Alphabet Option Alert: Mar 28 $165 Calls at the Ask: 3600 vs 6840 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Mar 28 $165 Calls at the Ask: 3600 @ $1.5 vs 6840 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$162.755

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $195 Puts Sweep (8) near the Ask: 142 vs 1005 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jan 16 $195 Puts Sweep (8) near the Ask: 142 @ $35.7 vs 1005 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$163.01

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $200 Puts Sweep (4) near the midpoint: 146 vs 3457 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $200 Puts Sweep (4) near the midpoint: 146 @ $37.065 vs 3457 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$163.04

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $165 Calls Sweep (19) near the Ask: 515 vs 8166 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $165 Calls Sweep (19) near the Ask: 515 @ $10.21 vs 8166 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$162.645

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $130 Puts at the Ask: 2000 vs 7078 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $130 Puts at the Ask: 2000 @ $4.53 vs 7078 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$162.86

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (52) near the Ask: 755 vs 671 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (52) near the Ask: 755 @ $26.501 vs 671 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$162.2144

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (19) near the Bid: 247 vs 671 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (19) near the Bid: 247 @ $26.606 vs 671 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$162.25

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Puts at the Bid: 600 vs 4100 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Aug 15 $160 Puts at the Bid: 600 @ $11.15 vs 4100 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$161.59

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (49) near the Ask: 1234 vs 2225 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun, 2026 $175 Calls Sweep (49) near the Ask: 1234 @ $19.952 vs 2225 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$160.06

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun, 2026 $140 Puts at the Bid: 700 vs 3403 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun, 2026 $140 Puts at the Bid: 700 @ $10.95 vs 3403 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$159.7821

Alphabet Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $130 Puts at the Bid: 1800 vs 0 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Sep, 2026 $130 Puts at the Bid: 1800 @ $9.3 vs 0 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$159.55

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $150 Puts at the Ask: 3000 vs 9848 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Jun 20 $150 Puts at the Ask: 3000 @ $6.44 vs 9848 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$158.9769

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $140 Calls at the Bid: 195 vs 737 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] 

Alphabet Option Alert: Dec 19 $140 Calls at the Bid: 195 @ $33.1 vs 737 OI; Earnings 4/24 After Close [est] Ref=$161.345

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Stock

ALPHABET INC-CL A

Alphabet

Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest.

Alphabet Inc

In a bold move against the United States&#8217; tariff policy, the European Union (EU) is preparing to present its case at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The EU is also proposing countermeasures worth €95 billion ($107.4 billion).
What Happened: The European Commission is planning to challenge the U.S.&#8217;s&nbsp;&#8220;reciprocal&#8221; tariff policy and duties&nbsp;on cars and car parts at the WTO.&nbsp;The Commission has also launched a public consultation on potential countermeasures affecting €95 billion worth of US imports, to be enacted if a trade deal with Washington fails to materialize, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/08/european-union-dispute-against-us-tariffs-world-trade-organization.html">CNBC</a>&nbsp;reported on Thursday.
The proposed countermeasures span a wide range of agricultural and industrial goods, including alcoholic beverages such as bourbon and tequila. The EU is currently negotiating to prevent President Donald Trump from imposing a 20% reciprocal tariff on all U.S. imports from the bloc, as well as a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and the same rate on steel and aluminum.
The list of countermeasures, released on Thursday by the EU, includes numerous aircraft and vehicle components, potentially affecting US companies like&nbsp;Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>). 
"It is the unequivocal view of the EU that these [U.S.] tariffs blatantly violate fundamental WTO rules," the European Commission stated.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45282706/bitcoin-close-to-100000-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-pump-as-trump-touts-trade-deal-with-the-uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Close To $100,000, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Pump As Trump Touts Trade Deal With The UK &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Why It Matters: The EU&#8217;s proposed countermeasures come in the wake of&nbsp;threats to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44784857/eu-threatens-additional-taxes-on-us-tech-giants-amid-ongoing-tariff-war-we-are-developing-retaliatory-measures-says-von-der-leyen">impose additional </a>taxes on U.S. tech giants&nbsp;like Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) if the ongoing tariff negotiations fail. This move also follows U.S. Vice President JD Vance&#8216;s recent&nbsp;comments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45278156/jd-vance-softens-tone-says-us-and-europe-are-on-same-team-calls-divide-talk-completely-ridiculous-ahead-of-eu-tariff-response">emphasizing unity</a> between the U.S. and Europe, a significant shift from his previous stance.
Despite the ongoing tariff turbulence, the U.K. has become the first country to secure&nbsp;a trade arrangement with the&nbsp;U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to strike a deal with Europe, even though he claims&nbsp;that the EU treats the&nbsp;US &#8220;unfairly&#8221; in trade matters.
At the same time, EC President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "The EU remains fully committed to finding negotiated outcomes with the U.S. We believe there are good deals to be made for the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic."
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45308288/bitcoin-closing-in-on-104000-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-on-trade-deal-optimism-analytics-firm-highlights-the-double-edged-sword-amid-bullish-sentiment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Closing In On $104,000, Ethereum, Dogecoin Soar On Trade Deal Optimism: Analytics Firm Says Bullish Sentiment A &#8216;Double-Edged Sword&#8217; &#8211; Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) Common units of fracti</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors

News

Economics

General

GOOG

GOOGL

US 'Blatant' Tariffs Spark EU Backlash As Bloc Plans WTO Challenge, Proposes $107 Billion in Countermeasures

