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Epazz Inc

The Senate has passed a bill aimed at removing federal taxes on tips, marking a key victory for President Donald Trump and his administration&#8217;s agenda.
What Happened: The Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that aims to remove federal taxes on tips, as reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5310424-senate-no-tax-on-tips/">The Hill</a>. This legislative move, supported by Democrats, fulfills a key campaign promise of&nbsp;President Trump.
Sen.&nbsp;Jacky Rosen&nbsp;(D-Nev.) introduced the bill, expecting opposition. However, Sen.&nbsp;Ted Cruz&nbsp;(R-Texas) did not block it, allowing it to pass through unanimous consent. Rosen highlighted the significance of this bill for Nevada, emphasizing the financial relief it offers to hospitality and service workers facing rising costs.
Cruz praised Trump&#8217;s &#8220;political genius&#8221; in removing taxes on tips.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45513154/trump-tariffs-triggered-price-surgeimports-hit-first-but-made-in-usa-goods-caught-in-the-crossfire-harvard-study-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Tariffs Hit Imports For Sure, But Made In USA Purchases Also Didn&#8217;t Escape Price Rise Gauntlet, Shows Harvard Study</a>
Trump initially proposed the idea&nbsp;during a campaign stop in&nbsp;Nevada, a state with a high number of tipped workers. Cruz acknowledged the efforts of Nevada senators Rosen and&nbsp;Catherine Cortez Masto&nbsp;(D-Nev.), noting that about 25% of Nevada&#8217;s workforce depends on tips.
The bill, known as the No Tax on Tips Act, will now proceed to the House, where it is anticipated to pass one way or another either as another legislation advanced on Monday. Cruz expressed confidence that the bill will soon become law, offering a new tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips.
Why It Matters: On Monday, a broader legislative package, dubbed by Trump as &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45506863/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-advances-heres-who-wins-and-loses">One, Big Beautiful Bill</a>, advanced in the congress. That bill seeks to extend The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 and eliminate federal taxes on tips and overtime pay.
While the tax exemption on tips is seen as a boon for service workers, it could have significant fiscal implications. A report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) suggests that the tax-free tips proposal might <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/06/39350922/trumps-tax-free-tips-proposal-may-inflate-federal-deficit-by-up-to-250b-report">increase the federal deficit</a> by up to $250 billion over the next decade. 
This potential deficit increase is comparable to the projected revenue loss from the extension of the 2017 tax cuts for small businesses and pass-through companies, which are set to expire soon. The proposal is also viewed as a strategic move to garner support from younger voters, particularly in states like Nevada, where a significant portion of the workforce relies on tips.
Photo Courtesy: MargJohnsonVA on Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

News

Politics

Economics

General

Trump's No Tax On Tips Agenda Gets A Boost As Senate Approves Bill, Ted Cruz Praises President's 'Political Genius' For Backing The Idea

