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Robinhood stock price has been in a strong bull run since 2023, helped by the strong performance of American equities and cryptocurrencies. The HOOD share price peaked at $39.70, its highest level since October 2021, giving it a market cap of over $33 billion.

HOOD business is doing well

Robinhood, a top disruptor in the financial services industry, has been in a strong growth trajectory, helped by its innovation and popularity among users. 

Its annual sales have jumped from $277.5 million in 2019 to over $1.865 billion in 2023. This growth trajectory has continued this year, bringing its trailing twelve-month (TTM) revenue to over $2.4 billion. 

Robinhood’s recent success is mostly because of the ongoing surge in American equities, which has pushed indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500 to their all-time high. It has also benefited from the ongoing crypto bull run that has pushed Bitcoin above $90,000.

Historically, exchanges and brokers do well when the market is rising since it attracts more investors and traders. For example, data shows that most crypto exchanges have seen higher revenues this year as many investors have moved back to the crypto market.

Robinhood has seen the number of customers on its platform rise sharply in the past few months. Funded customers rose to over 24.3 million in the last quarter, up from 23.3 million in the same period last year. 

The company’s subscription package is also seeing strong uptake by consumers. Users have jumped to 2.19 million, up from 1.33 million in the same period last year. 

The recent results also show that Robinhood’s assets under management (AUM) has jumped to $152 million, up from $87 million in the third quarter of 2023. This is a sign that customers are getting more comfortable adding funds to its platform, a situation that will continue in the coming years.

Robinhood stock boosted by strong growth

The most recent financial results showed that its revenue jumped by 36% in Q3 to over $637 million as the number of customers and assets jumped.

For starters, Robinhood makes money through the Payment for Order Flow (PFOF), where it receives rebates from market makers for all orders it routes through it. These market makers are often seen as wholesalers in the financial industry and include companies like Virtu and Citadel.

Its transaction revenue rose by 72% to $319 million, while its net interest and other revenues jumped to $274 million and $44 million. Most importantly, Robinhood has become a highly profitable company as its net income jumped to $150 million in the last quarter. 

Robinhood has done more things to boost its business. It became the first broker to offer 24-hours of stock trading in the US. It has also expanded its business in the UK, and its goal is to move to other countries. 

The company also acquired Bitstamp, a leading player in the crypto industry, in a transaction that will close in 2025. This deal will make it one of the top players in the crypto industry by offering additional services outside of its main application. 

It will also be a good way to expand its business around the world since Bitstamp has licenses in over 50 countries. 

Stock analysts believe that Robinhood has more room to grow as it continues to challenge other top companies like Schwab and TD Ameritrade. Its innovation has also helped it fend off competition from the likes of eToro, Webull, SoFi Invest, Public, and MooMoo. 

These analysts believe that Robinhood’s revenue for the current quarter will be $654 million, a 39% increase from the same period last year. It will then make $677 million next quarter, while its annual revenue this year will be $2.61 billion. 

Robinhood’s profitability will keep rising, moving from 49 cents last year to $1.01 this year and $1.04 next year. 

As such, while Robinhood is an overvalued company, analysts believe that it is justified because of its strong growth. HOOD trades at a trailing twelve-month price-to-earnings of 62, much higher than other companies. Its enterprise value to revenue stands at 11.8, while its EV to EBITDA is 47.35.

Robinhood stock price analysis

HOOD chart by TradingView

The weekly chart shows that the HOOD share price has been in a strong uptrend in the past few years. It has moved to the 38.2% Fibonacci Retracement point at $36.73. It has moved above the 50-week moving average.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the MACD indicators have continued rising. Therefore, there are signs that the stock is forming a cup and handle pattern, whose upper side is at $85.03.

This price action means that the stock will rise by 133% to an all-time high. If this happens, its market cap will get to over $78 billion.

The post Here’s why the Robinhood stock price could surge 133% appeared first on Invezz

Texas Pacific Land (TPL) stock price has gone parabolic this year, helped by its strong performance and robust insider transactions. It jumped to a record high of $1,767 this week, bringing the year-to-date gains to about 200%, making it one of the best-performing companies in the United States.

TPL stock jumps amid insider purchases

Data shows that the Texas Pacific Land insiders have been aggressively buying the company’s shares in the past few years.

