Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers Tuesday that the U.S. economy is showing strong signs of resilience, with job gains outpacing expectations and inflation finally easing across key consumer categories, championing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Trump administration&#8217;s policy actions.</a>



In testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, Bessent defended the Trump administration's economic playbook, calling it a "three-legged stool" of trade, tax and deregulation designed to accelerate domestic investment and push wages higher. 



&#8220;464,000 new jobs were added to the economy in the first 100 days,&#8221; he said. 



&#8220;In April alone, over 177,000 American jobs were added, which is more than 40,000 than economists predicted,&#8221; he added.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariff Talks Accelerate, Trade Deals on Deck</h3>



When questioned on the administration's international strategy, Bessent revealed that the U.S. is actively renegotiating tariffs with 17 of its 18 top trading partners a move that could yield significant progress in the coming months.



"I would be surprised if we don't have more than 80 or 90 percent of those wrapped up by year-end," Bessent said. "That may be much sooner… perhaps as early as this week."



He said many countries have submitted "very good offers" in the wake of Trump's sweeping tariff schedule announced April 2, which targeted all trading partners. A 90-day pause was introduced a week later to allow room for bilateral negotiations.



Bessent argued that tariffs are proving effective, not just economically but strategically. "They may not like the tariffs the president has put up, but they have them," he said.



&#8220;We are aiming for fair trade to bring back high paying precision, manufacturing jobs to the U.S.,&#8221; Bessent said. 



When Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) pressed Bessent on who ultimately pays for tariffs, the Treasury Secretary avoided a direct answer, saying "strategic uncertainty is part of negotiations."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">No Signs Of Recession, Stronger GDP Expected</h3>



Asked whether the U.S. economy is heading toward a recession, Bessent said the data show no such signal.



"There is nothing in the data that indicates the U.S. is in a recession," he said, adding he expects first-quarter GDP figures to be revised higher. 



He also said that tax receipts should remain strong, citing improvements in collection efficiency due to artificial intelligence.



Still, Bessent called for greater fiscal discipline. "Last year, we had a 6.7% fiscal deficit — the largest ever during peacetime or non-recessionary times. The easy thing would be to keep spending to keep the economy running. But that path is unsustainable."



"We have set the table for a robust economy that allows Main Street to grow," Bessent added.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Push For Permanent Tax Cuts Gains Momentum</h3>



Bessent reiterated that the Trump administration's next priority is to make its tax cuts permanent. With House Speaker Mike Johnson expected to send a bill to the Senate by Memorial Day, Bessent said momentum is building.



"We look forward to working closely with the members of this committee to pass this bill into law," he said. "Together, we can build a stronger, safer and more prosperous America."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h3>



The S&amp;P 500 index, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), pared losses during Bessent's testimony, rising 30 points or 0.6% between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. ET.



The Nasdaq 100 also moved off session lows, climbing 150 points or 0.8% in the same period, narrowing its decline to 0.7%.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45224883/oil-soars-above-59-as-middle-east-airstrikes-jolt-markets">Oil Soars Above $59 As Middle East Airstrikes Jolt Markets</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

Government

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Econ #s

Economics

Bessent Signals Imminent Trade Deals, Dismisses Recession Fears As Stocks Rebound

West Texas Intermediate crude prices rebounded sharply on Tuesday, surging more than 3.6% to $59.10 per barrel by 10:00 a.m. ET, as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities">East rattled energy markets</a>.



The rally came after Israeli fighter jets launched a wave of airstrikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi-controlled infrastructure, including Sanaa International Airport, in retaliation for recent missile and drone attacks on Ben Gurion Airport that left several injured.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">War Tensions Reverse Monday's Oil Slump</h3>



The sharp rebound in oil fully reversed Monday's losses, which had been triggered by OPEC+'s decision to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day starting in June, a move that prompted Goldman Sachs to slash<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45198741/goldman-sachs-issues-bearish-40-oil-forecast-as-opec-pumps-more-energy-stocks-sink"> its oil price forecasts.</a>



But the latest developments out of the Middle East have shifted the narrative quickly, as traders reassess supply risk in a region crucial to global oil flows.



In a statement on social media X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck terrorist infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthi regime, including power plants and logistics hubs exploited for weapons transfers and tunnel construction. 



The IDF emphasized it took steps to mitigate harm to civilians, adding, "The IDF is determined to continue operating—at any distance—against all threats posed to the citizens of the State of Israel."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Energy Stocks Show Muted Response</h3>



Despite the spike in crude prices, U.S. energy stocks remained broadly flat, reflecting a degree of investor caution following Monday's rout and continued uncertainty surrounding OPEC+ policy and global demand.



The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) edged up just 0.1% following a 1.8% slump a day earlier. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) gained 1% and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) rose 0.2%.



Top performers within the XLE ETF included:



<ul>
<li>APA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>) up 1.3%</li>



<li>Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) up 1.9%</li>



<li>ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) up 2.2%</li>
</ul>



Read more: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45220645/us-trade-deficit-soars-to-record-140b-as-imports-rocket-ahead-of-trumps-tariffs">US Trade Deficit Soars To Record $140B As Imports Rocket Ahead Of Trump&#8217;s Tariffs</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

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Commodities

Global

ETFs

Oil Soars Above $59 As Middle East Airstrikes Jolt Markets

The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply to an all-time high in March as American companies rushed to import foreign goods ahead of President Donald Trump&#8216;s sweeping new trade tariffs. This move triggered a rush of orders and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">skewed international trade flows.</a>



According to data released Monday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau, the trade deficit surged 14% from a revised $123.2 billion in February to $140.5 billion in March, the most significant monthly gap ever recorded.



The spike was driven by a 4.4% jump in imports to $419 billion, while exports rose just 0.2% to $278.5 billion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">March Trade Data Shows Imports Far Outpacing Exports</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>U.S. Trade Deficit (March):</td><td>$140.5 Billion</td><td>+14.0%</td></tr><tr><td>U.S. Exports (March):</td><td>$278.5 Billion</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>U.S. Imports (March):</td><td>$419.0 Billion</td><td>+4.4%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Import Surge Fueled By Tariff Fears</h3>



The March data likely reflect a wave of frontrunning, a strategy in which businesses accelerate shipments to anticipate policy changes.



On April 2, the Trump administration announced a sweeping tariff package targeting all trading partners, which sent ripples through global supply chains and financial markets. Just one week later, the White House introduced a 90-day pause to allow time for trade negotiations.



Consumer goods imports jumped $22.5 billion in March, driven by a staggering $20.9 billion surge in pharmaceutical preparations, as well as gains in automotive parts, computer accessories, and capital goods. Meanwhile, imports of industrial supplies and materials fell $10.7 billion.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45215257/bill-ackman-calls-tariffs-a-one-time-reset-warns-prolonged-china-fight-could-drag-market-slump-to-q2">Bill Ackman Calls Tariffs A &#8216;One Time Reset,&#8217; Warns Prolonged China Fight Could Drag Market Slump To Q2</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Record Goods Deficit, Weak Services Surplus</h3>



The goods deficit alone ballooned by $16.5 billion to $163.5 billion, while the services surplus shrank $800 million to $23.0 billion.



Year-to-date, the total trade deficit has soared 92.6% from the same period in 2024, totaling an additional $189.6 billion as import growth of 23.3% continues to far outpace exports, which rose by 5.2%.



The trade gap expanded to $131.4 billion on a three-month moving average basis, up $14.1 billion from February. Imports averaged $407.1 billion, while exports averaged $275.7 billion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">European Union, China, Mexico Lead Deficit Expansion</h3>



Country-level data revealed deficits with the European Union at $48.3 billion, Ireland at $29.3 billion, and China at $24.8 billion.



The deficit with Ireland surged by $15.3 billion, primarily due to a sharp increase in pharmaceutical imports — a potential reflection of rushed purchases by U.S. health companies ahead of expected cost increases under the tariffs.



Deficits with France rose by $2.4 billion and with Mexico by $1.5 billion. The deficit with Switzerland, by contrast, narrowed by $4.1 billion due to a notable drop in imports.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Export Trends Remain Soft</h3>



Goods exports rose modestly by $1.3 billion to $183.2 billion in March, with notable gains in natural gas, nonmonetary gold, and automotive vehicles. Yet, capital goods exports declined $1.5 billion, weighed down by a $1.8 billion drop in civilian aircraft.



Services exports dipped $900 million to $95.2 billion, largely driven by a $1.3 billion decline in travel services. This decline is possibly tied to weaker demand in tourism-related sectors amid higher international costs and lingering economic uncertainty.



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45205780/sp-500-stocks-that-defy-sell-in-may-myth-5-companies-with-strong-historical-gains">S&amp;P 500 Stocks That Defy &#8216;Sell In May&#8217; Myth: 5 Companies With Strong Historical Gains</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

US Trade Deficit Soars To Record $140B As Imports Rocket Ahead Of Trump's Tariffs

If you have been around the energy markets long enough, you know crude oil has a flair for the dramatic.