On Thursday, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri's testimony revealed how TikTok's <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44821791/meta-platforms-used-buy-or-bury-strategy-to-monopolize-social-media-ftc-says">explosive rise forced</a> the Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)-owned app into a fight for survival.
What Happened: Mosseri testified in the Federal Trade Commission's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45112477/exclusive-if-meta-is-forced-to-divest-instagram-whatsapp-or-facebook-43-pick-this-standout">antitrust case against Meta</a>, where the U.S. government claims the tech giant has illegally monopolized the social networking market.
The trial detailed how, when Mosseri took over Instagram in 2018, the app was facing worrisome drops in user engagement, largely due to competition from ByteDance-owned TikTok. By 2019, internal estimates showed that 23% of Instagram's declining U.S. time spent could be attributed directly to TikTok.
"We can't explain it all, but what's clear at this point is that we need to adapt, and do so quickly," Mosseri wrote to his team in March 2020.
In his testimony at DC courts, Instagram&#8217;s boss said, "You're either growing, or you're slowly dying."
Instagram's comeback came largely through improving its Reels product with better AI-driven recommendations. But TikTok remains "the fiercest competition that we have faced," the report noted.
Interestingly, in his testimony, Mosseri noted that while TikTok used to offer a passive, lean-back viewing experience, it has now become "every bit as participatory as we are," even rolling out features to strengthen friend connections.
Why It's Important: The testimony comes at a pivotal moment as the FTC argues that Meta's dominance in personal social networking — a market that includes apps like Instagram and Snapchat by Snap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) — is stifling competition.
Meta has argued against the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42177636/meta-heads-to-trial-over-instagram-whatsapp-acquisitions">antitrust allegations</a>, highlighting competition from TikTok and YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>).
While Meta has claimed in court that entertainment has eclipsed social connections in its business, Mosseri's comments on Thursday highlight that friend-based engagement remains a key differentiator for Instagram, the report said.
Price Action: Meta&#8217;s shares slipped 0.015% in after-hours trading, settling at $597.92, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
The company holds a momentum score of 82.95% and a growth score of 76.10%, as per Benzinga's exclusive Edge Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here to see how Meta stacks up against</a>&nbsp;Snapchat, Alphabet and others.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/09025934/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-12.29.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-909582" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Koshiro K On Shutterstock.com
Read More:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don&#8217;t Have The Balls To Do It,&#8217; Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In&#8217; With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Legal

Tech

Media

SNAP

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri Testimony Reveals TikTok Led To Worrisome Engagement Drop For Meta's Platform: 'You're Either Growing, Or You're Slowly Dying'

The Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which follows the Nasdaq 100 Index, jumped 1.2% Thursday as a combination of political and economic events lifted investor mood and stoked interest in megacap tech stocks again. The Nasdaq 100 rose by almost 2%, supporting QQQ in beating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">broad-market peers</a> on a day characterized by increased demand for risk assets.
QQQ Vs. ONEQ
The Invesco QQQ ETF continues to be a popular vehicle for those looking for concentrated exposure to the largest growth and non-financial technology stocks in the U.S., such as heavyweights Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>). Famous for its tech-heavy bias and high liquidity, QQQ tends to rise with market enthusiasm around innovation, deregulation and macroeconomic catalysts.
A similar fund, the Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONEQ#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>), provides more coverage by tracking the entire Nasdaq Composite Index, including more than 3,000 stocks of a wider group of sectors and market caps. While QQQ tends to be more volatile because of its concentration on megacap tech, ONEQ, which also rose more than 1% on Thursday, provides more diversified exposure, possibly ironing out performance through sector-specific dips. Both ETFs gauge investor attitudes toward growth and technology, but QQQ is still the more aggressive bet for investors betting large on the tech industry&#8217;s upside.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/05/45299690/oil-etfs-heat-up-as-opec-pump-up-us-uk-trade-deal-china-talks-fuel-rally">Oil ETFs Heat Up As OPEC+ Pump-Up, US-UK Trade Deal, China Talks Fuel Rally</a>
What Drove QQQ Today?
A focal point in Thursday&#8217;s upsurge was the declaration of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45294428/wall-street-rallies-after-us-seals-first-trade-deal-you-better-go-out-and-buy-stock-trump-says">U.S.-U.K. trade agreement</a>, which, while symbolic in parts, signaled markets that geopolitical relationships could be stabilizing. The agreement includes lowering tariffs on vehicles produced in the UK and British counter purchases of U.S. products, including Boeing (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) planes. Although important tariff levels, in particular a 10% across-the-board levy, are untouched, investors saw the news as a move in the direction of wider global coordination.
Moreover, the impending talks with China scheduled for May 10 are also keeping hopes up.
Meanwhile, markets cheered initially on news the Trump administration would roll back <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45269811/chip-stocks-rise-as-trump-reportedly-plans-to-roll-back-biden-era-ai-export-curbs">Biden-era restrictions on AI chip exports</a>. The likelihood of a rollback sent semiconductor shares, such as Nvidia, AMD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), showing afternoon gains of over 1%. Because the Nasdaq-100 index is heavily invested in the semiconductor space, QQQ directly took advantage of the rally. The hope of reduced AI chip sales restrictions eased concerns over a deceleration in global semiconductor demand, one of the index&#8217;s major growth pillars.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell moderated some of the euphoria with a warning note, cautioning that an imbalanced tariff policy could increase inflationary pressures and drag on economic growth. Nevertheless, risk-on sentiment dominated after Trump&#8217;s declaration that the U.S. economy is ready for &#8220;the biggest tax cuts in history&#8221; and his firm urging investors to &#8220;go out and buy stock.&#8221;
Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), another QQQ heavyweight, gained 2% after the company addressed fears of waning search queries on Apple platforms—a clarification that regained some lost ground in the previous session&#8217;s 7% decline.
These advances combined renewed faith in U.S. technology stocks and validated the QQQ ETF&#8217;s role as a barometer of optimism in the market for innovation, deregulation, and growth-oriented policy realignments. Amidst investors scrutinizing headlines that spanned from geopolitics to generative AI, QQQ became an investors&#8217; go-to vehicle for beta exposure in a tech-fueled bounce-back — cementing its place not only as a passive index fund tracker but also as a sentiment litmus test for the direction of U.S. innovation.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45293109/are-your-health-care-etfs-safe-trumps-new-policies-may-trigger-shockwaves-across-pharma-stock">Are Your Health Care ETFs Safe? Trump&#8217;s New Policies May Trigger Shockwaves Across Pharma Stocks</a></li>
</ul>

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

AAPL

AVGO

MSFT

NVDA

Fidelity NASDAQmposite Index Fund ETF-Tracking NASDAQmposite Index

ONEQ

Trump Talks Tariffs, Tech Stocks Gain As QQQ Leads The Charge

<a href="https://www.axios.com/pro/tech-policy/2025/05/08/cfpb-drops-attempt-to-supervise-google-payment-corp">https://www.axios.com/pro/tech-policy/2025/05/08/cfpb-drops-attempt-to-supervise-google-payment-corp</a>

'CFPB drops attempt to supervise Google Payment Corp.'- Axios

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-08/consumer-watchdog-halts-biden-era-google-payment-supervision">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-08/consumer-watchdog-halts-biden-era-google-payment-supervision</a>

'Consumer Watchdog Halts Biden-Era Google Payment Supervision'- Bloomberg

JMP Securities analyst Andrew Boone reiterates Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) from Market Perform to Market Perform.

