U.S. stocks ticked higher at midday Wednesday, buoyed by signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and cooler-than-expected inflation data, both of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/45882971/wall-street-eyes-record-highs-as-trump-seals-china-deal-soft-inflation-eases-tariff-jitters">which supported risk appetite.</a>



President Donald Trump announced that a new trade agreement with China had been reached, pending final signatures from him and Chinese President Xi Jinping.



On the economic front, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that annual consumer inflation rose to 2.4% in May, slightly below the 2.5% forecast. Core inflation held steady at 2.8%, also coming in softer than expected.



The S&amp;P 500 is aiming for a fourth consecutive gain, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 43,000 — a level last seen on March 5.



Treasury yields fell across the curve, with the 10-year yield dropping five basis points to 4.43%. The U.S. dollar slipped 0.4% as the data reinforced expectations for two Fed rate cuts by year-end.



Gold edged up 0.2% to $3,330 an ounce, while platinum surged more than 5%. Crude oil jumped 3% to above $66.50 per barrel after Trump cast doubt on a potential nuclear deal with Iran, with the Tehran government threatening retaliation if talks fail.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) eased 0.7% to $109,500.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,976.07</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,159.81</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,036.78</td><td>0.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,924.84</td><td>-0.1%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:18 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 class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) flattened at $553.99.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) inched 0.2% up to $430.23.</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;eased 0.1% to $533.50.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) held steady at $214.42.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) outperformed, up 0.3%; the&nbsp;Materials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) rose 3.6% to a fresh record high of $137 on Wednesday after Mizuho analysts raised their price target on the defense software firm.</li>



<li>Starbucks Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NYSE">SBUX</a>) rallied 3.4% after Citigroup and RBC raised the price target to $95 and $100, respectively. </li>



<li>Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) fell over 5% after reports surfaced that the U.S. Air Force plans to cut its F-35 fighter jet procurement by half.</li>



<li>Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) shares were up slightly and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/06/45874422/oracle-q4-earnings-preview-will-company-snap-two-quarter-losing-streak-market-expert-says-attention-on-cloud-revenue-growth"> will report earnings after the close</a>.</li>
</ul>



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Dow Jones Breaks 43,000, Palantir Hits New Record Highs: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

A mix of bullish catalysts is poised to lift investor sentiment Wednesday, as President Donald Trump confirmed a China trade deal and fresh inflation data came in softer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45881899/inflation-resumes-climb-in-may-but-tariffs-have-yet-to-hit-consumers">than expected for May.</a>



Trump declared a sweeping new trade agreement with China via Truth Social following two days of negotiations in London, suggesting major concessions from Beijing and lighter U.S. obligations.



&#8220;Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China,&#8221; Trump said, adding that the U.S. would reciprocate by allowing Chinese students access to U.S. colleges. 



The deal, pending final approval with Chinese President Xi Jinping, includes a significant tariff shift. The U.S. will continue applying tariffs totaling 55% on selected Chinese imports, while China will impose a 10% tariff rate on U.S. goods.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inflation Rises Less Than Expected In May, Easing Tariff Anxiety</h3>



U.S. consumer inflation was softer than expected in May, reinforcing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year.



The Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% from a year earlier, undercutting the 2.5% forecasted by economists and edging slightly above April's 2.3% reading. On a monthly basis, prices climbed just 0.1%, slower than both the prior month's 0.2% and the consensus estimate.



Core CPI—which excludes food and energy—held steady at 2.8% year over year, missing the 2.9% projection. Month over month, core prices advanced only 0.1%, undershooting the expected 0.3%.



Energy prices were a major drag, falling 1% in May. Gasoline plunged 2.6%, reversing the prior month's rise. On the flip side, services like medical care and motor vehicle insurance saw upward pressure.



&#8220;With lower-than-expected numbers across the board and a trade deal with China that was agreed to in London, the narrative around tariff-induced inflation should subside,&#8221; said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How Close Are We to New Highs?</h3>



In premarket trading, the S&amp;P 500 index traded at 6,050, up 0.20%, while the Nasdaq 100 added 0.25% to reach 21,990.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1% to 42,924.



Both the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are now less than 2 percentage points from their all-time highs, at 1.6% and 1.1% away, respectively.



According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> platform, top-gainers within large-cap stocks following the release of the inflation included:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>CoreWeave Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWE#NASDAQ">CRWE</a>) gained 3.57% to $159.70</li>



<li>NICE Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NICE#NASDAQ">NICE</a>) rose 3.33% to $179.00</li>



<li>Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBY#NYSE">BBY</a>) added 3.14% to $76.00</li>



<li>Textron Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXT#NYSE">TXT</a>) climbed 3.03% to $78.15</li>



<li>Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) increased 2.97% to $29.36</li>



<li>Amer Sports Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AS#NYSE">AS</a>) rose 2.86% to $38.69</li>



<li>IDEXX Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDXX#NASDAQ">IDXX</a>) gained 2.85% to $540.00</li>



<li>Chewy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) advanced 2.74% to $43.40</li>



<li>Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWKS#NASDAQ">SWKS</a>) jumped 2.67% to $75.98</li>



<li>Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>) added 2.59% to $90.47</li>
</ul>



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Tech

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Wall Street Eyes Record Highs As Trump Seals China Deal, Soft Inflation Eases Tariff Jitters

Nuclear energy stocks have been partying like it's 1979, riding a wave of tailwinds that could set up an industry revival. President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/mid-cap/25/05/45587750/uranium-stocks-surge-trumps-nuclear-push-sparks-double-digit-gains">presented a new series of executive orders</a> on May 23 aimed at boosting nuclear production and reducing regulatory burdens. Still, the push to bring nuclear energy back into the mainstream has been underway for years.



Clean energy initiatives and the ever-growing power demands of AI data centers have contributed to the renewed push for nuclear energy. Unlike wind or solar energy, atomic energy is consistent and does not require favorable weather conditions to function. It&#8217;s also a clean energy source, which is why tech leaders and regulators have been quick to embrace it as power demands grow.



But while the upside is vast, investors will need to be patient. Nuclear power plants take years to build and require tremendous human resources and capital.



However, tech money is already rolling into nuclear power providers, and several companies have innovations in the pipeline that could reduce construction times and expenses. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reserve Your Spot To Power Pattern Profits LIVE With This 30-Year Master Trader</h2>



For the last decade, these three ‘Power Patterns' have been accurate an astonishing 90% of the time. Now they're firing up again over the next 75 days. And 30-year veteran trader Tom Gentile will show you LIVE how to position yourself for potential gains. Reserve Your Seat <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/power-pattern-profits-1?utm_campaign=power-pattern-registration">HERE</a> to this Benzinga Exclusive Event



Here are four nuclear energy stocks set to become leaders as the nuclear revival grows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Constellation Energy Corp.</h2>



Constellation Energy&nbsp; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NYSE">CEG</a>) made headlines this week by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45748439/constellation-energy-signs-20-year-nuclear-power-deal-with-meta-stock-surges">announcing a partnership</a> with Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>). The deal is a 20-year power purchase agreement that will provide Meta Platforms with 1,121 megawatts of nuclear power to support its clean energy initiatives. Constellation's Clinton Clean Energy Center will be sourcing the power, which was in danger of closing when its zero emissions credit from Illinois expired. Now that Meta will be taking power starting in 2027, the plant will remain open for another two decades, and the stock briefly hit $340 on the promising news.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcrnhecu0hhv3FyY-7HNTT4ybPzFUesisy9NDKhgRJIjm3Eb8o4ZFwSaL7xixYe_B-dsW3Mqc6wXf9rEPVzW13arlCgRS_a04SIagElloo1Hm1Jf5f5DuPVHpzzawUFLNaK_3XGpw?key=jcaDfLI0wDOIAUpmQMjikg" alt=""/></figure>



Constellation is one of the largest public nuclear energy companies, with a market capitalization of $98 billion and annual sales exceeding $24 billion. Unlike many of the other companies on this list, it offers a diverse energy portfolio that includes fossil fuels such as natural gas, as well as clean sources like wind and solar. It also has the profit growth to back up the hype. The company reported EPS of $2.14 and revenue of $6.79 billion in its May 6 earnings release, blowing past the expectations of $2.11 and $5.34 billion. BMO Capital and UBS increased their price targets after the report to $337 and $320, respectively, before the major Meta partnership announcement. Expect more price target hikes in the coming days and weeks, as CEG shares seem set to make new all-time highs this year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oklo Inc.&nbsp;</h2>



Oklo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKLO#NYSE">OKLO</a>), a developer of fission power plants, stands to be a significant beneficiary of Trump's orders as its facilities are not far from operational and are fueled by a key resource. Its reactors also use high-assay, low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, a higher-quality fuel product than traditional plants, which was mentioned by name in the executive orders. 



