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AIFU Inc is an independent financial services provider in China. It offer end-to-end business solutions spanning compliance, technology, products, services, operations, capital flow, and professional training. It connects customers with insurance protection, retirement planning, health management, asset management, and family governance services.

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Editor&rsquo;s note: This article was originally published in July 2024. It has been updated in May 2025 to reflect current availability of the product and the evolving cultural context around cannabis.
&ldquo;Weed is fun. Let&rsquo;s face facts, it&rsquo;s fun,&rdquo; says Andrew Rea, the culinary maestro behind the wildly popular YouTube channel Binging with Babish, in an exclusive interview.
<h3>A Decade-Long Love Affair: From &lsquo;Vapor Poo&rsquo; To &lsquo;Digital&rsquo; Weed</h3>
Rea is not just a chef but a storyteller, seamlessly weaving narratives into recipes through his culinary recreations from movies, TV shows, and video games. His YouTube channel, Babish Culinary Universe, boasts more than 10 million subscribers and has become a beloved cornerstone of the online foodie community. His journey with cannabis, however, is a tale of personal discovery and therapeutic exploration.
&ldquo;When I first started smoking weed, the only options were from shady characters and college kids on bikes in New York City,&rdquo; Rea reflects with a smile. &ldquo;If you had told me about the tech and availability now&hellip; If you had told me that weed would effectively become digital, that we&rsquo;d have vaporizers that are disposable, that you would be able to walk around and smoke in a completely seamless and painless manner, and even get it delivered to your house above the letter of the law&hellip; I wouldn&rsquo;t have believed it. But that&#39;s the case now. It takes 45 minutes to order anything from my local dispensary.&rdquo;
Rea&#39;s journey with cannabis began about a decade ago, initially using it for both recreational and therapeutic purposes. &ldquo;I&#39;ve been roughly a daily user for about 10 years now, and it&rsquo;s been incredible to see the cannabis landscape change in that time.&rdquo; Battling anxiety and major depressive disorder, Rea finds solace and stability in cannabis. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s helped me manage my symptoms in some cases&hellip; and it&rsquo;s also just fun,&rdquo; he says.
Reminiscing about the early days, Rea talks about his first weed-infused culinary creations. &ldquo;I bought a vaporizer called The Magic Flight Launch Box, which looked like something a Boy Scout made,&rdquo; he laughs. &ldquo;Back then, the only way I could make edibles was by using vaporized weed &ndash; which is already decarboxylated, and spreading it on peanut butter and Graham crackers to make something called firecrackers. The vaporized weed was colloquially referred to as &lsquo;vapor poo,&rsquo;&rdquo; he adds with a humoristic tone.
<h3>The Babish THC-Infused Sugar Is Here</h3>
In 2024, Rea announced his latest cannabis venture: a collaboration with Old Pal to launch &quot;Old Pal x Babish THC-Infused Sugar&quot;. The product combines Old Pal&#39;s cannabis extracts with Rea&#39;s culinary sensibility, offering a versatile, precision-dosed THC-infused sugar designed for both novice and experienced consumers.
<img alt="Babish x Old Pal Sugar" src="https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/667f1ae6619bf342de5f3533/Babish-x-Old-Pal-Sugar/960x0.jpg?format=jpg&amp;width=1440" style="height:416px; width:624px" />
Babish x Old Pal Sugar - Courtesy of Old Pal
&ldquo;I knew I wanted to make a THC-infused sugar that didn&rsquo;t add any flavor and could be used seamlessly in any recipe,&rdquo; Rea explains. &ldquo;It took quite a while to find a partner capable of doing that at the level Old Pal could. They not only met but exceeded my expectations.&rdquo;
The result is a sugar that offers precise dosing and easy integration into a wide range of recipes. Each teaspoon contains 5 MG of THC, allowing consumers to customize their experience. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s super accurate. If you use a set amount in your recipe and then divide that recipe into serving sizes, you know exactly how much you&rsquo;re taking into your system,&rdquo; Rea explains. &ldquo;You can also just grab a tablespoon-full and put it in your coffee, and you know exactly how much you&#39;re ingesting.&rdquo;
The sugar has since rolled out in dispensaries across select states.
Rea highlights the importance of safety and convenience in cannabis edibles. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s always a horror story about eating a brownie, not feeling anything for two hours, having another one, and then feeling like one&rsquo;s gonna die,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;So, to be able to make predictable homemade edibles that are both safer... and more convenient is amazing. It&rsquo;s also one of the most pure cannabis experiences that I could imagine: it&rsquo;s the least harmful (I would imagine) for your body since you&rsquo;re not smoking it.&rdquo;
<h3>Only A High Person Could Think Of This</h3>
&ldquo;Weed let me look at the world through a new lens really, which I needed in my 20s when I was trying to make it in New York City,&rdquo; Rea reflects. &ldquo;I was thinking very inside the box, and it was very nice to take a peek outside the box thanks to cannabis here and there.&rdquo;
When asked if he was high when coming up with the idea for recreating recipes from movies, video games, TV shows, and cartoons, he candidly admits: &ldquo;I think so. If we&#39;re playing the odds here, it was nighttime in 2016... I&#39;d say I was very likely high.&rdquo;
He also emphasizes that cannabis isn&rsquo;t a cure-all: &ldquo;I recommend going to therapy first, not using weed to treat anything. It is not a fixer; it is an augmenter.&rdquo;
<h3>The Journey To Mainstream Acceptance</h3>
Rea&rsquo;s relationship with cannabis is multifaceted. He speaks about the therapeutic benefits, noting how it helps to &ldquo;round off the hard edges of the day.&rdquo; And while he uses prescription medication for his diagnosed conditions, cannabis complements his mental wellness. &ldquo;If alcohol blurs them [the hard edges], weed rounds them,&rdquo; he says.
He draws a thoughtful distinction between therapeutic and medicinal use: &ldquo;Instead of treating my existing conditions, which I use prescription medications to do, [cannabis] broadened my horizons... It gave me new perspectives and new experiences that I wouldn&#39;t have had otherwise.&rdquo;
<h3>Creative Cannabis Icons</h3>
When asked who he&#39;d most like to share a joint with, Rea doesn&#39;t hesitate: &ldquo;I want to smoke a joint with Daniels, the directors of Everything Everywhere All at Once.&rdquo;
He also dreams of sparking up with director Richard Linklater. &ldquo;He&#39;s one of my very favorite filmmakers, he filmed my favorite pot-smoking scene of all time, and he knows great music,&rdquo; he says.
<h3>The Future Of Edibles</h3>
Looking ahead, Rea continues to champion innovation in cannabis cuisine. &ldquo;I wanted to make something that definitely does the job for weed experts but also is inviting and accessible to people who have never tried cannabis before,&rdquo; he explains.
His collaboration with Old Pal marks a major step in that direction&mdash;blending culinary creativity, safety, and precise dosing in a format that&rsquo;s both fun and functional. And with growing access in multiple states and a growing audience of curious foodies, Rea&rsquo;s sugar may be just the beginning.
Read next:&nbsp;<a class="post-card-article-link" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/25/04/44992856/willy-wonka-of-weed-opens-the-doors-to-the-raw-factory-heres-what-we-saw" target="_blank">&#39;Willy Wonka Of Weed&#39; Opens The Doors To The RAW Factory: Here&#39;s What We Saw</a>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6TRFUO4_Yng?si=ch_bo-8z9K83ZPUn" width="560"></iframe>
Follow me on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/javierhasse" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierhasse/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>. Check out my <a href="https://elplanteo.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> or some of my other work <a href="https://benzinga.com/cannabis" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2024/07/11/binging-with-babishs-andrew-rea-talks-cannabis-launches-thc-sugar-weed-rounds-off-the-hard-edges-of-the-day/">Forbes</a> and appears here with permission.&nbsp;The article is from an external source. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
Photo courtesy Old Pal

