IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (47) near the Bid: 1892 vs 6743 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (47) near the Bid: 1892 @ $4.901 vs 6743 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.635

IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (36) near the Ask: 2290 vs 370 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (36) near the Ask: 2290 @ $5.25 vs 370 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.02

IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (23) near the midpoint: 1656 vs 370 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Dec, 2026 $10 Puts Sweep (23) near the midpoint: 1656 @ $5.25 vs 370 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.01

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts Sweep (33) near the Bid: 751 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts Sweep (33) near the Bid: 751 @ $8.551 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.5001

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts at the Ask: 1153 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts at the Ask: 1153 @ $8.64 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.4185

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts Sweep (17) near the Bid: 649 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts Sweep (17) near the Bid: 649 @ $8.5 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.55

IREN Option Alert: Jan 16 $12.5 Puts Sweep (29) near the Ask: 984 vs 81523 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Jan 16 $12.5 Puts Sweep (29) near the Ask: 984 @ $6.401 vs 81523 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.535

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts at the Ask: 1840 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Aug 15 $15 Puts at the Ask: 1840 @ $8.49 vs 17475 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.57

IREN Option Alert: Jan 16 $10 Puts Sweep (32) near the Bid: 2100 vs 28382 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] 

IREN Option Alert: Jan 16 $10 Puts Sweep (32) near the Bid: 2100 @ $4.25 vs 28382 OI; Earnings 5/14 After Close [est] Ref=$6.57

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IREN Ltd is engaged in data center business powering the future of Bitcoin, AI and beyond utilizing renewable energy.

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Elizabeth Warren urged Congress to take decisive action to avert an economic downturn. Taking to X on Tuesday, she emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to stabilize the economy.
What Happened: Warren highlighted the lingering effects of the 2008 financial crisis on families and communities. She stressed that Congress has the capability to prevent a similar situation from occurring.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">To this day, there are families and communities that still haven't recovered from the 2008 crash. Congress has the power to pull our economy back from the brink. We need a handful of Republicans to not bend a knee to Trump and instead stand up for the American people.
&mdash; Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) <a href="https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1909718808656310511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Warren called on a few Republican members to resist pressure from President Donald Trump and prioritize the welfare of the American people. Her comments come amid growing concerns about potential economic instability.
She wrote, &#8220;We need a handful of Republicans to not bend a knee to Trump and instead stand up for the American people.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44679339/howard-g-buffett-commits-1-billion-aid-to-ukraine-amidst-political-tensions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Son Vows $1 Billion In Aid To Ukraine Amid Shifting US-Ukraine Ties Under Trump: &#8216;There&#8217;s No Easy Way To End The War&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: At least a dozen House Republicans are considering backing Rep. Don Bacon&#8217;s (R-Neb.) bill to limit the president&#8217;s power to impose tariffs without congressional approval — a rare break from Trump, who has vowed to veto it. The bill would require congressional approval for tariffs to last beyond 40 days and has bipartisan support in both chambers, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/08/house-republicans-tariff-bill-trump-don-bacon">reported</a> Axios.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Warren has criticized Trump&#8217;s economic policies. Earlier, Warren publicly condemned Trump&#8217;s tariff strategy, which she claims has caused market turmoil and affected retirement accounts. In a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/04/44679410/elizabeth-warren-urges-gop-to-grow-a-spine-as-trumps-tariff-push-sends-markets-tumbling">previous statement</a>, she urged Republicans to prioritize the American public over allegiance to Trump, highlighting the immediate need for a resolution to halt the economic chaos.
After Trump&#8217;s Tariffs were announced, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44653029/trump-tariffs-trigger-wall-street-bloodbath-sp-500-notches-worst-weekly-drop-since-2020">stock market went into a meltdown</a>. The retaliatory tariffs were seen as severe and sent markets across the world into turmoil. Trillions of dollars worth of wealth evaporated in the aftermath of the announcement.
On Tuesday, major indexes extended their slide, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down 0.8% at 37,645.59 and the S&amp;P 500 falling nearly 1.6% to 4,982.77. The tech-heavy Nasdaq posted the sharpest drop, tumbling 2.1% to 15,267.91.
Image via Shutterstock
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Elizabeth Warren Says Congress Has 'Power To Pull Our Economy Back' From The Brink As Don Bacon Moves To Limit Trump's Tariff Power: 'Need A Handful Of Republicans Not To Bend A Knee'

