Stocks Give Up Huge Gains as Volatility Persists Amid Uncertainty on Tariffs

Bitcoin Back Below $78,000, Chip Stocks Take a Hit

26 minutes ago

Bitcoin slipped in Tuesday trading, dropping from morning levels as investors continued to evaluate Trump administration trade policy. 

The leading cryptocurrency by market cap was recently changing hands around $77,200 near its low for the day and down from levels above $80,000 seen earlier today.

Several crypto-related stocks were trading lower in afternoon action. Strategy (MSTR), the bitcoin buyer and software company formerly known as MicroStrategy, was recently off nearly 5%. Crypto exchange Coinbase Global (COIN) was down about 2%. MARA Holdings (MARA), a bitcoin miner, slid more than 4%. 

Bitcoin has generally fallen this year, taking a hit lately as investors have been wary about risk assets amid uncertainty about tariffs, stubborn inflation and economic health.

–David Marino-Nachison

RPM Stock Drops on Weaker-Than-Expected Results

1 hr 22 min ago

Shares of RPM International (RPM) sank Tuesday as the specialty coatings and sealants company reported fiscal third-quarter results that came in weaker than analysts projected.

The maker of DayGlo and Rust-Oleum posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.35 on revenue that fell 3% year-over-year to $1.48 billion. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected $0.48 and $1.5 billion, respectively.

“The unfavorable weather conditions we discussed in early January continued and became more widespread as the third quarter progressed,” CEO Frank Sullivan said. “Unseasonably cold weather in the southern U.S. and wildfires in the west reduced demand in geographies that typically have more construction and outdoor project activity in winter months.”

For the fourth quarter, RPM sees flat sales and adjusted EBIT growth in a low-single-digit percentage range, both below expectations.

Shares fell more than 7% in recent trading, and have lost close to a fifth of their value since the start of the year, outpacing the declines of the S&P 500 over that stretch.

–Aaron Rennie

Worried About Retiring During a Slump? What Experts Say

2 hr 21 min ago

If you found yourself worrying about whether last week’s stock-market drop put your retirement plans at risk, you’re not alone. 

Millions of Americans turn 65 each year, after all. Knowing that, however, might not ease the pain—which likely lingers even after Monday’s trading offered a measure of respite from the dramatic pullbacks of Thursday and Friday. Investors are still seeking clarity about the Trump administration’s tariff plans and their effects on markets and global economies. 

Retirement experts urge caution—and a cool head—for those who see themselves a few years away from hanging up their working hats. They advise looking to reevaluate your retirement needs; shoring up savings and minding expenses; and taking time before making dramatic changes to your portfolio. 

“You never know how these things are going to end,” said Marcos Segrera, wealth manager and principal at the Florida-based financial advisory firm Evensky & Katz / Foldes. “Don’t make long-term [decisions] based off short-term information.”  

Investopedia asked several experts how to think about retirement planning in a volatile environment. Several suggested checking in with professional planners, who are often willing to consult with people on a one-time or hourly basis for a baseline assessment.

Read the full article here.

–Sarina Trangle

CVS Stock Pops on Medicare News, Outlook

3 hr 55 min ago

CVS Health (CVS) shares jumped Tuesday after the company improved its full-year outlook and named a new chief financial officer.

The stock was also getting a big boost from the announcement late Monday that the federal goverment will pay Medicare insurers, such as CVS’s Aetna, more than previously expected.’

The pharmacy and health insurance giant said it now expects to meet or exceed its adjusted earnings projection of $5.75 to $6 per share issued in February. Analysts expect $5.89 on average, according to Visible Alpha. 

Along with its improved forecast, CVS announced the appointment of a new CFO, with former UPS (UPS) CFO Brian Newman set to take over the role effective April 21. The company also named Amy Compton-Phillips, who most recently served as chief physician executive of Press Ganey, its chief medical officer, effective May 19. These shakeups follow a CEO change in October that saw CVS veteran David Joyner take the helm.

CVS shares were about 7% higher in recent trading. The company’s shares are up about 54% year-to-date, making it the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 since the start of the year, after a difficult 2024. 