Cannabis

Entertainment

Markets

General

YouTube Star Babish Talks Cannabis: 'If Alcohol Blurs The Hard Edges, Weed Rounds Them... It's Not A Fixer—It's An Augmenter'

Dave Ramsey recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu3BNkFoa2E">took a call</a> on &#8220;The Ramsey Show&#8221; from a 26-year-old listener worried about the stock market dipping. Ramsey, known for his no-panic approach to investing, quickly put things in perspective.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Not Even Close&#8217; to a Crash</h2>
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to indicate that this is a crash. Nothing,&#8221; Ramsey said. &#8220;The U.S. economy is not imploding and falling in. Not even close.&#8221;
He told the caller that the current market situation is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/44921683/this-volatile-market-is-made-for-nickel-and-diming-these-names">more about volatility</a> and uncertainty, not a sign of an economic collapse. Ramsey was direct when pointing fingers at the source of the market&#8217;s anxiety.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump and Market Volatility</h2>
&#8220;The stock market does not like an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/45029647/experts-say-new-tariffs-could-spark-higher-prices-and-shortages-within-weeks">unpredictable environment</a>, and this is unpredictable as crud right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because people don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to happen exactly, because I think Trump makes it up every morning.&#8221;
Ramsey explained that this unpredictability is fueling short-term swings, but it doesn&#8217;t change the long-term strength of the economy or the stock market&#8217;s overall growth pattern.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Long-Term View Still Wins</h2>
He reminded listeners that the S&amp;P 500 had strong years in 2023 and 2024, with returns of around 23% to 26% each year. A small 6% to 8% drop in the market now, he said, is hardly a crisis when looking at the bigger picture.
&#8220;When in doubt, zoom out,&#8221; Ramsey&#8217;s co-host, George Kamel, advised. He encouraged investors to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/25/03/44524295/exclusive-advisorshares-portfolio-manager-says-market-nervous-in-2025-encourages-investors-to-have-long-term">focus on long-term trends</a> rather than day-to-day headlines: &#8220;Time in the market beats timing the market.&#8221;
Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Personal Example of Patience</h2>
Ramsey also shared a personal example: he has about $5 million sitting in an S&amp;P 500 account intended for a real estate purchase. While the account has temporarily dropped by about $200,000, he said he has not &#8220;lost&#8221; anything because he hasn&#8217;t sold.
&#8220;If you sell, you take the loss. I didn&#8217;t lose anything. I&#8217;m just sitting here watching with great amusement the roller coaster ride,&#8221; he said.
Instead of pulling money out, Ramsey said he&#8217;s &#8220;scratching around for some extra money to throw in right now&#8221; because he sees it as a chance to buy stocks on sale.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep Investing Through the Ups and Downs</h2>
He wrapped up with a precise message: &#8220;We&#8217;re going to invest when it&#8217;s up and we&#8217;re going to invest when it&#8217;s down. We&#8217;re going to invest and we&#8217;re going to invest. And then we&#8217;re going to look up and we&#8217;re going to be worth millions of dollars. This is how we do it.&#8221;
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Image: MidJourney

News

Dave Ramsey Says The Stock Market Is 'Unpredictable As Crud Right Now,' Claiming Trump 'Makes It Up Every Morning' And Fuels The Chaos

At the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) on Saturday, Warren Buffett has voiced his criticism of the present administration&#8217;s trade policy, labeling the imposition of punitive tariffs on global trade as a severe mistake.
What Happened: During the session, Buffett expressed his discontent with the current aggressive trade policy, without directly mentioning President Donald Trump.
Addressing the gathering, Buffett <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LWBphTImy4">said</a>, emphasized, &#8220;Trade should not be a weapon,&#8221; and cautioned against provoking billions of people worldwide with punitive tariffs. 
"Trade should not be a weapon. The United States won. I mean, we have become an incredibly important country, starting from nothing 250 years ago There's not been anything like it," Buffett said. 
"It's a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don't like you very well, and you got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they've done &#8211; I don't think it's right, and I don't think it's wise," he added.
His remarks were made following the White House&#8217;s recent introduction of the highest import levies in decades, which has caused considerable market instability.
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"I do think that the more prosperous the rest of the world becomes, it won't be at the our expense, the more prosperous we'll become, and the safer we'll feel, and your children will feel someday," Buffett said.
The esteemed investor also underscored the significance of global prosperity, asserting that a prosperous world would not come at the cost of the United States, but rather enhance its safety and prosperity.
In its first-quarter earnings report Berkshire Hathaway noted that tariffs and other geopolitical events have generated &#8220;considerable uncertainty&#8221; for the conglomerate. 
The company also disclosed that it has been operating defensively, selling stocks for 10 consecutive quarters, resulting in a record cash reserve of $347 billion at the end of March.
Why It Matters: Buffett&#8217;s comments come at a time when the world is grappling with the economic impacts of the current administration&#8217;s hardline trade policy. The policy has been marked by the imposition of high tariffs, leading to significant market volatility and uncertainty. 
This has prompted companies like Berkshire Hathaway to adopt a defensive stance, selling stocks and amassing cash reserves. Buffett&#8217;s criticism of the policy underscores the potential risks and challenges it poses to global trade and prosperity. 
His remarks serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balanced and cooperative approach to global trade, for the benefit of all nations involved.
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Earnings

Warren Buffett Warns Tariffs Could Backfire on Economy, Says, 'Trade Should Not Be A Weapon. It's A Big Mistake, I Don't Think It's Wise'

Brazilian startup Mombak has secured $30 million in a Series A funding round led by Union Square Ventures, with participation from existing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44911292/insane-mark-cuban-thinks-us-investors-will-start-exporting-talent-and-funding-startups-abroad-to-cut-costs">investors</a> Kaszek, Bain Capital, and AXA IM Alts, as well as new backers Lowercarbon Capital and Copa Investimentos.
This funding will support Mombak&#8217;s mission to restore degraded farmland in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43137590/microsoft-invests-in-carbon-credits-to-restore-amazon-rainforest-faces-challenges-from-data-center-growth-trumps-fossil-fuel-focus">Amazon rainforest</a> using native species and generate carbon credits for companies seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions, according to<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/brazil-reforestation-startup-mombak-raises-30-million-usv-led-round-2025-04-29/"> Reuters</a>.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mombak&#8217;s Ambitious Growth</h2>
Since its founding in 2021 by Gabriel Silva, former CFO of Nubank, and Peter Fernandez, former CEO of 99, Mombak has planted 5 million native trees across 45,000 acres, an area three times the size of Manhattan, Reuters writes. The company aims to reach 8 million trees planted by June.
&#8220;We are moving from startup to scale-up,&#8221; co-founder Gabriel Silva told Reuters. &#8220;We decided it was time to have a new capital round to invest in this new phase: taking our initial business and doing it in a much larger scale.&#8221;
Mombak&#8217;s approach involves acquiring or partnering with owners of degraded Amazon land to restore native vegetation, generating carbon credits that companies can purchase to offset their emissions. This model not only helps in carbon sequestration but also contributes to biodiversity and ecosystem restoration in the Amazon.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Carbon Credit Demand Soars with Big Tech Support</h2>
According to Reuters, Mombak has already signed $150 million worth of carbon removal offtake contracts and expects that number to quadruple within the next year. Major companies such as Google, Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), and McLaren Racing have already committed to purchasing credits from Mombak, a sign that big tech is taking nature-based carbon removal seriously,<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/google-buys-carbon-removal-credits-brazil-startup-joining-microsoft-2024-09-19/"> Reuters</a> writes.
Google recently agreed to buy 50,000 metric tons of carbon credits from Mombak by 2030, marking its first carbon removal partnership in South America. Microsoft, ahead of the curve, also signed a contract in 2023 to purchase up to 1.5 million carbon credits from Mombak. Meta has also pledged support through its participation in the Symbiosis Coalition, a group that includes Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce, which committed to contracting up to 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030, according to Reuters.
McLaren Racing, the iconic Formula 1 team, joined this growing list of partners by purchasing credits from the startup as part of its mission to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, Mombak <a href="https://mombak.com/news/mclaren-buys-carbon-credits-in-quest-for-net-zero/">announced</a>. These partnerships signal growing industry confidence in the scalability and quality of Mombak's carbon removal strategy.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Public and Private Capital Fuel Climate Restoration</h2>
In addition to private equity and venture funding, Mombak recently secured $17.8 million through a joint commitment from Santander Brasil and Brazilian state development bank BNDES, Reuters<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/santander-bndes-back-mombak-reforestation-drawing-brazil-climate-fund-2025-04-07/"> writes</a>. This makes Mombak the first reforestation project to receive support from Brazil's $2 billion New Climate Fund, launched in 2023 to advance climate-focused initiatives.
Andy Weissman, managing partner at Union Square Ventures, emphasized the importance of this work, stating, "We believe that carbon removal will be one of the defining industries of the 21st century. We're proud to support Mombak's mission to turn the Amazon into a global engine for climate restoration."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Road Ahead</h2>
With over $200 million raised since its founding, Mombak stands at the intersection of environmental impact and economic innovation. The company's commitment to large-scale reforestation, combined with demand from global corporations, positions it to lead a new wave of climate restoration rooted in natural solutions.
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Image: Shutterstock

