Tariffs Impact: Winners and Losers in Trade

Tariffs Are Biting Small Businesses - Here’s How That Flows Into Trades Quick takeCNBC highlights how broad 2025 tariffs are squeezing smaller firms while big retailers absorb more of the cost. The policy backdrop: a 10% “reciprocal” baseline tariff plus targeted hikes (including steel and aluminum raised to 50%), which have added measurable inflation pressure and uncertainty for supply chains and SME credit. WinnersCategory: U.S. Steel & Aluminum ProducersReason: Import tariffs of 50% shield domestic supply, support pricing, and lift utilization, aiding margins and cash flow for U.S.-based primary producers. Names: $NUE (Nucor), $X (U.S. Steel), $AA (Alcoa), $CENX (Century Aluminum)Category: Scale Retailers With Pricing PowerReason: Big-box chains can diversify sourcing, negotiate with vendors, and pass through costs better than small shops, letting them “weather” tariffs that are crushing mom-and-pop competitors. Names: $WMT (Walmart), $COST (Costco), $TGT (Target)Category: Customs Brokers & Freight ForwardersReason: More complex trade paperwork, routing, and compliance increase demand for brokerage, trade management, and mode-shifting services—even if volumes are choppy, fee yield per shipment can rise. Names: $EXP (Expeditors International), $CHRW (C.H. Robinson)LosersCategory: Small-Cap Apparel & Specialty RetailReason: Import-heavy assortments face higher landed costs and weaker pass-through. Smaller brands lack vendor leverage, so gross margins compress and promo intensity rises. Names: $LEVI (Levi Strauss), $AEO (American Eagle), $URBN (Urban Outfitters)Category: Regional Banks Exposed to SMEsReason: Tariff-driven cost pressures and supply-chain delays strain small-business cash flow, raising delinquency risk on SME loans and tightening credit conditions. Names: $ZION (Zions Bancorp), $CMA (Comerica), $FHN (First Horizon)Category: Import-Dependent Consumer Goods MakersReason: Reliance on overseas components and finished goods lifts COGS; smaller caps have less pricing power and hedging capacity, squeezing EBIT. Names: $HELE (Helen of Troy), $LCUT (Lifetime Brands), $MLKN (MillerKnoll)#StockMarket #Trading #Investing #DayTrading #SwingTrading #Tariffs #SmallBusiness #Retail #Steel #Logistics #RegionalBanks #USStocks

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