Presented by

NEWS

Market Made It To The Weekend

Source: tenor

We made it! The market climbed for the fourth straight day, as traders put a feather in their cap for another week of earnings. Indexes climbed 4-6% out of the hole set by levies on everything, and tech firms reminded us that trade isn’t everything.

Today’s issue covers why Google doesn’t sell self-driving cars, trade roundup, and more. 📰

Here’s the S&P 500 heatmap. 4 of 11 sectors closed green, with consumer discretionary (+1.8%) leading and materials (-0.7%) lagging.

Source: finviz

And here are the closing prices: 

STOCKS
Google’s Waymo Drives 1M People A Month… Hear That, Elon?

Google parent Alphabet climbed after beating Wall Street estimates again, but the top dog on the Mag Seven was Tesla today. The weird part? While Tesla has promised self-driving cars for a decade, and is climbing on hype for a Summer release, Google already has self-driving cars driving for Waymo. 

Alphabet’s autonomous unit has thousands of cars in San Francisco and Austin, set with Star Wars droid-looking antennas on top. The CEO said on the earnings call they ferry 250k people a week… so what gives?

First, The Market Reaction

Alphabet’s results were good enough to attract analyst upgrades on the stock. Analysts from Bank of America, WestPark Capital, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan upgraded Alphabet’s price targets from $178 to $220. 🤑

The firm also issued a $70B buyback, but Barron’s said not to expect the stock to move. Tesla also received coverage, but it was far more muted: Argus Research and Wedbush upgraded Tesla to a high target of $410, HSBC and Phillip Securities downgraded with a low of $120, Barclays, Guggenheim, and others maintained their positions. 📉📈

Stocktwits users are pretty neutral on the stock.

Source: Stocktwits

The Main Issue: Affordability (And Government)

In terms of public valuations, Tesla has a market cap below $1T since the sell-off and demand crunch started in 2025. Alphabet has two stocks, and both are worth nearly $2T, which might explain why Tesla flew today and the Googles fluttered.

Still, with that pile of change, Google can’t figure out how to make money on self-driving cars. CEO Sundar Pichai said on the firm’s earnings call that they are looking into partnership options with ride-hailing services like Uber, and even into selling the cars to consumers. The problem is, Waymo cars are expensive to make, and Musk would say not as sleek as his designs.

During the Tesla Q1 earnings call, Elon Musk criticized Waymo’s driverless tech as “very expensive” and “low volume,” while championing Tesla’s camera-focused systems as a more scalable alternative.

He’s got a point- Google doesn’t sell cars, they strap computers to cars. The Waymo CEO said years ago that a fully outfitted car with expensive Lidar could cost about the same as a Mercedes S-Class, or $180,000. 😱 

Meanwhile, Musk has repeatedly said he wants the average Joe to buy a Tesla cyber cab. Tesla uses cheaper camera driving software, which is allegedly not as effective, but much less expensive. 🧑‍🔧 

And Even If They Could

Self-driving is illegal in most of the U.S., and even the ‘self-driven’ rides Waymo boasts were likely performed in jurisdictions where a tester has to be present, with their hands almost on the wheel.

That Brings Us To Today

Tesla surged 9.6% after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new self-driving framework to cut red tape. The company plans to launch self-driving cabs in Texas this June and begin producing its Cybercab robotaxi by 2026.

Federal regulations were not the only laws changing: California has revamped its autonomous vehicle rules, asking for public comments on cargo-carrying autonomous vehicle rules. With a “cut regulations with a chainsaw” inclined White House, 2025 might be the time for self-driving players, including Waymo, Tesla, and Amazon’s Zoox, to take the on-ramp. 🏎️ 

SPONSORED
You Can’t Buy SpaceX Stock – But You Can Buy This

SpaceX is building luxury pods for space tourists. But unless you’re a billionaire, you’re not getting a seat – or a share.

Pacaso is the grounded version of that vision: exclusive, next-gen luxury that real investors can actually own.

✅ $1B+ in second-home transactions

✅ Co-Founded by Zillow’s CEO

✅ Backed by SoftBank and top VCs

✅ Revenue on every high-end home sale

It’s luxury, reimagined for access – not just the elite.

SpaceX may be out of reach, but Pacaso isn’t. Invest in Pacaso as a private company.

👉 Don’t miss your shot at Earth’s most exclusive real estate play.

*3rd Party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Stocktwits. See disclosure here. This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. There’s no guarantee that Pacaso will file for an IPO.

TARIFF NEWS
China – U.S. Feud Might Be Simmering☹️ 

While earnings started rolling for real in the tech world, tariff talk kept under the radar over the last few days. Here is some ketchup. 🩸 

Mission Accomplished: In an exclusive Time Magazine interview that dropped today, Trump said he has failed over 200 trade agreements, dubbing the U.S. a “giant department store” that 📉needs to set its shelf prices. That sounds great, but the market can’t seem to find evidence of these deals. Maybe he is referring to his last term.

Market Rout? Not a Factor: Trump also denied that bond market volatility influenced his 90-day tariff pause. He also greenlit deep-sea mining for nickel and rare earth elements, aiming to counter China’s dominance in supply chains. 🚣 

Ken Griffin Slams Tariffs: Citadel CEO Ken Griffin warns Trump’s tariff strategy is damaging U.S. Treasury credibility, and the U.S. “brand,” with potentially lasting reputational consequences 🕰️.

