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Coinbase Stock Is S&P 500's Best Performer For June: How It Got There
Benzinga· 2025-06-28 13:10
Core Insights - Coinbase Global, Inc. has emerged as the top performer in the S&P 500 for June, with a 43% surge, reaching its highest level since its 2021 IPO, driven by positive regulatory updates and new product launches [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Position - The rally in Coinbase's stock price follows its inclusion in the S&P 500 at the end of May and marks its third consecutive monthly gain, beginning in April [1] - Analysts attribute Coinbase's strength to its S&P 500 inclusion, the Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act, and the strong performance of Circle Internet Group, which has a revenue-sharing agreement with Coinbase [2] Group 2: Product Expansion and Innovations - Coinbase has expanded its crypto services by launching a crypto-backed credit card with American Express, partnering with Shopify for stablecoin payments, and collaborating with JPMorgan on a deposit token using its Base blockchain [3] - The company announced the upcoming launch of US-regulated perpetual-style futures for Bitcoin and Ether, set to begin on July 21, marking a significant milestone for US traders who have relied on offshore exchanges [4] Group 3: Financial Projections and Growth - Bernstein has raised its price target on Coinbase stock from $310 to $510, citing rapid growth in derivatives and strong non-trading revenues from staking and the Base blockchain [4]
Molson Coors Hurt By Fewer People Drinking Beer, Warns Analyst
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 18:55
Core Viewpoint - Bank of America Securities analyst downgraded Molson Coors Beverage Company from Buy to Neutral, lowering the price forecast from $65 to $50 due to ongoing challenges in the U.S. beer market [1][2] Company Summary - The analyst had previously upgraded Molson Coors, anticipating a return to normal beer volume trends by 2025 and stabilization of market share, which would support margins and cash flow visibility [1] - However, the expected recovery has not occurred, with industry volumes continuing to fall below historical levels and Molson Coors losing market share [2] - The stock's valuation now reflects ongoing uncertainty in the market [2] Valuation Adjustments - The price forecast was revised based on an 8.3x fiscal year 2026 EPS forecast, down from a previous 9.9x, aligning it more closely with U.S. packaged food peers facing similar growth challenges [3] - Fiscal year 2025 and 2026 EPS estimates were cut from $6.02/$6.55 to $5.70/$6.02 due to a weaker-than-expected second quarter and cautious revenue outlook [6] Market Dynamics - The competitive landscape is likened to a "sheep, parasites, and wolves" analogy, where spirits are seen as wolves taking market share, energy drinks as parasites leveraging beer distribution, and beer companies like Molson Coors as sheep losing ground [4] - The analyst revised the 2025 industry volume forecast from a 1.0% decline to a sharper 4.0% drop, reflecting increased competitive pressure [5]
Altimmune's Fatty Liver Candidate Faces Differentiation Doubts
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 18:39
Core Insights - Altimmune, Inc. released topline results from the IMPACT Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe liver disease [1] Group 1: Trial Details - The Phase 2b trial included 212 participants with biopsy-confirmed MASH and fibrosis stages F2/F3, randomized to receive either weekly subcutaneous pemvidutide at 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg doses, or placebo for 24 weeks [2] - Treatment discontinuation rates were low, with only 9% of participants prematurely discontinuing treatment [3] Group 2: Efficacy Results - In an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the proportions of participants achieving MASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis at 24 weeks were 59.1% for pemvidutide 1.2 mg, 52.1% for 1.8 mg, and 19.1% for placebo (p< 0.0001 for both doses) [3] - The effects on fibrosis improvement without worsening of MASH were 31.8% for pemvidutide 1.2 mg, 34.5% for 1.8 mg, compared to 25.9% for placebo, although these differences were not statistically significant [4] Group 3: Analyst Ratings - HC Wainwright reiterated a Buy rating for Altimmune with a price forecast of $12, believing the data supports advancing pemvidutide to Phase 3 and strengthens its case as a potential best-in-class therapy [5] - Conversely, William Blair maintained a Market Perform rating, citing "underwhelming" results and concerns about demonstrating significant fibrosis improvement at the 48-week mark [6] Group 4: Stock Performance - ALT stock is trading lower by 1.80% to $3.545 at last check [7]
Winning And Losing Stocks From Tesla's Driverless Taxi Test
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 18:11
Core Insights - The launch of Tesla's driverless taxi service in Austin marks a significant shift towards mainstream adoption of autonomous vehicles, with positive consumer feedback highlighting comfort and safety [1][2][5] - Tesla plans to gradually scale its robotaxi fleet, aiming for 50 vehicles in operation by Q4 2025 and over 1,000 by the end of 2026, with potential expansion into California [3][5] - Analysts predict that the success of Tesla's autonomous vehicles could pressure other automakers to accelerate their own autonomous technology timelines [5] Company Analysis - **Tesla**: The company is positioned as a leader in the driverless transport sector, with autonomous vehicles accounting for approximately 59% of its price target, equating to an implied value of $800 billion [8] - **Alphabet (Waymo)**: Waymo is ahead in robotaxi testing, operating in four U.S. cities and planning to expand to 17 more, with expectations to capture 10% of the autonomous vehicle market by the end of the decade [10] - **Nvidia**: The chipmaker is expected to benefit from the growth of autonomous vehicles, as its chips are integral to most autonomous driving systems [11] Competitive Landscape - **Uber**: While Uber's stock has seen short-term gains, the long-term outlook is uncertain as driverless taxis may offer cheaper alternatives, potentially impacting Uber's market position [12][15] - **Lyft**: The company is planning to launch its own autonomous vehicle line but faces challenges in competing with larger players like Tesla, which is projected to capture a significant market share [14][15] - **Traditional Automakers**: Companies lacking robust electric and autonomous vehicle strategies may struggle to keep pace, particularly those reliant on traditional sales models [16][17]
Can Disney's Experiences Segment Truly Bring The Magic Back For Investors?