Bitcoin took a sharp dive to $81,000 after hitting highs of $88,000 during President Donald Trump's latest tariff announcement. The market initially reacted positively to the news of a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, as it was lower than many had anticipated. However, just minutes later, Trump revealed additional higher tariffs on specific countries, causing markets—including Bitcoin—to reverse sharply.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Complete list of President Trump's new tariffs. <a href="https://t.co/fMPvYOKDoC">pic.twitter.com/fMPvYOKDoC</a>
&mdash; Dominic Michael Tripi (@DMichaelTripi) <a href="https://twitter.com/DMichaelTripi/status/1907533303017578791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs Shake Markets</h2>
Trump on Wednesday announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs, branding the move as "Liberation Day." The policy imposes a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S., but many nations will face significantly higher rates based on how they tax U.S. goods.
For instance:
<ul>
<li>China will face a 34% tariff under the new policy.</li>
<li>Vietnam (46%), Taiwan (32%), Switzerland (31%), and India (26%) will all see much higher import duties.</li>
<li>Some of the steepest tariffs are hitting Cambodia (49%), Bangladesh (37%), and South Africa (30%).</li>
</ul>
Trump justified the move as a way to erase America's trade deficit and protect U.S. manufacturers. However, economists warn that the policy could lead to inflation and a global trade war, as other nations are likely to retaliate with tariffs on American goods. Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi cautioned that extended tariffs could push both the U.S. and its trading partners into recessions.
Trending: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin's Reaction: From Relief to Sell-Off</h2>
When Trump first announced the 10% across-the-board tariff, markets breathed a sigh of relief, as many expected harsher measures. This initial reaction pushed Bitcoin to $88,000. However, as Trump unveiled additional tariffs with higher rates on major trade partners, concerns over inflation and economic uncertainty sent risk assets tumbling—dragging Bitcoin down to $81,000.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Potential Bitcoin Reversal</h2>
As discussed in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44626208/crypto-market-update-as-wall-street-sells-off-is-bitcoin-showing-strength-for-the-weeks-ahead">previous article</a>, Bitcoin has been showing relative strength compared to the stock market.&nbsp;
On Friday, Bitcoin closed in the green, while U.S. stock indices experienced one of their worst days since 2020.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="437" height="273" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141054/IMG_6865.png" alt="" class="wp-image-862530" style="width:595px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141054/IMG_6865.png 437w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141054/IMG_6865-300x187.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 437px) 100vw, 437px" /></figure>
<a href="https://www.tradingview.com/x/JcAZYCX2">https://www.tradingview.com/x/JcAZYCX2</a>
See Also: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
Screenshot Courtesy of TradingView User NoticeTrades (April 3)
As seen on the chart below, Bitcoin has held up relatively well despite the high volatility of the past two weeks.
The bull case on the chart for Bitcoin is that the &#8220;divergence&#8221; continues to hold, meaning Bitcoin does not make a lower low below $76,560.
Within the next few weeks, as volatility eases, it should become clear whether Bitcoin is poised for a new run back up toward key upside price levels.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="627" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141320/IMG_6866-1024x627.png" alt="" class="wp-image-862534" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141320/IMG_6866-1024x627.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141320/IMG_6866-300x184.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141320/IMG_6866-768x470.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/08141320/IMG_6866.png 1031w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Screenshot from Godel Terminal
It&#8217;s important to remember that just because a market shows strength doesn&#8217;t mean it will move higher.
If U.S. equities continue to decline, Bitcoin will likely follow that trend, though its percentage drop may be smaller compared to previous instances.
The key data points to monitor for a potential Bitcoin reversal to the upside include its relative strength compared to the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44632021/bitcoins-first-real-test-in-an-uncertain-economy-key-levels-to-watch-amid-tariff-pressures">technical price levels mentioned</a>—one being the major swing low of $76,560—and Bitcoin&#8217;s reaction if the overall markets experience a short-term bounce.
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<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

Bitcoin Falls to $81K After Trump's Tariffs—Is a Violent Reversal Coming?

Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, <a href="https://x.com/stoolpresidente/status/1907812997105373364">posted</a> a simple question on X&nbsp; last week that hit a nerve in the crypto world: &#8220;If the point of Bitcoin is to be independent of the U.S. Dollar and nonregulated, why does it basically trade exactly like the U.S. stock market nowadays?&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I have a dumb bitcoin/crypto question. If the point of Bitcoin is to be independent of the US Dollar and non regulated why does it basically trade exactly like the Us stock market nowadays? Market up bitcoin up. Market down bitcoin down.
&mdash; Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) <a href="https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1907812997105373364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.</li>
</ul>
That one line summed up what a lot of casual investors have been wondering, especially as Bitcoin and crypto stocks took a dive following President Donald Trump's new round of tariffs on Wednesday.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin Drops After Tariff News</h2>
Bitcoin had been hovering near $88,000 before Trump&#8217;s announcement. Not long after the tariff policy was unveiled, it slipped below $83,000. It wasn&#8217;t alone. Stocks tanked in after-hours trading, with tech-heavy ETFs like Invesco QQQ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) falling 4%.
Crypto-linked stocks also followed the same trend. MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) dropped 7%, Coinbase (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) fell 6%, and Robinhood (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) lost 9%.
So much for being &#8220;independent.&#8221;
Trending: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Does Bitcoin Move With Stocks?</h2>
Plenty of people chimed in to answer Portnoy's question. Some pointed to institutional involvement, others blamed emotions, and a few leaned on technical analysis.
&#8220;Bitcoin trades like a risk asset short term because it&#8217;s the most liquid, salable, 24/7 asset on Earth,&#8221; said MicroStrategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor. &#8220;In times of panic, traders sell what they can, not what they want to.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Bitcoin trades like a risk asset short term because it&#39;s the most liquid, salable, 24/7 asset on Earth. In times of panic, traders sell what they can, not what they want to. Doesn't mean it's correlated long-term—just means it's always available.
&mdash; Michael Saylor (@saylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/saylor/status/1907973435478732990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And then there&#8217;s plain logic. &#8220;If you needed to pay rent what are you selling first? Apple stock or your crypto bags?&#8221; one user wrote.
Another replied, &#8220;Boom. When you realize big money has already hijacked bitcoin and it's no different than the stock market anymore.&#8221;
Others got sarcastic: &#8220;Day 1 of the bear market: Portnoy discovers what correlation means.&#8221; And: &#8220;It used to be a currency before it was hijacked and turned into a collectible.&#8221; Prominent analyst Benjamin Cowen also piled on, saying, &#8220;How can you be your age and write something like that?&#8221;
Some users defended Bitcoin&#8217;s original intent. &#8220;Traders are the froth. Hodlers are the floor,&#8221; one said. Another added, &#8220;Bitcoin is the best-performing asset over the last 15 years.&#8221;
See Also: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs, Inflation, and Market Fear</h2>
This latest Bitcoin drop didn&#8217;t come out of nowhere. Wall Street was already reeling from inflation data and weak consumer sentiment. On Friday, a few days before &#8220;Liberation Day,&#8221; The Dow Jones Industrial Average <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44626208/crypto-market-update-as-wall-street-sells-off-is-bitcoin-showing-strength-for-the-weeks-ahead">fell over 700 points</a>, the S&amp;P 500 slid 2%, and the Nasdaq (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>) lost nearly 3%.
Then came Trump's tariff announcement, renewing trade war fears. The Atlanta Fed&#8217;s GDPNow <a href="https://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnow">forecast</a> now shows a 2.8% GDP decline for Q1, up from -3.7% on April 1.
While Bitcoin has shown some resilience compared to stocks, it's still moving in the same direction when fear hits.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Could Bitcoin Break Away?</h2>
Some still believe in one of Bitcoin's original promises: a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44628685/bitcoin-is-a-realistic-global-reserve-asset-experts-say">decentralized hedge against economic chaos</a>. But for now, most agree that Bitcoin is still a risk-on asset, and it trades like one.&nbsp;
As Portnoy pointed out, it looks more and more like <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44631522/bitcoin-as-trump-tariff-safe-haven-not-yet-but-might-decouple-over-time-expert-says">just another part of the system</a> it was meant to replace—&#8221;Market up, bitcoin up. Market down, bitcoin down.&#8221; Or, as Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, <a href="https://x.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1907928295104196974">said</a>, &#8220;BTC price movements are related to sentiment. Risk on, up. Risk off, down.&#8221;
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<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
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NDAQ

Dave Portnoy Says What Many Are Thinking, 'If Bitcoin's Supposed To Be Independent of Dollar, Why Does It Trade Just Like The Stock Market?'

Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. - Common Stock

TPST

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

QNRX

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44380108/trust-me-im-reading-what-hes-doing-every-day-nba-legend-shaq-with-a-500-million-net-worth-swears-by-warren-buffetts-investing-wisdom">Shaquille O'Neal</a> might have a net worth floating around half a billion dollars, but even he'll tell you — money smarts weren't always part of the game plan. In fact, it took one simple piece of advice, delivered courtside and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44634785/magic-johnson-is-worth-billions-but-he-says-you-cant-get-there-thinking-only-about-yourself">straight from Magic Johnson</a>, to flip the script.
"When I first got to L.A., [Johnson] said, ‘Shaq, it's okay to be famous and all that, but at some point, you want to start owning things,'" O'Neal told Daymond John of "Shark Tank" during the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/z5ZjtU70Oms?si=YLaMqmxBx7AmalRK">2020 Black Entrepreneurs Day event</a>.
That wasn't just locker room wisdom — it was a turning point.&nbsp;
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Shaq, who famously torched his first million-dollar check on flashy cars and jewelry, admits he didn't know the first thing about taxes, saving, or investing when he was drafted. Even after signing a $40 million deal with the Orlando Magic, the financial lightbulb hadn't gone off. That came later — with Magic.
And let's talk about that Magic.
In 2023, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/magic-johnson/">Forbes officially named Johnson a billionaire</a>, making him just the fourth athlete in history to earn the title, alongside Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James. But Johnson didn't get there by clinging to basketball contracts. He made his name in the business world — buying into Starbucks before most athletes were thinking about branding, and later owning major stakes in the Dodgers, Sparks, Los Angeles FC, and the Washington Commanders.
Shaq saw all that in real time. The glitz of NBA stardom was great — but what Johnson had? That was different. That was long-term.
Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
So <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44171160/nba-legend-shaq-says-krispy-kreme-is-his-favorite-franchise-investment-and-his-reason-is-incredibly-simple-cause-i-like-doughnuts">Shaq got to work</a>. After retiring in 2011, he didn't just license his name — he built an empire. Today, he's got stakes in everything from Papa John's to car washes to fitness centers, and he claims to earn more annually in retirement than he ever did as a player. He even went back to school, picking up an MBA and later a doctorate in education, all while absorbing lessons from real business owners, TV investors, and yes, still watching "Shark Tank" for good measure.
"I'm still learning now," Shaq told John. "I watch ‘Shark Tank' and I learn from you guys. I love to ask questions."
For anyone who still thinks being an athlete and being an entrepreneur live in separate arenas, Magic and Shaq have been proving them wrong for decades. One gave the advice. The other turned it into action.
Being famous pays. But owning things? That's what builds empires.
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Shaq Says Billionaire Magic Johnson Gave Him the 'Best' Money Advice — Being Famous Is Cool, 'But at Some Point, You Want to Start Owning Things'

