Core Insights - The Trump administration has signed drug-pricing agreements with several large-cap drugmakers to lower drug prices in the U.S. [1] - The agreements require drugmakers to reduce prescription drug prices to match those in comparable developed countries, supporting the Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing proposal [2] - Drugmakers will receive a three-year exemption from import tariffs on pharmaceutical ingredients in exchange for expanding domestic manufacturing operations [3] - Some companies will donate active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to a government stockpile to ensure supply chain resilience during emergencies [4] - The Trump administration has now reached deals with 14 out of 17 targeted drug manufacturers, with three companies still in discussions [5] Industry Impact - The agreements address major concerns regarding drug pricing and tariffs, improving investor outlook for the pharmaceutical sector [6] - The deals are seen as a turning point that could alleviate regulatory and pricing pressures on the industry [7] - The latest agreements involve nine major drugmakers, joining others like Pfizer and AstraZeneca who signed similar deals earlier [8]

Ah, the markets. A bastion of rationality, predictability, and calm, right? Not when Donald J. Trump is in the driver’s seat, or even just tweeting from the back. The year 2025 has proven to be yet another masterclass in market volatility, where a single pronouncement can send trillions soaring or plummeting, often with the same dizzying speed as a Truth Social post going viral. Investors, bless their hearts, have spent the better part of the year clutching their pearls and portfolios, trying to decipher wh ...

Ah, the stock market. A bastion of rational thought, predictable trends, and calm, measured reactions. Or, if you’ve been paying attention to the last few years, a chaotic pinball machine where the flippers are controlled by presidential tweets and the ball bounces wildly between “historic deals” and “massive tariffs.” Welcome back to the exhilarating, if slightly whiplash-inducing, world of the Trump economy, where policy pronouncements often serve as the opening bell for a fresh round of market gymnastics ...

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is highlighted as an ideal investment for income-focused investors, offering a combination of high yield and potential capital gains through a diversified portfolio of stocks [2][4]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has been established for 14 years and is managed by Charles Schwab, boasting over $71 billion in net assets, making it one of the largest high-yield ETFs [4]. - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, ensuring that investors are not overpaying for its benefits [5]. - It pays quarterly dividends with a 30-day SEC yield of 3.8%, which is close to the 10-year Treasury rate of 4.2%, providing a competitive passive income option [6]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The ETF targets large-cap, high-yield stocks, with approximately 90% of its investments in companies with market capitalizations exceeding $15 billion, appealing to investors seeking diversification [8]. - Over half of the ETF's investments are concentrated in three sectors: energy, consumer staples, and healthcare, which are known for prioritizing dividend growth [9]. Group 3: Sector and Holdings - Key energy holdings include major companies like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and EOG Resources, which help manage risk across the oil and gas value chain [10]. - The top healthcare holdings, such as Merck and Amgen, offer high yields and favorable valuations, while leading consumer staples like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have consistently raised dividends for over 50 years, earning the title of Dividend Kings [11]. Group 4: Performance and Value - Since its inception in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has more than tripled in value, demonstrating its potential for capital gains alongside dividend income [13]. - The ETF is positioned as a foundational holding for value-focused portfolios or as a means to balance portfolios that have become overly concentrated in growth stocks [12].