MSFT

Google, Microsoft, Meta, And McLaren Back Mombak's $30M Amazon Reforestation Push, Targeting $600M In Carbon Credit Deals By 2025

As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45026616/trumps-trade-war-causes-sharp-decline-in-us-imports-from-china">U.S. ports</a> begin to empty and retailers brace for impact, experts warn that we are just beginning to feel the ripple effects of President Donald Trump's new 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. While social media buzz paints an exaggerated picture of ghost ports, the underlying supply chain disruption is very real — and it could soon hit home for American consumers.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Slow Ships, Sudden Shock</h2>
Tariffs don't grind global trade to a halt overnight. Freight ships from China typically take several weeks to reach U.S. ports. But already, the effects of paused or canceled shipments are being seen, particularly at major hubs like the Port of Los Angeles.
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Gene Seroka, executive director of the port, told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/29/port-of-las-gene-seroka-on-tariff-impact-retailers-have-about-5-7-weeks-of-full-inventories-left.html">CNBC</a> that shipments from China have "essentially ceased," and the port expects a 35% decline in cargo arriving next week.
Seroka added that large retailers have just five to seven weeks of inventory left before supply issues start to surface. &#8220;Until some accord or framework can be reached with China, the volume coming out of there, save a couple of different commodities, will be very light at best,&#8221; he said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Chain Reaction Through the Economy</h2>
According to <a href="https://fortune.com/article/trump-tariffs-empty-shelves-trucking-ports/">Fortune</a>, the slowdown will unfold in stages. In early May, consumers may begin noticing delays and product shortages. By mid-May, the trucking industry could feel the crunch as fewer goods arrive to be transported — resulting in layoffs. <a href="https://www.apolloacademy.com/probability-of-vtrr-90/">Apollo Global Management</a> forecasts that this could spiral into a full-blown recession by mid-summer.
Products expected to be hit hardest include fast fashion, children's toys, and back-to-school supplies. That's because the U.S. imports much of its apparel and low-cost consumer goods from China, and retail shelves are replenished months in advance.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fact vs. Fiction at the Ports</h2>
Despite widely shared videos showing empty container yards, not all U.S. ports are equally impacted. The <a href="https://www.nwseaportalliance.com/newsroom/nwsa-q1-2025-teu-volumes-19">Northwest Seaport Alliance</a> reports that the Port of Seattle saw a 20% increase in cargo traffic over the first four months of 2025, compared with the same time last year.
Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins acknowledged the threat of tariffs but urged calm. "There is no reason to panic," he said. "We have a diverse global economy." Still, he cautioned that if the tariffs continue, holiday shopping later in the year could be affected, especially for items like clothing and electronics.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Retailers and Officials Scramble</h2>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/45037102/walmart-home-depot-target-push-chinese-suppliers-to-resume-shipments-agree-to-absorb-tariffs-report">Major retailers</a> like Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) have already tried to front-load shipments ahead of the tariff hike. According to Fortune, this led to record import activity at some ports earlier in the year. But experts warn that these stockpiles are only a temporary buffer. Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/import-cargo-levels-to-drop-sharply-amid-new-tariffs-and-uncertainty">said</a> that companies "will pull back and rely on built-up inventories, at least long enough to see what will happen next."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>
Unfortunately, what's next remains unclear. The U.S. and China have offered conflicting reports about the status of trade negotiations. In the meantime, supply chain gaps are growing, cancellations of transpacific shipping routes are increasing, and uncertainty looms large.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line</h2>
While viral videos may not always tell the full story, the impact of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45058018/trumps-145-china-tariffs-spark-seller-backlash-as-amazon-prime-day-2025-faces-pullouts-and-discount-cuts-report">Trump's 145% tariffs</a> on China is already rippling through U.S. supply chains. Consumers may not feel the pain immediately, but signs point to a summer of higher prices, fewer choices, and tough decisions for businesses and shoppers alike.
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

AMZN

Behind The Empty Docks: How Trump's 145% Tariffs Are Gutting U.S. Supply Chains

In the first quarter of&nbsp;2025,&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) reported a significant drop in its operating earnings announced on Saturday. The company has raised concerns about the potential impact of tariffs on future profits.
What Happened: The conglomerate&#8217;s operating earnings, which include its&nbsp;fully owned insurance and railroad&nbsp;businesses, fell 14% to $9.64&nbsp;billion in&nbsp;the first three months of&nbsp;the year. This is a significant drop from the $11.22 billion reported in the first quarter of 2024.
According to the Berkshire <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/qtrly/1stqtr25.pdf">report</a>, the decline was largely&nbsp;driven by a 48.6% plunge&nbsp;in insurance-underwriting profit, which&nbsp;came in at $1.34 billion&nbsp;for the first quarter, down&nbsp;from $2.60 billion a year&nbsp;prior. Berkshire attributed this to the Southern California wildfires, which&nbsp;led to a $1.1 billion&nbsp;loss in Q1.
The company also suffered an approximate $713 million loss related to foreign exchange due to the dollar losing value in the first quarter. This is in stark contrast to the same period last year when it benefited from a $597 million forex gain.
"Our periodic operating results may be affected in future periods by impacts of ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical events, as well as changes in industry or company-specific factors or events. The pace of changes in these events, including international trade policies and tariffs, has accelerated in 2025. Considerable uncertainty remains as to the ultimate outcome of these events," Berkshire said in the earnings report.
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"The amount of investment gains, losses in any given quarter is usually meaningless and delivers figures for net earnings per share that can be extremely misleading to investors who have little or no knowledge of accounting rules," Berkshire's statement read.
Berkshire also expressed concerns over President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs and other geopolitical risks, stating that it&#8217;s unable to predict any potential impact from tariffs at this time. The company&#8217;s cash reserves also increased to a record $347 billion during the first quarter, up from around $334 billion at the end of 2024.
Why It Matters: The steep drop in Berkshire&#8217;s earnings is a cause for concern among investors, given the company&#8217;s wide-ranging portfolio of businesses. The decline in insurance-underwriting profit, in particular, highlights the risks associated with the company&#8217;s insurance operations.
The company&#8217;s concerns over tariffs and geopolitical risks also underscore the uncertainty facing global businesses. The increase in cash reserves, however, suggests that Berkshire is well-positioned to weather potential economic headwinds.
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Equities

Berkshire Hathaway's Q1 2025 Earnings Plunge Amid Tariff Concerns, Operating Profit Fell 14%, Cash Hit A Record

