La chaîne d'options affiche les données clés des options sur actions de Block à différents prix d'exercice et dates d'expiration. Les traders utilisent ces informations pour analyser les transactions potentielles et évaluer le sentiment du marché pour Block..

Block (NYSE:SQ) Stock, Chaîne d'Options

Block

Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.

Block Inc

Square Chain Corp

SUSQUEHANNA CMMTY FNCL by Susquehanna Community Financial, Inc.

Susquehanna Community Financial Inc

LeaderShares Equity Skew ETF

Presidio Property Trust, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

Presidio Property Trust Inc

Presidio Property Trust, Inc. - 9.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share

Presidio Property Trust, Inc. - Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants

SQI Diagnostics Inc

Atlantic International Corp Warrants (06/08/2026)

Atlantic International Corp

Royce Quant Small-Cap Quality Value ETF

Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. Common Stock

Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile SA

Sequana Medical NV

SQUARE ENIX HLDGS U/ADR by Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Square Enix Holdings Co Ltd

Sequans Communications S.A. American Depositary Shares (each representing ten (10) Ordinary Shares)

Sequans Communications SA

SQUARE ENIX CO LTD ORD by Square Enix Co., Ltd.

ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ

PROSHARES ULTRAPRO SHORT QQQ ETF

Squirrel Media SA

Squarex Pharmaceutical Corp

SQUARESPACE INC CL A

SOLAR QUARTZ TECHNOLOGIES by Solar Quartz Technologies, Inc.

Sequoia Vaccines, Inc

Tidal Trust II YieldMax SQ Option Income Strategy ETF

SQZ BIOTECHNOLOGIES CO by SQZ Biotechnologies Company

SQZ Biotechnologies Co

Serica Energy PLC

BLOCK CL A ORD

On Monday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades, with the most notable being the trades in Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).
The Block Inc. Trade
Ark Invest sold a total of 232,063 shares of Block Inc across its Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>), ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) funds. This move comes despite the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)-focused company&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41349494/cathie-woods-ark-offloads-1-28m-in-jack-dorseys-block-shares-despite-bitcoin-rally">recent positive second-quarter results</a>, which showcased growth in its Cash App and strategic innovations. 
CEO Jack Dorsey, announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41646193/block-ceo-jack-dorsey-announces-another-round-of-layoffs-at-tidal">new round of layoffs</a> at Tidal, aiming to restructure the company like a startup with a smaller team focused on engineering and design. Block, which acquired Tidal in 2021, has faced challenges competing in the streaming market.
 The value of the trade, based on the closing price of $72.69 per share on Monday, is approximately $16.9 million. 
The Palantir Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK and ARKF ETF sold 158,457 shares of Palantir. Given Palantir&#8217;s closing price of $41.41 on Monday, the value of this trade amounts to approximately $6.7 million. This move came amid Palantir&#8217;s recent third-quarter earnings report, which exceeded expectations.
As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41730179/palantir-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-customers-up-39-raises-guidance-results-driven-by-unrele">reported by Benzinga</a>, Palantir&#8217;s third-quarter earnings showcased a revenue of $725.52 million, beating the consensus estimate of $701.13 million. The company&#8217;s total revenue was up 30% year-over-year, with U.S. revenue growing 44% year-over-year to $499 million. The U.S. Commercial revenue grew 54% year-over-year, and U.S. Government revenue climbed 40% year-over-year.
Despite these strong financial results, Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to offload Palantir shares aligns with their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41674556/cathie-wood-bets-big-on-mark-zuckerberg-ark-pours-19m-into-meta-shares-dumps-palantir-and-tesla-">recent trend</a> of reducing holdings in the company.
The Coinbase Global Inc. Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKF fund bought 24,474 shares of Coinbase. The transaction was valued at $4.6 million. On Monday Coinbase shares ended the day 1.85% higher at $186.27. 
At the end of October, the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41637702/coinbase-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-miss-eps-miss-transaction-revenue-falls-from-q2">third-quarter revenue</a> of $1.21 billion and earnings of $0.28 per share, both missing analyst expectations. Trading volume and transaction revenue declined quarter-over-quarter, while the company saw continued growth in its Base Layer Two network. Coinbase expects increased sales and marketing expenses in Q4 and highlighted the 2024 U.S. election as a potential factor for market volatility.
The Meta Platforms Inc Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) fund bought 6,153 shares of Meta Platforms Inc. This purchase follows Meta&#8217;s third-quarter financial results, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41637326/meta-platforms-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-strong-momentum-in-ai">beat analyst estimates</a> for both revenue and earnings per share. The value of the trade, based on the closing price of $560.68 per share on Monday, is approximately $3.45 million.
The Tesla Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ETFs, ARKK and ARKW, sold a total of 9,984 shares of Tesla. Based on Tesla&#8217;s closing price of $242.84 on Monday, the value of this trade is approximately $2.42 million. This move comes in the wake of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41708446/tesla-shares-slide-in-pre-market-as-sales-of-elon-musk-led-companys-made-in-china-evs-drop-in-octobe">reported decline</a> in Tesla&#8217;s China-made vehicle deliveries in October, which saw a 5.3% drop compared to the same period last year.
This decision to sell Tesla shares is not new. Ark Invest has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41642374/cathie-wood-shuffles-her-tech-deck-continues-dumping-tesla-and-palantir-stocks-up-on-amd-and-met">gradually reducing</a> its Tesla holdings.
The Amazon Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>) purchased 5,843 shares of Amazon. With Amazon&#8217;s closing price at $195.78 on Monday, the trade&#8217;s value stands at approximately $1.14 million. This acquisition follows Amazon&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41664778/amazon-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-q4-guidance-new-kindles-significantly-outperfor">strong Q3 performance</a>, with net sales up 11% year-over-year, significantly outperforming market expectations.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41699095/dogecoin-set-for-parabolic-bull-run-in-november-says-analyst-keep-an-eye-out-for-a-sustain?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin Set For &#8216;Parabolic Bull Run&#8217; In November, Says Analyst: &#8216;Keep An Eye Out For A Sustained Close&#8217; Above This Level</a>
Other Key Trades: 
<ul>
<li>Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKF fund sold shares of Draftkings Inc (DKNG) and bought shares of Shopify Inc (SHOP). </li>
<li>Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKG fund bought shares of Illumina Inc (ILMN) and sold shares of Standard BioTools Inc (LAB). The firm purchased shares of Moderna Inc (MRNA) and shares of Nurix Therapeutics Inc (NRIX), as well as those of Senti Biosciences Inc (SNTI).</li>
<li>Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK fund bought shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc (RXRX). The firm also purchased shares of Twist Bioscience Corp (TWST), and shares of Beam Therapeutics Inc (BEAM).</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41705158/cathie-wood-says-trumps-ideas-on-eliminating-income-tax-and-imposing-tariffs-brings-back-vibes-of-ea?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Says Trump&#8217;s Ideas On Eliminating Income Tax And Imposing Tariffs Brings Back Vibes Of &#8216;Early Days Of Our Country&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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Cathie Wood's Latest Shake-up: Dumps Palantir And Jack Dorsey's Block Along With Tesla, Buys Amazon And Meta