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

JMP Securities Reiterates Market Perform on Alphabetto Market Perform

Move over, dividends &#8211; corporate America is in love with itself again. According to JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, U.S. corporate share buybacks surged in April, marking the strongest monthly pace in years and reinforcing their role as a stabilizing force <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/volatility">in volatile markets</a>.
May has kicked off with a fresh surge of stock buyback announcements, and it's not just a sprinkle &#8211; it's a full-blown cash confetti storm. Repurchase plans announced since April 1 now add up to $262 billion, suggesting companies are favoring ploughing extra cash into buybacks over, say, dividend payments.
Panigirtzoglou notes that this contrarian pattern &#8211; where buybacks ramp up following equity market corrections &#8211; was similarly evident during the Silicon Valley Bank crisis two years ago (the SVB collapsed in March 2023) and the early stages of the Ukraine war.
He notes that corporate repurchases complemented a rebound in equity-focused hedge fund positioning, which had previously de-risked in February and March, further amplifying April&#8217;s V-shaped equity recovery.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45284152/coin-vs-mara-which-crypto-stock-chart-has-the-bullish-edge-before-q1-earnings-drop">COIN Vs. MARA: Which Crypto Stock Chart Has The Bullish Edge Before Q1 Earnings Drop?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Apple, Alphabet, Wells Fargo Leading Corporate Buybacks</h2>
Leading the parade is Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), flexing its financial muscles with a jaw-dropping $100 billion buyback—because, apparently, having a $2.7 trillion market cap wasn't enough self-confidence. This is no fluke; it's an "additional" buyback, which means Apple's just topping off a long-standing habit of hoarding its own stock like it&#8217;s going out of style.
Hot on its heels is Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) with a $70 billion share repurchase. Google may have axed cookies, but it's still baking up returns for shareholders in bulk.
Not to be outdone, Wells Fargo &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) is pouring $40 billion into its own stock. After years of reputational rehab, the bank seems ready to bet on itself &#8211; in a very big way.
And it&#8217;s not just the mega-caps feeling themselves. KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) dropped a $5 billion mic, Dick's Sporting Goods Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKS#NYSE">DKS</a>) entered the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44246625/dicks-sporting-beats-q4-earnings-stock-falls-amid-soft-outlook">game with $3 billion</a>, and Shell PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>) is scooping up $3.5 billion of its shares &#8211; proving oil profits aren't just for gas stations and exec bonuses.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tech&#8217;s Buyback Binge</h2>
Tech is clearly in a buyback binge: Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/04/44674899/broadcom-stock-jumps-on-10-billion-buyback-authorization">announced $10 billion</a> in early April, and Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) followed suit with its own <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/03/44218819/applied-materials-hikes-dividend-for-8th-year-greenlights-10-billion-buyback-to-reward-investors">$10 billion plan</a>. 
Meanwhile, Align Technology Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALGN#NASDAQ">ALGN</a>) flashed its smile with a fresh $1 billion authorization, maybe to offset Invisalign's market volatility.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Consumer Stocks &#8211; Not Far Behind</h2>
There's also action in the consumer and industrial space. Graphic Packaging Holding Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPK#NYSE">GPK</a>), Ingersoll Rand Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IR#NYSE">IR</a>), and Cirrus Logic Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRUS#NASDAQ">CRUS</a>) all made $500 million–$1.5 billion commitments. 
Even MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) got in on the game with a $2 billion plan &#8211; perhaps betting on itself while its visitors bet on the slots.
The pattern is clear: buybacks are back with a vengeance. Whether it&#8217;s to boost EPS, signal confidence, or fend off activist investors, companies are scooping up shares at a pace that has investors sitting up &#8211; and short sellers sweating.
Bottom line? When the biggest names in business are buying their own stock, it might be time for investors to take notice—before the buyback wave pushes prices even higher.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45283751/bill-gates-called-steve-jobs-genius-in-a-way-you-cant-explain-and-said-i-dont-know-somebody-whos-just-like-him-while-reflecting-on-their-decades-long-collaboration-and-rivalry">Bill Gates Called Steve Jobs A &#8216;Genius In A Way You Can&#8217;t Explain,&#8217; Says &#8216;I Don&#8217;t Know Anybody Who&#8217;s Just Like Him&#8217; While Reflecting on Their Decades-Long Collaboration and Rivalry</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

Long Ideas

Buybacks

Trading Ideas

ALGN

AMAT

CRUS

KLAC

SHEL

Apple, Alphabet Lead $262B Buyback Binge On Wall Street

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>), Asset Entities, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASST#NASDAQ">ASST</a>), Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) and Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) are the top five trending tickers on Stocktwits <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45274508/bitcoin-taps-98000-ethereum-dogecoin-steady-as-fed-chair-jerome-powell-raises-trump-tariff-induced-concerns-analyst-says-eth-holding-above-crucial-level-and-begins-its">Thursday.&nbsp;</a>
Here's a look at what is grabbing retail investors' attention.&nbsp;
QBTS: D-Wave Quantum shares are rallying after the company beat analysts' estimates and reported record <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45280859/d-wave-reports-first-quarter-2025-results">quarterly revenue</a> before the opening bell. While $15 million may not sound impressive, it is a 509% increase from the prior year's quarter and retail investors are piling in.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/05/45260938/disneys-new-abu-dhabi-theme-park-will-be-authentically-disney-and-distinctly-emirati-ceo-bob-iger-says?utm_source=articleShare">Disney&#8217;s New Abu Dhabi Theme Park Will Be &#8216;Authentically Disney And Distinctly Emirati,&#8217; CEO Bob Iger Says&nbsp;</a>
ASST: Asset Entities stock is volatile for the second day on Thursday following Wednesday's announcement that it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/05/45260992/asset-entities-stock-rockets-higher-on-merger-deal-to-form-bitcoin-treasury-company">will merge</a> with Strive Asset Management to be the first publicly traded asset management Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) treasury company. Trading has been halted multiple times for volatility and the stock is up over 100% at the time of publication.&nbsp;
GOOG: Alphabet suffered its worst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45288753/google-at-staggering-42-discount-to-sp-500-after-150-billion-value-dive">trading day</a> since 2023, shedding nearly $150 billion in market cap, on Wednesday after Apple revealed it has been talking to ChatGPT and Perplexity about potential search partnerships. The stock is attempting to recover some losses Thursday, but Google's future search dominance remains in question.&nbsp;&nbsp;
NVAX: Retail traders are celebrating Novavax's massive<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/n45282885/novavax-reports-first-quarter-2025-financial-results-and-operational-highlights"> first-quarter earnings</a> beat that was released before Thursday's opening bell. The company reported earnings of $2.93 per share which beat the Street estimate of 71 cents by a whopping 312%. Novavax also reported nearly double the consensus revenue estimate and issued guidance well-above analysts' estimates.&nbsp;
CVNA: Carvana shares are driving higher on its better-than-expected Q1 earnings, as well as a slew of analysts' price target raises. The company reported<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45268560/carvana-q1-earnings-revenue-eps-beat-estimates-as-vehicles-sales-jump-46-company-remains-on-track-for-significant-growth-in-fy25"> first-quarter earnings</a> of $1.51 per share, smashing analyst estimates of 60 cents per share.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45239803/sarepta-therapeutics-stock-plummets-after-q1-results-heres-why?utm_source=articleShare">Sarepta Therapeutics Stock Plummets After Q1 Results: Here&#8217;s Why </a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Earnings

