "strongly recommending that people vote for AfD." He endorsed Weidel weeks before the German snap elections on February 23.
"People really need to get behind the AfD, otherwise things are going to get very, very much worse in Germany," Musk said. &#8220;I think Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person. Nothing outrageous is being proposed.&#8221;
Musk's vocal support for AfD has raised alarms that the incoming Trump administration may take a more assertive approach against mainstream European political parties. Musk has called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who sent <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/10/17/labour-sends-staff-help-democrats-us-election-kamala-harris/">Labour party members</a> to support Kamala Harris during the November US election, an <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/musk-holds-discussions-with-germany-s-far-right-leaders-ahead-of-polls-125011000028_1.html">evil tyrant </a>who should be in prison.
Critics, including several German officials, French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, have <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-elon-musk-new-international-reactionary-movement/">accused Musk of meddling</a> in European politics. They fear Musk's support for AfD may strengthen far-right parties in Europe.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Musk Supports AfD Approach to Regulations, Taxes</h2>
The world's richest man has defended his right to <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/01/09/elon-musk-german-far-right-party-hitler/77584508007/">weigh in on German politics</a> because of his &#8220;significant investments.&#8221; <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/01/09/elon-musk-german-far-right-party-hitler/77584508007/">He has praised </a>the AfD&#8217;s approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation despite <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7errxp5jmo">members </a>being classed as right-wing extremists.
However, Germany&#8217;s economic policies and political instability have bolstered support for AfD more than Musk&#8217;s public backing. The German economy is anemic, weighed down by bureaucracy and higher energy prices.
New <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2025/01/PE25_005_421.html">orders in manufacturing declined 5.4% in November</a> from the previous month, data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) showed on January 8. This key economic indicator is ranging at levels experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc57c8e1a-0ba0-4472-98b5-abd2e2154fc2_920x417.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc57c8e1a-0ba0-4472-98b5-abd2e2154fc2_920x417.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">German new manufacturing orders, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2025/01/PE25_005_421.html">Destatis</a></figcaption></figure>
Industrial production, in real terms, has <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2025/01/PE25_008_421.html">also failed to recover</a> since the pandemic, mostly declining since March 2021.
The <a href="https://europeancapitalinsights.substack.com/p/dovish-ecb-drives-7-eurusd-drop-in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OECD expects GDP growth of 0.7% in Germany</a> in 2025 after a likely contraction of 0.2% last year. Potential trade tensions with the United States and persistent geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets have also weighed on the German economy.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">German Outlook Remains Mixed as Musk Supports AfD</h2>
Germany's economic outlook also remains mixed after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government in December. <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/world/europe/germany-confidence-vote-scholz-snap-election.html">The government collapsed</a> after Scholz lost a confidence vote in Parliament, deepening concerns about managing the country's economic challenges.
German leadership must also manage a more assertive US foreign and trade policy under the incoming Trump policy. Musk <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-calls-germanys-chancellor-olaf-scholz-a-fool/">described </a>Scholz as a "fool" after his three-party coalition imploded in November, signaling a more hardline from Trump's new team.
"Economic expectations for Germany have been overshadowed by Trump's victory and the collapse of the German government coalition," ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.zew.de/en/press/latest-press-releases/falling-economic-expectations-after-trump-victory">said</a> on November 12.
The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany rose month-on-month by 8.3 points to 15.7 points in the <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.zew.de/en/press/latest-press-releases/snap-elections-and-ecb-monetary-policy-grounds-for-optimism">December 2024 survey</a>. However, the assessments of the current economic situation fell 1.7 points.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fadfc4d5a-467d-4e82-993d-0b9dc3536e4f_662x457.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fadfc4d5a-467d-4e82-993d-0b9dc3536e4f_662x457.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source:<a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.zew.de/en/press/latest-press-releases/snap-elections-and-ecb-monetary-policy-grounds-for-optimism"> Zew</a></figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AfD's Weidel Criticizes Merkel for German Malaise</h2>
Weidel, though, blamed Germany's current economic situation on the policies started by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, the country's first female leader in 2005. She served four terms before stepping down in 2018.
Merkel "ruined our country," Weidel said. "Germany is the only industrial country that unplugged the nuclear power plant. The aim of Angela Merkel was to enforce just solar and wind energy. You cannot run an industrial country with just wind and solar."
Germany closed its three remaining <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/qa-germanys-nuclear-exit-one-year-after#:~:text=The%20three%20last%20remaining%20nuclear,of%20Germany's%20main%20political%20parties.">nuclear power plants in April 2023 </a>despite facing energy supply shortages and higher inflation. Yet, the country lost access to inexpensive natural gas supplies from Russia after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f4784f5-42a4-4932-8c9f-33e8f0f0f30b_848x403.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f4784f5-42a4-4932-8c9f-33e8f0f0f30b_848x403.png" alt="" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">German inflation, Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://tradingeconomics.com/germany/inflation-cpi">TradingView</a></figcaption></figure>
"When I saw that Germany was turning off the power plants, after being cut off from gas supplies from Russia, I thought this was one of the craziest things I've ever seen," Musk said. "Just when Germany most needs electricity, Germany is shutting down one of the best sources of electricity, which is nuclear power."
Weidel also expressed AfD's commitment to greater energy supply diversification, criticizing consecutive governments for green policies that "don't work."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Musk Supports AfD as Antidote to German Bureaucracy</h2>
Musk pointed to the bureaucratic hurdles he confronted when opening the German Tesla plant, including the 25,000 pages needed to get the permit.
"And it had to be all printed on paper,&#8221; Musk said. &#8220;And then there has to be many, many copies made. So, it literally was a truck of paper.&#8221;
Weidel also criticized mass immigration into Germany, saying 7 million people immigrants have entered the country since 2015. She expressed her support for Trump and his incoming administration.
"It was really unbelievable how Donald Trump was treated by German media and German politicians during his election campaign," she said. "How he was disparaged and his entire family."
Disclaimer:
Any opinions expressed in this article are not to be considered investment advice and are solely those of the authors. European Capital Insights is not responsible for any financial decisions made based on the contents of this article. Readers may use this article for information and educational purposes only.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content&nbsp;or&nbsp;accuracy.

