MW Investors can use these new services to branch out for good or bad in 2025

By Philip van Doorn

Also: Hindenburg's report on Carvana, the Moneyist's most popular articles, and stocks that appear to be better bargains even after beating the S&P 500 in 2024

Brokerage firms that cater to individual investors mainly through smartphone apps had another banner year in 2024, as Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD) and other innovators expanded their capabilities. A related development was the Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of new exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin (BTCUSD), making it easier than ever for people to gain exposure to virtual currencies.

Gordon Gottsegen covered the variety of new brokerage services available and their associated risks for investors and traders.

In a related story, Joseph Adinolfi reported on the record volume of options trading in 2024, in part because of new tools available to individual investors, and on industry changes that may feed even more trading of options in 2025.

Carvana and Hindenburg

Carvana Co. (CVNA) completed its initial public offering on April 28, 2017, and as you can see on the chart above, this has been a volatile stock.

Carvana's IPO price was $15 and the stock hit an intraday high of $376.83 on Aug. 10, 2021, according to data provided by FactSet. Through the end of 2021, Carvana's stock had increased 1,445% from its offering price. Then the stock plunged 98% in 2022 to close out that year at $4.72. That was followed by an 11-fold increase to $52.94 at the end of 2023. In 2024 the stock rose another 284% to close at $203.36 on Tuesday.

So the stock ended 2024 with a 1,256% gain from its IPO price, even though it was still down 12% from the end of 2021.

Then on Thursday, short seller Hindenburg Research put out its latest report on a stock the firm was betting against. Hindenburg called Carvana's operating improvement a "mirage" and bashed company insiders for selling their shareholdings as "solvency risks remain."

Carvana didn't respond to a request for comment on Thursday, and as of early Friday the company hadn't made any public statement in response to the Hindenburg report, which you can read here.

Tesla's sales decline as its EV competitors set records

Shares of Tesla Inc. $(TSLA)$ rose 62.5% during 2024, but the stock fell 6% on Thursday after the company reported a year-over-year decline in quarterly vehicle deliveries.

Meanwhile, four of Tesla's competitors in China reported record vehicle-delivery sales.

And shares of Rivian Automotive Inc. $(RIVN)$ were up 20% late Friday morning after the company reported a larger increase in deliveries than analysts had expected.

More coverage:

-- Why this analyst isn't worried about Tesla's deliveries miss

-- Tesla's stock got a big Trump bump. Now Elon Musk needs to get back to work.

Will last year's best ETF strategies work in 2025?

In this week's ETF Wrap newsletter, Isabel Wang covered the most successful strategies for exchange-traded funds in 2024, when new bitcoin ETFs became available. She also spoke with industry analysts about which ETF strategies may come to the fore in 2025.

AI stock recommendations as software companies join the party

Nvidia Corp. $(NVDA)$ has continued to dominate investors' focus on the build-out of computing capability to support the development of generative artificial intelligence technology. But at some point investors will want to see a movement toward profitable applications of AI. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives listed 10 AI stock plays for 2025. You won't be surprised to see Nvidia topping the list, but his recommendations also include several software developers.

Space stocks to watch in 2025

Stocks of companies involved with space launches, satellites or related services can be volatile. Last year was a banner year for some of the companies, such as Rocket Lab USA Inc. $(RKLB)$, with a 361% increase for the stock, and Intuitive Machines Inc. (LUNR), with a 611% increase on the success in February of its Odysseus lunar lander and subsequent expansion of its contractual relationship with NASA.

James Rogers surveyed the 2025 prospects for many space companies, including SpaceX and Boeing Co. $(BA)$.

Related: Here's how Boeing is responding to the FAA's call for a 'fundamental cultural shift' in safety

Divorce and Social Security

This week in the Help Me Retire column, Alessandra Malito answered questions from a divorced woman who is receiving Social Security benefits but who might be able to receive more money based on her ex-husband's higher level of earned benefits.

A different problem for retirees: I'm 72 and trying to hire a financial adviser, but I feel tricked about the fees

A list of stocks that trade at more attractive valuations even after double-digit gains in 2024

The S&P 500 SPX rose 23.3% during 2024, excluding dividends. The index's valuation relative to expected earnings for its component companies has been increasing. Here are 11 stocks that beat the S&P 500's price increase in 2024, but whose forward price-to-earnings ratios went down.

The Moneyist's greatest hits

Quentin Fottrell - the Moneyist - rounded up his five most popular columns of 2024.

Want more from MarketWatch? Sign up for this and other newsletters to get the latest news and advice on personal finance and investing.

-Philip van Doorn

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 03, 2025 12:05 ET (17:05 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.