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‘I find it impossible to catch my bearings’: Yahoo Finance community reacts to Trump tariff stock market plunge

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‘I find it impossible to catch my bearings’: Yahoo Finance community reacts to Trump tariff stock market plunge

Shocked investors are searching for a light at the end of the tunnel after being hit by Trump tariffs.

Indeed a glimmer of any kind is hard to find at the moment.

Markets have shed an astounding $5.4 trillion in value in the two days since President Trump revealed big-time tariffs on major countries last Wednesday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is now at its lowest level in 11 months, with pros saying the carnage may not yet be over.

Futures on the S&P 500 (ES=F), Nadaq 100 (NQ=F), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) are down 2.8%, 3%, and 2.5%, respectively.

Wall Street has been slashing its S&P 500 price targets for 2025, dialing up recession odds, and pontificating worst-case scenarios for the bottom lines of household name companies, from Apple (AAPL) to Amazon (AMZN) to Walmart (WMT).

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“What I’ve been saying in my meetings lately, even before the Rose Garden [ceremony last week on tariffs], is that it’s not clear to me where [for sectors and industries] new value has been unlocked,” RBC Capital Markets strategist Lori Calvasina told Yahoo Finance. “If you are looking at individual stocks that have any of these [tariff] issues, I suspect it’s very hard to make assumptions about earnings that you can have confidence in.”

Read more: The latest news and updates on Trump’s tariffs

So with this as a backdrop, I put a straightforward question to the Yahoo Finance retail investor community in my Sunday Morning Brief newsletter: What stocks are you buying amid one of the biggest routs in recent memory, if any?

“You’re right, it’s messy right now and difficult to decide what to do,” one investor remarked.

Below are several of the best responses I received.

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I would still love to hear from you as you navigate the markers this week. Drop me a line @BrianSozzi on X or directly via email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.

“So what am I buying what am I selling? Buying, not much. Like you I find it is impossible to get my bearings on individual shares since tech began to waver last August.

“You’re right it’s messy right now and difficult to decide what to do. I have taken lumps and sold positions that I was keeping to see if they went up over time, but time ran out Thursday … they went down too much, so my marginal investments went kaput and I sold for losses ranging from 8% to 25%. Gulp.

“I have retained my IT investments which earlier this year I had moved to ETFs due to individual position volatility, but I’am facing a huge loss with Dell, (DELL) my chosen darling and only remaining tech stock, in what now looks like a horrid decison. It is a loss that I have yet to materialize but it rankles me. I may average down.

“I sold most everything where I was losing big or medium. I bought no new positions but added to two dividend payment positions as defensive measures Mercedes Benz Group (MBG.DE) and Banco BPM (BAMI.MI)

“I have kept all my (5) European defense stocks, Hensoldt (HAG.DE), Leonardo (LDO.MI), Rheinmetall (RHM.DE), losing Renk (RENK.VI) and Indra (ISMAY) due to stop losses that in the midst of battle, I inadvertently forgot to remove. (they all had big profit cushions, not crying about those sales). I kept 2 of my 3 my ETF’s related to defense … selling a US dollar denominated ETF only.

“My utility investments have done well in this sinkhole market.

“I am steeling myself for additional loss-making sales next week, as, despite a potential bounce back, I don’t expect this to be a two day calamity.

“I have kept most banks due to dividends, takeover situations and large profit cushion. I added to a German mid cap ETF as I expect there will be orders going their way. I am also keeping Mercedes Benz and Porsche (PAH3.DE) auto shares because of their potential to segue into defense related production to save themselves.

“I have also retained two engineering construction companies that are involved in oil exploration or refinery building or similar un-ecological energy activities, despite also having some green energy projects.

“I’m a 61-year-old barely-retired self-managed investor living in Michigan, heart of the US auto industry. Under Trump 1.0 I underperformed broad market indices. The president’s continuous tweets and flip-flops made rational investing challenging. I sold into negative comments, missed out on snapback rallies, and watched long-term passive investors who paid no attention to daily gyrations make sizable gains.

“This time I would learn from prior mistakes — so I thought.

“I checked charts to recall China trade war rhetoric and saw a two-week 8% drawdown in March 2018 precede a strong rally. As the Rose Garden tariff chart flashed across the internet on Wednesday, I saw my opportunity. Not knowing what to purchase with my cash hoard I went broad with QQQ (QQQ) and SPY (SPY), picking them up “on the cheap” thinking this would be capitulation of the March correction similar to 2018. I finished the day down 2%. The next day down another 5%.

“Now, with sentiment reaching extreme lows, I wait. I bite my nails for fear of further drops yet can’t chance being out of the market should a positive announcement occur (tariff “deal”, end of military conflict, or some out of the blue statement from the president).

“I ask, how a nation can offer “concessions” when its only transgression is supplying the US appetite for goods. How does a company restructure, overnight, global supply chains and manufacturing that took decades to establish? How should an investor respond when this entire “tariff” correction is resultant of one man’s simplistic US trade deficit calculations? What if this all vanishes with a single post on social media?”

Read more: How to protect your money during economic turmoil, stock market volatility

“Brian, I lived through the financial crisis as well, and in my view, this situation is very different. Unlike back then, this crisis could potentially be resolved with the stroke of a pen. While I understand that some damage has already been done, the sell-off so far feels largely indiscriminate.

“Right now, I’m investing in management teams rather than just companies. No one can say for sure when or how this ends, but I believe that backing leaders who have successfully navigated multiple crises will pay off in the long run.”

“Just read this. Although I agree with the premise, I don’t think it is as doom and gloom as the article paints. Example would be if as an analyst if your clients bought Apple back then, where would they be now or 10 years ago? As to what stocks I’m buying: tech, healthcare.”

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance’s Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.