Eurozone

Musk Supports German AfD Party as Remedy for Faltering Economy

Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintains Wendy's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEN#NASDAQ">WEN</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $18 to $17.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Wendy's, Lowers Price Target to $17

ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRZO#NASDAQ">PRZO</a>) shares are trading higher after the company received Israel Ministry of Defense <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/g42912889/parazero-receives-mod-approval-for-marketing-of-the-defendair-its-counter-drone-solution" rel="noreferrer noopener">approval for the marketing of its C-UAS.</a>
The Israeli Defense Export Controls Agency, under the Ministry of Defense, has granted ParaZero official approval to market its Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) solution.
This marks a significant step in the company&#8217;s efforts to expand into the global defense and security markets.
The company&#8217;s counter-drone system, The DefendAir, uses proprietary technology to intercept and neutralize unauthorized or hostile drones, making it a critical tool for protecting infrastructure, military operations, and public safety.
With the DECA approval, ParaZero is now authorized to offer this advanced solution to international customers, including governments, defense agencies, and private organizations.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42917321/consumer-inflation-worries-highest-since-2008-u-of-m-survey-says-wall-street-tumbles-to-2-month-lows" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consumer Inflation Worries Highest Since 2008, U Of M Survey Says: Wall Street Tumbles To 2-Month Lows</a>
The global C-UAS market is projected to reach $7.05 billion by 2029, reflecting the growing demand for drone defense technologies.
CEO Boaz Shetzer highlighted that this milestone reflects ParaZero&#8217;s commitment to meeting the highest standards in the defense sector.
The company plans to continue expanding its solution, integrating additional capabilities to address more complex threats. ParaZero&#8217;s expertise in drone technologies positions it well to capitalize on the growing need for effective counter-drone systems.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, PRZO stock has gained over 189% in the past year.
Price Action: PRZO shares are trading higher by 15.42% to $2.10 at last check Friday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

Movers

PRZO

Why ParaZero Technologies Stock Is Gaining Today

Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintains Shake Shack (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHAK#NYSE">SHAK</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $115 to $128.