Markets

Movers

$BTC

ASST

CVNA

NVAX

QBTS

Thursday's Top 5 Trending Stocks: What's Going On With D-Wave, Novavax, Carvana?

An official report on May 7, 2025 reveals Senator Shelley M Capito's recent sale of Target (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) stock, valued between $2,002 and $30,000. The transaction took place on May 7, 2025, as per the May filing.
At this time, Target shares are trading up 1.2% at $96.64.
<h3>Senator's Recent Trading Activity</h3>
In the past three years, Shelley M Capito made 122 stock trades totaling more than $206 thousand. The largest trades involved stocks like Intel and Duke Energy. Their most notable trades made recently include key transactions: 
<ul>
<li>Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Purchase</li>
<li>Target (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Sale</li>
<li>Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>): $1,001 - $15,000 Sale</li>
</ul>
Here's a summary of Shelley M Capito's recent trades:
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Ticker</th>
<th>Stock Type</th>
<th>Amount</th>
<th>Transaction Type</th>
<th>Transaction Date</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet</td>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-04-29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Target</td>
<td>TGT</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>2025-04-11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nike</td>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>S</td>
<td>2025-04-10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms</td>
<td>META</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-03-26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Constellation Energy</td>
<td>CEG</td>
<td>STOCK</td>
<td>$1,001 - $15,000</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>2025-03-26</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Stay informed on Shelley M Capito's trades and other members of Congress with our real-time <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/shelley-m-capito">government trades tracking tool</a>!
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
A congressional transaction is when any representative or senator either buys or sells an individual stock.
Anyone working in Congress must file a Periodic Transaction Report to inform the public of their recent transaction within 30 days of being notified of the transaction and within 45 days of the transaction date.
In April 2012, Former President Barack Obama signed the STOCK Act into law. The act prohibits members of Congress from using private information given to them by their position for personal gain such as buying or selling a stock. The act also expanded disclosure requirements for members of Congress by requiring them to file a monthly disclosure.
<h3>Why Congressional Transactions Matter</h3>
Congressional transactions shouldn't be the primary reason for an investing decision, but they can be an important factor for an investor to consider.
When a senator or representative makes a new purchase, it could be an indication they expect the stock to rise.
A sale, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean the seller thinks the stock will go down.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Government

Politics

A Congress Member Sold Up To $30K In Target Stock: Here's What You Need To Know

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) just clocked one of its worst trading days since 2023, shedding over 7% and nearly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL">$150 billion in market cap</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Apple Exec&#8217;s Testimony Sends Google Stock Plummeting</h2>
What caused the market to pull the plug? A courtroom mic-drop from Apple Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) Eddy Cue, senior VP of Internet software and services.
Cue's testimony at the Google Commercial Search antitrust trial sent shockwaves through the tech world. He revealed that Apple saw its first drop in search volume in two decades this April &#8211; and pointed the finger squarely at AI rivals like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
More alarming, Apple has been chatting with both about becoming potential Safari search partners. That's like inviting your ex's nemesis to the prom.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45277969/ai-is-eating-search-google-rival-perplexity-ceo-arvind-srinivas-says-as-dan-nile-predicts-agents-to-take-future-share-amid-alphabet-apple-stock-fall">&#8216;AI Is Eating Search&#8217; Google Rival Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas Says As Dan Niles Predicts &#8216;Agents&#8217; To Take Future Share Amid Alphabet, Apple Stock Fall</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Google Stock Sell-Off Overdone, Says Analyst</h2>
Investors didn't take it lightly. Google's dominance in search suddenly looked a bit shakier, especially with paid click growth crawling at just 2% in Q1 &#8211; down from mid-single digits last year. But JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth thinks the sell-off was a bit much. In his words: "Overdone."
Anmuth emphasized that Google is still the default on Safari and continues to see "overall query growth&#8230;including coming from Apple devices." He also notes that Apple&#8217;s $20 billion revenue share from Google is too big to walk away from.
While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL/analyst-ratings">bears highlight a</a> slowing growth story, bulls point to Google&#8217;s fundamentals. YouTube&#8216;s ad revenue climbed 14% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and Google Services&#8217; operating margin jumped to a strong 39%. Not to mention, AI Overviews now reaches 1.5 billion users monthly—a stat worth bragging about as the I/O event looms on May 20.
With Google stock trading at just 16.1x forward earnings, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0508">Benzinga Pro</a> &#8211; 42% below the S&amp;P 500's <a href="https://worldperatio.com/index/sp-500/">27.65x</a> &#8211; and Wall Street&#8217;s top analysts pegging a 44.6% upside, there's a case to be made that this panic is more courtroom drama than structural decline.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45282981/top-3-health-care-stocks-that-could-sink-your-portfolio-in-q2">Top 3 Health Care Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio In Q2</a></li>
</ul>
Google: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Google At Staggering 42% Discount To S&P 500 After $150 Billion Value Dive

