📊 Stock Market Today: Top 10 Stocks Up and Down Due to Trump’s Tariffs

At GLHR Investing, we’re decoding the stock market’s reaction to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which have reshaped global trade in 2025. As of May 6, 2025, the S&P 500 (SPY) sits at $513.88, down 2.4% from its previous close, reflecting ongoing volatility from Trump’s tariffs—paused for 90 days on April 8 but with new probes looming. With inflation at 3% and consumer sentiment at a 12-year low, some stocks are thriving while others struggle under tariff pressures. Here are the top 10 stocks rising and falling due to Trump’s tariffs, why they’re moving, and what investors need to know.

Stock Market Overview (May 6, 2025):
- S&P 500 (SPY): Closed at $513.88, down 2.4% from $526.41, with a 15.6% YTD decline since Trump’s January 20 inauguration, per real-time data. April’s 4.3% drop and a 9.5% rally on April 9 highlight tariff-driven swings.
- Economic Context: Trump’s tariffs (10% baseline, 25% on Canada/Mexico, 54% on China, paused except for China’s 125%) have fueled a $5 trillion global equity sell-off, with China’s 84% retaliation and rare earth bans hitting supply chains. Inflation expectations are 6.7%, and J.P. Morgan cites a 60% recession risk.
- Market Sentiment: The VIX hit 40.86 in April, signaling high fear, though it eased slightly. X posts describe markets as a “financial forest fire,” with tech and retail under pressure, while gold and utilities gain.
- Tariff Impact: Domestic-focused firms (e.g., steel, utilities) benefit from tariff-driven reshoring, while import-heavy sectors (tech, retail) face cost hikes, per web data.
Top 10 Stocks Rising Due to Trump’s Tariffs:
- Nucor Corporation (NUE):
  - Price: ~$160, up 10% YTD, +5% in April 2025.
  - Why Rising: As a leading U.S. steel producer, Nucor benefits from 25% tariffs on steel imports, boosting domestic pricing. Q4 2024 revenue rose 8%, with mini-mill efficiency.
  - Investor Angle: Analysts target $180, with tariffs shielding margins. A defensive pick amid volatility.
- United States Steel Corporation (X):
  - Price: ~$40, up 12% YTD, +6% in April.
  - Why Rising: Tariffs enhance U.S. Steel’s competitiveness, with Q4 2024 production up 5%. Potential Nippon Steel deal (under review) adds upside.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $45, but deal uncertainty poses risks. Strong reshoring play.
- Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD):
  - Price: ~$130, up 9% YTD, +4% in April.
  - Why Rising: Domestic steel demand rises with tariffs, supporting 7% Q4 revenue growth. Infrastructure spending ($1 trillion Act) fuels orders.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $150, with stable cash flows. Ideal for tariff-driven growth.
- Alcoa Corporation (AA):
  - Price: ~$35, up 8% YTD, +3% in April.
  - Why Rising: Aluminum tariffs (25%) boost Alcoa’s pricing power. Q4 2024 saw 6% production gains, with aerospace demand strong.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $40, but global aluminum prices may cap upside.
- Walmart Inc. (WMT):
  - Price: ~$80, up 15% YTD, +2% in April.
  - Why Rising: Domestic sourcing (50% of goods) mitigates tariff costs, unlike competitors. Q4 2024 revenue grew 5%, with consumer trade-down boosting sales.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $85, a safe retail haven. Stable amid spending dips (retail down 13%).
- Vistra Corp. (VST):
  - Price: ~$140, up 261.3% from April 2024, +1% in April 2025.
  - Why Rising: Utilities are tariff-immune, with Vistra’s data center demand driving 15% Q4 revenue growth. Stable dividends (2.1% yield) attract investors.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $160, overvalued but defensive. Top performer for stability.
- DRDGold Limited (DRD):
  - Price: ~$12, up 78.7% from April 2024, +3% in April.
  - Why Rising: Gold’s safe-haven status (up 3% to $3,300/ounce) benefits DRDGold, with 5% Q4 production growth. Tariffs fuel economic uncertainty, driving gold demand.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $15, ideal inflation hedge.
- McDonald’s Corporation (MCD):
  - Price: ~$300, up 10% YTD, +2% in April.
  - Why Rising: Consumers trade down to fast food amid tariff-driven price hikes, boosting Q4 2024 same-store sales 4%. Domestic focus reduces import costs.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $320, a defensive consumer staple.
- AT&T Inc. (T):
  - Price: ~$28, up 70.1% from April 2024, +1% in April.
  - Why Rising: Telecom’s essential services and domestic operations dodge tariffs. Q1 2025 saw 7% subscriber growth, with 4% dividend yield.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $30, a stable income play.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT):
  - Price: ~$500, up 12% YTD, +2% in April.
  - Why Rising: Defense spending rises with tariff-driven geopolitical tensions. Q4 2024 revenue grew 6%, with F-35 orders strong.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $550, a tariff-immune growth stock.
