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AAPL

Gene Munster and Dan Ives have conflicting views on Apple Inc.'s potential venture into personal home robots. Munster sees it as a logical exploration but unlikely to materialize in the next five years, while Ives believes Apple should focus on AI, calling the robot venture a 'horror show.' This debate comes amid reports of Apple's engineers working on innovative projects, including a mobile robot and a device with a robotic arm, following the company's pivot from its electric vehicle project to AI advancements.

Portfolio Pulse from Ananya Gairola

April 05, 2024 | 11:32 am

HTZ

Hertz Global Holdings' ambitious plan to revolutionize the car rental industry with a 100,000 Tesla EV fleet faced significant setbacks due to high repair costs, frequent accidents, and customer charging anxiety. The company's strategy, which also included a nationwide charging network and partnerships with Uber, was undermined by Tesla price cuts, leading to a devaluation of Hertz's EV fleet. Operational challenges and leadership disagreements further complicated the situation, prompting Hertz to shift focus back to gas-powered vehicles and seek new leadership with operational expertise.

Portfolio Pulse from Ramakrishnan M

April 05, 2024 | 11:24 am

LCID

NKLA

RIVN

TSLA

Nikola Corp (NKLA) has seen a 14.46% YTD gain, outperforming other EV makers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid, despite facing challenges such as vehicle recalls and executive changes. The company's focus on hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks and the anticipated return of its BEVs contribute to its stock's positive trend. In contrast, Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid have experienced significant YTD losses, while traditional automakers like General Motors and Ford have seen their stock prices rise.

Portfolio Pulse from Anan Ashraf

April 05, 2024 | 11:23 am

NSC

Ancora Holdings Group, an equity holder of Norfolk Southern, criticized the company's Board for its process in hiring John Orr as COO, citing failures of diligence and poor judgment. Ancora highlighted the lack of a competitive hiring process, potential undisclosed financial considerations for Orr's hiring, and Orr's lack of experience in Precision Scheduled Railroading. Additionally, Ancora raised concerns about Orr's past workplace behavior and the limited industry endorsement for his appointment.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 05, 2024 | 11:21 am

AMZN

ONLN

XLY

Amazon is resuming construction of a 42-story office tower in Bellevue, signaling a shift towards a hybrid work model. The company plans to accommodate over 4,500 employees in the tower, named 'Sonic', and aims to employ 25,000 workers in Bellevue. This move comes as Amazon seeks to reduce its office vacancy rate from 33.8% to 10% by 2029, amidst a broader trend of workforce and office space reduction in the tech industry. Amazon's stock has seen a significant increase, and its performance can impact related ETFs like SPDR Select Sector Fund – Consumer Discretionary (XLY) and ProShares Online Retail ETF (ONLN).

Portfolio Pulse from Anusuya Lahiri

April 05, 2024 | 11:21 am

TDOC

Teladoc shares are trading lower following the announcement that CEO Jason Gorevic will depart from the company.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 05, 2024 | 11:20 am

CNI

Canadian National Railway Company (CNI) is advancing its decarbonization efforts by acquiring an EMD mainline hybrid locomotive from Progress Rail. This move is part of CNI's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability in its operations.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 05, 2024 | 11:03 am

LH

Labcorp has launched Labcorp Plasma Detect, a new solution for Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) clinical research, enhancing its precision oncology offerings. This addition builds on two existing liquid biopsy platforms, Labcorp Plasma Focus and Labcorp Plasma Complete, developed by PGDx, a Labcorp company. All solutions are performed in PGDx's CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory in Baltimore.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 05, 2024 | 11:02 am

AAPL

DIS

Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS), once believed that a merger between Disney and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would have been likely if Steve Jobs had not passed away. In his 2019 book, Iger expressed that Jobs's death prevented discussions about merging the two companies, despite their later competitive positions with the launch of Disney+ and Apple TV+. Iger's relationship with Jobs, including Disney's acquisition of Pixar, is highlighted as a foundation for this belief. Despite the speculation, Iger clarified he never discussed the merger idea with Jobs. The article also touches on Disney's recent proxy battle with Nelson Peltz, indicating Disney's leadership is confident in its current strategy without seeking major changes like a merger with Apple.

Portfolio Pulse from Rounak Jain

April 05, 2024 | 10:49 am

HUBC

HUB Cyber Security Ltd. (NASDAQ:HUBC) has successfully secured $8 million in financing through a straight debt arrangement. This move is aimed at strengthening the company's financial position and supporting its growth initiatives.

Portfolio Pulse from Benzinga Newsdesk

April 05, 2024 | 10:36 am