OKLO shares approached new all-time highs following the announcement, but some profit-taking this week might open up new entry points.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdMrsTmt-J6FwehCO1_5KSkqAjArZ0Mhm5FLQ7o7mrclyRnOywbwWdDiYDKzK0YGUubJYmVAXoJNEC4Pz2OiPuIj8ogvvmD6S6IMYaZqUET2YOpV2DmjBgQmui-baRQtk6GsK9xSQ?key=jcaDfLI0wDOIAUpmQMjikg" alt=""/></figure>



OKLO made a new all-time high in February but retreated when tariffs spooked the market. After bouncing off the 200-day moving average, the stock entered a new uptrend and now trades above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. A 70 on the Relative Strength Index triggered some profit-taking earlier this week, but a quick 5% drop is good news for investors looking to get in at a better price. The stock's Benzinga Edge Momentum Score of 99.30 indicates the uptrend remains firmly in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NuScale Power&nbsp;</h2>



NuScale (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMR#NYSE">SMR</a>) is the only company with a small modular reactor (SMR) module that has garnered approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). And while no SMR facility has been built in the United States yet, the Trump Administration aims to change that through the executive orders released two weeks ago. SMRs are smaller and require less time and capital to construct, making them an ideal solution for companies that want to scale up nuclear operations incrementally. NuScale shares, which ignited new all-time highs on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, have bullish fundamentals and technicals behind them.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeYZpHHXHXjyKAKmyzc4LIsYHmDLv1XwBdQzvIy2RM9mGBw0L13DoJDbBDYTYmgQz6xaFs-hM2UWP2vv7XZ-oWlTRquyCQWz5q60Crl6ojZWU88NFH1TDnnWiu94MB6kCuVy4m59w?key=jcaDfLI0wDOIAUpmQMjikg" alt=""/></figure>



The stock reached a new all-time high on substantial volume, triggering a Golden Cross as the 50-day moving average surpassed the 200-day moving average. A 98.32 Benzinga Edge Momentum Score indicates that this uptrend has significant strength, and it&#8217;s not just technical indicators sending bullish signals. NuScale, which has deals in place with data centers in Ohio and Pennsylvania, reported an impressive earnings beat on May 12, with revenue exceeding expectations by nearly 300%. The stock received three price target boosts following the earnings report and Trump's executive orders, led by CLSA, which bumped its target to $41, indicating nearly a 30% upside. SMR shares pulled back this week as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) reached overbought territory, but this retreat from all-time highs could be a good entry point for new positions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cameco Corp.&nbsp;</h2>



Cameco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCJ#NYSE">CCJ</a>) might not be making deals with any mega-cap tech companies, but powering these data centers would likely be impossible without the company's uranium products. Cameco is one of the biggest worldwide uranium miners, with operations spanning four continents.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcEfaHz_feUsOVQJvNfnQ1IGJjO4bJm2DRI_eFyzSSm2b9vKCrQwxOkz-xOGpgoOEaEaHytsazXYEraOa-E5xt6Vaqxvz-eVmVGLwuM9mqXOPYYx-yjuZvZu7sQRe_MGFsFDhaijw?key=jcaDfLI0wDOIAUpmQMjikg" alt=""/></figure>



Despite the sector tailwinds, CCJ shares have been stuck in a trading range since last summer. However, now that energy demands are increasing and regulators are becoming increasingly positive about nuclear, the catalysts are in place for the stock to finally break out to new highs. A bullish MACD crossover is helping boost momentum as the stock tries to shake off an earnings miss from May 1. Despite the earnings miss, analysts remain optimistic about the stock, with a consensus Buy rating and an average price target of $67.91. Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on May 20 with a Buy rating and a price target of $65, projecting an 8.5% upside from current prices.



Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

OKLO

4 Stocks To Play The Nuclear Energy Revival

Inflation resumed its climb in May, snapping a four-month streak of easing price pressures, yet rising input costs from tariffs failed to significantly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">spill into consumer prices.</a>



The annual rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 2.4% last month, marking a slight acceleration compared to the 2.3% surge in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Wednesday. 



The outcome missed economist expectations of 2.5%. Prior to the inflation data, traders had priced in a cumulative 35 basis points of interest rate cuts by year-end.



On a monthly basis, the CPI basket rose by just 0.1%, decelerating from April&#8217;s 0.2% and below economist forecasts. 



Excluding food and energy, core inflation remained at 2.8% year-over-year, falling short of expectations of a rise to 2.9%. 



Monthly core prices rose 0.1%, decelerating from April's 0.2% increase and missing the projected 0.3% rise.



Indexes that rose in May included medical care, motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings, personal care, and education. In contrast, airline fares, used and new vehicle prices, and apparel declined. The energy index fell 1.0% following a 0.7% gain in April, with gasoline prices down 2.6% month-over-month. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Inflation measure</th><th>May 2025</th><th>Previous</th><th>Expected</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>CPI YoY</td><td>2.4%</td><td>2.3%</td><td>2.5%</td></tr><tr><td>CPI MoM</td><td>0.1%</td><td>0.2%</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Core CPI YoY</td><td>2.8%</td><td>2.8%</td><td>2.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Core CPI MoM</td><td>0.2%</td><td>0.2%</td><td>0.3%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>



A lower-than-expected inflation print may continue to fuel investor sentiment on Wednesday, which was also bolstered by optimism around U.S.-China trade talks. 



President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that a deal with China has been reached, awaiting final sign-off from President Xi Jiping and himself.



U.S. equity futures rose in premarket trading, with S&amp;P 500 contracts up 0.5% and Nasdaq 100 futures rising 0.6% as of 8:39 a.m. ET.



On Monday, the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) closed at $554.39, just 1.6% below its record high.



Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index—as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>)—fell 0.4%.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45870128/meta-platforms-enters-its-most-bullish-month-a-return-to-record-highs-in-sight">Meta Platforms Enters Its Most Bullish Month: A Return To Record Highs In Sight? </a></li>
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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Commodities

Federal Reserve

Inflation Resumes Climb In May, But Tariffs Have Yet To Hit Consumers

There&#8217;s a well-worn line in value investing circles that says, &#8220;I want to invest with people who eat their own cooking.&#8221; In other words, you want the people running the company to have a meaningful chunk of their net worth tied up in the business. You want their wins to be your wins and their losses to sting just as badly as they do for outside shareholders.



That&#8217;s not just a preference. It's a filter that can dramatically improve your odds of long-term success in the stock market.



High insider ownership, where executives, directors and sometimes founders maintain significant equity stakes in their own companies, has historically been associated with better returns, better governance, and more durable businesses. While it&#8217;s not a silver bullet, it&#8217;s one of those factors that keeps showing up in the best investment stories and its merits are well worth understanding.



Let&#8217;s begin with the obvious: incentives matter. The principal-agent problem, where the goals of shareholders and management diverge, is one of the oldest and most persistent flaws in corporate America. When management is paid with stock options and RSUs but owns little real equity, they are playing a different game than you are. They may chase short-term stock pops, overpay for acquisitions, or juice earnings just long enough to cash out.



Managers with real skin in the game tend to think more like owners and less like employees. They are more frugal, more focused, and more likely to take the long view. They are less likely to use shareholder money to fund pet projects or trophy headquarters and more likely to reinvest prudently or return capital.



That&#8217;s not theoretical. Academic literature backs this up.



One of the most well-known studies in this field is by Morck, Shleifer and Vishny (1988), which examined the relationship between insider ownership and firm performance. They found that companies with insider ownership tended to outperform, especially when those insiders were founder-operators or long-term stewards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Dark Horse Stocks Most Investors Aren't Following (But Should)</h2>



Every Friday, five overlooked stocks land on our ‘Whisper Index'.' Like Coinbase before it surged 245% higher. And the biotech breakthrough Insmed before it jumped 20% in a single month. Beat Wall Street to these next potential winners. Access the Whisper Index <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?">HERE</a>



Let&#8217;s discuss real-world examples. Consider the long-term success of companies like Constellation Software (run by founder Mark Leonard), Berkshire Hathaway (Buffett owns ~15% of the company), or Old Dominion Freight Line (run for decades by the Congdon family). These are not rent-a-manager outfits. They are companies with long-term visionaries at the helm who live and breathe the business.



Owner-operators don&#8217;t need to be reminded to think about shareholders. They are the shareholders. They&#8217;re more likely to maintain conservative balance sheets, repurchase shares at undervalued levels, and focus on sustainable free cash flow rather than cosmetic metrics that trigger a bonus.



That&#8217;s not to say they&#8217;re infallible. Founder-led businesses can be stubborn and slow to pivot. But the long-term results suggest that when you back a capable owner with real skin in the game, your odds of compounding capital go up.



Insider ownership works best as an investment filter in conjunction with other value-driven signals. If you&#8217;re already screening for low price-to-book, high free cash flow yield, or improving return on capital, adding insider ownership can significantly improve your hit rate.



It&#8217;s particularly powerful in small-cap land, where liquidity is thin and institutional ownership is low. This is where information asymmetries are greatest and insiders have the most edge.



It also plays well in special situations: restructurings, spin-offs, and deep-value turnarounds. When insiders step up in those moments, they often see something the market has missed or misunderstood.



In a market full of noise, buybacks and accounting tricks, insider ownership is one of the few things you can still count on. It tells you who is riding alongside you—and who is just along for the ride.



As investors, we spend a lot of time looking for edges. Some are ephemeral. Some are overfished. But the edge you get by aligning yourself with people who are financially and emotionally invested in their business—that&#8217;s durable. It&#8217;s old-fashioned. And it works.



So the next time you&#8217;re researching a stock, pull up the proxy statement and look at the insider roster. Are they buying? Are they holding? Or are they just renting the title?



Because in the end, when the people running the show are betting their own money, the odds of a good outcome go up.



Here are three stocks that are undervalued and have massive amounts of skin in the game:



Worthington Steel (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WS#NYSE">WS</a>) is a recent spinoff from Worthington Enterprises (formerly Worthington Industries), focusing squarely on value-added steel processing. The company serves a diversified customer base in automotive, construction and agriculture, providing flat-rolled steel solutions, including galvanizing, pickling, slitting, and laser welding.



