Gov. Newsom's Total Ban On Hemp THC Could Crush California's Billion-Dollar Industry, Say Stakeholders (UPDATED)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include reactions from California hemp industry stakeholders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom made a sudden move on Friday, proposing emergency regulations that would completely ban THC, the intoxicating compound found in cannabis, from all hemp products in the state.
The proposed regulations, released by the California Department of Public Health, would require that all industrial hemp food, beverage and dietary supplements produced for human consumption would need to be free of THC and other cannabinoids, reported the Hill.
Hemp products, which are essentially unregulated, can be easily bought online or at places like gas stations or convenience stores throughout the state. Newsom said in a statement that the emergency rules were necessary to protect children.
“We will not sit on our hands as drug peddlers target our children with dangerous and unregulated hemp products containing THC at our retail stores. We’re taking action to close loopholes and increase enforcement to prevent children from accessing these dangerous hemp and cannabis products,” Newsom said.
In addition to requiring that all hemp products in California have “no detectable amount of total THC,” the governor and health officials want customers be over 21 to purchase the products. The rules still need the approval of the California Office of Administrative Law before they go into effect, according to the outlet.
Industry Stakeholders Quick To Respond
“Today’s ’emergency action’ by Governor Newsom is a betrayal of California hemp farmers, small businesses, and adult consumers,” the Hemp Roudtable told Benzinga. “After having supported AB 45, which created a sound regulatory framework for the manufacture and sale of hemp products, Newsom’s Administration fell on the job and failed to take any steps to enforce it.”
The Roundtable took the governor to task for not establishing policies to keep intoxicating products away from children rather than punishing the entire industry. “And in the middle of massive California budget deficits, he is unnecessarily throwing away nearly a quarter billion dollars in tax revenue from legitimate small businesses.”
The Hemp Roundtable vowed to explore all legal options in the coming days “with California hemp farmers and businesses that comprise the multi-billion-dollar industry that this action would destroy.”
Case Mandel, CEO of Cannadips, also spoke out. “This will destroy our business,” Mandel told Benzinga. He explained that even though most Cannadips’ products are THC-free, they come in packages of 15 servings, which would make them illegal under the new rules, which require packages be limited to just five servings.
“This will also attack the full-spectrum CBD industry that has provided high-quality products that people rely on in the state of California,” Mandel said. “We can understand passing laws that affect what can be sold in CA. What we don’t understand is why they affect what can be manufactured and sold legally nationwide. We ask that Gavin Newsom wises up and looks for legislation that actually represents his objectives, not private interests.”
Read Gov. Newsom’s press release for more details and draft regulations.
Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Bureau of Reclamation via Wikimedia Commons and Rob Warner on Unsplash
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Palantir, Dell Among New S&P 500 Members as Index Rebalances
(Bloomberg) — Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR), Dell Technologies Inc (DELL). and Erie Indemnity Co. (ERIE) are set to join the S&P 500 as part of its latest quarterly weighting change.
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The companies will replace American Airlines Group Inc., Etsy Inc. and Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., according to a press release from S&P Dow Jones Indices Friday. The changes are set to go into effect prior to the open of trading on Sept. 23.
The additions of Palantir and Dell reflect how technology companies, and artificial intelligence-related names in particular, are reshaping the market. Palantir, the data-analysis software company co-founded by billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel, has grown from serving the US intelligence community to working with dozens of government agencies, and more recently expanding its commercial business.
Shares of the Denver-based company have risen over 75% this year as investors bet the software and surveillance firm will benefit from growing demand for its AI tools. Shares jumped as much as 8.4% in after-hours trading Friday.
Dell, the Round Rock, Texas-based company best know for personal computers and monitors, reported better-than-expected revenue last week as a result of an increase in sales of servers built for handling AI workloads.
Shares of the hardware giant jumped as much as 8.7% after the bell, while insurance company Erie Indemnity rose as much as 5.5%.
Companies must have a market capitalization of at least $18 billion and meet profitability, liquidity and share-float standards to qualify for the S&P 500, per August’s methodology.