When it sells off, it does not just trickle down; it falls off a cliff.



The rebound is vicious, fast and usually overdue when it finally wakes up. The trick, as always, is understanding the cycles, not panicking in the downtrend, and positioning for the inevitable rebound.



That is especially true for one of my favorite corners of the energy market: mineral royalty trusts and non-operator oil and gas interests. These are the little guys who do not drill a thing but still get paid when the oil flows.



All this is happening again right now. 



It's setting you up for the best income trade in a decade.



Let us walk through the big oil busts of the last few decades in the late 1990s: the 2008 crash, the 2014 to 2016 wipeout, and, of course, the COVID collapse of 2020.



I want to talk about what happened, how long sentiment stayed sour and what eventually got prices off the mat. Then, we will dig into what all that meant for the royalty trusts and non-operators and how their dividends held up (or not), how the market treated them, and what happened when oil came roaring back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1998: The Asian Flu And The $10 Barrel</h2>



In the late 1990s, OPEC had a problem. They pumped too much oil, thinking Asia would keep consuming it. However, when the Asian financial crisis hit, demand cratered, inventories ballooned, and prices dropped like a rock.



Brent went as low as $10, and nobody wanted to touch an oil stock with a ten-foot pole.



Royalty trusts got smashed. Cash flows dried up, distributions were cut, and unit prices plunged. Investors were left staring at trailing yields in the teens, but those payouts were not sticking around.



Most trusts saw 50% or more wiped off their market capitalizations. However, by late 1999, OPEC got its act together and cut production. Inventories fell, demand slowly came back, and oil doubled. Royalty trust distributions rebounded quickly, and anyone who had the courage to buy when it all looked hopeless got rewarded in a big way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2008: Peak Oil Euphoria Meets Lehman Brothers</h2>



By mid-2008, oil was $147 a barrel and people were chanting "peak oil" like it was gospel.



Then, the financial system imploded.



Demand evaporated, oil crashed to $30 and panic spread. Trust distributions went over the cliff.



Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBR#NYSE">SBR</a>) cut payouts by more than 50% in a single month.



Prices followed. These income names saw unit values drop 70% or more.



Yields were sky-high on paper, showing 20% or even 30%, but those were based on past payouts that had already been slashed. For most of 2009, distributions were a shadow of their former selves.



However, when the smoke cleared, oil demand returned, OPEC slashed production, and oil started climbing again. Trust distributions bounced, unit prices doubled or tripled off the lows and yields normalized in the high single digits.



Patience paid off.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2014 To 2016: The Shale Tsunami</h2>



This one was different. It was not a demand crash. It was too much U.S. shale oil.



OPEC got tired of losing market share and let prices fall from $115 in mid-2014 to under $30 by early 2016. Oil was in freefall for almost two years.



That stretched the pain out.



It was Drill, Baby, Drill Gone Bad, The Prequel.



Royalty and non-op names bled out slowly. Distributions did not collapse all at once&#8230;they just shrank quarter by quarter.



Permian Basin Royalty Trust's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PBT#NYSE">PBT</a>) payout dropped by two-thirds.



PrairieSky (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PREKF#OTC">PREKF</a>) and Freehold slashed their dividends.



The market priced them accordingly.



Yields dropped, unit prices got hammered, and by 2016, it was hard to find anyone still bullish.



Then OPEC and Russia teamed up and finally cut production in late 2016.



By 2017, oil was back in the $60s, and royalty trusts started increasing dividends again.



Trusts that had lost 70% of their value doubled or more over the next 18 months. Investors who stayed the course got paid.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2020: The Pandemic Panic And Negative Oil Prices</h2>



Then came COVID. Demand did not just shrink. It vanished.



Planes stopped flying, cars stopped driving, and suddenly, the world was drowning in oil.



Saudi Arabia and Russia decided to have a price war on top of it all, and in April 2020, WTI futures went negative.



Royalty trusts had a rough time. Distributions were suspended.



Permianville (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PVL#NYSE">PVL</a>) went 13 months without a single payout.



PrairieSky slashed its dividend by two-thirds.



Investors fled. Unit prices dropped 60% to 80% in weeks.



Trailing yields? Meaningless. Nobody was paying anything.



However, it did not last.



OPEC+ made historic cuts.



Demand started recovering.



When vaccines arrived in late 2020, the game changed. By mid-2021, Permianville was paying again. PrairieSky and Freehold started raising dividends.



Share prices doubled or tripled.



By 2022, Sabine's distribution hit $8.65, a monster rebound.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What It All Means</h2>



These downturns tell the same story every time: oil crashes, royalty and non-operator income disappear, and the market throws these stocks in the trash. Yields spike on trailing numbers, then vanish when dividends get cut. Sentiment stays ugly for too long.



However, when the oil price recovers, and it always has, these names come back fast. Distributions climb, unit prices follow, and investors who bought when everyone else was scared end up with huge yields on cost and big capital gains.



They are not for the faint of heart. You have to be willing to hold when there is blood in the oil patch.



It's a pain trade.



However, if you buy these things when oil is hated and the checks have stopped, you set yourself up for some of the most explosive total returns in the market.



This is deep value investing, oilfield-style.



And now, it's happening again.



Read the headlines:



<ul>
<li>OPEC is going to increase production.</li>



<li>Oil demand forecasts are being cut.</li>



<li>The much more energy-efficient AI from China will slash demand even further.</li>



<li>Nuclear energy plants are going to pop up like mushrooms with no regulatory delays or cost overruns and be built faster than Buc-ee's.</li>



<li>China will never import another drop of oil.</li>
</ul>



Negative sentiment is building, we&#8217;ve seen some distribution cuts and optimism is harder to find than a good book in a Blockbuster.



Royalty trusts and nonowner operators may go down before they go up, but when they do, they are going to go up a lot.



Those who buy in scale, with patience and a dash of courage, will be well rewarded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Risk, Reward &amp; Reversals: Tactical Options Strategies for an Unstable Market</h2>



When markets get unpredictable, disciplined options strategies can give you an edge. Join Ryan Faloona, Anne-Marie Baiynd and Tim Melvin live on May 6 to learn how they're using risk reversals, 0DTE plays, and hedging tactics to stay nimble and generate income. Save your spot now to learn how to trade smarter this week.



Editorial content from our Expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

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PREKF

OPEC Just Created The Income Trade Of The Decade

DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) stock dipped Tuesday after the food delivery company reported strong order growth and confirmed two major acquisitions, even as quarterly revenue missed analyst expectations.



DoorDash&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45217040/doordash-releases-first-quarter-2025-financial-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported quarterly</a> GAAP earnings of 44 cents per share, beating the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of 39 cents</a>.



Quarterly revenue reached $3.03 billion, missing the $3.09 billion analyst consensus estimate. The revenue grew by 21% year-over-year.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45205666/doordashs-growth-picks-up-speed-despite-holiday-headwinds-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">DoorDash&#8217;s Growth Picks Up Speed Despite Holiday Headwinds: Analyst</a>



Total Orders increased 18% year-over-year to 732 million and Marketplace GOV increased 20% year-over-year to $23.1 billion.



U.S. Marketplace helped drive monthly active users (MAUs) for the quarter, which was consistent with Y/Y growth in December 2024.



International MAUs continued to grow at a double-digit pace throughout&nbsp;the quarter. In its Wolt-branded countries, DoorDash more than doubled Wolt+ members exiting the quarter compared to the end of the first quarter of 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outlook</h2>



DoorDash <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/02/43641832/doordash-shares-climb-after-solid-q4-results-total-orders-grew-19-gov-increased-21" rel="noreferrer noopener">reiterated it expects</a> adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Marketplace GOV to increase from second-quarter to third-quarter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Acquisitions</h2>



DoorDash is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45214764/doordash-to-boost-global-presence-with-nearly-39-billion-acquisition-of-uks-deliveroo" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing to acquire</a> Deliveroo, a U.K.-based food delivery firm, in a $3.9 billion deal.



DoorDash also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45217210/doordash-announces-agreement-to-acquire-sevenrooms-to-enhance-commerce-platform-offerings" rel="noreferrer noopener">agreed to acquire</a> SevenRooms, a software company based in New York City for $1.2 billion, CNBC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/06/doordash-announces-1point2-billion-sevenrooms-deal-misses-revenue-expectations.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> Tuesday.&nbsp;



The acquisition will likely close during the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.



DoorDash held $4.71 billion in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2025.



DASH Price Action: DoorDash stock is down 5.19% at $194.75 premarket at last check on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45210096/datadog-acquires-eppo-to-boost-product-analytics-and-simplify-ai-workflows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Datadog Acquires Eppo To Boost Product Analytics And Simplify AI Workflows</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Diego Thomazini on Shutterstock

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DASH

DoorDash Is Hungry For Growth: Q1 Orders Jump 18%, Plans 2 Big Acquisitions To Expand International Presence

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate approvals for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as his administration prepares to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44708204/trump-hints-at-major-tariff-on-imported-pharmaceuticals-us-pharma-stocks-tumble-in-wednesday-pre-market">announce new tariffs on imported medicines</a> within two weeks.