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What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill

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What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill
Source: Getty Images

Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada

Dividend investing can be one of the simplest ways to build long-term wealth while creating a steady stream of passive income. But in my opinion, a good dividend stock is about much more than just a high yield. Beyond dividend yield, investors should also look for companies with durable businesses, reliable cash flows, and a history of rewarding shareholders consistently over time.

That’s exactly why many investors turn to financial stocks. Banks and asset managers often generate recurring earnings through lending, investing, and wealth management activities, allowing them to support stable dividend payments even during uncertain market conditions.

Two Canadian financial stocks that stand out right now are AGF Management (TSX:AGF.B) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Both companies offer attractive dividends backed by solid financial performance and long-term growth strategies. In this article, I’ll explain why these two financial stocks could be worth considering for income-focused investors right now.

AGF Management stock continues to reward shareholders

AGF Management is a Toronto-based asset manager with businesses across investments, private markets, and wealth management. Through these divisions, the company offers equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset investment strategies to retail, institutional, and private wealth clients.

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Following a 59% rally over the last 12 months, AGF stock currently trades at $16.67 per share with a market cap of roughly $1.1 billion. At current levels, the stock offers a quarterly dividend yield of 3.3%.

One reason behind AGF’s strong recent performance is its increasingly diversified business model. The company has expanded its investment capabilities and broadened its geographic reach, helping it perform well across varying market environments.

In the first quarter of its fiscal 2026 (ended in February), AGF posted free cash flow of $36 million, up 14% year over year (YoY), driven mainly by higher management, advisory, and administration fees. These fees climbed to $92.5 million as demand for the company’s investment offerings strengthened.

AGF has also been focusing on expanding its alternative investment business and introducing new investment products. With strong cash generation and growing demand for alternative investments, AGF Management looks well-positioned to continue rewarding investors over the long term.

TD Bank stock remains a dependable dividend giant

Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank, is one of North America’s largest banks, serving millions of customers through its Canadian banking, U.S. retail banking, wealth management and insurance, and wholesale banking operations.

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Following a 70% jump over the last year, TD stock currently trades at $148.14 per share and carries a massive market cap of $247 billion. It’s also continuing to provide investors with a quarterly dividend yield of 3%.

TD’s latest results show why it remains a dependable dividend stock. In the February 2026 quarter, the bank’s reported net income jumped 45% YoY to $4 billion, while adjusted earnings rose 16% to a record $4.2 billion.

Similarly, the bank’s Canadian personal and commercial banking segment delivered record revenue and earnings with the help of higher loan and deposit volumes. Meanwhile, its wealth management and insurance business also posted record earnings, while wholesale banking benefited from strong trading and fee income growth.

Notably, TD ended the quarter with a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 14.5%, giving it a solid capital cushion. While the bank continues to spend on U.S. anti-money-laundering remediation and control improvements, its strong earnings base, large customer network, and diversified operations continue to support its dividends.

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The post What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has positions in Toronto-Dominion Bank. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2026

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UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October

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UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October
Britain’s financial watchdog said on Friday a tribunal hearing on ‌legal challenges to its compensation scheme for mis-sold car loans was unlikely before October, and told lenders to prepare for a possibility that the scheme could be scrapped entirely.
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Martha Aguirre, former El Paso ISD interim superintendent, resigns as CFO as district finds ‘key financial challenges’

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Martha Aguirre, former El Paso ISD interim superintendent, resigns as CFO as district finds ‘key financial challenges’

El Paso Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Martha Aguirre, who served as interim superintendent last year, resigned this week as the district said it had discovered “key financial challenges.”

The district issued a news release late Thursday afternoon that lacked details but indicated that a recent review had raised questions about the district’s fund balances, a key indicator of financial health.

“Through this process, key financial challenges were identified that must be addressed prior to closing out the 2025-26 school year including a current budget shortfall that is being actively addressed ahead of the district’s final financial presentation to the Board of Trustees in June,” the news release said. 

A CFO is charged with developing a school district’s budget and overseeing its finance department. The EPISD Board of Trustees must adopt a budget for the 2026-27 school year by the end of the fiscal year June 30. The operating budget for the current school year is $547 million.

EPISD Deputy Superintendent David Bates will oversee the budget while the district searches for an interim and permanent CFO, district officials said in a statement. 

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EPISD Board President Leah Hanany said trustees were notified about Aguirre’s resignation this week. She said the district plans to give the public more information on the current year’s budget during a board meeting later this month.

“The board was also notified of a potential budget shortfall for the 2025 budget, but we don’t have final numbers yet. My understanding is that we are still primed to pass a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in June,” Hanany said in a statement.

Aguirre could not be reached for comment. EPISD’s CFO makes $148,200 to $209,900 a year, according to the district’s administrative pay plan.

She served as EPISD’s interim superintendent from June to December 2025 after the district’s former superintendent, Diana Sayavedra, resigned under pressure from the board. She returned to her position as CFO when Brian Lusk was hired as EPISD’s new permanent superintendent.

Aguirre’s resignation comes amid an uncertain budget season after a state funding calculation error tied to school property tax breaks caused EPISD to lose out on $17 million in projected revenue. In late April, EPISD officials estimated it would cause the district’s spending to exceed its revenue next year by $10 million.

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The district is also considering calling for a bond election in November to upgrade its aging campuses as part of the larger 2024 Destination District Redesign initiative to close schools and improve the ones that remain open.

El Paso Teachers’ Association President Norma De La Rosa said Aguirre’s departure was unexpected.

“We’re right in the middle of the committee meetings for a possible bond and getting ready to get that budget to the June board meeting for next school year. So, to say that I’m highly surprised is an understatement,” De La Rosa told El Paso Matters.

Aguirre started working with the district in 1996 as a general clerk, according to a video published by the district.


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