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Whisper Index&nbsp;uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.
Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/05/45171636/exclusive-aprils-20-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-tesla-apple-palantir-nvidia-stocks-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: April&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Tesla, Apple, Palantir, Nvidia Stocks Rank?</a>
Here's a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending May 2:
 Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WPM#NYSE">WPM</a>): Precious metal and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44903750/gold-price-soars-to-record-highs-eyes-best-2-month-rally-since-2011-on-blockbuster-etf-buying">gold stocks</a> continue to see increase interest from Benzinga readers and this week's article highlights Wheaton Precious Metals. The company's stock is near 52-week highs, but could head higher with continued record highs for gold and upcoming financial results from the company. Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of 50 cents on May 8. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in four of the last five quarters. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly revenue of $436.5 million, up from $296.8 million in last year's first quarter. The company has missed analyst estimates for revenue in three straight quarters and seven of the last 10 quarters overall. A turnaround in revenue and another beat in earnings per share could strengthen the bullish case for the stock. Several analysts have upgraded the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WPM/analyst-ratings">stock&#8217;s price targets</a> ahead of earnings.
Wheaton Precious Metals shares were down slightly on the week, as seen on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0502">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below, while shares are up over 50% in the last year.
<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=0502"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173903/Screenshot-393.png" alt="" class="wp-image-900087" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173903/Screenshot-393.png 1001w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173903/Screenshot-393-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173903/Screenshot-393-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /></a></figure>
Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>): The utility company saw increased interest from investors during the week, which could be related to the company's size, its industry or its dividend yield. The interest is also likely coming with the company set to report first-quarter financial results on May 6. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $1.61, up from $1.44 in last year's first quarter. The company has missed earnings per share estimates in six of the last 10 quarters. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $8.06 billion, up from $7.67 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in four straight quarters and eight of the last 10 quarters overall. With the stock trading near 52-week highs, investors will likely be expecting a double beat and not a mixed quarter like many of the previous ones have been.
<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=0502"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="993" height="508" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173918/Screenshot-394.png" alt="" class="wp-image-900088" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173918/Screenshot-394.png 993w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173918/Screenshot-394-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173918/Screenshot-394-768x393.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px" /></a></figure>
Nutanix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTNX#NASDAQ">NTNX</a>): The software company continues to see strong interest from readers and after several weeks of consideration as a stock to highlight makes this week's list. The company is scheduled to report third-quarter financial results on May 28, which is several weeks away. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share and revenue in each of the last eight straight quarters. Investors may be paying attention ahead of the financial results in a company that has shown impressive growth.
"During our second quarter we delivered outperformance across our guided metrics. Our results are benefitting from the strength of the Nutanix Cloud Platform," Nutanix CEO Rajiv Ramaswami <a href="https://ir.nutanix.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nutanix-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2025-financial-results">said </a>after second-quarter results.
The CEO said the company was working on delivering sustainable, profitable growth and also highlighted a new revolving credit facility and the issuance of convertible notes to help with future growth.
<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=0502"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="508" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173932/Screenshot-395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-900089" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173932/Screenshot-395.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173932/Screenshot-395-300x153.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173932/Screenshot-395-768x392.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>
MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>): The Latin American e-commerce giant saw increased interest during the week, which could be related to comments made by the company's CEO. MercadoLibre CEO Marcos Galperin said Latin America companies could be winners in a U.S.-China trade war. Galperin said Mexico and other countries could benefit, comments that could make the e-commerce company more attractive to investors. MercadoLibre is set to report first-quarter financial results on May 7. Analysts expect the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of $8.30, up from $6.78 in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in three of the last four quarters and eight of the last 10 quarters overall. Analyst expect the company to report quarterly revenue of $5.51 billion, up from $4.33 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in more than 10 straight quarters. Another strong quarter could see shares continue to trade near 52-week highs.
<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=0502"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="993" height="499" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173947/Screenshot-396.png" alt="" class="wp-image-900090" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173947/Screenshot-396.png 993w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173947/Screenshot-396-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02173947/Screenshot-396-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px" /></a></figure>
Cheniere Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>): The natural gas company saw strong interest from readers during the week, which comes as analysts have provided mixed commentary ahead of first-quarter financial results. Some analysts raised price targets, while others lowered<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LNG/analyst-ratings"> their price targets</a> ahead of Q1 results set for May 8. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $2.70 versus $2.13 in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in three straight quarters and eight of the last 10 quarters overall. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly revenue of $4.91 billion, up from $4.25 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates in seven of the last 10 quarters overall. Another strong quarter and investors looking for energy stocks that could benefit from the current White House administration could make the stock a winner.
<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=0502"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02174000/Screenshot-397.png" alt="" class="wp-image-900091" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02174000/Screenshot-397.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02174000/Screenshot-397-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/02174000/Screenshot-397-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Stay tuned for next week&#8217;s report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0502" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>
Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/04/44651693/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/44883576/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-61" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">April 18</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/45029510/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-62">April 25 </a></li>
</ul>
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Exclusives

Trading Ideas

MELI

NTNX

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/04/45059231/mark-zuckerberg-says-theres-going-to-have-to-be-a-reckoning-about-college-degrees-and-whether-theyre-truly-worth-it-anymore">tuition costs climb</a> and artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, a growing number of young Americans are questioning whether a college degree still offers a meaningful return on their investment. For Gen Z and millennials, the traditional value of higher education is under scrutiny — especially in an economy where degrees no longer guarantee job security or career growth.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Generational Divide in College Value</h2>
A recent <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/news/college-degree-value-generational-divide">survey</a> by Indeed found that 51% of Gen Z professionals consider their college degree a waste of money, compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. For many younger graduates, the cost of education, combined with student loan burdens and an uncertain job market, has made them question whether college was the right path.
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According to the <a href="https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college">Education Data Initiative</a>, the average cost of a bachelor's degree has doubled over the past 25 years, now exceeding $38,000. Meanwhile, student loan debt in the U.S. is nearing $2 trillion. These financial strains are shifting how young professionals view their degrees: nearly four in 10 say student debt has slowed their career growth more than their diploma has helped it.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI Adds to the Uncertainty</h2>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45093311/not-everyone-needs-a-thousand-ai-engineers-but-for-those-who-do-zuckerberg-says-meta-will-gladly-build-it-for-a-price">Artificial intelligence</a> has introduced another layer of doubt for recent grads. About one-third of college-educated workers believe AI has already made their degree irrelevant, according to Indeed — a figure that climbs to 45% among Gen Zers.
Yet some experts argue this fear may be overstated. "AI is not going to take your job," Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/25/magazine/ted-sarandos-netflix-interview.html">The New York Times</a> last year. "The person who uses AI well might take your job."&nbsp;
Similarly, Kyle M.K., a career expert at Indeed, told <a href="https://fortune.com/article/college-degree-waste-of-money-gen-z-millennial-indeed-study-ai-obsolete/">Fortune</a> that while some technical roles are more exposed to automation, areas like nursing and creative strategy remain relatively insulated.
The key, he says, is adaptability: "AI won't invalidate a solid education, but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit."
Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Degrees Without Distinction?</h2>
Even as more young people earn degrees, the job market doesn't always reflect that value. Researchers suggest the "college wage premium" — the extra income typically earned by degree holders — has plateaued. And with more graduates than ever before, competition for skilled jobs has intensified.
This shift may explain why 68% of Gen Zers say they could do their current job without a degree, compared to just 49% of baby boomers. Employers seem to agree — more than half of U.S. job postings on Indeed now omit education requirements entirely.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond the Paycheck: Other Forms of Value</h2>
Despite skepticism about the financial return of college, some still find personal or professional value in the experience. Christine Cruzvergara of Handshake told Fortune that higher education helps students build networks, discover career paths, and develop long-term leadership and problem-solving skills.
Nico Maggioli, a design graduate from Syracuse University, echoed this sentiment. He told Indeed that the mindset he gained — learning how to think like a designer — matters more today than mastering specific technical skills, many of which AI can now handle.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Future: Skills Over School Names</h2>
Experts increasingly recommend that students and workers focus on building adaptable skills rather than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/42932626/billionaire-mark-cuban-on-college-costs-pick-the-cheapest-school-you-can-find-its-about-learning-not-prestige">chasing degrees for prestige</a> alone.&nbsp;
Francisco Marmolejo, higher education president at the Qatar Foundation, told Indeed, "A big advantage of generative AI is that educational institutions will have more time to prepare students on the humanistic side. More effective efforts can and should be dedicated to making sure that all students become competent in much more valued skills for the future of work, such as analytical skills, teamwork, and critical thinking.&#8221;
For Gen Z and younger generations, college may not be obsolete, but its value depends more than ever on how well it prepares graduates for a rapidly changing world.
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Image: Shutterstock

