Breaking: Trump said the U.S. will impose 100% tariffs on drugs from companies that aren't building plants in America https://t.co/utIEYoi9KG ...

Core Viewpoint - Tariffs on drugs will be imposed on companies that do not have manufacturing plants in the U.S. [1] Group 1 - The new tariffs aim to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to establish production facilities within the United States [1] - Companies without U.S. plants will face increased costs, potentially affecting their pricing strategies and market competitiveness [1] - This policy is part of a broader initiative to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign production [1]

Group 1 - President Donald Trump announced new tariffs, including a 100% levy on imported pharmaceuticals [1] - The tariffs will apply unless pharmaceutical manufacturers are actively building factories in the U.S. [1]

Group 1 - The U.S. will impose a 100% tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product entering the country starting October 1 [1] - Companies that have started construction on drug manufacturing plants in the U.S. will be exempt from this tariff [1][2] - Trump indicated that the initial tariff on pharmaceuticals will be small, with plans to increase it to 150% and potentially up to 250% within a year to a year and a half [3] Group 2 - In addition to pharmaceuticals, a 25% duty on heavy trucks and a 50% levy on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities will also take effect on October 1 [2] - The Department of Commerce is conducting national security investigations into imports of robotics, industrial machinery, and medical devices, which may lead to additional tariffs [3][4] - Personal protective equipment and other medical consumables are included in the scope of the new investigations, but pharmaceuticals are being examined separately [4]

Membership Growth - Membership income increased by approximately 14% year-over-year, a key indicator of business performance [1] - Less than half of the increase in overall membership fees is attributed to the increase in what members pay [3] Tariff Mitigation Strategies - The company is offsetting tariffs by sourcing differently than before [1] - Introducing Kirkland brand alternatives to tariff-affected items [2] - Adjusting assortment by dropping items or ordering larger quantities from less affected manufacturers [2]

Core Insights - Costco's earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal fourth quarter was $5.87, with total revenue reaching $86.16 billion, meeting Wall Street expectations despite concerns over tariffs and inflation impacting consumer spending [1] - The company reported a net sales increase of 8% to $84.4 billion compared to $78.2 billion in the same quarter last year, with comparable sales in the U.S. rising 6% on an adjusted basis [2] Financial Performance - Wall Street had projected an EPS of $5.80 on revenue of $86 billion, with expectations for same-store sales growth of 5.9% year-over-year [3] - Membership fees generated $1.7 billion in revenue, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, highlighting strong customer loyalty with renewal rates frequently surpassing 90% [4] Market Position and Strategy - Costco's supply-chain capabilities and strong vendor relationships position it well to handle tariff-related pressures, with analysts noting that its value proposition could become more appealing in an inflationary environment [5] - The company has introduced an extra hour of shopping for executive members, which contributed an additional 1% to sales [4] Stock Performance and Valuation - Costco's stock has increased approximately 3.8% year-to-date, although it experienced a decline of less than 1% after the market closed [6] - Analysts express concerns regarding the sustainability of Costco's high valuation, indicating that the stock valuation is challenging compared to historical standards [6]

Core Insights - The U.S. economy expanded at a surprising 3.8% from April to June, significantly higher than the previous estimate of 3.3% [3][5] - Consumer spending rose at a 2.5% pace, up from 0.6% in the first quarter, indicating stronger consumer resilience amid trade uncertainties [5][6] - A notable decline in imports at a 29.3% pace contributed over 5 percentage points to the second-quarter growth, reversing the trend from the first quarter [4][5] Economic Performance - The U.S. GDP rebounded from a 0.6% drop in the first quarter, which was the first decline in three years, primarily due to increased imports [3][4] - The underlying strength of the economy, measured by a specific GDP category, grew by 2.9% from April to June, up from 1.9% in the first quarter [6][7] - Private investment fell, including a 5.1% drop in residential investment, and federal government spending also decreased at a 5.3% annual pace [7][12] Labor Market - Job creation has slowed significantly, with an average of 53,000 new jobs added per month since March, down from an average of 147,000 previously reported [12][13] - The Labor Department is expected to report a modest addition of 43,000 jobs in September, with unemployment likely remaining at 4.3% [14][15] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time since December, with expectations of two more cuts this year, although strong GDP growth may influence their decision [15][16] - The Fed will closely monitor the upcoming personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for inflation trends [15]

Financial Performance - Costco reported a net income of $2.61 billion, or $5.87 per share, for the fiscal fourth quarter, an increase from $2.35 billion, or $5.29 per share, a year earlier [1] - Revenue for the quarter was $86.16 billion, surpassing the expected $86.06 billion [7] Sales Metrics - Same-store sales rose by 6.4% excluding the impact of gas prices and foreign exchange, marking two consecutive quarters of decelerating growth [2] - E-commerce sales increased by 13.5% compared to the previous year, also excluding gas prices and foreign exchange impacts [2] Market Position and Strategy - Costco has opened new locations and attracted younger members, with nearly half of new signups being individuals under 40 [3] - The company is well-positioned to handle higher tariffs due to its grocery-focused sales and flexible merchandise selection [4] - Actions have been taken to mitigate tariff-related costs, including expediting orders and sourcing more items locally [5] Stock Performance - Over the past five years, Costco's shares have increased by approximately 180%, but have underperformed in the current year with just over 2% growth compared to the S&P 500's over 12% gains [6]

Let's get more on that burst of positive economic news out this morning. Refllies inflation adjusted GDP for the second quarter came in at a healthy 3.8%. That was stronger than the 3.3% figure that was previously reported.And meanwhile, in a sign of strength for the labor market, initial jobless claims edged lower to 218,000 and July existing home sales, which just crossed ticked higher to just over 4 million. So, how does the US economy keep chugging along amid what seems like a drum beat of dire predicti ...

People tend to have amnesia when it comes to financial markets. It was only just a few months ago that max fear it was spreading like wildfire all across Wall Street. They swore on their life that tariffs would bring sky-high inflation to American consumers.That hasn't happened. You don't have to believe me either. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, the boss, he said it himself yesterday.We're now collecting a good bit of revenue. The federal government collecting a good chunk of revenue, three or 400 ...