Meanwhile, the removal of American Airlines from the US equity benchmark underscores the challenges the industry has faced of late, including delayed deliveries of planes and rising labor costs. The air carrier slashed its profit outlook in July after expectations for domestic demand proved too rosy. Its shares dropped 0.8% Friday post-market, adding to a 21% year-to-date decline.
Inclusion in the US equity benchmark can elevate a company’s profile and is becoming more important as passive investment funds grow. Expulsion from the benchmark can weigh on stock prices, as index funds sell shares to realign with the S&P 500’s new composition.
From June: KKR, CrowdStrike and GoDaddy to Join S&P 500 as Index Rebalances
—With assistance from Isabelle Lee.
(Updates with additional details throughout)
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©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Decoding Chevron's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?
Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Chevron CVX.
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 CVX, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did?
Today, Benzinga‘s options scanner spotted 28 uncommon options trades for Chevron.
This isn’t normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 35% bullish and 28%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 18 are puts, for a total amount of $1,626,319, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $472,975.
What’s The Price Target?
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $120.0 to $160.0 for Chevron during the past quarter.
Volume & Open Interest Trends
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Chevron’s options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Chevron’s whale trades within a strike price range from $120.0 to $160.0 in the last 30 days.
Chevron 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot
Noteworthy Options Activity:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVX | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $18.75 | $18.5 | $18.6 | $155.00 | $185.8K | 770 | 492 |
| CVX | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $18.75 | $18.5 | $18.57 | $155.00 | $185.7K | 770 | 695 |
| CVX | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $18.75 | $18.5 | $18.57 | $155.00 | $185.7K | 770 | 695 |
| CVX | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $18.7 | $18.5 | $18.56 | $155.00 | $185.7K | 770 | 695 |
| CVX | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 09/20/24 | $11.0 | $10.85 | $10.9 | $150.00 | $98.1K | 4.8K | 170 |
About Chevron
Chevron is an integrated energy company with exploration, production, and refining operations worldwide. It is the second-largest oil company in the United States with production of 3.1 million of barrels of oil equivalent a day, including 7.7 million cubic feet a day of natural gas and 1.8 million of barrels of liquids a day. Production activities take place in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Its refineries are in the US and Asia for total refining capacity of 1.8 million barrels of oil a day. Proven reserves at year-end 2023 stood at 11.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent, including 6.0 billion barrels of liquids and 30.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Chevron, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
Chevron’s Current Market Status
- With a volume of 7,804,635, the price of CVX is down -1.62% at $138.64.
- RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.
- Next earnings are expected to be released in 49 days.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Chevron, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts.
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Analyst Report: Kimco Realty Corp.
Summary
Kimco is a last-mile real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, development, and management of open-air shopping centers. The company’s portfolio consists of 567 U.S. shopping centers and mixed-use assets. Prior to the 1Q24 merger, New York and California accounted for about 28% of all properties.
Currently, about 80% of annual base rents come from the REIT’s top 18 metropolitan markets. Approximately 87% of GLA is leased to anchor stores and current anchor occupancy is 98%. Anchor stores also include discount clothing retailers, and T.J Maxx is the company’s top tenant, accounting for less than 4% of GLA. The REIT’s largest grocery tenant is Amazon/Whole Foods with 32 locations.
The company recognizes the value of multi-use retail destinations that include smaller tenants, and has maintained relationships with fast-food and coffee retailers. It has shopping centers in 39 states, with a focus on the last-mile suburbs of major metro coastal markets, as well as Sunbelt locations. In August 2021, it purchased Weingarten Realty for approximately $3.9 billion, becoming the largest grocery-anchored shopping REIT by market capitalization. The acquisition also gave the company a presence in Texas. In January, Kimco purchased RPT Realty in an al
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Big Lots prepares bankruptcy filing with plans to sell stores, Bloomberg News reports
(Reuters) – Discount home goods retailer Big Lots is preparing to file for bankruptcy as early as this Sunday and plans to sell its chain of stores through a court-supervised process, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.
The company will remain in operation under Chapter 11 protection, the report said, and is currently in the process of securing a stalking horse bid, which means that the bid could be outdone if better offers emerge.