According to Barchart, these insiders have bought 702 shares in the past three months. At the current price, these stocks are now worth over $1 million. Cumulatively, they have bought 2,913 shares currently worth over $4.5 million in the last 12 months.

Murray Stahl, a key insider and the Chairman and CEO of Horizon Kinetics has been one of the biggest buyers of the stock. Chris Steddum and Stephanie Buffington, the CFO and CAO have also continued to buy the shares.

Insider transactions are some of the top leading indicators that investors look at when making decisions. In most periods, stocks tend to do well when insiders are buying the shares since they have a clearer picture about what is going on. 

Texas Pacific Land is doing well

The ongoing insider transactions are happening because the company is doing relatively well. For starters, TPL is a leading company that owns thousands of acres of land, mostly in Texas. 

It owns 868,000 acres of land in Western Texas at the Permian Basin. The company also owns a nonparticipating perpetual oil and gas royalty interest under 195,000 acres of land.

TPL makes money by providing its land to companies in the oil and gas industry. As a result, while it does not produce oil and gas directly, the company benefits when the sector is doing well. 

For example, it receives a fee during the initial development phase of wells. This fee is typically for its land and other products it sells like caliche. After that, the company makes money during the drilling and completion by providing water and fees for the land.

Additionally, Texas Pacific Land makes money during production through its rights and for providing saltwater disposal. The company also receives fees from other players in the energy sector like pipelines and utility providers. 

Its oil and gas royalties are the biggest part of its business followed by easements and land sales. In addition to this, it benefits from the appreciation of its land resources over time.

Texas Pacific Land’s business has done fairly well in the past few years as its revenues have jumped from $302 million in 2020 to $631 million in the last financial year. Its net income rose to almost $450 million. 

The most recent financial results showed that the company acquired mineral interest on about 4,106 net royalty acres in the Delaware Basin for $120 million. It had royalty oil production worth 28.3k barrels of oil equivalent a day, bringing its net income to $106.6 million. 

The company also declared a special cash dividend of $10 in July and boosted its quarterly cash dividend to $1.17. Therefore, this performance will likely continue doing well in the near term. 

Texas Pacific Land stock price analysis

TPL chart by TradingView

The daily chart shows that the TPL share price surged to a record high of $1,762, its all-time high. It moved above the key resistance level at $886, its highest level on November 2022. That was the upper side of the cup and handle pattern.

Texas Pacific Land shares have moved above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). Most importantly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Stochastic Oscillator have moved to the overbought level.

Therefore, while the stock may continue rising, there is a likelihood that it will have a small pullback to about $1,400 and then resume the bull run. More gains will be confirmed if the stock jumps above the key resistance level at $1,762.

The post Insiders are buying Texas Pacific Land stock: is it a good buy? appeared first on Invezz

General Motors (GM) stock price has suffered a harsh reversal this week as concerns about tariffs remained. It has dropped to $54.80, down by 10.80% from its highest point this week, meaning that it has moved into a technical correction. It has risen by 110% from its lowest point last year.

Tariff concerns remain

General Motors and other automakers like Ford and Stellantis crashed hard as investors remained concerned about Trump’s tariffs. In a statement on Monday, the incoming president warned that he would impose large tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods.

That was a notable statement because GM is not only one of the top manufacturers in the US but also one of the top importers. It has large operations in Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, and Mexico.

Therefore, a 25% tariff on imports will make its vehicles more expensive in the US, which will hurt its sales in the country. At the same time, Mexico, Canada, and China will also respond by imposing tariffs of their own.

If this plan works, the industry could disrupt the industry at a time when companies are struggling with slow sales.

Still, on the positive side, there are signs that these tariffs will not go on because of the risks involved. For one, high tariffs will be passed to consumers, a move that will lead to higher inflation in the country.

Also, it is unclear whether tariffs on Mexican goods will be legal since it belongs to the USMCA, which Donald Trump negotiated. As such, since the deal was ratified by the US Senate and Congress, it is part of the law and cannot be exited by the executive. 

General Motors business is doing well

On the positive side, there are signs that General Motors business is doing well after the company went slow on its EV investments. It will also benefit from the ongoing interest rate cuts in the US and the rising demand for hybrid vehicles. 

The most recent financial results showed that GM’s revenue rose from $44.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023 to over $48.7 billion. This happened as the number of vehicle sales and prices continued rising.