What Happened: The executive order aims to streamline the drug manufacturing approval process by eliminating unnecessary requirements and reducing the time needed to approve new U.S. production sites. 



According to the White House, building pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity currently takes &#8220;five to 10 years,&#8221; which it called &#8220;unacceptable from a national-security standpoint.&#8221;



&#8220;We don&#8217;t want to be buying our pharmaceuticals from other countries because if we&#8217;re in a war, we&#8217;re in a problem, we want to be able to make our own,&#8221; Trump said in a White House fact sheet.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45213562/peter-schiff-challenges-us-dominance-after-elon-musks-china-consumption-narrative-a-50-drop-in-the-dollar-could-supercharge-chinas-global-consumer-base">Peter Schiff Challenges US Dominance After Elon Musk&#8217;s China Consumption Narrative — A 50% Drop In The Dollar Could Supercharge China&#8217;s Global Consumer Base</a>



Why It Matters: The executive order comes as U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing has significantly declined over decades, with most active drug ingredients now produced in China and other countries. According to EY analysis, reported by Reuters, the U.S. imported $203 billion in pharmaceutical products in 2023, with 73% coming from Europe, primarily Ireland, Germany and Switzerland.



For investors, this points to broader <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/02/43982604/eli-lilly-doubles-capital-spending-on-us-drug-manufacturing-with-50-billion-target">shifts in the pharmaceutical secto</a>r, with companies such as Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) already unveiling new domestic manufacturing plans in reaction to the looming tariff threats.



The pending tariffs could significantly impact <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/45029761/experts-warn-tariffs-could-negatively-impact-pretty-fragile-supply-of-generic-drugs">generic drug makers</a>, which provide 90% of U.S. prescriptions, possibly worsening existing shortages. There are already over 250 drug shortages nationwide, down from 323 in early 2024 but still concerning for healthcare stakeholders.



Mark Cuban, whose Cost Plus Drugs company sells medications at substantial discounts, warned the tariffs could force <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44658207/mark-cuban-says-cost-plus-drugs-faces-price-hike-threat-tariffs-would-force-us-to-pass-costs-directly-to-consumers">price increases on many drugs</a>: &#8220;If we have a high tariff on drugs coming from India, we won&#8217;t have a choice but to pass those costs on to consumers.&#8221;



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45213365/maxine-waters-to-obstruct-cryptocurrency-hearing-plans-shadow-hearing-instead">Maxine Waters Plans Walkout From Crypto Hearing, Will Host &#8216;Shadow Hearing&#8217; Opposing Trump Family Ventures: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image Via Shutterstock

Health Care

Markets

ABBV

Trump Orders FDA To Fast-Track US Drug Production As Tariff Threat Looms On Imported Medicines: Cites National Security Concerns

U.S. stock futures fell on Tuesday after snapping a nine-day winning streak on the S&amp;P 500 index. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.



After a remarkable 20-year high winning streak, the S&amp;P 500 saw stocks decline on Monday. This reversal was triggered by two key statements from President Donald Trump: his proposal for a 100% tariff on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/05/45201601/trump-wants-movies-made-in-america-again-heres-what-tariffs-on-films-could-mean-for-disney-netflix-stock">foreign-made films</a> and his announcement that he would not be discussing trade with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. 



Investors are keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision on interest rates, which is slated to be announced on Wednesday.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.36% and the two-year bond was at 3.81%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 96.8% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.54%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.77%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.91%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.98%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Tuesday. The SPY was down 0.82% to $558.89, while the QQQ declined 1.12% to $480.49, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Energy, consumer discretionary, and information technology sectors led Monday&#8217;s decline on the S&amp;P 500, contributing to the index snapping a nine-session winning streak.



Bucking this trend, consumer staples stocks closed slightly higher.



The S&amp;P 500 rose by 2.9%, the Dow by 3%, and the Nasdaq by 3.4% for the week.



In company news, Skechers U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>) saw its shares surge over 24% following an acquisition agreement by 3G Capital at $63 per share, while Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45198250/tyson-shares-drop-after-mixed-quarter-with-weak-sales-solid-profit">shares fell </a>around 8% after disappointing second-quarter sales.



On the economic front, the ISM services PMI exceeded expectations, rising to 51.6 in April from March&#8217;s 50.8.



The Dow Jones index declined 99 points or 0.24% to 41,218.83, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index fell 0.64% to 5,650.38. Nasdaq Composite ended 0.74% lower at 17,844.24, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, tumbled 0.82% to 2,004.26.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>-0.74%</td><td>17,844.24</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.64%</td><td>5,650.38</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.24%</td><td>41,218.83</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.82%</td><td>2,004.26</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



WisdomTree senior economist Jeremy Siegel highlights the positive impact of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45213790/us-dollar-depreciation-is-cushioning-the-impact-of-tariffs-on-corporate-profits-says-expert-heres-how">U.S. dollar&#8217;s decline</a> on multinational earnings this year.



In his weekly commentary, he points out that roughly half of the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s revenue is generated internationally, a factor he believes can mitigate the adverse effects of tariffs on corporate profits.



As Siegel states, "With 40-45% of S&amp;P 500 revenues sourced abroad, that currency translation effect alone could cushion the impact of tariffs on corporate profits."



He further suggests that, "This, alongside hopes of deal-making and eventual tariff de-escalation, is underpinning the market&#8217;s recovery."



Moreover, Siegel remains optimistic about stocks, explaining that markets often overreact to recessions.



He argues, "While earnings may drop if the economy turns south, the long-horizon value of equities should not fall 20–25%, as often happens. If investors finally look beyond the valley into the mountain, the downside could be limited even in a mild recession."



As the Federal Reserve is projected to keep the interest rates steady after the Wednesday&#8217;s meeting, Cooper Howard, director, fixed income strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research said, &#8220;The market&#8217;s pricing in between three and four cuts prior to the year-end, but that's aggressive unless the labor market shows further signs of slowing.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Tuesday:



<ul>
<li>The U.S. trade deficit data for March will be out by 8:30 a.m.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) rose 0.62% in premarket on Tuesday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $2.25 per share on revenue of $6.17 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADM#NYSE">ADM</a>) fell 0.63% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 67 cents per share on revenue of $21.94 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) was 0.59% lower as it is expected to report earnings after the closing bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 94 cents per share on revenue of $7.13 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Celanese Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CE#NYSE">CE</a>) jumped 5.49% after posting better-than-expected results for its first quarter on Monday. The company said it sees second-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.30 to $1.50 per share, versus market estimates of $1.41 per share.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) dropped 7.89% despite reporting in-line earnings for its first quarter on Monday. Palantir reported first-quarter revenue of $883.86 million, beating analyst estimates of $862.83 million. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of 13 cents per share, in line with analyst estimates.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) was trading 074% lower after expanding its partnership with Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), down 1.07%. The companies aim to advance agentic AI and hybrid cloud, and also unveil hybrid AI technologies.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PONY#NASDAQ">PONY</a>) was 11.34% higher after announcing a strategic partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) to advance autonomous mobility.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 2.78% to hover around $58.72 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 1.36% to hover around $3,376.57 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.18% at the 99.6530 level.



Asian markets were mixed on Monday. India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex and Australia's ASX 200 indices declined. While China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, and South Korea's Kospi index rose. European markets were also mixed in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45214653/uber-could-win-the-robo-taxi-war-says-expert-analyst-predicts-75-gains-on-ride-hailing-cost-drop">Uber Could Win The &#8216;Robo Taxi War,&#8217; Says Expert: Analyst Predicts 75% Gains On Ride Hailing Cost Drop</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

Futures

Treasuries

Pre-Market Outlook

ORCL

PLTR

PONY

UBER

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Snapping 9-Day Streak: 'Downside Could Be Limited Even In A Mild Recession,' Says Expert

Gold prices climbed above $3,380 per ounce Tuesday, reaching a new high as investors sought safe-haven assets amid escalating trade tensions. The precious metal gained $90 in Monday&#8217;s session before adding another $45 in early trading.



What Happened: &#8220;Gold is up another $45 so far tonight, trading above $3,380. With today&#8217;s $90 gain, that&#8217;s already $135 within one 24-hour period,&#8221; noted economist Peter Schiff on X. &#8220;Silver is also starting to perk up. It&#8217;s adding another 50 cents to today&#8217;s gains, trading above $33.10. Keep an eye on silver. A breakout is near.&#8221;



The rally comes as President Donald Trump expanded tariffs, threatening 100% tariffs on foreign-produced films and announcing plans for pharmaceutical tariffs in the coming weeks. This follows already imposed steep 145% tariffs on Chinese goods that have rattled global markets.