<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Morgan Stangely has estimated that generative AI revenue could surpass $1.1 trillion by 2028</li>
<li>In an effort to capitalize on that growth, tech companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet have been rushing their products to market</li>
<li>Now, tech experts are warning that in doing so these companies have been sacrificing the safety and security of their products</li>
</ul>
Tech experts are concerned that safety is taking a backseat to profit potential in AI development, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/14/meta-google-openai-artificial-intelligence-safety.html">CNBC</a> reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the early days of AI, research was a priority for companies like Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, GOOGL)), and OpenAI, but the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 changed that, according to the outlet. As the groundbreaking chatbot proved hugely popular and financially lucrative, other major companies took note and began rushing their own AI platforms to market.
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In March, <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/genai-revenue-growth-and-profitability">Morgan Stanley</a> estimated that generative AI revenue could surpass $1.1 trillion by 2028, making it a huge market with lots of potential for growth. And in an effort to stay competitive, many companies are now cutting corners when it comes to the rigorous safety testing of their AI models before they are released to the public, industry experts told CNBC.
James White, chief technology officer at CalypsoAI, told CNBC that new AI models are sacrificing security for response quality, meaning they're less likely to reject malicious kinds of prompts. "The models are getting better, but they're also more likely to be good at bad stuff," said White. "It's easier to trick them to do bad stuff."
White, whose company runs safety and security audits of popular models from Meta, Google, OpenAI among others, says that this shift is readily apparent at companies like Meta and Alphabet.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>&nbsp;
According to insiders who spoke to CNBC, Meta has deprioritized its AI research unit, the Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research unit, in favor of Meta GenAI. Similarly, Alphabet has lumped its research group, Google Brain, in with its DeepMind division, which leads the development of new AI products.&nbsp;
Other experts readily agree with White, telling CNBC that as employees face increasingly shortened development timelines, they are left with the idea that they can't afford to fall behind when it comes to getting new models and products to market. Under this sort of pressure, they spend less time on security and more time on proficiency.
Google's Gemini 2.5 model, which was released in March, is a perfect example of this. According to CNBC, for weeks after its release, Gemini 2.5 was missing its model card, a common tool for AI transparency that shares information about how the model works, its limitations, and any potential dangers.
See Also: The team behind $6B+ in licensing deals is now building the next billion-dollar IP empire — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-ym?v=123">invest early at $2.25/share.</a>
In a memo obtained by CNBC a month before Gemini 2.5's release, Google co-founder Sergey Brin told DeepMind and Gemini staffers that "the final race to AGI is afoot." "We have all the ingredients to win this race but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts," he said, noting that Google needed to speed up the process of AI testing and cut out the habit of "minor tweaking and overfitting" products.
"We can't keep building nanny products," Brin wrote. "Our products are overrun with filters and punts of various kinds."&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

GOOG

'The Models Are Getting Better, But They're Also More Likely To Be Good At Bad Stuff,' Tech Experts Sound The Alarm As AI Charges On

AIFU

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEM#NYSE">AEM</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 3.61% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 11.91%. Currently, Agnico Eagle Mines has a market capitalization of $56.63 billion. 
Buying $100 In AEM: If an investor had bought $100 of AEM stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $974.63 today based on a price of $112.65 for AEM at the time of writing.
<h3>Agnico Eagle Mines's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747784724_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

$100 Invested In Agnico Eagle Mines 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 1.86% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.76%. Currently, Lowe's Companies has a market capitalization of $129.71 billion. 
Buying $100 In LOW: If an investor had bought $100 of LOW stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $332.35 today based on a price of $231.74 for LOW at the time of writing.
<h3>Lowe's Companies's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747783812_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 10 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

MSCI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSCI#NYSE">MSCI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 13.73% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 24.63%. Currently, MSCI has a market capitalization of $44.20 billion. 
Buying $100 In MSCI: If an investor had bought $100 of MSCI stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $903.81 today based on a price of $571.21 for MSCI at the time of writing.
<h3>MSCI's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747782914_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