As a pure-play steel processor, WS is tightly leveraged to domestic industrial production and reshoring trends in U.S. manufacturing. The company&#8217;s focus on higher-margin, engineered solutions should allow it to avoid the full volatility of commodity steel pricing. Importantly, the spinoff structure gives it autonomy to reinvest cash flow in strategic initiatives, namely automation and customized supply chain services. That allows it to inch closer to &#8220;industrial tech&#8221; margins over time.



WS trades around 6x forward EBITDA, with a modest market cap under $1 billion. It carries a solid balance sheet with minimal net debt and generates healthy free cash flow. It offers better margin stability and trades at a discount than larger, less specialized steel companies. If EBITDA can stabilize or grow modestly in an industrial upturn, the upside could be 50–75% over a cycle.



Insiders, including directors and executives, own more than 10% of shares post-spinoff, signaling real alignment. The company&#8217;s leadership, including CEO Geoff Gilmore (former president of Worthington&#8217;s steel business), has a long tenure and deep operational familiarity.



EVI Industries (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVI#NYSE">EVI</a>) is building a national platform for commercial laundry equipment distribution and service. Over the last several years, the company has quietly acquired more than 20 laundry distributors, consolidating a highly fragmented and regionalized industry. It sells washers, dryers, and finishing systems and provides service and parts through its subsidiaries.



EVI is a long-term roll-up story in a sleepy but essential niche. The core investment case centers on scale benefits, operating leverage, and succession-driven acquisitions. Thanks to institutional and multi-family customers, the business is relatively recession-resistant. Its decentralized model allows local operators to retain control while benefiting from shared resources and systems.



EVI trades at around 20x trailing earnings, which may seem rich for a distribution company. But this is a case where GAAP earnings understate the underlying opportunity. Adjusted EBITDA and operating income are growing faster than reported net income due to the dealmaking cadence and acquisition-related costs. The real value here lies in what the company could look like in five years if it doubles revenue again with modest margin improvement.



Chairman Henry Nahmad and his extended network (including insiders and strategic investors) control more than 40% of the shares. That level of ownership is not just rare—it is strategic. It ensures that value creation for minority shareholders is aligned with management&#8217;s own long-term objectives. Nahmad has been disciplined, long-term focused, and extremely reticent about taking on excessive debt.



Hamilton Beach (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBB#NYSE">HBB</a>) is a legacy name in small kitchen appliances, including blenders, toasters, coffeemakers, and more. The company distributes its products through mass-market retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon, as well as through commercial channels.



This is a turnaround and cash flow story, not a growth engine. Input costs and consumer shifts have pressured margins, but the company has recently shown signs of recovery. Gross margins improved in 2023 and continued through Q1 2024, thanks to better supply chain execution and SKU rationalization. The brand&#8217;s familiarity and low price points make it resilient in discount-driven environments.



HBB trades at under 7x normalized earnings and around 0.3x sales—a discount to historical averages and peers in branded consumer products. The company has paid a consistent dividend, currently yielding around 3.5%, and has used excess cash for debt reduction. While growth is tepid, the earnings power is intact, and there&#8217;s real optionality if appliance demand stabilizes in late 2025.



The holding structure tells a lot. HBB is still part of the NACCO family, with significant shares held by insiders and affiliates. Current and former executives control over 20% of shares, and the board is tightly aligned with long-term value preservation. This is not a management team likely to chase fads or sacrifice balance sheet strength for short-term growth.



Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

3 Stocks With The 'Insider Advantage'

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says that a ChatGPT query consumes roughly 0.34 watt-hours of electricity, which is &#8220;about what an oven would use in a little over one second."



What Happened: Altman, in a blog <a href="https://blog.samaltman.com/the-gentle-singularity">post</a> he published on Tuesday, also mentioned that each ChatGPT query consumes "about 0.000085 gallons of water,&#8221; which is roughly one-fifteenth of a teaspoon.



Altman argues that "the cost of intelligence should eventually converge to near the cost of electricity," positioning the chatbot as comparatively frugal even as environmental watchdogs scrutinize AI's hidden climate bill.



<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">wrote a new post, the gentle singularity. realized it may be the last one like this i write with no AI help at all. (proud to have written &quot;From a relativistic perspective, the singularity happens bit by bit, and the merge happens slowly&quot; the old-fashioned way)&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1932547247243505924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



OpenAI has not publicly shared details of their methodology, but the disclosure lands as researchers warn that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45816468/ai-data-centers-are-eating-electricity-and-these-3-energy-stocks-could-be-the-biggest-winners-says-analyst">data-center power demand</a> could outstrip Bitcoin Mining by next year. One study from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam projects AI could soon swallow nearly half the electricity flowing into global server farms.



See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45877591/elon-musk-says-he-regrets-war-of-words-with-trump-went-too-far">Elon Musk Says He &#8216;Regrets&#8217; War Of Words With Trump: &#8216;Went Too Far&#8217;</a>



Water use complicates the equation. A Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/18/energy-ai-use-electricity-water-data-centers/">investigation</a> found that drafting a 100-word email with GPT-4 required "a little more than one bottle" of water, with consumption varying widely by data-center location. MIT researchers likewise warned in January that generative models are driving up both energy and water footprints as companies race to scale.



Why It Matters: The Department of Energy projects that U.S. data centers may consume up to 12% of the nation&#8217;s electricity by 2028, a share that could climb as AI adoption accelerates.



Altman's efficiency pitch follows corporate pledges to curb resource demand, yet Yale's Environment 360 notes hyperscale facilities still guzzle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36169719/chatgpts-thirst-for-water-ai-techs-environmental-impact-raises-grave-concerns-opportunity-to-invest">millions of gallons</a> annually. Planet Detroit adds that generative systems may use 33 times more energy than conventional software for the same task.



Whether the teaspoon math holds up, Altman insists smarter algorithms and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38679550/intels-new-venture-in-japan-pioneering-automation-in-chip-manufacturing-by-2028">automated chip fabrication</a> will keep driving the price and resource cost of "intelligence" lower.



Image via Shutterstock



Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/ipos/25/06/45877601/anduril-ceo-palmer-luckey-confirms-ipo-plans-to-compete-for-trillion-dollar-defense-contracts-we-are-definitely-going-to-be-a-publicly-traded">Anduril CEO Palmer Luckey Confirms IPO Plans To Compete For Trillion-Dollar Defense Contracts: &#8216;We Are Definitely Going To Be A Publicly Traded&#8230;&#8217;</a>

Every Time You Ask ChatGPT Something, It Uses As Much Electricity As An Oven Does In One Second, Says Sam Altman: The 'Cost Of Intelligence' Will Only Lower

U.S. stock futures were trading lower on Wednesday after a positive close on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.



A federal appeals court on Tuesday permitted President Donald Trump&#8216;s extensive<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/06/45877448/appeals-court-allows-trumps-tariffs-to-remain-in-effect-while-it-reviews-the-lower-courts-decision"> tariffs to continue</a>, pending its review of lower court rulings that had invalidated the duties as unconstitutional. 



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/macro-notification/25/06/45876366/howard-lutnick-says-us-and-china-reached-a-framework-to-implement-geneva-consensus-following-trump-xi-call-csi-300-index-gains">U.S. and China achieved a trade consensus in London</a> following two days of negotiations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated they &#8220;reached a framework&#8221; to enact the Geneva consensus.



The investors will be on the lookout for May&#8217;s inflation print, which will be announced today. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45865665/trumps-inflation-honeymoon-may-be-over">median forecast</a> sees headline inflation ticking up from 2.3% to 2.5% in May, while core CPI, which strips out food and energy, is expected to rise from 2.8% to 2.9% year-over-year. 



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.49% and the two-year bond was at 4.02%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 99.9% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its June meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.12%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.12%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.09%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.14%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were slightly lower in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was down 0.11% at $602.39, while the QQQ declined 0.10% to $533.67, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Energy, healthcare, and consumer discretionary stocks led gains across most S&amp;P 500 sectors on Tuesday, though industrial stocks bucked the trend, closing lower.



This came as U.S. stocks settled higher as investors tracked U.S.-China trade talks in London for progress.



Separately, Casey&#8217;s General Stores Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASY#NASDAQ">CASY</a>) shares surged about 12% after strong fourth quarter results and a dividend hike. Conversely, Calavo Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVGW#NASDAQ">CVGW</a>) shares fell more than 16% on weaker-than-expected second-quarter financials.



Meanwhile, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index climbed to 98.8 in May, exceeding estimates.



The Dow Jones index ended 105 points or 0.25% higher at 42,866.87, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index rose 0.55% to 6,038.81. Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.63% to 19,714.99, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, gained 0.56% to end at 2,156.41.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.63%</td><td>19,714.99</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.55%</td><td>6,038.81</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.25%</td><td>42,866.87</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.56%</td><td>2,156.41</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Highlighting that the S&amp;P 500 index continues to be in a bull market, which began in October 2022, Ryan Detrick from Carson Research said in an X post that the third year of a bull market is mostly &#8220;choppy,&#8221; based on historical data.



Detrick said that, based on his 50-year analysis, five past bull markets persisted for at least this duration, with the shortest of those lasting a full five years.



"The five bulls that made it into year 3 tended to see chop and frustration at some point," he said, adding, "That's the bad news. The good news is once you get past that (and I think we did this time), better times are coming."