Silver prices also surged nearly 2% to around $33 per ounce on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session. In response to a follower suggesting silver needs to top $36 before moving to $50, Schiff replied, &#8220;I&#8217;d say a close above $35 would trigger that move.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Gold is up another $45 so far tonight, trading above $3,380. With today&#39;s $90 gain, that&#39;s already $135 within one 24-hour period. Silver is also starting to perk up. It&#39;s adding another 50 cents to today&#39;s gains, trading above $33.10. Keep an eye on silver. A breakout is near.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1919574440033055075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45212767/bitcoin-ethereum-flat-dogecoin-dips-even-as-trump-calls-crypto-popular-analyst-says-btc-build-up-good-predicts-eth-uptrend-after-fed-meet">Bitcoin, Ethereum Flat, Dogecoin Dips Even As Trump Calls Crypto &#8216;Popular:&#8217; Analyst Says BTC Build-up Good, Predicts ETH Uptrend After Fed Meet</a>



Why It Matters: Investors now await the Federal Reserve&#8217;s policy decision this week. Despite pressure from Trump to lower rates, the central bank is expected to maintain current interest rates. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets are pricing in a 97% probability of rates remaining unchanged.



Gold-backed cryptocurrencies have benefited from the metal&#8217;s performance, with PAX Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold extending their year-to-date gains to over 28%. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has shown comparatively modest growth at just 1.24% year-to-date, now trading around $94,000.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45214653/uber-could-win-the-robo-taxi-war-says-expert-analyst-predicts-75-gains-on-ride-hailing-cost-drop">Uber Could Win The &#8216;Robo Taxi War,&#8217; Says Expert: Analyst Predicts 75% Gains On Ride Hailing Cost Drop</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

$BTC

Bitcoin Critic Peter Schiff Says A 'Breakout Is Near' As Gold Surges Above $3,380, Silver Starts To Perk Up

Leading cryptocurrencies traded flat on Monday as uncertainty about tariffs calmed investors' risk appetite.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-0.26%</td><td>$94,467.01</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.25%</td><td>$1,811.62</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.00%</td><td>$0.1697</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin wobbled between the mid-$93,000s and the early $95,000s, with the apex cryptocurrency hitting an intraday high of $95,193.19.



Ethereum also experienced a choppy trading day as it wiggled in the $1,800 region. The second-largest cryptocurrency's trading volume rose 27% in the last 24 hours.



President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45187462/trump-denies-personal-profit-from-memecoin-venture-i-havent-even-looked">endorsed cryptocurrencies</a> in an interview, deeming it a "popular" and "hot" sector.



About $146 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with bullish long bets accounting for $83.75 million.



That said, over $500 million in Bitcoin shorts risked liquidation if the leading cryptocurrency rebounded to $97,000.



The majority of Binance traders with open BTC positions placed bearish bets on Bitcoin, according to the Long/Short Ratio.



On the other hand, the market sentiment shifted to "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Four (FORM)</td><td>+15.44%</td><td>$2.63</td></tr><tr><td>Biitensor (TAO)</td><td>+8.14%</td><td>$373.58</td></tr><tr><td>DeXe (DEXE)</td><td>+4.00%</td><td>$15.01</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.94 trillion, following a minor 0.04% contraction in the last 24 hours.



Stocks snapped their winning run Monday. After nine consecutive days of gains, the S&amp;P 500 closed 0.64% lower at 5,650.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 98.60 points, or 0.24%, to end at 41,218.83. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.74%, ending at 17,844.24.



The slide comes after Trump's proposed 100% tariff on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/05/45187710/peter-schiff-says-trumps-100-tariff-on-foreign-films-pointless-without-targeting-streamingwarns-netflix-subscribers-would-bear-cost">foreign-produced movies</a> sent jitters across the entertainment sector. Shares of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>) lost 0.41% and 1.99%, respectively, during the session.



Meanwhile, the impasse over the trade deal between the U.S. and China prevailed as Trump said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45188171/china-pushes-for-special-envoys-as-direct-deal-with-trump-deemed-risky-plans-fentanyl-concessions-as-negotiating-leverage-report">he did not plan to talk</a> with Chinese President Xi Jinping.



Investors will now turn their attention to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45192387/market-bets-on-aggressive-fed-cuts-clash-with-short-rate-market-data-next-fed-chair-could-initiate-cutting-cycle-says-expert">Federal Reserve&#8217;s policy meeting</a>, which starts on Tuesday.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant highlighted that despite Ethereum's prolonged downtrend, accumulating addresses have not abandoned their strategy, showcasing their long-term belief in the asset.



"Instead, they increased their ETH exposure: on March 10, they held 15.5356 million ETH, and by May 3, this rose to 19.0378 million ETH, a 22.54% increase," CryptoQuant added.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">ETH Holders Refuse to Sell: Accumulating Addresses Lower Their Cost Basis "On March 10 they held 15.5356M ETH, and by May 3 this rose to 19.0378M ETH, a 22.54% increase. Behavior reflects structural conviction &amp; clear expectations of short-term appreciation." – By <a href="https://twitter.com/oro_crypto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@oro_crypto</a> <a href="https://t.co/yx12tC7N0O">pic.twitter.com/yx12tC7N0O</a>&mdash; CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoquant_com/status/1919322089367937435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe, gold&#8217;s rally indicated a risk-off mindset ahead of Wednesday&#8217;s Federal Reserve meeting.&nbsp;



"Bitcoin build-up is good, expecting to see ETH turn upwards after Wednesday," the analyst predicted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Rally on Gold indicating that we&#39;re still seeing the risk-off mentality going into the FED meeting on Wednesday. Good signs: Services PMI rolling upwards.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> build-up is good, expecting to see <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> turn upwards after Wednesday.&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1919484494148686052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45203946/binance-founder-changpeng-zhao-recounts-prison-hardships-i-was-scared-my-cellmate-had-a-sentence-for-murdering-two-guys-at-once">Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao Recounts Prison Hardships: &#8216;I Was Scared, My Cellmate Had A Sentence For Murdering Two Guys At Once&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: Mc_Cloud on Shutterstock.com

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum Flat, Dogecoin Dips Even As Trump Calls Crypto 'Popular:' Analyst Says BTC Build-up Good, Predicts ETH Uptrend After Fed Meet

Despite the old market adage &#8220;Sell in May and go away,&#8221; historical data tells a different story — May has actually been a profitable month for the U.S. stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45115442/sell-in-may-and-go-away-looks-outdated-as-mayjuly-data-signal-bullish-sp-500-seasonality">market in recent decades.</a>



Over the past 20 years, the S&amp;P 500 — tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — has posted an average return of 0.6% in May, finishing the month in the green 15 out of 20 times. 



The most substantial gains were recorded in May 2008, up 5.9%, and May 2024, up 5.1%, while the worst performance came in May 2010, with an 8% drop.



Several S&amp;P 500 stocks have consistently outperformed during May, with average returns well above the broader index. Here are five standout names with at least 5% average May returns over the past two decades.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5) Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)</h3>



<ul>
<li>Average May return: +5.8%</li>



<li>Winning ratio: 60%</li>



<li>Best May performance: +29.7% (2014)</li>



<li>Worst May performance: -20.8% (2012)</li>



<li>Next earnings release: July 16, 2025</li>



<li>Notable trend: May is Netflix's third-best performing month after January (14.7%) and October (6.94%).</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4) McKesson Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCK#NYSE">MCK</a>)</h3>



<ul>
<li>Average May return: +6.35%</li>



<li>Winning ratio: 90%</li>



<li>Best May performance: +17.9% (2017)</li>



<li>Worst May performance: -9.1% (2018)</li>



<li>Next earnings release: May 8, 2025</li>



<li>Notable trend: Currently riding a 6-year winning streak in May, and it&#8217;s historically McKesson&#8217;s best month of the year.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTWO#NASDAQ">TTWO</a>)</h3>



<ul>
<li>Average May return: +6.58%</li>



<li>Winning ratio: 85%</li>



<li>Best May performance: +22.1% (2017)</li>



<li>Worst May performance: -18.3% (2012)</li>



<li>Next earnings release: May 15, 2025</li>



<li>Notable trend: The company has delivered gains in each of the past 12 Mays, making it the strongest month for the stock historically.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</h3>



<ul>
<li>Average May return: +7.81%</li>



<li>Winning ratio: 70%</li>



<li>Best May performance: +38.4% (2017)</li>



<li>Worst May performance: -25.16% (2019)</li>



<li>Next earnings release: May 28, 2025</li>



<li>Notable trend: May ranks as Nvidia's second-best month, just behind August, up 8.2%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</h3>



<ul>
<li>Average May return: +6.58%</li>



<li>Winning ratio: 60%</li>



<li>Best May performance: +41.8% (2013)</li>



<li>Worst May performance: -17.4% (2012)</li>



<li>Next earnings release: May 6, 2025</li>



<li>Notable trend: May is AMD's second-strongest month, trailing only November at 9.5%. </li>
</ul>



Read now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45201761">Palantir Smokes S&amp;P 500 Peers With 393% Rally But Overheated Technicals Raise Red Flag Ahead Of Earnings</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

NFLX

NVDA

TTWO

S&P 500 Stocks That Defy 'Sell In May' Myth: 5 Companies With Strong Historical Gains

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) reported first-quarter financial results after the market close on Monday. Here&#8217;s a rundown <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45206388/palantir-reports-q1-2025-revenue-growth-of-39-yy-u-s-revenue-growth-of-55-yy-raises-fy-2025-revenu">of the report</a>.