Earlier in the day, the retailer announced the postponement of its second-quarter earnings release, which had been scheduled for Sept. 6. The company now expects to report results on Sept. 12.
The company has been collaborating with advisers from AlixPartners and Guggenheim Partners on the bankruptcy and sale process, according to the report.
Big Lots, a retailer operating around 1,400 stores and employing over 30,000 workers, has been grappling with declining sales over the past few quarters, putting pressure on its balance sheet.
Its stock has plunged more than 90% in the past year and dropped more than 22% in extended trading on Friday.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Big Lots was mulling a potential bankruptcy filing and may seek court protection within the coming weeks.
The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ request for comment.
(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
Intuit's Options: A Look at What the Big Money is Thinking
Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Intuit.
Looking at options history for Intuit INTU we detected 11 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 18% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 27% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $55,200 and 9, calls, for a total amount of $258,250.
Expected Price Movements
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $590.0 to $640.0 for Intuit during the past quarter.
Volume & Open Interest Development
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Intuit’s options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Intuit’s substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $590.0 to $640.0 over the preceding 30 days.
Intuit Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days
Noteworthy Options Activity:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTU | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 06/20/25 | $68.4 | $65.4 | $66.7 | $640.00 | $33.3K | 852 | 28 |
| INTU | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 06/20/25 | $69.7 | $63.2 | $66.2 | $640.00 | $33.1K | 852 | 5 |
| INTU | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 06/20/25 | $68.3 | $63.6 | $65.6 | $640.00 | $32.8K | 852 | 43 |
| INTU | PUT | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 12/20/24 | $30.6 | $29.4 | $30.0 | $600.00 | $30.0K | 204 | 11 |
| INTU | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 06/20/25 | $68.9 | $65.3 | $66.9 | $640.00 | $26.7K | 852 | 23 |
About Intuit
Intuit is a provider of small-business accounting software (QuickBooks), personal tax solutions (TurboTax), and professional tax offerings (Lacerte). Founded in the mid-1980s, Intuit controls the majority of US market share for small-business accounting and do-it-yourself tax-filing software.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Intuit, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
Present Market Standing of Intuit
- Currently trading with a volume of 980,452, the INTU’s price is down by -0.99%, now at $615.33.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 81 days.
What The Experts Say On Intuit
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $734.4.
- An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Intuit, which currently sits at a price target of $740.
- An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Intuit, which currently sits at a price target of $600.
- An analyst from Susquehanna has decided to maintain their Positive rating on Intuit, which currently sits at a price target of $757.
- Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Stifel continues to hold a Buy rating for Intuit, targeting a price of $795.
- Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from B of A Securities keeps a Buy rating on Intuit with a target price of $780.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Intuit options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Industrial Silica Market Size on Track to Surpass USD 18.4 Billion by 2034 with 4.3% CAGR Expansion| Analysis by Transparency Market Research, Inc.
Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Transparency Market Research, Inc., Sept. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The industrial silica market (산업용 실리카 시장) was worth US$11.6 billion in 2023. The market is expected to reach US$ 18.4 billion by 2034, progressing at a CAGR of 4.3%. Artificial intelligence will continue to be integrated into silica production to improve efficiency and automation and meet market demands.
As automation and AI technology increasingly drive operational improvements and meet market demands, this trend reflects the broader impact of AI on industrial manufacturing processes.
Electronics, automotive, construction, and the automotive industry will continue to need high-quality silica for their production processes. The extraction and purification methods of silica need to be improved even further to enable advanced manufacturing processes.
Photovoltaic cells, one of the main components of renewable energy, are made from silica. Solar power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.
As the world moves more and more toward renewable energy sources, there will be an increase in the need for industrial silica. Solar panel technology is constantly evolving, and new developments can require more specific silica, resulting in more research and development.
Gain Valuable Insights from Industry Experts to Shape Your Growth Strategies. Access our Sample PDF Report Now! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/industrial-silica-sands-market.html
Key Findings of the Market Report
● In order to fuel industrial silica with oil or gas, unconventional methods are required.
● Concrete’s durability is boosting the market for industrial silica
- A large share of the market in 2023 was dominated by fiberglass.
- In 2023, Asia Pacific dominated the industrial silica market.