MSCI

$100 Invested In This Stock 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Le Monde, one of France's most prestigious newspapers, has entered into a partnership with Perplexity, a fast-growing U.S.-based <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44557415/perplexity-ceo-aravind-srinivas-shuts-down-financial-rumors-on-reddit-says-ai-search-startup-has-no-plans-of-ipoing-before-2028">AI search startup</a> backed by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44947341/37-year-old-investor-goes-all-in-on-nvidia-at-101-calls-it-a-buy-in-super-cheap-moment-reddit-had-a-lot-to-say-about-this-bold-move">Nvidia</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>). The deal reflects a growing trend of legacy media aligning with emerging tech firms to adapt to changing information consumption habits, according to<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/frances-le-monde-enters-into-content-partnership-with-ai-startup-perplexity-2025-05-14/"> Reuters</a>.
Perplexity, known for its real-time search engine that combines generative AI with citation-based results, will gain access to Le Monde's content. In return, the French publisher will leverage Perplexity's AI infrastructure to build new tools and explore fresh distribution channels, Reuters says.
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This agreement comes as AI companies face mounting scrutiny over how they train their models, and as publishers push for compensation and transparency,<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/tech-companies-face-tough-ai-copyright-questions-2025-2024-12-27/"> Reuters</a> reports.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nvidia-Backed Perplexity Expands Media Footprint With Le Monde, L.A. Times, And The Independent</h2>
The partnership is part of Perplexity's broader effort to integrate reliable journalism into its search platform. The startup has already signed deals with over a dozen publishers, including the Los Angeles Times and the U.K.'s Independent, Reuters says. These collaborations aim to ensure that the AI-generated answers on Perplexity's platform are rooted in high-quality, verifiable content.
According to Reuters, these partnerships also include an ad revenue-sharing model designed to benefit the content providers whose work powers Perplexity's responses. The AI search engine&#8217;s new Publishers' Program is setting a precedent for how AI companies can support quality journalism while scaling innovation, a Perplexity<a href="https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-the-perplexity-publishers-program"> blog post</a> says.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>&nbsp;
Announced with a slate of high-profile media partners including Time, Der Spiegel, Fortune and Entrepreneur, the initiative offers revenue sharing for publishers whose content is cited in Perplexity's AI-generated answers. The model includes advertising through a "related questions" feature, giving brands the ability to insert follow-up queries and creating new monetization streams for participating outlets, the company said.
According to Perplexity, the program also provides partners with free access to its online large language model application programming interfaces, allowing them to build custom answer engines using only their own content. Publisher staff will receive complimentary access to Enterprise Pro, Perplexity's privacy-enhanced research tool, for one year. The broader goal is to equip media companies with tools to expand reach, drive engagement, and retain control over how their work is surfaced in the AI ecosystem.
See Also: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-ym?v=123">Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI-Powered Journalism Or Legal Minefield? Publishers Navigate A Delicate Dance</h2>
While partnerships like the one with Le Monde represent a collaborative path forward, not all media organizations are on board. Several AI companies are currently facing legal action from news outlets who accuse them of using copyrighted content without permission during model training, Reuters reports. The lawsuits reflect the growing tension between innovation and ownership, especially as generative AI tools continue to blur the lines between original content and synthesized responses.
According to Reuters, Le Monde CEO Louis Dreyfus emphasized that the agreement with Perplexity was not just about content licensing. &#8220;At Le Monde, we have continued to explore new partnerships with leading AI players to enlarge our audience, expand our development capacities, and to build new sources of revenues,&#8221; he said.
As AI reshapes how information is discovered and consumed, deals like this one between Le Monde and Perplexity may set the tone for the future. With strong backing, rising adoption, and a growing list of media collaborators, Perplexity aims to build the future of how the world reads, learns, and connects with verified truth.
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Image: Shutterstock

NVDA

Le Monde Partners With Perplexity AI In Major Move To Monetize Journalism As Nvidia-Backed Startup Rivals ChatGPT And Google Search

MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 22.39% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 33.29%. Currently, MercadoLibre has a market capitalization of $130.76 billion. 
Buying $100 In MELI: If an investor had bought $100 of MELI stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $1,769.73 today based on a price of $2579.21 for MELI at the time of writing.
<h3>MercadoLibre's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747782020_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

MELI

Here's How Much $100 Invested In MercadoLibre 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Legendary value investor Jeremy Grantham is sounding the alarm on the current state of U.S. financial markets and says a 50% drop in the stock <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45508514/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-warns-huge-deficits-complacent-central-banks-could-lead-to-stagflation">market is possible.&nbsp;</a>
What To Know: In a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NggoHOE8uQM">interview </a>with Wealthtrack, Grantham pointed to three factors that are creating distortion in the stock market: the lingering effects of the massive COVID-19 stimulus, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and ongoing tariff wars.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/05/45524565/nvidias-1-trillion-comeback-shows-deepseek-no-longer-spooks-wall-street?utm_source=articleShare">Nvidia&#8217;s $1 Trillion Comeback Shows DeepSeek No Longer Spooks Wall Street&nbsp;</a>
Grantham said the COVID-19 response injected trillions into the economy and fuelled speculative excesses among retail investors.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the AI boom has propelled a handful of giant tech companies — the so-called Magnificent Seven —  to outsized gains and skewed market dynamics. 
The trade war adds another layer of unpredictability, leaving economists and investors alike struggling to forecast economic outcomes.&nbsp;
Grantham said traditional metrics used to measure the market, like total market capitalization versus the GDP, are pointing to a significantly overvalued market that could be vulnerable to a major decline. 
"The market could easily go down by 50% and be well within its historical boundary. That would not be a colossal low," Grantham said.&nbsp;
Expert Ideas: Given the risks of a correction, Grantham advised investors to shift focus toward value stocks and non-U.S. equities. He also suggested prioritizing high-quality companies with low debt and strong profit margin and highlighted climate and resource-related sectors as undervalued.&nbsp;
Grantham's bottom line: investors should prepare for volatility in the currently overvalued market and the exact timing of a market correction remains impossible to predict.&nbsp;
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Equities

