General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) 주식

General Dynamics

General Dynamics is a defense contractor and business jet manufacturer. The firm's segments include aerospace, marine, combat systems, and technology. General Dynamics' aerospace segment manufactures Gulfstream business jets and operates a global aircraft servicing operation. Combat systems produces land-based combat vehicles such as the M1 Abrams tank and Stryker armored personnel carrier, as well as munitions. The marine segment builds and services nuclear-powered submarines, destroyers, and other ships. The technologies segment contains two main units: an IT business that primarily serves the government market and a mission systems business that focuses on products that provide command, control, computing, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to the military.

PLTR

트럼프 행정부는 국방부와 미군 고위 관리들에게 전면적인 예산 삭감에 대비할 것을 명령했다.세부 사항: 워싱턴포스트 보도에 따르면, 피트 헤그세스 국방부 장관은 화요일(18일)에 고위 관리들에게 향후 5년간 국방 예산의 8%를 삭감할 계획을 수립하도록 명령하는 메모를 보냈다.

트럼프 행정부, 대대적인 국방부 예산 삭감 명령: 팔란티어, 록히드 마틴 등 주시

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CNN 머니 공포와 탐욕 지수가 전체 시장 심리의 하락을 보여주었고, 수요일에는 지수가 &#34;중립&#34; 구역에 머물렀다. 미국 주식은 연방준비제도(연준)가 최근 정책 회의에서 금리를 동결하자 수요일에 하락하여 거래를 마쳤다.

엔비디아가 하락하고 연준이 금리를 동결하자 나스닥이 하락: &#39;탐욕 지수&#39;는 &#39;중립&#39; 지역에

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도널드 트럼프 대통령은 나토(NATO) 회원국들이 국방비를 대폭 늘릴 것을 촉구하면서 국내총생산(GDP)의 5%를 군사비로 지출하는 것을 목표로 제시했다.

NATO 군비 지출 증가 요구한 트럼프, 방산주에 호재

General Dynamics Corporation Common Stock

General Dynamics Corp

GOLDEN AGE RESOURCES INC by Golden Age Resources, Inc.

GOLDAS KUYUMCULUK S/ADR by Goldas Kuyumculuk Sanayi Ithalat Ihracat A.S.

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GOLDEN RES DEV INTL by Golden Resource Development International

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GoodRx Holdings, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

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GDS Holdings Limited - American Depositary Shares

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GLADIATOR METALS CORP by Gladiator Metals Corp.

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Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

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Principal Exchange-Traded Funds Principal Active Global Divid Income ETF

GLOBAL DEV&ENVIR RES INC by Global Development & Environmental Resources, Inc.

Global Development & Environmental Resources Inc

GLOBAL DEVS INC (DEL) by Global Developments, Inc.

VeeMost Technologies Holdings Inc

Gould Investors LP

The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust 5.375% Series H Cumulative Preferred Shares

The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust 4.250% Series K Cumulative Preferred Shares

VanEck Gold Miners ETF

MicroSectors Gold Miners -3X Inverse Leveraged ETNs

VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF

GOLDEX RES CORP by Goldex Resources Corp.

Goldex Resources Corp

MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN

Tidal Trust II YieldMax Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF

Renu Energy Ltd

Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

Grid Dynamics Holdings Inc

William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma downgrades General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) from Outperform to Market Perform.

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William Blair Downgrades General Dynamics to Market Perform

