RT Mel (@Villgecrazylady)Just so we’re clear… Howard Lutnik is the *architect* of Trump’s tariff plan. He’s the one who pushed Trump on these.And at the EXACT SAME TIME that he was doing this, Lutnik’s sons **who he appointed to take over his bank** were betting the tariffs would be struck down and buying up refund rights at $0.25 on the dollar.And now the government owes companies refunds… and depending on how many refund slips they are holding, the Lutnik’s bank could make BILLIONS of dollars.There’s noth ...

Core Viewpoint - The stock market is currently experiencing significant discounts, creating potential buying opportunities for investors amid economic uncertainty and trade tensions [1][2]. Group 1: Market Context - Major stock indexes have declined due to weakening consumer sentiment and fears of an economic slowdown, exacerbated by President Trump's tariff plan [2]. - A trade war with China has escalated, leading to increased uncertainty for business owners and investors, despite a temporary pause in tariffs [2]. Group 2: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk's shares have decreased by 64% from their all-time high, primarily due to a weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings report and concerns over economic slowdown [4][5]. - The company, while not directly affected by tariffs, operates in an advertising sector sensitive to economic health, contributing to the stock's decline [6]. - Historically, The Trade Desk has shown resilience during advertising downturns, maintaining revenue growth of over 20% even when peers struggled [7]. - The stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 30, reflecting investor concerns about potential earnings declines, but it is considered undervalued given the company's growth trajectory [8]. - If internal issues are resolved, the stock is expected to perform well in the long term [9]. Group 3: Nvidia - Nvidia's stock has fallen 26% from its peak due to economic headwinds impacting its revenue growth, despite its leadership in the AI sector [10]. - The company is relatively insulated from tariffs, as "bare die" semiconductors are excluded, and it is likely to benefit from government support for domestic chip manufacturing [11]. - Demand for Nvidia's products, particularly in AI, is expected to continue growing, as evidenced by substantial investment interest in the sector [12]. - The stock trades at a forward P/E under 25, providing a margin of safety even if growth slows, positioning the company well to maintain its leadership in the AI revolution [13][14].

Core Insights - Microsoft has regained its position as the world's most valuable public company with a market capitalization of $2.64 trillion, surpassing Apple's $2.59 trillion following a 23% decline in Apple's stock over four trading sessions [1]. Group 1: Market Impact - The overall market is experiencing significant downturns due to President Trump's tariff plan, with the Nasdaq index down 13% over the past four trading days [3]. - Apple's heavy reliance on China has made it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the tariff plan, resulting in a more severe decline compared to other tech giants [2]. Group 2: Company Performance - Despite issuing disappointing revenue guidance in January, Microsoft is viewed as more insulated from tariff uncertainties compared to other software companies, according to Jefferies analysts [4]. - Both Apple and Microsoft, along with Nvidia, were previously valued at over $3 trillion before the recent market selloff [3].

Core Viewpoint - The recent overhaul of U.S. trade policies, including updated tariffs on over 180 countries, is expected to impact various American companies, but Altria Group is positioned to weather these changes due to its domestic sourcing of tobacco products [1][3]. Company Overview - Altria Group is the largest tobacco company in the U.S., owning well-known brands such as Marlboro, Copenhagen, and Skoal [3]. - The company generates nearly all of its revenue from tobacco, with $24 billion in revenue for 2024, of which $21.2 billion comes from smokable products and $2.78 billion from oral tobacco products [4]. Industry Context - The tobacco industry has faced challenges due to declining smoking rates, which have dropped around 20% in the past decade [5]. - Despite these challenges, Altria's revenue structure may benefit from the current economic climate, as tobacco products tend to remain in demand even during economic downturns [6][7]. Economic Resilience - Altria is considered one of the more recession-resistant businesses, as consumers are likely to prioritize spending on tobacco over other non-essential items during tough economic times [7]. - The addictive nature of tobacco provides Altria with significant pricing power, allowing the company to maintain steady finances despite declining smoking rates [8]. Dividend Performance - Altria has been recognized for its attractive dividend yield, which is around 7%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average [9]. - The company has a strong track record of increasing its dividend for 55 consecutive years, placing it among elite Dividend Kings [10]. - Altria prioritizes maintaining its dividend, recognizing its importance to shareholders [11].