<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">Going back 50 years, the five bulls that made it into year 3 tended to see chop and frustration at some point. That&#39;s the bad news. The good news is once you get past that (and I think we did this time) better times are coming. <a href="https://t.co/JNZ8F3eZyK">pic.twitter.com/JNZ8F3eZyK</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1932631907776217135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Furthermore, he drew attention to the 11-year bull market that ran from March 2009 to February 2020, pointing out its encounter with a near-bear market midway through its third year.



"This current bull market had a near bear market in the middle of year 3," he said, talking about the ongoing bull market which began in October 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">The 2009 bull market had a near bear market during the middle of year 3. This current bull market had a near bear market in the middle of year 3. &#x1f440;&#x1f440;&#x1f440;&#x1f440; <a href="https://t.co/5AuoxYDRvt">pic.twitter.com/5AuoxYDRvt</a>&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1932630806855593987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Meanwhile, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates explained that June is the time for Russell's annual index realignment. Every Friday in June, Russell announces its proposed Russell 1000 and 2000 index changes, which are fine-tuned each week.



The stocks that are added to both the Russell 1000 and 2000 indices naturally benefit from index accumulation and the institutional managers that like to "track" indices.



&#8220;After Friday, June 27th, the Russell index realignment will be finalized, and many stocks being added to the Russell indices will &#8216;pop&#8217; on Monday, June 30th,&#8221; he said.



Talking about his expectation from the May&#8217;s inflation print, he said, &#8220;It will be interesting if the deflationary forces in the past few months persist, since that would put more pressure on the Fed to cut key interest rates.



&#8220;There are also Treasury bond auctions on Wednesday and Thursday that will be carefully monitored, especially the bid-to-cover ratios and the "tail" on the auctions that could cause bond yields to rise,&#8221; he stated.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Wednesday:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>May&#8217;s headline and core consumer price index data will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>May&#8217;s monthly U.S. federal budget data will be announced by 2:00 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Chewy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>) fell 0.50% in premarket on Wednesday as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of 519 cents per share on revenue of $3.08 billion, before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Victoria&#8217;s Secret &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSCO#NYSE">VSCO</a>) was 1.13% higher ahead of its earnings, which are supposed to be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect earnings of 9 cents per share on revenue of $1.35 billion.</li>



<li>Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) was 0.03% below the flatline as analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.64 per share on revenue of $15.58 billion after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Sailpoint Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIL#NASDAQ">SAIL</a>) was up 1.78% ahead of its earnings, which are supposed to be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly loss of 1 cent per share on revenue of $225.16 million.</li>



<li>GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) declined 3.68% after reporting first-quarter revenue of $732.4 million, missing analyst estimates of $754.24 million. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of 17 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of four cents per share.</li>



<li>Dave &amp; Buster&#8217;s Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLAY#NASDAQ">PLAY</a>) advanced 3.44% despite downbeat earnings, but it expects total capital expenditures to be less than $220 million in fiscal 2025.</li>



<li>General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) rose 0.90% after it announced on Tuesday that it plans to invest $4 billion over the next two years at plants in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee.</li>



<li>Catheter Precision Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTAK#NYSE">VTAK</a>) surged 111.74% after securing its first VIVO order from Sweden&#8217;s largest hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, a key teaching institution.</li>



<li>Vaxart Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VXRT#NASDAQ">VXRT</a>) zoomed 61.26% after it said that it will reveal the first-ever oral norovirus vaccine trial results on Wednesday.</li>



<li>Graphjet Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GTI#NASDAQ">GTI</a>) slumped 35.56% after receiving a delisting notice from Nasdaq on June 4.</li>



<li>American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMSC#NASDAQ">AMSC</a>) dropped 13.58% after announcing its intent to offer and sell common stock in an underwritten public offering without revealing the size and terms, which will be subject to market conditions.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.23% to hover around $65.13 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 0.68% to hover around $3,345.05 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.07% at the 99.0270 level.



Asian markets ended higher on Wednesday as China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200, Japan's Nikkei 225, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, and South Korea's Kospi indices rose. European markets were mixed in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45876245/jeremy-siegel-backs-ted-cruzs-plan-to-end-fed-interest-payments-on-excess-reserves-potentially-savin">Jeremy Siegel Backs Ted Cruz&#8217;s Plan To End Fed Interest Payments On &#8216;Excess Reserves,&#8217; Potentially Saving $2 Trillion In Deficits: &#8216;Not A Trivial Concern&#8217; </a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

AMSC

CASY

CVGW

PLAY

SAIL

VSCO

VTAK

VXRT

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower Ahead Of May Inflation Report: S&P 500 Still In A 31-Month-Long Bull Market, 'Better Times Are Coming,' Says Expert

The World Bank has significantly reduced&nbsp;its 2025 global growth forecast, pointing to the escalating trade tensions and policy uncertainty, particularly due to the wide-ranging tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.



What Happened: The World Bank&#8217;s latest economic prospects report projects a global GDP growth of 2.3%, down from the 2.7% anticipated in January, <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3313910/world-bank-warns-slowest-global-growth-1960s-amid-trump-tariffs-trade-tensions?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage">reported</a>&nbsp;South China Morning Post. According to Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group's chief economist, this marks the weakest performance in 17 years outside of global recessions. 



Fragmented trade relations and elevated policy uncertainty have weakened global growth and inflation outlooks for both this year and the next. &#8220;Without&nbsp;a swift course correction, the&nbsp;harm to living standards could&nbsp;be deep,&#8221; Gill cautioned.



The World Bank projects that by 2027, global GDP growth will average just 2.5% for the 2020s—its slowest pace since the 1960s. This bleak outlook follows Trump's April decision to impose a 10% tariff on imports from nearly all of the U.S.&#8217;s trading partners.



The World Bank suggested that developing countries could boost GDP growth by reducing tariffs for all trade partners and expanding trade deals to cover broader cross-border regulations.



"If the right policy actions are taken, this problem can be made to go away with limited long-term damage,&#8221; stated Gill.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45852346/elon-musk-recently-said-yes-to-impeaching-trump-and-the-odds-of-that-happening-in-2025-rose" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Recently Said &#8216;Yes&#8217; To Impeaching Trump And The Odds Of That Happening In 2025 Rose On This Crypto Betting Market</a>



Why It Matters:&nbsp;The World Bank&#8217;s revised forecast comes amid ongoing trade tensions and policy uncertainty, which have been exacerbated by the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. This development could have significant implications for global markets and economies, potentially leading to increased volatility and reduced investor confidence.



Earlier in 2025, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/45124644/trump-blames-gdp-contraction-on-biden-overhang-nothing-to-do-with-the-tariffs">deflected blame</a>&nbsp;for the U.S. economy&#8217;s 0.3% contraction in the first quarter onto his predecessor, Joe Biden despite clear evidence indicating otherwise. This contraction was the first for the country in three years.



However, some experts, such as Tom Lee, co-founder and research head at Fundstrat Global Advisors, remain optimistic about the market&#8217;s future despite the recent volatility. Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45432465/tom-lee-says-economists-predicting-a-recession-with-certainty-are-dead-wrong-in-my-30-years-ive-never-seen-an-economist">identified key indicators</a>&nbsp;suggesting that the worst market decline may have passed and predicted a significant upside for stocks by 2026. 



Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) climbed 4.7% and 3.15% on a year-to-date basis.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45845078/mercks-cholesterol-lowering-drug-hits-primary-goal-in-two-pivotal-trials" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merck&#8217;s Cholesterol Lowering Drug Hits Primary Goal In Two Pivotal Trials</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.



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World Bank Slashes Global Growth Forecast To Lowest Since 1960s Amid Trump Tariffs: 'If The Right Policy Actions Are Taken...'

On Wednesday, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he regretted some of his posts about Donald Trump.



What Happened: Musk took to his social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, and said, "I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far."



<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">I regret some of my posts about President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> last week. They went too far.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Tensions between Musk and Trump escalated last week after Musk publicly criticized the president's administration over what he called the "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45635854/elon-musk-disappointed-with-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-says-it-undermines-the-work-that-the-doge-team-is-doing">One Big Beautiful Bill</a>."



In retaliation, Trump threatened to cancel billions of dollars in federal contracts awarded to Musk's companies, including SpaceX and Tesla.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45807465/dan-ives-calls-musk-trump-feud-a-twilight-zone-moment-but-bullish-on-tesla-and-autonomous-future-not-good-for-either-side" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dan Ives Calls Musk-Trump Feud A ‘Twilight Zone Moment' But Bullish On Tesla And Autonomous Future: ‘Not Good For Either Side'</a>



The situation intensified when Musk made a provocative social media post suggesting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45828121/elon-musks-bombshell-about-donald-trump-in-epstein-docs-heres-the-truth-behind-the-claim">Trump was linked to the</a> Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump was reportedly angered by the implication, as well as Musk's statement that his 2024 victory was partly due to Musk's support and political donations.



Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45829511/elon-musk-scrubs-his-social-media-of-trump-related-posts-amid-public-feud">later deleted some of the posts</a>, including the one linking Trump to Epstein, and stated he would "apologize profusely as soon as there is a full dump of the Epstein files."



Earlier, it was also reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45829416/trump-allegedly-calling-people-to-claim-elon-musk-has-serious-drug-problem-big-time-drug-addict">Trump has been calling Musk</a> a "big-time drug addict" in private discussions.



The White House did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.