On Thursday, the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant moves in the market, with prominent trades involving Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) and Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
The Tesla Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) sold a total of 8,384 shares of the Elon Musk-led company. With Tesla&#8217;s closing price at $249.85 on Thursday, the value of this trade amounts to approximately $2.09 million. This move is in line with Ark&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41642374/cathie-wood-shuffles-her-tech-deck-continues-dumping-tesla-and-palantir-stocks-up-on-amd-and-met">recent trend of reducing its Tesla holdings</a>.
Wood&#8217;s ARK Investment Management sees Tesla's driverless <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41593922/cathie-woods-ark-invest-sees-tesla-unlocking-11-trillion-revenue-potential-with-rob">ride-hailing plans as a game-changer</a>, potentially unlocking $11 trillion in revenue by leveraging lower operating costs of electric vehicles. ARK&#8217;s analysis suggests that Tesla&#8217;s robotaxi service could offer rides at a fraction of current ride-hailing and personal vehicle costs, making it a competitive alternative.
The Meta Platforms Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>), ARKK, and ARKW bought a total of 34,076 shares of Meta Platforms. Given Meta&#8217;s closing price of $567.58 on Thursday, the total value of this trade is approximately $19.34 million. This purchase comes after the Mark Zuckerberg-led company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings report, where the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41637326/meta-platforms-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-strong-momentum-in-ai">beat revenue and EPS estimates</a>.
The Palantir Trade: Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKF, ARKK, and ARKW sold a total of 334,767 shares of Palantir Technologies. With Palantir&#8217;s closing price at $41.56 on Thursday, the value of this trade is approximately $13.9 million. This move follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41660695/l3harris-and-palantir-collaboration-key-to-future-growth-bofa-upgrades-stock">recent upgrade</a> of L3Harris Technologies, a key collaborator with Palantir, by BofA Securities.
The Block Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to offload shares of Block Inc. was a notable one. The firm sold 243,549 shares of the Jack Dorsey-led company from its ARKK and ARKW. The value of this trade, based on Block&#8217;s closing price of $72.32 on the same day, amounts to approximately $17.6 million.
The move came on the same day that Block CEO Dorsey <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41646193/block-ceo-jack-dorsey-announces-another-round-of-layoffs-at-tidal">announced a fresh wave of layoffs</a> at Tidal. In a note to Tidal employees, Dorsey stated the need for the company to function &#8220;like a startup again,&#8221; necessitating a much smaller team across the organization.
Interestingly, the trade also comes at a time when Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), a core focus of Block, has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41596516/bitcoin-clips-71-500-as-wall-street-etf-inflows-fuel-bullish-momentum-whats-next">hovering near previously reached all-time highs.</a>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41616239/shytoshi-kusama-touts-shiba-inu-lifetime-gains-of-33774726-we-still-have-far-to-go-and-muc?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shytoshi Kusama Touts Shiba Inu Lifetime Gains Of 33774726%: &#8216;We Still Have Far To Go And Much Work To Be Done&#8217;</a> 
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKF and ARKK bought a total of shares of Roku Inc. (ROKU).</li>
<li>Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK bought shares of Twist Bioscience Corp (TWST). Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK sold shares of Moderna Inc. (MRNA).</li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: Ark Invest
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41644730/shytoshi-kusama-schools-x-user-who-said-shib-will-remain-chump-change-meme-unless-it-can-r?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shytoshi Kusama Schools X User Who Said SHIB Will Remain &#8216;Chump Change Meme&#8217; Unless It Can Rise Above A Penny: &#8216;Those Who Are Wise Give Us Respect&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Cathie Wood Bets Big On Mark Zuckerberg: Ark Pours $19M Into Meta Shares, Dumps Palantir And Tesla Stock

Ark Funds, led by Cathie Wood, is one of the most well-known fund managers thanks to its actively managed ETFs that focus on future growth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41593922/cathie-woods-ark-invest-sees-tesla-unlocking-11-trillion-revenue-potential-with-rob">areas of innovation.</a>
Two of the fund's ETFs celebrate their 10th anniversaries on Thursday. Here's a look back at the funds' launch and how they've performed over the last 10 years.
Ark Innovation: Wood and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ark-funds"> Ark Funds launched</a> the Ark Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) on Oct. 31, 2014. The fund has grown to become the most well-known and largest of the company's funds, with $5.78 billion in assets under management.
"ARRK is an actively managed ETF that seeks long-term growth of capital by investing under normal circumstances primarily in domestic and foreign equity securities of companies that are relevant to the Fund's investment theme of disruptive innovation," the company's <a href="https://www.ark-funds.com/funds/arkk">website </a>says.
Disruptive innovation themes include autonomous mobility, precision therapies, next gen cloud, neural networks, intelligent devices, digital wallets, digital assets, smart contracts and multiomic technologies, according to the company.
"ARK defines ‘disruptive innovation' as the introduction of a technologically enabled new product or service that potentially challenges the way the world works."
Here are the current top 10 holdings in the ARKK ETF and their percent of net assets:
<ol>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): 14.1%</li>
<li>Roku Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>): 10.8%</li>
<li>Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>): 8.1%</li>
<li>Roblox Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>): 6.2%</li>
<li>Palantir Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>): 5.1%</li>
<li>Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>): 5.0%</li>
<li>Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>): 4.9%</li>
<li>CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRSP#NASDAQ">CRSP</a>): 4.5%</li>
<li>Shopify Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>): 3.9%</li>
<li>UiPath Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PATH#NYSE">PATH</a>): 2.9%</li>
</ol>
Since the fund's inception, the ETF is up 161.4%. This return trails the current 10-year return of the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500.
Here's a look at how the returns of ARKK stack up against SPY, which is the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/10/41407647/spy-reaches-600-billion-in-assets-oldest-us-etf-hits-milestone-as-all-time-highs-conti">oldest and largest </a>U.S. ETF, over time:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Average Annual Returns</td>
<td>ARKK</td>
<td>SPY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1-Year</td>
<td>+19.9%</td>
<td>+36.2% </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3-Year</td>
<td>-24.3%</td>
<td>+11.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5-Year</td>
<td>+2.6% </td>
<td>+15.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Since ARKK Inception 10/31/14</td>
<td>+10.2%</td>
<td>+13.2% </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The chart below from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro </a>shows the 10-year return of ARKK.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1003" height="513" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31133929/Screenshot-224.png" alt="" class="wp-image-624517" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31133929/Screenshot-224.png 1003w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31133929/Screenshot-224-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31133929/Screenshot-224-768x393.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px" /></a></figure>
For comparison, here is the 10-year chart of the SPY. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="508" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134001/Screenshot-226.png" alt="" class="wp-image-624522" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134001/Screenshot-226.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134001/Screenshot-226-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134001/Screenshot-226-768x392.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/penny-stocks/23/08/34102486/exclusive-cathie-wood-tells-benzinga-why-tesla-should-trade-as-a-tech-stock">EXCLUSIVE: Cathie Wood Tells Benzinga Why Tesla Should Trade As A Tech Stock</a>
ARK Genomic: The Ark Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) was also launched by Ark Funds on Oct. 31, 2014. The fund currently has $1.33 billion in assets under management.
"ARKG is an actively managed ETF that seeks long-term growth of capital by investing under normal circumstances primarily in domestic and foreign equity securities of companies across multiple sectors, including health care, information technology, materials, energy, and consumer discretionary, that are relevant to the Fund's investment theme of the genomics revolution," the company's <a href="https://www.ark-funds.com/funds/arkg">website </a>says.
Themes for the genomics ETF include precision therapies, multiomic technologies, programmable biology, neural networks, next gen cloud and adaptive robotics, according to the company.
Here are the current top 10 holdings in the ARKG ETF and their percent of net assets:
<ol>
<li>Twist Biosciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TWST#NASDAQ">TWST</a>): 8.7%</li>
<li>Recursion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>): 7.0%</li>
<li>CRISPR Therapeutics: 7.0%</li>
<li>CareDx (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNA#NASDAQ">CDNA</a>): 5.1%</li>
<li>Adaptive Biotechnologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPT#NASDAQ">ADPT</a>): 4.7%</li>
<li>Veracyte Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VYCT#NASDAQ">VYCT</a>): 4.6%</li>
<li>Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONS#NASDAQ">IONS</a>): 4.3%</li>
<li>Nurix Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NRIX#NASDAQ">NRIX</a>): 4.1%</li>
<li>Natera Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRA#NASDAQ">NTRA</a>): 3.8%</li>
<li>10x Genomics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXG#NASDAQ">TXG</a>): 3.8%</li>
</ol>
Since the fund's inception, the ETF is up 38.9%. This return trails the current 10-year return of the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust.
Here's a look at how the returns of ARKG stack up against SPY over time. &nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Average Annual Returns</td>
<td>ARKG</td>
<td>SPY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1-Year</td>
<td>-7.9% </td>
<td>+36.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3-Year</td>
<td>-29.9%</td>
<td>+11.8% </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5-Year</td>
<td>-1.9% </td>
<td>+15.8% </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Since ARKG inception 10/31/14</td>
<td>+3.3%</td>
<td>+13.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Here is the 10-year chart of ARKG. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103124&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="993" height="510" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134031/Screenshot-225.png" alt="" class="wp-image-624525" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134031/Screenshot-225.png 993w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134031/Screenshot-225-300x154.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/31134031/Screenshot-225-768x394.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px" /></a></figure>
Why It's Important: The charts above show that ARKK and ARKG both experiences several years of strong growth and returns for investors, but have underperformed the broader S&amp;P 500 market index in recent years.
The ETFs were once among the most talked about funds, and the company&#8217;s daily trading activity often moved stocks higher, given Wood's outperformance years ago.
While the S&amp;P 500 ETF rebalances quarterly, the actively managed funds complete trades almost every day. Often, the average cost of shares rises over time for stocks that are going up, potentially hurting the gains.
Ark Funds typically invests in companies that it believes will have strong growth over the next five to ten years, which means the funds&#8217; returns can sometimes take years to pay off.
Wood has been early to many themes, including buying shares of NVIDIA Corporation for around $5 in 2014, before the most recent stock split. The fund later sold out of its position in late 2022 and early 2023 and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/24/02/37294405/heres-how-much-cathie-wood-ark-invest-flagship-fund-missed-by-selling-nvidia-early"> missed out on huge gains </a>over the last nearly two years.
The fund manager was also early in the Tesla growth story, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/03/26046331/if-you-invested-1-000-in-tesla-when-cathie-wood-made-her-4-000-prediction-heres-how-much-youd-have-n-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicting a $4,000 price target</a> for the electric vehicle company back in February 2018. While Wood was laughed at for the price prediction at the time, the stock would hit the target on a split-adjusted basis in January 2021.
Getting the Tesla prediction right helped elevate Wood's status as a fund manager and led to increased interest in the Ark Funds ETFs.
Although interest in Ark Funds ETFs may have cooled in recent years, many investors still recall their impact and continue to track daily trading activity, watching closely which stocks Wood selects to hold for the next five to 10 years.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/08/34028505/exclusive-why-does-cathie-wood-think-bitcoin-is-going-to-1-million-what-does-she-know-that">EXCLUSIVE: Why Does Cathie Wood Think Bitcoin Is Going To $1 Million — What Does She Know That We Don&#8217;t?</a></li>
</ul>
Image courtesy of Ark Invest and Shutterstock.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Education