GM’s profits also held steady in the last quarter, with the diluted earnings-per-share rising from $2.2 to $2.68. This happened even as the company hiked salaries following last year’s strikes. 

It has done that by continuing to cut costs, especially in its EV business and reducing the size of its workforce. Most recently, it announced plans to cut jobs by 1000 in the coming months.

GM has also continued to return funds to its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Indeed, its outstanding shares have dropped from 1.4 billion in 2021 to 1.2 billion today. 

Analysts expect the General Motor’s revenues will hit $181 billion this year, while its earnings per share will be $10.3, higher than the last year it made $7.68.

GM stock analysis

The weekly chart shows that the General Motors share price has been in a strong bull run in the past few months. It recently jumped to a high of $61.25, its highest level since January 2022.

GM stock has formed a golden cross pattern as the 50-week and 200-week Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). In most periods, this is one of the most bullish patterns in the market. 

General Motors has moved to the 23.6% Fibonacci Retracement level. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has continued rising and is nearing the overbought level. 

The stock has formed a bearish engulfing pattern, which is one of the most bearish candlestick signs. Therefore, the stock will likely have some short-term volatility and drop to $50. In the longer term, however, the stock will bounce back and retest $65.63, its highest level in 2022. 

The post General Motors (GM) stock price forecast ahead of Trump tariffs appeared first on Invezz

The Adani Group has issued a clarification regarding the charges against its founder, Gautam Adani, following a US indictment.

Adani Green Energy Ltd., in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday, stated that neither Gautam Adani nor his aides, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, have been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), contrary to some media reports.

The company clarified that the Department of Justice indictment charges Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and securities fraud.

These charges generally carry less severe penalties than bribery.

Additionally, Gautam and Sagar Adani face a civil complaint for violating sections of the Securities Act and aiding and abetting Adani Green in violating the Act.

The Adani Group has previously denied all allegations and stated its intention to pursue legal action in its defense.

FCPA and its implications

The FCPA prohibits companies or individuals with US ties, such as public listings, American investors, or joint ventures, from offering bribes to foreign government officials in exchange for favorable treatment.

While the Adani Group does not directly trade in the US, it does have American investors, which establishes a US link.

Federal prosecutors allege that Adani and other defendants promised over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts, concealing this scheme while raising capital from US investors.

FCPA investigations are often complex and lengthy, involving the gathering of evidence and interviewing witnesses potentially located outside the US.

However, these cases tend to be high-profile and can lead to significant fines for companies and notable victories for prosecutors.

Potential penalties for Adani Green

Adani Green acknowledged facing potential monetary penalties under the civil complaint but stated that the specific amount has not yet been determined.

The company’s filing aims to provide clarity on the specific charges and potential repercussions of the ongoing legal proceedings.

The post Adani group clarifies charges: no FCPA violation for Gautam Adani appeared first on Invezz

The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) ETF continued charging ahead this week, reaching its highest level on record. The fund, which tracks 30 big companies in the US, jumped to a high of $448.9 on Tuesday, bringing the year-to-date gains to almost 22%.

Catalysts for the DIA ETF

The Dow Jones Index has soared this year, helped by the rising hopes that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates in the coming months.

It has already slashed rates by 0.75% this year, and analysts expect it to deliver several more in 2025. Minutes released on Tuesday showed that officials favor a more gradual pace of cuts going forward, which is also a good thing for the market.

The Dow Jones and other stock indices do well when the Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates. In most cases, these rate cuts usually lead to a rotation from fixed-income to the relatively risky stock market. 

The DIA ETF has also jumped because of the year’s strong corporate earnings. Data compiled by FactSet showed that 95% of all companies in the S&P 500 index have published their Q3 results. Of these firms, their earnings growth was about 5.8%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of earnings growth. 

Additionally, the Dow Jones index has benefited from the recent entry of NVIDIA, the biggest company in the world. NVIDIA has been one of the best-performing companies in the United States in the past few years. 

Further, analysts now believe that Donald Trump will be a good president for the market. He has already appointed Scott Bessent as the next Treasury Secretary. Bessent, a billionaire is seen as a more market friendly person for the role.

