Today the market hiccupped—call it a sneeze, really. Not a crash, not a correction, just a reminder that yes, stocks can go down. For bargain hunters like myself, it was a delightful little moment of chaos. I fired up my watchlist, popped some popcorn (mentally), and leaned back to see if anything worth grabbing rolled by on sale.
Now let me say upfront: I don’t disagree with the President’s logic on tariffs. Raise revenue without raising income taxes? Genius. Increase demand for American manufacturing? Good luck—but again, I get it. These aren’t easy moves to pull off in a global economy where “Made in America” costs more than your neighbor's BMW lease.
A Little Rant on Fairness
The President keeps saying we’re getting ripped off. I don’t think he’s wrong—at least not based on the way he tells it. “They charge more than we do!” he yells, probably at a teleprompter that gave up halfway through his sentence.
But let’s think about it: tariffs aren’t charged to China or India or Malaysia directly. As far as I understand, they’re charged to us—to the importers. We pay to bring in their stuff, then pass the cost along to the end consumer. It’s like blaming the pizza guy for your cholesterol.
With the dollar strong, maybe that smooths things out. But my brain keeps going back to the Gold Standard. What does an ounce of gold cost in rupees or yuan? If we’re talking fairness, shouldn’t we look at that? Europe is the oddball here—the Euro is worth more, which probably explains the smugness.
🏗️ Government Efficiency? Stranger Things Have Happened
Don’t forget, this wasn’t a sneak attack. Trump ran on this. He gave long, often painful speeches about it. These were the “Explain It to the Kid in the Back Who Ate Glue” level talks. Still, the message was clear: stop wasting money, start making it, and build stuff here.
He even created a Department of Government Efficiency, which I assume is just one guy with a giant red pen locked in a room screaming at spreadsheets. Still, I support the idea. Cut spending, raise revenue, make jobs. Boom. Common sense—something we don’t see too often in politics.
📉 My Market Moves Today
While the market shook, I didn’t. I just watched. Deals were out there, and I nibbled. Nothing dramatic. I dollar-cost averaged into PFFV, scooped up some high-yield ETFs, and look a tasty little flip on Walmart. In and out by lunch—like a ninja in a dividend dojo.
Order Qty Symbol Order Term Price Price ExecutedBuy 2 AMZN Limit Day 181.21 181.169
Buy 4 FCT Limit Day 9.94 9.935
Buy 2 AVGO Limit Day 159.2 159.2
Buy 2 AMZN Limit Day 181.93 —
Buy 7 PFFV Limit Day 23.19 23.185
Buy 1 AXP Limit Day 251.95 251.95
Sell 5 WMT Limit Day 89 89.021
Sell 1 JNJ Limit Day 160.07 160.07
Sell 1 PG Limit Day 173.22 173.235
EH Buy 1 CVX Limit Day 159.92 159.92
Buy 5 BKLN Limit Day 20.63 20.61
EH Buy 3 RYLD Limit Day 14.83 14.8297
EH Buy 5 WMT Limit Day 85.2 85.196
📰 Feedback on MarketWatch’s Article
MarketWatch ran a piece titled “Should you sell these 5 tech stocks heavily exposed to tariffs?” and honestly, it’s a solid question. Tech stocks with supply chains running through high-tariff countries will feel the squeeze like a wallet after payday.
Companies like Apple, Dell, and HPE might have to raise prices or eat margin hits. Apple, of course, has three magic tricks: raise prices (because we’ll still pay), take the hit, or move production elsewhere. And let’s face it, if Apple started making iPhones in the Mariana Trench, we’d still line up for them.
The article hits an important point: for long-term investors, this isn’t doomsday. It’s noise. You either believe in the company or you don’t. If you're nervous, maybe you're overexposed. If you’re confident, this dip is dessert.
📦 Final Thoughts: Tariffs, Trades, and Timing
I still believe in buying quality on red days, collecting yield while the headlines scream. Tariffs may distort the map for a while, but good companies will reroute. For me, it’s not about guessing where the market goes tomorrow—it's about knowing why I’m here today.
Let the tariffs fly. Let the knee-jerk selling happen. I’ll be here, calculator in one hand, buy button in the other, and maybe a cookie nearby—because stress-eating counts as a strategy.
As always: Don’t panic. Position.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. You should conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The views expressed are my own and may not reflect the opinions of any organization I am affiliated with. I may hold positions in the securities discussed.