The Trump administration has ordered senior officials at the Pentagon and throughout the U.S. military to prepare <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43266467/trumps-executive-orders-make-us-most-lethal-fighting-force-in-the-world-iron-dome-defense-system-get-woke-policies-out-of-military">for sweeping budget cuts.&nbsp;</a>
The Details: According to a Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/19/trump-pentagon-budget-cuts/">report</a>, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on Tuesday, sent a memo ordering senior officials to develop plans to cut 8% of the defense budget in each of the next five years. 
The order states plans for proposed cuts should be drawn up by Feb. 24 and includes many notable exemptions, including the modernization of nuclear weapons and missile defense, the acquisition of submarines, drones and other munitions.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43703014/robert-f-kennedy-confirmed-as-trump-secretary-of-health">Robert F. Kennedy, Vaccine Skeptic, Confirmed As Trump&#8217;s Secretary Of Health: Health Care Stocks To Watch</a>
"The time for preparation is over — we must act urgently to revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence," Hegseth wrote, according to the Washington Post which obtained the memo. 
"Our budget will resource the fighting force we need, cease unnecessary defense spending, reject excessive bureaucracy, and drive actionable reform including progress on the audit," Hegseth wrote.&nbsp;
Stocks To Watch: Shares of companies in the defense sector are on watch as details of any proposed cuts are not immediately clear.&nbsp;
Due to the above-listed exemptions which include submarines, missile defense and other munitions, many of the legacy defense contractors may not be the focus of proposed spending cuts but should still be monitored.&nbsp;
Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) dipped following the Washington Post report but recovered quickly. 
However, shares of Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) fell more than 10% following the news. The large drop may have been due to the stock's recent run which produced gains of nearly 250% over the past six months. 
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43535256/palantir-adds-elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-to-aip">Palantir Adds Elon Musk&#8217;s AI Chatbot Grok To AIP</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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Trump Administration Orders Sweeping Pentagon Cuts: Palantir, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Among Stocks On Watch

The U.S. defense sector is facing fresh uncertainty as the Trump administration sets the foundation for a cost-cutting initiative under the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43787369/us-russian-officials-begin-ukraine-peace-talks-defense-sector-stocks-rise">recent buoyancy</a> in anticipation of peace talks involving the Presidents of the U.S., Russia and Ukraine, stocks of major defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), are staring at near-term risks following the possibility of a defense budget cut. 
While the potential impact is still unfolding, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">defense-focused ETFs </a>could be in for a bumpy ride.
ETFs with significant holdings in defense giants may see volatility in the wake of potential budget constraints. Some of the key funds to monitor include:
iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>) – Tracks U.S. defense and aerospace companies, including General Dynamics (18.75% exposure) Lockheed Martin (4.98% exposure) and RTX (15.72% exposure). 
SPDR S&amp;P Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XAR#NYSE">XAR</a>) – Offers exposure to large and mid-cap defense stocks, with exposure to stocks like Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and RTX. This ETF offers a more equally weighted approach, which may help balance the losses.
Invesco Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPA#NYSE">PPA</a>) – Holds a diversified mix of defense contractors and related industries. However, Lockheed Martin and RTX hold the top positions, with 7.26% and 7% of the total AUM.
First Trust Indxx Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MISL#NYSE">MISL</a>) – A newer entrant with a focus on companies involved in missile and defense technology. Once again, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and RTX hold significant percentage of the total assets.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/02/43827291/exclusive-will-trumps-tariffs-hurt-or-help-stock-market-59-say-this">EXCLUSIVE: Will Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Hurt Or Help Stock Market? 59% Say This…</a>
Why Defense Stocks Are Under Pressure
The DOGE recently kicked off its review at the Pentagon, aiming to curb waste, fraud, and redundancies. In a post on X, DOGE officials confirmed their commitment to "safely save taxpayer dollars and eliminate waste." 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Great kickoff with <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a>. Looking forward to working together to safely save taxpayer dollars and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.
&mdash; Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE/status/1890621621448167497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to streamline operations and optimize spending, as reported by CBS News.
This initiative has raised concerns for major defense contractors, many of whom rely heavily on government contracts. Among the top players at risk are Lockheed Martin which has retreated almost 10% so far this year, RTX , General Dynamics, with a loss of 6.35% year-to-date, and Northrop Grumman, which has lost 6.5% so far this year.
With over $200 billion in annual federal contracts flowing into the sector, any cuts could significantly affect companies that derive nearly half their revenue from government spending, according to a report by Saxo Bank.
While U.S. defense spending may come under pressure, rising geopolitical tensions and commitments from NATO allies to boost their military budgets could create new opportunities for defense firms.
Fine-Tuning Is Key
For investors holding defense-heavy ETFs, now may be a time for caution but not necessarily panic. Watching how DOGE's review unfolds, tracking upcoming federal budgets, following the peace talks among Russia, Ukraine and U.S., and keeping an eye on global defense spending trends will be important. Diversification within ETFs could also help mitigate sector-specific risks.
As budget talks heat up, defense ETFs may experience short-term turbulence, but the longer-term picture will depend on how much of the spending shift is domestic versus international.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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4 ETFs In The Crosshairs As Defense Cuts Loom — Is It Time To Play Offense?