Why It's Important: Last week, Tesla shares plunged 14.3% to $284.70 on Thursday—its second-largest percentage drop in over a year—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45827390/musk-vs-trump-tesla-suffers-record-152b-one-day-crash-as-ceo-warns-tariffs-will-cause-a-recession-up">wiping out $152 billion</a> in market value, the biggest single-day loss in company history.



The sharp decline was a result of the intensifying feud between Musk and Trump.



However, despite these tensions, Dan Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities, maintained his bullish stance on Tesla.&nbsp;



"I still believe they're allies and it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45827094/dan-ives-weighs-in-on-musk-trump-drama-says-stock-reaction-overblown-i-still-believe-theyre-allies">doesn't change my view</a> that the regulatory road map is going to be more greenlighted for Tesla," he stated then, adding, "I don't think that this is the beginning of a dark storm between Musk and Trump."



Price Action: Tesla shares dipped 0.30% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings show an upward trajectory for Tesla across short, medium and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Additional performance metrics are available here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/11034537/Screenshot-2025-06-11-at-12.56.48%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-945707"/></a></figure>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45396297/cathie-wood-dumps-palantir-as-stock-touches-peak-prices-bails-on-soaring-flying-taxi-maker-archer-aviation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Dumps Palantir As Stock Touches Peak Prices, Bails On Soaring Flying-Taxi Maker Archer Aviation</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

Government

Politics

TSLA

Elon Musk Says He 'Regrets' War Of Words With Trump: 'Went Too Far'

Veteran short seller Jim Chanos on Tuesday blasted the financial instruments employed by Michael Saylor&#8217;s company, Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), to sustain its Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) play.



What happened: In an X post, Chanos argued that Saylor wants investors to value Strategy not only based on the net asset value of its Bitcoin holdings at market prices, i.e., NAV, but also to apply a multiple to the change in that NAV.



"It's like claiming that your house, which increased in market value last year from $450,000 to $500,000, is actually worth $1.5 million, because you also have to put a 20x multiple on the $50,000 increase," Chanos 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">This is of course, complete financial gibberish. Mr. Saylor wants you to value his business based not only on the net value of his Bitcoin holdings (NAV) at market, but additionally with a multiple on the change in that NAV! Because now he can leverage his balance sheet, lol. <a href="https://t.co/DOiEe4aJXn">https://t.co/DOiEe4aJXn</a>&mdash; James Chanos (@RealJimChanos) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJimChanos/status/1932497480547250574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The sharp reaction followed Saylor&#8217;s criticism of Chanos&#8217; long Bitcoin, short Strategy position during a Bloomberg interview.



"I don't think he understands what our business model is," Saylor said. "What he still doesn't understand is that we are not a holding company or a closed-end trust, we are an operating company."



Saylor argued that, unlike trusts, Strategy can employ corporate maneuvers, such as selling preferred stock, to neutralize strategies such as those recommended by Chanos.



He said that if the premium to the value of Bitcoin holdings declines significantly, the company will issue preferred stock and buy back the common stock. "And if the stock rallies up, he's going to get liquidated and wiped out."



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45740537/forget-dollars-willy-woo-says-bitcoin-will-be-priced-against-global-gdp-gold-used-to-be-that-money-btc-is-the-challenger">Forget Dollars: Willy Woo Says Bitcoin Will Be Priced Against Global GDP — &#8216;Gold Used To Be That Money, BTC Is The Challenger&#8217;</a>



Chanos deemed these remarks as "complete financial gibberish," noting that Saylor's policies haven't changed Strategy's NAV significantly since the company pivoted to a Bitcoin standard in 2020.



Why It Matters: Chanos revealed an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-sellers/25/05/45483508/jim-chanos-goes-long-bitcoin-short-microstrategy-in-arbitrage-bet-against-retail-speculation">arbitrage opportunity</a> in shorting Strategy&#8217;s stock while buying Bitcoin last month, suggesting that the stock&#8217;s premium over Bitcoin&#8217;s value is not justified.



For context, a NAV premium refers to the difference between Strategy's market capitalization and the value of its Bitcoin holdings. It is seen as a gauge of investor sentiment toward Bitcoin and the company's approach. As of this writing, the <a href="https://www.strategy.com/notes">NAV </a>stood at 1.87.



Strategy has led Bitcoin&#8217;s corporate adoption, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45837005/strategy-buys-another-110-million-in-bitcoin-now-holds-582000-btc">building its reserve</a> with proceeds from common stock, preferred stock, and convertible bond issuances. The firm held a stash worth $63.4 billion as of this writing, <a href="https://bitcointreasuries.net/">according </a>to bitcointreasuries.net.



Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $109,486.50, down 0.10% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.&nbsp;



Shares of MSTR were up 0.33% in after-hours trading after closing 0.24% lower at $391.18 during Tuesday&#8217;s regular trading session.



MSTR demonstrated a very high momentum score—a measure of the stock's relative strength based on its price movement patterns and volatility over multiple timeframes—as of this writing. To find out how MSTR compares against other cryptocurrency-related stocks on different metrics, visit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="882" height="634" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/11032752/image-149.png" alt="" class="wp-image-945689" style="width:615px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/11032752/image-149.png 882w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/11032752/image-149-300x216.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/11032752/image-149-768x552.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 882px) 100vw, 882px" /></a></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45739199/american-politicians-dont-believe-bitcoin-can-co-exist-peacefully-with-the-dollar-says-this-popular-btc-maximalist-heres-why">American Politicians Don&#8217;t Believe Bitcoin Can &#8216;Co-Exist Peacefully&#8217; With The Dollar, Says This Popular BTC Maximalist: Here&#8217;s Why</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: PJ McDonnell / Shutterstock.com

Cryptocurrency

Short Sellers

MSTR

Michael Saylor Says Jim Chanos Doesn't Understand Strategy's Model, Criticizes Long Bitcoin, Short MSTR Trade—Short Seller Hits Back With 'Financial Gibberish' Remark

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Tuesday, as the Dow Jones index gained more than 100 points during the session, with investors closely watching for potential progress in ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations taking place in London.



Shares of Casey's General Stores Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASY#NASDAQ">CASY</a>) jumped around 12% on Tuesday after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and increased its quarterly dividend. Shares of Calavo Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVGW#NASDAQ">CVGW</a>) dipped more than 16% after the company reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results.



On the economic data front, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 98.8 in May from 95.8 in April and topping market estimates of 95.9.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with energy, health care and consumer discretionary stocks recording the biggest gains on Tuesday. However, industrial stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 105 points to 42,866.87 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.55% to 6,038.81, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.63% to 19,714.99 during Tuesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>), Victoria&#8217;s Secret &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSCO#NYSE">VSCO</a>) and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 63.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 61.8.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/06/45858699/top-2-tech-and-telecom-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-q2">Top 2 Tech And Telecom Stocks You May Want To Dump In Q2</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

S&P 500 Gains For 3rd Day Amid US-China Trade Talks: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Technology giant Oracle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) could highlight its AI-powered growth and provide an update on spending when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results Wednesday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> after market close.</a>



Here are the analyst estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report and key items to watch.



Earnings Estimates: Analysts estimate Oracle will report fourth-quarter revenue of $15.58 billion, up from $14.29 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0610"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>



The company has missed revenue estimates in two straight quarters and missed estimates in seven of the past 10 quarters overall.



Analysts expect Oracle will report fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.64, up from $1.63 in last year's fourth quarter. The company has missed analyst estimates for earnings per share in two straight quarters, while beating estimates in eight of the past 10 quarters overall.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/05/45375787/oracle-partners-with-sequre-to-bolster-cybersecurity-for-governments-enterprises">Oracle Partners With seQure To Bolster Cybersecurity For Governments, Enterprises</a>



 What Experts Are Saying: Freedom Capital Markets Chief Global Strategist Jay Woods said Oracle will look to snap its two-quarter losing streak when it reports Wednesday.



"Shares of the software giant have rallied nicely off their lows, but are still -13% from their December peak. Investors would like to see its cloud revenue growth continue to expand thanks to agreements with the likes of OpenAI, Meta and Nvidia," Woods said in a weekly <a href="https://jaywoods.substack.com/">newsletter</a>.



Woods said the concern is that continued spend could be necessary to power the data centers needed for AI demand.



"Are the company's recent capital expenditures putting pressures on margins and impacting their bottom line?"



Oracle's investments in AI data centers could be a reason to be cautious, JPMorgan analyst Mark Murphy said in an<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44631138/oracles-ai-bet-overbuilt-or-future-proof-analyst-weighs-in"> April investor note.</a>



The investor maintained a Neutral rating with a $135 price target at the time.



Murphy said that Oracle's doubling down on AI infrastructure comes with the company saying demand outpacing supply. The analyst said this messaging is less urgent than before.



The analyst said there are concerns of overbuilding or an AI bubble.



Murphy added that AI-driven cloud expansion could make Oracle a long-term play, but there are near-term challenges such as the large capital spending hurting potential free cash flow.



Here are other recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ORCL/analyst-ratings">analyst ratings on Oracle</a> and their price targets:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Citi: Maintained Neutral rating, raised price target from $160 to $186</li>



<li>Morgan Stanley: Maintained Equal-Weight rating, raised price target from $160 to $175</li>



<li>Jefferies: Maintained Buy rating, raised price target from $190 to $200</li>



<li>BMO Capital: Maintained Market Perform rating, raised price target from $175 to $200</li>



<li>Guggenheim: Reiterated Buy rating with $220 price target</li>
</ul>



Key Items to Watch: Spending and AI growth will be big topics to watch in Oracle's financial results and conference call. The company is<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45599854/oracle-to-spend-40-billion-on-nvidia-gb200-chips-for-openais-texas-data-center-report"> reportedly spending $40 billion</a> to purchase 400,000 superchips from Nvidia.