–Andrew Kessel

Watch These Supermicro Levels as Stock Continues Surging

4 hr 44 min ago

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares jumped in early trading Tuesday, adding to an 11% surge yesterday, as investors bid up the server marker’s stock after a few days of big losses during the broader market’s tariff-fueled sell-off.

Sentiment surrounding the stock likely received a boost from J.P. Morgan analysts who recently pointed out that the company would only need to increase its global prices by 4%, based on the portion of its hardware that would be affected by tariffs.

After gapping lower in late October, Supermicro shares oscillated within an orderly ascending channel until breaking down below the pattern’s lower trendline toward the end of last month.

However, despite falling to its lowest level since early February last week, the stock completed a bullish engulfing pattern in Monday’s trading session, potentially forming a bear trap—a trading event that lures investors to sell upon a breach of major support before the price makes a sudden move higher.

What’s more, Monday’s buying coincided with the relative strength index (RSI) rallying from a reading of around 35, the same level the indicator bottomed at in early February before the stock roughly doubled over a two-week period.

Investors should watch major overhead areas on Supermicro’s chart around $48 and $63, while also monitoring vital support levels near $26 and $17.

The stock was up 6% at around $35 in recent trading.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

–Timothy Smith

Levi Strauss Says Tariff-Related Price Changes to be ‘Surgical’

5 hr 19 min ago

Shares of Levi Strauss (LEVI) jumped in early trading Tuesday before giving back those gains, a day after the denim giant reported better-than-expected first-quarter profit and gave a relatively upbeat outlook on the Trump administration’s new tariffs.

After the bell Monday, Levi’s reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.38, above the $0.28 consensus forecast of analysts polled by Visible Alpha. The company generated $1.53 billion in revenue, in line with estimates.

Its Dockers business now is classified as “discontinued operations,” as Levi’s made the decision during the first quarter to pursue a sale of the brand after launching a review in October.

Levi’s CFO Harmit Singh said on Monday’s earnings call that the company expects “minimal impact” from tariffs on its second-quarter profit margins, as much of its inventory has already been imported. Singh said the tariffs could be a “significant challenge” later this year, but he and CEO Michelle Gass said they are “fluid” and could change, according to a transcript from AlphaSense.

Gass said any pricing adjustments due to the tariffs will be “surgical.” The company imports products from 20 countries into the U.S., and Gass said Levi’s has created a “task force” to evaluate ways to minimize the potential impacts of tariffs.

In a note following the earnings, JPMorgan analysts upgraded Levi’s stock to “overweight” from “neutral,” while also trimming the stock’s price target to $17 from $19. The analysts cut their price target because they believe tariffs will likely hurt profits this year, but said Levi’s should be able to mitigate an estimated 75% of the cost because of changes to its business since tariffs played a role in the first Trump administration.

Levi shares were little changed in recent trading, after surging about 15% at the open. The stock has lost about 21% of its value so far this year.

–Aaron McDade

Humana Levels to Watch as Stock Surges on Medicare News

6 hr 32 min ago

Humana (HUM) shares jumped in premarket trading Tuesday after the federal government said it would pay Medicare insurers more next year than previously expected.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said payments for 2026 Medicare Advantage health plans run by private insurers will increase by 5.06% on average, more than the 2.83% the government initially proposed in January. The boosted rates will benefit health insurance giants such as Humana, which has grappled with rising medical expenses related to government-backed health plans.

Through Monday’s close, Humana shares had lost nearly 20% over the past 12 months, weighed down by increasing medical costs, downgraded Medicare offerings, and moderating membership signups. The stock rose 18% to $300 before the bell today.

Since hitting their 52-week low last October, Humana shares have traded within a symmetrical triangle, a chart pattern indicating a period of consolidation before the price breaks out.

The stock broke down below the pattern in Monday’s trading session before staging an impressive intraday reversal to close above its lower trendline, signaling a bullish shift in investor sentiment.

Investors should watch key overhead areas on Humana’s chart around $300, $336, and $383, while also monitoring an important support level near $213.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

–Timothy Smith

Futures Point to Sharply Higher Open for Major Indexes

7 hr 6 min ago

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 2.8%, indicating a gain of more than 1,000 points at the open.

S&P 500 futures were up 2.7%.

Nasdaq 100 futures gained 2.6%.