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/19/trump-pentagon-budget-cuts/" title="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/19/trump-pentagon-budget-cuts/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/19/trump-pentagon-budget-cuts/</a>

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'Trump Administration Orders Pentagon To Plan For Sweeping Budget Cuts; Orders Pentagon To Develop Plans For 8% Budget Cut In Each Of The Next 5-Years' - Washington Post

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 often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming 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>DE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$94.1K</td>
<td>607</td>
<td>6.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HEES</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td>6.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LUNR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$123.0K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td>522</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$245.00</td>
<td>$33.3K</td>
<td>38</td>
<td>257</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UBER</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$263.0K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$124.00</td>
<td>$62.8K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>74</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FLR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$88.3K</td>
<td>128</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ETN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$118.7K</td>
<td>227</td>
<td>35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$187.5K</td>
<td>439</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AXON</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For DE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 277 contract(s) at a $500.00 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 $94.1K, with a price of $340.0 per contract. There were 607 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6220 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HEES (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HEES#NASDAQ">HEES</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 46 contract(s) at a $90.00 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 $45.5K, with a price of $990.0 per contract. There were 6477 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1071 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LUNR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 122 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 200 contract(s) at a $20.00 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 $123.0K, with a price of $615.0 per contract. There were 3225 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 522 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GD (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 247 contract(s) at a $245.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.3K, with a price of $135.0 per contract. There were 38 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 257 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UBER (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 304 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $263.0K, with a price of $5260.0 per contract. There were 4564 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RTX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 388 contract(s) at a $124.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.8K, with a price of $162.0 per contract. There were 1170 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 74 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FLR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLR#NYSE">FLR</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 58 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 48 contract(s) at a $57.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $88.3K, with a price of $1840.0 per contract. There were 128 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ETN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETN#NYSE">ETN</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 35 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $118.7K, with a price of $3400.0 per contract. There were 227 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 35 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 25 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $187.5K, with a price of $7500.0 per contract. There were 439 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 25 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AXON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 395 day(s) on March 20, 2026. Parties traded 1 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $26250.0 per contract. There were 1 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8 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.

Options

AXON

HEES

LUNR

UBER

10 Industrials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

A high-stakes call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin sent shockwaves through markets, dragging down oil prices and U.S. defense stocks as investors reacted to Trump's surprise announcement of imminent peace negotiations to end <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ukraine">the war in Ukraine.</a>
The West Texas Intermediate light crude – as tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) – tumbled by 2.7% by 3:10 p.m. ET in New York, heading for its worst session since late November 2024.
Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social that he had &#8220;a lengthy and highly productive&#8221; conversation with Putin, with the two leaders discussing &#8220;Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.&#8221;
Trump added that he had directed his top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations.
Putin reportedly responded positively to the discussions and expressed willingness to cooperate. 
This decision follows a high-profile <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43643471/trump-administration-secures-release-of-cannabis-prisoner-marc-fogel-from-14-year-russian-sentence">prisoner exchange</a> between Washington and Moscow. On Tuesday, Russia released American teacher Marc Fogel after three years of detention, while the U.S. freed Russian cybercriminal Alexander Vinnik.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43643471/trump-administration-secures-release-of-cannabis-prisoner-marc-fogel-from-14-year-russian-sentence">Trump Administration Secures Release Of Cannabis Prisoner Marc Fogel From 14-Year Russian Sentence</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next For Ukraine And NATO?</h3>
The reaction from Kyiv remains cautious. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed he had a "meaningful" conversation with Trump following the talks the U.S. President had with Putin.
&#8220;No one wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace,&#8221; Zelenskyy stated. 
The Ukrainian leader highlighted that Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty.
Zelenskyy also met with Secretary of Security Scott Bessent, marking Bessent's first international visit. The two discussed preparing a new document outlining security, economic cooperation and resource partnerships.
Zelenskyy stressed the importance of preventing Moscow and its allies from gaining control over Ukraine and underscored the need for unified action across the free world.
"We expect to make progress by the Munich Security Conference," Zelenskyy said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I had a meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>—his first international visit, which was to Ukraine. We value our partnership with the United States, are grateful for the support in defending our independence, and strive to expand our joint capabilities—especially in security. Security… <a href="https://t.co/Px2VQ0Cnv0">pic.twitter.com/Px2VQ0Cnv0</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1889747140039311417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Market Reactions</h3>
Investors viewed the move as a sign of easing geopolitical tensions and a possible decrease in U.S. government spending on defense contractors.
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>), representing major U.S. energy companies, tumbled by 2.24% on Wednesday, weighed down by lower oil prices. 
Shares of major U.S. defense contractors experienced marginal declines amid expectations of reduced defense spending following the potential de-escalation in Ukraine. 
Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) was down by 1.4% to $443.30, Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) eased by 0.5% to $471.70 and General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) dropped by 1.86% to $252.21.
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</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Specialty ETFs