Specialty ETFs

Tech

ADPT

ARKG

CDNA

CRSP

HOOD

IONS

NRIX

NTRA

PATH

RBLX

ROKU

RXRX

SHOP

TWST

VYCT

Cathie Wood's Ark Innovation, Genomic ETFs Celebrate 10 Years: How Annual Returns Stack Up Against S&P 500

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), has announced a fresh wave of layoffs at the music streaming service Tidal, which Block owns.
What Happened: Dorsey informed Tidal employees on Wednesday that the company will undergo another significant round of layoffs, <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/10/30/jack-dorsey-layoffs-streaming-music-app-tidal-block-leaked-email/">reported</a> Fortune. The CEO stated that Tidal needs to function &#8220;like a startup again,&#8221; necessitating a much smaller team across the organization.
&#8220;So we're going to part ways with a number of folks on our team,&#8221; Dorsey wrote in the note. &#8220;We're going to lead with engineering and design, and remove the product management and product marketing functions entirely. We're reducing the size of our design team and foundational roles supporting TIDAL, and we will consider reducing engineering over the next few weeks as we have more clarity around leadership going forward.&#8221;
Tidal did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41590577/bitcoin-breaks-70k-ethereum-and-dogecoin-rise-amid-stock-rally-ahead-of-mag-7-earnings-ana?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Breaks $70K, Ethereum and Dogecoin Rise Amid Stock Rally Ahead Of &#8216;Mag 7&#8217; Earnings: Analyst Says Current Spike Driven By &#8216;Binance Whales&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Block acquired a majority stake in Tidal for approximately $300 million in 2021. The music streaming service, founded by Jay-Z, has struggled to compete with platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Earlier in October, Cathie Wood&#8216;s Ark Invest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41372553/cathie-wood-continues-to-sell-shares-of-jack-dorseys-bitcoin-focused-company-block-ark-also-dump">sold off a significant amount of shares</a> in Block, despite the company&#8217;s recent positive second-quarter results. This move by Wood, a prominent investor, raised concerns about the future of Block.
However, Block has been making strategic moves in the cryptocurrency space. In August, Dorsey <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40122389/jack-dorsey-views-bitcoin-mining-chip-manufacturing-as-massive-opportunity-for-block-were-">expressed optimism about the potential</a> of the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining chip market, terming it a &#8220;massive opportunity&#8221; for the company. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41618618/microsoft-earnings-are-imminent-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurat?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Earnings Are Imminent; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Startups