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

BULL

CORN

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

MSTR

TSLA

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

Noted investor and TSLA bull Gary Black has shared his thoughts on Uber Technology Inc.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) earnings call and the company's autonomous taxi plans, which could give Uber an edge over Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Robotaxi launch in June.
What Happened: In a post on social media platform X, Black shared an excerpt of Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's address on Wednesday.
<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=%24UBER&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$UBER</a> CEO Dara Khrosrowshahi's comments on the UBER earnings call this morning about autonomous ride hailing: "I think a lot of you probably saw the announcement of Waymo partnering up with Toyota. That&#39;s just indicative, we think, of where AV is going, which is you&#39;ve got…
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1920129627067957319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Black then expanded upon what was said with his thoughts. "For those who think<a href="https://x.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=cashtag_click"> </a>$TSLA will be only one that can offer an autonomous ride-hailing option, think again." He said.
<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">2/ <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24UBER&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$UBER</a>: For those who think <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> will be only one that can offer an autonomous ride-hailing option, think again. Dara has consistently signaled that many players will achieve unsupervised autonomy, and that UBER will welcome any player, any owner of those vehicles, to…
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1920129629727150217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
He highlighted how Uber could have an advantage in the autonomous ride-hailing segment, as the company would "welcome any player" to "monetize their vehicles by including them on the UBER platform." Black said in the post.
He also pointed out that Uber already has over 100 Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo AVs in Austin, Texas. "If TSLA has 10-20 autonomous vehicles and UBER has &gt;100 vehicles in Austin, which platform will an Austin rider choose if they are both offered at the same cost per mile?" the investor said.
Why It Matters: The Tesla Bull's comments coincide with the company's anticipated <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45002938/tesla-bull-gary-black-says-robotaxi-experiment-in-austin-with-10-20-cars-does-not-warrant-billions-in-valuation-potential">robotaxi launch </a>in Austin, Texas, next month, which Black had called "an experiment."
The company rolled out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44972108/tesla-quietly-launched-robotaxi-service-for-employees-before-june-debut-now-reports-1500-completed-trips">a limited launch </a>for the robotaxi service for its employees in cities like Austin and San Francisco, and Tesla says it has driven over 15,000 miles with the rollout.
However, the company still lags behind Waymo, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/45090602/google-backed-waymo-and-toyota-forge-strategic-partnership-to-bring-autonomous-driving-tech-to-personally-owned-vehicles">recently partnered up</a> with Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>) to develop autonomous driving technology and even explore personal ownership.
Elsewhere, Elon Musk's Robotaxi ambitions are facing hurdles as<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45278182/elon-musks-cybercab-ambitions-face-latest-snag-teslas-robotaxi-trademark-filing-refused-by-authorities"> a trademark filing </a>by Tesla over "Robotaxi" and "Cybercab" has been refused by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45275248/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-says-average-waymo-in-austin-is-busier-than-99-of-human-drivers">Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Says &#8216;Average Waymo In Austin Is Busier Than 99%&#8217; Of Human Drivers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45247102/amazons-tesla-robotaxi-rival-zoox-recalls-270-driverless-vehicles-following-las-vegas-crash-in-april">Amazon&#8217;s Tesla Robotaxi Rival Zoox Recalls 270 Driverless Vehicles Following Las Vegas Crash In April: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: DenPhotos / Shutterstock.com

UBER

Uber Could Outpace Elon Musk's Tesla In Robotaxi Race, Says TSLA Bull Gary Black

WestPark Capital analyst Curtis Shauger reiterates Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Buy and maintains $210 price target.

Price Target

WestPark Capital Reiterates Buy on Alphabet, Maintains $210 Price Target

Market giants Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) saw their stocks tumble on Wednesday after reports suggested Apple may be reconsidering its lucrative search partnership with Google, with artificial intelligence emerging as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45269527/apple-shares-fall-amid-broader-tech-shifts-and-supplier-developments-whats-going-on">catalyst for potential industry disruption</a>.
What Happened: Apple&#8217;s Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, testified in a U.S. antitrust trial that the company is &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45259675/apple-alphabet-shares-tumble-amid-potential-ai-search-shift">actively looking at</a>&#8221; integrating an AI-powered search engine into Safari, evaluating alternatives from OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity AI. 
Cue revealed Safari searches declined for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45269527/apple-shares-fall-amid-broader-tech-shifts-and-supplier-developments-whats-going-on">the first time last month</a>, attributing the shift to growing AI tool adoption. Alphabet shares plunged 7.51% to $152.80 while Apple dipped 1.14% to $196.25.
&#8220;AI is eating search,&#8221; stated Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas on X, as his company positions itself as a contender in the evolving search landscape. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">AI is eating search <a href="https://t.co/oVFHM0hO2S">pic.twitter.com/oVFHM0hO2S</a>
&mdash; Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AravSrinivas/status/1920220641812492434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Dan Niles, founder of Niles Investment Management, highlighted on X that the drop in Safari search activity aligns with Google&#8217;s recent performance, where year-over-year growth in paid clicks slowed to 2% in the first quarter of 2025—down from 5% in the same period last year and 8% in early 2023, following the rise of ChatGPT in late 2022.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Eddy Cue of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> commented that their own browser search was down in April for the first time. This confirms the trends that <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOGL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOGL</a> saw in Q1:25 where paid clicks were +2% y/y vs +5% in Q1:24 and +8% in Q1:23, the quarter after ChatGPT burst onto the scene at in late 2022. He…
&mdash; Dan Niles (@DanielTNiles) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielTNiles/status/1920162710999679201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45276805/disneys-30-billion-theme-park-bet-pays-off-as-bob-iger-touts-all-time-high-returns-stock-rallies-10-after-q2-earnings">Disney&#8217;s $30 Billion Theme Park Bet Pays Off As Bob Iger Touts &#8216;All-Time High&#8217; Returns, Stock Rallies 10% After Q2 Earnings</a>
Why It Matters: A recent 9to5Mac comparison showed Perplexity &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45246509/google-rival-perplexity-outshines-apples-siri-and-openais-chatgpt-in-ios-voice-assistant-showdown-says-aravind-srinivas">clearly outperformed or is at parity</a>&#8221; with Apple&#8217;s Siri and OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT across most categories, according to Srinivas, emerging as the most versatile option by combining web-based intelligence with limited Apple app integration.
Niles predicted that companies like &#8220;OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, xAI&#8221; will continue taking market share from traditional search, with &#8220;AI agents&#8221; accelerating this trend.
Despite these shifts, Cue indicated Google should <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45269527/apple-shares-fall-amid-broader-tech-shifts-and-supplier-developments-whats-going-on">remain Safari&#8217;s default search engine</a> for now, particularly given the estimated $20 billion in annual revenue Apple receives from the arrangement.
Perplexity, backed by Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), has gained momentum with recent Android launches and a SoftBank Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) partnership deploying 7,000 sales team members to drive enterprise adoption in Japan. Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45276694/shopify-gears-up-for-q1-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">Shopify Gears Up For Q1 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Startups