Opinion

Markets

Legendary Investor Jeremy Grantham Warns Of 50% Stock Market Crash

Earnings

CORRECTION: Toll Brothers Q2 Adj. EPS $3.50 Beats $2.83 Estimate, Sales $2.739B Beat $2.48B Estimate

Quanta Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PWR#NYSE">PWR</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 17.23% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 28.13%. Currently, Quanta Services has a market capitalization of $51.15 billion. 
Buying $1000 In PWR: If an investor had bought $1000 of PWR stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $11,928.08 today based on a price of $345.01 for PWR at the time of writing.
<h3>Quanta Services's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747781111_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Quanta Services Stock In The Last 10 Years

Social media network Bluesky<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44598279/hillary-clinton-barack-obama-join-bluesky-posts-take-aim-at-elon-musks-efforts-in-wisconsin-here-are-the-top-10-most-followed-accounts"> is much smaller </a>than the likes of X and Facebook, but could have another ace up its sleeve in relying on the love of sports and ability to let people leave the platform to check out live content.
What Happened: Two of entrepreneur Mark Cuban's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42566461/mark-cuban-says-this-is-the-holy-grail-that-makes-bluesky-better-than-musks-x-platform">favorite items</a> are crossing paths with Bluesky working on highlighting the National Basketball Association's postseason games.
While Cuban's Dallas Mavericks, of which he is a part owner, aren't in the NBA Playoffs, the push by Bluesky could be one of many to help push sports fans to the platform.
According to a report from <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/19/bluesky-takes-on-sports-twitter-with-nba-playoff-feature/">TechCrunch</a>, Bluesky is testing new features during the NBA Playoffs that include placing a red border with a "live" callout on posts from the NBA's Bluesky account when there are games in progress.
Bluesky users who click on the NBA's profile picture will be redirected to the live content.
"We aren't trapping you in Bluesky," Bluesky COO Rose Wang said. "We want you to use Bluesky to discover what's happening."
Wang said Bluesky will also test this feature during WNBA games.
You may not be a billionaire like Mark Cuban, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45482435/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-65">check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention.</a>
Why It's Important: The decision to redirect users to content outside of Bluesky differs from the current strategy of Elon Musk-owned social media platform X.
X, formerly known as Twitter, previously had live streaming partnerships with sports leagues where it would show contests live on the platform.
Nowadays, X highlights the scores and posts about games and hopes to keep fans on X rather than having them leave to watch the actual sports matchup.
As highlighted by TechCrunch, Bluesky doesn't rely on advertising to make money, meaning it doesn't care how much time people spend on the platform. The goal is of course to get people to continue using Bluesky and coming back.
The ability for users to quickly leave and watch sports contests and come back to talk about them with other users on Bluesky is an interesting bet to see play out and could be one of the items that could drive users from X to Bluesky.
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Photos: Shutterstock

Social Media

Sports

Mark Cuban's Favorite Social Media Platform Bluesky Makes Live Sports Important Part Of Ecosystem

Tokio Marine Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TKOMY#OTC">TKOMY</a>) FY 2024 ordinary income rose to ¥8,440.1B from ¥7,424.7B YoY; EPS increased to ¥542.16 from ¥351.59 YoY

TKOMY

Tokio Marine Holdings FY 2024 ordinary income rose to ¥8,440.1B from ¥7,424.7B YoY; EPS increased to ¥542.16 from ¥351.59 YoY

Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov was openly critical last week when reacting to news that Walmart will raise prices because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. "It's going to get worse before it gets better (if it does). A completely man-made crisis," she <a href="https://x.com/JessicaTarlov/status/1923029831584776678">posted on X</a> on Thursday.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Retail Giants Warn of Price Hikes, Supply Problems</h2>
Top executives from Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) and Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) met with Trump in April and issued a direct warning: his tariffs could result in higher prices and even empty shelves. "Shelves will be empty," one <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45404626/walmart-target-home-depot-ceos-tell-trump-prices-will-rise-shelves-will-be-empty-if-tariffs-persist">executive reportedly told him</a>. They explained that while prices hadn't yet spiked, they soon would if tariffs remained in place.
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After facing growing pressure, the U.S. and China struck a temporary deal to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45367206/sp-500-rallies-over-3-on-us-china-90-day-tariff-truce-but-experts-warn-it-doesnt-guarantee-a-complete-resolution-of-the-trade-war">ease tariffs for 90 days starting on May 12</a>. Still, the damage was already being felt. "We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margin," Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during an <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/newsroom/2025/05/15/walmart-releases-q1-fy26-earnings/q1-fy26-earnings-call-transcript.pdf">earnings call</a> on May 15.
He added that the increases will hit imported goods hardest—items like electronics, toys and seasonal back-to-school supplies. Some food products like bananas, avocados and coffee may also get more expensive.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Retailers Brace For Impact</h2>
Walmart declined to provide profit guidance for the next quarter, citing uncertainty around the tariffs. However, it kept its full-year forecast intact, expecting <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/newsroom/2025/05/15/walmart-releases-q1-fy26-earnings/q1-fy26-earnings-call-transcript.pdf">3.5% to 4.5%</a> annual sales growth.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl-scaling-fast-from-spacex-orders-to-600-homes-built-this-60k-foldable-home-may-be-the-future-of-housing">this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a>
Walmart&#8217;s warnings have ripple effects across the retail sector. The company is often seen as a bellwether, and its decision to raise prices suggests that competitors may soon follow. "If Walmart is raising prices, it certainly means that other retailers are going to be raising prices as well," Justin McAuliffe, a research analyst at Gabelli Funds, told <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/15/walmart-store-prices-trump-tariffs">Axios</a>.
Economists warn that the tariffs&#8217; full impact hasn&#8217;t been felt yet. April inflation remained steady, but U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/45098824/tariffs-hit-hard-as-us-economy-shrinks-for-first-time-since-2022">GDP shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter</a>—the first decline in three years. Consumer sentiment also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45470155/consumer-sentiment-crashes-to-5-year-lows-as-inflation-fears-reach-1981-levels">dropped to 50.8</a>, the lowest since June 2020.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45459474/sounds-familiar-mohamed-el-erian-calls-out-powells-deja-vu-on-supply-shocks-economist-draws-historic-parallels-on-fed-chairs-latest-message">addressed the broader concerns</a>, noting on Thursday that the economy may face "more frequent, and potentially more persistent, supply shocks" due to shifting trade policies.
For now, Walmart says it will try to shield food prices from further hikes. "Food prices in the US have gone up in recent years and our customers have been feeling that all along," McMillon said during the earnings call. "We won&#8217;t let tariff-related cost pressure on some general merchandise items put pressure on food prices."
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'A Completely Man-Made Crisis'—Fox News Host Comments On Walmart's Price Hikes Due To Trump's Tariffs

Nixxy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIXX#NASDAQ">NIXX</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(0.30) per share. This is a 25 percent increase over losses of $(0.40) per share from the same period last year. The company reported $1.40 million in sales this quarter. This is a 527.70 percent increase over sales of $222.56 thousand the same period last year.

NIXX

Nixxy Q1 EPS $(0.30) Up From $(0.40) YoY, Sales $1.40M Up From $222.56K YoY

WIIM

CRI stock has given up its prior loss. Carter's shares were trading lower. The company announced updates for its capital return strategy.