Block CEO Jack Dorsey Announces Another Round Of Layoffs At Tidal

On Monday, Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest made significant trades in Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>). These trades were part of a series of transactions carried out by Ark Invest&#8217;s various ETFs.
The Amazon Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE; ARKK) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) purchased a substantial 141,504 shares of Amazon.com Inc. This transaction was valued at $26.65 million based on Amazon&#8217;s closing price of $188.39 on Monday. This move comes after a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41340022/amazon-analyst-expects-q3-earnings-with-revenue-growth-margin-expansion-relative-st">Goldman Sachs analyst&#8217;s prediction</a> of a solid mix of revenue growth and operating margin expansion for the e-commerce giant in its third-quarter financial results.
The Robinhood Trade
On the same day, Ark Invest&#8217;s Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>) fund sold 7,555 shares of Robinhood Markets Inc. The transaction was valued at $210.633. On Monday Robinhood stock closed 3% higher at $27.88.This decision followed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41525589/robinhoods-crypto-strategy-hits-sweet-spot-for-dominating-future-investment-landscape-bern">Bernstein report</a> that highlighted Robinhood&#8217;s potential to become the leading cryptocurrency investment platform in the future, thanks to its diverse offering of 15 crypto tokens. Notably, the world&#8217;s apex cryptocurrency Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41590577/bitcoin-breaks-70k-ethereum-and-dogecoin-rise-amid-stock-rally-ahead-of-mag-7-earnings-ana">surged past the $70,000 mark</a> on Monday. 
The Square Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK and ARKW funds sold a combined total of 418,556 shares of Block Inc. The transaction was valued at $31.2 million based on the stock&#8217;s closing price of $74.48 on Monday. This trade occurred despite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40138790/block-inc-earns-analyst-praise-q2-results-showcase-cash-app-growth-strategic-innova">analyst praise</a> for the company&#8217;s second-quarter results, which showcased growth in its Cash App and strategic innovations.
The AMD Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) fund purchased 10,199 shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc worth $1.63 million. This move comes as AMD is set to report its third-quarter earnings, with Wall Street expecting 92 cents in EPS and $6.71 billion in revenues. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/10/41586844/amd-q3-earnings-on-deck-mixed-signals-on-charts-as-ai-server-gains-take-focus">According to Benzinga</a>, the stock has seen a 65.19% increase over the past year and a 14.65% increase year-to-date.
The Meta Platforms Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKK and ARKW funds bought 22,175 and 16,580 shares of Meta Platforms Inc. respectively. The trades amounted to $22.4 million. Meta stock closed nearly 0.9% higher at $578.16 for the day. This decision follows reports of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41582881/meta-platforms-is-building-ai-powered-search-engine-to-slash-reliance-on-alphabets-google-microsoft">Meta&#8217;s development of an AI-powered search engine</a> to reduce reliance on other big tech players, such as Alphabet Inc and Microsoft Corp.
The Palantir Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARKW fund sold 128,908 shares of Palantir Technologies Inc, worth $5.8 million. Palantir closed 0.25% higher at $44.97 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41554264/palantir-technologies-stock-reaches-new-52-week-high-whats-going-on">Palantir&#8217;s stock recently hit a new 52-week high</a>, with significant growth in 2024 and a market cap of $100.69 billion. The company also announced a strategic partnership with L3Harris Technologies Inc to expand capabilities in AI-driven defense technology.
The Tesla Trade
Ark Invest sold a total of 120,141 Tesla shares from ARKK and ARKW, the transaction was valued at $31.5 million based on Tesla&#8217;s closing price of $262.51 per share on the same day. This move by Ark Invest comes on the heels of Tesla&#8217;s strong third-quarter earnings, which exceeded estimates and demonstrated improving margins. The electric vehicle behemoth also provided a robust vehicle delivery outlook for 2025, a highlight for analysts. Notably, Wood $22 million worth of Tesla shares on Thursday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41559545/jim-cramer-says-apple-meta-amazon-and-other-tech-earnings-present-a-huge-opportunity-but-advises?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Says Apple, Meta, Amazon And Other Tech Earnings Present A &#8216;Huge Opportunity,&#8217; But Advises To</a>
Other Key Trades: 
<ul>
<li>ARK Invest&#8217;s ARKG fund bought shares of Absci Corp and sold shares of Veracyte Inc. The ARKK fund also bought shares of Cerus Corp. ARKW bought shares of Shopify Inc.</li>
<li>ARKX sold 854 shares of Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>).</li>
</ul>
Image via Ark Invest
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41573022/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-ford-stock-ahead-of-q3-earnings?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ford: How To Earn $500 A Month From Q3 Earnings</a>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ARKX

Cathie Wood's Flurry Of Trades: Offloads $31.5M in Tesla, Buys Amazon, AMD And Meta — Dumps Palantir, Trims Robinhood And Square Amid Bitcoin Rally

As PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) prepares to release its third-quarter results on Tuesday, Oct. 29, investors are likely worried about decelerating profits and challenges in maintaining transaction volume in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/payments">face of increasing competition</a>. 
If analysts are correct, the payments company will report earnings per share (EPS) of about $1.07. This represents a 17.7% year-over-year drop, so exercise caution.
However, revenue is expected to rise by 6.6% year over year to $7.89 billion. These projections underscore PayPal&#8217;s balancing act as it contends with evolving digital payment trends and the need to recalibrate its business strategy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">with artificial intelligence (AI) tools</a>.
The EPS decline also reflects the intensified cost pressures that come with AI upgrades, and the added infrastructure needed to support PayPal&#8217;s buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) model. While these moves are strategic, they have squeezed the San Jose, California-based firm&#8217;s operating margins.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41584816/are-small-caps-poised-to-lead-the-market-experts-weigh-pros-cons">Are Small Caps Poised To Lead The Market? Experts Weigh Pros, Cons</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Competition Is Heating Up</h2>
Another pressing issue is whether PayPal, under new CEO Alex Chriss, can secure customer loyalty and sustain transaction volume against its rivals:
<ul>
<li>Apple, which now offers peer-to-peer/<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/09/40731875/paypal-ventures-into-in-person-payments-with-apple-pay-integration-and-cashback-rewards">contactless payment options</a>.</li>
<li>Cash App and Square — both owned by Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>). </li>
<li>X, owned by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/23/08/33975786/elon-musks-paypal-merger-tactics-slammed-by-former-paypal-executive-now-that-were-married-let-me-tel">ousted PayPal founder</a> Elon Musk, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39382770/inside-elon-musks-plan-to-add-payments-to-x">plans to mimic</a> Venmo&#8217;s features (PayPal has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29403582/amazon-adds-venmo-for-payments-why-paypal-stock-is-surging-today">owned Venmo since 2013</a>).</li>
</ul>
Despite the challenges, there&#8217;s a silver lining. PayPal&#8217;s &#8220;Pay in 4&#8221; offering has gained traction, with quarterly usage <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/pay-later-user-demographic-breakdown">climbing</a> among younger demographics. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PayPal Analysts See Upside</h2>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/09/41089647/paypal-soars-to-new-heights-why-analysts-see-more-upside">Analysts are optimistic</a> about PayPal&#8217;s revenue growth trajectory after kicking the year off with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36864744/paypal-cuts-9-of-staff-in-efficiency-drive">a series of layoffs</a>. The company has also made advancements in generative AI tools and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41038635/paypal-steps-up-crypto-game-allows-us-merchants-to-buy-sell-and-hold-digital-assets">cryptocurrency trading</a>.
Additionally, PayPal's recent expansion into emerging markets has broadened its global footprint, particularly in <a href="https://investor.pypl.com/news-and-events/news-details/2023/PayPal-Announces-Investments-to-Advance-Economic-Empowerment-for-Women-and-Girls/default.aspx">Southeast Asia</a>, where mobile payment growth continues to surge.
There&#8217;s also the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/09/34773903/paypal-races-ahead-venmo-users-get-access-to-pyusd">recent launch of</a> PayPal USD (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PYUSD</a>), a stablecoin issued by Paxos, and a trio of partnerships: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/08/40577459/paypals-partnership-with-adyen-and-the-launch-of-fastlane-are-simplifying-guest-checkouts-speeding">Adyen</a>, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40627719/paypal-supercharges-checkout-new-fiserv-partnership-boosts-one-click-conversions">Fiserv</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41498451/paypal-expands-partnership-with-global-payments-fastlane-checkout-to-boost-e-commerce">Global Payments</a>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>).
If PayPal successfully delivers on its revenue figures, it may signal that its strategic moves are bearing fruit, despite profitability pressures.
Price Action: PayPal was up 2.3% to $83.59 on Monday. The stock is up 63.74% over the past year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/10/41584967/paypal-bulls-stand-firm-will-q3-earnings-trigger-a-pullback">36% year-to-date</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41535904/us-government-hacked-for-20m-in-cryptocurrencies-including-ethereum-says-on-chain-intellig" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Government Hacked For $20M In Cryptocurrencies Including Ethereum, Says On-Chain Intelligence Platform — Attacker Reportedly Laundering Funds</a></li>
</ul>
image: Shutterstock

$PYUSD

PYPL

PayPal Preps For Q3 Earnings: Analysts See Upside Despite Rivalries With Apple, Block And Possibly X