Earnings Beats

Is College Still Worth It? Gen Z And Millennials Are Losing Faith As AI Disrupts The Job Market

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.
U.S. markets rebounded this week, fully recovering losses incurred since President Donald Trump's April 2 tariff escalation. The S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq each rose by more than 1.3%, with Friday marking the S&amp;P 500's ninth consecutive daily gain — the longest streak since 2004.
The rally was fueled by a stronger-than-expected April jobs report, with 177,000 jobs added, surpassing forecasts of 135,000. Unemployment remained at 4.2%, and sectors like healthcare and transportation led job growth. However, Q1 GDP contracted by 0.3%, the largest drop since 2022, largely due to a surge in imports ahead of tariff implementations.
Corporate earnings contributed to market optimism. Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) exceeded Wall Street estimates, with Microsoft posting its best weekly performance in years. Despite these gains, concerns linger about the long-term economic impact of tariffs, as businesses face uncertainty and potential cost increases.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
The Bulls
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45136276/mounjaro-maker-eli-lilly-clocks-45-jump-in-q1-revenue-cuts-2025-profit-outlook-but-not-due-to-tariffs">"Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly clocks 45% jump in Q1 revenue, cuts 2025 profit outlook but not due to tariffs"</a>, by Vandana Singh, reports that Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) posted a 45% year-over-year revenue increase to $12.73 billion in Q1 2025, driven by strong sales of Mounjaro and Zepbound, but lowered its 2025 EPS forecast to $20.78-$22.28 due to a $1.57 billion charge related to acquired in-process R&amp;D, clarifying that the guidance does not account for potential future tariff changes.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45137383/microsoft-rallies-after-crushing-q3-earnings-goldman-sachs-lifts-target-to-480">"Microsoft rallies after crushing Q3 earnings, Goldman Sachs lifts target to $480"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) beat Q3 estimates with $70.07 billion in revenue and $3.46 EPS, driven by a 35% surge in Azure revenue — 16 points of which came from AI services — prompting Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan to raise the price target to $480.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45038400/plug-power-rallies-as-new-financing-cost-cuts-boost-confidence-in-turnaround-plan">"Plug Power rallies as new financing, cost cuts boost confidence in turnaround plan"</a>, by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLUG#NASDAQ">PLUG</a>) shares rose after the company secured a $525 million debt facility and implemented cost-cutting measures expected to yield over $200 million in annual savings, signaling progress toward profitability.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45120603/amazon-stock-is-rising-after-the-bell-whats-driving-the-action">Amazon Stock Is Rising After The Bell: What's Driving The Action?</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45120458/bloom-energy-reports-better-than-expected-q1-results-details">Bloom Energy Reports Better-Than-Expected Q1 Results: Details</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/45066479/rare-bullish-signal-just-flashed-on-wall-street-will-it-power-sp-500-to-6000">Rare Bullish Signal Just Flashed On Wall Street: Will It Power S&amp;P 500 To 6,000?</a>
The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45175831/apple-stock-faces-tariff-related-headwinds-4-analysts-break-down-q2-results-whats-next">"Apple stock faces tariff-related headwinds: 4 analysts break down Q2 results, what's next"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) exceeded Q2 expectations with $95.4 billion in revenue and $1.65 EPS, but analysts from Needham, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America warn that escalating U.S.-China tariffs — projected to cost Apple $900 million in the June quarter — pose ongoing risks to product margins and earnings.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45084597/starbucks-misses-q2-earnings-estimates-ceo-says-optimism-has-turned-into-confidence-i-see-more-opportunity-than-i-imagined">"Starbucks Misses Q2 Earnings Estimates, CEO Says Optimism Has Turned Into Confidence: ‘I See More Opportunity Than I Imagined'"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) posted Q2 revenue of $8.76 billion and adjusted EPS of 41 cents — both below analyst expectations — while CEO Brian Niccol expressed confidence in the company's "Back to Starbucks" turnaround plan, highlighting operational improvements and customer experience enhancements.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45106948/norwegian-cruise-line-tumbles-after-earnings-miss-still-confident-in-2025-guidance">"Norwegian Cruise Line Tumbles After Earnings Miss, Still Confident In 2025 Guidance"</a>, by Akanksha Bakshi, reports that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) shares fell after the company missed Q1 2025 revenue and earnings estimates, citing a 2.9% revenue decline to $2.13 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.07, but reaffirmed its full-year guidance of $2.05 EPS and $2.72 billion in adjusted EBITDA, despite softening forward bookings amid macroeconomic headwinds.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45152870/bigbear-ai-shares-slide-after-worse-than-expected-q1-report">BigBear.ai Shares Slide After Worse-Than-Expected Q1 Report</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/45072193/stock-of-the-day-abbvies-rally-looks-stretched-could-a-reversal-be-next">Stock Of The Day: AbbVie's Rally Looks Stretched — Could A Reversal Be Next?</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45086922/whats-going-on-with-restaurant-chain-owner-brinkers-stock-today">Why Did Chili's Restaurant Parent Brinker International Stock Tumble On Tuesday?</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

AAPL

ABBV

BBAI

NCLH

PLUG

SBUX

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Lilly, Microsoft, Starbucks — And Markets Fully Recover Tariff Chaos Losses

A valuation metric, which Berkshire Hathaway chair Warren Buffett once called the "single best measure of where valuations stand," is now signaling that U.S. equities could be trading at relatively attractive levels.
What Happened: Known as the &#8220;Buffett Indicator,&#8221; the ratio compares the total value of publicly traded U.S. companies, tracked by the Wilshire 5000 Index, to the country's gross domestic product.
The measure currently sits at around 180%, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-02/warren-buffett-s-favorite-valuation-indicator-flashes-buy-signal">reported</a> Bloomberg, roughly the same level seen after last year's rapid unwinding of the Japanese yen carry trade, which triggered a sharp selloff. That downturn ultimately set the stage for a strong S&amp;P 500 rally in late 2024.
The indicator soared to record highs last year, echoing past market bubbles, including the dot-com era in 2000. Its recent dip comes as the S&amp;P 500 has rebounded 12% from April lows, though it remains down nearly 9% from February's record.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a>
"This is a crucial indicator because it helps traders know when to deploy capital and buy stocks," said Adam Sarhan, CEO of 50 Park Investments. "There are reasons to still be concerned about the global trade war, but if [Donald] Trump isn't playing hardball with tariffs, people are going to buy, buy, buy with valuations much more reasonably priced now."
Why It's Important: In a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42332905/warren-buffett-labeled-it-playing-with-fire-when-the-indicator-named-after-him-reached-140-cut-to-today-and-its-over-200-is-a-downturn-looming">Fortune article from 2001,</a> Buffett characterized this level as "playing with fire," alluding to the dotcom bubble.
"Nearly two years ago the ratio rose to an unprecedented level," Buffett wrote.
"That should have been a very strong warning signal."
Some critics of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43622036/warren-buffett-indicator-tops-205-amid-skyrocketing-sp-500-valuations-as-this-billionaire-dot-com-crash-predictor-sounds-alarm">Buffett Indicator</a> argue that it overlooks certain important factors like elevated interest rates. Others caution that valuation metrics alone are unreliable for market timing, as assets can remain overvalued or undervalued for extended periods before adjusting, the report said.
Many traders are closely watching Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting on Saturday for any hints that Buffett has begun tapping into the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">firm's record $321 billion cash reserve</a> to scoop up discounted stocks, the report added.
Wall Street continued its rally this week, completely recovering the losses triggered by the Trump administration's April 2 tariff announcement. Mega-cap tech giants — including Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) — all beat Wall Street estimates, with Microsoft posting its strongest weekly performance in years. 
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 1.48% on Friday, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was up 1.48%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43901149/buffett-reflects-on-60-years-at-berkshire-helm-cardinal-sin-is-delaying-the-correction-of-mistakes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buffett Reflects on 60 Years at Berkshire Helm: ‘Cardinal Sin Is Delaying the Correction of Mistakes'</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Photo Agency / Shutterstock