SHAK

Stifel Maintains Hold on Shake Shack, Raises Price Target to $128

RBC Capital analyst Mike Dahl upgrades Lennar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LEN#NYSE">LEN</a>) from Underperform to Sector Perform and maintains the price target from $130 to $130.

Upgrades

RBC Capital Upgrades Lennar to Sector Perform, Maintains Price Target to $130

Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull maintains Restaurant Brands Intl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $72 to $68.

Stifel Maintains Hold on Restaurant Brands Intl, Lowers Price Target to $68

<a href="https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple-likely-to-face-fiercer-challenges-in-2025-requiring-caution-against-potential-downside-risks-5cec099e1d5d">https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple-likely-to-face-fiercer-challenges-in-2025-requiring-caution-against-potential-downside-risks-5cec099e1d5d</a>
&nbsp;
<h2>Cautious iPhone Outlook from Apple; 2025 Shipments May Fall 8–10% Below Consensus.</h2>
<ol>
<li>Apple has adopted a cautious stance when discussing 2025 iPhone production plans with key suppliers.</li>
<li>Even with the new iPhone SE4 (expected to launch around mid-1H25), iPhone 1H25 shipments are projected to decline by about 6% YoY. (1Q25 shipments were roughly flat YoY due to front-loading in January ahead of Trump's tariff policy, while 2Q25 is expected to decline.)</li>
<li>In December 2024, overall smartphone shipments in China were about flat vs. those in December 2023; however, iPhone shipments dropped by about 10–12% YoY, reflecting a continued slide in Apple's Chinese market share.</li>
<li>The 2H25 ultra-thin iPhone (with the thinnest part around 5.5mm) and the foldable iPhone, which is in the planning stage, will likely only support eSIM due to their ultra-thin design. Given that Chinese market currently does not promote phones that only support eSIM, these two models could face shipping momentum challenges unless their design is modified..</li>
<li>Although the ultra-thin iPhone 17 may ship in higher volumes than the iPhone Plus, it likely won't significantly boost iPhone sales overall, partly due to downgraded components paired with a high price and a user experience similar to current models.</li>
<li>iPhone shipments are estimated at around 220 million units in 2024 and roughly 220–225 million in 2025, below the market consensus of 240 million or more.</li>
</ol>
<h2>No Evidence of Apple Intelligence Driving Hardware Upgrades, Service Revenue</h2>
<ol>
<li>In a Wired interview last month, Tim Cook stated that charging for Apple Intelligence has never been discussed internally (<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/big-interview-tim-cook-wants-apple-to-literally-save-your-life/">source</a>). It implies that previous optimistic forecasts by some analysts and media about Apple Intelligence generating subscription revenue and driving services business in the foreseeable future were overly optimistic.</li>
<li>A previous survey shows that most iPhone users are not interested in Apple Intelligence (<a href="https://www.sellcell.com/blog/iphone-vs-samsung-ai-survey/">source</a>), aligning with my latest supply chain survey indicating that Apple Intelligence has not boosted iPhone replacement demand.</li>
<li>Apple's efforts to promote on-device AI face multiple structural challenges. For example, despite the initial buzz following Apple Intelligence's debut at WWDC 2024, its appeal has significantly declined compared to cloud-based AI services, which have advanced rapidly in subsequent months.</li>
<li>I'm not bearish on Apple Intelligence's long-term prospects; however, given the points discussed above, there is no evidence of Apple Intelligence's ability to benefit hardware replacement cycles or service business. As such, it should be cautious of potential downside risks created by earlier market over-optimism.</li>
</ol>

AAPL

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Says "Apple Likely To Face Fiercer Challenges in 2025, Requiring Caution Against Potential Downside Risks from Earlier Overly Optimistic Market Sentiment"

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