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with SQ, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 10 uncommon options trades for Block.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 60% bullish and 30%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $251,427, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $339,110.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $50.0 to $85.0 for Block over the recent three months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Block options trades today is 1329.0 with a total volume of 3,674.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Block's big money trades within a strike price range of $50.0 to $85.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Block Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1729783024_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$18.8</td>
<td>$18.55</td>
<td>$18.8</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$127.8K</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$6.05</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$6.05</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$108.9K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>180</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
<td>$18.55</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$75.0K</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>136</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.88</td>
<td>$2.8</td>
<td>$2.81</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$56.2K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>289</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$1.16</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$53.8K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
<h3>Block's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 844,181, with SQ's price up by 1.53%, positioned at $72.48.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 11 days.</li>
</ul>
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Options

Looking At Block's Recent Unusual Options Activity

BofA Securities analyst Jason Kupferberg reiterated a Buy rating on Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SQ/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a price forecast of $82.</a>
The analyst maintains the bullish rating due to the company&#8217;s strong business model, scarcity value, and valuation, indicating a favorable setup for 2025 estimates.
The analyst notes that during the upcoming third-quarter results, gross payment volume (GPV) growth will be a key metric.
Kupferberg points out that the Street expects a slight miss for the third quarter, and fourth-quarter GPV projections may also be a &#8220;touch high.&#8221;
The analyst forecasts the profitability outlook to improve due to increased visibility and continued expense discipline, particularly by staying below the 12,000 headcount cap.
The Street&#8217;s projected 16% gross profit growth for the fourth quarter is achievable, although the firm plans to increase investments in the second half of the year.
Also Read:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41494741/mcdonalds-well-positioned-to-contain-e-coli-outbreak-analysts-say-impact-minimal-co" rel="noreferrer noopener"> McDonald&#8217;s &#8216;Well Positioned To Contain&#8217; E. Coli Outbreak: Analysts Say Impact Minimal Vs. Chipotle&#8217;s 2015 Case</a>
In fact, Kupferberg forecasts that the company may maintain the 2024 gross profit growth guidance of over 18%.
However, given the fluctuations in in-store consumer spending, the Street&#8217;s forecast of 9% GPV growth for Square in the fourth quarter might be &#8220;touch aggressive,&#8221; Kupferberg adds.
On last year&#8217;s third-quarter earnings call, the company provided an initial 2024 guide for adjusted EBITDA and AOI. This year, the analyst underscores a probable similar approach to forward-year guidance.
Street is modeling 15% gross profit growth in FY25, as well as AOI margin of 20.5%, Kupferberg adds.
Price Action: SQ shares are trading lower by 2.33% to $71.12 at last check Wednesday.
Image via Unsplash
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Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

Movers

Trading Ideas

General

Block To See Improved Profitability Amid Expense Discipline In Q3: Analyst Forecasts Stable Payment Volume Growth

Block's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) short percent of float has risen 10.59% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 10.36 million shares sold short, which is 1.88% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.73 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Block Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1729692014_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Block has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Block's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Block's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.64%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(SQ) - Analyzing Block's Short Interest

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 11 analysts have published ratings on Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) in the last three months.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Block, presenting an average target of $85.64, a high estimate of $100.00, and a low estimate of $55.00. This current average has decreased by 6.91% from the previous average price target of $92.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1729522837_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Block by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Perlin</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rufus Hone</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$92.00</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Soomit Datta</td>
<td>New Street Research</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rayna Kumar</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$92.00</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mayank Tandon</td>
<td>Needham</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Perlin</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
<td>$88.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Bauch</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rufus Hone</td>
<td>BMO Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$92.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Palmer</td>
<td>Benchmark</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$99.00</td>
<td>$99.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Faucette</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Golding</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Block. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Block compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Block's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Block's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SQ/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Block analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into Block's Background</h2>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
<h3>Block's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Positive Revenue Trend: Examining Block's financials over 3 months reveals a positive narrative. The company achieved a noteworthy revenue growth rate of 11.21% as of 30 June, 2024, showcasing a substantial increase in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Block's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 3.17%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 1.02%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Block's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.53%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Block's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.38, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Understanding the Relevance of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
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Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Closer Look at 11 Analyst Recommendations For Block

RBC Capital analyst Daniel Perlin reiterates Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $88 price target.

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Block, Maintains $88 Price Target

Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) shares are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">trading higher on Thursday.</a>
The company said it is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017769811/en/Cash-App-Pay-Integrates-with-Lyft-for-Seamless-Payments#:~:text=With%20an%20integrated%20Cash%20App,App%20to%20the%20Lyft%20app" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnering</a> with Cash App to offer digital-first consumers greater flexibility when hailing a ride. Cash App is a payment service owned by&nbsp;Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
Through its integrated partnership with Cash App Pay, Lyft is introducing a simple and user-friendly payment option for riders. This allows customers to link Cash App directly to the Lyft app, eliminating the need to take out a card or enter payment details.
This collaboration highlights Cash App Pay&#8217;s convenience and accessibility, catering to the preferences of the next generation of customers, per the company&#8217;s press release.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41372597" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Isn&#8217;t The Only One Chasing &#8216;Super App&#8217; Dominance In The US— Uber CEO Eyes A Slice With Potential Expedia Acquisition</a>
&#8220;Today&#8217;s partnership with Cash App gives riders even more options for getting out into the world — making it as easy and rewarding to pay for a Lyft ride,&#8221;&nbsp;said Jordan Glassberg, VP of Partnerships and Loyalty at Lyft.
For digital-first consumers seeking alternatives to traditional credit cards, Cash App Pay offers the flexibility to pay using their Cash App balance or a linked debit card.
A recent study on customer satisfaction in banking and financial technologies found that Cash App is a preferred platform among Gen Z and Millennials.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, LYFT stock has gained over 25% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Advisor Managed Portfolios Trenchless Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVER#NYSE">RVER</a>) and&nbsp;Amplify ETF Trust Amplify Travel Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AWAY#NYSE">AWAY</a>).
Price Action: LYFT shares are trading higher by 1.16% to $13.55 at last check Thursday.
Photo via Shutterstock
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AWAY

LYFT

RVER

Lyft's Latest Move: Cash App Partnership Offers Easier Payments For Gen Z And Millennials

Starting today, Cash App and Lyft are partnering to give digital-first consumers more flexibility when taking a ride. This partnership puts the convenience and accessibility of paying with Cash App Pay front and center, focusing on the preferences of the next generation of customers.
"Lyft connects riders with the people and places they love. Today's partnership with Cash App gives riders even more options for getting out into the world — making it as easy and rewarding to pay for a Lyft ride." Jordan Glassberg, VP of Partnerships and Loyalty at Lyft.
With an integrated Cash App Pay partnership, Lyft is adding an easy and exceptionally customer-friendly new payment method. It means that riders don't have to pull out a card and enter their information, instead seamlessly linking Cash App to the Lyft app.
For digital-first consumers who are looking for an option outside of traditional credit cards, they can choose to use Cash App Pay as a payment method and pay with their Cash App balance or linked debit card. According to a recent study on customer satisfaction when it comes to banks and financial technologies, Cash App was ranked as a top financial technology platform preferred by Gen Z and Millennials.1
"We are thrilled to join forces with Lyft to mark a significant milestone to offer more payment optionality within the rideshare space. With more consumers actively seeking solutions outside of traditional financial systems, this partnership will give consumers a new flexible and convenient digital payment solution when paying for their fares." Tanuj Parikh, Head of Partnerships, Cash App and Afterpay.
With this partnership, Lyft will be able to engage with Cash App's 57 million monthly transacting actives as of the second quarter of 2024.2 Within the same time period, Lyft reported over 23.7 million active riders.