Top Dow Jones companies in 2023

NVIDIA, which has just entered the index, is the best performer as its stock jumped by over 176% this year. Its rally has been propelled by the artificial intelligence craze that has led to a substantial demand for its products.

The most recent NVIDIA earnings showed that the company made over $37 billion in the last quarter, a record high. These numbers mean that it has now generated over $80 billion in the first nine months of the year, a trend that may continue.

NVIDIA has a large market share that is also supported by its Cuda software which helps to reconfigure GPUs to be compatible in handling other tasks.

Walmart, the biggest American retailer, has been the second-best performer in the index as it jumped by 73% this year. The company has benefited from the resilient demand for its products, which are often seen as being fairly priced. It has also expanded its business and gained market share in areas like health and sports. 

American Express stock price has jumped by 63% this year, while Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, 3M, IBM, Travelers, Caterpillar, Amazon, and Salesforce have soared by over 35% this year. 

On the other hand, the top laggards in the DIA ETF are companies like Boeing, Nike, Merck & Company, and Amgen. 

SPDR Dow Jones ETF analysis

DIA ETF chart by TradingView

The daily chart shows that the DIA ETF stock has been in a strong bullish trend in the past few years. It recently crossed the important level at $444.60, its highest level on November 11. By moving above that level, it has invalidated the double-top pattern.

The ETF has moved above the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, a bullish sign. It has moved to the overshoot level of the Murrey Math Lines and is quickly approaching the extreme overshoot. 

The DIA ETF’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has moved to the overbought level at 70. Therefore, the fund will likely continue rising as bulls target the next key resistance point at the extreme overshoot of $453. As I warned on the Russell 2000 and S&P 500 index on Tuesday, a short-term reversal cannot be ruled out. 

The post DIA ETF forecast: what next for the Dow Jones index fund? appeared first on Invezz

Texas Pacific Land (TPL) stock price has gone parabolic this year, helped by its strong performance and robust insider transactions. It jumped to a record high of $1,767 this week, bringing the year-to-date gains to about 200%, making it one of the best-performing companies in the United States.

TPL stock jumps amid insider purchases

Data shows that the Texas Pacific Land insiders have been aggressively buying the company’s shares in the past few years.

According to Barchart, these insiders have bought 702 shares in the past three months. At the current price, these stocks are now worth over $1 million. Cumulatively, they have bought 2,913 shares currently worth over $4.5 million in the last 12 months.

Murray Stahl, a key insider and the Chairman and CEO of Horizon Kinetics has been one of the biggest buyers of the stock. Chris Steddum and Stephanie Buffington, the CFO and CAO have also continued to buy the shares.

Insider transactions are some of the top leading indicators that investors look at when making decisions. In most periods, stocks tend to do well when insiders are buying the shares since they have a clearer picture about what is going on. 

Texas Pacific Land is doing well

The ongoing insider transactions are happening because the company is doing relatively well. For starters, TPL is a leading company that owns thousands of acres of land, mostly in Texas. 

It owns 868,000 acres of land in Western Texas at the Permian Basin. The company also owns a nonparticipating perpetual oil and gas royalty interest under 195,000 acres of land.

TPL makes money by providing its land to companies in the oil and gas industry. As a result, while it does not produce oil and gas directly, the company benefits when the sector is doing well. 

For example, it receives a fee during the initial development phase of wells. This fee is typically for its land and other products it sells like caliche. After that, the company makes money during the drilling and completion by providing water and fees for the land.

Additionally, Texas Pacific Land makes money during production through its rights and for providing saltwater disposal. The company also receives fees from other players in the energy sector like pipelines and utility providers. 

Its oil and gas royalties are the biggest part of its business followed by easements and land sales. In addition to this, it benefits from the appreciation of its land resources over time.

Texas Pacific Land’s business has done fairly well in the past few years as its revenues have jumped from $302 million in 2020 to $631 million in the last financial year. Its net income rose to almost $450 million. 

The most recent financial results showed that the company acquired mineral interest on about 4,106 net royalty acres in the Delaware Basin for $120 million. It had royalty oil production worth 28.3k barrels of oil equivalent a day, bringing its net income to $106.6 million. 

The company also declared a special cash dividend of $10 in July and boosted its quarterly cash dividend to $1.17. Therefore, this performance will likely continue doing well in the near term. 