Tech

Media

Warren Buffett's Favorite 'Single Best Measure' For Equities Flashes Buying Signal As US Stocks Rebound

A new study made public last month suggests that left-handed CEOs, including tech giants like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, may possess an edge in driving innovation and outperforming their competitors.
What Happened: Research by accounting professors Long Chen and June Woo Park at the Costello College of Business analyzed &#8220;7 % of S&amp;P 500 firm CEOs.&#8221;
They found that companies led by left-handed CEOs showed significantly higher innovation output, including more patents and citations.&nbsp;
&#8220;Left-handed CEOs are likely to hire more foreign employees, who tend to generate more innovation outputs than domestic employees,&#8221; the study read.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45183052/nvidia-boss-jensen-huangs-total-compensation-hits-50m-after-first-raise-in-10-years">Nvidia Boss Jensen Huang&#8217;s Total Compensation Hits $50M After First Raise In 10 Years</a>
The study, which also looked at how these CEOs approached talent acquisition, found that left-handed leaders were more likely to recruit from a global pool of tech talent.
&#8220;Using patent and citation data from the Bureau van Dijk's Orbis patent database for the period 1992–2015, we find that firms managed by left-handed CEOs tend to exhibit greater success in innovation,&#8221; the study stated.
One key finding was that patents under left-handed leadership were not just more numerous—they were also more original, often representing breakthroughs rather than tweaks to existing technologies.
The research further suggested that firms led by left-handed CEOs enjoyed better financial performance, with higher return on assets and stronger stock returns.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Jobs, Gates, and Zuckerberg belong to the roughly 10% of the population that is left-handed.&nbsp;
Apple co-founder <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41263396/legendary-apple-co-founder-steve-jobs-once-said-being-the-richest-man-in-the-cemetery-doesnt-matter">Jobs passed away from cancer</a> on Oct. 5 at the age of 56. Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985. He made his return to Apple in 1996 and remained in the position until 2011, when he resigned.
Gates, who is the co-founder of Microsoft, currently has a net worth of $168 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/william-h-gates/">Index</a>. He stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000.
Zuckerberg, who is currently heading Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is the third richest person in the world today. He has a net worth of $211 billion.
Read More:
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don&#8217;t Have The B&#x2A;&#x2A;ls To Do It,&#8217; Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In&#8217; With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Alexandros Michailidis On Shutterstock.com

Are Left-Handed CEOs Like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates And Mark Zuckerberg Wired For Innovation? New Research Says They Lead More Creative, Profitable Companies

According to Bill Eigen, a portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management, markets are significantly reactive to President Donald Trump's social media posts.&nbsp;
What Happened: Speaking to CNBC Friday morning ahead of the April jobs report, Eigen said economic data is quickly taking a back seat.
"We're one Truth Social post away from being up or down 5% every day," Eigen said, describing the current market environment as "fun," but filled with turbulence.
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/plus500-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
Why It's Important: Trump's posts in the last few months back up Eigen's statement, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/05/02/markets-swings-truth-social-posts-jpmorgan-potfolio-manager/">noted</a> Fortune. Markets surged after he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44946516/goldman-sachs-ceo-says-trumps-90-day-tariff-pause-increased-the-level-of-uncertainty-triggered-market-repricing">announced a 90-day tariff grace period</a> to negotiate trade deals.
Conversely, they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44940900/us-futures-dollar-jump-amid-trumps-latest-comments-on-fed-nikkei-rebounds-to-three-week-high">tumbled when he posted</a> that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's removal "couldn't come fast enough."
Before his inauguration, Trump moved currency markets by threatening tariffs on Canada and Mexico, causing the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso to fall.
A February JPMorgan study found Trump is posting fewer market-moving messages than during his first term, but momentum is building. About 10% of his recent posts have led to noticeable market shifts, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, the U.S. labor market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45164558/us-adds-177000-jobs-in-april-topping-forecasts-as-economy-navigates-tariff-impact">remained resilient in April</a>, with job growth exceeding expectations despite pressure from trade tariffs affecting various sectors.
According to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000, down slightly from March's revised figure of 185,000.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 1.48% on Friday, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was up 1.48%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Donald Trump's Social Media Posts Move Markets More Than Jobs Data, Says JPMorgan Portfolio Manager: 'We're One Truth Social Post Away From Being Up Or Down 5% Every Day'

Ken Griffin, founder of hedge‑fund giant Citadel LLC, told Stanford business students that career growth hinges on surrounding oneself with sharper minds, not basking as "the smartest person in the room."
What Happened: In a "View From the Top" interview posted this week, Griffin recalled college days cold‑calling Bear Stearns traders for tips on convertible bonds and said that habit still guides him.
"If you're the smartest person in the room, you have so screwed up your Stanford MBA," he warned, adding, "You don't want to be the smartest person in the room." Griffin praised Citadel's brain trust, noting a Europe‑based employee who cracked "a tough math problem" overnight after others were stumped.
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Griffin, 56, built Citadel from a Harvard dorm‑room trading venture in 1990 into a multistrategy powerhouse managing about $65 billion in investment capital and employing more than 3,100 people. Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/ken-griffin/">pegs his net worth</a> at $42.5 billion, making him one of America's richest financiers.
See also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45166556/jeff-bezos-says-the-hardest-thing-was-landing-amazons-first-million-says-he-warned-potential-backers-of-a-70-chance-theyd-lose-their-money"> Jeff Bezos Says The &#8216;Hardest Thing&#8217; Was Landing Amazon&#8217;s First Million, Says He Warned Potential Backers Of A &#8216;70% Chance&#8217; They&#8217;d Lose Their Money</a>
He told students their first job choice should be "a learning environment," stressing that lessons flow from colleagues, clients, even rivals. American business culture, he said, is "generationally kind and generous," and executives have a duty to pass knowledge forward. "It's part of the magic of America that we share insights across generations," Griffin said.
Citadel's own culture of constant learning has paid off: its flagship Wellington fund gained 1.3 percent in April despite volatile markets, reveals a WSJ <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/citadel-sidesteps-aprils-market-swoons-to-post-gains-across-its-funds-6cf7969e">report</a>, lifting year‑to‑date returns back into positive territory. Griffin urged the future MBAs to replicate that edge by seeking rooms where they can keep asking, "Explain this — what do you think about that?"
Why It Matters: Griffin recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44972192/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-urges-investors-to-tread-water-and-not-drown-amid-nonsensical-trade-policies-we-put-that-brand-at-risk">voiced his apprehensions</a> about the current market conditions, where he indicated that the market is shrinking too rapidly to generate substantial returns, stating, "There are no great opportunities." A notable backer of Trump, Griffin is among several affluent individuals who have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44660599/stanley-druckenmiller-on-x-i-do-not-support-tariffs-exceeding-10-as-trump-digs-heels-on-trade-policy">expressed doubts</a> about the reasoning and execution of the recent tariffs.
Citadel largely avoided market turmoil, with its flagship fund down just 0.9% in Q1, compared to the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s decline of over 4%. Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) gained 1.25% over the past month while SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.31% during the same period.
Image via Shutterstock
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45165487/elon-musks-brother-backs-tesla-ceo-amid-report-of-board-exploring-ceo-replacement-its-getting-boring">Elon Musk&#8217;s Brother Backs Tesla CEO Amid Report Of Board Exploring CEO Replacement: &#8216;It&#8217;s Getting Boring&#8217;</a>