Cash App Pay Integrates With Lyft For Seamless Payments; Lyft Becomes The First-ever Rideshare Partner For Cash App Pay

<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-shoppers-to-be-protected-by-new-buy-now-pay-later-rules#:~:text=The%20Government%20has%20today%20launched,and%20have%20strong%20rights%20when" title="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-shoppers-to-be-protected-by-new-buy-now-pay-later-rules#:~:text=The%20Government%20has%20today%20launched,and%20have%20strong%20rights%20when">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-shoppers-to-be-protected-by-new-buy-now-pay-later-rules#:~:text=The%20Government%20has%20today%20launched,and%20have%20strong%20rights%20when</a>

AAPL

AFRM

Millions Of Shoppers To Gain Key Protections Under New Buy-Now, Pay-Later Rules, Ensuring Affordable Lending And Safeguarding Against Unmanageable Debt, With Oversight By The Financial Conduct Authority

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest made significant trades involving Block Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) and Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>).
The SQ Trade
Ark Invest sold off a significant amount of shares in the Jack Dorsey-led Block, despite the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)-focused company&#8217;s recent positive second-quarter results. The sale involved 23,473 shares from the ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), which, based on the closing price of $73.53 on Wednesday, is valued at approximately $1.72 million. Notably, this is the second day in running when Wood dumped Block shares. On Tuesday, Ark had offloaded 17,816 shares worth $1.28 million.
The MRNA Trade
Ark Invest also sold shares of Moderna Inc from both its ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARKK funds, totaling 46,186 shares. Based on the closing price of $57.46 per share on Wednesday, the value of this trade is approximately $2.65 million. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40834547/moderna-outlines-post-covid-roadmap-cuts-research-budget-forecasts-2025-sales-below-expectations">Moderna recently outlined its post-Covid roadmap</a>, highlighting its mRNA-based pipeline and revised financial plans, which could have influenced Ark&#8217;s decision. Earlier on Tuesday, Wood had sold 24,981 shares of Moderna. worth $1.4 million.
The HOOD Trade
Ark Invest also offloaded 2,636 shares of Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) from its ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>). The trade, valued at approximately $71,000 based on the closing price of $26.93 on Wednesday, comes as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/10/41371235/robinhood-announces-futures-trading-index-options-trading">Robinhood announced the launch of futures trading and index options trading</a>, marking a major expansion of the platform&#8217;s offerings.
Other Key Trades: 
<ul>
<li>Ark Invest bought shares of Intellia Therapeutics Inc (NTLA) and shares of CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP) for its ARKK fund. </li>
<li>It also purchased shares of Tempus AI Inc (TEM) for the ARKK fund and shares for the ARKG fund. For its ARKQ fund, Ark sold shares of Markforged Holding Corp (MKFG) and shares of Materialise NV (MTLS), while buying shares of Blade Air Mobility Inc (BLDE).</li>
</ul>
Image via Wikimedia Commons
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MRNA

Cathie Wood Continues To Sell Shares Of Jack Dorsey's Bitcoin-Focused Company Block — Ark Also Dumps Moderna, Robinhood Stock

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades, most notably selling off shares of Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>).
The SQ Trade
Ark Invest sold 17,816 shares of the Jack Dorsey-headed Block Inc. from its ARKK fund. This move comes despite Block Inc.&#8217;s recent positive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40138790/block-inc-earns-analyst-praise-q2-results-showcase-cash-app-growth-strategic-innova">second-quarter results</a>, which showcased growth in its Cash App and strategic innovations. The value of the trade, based on the closing price of $71.79 per share on Tuesday, is approximately $1.28 million.
Significantly, the sale of Block shares came on a day when Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41349325/bitcoin-marches-ahead-ethereum-dogecoin-flat-amid-stocks-reversal-analyst-highlights-facto">moved up</a>. The apex cryptocurrency has been on a tear this week. Dorsey has envisioned a transformative future for Block, moving beyond payments to focus on Bitcoin and the potential for building a new banking model. Recently, Block took a significant step into the crypto realm by securing its first major deal in crypto mining with Core Scientific, which J.P. Morgan estimates could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/biotech/24/10/41311218/redhill-biopharma-secures-u-s-government-funding-through-barda-to-advance-opaganib-for-ebola-trea">generate between $225 million and $300 million</a>. While Dorsey&#8217;s commitment to Bitcoin is evident, analysts remain cautious, emphasizing the need for solid profit margins to validate this ambitious direction
Other Key Trades: 
<ul>
<li>Ark Invest bought shares of Tempus AI Inc. The firm purchased 17,082 shares from its ARKG fund and 75,991 shares from its ARKK fund.</li>
<li>Ark Invest bought shares of Blade Air Mobility Inc. (BLDE) from its ARKQ fund. The firm sold shares of Materialise NV (MTLS) from its ARKQ fund. Ark Invest bought 1,000 shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) from its ARKX fund.</li>
<li>Significantly, Ark also sold shares of COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>). The firm sold a total of 24,981 shares from ARKK and ARKG funds worth $1.4 million approximately.</li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41303723/jim-cramer-says-im-worried-about-boeing-after-plane-maker-lays-off-17-000-employees-amid-safety-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Says &#8216;I&#8217;m Worried&#8217; About Boeing After Plane Maker Lays Off 17,000 Employees Amid Safety And Financial Woes: &#8216;A Very Jarring Series Of News Tonight&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Cathie Wood's Ark Offloads $1.28M In Jack Dorsey's Block Shares Despite Bitcoin Rally

