A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after investor sentiment improved on renewed optimism that the US-China trade conflict might be nearing a resolution. According to reports, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced this positive outlook by describing the trade war as "unsustainable," and emphasized that a potential agreement between the two economic powers "was possible."
His comments signaled to markets that both sides might be motivated to seek common ground, raising expectations for reduced tariffs and more stability across markets.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rate cuts, warning that the pace was slow and could hinder economic growth. Trump's comments added pressure to an already sensitive market, raising concerns about political interference in monetary policy.
Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on.
But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a cautious stance on future monetary policy decisions during a speech in Chicago, emphasizing that trade tariffs could add upward pressure to inflation in the short term and complicate the Fed's efforts to stabilize the economy. He warned that such trade measures are "likely to move us further away from our goals," referring to the Fed's dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment.
The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how home furnishing and improvement retail stocks fared in Q4, starting with Lowe's (NYSE:LOW).
If the Street can anticipate a resolution to all tariff issues over the next 12-18 months, the analyst notes the most significant opportunity for certain names in his e-commerce coverage group.
The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Floor And Decor (NYSE:FND) and the rest of the home furnishing and improvement retail stocks fared in Q4.
BofA warns 2025 tariffs could severely impact U.S. home furnishing retailers like Wayfair (NYSE: W) and RH (NYSE: RH), with potential price hikes up to 30% due to sourcing from Asia. Rising costs, weak demand, and recession fears may further hurt sales.
RH gives details on tariff exposure, demand trends and free cash flow guidance. Analyst expects growth due to reduced China exposure and increased U.S. exposure.
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Home Depot (NYSE:HD) and the best and worst performers in the home furnishing and improvement retail industry.
