Higher US tariffs weigh on corporate earnings ahead of reporting season — Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs analysts warn that higher US trade tariffs will negatively impact corporate earnings for the second quarter. Since the beginning of the year, duties have increased by about 10% on average. And while much of these costs may be passed on to consumers, many firms are at risk of seeing their margins shrink. Companies that depend on imported raw materials and other goods are particularly vulnerable.

Some firms have already reported the consequences. For instance, General Mills shares plummeted after the food manufacturer announced a possible increase in production costs due to the tariffs. At the same time, Nike managed to minimize the negative impact by changing its supply strategies.

Overall, experts anticipate earnings per share (EPS) growth to slow to 2.6% in the second quarter. This may become the lowest level in the last two years. However, Goldman Sachs analysts believe that the S&P 500 index may exceed expectations if trade tensions continue to decline.