Top 10 Stocks Falling Due to Trump’s Tariffs:
- Apple Inc. (AAPL):
  - Price: ~$202, down 8% YTD, -9% in April.
  - Why Falling: 90% of iPhones are manufactured in China, facing 125% tariffs. April 16’s semiconductor probe added pressure, with a $293 billion market cap loss.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $230, but tariff costs may raise iPhone prices $350, hurting demand.
- NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA):
  - Price: ~$130, down 12% YTD, -6.87% on April 16.
  - Why Falling: Chip export restrictions to China (April 16) cost $5.5 billion, with tariffs raising GPU costs. SPLRCT fell 4.3%.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $150, but supply chain risks persist.
- Tesla, Inc. (TSLA):
  - Price: ~$200, down 44% YTD, -5% in April.
  - Why Falling: Tariffs on Chinese batteries and Mexican plants raise costs. Q4 2024 saw margin pressure, worsened by Musk’s administration ties.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $220, high risk due to volatility.
- Nike, Inc. (NKE):
  - Price: ~$70, down 15% YTD, -7% in April.
  - Why Falling: 80% of apparel is imported from China/Vietnam, facing high tariffs. Q4 2024 sales dipped 3% as costs rose.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $80, but consumer spending cuts (13%) add pressure.
- Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN):
  - Price: ~$190, down 10% YTD, -5% in April.
  - Why Falling: Tariff costs hit third-party sellers, with CEO Andy Jassy noting price pass-throughs. Q4 2024 saw slower retail growth.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $210, but margin risks remain.
- Target Corporation (TGT):
  - Price: ~$120, down 12% YTD, -6% in April.
  - Why Falling: Heavy reliance on imported goods faces tariff hikes, with Q4 2024 margins down 2%. Consumer caution hurts sales.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $130, but discretionary spending weakness is a drag.
- Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU):
  - Price: ~$250, down 18% YTD, -11% in April.
  - Why Falling: Imports from Asia face high tariffs, squeezing margins. Q4 2024 sales growth slowed to 5%.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $270, but high valuation adds risk.
- Shopify Inc. (SHOP):
  - Price: ~$60, down 14% YTD, -9% in April.
  - Why Falling: Canadian operations face 25% tariffs, impacting merchant costs. Q4 2024 growth slowed as tariffs hit e-commerce.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $70, but cross-border risks persist.
- Capri Holdings Limited (CPRI):
  - Price: ~$30, down 20% YTD, -24.9% in April.
  - Why Falling: Luxury brands (Versace, Michael Kors) rely on Chinese imports, crushed by tariffs. Q4 2024 sales fell 10%.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $35, but discretionary spending cuts hurt.
- Tapestry, Inc. (TPR):
  - Price: ~$40, down 15% YTD, -15.6% in April.
  - Why Falling: Coach and Kate Spade imports face tariff costs, with Q4 2024 margins down 3%. Consumer pullbacks exacerbate losses.
  - Investor Angle: Targets $45, but luxury retail faces headwinds.
Investor Considerations:
- Rising Stocks:
  - Why They’re Up: Domestic-focused firms (Nucor, Walmart) and tariff-immune sectors (utilities, gold) benefit from reshoring and safe-haven demand. Steel and aluminum tariffs (25%) boost pricing power, while infrastructure spending supports growth.
  - Opportunities: Buy Nucor, DRDGold, or AT&T on dips for stability. Vistra and Lockheed offer long-term growth in defensive sectors.
  - Risks: Overvaluation (Vistra at 165% above fair value) and potential tariff rollbacks could cap gains. Steel prices fell 10% recently, signaling volatility.
- Falling Stocks:
  - Why They’re Down: Import-heavy firms (Apple, Nike) face 54–125% tariffs on Chinese goods, raising costs and squeezing margins. Consumer spending (down 13%) and 6.7% inflation expectations hurt discretionary retail (Lululemon, Capri).
  - Opportunities: Buy Apple or NVIDIA on deep dips (near $190 or $120) if trade talks progress, but timing is critical.
  - Risks: Ongoing tariff probes (semiconductors, minerals) and China’s retaliation could drive further 5–10% drops. A 60% recession risk threatens demand.
- Strategy:
  - Allocate 5–10% to safe havens (gold, utilities) to hedge volatility. Favor domestic plays (Walmart, Nucor) over import-reliant stocks (Nike, Amazon).
  - Monitor Q1 earnings (ending May 10), trade talks, and the Fed’s May 6–7 meeting for signals. A trade deal could lift SPY 3–5%, benefiting falling stocks.
Why It Matters: Trump’s tariffs have created a divided stock market, with domestic manufacturing and defensive sectors like steel (Nucor, up 10%) and utilities (Vistra, up 261.3%) thriving, while tech (Apple, down 9%) and retail (Capri, down 24.9%) reel from import costs. As SPY hovers at $513.88, investors must balance tariff-driven opportunities with recession risks. At GLHR Investing, we’re here to guide you through this volatile landscape to build wealth strategically.