Einstein Shark Ninja crushed it with second quarter estimates raising guidance thanks to strong international sales. The results come as the company tries to mitigate its reliance on China. And I'm pleased to say that Shark Ninja CEO Mark Baracus joins us now with more. Mark, great to have you with us.Let's talk exactly about that. I know that you said on the call that 90% of your US volume is produced outside of China. You remain on track to reach 100% by the end of the year.Where are you shifting that sup ...

Core Viewpoint - The home appliance industry is increasingly focusing on developing features that cater to consumer demands for green and healthy products, particularly in refrigerators that claim to have "pesticide removal" functions, raising questions about the validity of these claims [1][2][3]. Group 1: Product Features and Claims - Many high-end refrigerators, priced over 10,000 yuan, prominently feature "pesticide removal" or "pesticide reduction" capabilities, often at a premium of around 3,000 yuan compared to similar models without this feature [1]. - Sales personnel from various brands assert that their refrigerators possess "pesticide removal" capabilities, often linking this feature to "sterilization" functions, which can confuse consumers [2][3]. - One brand claims a "99.999%" pesticide removal rate, supported by a testing report, although the specific pesticide tested was a broad-spectrum insecticide, chlorpyrifos [3]. Group 2: Technical Distinctions - There is a fundamental difference between "sterilization," which targets microorganisms, and "pesticide removal," which requires specific chemical reactions to eliminate pesticide residues [5][6]. - The effectiveness of pesticide removal technologies is influenced by the type and concentration of pesticides, as well as environmental conditions, making validation of effectiveness more complex [6]. - Current industry practices lack standardized testing criteria for pesticide removal in refrigerators, leading to potential discrepancies in reported effectiveness [6]. Group 3: Consumer Guidance - Consumers are advised to prioritize products that clearly state their testing conditions for pesticide removal and to remain aware of traditional methods for removing pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables [7].