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 17:34
Core Viewpoint - Bank of America Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich maintains a Buy rating on Walt Disney with a price forecast of $140, indicating confidence in the company's recovery, particularly in the Experiences segment [1] Group 1: Experiences Segment Performance - The Experiences segment, a key driver of Disney's overall operating income, is expected to show sequential improvement in operating income for the fiscal third quarter, with further acceleration anticipated in the fiscal fourth quarter due to easier year-over-year comparisons [1][4] - Recent challenges for the Experiences segment included tough comparables, wage inflation, and significant pre-opening costs related to new cruise ships [2] - Despite broader macroeconomic concerns and competition from Universal's Epic Universe, the Experiences segment is now performing in line with fiscal 2025 expectations, supported by a strong pipeline of new cruise ships [3][4] Group 2: Advertising and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Insights - The Sports category remains a strong performer for Disney in the advertising landscape, showing sustained strength compared to other categories [5] - DTC net subscriber additions are expected to be modestly positive in the fiscal third quarter, aligning with the company's guidance [5] Group 3: Financial Guidance and Adjustments - Following a strong earnings beat, Disney raised its fiscal 2025 EPS guidance to $5.75, which is considered highly achievable due to improved visibility post-earnings report [6] - Adjustments for the fiscal third quarter include a slight decrease in revenue to $24.0 billion, operating income to $4.33 billion, and EPS to $1.39, primarily due to the disappointing box office performance of Pixar's Elio [7][8] - Despite these near-term adjustments, the full fiscal 2025 operating income estimate remains at $17.6 billion and EPS at $5.75, consistent with company guidance [8]
Wall Street Hits Record Highs, Nike Jumps 18%: What's Moving Markets Friday?
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 17:11
Market Overview - Risk appetite surged at the end of the trading week, with the S&P 500 breaking above 6,190 and the Nasdaq 100 extending all-time highs due to easing trade tensions and geopolitical risks [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed steadily near the 44,000 mark, outperforming other major indexes, driven by significant gains among blue-chip companies [3] Trade Agreements - President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. is finalizing multiple trade agreements, with four to five deals either completed or nearing completion ahead of a key July 9 deadline [2] - A new U.S.-China trade accord was confirmed, which includes tariff reductions and safeguards for rare earth imports, further boosting market sentiment [2] Company Performance - Nike Inc. saw an 18% increase in stock price after reporting quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, marking its best trading day ever [3] - Boeing Inc. advanced 4% following a positive analyst note from RedBurn Atlantic [3] - NVIDIA Corp. extended its leadership in the AI sector, surpassing a $3.8 trillion market capitalization, reinforcing its status as the world's most valuable company [4] - GE Aerospace gained 3.5%, reaching its highest level in 17 years [4] Sector Performance - Nearly every S&P sector closed in the green, except for energy, which lagged sharply as oil prices faced their worst weekly drop since March 2023 [5] - Gold prices dropped 1.6% to $3,270 per ounce as traders shifted into risk assets, moving away from traditional safe havens [5] Currency Trends - The U.S. dollar extended its losing streak to a seventh session, reaching its lowest level since February 2022, and is on track for its worst first half of a year since 1991 [6]
This Is Google's Secret Weapon To Outpace ChatGPT In Search War
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 16:50
Core Viewpoint - Citizens JMP analyst Andrew Boone upgraded Alphabet from Market Perform to Market Outperform with a price forecast of $220, driven by the belief that AI will positively impact Google's search capabilities [1]. Group 1: AI Impact on Search - AI is expected to expand Google's search opportunities by addressing a broader range of queries and enhancing monetization through improved user intent inference [2]. - Boone highlights that OpenAI's platforms have 800 million weekly active users, significantly less than Google's 5 billion+ active users [3]. - Google's AI Overviews, launched in May 2025, demonstrated a 10% query growth in testing [3]. Group 2: User Growth Projections - Boone projects that AI Overviews will grow from 1.5 billion monthly users in Q1 2025 to 4 billion by Q3 2025, potentially covering two-thirds of all queries by the next quarter [4]. - Assuming a sustained 10% query growth, Boone anticipates a mid-single-digit query growth tailwind for Google in Q3 2025 [4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - While ChatGPT offsets some growth, Boone estimates its subscriber base to be only 20 million by Q2 2025, based on OpenAI's reported $10 billion Annual Recurring Revenue [5]. - AI Overviews' wider distribution is expected to accelerate Google's overall query growth, outpacing ChatGPT's market share capture [6]. Group 4: Advertising Tools and Revenue Growth - Boone expresses optimism about Google's Smart Bidding Exploration and AI Max for Search Campaigns, which allow advertisers to focus on query intent rather than just keywords [7]. - This shift is expected to enable Google to monetize more than the historical ~20% of monetizable searches, leading to an acceleration in search revenue growth for Q2 and Q3 2025 [7]. Group 5: Financial Forecast Adjustments - For Q2 2025, Boone adjusted Alphabet's revenue forecast to $79.9 billion (up from $78.9 billion) and EPS to $2.16 (up from $2.11) [8]. - Boone previously downgraded Google due to potential antitrust penalties but notes that the risk has been largely priced into the stock, leading to the upgrade ahead of the court's decision [9].
