NEWS
Stocks Slip From Their Highs

Macro jitters from Trump’s tariff plans overshadowed positive earnings results this week, causing the major indexes to close marginally lower. Heading into next week, the market will be focused on U.S. labor market data and a fresh slate of earnings for many of the world’s largest companies. 👀

Today's issue covers Trump’s latest tariff moves, a recap of energy giant earnings, a fresh “Weekend Rip” with Ben & Emil, and what you missed on Stocktwits. 📰

Here’s the S&P 500 heatmap. 1 of 11 sectors closed green, with communication services (+0.40%) leading and energy (-2.00%) lagging.

And here are the closing prices: 

STOCKS
Tariffs Cause Stocks To Turn Lower 📉 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt briefed the press that Trump will implement 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and a 10% duty on China tomorrow, far quicker than the market's expectation of March 1st. 😱 

Stocks slumped and turned deeply negative on the news as investors digested the news and adjusted their portfolios in anticipation of more weekend surprises.

With oil prices on the move, let’s recap how some of the biggest energy stocks fared after reporting earnings results. 👀 

Exxon Mobil fell 2% after its fourth-quarter revenues of $83.42 billion missed analyst estimates. Oil and gas production rose by 20,000 barrels per day to 4.6 million, with yearly production jumping to its highest in a decade.

Weaker refining margins weighed on profitability, though adjusted earnings still beat expectations due to cost improvements. ⛽️ 

Meanwhile, Chevron fell 5% after its revenue and earnings both missed analyst estimates. Its downstream (refining) unit posted a loss for the first time since the pandemic, driven by lower prices and a 3% decline in U.S. sales volumes.

Refining margins remain impacted by a rise in global production capacity and lackluster demand in major economies. It raised its quarterly dividend by 5% and expects a 6% to 8% rise in total production during 2025.

Phillips 66 was also hit hard by weakness in refining, as it remains the largest importer of Canadian crude in the U.S. 🚂 

Overall, oil and gas majors remain in expansion mode, and their operations continue to generate meaningful cash flow. However, their earnings and revenue are well off their highs from 2023’s record year and will remain under pressure due to mixed global demand and rising capacity.

Trump’s regulatory decisions and global economic growth will set the tone for energy in 2025. They’re paying investors to hold tight and wait for further upside catalysts. Based on Stocktwits sentiment, retail investors remain selective in the oil and gas space as individual company performance bifurcates. 😐️ 

PRESENTED BY STOCKTWITS
“The Weekend Rip” With Ben & Emil 🍿 

Hosts Ben and Emil are back for another Weekend Rip, discussing the latest group of crypto grifters, DeepSeek ramping up the AI race, Trump demanding immediate rate cuts, and Elon Musk’s wild financial projections. Plus, the guy who launched 17,000 meme coins, Time Magazine getting rugpulled, and Michael Saylor’s Forbes cover.