SFTBY

'AI Is Eating Search' Google Rival Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas Says As Dan Niles Predicts 'Agents' To Take Future Share Amid Alphabet, Apple Stock Fall

Tony Fadell, the iPod inventor who later sold smart-home pioneer Nest to Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), says Silicon Valley's plush perks can quietly smother urgency and innovation.
What Happened: "At Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), you couldn't hide," he told the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-8NdMx-g60">audience</a> at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. "Everyone was critical."
That rigor vanished when he joined Google after the $3.2 billion Nest deal. "You were lucky if they even showed up… They'd take the bus in for lunch, get a massage, grab yogurt, and head home," Fadell said, blasting the search giant's famed "20 percent time" that lets engineers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entrepreneurship/17/11/10265560/what-i-learned-from-reading-every-google-founders-letter">pursue side projects</a>.
Such freedom, he warned, breeds "mediocrity" that startups can't afford. "It will mess up your culture" if you hire 15-year "career Googlers," he added.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45275079/bob-iger-admits-marvel-lost-focus-by-making-too-much-content-saying-quantity-does-not-necessarily-beget-quality-heres-what-disney-plans-to-do-now">Bob Iger Admits Marvel Lost Focus By Making Too Much Content, Saying &#8216;Quantity Does Not Necessarily Beget Quality&#8217; — Here&#8217;s What Disney Plans To Do Now</a>
Fadell's culture-first mantra traces back to General Magic in the 1990s, where <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41616573/ipod-co-creator-tony-fadell-dismisses-chatgpt-type-llms-saying-were-trying-to-make-science-fiction-h">executives vowed</a> never to bring in "East Coast" talent that demanded drivers and executive toilets — benefits he now sees everywhere in tech. Padell has previously publicly decried the Valley's "entitlement" and said comfort can "kill the hustle" needed for deep-tech breakthroughs.
What To Know: The Nest-Google marriage offers a cautionary case study. According to a <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/tony-fadell-nest-and-the-failure-of-a-middle-ground">report</a> by the New Yorker, analysts noted the hardware startup chafed under Google's looser, bottom-up structure, a clash that hastened Fadell's 2016 exit and forced Alphabet to rethink its tech ambitions.
Management experts say Apple's top-down accountability — memorialized in Harvard Business Review <a href="https://www.apple.com/jobs/pdf/HBR_How_Apple_Is_Organized_For_Innovation-4.pdf">papers</a> — shows how tight oversight can scale creativity without free-rider risk.
Fadell's bottom line for founders: don't confuse beanbags for productivity. "Entitlement everywhere" is today's biggest silent cost, he argued, one that no valuation, wellness stipend or kombucha tap can paper over.
Photo Courtesy: Tada Images On Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45275248/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-says-average-waymo-in-austin-is-busier-than-99-of-human-drivers">Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Says &#8216;Average Waymo In Austin Is Busier Than 99%&#8217; Of Human Drivers</a>

iPod Creator Says Apple's Hard-Edged Work Culture Beats Google's 'Take The Bus In For Lunch, Grab Yogurt, And Head Home' Lifestyle

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) revealed during its first quarter of 2025 earnings call that autonomous vehicles from Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo unit are outperforming human drivers in terms of utilization rates in their Austin, Texas deployment.
What Happened: &#8220;The average Waymo in Austin is busier than 99% of Austin drivers as defined by the number of trips per day,&#8221; CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told investors during Wednesday&#8217;s call, indicating the company&#8217;s strategic bet on autonomous technology is yielding early operational advantages.
The rideshare giant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45252907/uber-sees-strong-trip-growth-but-warns-on-us-rideshare-pressure-in-2025-outlook">reported first-quarter earnings</a> per share of $0.83, while revenue was $11.53 billion.
Uber&#8217;s deployment in Austin currently involves approximately 100 Waymo vehicles, with plans to expand. The autonomous fleet is showing &#8220;very high utilization,&#8221; with consumers giving the service positive ratings. This performance comes as Uber has announced five autonomous driving partnerships in recent months spanning the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
&#8220;We are going to continue to increase the vehicle count in Austin, and we&#8217;re super excited for expansion in Atlanta as well,&#8221; Khosrowshahi added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45274831/trump-tariff-pressure-reportedly-opens-global-doors-for-elon-musks-starlink-as-nations-rush-to-show-goodwill">Trump Tariff Pressure Reportedly Opens Global Doors For Elon Musk&#8217;s Starlink As Nations Rush To Show &#8216;Goodwill&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The company achieved a record adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 billion, up 35% year-over-year, while delivering strong trip growth of 19% for the third consecutive quarter. Monthly active users increased 14% to 170 million.
CFO Prashant Raja highlighted that insurance costs, a persistent headwind for the mobility sector, are moderating with March CPI for insurance showing 7% year-over-year growth, &#8220;the lowest we&#8217;ve seen in almost three years.&#8221;
Uber expects consistent top-line growth with improving margins for the remainder of 2025, focusing on what Khosrowshahi described as their &#8220;multiyear growth framework&#8221; across mobility, delivery, and newer market expansions.
Price Action: Uber stock closed at $83.65 on Tuesday, down 2.54% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock edged up 0.14% to $83.77. Year to date, Uber shares have gained 32.42%.
Uber is showing stronger momentum compared to rival Lyft Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>), but trails on certain growth metrics, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. The stock maintains a positive price trend in the short and long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up to learn more</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45245367/novo-nordisks-weight-loss-blockbuster-faces-setback-from-us-compounding-surge-forecast-trimmed">Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Weight Loss Blockbuster Faces Setback From US Compounding Surge, Forecast Trimmed</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: DenPhotos / Shutterstock.com

LYFT

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Says 'Average Waymo In Austin Is Busier Than 99%' Of Human Drivers