Commodities

Econ #s

Trump-Putin 'Highly Productive' Call Sparks Oil Sell-Off As Investors Eye Geopolitical De-Escalation

Citigroup analyst Jason Gursky maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $360 to $335.

Price Target

Citigroup Maintains Buy on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $335

General Dynamics's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) short percent of float has fallen 29.34% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.90 million shares sold short, which is 1.18% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.08 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>General Dynamics Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739206826_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for General Dynamics has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing General Dynamics'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>, General Dynamics's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.67%, 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

Looking Into General Dynamics's Recent Short Interest

Barclays analyst David Strauss maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $305 to $285.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $285

RBC Capital Markets analyst Ken Herbert cut the price forecast for General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) to $280 from $290, while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GD/analyst-ratings">reiterating an Sector Perform rating</a>.
On Wednesday, the company reported revenue growth of 14.3% year over year to $13.338 billion, beating the consensus of $12.77 billion and EPS of $4.15 (up 14% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43305515/general-dynamics-beats-q4-expectations-with-144-billion-contract-backlog">Y/Y), above the consensus of $4.10</a>.
In its conference call, the company said it expects a 2025 effective tax rate of 17.5%. The CEO said Gulfstream deliveries will be around 150 aircraft in 2025.
Also, the company expects 2025 total revenue of $50.3 billion and company-wide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPS to be around $14.80.</a>
The analyst writes that he remains optimistic about the 2025 Gulfstream outlook, however, muted free cash flow and limited margin expansion in defense, coupled with heightened uncertainty in the sector, remains a matter of concern.
In particular, Herbert recognized the execution challenges at Gulfstream but acknowledge the strong business jet demand, reflected in a 1x book-to-bill ratio for fourth-quarter 2024.
Following the company's revised 2025 guidance, the analyst now projects 150 deliveries in 2025 and 160 in 2026.
Additionally, aircraft services could offer upside potential with low double-digit growth, adds the analyst.
Apart from this, the analyst says that the submarine supply chain continues to face significant constraints, leading to persistent margin underperformance.
While revenue growth remains strong, Herbert remain cautious about the pace of margin improvement.
For 2026, the analyst expects overall defense portfolio margins to remain flat at approximately 9.5%, consistent with 2024 levels.
Also, the analyst believes that Trump 2.0 can pose greater risk for the GD defense portfolio outside of Marine.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Global X Funds Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>)and&nbsp;First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund First Trust Indxx Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MISL#NYSE">MISL</a>).
Price Action: GDS shares are up 1.54% at $255.31 at the last check Thursday.
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43232316/deepseek-jitters-shatter-us-tech-stocks-wipe-out-12-trillion-on-wall-street-analyst-eyes-four-chinese-giants-set-to-benefit"></a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43232316/deepseek-jitters-shatter-us-tech-stocks-wipe-out-12-trillion-on-wall-street-analyst-eyes-four-chinese-giants-set-to-benefit">DeepSeek Jitters Shatter US Tech Stocks, Wipe Out $1.2 Trillion On Wall Street: Analyst Eyes Four Chinese Giants Set To Benefit</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

Reiteration

SHLD

General Dynamics' Growth Vs. Uncertainty: Analyst Flags Margin Challenges And Policy Risks

RBC Capital analyst Ken Herbert maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $290 to $280.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $280

JP Morgan analyst Seth Seifman maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $307 to $284.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $284

Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Positive and lowers the price target from $315 to $300.