Market Performance - The market continued to rise last week, with the Shanghai Composite Index up 0.69%, the Shenzhen Component Index up 2.04%, and the ChiNext Index up 3.17% [1] - The China Securities Xinhua National Brand Index increased by 1.63%, closing at 1706.67 points [1] Strong Stock Performance - Several constituent stocks performed strongly last week, including: - Zhongji Xuchuang up 24.33% - Xinlitai up 20.86% - Ecovacs up over 20% - Woer Biotech and AVIC Shenfei up 15.42% and 12.78% respectively [1] - Year-to-date performance shows: - Xinlitai up 78.17% - WuXi AppTec up 53.33% - Ecovacs up over 50% [2] Market Outlook - Institutions believe the Shanghai Composite Index has stabilized above 3500 points, indicating strong bullish momentum [2] - Increased market profitability is expected to attract more external funds, supported by ample liquidity and positive trading sentiment [2] - The current market may be at the beginning of a new bull market, driven by domestic policy support and improving fundamentals [2] Focus on Earnings and Policies - The upcoming earnings season is expected to significantly impact individual stock performance [3] - Market attention will shift towards domestic policies and Federal Reserve actions, which may form the basis for mid-term trends [3] - Structural opportunities are anticipated to be key for A-share investments in the second half of the year, with a focus on core A-share assets [3]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool's stock performance has been under scrutiny, with a recent decline of 4.74% while the broader market indices showed gains, indicating potential challenges ahead for the company [1] Financial Performance - The upcoming earnings report on July 28, 2025, is expected to show an EPS of $1.64, reflecting a significant decline of 31.38% year-over-year [2] - Revenue is anticipated to be $3.84 billion, which represents a decrease of 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year [2] - For the annual period, earnings are projected at $8.68 per share and revenue at $15.5 billion, indicating declines of 28.91% and 6.7% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes in analyst estimates for Whirlpool are crucial as they often indicate shifts in business trends, with positive revisions suggesting increased confidence in performance [3] - The Zacks Rank system, which assesses these estimate changes, currently places Whirlpool at a rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook [5] Valuation Metrics - Whirlpool's Forward P/E ratio stands at 11.63, aligning with the industry average, suggesting that the stock is fairly valued relative to its peers [6] Industry Context - The Household Appliances industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 96, placing it in the top 39% of over 250 industries, indicating a relatively strong position within the market [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool is facing significant near-term challenges due to high interest rates and competitive pressures, despite a recent stock price increase [2][3][5] Group 1: Stock Performance - Shares in Whirlpool declined by more than 5.5% amid rising market interest rates, with the 10-year Treasury rate approaching 4.5% [1] - The stock had previously increased by 26% over the last three months, indicating a volatile trading environment ahead of the second-quarter earnings report [2] Group 2: Financial Challenges - Whirlpool has a substantial debt load of $4.8 billion, with $1.85 billion maturing in 2025, and a dividend cost of $384 million last year [3] - The company is under pressure to meet its full-year guidance for free cash flow, projected between $500 million to $600 million in 2025 [3] Group 3: Market Environment - High interest rates are negatively impacting the housing market, which in turn affects demand for higher-margin household appliances [2] - Tariff conflicts have led to increased competition from Asian manufacturers in the U.S. market [2] Group 4: Long-term Outlook - There is a possibility that Whirlpool may cut its dividend this year, which could alleviate some uncertainty regarding debt repayment [5] - Management believes that the trade conflict may ultimately benefit Whirlpool by leveling the competitive playing field [5] Group 5: Market Sentiment - The current market sentiment is focused on the near-term risks rather than the long-term opportunities presented by the trade conflict [6]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an overweight rating on China within the MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) index, highlighting resilient earnings and improving return on invested capital (ROIC) among listed manufacturers in China [8]. Core Insights - China's export volumes have surged by 20%, significantly outpacing a 6% rise in the rest of the world, marking the strongest outperformance since its WTO accession [2]. - Emerging Markets (EM) now account for over half of China's exports and trade surplus, indicating a deeper penetration into various sectors beyond just low prices [2][27]. - The report suggests that China's rising export competitiveness may negatively impact growth in the rest of EM, with manufacturing/GDP ratios near COVID lows and weakening orders [3][74]. Summary by Sections Export Dynamics - China's exports are increasingly directed towards EM, with a notable rise in its trade surplus with these regions [27][65]. - The report indicates that China's share of world exports has reached its highest level in approximately 20 years, with significant gains in various sectors [36][37]. Economic Implications - The macroeconomic data suggests that EM ex-China is experiencing challenges such as decelerating foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and subdued credit impulses, which may be exacerbated by China's competitive exports [3][4]. - The report highlights that manufacturing margins in EM ex-China are near decadal highs, but rising competition from China could pressure these margins [10][11]. Asset Implications - The report identifies that MSCI China equities are trading at a 20% discount compared to historical averages, presenting potential upside risks due to elevated equity risk premia and high household savings [8]. - It emphasizes the need for a selective approach within MSCI EM ex-China, with Brazil and Greece appearing more insulated from the impacts of Chinese competition [10][11]. Currency and Fixed Income Outlook - The report suggests that the dollar downturn should be approached selectively in EM, as competition from China could structurally impact EM FX carry and FDI inflows [12][13]. - It expresses concerns about further curve steepening in EM local debt markets, projecting GDP growth to fall to decade lows relative to interest rates [13].