Q1 Earnings: Palantir reported first-quarter revenue of $883.86 million, beating <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst estimates</a>&nbsp;of $862.83 million. The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of 13 cents per share, in line with analyst estimates.



Palantir has now met or exceeded analyst estimates for revenue and earnings in seven straight quarters, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Total revenue was up 39% year-over-year as U.S. revenue grew 55% year-over-year to $628 million. U.S. Commercial revenue grew 71% year-over-year to $255 million and U.S. Government revenue climbed 45% year-over-year to $373 million.



Palantir's customer count grew 39% year-over-year and 8% on a quarter-over-quarter basis. The company said it closed 139 deals worth over $1 million during the quarter and 51 deals worth at least $5 million. Palantir generated $310 million in cash from operations and $370 million in adjusted free cash flow in the quarter.&nbsp;



Palantir ended the quarter with $5.4 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. treasury securities.



&#8220;Our Rule of 40 score increased to&nbsp;83%&nbsp;in the last quarter, once again breaking the metric. We are in the middle of a tectonic shift in the adoption of our software,&#8221; said&nbsp;Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir.



&#8220;We are delivering the operating system for the modern enterprise in the era of AI. Consequently, we are raising our full-year&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;for total revenue growth to&nbsp;36%&nbsp;and our&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;for U.S. commercial revenue growth to&nbsp;68%.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45202080/stocks-pause-gains-as-treasury-yields-rise-whats-driving-markets-monday">Stocks Pause Gains As Treasury Yields Rise: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Monday?</a>



Outlook: Palantir expects second-quarter revenue to be in the range of $934 million to $938 million versus estimates of $899.12 million.



The company also raised its full-year guidance. Palantir expects full-year 2025 revenue of $3.89 billion to $3.90 billion, up from prior guidance of $3.74 billion to $3.76 billion. Analysts were anticipating full-year revenue of $3.75 billion, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Palantir raised guidance for full-year U.S. commercial revenue, full-year adjusted income from operations and adjusted free cash flow. The company now expects full-year adjusted free cash flow of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, up from prior guidance of $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion.



Finally, Palantir continued to guide for positive GAAP operating income and net income in each quarter of 2025.



&#8220;This is a level of surging and ferocious growth that would be spectacular for a company a tenth of our size. At this scale, however, our ascent is, we believe, unparalleled,&#8221; Karp said in a letter to shareholders. 



Palantir executives will further discuss the quarter on a conference call with investors and analysts at 5 p.m. ET.



PLTR Price Action: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palantir shares </a>were up approximately 64% year-to-date heading into Monday&#8217;s report. The stock was down 9.23% in after-hours, trading at $112.35 at the time of publication Monday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/05/45203793/datadogs-ai-cloud-migration-expanding-product-adoption-drive-analyst-confidence-despite-growth-volatility-concerns">Datadog&#8217;s AI, Cloud Migration, Expanding Product Adoption Drive Analyst Confidence Despite Growth Volatility Concerns</a></li>
</ul>



Image: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/PoetraRH">Poetra.RH</a>/Shutterstock.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534; WATCH LIVE: Palantir Technologies Q1 2025 Earnings Call &#x7C; $PLTR" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WgOqogXV_w4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>

After-Hours Center

Tech

Palantir Q1 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS In Line, Customer Count Up 39%, Company Raises Guidance Citing 'Surging And Ferocious Growth'

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) will report its first-quarter earnings on Monday. Wall Street expects 13 cents in EPS and $862.83 million in revenues when the company reports<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings?tickers=PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> after market hours</a>.



The stock is up 392.98% over the past year and 65.29% year-to-date.



Let&#8217;s examine the charts for Palantir stock and how it compares to Wall Street estimates.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45188268/palantir-climbs-above-126-in-overnight-robinhood-trading-so-many-bears-out-there-says-lawrence-mcdonald">Palantir Climbs Above $126 In Overnight Robinhood Trading: &#8216;So Many Bears Out There,&#8217; Says Lawrence McDonald</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Palantir Stock Overheating Ahead Of Q1 Earnings?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0505"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="633" height="489" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-901670" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM.png 633w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM-300x232.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0505">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Palantir stock is putting on a show for the bulls. With its share price of $123.20 comfortably perched above its five-, 20-, and 50-day exponential moving averages, the bullish short-term trend is flashing. Even the 200-day simple moving average trails far behind at $64.91, highlighting just how steep the rally has been. Each of these technical signals points in the same direction: up.



Adding fuel to the fire, Palantir's eight-day simple moving average sits at $116.68, well below the current stock price &#8211; a bullish confirmation. The 20-day and 50-day simple moving averages are at $101.04 and $91.94, respectively, further underscoring the strength of momentum. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator reads 8.86, another classic sign that buying pressure remains intact.



But before investors jump on the rocket ship, there&#8217;s a note of caution: the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has crossed into overbought territory at 71. While overbought doesn't necessarily mean a pullback is imminent, it suggests the stock may be due for a breather.



Palantir's technicals are undeniably bullish, but with momentum running hot, chasing at these levels might require nimble footwork.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Palantir Analysts See 37% Downside</h2>



Ratings &amp; Consensus Estimates:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The consensus analyst rating</a> on Palantir stock stands at a Neutral currently with a price target of $69.76. Three recent analyst ratings imply a 37.3% downside for Palantir stock, with an average price target of $76.67.



PLTR Price Action: Palantir stock was trading at $123.36 at the time of publication.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45187449/dan-ives-calls-palantir-the-missing-piece-in-ai-puzzle-expects-good-news-from-alex-karps-company-on-monday">Dan Ives Calls Palantir The &#8216;Missing Piece&#8217; In AI Puzzle, Expects &#8216;Good News&#8217; From Alex Karp&#8217;s Company On Monday</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Technicals

Previews

Analyst Ratings

Palantir Smokes S&P 500 Peers With 393% Rally But Overheated Technicals Raise Red Flag Ahead Of Earnings

Wall Street kicked off the week with a cautious tone, as major stock indices hovered near the flatline by midday in New York. Investors digested fresh signs of inflationary pressure in the services sector, raising doubts about near-term rate cuts and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">weighing on risk appetite.</a>



The ISM Services PMI for April pointed to only marginal growth, the slowest since late 2023, while the index for prices paid surged to its highest reading in more than two years, reflecting a sharp rise in input costs amid renewed trade disruptions tied to tariffs announced last month by President Donald Trump.



The S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.2% to 5,670, while the Nasdaq 100 matched the decline to 20,050. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, managed a modest 0.2% gain. If the S&amp;P 500 closes higher, it would mark its tenth consecutive session of gains, the longest winning streak since September 1995.



Rising bond yields pressured equities, with the 10-year Treasury yield climbing 4 basis points to 4.35%, and the 30-year yield up at 4.83%.



Speaking at the Milken Institute, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. was nearing agreements on new trade deals, potentially as soon as this week. He indicated that 17 trading partners, excluding China, had presented strong proposals, and suggested that meaningful progress with China could also emerge in the coming weeks.



Meanwhile, oil prices dropped 2% to $57 a barrel following OPEC+'s signal of a 411,000 bpd production hike starting in June, with further increases possible over the summer.



Gold rallied 2%, on track for its strongest session in two weeks, while Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) held steady near $94,000.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>41,418.85</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,677.19</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,016.46</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>20,057.89</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:42 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.2% down to $565.72.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.3% to $414.11.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.2% to $487.66.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% lower to $200.11.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Industrials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) outperformed, up 0.6%; the&nbsp;Energt Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.4%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



Stocks reacting to earnings reports included: 



<ul>
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) down 4.26%</li>



<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) up 2.07%</li>



<li>Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) down 7.63%</li>



<li>Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBH#NYSE">ZBH</a>) down 9.28%</li>



<li>Loews Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) down 1.29%</li>



<li>ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) down 8.17%</li>



<li>Henry Schein Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>) up 0.86%</li>
</ul>



Stocks scheduled to report earnings after the close include Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), The Clorox Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLX#NYSE">CLX</a>), Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTRA#NYSE">CTRA</a>), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>), Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), Realty Income Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>), The Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMB#NYSE">WMB</a>), Celanese Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CE#NYSE">CE</a>), Fabrinet (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FN#NYSE">FN</a>), Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LSCC#NASDAQ">LSCC</a>), Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>).