Texas Pacific Land stock price analysis

TPL chart by TradingView

The daily chart shows that the TPL share price surged to a record high of $1,762, its all-time high. It moved above the key resistance level at $886, its highest level on November 2022. That was the upper side of the cup and handle pattern.

Texas Pacific Land shares have moved above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). Most importantly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Stochastic Oscillator have moved to the overbought level.

Therefore, while the stock may continue rising, there is a likelihood that it will have a small pullback to about $1,400 and then resume the bull run. More gains will be confirmed if the stock jumps above the key resistance level at $1,762.

The post Insiders are buying Texas Pacific Land stock: is it a good buy? appeared first on Invezz

Walmart (WMT) stock price is doing well this year, and is one of the best-performing companies in the United States. It has jumped by 73% this year, bringing its market cap to over $733 billion, making it substantially bigger than companies like Costco and Home Depot. 

Walmart stock helped by strong growth

The WMT share price surge has been propelled by its strong revenue over the years and the fact that it is gaining market share in other sectors. 

Walmart’s annual revenue has jumped from over $523 billion in 2019 to over $648 billion in the last financial year. 

This growth happened because Walmart is often seen as an all-weather company because of its strategy. In most periods, the company’s products are often cheaper than other retailers. Also, Walmart has a wide variety of products, a great rewards program, and has locations across the country. 

Walmart has also been helped by its investments in e-commerce, which has helped make it become available to most people. 

Most importantly, it has become a more profitable company. Just last year, its net profit jumped to over $15.5 billion. It has used these funds to pay its shareholders dividends, which has made it a dividend king after making payouts for 50 years. Walmart has room to grow its dividends because it has a payout ratio of just 33%.

Read more: Is it too late to invest in Walmart stock as it hits a record high? here’s what experts are saying

In addition to dividends, the company has been slashing its outstanding shares. Its total outstanding shares fell from 8.50 billion in 2020 to 8.03 billion, a trend that will continue in the near term.

Walmart has continued to gain market share across other industries. For example, analysts believe that the company is partly to blame for the crisis going on in firms like Walgreens Boots Alliance and CVS Health.

The most recent financial results showed that Walmart’s revenue rose by 5.5% to over $169 billion, higher than what analysts were expecting. Its margins rose by 21 basis points, while its global e-commerce volume jumped by 27%.

Walmart has also become a major player in the advertising industry, where its customers market on its stores and website. 

Can WMT’s market cap hit $1 trillion?

The $1 trillion club has grown rapidly in the past few months, with the number of firms with that valuation jumping to 9 or 10, with Bitcoin included. 

Walmart is the 12th biggest company globally with a market cap of $733 billion, meaning that its stock needs to rise by 27% to hit that valuation. This means that the WMT share price needs to get to $115.95. 

Such a move is possible if the company continues delivering strong results as it has done in the past few years. However, the biggest concern for Walmart has always been its valuation since the firm makes a net profit of less than $20 billion a year. If it averages $20 billion a year, its total profit in the next 20 years will be about $400 billion.

These numbers mean that Walmart has a forward P/E ratio of 36, meaning that all factors were constant, it would take these years to break even if you bought it. It also trades at a forward EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 26, higher than the industry median of 15. 

Read more: Why is Target losing to Walmart, and will it ever catch up?

Walmart stock price analysis

WMT chart by TradingView

The weekly chart shows that the WMT share price has been in a strong bull run in the past decades. It has recently crossed the important resistance level at $90 as buyers target the key resistance point at $100. 

The stock remains much higher than the 50-week and 200-week moving averages. Also, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Stochastic Oscillator have moved to the extremely overbought level.

Therefore, the stock will likely continue rising as bulls target the key resistance level at $115, when will it gets to a $1 trillion company. However, there is a risk that the stock could suffer a slight retreat as investors start to take profits. In the long term, though, the stock will continue doing well because of its role in the US.

The post Walmart stock price is firing on all cylinders: could it hit $1 trillion? appeared first on Invezz

The cryptocurrency market is abuzz with contrasting narratives as two distinct tokens, Keanu (KNU) and Solana (SOL), capture investor attention.

Keanu, a relatively new entrant inspired by the cultural phenomenon of Keanu Reeves, is making waves with its meme-driven appeal and charitable ethos.