44 Public Companies Make Time's Most Influential List: Coinbase, UFC, Nintendo, Netflix And More Stocks Investors Can Buy
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 15:39
Core Insights - Time Magazine's annual 100 Most Influential Companies list for 2025 highlights companies from the growing artificial intelligence sector and aims to recognize businesses that are shaping the future [1][2] - The selection criteria for the list include a combination of impact, innovation, ambition, and success, rather than relying solely on financial metrics [1] Group 1: Company Categories - The influential companies are categorized into five groups: Innovators, Disruptors, Leaders, Titans, and Pioneers [2] - Notable companies in the list include Alibaba Group Holding, BYD Co, Coinbase Global, and Amazon.com, among others, showcasing a diverse range of industries from e-commerce to biotechnology [7][10] Group 2: Public and Private Companies - Nearly half of the companies listed are publicly traded or part of publicly traded companies, providing investment opportunities for those looking to engage with influential businesses [8] - The list also features several private companies, such as OpenAI and SpaceX, which may present potential IPO opportunities in the future [9]
Apple's F1 Movie Burns $300 Million—Still Waiting On A Profit
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 14:56
Core Insights - Apple, Inc. is re-entering high-budget theatrical releases with the launch of its racing drama "F1," which has a reported budget of $300 million, indicating the company's ambition in Hollywood despite ongoing financial challenges in this sector [1][3] - Despite Apple's substantial resources, including a $3 trillion market cap and nearly $100 billion in annual profits, its video production unit has not turned a profit since its inception in 2017 [2][5] - The company has invested over $20 billion in original content, but this has not resulted in significant box office success or subscriber growth to offset costs [3][4] Financial Performance - Apple's last three major films—"Killers of the Flower Moon," "Napoleon," and "Argylle"—cost over $700 million to produce and market but only generated $466 million in global box office revenue, leading to a loss exceeding $200 million from these theatrical releases [4] - Apple TV+ has approximately 45 million subscribers but captures less than 1% of total U.S. streaming viewership, incurring annual losses of over $1 billion [5] - The company has reduced its annual content spending from $5 billion to $4.5 billion in response to ongoing losses, yet its video production division remains unprofitable [5] Strategic Positioning - The video production unit is primarily a prestige driver and a tool to promote Apple's broader ecosystem rather than a standalone profit center [6] - CEO Tim Cook perceives Apple Original Films as a separate business, although he does not expect the release of "F1" to significantly boost iPhone sales [6] - While high-profile releases like "F1" may enhance Apple's brand and attract new customers, the division has yet to prove it can be financially self-sustaining [6][7]
Why Is Bone Biologics Stock Surging On Friday?
Benzinga· 2025-06-27 14:23
Core Insights - Bone Biologics Corporation's stock is experiencing an increase, with a trading volume of 17.22 million shares compared to an average of 38.795K shares [1] - The company has filed a patent application for its preclinical NELL-1 protein, aimed at treating bone conditions, particularly in spinal fusion procedures [2] - The patent application is seen as a significant step in the company's mission to provide effective treatments for spine fusion patients [2] Financial Activities - Bone Biologics has priced a public offering of 1.25 million shares along with Series D and Series E warrants, each with an exercise price of $4 per share [3] - The total gross proceeds from this offering are expected to be $5.0 million, with potential additional proceeds of $10 million if the warrants are fully exercised [4] - Proceeds from the offering will be allocated to fund clinical trials, maintain and extend the patent portfolio, and for general corporate purposes [4] Stock Performance - The company recently executed a reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-6 [5] - As of the latest publication, Bone Biologics' stock price has risen by 20.31%, reaching $5.01 [5]