The chips will be used for a facility that Oracle will lease and provide compute capacity to partner OpenAI.



Investors and analysts will be looking for Oracle to quantify its capital spending for the full year and whether these new reports mean more spending than originally anticipated.



Oracle recently announced it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45467946/oracle-cleveland-clinic-g42-unite-to-launch-ai-powered-healthcare-platform">was teaming </a>up with Cleveland Clinic and G42 for an AI-powered health platform. The platform could see public health systems experience the transition to data-driven care models.



The platform will integrate Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle's AI Data Platform and Oracle Health technologies with Cleveland Clinic and G42's capabilities. The new venture could demonstrate an example of Oracle's AI-powered growth.



"Aging populations, rising costs and the complexity of care demand a complete reinvention of how healthcare is provided," said Oracle's Executive Chairman and CTO Larry Ellison.



In <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/03/44236027/oracle-q3-earnings-revenue-miss-eps-miss-backlog-booms-62-strong-ai-growth-expected-shares-climb">the third quarter</a>, Oracle's Cloud revenue was up 23% year-over-year, with cloud infrastructure revenue up 49% year-over-year. The company reported remaining performance obligations of $130 billion, a figure up 62% year-over-year.



These will likely be the items watched by investors and analysts to make sure these key growth figures keep growing for Oracle.



ORCL Price Action: Oracle stock closed at $177.48 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $118.86 to $198.31. Oracle stock is up 6.9% year-to-date in 2025 and up 42.6% over the past year.



Read Next: 



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</ul>



Photo: Sundry Photography via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Earnings

Previews

Oracle Q4 Earnings Preview: Will Company Snap Two-Quarter Losing Streak? Market Expert Says Attention On 'Cloud Revenue Growth'

Alphabet, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google on Tuesday offered buyouts to U.S.-based employees in multiple departments, including the <a>search ads unit</a>.



The Details: The company extended the voluntary exit program to workers in several divisions, according to <a>CNBC</a>. Impacted teams include knowledge and information (K&amp;I), central engineering, marketing, research and communications.



K&amp;I, which oversees Google's search, ads and commerce operations, has roughly 20,000 staff.



In its most recent quarterly report, Alphabet disclosed that Google Search and related services generated $50.7 billion of the company's total revenue of $90.23 billion. When including all advertising streams—such as Search, YouTube ads and Google Network—the total advertising revenue reached $66.89 billion for the quarter, underscoring how central these business lines remain to Google's overall financial performance.



The latest buyouts follow previous headcount reductions dating back to 2023.



Read Next: <a>AI Leader Nvidia Faces Scrutiny As Chipmakers Brace For China Trade Crackdown</a>



CNBC reported that finance chief Anat Ashkenazi previously cited cost-cutting as a key priority amid rising AI infrastructure spending. Google has also implemented return-to-office requirements for some remote employees living within 50 miles of a company location.



A memo from K&amp;I chief Nick Fox encouraged employees who are disengaged or underperforming to consider the exit package. However, he urged those excited by their roles and aligned with the company's goals to stay.



Earlier this year, similar buyouts were offered in the "Platforms and Devices" and "People Operations" units. Google is also shifting internal training resources toward practical AI tools and away from less essential programs, CNBC added.



Why It Matters: Ongoing cost-cutting efforts at Google underscore the company's broader strategy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/44031714/google-implements-layoffs-in-hr-and-cloud-divisions-as-ai-investment-accelerates-report">to reallocate resources </a>toward artificial intelligence infrastructure.



In February, Google planned voluntary buyouts in its People Operations division beginning in March. Some mid to senior-level staff were offered 14 weeks of severance plus an additional week for each year of service.



The company also laid off operations support employees in its cloud unit, with some roles relocated to India and Mexico City. Despite this shift, the memo stated the U.S. would remain the cloud team's largest hub.



These cuts came after Ashkenazi said cost discipline would be key as AI-related demand outpaced infrastructure capacity. She noted the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/02/44060529/alphabet-stock-enters-oversold-territory-is-it-a-buying-opportunity">company ended 2024</a> with "more demand than we had available capacity" for its AI products.



Google&#8217;s cloud division grew revenue by 30% year over year in Q4. Google continues to position cloud and AI initiatives as central to its 2025 investment priorities.



Also Read: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a>S&amp;P 500 Flat As Fed Decision Looms, Oil Slips On Demand Concerns</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

GOOG

GOOGL

Google Expands Buyouts In Search And Ads Division As AI  Reshapes Priorities

Elon Musk reacted Tuesday to the first public sighting of Tesla Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) robotaxi prototype testing without a driver, calling it a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45854273/elon-musks-tesla-officially-named-av-operator-in-austin-ahead-of-robotaxi-launch">"beautifully simple design."</a>



The vehicle was spotted operating on public roads in Austin, Texas, featured in a post on <a class="" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1932487411893944614">X</a>. A video shared by Sawyer Merritt showed the Model Y with Tesla's new "Robotaxi" wordmark on its side and no one in the driver's seat.



<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">Beautifully simple design. <a href="https://t.co/eA7QgzW1jh">https://t.co/eA7QgzW1jh</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1932487411893944614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Musk posted his brief approval—"Beautifully simple design"—shortly after, sparking a flurry of responses. @Mr_Velyo replied, "This is beautifully &#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8;," while @MikeAnd00183888 wrote, "Love it!!" User @dunck14 added, "And so it begins."



Some questioned the vehicle's tech setup. "How did you hide all the lidars?" asked @LucilleChad, while @neirehebrd posed, "What happens if it malfunctions?"



Also Read: <a>Apple&#8217;s WWDC AI Reveal Sends Chip Stocks Soaring: What Investors Need To Know</a>



Accessibility and rollout timing also surfaced. "Any timeline for unsupervised driving in Canada?" asked @Aiemannzahabi. Meanwhile, @coyotered9 shared, "I've stopped driving because of a medical situation… would I be able to use the car without a driver's license?"



The post marked the first known public test of Tesla's robotaxi with no driver onboard.



Tesla's limited rollout arrives as another player continues accelerating at scale. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45752429/waymos-explosive-growth-sets-the-pace-as-tesla-prepares-robotaxi-launch">Waymo's explosive growth</a> in California has taken monthly ride volume from fewer than 100,000 a year ago to over 700,000 as of June 2025.



The company recently doubled its total paid rides to reach the 10 million milestone in just five months. It plans to double that figure again and hit 20 million by year-end.



Waymo's weekly ride volume now exceeds 250,000 trips across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin. In California alone, completed rides jumped from 143,000 in May to more than 312,000 by August 2024.



Tesla's Austin pilot, launching June 12 with about 10 modified Model Y vehicles, marks its first move into live driverless service. The rollout arrives as Waymo prepares to test its AV taxis in new markets, including San Antonio, Houston and Orlando.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li> <a>Trump&#8217;s Manufacturing Narrative Weakens As May Data Shows Sharper Contraction, Stubborn Inflation</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Tesla's Robotaxi Spotted Without Driver, But Can It Catch Waymo's Breakneck Lead?

After months of cooling U.S. inflation easing investor concerns, the trend could reverse when the May report drops Wednesday, as rising tariff-driven costs threaten to push <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">consumer prices</a> higher.



The annual rate of gains in the Consumer Price Index has been on a steady retreat this year, falling from 3% in January to 2.3% in April — the lowest reading in over four years. The trend has so far been fortuitous for President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly cited falling inflation to push for lower interest rates.



Yet, economists now expect that beautiful streak to break.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">May Inflation Report: What Do Economists Expect?</h3>



The median forecast sees headline inflation ticking up from 2.3% to 2.5% in May, while core CPI, which strips out food and energy, is expected to rise from 2.8% to 2.9% year-over-year. Month-over-month, CPI is projected to remain steady at 0.2%, with core inflation accelerating to 0.3%, marking the fastest monthly gain since January.



This uptick comes on the heels of Trump's tariff rollercoaster. On April 2, what he dubbed as &#8216;Liberation Day,&#8217; he announced sweeping duties on all trade partners, later dialing them back to a 10% universal tariff with a 90-day negotiation period.



China, however, saw tariffs spike as high as 145% before both sides agreed to slash them by 115 percentage points, pending ongoing negotiations.



These abrupt policy shifts are now making their way through the supply chain. In recent business surveys, both the services and manufacturing sectors reported steep input cost increases in April and May — reminiscent of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45201308/services-activity-barely-expands-in-april-as-price-pressures-spike-to-over-2-year-highs-a-worrying-backstory-is-developing">pandemic-era bottlenecks.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Experts Warn Of Tariff Effects</h3>



Bank of America economist Stephen Juneau said May's data should reflect a wider range of tariff effects compared to April, when the clearest sign was an 8.8% surge in audio equipment prices. 



Yet, he expects that &#8220;favorable seasonal factors for autos and declines in certain services categories will keep a lid on the top line inflation numbers.&#8221;



Goldman Sachs economist Jessica Rindels sees tariffs providing "a somewhat larger boost" to monthly inflation than markets expect, but not just yet. 