BofA Securities analysts Bryan D. Spillane, Lisa K. Lewandowski and Peter T. Galbo have put forward on Tuesday their research findings on consumer staple companies in the face of a potential recession.
The analysts said consumer staples have historically outperformed the S&amp;P 500 in most recent recessions, suggesting a defensive edge.
However, the analysts warned that current conditions, such as lingering high prices and weak volume growth, may limit their resilience in a future downturn.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44695622/amazon-touts-ai-milestone-says-new-model-outshines-gpt-4o-in-real-time-speech" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Touts AI Milestone, Says New Model Outshines GPT-4o In Real-Time Speech</a>
Still, their limited exposure to new tariffs could make the sector more appealing than others, potentially helping sustain valuation multiples.
During recessions, the Consumer Staples sector stock prices are primarily influenced by earnings per share (EPS) rather than sales growth.
Analysis shows that forward EPS estimates account for over 90% of stock price movement across key subsectors like Beverages, Household &amp; Personal Care (HPC), Packaged Food, and Tobacco, with the correlation being the tightest Beverages and HPC.
The analysts noted that this highlights the critical importance of earnings strength when evaluating stock performance in uncertain economic conditions.
A review of six past recessions reveals that certain Consumer Staples stocks consistently outperformed the S&amp;P 500.
Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPB#NYSE">CPB</a>), Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>), General Mills Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>), McCormick &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKC#NYSE">MKC</a>), PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>), and Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRL#NYSE">HRL</a>) each posted a 100% success rate in outperforming the index during those downturns.
In the last four recessions with the most comprehensive data, McCormick, General Mills, and Church &amp; Dwight Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHD#NYSE">CHD</a>) delivered the strongest relative performance.
Top-performing Consumer Staples stocks in a potential downturn will likely share three traits: profit flexibility to offset revenue pressure and rising costs, strong U.S. manufacturing presence to limit tariff-related inflation, and solid balance sheets capable of sustaining share buybacks to boost earnings per share.
Analysts see McCormick, Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>) as well-defended, with Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KDP#NASDAQ">KDP</a>), Molson Coors Beverage Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>) and Altria Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) in the next tier of potential outperformers.
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Analyst Color

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This Beverage Maker, Tobacco Company And Packaged Food Giant Outshine In A Recession

President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariff announcements led to a sell-off in the stock market and prompted investors to move to safer assets such as Treasury bonds. The 10-year Treasury yield declined and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped from 6.75% to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44695176/president-trump-is-fixing-america-grant-cardone-says-wants-you-to-invest-in-real-estate-invest-in-america"> 6.55% last week. </a>
Mortgage Rates: Despite the initial drop, mortgage rates rebounded as Treasury yields ticked back up. On Monday, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged to 6.82%, marking the largest single-day increase of the year.&nbsp;
The current rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage sits at 6.85%, <a href="https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-04082025">according</a> to Mortgage News Daily.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44695907/elon-musk-calls-trump-trade-advisor-peter-navarro-dumber-than-sack-of-bricks-defends-tesla-as-the-most-american-made-cars">Elon Musk Calls Trump Trade Advisor Peter Navarro &#8216;Dumber Than Sack Of Bricks,&#8217; Defends Tesla As &#8216;Most American-Made Cars&#8217;&nbsp;</a>
Home Sales: Pending home sales ticked higher in early April with 72,000 newly pending single-family home sales and 15,000 condo transactions last week — the highest weekly volume since late April 2024, <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics">according</a> to the National Association of Realtors. 
"Despite the modest monthly increase, contract signings remain well below normal historical levels," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist.&nbsp;
"A meaningful decline in mortgage rates would help both demand and supply — demand by boosting affordability and supply by lessening the power of the mortgage rate lock-in effect."
Buyer Demand: Recent mortgage rate stability encouraged buyers, with purchase applications reaching their highest growth rate since late 2023 in early April. However, Trump's new tariff policies and China's retaliation have reintroduced uncertainty and volatility to the stock market and mortgage rates. 
"The spring housing season is beginning with more sellers and a growing number of homes for sale," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.
"But the high cost of buying coupled with growing economic concerns suggest a sluggish response from buyers in early spring," Hale added.&nbsp;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Inventory and Pricing Trends</h1>
<ul>
<li>Inventory Growth: Unsold inventory now stands at 691,000 single-family homes, 34.75% above 2024 levels, though Northeastern markets remain tight, <a href="https://blog.altosresearch.com/weekly-pending-home-sales-are-finally-above-last-year">according</a> to Altos Research.</li>
<li>Price Pressures: Median pending sale prices reached $397,500, just 0.25% higher than 2024. Eight states — including Texas, Florida, and Arizona — show slight year-over-year declines, signaling localized cooling.</li>
<li>Price Reductions: The number of homes on the market with price reductions ticked up in the first week of April to 34.3%. </li>
</ul>
Real Estate ETF: Investors can find alternative exposure to the real estate market through the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>), which tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index, measuring the performance of U.S. equity REITs, specialized REITs and real estate management/development companies. 
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</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

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Tariff Turmoil Sends Mortgage Rates Higher, 'Contract Signings Remain Well Below Normal Historical Levels'

Scotiabank analyst Konark Gupta maintains Waste Management (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $255 to $260.