Company Performance - Whirlpool's stock closed at $91.27, reflecting a -1.91% change from the previous day's closing price, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.84% [1] - Over the past month, Whirlpool's shares have appreciated by 12.56%, outperforming the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 0% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.44% [1] Upcoming Earnings - The company's earnings report is scheduled for July 28, 2025, with an anticipated EPS of $1.64, indicating a 31.38% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Projected revenue for the upcoming quarter is $3.84 billion, reflecting a 3.8% decrease from the equivalent quarter last year [2] Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $8.68 per share and revenue of $15.5 billion, representing changes of -28.91% and -6.7% respectively from the previous year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Whirlpool may indicate shifting near-term business trends, with positive revisions seen as a favorable sign for the business outlook [3] Valuation Metrics - Whirlpool has a Forward P/E ratio of 10.72, which aligns with the industry average Forward P/E of 10.72 [6] - The Household Appliances industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 193, placing it in the bottom 22% of over 250 industries [6] Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), has a strong track record, with stocks rated 1 producing an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [5] - Currently, Whirlpool holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with the consensus EPS estimate having moved 0.81% higher over the past month [5]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Core CPI showed a modest improvement, with a year-on-year increase of 0.1 percentage points to 0.6% and a month-on-month improvement to 1.2% SAAR, indicating a recovery since the policy pivot in September 2024 [2] - PPI deflation pressures continue, with a month-on-month decline of 0.4% for three consecutive months, leading to a year-on-year decrease of 3.3% [3] - Weak energy prices have significantly impacted both headline CPI and PPI over the past three months, while core prices remain resilient due to targeted policies [6] Summary by Sections Consumer Price Index (CPI) - In May 2025, the CPI year-on-year was -0.1%, with food prices down by 0.4% and non-food prices stable at 0.0% [5] - Core CPI (excluding food and energy) was at 0.6%, reflecting a slight increase from previous months [5] Producer Price Index (PPI) - The PPI year-on-year was reported at -3.3%, with notable declines in producer goods (-4.0%) and mining and quarrying (-11.9%) [5] - Durable goods prices turned positive month-on-month, driven by the automotive sector, although this may not fully reflect recent price cuts [3][5] Key Drivers - The resilience in core prices is attributed to targeted policies such as the consumer goods trade-in program, while a supply-demand imbalance persists [6] - The renewed competition in the automotive sector may not have been adequately captured in the current readings, indicating potential volatility in future reports [6]

Company Performance - Whirlpool's stock closed at $81.72, reflecting a +0.43% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.01% [1] - Over the past month, Whirlpool's stock has increased by 6.17%, which is slightly below the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 6.65% and above the S&P 500's gain of 5.2% [1] Upcoming Financial Results - Analysts expect Whirlpool to report earnings of $1.73 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 27.62% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projected at $3.84 billion, down 3.8% from the previous year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $8.61 per share and revenue at $15.5 billion, reflecting declines of -29.48% and -6.7% respectively from the prior year [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates suggest a shifting business landscape, with positive revisions indicating optimism about Whirlpool's profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - Whirlpool has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.45, which is consistent with the industry average [6] - The Household Appliances industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 224, placing it in the bottom 9% of over 250 industries [6] Zacks Rank System - Whirlpool is currently rated as Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), with the consensus EPS estimate remaining unchanged over the last 30 days [5] - The Zacks Rank system has a strong track record, with stocks rated 1 producing an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [5]

Company Performance - Whirlpool's stock closed at $78.62, reflecting a daily increase of 0.61%, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.4% [1] - Over the past month, Whirlpool shares have appreciated by 2.44%, which is lower than the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 8.94% and the S&P 500's gain of 6.69% [1] Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings release is projected to show earnings of $1.73 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 27.62% [2] - Revenue for the same quarter is estimated at $3.84 billion, reflecting a 3.8% decrease from the previous year [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, earnings are projected at $8.61 per share and revenue at $15.5 billion, representing declines of 29.48% and 6.7% respectively from the prior year [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates indicate a dynamic business trend, with positive revisions suggesting optimism regarding the company's profitability [3] Zacks Rank and Valuation - Whirlpool currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), with the consensus EPS estimate remaining unchanged over the last 30 days [5] - The Forward P/E ratio for Whirlpool is 9.08, which aligns with the industry's average Forward P/E of 9.08 [6] Industry Context - The Household Appliances industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 223, placing it in the bottom 10% of over 250 industries [6] - The Zacks Industry Rank indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]