Consumers Grow More Worried: It wasn’t just Griffin getting jitters. The University of Michigan’s April survey found consumer sentiment fell the most in three months as it had since 1990. Sentiment fell 8% from March, with concerns over trade policy and inflation driving pessimism, weighing on income growth expectations. 📉

China Softens Its Stance: Maybe the nonverbal negotiating is working. China rolled back some of the 125% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. semiconductors, according to CNN. ⚙️ 

Apple Shifts Gears: Regardless of where trade ends up, Apple said it was pivoting all U.S.-bound iPhone production to India by 2026, doubling the region’s capacity as trade tensions with China intensify. 📱

Source: Stocktwits

PRESENTED BY STOCKTWITS
The Weekend Rip: Special Guest Shay Boloor 🤩 

Markets rally, Ben pays the tax man, and Tesla tries to gaslight investors into believing in robots—welcome to a Weekend Rip filled with unhinged optimism.

• What active investors are doing after this week’s market rebound 🤔 

• Trump’s gaslight economics and its impact on investor confidence 😬 

• Why the market may be setting up for a 2008-style fall later this year 📊 

• Shay’s four names to play the AI infrastructure boom 🤖 

• Ben’s degenerate market plays ahead of next week’s Cashtag Awards 🥳 

STOCKS
Other Noteworthy Pops & Drops 📋️ 

Aon ($AON -8%): The wealth manager reported Q1 revenue of $4.73 billion, up 16% YoY, missing the $4.86 billion estimate. Adjusted EPS of $5.67 also fell short, but the company reaffirmed its 2025 guidance with strong organic growth projections.

Intel ($INTC -7%): Shares fell after disappointing Q2 guidance and revenue forecasts of $11.2–$12.4 billion. Analysts also lowered price targets, citing macro uncertainties and challenges for new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

AbbVie ($ABBV +3%): Biopharma firm AbbVie posted Q1 revenue that grew 8.4% YoY to $13.34 billion, beating estimates, while adjusted EPS of $2.46 exceeded expectations. The company raised its full-year EPS outlook due to strong performance in its immunology portfolio.

Colgate-Palmolive ($CL +1%): Toothpaste maker Colgate showed Q1 revenue of $4.91 billion and EPS of $0.91, exceeding estimates, but the company cut its full-year EPS guidance to low-single-digit growth. Global tariff impacts and market volatility were cited as major factors.

Centene Corporation ($CNC -6%): Revenue at healthcare software firm Centene surged 15% YoY to $46.62 billion, with adjusted EPS jumping 28% to $2.90, exceeding forecasts. Despite robust metrics, shares fell 7% on rising medical costs.

Pony AI ($PONY -7%): Despite a Tencent partnership announcement, shares dropped for the AI automus driving firm Pony AI. The company unveiled its seventh-gen robotaxi system, keeping weekly gains above 50%.

HCA Healthcare ($HCA -4%): Q1 revenue of $18.32 billion and adjusted EPS of $6.45 beat estimates for healthcare service firm HCA, reinforcing strong demand for healthcare services. The company reaffirmed its guidance, citing stable operations.

Meta Platforms ($META +3%): Meta announced the “Space Llama AI program” in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Nvidia, and HPE aboard the ISS. Basically, AI in space that does not need wifi from Earth. Sounds like that movie…. ⭕️ 

COMMUNITY VIBES
One Tweet To Sum Up The Week 😂 

Highest close since Liberation Day and the Nasdaq 100’s longest streak of 1% gains since March ’22. 👀

Here’s how stock market bulls closed the week:
– $SPY +4.60%
– $QQQ +6.41%
– $IWM +4.10%
– $DIA +2.48%

— Stocktwits (@Stocktwits)
8:18 PM • Apr 25, 2025

Links That Don’t Suck 🌐

🌞 Ready to grow your portfolio? Spring into action with help from IBD Digital and save $65+*

🎮 It’s OK if You Didn’t Preorder a Switch 2

🧢 Trump 2028 hat fuels third White House term questions

🙏 Pope’s coffin sealed ahead of funeral on Saturday morning

💸 Amazon sellers hike prices of goods after Trump’s China tariffs

📱 Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile prepare to raise prices on consumers because of Trump’s trade war

📉 Consumer sentiment falls to lowest level since post-pandemic inflation peak

*3rd Party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Stocktwits. See disclosure here.

Get In Touch 📬

Follow our social channels for great, real-time content on Stocktwits and Twitter. And check out our YouTube channel for in-depth video content! 📲

Help us deliver the best content possible by completing this brief survey. 📝

Email me (Kevin Travers) your feedback; follow me on Stocktwits. I’d love to hear from you. 📧

Want to sponsor this newsletter and reach hundreds of thousands of passionate investors and traders? Reach us here. 

Terms & Conditions 📝

Securities Disclaimer: STOCKTWITS IS NOT A TAX ADVISOR, BROKER, FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. THE SERVICE IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TAX, LEGAL, FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVICE, AND NOTHING ON THE SERVICE SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS AN OFFER TO SELL, A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, OR A RECOMMENDATION FOR ANY SECURITY. Trading in such securities can result in immediate and substantial losses of the capital invested. You should only invest risk capital, and not capital required for other purposes. You alone are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, security or strategy, or any other product or service, is appropriate or suitable for you based on your investment objectives and personal and financial situation. You should also consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. The Content is to be used for informational and entertainment purposes only and the Service does not provide investment advice for any individual. Stocktwits, its affiliates and partners specifically disclaim any and all liability or loss arising out of any action taken in reliance on Content, including but not limited to market value or other loss on the sale or purchase of any company, property, product, service, security, instrument, or any other matter. You understand that an investment in any security is subject to a number of risks, and that discussions of any security published on the Service will not contain a list or description of relevant risk factors. In addition, please note that some of the stocks about which Content is published on the Service have a low market capitalization and/or insufficient public float. Such stocks are subject to more risk than stocks of larger companies, including greater volatility, lower liquidity and less publicly available information. Read the full terms & conditions here. 🔍

Author Disclosure: The author of this newsletter does not hold positions in any of the securities or assets mentioned. 📋