Management

Citadel Kingpin Ken Griffin Warns Being 'Smartest In The Room' Means You've 'Screwed Up' Your MBA

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang received his first base salary increase in 10 years.
What Happened: The Compensation Committee raised Huang's total target pay by $7 million, according to a proxy filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.
His base salary rose 50% to $1.5 million, placing him at the 75th percentile compared to peers, and marked his first raise in a decade.
Huang's target cash bonus remained at 200% of his base salary, bringing it to $3 million, while his target equity award climbed 25% to $27.5 million, slightly above the peer median.
Stock awards rose to $38.8 million, increasing total compensation to $49.9 million.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44897214/nvidia-discusses-ai-powering-future-with-japan-amid-rising-energy-demands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Meets Japanese PM To Discuss AI&#8217;s Growing Energy Needs</a>
The package also included $3.5 million in residential security, consulting fees, and driver services.
Target equity awards for other top executives were also raised by $3 million to $3.5 million to reflect the growing scope and complexity of their roles, while maintaining pay consistency across leadership.
&#8220;The CC [Compensation Committee] believed this was appropriate in consideration of internal pay equity with the base salaries of other NEOs and as it represented Mr. Huang's first base salary increase in 10 years,&#8221; the filing read.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: In 2024, it was reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38842073/nvidias-market-value-nears-2-3t-boosting-ceos-pay-and-employee-salaries">Huang's total compensation</a> in the last fiscal year was $34.2 million, driven by a 60% boost attributed to Nvidia's booming role in the artificial intelligence sector.
That package included a $4 million cash bonus and $2.5 million in perks like security and consulting services.
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, owns a significant stake in the company and has already made tens of billions of dollars from stock gains.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Index</a>, Huang currently has a net worth of $100 billion, making him the 17th wealthiest person in the world.
Nvidia currently has a market capitalization of $2.793 trillion. Nvidia shares have fallen 17.21% so far this year but remain up 28.96% over the past 12 months, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> gives the company a robust growth score of 94.78%, reflecting strong performance relative to other leading tech firms.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

NVDA

Nvidia Boss Jensen Huang's Total Compensation Hits $50M After First Raise In 10 Years

Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), is no longer waiting in the wings—he's already stepping into the role of chief executive in practice.
What Happened: On Friday, in an interview with CNBC, Sue Decker, lead director of Berkshire Hathaway's board, said Abel has begun actively taking on core leadership responsibilities, particularly in capital allocation.
"In the last year, the board, really Greg and Warren, have moved from sort of preparing for success to actually practicing it," Decker said. "Greg has gotten much more involved in capital allocation decisions, and I know he's earned the trust of the board and Warren in that."
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a>
Decker added that Abel is no longer viewed internally as a "CEO-in-waiting" because he is already taking on the leadership role.
When questioned about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">Berkshire's sizable cash reserves</a>, Decker explained that the company views its cash not as unused funds but as a deliberate strategic asset.
"When you think about what's going on right now in the world, there's really no other company in the world that has a fortress of a balance sheet that also could be used to help stabilize or provide liquidity if some major financial market dislocation happened," she stated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Berkshire Hathaway's Sue Decker: The consumer is losing confidence" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/29rLeiFztmc?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>
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Why It's Important: "At 94, it won&#8217;t be long before Greg Abel replaces me as CEO and will be writing the annual letters," Buffett wrote in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903538/buffetts-key-lessons-in-berkshire-annual-letter-really-outstanding-businesses-are-very-seldom-offered-in-their-entirety">annual shareholder letter</a> released in February earlier this year.
Throughout the letter, the Oracle of Omaha hinted it multiple times that Abel is an active participant in the senior decision-making process.
On the first Saturday of May, Berkshire is expected to hold its annual shareholders meeting. It is highly speculated that Buffett may address tariffs for the first time since Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement, <a href="https://fortune.com/article/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-annual-shareholder-meeting-greg-abel-succession/">reported</a> Fortune.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

Warren Buffett's Right-Hand Man Greg Abel Is Quietly Taking Over Day-To-Day Leadership At Berkshire Hathaway: 'Gotten Much More Involved In Capital Allocation Decisions'

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is reportedly developing redesigned artificial intelligence chips for major Chinese tech firms after warning that tightened U.S. export restrictions on its H20 chip could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker">lead to multibillion-dollar losses</a>.
What Happened: Nvidia has informed key Chinese customers — including Alibaba Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), ByteDance and Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) — that it is working on new AI chip designs tailored to comply with U.S. export regulations, reported Reuters, <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/nvidia-working-china-tailored-chips-u-s-export-ban">citing</a> The Information on Friday.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed the new plans with customers during a mid-April trip to Beijing, the report noted, citing three people involved in the conversation. This was shortly after the company disclosed that the export restrictions could result in a $5.5 billion revenue hit.
A prototype of the redesigned chip could be ready as early as June, the report said. Additionally, Nvidia is said to be developing a China-specific version of its Blackwell AI chip.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/45090231/elon-musk-says-will-come-as-a-surprise-to-most-as-chinas-economy-surpasses-us-and-eu-amid-rising-tariffs-and" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Says Will Come As A ‘Surprise To Most' As China's Economy Surpasses US And EU Amid Rising Tariffs And Growing Recession Fears</a>
Why It's Important: Earlier this week, Brian Colello, equity strategist at Morningstar, voiced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45092827/nvidia-to-face-significant-market-loss-in-china-amid-huaweis-ai-chip-development-says-analyst-its-pretty-much-game-over-for-nvidia-in-china">pessimistic view of Nvidia's</a> business outlook in China but remained optimistic about the company's performance in developed markets.
Colello pointed to rising competition from Huawei as a major challenge, saying, "I think it's pretty much game over for Nvidia in China."
On Thursday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told U.S. lawmakers that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45157365/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-warns-us-lawmakers-that-export-bans-are-backfiring-fueling-huaweis-rise-in-global-ai-chip-race">restrictions on exporting AI chips</a> could be giving China's Huawei Technologies an edge in the global race for AI dominance.
On the same day, Nvidia also took aim at AI startup Anthropic for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45160136/nvidia-blasts-anthropic-for-backing-stricter-chip-bans-on-china-focus-on-innovation-than-tell-tall-tales">advocating stricter U.S. export controls</a> on AI chips to China.
Price Action: On Friday, Nvidia shares climbed 2.59%, ending the day at $114.50, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings awarded Nvidia an impressive growth score of 94.84%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to compare it with other leading tech firms</a> like Alibaba and Tencent.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: epha1st0s/Shutterstock

BABA

TCEHY

Nvidia Reportedly Designing New AI Chips For Alibaba, ByteDance, Tencent After Jensen Huang-Led Company Warned US Export Ban On H20 Could Cost $5.5 Billion