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Communication Services sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GOOG</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/09/25</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$27.6K</td>
<td>528</td>
<td>33.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GOOGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/09/25</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$49.3K</td>
<td>642</td>
<td>29.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NFLX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/09/25</td>
<td>$1140.00</td>
<td>$25.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>META</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/09/25</td>
<td>$587.50</td>
<td>$165.6K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPHR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$33.9K</td>
<td>253</td>
<td>958</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SNAP</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$9.00</td>
<td>$27.5K</td>
<td>6.8K</td>
<td>728</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PINS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
<td>$150.5K</td>
<td>447</td>
<td>351</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TTD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>$42.7K</td>
<td>524</td>
<td>191</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$27.1K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>59</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For GOOG (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 2 day(s) on May 9, 2025. This event was a transfer of 221 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.6K, with a price of $126.0 per contract. There were 528 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 33617 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GOOGL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on May 9, 2025. Parties traded 184 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.3K, with a price of $268.0 per contract. There were 642 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 29822 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NFLX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on May 9, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $1140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.6K, with a price of $2568.0 per contract. There were 1024 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2478 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding META (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on May 9, 2025. Parties traded 120 contract(s) at a $587.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $165.6K, with a price of $1380.0 per contract. There were 1461 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1693 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SPHR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPHR#NYSE">SPHR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 9 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 424 contract(s) at a $32.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 40 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.9K, with a price of $80.0 per contract. There were 253 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 958 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SNAP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 135 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 164 contract(s) at a $9.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.5K, with a price of $168.0 per contract. There were 6837 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 728 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PINS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 407 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 350 contract(s) at a $25.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $150.5K, with a price of $430.0 per contract. There were 447 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 351 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TTD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 9 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 90 contract(s) at a $57.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.7K, with a price of $475.0 per contract. There were 524 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 191 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SE#NYSE">SE</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 29 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.1K, with a price of $935.0 per contract. There were 1273 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 59 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

NFLX

PINS

SPHR

9 Communication Services Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

U.S. stocks traded mixed at midday Wednesday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s upcoming policy decision, with Chair Jerome Powell set to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45258146/all-eyes-on-powell-betting-markets-reveal-what-the-fed-chair-is-most-likely-to-say-on-wednesday">speak at 2:30 p.m. ET.</a>
Trade developments continued to influence market sentiment. During a Senate hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that initial talks with China will begin in Switzerland later this week, though he emphasized they are only preliminary.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) led notable decliners, plunging over 7% after a Bloomberg report indicated an Apple executive's testimony suggested AI may be eroding traditional search market share.
The Dow Jones outperformed, while tech-heavy indexes like the Nasdaq 100 and S&amp;P 500 lagged under pressure from Alphabet&#8217;s sharp decline. Sector performance was positive overall, with modest gains led by financials.
In commodities, U.S. natural gas prices at the Henry Hub surged over 5% to $3.640 per million British units, driven by recovering feedgas flows to Freeport LNG and forecasts for early-season heat boosting demand.
Gold retreated 1.5% after a strong two-day rally, while oil dipped 1.2% to $58.30 following a brief spike to $60 overnight.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) held steady at around $96,800.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>41,115.49</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,993.68</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,619.12</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,781.12</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:10 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.2% up to $559.98.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.7% to $410.96.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.2% to $480.71.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.6% to $197.89.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Financials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 0.9%; the&nbsp;Communication Services&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
Stocks reacting to earnings included:
<ul>
<li>Arista Networks Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANET#NYSE">ANET</a>) down 6.84%</li>
<li>Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEN#NASDAQ">GEN</a>) up 9.16%</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) up 0.89%</li>
<li>International Flavors &amp; Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IFF#NYSE">IFF</a>) down 6.09%</li>
<li>Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) up 0.41%</li>
<li>Mosaic Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOS#NYSE">MOS</a>) up 3.58%</li>
<li>Corpay Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPAY#NYSE">CPAY</a>) down 1.80%</li>
<li>Wynn Resorts Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WYNN#NASDAQ">WYNN</a>) up 0.56%</li>
<li>Jack Henry &amp; Associates Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JKHY#NASDAQ">JKHY</a>) down 0.67%</li>
<li>Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>) down 0.16%</li>
<li>Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) down 6.04%</li>
<li>Coty Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COTY#NYSE">COTY</a>) down 9.09%</li>
<li>Rivian Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) down 2.90%</li>
<li>The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) up 11.46%</li>
<li>Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) down 2.02%</li>
<li>Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMR#NYSE">EMR</a>) up 2.72%</li>
<li>Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JCI#NYSE">JCI</a>) up 1.52%</li>
<li>Vistra Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) down 4.78%</li>
<li>Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSK#NASDAQ">VRSK</a>) up 4.22%</li>
<li>Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROK#NYSE">ROK</a>) up 12.29%</li>
<li>Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CQP#NYSE">CQP</a>) down 0.82%</li>
<li>CDW Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDW#NASDAQ">CDW</a>) up 6.90%</li>
<li>NiSource Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NI#NYSE">NI</a>) up 3.13%</li>
</ul>
Stocks slated to report earnings after the close include Fortinet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>), Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAXN#NASDAQ">AAXN</a>), Corteva Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTVA#NYSE">CTVA</a>), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>), Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPL#NYSE">TPL</a>), Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATO#NYSE">ATO</a>), Fidelity National Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNF#NYSE">FNF</a>), and Western Gas Partners LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WES#NYSE">WES</a>).
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45257429/michael-saylor-calls-bitcoin-the-corporate-survival-strategy-for-96-of-companies">Michael Saylor Calls Bitcoin The &#8216;Corporate Survival Strategy&#8217; For 96% of Companies</a></li>
</ul>
Powell will be speaking at 2:30 p.m. ET. Watch below.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534;WATCH LIVE: FOMC Rate Decision &#x7C; Fed Chair Powell Press Conference &#x7C; May 7, 2025" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpIaAwIGoIA?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>
Photo: Shutterstock

