The US will proceed with an investigation that opens the door to new tariffs on goods from China, despite the two nations’ fresh truce, President Donald Trump’s top trade negotiator said https://t.co/X7fK6OLM3l ...

Hi there. Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Ryan Nobles in Washington where President Trump just returned to the White House after his 5-day visit to Asia, which ended with a meeting with President Xi as the Trump administration looks to ease trade tensions with Beijing.But it's President Trump's announcement just before those highstakes negotiations that sending shock waves with President Trump ordering the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons. The president posting on truth social while citing other ...

Market Overview - The market has shifted focus from trade tensions to earnings performance, with earnings continuing to reach new 12-month forward highs driven by AI capital expenditures [3][4] - Despite concerns about potential impacts from tariffs, overall earnings have not been significantly affected, allowing the market to maintain upward momentum [2][3] Valuation and Historical Context - Current valuations for major tech companies (excluding Tesla) average between 35 to 38 times forward earnings, which is significantly lower than the over 200 times seen in 1999 for companies like Cisco and Intel [5][6] - The market is not in a euphoric state similar to the late 1990s, suggesting that the current AI-driven growth may continue to support performance [6] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - The probability of a rate cut in December is currently at 71%, down from 84%, indicating a cautious market sentiment despite some expectations for cuts [8][9] - Analysts suggest that while the market is pricing in rate cuts, there is a risk that the Fed may not deliver as expected, especially if labor market data does not indicate significant weakness [9][10][14] Economic Implications - The market's reliance on further rate cuts implies a belief that the labor market is weaker than suggested by current data, which could lead to aggressive valuations if growth estimates are too high [14][15] - A balanced approach to rate cuts is preferred, as excessive cuts could signal deeper economic issues, impacting market stability [14][15]

So, what does it mean for the market going forward. Let's ask New Edge Wealth's Cameron Dawson and Palumbo Wealth Management's Phil Palumbo, both here at Post 9. Welcome to you both.Um, it's interesting, Cameron, because like two and a half weeks ago, the market had a little bit of a panic on a perceived reescalation of trade tensions. We got sort of a status quo type of a truce. Um, market seems to have moved on to are earnings good enough.Um, what does positioning look like. and did we get too overexposed ...

Core Viewpoint - JAKKS Pacific, Inc. reported a significant decline in net sales for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025, attributed to reduced consumer demand and challenges related to tariffs, while emphasizing a commitment to operational efficiency and product innovation for long-term growth [3][5][11]. Financial Performance - Net sales for Q3 2025 were $211.2 million, a decrease of 34% from $321.6 million in Q3 2024 [5][11]. - For the first nine months of 2025, net sales totaled $443.6 million, down 21% from $560.3 million in the same period last year [6][11]. - The Toys/Consumer Products segment saw a 41% decline in global sales to $156.1 million in Q3 2025, while Costumes sales decreased by 4% to $55.1 million [5][11]. - U.S. sales in Q3 2025 were $154.5 million, down 40% from $255.3 million in Q3 2024, and Rest of World sales were $56.7 million, down 15% from $66.3 million [5][11]. Profitability Metrics - Gross profit for Q3 2025 was $67.6 million, down from $108.8 million in Q3 2024, resulting in a gross margin of 32.0%, compared to 33.8% in the prior year [11]. - Adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders for Q3 2025 was $20.6 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, compared to $54.0 million, or $4.79 per diluted share, in Q3 2024 [11]. - Trailing twelve-month EBITDA as of September 30, 2025, was $29.0 million, down from $58.5 million a year earlier [7][11]. Cash and Inventory Management - Cash and cash equivalents totaled $27.8 million as of September 30, 2025, an increase from $22.3 million at the same time last year, but down from $70.1 million as of December 31, 2024 [7]. - Inventory levels rose to $71.5 million compared to $63.5 million a year ago, indicating a need for improved inventory management [7]. Dividend Declaration - The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on December 29, 2025, to shareholders of record on November 28, 2025 [8]. Management Commentary - The CEO highlighted the importance of maintaining margins and supporting retail partners while preparing for a strong product pipeline extending into 2026 and beyond [3][4]. - The company remains confident in its long-term trajectory by focusing on operational efficiency, cash generation, and product innovation [5].

The US Senate took a stand against Donald Trump’s global tariffs affecting more than 100 countries on Thursday, voting to nullify the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs.Four Republicans joined with all Democrats to vote 51-47 on a resolution to end the base-level tariffs that the president put into place via executive order.It was the third time the Republicans have voted alongside Democrats on a tariff resolution this week, previously rallying to end tariffs targeting Brazil and Canada.Going against Trump is r ...

Core Insights - National Presto Industries, Inc. (NPK) shares have declined 5.4% since the earnings report for the quarter ended September 28, 2025, underperforming the S&P 500 index, which grew by 2.3% during the same period [1] - The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of 74 cents for Q3 2025, down from $1.13 a year ago, while net sales increased by 25.7% to $115.5 million, driven by the Defense segment [2] - Despite sales growth, net earnings fell 34.2% year over year to $5.3 million from $8.1 million [2] Segment Performance - The Defense segment experienced a revenue increase of $25.8 million, or 38.6% year over year, attributed to higher shipments from backlog and improved operating earnings of $1.7 million [3] - The Housewares/Small Appliance segment saw a revenue decline of $2.3 million, a 9.2% drop, primarily due to retailer resistance against tariff-driven price increases, resulting in substantial operating losses [4] - The Startup Safety segment reported nominal sales and incurred a loss during the quarter, indicating it remains in early-stage development with ongoing investment needs [6] Management Commentary - The president of National Presto, Maryjo Cohen, highlighted the contrasting performance between segments, noting that the Defense segment benefited from backlog-driven shipments, while the Housewares segment faced challenges from tariff-related issues [5] - The company indicated that tariffs were treated as period costs, contributing to ongoing losses in the Housewares/Small Appliance unit [5]

Core Insights - American retailers are increasing discounts on Hershey products ahead of Halloween due to price hikes from tariffs and cocoa inflation [1][2] - Hershey is among the food makers with the largest increase in discounted goods sold, as reported by Jeffries [2] - The overall chocolate candy sales per unit remained flat despite an 8% price increase, indicating potential challenges for Hershey [5] Pricing and Sales Trends - The cost of chocolate has surged nearly 30% since last Halloween and is up almost 78% from five years ago [6] - A 100-piece bag of assorted Halloween candy now averages $16.39, a significant increase from $9.19 in 2020 [6] - Nearly 80% of Halloween shoppers expect to pay more this year, reflecting broader inflationary pressures [11] Market Response - Experts attribute rising cocoa prices to a global shortage linked to poor harvests and climate changes in West Africa [9] - Candy makers are adapting by shrinking product sizes and introducing new varieties, including fruit-flavored and cocoa-free options [9] - Hershey's CEO indicated that the company is experiencing disappointing Halloween sales and plans to adjust its seasonal product and marketing strategies [5]

Senate Passes Resolution To Block Trump’s Tariffshttps://t.co/61T51eH0xp https://t.co/frdGC2eh6O ...

We're here in South Korea where President Trump just left on his way back to Washington. And the president says that he has reached a trade deal with China, although the Chinese have not confirmed details yet. Still, the president says that this meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was a success.>> I thought it was a great meeting. I I think it was a very friendly meeting. uh it was a good meeting for two very large powerful countries >> and that he's decided to lower tariffs on China from around 57% o ...