On the other hand, Solana, an established altcoin heavyweight, continues to solidify its position with robust decentralised exchange (DEX) activity and consistent network growth.

While Solana’s impressive track record and institutional backing make it a dominant force, Keanu’s grassroots momentum, affordability, and unique branding suggest it could offer higher returns for investors willing to embrace its early-stage potential.

Keanu price data

Keanu, currently trading at $0.002313, is a meme coin with a mission to combine charitable efforts with robust market performance.

Its fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $2.31 million and a circulating supply of 1 billion tokens indicate a highly accessible token with significant upside potential.

The 24-hour trading volume of $356,810 showcases growing interest among retail investors.

This volume represents an impressive 15.74% of its market capitalisation, underlining active participation in the market.

Source: CoinMarketCap

What sets Keanu apart is its community-driven branding.

The slogan “Keanu Makes Bank, Keanu Gives Back” highlights its commitment to philanthropy, a rarity in a sector often focused on short-term gains.

The token has successfully built a “cult-like” following, leveraging the meme culture and Keanu Reeves’ global popularity.

Such organic community support is a powerful driver for growth, especially in a market that thrives on virality and sentiment.

Solana’s recent performance

Solana, on the other hand, continues to make headlines with its strong price surge of 37.91% over the past month.

Currently trading at $232.73, Solana has demonstrated resilience and growth, thanks to its highly scalable network and rising decentralised exchange (DEX) activity.

The network’s market capitalisation of $110.55 billion and 24-hour trading volume of $7.14 billion reflect its dominant position in the market.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Solana’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 58.41 suggests it is not overbought, indicating room for further growth.

However, challenges remain. A drop to its support level at $213.53 is possible if selling pressure increases.

For Solana to reach ambitious targets like $500, significant market catalysts, including institutional adoption and ecosystem growth, are necessary.

While its historical performance shows potential for high growth, its sheer size means further gains might require substantial market momentum.

Why Keanu holds the edge over Solana

Although Solana has the infrastructure and liquidity to remain a market leader, Keanu’s appeal lies in its community-centric approach and lower market entry point.

For new investors, Keanu represents an opportunity to participate in a token with substantial growth potential without the high barrier of entry associated with Solana.

Keanu’s focus on combining meme culture and philanthropy is a unique narrative in the crypto world.

Unlike Solana, which relies heavily on institutional partnerships and technological advancements, Keanu’s success is driven by organic community engagement.

Source: CoinMarketCap

This model has proven effective for other meme tokens like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, which skyrocketed due to similar grassroots support.

Keanu’s smaller market cap means it has more room to grow compared to Solana, which is already a mature asset.

As the token continues to gain traction on platforms like Pump.fun and Raydium, its potential to become a breakout success increases.

The excitement surrounding its charitable initiatives adds another layer of differentiation, attracting investors who prioritise social impact alongside returns.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a controversial plan to provide state rebates to electric vehicle (EV) buyers, effectively excluding Tesla Inc. from the program.

The decision pits Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential contender, against Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a prominent Republican ally and key figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.

Newsom’s initiative, announced Monday, seeks to reboot a rebate program that California phased out in 2023 if Trump repeals the federal $7,500 EV tax credit.

But Newsom’s proposal would also “include changes to promote innovation and competition in the ZEV market,” a line that suggests the state would try to limit the credits to smaller market shares than Tesla.

“It’s about creating the market conditions for more of these car makers to take root,” Newsom’s office told Bloomberg News, adding that the details are subject to legislative negotiations.

Musk reacted to the news on X.

“Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California! This is insane,” he said.

Tesla’s stock fell 2.9% in New York trading following the news.

Exclusion of Tesla stirs political and market tensions

The exclusion of Tesla from the proposed rebates signals a deeper political rift between Newsom and Musk.

Tesla’s dominance in the California EV market has waned, with its share of EV registrations dropping to 54.5% during the first three quarters of 2024, down from 63% in the same period the previous year.

In the Bloomberg report, Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management, criticized the proposal, stating, “This is a slap in Tesla’s face.”

Musk’s relationship with California has been fraught with conflict.

In 2021, Tesla moved its headquarters to Texas, citing frustration with California’s regulatory environment.

The decision followed disputes over COVID-19 lockdowns, which Musk derided as “fascist.”