Susquehanna Maintains Positive on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $300

Wells Fargo analyst Matthew Akers maintains General Dynamics (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $279 to $276.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on General Dynamics, Lowers Price Target to $276

U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday, rebounding from a decline triggered by the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision to hold interest rates steady. All four benchmark indices were trading higher. 
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), the world&#8217;s largest company by market capitalization, will report its first-quarter earnings after the market closes today.
Investors are also awaiting the first-quarter GDP data, which will be released before the market opens.
The 10-year Treasury yield is currently at 4.50%, and the two-year yield is at 4.20%. The CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a> indicates an 80% probability that the Federal Open Market Committee will maintain current interest rates in March 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.47%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.35%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.99%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Thursday, both the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) were higher. SPY was up 0.33% at $603.80, and QQQ gained 0.44% to reach $523.10, based on <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43328594/nasdaq-declines-as-nvidia-edges-lower-fed-leaves-interest-rates-unchanged-fear-greed-index-in-neutral-zone">fell</a> on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares dropped over 4% on the news of potential sales restrictions for China. General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) and Corning Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>) beat earnings expectations, with the latter offering strong guidance.
The U.S. trade deficit widened to a record $122.11 billion in December, while wholesale inventories fell 0.5%. Tech, real estate, and healthcare sectors dragged the S&amp;P 500 lower, though consumer staples and communication services gained.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.51%</td>
<td>19,632.32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.47%</td>
<td>6,039.31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.31%</td>
<td>44,713.52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.25%</td>
<td>2,283.10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
Following the revival from the DeepSeek-led slump, Scott Wren, the senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors said, &#8220;As we try to look multiple years into the future, we believe development expenditures aimed at artificial intelligence will increase dramatically.&#8221;
However, he also said that sector-led investing could be volatile. &#8220;Sector investing can be more volatile than investments that are broadly diversified over numerous sectors of the economy and will increase a portfolio's vulnerability to any single economic, political, or regulatory development affecting the sector. This can result in greater price volatility.&#8221;
Ryan Detrick, the chief market strategist at Carson Research, drew parallels between the S&amp;P 500 performance based on the Chinese calendar year in his latest note.
According to the Chinese calendar, 2025 is the &#8216;Year of Snake&#8217;.
Mapping the data from 1950, Detrick found that &#8220;The Year of the Snake has been up only three out of six times and up an average of less than 1%.&#8221;
Additionally, stocks have alternated between higher and lower since 1953, suggesting this could be a down year. Next year is the Year of the Horse, which hasn't been &#8220;all that strong either.&#8221;
&#8220;Lastly, we found it amusing that animals with horns saw some of the best returns, with last year's horned Dragon a good one for the bulls,&#8221; he added, however, he also said that Carson Research would never suggest investing based on the zodiac signs.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Welcome to Year of the Snake. More like Year of the Bear. <a href="https://t.co/c23eQDyYUW">https://t.co/c23eQDyYUW</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1884616468446294279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Furthermore, as the S&amp;P 500 is up 2.91% year-to-date, he highlighted that &#8220;higher January tends to suggest better returns the final 11 months of the year.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The S&amp;P 500 is up nearly 3% YTD and January is almost over. This is a good sign, as a higher January tends to suggest better returns the final 11 months of the year. Up 12.2% on avg and up 86.7% of the time when Jan is higher, compared with all yrs avg return of 8.1% and 75%. <a href="https://t.co/He6PpOTnLc">pic.twitter.com/He6PpOTnLc</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1884625505862791475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Thursday:
<ul>
<li>On Thursday, the GDP data for the first quarter and the initial jobless claims data till Jan. 25, will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>December's pending home sales will be out at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) was down 0.14% in the premarket on Thursday ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $2.35 per share on revenue of $124.13 billion</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) was up 1.62% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $2.53 per share on revenue of $25.42 billion, before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) was up 1.78% despite weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and sales results. It promised to launch new and &#8220;more affordable&#8221; models in the first half of 2025 and showcased the example of the company&#8217;s full self-driving in a video shared online.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) was up 2.23% after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter sales results. However, its sales guidance for the current quarter fell short of expectations.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) was down 3.99% as its cloud revenue missed estimates despite beating overall revenue and EPS estimates.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>IBM Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) was up 7.60% as it beat its revenue and earnings estimates for the fourth quarter.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Other companies that are slated to report earnings before the opening bell today include Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>) up 0.93%, Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) up 1.24%, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) up 0.70%, and Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) which report after closing bell was up 0.91%.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.67% to hover around $72.13 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.64% to $2,777.47 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.01% at 107.989 level.
Asian markets were higher on Thursday as Australia's ASX 200, Japan's Nikkei 225, South Korea's Kospi, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose. European markets were also higher in trade.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/43328377/t-mobile-underscores-spacexs-starlinks-role-in-california-wildfire-relief-closes-record-breaking-growth-year">T-Mobile Underscores SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink&#8217;s Role In California Wildfire Relief, Closes Record-Breaking Growth Year</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