Price Target

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Waste Management, Raises Price Target to $260

Scotiabank analyst Konark Gupta maintains Secure Waste Infr (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SES#TSX">SES</a>) with a Sector Outperform and lowers the price target from C$22 to C$19.5.

TSX:SES

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Secure Waste Infr, Lowers Price Target to C$19.5

Scotiabank analyst Konark Gupta maintains Republic Servs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSG#NYSE">RSG</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $233 to $250.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Republic Servs, Raises Price Target to $250

Scotiabank analyst Konark Gupta maintains GFL Environmental (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFL#NYSE">GFL</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $52 to $54.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on GFL Environmental, Raises Price Target to $54

Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintains Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $48 to $48.5.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Verizon Communications, Raises Price Target to $48.5

Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintains AT&amp;T (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $28.5 to $29.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on AT&T, Raises Price Target to $29

Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi maintains Comcast (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $44.5 to $45.

CMCSA

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Comcast, Raises Price Target to $45

Scotiabank analyst Eric Winmill maintains New Gold (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NGD#AMEX">NGD</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $4 to $4.25.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on New Gold, Raises Price Target to $4.25

Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read maintains Shell (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $87 to $83.

SHEL

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Shell, Lowers Price Target to $83

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown maintains Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $93 to $87.

SCHW

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Charles Schwab, Lowers Price Target to $87

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown maintains Stifel Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SF#NYSE">SF</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $135 to $106.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Stifel Financial, Lowers Price Target to $106

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Brown maintains Raymond James Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RJF#NYSE">RJF</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $176 to $143.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Raymond James Finl, Lowers Price Target to $143

Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Iris Energy Limited - IREN

Press Releases

IREN to Release Q2 FY25 Results on February 12, 2025

IREN January 2025 Monthly Update

Earnings

IREN Reports Q2 FY25 Results

IREN February 2025 Monthly Update

Contracts

IREN Secures 2.75GW for Data Centers in West Texas with New 600MW Grid Connection Agreement

IREN Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements

IREN Business Update

IREN March 2025 Monthly Update

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Amplitude

Bitdeer Technologies Group - Ordinary Shares

Bitdeer Technologies

Sprinklr

DoubleVerify Holdings

Enfusion

EverCommerce

Exodus Movement, Inc. Class A Common Stock

Exodus Movement

Five9

Jamf Holding

Karooooo

MeridianLink

NextNav

Opera Limited - American Depositary Shares

Opera

PagerDuty

D-Wave Quantum

Quantum Computing

LiveRamp Holdings

SEMrush Holdings, Inc. Class A Common Stock

SEMrush Hldgs

Sprout Social, Inc - Class A Common Stock

Sprout Social

Tuya Inc. American Depositary Shares, each representing one Class A Ordinary Share

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:58 PMApr 01, 2025	PUT	$10.00	Dec 18, 2026	617	2191	1892	32	6743	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:52 PMMar 28, 2025	PUT	$10.00	Dec 18, 2026	617	4290	2290	1159	370	SWEEP	BEARISH
02:36 PMMar 28, 2025	PUT	$10.00	Dec 18, 2026	617	1656	1656	448	370	SWEEP	NEUTRAL
03:14 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$15.00	Aug 15, 2025	127	4751	751	27	17475	SWEEP	BULLISH
01:35 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$15.00	Aug 15, 2025	127	4000	1153	23	17475	TRADE	BEARISH
12:42 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$15.00	Aug 15, 2025	127	2451	649	14	17475	SWEEP	BULLISH
12:37 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$12.50	Jan 16, 2026	281	2984	984	4	81523	SWEEP	BEARISH
12:18 PMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$15.00	Aug 15, 2025	127	2000	1840	11	17475	TRADE	BEARISH
11:50 AMMar 27, 2025	PUT	$10.00	Jan 16, 2026	281	2101	2100	7	28382	SWEEP	BULLISH

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