Global Industrial Silica Market: Growth Drivers
- The use of silica in tires and other car parts is thought to increase the lifespan and fuel efficiency of vehicles. A wide variety of industries, such as electronics, chemicals, and coatings, use industrial silica continuously for research and development. Technology also facilitates the development of more effective methods for extraction and processing, which boost markets.
- Numerous industries have seen a movement toward eco-friendly products as a result of regulatory actions meant to reduce environmental damage. A growing number of sustainable alternatives, including coatings, paints, and adhesives, are using industrial silica, especially in colloidal form.
- Industrial silica is used in the oil and gas industry’s hydraulic fracturing (fracking) procedures to increase well production rates. The need for industrial silica used in the fracturing process will always be high as long as oil and gas development is going on, especially in unconventional reservoirs like shale formations.
- Due to its absorption and abrasive properties, industrial silica is used in medicines, cosmetics, and personal hygiene products. As a result of the increased demand for personal hygiene products and wellness products, the demand for industrial silica is increasing.
Global Industrial Silica Market: Regional Landscape
- The industrial silica market is expected to grow at a faster rate in Asia Pacific. As the Asia Pacific region urbanizes and develops its infrastructure, especially in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asia, infrastructure is being rapidly built. As the construction sector continues to grow, industrial silica production will increase, which will lead to an increase in demand for ceramics, glass, and concrete.
- Electronics production is dominated by nations such as South Korea, Taiwan, and China in the Asia-Pacific. A variety of electronic components are manufactured with industrial silica, including semiconductors, display panels, and other components.
- Consumption of consumer electronics is increasing the demand for industrial silica. Governments in the Asia-Pacific area are implementing stricter environmental laws in an effort to combat pollution and advance sustainable development. Various sectors, including electronics, automotive, and construction, benefit from the use of environmentally friendly materials.
- The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and India, is investing heavily in oil and gas exploration to meet their expanding energy needs. Industrial silica is used in hydraulic fracturing processes to enhance oil and gas extraction from unconventional deposits.
- As a result of these exploration efforts, the region’s need for industrial silica is increasing. Asia-Pacific nations are making research and development investments to advance technical progress in various fields. Nanotechnology, innovative materials, and coatings are among the industries where industrial silica is finding new uses.
Global Industrial Silica Market: Competitive Landscape
To gain a strong foothold in the silica compounds market, companies in the global industrial silica industry are developing new products and expanding their manufacturing plants.
Key Players Profiled
- Premier Silica LLC
- International Silica Industries
- U.S. Silica
- SIL Industrial Minerals
- Adwan Chemical Industries
- Delmon Group
- Opta Group LP
- Asamco Group
- Saudi Emirates Pulverization Industries Company (SEPICO)
- Al-Rushaid Group
- FINETON
- Short Mountain Silica Co.
- AGSCO Corp
Key Developments
- In November 2023, U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. informed stockholders that it raised prices for most of its non-contracted silica, perlite, diatomaceous earth, aplite, clay, and cellulose products used primarily in foundry, glass, filtration, paints, elastomers, coatings, roofing, chemicals, building products, recreation, renewable diesel, industrial oil, and other applications.
- Depending on the grade and product, price increases are up to 20% and will take effect for shipments to begin. As labor, transportation, material, and manufacturing costs continue to increase, price increases are necessary to offset their impacts.
Enhance Your Business Now! Acquire Vital Market Insights – Access the Report Now! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=13502<ype=S
Global Industrial Silica Market: Segmentation
Application
- Sodium Silicate
- Fiberglass
- Cultured Marble
- Additive (Paints, etc.)
- Reinforcing Filler (Plastics, Rubber, etc.)
- Foundry Work (Metal Alloy, etc.)
- Ceramic Frits & Glaze
- Oilwell Cement
- Glass & Clay Production
- Others (Pharmaceutical)
Region
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
Explore wide-ranging Coverage of TMR’s Chemicals and Materials Market Insights Landscape
- Braze Alloys Market – The global market for braze alloys (브레이징 합금 시장) was valued at US$ 2.5 billion in 2022. A CAGR of 4.3% is expected from 2023 to 2031. The market is expected to reach US$ 3.2 billion by 2031. Advances in brazing technology, including improved alloys, should lead to further market growth. As brazed joints become more efficient, stronger, and environmentally friendly, their adoption may increase.