Ryvyl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVYL#NASDAQ">RVYL</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(0.33) per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $(0.27) by 22.22 percent. This is a 26.67 percent increase over losses of $(0.45) per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $15.13 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $15.54 million by 2.62 percent. This is a 9.78 percent decrease over sales of $16.77 million the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

RVYL

Ryvyl Q1 EPS $(0.33) Misses $(0.27) Estimate, Sales $15.13M Miss $15.54M Estimate

<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/politics/intelligence-israel-possible-strike-iran-nuclear-facilities">https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/politics/intelligence-israel-possible-strike-iran-nuclear-facilities</a>

iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index Fund

'New Intelligence Suggests Israel Is Preparing Possible Strike On Iranian Nuclear Facilities, US Officials Say'- CNN

FinVolution Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FINV#NYSE">FINV</a>) .

Guidance

FINV

FinVolution Group guides FY 2025 revenue at RMB 14.4–15.0 billion, up 10%–15% YoY

As the investing universe is hot on the trail of AI unicorns and meme-driven moonshots, there&#8217;s a more subtle approach quietly making investors millionaires — one dividend check at a time. 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">Dividend growth investing</a> isn&#8217;t glamorous. It won&#8217;t illuminate Reddit forums or fuel CNBC arguments. But for investors intent on creating lasting, long-term wealth, especially for retirement, it could be the wisest thing you can do.
Individual dividend stocks may be temperamental. Earnings misses, company-specific risk or dividend reductions can upset your income stream. ETFs, however, package up several dividend-growing companies, spreading out risk and leveling out returns. And when it comes to getting dividend growth done correctly, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) is at the front of the line.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/05/45528747/this-corner-of-the-etf-market-is-about-to-explode-to-2-trillion">This Corner Of The ETF Market Is About To Explode To $2 Trillion</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">The Case For Dividend Growth</h1>
Dividend growth investing targets those companies that steadily grow their payments year in and year out. It&#8217;s not merely about receiving yield, it&#8217;s about seeing that yield build as your investment quietly grows in the background.
In the long term, this strategy provides a unique trifecta: increasing income, appreciation in capital and reduced volatility versus non-dividend stocks. Even better, it provides protection against inflation, which makes it perfect for long-term financial objectives such as retirement.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">SCHD: The MVP Of Dividend Growth ETFs</h1>
Among the expanding world of dividend-oriented ETFs, SCHD is a standout with its steadiness and resilience in the face of a burst of newer arrivals and market phenomena like stock splits.
Dividend Yield: 3.9%
Expense Ratio: A mere 0.06%
Top Holdings: Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>), Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>).
SCHD follows the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, choosing only those companies with no less than 10 years of dividend increases, solid financials, and compelling yields.
Its quality-control focus, such as return on equity (average 29%) provides an extra layer of protection during downturns. And with a sector breakdown divided among energy (21%), consumer staples (19%), and healthcare (16%), SCHD balances growth with resilience.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Is There A Catch?</h1>
Naturally, even SCHD isn&#8217;t bulletproof.
Its concentration risk is something to consider. Its top 10 holdings <a href="https://www.schwabassetmanagement.com/products/schd">constitute </a>4% of the fund on an average. While not a cause for concern, it may make risk-averse investors consider more diversified ETFs like the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>), though it provides slightly less yield at 1.8%.
And then there&#8217;s the macro risk: economic slowdowns might pinch earnings and, by proxy, dividend increases. But SCHD&#8217;s concentration in solidly financed firms puts it in a better position to weather any softening than the typical fund.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts: Boring Is Beautiful</h1>
SCHD isn&#8217;t a roller coaster, but it&#8217;s not meant to be. It&#8217;s the workhorse of your financial stable.
For investors who want long-term compounding, increasing income, and an element of protection from chaos, SCHD is as close as the market comes to a &#8220;set it and semi-forget it&#8221; strategy.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/05/45526530/leveraged-mstr-exposure-meets-weekly-payouts-as-defiances-new-etf-makes-debut-distribution">Leveraged MSTR Exposure Meets Weekly Payouts As Defiance&#8217;s New ETF Makes Debut Distribution</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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