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45198741/goldman-sachs-issues-bearish-40-oil-forecast-as-opec-pumps-more-energy-stocks-sink">Goldman Sachs Issues Bearish $40 Oil Forecast As OPEC+ Pumps More: Energy Stocks Sink</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

CTRA

FANG

HSIC

LSCC

VRTX

Stocks Pause Gains As Treasury Yields Rise: What's Driving Markets Monday?

China and the U.S. appear ready to hit pause on tit-for-tat tariffs to pursue a potential trade agreement, inspiring Wall Street veteran investor Ed Yardeni to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/recession">dial back recession odds</a>. 



What Happened: Signs emerge that Washington, D.C. and Beijing may finally be willing to ease trade tensions that have rocked global markets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">and dented economic confidence.</a>



In a note shared Monday, Yardeni said he's reducing his subjective probability of a U.S. recession to 35%. That&#8217;s down from 45% at the end of March.



Yardeni&#8217;s new estimate matches the level seen in early March and reflects growing optimism that ongoing tariff disputes will de-escalate.



"We are now lowering our odds of a recession back down to 35% because we believe that China and the US both may be ready to suspend their tariffs on each other while they negotiate a trade deal," the Yardeni Research President said.



"In other words, both sides may be starting to blink."



Markets have been rebounding sharply amid latest trade developments. Yardeni sees this as a reflection of confidence in a resolution and perhaps an early end to what he dubbed Trump's &#8220;Reign of Tariffs.&#8221;



Yet, he isn't blind to risks. 



"There could still be supply disruptions resulting from the still unresolved trade war with China," he said, noting that regional and national business surveys have indicated softening economic activity and rising prices through March and April.



CFTC-regulated prediction market Kalshi shows recession odds — defined as two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product — have fallen from 69% a week ago to 55% as of early May. When Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president, odds were just 19%.



Why It Matters: Despite the softening probability, Yardeni still considers the current economic environment fragile, citing heavy consumer exposure to financial markets.



"We had been concerned recently about the negative wealth effect on consumption because of the drop in stock prices," Yardeni said, but recent gains in equity markets have alleviated that concern.



The S&amp;P 500 — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — rallied sharply in April. Yardeni is weighing whether to revise his year-end target higher again.



He initially forecasted 7,000 for 2025 but lowered that to 6,400 on March 5 and then to 6,000 by March 31.



"We are inclined to do so given the power of the V-shaped rally in the S&amp;P 500," Yardeni said. "However, we aren't ready to do so" due to ongoing earnings pressure and valuation concerns.



On April 8, the price-to-earnings multiple for the index bottomed at 18.1 but rose to 20.5 by the end of April. 



The biggest drag on earnings may still be tariffs, which Yardeni emphasized are "first and foremost taxes on domestic importers." 



Currently, the U.S. has imposed a 10% tariff on most imports, plus a 25% tariff on autos, aluminum and steel. Chinese goods have a staggering 145% levy.



What&#8217;s Next: With corporate tax receipts totaling $502.19 billion over the past 12 months, Yardeni estimates tariffs could raise over $300 billion in duties in the coming year — a significant potential hit to corporate profits unless companies pass costs on to consumers.



"Trump needs to put the trade issue behind him to reduce the odds of a recession, which would harm the Republicans' chances of holding onto their slim majorities in both houses of Congress," Yardeni said.



Court challenges to Trump's authority to impose tariffs under a national emergency declaration are also gaining traction. If the courts or political pressure force Trump to delay or drop the tariffs, Yardeni predicts it could trigger "a V-shaped stock-market bottom."



In his words: "We're counting on that; the alternative is just plain ugly."



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45188125/sp-500-notches-longest-win-streak-in-over-2-decades-investor-sentiment-improves-greed-index-in-fear-zone">S&amp;P 500 Notches Longest Win Streak In Over 2 Decades: Investor Sentiment Improves, Greed Index In &#8216;Fear&#8217; Zone</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Wall Street Veteran Investor Lowers Recession Risk As US-China Trade War Cools

Footwear giant Skechers U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>) stock is soaring <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">on Monday</a>. The company agreed to go private following its acquisition by global investment firm 3G Capital.



The agreement offers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45192792/skechers-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-3g-capital" rel="noreferrer noopener">shareholders $63.00 per share in cash</a>, a 30% premium over Skechers' recent trading average or a blended option of cash and equity units in the post-transaction entity.



This amounts to a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44994833/skechers-announces-first-quarter-2025-financial-results-and-record-quarterly-sales" rel="noreferrer noopener"> deal value of $9.54 billion</a> calculated using 151.49 billion weighted-average shares used in calculating net earnings per share.



3G Capital and Skechers' management see the deal as a long-term growth opportunity for the California-based footwear leader.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45170433/kimberly-clark-commits-2b-to-us-expansion-overhaul" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kimberly-Clark Commits $2 Billion For US Expansion Overhaul</a>



Robert Greenberg will remain chairman and CEO, joined by Michael Greenberg as president and David Weinberg as COO. The leadership team will continue to drive Skechers' strategy. The company will keep its headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California.



Under the deal's terms, investors may choose the all-cash option or a mixed package of $57.00 per share and a non-tradable equity unit in the new private company.



The mixed consideration is limited to 20% of total shares, and selections exceeding this cap will be adjusted proportionally. Shareholders who do not make a selection will receive the full-cash option by default.



The transaction has already secured consent from stakeholders holding around 60% of Skechers' voting power, meaning no further shareholder vote is necessary.



The board of directors guided by an independent committee unanimously approved the agreement. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory review and customary closing conditions.



In FY24, Skechers <a target="_blank" href="https://investors.skechers.com/press-releases/detail/649/skechers-announces-2024-record-annual-sales-of-8-97-billion" rel="noreferrer noopener">recorded a 12.1% increase</a> in revenue to $8.97 billion, with a 13.2% growth in Wholesale sales and a 10.7% increase in Direct-to-Consumer sales.



The buyout will be financed through a combination of capital from 3G and debt underwritten by JPMorgan Chase Bank. Upon finalization, Skechers' shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.



Price Action: SKX shares traded higher by 25.1% at $61.75 at last check Monday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/05/45149436/norwegian-cruise-line-faces-declining-bookings-currency-loss-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian Cruise Line Faces Declining Bookings, Currency Loss: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

General

Footwear Giant Skechers To Go Private At 30% Premium In PE Deal

As May opens for business, shell-shocked stock market investors are waving goodbye to April with both hands. While the major stock indexes have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/45027002/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-netflix-novavax-intel-and-the-market-begins-to-bounce-back">bounced back</a> moderately over the last week, stocks fell 11% at one point and declined 20% since mid-February, primarily due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/45050322/how-youll-know-the-tariff-troubles-are-over">tariff troubles</a> affecting the global economy.



That's not all. Consumer spending was at a two-year low in the first quarter of 2025, while first-quarter US gross domestic product fell by 0.3%, fueling talk of a recession on the horizon.



Older traders are talking about a &#8220;Templeton Moment&#8221; right now, and likely with good reason. The term stems from legendary trader John Templeton, who famously borrowed $10,000 to buy shares in every company trading on the New York Stock Exchange for under $1 during a market trough in 1939, during the Great Depression. The list included 104 companies, including 34 that were bankrupt. A few years later, Templeton banked huge gains on all but four stocks when he sold.



Today&#8217;s market could be your opportunity for something similar.



"It doesn&#8217;t resemble a &#8216;Templeton Moment,&#8217; but I would be cautious," said Eugenia Mykuliak, founder and executive director at B2PRIME Group, a global financial services provider for institutional investors. "Today&#8217;s market has more nuances, and we're not close to an &#8216;extreme&#8217; pessimism, unlike the 1930s. Even though there are some well-valued stocks out there, that's certainly not an invitation to buy in bulk."



Unlike the 1930's, which saw economic indicators drag across the board, this market has largely fallen victim to one malady.



&#8220;Uncertainty has been generated by the announcement, delay, magnitude, and duration of tariffs," said Karl Farmer, portfolio manager at Rockland Trust Bank. "With over 40% of the S&amp;P 500's revenues coming from outside the US, the tariffs can have some big impacts on inventory management and purchase plans as producers and consumers face higher prices."



Resulting market uncertainty means less confidence in profit consistency and usually lower multiples that investors place on earnings.



"Higher costs likely lead to lower profits if sellers cannot pass on the price increases to their customers, or at a minimum, it leads to lower consumption," Farmer said. "A lower multiple coupled with lower profits means lower market levels. The longer the tariffs remain, the more likely there will be behavior changes by both producers and consumers, as many will seek alternatives if they believe that higher prices are not temporary."



If the delayed reciprocal tariffs are implemented in full and there have been few negotiated breakthroughs, "then we have not seen the bottom," Farmer added.



Here are today&#8217;s buying opportunities and what to look out for.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks To Pounce On At Lower Market Levels</h2>



Templeton or no Templeton, when the markets slide significantly, there's always low-hanging fruit available, and the US stock market is no different. Here are a few names that stock market gurus like in a shallower pricing market.



