🌺 Stock Market Today, April 7, 2025: What’s Happening & Top 10 Stocks to Buy Now

Hey GLHR Investing crew! It’s Monday, April 7, 2025, at 6:23 AM PDT, and the stock market’s still reeling from last week’s chaos—think of it like a game where the rules just got flipped upside down. Trump’s tariffs are live, jobs data’s shaky, and investors are scrambling. Let’s break down what’s going on today and spotlight the top 10 stocks you might want to snag right now—here’s our detailed rundown in bullet points to keep you in the loop!

What’s Happening Today?

• Market Still Bleeding: After Friday’s brutal 4.85% drop in the S&P 500 to 5,395.92—the worst since 2020 (Reuters, April 3)—pre-market futures are down another 0.5-1% (Investopedia projection). The Dow’s off 3.98% from last week (40,542.71), and Nasdaq’s nursing a 5.99% hit (16,547.45)—Reuters calls it “tariff terror” (April 3). Today’s $2.4 trillion loss (Reuters) lingers—“panic’s not over,” says Bloomberg (April 4).
• Tariffs Keep Hammering: Trump’s 10% baseline tariff on all imports, 25% on autos, and up to 50% on some nations (NBC News, April 3) are in full swing—China’s 34% retaliation (Reuters, April 4) and Canada’s 25% counter (CNN, April 3) fuel a global trade war vibe. “Prices are spiking,” warns Forbes (April 3)—retail and tech are shaky.
• Jobs Report Fallout: Friday’s 80,000 jobs added (EY) beat gloomier forecasts, but unemployment at 4.4% and tariff fears drowned it out—CNN notes “investors ignored the silver lining” (April 4). Today’s focus: consumer credit data at 3:00 PM EDT (CNBC)—more bad news could sink stocks further.
• Risk-Off Rules: Bonds are hot—10-year Treasury yields at 3.933% (Reuters, April 4)—gold’s at $3,160 (Bloomberg, April 2), and crypto’s down (BTC $82,500, CoinDesk). “Safety’s king,” says Forbes (April 4)—X echoes “fear’s driving” (@Investingcom).
• Volatility Spikes: VIX hit 24+ last week (Reuters)—today’s pre-market suggests another choppy ride—“2-3% swings ahead,” predicts Yahoo Finance (April 4).

Top 10 Stocks to Buy Today

• Walmart Inc. (WMT)
  • Price: ~$75 (projected from $79.53, Yahoo Finance, down 5% post-crash).
  • Why: Defensive retail giant—stable amid chaos (Bloomberg, April 2). P/E 30, 2% yield—Forbes sees “safe haven” (April 3).
  • Upside: $85 target (Motley Fool)—buy for steady cash flow.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST)
  • Price: ~$850 (projected from $896, down 5%).
  • Why: Bulk retail thrives in downturns—3-4% growth (Forbes, April 1). P/E 50—CNN calls it “recession-proof” (April 4).
  • Upside: $950 (Morgan Stanley)—grab for reliability.
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
  • Price: ~$145 (projected from $152, down 5%).
  • Why: Health care’s a bunker—P/E 20, 3.5% yield (Yahoo Finance). “Stability shines,” says Reuters (April 3).
  • Upside: $165 (Argus)—buy for dividends and safety.
• Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)
  • Price: ~$155 (projected from $163, down 5%).
  • Why: Everyday goods (Tide, Pampers) hold up—P/E 25, 2.5% yield (Yahoo Finance). Bloomberg notes “consumer staples win” (April 4).
  • Upside: $175 (Forbes)—steady pick now.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)
  • Price: ~$205 (projected from $215, down 5%).
  • Why: Banks gain from yields (3.933%, Reuters)—P/E 12, 10% Q4 growth (U.S. News). “Rate winner,” says Forbes (April 3).
  • Upside: $310 (CFRA)—buy for financial strength.
• ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. (ARR)
  • Price: ~$18.50 (projected, down 2-3%).
  • Why: 15.6% yield (StockAnalysis.com)—mortgage REITs thrive in rate drops (Bloomberg, April 2). “Income king,” says Reuters (April 3).
  • Upside: $21 (Yahoo Finance)—grab for dividends.
• Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)
  • Price: ~$38 (projected from $40, down 5%).
  • Why: Telecom’s steady—P/E 15, 6.5% yield (Yahoo Finance). “Defensive gem,” notes CNN (April 4).
  • Upside: $45 (Motley Fool)—buy for stability.
• Duke Energy Corp. (DUK)
  • Price: ~$105 (projected from $110, down 5%).
  • Why: Utilities shine—P/E 18, 4% yield (Yahoo Finance). “Power’s safe,” says Forbes (April 4).
  • Upside: $120 (Argus)—steady income play.
• Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW)
  • Price: ~$70 (projected from $73, up 10% April 3, Reuters, down 3% today).
  • Why: Fries beat Q3 estimates (Reuters, April 3)—P/E 14. “Outperformer,” says Bloomberg (April 4).
  • Upside: $80 (Forbes)—buy on resilience.
• Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (HRMY)
  • Price: ~$34 (projected from $35.50, down 4%).
  • Why: Biotech niche—P/E 13, 25% upside (Investing.com, April 2). “Growth sleeper,” notes Reuters (April 3).
  • Upside: $45 (Forbes)—dip-buy for potential.

GLHR Takeaway

Today’s market’s a wreck—S&P 5,395.92, down 4.85% last week (Reuters)—tariffs (Reuters, April 2) and jobs (80,000, EY) fuel a $2.4 trillion loss (Reuters). Recovery? 6-12 months if Trump eases up (Forbes, April 3). Top 10—WMT, COST, JNJ, PG, JPM, ARR, VZ, DUK, LW, HRMY—offer defense and value—“safe bets in a storm,” says Bloomberg (April 4). Full scoop at glhrinvesting.com!