<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting funding for NPR and PBS on Thursday</li>
<li>The order cited the outlets' "biased" and "partisan" news coverage as the reason for the decision</li>
<li>NPR and PBS have both issued statements saying they intend to challenge the order</li>
</ul>
Federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcast Service was halted on Thursday, after President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/ending-taxpayer-subsidization-of-biased-media/">executive order</a> directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt the outlets' funding.
The order said the decision was made because both NPR and PBS publish news that is "biased" and "partisan."
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"Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options," the order read. "Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage… neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens."
A separate <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/05/president-trump-finally-ends-the-madness-of-npr-pbs/">statement</a> put out by the White House said that NPR and PBS are "entities that receive tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'"&nbsp;
The statement cited several examples of stories the Trump administration considered "trash that passed for ‘news'" or intolerant of "non-leftist viewpoints," including a "Sesame Street" segment that addressed racism during the Black Lives Matter movement and several NPR stories that dismissed the theory that COVID-19 originated in a lab.
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Previously, the public broadcasters have received half a billion dollars each year in public funding through CPB, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/trump-signs-executive-order-to-stop-federal-funding-for-npr-and-pbs.html">CNBC</a>.&nbsp;
Both PBS and NPR responded to the executive order on Friday.
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger issued a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-statement-on-executive-order-regarding-public-media/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20President's%20blatantly%20unlawful%20Executive%20Order%2C%20issued,serve%20our%20member%20stations%20and%20all%20Americans.%E2%80%9D">statement</a> saying, "The President's blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years.&nbsp; We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>
In a lengthier <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/g-s1-64016/npr-statement-on-white-house-executive-order">post</a>, Katherine Maher, NPR's president and CEO, said, "We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public. We will challenge this Executive Order using all means available."
Patricia Harrison, the president and CEO of CBP, also made a <a href="https://cpb.org/pressroom/Corporation-Public-Broadcasting-Statement-Regarding-Executive-Order-Public-Media">statement</a> on Friday that shared similar sentiments with NPR and PBS. "CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government," it read. "In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors."
The executive order can be challenged in court.
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Trump Calls NPR And PBS 'Biased And Partisan,' Signs Executive Order To Stop Funding

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44209579/unprecedented-slide-tesla-sales-plummet-45-in-europe-as-musks-net-worth-dives-5-2b-in-a-week">Elon Musk's</a> artificial intelligence startup, xAI is under scrutiny in Memphis, Tennessee.The company is accused of operating dozens of unpermitted gas turbines at a major data center. The situation has raised concerns over public health and potential violations of federal and local environmental laws.
The allegations were outlined in an <a href="https://southernenvironment.sharefile.com/share/view/b1dd4073b14940e2/foa5f606-cfa3-493f-9496-ec0eb02ddb2a">April 9 letter</a> from the Southern Environmental Law Center to the Shelby County Health Department. Memphis is in Shelby County.&nbsp;
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SELC claims xAI is using a former Electrolux manufacturing site for its AI operations. It says the company installed and is operating 35 natural gas turbines—more than double the 15 turbines listed in its initial permit application.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Residents Alarmed by Scale of Unpermitted Emissions</h2>
The SELC said emissions data provided by the turbines' manufacturer show the facility is releasing between 1,200 and 2,100 tons of nitrogen oxides, annually.&nbsp;
These pollutants are known contributors to respiratory illnesses and smog. If confirmed, the site would be the largest industrial emitter of nitrogen oxides in Memphis, the SELC said. "We're profoundly overburdened with industrial pollution," the SELC added, highlighting concerns about the cumulative strain on the health of local residents.
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The turbines, which power xAI's high-capacity computing operation involving 100,000 Nvidia&nbsp; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H100 chips, have a combined output of approximately 422 megawatts—comparable to a full-scale <a href="https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/natural-gas/brownsville-combustion-turbine-plant#:~:text=Brownsville%20Combustion%20Turbine%20Plant%20sits,constructed%20in%201999%20by%20Enron.">Tennessee Valley Authority's Brownsville</a> gas power plant.&nbsp;
The group said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44725803/musks-xai-aims-for-1-million-gpus-in-memphis-but-can-the-citys-grid-handle-a-27b-ai-power-surge">xAI </a>has not disclosed when it intends to decommission the turbines and transition to permanent power from Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
The Memphis data center, referred to internally as "Colossus," began ramping up in 2024 after Musk founded xAI the previous year.&nbsp;
According to SELC, xAI may have violated the Clean Air Act and Shelby County's pre-construction permitting regulations, which require approval before building large-scale pollution sources.&nbsp;
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Amanda Garcia, an attorney for SELC, said in an email to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/10/elon-musks-xai-accused-polluting-air-in-memphis-selc-says-in-letter.html">CNBC</a> that the county has full authority to enforce these regulations and hold the company accountable.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners held a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikIsU34DsUs&amp;ab_channel=ShelbyCountyBoardofCommissioners">public hearing </a>on April 9 where residents raised concerns about the health impact of air pollution from the turbines. Community members, including KeShaun Pearson, director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, claimed longstanding issues with respiratory illnesses in Southwest Memphis.
Easter May Knox, who said she lives near the facility, described chronic breathing issues in her family. "When I open up that window, I smell everything but the right thing—and the right thing is the clean air," she said at the hearing.
Local officials and environmental groups also criticized the absence of Brent Mayo, a senior manager at xAI responsible for infrastructure development, after residents said they had invited him to attend the hearing.&nbsp;
SELC is urging the county's health department to issue an emergency stop order and impose daily penalties of $25,000 per violation until xAI complies with the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview">Clean Air Act</a> and air permitting regulations.&nbsp;
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'We're Profoundly Overburdened With Industrial Pollution,' Environmental Group SELC Says As Elon Musk's xAI Is Accused Of Breaking Clean Air Laws

At 58 years old, a <a href="https://youtu.be/kRWv8SlZpQg?si=PJaQYVjcMoLT05lD">caller to "The Ramsey Show"</a> said he's just plain tired. "I'm getting tired of working," he told Dave Ramsey, admitting he has "really nothing saved" for retirement. Despite pulling in $75,000 a year as a trim carpenter, his savings account has barely moved.
When asked why he hadn't put anything aside, he pointed straight to his past. "I was married to a spender, and at the age of 50, got divorced and walked away with zero dollars," he said.
Eight years later, he's still playing financial catch-up — and carrying debt that made Ramsey raise an eyebrow. The caller has $25,000 left on his mortgage and $20,000 on a motorcycle loan. "You almost owe as much on your motorcycle as you do on your house," Ramsey said. "That's weird."
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It was co-host Jade Warshaw who first said the motorcycle needed to go, but Ramsey didn't hesitate to back it up. "It's gone," he said, adding that the bike could become "somebody else's great bike now."
Ramsey also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43117114/it-wont-be-enough-financial-experts-warn-gen-x-about-key-retirement-pitfalls">addressed the caller's exhaustion head-on</a>. While the caller said he didn't feel stuck anymore after getting out of his marriage and paying down debt, Ramsey pointed out that the real issue might be a lack of progress toward a clear finish line. "Part of what's making you tired is you feel stuck," Ramsey said. "If my work is going toward a goal that I'm excited about, I'm not as tired. That's all I'm saying."
Still, Ramsey didn't see the situation as hopeless. Far from it. He mapped out a plan: if the caller buckled down, sold the motorcycle, slashed expenses, and stacked $2,000 a month into savings, he could build a serious retirement cushion.
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"If you saved $2,000 a month for 10 years, you'd have $240,000 plus growth. It'd be a half-million," Ramsey said. "You'd be 67 years old with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset">half-million dollars and a paid-for house</a>."
It turned out the caller wasn't starting from scratch: he already had $23,000 in cash, a paid-off truck, and a house worth more than he owed. Ramsey advised him to cancel a $100-per-month term life insurance policy and throw every extra dollar into retirement savings.
The bottom line, Ramsey said, wasn't about feelings — it was about math. "You can't art your way out of this one, you have to science your way out," he told him.
Work more now, stack cash, and by retirement, the Harley wouldn't be the only thing in the rearview mirror.
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58-Year-Old With No Retirement Says His Ex Left Him Broke And He's Sick of Working — Dave Ramsey Says He Can Build a $500K Nest Egg in 10 Years

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