Economic uncertainty
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3 Banks Stocks Dinged by Tariff Tensions, Rate Concerns
Schaeffers Investment Research· 2025-03-10 14:38
Core Viewpoint - Shares of major banks including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley are experiencing significant declines due to economic uncertainty and market weakness, exacerbated by tariff negotiations and recession fears [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is down 3.1% at $234.85, marking a year-to-date loss despite a 24.2% year-over-year gain, having struggled since reaching a record high of $280.25 on February 19 [2]. - Citigroup (C) has fallen 4.2% to $67.52, entering a year-to-date deficit, following an 11.9% drop last week, the worst since September 2020, moving away from its February 18 peak of $84.74 [2]. - Morgan Stanley (MS) is down 4.6% to $113.84, with a year-to-date loss of 9.2%, having peaked at $142.03 on February 7 but losing ground in three of the last four weeks [3].
Target CEO warns of price hikes on produce in coming days following Mexico tariffs
New York Post· 2025-03-04 14:15
Core Viewpoint - Target's CEO Brian Cornell has indicated that consumers can expect higher prices for imported produce from Mexico due to new tariffs, which will impact the company's first-quarter profits as spending declines [1][2][4]. Price Impact - The company relies significantly on Mexican produce, especially during winter months, and anticipates price increases on items like avocados and strawberries as soon as this week due to a 25% tariff [3][4]. - Cornell noted that while the company will attempt to protect pricing, consumers will likely see price increases shortly [4]. Financial Performance - Target reported a 1.5% rise in comparable sales for the holiday quarter, exceeding analyst expectations of 1.3%, although earnings per share fell 19.3% to $2.41, still surpassing Wall Street's forecast of $2.27 [7]. - For the full year through January 2026, Target projects flat comparable sales, below analysts' average expectation of 1.86% growth [9]. Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - There has been a 6.1% drop in foot traffic at Target stores from late January to late February, which some analysts attribute to the company's recent decision to end its diversity and inclusion initiatives [15]. - The retailer has noted shifts in consumer behavior affecting financial results, with non-essential categories like home furnishings and electronics already experiencing weakened demand [6]. Economic Outlook - Cornell expressed that the year ahead would be challenging for the retailer due to rising duties and economic uncertainty, which have already begun to affect sales [2][13]. - The company's annual forecast does not fully account for the impact of tariffs, and there is ongoing monitoring of trends to remain cautious in expectations for the year [13].