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Econ #s

AAXN

AFRM

AKAM

ANET

COIN

COTY

CPAY

CTVA

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

DKNG

EPAM

EVRG

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Wall Street Mixed Ahead Of Fed Meeting, Alphabet Sinks: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) announced on Tuesday that it has created a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/quantum-computing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new quantum chip</a> in collaboration with UC Santa Barbara that enables quantum networks to scale and connect quantum processors for practical applications. The company also said it <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/news/quantum-networking-how-cisco-is-accelerating-practical-quantum-computing">opened</a> a quantum lab in Santa Monica, CA, where quantum scientists and engineers are building quantum networking technologies.
The quantum network entanglement chip operates at standard telecom wavelengths and can leverage existing fiber optic infrastructure. The new chip is also energy efficient, consuming less than 1 megawatt of power.
Cisco also said it has opened its Cisco Quantum Labs facility in Santa Monica, CA.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44991419/nvidia-powers-next-gen-adaptive-digital-ai-agents-for-cisco-nasdaq-and-meta" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Powers Next-Gen Adaptive Digital AI Agents For Cisco, Nasdaq, And Meta</a>
The lab&#8217;s researchers will work on the new entanglement chip and advance other research prototypes, such as entanglement-distribution protocols, a distributed quantum-computing compiler, a Quantum Network Development Kit, and a&nbsp;Quantum Random Number Generator&nbsp;(QRNG).
Cisco also implemented&nbsp;Post-Quantum Cryptography&nbsp;(PQC) NIST standards across its portfolio, ensuring classical networks remain secure in a post-quantum world.
In February, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/44019698/amazon-unveils-ocelot-quantum-chip-after-microsoft-aims-to-slash-error-correction-costs-by-90">Ocelot</a>, its new quantum computing chip, which is expected to reduce the costs of implementing quantum error correction by up to 90%. The AWS Center for Quantum Computing team developed the chip at the California Institute of Technology.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) debuted the Majorana 1 quantum chip to scale to 1 million qubits for industrial-scale problem-solving.
Last December,&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s&nbsp;(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&nbsp;announced its&nbsp;quantum chip&nbsp;Willow that could reduce errors exponentially as it scaled up&nbsp;using&nbsp;more&nbsp;qubits.
In November, NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tapped Quantum AI to drive the development of quantum computing devices.
Price Action: CSCO is trading flat at $59.33 on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45235394/nvidia-broadcom-lead-fund-manager-buys-even-as-semiconductor-sector-cools-analysts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia, Broadcom Lead Fund Manager Buys Even As Semiconductor Sector Cools: Analysts</a></li>
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Cisco Unveils Quantum Chip And Lab To Push Next-Gen Networking

Seagate Technology Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>)&nbsp;is amid efforts to develop a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/seagate-technology" rel="noreferrer noopener">100-terabyte hard drive</a> by 2030.
Seagate&#8217;s chief commercial officer, BS Teh, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/07/seagate-to-triple-hard-drive-capacity-by-2030-to-meet-ai-demand.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> CNBC on Wednesday that the data storage firm aims to launch a drive with about three times the capacity of its top-notch hard drives by 2030.
The largest hard disk drive Seagate currently produces is the 36-terabyte Exos M model.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/45080030/western-digital-refocuses-after-post-sandisk-spin-off-as-analyst-highlights-ai-led-hdd-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Western Digital Refocuses Post-SanDisk Spin-Off As Analyst Highlights AI-Led HDD Growth</a>
Teh expressed conviction in strong demand, underlining the need for the 100-terabyte hard drive. Teh also said Seagate is amid efforts to counter climate concerns surrounding AI&#8217;s energy demands.
Teh expressed conviction in hard disk drive prospects, citing it as a much more sustainable device technology.
Big Tech&#8217;s 2025 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43962882/meta-gears-up-for-ai-dominance-with-200-billion-data-center-project-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI infrastructure investments</a> included Amazon.com Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) $100 billion, followed by Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) at $80 billion each, and Meta committing over $60 billion.
Microsoft expects to spend $80 billion on data centers&nbsp;in fiscal 2025.
February reports indicated Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is in talks to build an AI data center campus that could exceed $200 billion in costs.
Seagate Technology Holdings stock gained close to 9% year-to-date. It reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45116667/whats-going-on-with-seagate-technology-stock-wednesday" rel="noreferrer noopener">third-quarter sales</a> of $2.16 billion (versus $1.66 billion Y/Y), missing the analyst estimate of $2.31 billion. It reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.90, missing the analyst estimate of $2.09.
Seagate expects fourth-quarter revenue of&nbsp;$2.25 billion-$2.55 billion, versus the&nbsp;$2.43 billion estimate, and adjusted earnings of $2.20-$2.60&nbsp;per share, versus the&nbsp;$2.20&nbsp;analyst estimate.
Price Action: STX stock is up 1.16% at $94.99 at the last check on Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45237744/on-semiconductor-sees-green-shoots-in-industrial-auto-shift-as-analysts-stay-cautious" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ON Semiconductor Powers Through Expectations, But Analysts Dial Down Targets On Margin Squeeze</a></li>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Seagate Bets On Mega-Sized, Sustainable Drives As AI Sparks Record Data Demand

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:21 PMMar 21, 2025	CALL	$165.00	Mar 28, 2025	-43	14863	3600	217	6840	TRADE	BULLISH
01:40 PMMar 21, 2025	PUT	$195.00	Jan 16, 2026	251	144	142	14	1005	SWEEP	BEARISH
11:07 AMMar 21, 2025	PUT	$200.00	Jun 20, 2025	41	503	146	15	3457	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
01:03 PMMar 20, 2025	CALL	$165.00	Jun 20, 2025	41	659	515	8	8166	SWEEP	BULLISH
12:44 PMMar 19, 2025	PUT	$130.00	Dec 19, 2025	223	2004	2000	28	7078	TRADE	BEARISH
11:13 AMMar 19, 2025	CALL	$175.00	Dec 18, 2026	587	1082	755	161	671	SWEEP	BULLISH
11:13 AMMar 19, 2025	CALL	$175.00	Dec 18, 2026	587	49	247	7	671	SWEEP	BEARISH
11:00 AMMar 19, 2025	PUT	$160.00	Aug 15, 2025	97	602	600	15	4100	TRADE	BULLISH
02:27 PMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$175.00	Jun 18, 2026	404	1312	1234	59	2225	SWEEP	BULLISH
01:35 PMMar 18, 2025	PUT	$140.00	Jun 18, 2026	404	105	700	3	3403	TRADE	BULLISH
11:59 AMMar 18, 2025	PUT	$130.00	Sep 18, 2026	496	1802	1800	Infinity	0	TRADE	NEUTRAL
11:35 AMMar 18, 2025	PUT	$150.00	Jun 20, 2025	41	3413	3000	35	9848	TRADE	BEARISH
09:46 AMMar 18, 2025	CALL	$140.00	Dec 19, 2025	223	1195	195	162	737	TRADE	BEARISH