- Aluminum Castings Market – The global aluminum castings market (알루미늄 주물 시장) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2024 to 2034 and reach US$ 83.4 Billion by the end of 2034.
- Industrial Hand Tools Market – The global industrial hand tools market (산업용 수공구 시장) is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2023 to 2031 and reach US$ 34.5 Billion by the end of 2031.
About Transparency Market Research
Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.
Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
Contact:
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Vistra 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today
Vistra VST has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 10.9% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 23.53%. Currently, Vistra has a market capitalization of $25.29 billion.
Buying $1000 In VST: If an investor had bought $1000 of VST stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,884.54 today based on a price of $73.60 for VST at the time of writing.
Vistra’s Performance Over Last 5 Years
Finally — what’s the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga’s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.
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© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Buy the September dip in stocks as the market heads into the best 3-month stretch of the year, strategist says
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Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 declines in September present a buying opportunity, says Ned Davis Research.
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Weak seasonality data and excessive pessimism readings suggest a strong 4th quarter rally is ahead, NDR said.
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NDR sees no signs of a sharp bear market, with positive earnings revisions and economic indicators.
A 6% decline in the Nasdaq 100 and 4% decline in the S&P 500 since the start of September represents an attractive buying opportunity for investors, according to Ned Davis Research.
The research firm said in a note on Friday that the weakness in stocks so far this month is more than typical, given weak seasonality data — but it’s also a big opportunity given the market is heading for its best three-month stretch of the year.
“With the September weakness relieving the optimism and sending sentiment indicators to excessive pessimism readings, equities would be likely to launch a persistent ascent similar to the first quarter advance, supported by fourth quarter seasonal tendencies,” NDR strategist Tim Hayes said.
He added: “Whereas a comparison of three-month declines shows that August – October has been the weakest, October – December has been the strongest.”
Hayes finds it encouraging that, based on internal NDR readings, the stock market, economy, and corporate earnings are showing no signs of being vulnerable to a sharp bear market decline akin to what happened in 2022.
Analyst earnings revisions continue to trend higher, historically a leading indicator for corporate earnings.
“As with revisions, economic performance is a leading indicator of earnings growth, currently supporting the earnings outlook. While the recession probability has risen from its lows of May and June, it hasn’t risen out of its bullish mode for equities,” Hayes explained.
Altogether, that means the current stock market decline is more likely to be a garden variety correction that ultimately proves to be healthy for the sustainability of the ongoing bull rally that began in October 2022.
“The current choppiness will prove to be just that, not the sign of a new bear market. It should lead to a buying opportunity within the continuing bull market, ahead of renewed rallying in the fourth quarter,” Hayes said.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Billionaires Are Selling Nvidia Stock and Buying 1 AI Stock That Could Soar 215%, According to Certain Wall Street Analysts
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has so far been the heart of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. However, the hedge fund billionaires listed below trimmed their positions in Nvidia stock during the second quarter, while purchasing shares of Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI).
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Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management sold 1.3 million shares of Nvidia, trimming his stake by 8%. He also bought 1,040 shares of Supermicro, nudging his position 2% higher.
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Israel Englander of Millennium Management sold 676,242 shares of Nvidia, cutting his stake by 5%. He also bought 553,323 shares of Supermicro, upping his position by 807%.
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Ken Griffin of Citadel Advisors sold 9.2 million shares of Nvidia, slashing his stake by 79%. He also added 98,752 shares of Supermicro, increasing his position by 96%.
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David Shaw of D.E. Shaw & Co. sold 12.1 million shares of Nvidia, reducing his stake by 52%. He also opened a new position in Supermicro.
Trades made by Griffin, Shaw, and Englander are especially noteworthy because they manage the three most successful hedge funds as measured by net gains since inception, according to LCH Investments. Importantly, all four fund managers still have major exposure to Nvidia, so we cannot assume they view the chipmaker as a bad investment.