Futures

Federal Reserve

MSFT

TSLA

US Stocks Set For Gains Ahead Of Q1 GDP, Apple Earnings: Expert Says 'Higher January' Bodes Well For The Rest Of The Year

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Wednesday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its recent policy meeting.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares fell over 4% on Wednesday amid reports indicating Trump officials have discussed further curbing China sales.
General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results. Corning Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and also issued first-quarter core EPS guidance with a midpoint above estimates.
On the economic data front, the U.S. trade deficit in goods increased to a record $122.11 billion in December versus a revised $103.5 billion gap in the prior month. U.S. wholesale inventories declined by 0.5% month-over-month to $898 billion in December following a revised 0.1% fall in the previous month and versus market estimates of a 0.2% gain.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with information technology, real estate, and healthcare stocks recording losses on Wednesday. However, consumer staples and communication services stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 137 points to 44,713.52 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.47% to 6,039.31, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.51% at 19,632.32 during Wednesday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>), and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 45.6, the index remained in the &#8220;Neutral&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 47.3.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43300989/jim-cramer-this-industrial-stock-is-absolutely-terrific-first-solar-is-very-inexpensive">Jim Cramer: This Industrial Stock Is &#8216;Absolutely Terrific&#8217;, First Solar Is &#8216;Very Inexpensive&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Nasdaq Declines As Nvidia Edges Lower, Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged: Fear & Greed Index In 'Neutral' Zone

The Trump administration's Tuesday memo, titled "A Fork in the Road,&#8221; is being viewed as a move to push career federal workers out of their jobs and, observers say, replace them with loyalists, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/trump-federal-workers-quit-severance">noted</a> Axios, which first reported this story.
The memo, sent by email, told federal employees they have until Feb. 6 to choose whether to participate in a &#8220;deferred resignation program&#8221; that would allow them to decide now that they will resign in September.
"Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to," said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees in a statement <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">reported</a> by the Associated Press.
&#8220;If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until Sept. 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason),&#8221; the email stated. An IRS employee in Kansas City told Benzinga she received her email at around 7 p.m. ET Tuesday evening.
The federal government employed more than three million people as of November 2024, which accounted for nearly 2% of the nation's entire civilian workforce, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/07/what-the-data-says-about-federal-workers/">according</a> to the Pew Research Center. Not counting the Postal Service, there are more than 2.4 million federal workers, which makes the federal government the nation's single largest employer, with even more workers than Walmart, Amazon or McDonald's.
"Even a fraction of the workforce accepting buyouts could send shockwaves through the economy and trigger widespread disruptions throughout society as a whole, triggering wide-ranging — and as yet unknowable — implications for the delivery, timeliness and effectiveness of federal services across the nation," notes the Pew report.
While President Donald Trump vowed to disrupt Washington with the help of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42608814/elon-musks-doge-role-in-government-set-for-fascinating-tough-fight-says-analyst-walter-isaacson-sees-challenges-for-tesla-ceos-federal-path">Department of Government Efficiency</a> headed by Tesla CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, the buyout orders, if undertaken, could have immediate negative effects on key sectors in the U.S. economy.
For example, contractors and IT services that provide defense solutions to the government such as Leidos Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>), Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>) and General Dynamics Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>) could be affected. Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), a defense and aerospace contractor, and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) could benefit if these federal functions are outsourced.
The financial and banking sector should experience some changes. JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) to mention just two, could be impacted by lending, mortgage markets and consumer spending.
Speaking of consumer spending and, judging from Pew's graph of where government workers are employed, retail giants such as Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) could feel the pinch as shoppers in areas with large government employment tighten their belts.
Pew points out that, fewer than a fifth of federal workers work in or near Washington, D.C. as many might presume. California and Texas have the largest contingents of federal employees and 30,800 federal employees work overseas.
Now Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43309377/interest-rate-speculation-heats-up-before-fed-meeting-what-betting-markets-signal">Interest Rate Speculation Heats Up Before Fed Meeting: What Betting Markets Signals</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