Short sellers are getting a lot of airplay these days, especially the ones that can severely crumble a stock&#39;s price after releasing their reports upon announcing their short position. Many of these short seller reports may have valid data and reasoning that warrant a stock price sell-off, while many allegations are often unsubstantiated. Short sellers are very careful in selecting their words to avoid having their reports construed as investment advice or face libel charges.
However, the one fact that&#39;s common with every short seller report is the intent for them to trigger a sell-off in the underlying stocks so they can cash in their short positions on the price decline. Investors are often left in the wake of stomaching losses. However, the impact of the bear raids can often be temporary. Here are three stocks in the computer and technology sector that were targets of short sellers making recoveries.
<h2>Roblox: Accused of Inflating DAU Metrics </h2>
Hindenburg Research released a bearish short-seller report on October 8, 2024, accusing gaming platform Roblox Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rblx#NYSE">RBLX</a>) of overinflating user metrics to inflate the stock price for insiders to sell.
They point out that insiders sold $1.7 billion in stock since going public, with its CEO Baszucki personally selling $150 million of stock.
<h3>DAUs Aren&#39;t People, But People Count as DAUs</h3>
The report claims Roblox is lying to investors and inflating its daily active users (DAU) by 25% to 42%. It points out that Roblox states that DAUs are not a measure of actual unique individuals accessing the platform. DAUs can be counted multiple times for accounts that a single person may run. Hindenburg claims there are numerous bot accounts and individuals with numerous accounts on the site, and the wording in Roblox&#39;s official investor communications swaps out &quot;people&quot; regularly with DAUs as in &quot;over 54.1 million people are coming to Roblox every day&quot;.
This purposely gives the impression more people are coming to the site when DAU is not indicative of people but accounts. Hindenburg claims to have interviewed former employees who claim the real number of people on the site could be 30% less than its stated DAUs.
Some of its claims imply criminal behavior. Hindenburg also goes on to talk about rampant child predators on the platform and includes a number of incidences, even opening up accounts impersonating minors under 13 and being approached by adult predators. The attempt to imply financial, moral, and commercial shortcomings to drive investors to sell and drop the stock is evident.
<h3>Roblox Disputes Allegations and Stock Rebounds</h3>
The release of the short report initially caused RBLX shares to gap down in the pre-market on October 8, 2024, from $41.60 to a low of $36.09. Buyers stepped in quickly, causing shares to rebound back to $40.51 on the close and recover back above their closing price pre-report the following day. The impact of the report only lasted for a day at most. The company had a representative debunk the allegations on CNBC and left it as is.
<h2>Block: CashApp as a Money Laundering Tool by Criminals&nbsp; </h2>
Hindenburg released a short seller report on Block Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sq#NYSE">SQ</a>) on March 23, 2023, implying fraud and criminal activity on its Cash App platform. Note the word &quot;imply&quot; as they hope to lead readers to believe that fraud was purposely being facilitated.
Hindenburg claims Block inflated user metrics to prop up the stock so insiders could sell over $1 billion of stock. The M.O. may sound familiar because Hindenburg regularly purports that companies are perpetrating pump-and-dump schemes so insiders can cash out their shares at artificially inflated prices.
<h3>Dozen of Interviews With Former Employees</h3>
As is often the case, Hindenburg claims to have interviewed a number of unnamed sources who were former insiders and employees. Hindenburg claims the Cash App was designed to cater to the &quot;underbanked&quot; criminal population, purporting that it&#39;s a regular tool used by drug dealers and criminals, as evidenced by its being referenced in hundreds of rap music and hip-hop songs. They also claim the user metrics are inflated and point out how easy it is to open multiple accounts.
<h3>Initial Drop and Rebound Felt in Days</h3>
The reaction was a 14.82% drop on the day of the report release as shares fell from its $72.61 the previous day, close to a low of $56.50 and close of $61.88, down $10.77 on the day of the release. Shares were able to rally back up to $70.53 five days following the report. Since then, Block has had multiple earnings releases that have caused the stock to fall as low as $38.85 on October 27, 2023, and rally as high as $86.17 on March 13, 2024. These days, the short seller report is long gone in the rearview mirror, but shares are trading around $70.
<h2>Super Micro Computer: Accounting Irregularities Implied and 10-K Filing Delay</h2>
On August 27, 2024, Hindenburg released a short seller report on AI server manufacturer Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smci#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>), claiming accounting irregularities. Again, Hindenburg claims to have interviewed former senior employees and industry experts to determine self-dealing and accounting violations. This time, they would use actual charges made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in August 2020 pertaining to over $200 million in improperly recognized revenue resulting in artificially inflated sales, earnings and profit margins.
The company settled with the SEC for $17.5 million. Hindenburg claims the company is back to its old antics, pressuring salespeople to inflate their sales to meet high quotas along with a slew of allegations. Super Micro denied the report and said it would address the allegations.
<h3>Super Micro Delays 10-K Filing&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
Whether by coincidence or not, Super Micro delayed their 10-K annual report filing the following day to perform an internal review, which caused shares to collapse by an additional 19%. Super Micro stated it didn&#39;t expect any material changes to its fourth quarter as a result of the delay. It also executed a 10-for-1 stock split on October 1, 2024. Shares fell to a post-split low of $39.52 on the short seller report, but shares have recovered back to $47.80 since then.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/3-stocks-targeted-by-short-sellers-making-strong-recoveries/">3 Stocks Targeted by Short Sellers Making Strong Recoveries</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Earnings

Large Cap

Insider Trades

Stock Split

SMCI

3 Stocks Targeted by Short Sellers Making Strong Recoveries

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$32.0K</td>
<td>37.9K</td>
<td>24.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$520.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DLO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$9.00</td>
<td>$60.0K</td>
<td>8.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AIG</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$39.7K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$50.2K</td>
<td>329</td>
<td>641</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>14.6K</td>
<td>583</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
<td>$49.4K</td>
<td>428</td>
<td>580</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$181.8K</td>
<td>7.1K</td>
<td>320</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$52.1K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>312</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$44.1K</td>
<td>13.3K</td>
<td>278</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.0K, with a price of $32.0 per contract. There were 37954 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 24751 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $520.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $774.0 per contract. There were 1853 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2541 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DLO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLO#NASDAQ">DLO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 66 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 600 contract(s) at a $9.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.0K, with a price of $100.0 per contract. There were 8135 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AIG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 66 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 884 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 81 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.7K, with a price of $45.0 per contract. There were 3000 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1418 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 66 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 46 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.2K, with a price of $1092.0 per contract. There were 329 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 641 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 248 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 75 contract(s) at a $62.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.2K, with a price of $510.0 per contract. There were 14630 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 583 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on October 25, 2024. Parties traded 485 contract(s) at a $81.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.4K, with a price of $102.0 per contract. There were 428 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 580 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 66 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 170 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $181.8K, with a price of $1070.0 per contract. There were 7137 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 320 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 94 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 15 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $52.1K, with a price of $3475.0 per contract. There were 1417 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 312 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TOST (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TOST#NYSE">TOST</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 458 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 73 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.1K, with a price of $605.0 per contract. There were 13373 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 278 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

SOFI

TOST

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in SQ usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 12 extraordinary options activities for Block. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 33% leaning bullish and 66% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $62,430, and 10 are calls, amounting to $618,410.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $45.0 to $80.0 for Block during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Block stands at 1990.8, with a total volume reaching 3,259.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Block, situated within the strike price corridor from $45.0 to $80.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Block Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1729008040_0_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$6.5</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$195.0K</td>
<td>622</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.6</td>
<td>$7.65</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$76.5K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">113</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/08/24</td>
<td>$3.65</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$70.0K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">271</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$2.75</td>
<td>$2.67</td>
<td>$2.72</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$54.4K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">690</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$2.73</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$53.7K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">893</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Block</h3>
Founded in 2009, Block provides payment services to merchants, along with related services. The company also launched Cash App, a person-to-person payment network. In 2023, Square's payment volume was a little over $200 million.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Block, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is Block Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 2,462,410, the price of SQ is up 0.18% at $71.78. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 16 days.</li>
</ul>
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Block's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$37.4K</td>
<td>23.4K</td>
<td>84.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFRM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$94.3K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$229.0K</td>
<td>53.1K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$51.6K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$50.6K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$49.3K</td>
<td>5.6K</td>
<td>778</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FITB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>536</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$58.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>363</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SQ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$38.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>321</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$27.4K</td>
<td>13.2K</td>
<td>264</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 1499 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 29 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.4K, with a price of $25.0 per contract. There were 23443 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 84644 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AFRM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 95 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 80 contract(s) at a $42.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $94.3K, with a price of $1180.0 per contract. There were 2761 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5976 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 95 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 29 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $229.0K, with a price of $229.0 per contract. There were 53185 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4558 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 32 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 52 contract(s) at a $50.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.6K, with a price of $993.0 per contract. There were 1954 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2409 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 95 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 755 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.6K, with a price of $67.0 per contract. There were 1489 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1023 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 95 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 18 contract(s) at a $200.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.3K, with a price of $2740.0 per contract. There were 5631 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 778 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding FITB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 536 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $59.4K, with a price of $111.0 per contract. There were 6 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 536 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 67 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 96 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $58.0K, with a price of $605.0 per contract. There were 1698 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 363 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SQ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 67 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 79 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.8K, with a price of $491.0 per contract. There were 2217 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 321 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 95 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $57.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.4K, with a price of $688.0 per contract. There were 13282 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 264 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