British American Tobacco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTI#NYSE">BTI</a>). Sluggish stock markets spell opportunity for stocks that demonstrate good resilience amid uncertainty, especially those that turn to future-oriented technologies, Mykuliak said.



Shopify (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>). Mykuliak also likes stocks that offer investors a double dose of value.



"Shopify could be another good example of a perfect combination of AI and e-commerce, which are two powerful trends today," she said. "If merchants want to adapt to new retail realities, it&#8217;s a top choice for them."



Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>). According to Farmer, defensive sectors such as consumer staples and utilities have held up very well this year. "Presently, we favor some names in other areas that may have been overly punished, but could provide above-average returns for the patient investor," he said.



Nike tops that list. Nike is no quick fix for a 2025 portfolio, but it makes sense in this market.



"A pop could be had here if tariffs end quickly," Farmer said. "Nike did have issues even before tariffs, but it's a reinvigorating brand, and it's repairing relationships. Plus, Nike shares are down 70% from peak to 2017 levels, which provides a decent entry point."



Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APD#NYSE">APD</a>). Air Products is a market leader in industrial gas trading at a big discount to competitor Linde (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIN#NASDAQ">LIN</a>). "Future growth is coming from new projects and clean energy transition," Farmer said. "Additionally, the company has a strong and predictable recurring revenue model with on-site plants and 20-year contracts." Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a market leader in life sciences, diagnostics and instruments.



"The stock is off 30% in the last three months on fears of spending cutbacks from customers who rely on federal funding for research," Farmer notes. "It's trading at less than market multiples for better earnings growth. Meanwhile, clarity on federal funding should mark a bottom."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Than A "Buy the Dip" Scenario</h2>



As uncertainty prevails in the stock market, money managers are taking a more defensive stance with their portfolios, with one eye on historical trends.



"Historically, when volatility spikes—as it did in early April—the equity markets tend to see large gains one year later," said Andrew Constantinides, a financial advisor at Neil Jesani Wealth Management. "In the short term, however, calling the bottom is much harder. Investors should always remember: There can always be more downside in the market—unless it's at zero."



Constantinides said his firm is primarily focused on value and international stocks.



"Both categories have underperformed U.S. growth stocks over the past 10 years," he noted. "But Q1 of 2025 showed the first real signs of a cycle shift back toward value and international leadership. We favor developed markets, such as Europe and Asia. Our current sector focus is energy and financials—companies with low price-to-earnings ratios and high earnings yield. We have almost no exposure to large-cap tech."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Dark Horse Stocks Most Investors Aren't Following (But Should)</h2>



Every Friday, five overlooked stocks land on our ‘Whisper Index.' Like Coinbase before it surged 245% higher. And the biotech breakthrough Insmed before it jumped 20% in a single month. Beat Wall Street to these next potential winners. Access the Whisper Index <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0505&amp;utm_campaign=commandcenter">HERE</a>.



Editorial content from our Expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

SHOP

This Market Is The Buying Opportunity Of A Lifetime

The streaming giant Netflix, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) stock traded lower on Monday. President&nbsp;Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/05/45187710/peter-schiff-says-trumps-100-tariff-on-foreign-films-pointless-without-targeting-streamingwarns-netflix-subscribers-would-bear-cost" rel="noreferrer noopener">foreign-produced movies</a> raised alarm among investors regarding streaming stocks.



"This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda," Trump said on Truth Social.



Economist&nbsp;Peter Schiff&nbsp;criticized the move, citing potential subscriber losses for companies like&nbsp;Netflix.



Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>), and Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), Amazon Prime video parent Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) stocks are trading lower on Monday.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44826592/netflix-wants-to-be-the-next-1-trillion-company-analyst-highlights-growth-path" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Wants To Be The Next $1 Trillion Company, Analyst Highlights Growth Path</a>



In April, China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44756409/hollywood-becomes-collateral-damage-in-trump-tariff-war-as-china-slashes-film-imports-says-us-actions-will-inevitably-reduce-favorability-towards-american-films" rel="noreferrer noopener">promised to</a> restrict Hollywood film imports in retaliation for tariff increases on Chinese goods. In 2024, U.S. studios earned $600 million from China.



Disney's Marvel movie "Thunderbolts" secured permission to debut in China on April 30, but the fate of other summer blockbusters remains uncertain.&nbsp;



Movie and TV production&nbsp;noted an exodus from Hollywood to locations with tax incentives, prompting media companies like Netflix and Disney to film overseas in countries like Canada and Britain.



Global governments increased credits and cash rebates to attract production and capture a greater share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis expects to be spent globally in 2025 to produce content, Reuters reports.



Australia and New Zealand&nbsp;promised to extend solidarity with their local industries. Disney Marvel has filmed many superhero movies in Australia. The Lord of the Rings was shot in New Zealand.



Film and high-end TV production in the U.K. was worth 5.6 billion pounds ($7.45 billion) in 2024, a 31% jump in 2023, Reuters cited the British Film Institute.



It is not clear to which movies the tariffs would apply or whether it would include streaming services. According to Reuters, Hollywood executives were trying to find out the details on Sunday.



Price Action: NFLX stock is down by 5.45% at $1,093.41 premarket at the last check on Monday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/03/44539949/disney-analyst-sees-profit-growth-ahead-with-streaming-gains-park-recovery-big-film-releases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disney Analyst Sees Profit Growth Ahead With Streaming Gains, Park Recovery, Big Film Releases</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy marekfromrzeszow via Shutterstock

AMZN

PARA

Netflix And Other Streaming Stocks Slide As Trump's Proposed Tariffs On Foreign Films Sparks Concern

U.S. stock futures fell on Monday after a nine-day winning streak on the S&amp;P 500 index. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.



The S&amp;P 500 index notched a nine-day advance for the first time since November 2004 on Friday.



While aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump confirmed U.S. officials are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45188171/china-pushes-for-special-envoys-as-direct-deal-with-trump-deemed-risky-plans-fentanyl-concessions-as-negotiating-leverage-report">engaged in trade discussions</a> with Chinese counterparts, though he has no planned meeting with President Xi Jinping this week. 



While the Chinese have proposed the concept of special envoys, the U.S. is reluctant, favoring direct negotiations between Trump and Xi. However, the Chinese view this proposal as "risky and uncertain", <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3308919/us-china-trade-stand-ease-negotiators-must-be-agreed-upon-analysts">reported</a> the South China Morning Post.



Investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision on interest rates this week.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.31% and the two-year bond was at 3.82%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 98.2% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.66%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.77%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.89%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.88%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 0.70% to $562.82, while the QQQ declined 0.84% to $484.74, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Bolstered by strong performances in financial, communication services, and industrial stocks on Friday, U.S. markets finished the week higher for all major averages.



The S&amp;P 500, which recorded its ninth consecutive day of gains, the longest since Nov. 2004, and added 2.9% for the week, saw contrasting movements with health care and consumer staples declining on Friday. The Dow gained 3% and the Nasdaq rose 3.4% for the week.



After the end of the nine-day streak, the S&amp;P 500 index was out of the correction zone, just down 7.5% from its record high of 6,147.43 points, scaled on Feb. 19. Dow Jones was 8.33% lower than its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points and Nasdaq 100 was 9.54% lower than its previous high of 22,222.61 points.



Strong jobs data and rising factory orders buoyed the market. Nonfarm payrolls exceeded forecasts at 177,000, easing tariff-related hiring concerns, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Additionally, new orders for U.S.-manufactured goods jumped 4.3% in March to $618.8 billion.



The Dow Jones index jumped 565 points or 1.39% to 41,317.43, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index surged 1.47% to 5,686.67. Nasdaq Composite ended 1.51% higher at 17,977.73, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, also advanced 2.27% to 2,020.74.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>1.51%</td><td>17,977.73</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.47%</td><td>5,686.67</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.39%</td><td>41,317.43</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2.27%</td><td>2,020.74</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



According to Brian Therien, the investment strategist at Edward Jones, the process of completing a U.S.-China trade deal would likely be complex and lengthy. &#8220;Any de-escalation in trade tensions should be positive for the economy and financial markets, in our view,&#8221; he said.



The solid labor market should allow the Fed to remain on hold a while longer, said Therien, as it will help the Fed to gain greater clarity on the impact of tariffs on inflation.



&#8220;Bond markets have pushed back expectations for the next Fed funds rate cut to July, from June, though total rate cuts priced in for this year remain in the 3-4 range,&#8221; he said.



&#8220;Wider earnings growth should drive more balanced market performance across sectors, strengthening the case for portfolio diversification, in our view,&#8221; he said about corporate earnings.



Ryan Detrick from Carson Research highlighted that the S&amp;P 500 has witnessed seven other nine-day winning streaks over the last 40 years.