Core Points - President Trump and nine major pharmaceutical companies have reached agreements to reduce medication costs for cash payers and the Medicaid program, aligning U.S. prices with those of other wealthy nations [1][2] - Drugmakers will implement most-favored-nation pricing for Medicaid drugs, ensuring prices match the lowest available globally [2][4] - A new government website, TrumpRx.gov, will facilitate the purchase of discounted prescription drugs directly from manufacturers [3] Agreement Details - Companies involved include Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Merck, Genentech, Novartis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, and GSK [2] - Drugmakers will list their products on TrumpRx.gov, which offers significant discounts for cash payers and mandates that new drugs be priced no higher than in other wealthy countries [3] - In exchange for these commitments, companies will receive three-year tariff exemptions previously imposed on foreign-made drugs [4] Specific Drug Pricing - Merck will sell its diabetes drugs, Januvia and Janumet, at a 70% discount to consumers, while Bristol Myers Squibb will provide its blood thinner, Eliquis, free to Medicaid starting January 1, 2026, and offer selected medicines at approximately 80% off list prices for cash-paying patients [5] Investment Commitments - The pharmaceutical companies have pledged over $150 billion in U.S. research and development and manufacturing investments, with Merck committing more than $70 billion to enhance domestic production and innovation [6] - Five companies have already established agreements with the administration, with three more expected to announce deals soon [6] Program Evaluation - Mark Cuban, a billionaire entrepreneur, rated TrumpRx.gov with a "B" grade, indicating potential but suggesting it needs to compel pharmacy benefit managers to alter their practices for a higher rating [7]

Group 1: Drug Price Cuts and Pharmaceutical Stocks - President Trump announced significant drug price cuts in collaboration with nine major pharmaceutical companies, aiming to align U.S. drug costs with those in other developed nations [2] - Despite the announcement of price cuts, shares of involved drugmakers like GSK, Merck, Amgen, Novartis, Sanofi, and Roche rose by approximately 1% to 3%, as the deals removed the immediate threat of punitive tariffs for three years [3] - Analysts noted that the deals serve more as a public relations strategy rather than a substantial change in company economics, with Medicaid already benefiting from significant discounts [4] Group 2: Market Reactions to Health Insurers - Major health insurers such as Cigna, CVS Health, Elevance Health, and UnitedHealth Group experienced an initial dip of about 1% following Trump's comments but quickly recovered, indicating a market accustomed to Trump's policy announcements [5] Group 3: Merger of Trump Media & Technology Group and TAE Technologies - Trump Media & Technology Group announced a merger with TAE Technologies, valuing the combined entity at $6 billion, which led to a 42% surge in DJT shares, closing at $14.86 [7] - The merger has drawn mixed reactions, with some analysts viewing it as a significant move towards creating a public nuclear fusion company, while others criticized it as a questionable venture [9] Group 4: Tariff Threats and Market Volatility - Throughout 2025, Trump's threats and impositions of tariffs, particularly against China, have caused significant market volatility, including a $5 trillion market wipeout following an April tariff announcement [11] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced substantial declines during tariff threats, but the market has shown resilience, often recovering to new highs [12] Group 5: Overall Market Environment - As 2025 concludes, the financial markets continue to be influenced by Trump's unpredictable policies, creating a landscape where traditional analysis is often overshadowed by political developments [13]

Despite pressure from the administration, a rough start to the year, biotech has seen a rebound this year. Our next guest is betting that that recovery will continue into 2026. So joining us now, Salivine Richtor.She is the lead US biotech analyst at Goldman Sachs Research. And Salivine, it's great to have you on the show. Welcome.>> Thank you for having me. What's interesting to me is that these names of these, you know, these stocks of these pharma companies that did inc this deal with the president just ...

Donald Trump and nine major pharmaceutical companies on Friday announced deals that will slash the prices of their medicines for the government’s Medicaid program and for cash payers, in his latest bid to align US costs with those in other wealthy nations.Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Merck and Roche’s US unit Genentech have struck deals. Novartis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi and GSK have also signed on.Under the deals, each drugmaker will cut prices on most drugs sold to the Medicaid p ...

President Donald Trump signs an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80% during an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.Several of the largest U.S. and European-based drugmakers inked deals with President Donald Trump on Friday to voluntarily sell their medications for less, as his administration pushes to link the nation's drug prices to cheaper ones abroad.That includes Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen ...

Each company has a bullish case, but three stand out as great long-term buys.The Dow Jones, formally known as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), is one of the U.S. stock market's three main indexes, alongside the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. It tracks 30 of the largest American companies on the market, aiming to give insight into the health of the U.S. stock market.Since the Dow Jones typically tracks large, mature companies, those companies generally pay a dividend. The only exceptions are Amazon, w ...