Core Viewpoint - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) experienced a 1.2% increase in stock price, adding $2 billion to its market capitalization, despite a broader market downturn and recent tariffs introduced by President Trump [1][2] Group 1: Financial Performance - Year-to-date, CAT stock has declined by 10%, underperforming the industry decline of 8%, Zacks Industrial Products sector's 3% drop, and the S&P 500's 0.9% fall [2] - CAT's sales volumes and revenues have been declining for five consecutive quarters, reflecting weak consumer spending [6] - Revenue growth has been negative for the past four quarters, with earnings declining in the last two [7] - Caterpillar expects 2025 revenues to be slightly lower than the 2024 actual of $64.8 billion, with an adjusted operating margin expected in the top half of its target range [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 10.3%, while the estimate for 2026 suggests a growth of 12.6% [12] Group 2: Market Conditions - The U.S. manufacturing sector contracted in March, with the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index registering 49%, indicating a slowdown in order levels [10] - The downturn in China's real estate sector has significantly weakened demand for CAT's larger excavators, compounded by weak demand in Europe [8] Group 3: Competitive Position - CAT's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 2.49, compared to the industry's 1.82, indicating a premium valuation [15] - The company has a sector-leading dividend yield of 1.69%, with a five-year dividend growth rate of 7.4% [19] - Caterpillar's return on equity (ROE) stands at 59.1%, significantly higher than the sector average of 20.1% and the S&P 500's 31.1% [20] Group 4: Long-Term Prospects - Long-term demand is expected to benefit from increased infrastructure spending and the shift towards clean energy, which will drive demand for Caterpillar's mining equipment [21] - The company is witnessing robust order levels for reciprocating engines for data centers, planning to double its output with a multi-year capital investment [22] - The average price target for CAT suggests a potential increase of 17.6% from its last closing price, with the highest target indicating a gain of 46% [23]

About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...

Topline Tesla will disclose Wednesday the most tangible data point yet showing the impact to its business from the polarizing activities of its chief executive officer and largest shareholder Elon Musk, whose close relationship with President Donald Trump led many on Wall Street to warn about "woes" for the electric vehicle maker. Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. Getty Images Key Facts At about 9 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Tesla will report how many vehicles i ...

2. Amazon The Nasdaq, an index that roared higher over the past two years, spent most of March doing just the opposite. The benchmark slid into correction territory earlier in the month, meaning it fell more than 10% since its most recent high back in December. The reason for this shift? Investors worried that President Donald Trump's plan to impose a series of tariffs on imports could hurt growth at home. Growth-oriented stocks are particularly sensitive to the economic backdrop, so when uncertainty arises ...

Group 1: Investment and Manufacturing Expansion - Eli Lilly is investing an additional $27 billion to enhance domestic drug production, bringing its total U.S. manufacturing investment to over $50 billion since 2020 [1][2] - The company plans to build four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, with three focusing on active pharmaceutical ingredients to strengthen its supply chain [2] - The investment will create 3,000 jobs for skilled workers and support 10,000 construction jobs [5] Group 2: Strategic Vision and Market Position - Eli Lilly's CEO, David Ricks, expressed optimism about the company's pipeline across various therapeutic areas, which drives the commitment to domestic manufacturing [4] - The investment reflects the company's strategy to meet anticipated demand for safe, high-quality, FDA-approved medicines in the future [5] Group 3: Industry Context - The announcement comes amid U.S. plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which may impact the broader manufacturing landscape [7][8] - Eli Lilly's investment aligns with a trend of companies committing to U.S. manufacturing under the current administration, with Apple also announcing a significant $500 billion investment [9]