Despite these tensions, California remains Tesla’s largest domestic market, with the company accounting for more than half of all EVs sold in the state.

EV policy at the crossroads under Trump

Newsom’s rebate plan also underscores California’s broader struggle to shield its progressive climate policies from Trump’s deregulatory agenda.

Trump has vowed to roll back federal EV subsidies and fuel-efficiency standards, calling them an “EV mandate.”

During his first term, Trump targeted California’s ability to set tougher emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and his incoming administration is expected to renew those efforts.

California and several other states, including Oregon and Colorado, currently set their own vehicle emissions standards, which more than a dozen states follow.

By excluding Tesla, Newsom appears to be signaling his intention to foster competition among EV manufacturers, even as he positions himself as a climate leader willing to confront Musk, a Trump ally.

‘Animal spirits’, not fundamentals driving Tesla’s gains: UBS

Analysts at UBS Group AG have cautioned investors that Tesla’s recent stock rally was driven more by market sentiment than by improvements in its fundamentals.

The company has added more than $350 billion in market capitalization since election day.

“The rise in Tesla stock is mostly driven by animal spirits/momentum,” Joseph Spak, an analyst at UBS, wrote in a report.

“Removing consumer tax credits for electric-vehicle purchases could force Tesla to have to cut prices,” Spak added.

Investors anticipate that the Trump-Musk alliance could benefit Tesla, potentially introducing a national standard for self-driving cars, which would simplify the launch of autonomous taxi services.

Spak however noted that while Trump’s policies may favor AI and autonomous vehicle ventures, Tesla lacks a ready-to-market robotaxi to benefit from these regulatory changes.

He maintained a sell rating on the shares while raising his price target to $226 from $197.

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Google, the world’s leading search engine, has unveiled additional modifications to its search results in Europe as it faces mounting pressure from smaller competitors and EU regulators.

The changes come in response to complaints from price-comparison websites, hotels, airlines, and retailers, who argue that recent updates have diminished their online visibility and reduced direct booking traffic.

These moves aim to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which was implemented last year to curb the dominance of Big Tech companies.

DMA: Digital Markets Act

The DMA, a landmark regulation targeting major tech firms, prohibits companies like Google from favoring their own products and services on their platforms.

The law’s implementation has forced Google to navigate conflicting demands from various stakeholders while avoiding steep penalties.

Violations of the DMA can lead to fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue.

Since the act came into effect, Google has made several attempts to address concerns raised by price-comparison platforms and other industries.

Recent changes, however, have reportedly caused a 30% drop in direct booking clicks for hotels, airlines, and small retailers, prompting additional revisions to Google’s practices.

New search result features and tests in Europe

In a bid to balance the interests of all parties, Google announced several new features for its European search results. These include:

  • Expanded comparison options: Google is introducing equally formatted units that allow users to compare offerings from different websites. This move aims to create a level playing field for rival platforms.
  • Visual enhancements: Rivals can now display prices and images directly on Google’s search results through new formats, making their offerings more competitive.
  • Dedicated ad units for comparison sites: To support smaller players, Google is offering new advertising options tailored to their needs.

Along with these updates, Google is experimenting with significant changes in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia.

The search giant plans to temporarily remove its signature map feature for hotels, reverting to a simpler “ten blue links” format that was popular in earlier versions of its search results. This short-term test seeks to gauge user interest and satisfaction with a stripped-down interface.

Balancing innovation and compliance

While Google emphasizes its commitment to meeting the DMA’s goals, the company expressed concerns about removing key features. Oliver Bethell, Google’s legal director, stated,

We’re very reluctant to take this step, as removing helpful features does not benefit consumers or businesses in Europe.

Google also highlighted the challenges of implementing changes that satisfy both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. In a blog post, the company described the latest proposals as an effort to balance the “difficult trade-offs” posed by the DMA.

EU antitrust scrutiny intensifies

The European Commission has been closely monitoring Google since March, focusing on the tech giant’s compliance with the DMA.

The current changes reflect Google’s ongoing efforts to avoid further regulatory action, which could result in substantial fines.

For Google, maintaining compliance with the DMA while retaining its competitive edge remains a delicate balancing act.

As EU regulators assess whether these updates address industry complaints adequately, the stakes are high for Google and its European operations.

If the Commission deems these measures insufficient, further investigations and penalties could follow.

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