Goldman forecasts core CPI inflation to average 0.35% monthly in the coming months, citing a &#8220;sharp acceleration in most core goods categories&#8221; but a still-muted impact on services inflation.



Looking ahead, Goldman sees core CPI reaching 3.5% year-over-year by December, with core PCE — the Federal Reserve&#8217;s preferred metric — climbing to 3.6%.



Barclays Private Bank strategist Julien Lafargue said, "This CPI report could show the first signs of a tariff-induced pickup in inflation. The good news though is that lower energy prices should keep the headline figures in check."



Lafargue added the report is unlikely to shift the Federal Reserve's strategy significantly, as investors remain focused on the timing — not the likelihood — of rate cuts, expected in either September or October.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Could Trade Progress Ease Inflation Fears?</h3>



Wall Street is not too far from retesting record highs. As of Tuesday, the S&amp;P 500 – tracked by the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) – traded at 6,025 points, less than two percentage points below its February&#8217;s all-time highs. 



While a rising inflation outcome – or even worse an upside surprise – could dent risk sentiment and cast doubt on the current outlook for two Fed rate cuts in 2025, there&#8217;s a potential silver lining. 



High-level US-China trade talks are underway in London this week, with negotiators reportedly working toward further tariff rollbacks and business-friendly measures.



The outcome of these talks could be critical. A breakthrough would not only ease inflationary pressure from tariffs but also restore some confidence in global trade flows, which have been a source of volatility in recent months.



Investors will be closely watching both Wednesday's CPI release and developments in London, with both carrying significant weight for the trajectory of the U.S. economy and markets in the second half of 2025.



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/06/45848820/stock-buybacks-are-quietly-powering-wall-streets-2025-rally">Stock Buybacks Are Quietly Powering Wall Street&#8217;s 2025 Rally </a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Ratings

Trump's Inflation Honeymoon May Be Over

Leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45847331/bitcoin-reclaims-108000-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-follow-as-traders-anticipate-strong-leg-up">topped the $109,000</a> mark on Tuesday and pushes closer to new all-time highs.



A new Benzinga poll predicts whether Bitcoin will hit new all-time highs before the end of the year or if May's $111,970.17 level is the highest investors will see in 2025.



What Happened: Bitcoin has had a highly volatile and exciting year, with catalysts like a new White House administration, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/45823339/exclusive-bitcoin-etf-experts-on-past-present-and-future-of-sector-why-us-buying-btc-could-be-monumental-moment">demand for Bitcoin ETFs</a>, new countries and companies adding Bitcoin to balance sheets, helping to boost price and trading volume.



The leading cryptocurrency hit new all-time highs in November 2024, which was followed by new highs in February 2025 and the most recent all-time highs in May 2025.



Benzinga recently asked if a new high will come from June through December 2025.



Bitcoin hit new all-time highs of nearly $112,000 in May 2025. Do you believe this will be the top price for BTC in 2025 or will the leading cryptocurrency hit new highs later this year?" Benzinga asked.



The results are:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Bitcoin will hit $112K to $130K: 32%</li>



<li>Bitcoin will hit $130K to $150K: 24%</li>



<li>Bitcoin will hit $150K to $200K: 15%</li>



<li>Bitcoin will hit $200K+: 15%</li>



<li>Bitcoin has already topped at $112K: 14%</li>
</ul>



The poll found that readers are optimistic for Bitcoin over the next six months with 86% predicting Bitcoin will reach new all-time highs later this year.



In the poll, the most popular options were the $112,000 to $130,000 range and the $130,000 to $150,000 range at 32% and 24% respectively.



Over half of the respondents see Bitcoin reaching $112,000 to $150,000 before the end of the year.



The two lowest vote totals were the bookends in the poll with 15% saying they think Bitcoin will trade over $200,000 before the end of the year and 14% saying Bitcoin has already reached its highest point in 2025.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45594252/exclusive-no-hodling-for-congress-48-say-elected-members-shouldnt-be-able-to-buy">EXCLUSIVE: No HODLing For Congress, 48% Say Elected Members Shouldn&#8217;t Be Able To Buy Cryptocurrency</a>



Why It's Important: Optimism for Bitcoin remains high, as evidenced by the poll above.



With a limited supply, Bitcoin continues to see sharp trading volume and price increases related to demand from investors, companies, institutions and countries snatching up BTC.



The United States has signaled plans for a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve that will buy Bitcoin to hold for the country. This move could send Bitcoin prices sharply higher as a sign of validation for the sector.



Read Next: 



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/45823339/exclusive-bitcoin-etf-experts-on-past-present-and-future-of-sector-why-us-buying-btc-could-be-monumental-moment">EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin ETF Experts On Past, Present And Future Of Sector — Why US Buying BTC Could Be &#8216;Monumental Moment&#8217;</a>



The study was conducted by Benzinga from June 5, 2025, through June 10, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 119 adults.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Exclusives

EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin To Hit $200K In 2025? 15% Say Yes While Many See New All-Time Highs Coming

So far, 2025 has been a year where Precious Metals have been very much in focus.&nbsp;&nbsp;



GOLD&nbsp;



As it usually does, Gold took the lead in the broad precious metals rally, making new All-Time Highs and showing great strength. Gold's solid and continuous rally was driven primarily by:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Central bank buying (primarily China and India), which has been relentless throughout the past year or so.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Safe-haven demand driven by several reasons such as the US Tariffs, ongoing conflicts and generally heightened global tensions.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Increasing global debt which, unless somehow deficits get reduced, will keep growing at record pace and reduce the purchasing power of fiat currencies.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Retail investor interest, which has been increasing but still well below long-term averages.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Looking at Gold's daily chart, we can see that it's been rallying non-stop since its technical breakout in 2024. The macro factors that have contributed to Gold's rally are still there, and this implies a continued rise in price; however, nothing goes in a straight line and Gold will eventually see a pullback.&nbsp;



We are currently consolidating in a sideways wedge, and Gold will have to make an important decision pricewise. There is support confluence at around the $3270-$3285 area, below which the door opens for $3151. An extremely bearish scenario (perhaps inflation spiking or a general market crash) could take gold down towards the $2934 fib retracement. If we got down to those levels, it would probably be an exceptionally good opportunity to buy the dip.&nbsp;



On the flipside, if the resistance trendline is breached at around $3390-$3400, then the road clears for new all-time highs above $3500.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="773" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204713/XAUUSD_2025-06-09_20-27-21_72ece-2048x1547-1-1024x773.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14163" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204713/XAUUSD_2025-06-09_20-27-21_72ece-2048x1547-1-1024x773.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204713/XAUUSD_2025-06-09_20-27-21_72ece-2048x1547-1-300x227.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204713/XAUUSD_2025-06-09_20-27-21_72ece-2048x1547-1-768x580.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204713/XAUUSD_2025-06-09_20-27-21_72ece-2048x1547-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



SILVER&nbsp;



Silver is a monetary asset like gold, but it also has extensive industrial use. For this reason, silver tends to react more to global geopolitical and economic news. Silver has underperformed gold for the past 15 years, with the Gold/Silver ratio rising from around 30 in mid-2011, to above 100 (beyond 126 in the 2020 Covid crisis and 105 in April 2025).&nbsp; History has shown that Gold leads and Silver follows, so this ratio should eventually reverse lower towards the 70s and perhaps even below.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Silver is used extensively in industry including electronics, photovoltaics, medicine, cars, photography, the military and many others. The global push towards EVs and green energy is requiring larger and larger quantities of physical silver, and this has brought a structural supply deficit for the past few years.&nbsp;



Barring a major global crisis, we should see silver outperform gold in the next months and the Gold/Silver ratio move down to test the 74-75 lows.&nbsp;



In the daily chart, we can see that silver is moving within an ascending channel, having taken out the previous highs at $35. The next resistance is at the channel resistance which comes at around $38.50. On the other hand, a reversal lower could drive silver towards the $31.5-$32 area.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="773" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204756/XAGUSD_2025-06-09_20-37-44_b5000-2048x1547-1-1024x773.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14164" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204756/XAGUSD_2025-06-09_20-37-44_b5000-2048x1547-1-1024x773.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204756/XAGUSD_2025-06-09_20-37-44_b5000-2048x1547-1-300x227.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204756/XAGUSD_2025-06-09_20-37-44_b5000-2048x1547-1-768x580.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204756/XAGUSD_2025-06-09_20-37-44_b5000-2048x1547-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



PLATINUM&nbsp;



While most precious metals analysts and investors focus on Gold and Silver, Platinum could potentially yield an even better trading opportunity.&nbsp;



Platinum is roughly 15-20 times less abundant than gold in terms of mined output, and this makes it much rarer. In the first half of the 2000s the Platinum/Gold ratio was at around 2, but it quickly fell to 1 after the 2008 crisis. Platinum's main industrial use is in catalytic converters, and the gradual transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs has caused platinum price to plummet during the past decade. The Platinum/Gold ratio bottomed at 0.275 in April 2025, and it has bounced back during the past month.&nbsp;



Government data and surveys are showing that electric vehicle adoption rates have been dropping, and this is very positive for platinum. While markets seem to be convinced that within the next decade almost all cars will be electric, I strongly disagree with that view. I think that internal combustion engines will be around for a lot longer and in large numbers, before they eventually get phased out. For this reason, I think that platinum potentially offers the most upside of all three precious metals.&nbsp;



Looking at the daily chart, we can see that platinum had been coiling within a wedge since early 2022, with a violent breakout coming in May 2025. At the time of writing platinum is trading at $1208 and is within reach of the $1223 fib level and the previous highs at $1339. On the flip side, a general risk-off move will likely pull platinum lower and we have confluence of supports at around the $1130-$1140 area.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="773" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204837/XPTUSD_2025-06-09_20-50-25_1cc6c-1500x1133-1-1024x773.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14165" style="width:916px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204837/XPTUSD_2025-06-09_20-50-25_1cc6c-1500x1133-1-1024x773.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204837/XPTUSD_2025-06-09_20-50-25_1cc6c-1500x1133-1-300x227.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204837/XPTUSD_2025-06-09_20-50-25_1cc6c-1500x1133-1-768x580.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/09204837/XPTUSD_2025-06-09_20-50-25_1cc6c-1500x1133-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



SUMMARY



To sum up, I think that all three precious metals should continue to see strength in 2025 and 2026, but their recent surge higher has taken them close to resistance levels and a pullback is overdue. If and when such a pullback materializes, it should be met with buying forces as demand for physical intensifies. Platinum could provide the best upside potential followed by Silver, but high returns are often coupled with high volatility – so traders should be prepared for that and control risk accordingly.