But we can assume the fund managers see Supermicro as a worthwhile investment, and two Wall Street analysts evidently agree. Nehal Chokshi at Northland Securities and Hans Mosesmann at Rosenblatt have put 12-month price targets of $1,300 per share on Supermicro. Those forecasts imply 215% upside from its current share price of $413.
Here’s what investors should know about Nvidia and Supermicro.
1. Nvidia
Nvidia holds a market share of more than 90% in data center graphics processing units (GPUs), chips that speed up the processing of complex workloads like artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The company accounts for more than 70% of AI chip sales, and some analysts estimate its revenue share is above 90%. Nvidia also dominates the market for generative AI networking, according to Morningstar.
Hardware leadership is fantastic, but Nvidia has extended its ability to monetize AI with subscription software and cloud services, both of which generate recurring revenue. For instance, the Nvidia AI Foundry platform supports the development of custom generative AI models. And the Nvidia AI Enterprise platform supports the development of AI applications across use cases like robotics, recommender systems, and logistics route optimization.
Nvidia delivered a strong financial performance in its fiscal 2025 second quarter (which ended in July). Sales rose by 122% to $30 billion on strong demand for AI hardware and software. Non-GAAP earnings surged by 152% to $0.68 per diluted share.
CFO Colette Kress said production of Blackwell GPUs would ramp up in the fourth quarter, about three months later than originally anticipated. Blackwell is Nvidia’s next generation of data center chips. It offers up to four times faster AI training and 30 times faster AI inferencing than the previous Hopper architecture. “The anticipation for Blackwell is incredible,” CEO Jensen Huang told analysts.
Wall Street expects Nvidia to grow its earnings at an annualized rate of 37% over the next three years. That estimate makes its current valuation of 50 times earnings look reasonable. At that price, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the fund managers mentioned earlier have been buying Nvidia stock in the third quarter.
2. Super Micro Computer
Supermicro develops high-performance computing platforms for enterprise and cloud data centers. Its products range from individual servers to full server racks equipped with networking and storage. The company has secured a leadership position in the AI server market due to its internal manufacturing capabilities and its modular approach to product development.
Those advantages let the company quickly build a broad range of server products with the latest chips from suppliers like Nvidia. Supermicro can typically bring new technologies to market faster than its competitors, often two to six months earlier. That time-to-market advantage should keep the company at the forefront of the AI server market.
Supermicro reported mixed financial results in its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter (which ended in June). Sales increased by 144% to $5.3 billion due to record demand for AI infrastructure. But gross profit margin contracted by nearly 6 percentage points, such that non-GAAP net income increased just 78% to $6.25 per diluted share. Management said its weaker margins came from temporary headwinds, but shares still plunged 20% the day after the Q4 report came out.
Shortly thereafter, shareholders got hit with more bad news when short-seller Hindenburg Research published a report alleging “glaring accounting red flags, evidence of undisclosed related party transactions, sanctions and export control failures, and customer issues.” Supermicro shares have plunged by 24% since the report was released in late August, such that the stock is now 65% off its all-time high.
In the last five years, Hindenburg has flagged alleged malfeasance at more than two dozen companies, sometimes with lasting consequences. For instance, Nikola shares have plunged 99% since the short-seller accused the company of lying to shareholders in September 2020. But some of Hindenburg’s short reports have come to nothing. For instance, Block shares have advanced by 5% since the fintech was targeted by the short-seller in March 2023.
Given the available information, Samik Chatterjee at JPMorgan is not particularly concerned about the allegations regarding Supermicro. “We see the report as largely void of details around alleged wrongdoings,” he wrote in a recent note. He also maintained his price target of $950 per share, implying 130% upside.
More broadly, Wall Street still expects Supermicro to grow earnings by 46% annually over the next three years. That makes its current valuation of 21 times earnings look cheap. Those figures give it a price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.46, which is a substantial discount to its three-year average of 0.89.
Here’s the bottom line: The stock probably won’t triple in the next 12 months, and there is certainly risk surrounding the short report. However, the current price is a reasonable entry point for patient investors, and Supermicro has a good shot at beating the market over the next three to five years.
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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Block and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Block, JPMorgan Chase, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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