&#8220;Only once did the economy move into a recession within six months, and that was in 1990 when oil spiked due to Iraq invading Kuwait,&#8221; he highlighted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Going back 40 years there have been seven other 9-day win streaks for the S&amp;P 500. Only once did the economy move into a recession within six months and that was in 1990 when oil spiked due to Iraq invading Kuwait.&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1919227797169381422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on this week:



<ul>
<li>On Monday, the S&amp;P final U.S. services PMI for April will be out by 9:45 a.m., and ISM services data for April will be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, the U.S. trade deficit data for March will be out by 8:30 a.m.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, the FOMC meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m., and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will deliver the verdict at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>Consumer credit for March will be out by 3:00 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims for the week ended May 3 and U.S. productivity data for the first quarter will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>March&#8217;s wholesale inventories data will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, Fed Governor Michael Barr will speak at 5:55 a.m., New York Fed President John Williams will speak at 6:15 a.m., and Fed Governor Adriana Kugler will speak at 6:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Fed Governor Lisa Cook will speak at 6:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin speaks at 8:30 a.m., Fed Governor Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams will speak on a panel at 11:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, and Fed Cleveland President Beth Hammack will speak on a panel at 7:45 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) rose 2.78% in premarket on Monday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 82 cents per share on revenue of $13.14 billion.</li>



<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) was 0.5% higher as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $4.90 per share on revenue of $8.19 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Transcode Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RNAZ#NASDAQ">RNAZ</a>) dropped 21.67% after announcing a 1-for-28 reverse stock split.</li>



<li>Henry Schein Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>) fell 1.36% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue of $3.23 billion.</li>



<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) declined 0.19% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 2 cents per share on revenue of $36.20 billion after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFAI#NASDAQ">FFAI</a>) rose 5.98% after it announced an additional significant pre-order for its FX Super One MPV, adding 300 Units in another B2B Agreement.</li>



<li>Bon Natural Life Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BON#NASDAQ">BON</a>) slumped 13.08% after it received a delisting notice as the stock crashed below 10 cents.</li>



<li>Polyrizon Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLRZ#NASDAQ">PLRZ</a>) jumped 18.81% as trading on a post-split basis began on May 5.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 1.58% to hover around $57.37 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 1.65% to hover around $3,294.46 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,305.13 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.39% at the 99.6370 level.



Asian markets were mixed on Monday. China&#8217;s CSI 300 and Australia's ASX 200 indices declined. While Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, and South Korea's Kospi index rose. European markets were also mixed in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45188341/billionaire-mark-cuban-asks-if-small-businesses-be-ignored-after-trump-redirects-question-on-tariff-relief-for-little-businesses">Billionaire Mark Cuban Asks Should Small Businesses Be &#8216;Ignored&#8217; After Trump Redirects Question On Tariff Relief For &#8216;Little Businesses&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Federal Reserve

FFAI

PLRZ

RNAZ

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After S&P 500's 9-Day Streak: 'Any De-Escalation In Trade Tensions Should Be Positive,' Says Expert

Economist Mohamed El-Erian predicts the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates amid ongoing global economic uncertainty and growing trade tensions with China.



What Happened: El-Erian, Allianz Chief Economic Advisor, wrote on X that the &#8220;highly data-dependent Federal Reserve&#8221; would likely &#8220;find it hard to do anything other than leave interest rates unchanged&#8221; at its upcoming meeting.



The prominent economist highlighted several central bank meetings scheduled for this week, noting divergent approaches expected across global economies, including &#8220;a UK cut and a Brazil hike.&#8221;



El-Erian highlighted upcoming economic data that could show the effects of rising U.S.-China trade tensions, especially China's Caixin PMI—a key gauge of private sector activity—and, to a lesser extent, factory output indicators in Europe.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In the week ahead for the global economy and markets, look for the highly data-dependent Federal Reserve to find it hard to do anything other than leave interest rates unchanged and try to get through the statement and, especially, the press conference without making any…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1919008277137871338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/05/45187951/on-semiconductor-gears-up-for-q1-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">ON Semiconductor Gears Up For Q1 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a>



Why It Matters:&nbsp;His comments come as recent data already shows concerning signs in China&#8217;s economy, with April manufacturing activity contracting for the first time in three months. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/45094345/as-chinas-manufacturing-contracts-beijing-releases-defiant-video-calling-us-a-paper-tiger-and-vows-to-never-kneel-to-trumps-trade-war">Index fell to 49.0</a>, marking its weakest performance since mid-2023 amid falling export demand.



The observations align with shifting market expectations around future Fed policy. Betting markets tracked by Kalshi now favor just two <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44386583/speculators-trim-2025-rate-cut-bets-ahead-of-march-fed-meeting-as-inflation-risks-rise">rate cuts</a> for 2025 with a 24% implied probability, while the likelihood of only one cut jumped seven percentage points to 19% in a single day.



Inflation concerns are fueling this cautious outlook, particularly as China&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/45094345/as-chinas-manufacturing-contracts-beijing-releases-defiant-video-calling-us-a-paper-tiger-and-vows-to-never-kneel-to-trumps-trade-war">manufacturing sector contracted</a> following the implementation of new tariffs by President Donald Trump. U.S. banks have already downgraded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44740040/chinas-growth-outlook-dims-as-trumps-125-tariffs-put-millions-of-jobs-at-risk-goldman-warns">China&#8217;s 2025 growth forecas</a>t, potentially signaling a broader global economic impact from the ongoing trade dispute. Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45187948/skype-is-officially-retiring-today-if-youd-invested-1000-when-microsoft-bought-it-in-2011-heres-what-youd-be-sitting-on-now">Skype Is Officially Retiring Today — If You&#8217;d Invested $1,000 When Microsoft Bought It In 2011, Here&#8217;s What You&#8217;d Be Sitting On Now</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock 



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asia

Politics

Mohamed El-Erian Expects Fed To Hold Rates, Warns US-China Trade War Impact Will Show In This Key Economic Data

In a significant shift towards Mars-focused endeavors, NASA is set to face a budget cut of $6 billion. The move is in line with the aspirations of SpaceX and its CEO,&nbsp;Elon Musk.



What Happened: The proposed cut by the Trump administration would result in a 25% decrease in NASA&#8217;s funding. The plan also includes a $1 billion investment in Mars-focused programs, reflecting the Trump administration&#8217;s support for space exploration.



NASA&#8217;s acting administrator, Janet Petro, warned in an email to the agency that the reduced budget would necessitate &#8220;tough choices&#8221; and lead to the scaling back or termination of some of NASA&#8217;s activities, according to a recent <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/nasa-leader-warns-employees-tough-choices-ahead-with-6-billion-budget-cut-looming.html">CNBC report</a>.



Under the new budget, NASA would retire several programs, including the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the Gateway program. The budget&#8217;s approval would also impact NASA&#8217;s space science, Earth science, and mission support divisions.



The proposed budget includes more than $7 billion for lunar exploration. SpaceX, a key contractor for both NASA and the Department of Defense, has long pursued the goal of sending a crewed mission to Mars. Musk has played a significant role in shaping regulatory reforms via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).



Despite the looming budget cuts, Petro advised NASA employees to &#8220;persevere, stay&nbsp;resilient, and lean into the&nbsp;discipline it takes to do&nbsp;things that have never been&nbsp;done before.&#8221;



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/media/25/05/45187563/apple-plans-major-iphone-launch-overhaul-with-biannual-release-schedule-starting-2026-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple To Split iPhone Launches Starting 2026, Foldable Model May Debut With iPhone 18 Pro: Report</a>



Why It Matters: The budget cut and shift towards Mars-focused initiatives align with Elon Musk&#8217;s long-standing ambition of space travel. Musk had previously expressed his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44438881/id-like-to-die-on-mars-just-not-on-impact-elon-musk-says-nothing-is-more-exciting-than-space-travel-but-you-might-not-come-back-alive">desire to die</a> on Mars, emphasizing that space travel is the best way to extend the life of humanity.



Furthermore, Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/04/44730104/trumps-nasa-chief-pick-isaacman-tells-senate-we-will-prioritize-sending-american-astronauts-to-mars">nominee</a> for the next NASA chief, echoed this Mars-focused vision during his Senate confirmation hearing.



However, this ambitious timeline has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44373082/former-nasa-astronaut-predicts-mars-travel-still-15-years-away-not-5-years-as-elon-musk-alludes-to">met with skepticism</a>. Former NASA astronaut José Hernández predicted that human travel to Mars is still &#8220;a good 15 years away,&#8221; contradicting Musk&#8217;s more optimistic timeline of 5 years.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45187216/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-slide-as-traders-turn-cautious-before-fed-meeting-analyst-foresees-btc-correction-to-86000" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide As Traders Turn Cautious Before Fed Meeting: Analyst Foresees BTC &#8216;Correction&#8217; To $86,000 &#8211; Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) Common units of fractional undivided be</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

NASA Prepares For $6 Billion Budget Cut Amid Shift Towards Elon Musk's Mars-Focused Initiatives

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