📈 TJX Rings the Register

⚡ The Fast Five → Palantir takes Trump tariff hit, Tesla Bull slashes target 43%, Prada prepares $2.5B Versace bid, Eli Lilly and Novo dive after Medicare ruling, TJ Maxx poised to grow during uncertainty

🔎 Market Trends → Financial markets face fear, shellshock as global trade war looms; US Futures Stabilize After Tariff-Driven Selloff

And now…

⏱️ Your 5-minute briefing for Monday, April 7, 2025:

MARKET BRIEF
Before the Open

Pre-Market

Fear & Greed

Markets in Review

Tariff Turmoil Trips Nasdaq Into Bear Market, But Strong Jobs Data Offers a Lifeline

The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.8% to 15,587.8, pushing it into bear market territory, down over 20% from its peak. The S&P 500 tumbled 6%, and the Dow lost 5.5%, capping off a bruising week for equities.

The Big Picture:

Markets took a sharp dive Friday as China retaliated with steep tariffs, matching Washington’s recent moves. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s warning that these measures could spark higher inflation and slower growth added fuel to the selloff.

Despite the dramatic slide, investors got a reason to stay hopeful: the U.S. added 228,000 jobs in March, handily beating expectations. A resilient labor market could keep consumers—and earnings—on firmer footing than feared.

Crude oil joined the decline, with WTI falling 6.5% to $62.58 on concerns over falling demand and unexpected OPEC+ supply increases. Meanwhile, gold dropped 2% to $3,057.90, as investors struggled to find a haven in the storm.

Market Movers:

• Tesla (TSLA) sank 10.4%, leading tech’s losses, as tariff fears hit global EV makers.

• Nvidia (NVDA) and Apple (AAPL) each shed over 7%, reflecting anxiety over disrupted supply chains and margin pressures.

• Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Alphabet (GOOG) also retreated, as large-cap tech felt the pinch of rising costs and uncertain trade terms.

What They’re Saying:

“If these tariffs go into place as proposed, tech earnings could drop 15% or more—it’s a Rubik’s Cube scenario for the global supply chain,” said Wedbush Securities.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Events

• There are no events scheduled for today.

Earnings Reports

• Today: Levi’s, Dave & Buster’s

• Tomorrow: WD-40, Tilray, Cal-Maine Foods, RPM International, Movado

MARKET BRIEF
Leading News

Discount Kings: Why TJX Could Be Your Portfolio's Recession Shield

Why it matters:

As economic uncertainty looms with Trump's tariff policies shaking consumer confidence, smart investors are eyeing counter-cyclical stocks that historically thrive when others falter.

Zoom Out:

The recent plunge in Consumer Confidence Index to its lowest level since January 2021 has savvy investors dusting off their recession playbooks. Counter-cyclical stocks—particularly those in defensive sectors like discount retail—often provide stability during market volatility because they offer products consumers need regardless of economic conditions.

Modern portfolio theory supports this approach: combining assets with inverse correlations to broader markets can significantly reduce volatility without sacrificing returns. This principle becomes particularly valuable when economic storm clouds gather.

Key Insights:

• TJX Companies (TJX), parent of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, reported a robust 5% increase in comparable store sales in Q4, with all divisions growing at least 4%. The company surpassed $56 billion in annual sales and celebrated opening its 5,000th store.

• The company's strength comes from a time-tested trifecta: an unmatched value proposition, broad customer appeal, and a highly adaptable operating model—precisely the attributes that shine brightest when consumers tighten their belts.

• Looking ahead, TJX sees room for up to 7,000 stores (adding 1,900+ locations), and projects 2-3% comparable sales growth with revenues between $58.1-$58.6 billion for fiscal 2026. The board is expected to approve a 13% dividend hike to $0.425 per share.

Market Pulse:

"In economic downturns, invest in companies that make essential products; people will still buy toothpaste and food regardless of the economy." — Peter Lynch's wisdom applies equally to discount retailers like TJX, where shoppers flock when seeking value.

Bull’s Take:

With Trump's tariff policies potentially triggering a one-time inflation shock and business uncertainty, TJX stands poised to capture wallet share from cost-conscious consumers. For the patient investor, this off-price retailer offers both defensive positioning and growth potential—a rare combination in today's jittery market.

Headlines

• Tesla Bull Slashes Stock Price Target 43% (link)

• Palantir Takes Trump Tariffs Hit But Outperforms Software Peers (link)

• Prada reportedly taps Goldman Sachs to advise on $2.5B Versace bid (link)

• Google, Microsoft and IBM are bullish on quantum computing (link)

• Eli Lilly, Novo Stocks Dive After Medicare Excludes Weight-Loss Drugs (link)

• Trump extends deadline on TikTok ban (link)

CRYPTO
Fear & Greed

Headlines

• Bitcoin dips below $80,000 after dropping over 3% in two hours, dragging crypto market downward (link)

• Bitcoin Developer Proposes Hard Fork to Protect BTC From Quantum Computing Threats (link)

• BlackRock's Securitize-issued BUIDL paid a record $4.17 million in March dividends (link)

DAILY SHARE
On the Socials