FITB

UPST

10 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

As the market trends upward, high-beta stocks, which typically show greater volatility than the broader market, can be an attractive option for risk-tolerant investors seeking high returns. Therefore, one could consider investing in fundamentally sound companies like Block, Inc. (SQ), Roku, Inc. (ROKU), and Lands' End (LE). Learn more… With the bullish market trend prevailing in the economy, analysts note that high-beta stocks tend to outperform during such periods and can be much more volatile during downturns. These stocks offer the potential for outsized returns as they react more dramatically to market shifts.
Thus, for risk-tolerant investors, now might be an opportune time to consider investing in fundamentally strong high-beta stocks, Block, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SQ/">SQ</a>), Roku, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ROKU/">ROKU</a>), and Lands' End, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LE/">LE</a>).
According to Deloitte's forecasts, the U.S. economy is expected to <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/us-economic-forecast/united-states-outlook-analysis.html#:~:text=we%20expect%20the%20US%20economy%20to%20grow%20by%202.7%25%20this%20year.">grow by 2.7%</a> this year and by 1.5% in 2025, bolstered by increased government consumption. Between 2026 and 2028, real GDP growth will likely stabilize between 1.7% and 2.1% per year.
Nonetheless, the outlook for the U.S. economy remains strong. The real GDP <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/25/us-gdp-q2-2024.html">increased by 2.8%</a> in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the 1.4% growth recorded in the first quarter. This uptick was driven by increased consumer spending, inventory investments, and business investments. During the second quarter, the price index for gross domestic purchases increased by 2.3%, while the price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE) <a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/gross-domestic-product-second-quarter-2024-advance-estimate#:~:text=The%20price%20index,of%203.7%20percent.">rose by 2.6%</a>.
Amid these positive economic signals, growth investors and those with a high-risk appetite might be interested in betting on high-beta stocks. These stocks promise substantial returns but also come with inherent risks during market declines. These stocks often outperform benchmark indexes in a bullish environment, making them attractive for investors with higher returns.
Moreover, the optimistic U.S. economic outlook, underpinned by strong GDP growth, supports corporate and consumer spending, making this an ideal climate for high-beta stocks.
With that in mind, let's dive into the fundamental aspects of the above-mentioned stocks in detail:
Block, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SQ/">SQ</a>)
SQ is a technology company that creates tools to enable businesses, sellers, and individuals to participate in the digital economy. The company operates through two segments: Square and Cash App. 
On October 8, the company's Square segment completed a major infrastructure upgrade, enhancing its commerce platform with advanced payment and ordering features like Pre-Auth and Bar Tabs. This new system aims to help sellers of all sizes streamline operations and offer more flexible checkout options, boosting sales and improving customer experiences across various industries.
On July 18, its Cash App division entered into a strategic partnership with Google Play to provide consumers with a preferred alternative payment option while using their Android smartphones or tablets. This partnership will present an opportunity to engage with a broader range of consumers in the gaming space who are looking for a convenient and simple payment method.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended on June 30, 2024, SQ's total net revenue increased 11.2% year-over-year to $6.16 billion. The company reported an adjusted operating income of $399.12 million, indicating a significant growth from the prior-year quarter.
In addition, its <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/adjusted-ebitda.asp">adjusted EBITDA</a> increased 97.6% year-over-year to $759.48 million. SQ's adjusted net income for the quarter amounted to $588.72 million or $0.93 per share, representing increases of 135.1% and 132.5%, respectively, from the same period last year.
The company has updated its fiscal year 2024 outlook, increasing its adjusted gross profit projection from the previous estimate of $8.78 billion to $8.89 billion. Additionally, its adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to come in at $2.90 billion, slightly higher than the prior forecast of $2.76 billion. Moreover, it increased its adjusted operating income estimate by $140 million.
The consensus revenue estimate of $6.26 billion for the fiscal third quarter (ended September 2024) represents an 11.4% increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $0.88 for the same quarter indicates a 59.6% improvement year-over-year. The company has an impressive surprise earnings history; it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
The stock has gained 64.6% over the past year to close the last trading session at $71.65. Its 24-month beta is 2.51.
SQ's stance is apparent in its <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a>. The stock has an A grade for Growth and a B for Momentum and Sentiment. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, each weighted to an optimal degree.
It is ranked #46 among the 86 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/enterprise-financial-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Services (Enterprise)</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/SQ/">Click here</a> to see the additional SQ ratings (Value, Stability, and Quality).
Roku, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ROKU/">ROKU</a>)
ROKU operates a TV streaming platform through two segments: Platform and Devices. It connects viewers to the streaming content, enabling content publishers to build and monetize large audiences and providing advertisers with the capabilities to engage consumers. 
On September 6, ROKU partnered with Currys Connected Media, the retail media network from Europe's leading omnichannel tech retailer, to run Connected TV (CTV) video ads on its platform. This partnership will allow brands to improve the effectiveness of marketing investment by enabling them to deliver relevant messages to target customers.
For the second quarter of 2024, which ended on June 30, ROKU's total net revenue increased 14.3% year-over-year to $968.18 million. Its gross profit grew 12.3% from the year-ago value to $424.70 million. The company's adjusted EBITDA amounted to $43.64 million compared to the prior-year quarter's loss of $17.79 million. Also, its trailing 12-month free cash flow surged to $317.92 million compared to an outflow of $169.33 million last year.
Looking ahead, ROKU projects third-quarter net revenue of $1.01 billion, with gross profit expected at $440 million and adjusted EBITDA of $45 million.
Street expects ROKU's revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase 12.7% year-over-year to $1.11 billion. However, the company is expected to post a loss per share of $0.43 in the same quarter. In addition, it surpassed the revenue estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
ROKU's stock has surged 28.8% over the past six months to close the last trading session at $76.36. It has a two-year beta of 3.00.
ROKU's mixed fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has a B grade for Growth. It is ranked #45 out of 58 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/consumer-goods/">Consumer Goods</a> industry.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated ROKU for Value, Momentum, Stability, Sentiment, and Quality. Get all ROKU's ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ROKU/">here</a>.
Lands' End, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LE/">LE</a>)
LE is a global digital retailer of apparel, swimwear, outerwear, accessories, footwear, home products, and uniforms. The company operates through five segments: U.S. eCommerce; International; Outfitters; Third Party; and Retail.
LE's total revenue for the second quarter (ended August 2, 2024) amounted to $317.17 million, while its gross profit increased 8.8% year-over-year to $151.89 million. Its adjusted EBITDA stood at $17.06 million with a margin of 5.4%, indicating a 7.8% growth from the prior year's quarter. Also, its cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period amounted to $27.89 million.
For the fiscal year 2024, LE forecasts net revenue to be between $1.35 billion and $1.43 billion. The company expects adjusted net income to range from $9 million to $15 million, with diluted EPS estimated between $0.29 and $0.48. It also anticipates adjusted EBITDA to fall in the $90-$98 million range.
Analysts expect LE's revenue for the fiscal year ending January 2026 to increase marginally from the prior-year period to $1.43 billion. Its EPS estimate of $0.58 for the next year indicates a year-over-year increase of 59.8%.
Over the past nine months, the stock has surged 177.6%, closing the last trading session at $18.87. It has a 24-month beta of 1.28.
LE's POWR Ratings reflect its promising outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system.
LE has an A grade for Sentiment and a B for Quality. It is ranked #6 out of 59 stocks in the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/fashion-luxury/">Fashion &amp; Luxury</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/LE/">Click here</a> to see the other LE ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, and Stability.
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
SQ shares were trading at $72.10 per share on Tuesday afternoon, up $0.45 (+0.63%). Year-to-date, SQ has declined -6.79%, versus a 23.49% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Shweta Kumari</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Shweta-Kumari_Image-2.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Shweta's profound interest in financial research and quantitative analysis led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. She uses her knowledge to help retail investors make educated investment decisions.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shweta-kumari">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/sq-roku-le-3-high-beta-stocks-for-risk-tolerant-investors/>3 High Beta Stocks for Risk-Tolerant Investors</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 High Beta Stocks for Risk-Tolerant Investors

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