AMZN

LDOS

Trump Memo Heard Around The World: How US Economy Could Adjust To Buyouts For Federal Workers

Caution dominates Wednesday's midday trading session in New York as investors anxiously await the Federal Open Market Committee decision <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">at 2 p.m. ET</a>.
The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.25%-4.5%. Market participants remain highly focused on any signals from Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding the path forward for rate cuts.
The December meeting delivered a shock to markets, with Powell adopting a more hawkish tone than anticipated, suggesting that interest rates have moved closer to a neutral zone.
This FOMC meeting is also the first since Donald Trump's administration took office, fueling speculation over whether Powell will address questions about the president's pledge to &#8220;lower interest rates immediately.&#8221;
Major equity indices are little changed, with tech stocks under slight pressure as Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 5%, weighing on the sector. Tech titans Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) will report earnings after the close, with investors awaiting management clarity over the DeepSeek AI competitive threat.
Among sectors, financial stocks — tracked by the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) — hit fresh record highs, while communication services are on pace for their eighth consecutive session of gains.
The dollar and Treasury yields remain mostly flat ahead of the Fed's announcement. Commodities are mixed, with gold and oil down 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while silver and copper rise 1.2% and 1.1%.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is up 1% to $102,300, potentially snapping a four-session losing streak.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,901.37</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,285.29</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,055.43</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,412.74</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent012925&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.2% lower to $603.11.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;is flat at $448.62.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 0.2% lower to $520.88.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) is flat at $226.81.</li>
<li>The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) is outperforming, up 0.8%; the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) is lagging, down 0.9%.</li>
</ul>
Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers
<ul>
<li>T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) soared nearly 8% in reaction to stronger-than-expected quarterly results.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to company earnings include Starbucks Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NYSE">SBUX</a>), up 6.7%, Chubb Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>), up 3%, F5 Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>), up 13%, ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) up 3.6%, Danaher Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>), down 9%, The Progressive Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), up 1.4%, Automatic Data Processing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADP#NASDAQ">ADP</a>), up 2.9%, General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), down 3.2%, Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>), up 3.1%, MSCI Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSCI#NYSE">MSCI</a>), down 3.9%, Nasdaq Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>), up 0.9%, Hess Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>), up 0.6% and Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>), down 13.8%. </li>
<li>Major companies reporting earnings after the close other than Microsoft and Meta include Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), Raymond James Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RJF#NYSE">RJF</a>), Ameriprise Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMP#NYSE">AMP</a>), Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>) and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVS#NYSE">LVS</a>). </li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43304027/deepseek-selloff-is-a-correction-not-start-of-sustained-bear-market-goldman-sachs">DeepSeek Selloff Is A Correction, Not Start Of &#8216;Sustained Bear Market&#8217;: Goldman Sachs</a></li>
</ul>
Illustration created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

$BTC

ASML

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

FFIV

LRCX

MSCI

NDAQ

SBUX

TEVA

TMUS

Stocks Tick Down Ahead Of Fed Meeting, Nvidia Jitters Resume, Trump Media Rallies: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

WIIM

General Dynamics shares are trading lower after the company reported Q4 financial results and issued guidance. The stock initially traded higher, but it has since reversed.

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