Thank you for reading and trade safe.



Featured image generated with AI assistance

Long Ideas

Specialty ETFs

What's Next For Precious Metals

U.S. stocks ticked up on Tuesday, with investors closely watching for potential progress in ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">taking place in London.</a>



By midday in New York, the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 were both up 0.4%, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq reaching levels last seen on Feb. 21 — now just 1.5% below its record high.



Small caps extended their recent outperformance versus large caps for a fourth straight session. The Russell 2000 is now testing key resistance at its 200-day moving average, a closely watched technical level.



Among sectors, energy led the gains, fueled by rising crude and gasoline prices. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed nearly 1% to $66 per barrel, the highest since April 4, 2025, amid an improving demand outlook.



In commodities, momentum faded outside of oil. Silver slipped 0.7% after recent strong gains, while gold held steady at $3,320 an ounce and copper remained flat.



Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar were little changed in a quiet session for economic data, as investors look ahead to Wednesday's Consumer Price Index report for May.



Economists expect inflation to accelerate to 2.5% year-over-year from April's 2.3%, potentially snapping a four-month cooling trend and influencing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. Futures markets continue to price in two rate cuts by year-end.



Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dipped about 1% to $109,000, hovering roughly 2% below its all-time high.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices </td><td>Price</td><td>Chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,160.57</td><td>0.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>21,888.63</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,027.94 </td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>42,861.84</td><td>0.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:45 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 class="wp-block-list">
<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 0.4% up to $601.89.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) edged 0.2% higher to $429.38.</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;rose 0.4% to $532.62.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 0.8% to $214.85.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 2.2%; the&nbsp;Industrials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) lagged, down 0.4%.</li>
</ul>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Caseys General Stores Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CASY#NASDAQ">CASY</a>) rallied over 12% after reporting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/06/45857431/caseys-general-stores-jumps-over-10-after-hours-driven-by-in-store-and-fuel-sales-in-q4">stronger-than-expected earnings last quarter.</a></li>



<li>J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SJM#NYSE">SJM</a>) plummeted 15% after missing revenue estimates. </li>



<li>Gamestop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), down 1.4%, will report earnings after the close.</li>
</ul>



Read Now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45865665/trumps-inflation-honeymoon-may-be-over">Trump&#8217;s Inflation Honeymoon May Be Over</a> Photo: Thapana_Studio via Shutterstock<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45865665/trumps-inflation-honeymoon-may-be-over"> </a></li>
</ul>

Regulations

Global

Small Caps Test 200-Day Average, Nasdaq 100 Eyes Record Ahead Of US-China Progress: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Goldman Sachs remains bullish on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) even after the stock slipped following its WWDC 2025 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45844424/apple-wwdc-2025-ios-26-announced-with-liquid-glass-design-new-apple-intelligence-features-and-more">keynote on Monday.</a>



The stock reaction was broadly in line with last year's 2% drop after WWDC 2024 as muted artificial intelligence updates and a delayed Siri overhaul disappointed investors hoping for a generative AI leap. 



Siri was mentioned just a handful of times in the keynote, a stark contrast to the 54 mentions during WWDC 2024. This omission fueled investor concerns over Apple's position in the generative AI race against Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>). 



Still, Goldman Sachs remains bullish, with analyst Michael Ng&nbsp;reiterating a Buy rating and a $253 price target, implying a 25.6% upside from Monday's close.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman: Apple Ecosystem Still Delivers Value</h3>



While the lack of AI breakthroughs was widely noted, Apple focused WWDC25 on refining its operating systems across all platforms, introducing a new visual standard known as Liquid Glass. The UI overhaul brings translucent, adaptive elements to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26.



Apple Intelligence updates were also rolled out. These included real-time translation for Messages, FaceTime, and calls, enhanced image creation tools through Genmoji and Image Playground, and new Visual Intelligence features that allow on-screen content to trigger contextual actions like creating calendar events or tracking purchases.



Ng said the updates were "in line with low investor expectations" and emphasized Apple's ability to retain user engagement across its ecosystem even in the absence of headline-grabbing innovations.



&#8220;Though we recognize that design-centric OS updates may have been underwhelming amidst concerns about perceived lack of competitive AI feature innovation, we believe that Apple's focus on improving user experience across the Apple product ecosystem should continue to drive installed base stickiness,&#8221; the analyst noted.



He added that the company's incremental software upgrades and design unification should position it well ahead of expected hardware refreshes, including foldable and ultra-thin iPhone models arriving between 2025 and 2027.



"We believe Apple continues to demonstrate best-in-class consumer hardware innovation with a growing foundation in Apple Intelligence," Ng said in his post-keynote report.



Ng highlighted the durability of Apple&#8217;s installed base and its ability to monetize users through services. 



He said these factors should &#8220;support Apple&#8217;s premium multiple&#8221; and mark an inflection point in the company&#8217;s Services business, which is expected to drive the majority of gross profit growth over the next five years.



Goldman forecasts fiscal 2025 revenue of $409 billion, up from $391 billion in 2024, and sees earnings per share rising from $7.16 in 2025 to $8.80 by 2027. The firm expects Apple&#8217;s free cash flow yield to reach 4.8% by 2027, with valuation compression bringing its price-to-earnings ratio down to 22.9x.



Read now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/05/45675595/apple-eyes-worst-month-vs-sp-500-since-2018-but-history-says-buy-the-dip-now">Apple Eyes Worst Month Vs. S&amp;P 500 Since 2018 — But History Says Buy The Dip Now</a>



Photo: Shutterstock

AAPL

MSFT

Goldman Calls Apple's WWDC 'Underwhelming' But Still Sees Stock Jumping 25%

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reported positive momentum in second-day trade negotiations with China in London, as both superpowers work to resolve export control disputes that have strained bilateral relations since their Geneva agreement.



What Happened: The talks, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, resumed Tuesday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng&#8216;s delegation following nearly seven hours of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45832550/us-and-china-resume-trade-talks-in-london-after-trumps-call-with-xi-jinping">Monday discussions. </a>&#8220;They&#8217;re going well, and we&#8217;re spending lots of time together,&#8221; Lutnick told reporters, according to Reuters.



The negotiations focus on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45833037/auto-industry-struggles-as-supply-chain-issues-threaten-production-amid-chinas-export-curbs-on-rare-earth-minerals-report">rare earth mineral export restrictions</a> that China imposed in April, disrupting global supply chains. China holds a near-monopoly on rare earth magnets crucial for electric vehicle motors used by General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), and Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>). White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett indicated the U.S. would lift semiconductor export controls in exchange for accelerated rare earth deliveries.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45855868/tesla-stock-climbs-2-3-in-tuesday-pre-market-whats-going-on">Tesla Stock Climbs 2.3% In Tuesday Pre-Market: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>



Why It Matters: China&#8217;s May customs data showed exports to the U.S. plunged 34.5%, while overall exports rose 4.8% year-over-year, missing analyst expectations. However, exports to other jurisdictions increased 11.4%, suggesting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45834705/mohamed-el-erian-warns-of-worrisome-chinese-trade-data-looming-over-us-negotiations-but-bob-elliott-sees-little-urgency-for-china-to-sign-a-disadvantageous-deal">China has redirected trade capacity away from the U.S. market.</a>



The talks follow a phone call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, which Trump described as reaching<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45832550/us-and-china-resume-trade-talks-in-london-after-trumps-call-with-xi-jinping"> &#8220;a very positive conclusion for both countries.&#8221;</a>



The negotiations occur as Trump&#8217;s shifting tariff policies have cost companies billions in lost sales while creating global market volatility. Current U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods remain at 30%, down from peak rates of 145%.



The talks include Lutnick, whose agency oversees export controls, indicating how central rare earth minerals have become to the negotiations. Both sides are expected to issue updates later Tuesday following the resumed discussions.



Image via Shutterstock



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45855866/hyundai-secures-one-year-rare-earth-minerals-supply-avoids-supply-chain-disruption-report">Hyundai Secures One-Year Rare Earth Minerals Supply, Avoids Supply Chain Disruption: Report</a> Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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US-China Trade Talks In London Enter Second Day Amid Rare Earths Dispute And Export Control Tensions

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